"Guys, can you wait for me while I buy some food for Black Canyon?" Yashiro asked as she pointed at the store that sells sunflower seeds. [Name] gave the cream haired girl a thumbs up as Aoi nodded in approval. Yashiro ran off to go to the store, leaving the two girls at the nearby park where the infamous swings that [Name] hated was displayed.

Aoi pointed at the swings. "[Name]-chan, lets wait for Nene-chan there." [Name] didn't move a bit from her position, feeling hesitant to try the swings. For the longest time after breaking up with Souho, she never touched the swings and been wanting to evade the path by going to other directions. But unfortunately, she had to pass by the park before reaching to her house.

"You should go ahead..." [Name] waved her hand with a wince, then hugging her stomach and looking away. Aoi noticed the change of expression of her friend's face, she didn't want to appear as forceful if she wanted [Name] to go try the swings. The purple haired girl had a hunch that it has something to do with her ex. Aoi just obeyed and went to the swings to get some rest as [Name] remained standing to wait for Yashiro.

It seems like Yashiro is taking too long for finding sunflower seeds for her hamster. [Name] groaned now that her legs were tired from standing too long. She didn't want to make herself suffer just because she didn't want to sit by the swings. 'Goddamn it [Name], move on already—it already happened a month ago, take some rest or you won't be able to walk for the rest of the day.'

[Name] pulled out her phone to check on the time—5:53 PM. Somehow it feels familiar seeing the sky turned golden as the sun sinks, followed by colors of orange, pink and lilac to blend the twilight sky. On the boundary between day and night. On the hour where supernatural things tend to occur. It was just like this when she first met Hanako, leaving a trace of memory that she will never forget from that fateful day.

After that, [Name] had given up, it feels so funny that she can face supernaturals yet she can't even go to a harmless swing because of some guy. [Name] trudged her way to the swings where Aoi is, sitting next to her. It's been a month—maybe two or so since she last sat on this swing. There was a cringing feeling once her hand grasped into the metal handle, it was uncomfortably cold.

"Do you perhaps hate swings [Name]-chan?"

[Name] shook her head. "It just gives me bad memories from Souho. We used to go on this swing together back when things were okay from the both of us." She said while looking down on her feet brushing against the sandy soil beneath them. She couldn't resonate with the swings like she used to—well, it goes for this swings because this is the one that triggered the memories. "I wanted to enjoy something without being able to remind the painful things he did. Imagine that person is the reason you like doing something and somehow they're also the reason why you can't do them anymore after they hurt you."

"You can still enjoy them [Name]-chan." Aoi piped up while glancing at [Name] with a smile, she slightly swings herself as she starts to rant her opinion. "Avoiding them won't do anything because the more that you do, the more that you remember. How about making those things come from you? That way, you won't be reminded of someone and that the first thing that comes to mind that you're the one who did it."

"Make some memories from the swing that we're on to replace the old ones." [Name] felt epiphany by Aoi's advice. It makes sense, why not just remake your own moments without that person, so that way you will no longer reminisce them while you do things on your own. [Name] stared back at Aoi and smiled softly as she placed her hand on her own cheek.

"Thank you, Aoi. For changing my mind." [Name] gently tells her. Aoi's smile falters as a blush appeared on her cheeks. Then, she mustered up to curl her lips to her signature look—to mask what was really behind all those smiles—to hide the gnawing feeling of one sided love. Aoi used to like [Name] back when they were in middle school when the latter helped her pick up her books when they collided, somehow she stopped when Souho consulted her into getting [Name]'s number. She wanted to be selfish yet no matter what she did, the ending is just the same. Lose.

A path to nowhere, when the line does not meet in the graph. Asymptotic.

Aoi thought she had already moved on, but how could she if [Name] was sitting there looking so pretty? She kept convincing herself that she will never catch feelings for her after that. But sometimes, the things we tend to avoid, we wish to avoid, we often end up liking them unexpectedly. Though it's a one in a million chance that you'll like that person again, and that's on you. Aoi shrugged her shoulders, dragging her hands down to the cold metal handle of the swing and smiled. "You're welcome, [Name]-chan."

The price you have to pay in liking the impossible is high expectations and the change for that payment is disappointment.

♥

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"I'm going to have to continue our shrine traditions. I don't want this legacy to die now that we are entering the modern period. Years have passed and these traditions will never be forgotten, so be sure to pass on your knowledge once the time that I will step down comes."

"Yana-neesan is a perfect candidate to take over the shrine. Like you Mom, she can see things differently as well."

"Yuko, I'm not that experienced. Just because I can see protective charms doesn't mean I can take over. Besides, Mom is still energetic at her age—I still have a lot to learn."

