Chapter 6: Getting to Know Our Faith

Scene 1: Discovery

Sunday had finally arrived, a day long-awaited after such an intense and exhausting week. The Shimizu sisters were getting ready for the 8:00 AM mass at St. Mary's Cathedral in Tokyo. Various blouses and skirts were scattered everywhere, and as for the makeup bag, it was better not to even look at it—it looked like a total battlefield.

On the other hand, the Yoshidas were still sleeping because they had planned to attend a church near their house. Despite agreeing on that plan, the only one awake was Kouta, getting ready to meet Himari at 9:00 AM, or right after the 8:00 AM mass ended.

After an hour of getting ready, the Shimizus left so they would arrive on time for mass. On the way there, they were talking about what the day's scripture reading might be (September falls under Ordinary Time in the Catholic Church). However, they had left early to spend a moment in silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Asuka asked her sisters, calm and composed: —Did you manage to rest after the project?

Natsuki replied, still looking half-asleep: —Even though I slept all day Friday and Saturday leading up to today, I still feel exhausted. —Suki told her while yawning: —Make that two of us, Natsuki.

A more wide-awake Himari answered cheerfully: —I'm completely recovered! —Suki said to her teasingly: —Yeah, right. You fell fast asleep while doing the homework. Plus, Kouta said not to wake you up and that he'd do your part. Do you have some kind of special treatment or something?

Inside, Himari asked herself: "Kouta finished my part?", "Why?", "Could it be that he's just really nice, or does he like me?", "Was what he said to me at the karaoke bar actually a confession?" While lost in thought, she answered, embarrassed: —No, not at all. I just think he's a nice and cute guy.

When she said "cute," she screamed inside her head: "Did I just say cute?!", "No way!". Natsuki replied: —Looks like the lovebird found her birdmate, —she said, chuckling quietly.

Himari turned as red as a tomato and replied, playfully nudging her arm: —No, it's not what it seems at all. —Asuka said sarcastically: —Oh sure, just like how you two ran into each other at the planetarium.

Himari quickly shot back: —That was a coincidence! —Suki told Himari, hands on her shoulders face-to-face: —Just admit it, you like him, and he likes you. —She said: —No, I've barely known him for two weeks.

Asuka said to her: —Haven't you ever heard of love at first sight? —At that moment, Himari blushed furiously and couldn't answer back anymore because she ran out of arguments, not wanting to reveal to them that Kouta had actually asked to meet her right at the cathedral.

Back at the Yoshida house, despite getting up on time, Kouta was running late getting ready. He couldn't find the shoes he wanted to wear that day, thinking to himself: "Where on earth did I put them?" On top of that, he wanted to give Himari a small gift, so he stopped by a convenience store on the way.

Scene 2: St. Mary's Cathedral in Tokyo

They arrived at the church 15 minutes before mass started, went before the Blessed Sacrament, and began to pray. They thanked God for helping them with their project, which had felt like mission impossible. Himari added to her prayer: "Jesus, help me decide what to do about my relationship with Kouta. Mary, protect me at all times and be my guide." After that, they stepped out, took their seats, and mass began.

Halfway through the mass, Kouta arrived at the church. Since he knew he would be seeing Himari, he had actually already attended mass on Saturday evening at a local church, despite the plan he had made with his brothers. Before leaving the house, he grabbed a Post-it and left a note on the fridge that read: (It's Kouta. I went out to see Himari).

Kouta sat in the back of the church, following along respectfully with the service while watching Himari. Deep inside, he prayed in his mind: "God, it's true that You care for and listen to the prayers of Your children. Help me know if Himari is the right person. I don't want to make a mistake like last time, when my soul was almost lost." The church was packed, but despite the crowd, he noticed three of the sisters going up for Communion, which made him happy. Once the Eucharistic celebration ended, he blended into the crowd so Himari's sisters wouldn't spot him.

Now that the mass was over, Himari told her sisters: —I want to stay a moment longer. You can go ahead if you like. —Asuka asked her, surprised: —Why do you want to stay behind all of a sudden?

Himari replied: —I want to pray. —At that moment, she gathered her courage, feeling embarrassed and turning bright red, but told them in a soft, sweet voice: —I also want to see Kouta. —Natsuki immediately exclaimed, as if she had already figured out the date: —I knew it! You had a date with him! Well, alright, I'll leave you to it. Everyone's moment comes eventually. Just hope you don't make any mistakes when choosing Kouta down the road. Call on God. —Right then, she grabbed Suki and Asuka, hurrying them along: —Come on, we have to give her some space! —They headed out to a plaza near the church, just in case Himari needed them.

Scene 3: Good or Bad Decision

Once Kouta saw that her sisters had left her alone in the church, he started making his way toward Himari. Meanwhile, back at the Yoshida house, his brothers were just waking up.

Sora, as usual, got up quickly and went to get the milk for his cereal when he noticed Kouta's note. Dropping the milk right onto the floor, he shouted to his brothers: —Kouta did what?! —Ren and Daichi rushed over, and a startled Daichi asked him: —What's wrong with you, brother?

Sora replied: —Did you read what Kouta wrote?! —Daichi read the note Sora was holding, feeling shocked and saddened all at once: —This can't be happening! He already had his heart broken once before, it seems like he didn't learn his lesson.