Things had been pretty quiet since the picnic and with school ending soon the girls were now making summer plans.
Katie, Kellie and Mika now found themselves over at Kumiko's house where the three were lazily laying out in the sun. As was typical lately Claudia was out with her sister, who had taken a couple of weeks vacation. While Mika was happy her girlfriend was reconnecting with her big sister, she found it slightly annoying that Julia monopolized so much of Claudia's time.
"So Julia amd Claudia went out again," Kellie asked as she applied more sunscreen. Mika nodded, turning over on her back. "Yeah," she mumbled. "Ever since the picnic those two have been besties. I'm happy they're getting along but ugh tired of not seeing Claudia."
"It's only for another week Mika," Katie smirked. "Then you got Claudia all to yourself."
Mika shrugged as she now lay back, letting the early summer sun wash over her body. The three of them were enjoying the quiet time as if late. Mika's parents seemed to be coming around to her line of thinking. While she had no desire to move back it was nice they were on speaking terms. As the girls laid out they could hear the backdoor open. Turning they could see Kumiko approaching.
"Hey girls hows everything,"she said warmly. Katie, Kellie and Mika smiled, giving Kumiko a warm and happy response. As they looked at her they could see she was once agin dressed for a date with Cole.
"Aunt Kumiko your going out," Mika asked, noticing the lovely purple blouse and black dress pants she now wore. Kumiko smiled and nodded excitedly. "Cole is taking me out for lunch again today," she said. "You dont think this is too much do you?"
"Kumiko you look great," Mika sighed. "Cole likes you just have fun and relax." Kumiko sighed and smiled yet Katie could still see a look of apprehension on her face. "Everything okay Ms. Tozawa?" she asked.
Kumiko shrugged as she approached Katie, pointing to her hair. As Katie looked closely she noticed a stray grey hair in her chestnut locks. "I noticed it this morning," she said sadly.
"Its only one," Kellie offered, hoping to cheer Kumiko up. Kumiko shook her head sadly as she looked the girls over. "Yeah thats how it starts," she said glumly. "First its a grey hair, then its some fine lines, then poof I'm an old lady. I dont want Cole thinking hes dating some old fart. "
"Kumiko its fine," Mika sighed. "Look Cole is a big teddy bear, despite the fact he could rip a man in two with his bare hands. Stopp worrying."
"Easy for you too say you still have your whole lives in front of you," Kumiko grumbled. "Thats why I kinda wanted to ask a favor."
The girls gave eachother looks of apprehension as they ynderstood what Kumiko was thinking. "Are you sure about that Ms. Tozawa?" Katie asked.
"Come on Katie please," Kumiko begged. "Im not asking to be a teenager or anything. Just take off maybe 5 years."
"Kumiko you know how dangerous things can get," Mika lectured. "I mean you and Lisa ended up back in fourth grade at the picnic."
Kumiko frowned as she looked at her niece. "Hey I didn't know what that thing was then," she said. "Thats why I'm asking Katie now. Come on Katie cant you help a friend of your aunts out PLEASE!"
Katie let out an annoyed grunt as she saw the puppy dog pout Kumiko was giving her. "Ugh fine," she grumbled. "I wish you looked physically 30 and everyone would remember you as 35."
Kumiko smiled as she felt the tingles wash over her body. The girls watched as Kumiko regressed to 30 years old. The chamges were subtle as her face seemed a little fresher. Happiky she removed a compact from her pocket and looked herself over. Smiling she could see the grry hair she was so worried about had vanished leaving her hair its natural chestnut brown. "You guys are the best," she called as she spun around. "I'll be out for a couple of hours. You guys have fun, there's plenty of food in the fridge."
"Okay Aunt Kumiko have fun and just be careful," Mika cautioned. Kumiko lookrd back at her niece with an impish smile. "Cant make any promises but I'll try."
"Well your aunt seems to like the whole ring of age thing," Kellie smirked. Mika looked at her friend with a slight frown. "Yeah but she just needs to be careful," she said. "After all the craziness we've seen I dont think she gets how insane the ring can make things."
"Your starting to sound like a mom their Mika," Katie smirked, causing the girls to laugh.
"Hey between Kumiko and Claudia someone has to be the adult." Mika laughed.
The girls now laid back as they attempted to work on their tans.