[Name] took off her shoes and stepped inside the house to see that her Mom, Yana, Aunt Yuko and Grandma Inoue are at the table discussing some important matters. "Uh...good evening." [Name] raised her hand awkwardly.

"Oh my! [Name] is that you? The last time I saw you was years ago before I came to the overseas." Aunt Yuko stood up from her chair to give [Name] a hug, which the teenager only patted her back from the sudden surprise hug. "I just came to visit your Mom and Grandma—I'm sure Mizuki misses you, it would be nice if you come visit and have a vacation."

Mizuki is [Name]'s cousin from her mother's side, who is a year older than her and her closest cousin. The last time they saw each other was during [Name]'s twin sister's funeral that happened a year ago. "Where's Yoonho? Is he at a friend's house again?" Yana asked. [Name] nodded, must be nice to have a friend that literally gives you a free pass on going to their home since she's a nervous wreck when she goes to Yashiro or Aoi's house.

After [Name] conversed with her relatives while eating dinner, [Name] went straight up to her room to do her homework while watching anime—throwing in another round of reading fanfictions in AO3 until it almost reached midnight. [Name] browsed through the internet to see some interesting things until she came upon an article about a superstition which requires eating an apple in front of the mirror in a candle lit room. "This sounds thrilling...might as well try it."

So [Name] got on her clothes wearing all black, then sneaking in to the kitchen to get an apple and lighter. She decided to go try it in Kamome Academy because a supernatural encounter there is a hundred percent guaranteed. [Name] managed to slip in to the premises but she couldn't see Hanako, maybe he's busy with something. [Name] arrived in the third floor girl's bathroom to try out the ritual.

[Name] went in front of the mirror though she is not scared of what's coming from the corner of her eye since she's immune to supernatural occurences nowadays. According to the article, they say that if you eat an apple in front of a mirror with a candlelight as a light source, a vision of the love of your life will appear peering over to your shoulder. "Alright mirror mirror on the wall—show me the love of my life." She announced while igniting the lighter.

Crunch!

"Fireee eyo eyo~" [Name] quietly sang while waving the lighter as she ate her apple. She waited for the image to appear on her shoulder but nothing seems to be showing up. "Oh man, no one's appearing does that mean I'm gonna be single for the rest of my life?"

Just then Hanako appeared behind her, putting a hand on her shoulder making [Name] shiver and almost dropping the apple that she was holding. "Ah!" [Name] shrieked. She turned over to see Hanako grinning mischievously for scaring his dear assistant. "Hanako-kun what the fuck man? I'm trying to do a ritual here!"

Hanako tilted his head in curiosity. "Ritual?"

[Name] sighed. "You see I saw this ritual on the internet where you eat an apple in front of a mirror with a candle light and an image of the person who's going to be the love of your life will peer over your shoulder." [Name] explained while taking another bite of the apple. "I decided to do it in school since your bathroom is a boundary right? A boundary between humans and ghosts so I assumed that the ritual would work."

"So...did it work?" Hanako questioned.

"I dunno, no one appeared." [Name] shrugged. "Well—at least before you came here and scared the fuck outta me." There goes another ritual debunked. [Name] finished up her apple while Hanako told her about his day as she nodded at every word he says. Hanako pointed at her ears.

"You didn't have your lil earrings on."

"Oh, I'm lazy to put them on."

Hanako snickered. "I didn't realize that your ears are that big."

"Hey! They're not that big! Look at yours!" [Name] retorted while pointing at Hanako's ears. Hanako and [Name] kept bickering at each other about their ears, then the apparition boy had an idea in mind just to tease her a little.

"How about we compare sizes? I bet I can prove you wrong." Hanako put his index and thumb around his ear to measure the size. He showed her the outline of his ear by his finger. [Name] rolled her eyes in annoyance so she did the same and showed it to Hanako. What happens next is that Hanako combined their fingers together in the form of a heart. "See~" He grinned as both of their eyes turned to the mirror.

"What—?!" [Name] stared at him with disbelief with a blush on her face, then repeatedly smacking him by the shoulder. "What the fuck was that for?!" Hanako could only laugh at her reaction while trying to shield himself from her hands. "Hanako-kun you idiot—"

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UP NEXT

Hanako tells [Name] that he's stressed with the supernatural work and decides to seek comfort from his dear assistant before going off to assign a meeting for the seven wonders.

[Name] gets into a fight with Haname's friends in the cafeteria.

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a/n: heyyy im back and i have recovered from my sickness so like i hope that ya all would like this chapter :D