The Flower and the Butterfly

The Abandoned School - Part 2

9 hours earlier

I wake up again with the same recurring nightmares, opening my tired eyes. I never get used to this... will it ever end? I think to myself, as I notice a difference - my clothes are dirty. Apparently, I didn't take a bath before going to sleep. I get up and change into a spare uniform, nothing different. I head to the bathroom to do my usual routine and then make my way to see the Wisteria flower I studied the previous day.

As I enter the laboratory, I inspect the part of the vine (Wisteria is a vine, where flowers grow). It's glowing, maybe it finally worked. I observe it now with more delicacy. It seems that its venom can be extracted... but it was the only flower that succeeded. I spent the whole day yesterday trying, and only this one remains... alive. I decide to store the flower in a glass jar with a preservative scent. It will be more important at another time. For now, I'll focus on keeping it alive. I sigh with relief that something has finally gone right.

I leave my laboratory and see Kanao, my adopted sister and my student, sitting on the balcony near Mitsuri's room. I just pass by her without saying anything. Kanao, forgive me for not giving you the attention you deserve... but we all have our ways of dealing with grief. I hope you understand, I think with my head lowered as I glance at her from the corner of my eye.

I head towards the kitchen, where I notice Aoi, irritated, cleaning up the mess we made the night before. It was fun... but I guess I shouldn't have let myself get distracted. I don't know why I agreed to it. I make my way around to the garden, without greeting Aoi. Going to the small pond that is farther away, I approach it and look at my reflection in the water. When will this end?... The nightmares... the oni... When will it all stop?... Mitsuri tries to cheer me up, but she doesn't know anything. At times, she even reminds me of Kanae, but... she's already dead... If Mitsuri gets too close, she'll die too. I let myself get carried away by her playfulness, but I must focus on finding and killing that wretch who took the one thing I loved. I can't waste time on this... I organize my thoughts, hugging myself with a certain agony, so to speak.

After some time reflecting on myself and everything that's happening, I hear footsteps that break my thoughts and reasoning. Quickly realizing, by the way they approach, who it is - it even reminds me of... her... even though it resembles someone else too.

-"Good morning, Kocho-san..." I let out a heavy sigh but try to disguise it. I turn calmly, attempting to put on a convincing smile for the morning.

-"Good morning, Kanroji-san." It was the Love Hashira. She really slept at my house, which is a bit awkward when I think about it. The girl isn't even wearing the hunter's uniform, opting for more comfortable clothes. It seems she made herself at home as she pleased.

-"How was your night?" She asks in a strange way, as if she didn't sleep well. I'm good at sensing what someone feels.

-"It was fine." I reply dryly, though I'm still smiling. She continues to look at me, probably not sure what to say, or maybe there's just nothing to be said... Well, there's what happened yesterday, but I guess it's too recent to be discussed now.

-"I think we can do something, right?" I lift my head a bit more, looking into her eyes more seriously, and take a deep breath. Something... That's how I got distracted from what's really important. I'll try another approach; this isn't benefiting me.