Shrine Visit

Anita went to the shrine on New Year's Eve to take pictures of all the various hands she could find. She finally stopped at 9:30 in the morning and sat on a bench near the shrine entrance to rest her eyes until she heard Shasta's voice over the crowd. Anita perked up to see Shasta, Oliver, and Sierra approaching; everyone was bundled up for the cold snap.

"How long have you been out here?" asked Oliver, looking Anita up and down.

"Since last night," she answered, as her phone was receiving a notification. She searched her pockets for her phone, unable to find it. Shasta reached over and pulled her phone out of her purse, seeing a text from Miles.

"Sister is sick. Can't make it," he read. Anita took back her phone, trying to understand the message.

"What should I say?" she asked, looking at her friends.

"Sorry to hear it and you'll plan another team bonding day. It doesn't look like Ramona can come either; it's too icy for her," commented Oliver, showing them a text from Ramona. "They'll come when it warms up."

Anita fumbled with the text, namely due to the gloves from Shasta she hadn't removed. Shasta eventually retook the phone and typed the response.

"Are you sure you're up for this?" asked Shasta as he handed back the phone.

"You look like death, worse than Oliver after a night of ‘inspiration’," added Sierra.

"No, I'll stay with you guys. I need to pray to find my soulmate. What if he's here?" She tried to look around. Her friends helped her stand as they moved towards the line where other locals stood. The group shuffled forward, Anita's sleepy form drifting between her three friends.

"Your turn." Oliver pushed her forward. She turned to pull out the money she planned to offer from her pocket, then she tossed it into the box.

"Please let me find my soulmate this year," she prayed, then clapped and rang the bell. Sierra stepped forward to take her turn, with Shasta catching up to his friend.

"Let's get you home," Shasta soothed Anita, trying to bring her closer to him to stay warm. Anita pushed him away as the other two made their prayers. She shook her head, no.

"I need to get a fortune."

Shasta sighed and led her to where people were taking their fortunes. Some people grimaced then tied them to a nearby fence. Others chatted with their friends about their good fortunes. Shasta deposited a five-yen coin, Anita rummaging through her small purse for yen. Shasta took out a fortune, as well as Anita, once she had offered the coin.

"Curse," they both groaned.

"Fortune," echoed Sierra and Oliver, holding their fortunes.

Shasta and Anita trudged over to the fence to tie their fortunes on it, praying it would not come true their year. Anita looked around where she had stopped in front of the fence; the spot in front of her was filled. There was an open spot to her right. She reached over to tie her fortune, another hand brushed against hers. She immediately recoiled her hand and started to apologize when she noticed the young man in casual wear with a heavy overcoat.

"No, you saw it first. See, here's another spot." The man tied his fortune around the spot below the one she had picked while she knotted hers above his.

"Thank you," she mumbled, feeling as quiet as Ramona on a good day.

"No worries, happy New Year," the man wished her, waving his hand then leaving.

Anita watched him leave, still in her half-asleep state. It took an elbow in the side to wake her from her stupor.

"Did you see?" pried Sierra.

"See what?"

"His hand when he waved. Did it have some weird mark on it or something?"

Anita looked back to the crowd where the man had disappeared, only he was no longer in sight. It seemed like her cursed fortune was coming true after all.

"No."

Sierra frowned, offering a consoling pat on the back.

"Alright, who's ready for food?" asked Oliver. Sierra brightened up and ran after him to one of the food stalls. Shasta came up next to Anita.

"Do you want to wait in line with them or sit down?" he asked.

Anita tried to cover a yawn. Shasta took that as her answer as he led her to a bench. He let her sit down before sitting next to her.

"You aren't going to get food?" she yawned.

"I'll wait until they get back. You might follow a stranger home in your tired state."

"I'd only follow a stranger home if he were my soulmate," she chuckled, leaning on Shasta's arm to rest. Shasta could feel his heartbeat pick up at the fact that she was sleeping on his shoulder, but he remained calm.

"I thought he would explode," commented Oliver as he and Sierra waited in line.

"Shasta, no. Only if you mess with something of his like the kitchen or Anita. Ramona might explode, though."

"Definitely. Miles?"

Sierra shrugged, "Not too sure."