Saitou Saya's Perspective
"Alright you two, now that the school day is finally over we can perfect the fortune-teller's booth!"
I raised one hand in the air, Saki-chan did the same, but Yuko-chan hesitated and followed a tad delayed.
"Come on, Yuko-chan! You need more confidence than that if you're going to make amazing sounds back here."
"I-I don't even know why we're making these strange noises, Saya-chan."
Her tall body slumped on the desk. It was a sad sight to see. Yuko-chan looked a bit defeated…
"Listen, Yuko-senpai…"
Saki-chan got out of her seat and comforted her companion.
"If we work together, it won't be as embarrassing. Think about it this way, Saya-senpai will be happy if we do this right, won't you Senpai?"
I nodded with excitement. The noises I want them to make will add to the ambiance of the entire display. It would give our guests that feeling that there are spirits around them, bringing a slight chill up their spine.
"Okay, let's do our first practice reading. Saki-chan, you're up first."
"Oh…sure thing, Senpai."
She sat down on a desk and I pulled up a chair across from her. Our eyes met as I pierced her gaze, looking deeper into her soul. I took her hand, causing her to jolt a bit.
"Could you give me your name and birthday?"
"Eh, aren't you supposed to know that, Senpai?"
Saki-chan looked incredibly annoyed, so to ease her mind, I gave her a pat on the head. Her cheeks flared up, just as I anticipated. Those bright pink irises looked as though they had hearts flooding from them. Her expressions were always so vibrant.
"Ahhh, T-Tadake Saki, ah…July 10th"
"Thank you…now I shall begin."
I pushed my foot down on a switch, causing the glorious crystal ball to start lighting up. It flickered in amazing colors as the world around us began to dim down….
"Wow…"
Saki-chan cried out. It seemed she was even impressed by the setup. Yuko-chan was in the back making a "Mooomooomoo…." The sound added to the ambiance just as I suspected. Her face was bright red though, and I felt a bit bad. That's why Saki-chan would be helping her too, so she wouldn't get like this during the actual event.
"I see in your future…a girl longing to be noticed."
"Ah?"
My customer's pigtails nearly spun from my words.
"Yes…someone who has faced many hardships…but soon all her struggles will be paid off…with overwhelming affection and love from…from…"
"From?! From what, Senpai?!"
"I-I'm losing it…it's…it's fading…the spirits from the future…I'm losing them…"
Excitedly, Saki-chan burst up, causing me to lean back and take my foot off the switch. The lights clicked back on, the glowing crystal ball died out as she stood there, hands on her chest.
"Where am I going to get my overwhelming love and affection from, Senpai?! Did the spirits say you?! Did they?! Did they?!"
Sadly the connection was broken the moment she stood up. I regretted informing her, but it had to be done.
"I lost the connection…when you stood up, Saki-chan. It's…too late for me to get them back."
She nearly screamed from the top of her lungs an inaudible whale. Suddenly, she clawed my shoulders and shook me.
"Don't give me that horse shit, Saya-senpai! Give me love! Give me love!"
"S-Saki-chan! Don't shake Saya-chan so hard; she'll lose consciousness."
All I could do was laugh.
"Okay…now it's Yuko-chan's turn."
"Ehhhh?!"
The tall mountain cried as she nearly fell to the floor.
"Come on, Yuko-chan. You know you want a reading. Saki-chan, make strange noises."
The 1st year grumbled as she stepped away from the crystal ball.
"Pff, even you know these noises are strange, Saya-senpai!"
"Alright, let's skip the formalities and get right to the fortune, Yuko-chan."
She was practically shaking now as we began. The lights dimmed down just like last time as I rubbed the crystal ball with care.
"I see…in your near future…an old friend…."
I thought about those red carnations that Yuko-chan was going to give to her old friend. This guided me to my fortune for her…
"Ah…I see…"
"They…want to get to know you better, but only by opening your heart to them…will you be able to clearly see the path forward."
Yuko-chan grumbled as she puffed her cheek.
"Arrrrggg…stop it, Saya-chan."
I opened my eyes and gave her a wink.
"So, make sure you have lots of fun with her after you get off work."
Saki-chan stopped her "Moooomoooo" sounds as she crossed her arms.
"Oh, is there a girl Yuko-chan is gay for here?"
"N-No, that's not true, S-S-Saki-chan! S-she's…just…an old friend…of mine."
Her voice died down as she tried to defend herself. It was extremely adorable, and I had to give her a pat on the head as an apology.
"Hey, give it your all, alright Yuko-chan?"
"Yeah! And if you can't get through to her, give her a super big kiss on the lips!"
"S-Shut up, Saki-chan! I-I don't like her like that!"
Gently, I pulled her hand to me.
