New Year with You

Despite living in a tiny apartment and spending his workday in a cramped office, Cyrus did not like crowds. Even New Year's night, the local shrine near Tormino's was still crowded. But he had already walked there and the food stalls were selling cheap food. So he bought some menchi katsu and a hot coffee before standing in line.

"Fancy running into you here."

He knew that voice. He wasn't sure at this point if these holiday meetups were coincidences or she was following him. Especially when there were several days still left in the New Year to visit the shrine. He whipped around to confirm that Linda was standing right behind him. She giggled at his startled appearance.

"Is it that funny to find me here?"

"Not at all. You have crumbs." Linda reached over and brushed the crumbs off the corner of his mouth. Cyrus' surprise was now gone as she was acting like the Linda he knew. Always the mother hen.

"Thanks," he grumbled before wiping his mouth with his sleeve. Linda smiled at him in her loving way.

Cyrus noticed the line moving a little. He stepped forward as a breeze blew. Linda shivered against the cold wind as she stepped forward. Cyrus frowned, looking away as he stepped to the side.

"You can stand by me, so you won't get caught in the wind."

He glanced down to see Linda's cheeks turn pink as she moved to stand beside him. She was probably still cold with the distance between them.

"Not like that. It won't work." Cyrus reached out and pulled her smaller body under his arm until she was against his side. He didn't look down to see the pink cheeks now turning her entire face red. As a nurse, she needed to take better care of herself.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Cyrus snorted, "You’ve been spending way too much time around Ramona if you're now whispering."

Linda smiled a bit. "Maybe I have. How is she? I haven't seen her much since Christmas. The hospital has been so busy with flu patients after the holidays."

"Everyone was fine when I last saw them."

"Glad to hear."

Cyrus scooted them forward, reaching the steps leading to the shrine.

"Are you having a good holiday so far?" tried Linda.

"Quiet, relaxing, no one around to bother me. Same old New Years, like every year."

Linda tried to pull away, feeling she might be intruding on Cyrus' personal space and time. But he pulled her back to him.

"Don't do that, you'll freeze out there," he chided. Linda nodded. He had never been much for physical affection, so this was new.

"How is your holiday going?" asked Cyrus?

"Well, I've still had to work, so not much of a holiday. I did get the chance to call my parents last night, though."

"Are they not local anymore?"

"They are, but they go to bed early, so once work was over, it would have been too late for me to spend time with them. I'm going to visit them tomorrow since I get the whole day off."

"That must be nice."

Linda nodded, snuggling under Cyrus' arm again. She could feel his body stiffen at the intimate contact before relaxing as he led her up the stairs.

"Are you going to see your family in the next few days?"

"No, they're always working. I only see my parents when Dad needs help with accounting."

"Oh, sorry, I forgot."

"It's fine. I didn't expect you to remember since you’ve never met them. Heh, not even my mother sees much of my dad these days."

Feeling awkward talking about his disconnected family, Cyrus looked elsewhere. Linda mirrored his actions as they reached the top of the stairs, the shrine now in view.

"I do love this holiday," commented Linda. Cyrus turned down to look at her. Linda caught his gaze and he allow her to continue.

"A chance for new things, new choices, new challenges. I like to make my prayer a challenge to myself, so I can look back and remember how I've grown."

"That's a good habit. I usually pray for health in the coming year."

Linda giggled at his statement. "You would pray for something like that," she teased.

"Well, what are you praying for?"

Linda pursed her lips, glancing up at Cyrus to find him looking straight ahead as they moved towards the shrine.

"I think I'll pray for love this year." She saw Cyrus' face contorting in a look of confusion. He shrugged. Linda frowned. Cyrus not getting the message for the romance between the two of them this year.

As they arrived at the shrine, Cyrus let go of Linda to pull yen out of his pocket. He tossed it in, Linda doing the same beside him, before they both bowed and prayed. He reached out for the bell to ring it, with Linda echoing the gesture. They both touched it, their hands drawing back.

"You go first," he offered.

"No, you were in line ahead of me," Linda insisted.

"Together then." He took the ornate rope in his hands, a little higher than usual, so Linda would be able to reach it. She nodded in thanks, taking hold of the rope. Together they rang in the New Year before stepping down from the shrine's platform.

"We never did this before, did we?" asked Cyrus as they moved past the people still in line.

"I think you tried, but your parents had you work. And then I was busy with my family."

"Right."

The two continued walking down the path together, no longer as close as when they had stood in line.

"Well, I better head home. Happy New Year," Cyrus waved, heading down the stairs, leaving Linda at the top. She watched his retreating form for a bit, not wanting their night to end.

"Cyrus!"

Cyrus stopped part way down as Linda trotted down to meet him.

"I was wondering if maybe you would want to grab drinks with me."

Cyrus raised an eyebrow, entirely confused by her request. He pulled his coat tighter around the collar.

"I guess I could go for a few shots of sake."

Linda smiled up at him, taking his arm and leading him down the stairs. He usually would have pulled away, but for some reason, his body refused to part with hers. Or maybe it was him.