Walking forward, a meeting

The two of us walked through the town. I was essentially led the entire way, as I had little recollection of the direction we went. We turned around many corners, and walked along streets I had never seen. At first, I had tried to make conversation, but was asked to remain quiet until we were all assembled. Fujiwara’s expression was serious, not an ounce of emotion visible on it.
Then, after a good fifteen to twenty minute walk, we had arrived in front of a small café. It was build in old western style, with wood beams moving along its white facade. Vines climbed up parts of it, giving it a more natural feel. They were carefully pruned around the small windows, whiches shutters were open to let the sunlight in. A small garden decorated the area around it, with flowers and shrubs flourishing. The front yard was surrounded by a brick wall that was only interrupted by the entrance. It had a small black wrought iron gate, with flower patterns crafted into it.

Fujiwara opened it, and walked the few steps over the stone pathway. Then, she stood in front of the large wooden door that served as the main entrance to the café. I had seen the closed sign hanging on it, but she just opened the door.
At first, we were greeted by a large wooden desk. To its right stood a coat racket near the wall, situated next to an umbrella stand. To the left, the actual main hall sprawled out. As my guide simply walked in, I chose to follow her. The front desk continued and bent around the corner, turning seamlessly into the counter. On it, several appliances that served for brewing café and food displays were stationed. Behind it, I saw the entrance for a small kitchen.
But, more astoundingly — or not really, as the door had been unlocked—, someone was standing behind the counter. A young woman, with dark red-brown hair tied into a ponytail. She wore a suit, looking more like a butler than a waitress, but perhaps fitting for a barista. She looked up from whatever work she had been doing, and faced us. Recognition on her face upon seeing Fujiwara turned into a kind smile. “Welcome.”

“Sorry for intruding Mori, but I hope you can forgive me.”
“Please, don’t worry about it. This is the reason as to why I opened the café in the first place.” Then, her gaze focused on me. “So, this is the person you had mentioned.”
“Yes.”
“So, how much does he know yet?”
“Nothing. I will explain it from the top.” She looked around. “Is Suzune here?”
“Ah, yes. I think she lay down on one of the benches in the back, taking a nap.”
“Seriously, I told her today was important business. Minoru, please wait a moment while I wake her up. Feel free to order something. Mori, for me the regular.”
“Understood.” The barista bowed gracefully. Then, she faced me. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, and welcome to my café. While introductions may be in order, I would prefer to leave them to another time. For now, please stay with the other guests. If you would like, here is the menu.” I walked closer, and took a look at the menu she had laid on the counter. All the while, I felt her gaze on me, studying me. I decided on a cup of roasted green tea.

Then, the woman began her work. I took this chance and observed her. She prepared our drinks with well practiced motions, and I could see no hesitation in the steps she took. At least, it appeared that way to me, a complete amateur.
Despite her young age, an aura of wisdom could be felt around her. It made me imagine a scene with people sitting at the counter, and her polishing glasses while listening to their problems, then supporting them with sage advice. ‘…Wait, this is a café, not a bar.’ But, this was the feeling I got of the woman named Mori.
Just starring might be weird and rude, so I tried to open up small talk. “Thank you very much for allowing us to gather here while you are still closed, Miss Mori.”
She turned to me, smiling, and continuing her work. “Just Mori is fine. And don’t worry about it. As I said, this is part of the reason why I opened the café. Rest assured, it might not make sense right now, but will soon.”
Before the conversation could carry on, I heard Fujiwara call out to me. “You can come now.”
I turned to Mori, wanting to ask if I can stop our conversation. She simply motioned with her hand for me to go. I gave a curt bow, and made my way to the table.

It was situated in the back corner of the café. Walking there allowed me to get a good overview of the business. While the house might appear small form the outside, on the inside, it was surprisingly large. There were sixteen tables arranged, all with cushioned, comfortable looking chairs. The tables near the wall had access to the bench that moved along the outer wall. In the middle, wood beams went up to support the upper floor. I had seen no stairs, but I guess they were hidden somewhere. Likely a private space for the owner. On the outside, I had seen some windows indicating a second floor after all.

