Strings Attached

The afternoon air is sweltering by the time we finally leave the clubroom. Both Miyari and I have our uniforms rolled up, white sleeves and black collars fluttering in the wind. Sweat drips down our necks, and I'm another Celsius away from riding up my skirt to dangerously ecchi levels.

But I don't, because I'm a good girl, and so is my best friend… Most of the time, at least.

I glance over to her melting like a popsicle. While the clubroom had AC to preserve her, the outdoors does not have that same luxury, and those cosplay and arm warmers she wears are definitely not helping.

"Hey." I nudge her, and her gold contact laden eyes snap open to meet my gaze. "Wanna come over to my place, Miyari-chan? We can grab ice cream on the way too."

Her ears perk and her tail straightens. "O-oh, sure! I'd love to—Erm, I mean. As long as you don't try assault the Grand Spellmaster Miyari again. You don't plan to, do you?"

I laugh, wiggling my fingers like some sort of degenerate. "An evil witch like myself makes no promises, hehehe~"

"Kimiko!" She hisses. I can't help but laugh harder as her frown deepens and her blush goes brighter.

"What?"

"Y-you know what! You're a pervert."

"And you're a chuuni, so we're both freaks together."

"Pft, do not compare me to those middle-schoolers." She huffs and crosses her arms. "We of the sun cult are far more sophisticated than mere chuunibyou. Our powers come from real pacts and real rituals! How do you think I've managed to transmogrify my form into that of the superior nekomimi?"

"Mm, I dunno." I hum and reach out and tug her 'cat ears'.

She lets out a little mewl as the expertly camouflaged headband lifts slightly.

"Transmogrification? Looks like really well-made cosplay to me."

"Hmph." She pushes my hand away, fixing it. "Curse your witch instincts. Only someone with superior magic like yourself could ever detect the truth of the matter—"

"HEY, CHUUNI FREAKS! GET A ROOM!"

A shout from across the road startles us both. It's a group of guys our age dressed in athletic gear in the school's colors—baseball players from the look of the uniforms. They're a pretty big deal with Summer Koshien coming up, so engaging back at them is definitely not worth it.

I try to wave it off, but when I glance at Miyari, she's already fidgeting around in her bag.

"Let's see… I have some hexes in here, a few curses, and a talisman that'll take their eyes directly to the seventh circle of hell—"

"Hey!" I grab her wrist once I see her grab a can of pepper spray. Where the heck did she get that?!

"Let go, Kimiko! They were making fun of you too!"

She tries to pull away, but I don't yield. Despite her bravado, her arm strength has much to be desired, and I easily keep her in check.

"I don't care, Miyari!" I hiss back. "You're gonna get us in trouble if you do that! Now come on, we should just go—"

*SMACK*

A baseball hits her in the back of the head as she collapses forward with a yelp.

My mind goes blank when she crumples.

"Shit!" The baseball players scream in a panic as they run.

"Miyari?!" I instantly kneel beside her.

If she's bleeding or her skull's been cracked, I swear that I'll—

"Ow…"

A wave of relief washes over me as I pull her into a hug.

"Thank goodness, don't you dare scare me like that again. Are you okay? Do you hurt anywhere?"

"Y-yeah, I'm fine." She mumbles, rubbing beneath her headband. "My superior nekomimi features provided me protection from such a low-ranking attack."

"Good," I say, and then, without another word, I pick up the baseball and chuck it back as far as I can.

I have a pretty good pitch, and it goes sailing horizontally, nailing one of the running baseball players in the back of the knee.

"S-shit!" He yells as he topples to the pavement.

Oops. That's our cue to run.

I grab Miyari's wrist, tugging her along from the unintentionally escalated conflict. I might've stopped doing sports back in middle school, but I can still outrun most of my peers. And I know Miyari can keep pace since she used to run away from bullies and bullies' girlfriends.

"H-hey, Kimiko?!" She stumbles after me. "Where are we going?"

