My Love from my Photograph

Prologue

You open up an envelope you have held in your hand for some time now. It had an emblem on it that you have never seen in your life before. Once you open the envelope, the elegant scripts greets you, writing:

Dear (Y/n),
Welcome to Oletus Manor, you will be able to meet the most important person in your life. Your identity is a hunter, The Musician. Hope you enjoy yourself here.

From, the owner of Oletus Manor."

"Hmm... That's one strange invitation." You look up from the invitation, and the manor in front of you, has the same name as mentioned in the invitation.

"Perhaps this is where I'm invited to?" You look quizzically at the huge Gates of the manor while asking yourself. After a brief moment of hesitation, you gradually walk up the gates.

[At the other side]
Joseph's POV
"Good morning, (Y/n), it's going to be another day with these annoying people again." I stretch my arms and reach out for my coat, where (Y/n) is kept there.

"(Y/n)? (Y/n)??? Wait... I remember keeping her here..." I search all over my coat and my bedroom, but she isn't here. "W-where is she...?" I quickly dash out of my room to find her. I must not miss her again!

But when I get downstairs, I can see that other hunters are having a meeting. "Ohayo, Joseph-san. You came right on time. Our meeting is just about to start." Michiko bows as she says so.

"Wait. You don't understa--"

"Just shut up and take your seat!!" Joker yells from across the table. "It's not very gentleman of you to yell like that, Joker." Jack tells him as he sits down.

"Pah! Who cares! Just start the meeting already!"

"Morning, everyone."Leo clears his throat and continues,"The owner of the manor says that a new hunter will be joining us today. I thought that we should hold a welcome party for this new hunter. And, the manor owner also insisted us to be gentle to her, as she's the 'easy-to-be-scared' type. So, anyone volunteering for doing anything?"

"Yahahahahaha! Easy to be scared? Are you sure this new person is a hunter not a survivor?"

"Indeed. Since the manor owner wrote that five times in the letter."

"Well then, Michiko would like to perform her a dance!" Michiko is the first to volunteer. "That's going to be nice, Michiko. I think I should help preparing the gifts." Violetta suggests as well.

"I will do the cooking and baking, Hastur my pal, I hope you don't mind helping me?" Jack asks Hastur beside him, he just nods his head at Jack.

"Ol' Burke, Bane and I will go and get the venue ready." Leo suggests so. "My brother and I will help Violetta with the gifts." White Wu Chang, Bi An, volunteers too.

"We'll be in the games to keep the survivors busy for the moment. Wait, where's Robbie?" Yidhra asks and looks around.

"Perhaps that kiddo is still chopping firewood out there." Violetta replies her.

"Now we need someone to show the new hunter around before all our stuffs are ready..." Leo lays his eyes on me. "I---"

"Alright then, Joseph will show the new hunter around! Ok, since everything is settled, let's start doing this!" Leo throws his hands up, a sign as the end of the meeting.

"Excuse you! I did not---" But before I can finish my sentence, everyone had left the room. "Ugh. Annoying as usual." I can only turn and go meet the new hunter. And look for (Y/n) on my way.

Moments passed but I have not seen any sign of her. Did I put her somewhere and forgot it by mistake? I sigh to myself and keep on walking. I steer myself to the gates of the manor, and someone bump into me.

"Oof!" "Ow!" I hold my pain and start,"It would be more pleasurable if you'd keep your eyes---" the new hunter in front of me, slowly puts down her hands and meets my eyes.

"I-I'm so sorry... " I can see her shivers a little.

"(Y/n)? How did you?" My eyes go wide, I cannot believe it. She is here, right in front of me. That means, she is free from the photograph now!

"Huh? How did you know my name?"

"I can't believe it! It really is you!" I quickly pull her into a hug, but she pushes me away and starts shivering greatly.

Oh right. I forgot the part that she's afraid of strangers, especially male ones. But I wonder if she'll still remember me.

"I'm sorry. But-but-- who are you?"

I'm really disappointed to hear that, but... "My apologies for being so rude. Let me introduce myself, I'm Joseph. Do you still remember me?"

"Um, no. Sorry." She stops for a moment before she answers. "It's fine. I'm supposed to show you around here, so, allow me." I put my hand in front of her, hoping she will take it.

She reaches out her hand, but stops in the air to hesitate. She then puts her shaky hand in mine. That's a good start for me.

"May I know your identity as a hunter here?"

"A m- musician... " Gosh. Her hand is cold and is still shivering. She has not been like this for ages, but a new environment might be a reason why she would be afraid of unknowns.

"I see. You do enjoy playing the piano, especially pieces of Handel, Chopin and Debussy?"

"H-how did y-you know?"

"That's... A very long story." I look to the other side, good thing that we have come across the main building for hunters.

"Ah, here is the Hunter's building. The stairs in the living room leads to the hunters' dorm. The girls' are over the right, so you may go and have a rest if you want to later."

"Thank you." Her gaze is fix upon the outside of the door, that gives me an idea to soothe her a little.

"I just remembered, there's a huge garden out there. Perhaps you would like to go and take a look at it?"

"Yes please."

"Here." I lead her to the garden out the building.

"It belongs to a survivor named Emma, she's a gardener here."

"She did take a good care of her flowers." She touches a petal of a rose. Looks like it relaxs her and do make her feel more comfortable.

"What's the difference between a hunter and a survivor?"

"Well, a hunter need to execute four survivors in a game by putting them on rocket chairs. If more than three survivors escaped, the hunter loses. But if only two survivors escaped, it's a tie for both hunter and survivors."

"Will they really die?" She looks into the rose, lost in thought.

"No, they're just sent back to the manor." She stays silent for a while, enjoying the beautiful gift of nature.

"Mind if I ask you this, is there anything here that's making you uncomfortable?"

She looks shock for a short moment, then continues,"No, not really."

"If there's anything the problem, you may ask me immediately."

"Okay, thank you." She steals a quick glance and then looks back at the flower. I walk to the other side of the red rose bushes and find the white roses. I pluck one off and go back to her.

"Here." I pull a strand of her hair behind her ear and put the white rose in it. "It still suits you as always." I can't help it but smile, (Y/n) only looks at the rose and blushes.

Trying to warm off the situation, I ask her,"Mind if I ask about your background?"

"I'm sorry but, I can't remember anything."

"Oh, I see. Well, you may eventually remember them soon. Just a matter of time."

In a small voice, she says,"Thank you for your understanding."

Time passes by quickly there, I think it should be enough for the others to have their stuffs fully prepared. Just as I thought, one of them send me a signal to bring (Y/n) there.

"Time to meet the others, shall we?Mon chéri?" I hold out my hand, and again she take it. Then I lead her to meet the others.