Cat's Cradle 6

I didn't know how much time had passed but I was stuck there, trying to take in what just happened. Truth be told, everything was a blur. I…

One thing was made sure.

Senna was the root of the curse that befell Asako and Shinosuke. Her mere existence made them suffer through a long period of time. To think Yukina, her friend and matchmaker, devised something so twisted, so ill-willed to the point of not just getting pregnant with Asako's one true love, she also made sure they'd suffer for the many years to come. Just because they loved and learned the value of their partner.

Her reasons were unknown to me, but it didn’t matter anymore. I wasn’t capable of saving... of helping her… and that…

The warmth of Senna's neck lingered on my fingertips… the powdery makeup she used to hide those marks coating it. All along, the string marks didn't heal. She gave the illusion she's doing fine by applying makeup. Cosmetics must be a form of magic in and of itself.

“If I'm perceptive enough, huh…” I muttered Kiyoko's words. Guess what? Turned out I wasn't.

It doesn't even matter if magic was real or not; Senna might already be dead with only Yukina's will forbidding her from doing so. She could spin the threads of fate, right? It wouldn't be surprising if she even planned for my future too. My mind ran through all the scenarios on what that madwoman of a Hoshii could do. Where was she anyway?

A wave of dread engulfed me.

Suddenly, it occurred to me not to do anything stupid lest I disrupt that curse and it'd stick to me instead—if it hadn't already. The Hoshii's truly were dangerous people. The madam was right. I shouldn't have associated with them in the first place. I shouldn't have drunk that cup of whiskey. I shouldn't have…

Maybe if I got contented with my pathetic love life then nothing would've happened. I must've been living in ignorance to this day, getting into a society hellbent on shaping up people to be carbon copies of each other to the point of monotony. That must've been the better option.

‘You see what I meant by “be careful” now?’

A familiar voice spoke from behind. It's the cat! So, the thing's alive after all!

‘Akito got broken by a little revelation, big deal. After I told him not to mess stuff up, he's been relegated to a neanderthal.’

“Are you…”

‘No, dummy. Go punch yourself to confirm—ooh, didn't think you'd actually do it. Anyway, have you calmed down a bit?’

“Y-yeah… this is a dream…”

‘And it'll stay that way. Although, the things you sometimes put into your mind could materialize in the real world if you're being as stupid as you are now.’

“What do you—”

‘Shut it for a sec, aight? I'm doing a speech here. Ahem, anyway, what I'm saying is, if you think long and hard and actually put some effort into it, I too, might become real… just as how you believed on these curses and whatnot.

‘Have you forgotten, Akito? The time when you're still in that dark age? The time where you destroyed and killed and mutilated everything for your own salvation? Do you still remember that feeling? The thing that kept you awake at night? The only thing that, more than anything, scared you the most?’

“..!”

I slowly got up and dusted myself off. It's obvious this was a dream, but I think I've felt more awake than ever. It's just a couple of years; how did I forget?

“You're right. More than God and the devil and what have you, I still feared that thing the most.”

That's right.

Torture me, rip apart my flesh, drain my blood, scatter my entrails… none of that fazed me.

More than something that ‘might’ happen, what I feared was, despite also being a possibility, was closer to reality.

The keychain still stared at me with those huge eyes. Unmoving. ‘Good morning, Akito.’

“Thanks, and goodnight, Manjuu.”

‘Took you a while to grow up.’

“Sorry about that. Thanks, and later, man.”

‘Sure, whatever. And if there’s a next time, improve your naming sense.’

The cat keychain slowly faded into nothingness from my dreams. Yep, that keychain persona was just a figment of my imagination. It's real, yet at the same time, an illusion.

And it might be the last time I'd see that little guy… an imaginary companion that supported me all throughout those years.

I woke up and rose. I must've collapsed after shitting my pants from that tiny bit of info. I grinned. Stupid me, getting scared for a parlor trick.

“Hey, Yukina,” I said to no one. “You hearing this? Curse me for all I care, but I'll never, ever let you have your way on one thing.”

No matter how many times you strangle her neck, I'll always come tearing it all apart.

Because…

Because…

Everything ends once rejection comes.

***

I made sure to properly lock up Madam Asako's house before setting off. Once I got down to securing the door, however, I heard an engine revving outside.

“Hey, man,” Hyuuga flashed a smile as he removed his helmet on that badass bike of his. “Need a lift?”

According to him, Fuyumi got nervous and called him to pick up Asako in case we failed. Too bad he got me instead. In hindsight, someone her age should be taking a car.

“Was planning to take this slow,” Hyuuga hollered at me. “Glad it's you though.”

“Don't like giving your future mom-in-law a ride?”

We continued trading nonsense since it's kinda hard to hear and speak with a helmet on and of course, with this crazy speed.

At our arrival, we heard the maids talking about possible succession and such. Obviously, it'd be Fuyumi, but rumors of Kiyoko taking over were also being gossiped.

Hyuuga must've known he's being scrutinized but he's putting up with it for Fuyumi's sake. Seriously, I really hope Shinosuke would still see his future grandchildren. I might not know him too much—well, I'm actually a bit pissed off on how he handled his relationships, but for the sake of these good people, he must live. My friends deserved better.

We entered a room where the people who care were at. On the spacious eight-tatami room were Kiyoko and Asako who only sat in silence, and the doctor who's rather young but I'm taking Fuyumi's word for his skill.

Speaking of Fuyumi, she's clasping a rosary murmuring a stream of prayers while being supported by Senna. As expected, the mark on her neck still remained.

“This,” Madam Asako spoke. “This is what Yukina had planned all along.”

“Dude, who's Yukina?” Hyuuga whispered. I gave him the shortest version of an answer to which he seemed surprised. “Woah, then Fuyucchi…”

“M-hm, it's not confirmed but it's highly likely.”

“Then, you'll gonna be my bro?”

“I've told you… again and… again…” Shinosuke said. The long pauses he did were unbearable.

I've never attended any funeral during my youth, and I've surely hurt a lot of people and animals, but this. A candle about to be snuffed out; this flickering flame before me hit very different.

So, this was what it felt like to stare at someone at death's door.

“Not… the chil… dren…”

“I…” the madam's voice trailed off.

Senna had been like a doll again and simply stuck on keeping Fuyumi from toppling forward.

“I let go of that. All of it.”

But truly forgiving someone… that's the hard part. I could almost hear her say.

As much as I loved being a side character, I needed to step up this time. There's something that needed to be said and done right now… whatever that was, I also don't know, all I knew was it'd be lost forever if I don't take action.

“Ahem, so I know it's none of my business, given I'm just an employee. Hell, I don't even have the right to be here compared to all of you,” I gave a once-over to everyone's faces. Senna seemed hesitant to make eye contact. “But one thing's for sure. You guys overcomplicate stuff.”

“Welcome to the real world, Akito,” Hyuuga smiled wryly.

“Look, what actually is the problem here? Was it Mister Fujiwara's unfaithfulness? Was it Yukina seducing him? Was it this ‘curse’? I don't know. Maybe you don't even want to know either, since you don't make an effort in yourselves to seek the answers.”

I turned to Kiyoko. “Kiyoko, was this also Yukina's will?”

“…”

“Suit yourself. Just know that you're affecting the lives of many people with your secrets.”

“…And? What of it?”

Kiyoko looked at me, her lips curved into that smile. The smile of someone who never cared of anything else.

“I asked you, Akito,” She had enveloped the entire room with unknown malice. “Should all of us suffer and die right now, tell me, why should I care?”