CHAPTER XXVIII
-Touched by Autumn Rain-
Rin, never one to let a moment of seriousness slide, immediately seized the opportunity. He pulled a dramatic face, mimicking her sigh with an exaggerated, cartoonish groan. “Bro, that sigh had more drama than a reality TV reunion. You good, or you just buffering?”
Yuzuki shot him a flat look, unimpressed by his antics. Without warning, she yanked her fist down onto his head in a classic no-nonsense thump.
“OUUCHH!” Rin yelped, clutching his head and pouting in mock outrage. “Bruh, chill! I’m just here for the vibes, not the violence! That’s not in the ghost contract, chief!”
His playful complaint only made the moment lighter, the tension between them dissolving into the familiar, goofy banter that always seemed to follow their wildest days.
Yuzuki hesitated, glancing at Rin. “I see… umhh… and why do you think Ayaka-san—”
“That blue-headed one?” Rin interrupted, perking up with a sly, lopsided grin.
“Yes… why do you think she’s able to see ghosts?” Yuzuki asked, her voice softer, worry flickering in her eyes. More than that… I’m freaked out, she admitted to herself.
Rin wiggled his eyebrows, rolling onto his side like he was about to drop the hottest tea in the group chat. “Honestly? Certified glitch in the matrix, that one. Maybe she’s got the secret DLC, or maybe she just speedran the ‘unlock ghost vision’ quest. Could be she’s built different—like, NPCs don’t just get that perk, you know?”
He tapped his chin, pretending to think hard. “Or maybe she’s got main character syndrome. You ever notice how the plot just gravitates to the ones with wild hair colors? Classic anime energy. Wouldn’t be surprised if she’s got a tragic backstory or some family curse, lowkey.”
Rin grinned, eyes sparkling with mischief. “But hey, if she starts summoning shadow monsters or talking in riddles, I’m out. That’s above my pay grade, chief. I’m just here for the vibes, the gummies, and the occasional rooftop zipline. Let the blue-haired plot twist do her thing.”
He gave Yuzuki a playful nudge. “Don’t stress, boss. If she gets sus, we’ll just ghost her. Literally.”
“You swear on that?” Yuzuki asked, her eyes narrowing, testing just how much faith she could actually put in Rin’s chaotic promises.
Rin shot her a look, then threw up two fingers in a sideways peace sign, his face all mock-serious but eyes sparkling with mischief. “No cap, I’m locking it in. Pinky promise, double dog dare, cross my heart, hope to get ratio’d. I’m not crashing out on this one, for real. If things get sus, I’m ghosting faster than a noob in a horror game. Bet?”
He gave her a sly wink. “Bro, you got my word. Sigma energy only. Swear on my last pack of gummies—now that’s sacred.”
Yuzuki hopped to her feet, brushing off her skirt and flashing Rin a bright, grateful smile. “Bye for now!” she called, her voice light as she dashed toward the edge of the rooftop, ready to make her way back down.
But before she could even think about finding the stairs, Rin was already in motion. With a flourish, he whipped his kendama’s thread around her waist, locking it snugly. “Shortcut unlocked, speedrunner style!” he quipped, giving her a playful finger-gun.
With a practiced yank, he sent the thread zipping toward the end of the building, gently lowering her from the rooftop straight to the ground below—no need for crowded hallways or awkward stairwells. Yuzuki landed lightly just as her classmates were gathering in confused clusters, circling each other and peppering the air with questions about what had just happened.
Rin, still perched above, gave her a two-finger salute and a wink, his energy as mischievous and cool as ever.
Suddenly, the air was filled with the sounds of doors swinging open and footsteps echoing down the corridors. Students from other classes of the same grade spilled onto the schoolyard, their voices rising in a mix of excitement, confusion, and relief. The groups quickly merged, boys running to their friends, girls grabbing each other’s hands and chattering in rapid bursts.
“Yo! Bro, where were you? Did you see what just happened in our class?”
“Nah, man, our class was wild too. Sato literally threw a desk!”
“No way! We just started yelling at each other for no reason. I think I called Yui a traitor because she borrowed my eraser last week?”
A trio of girls huddled together, eyes wide.
“Did you guys feel weird? Like, I was so mad at Kana for no reason and then I just… forgot?”
“Same! I almost cried, and then suddenly I was in the hallway. What even happened?”
“I don’t know, but my heart’s still racing.”
Further off, a group of boys greeted their friends from another class with rough pats on the back and nervous laughter.