Now, at the table, there were two girls waiting for me: Fujiwara, in her uniform as before, and the mysterious cat-shrine girl. While she did not wear the cat ears and tail right now, she still had that shrine maiden uniform on. Her hair was still a bit disheveled, and she let out a big yawn as I approached. Surely, she must have had a good nap. And, somehow, her tiredness managed to cancel out my nervousness.
I took a seat opposite to them. The presumable shrine priestess — if not, cosplayer — , was groggily noticing my existence. Then, her gaze shifted to Fujiwara, as did mine. I thought she would give out the introductions. But, before she could, the third person spoke up. “So, what do you want me to do about him?”
‘…Hello, I am here?’ Fujiwara turned to me. “I am sorry, she is like that sometimes when she just woke up. Please give her five minutes until she had her coffee, then things will be alright.”
A bit confused by the interaction, I agreed nonetheless. All the while, observing these two. Fujiwara seemed flustered, and her partner looked as if she was going to doze of soon again. To help end the situation, Mori arrived, carrying a tray with our drinks. While the roasted green tea was put down in front of me, Fujiwara got barley tea, and as previously mentioned, the third person got coffee. It was iced café au lait. Uncommon, but everyone their own.
As she left, I could feel Mori throwing me a glance, as if judging me.
I rose the cup to my mouth, and had a sip… It was good. Like, really good. This was how imagined good tea to taste, I had no other way to describe it. If nothing else, today I had learned of a café I would definitely visit again.
Naturally, that wasn’t my intention. I came here for a different reason. I watched over the girl, as she drank from her beverage.

“Ah, that really wakes me up. Good we decided to meet here.”
“Suzu, you could have waited for us awake.”
“See no reason for that.” Then, turning to me, she said again “So, what to do with him.”
‘Patience, Minoru, patience.’
“Well, I hoped for your help…”
“I refuse.”
“But, why?”
“You know it is beyond me. Especially here.”
“I didn’t mean here. Just, assess and prepare.”
“Can’t do.”
The two talking about something between themselves soon was enough for me. “Maybe, you could explain the situation for me?” I asked, with annoyance tinging my voice.
“Look, that’s what I am talking about. No patience or respect for his elders.”
‘Elders?’ “Excuse me, but I think you are probably younger than me.”
“Stop! Both of you!” Fujiwara shouted in between us. Then, she started giggling. “But seriously Suzu, can we stop playing around?”
“Alright, fine, take me my last bits of joy.” She grumbled.
Having endured an apparent trial of some sorts, or passed an initiation test, Fujiwara corrected her posture, and turned to me.

“Minoru, this is Saitou Suzune, a shrine priestess from one of the local shrines. Suzu, this is Yamazaki Minoru whom I told you about.”
Now that things proceeded normally again, I also entered the formality, and gave a short bow “Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“Sure sure, nice to see you again. Now, I know you must have many questions, but hold them for now, as we explain what is going on, alright?” She regarded me curiously, awaiting my response. Surly, there were many questions, even just now, but I just nodded, and would patently wait.
“Alright, then.” Saitou turned to Fujiwara. “I will leave the stage to you, and add my bits form time to time. Is that alright?”
“Yes. Now then.” She looked seriously at me. “Whenever we ask you seriously, you have to answer truthfully. No matter what it is, or how outlandish the question or the answer might be, is that clear?”
“Yes.”

“Good. Then, the first point. Have you seen anything strange the last couple of weeks?”
That was straight forward. This situation had already been nonsensical, so my inhibitions were lowered. This made me talk freely about what might otherwise see me sent to the psychiatric ward of a hospital. “Since I got here last month, form time to time, I got a strange feeling. It seemed like things were moving in the corner of my eyes.” Fujiwara continued looking at me seriously, while Saitou nodded her head in what appeared to be approval.
“Then, yesterday I saw Saitou move through the school. …Not only dressed like a shrine maiden, similar to right now, but also with…”
“Cat ears and tail?” Fujiwara interjected.
“Yes.” To my answer, Saitou gave a sigh. “I knew I had my guard down, but for that to happen… Well, it was partially intended after all. Me walking through your school was no coincident. I did it as a test to see how you wold react, and if you could make out the details. Not only that, but to assess your situation too.” I wanted to ask what she meant, but remembered their previous requirement, and kept quiet, and instead moved on.
“Then, starting this morning,” Both perked up hearing me continue to speak, now looking intently at me. It caused me to pause for a moment, but I resumed shortly thereafter. “Starting this morning, I saw… lights, dancing around in the air. It might sound strange, but-”

“How did they look to you?” Saitou asked, with a serious face.
“Well… like lantern lights without lanterns? They are not that bright, but I can see them clearly.”
“Are the lights colored?”
“Yes, but not that strongly. More like, thin watercolors.”
“Have you ever seen them before?”
“Yes. But rarely. At times, it looked like they were flying around, almost transparent, but they quickly disappeared. I wrote it off as sunlight being reflected by something around me.”
“Why did you say anything about them on the way here?” Now Fujiwara joined the questioning.
“Well, I didn’t know what they were, so ignoring them seemed to be the best choice at the moment.”
They both went silent. Finally, Saitou spoke up. “It’s worse than I thought.” ‘Well, that doesn’t sound ominous at all.’ “Sorry to dash your curiosity, but we better continue from the start. Ayame.” They exchanged a nod.
“Now, that you have seen things before might make it easier for you to accept what I am going to tell you next: Youkai, ayakashi, magic, they all exist.” She said it completely straight faced. Assuming the same facial form, I replied in an even voice. “You could have almost fooled me that they didn’t.” Of course, it was a joke. And, it might have lightened the mood at least a little, as her face softened during the next parts.
“Not only that, but they usually hide themselves from humanity and civilization. It is a great history with many reasons, but long story short, we just do it. Following so far?”
“Clearly.” ‘Now is probably a bad time, but I should ask for more details in the future.’

