Cats, Love and, Rain

I explained beforehand about Senna's condition. Seeing as this was her first vacation in a while (from what I can tell), we tried some easy rides first.

“Well, guess none of us would win.”

I talked with Hyuuga as the two were riding the carousel. Fuyumi seemed to be enjoying it, Senna too, but the latter appeared a little embarrassed to be with a bunch of children. She's also clutched the pole as if the force was enough to blow her away. Meanwhile, the other one continued piling up pictures.

“Hey, as long as they have fun. You feel the same right?”

That's the goal anyway.

“Dude,” I said. “Quit staring at me. I don't swing that way.”

“Pfft—oh, I just couldn't believe I dragged your ass on something like this.”

Oh yeah, back then, the closest semblance we visited of a recreational place was the ruins of a park just like this. Spraying over all those vandalized walls with our own tags was quite nice, but those kittens really deserved better. It wasn't the least bit funny but I had to laugh and do it. It's me or them, and I was only human. Now, at the very least, in honor of those little lives I sacrificed, I could proudly say I could have fun without the expense of another’s suffering.

The two were finally done with their third round in the ride. Fuyumi supported a slightly groggy Senna while asking for her opinion on what to do after lunch. Senna seemed eager and seriously weighed her options.

“Akito,” Fuyumi was pouting upon seeing us chilling. “Hyuuga didn't buy lunch, did he?”

“Nope.”

“Great!”

Oh, I don't like that smile. Sure enough, Fuyumi was discreetly reprimanding him about making her look bad on Senna.

“I wanna spend more time with Senna. I don't wanna go with you, hmph!”

“Aw, c'mon. I was hoping we could, actually do some dating that's why I waited.”

Seeing as girl wouldn't stop sulking, he pulled out his trump card. I didn't know headpats were still effective for an adult. Thought it's a teen thing.

The two of them ended up getting lunch while I looked after Senna. While it's great she's enjoying this, I could still hear her lightly panting from exhaustion.

“Is Fuyumi too high energy for you?” I handed my handkerchief.

She took it and began wiping the sweat off her forehead and neck. I'm glad that strangle marks were gone. I think it's been that way for some time already. Maybe I'm just paranoid. “She might be acting enthused but she's also keeping a close eye on me. Her journal indicated an overly caring person who's ready to sacrifice herself in the name of loyalty.”

“Loyal… kind of like a dog?”

“Hm, yes, but no dog could ever match the extreme personality gap between acquaintances and close friends. Mister Nakayama complements that as he's more or less static.”

“You mean that's all there is to him?”

“That's about everything I could deduce from his journal. He never repeated,” She rolled the walking stick on her lap. “People change. What might be a perfect match today isn't guaranteed tomorrow.”

“Really now? Then the Hoshii were just a bunch of ultra lucky people, huh.”

“There are factors, luck being one of them, but for the most part, learning to accept and adjust is the key.”

Now that she said it, Kiyoko's overwhelming aura must've affected the outcome. There's an abundance of matches that now lived happily despite their encounters made purely by luck. If we could really affect the future to a certain extent, and if the gods' plans happened to align with it, then maybe the speed dating events acted as a catalyst to hasten those reactions.

However, a matchmaker's job was to simply bring people together. The rest, they had to figure out themselves. Supporting and making up for each other's strengths and weaknesses might be daunting, but I reckon there's nothing a sprinkle of love couldn't cross. As long as they truly loved, those trials were bound to become sweet memories to reminisce.

The two seemed to be taking their sweet time so I let Senna rest up while I update Kiyoko on where we're at and stuff. ‘Okay. Careful, it'll rain soon,’ Was her response. Rain? The two did their homework and said today's gonna be all sunny, heck even my weather app said no sign of rain for the whole week.

“Oh,” I noticed Senna staring at my phone—the keychain to be precise. “Keychain caught your eye?”

“The sign of a good person. That's what she said…”

“Sigh, Kiyoko really needed to dial down the jokes sometimes,” I raised my phone to look at the figure of a fat white cat with huge eyes in a sitting position. “I don't resemble a good person. Not one bit.”

The two we're finally back. Fuyumi apologized for stealing a roller coaster ride while Hyuuga had a major facepalm moment. I could clearly see his embarrassment. Something good must've happened.

“Oh, it's okay,” Senna helped prepare the stuff they bought. I doubt we could finish that. “Something romantic was bound to happen or this date wouldn't be successful.”

The three of us coughed at the same time. Tact, Senna, tact. Damn, I forgot she's this brutal with her honesty. At least, that oughta quiet down Fuyumi. We couldn't have her choking every five seconds while talking about a bunch of stuff.

“Miss Senna,” Hyuuga said, trying to change topics. “That reminds me. Do you mind me asking what's your relationship with Miss Kiyoko?”

“Isn't she your sister?” I said, confident about my deduction. Kiyoko gave off a possessive big sister aura with the way she low-key threatens me.

To my surprise, Senna shook her head. “Miss Kiyoko is my aunt.”

“WHAT!?”

They're all surprised by me springing up to a standing position. “But I thought…” I couldn't believe after all those times; Kiyoko didn't correct me. The she-devil would be laughing her socks off if I told her what I learned.

“Dude, calm down. Was that really a big deal?”

Fuyumi was still quiet thankfully.

“I think not,” Senna said. “Miss Kiyoko had been taking care of me since I was little.”

I sat back down and gobbled down my yakisoba in frustration and defeat. Damn you Kiyoko, making me look stupid. Maybe I'd buy her a fox keychain or something.

Since we couldn't take more rides and risk throwing away our lunch (everyone got full especially us guys), we stopped by for some souvenirs. Senna had borrowed my smartphone and practiced taking pictures of Fuyumi who, for some unknown reason, was back to being hyper.

“Real smooth, dude. Real, smooth. Bravo,” Hyuuga was slow-clapping me as if I did something that deserved it. “Getting pictures of Fuyucchi using Senna. That's some sly third wheel move, bro. Eloquent, but not cool.”

“Shut your jealous ass. Senna just happened to not have a phone,” I handed him a snake keychain knowing he couldn't stand it.

“Woah, I'm just kidding! Dude, please stop. I hate those scaly slithers!” Seriously, he's being exaggerated. Not that it's a bad thing though.

As I chased Hyuuga around the shop, we began garnering attention. Who cares? At this point, I'm genuinely having the time of my life. The gods might've suspended their curse on me for this time and allowed me a little breather.

As expected, we got kicked out of the shop soon enough. Too bad we're already eyeing on bigger fish by then. The giant stuff toys. We agreed on a stuff toy showdown or who could get the most, or the priciest thing in the park.

“Hey, world-class bartender. Thought you're good with your hands,” I provoked.

“Heh, speak for yourself. HAAH!”

In the end, it's a draw. Neither of us got anything remarkable except for a small wolf and owl stuff toy. Damn, I knew I shouldn't have pushed my luck!

“It's the weather,” Hyuuga complained. “The sudden dark skies ruined me. I'm already in the zone, dammit!”

“Zone, yeah, sure. Missing a stupid shot a million times in a row really is a feat. Sigh, but it's sad this is all we can do. Something bigger would've been a nice consolation to our efforts.”

“But isn't it nice to play by the rules every once in a while?”

I grinned and held up a fist. He bumped mine. “Yep. It really is.”

“Anyway,” He whipped his phone out. “Guess we should call it a day before we get caught in the downpour.”

Before he could dial though, it rang.

“Hey, Fuyucchi, what's up? Huh? Okay, we're heading there now. Stay put!” He then shot me an alarmed look. “We've got a problem.”