Not long after Hideaki had locked the archery dojo doors and set off homewards, Aloise Akane, the ace of the kendo club, had suddenly chosen to address him. She completely unmatched in her art, if the rumors held fast, and Hideaki could respect that. She was also foreign but that was not too unusual, the archer supposed. It wasn't an unusual sight; Namimori was practically full of foreginers these days, after all. Her query was in regards to his preparations for the festivals, something that the bespectacled bowman thought was distinctly None Of Her Business. He'd let it pass though, give her the benefit of the doubt that this budding conversation wouldn't be the droll exchanging of pleasantries he'd been so accustomed to.

"Hmm? Good afternoon, Aloise-san," the boy cheerfully greeted the younger girl, sending a curt wave and a practiced, imperceptively insincere smile her way. It was a sequence of actions practically seared permanently into his being. Though mostly extraneous social formalities like these weren't something he particularly enjoyed having to do over and over again, he'd play his part well, just like he always did. First impressions counted for a lot, after all.  "Ara, that's right. I [i]do[/i] have to prepare for the festival. Guess I lost track of time," he agreed, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head, "But it's fine, I've got my outfit ready and everything. So all I have to do is go home, dress up, and maybe help out the class pres with her booth, ne?"

"What about you, Aloise-san?" the two-faced archer asked politely with feigned concern, "Don't you have to prepare for the festivities yourself?"

[@Sharyxe]