Locked In

“And with this,” Chi-chan says, as Shinpu-sama turns the thick iron key. “Let the lock-in begin.”

*POP*

*POP*

*POP*

Children cheer as they pull champagne poppers, celebrating the beginning of the night. Among them, Kasumi is like a bruise in an apple, sinking the joy around her. After her disappearing act, it has been nearly impossible to get her mother’s permission. She thinks about sneaking out to attend, but she knows that Chi-chan would ruin that plan before it began. Perhaps because of this, when Kasumi’s mother comes to apologize for her actions and accusations during Kasumi’s disappearing act, Chi-chan talks her into letting Kasumi attend. She says it would make things easier to have another “older” kid around to help manage the elementary schoolers, but Kasumi knows this is only half true. Chi-chan’s likely using that as an excuse to pry about Kasumi’s disappearance more than anything, but Kasumi can’t complain much. She’s so giddy, packing and re-packing for the lock-in, she can’t even sleep the night before. The day of, she skips to the church, unfazed even by Saitō-kun’s presence, until she receives a piece of abysmal news.

“Momo-chan won’t be coming.”

The words come from Shinpu-sama’s mouth like a sledgehammer, shattering Kasumi’s mood. She nearly walks out right there, only stopping when she catches a glimpse of Saitō-kun smirking.

“Can’t let him think he’s right,” Kasumi thinks, recalling their last encounter with gritted teeth.

Her frown remains throughout the Holy Thursday service; she sulks in the back, not partaking in the excitement of the other youths. The Byzantine Rite tradition of serving the Eucharist is to soak the bread in the wine and serve it with a spoon. Though, because of local liquor laws, they also have a separate cup with mustum (freshly pressed wine juice before becoming wine) for minors. Children receive the same bread in their hands or on their tongues and then practice intinction (dipping the bread in the mustum and consuming both) or drink straight from the chalice. Holy Thursday is one of three exceptions. To commemorate the Last Supper, the whole church shares one cup. A faint part of Kasumi holds out hope, imagining Momo bursting through the doors at any moment, their eyes meeting as they reunite for the first time since White Day. Grinding and parental locks had kept Kasumi from even texting Momo. Worse yet, if she doesn’t see her tonight, then there is no way to track her down for the ritual tomorrow.

“It’ll be fine, Ozaki-chan,” Shinpu-sama says, patting Kasumi’s shoulder as Chi-chan leads the crowd of children to the parlor for games. “I know you were excited to see her after her family trip, but I’m sure not even the gates of hell itself could stop her from coming on Paschal.”

Kasumi musters a fake smile just convincing enough to set Shinpu-sama at ease. They begin following the crowd, just as they trade their shoes for slippers, when noise at the door alerts them.

*KNOCK KNOCK… KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK*

They share a confused but hopeful look. Recognizing the rapping pattern used among the congregation to signify membership.

“Must be a parent dropping off something their child forgot,” he says, reaching a hand into his pocket. “Could you grab it, please? Can’t start the festivities until I open us in prayer.”

“Sure,” Kasumi says, taking the key and slipping back into her shoes. As she swings the key on her finger, a thought crosses her mind: leaving with the excuse of forgetting something, and then not coming back afterward.

“Simple enough, and it’d keep Saitō-kun from thinking he’s right.” She places the key in the lock, as if solidifying her escape. “Not like there’s a reason for me to stay any—”

Her thought stops when she opens the door. The setting sun has long since turned the sky orange and red, but the sparkling blue eyes before Kasumi still swallow her.

“M—M—” Kasumi tries to speak, but her voice catches in her throat.

Standing before her is Momo, with an oversized bag on her back and a rolling suitcase behind her. Momo looks just as surprised to see Kasumi opening the door. Her mind races for what to do; dashed is her initial plan to ask Chi-chan or Shinpu-sama about Kasumi’s mood and demeanor. Thoughts and emotions from White Day, Kasumi’s disappearance, and their million other encounters all bubble up and jostle for the limited space at the front of Momo’s mind. Finally, one pushes all the rest aside, and Momo explodes through the door, reaching out to Kasumi.

*THUMP*

Her bag hits the ground as Momo puts every ounce of strength into her arms.“Ah,” Kasumi takes a tense step back, caught off guard by the intense hug Momo envelops her in. Momo doesn’t waste a fiber of muscle, squeezing Kasumi with a resolve that borders on violence.