“Dude, did you hear? Apparently, the Principal ordered everyone on the third floor to come down here and wait.”
“Yeah, our teacher looked freaked out. She just said, ‘Everyone, move—now!’ and wouldn’t answer any questions.”
“Is this a drill or something? Or did someone pull a prank?”
A cluster of girls speculated, voices hushed but urgent.
“I heard the Principal on the PA. He said all third-floor students have to stay outside until further notice.”
“Maybe there’s a gas leak or something?”
“No, I heard someone say it’s because of the sports day! They might just start it early since everyone’s already out here.”
One boy, trying to lighten the mood, called out, “Yo! If it’s sports day, dibs on being anchor for the relay! I need redemption after last year!”
A girl rolled her eyes, grinning. “You tripped over your own shoelaces, genius. Maybe you should just cheer this time.”
Laughter rippled through the crowd, but the nervous energy lingered. Some students glanced anxiously at the building, others checked their phones for updates, and a few teachers tried to herd everyone into loose lines, their own faces tight with worry.
In the midst of it all, Yuzuki, Sayaka, Reina, and even Ayaka blended into the shifting crowd, the strange incident already morphing into rumor and speculation as the schoolyard buzzed with a hundred overlapping voices.
As expected. Yuzuki stood quietly amid the swelling crowd, Sayaka’s head nestled on her shoulder and Reina’s head leaning against her arm, both girls gripping her hands. She scanned the area. Kaito isn’t here yet, she thought. He must still be on the mission, clearing out those Akarui on the third floor. Well, good luck to him.
Sayaka’s voice was a soft whisper, “Where are my friendss??” She looked around, clearly waiting for her own group to show up so she could slip away from Yuzuki—a routine both of them knew well.
Suddenly, a wave of classmates—mostly girls—rushed toward Reina, their excitement palpable.
“Reina-chan! Is it true your mom’s starting a new brand?”
“I saw her Insta! That Paris trip looked amazing!”
“Did you really get to try those new skincare products before anyone else?”
“Your mom’s so cool! Is she going to be on TV again?”
“Where are you guys traveling next? I want to see your vlog!”
Reina, used to the attention, offered polite smiles and answered with practiced ease, her fans quickly encircling her and pulling her into a whirlwind of questions about her mother’s latest ventures, trending products, and glamorous travels.
Yuzuki and Sayaka found themselves gently but firmly separated from Reina, left standing together at the edge of the crowd. Sayaka glanced at Yuzuki, her expression a mix of awkwardness and resignation. “Uh-yeah. You must’ve gotten all used to this, right?” she said, watching Reina disappear behind her entourage.
“Uh-yeah. Definitely,” Yuzuki replied, mirroring Sayaka’s flat tone and expression.
Their dynamic was familiar: childhood friends who’d grown up together, but with Reina’s world tours and Sayaka’s preference for quieter days with Yuzuki, the three had drifted into a trio more out of history than true harmony. Yuzuki and Sayaka shared more in common, often spending time together while Reina was swept up in her family’s glamorous life or away for months at a time.
In the background, the schoolyard buzzed with the shifting social groups and hierarchies so typical of Japanese high school life, where popularity, club activities, and personal connections often defined the day-to-day.
As Sayaka’s group finally appeared, Sayaka didn’t hesitate—she bumped into Yuzuki with a quick, almost apologetic bang, then bolted off, screaming with excitement as she rejoined her friends. The energy was infectious; Sayaka’s laughter and shouts quickly blended into the rising tide of voices.
But for Yuzuki, the moment shifted fast. The schoolyard was now packed—students from every class poured in, filling every inch of space. The crowd pressed in from all directions, bodies jostling and pushing as everyone tried to find their friends or just get some air. Yuzuki felt herself squeezed and shuffled by the moving mass, the noise and closeness making it hard to breathe. Her chest tightened as she was pushed from behind, her arms pinned for a moment by the crush of students. The sea of uniforms and voices became overwhelming, each step harder than the last as she struggled to find a pocket of space, her breath coming shallow and quick.
In the chaos, Yuzuki’s isolation was stark—Sayaka swept away by her own circle, Reina lost in her fan club, and Yuzuki left to navigate the crowd alone, swallowed by the sheer volume of students and the relentless press of bodies.
As Yuzuki struggled to breathe in the crush of the crowd, a subtle shift washed over her—a gentle, almost imperceptible melancholy rain seemed to settle across her emotions. The noise and chaos dulled just a bit, aggression in the crowd softening, replaced by a strange vulnerability that left her feeling exposed and raw.
