The Tie that Binds

The moment could go on forever. I've never been stunned to the point of speechlessness. I might as well have forgotten how to breathe.

With Senna's cold pinky still interlocked with mine, she continued praying in absolute calm.

FLASH! Another set of fireworks bloomed into the dark sky. I could hear some cheering from afar, the spectators of the festival were really getting into it. I also had the urge to shout but it might distract Senna.

After what felt like hours, her finger finally twitched. When she opened her eyes, it immediately sparkled with happiness.

“It's beautiful…” she muttered; her breath taken away by mere flashes of color. “I'm glad everything worked out just in time.”

“Yeah…” I agreed, not even hearing more than a third of what she said. “Beautiful indeed.”

Senna looked at me and pointed at the sky. “Look! That small one will be the best.”

The display ended with the largest one painting the sky in a momentary orange before fizzling into nothing. The show was over. Her finger loosened up.

But I held on.

“I… a-ah… uh…” I stammered. My throat felt dry that it came out as weird noises.

“…We can stay for a little longer. I don't mind.”

“Thanks…”

Thanks to me wearing a jacket, we had a makeshift mat. It might be cheap, but having Senna sit on the ground in a yukata didn't sit well with me. Perhaps in casual clothes, but this time, no.

“I…” I searched for a topic. Stupid me running my mouth before I could think. “I'm sorry I didn't bring the muffler you lent me.”

“It's a gift. Although it is a little disappointing indeed.”

“Well, maybe it's because I don't like wearing the things I really valued. Oh, I meant ‘wearing’ as in getting frayed and old and such.”

She giggled. “Words are strange at times. It's like me saying I'd be your light and all that, but in the end, it's just you who kept giving. I've always taken from everyone, haven't I?”

“Senna…”

She hugged her knees. “I... now remember that day. I saw it—saw her die before my eyes. I really am built around a curse. Maybe the string room mother weaved was not simply to negate Miss Kiyoko's error but to protect me as well. I… am nothing.”

Later she told me how her mother's life flashed before her eyes. Perhaps due to the trauma, she's developed a fear of tires screeching on the road. It's hard to fully assess what instances triggered it because obviously, we heard those sounds a lot during our errands but that one at the park was one of those. Maybe a certain tone would?

I took her hand and wrapped our little fingers together again. Even she got surprised on what I did.

“Isn't this what I'm supposed to do anyway?” I spoke. “I'm a damned moth to the flame. You can't just tell me to back off after all we've been through.”

“You'd burn yourself.”

“Trust me, if I'm living without fulfilling my calling, that'd burn way more.”

KRING! She flicked her wrist again. Despite almost doing it unconsciously at this point, her interval seemed to be spot on.

“Say,” Senna said, looking at the star-filled sky. “Why? Why did you open that door that day? Why did you save me?”

“Common sense. You're gorgeous so I grabbed the chance to earn a hot girl's gratitude.”

“Taking notes from Mister Nakayama?”

I shrugged. “I'm his friend, for better or worse.”

She bit her lip. “You know, that room was at a pretty inconspicuous place in the house. It's close to impossible for you to ‘stumble upon it’.”

“Wait, are you accusing me of being a thief after all these times?”

“Perhaps?”

We both laughed.

“Seriously?” I said. “You're killing the mood, you know?”

“And you shouldn't blatantly say that to a girl's face. You're being lenient on the basics.”

“Uh, well we're not—” I caught my tongue before just in time. “Ahem, lemme try that again. I mean, if you're interested in making this long-term…”

She giggled again. “Plus points on trying to act cute. Minus points on the slow pickup.”

“Well, this is one candidate I'm not willing to lose,” I softly brushed her hair with my hand. “I like this Senna too, you know?”

In the beginning, what attracted me to her was that raw character she displayed during our very first encounter. I felt like that's the real her—the one I must be chasing. However, after spending time with this job, I came to understand a lot of things. Those things were all basic stuff to be honest, but for someone with so little experience about how people and relationships worked, it's all a new horizon for me.