“You’re back,” Momo whispers, a single tear rolling down her cheek. For a moment, Kasumi isn’t sure what to do; her arms initially flail up in a guard, but gradually move to hug Momo back.

“Shouldn’t I be saying that to you?” Kasumi asks, finally processing what is going on. “Since you just got back from your trip?”

“Well, maybe you could’ve if you didn’t go disappearing to God knows where.” Momo finally regains control of her body, pushing Kasumi to arm’s length but retaining a tight grip on her shoulders. “Do you have any idea how worried I was?” she demands with an expression that could spoil milk. “I’m just getting settled on my trip, then I get a call from Chi-chan. She says you’ve gone missing, and I need to share any info I have.” Momo’s grip grows tighter, her fingers clamping on Kasumi’s collarbones like mini vices. “I message you on every platform, then everyone from school, then the Metropolitan, who worries you might’ve done something drastic to prove you can do exorcisms by yourself…”

A handful of tears flows from Momo’s cheeks as she suppresses a sob, making Kasumi go white. She feels a twist in her stomach so intense it drowns out the pain in her bent collarbones.

“I made Momo cry,” she thinks, her heart light and heavy at the same time. “I’m someone worth crying over to her.”

Kasumi’s mind spins into overdrive, coming up with reassurance and excuses to stop Momo’s tears. The two eventually make it to the parlor, where everyone is already settling into the night’s activities. Everyone gives Momo an excited welcome, sparking an uneasy feeling in Kasumi at having to share her. These feelings spiral out of control when Momo gives Saitō-kun a present for their birthday. He refuses to accept it, saying he doesn’t have his gift for her on him, so take it later when they can exchange gifts properly. Momo says it doesn’t matter, and for a while, the two are stuck like deer getting their antlers tangled.

“It’s not fair,” Kasumi thinks, watching them with a forced smile. “Why does her family have to ruin everything? Always taking her time away from me. I wish they’d just disappear.”

Despite Momo’s initial dread, the argument works out in her favor. Thoroughly miffed by the other’s stubborn attitude, both twins make a point of avoiding each other as much as possible. This leaves ample space for Kasumi to wedge herself in at every opportunity. She sits next to Momo at every activity, insists on sharing a hymn during the songs, and even feeds her at snack time. All the while, she catches Saitō-kun giving her glares, which only brings her joy to new peaks.

The only time Momo slips away is during the final event. To remember the agony in the garden, Chi-chan brings out a styrofoam cross and hands out tanzaku wish papers to everyone. She instructs the children to write one suffering God has freed them from on one side and one way they want to submit to God on the other. Chi-chan goes on to explain the symbolism, but Kasumi gives it no mind. She is too busy trying to peek at what Momo is writing. Chi-chan says to keep the sheets anonymous because they’ll be part of the Easter decorations, but Kasumi can’t help herself. She peeks over at Momo’s paper, enchanted by the prospect of seeing problems she solved herself, only to be met with Momo’s forearm covering her paper. Kasumi looks up, just in time to see Momo’s winking ‘gotcha’ face.

“Oh, come on,” Kasumi thinks, rolling her eyes. “Most of these kids can barely write, while you’ve been taking calligraphy classes since birth. No way I won’t be able to point out your handwriting.”

Kasumi turns back to her own paper, scribbling down the first ideas that come to her head. “Idolatry” and “Loving my neighbor” are sufficient phrases for the exercise, but they ring hollow as Kasumi’s pen scribbles to finish the last character.

Once everyone finishes pinning their tanzaku to the cross, Shinpu-sama leads everyone in a prayer, and then it is off to bed. Futons are set out for the night. Because there are more boys than girls, they sleep in the basement parlor while the girls sleep in the church office. Before they separate, Momo makes a point of seeing her brother and apologizing for being stubborn about the gifts. He also apologizes, saying he’ll take the gift but won’t open it until they exchange properly like always. Momo hugs him, almost matching the intensity of her earlier hug for Kasumi. Saitō-kun’s grin further fans her sparked rage.

“Enjoy it while it lasts,” Kasumi thinks, turning away with gritted teeth. “You won’t be the one sleeping next to her tonight.”

“And by tomorrow…” she whispers, passing by Chi-chan, crossing off April 3rd on the office calendar.