Saiki K PeePee

Ch. 32: Crossroads of Destiny

More months passed by, bringing this little story to Christmas Eve. Cheer abounded everywhere except in the heart of the Grinch, who 18 years ago had decided that pink was his new favorite color. However, a sedulous sapphire-shrouded seraph sought to change that.

In the time preceding this very special day for couples across Japan, the Grinch had used his time to set the Mystic's counsel into his heart. Though he would tell you it was "acceptance of his fate", he was not fooling anyone. Perhaps he said it as an assurance to himself to aid in mollifying his heightening anxiety.

He and the seraph had continued their clandestine rendezvous, gradually thawing his icy heart little by little. She knew it was working; the planning for what the Grinch refused to admit were dates had reached parity.

But this begs the question: why had the seraph kept this up for so long? What made her believe that Christmas Eve would make any difference during their journey? Or, less obfuscated by pedantry, why did she think he was worth the trouble?

They were not destined to be together any more than an average couple solely because they were uniquely and equally powerful. They could have easily passed each other by without a whisper. They could have been born in different countries. There were too many junctures that they could have failed to navigate. These and many other scenarios were all very possible. Despite all of the logical reasons their relationship could have gone wrong, all of the difficulty they had put each other through, and all of the crushing pressure they had to endure to preserve a semblance of their lives outside of each other, she couldn't help but have faith.

Maybe it was just a high school flame; a capricious thing that burns brilliantly when stoked by the hormones of adolescence but fades when not maintained by effort both earnest and reciprocated. Despite that, she couldn't help but try.

He challenged her, took care of her, and, most of all, cared FOR her. By the most charitable of measures, he was not forthright with his thoughts and emotions, but had more than proven his mettle with his actions. He had no reason to tell her about what happened with Aiura's kiss, but he did it anyway. He was far from perfect at it, but he made a conscious effort to face conflict head on. She more than sensed his fear, but he still worked with her to pull away the thorn studded vines wound tightly around his heart. It was likely unintentional, but the fact that he was able to keep coming back to show her that tender look despite his embarrassment meant the world to her. He put more effort into his gifts for her than anything she'd ever seen him do. So, despite everything, she couldn't help but love him.

These were the thoughts that provided the air beneath the seraph's wings as she descended upon the Grinch's cave in the crisp morn before Christmas. Today's outfit was a deep red zip-up parka, black beanie, khaki scarf, neat, form-fitting black pants, and black ankle booties; blending bold neutral colors to complement her cool-toned, feminine hue. Of course, she would look great in a canvas bag, but wanted to look as good as she felt today.

"Merry Christmas, Saiki-kun!" Teruhashi chirped merrily as she crossed the threshold to the household. He wore a plain purple sweater with a plain white collared shirt underneath, plain khaki pants, and plain white shoes. Clearly, he had no intention of stepping outside today.

He greeted her with a coy smile and a head shake. Wait, what was that? Did his eyes just shimmer?

"What am I going to do with you?" he snorted.

Teruhashi uses Angel Upward Beam™! "Take me out for coffee?"

"Too early for that." It was not very effective.

"That's every couple's first date, you blockhead." Her face scrunched in an equally ineffective attempt to intimidate him.

"We're not a couple."