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What kind of gift did you get for a woman like Shiki Misaki?
This was the driving question in Neku Sakuraba's mind as he walked the streets of Shibuya. It was difficult to find something for her because she had never been a materialistic person, and she could picky about the things she did like. Nevertheless, he wanted to give her something special, something unique. After everything they’d been through, all the time they’ve waited to be together, it was what she deserved.
Clothes of course weren’t going to be an option. Shiki could make things in her sleep better than what the best stores sold. Sewing materials were out as well. She still used the same tools she started out with, and rarely if ever used any new equipment. Jewelry would have been nice, but the others had beaten him to the punch. Rhyme and Beat were getting her a necklace, while Eri had bought a pair of beautiful earrings. Joshua was getting her some very expensive heels from Pegaso, so shoes weren’t going to cut either.
His next option was a mural. After several hours of searching he discovered an untagged portion of wall in Udagawa. The artwork would’ve depicted Shiki holding Mr. Mew, cherry blossom petals falling all around her. Unexpectedly hard rainfall ruined it before it could dry. That put him in a foul mood for a few hours, leading to his current predicament.
“What about… no, that won’t work…”
Neku decided to take a break, taking a seat at a bench that had just been vacated by a couple of teenagers. Roaming the city failed to give him any ideas, but the sting of his mural being ruined had somewhat abated. As much as he wanted to come up with an idea by himself, Shiki’s birthday was in a few days. Now would be a good time to swallow his pride and ask for help. Luckily, a trusted friend was only a few feet away.
“No good… hey, what would you give Shiki?” He asked Hachiko.
The bronze statue remained silent.
“Really? I don’t think I can afford a Fabergé egg, but I bet Shiki’d like one. You could paint little Hachiko dogs all over the surface, then maybe put a Mr. Mew figurine inside. Solid gold, of course.”
Hachiko stared into the distance nobly.
“Hey, can I make a confession, from one friend to another?” Neku stood up and stroked the statue’s side. “I’m really jealous of you, buddy. Every day for three years, the best human being in the world visits you.”
Hachiko quietly agreed.
“It’s funny, you know? A lot of people kept talking about me like I was some legendary hero. I’m just a guy. Nothing special about me. If anybody knew what kind of person I was a few years back they’d say I’m less than that. Did some awful things too. You know, you were there when I hit rock bottom.”
To this day he still couldn’t forgive himself for nearly killing Shiki. Being tricked did not mitigate his guilt. He didn’t deserve Shiki’s forgiveness for it, and yet she forgave him anyway. At the time, he couldn’t understand it. Even if they needed each other to stay alive, Neku expected her to hold a grudge, or at least keep him at arm’s length, but she didn’t. She never gave up on him.
“She deserves everything. I just want her to be happy. To feel appreciated. And yeah, yeah, I know it’s the thought that counts, and that Shiki’ll appreciate whatever it is I give. Even so, I need to get her something she’ll love, something with meaning.”
Thoughts drifted to the last two days of his week with Shiki. How he learned that she wore the face of another out of envy. That she was just like him, someone afraid and out of their depth. In hindsight, they were a fitting pair. A boy who only loved himself, and a girl who only loved others. Neku believed that neither of them would’ve changed if they’d been partnered with anybody else at the time.
“I’m a better person because of her. And well, I’d like to think I helped her be better too. That’s why it’s important that I give her something. So come on buddy, help a guy out. What’s the best thing I could give her?”
Hachiko refused to reveal his secrets.
“I know what you’re thinking, I’m overcompensating. But can you blame me? Technically I’ve only known her for a few months before I got dragged back into the UG, but so what. Those were some of the best months of my life. There’s three years of memories in my head where I’ve spent so much time with her, but those aren’t my memories, not really. I want to make real memories with her, good ones.”
Neku looked at Hachiko pleadingly.
“You’re really going to leave me out to dry? Did that time we spent cleaning you up mean nothing?”
Hachiko’s silence was answer enough.
Neku petted Hachiko’s paw. Only now did he notice the odd looks he was getting from other people passing by or sitting next to statue. “…heh. I can’t stay mad at you. You’re too cute. Well, thanks for listening. I really needed it.”
