God, It Has Started The Wrong Way Round

Playing the Matchmaker

"Look, Tomoe. You need to man up."

"Matchmaking isn't manly, Nanami! And don't try to lecture me on this topic, you're a female!"

"Well, I'm sorry, but you're the one with a name of the opposite gender!"

"...but still, Nanami!"

The fox girl sighed. "It can't be helped, Tomoe. Hurry and get ready, Kotarou will be here soon! Now that I've explained everything to Hime-chan, he doesn't need to borrow your uniform, so be thankful!" She grinned and pushed him away.

Tomoe hung his head and dragged his feet to his room. He snorted as he got dressed in his traditional clothing. Why did he have to introduce the two? Nanami could do a better job than him! If she would agree on it, then he could just hole himself up in his room until they were done. Piece of cake.

Except for the fact that, y'know, Nanami wouldn't agree. Naturally.

He sighed as he put all the clothing but the haori-himo on, and walked out to Nanami. It'd become a sort of habit for her to put in on for him, a) because he couldn't (and wouldn't) do it himself and b) it had become an unspoken small, calming ritual they completed before handling traditional godly crap.

After Nanami was done, she used his half-bowed position to her advantage and reached up to pat his hair, smiling cheerfully as she did so. His eyes widened and his semi-tensed body relaxed.

"It's not that bad, Tomoe! Calm down, everything will go smoothly. I can practically feel your nerves." Tomoe pouted internally but kept a frigid façade. He wasn't nervous. Complete blasphemy, her words were (but he still enjoyed the feeling of her hands on his head).

"Hmph. There's nothing to be nervous about. I'm just...uh...ripping a blue rope?" A tick mark appeared on Nanami's fist as he finished the sentence. Her eye twitching, she spat out her words.

"Tomoe-sama, you will be tying an uninterrupted bond that will last for eternity with red string!" She whacked him on the head as she put more and more emphasis on her words. Boiling bumps appeared on his skull as he scrambled away from her, groaning.

"Anyway," Nanami clapped her hands together and spun around as if she didn't just beat a god half to death. "Kotarou should be here...Now!" And right after the word, a knock was heard on the door. Nanami grinned and Onikiri and Kotetsu followed her to the door to welcome Kotarou.

Later on, after Nanami had mentally prepared Kotarou for what she hoped would come, Himemiko arrived. She appeared cute and petite in a ruffled, light blue sundress with a red bow in her hair. Introductions were made, and awkwardness ensued as the couple that were being matched shuffled around, avoided direct eye contact, stole adoring glances, and generally brewed enough tension to bust an airplane hangar.

When all was said and done between the four of them, the unmatched ship (still a ship nonetheless) left the blossoming young couple to their own devices. Which, as it turned out, was the best course of action as Nanami's nervous ranting and amateur hints were failing so pitifully hard it was almost painful to watch - for Tomoe, at least.

"Well, what now?" He grumbled. She smiled at him, and waved her fan like some sort of mad seer - albeit more gracefully, like the failed matchmaking yokai she was.

"We wait. And see."

神様はじめました

It was a literal walk in the park, Kotarou thought as he strolled by the lake, Himemiko at his side. The silence that accompanied them was nothing but a breeze, blowing companionably and then withdrawing for short, warm moments. Himemiko had been wonderfully content, showering him with snips of conversation that displayed her amazing personality. Kotarou couldn't say the same for himself, he mostly just fiddled with his fingers or glasses and talked quietly. She didn't seem to mind, though, always the epitome of patience and kindness. It was nice to have his dream partly accomplished.