Senna seemed surprised by what I said, perhaps mainly because of how cheesy it sounded, but her expression softened. With a smile, she said, “Your wit sometimes amazes me. According to auntie, mother mulled over the normal ‘Senna’ using characters for ‘thousand’ and ‘apple’ and—”

“One meaning ‘a thousand names’,” I said. “In a way, she's right to consider that one despite being an uncommon name. You also bore the skill to make a thousand faces of your own. And I’ll love every iteration of it… of you…”

“—!!”

Before she could react, I grabbed her waist and pulled her close for a kiss. Her soft lips met mine that's complete dry. It's awkward. Everything didn't go as I've simulated in my head. What can I do though? I'm just an average guy who happened to get lost in search for the bathroom.

I'm glad it happened though, because if the gods truly did arrange for our meeting, then I could at least forgive them.

She averted her gaze once we parted, her cheeks flush red, “Negative points for sudden aggressive behavior.”

“I'm just afraid you'd stop it again. Wait, don't tell me you didn't like it...”

KRING!

“…”

“Look, I'm sorry. I just—”

Before I could finish, she pressed her lips with mine. This time, it's me who was left dumbfounded. Now, I could understand why. She's simply unprepared.

***

When we returned, Kiyoko again had this annoying grin on as if she's expecting something.

“How's the trip?” she asked, not hiding her excitement.

“It's alright, I guess?”

“M-hm, m-hm, did it go well?”

“About what?”

“I'm a matchmaker too, honey. I can read easy guys like you down to the last drop.”

“Psh, so this was her plan all along?” I tried hiding my face. I just knew I'm having a stupid blush right now. I have the perfect item for this woman. She grew on me, for better or worse. Besides, she’s the reason why this started. Because she chose me.

“Oh?” She received the thing I always forgot to give her. “An owl, huh. What a very thoughtful gift.”

“Yeah, it's down to a coin toss though. I would've given you the wolf one just by how predatory you are.”

“Hohoho~this one work perfectly. Anyways, just goes to show you've achieved something great if you're giving little old me things. Ah, Senna,” she called the girl who's already at the door to the main house. Senna really had some great camouflaging skills. “Look! Akito gave me a cute doll!”

“Then go thank him,” she coldly replied and shut the door.

“I'm smelling negative points,” She had a mischievous smirk as she tried spoiling the mood. Too bad, she's not the only one doing the reading here.

I mean, it’s pretty obvious Senna was still out of it (which was unlikely of her). I’m pretty much in the clouds myself. Those things really felt like in the dramas albeit being sloppy and awkward in real life.

"Anyway," Kiyoko shifted her tone as she began petting the toy. "Is this what you've been after? Are you satisfied?"

It's strange she asked me this now when it's been apparent I've been into Senna way back. I admit I was being stupid lying about my feelings when I continued going through the speed dating events, but I couldn't bring myself to charge head-on without proper preparations. If anything, I really had no intention of messing up my image. Senna seemed to feel the same, given her reluctance at some parts. Like that first kiss, our progress had been abrupt and awkward.

It's alright though. Different strokes for different folks. Kiyoko shouldn't expect anything decent when it came to a shy and sheltered matchmaker and a hopeless fool. if anything, what she should be keeping her sights was the story that'd come after. Would it more exciting that this, I not sure myself, but with Senna by my side, I'm sure everyday would be way better than before.

Kiyoko received my full answer through our interlocked gazes. These were things best left unsaid.

On the way to the station, I checked my phone for the time. I'm cutting it close for the last trip.

The keychain wasn't there anymore. The thing had fulfilled its job well being there for me, but now, I pass it on to someone who needed it more.

There’re still many unsolved mysteries but this was the first step—our first step to solving it. As long as I'm there for her, trip and fall she would, but I'll be right here to push her back up.

She said she's done nothing for me, but I refused to believe this was all Yukina's doing. She herself chose to accept me despite barely knowing anything about my past. She relied on me. Those things spoke volumes on how even a societal reject like me could still find true love against all odds. I felt loved and needed at the same time. Senna made me feel special that even if I’d get burned or cursed, I’d remain by her side.

I fished my pocket for another item. This time it's not a stuffed toy. It's another identical cat keychain. This one seemed new though.

“Small world, huh,” I attached it to my phone. “Now, I'm officially a good person. Isn't that right, Kiyoko?”