In that moment of emotional openness, she felt a hand slip around her arm from behind—firm but gentle, a lifeline in the sea of bodies. Before she could react, she was pulled free from the press of students, guided quickly and quietly through the throng.
The world narrowed as she was led beneath the shaded canopy of a tree near the metal netting that curled along the school’s boundary. The air here was cooler, shadows dappling the ground, the noise of the crowd fading into the background. Yuzuki’s heart pounded, her vulnerability lingering as she turned to see who had pulled her to safety, the emotional “rain” still hanging in the air between them.
From the shade, the figure who had rescued Yuzuki stepped into view.
He was tall and elegant, his presence almost ethereal—a gentle, rainy aura seemed to cling to him, as if the air itself softened wherever he walked. His modern school uniform was immaculate, except for the collar, always just slightly undone, hinting at a casual grace. The air around him shimmered with the cool glow of twilight rain.
His eyes were a dusky violet, deep and glistening, as if always rimmed with unshed tears—eyes that seemed to hold the memory of every heartbreak and every unspoken wish. Silken silver hair, streaked with black undertones, was tied loosely at the base of his neck, a few strands falling artfully across his forehead.
In one hand, he held a folded fan, its surface inked with ancient love poems—his spiritual weapon, a relic of beauty and longing.
He leaned in, so close Yuzuki could feel the coolness of his breath, the world narrowing to the space between them. His voice was soft, melodic, and impossibly intimate as he whispered:
“In the hush between raindrops,
I gather the words never spoken—
The moon’s longing, the blossom’s sigh,
All the love that lingers,
Even as the night forgets.”
He straightened, his gaze never leaving hers, and offered a gentle, knowing smile.
“Tsukihana Shigure,” he murmured, his name itself a poem—moon blossom and autumn rain, beauty and sorrow woven together. “I listen to the hearts that never spoke. That is where the truest love lives… and dies.”
For a moment, the world was nothing but mist, poetry, and the quiet ache of unspoken feelings.
Yuzuki shrieked, her voice slicing through the shade and drawing startled glances from nearby students. “Wha-wha-wha-what???” Her thoughts spiraled as panic took hold: WHAT’S SUCH A HANDSOME GENTLEMAN DOING IN FRONT OF ME??? HE PROBABLY HAS A GIRLFRIEND, RIGHT? SHE’LL KILL ME IF SHE FINDS ME TALKING TO HIM.
Flustered, she stammered, “Uh-uh, excuse me. I think you-you’re with the wrong person! Bye!” Without waiting for a response, she spun around and bolted, disappearing into the crowd.
All around her, students paused, staring and whispering.
“Did Mikazuki-san just talk to herself?”
“Bro, who’s she yelling at? There’s literally no one there.”
“Maybe she’s practicing for the drama club?”
“Nah, that was next-level weird. She looked totally freaked out.”
“Is she okay? Maybe she needs to see the nurse…”
A few exchanged uneasy glances, some giggling, others genuinely concerned. To everyone else, Yuzuki had just been talking to thin air—no sign of the elegant, rain-soaked spirit visible at all. As is common in stories with supernatural elements, beings like Shigure can remain completely invisible to ordinary humans, with only those sensitive to the supernatural able to perceive them.
Yuzuki’s retreat left a ripple of confusion in her wake, her sudden outburst already fueling rumors among the crowd.
“HAAAHh….” Yuzuki let out a long, shaky sigh as she finally stopped, finding herself at some unfamiliar corner of the schoolyard. She hadn’t even noticed where she was running—tall boys and girls had blocked her view the whole way, and now she was surrounded by unfamiliar faces and the distant noise of the crowd.
She dropped to her knees, wiping sweat from her brow, her cheeks burning. Lord… who was he? He was so handsome, she thought, her heart pounding. The memory of that elegant, rain-soaked aura and those dusky violet eyes made her blush even harder. It was as if the world had tilted for a moment, leaving her breathless and flustered, caught between embarrassment and awe at the mysterious, beautiful stranger who’d appeared—and vanished—like a dream.
“Umhh… excuse me?” a beautiful, gentle voice called out behind her.
Yuzuki jerked upright, spinning around—and there he was again. Tsukihana Shigure, the same tall, elegant figure, was reaching out, his hand moving gracefully toward her face, his violet eyes soft and unreadable.
She shrieked, panic flaring all over again, and dashed off without a second thought, leaving only the faint echo of her startled cry and a ripple of confusion among the students nearby, who saw only a flustered girl running from empty air.
To be Continued...
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