Canned Memories

The next day, I've reported my activities so I'd get compensated. Kiyoko seemed pleased from my accomplishment and listened like I’m telling her favorite bedtime story.

Apparently, Hyuuga was a participant during one of the events and got matched with Fuyumi but she cut off communications without notice. Still, he always found her at an obscure part of the club where she'd quietly look at him but never had she tried talking to him. That's when he consulted Kiyoko for the next step.

The answer was to wait for her to gain confidence because even if he made the first move, with her being not ready, they'd just worsen the situation. It's been years since the request was made, and after all that time, my first job for my first friend became a release to all pent-up emotions they've bottled up for years.

Hearing the story, it now made sense on how they looked like long time lovers when they've just talked for around an hour or so. It must've been painful for both of them, but I'm glad it turned out to be worth it in the end.

“See? Everything was fine,” she said.

“Yeah, except for the part where the problem fixed itself.”

“There you go trying to act cool. Aren't you surprised your mere presence was enough to fix problems? Fufufu~maybe I'll keep making good use of that quirk.”

“I smell a wage increase.”

She clapped her hands. “Alright, that's enough kidding. Here's for the job well done. Good work out there.”

Judging from its thickness, she must've put more than I expected. I pushed the envelope back. “I feel bad taking extra for work I didn't put up. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”

She placed a finger to stop it midway. “You know, being a bit too comfortable with me is fine and all but being an asshole has its place and time.”

“I—” It was at this moment that I knew, I screwed up. Big time.

“You don't mean it, I know, and sometimes, I'm guilty of going overboard myself, but this is different. This is money I pay because the work you provided was, in my judgement, worth this much.”

The roles were reversed. I'm now trying to pull the envelope over while she's preventing me.

I messed up. Again.

It may not look like it, but I think I really stepped on a landmine here. To think I've been trying her patience with some of my actions, this being the most recent, I really needed to pull myself together.

Damn, now it's harder to keep my head up now that I've realized. The small gesture I did thinking I'm being modest effectively meant I'm not trusting her judgement overall. It's a slap to the face of someone who made a living dealing with antiques and matching thousands of couples that her appraisal on my skills weren't accurate. How dare me indeed.

“…S-Sorry…” Was the only word I managed to eke out.

She sighed and finally let go. “Honestly, a little sorry wouldn't fix this.”

Me never experiencing a decent level job showed on how disoriented I was on handling the situation. From all the blue-collar jobs I've done, all I got were people used to stepping over someone weaker than them. Seniority was everything in this world. Even among the lowest classes a pecking order was bound to be established. I just got lucky during highschool that a lifeline was thrown in the form of Hyuuga. In a society where looking after someone was a saint's feat, everyone was content on being human.

That's why I quit in a heartbeat when I got hired here. Having no vices along with a frugal lifestyle made me enough to be able to get by and afford the rather pricey fees of the dating events. Huge plus for Senna since she doesn't talk much and was generally a pleasant workmate. Kiyoko as well, despite her being a riddle.

However, unlike the toxic environment of learning the hard way in order to survive or suffer from your inability to adapt, this felt like a breath of fresh air.

“Well, take this as another lesson moving forward. Developing a habit of taking what's due to you is also important in a relationship, otherwise your partner will feel they're lacking.”

“And as with all things, keep it in moderation. Got it.”

“Good boy,” She gave a satisfied nod. “Now be a doll and take Senna out for a walk tonight. She definitely needed the exercise.”

“Uh… aren't you treating your sibling a bit like a… pet or something?”

“Hm?”

I turned away after she gave me that dangerously alluring smile again. My heart began jumping out of my chest I needed two hands to contain it.

Yep. Got it. Too much reading between the lines was a bad thing. She didn't mean anything by that. Okay. Understood.

***

It's refreshing to see Senna in casual wear during the night that I couldn't help but tell her that. As expected, she only gave me a little head tilt, probably unsure on how to take that.

“Dear, Akito means you're beautiful,” Kiyoko butted in from afar. Damn, is this her payback method?

The tall buildings were all lit and the crowd was denser. Well, this was the city center for a reason. Footsteps and chatter filled the gaps that I, out of concern, took Senna's hand. Her soft fingers poking out of the sleeves of her knitted sweater didn't object and wrapped themselves with mine.

Curiously though, like at the park the other day, nobody seemed to recognize us. I kinda get that I'd go unnoticed, but her?

“Strange. To think a kimono could do such drastic change,” I observed those near us. No sly picture taking, no squealing with delight, nothing. Lady Yuugure was nowhere.

“People are curious things,” she said.

“Can't argue with that.”

I fiddled with my map app and picked somewhere nearby as our destination. Carrying her on my back from all the pedestrian crossings was too much for my untrained body. Hell, even I'm in need of this walk, after all.

I may have said ‘near’ but we ended up taking the XX line and getting off at the next stop. After walking some more, we reached a clearing which gave a nice overview of the city.

“That reminds me,” I started. “How do you get by on your own. You know, crossing roads and stuff.”

“People are supportive to the disadvantaged. After all, I look like an attention buffet to show off their acts of kindness. That’s one way of feeding off of another’s beauty to enhance your own,” She heaved a long sigh, her breath forming a thin fog. “Being beautiful is convenient, but the unsolicited motives often forced me on using the stick.”

We sat down on a bench while I gave her a can of warm corn soup. I didn't know what to pick at the vending machine and just pressed anything that fancied me.

“Oh…” she seemed troubled upon receiving the beverage.

“Should I get you something else?”

She vigorously shook her head no. “It's just… there'd be leftover corn. That's all…”

“How do you take it out?”

“She puts some water in it so the bits would get unstuck.”

“Never thought Kiyoko would be the type to buy canned soup,” I stifled a chuckle imagining a Kiyoko desperately shaking the can and salvaging the leftovers.

“It's not her…”

A rather strong breeze blew, carrying her next words with them. With me being beside her however, her soft-spoken voice couldn't hide the many emotions she expressed with those two words.

Just like that, I caught glimpse of it again.

It might be an exaggeration, but at that moment, time stood still.

I felt it again. I felt like I needed to do something, but after that scene with Kiyoko, I decided to follow my instincts.

“…”

A familiar weight pressed itself on my left. I only popped open my can and took sips, looking at the bright lights of the city from afar.

***

When I returned piggybacking an asleep Senna, I handed Kiyoko a little peace offering of sorts. She's surprised at the can of corn soup, now cold, yet wordlessly took it and shooed me off. Perhaps it's one of the memories better reminisced in solitude than with company.

Sometimes, doing nothing was the best course of action.