Inside the stifling, jolting city bus, Arata could only daydream as he stared at the dusty windowpane. Shadows of monsters like the Cov kept spinning in his head—a horror that no human was ever supposed to witness.
A strange turbulence stirred in his chest. He wondered why he had so easily obeyed the commands of those three Guardians. It felt as if an ancient destiny was demanding payment, a "red thread of fate" weaving the elements of the glass, the jewel, and the sword into his simple life.
As a teenager, Arata knew his emotions were still fragile and that he was prone to making the wrong moves. However, he also knew that this fear was his best teacher. As soon as the bus pulled up to the stop near the workshop, he hopped off, trying to bury his anxiety deep beneath the cacophony of the street.
----
Arriving at Kenzo's Motors, he saw his bike and Yumi's scooter already neatly parked.
"Afternoon, everyone! Uncle Kenzo, Taka, Hiro..." Arata paused, then added in a much softer tone, "Good afternoon, Sora."
"Afternoon!" his seniors replied in unison.
"Good afternoon, Arata," Sora answered. Her gentle voice seemed to ripple, vibrating through the hot air of the workshop until it resonated in Arata's chest. He stood stunned for a moment, gazing at her face—a vision of coolness in the sweltering midday heat.
"Hey, Arata! Go change your clothes and get over here!" Uncle Kenzo's booming voice suddenly snapped him out of his trance.
"Ah... right... okay!" Arata replied nervously. He hurried to the lockers to store his bag and change into his work overalls.
---
The atmosphere in the workshop was pleasant. The roar of engines, the clinking of steel wrenches, and their shared laughter blended into a beautiful symphony until evening approached. The day's customers were gone, but closing time hadn't arrived yet.
With no more customers coming in, Arata took his position to fix his own bike. Between tasks, he glanced at his seniors, Hiro and Taka, who were relaxing with cigarettes.
"Uncle, help me work on that one," Arata said, pointing toward Yumi's scooter.
"What?" Hiro asked, not quite hearing him, while Taka also turned toward Arata.
"That scooter. Please help fix it. I'm not done with my bike yet," Arata pleaded.
"You brat, can't you let an old man relax for a second?" Hiro grumbled. He stubbed out his cigarette and began to walk over. "This scooter?" Hiro asked, observing it closely.
"Yeah, the engine won't start," Arata replied without looking up; he was still busy checking his own bike's issues.
"What happened?" Hiro asked again.
"Overheated," Arata answered shortly.
"Really?" Taka, who had been sitting and smoking, immediately joined the investigation and began inspecting the object. "How did it get this bad?" Hiro asked, curious about the scooter's condition.
"I don't know. While we were riding, it just died and started smoking. The temperature was insanely high; it was clearly an overheat," Arata replied, trying to analyze it.
"Oh, is that so? Definitely. But we have to see how severe the damage is first," Taka added.
"Yeah, hopefully, it doesn't need too many repairs or replacements," Hiro continued as he started stripping the cylinder head of the tiny engine. "Were you guys on a long trip? It shouldn't be this bad, even if you were pushing it."
"Not far, just from the protected forest..."
Arata's mouth snapped shut. There was something he shouldn't have said. His heart hammered against his ribs, but for once, luck was on his side. His two seniors hadn't heard him; they were deep in discussion. A sudden breeze of fresh air hit his face from nowhere, instantly calming his nerves. Fortuitously, they were too busy dismantling the engine to catch Arata's slip-up.
"But wasn't this scooter dropped off at the same time as your bike? We thought it was yours, or maybe your family's," Hiro remarked.
"No, it belongs to a school friend. She helped me yesterday when my bike broke down, but then her scooter gave out halfway."
Hiro burst into laughter. "Pathetic! You're a jinx, Arata! Your bike breaks, then you hitch a ride, and the ride breaks too? Seems like the problem is definitely you!"
Taka joined in the laughter while his fingers stayed busy loosening bolts on the small engine.
"Ah... don't be like that. It was just bad luck," Arata protested without turning around.
"Maybe there's an unpaid debt," Taka said nonchalantly.
"A debt? What debt? I don't owe anyone anything!" This time Arata looked serious. He stopped working, his head popping up from behind the seat, eyes narrowed at his seniors, still clutching a screwdriver.
"Hmm, try to remember. Maybe you forgot," Hiro teased without looking up.
