Blossoms of the Dark

CXXXIV Shouto: Fire

It is late May now.

U.A. organized a party for all the students after finals.

A congratulations and goodbye for the third-years, a promise of hope for the second-years, and a welcome for the first-years.

I arrive early for the end-of-the-school-year party.

And I choose a table far enough from the crowd, close to the food counters, and beside the forest.

Because this time I will not be ditched when Selene-chan vanishes into the forest.

I'm going to follow her through, no matter what.

I stare out into the growing mass of people congregating by the entrance from my seat as I adjust my shirt cuffs and bow tie. The crowd seems bigger than before, like even party recluses decided to leave their hermit lifestyles for one night and attend the occasion. Tonight, I took exceptional care in appearance. I've noticed that Selene-chan has a preference for ties and bows and the like in a tuxedo. This time, though, I don't appear conspicuous like a weed amongst flowers. All the boys and girls are wearing some level of business casual wear. So in my black and white ensemble, I don't feel like a misfit.

But then my gaze lands on the prettiest flower. The one who stands out, no matter what she wears, what she does. Like the moon goddess incarnated into a human to walk on earth, but her mysterious radiance could not be concealed. Selene-chan tries to slip around the throng. My breath catches in my throat. I cannot peel my eyes away from her. Distantly, I realize I'm getting out of my seat and strolling toward her. Just then, she gathers the hem of her gown and turns for the forest. Not this time. I watch just where she steps through and change my direction, too. I'm only meters away when she disappears from view.

Seconds later, I walk through the same opening she did. Little light penetrates the dense trees. Deep green foliage during the day is a shadowy black at night. Twigs snap under my feet just as they break under hers. I rely on sound to locate her. I push leaves aside and avoid thorns. As I descend deeper, the sounds of the night become louder. Squirrels chittering, nightingales singing, crickets croaking, frogs ribbiting. I catch a glimpse of white turn to the right, and I follow. But when I get there, I lose all sight and sound of her. She must have stopped moving or is hiding. I call out her name a few times. No response. "If this is some game of yours, it isn't funny." Still no reply. I get worried. Maybe I should go back to the party and ask for help. But in my rush to catch up to her, I didn't track my steps. I can't risk getting any more lost than I am already.

I circle around, trying to get a sense of my surroundings. All of a sudden, my heel hits a fallen branch and I stumble. I cover the back of my head with my hands, bracing for a rough impact. But instead of making contact with wood and rocks, my head lands on something softer. A little prickly, but softer. Short, thin spikes appear in my periphery and poke my skin. Grass? I sit up. Indeed, it is grass. Looking around, I notice I'm in some clearing in the forest. Standing up, I brush dust off my clothes.

There's a stone path a little distance away, leading to a large wood gazebo. Hexagonal, from my angle. And inside it, leaning against the gazebo railing, is Selene-chan. I storm toward her, more than a little angry. "One month ago, you took a walk at night, and then you disappeared for three days. How did you think it was a good idea to do the same thing again?" I hiss.

She turns around, stunned that she isn't alone here. Well, I'm not leaving you alone. "I-I ... How did you know I was here, Shouto-kun?"

I glare at her. "I followed you. Usually you stayed for a while at a school function before running off into the forest. This time, you didn't even hesitate coming here. I had expected you to at least talk to me before escaping. Instead, the first thing you did is come here." My anger softens into dismay. "Did you not want my company? Or was the crowd too overwhelming? You could have told me. I wouldn't feel bad."