"But you do like her, don't you? Even if you just want to be friends, make sure you express that, okay?"
Her cheeks went crimson red…but I think it was necessary for Yuko-chan to grow. She's been in a shell since I met her. For the first time, she's actively tried to make friends outside of me and the club. So, to give her a push forward, I had to embarrass her a little.
"…Thanks, guys."
She whispered.
The rest of the session went off without a hitch. After the sun began to fall, Yuko-chan took the train going the opposite way as Saki-chan and I. Once we made our way to our side of town, we stepped off, waved goodbye, and began walking away.
"Ah…Senpai!"
I turned to see a bright red-faced pigtailed girl. She held her breath for a bit and cried…
"Good luck tomorrow! You…are going to look so cool in your fortune teller's outfit!"
"Oh…thank you! You too! Let's have a lot of fun tomorrow!"
She giggled and bounced away. How I loved watching my little familiar so cheery. Now alone in the large home, I removed my shoes at the door. With nothing to do, I casually walked around the place, listening to my feet clack against the floor.
"…Onee-chan…"
I closed my eyes, thinking about my older sister. How we decided to move out together, how…she was truly the only person in this world that I could trust.
"…I miss you when you're not here."
I confessed. The days before I was brought into Saitou's home came back to mind briefly. They were like nasty scars that I couldn't get rid of. How…they made me feel sick thinking about those days. But then when I think about Onee-chan, those horrid memories break apart, and I start to feel happy again.
"…Well, I should go to my room and practice more for tomorrow."
I concluded as I made my way up the large staircase. Onee-chan wouldn't be home for a bit. She usually works late at the office, so I had to bide my time alone in this big home…too large for two sisters to be living in alone…
Late into the night that day, once my sister came home, she made her way into my room after getting undressed. Tiredly, she slammed her body on my bed, overtaking me as she did it.
"Eh…what's up?"
Annoyed, I wined.
"Saya-chan…your readings were on point today. I did just what you said and saw someone!"
To my surprise, well…I couldn't really say that. I knew the spirits had a plan for my Onee-chan. So, I sat up with her as we both faced one another. We looked into each other's eyes.
"When I was on the train…I saw a…sad but beautiful girl looking out the window."
"Oh?"
She nodded as she curled her burgundy hair in her fingers.
"Yeah…she looked lost, and I couldn't stop looking at her. The thought that was constantly going through my mind as I watched her was…"
She sighed as she looked to the side with content.
"Who would make such a sweet-looking girl like her cry?"
She crossed her arms as we sat together now.
"But my stop arrived, and I had to change trains in order to make it to work. But…that's when I saw in the reflection of the other train…"
She smiled brightly.
"She was staring at me. At first, I didn't think it was true, but as I walked, her eyes were so focused on me. I had to slow down to make sure she was staring at me."
Risa stood up and seemingly mimicked her behavior that morning. She swayed her butt back and forth. She's always had a nice butt, that's been the running joke in the family.
"Probably she was looking at your butt?"
She nodded with vigor.
"Oh! I'm sure she was."
That's when her shoulders dropped.
"…But it probably wouldn't work out..."
With the mood destroyed, she sat back on the couch. Her body plopped up against mine as she closed her eyes.
"…I wish she was still with me, Saya-chan."
"Risa…she left you. It's been years now."
Tenderly, she wrapped her fingers in mine.
"Yeah…but it's hard to get over your first true love, you know?"
My Onee-chan, still trapped in the past that was clearly severed from her. She deserves to be happy though, and I will do everything in my power to make sure she finds someone else to love…and make sure that they love her the same way this time.
"Have you been going on the dates we picked out, Onee-chan?"
She sighed then nodded.
"Yeah. I've been…meeting them at the Red Roses. None of them ever pan out though."
Her hollow voice as she spoke…told me she wasn't telling me the whole truth. It's been months, and I expected her to be going to the Red Roses and likely writing in her book then coming home later and telling me she was on a dinner date.
"…You have to open your heart, or you'll never find someone, Risa."
I scolded. All she did was hold me tighter.
"I know…I know."
I'm sure she suspected that I was suspicious.
But that didn't change the fact that she knew I only wanted her to be happy.
"Hm, maybe you'll run into that girl who was staring at your butt one day. Who knows? Maybe she'll be your soulmate?"
I teased as I poked her small nose. But instead of backing down, she started tickling my sides. I got on top and pushed her down. She retaliated by slapping my butt a few times. We battled for a while as the night went on. These moments when it was just me and Risa were the best. One day my Onee-chan will open up to someone again…And when that happens, I'll do everything in my power to guide her to a loving relationship.
Because I never want to see her as broken up as she was when the love of her life crushed her heart…