"The store. We'll kill two birds with one stone: get our ice creams and lose the idiots before they realize what hit them!"

We dash through the streets and away from the boys. We're running, and running, and running, and the wind billows our skirts, and the world seems so bright and free.

It feels like we're flying. It feels like we're soaring.

And it makes me want to tell her I love her.

***

"Could we get these, please?"

"Certainly, miss."

The two of us are standing at the counter, still catching our breath in the AC'd sanctuary of the konbini. Miyari leans against the counter wheezing while I fish around in my wallet for enough change to pay.

He glances over at our purchases, scanning them.

"Were you planning on getting coffee for this ice cup?"

I shake my head. The ice isn't for drinking. "Nope, that won't be necessary. But thanks anyway~"

"Suit yourself." He shrugs and finishes the exchange by passing us the receipt.

I stash the ice creams in my bag, then pass Miyari a water bottle by gently pressing it against her cheek.

"Here you are."

"A-ah, thank you, Kimiko… You truly are my greatest ally and most trusted friend to help us escape from those ruffians."

I roll my eyes but smile nonetheless as we walk out of the store and down an alley.

"Yeah, well, what are best friends for, huh? Anyway, you can hold this ice cup to where the ball hit you—"

I blink as I try to pass it to her, realizing her other hand is suddenly occupied once again.

The voodoo doll is in her hand.

"Fufufu! Unfortunately, while I appreciate your compassionate heart, it's also your downfall. When you were busy purchasing sustenance for our souls, you did not guard your satchel, leaving it open to my cunning fingers!"

"So you stole it from my bag when I was paying…?"

"Silence, peasant." She pushes her water bottle forward to shush me. I can feel the cool plastic of the bottle cap, and I wonder why she didn't just use her hand to do it instead. "I have the voodoo doll, and thus, I hold your life in my very hands."

"…So? What exactly are you gonna use it for then?"

"This!" She positions herself against the wall, tucks her bottle away, then moves the doll's arm forward.

Before I can react, my body is yanked along by invisible strings, and my open hand slams into the wall beside her head. My form is shadowing her now, leaning over like some sort of lewd predator.

"U-um, Miyari-chan? What are you doing…?"

"Fufu, isn't it obvious? I'm bestowing a reward upon you for helping me earlier."

"T-this is just a kabedon though!"

"A-are you saying you dislike my gift…?"

Damn it. This girl. This stupid, lovely, chuuni girl.

"N-no, I rather like it… It's just—"

"S-shush then. My spellweaving isn't done yet."

She slowly moves the doll's head this time, and my chest nearly explodes as my lips contact her forehead.

Time stops. Her hair, her softness, the warmth of her skin beneath mine. This is our first kiss, isn't it? I mean, it's not on the lips, and I would have liked it better if it was a mutual thing, but—Wait, is this not mutual? I don't really mind it, and she did ask if I liked it, so—

My mental debate is cut short as she pulls me away with the doll.

"T-there, Kimiko. You may keep my kiss virginity forevermore."

"…" I stare at her deadpan as the moment passes, then muster the strength to break free and snatch the doll back from her clutches.

"Wh—hey, that's mine!"

I toss it into my bag with a flourish.

"N-not anymore. I'm gonna be taking that as my real reward for saving your butt."

"But—"

"Shut," I say grabbing her by the wrist and trying to still my fluttering heart. "L-let's go to my place already."

I can't look her in the eye. I thought her delusions of 'debauchery' were limited to headpats and ear scratches.

Is this confirmation of her feelings? I mean, not just anyone would willingly let themselves be kabedoned and kissed on the forehead, right?

"…" I glance back at her, and I can't help but yearn when I see her expression.

Her mouth is wide open—gold eyes staring blankly—and she's barely able to stay upright. Did I really do that much to her?

Just like that, more pieces of the puzzle come together, and my gaze shifts to the voodoo doll again.

I still can't tell how she truly feels about me, but… I'll be ready for the next time she pulls my strings and figure out for sure.