"Hmm... nothing... yeah... there's definitely nothing," Arata replied, his eyebrows knitted in confusion.
"Hey... remember what you promised the two of us yesterday?" Taka said with a smirk. Clink! A bolt fell and rolled under the tool rack; he immediately moved to find it.
"Ooooooo! I thought it was something serious..." Arata finally realized and laughed, his body falling back until he sat on the floor from his crouching position. "Fine... I'll treat you guys, don't worry. But help me fix it first." He returned to his position to continue his work.
"Hey, a promise is a debt! And you promised old men like us, so you have to keep it. Otherwise, it's bad karma!" Hiro chimed in, laughing triumphantly.
Arata could only respond with a hearty laugh, feeling a bit relieved amidst the burden of the secrets he carried. However, his laughter died down when Hiro asked again.
"Arata, who actually owns this scooter? They seem really careless, never maintaining it for it to get this bad," Hiro said.
"A school friend. Seems like it. I think she just doesn't understand technical stuff like this," Arata answered.
"Doesn't she know you work at a workshop? She should've asked you to maintain it. Even Kato always brings his bike here for service," Hiro continued, curious.
"She's Kato's friend, but we haven't known each other long, and not everyone at school needs to know I work here, Uncle!" Arata asserted. Without realizing it, his voice was a bit too loud, reaching the ears of someone behind the cashier's desk.
"A girl?" Hiro and Taka asked almost simultaneously. The eyes of the two seniors instantly sparkled with mischief.
Behind the counter, Sora, who had been busy with the bookkeeping, suddenly stopped. The pen in her hand went still on the paper. The loud voices of the seniors made the word "girl" sound incredibly clear, like an echo triggering a strange restlessness. She was now eavesdropping with an increasingly serious expression, pretending to stay busy even though her entire attention was fixed on the conversation in the corner of the shop.
"Yes," Arata replied simply, still naive and unaware of where the conversation was heading.
"Hmm, I knew it..." Taka grinned widely. "You're willing to go through the trouble of fixing her scooter; is she someone special to you?"
Tuk! A bolt dropped again because Taka was too excited with his teasing. He immediately bent down to search for it.
"Hey, Uncle, don't be like that! Don't start rumors," Arata replied, trying to defend himself, but his voice sounded nervous.
"Why did you contact her? Usually, if your bike breaks, you call us for a pickup. This change in habit indicates something special," Hiro said with a small laugh, intentionally raising his voice.
"Hey, if it really is a female friend, that's a good thing. It means you're growing up, Arata!" Taka added while crawling on the floor. "Aha! Found the runaway bolt!"
Sora pressed her lips tighter together. An uncomfortable feeling crawled up her chest as she heard the seniors' boisterous laughter.
"Forget it, don't talk about that. Just focus so the scooter gets finished," Arata cut in quickly. His face was starting to feel hot, especially since he knew Sora wasn't far away.
"Hey kid, this is going to take a while. It looks like some spare parts need to be replaced because the damage is pretty severe," Hiro said after inspecting the inside of Yumi's scooter engine more thoroughly.
"Huft... I figured," Arata sighed in resignation.
"Fine, just deal with your old bike. I'll check the stock in the warehouse," Taka said. He stood up, dusted off his pants, and walked toward the cashier's desk to meet Sora, who was waiting with an unreadable expression.
---
"Done!" Arata said happily.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead before his thumb pressed the starter button. Click... Drr... drrr... drrrnnnnn!
He quickly pulled the throttle. Bruummm... brummm... brum!
Arata played with the rhythm of the gas. The old engine roared back to life, spitting out a bit of black smoke from the exhaust. The thick scent of oil and burnt gasoline filled the air, signifying that the mechanical heart was beating once more.
"Huft... finally..." Arata exhaled in relief. "Alright... let's test what you've got."
Arata hopped onto the worn-out seat. But just as he was about to speed off, a voice interrupted him.
"Hey, where are you going?!" Taka shouted from a distance.
"I'm going for a quick test ride!" Arata shouted back.
"Wait a second! There's a part missing from the warehouse stock. Go buy it while you're out so we don't waste time," Taka ordered as he walked closer.
"Oh, really? Okay then..." Arata agreed.
