The morning after the full moon was quiet.
Yuzume stood at the edge of the garden, broom in hand, staring blankly at a pile of leaves she had already swept three times.
She wasn't thinking about the veil.
Not really.
She was thinking about how Riku had held her hand the night before. About how he didn't let go until they were halfway across the hall. About how she didn't want him to.
A soft breeze danced through the lavender, sending petals scattering like sleepy confetti. Somewhere in the distance, a spirit chime rang.
Behind her, a familiar voice broke the silence.
"You're sweeping in a circle."
She didn't turn. "I'm aware."
"You've made a nest."
"I'm cultivating peace."
"It looks like a bird exploded."
She sighed and finally turned. Riku stood with two steaming cups of tea and an amused tilt to his smile.
"You're awful," she said, accepting the cup anyway.
He took a sip of his own, then gestured at the garden path. "Walk with me?"
She hesitated, tail twitching, then nodded.
They wandered slowly, letting the shrine speak for them. Wind in the trees. Gravel beneath sandals. Chimes singing soft notes over the river.
"You've been quiet," he said after a while.
"So have you."
"I thought if I talked too much, you'd kick me out."
"Tempting."
"But not today?"
She peeked at him from the corner of her eye. "Maybe I've grown used to you."
"Just used to me?"
Her lips twitched. "And your constant pestering."
"I'm charming."
"You're persistent."
He grinned. "Same thing, really."
They walked a few more paces before she spoke again, voice softer now.
"Why did you hold my hand last night?"
He glanced at her, not teasing for once. "Because it looked like you needed it."
She didn't answer right away.
Then: "Thank you."
A long silence followed, but it didn't feel heavy. Just full.
As they neared the riverbank, she stopped and sat down in the grass, brushing her tail to the side. He joined her, close enough for their shoulders to almost touch.
She looked out across the water. "Do you really think I'm weird?"
"I think you're kind. Strange. Beautiful. Slightly terrifying."
She laughed. "Terrifying?"
He nodded solemnly. "You throw slippers when angry."
"I have never—"
"There is one under the garden gate from last week."
She huffed, but her smile betrayed her.
Then she glanced at him, eyes gleaming. "If you keep looking at me like that…"
He raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"Like I'm more than just a shrine keeper."
He leaned a little closer. "Maybe you are."
Her heart skipped.
The wind shifted.
She turned away before she did something foolish. "My tea's getting cold."
"Yuzume."
She froze.
It sounded different when he said it. Like it mattered.
She sipped her tea. "Still a silly name."
He bumped her shoulder. "I like it."
She didn't say anything else.
But she smiled.
And her tail curled gently around them both.