73 - Vignette - Post-Game [Final Remix]

xxxxx

Tempered

Winters in Shibuya didn't often result in uncomfortably cold temperatures but Shiki thought this year might be the exception. It was cold enough for her to decide to don her self-made scarf, one that she had crafted last year. It also meant that she had to wear gloves, ones that fit her hands snugly enough, though not too tight. She never did like wearing gloves that restricted her hand movements too much. Her scarf was also wrapped very loosely too - those were prevented from restricting her for...other reasons.

It was warmer at home, she thanked the heating systems silently for that, otherwise making chocolates would have been an impossible task. She still wasn't an adept baker but her the chocolates that she delivered earlier had earned her a thumbs up from both Bito siblings. That had to count for some type of improvement, didn't it?

The reaction that she was most looking forward to was Neku's, though. He was surprisingly competent in the kitchen and that made him a little harder to impress. Always, he thanked her for the chocolates, taking them from her very gently, making sure not to crease the packaging. The level of seriousness that he took in ensuring that he didn't damage them might have been unnecessary but she found it endearing.

He took taking the first bite very seriously too.

There was always a tell-tale widening of his eyes if he bit into something less than savoury. He managed to trick her that first year into believing that it did taste delicious but after trying a spare batch she had leftover, she realised that he was simply trying to spare her feelings. She managed to pick up on the little details over the year, as she kept experimenting in the kitchen. If her cooking was a success he made a small 'hm' sound every time. Her - not failures, as Neku told her not to call them that - works-in-progress resulted in a more muted response since he took some time to try and come up with a compliment that wasn't an overt lie.

Perhaps to others, it could be seen as a small gesture but it gave her a certain degree of warmth to know that he was willing to be what essentially boiled down to her guinea pig for her culinary adventures. And maybe, she just liked seeing him eating the food she made for him.

After putting him through all her experimental food, she was determined to make this valentine's day a reward for him by giving him the best that she could produce. It had been a year since her first batch of chocolates and this year she had the presence of mind to have a taste test before wrapping them up.

The metal bench behind Hachiko was cold even through her coat but she sat down anyway. This was their meeting spot and she promised that she would wait for him here.

When people looked at Hachiko, they always thought about the front angle. It stood resolutely, waiting for its most beloved person to return. Even on a cold day like this, it would remain where it was. It was never lonely - how could it be? There was not a day in the year where there wasn't a smiling face posed next to the loyal dog.

The view from the back, however, Shiki could see the beloved dog had its tail down. The one most important to it never returned and so it could not be shown to be happy.

But…

But Hachiko was only a dog.

Unlike Shiki, all it could do was wait.

"Well, Neku," she whispered, warm breath escaping her, "you wouldn't happen to want to come back for these chocolates?"

Maybe he wouldn't.

Perhaps she would be left here for the rest of the evening, surrounded by people spending time with the ones they cared for most.

While she didn't know where hers was.

But maybe, just maybe...if today was the day he did come back, then he would be hungry. Even if not, he'd still eat her food anyway.

And if today was not the day, she would try something else.

Shiki was not Hachiko.

She refused to end up like it, simply remembered for waiting.

For now, however, she was content with the chocolates in her hands, having promised herself that tomorrow she, Beat and Rhyme were renewing their search.

The cold might not last and neither might the chocolates but her resolve to find her Partner would remain.

A/N: Tadaa! Seems like Valentine's day always inspires me to write Neshiki so here we go. I realised I haven't screamed about the twewy anime or neo twewy coming out here but believe me I have been screaming about it on twitter...Hope you guys are excited as I am!

- Dina (14/02/2021)