Behind the counter, Sora's eyes continued to watch his every move. There was a strong urge within her to get up and go with Arata, just to get some air or make sure he was okay. But her ego held her back; she remained still even though her heart was filled with an unspoken restlessness.
"Just this?" Arata asked as he took a slip of paper from Taka's hand.
"Yeah, hurry back so we don't end up working late into the night," Hiro added.
"Got it, Uncle!" Arata replied firmly.
Bruummm! Arata immediately sped off, leaving a thin cloud of smoke and the receding roar of the engine behind the workshop.
---
Bruuummm... screech!
The sound of tires skidding harshly against the asphalt accompanied Arata's return.
"Can't you ride a bit more politely?" Hiro scolded, followed by a small laugh from Taka.
"Let him be. That's just youth for you; their spirits are still wild," Taka remarked, shaking his head.
Arata got off his bike, breathing slightly hard, and handed a package to Taka. "Here, Uncle."
He didn't stop there; Arata pulled out another large bag that wafted a tempting aroma and placed it near the tool bench. "And this... is the payment for my promise to you both."
Hiro's eyes lit up instantly. "Now that's what I'm talking about!"
"Wow, with a bribe like this, I'm ready to work overtime until dawn," Taka added enthusiastically. "Come on, let's finish this scooter!"
Arata smiled. "There are cold drinks inside, Uncles. Please help yourselves."
He continued walking after the two seniors nodded. Still carrying something in his hand, Arata walked steadily toward the cashier's room. As it turned out, a pair of eyes had been watching him since he arrived.
Inside, Sora's body suddenly moved restlessly. She reached for something only to put it back, fixed her hair, and fanned herself as if the air in the room had suddenly turned boiling hot. Her hips shifted uneasily on the creaking wooden chair while her fingers danced aimlessly over a blank invoice.
"Good evening, Sora. Good evening, Uncle," Arata greeted warmly as he entered.
"Good evening, Arata," Sora replied with a forced smile to maintain her heart's stability.
"Good evening, Arata," Kenzo replied, sitting not far away.
Kenzo had noticed the change in his daughter's behavior. Hiding a playful smile at their interaction, Kenzo stood up.
"Sora, Dad's going upstairs to see your mother," he said casually, trying to give them some space so the atmosphere wouldn't be too awkward.
"Okay, Dad," Sora said softly.
"Ah, Uncle Kenzo," Arata interrupted before Kenzo could walk away. "I brought drinks for you and Auntie." He handed another package to the man.
"Oh, you didn't have to do that. Thanks, Arata. I'll let your Aunt know." Kenzo nodded kindly before heading up the stairs.
Now, only the two of them remained. A thick silence suddenly filled the room.
"Sora, about yesterday... I—"
An answer as swift as a sword strike cut through Arata's unfinished sentence.
"Yes, I've already forgiven you," Sora cut in quickly.
Arata was taken aback. "E-eh? Th-thank you for forgiving me," he replied, reflexively scratching the back of his neck even though it didn't itch. "This... there's a drink and some snacks for you." Arata placed the last package on the counter.
"Thank you," Sora whispered.
"ARATAAAA!"
A loud shout suddenly tore through the blossoming red bubble of air between them. Both turned toward the workshop.
"Arata! Get over here! Help us finish this quickly, it's getting dark!" Taka yelled.
"Oh... right! Okay!" Arata replied in a panic.
He was about to turn and leave without another word when Sora's voice stopped him.
"Arata..." she called softly.
Instantly, the air in front of Arata seemed to solidify, like an invisible wall stopping his progress. He turned around. His heart throbbed seeing Sora's mysterious gaze—there was something heavy held at the tip of her tongue. It was as if she had been preparing this since he arrived at noon.
"Did you forget? You promised you would explain one thing to me," Sora said quietly.
"Huh? Explain what?"
The answer slipped out carelessly, crashing into the fragile layers of glass inside the girl's heart. The question she had suppressed for so long, which she had asked at the cost of her pride and feelings, was now like an arrow that fell mid-flight before hitting its mark. The red bubbles of atmosphere around them burst simultaneously.
Sora huffed in frustration. Her face, which had been blushing, now looked annoyed and embarrassed. "About the lunch box I gave you yesterday!" Her voice was like a thunderclap right in Arata's ear.
The statement shocked him. "Oh! That... er, alright..." He took a breath, then continued, "I'll explain it later after I finish my work. I have to help Uncle Hiro and Taka first."