“Okay, then to the next point.” She turned to Saitou, who looked at her in turn. “Do I have to?”
“Please, it would make it easier.”
“Alright.” Upon this cue, she looked at me to get my attention. And she did have it. From her head, as if emerging form the hair, two cat ears appeared. Springing up, as if they had been pressed against her head. Then, I could see a tail move up behind her, waving around. “You don’t seem too surprised.”
“I had already seen it before, so.” To be honest, I was still a bit surprised, but managed to play it over.
“Good. I just wanted to make sure you had really seen it before.” After that answer, I looked at Fujiwara. “Might you be too…?”
“Yes, she is, but different. For note, I am a nekomata.”
“…Didn't nekomata have two tails?”
“Idiot, open your eyes properly.” I took another look at her. Then, while focusing, it looked as if there was a second one, moving in the shadow of the first. “Satisfied now?”
I heard the anger in her voice. Then, I remembered that I had asked a question. “Sorry.” For some reason, I felt like I needed to apologize.
“Accepted, by try to look out better for these things in the future. Just so you know, between youkai, ayakashi and so on, your word is something that counts, and is treated almost like a vow. Would you promise something, and break it, you better be prepared to pay a price. Right now wasn’t that serious, but well, you should know that.”
‘Why would I know? Did something happen in the past?’ I wanted to exclaim, but a split second before talking, I shut my mouth. Saitou regarded me, then nodded satisfied. “At least you seem to be a fast learner.” She shook her head to the side, indicating to Fujiwara. When my eyes were upon her once more, she continued.
“Now, my case is a bit different from Suzu, so I can’t freely change my form. But yes, I am a youkai too. …Might you want to guess which kind?” She asked sheepishly.

“Kitsune.” It came out of my mouth before I could even think.
“…That is correct.” Saitou answered first. Both looked at me, with mouths slightly agape.
“How did you know?” I saw something glimmer in Fujiwara’s eyes as she asked that question, but didn’t quite know what it was. Still, I owed her an answer.
“Well… It is essentially two halves. First, the way you behave around others. You are always nice to everyone, happy, fitting in everywhere. But, at times, it looks like there is something else below the surface. As if you were… acting in front of them. Not really putting on a mask, but only showing them a side of yourself. Not to mean it in any rude way. Perhaps it is because you can’t freely tell them about yourself.”
She gave a self deprecating smile. I must have hit a painful spot. In turn, Saitou looked at me with disgust. I could make out her mouthing the word stalker. I wanted to defend myself, as I only studied her because she had kept looking at me, but was promptly stopped. Fujiwara had recovered, now asking me “And the second half?”
“Instinct?” That made her perk up, looking at me expectantly to continue. “I don’t know how to really put it otherwise. When you asked me, and I looked at you, it just came to my mind.” ‘Maybe I shouldn’t put too much meaning to it.’

But, contrary to my thoughts, Saitou turned even more serious. Without her saying anything, Fujiwara continued. “Now, we can’t seclude ourselves from society completely. Some choose to do so, other prefer to live alongside humans.”
“Ayame wished to go to school, and so she did. I, for one, prefer quiet and solitude, so I work at the shrine.”
“T-” Stopping myself short once more.
“Then, as you might see, at times, humans like you exist. They either have natural abilities to see past illusions, or get entangled in our world due to some circumstance. As for you…” I gulped. “It is the second option. By now, you might have a guess, no?”
“Yes.” I dawned to me. “That accident during my childhood. It had to do with magic of some sort.”
Saitou took over once more. “Yes. I can’t and won’t go into the details. I didn’t know about it at first. Ayame had asked me about it, and I looked it up. We keep records on any incidents that happened. And then, there was yours. A detailed record of what happened.” A mischievous smile appeared on Saitou’s face. She knew she could use it to get me worked up. A quick, meaningful glance from Fujiwara made her reconsider. ‘Just how did their hierarchy work?’
“Anyway, it got resolved. As you have still been a child at the time, the people overseeing the case made a decision: They sealed your memories.”