Chapter Five: Kyoko’s House:

I gave her a blank stare. “Huh?”

“Couching-surfing,” Noiz repeated.

“No, I heard you,” I said. “I just don’t know what the hell you mean.”

“Basically, we’re staying with some friends tonight,” my cousin explained. “And I know just the place. Follow me!” She marched down the path. I looked over at Mosh. He only shrugged at me. We followed behind without a frame of reference.

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The trio walked up to a brightly colored house. Noiz turned to her traveling companions.

“Here we are!” she said. I still didn’t get it at first.

“Okay…” I said. “Whose house is this?” Noiz walked up and knocked on the door.

“Kyoko!” she shouted. “We’re here! I brought my cousin with us.” I looked up at Mosh.

“Who’s Kyoko?” I whispered. The door slid open before he could answer. A woman poked her head outside.

“Noiz, is that you?” she asked. My cousin put her hands on her hips, smiling.

“Yep,” she said. “Who else would show up around the festival?” The woman slid the door wide open. Already, I loved the bright pink paper flower in her hair. She stood a couple of inches over my cousin. Noiz gave her a huge grin.

“Yo!” she said. The other woman narrowed her brown eyes at her.

“Noiz?” she asked. “Is that you?” My cousin held out her arms.

“It’s so good to see you!” she said. Both of them bowed. Noiz looked over at us.

“Kyoko-san, I believe you have already met Mosh,” she said. “This is my cute little cousin, Brianna.” She shoved me forward to the woman with a tan apron on.

“Hi…” I mumbled with a small wave.

“Her Japanese isn’t good,” Noiz whispered. I took that’s what she told Kyoko because of her friend’s giggling that followed behind. I frowned as her eyes met mine.

“Nice to meet you,” she said in English.

“Same here,” I replied. Noiz took a sniff inside the house.

“It smells good inside,” she said. “What are you cooking today?”

“Ah!” Kyoko said with the spatula in her hand. “I’m trying out new recipes today. You really should try the grilled sesame pineapple chicken for dinner tonight.”

“That sounds rather… interesting,” Noiz said.

“Enough chit-chat!” Kyoko said, clapping her hands. “Come on inside already.”

“Yes ma’am!” Noiz said aloud. The three of us followed her friend inside.

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“You know the drill,” Kyoko said.

“Yes!” Noiz said. “Guest rooms down the hall and we stay if we help with cooking!”

“Good girl!” our host said.

“Always the same,” Noiz replied.

“Yep!” Kyoko said as she headed down the stairs. Noiz turned her attention to us.

“You heard the woman!” she said. “Hop to it!” She walked ahead of us to her and Mosh’s room.

“Which one is mine?” I asked.

“You will go to the room on the farthest right,” Noiz said, pointing down the hall.

“Thank you,” I said. I gathered up my luggage and began moving in that direction.

“Oh, Briana-chan!” I heard Noiz say. I turned around, eyeing her.

“Yeah?” I asked.

“Be careful not to make too much night in the middle of the night or early in the morning,” she advised me. “We aren’t the only ones couch surfing here for the festival.” My mouth tried to form words in a response to that statement.

“Wait, what?” I asked. “We aren’t?”

“Nope,” she said. I tilted my head at her.

“Why?” I asked.

“Cause,” Noiz said. “Couch-surfing is much cheaper and more fun that way. You have an hour to unpack. Kyoko needs us in the kitchen ASAP.”

“Alright…” I mumbled. I was still left standing there, wondering what was going to unfold as Noiz and Mosh headed into their own room.