The foundation supporting the sweet girl's heart crumbled. Her face flushed red—whether from emotion or something else—but the atmosphere in the room clearly signaled a storm was coming.
"Hmph, whatever. Forget it," Sora said sharply. Her face clouded over in an instant, matching the internal storm brewing in her heart.
Seeing the drastic change, Arata tried to chase away the dark clouds, but failed. He chose to rebuild the shattered foundation, hoping it could act as a shield.
"E-eh, don't be like that. Fine, I'll explain now—"
"Arata! Get over here! We need your help and we're hungry!" Taka shouted again from outside.
The universe clearly wasn't on his side. The dark clouds began to roll in, answering the call of the "Goddess's" heart.
"Yeah, hold on!" Arata replied in frustration.
"Fine. Just go take care of that girl's scooter!!"
Now Sora was intentionally destroying the foundation Arata was trying to rebuild. She chose to let the storm break. Asking for advice or help from the three Guardians would be futile; they would surely refuse to get involved.
Arata picked up the pieces again, arranging them one by one back to their original form. He used his final move to prevent the storm from fully erupting.
"Sora... how about after the workshop closes, I treat you to dinner? I'll tell you everything then." He threw out an offer that, in his mind, would be impossible to refuse.
Instantly, the gloom began to lift. The dark clouds receded, revealing a bright sun. A blinding yet warm light hit their faces.
"Fine," Sora replied flatly, trying hard to hide the joy overflowing in her heart.
"Arata! Move it! What's taking so long?! Stop bothering Sora!" Taka yelled again.
"Yeah, yeah! I'm coming!"
Arata sprinted out of the room, leaving Sora sitting limp, clutching her chest, trying to calm something that was struggling to get out.
---
The setting sun accompanied them through the final phase of the battle. Only one crucial step remained to prove whether all their hard work had paid off.
The scooter was parked neatly in front of the workshop, its form fully restored after being "gang-tackled" by the three mechanics. They now sat in a circle, mouths busy chewing on the treats from Arata, punctuated by light laughter. The atmosphere was incredibly pleasant.
"Arata, try starting it up!" Hiro ordered while munching on his food.
"Oh, okay," Arata stood up and walked toward the scooter, his left hand still holding a soda can.
Click... clack. The dashboard indicator lights glowed bright, and a soft humming sound was heard. He pulled the brake lever and pressed the lightning-bolt button.
Ngek... ngek... ngeekk...
The sound stopped. The engine remained silent. Arata tried a second time, but the scooter didn't respond.
"Try again!" Taka shouted. Curiosity pulled him closer.
Arata took a deep breath and tried once more. Ngung... ngungg... The starter motor began to spin. Slow at first, then the rhythm got faster and steadier until finally... Bruummmm! The scooter's engine roared smoothly.
"Waaa! Finally!" They all clapped in unison. Cheers of joy broke out in the darkening workshop.
"Let's have a toast!" Taka cried out enthusiastically.
"Let's go!" Arata replied, met with a thumbs-up from Hiro.
Toss! The three cans collided in the air. The soda foam overflowing from the cans hissed, accompanying their laughter.
"Arata," Hiro began after taking a sip of his drink, "who really owns this scooter? For you to sacrifice so much to fix it?"
Arata sat down next to the two senior mechanics. "Oh, that... The owner is a student named Yumi. We just became friends; Kato introduced us. We're in different classes. This scooter is the only vehicle she has to get to work after school. Besides, I also played a part in why it broke down."
Taka patted Arata firmly on the shoulder. "Wow, you're an amazing young man. That's a true gentleman's move."
"What's that supposed to mean? It has nothing to do with it," Arata replied with a shy laugh, followed by Hiro's chuckle.
"It means you have the guts to take responsibility for a friend," Taka continued with a tone of pride.
"Hahaha, you're too much, Uncle," Arata shook his head, his face reddening.
"Uncle...!"
The call was wrapped in a very soft and seemingly shy tone. The sound waves almost cut off before they could hit an eardrum—the complete opposite of Taka's booming shout earlier. Without being told, they all turned toward the source of the voice.
"Ah, Sora? You're still here?" Hiro said.