Keeping Hachiko company was nice, but Neku had places to go and gifts to buy. He gave the dog another paw rub in thanks and walked off to other familiar haunts.
Despite all the changes in the city, Hachiko remained the same. Neku appreciated that. Sometimes it could be overwhelming to catch up with all the changes in Shibuya. Even places that were here forever, like the Don’s old shop was gone now. But then again, part of those old shops still remained, or other places arose to replace them.
Inspiration struck. Like a bolt from the blue, Neku realized what he needed to give her. The then-languid pace of his footsteps sped up as he weaved through the crowds. His destination wasn’t going to close yet, but time was of the essence.
“Oh! Yes, that’ll be perfect. She’ll love it.”
Days passed, and Shiki’s birthday finally arrived. The party wound up having two phases: one where family, work and school friends mingled together at a high class restaurant, and a second, more intimate one composed entirely of close friends and those who lived a double life in the UG and RG at Curry Don. Currently, they were in the second phase.
At times, it still felt surreal to Shiki that so many people came to celebrate her birthday. Before the Game she wasn’t very close with anybody. Now she was having trouble of keeping track of all the people wishing her well. It was overwhelming, but in a good way.
Now Shiki was in a corner by herself, holding a red box given to her by Kariya and Uzuki. It was surprisingly light for its size. She jokingly imagined that it was full of lollipops, but she would’ve really liked it if Uzuki gave her some her stylish ties.
The box went at the bottom of a small pile of presents of various shapes and sizes. She was having fun guessing what they all contained. “Gosh, look all these. I don’t know if I can carry all these by myself.”
A pair of arms wrapped around Shiki’s hips. With a surprised yelp, she realized that it was Neku.
“That’s what I’m here for. I think I can carry them all by myself.”
“I wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself, some of these boxes are heavy…”
“Hey, I carried us through the Game, this’ll be nothing.”
Shiki couldn’t help but laugh.
“Maybe I should start opening them now? It might be easier to carry them around that way.”
“Might help.” Neku pulled his arms away from Shiki to grab a present wrapped in purple. “Why don’t you start with mine?”
“Sure.”
Ever meticulous, she opened the package slowly, cutting through the tape with a pair of scissors she always carried in her purse. Careful not to tear through the wrapping paper, she pulled Neku’s gift out of the package.
“Neku, this is…”
A denim skirt, weathered but in a way that looked on purpose. It was brightly colored, the seams alternating with each other. Each layer of the skirt was looked completely different from the next, but the colors contemplated each other in a way that was pleasing to the eyes. There was one brand in Shibuya that could work with denim as beautifully, but to Shiki’s knowledge they’d closed up shop two years ago and moved to Yokohama.
“This is from Hip Snake. I haven’t seen this piece for a long time. How’d you find it?”
“Wasn’t easy, but turns out that garagara’s and Hip Snake’s owners are good friends.”
“That makes sense.” Shiki held the skirt up to marvel at its stitching. She genuinely considered it a work of art. “It’s beautiful. What was it called again…”
“Love in a Heartbeat.”
The name instantly brought memories back to Shiki, of a time during the game when she and Neku had not grown close yet. Of a man who explained what the skirt was for, and who said that a pair of lovebirds wouldn’t really need it.
First came the laughter, then the tears. A surprised Neku could only tilt his head before Shiki pulled him in for a kiss on the cheek.
“You can be really sentimental.” Shiki dried her tears on Neku’s shirt.
“And whose fault is that?” He smiled, holding her in his arms once more.
As it turned out, a cherished memory was the perfect gift for a woman like Shiki Misaki.
“I’m sure glad you liked the skirt.” Neku said, hours later as they traveled home by train.
“Of course I’d like it. Why, did you have another present if I didn’t?” Shiki asked.
Neku’s face turned red. “I was… going to do something cheesy, ask Beat to tie me up in red ribbons. So I could be your gift.”
“Well, that won’t work.” Shiki said.
“Really?” Neku asked, a little worried.
“Yeah.” Now it was Shiki’s face that was flush with emotion. “I mean… you can’t r-really give me something I already have?”
“You’re so cute.” They said at the same time.