"What's up, Sora? Why haven't you gone inside? It's almost night; it's full of smoke and the smell of oil out here, not good for you," Taka added. However, he stopped talking instantly. His eyes caught something unusual; he glanced at Arata for a moment, then back to Sora.
The teenage girl stood looking down. Her hands were clasped in front of her body, fingers fidgeting as if trying to hold back overflowing anxiety.
"Mmm... that... I... I want to apologize," Sora murmured while bowing deeply.
"Eh?"
The two old men were shocked. Panic also hit Arata. They immediately adjusted their sitting positions, suddenly feeling awkward in front of Sora.
"What's this about? Why so sudden?" Hiro and Taka were startled, while Arata could only stand there in silent confusion at the awkward situation. Not a word came out of his mouth.
"Yesterday... I wasn't very nice to the three of you," Sora said again. She bowed a second time, showing sincere regret even though her face was bright red.
"Hey, hey! That's enough, don't bow anymore," Hiro interrupted, waving his hand to calm her down. "It's okay, it wasn't a big deal. Just forget it, okay? We've already forgiven you. Now go on up, don't let yourself get polluted by this dirty workshop air."
"Thank you, Uncle." Sora nodded slowly. After casting a brief, meaningful glance at Arata, she turned around and ran toward her house on the second floor.
At that moment, Arata realized something. His mind worked hard, searching through the archives of his memory, trying to link that look in her eyes to past events.
---
After Hiro and Taka left, the remnants of their laughter still hung in the workshop air, which was thick with the scent of oil. Silence soon took over, leaving Arata busy clearing away food wrappers and swinging a broom across the concrete floor.
"Arata, you haven't gone home yet?"
Kenzo's heavy voice suddenly breaking the silence made Arata jump. His broom stopped mid-swing.
"Eh, Uncle... not yet. In a bit, I—" Arata's words trailed off. His heart beat faster as the "memory archive" in his brain was finally found. He just remembered his promise to Sora.
"Eee... Uncle, actually Sora and I planned to go out for a bit. Do you... would you give us permission?" Arata asked hesitantly. His fingers gripped the broom handle, seeking support for his nervousness.
Kenzo pulled a thin smile, his face showing that he had already suspected as much. "So that's how it is. Sora mentioned that plan earlier. Where are you two going, exactly?" Kenzo asked casually, though his eyes watched Arata with a playful scrutiny.
"Hmm... I don't know for sure yet. Maybe just to grab dinner, or... to be honest, I'm confused about where to take her," Arata answered truthfully. A blush began to creep onto his cheeks.
"So, this was Sora's idea?" Kenzo raised an eyebrow, looking amused.
"Yes, Uncle. She said it was payback because I forgot to bring her a souvenir the other day," Arata said innocently, trying to defend himself.
Kenzo laughed softly, his deep voice echoing among the shelves of spare parts. "Goodness, that girl is really giving you a hard time. Alright then, be careful. I'm entrusting Sora to you, okay? She never goes out without my or her mother's supervision. So, this might be a new experience for her—and for me, too," he added in a slightly softer tone.
"Yes, Uncle. I understand," Arata replied with a long sigh of relief.
"Daaaad...!"
A sharp shout from the stairs cut through their conversation. "Why are you interrogating him like that?"
Both of them jumped at once. There Sora stood, looking fresh and ready. She was carrying a helmet and a small bag, staring at her father with a slight pout—a clear sign of protest.
"Aa... ee... no! Dad was just telling you guys to be careful on the road," Kenzo stammered, suddenly flustered in front of his own daughter.
"Come on, let's go!" Sora exclaimed without waiting for further explanation. She grabbed Arata's arm and pulled him out of the workshop with full enthusiasm.
"A—a... We're heading out, Uncle!" Arata said hurriedly. He nearly tripped over his own feet from Sora's unexpected pull.
"Be careful!" Kenzo shouted from the workshop doorway.
"Got it, Dad!" Sora shouted back without looking back.
Arata hopped onto his bike, followed by Sora who sat on the passenger seat. Before the engine roared to life to cut through the night, Sora waved her hand cheerfully. "Dad! Mom's waiting upstairs! Bye-byeee!"
Kenzo could only stand frozen, still a bit dizzy from the rapid change in atmosphere. He waved back at his daughter, who slowly disappeared, swallowed by the darkness of the night along with the receding hum of Arata's motorcycle.
****