As the first light of dawn painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, we finally arrived at our destination, Yae-gu in Shinano, Japan. The village lay before us, serene and picturesque against the backdrop of the morning sun.
"Finally, we made it," I murmured, feeling a wave of relief wash over me.
Kiana's eyes widened in awe as she took in the scenery. "Wow, it's so beautiful here."
Fu Hua nodded, her expression serious as she surveyed the surroundings. "Indeed, but we must remain vigilant. The Key of Corruption may be hidden within this village."
Kiana pouted at Fu Hua's caution, "Come on, Class President, can't we enjoy the moment?"
Fu Hua relented with a sigh, "Fine, but remember, we're here on a mission."
"Got it!" Kiana grinned, her excitement undiminished.
Just then, the doors of the battleship opened slowly, revealing the path that lay ahead of us.
Even the air here is fresh.
As we stepped onto the soil of Yae-gu, the battleship departed, leaving us with nothing but our baggage.
"Let's move," Fu Hua stated, her tone firm as she took the lead.
I glanced around, feeling a sense of uncertainty in this unfamiliar place. "Do you know where we're going?"
Fu Hua nodded confidently. "Yes, Major Himeko briefed me while you two were resting."
I nodded, feeling a pang of guilt for sleeping through the briefing. "Sorry about that."
Fu Hua waved off my apology. "It's fine. Let's focus on the task at hand."
With Fu Hua leading the way, we followed the path towards the stairs of the shrine. The air was cool and refreshing, carrying the scent of nature with it.
As we ascended the steps, the solemn aura of the shrine enveloped us. Each footfall echoed softly against the stone walls, creating a reverent atmosphere.
Upon reaching the top of the stairs, we stood before the entrance to the shrine. The wooden doors stood tall and imposing, adorned with intricate carvings.
Fu Hua paused, her gaze fixed on the doors. "This is where we'll find the one we seek."
"Hm? A visitor?" A gentle voice interrupted our conversation, and we turned to see a woman putting a broom aside. She wore a shrine maiden's attire, and her cherry blossom pink hair cascaded gracefully around her. "Hm? That symbol... you must be from St. Freya?"
"Yes, we're here to investigate and retrieve the Key of Corruption," Fu Hua replied.
The shrine maiden paused, her smile warm and welcoming. "My name is Yae Sakura, the head shrine priestess." She bowed elegantly.
"Woah~ She's pretty, right?" Kiana whispered excitedly in my ear.
I couldn't help but agree. "Definitely."
"My name is Fu Hua, and this is Kiana Kaslana and Shin Watanabe," Fu Hua introduced us.
Yae Sakura nodded in acknowledgment, her eyes filled with a gentle understanding. "Welcome to Yae-gu. Please, follow me. You must be hungry after all the travel."
"Oh, no, we're really not-" Fu Hua began to decline the offer, but before she could finish, a loud rumble echoed from Kiana's stomach.
Fu Hua and I exchanged a bemused glance as Kiana laughed sheepishly. "Uhm~ Ehehe~" she chuckled, rubbing the back of her neck.
Sakura chuckled softly, delicately covering her mouth with her hand. "Please, follow me," she said, turning and heading inside the shrine.
Fu Hua smiled gently before turning to Kiana, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "I'll be reporting that to Major Himeko," she said, her tone playful yet sinister.
Kiana pouted defensively. "I can't help it! I was hungry!"
Fu Hua then turned to me. "What about you, Watanabe?" she inquired, her gaze piercing.
I shook my head. "No, I'm not hungry. I think I'll go do some sight-seeing."
"Really? Then don't wander for too long," Fu Hua cautioned.
"Yeah," I replied with a nod.
With that, Kiana and Fu Hua followed Yae Sakura into the shrine, leaving me to explore the village on my own.
Now then... where should I go?
As I was preparing to leave the shrine, my gaze caught sight of a young girl peering at me from behind a nearby tree. She bore a striking resemblance to Yae Sakura, but her youthful features hinted at a familial connection rather than an identical twin.
[A/N: From a manga called "Gratitude Arc"]
Curiosity piqued, I watched her closely, trying to decipher the unspoken words reflected in her expression. There was a sense of urgency, a silent plea for help mingled with an undercurrent of guilt.
Before I could make sense of it all, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me, causing the world to blur and spin uncontrollably.
I stumbled forward, struggling to maintain my balance, but it was futile. With a heavy thud, I collapsed to the ground, the world fading into darkness as unconsciousness claimed me.
As I gradually regained consciousness, my surroundings slowly came into focus, revealing that I was lying on a tatami bed within the Yae-gu Shrine. Beside me stood Yae Sakura, her serene expression tinged with concern, while the young girl from before sat beside her, clutching a cup of tea.
"Huh? Where am I?" I muttered, still groggy from my unexpected dizziness.
Right... I remember now.
As I sat up, I noticed Yae Sakura handing a cup of tea to the young girl, "Here, drink this," Yae Sakura said softly, offering the tea to the young girl."
"Thank you, Onee-chan."
Onee-chan?! I see! No wonder she's cute.
There was a palpable sense of warmth and familiarity between them, evident in the way they interacted with each other.
"How are you feeling, Rin?" Yae Sakura inquired, her tone gentle yet concerned.
Rin nodded, her expression brightening. "I'm doing great."
Yae Sakura's brows furrowed slightly. "Really? Don't force yourself, okay? Your health is important."
Rin nodded in understanding, her smile softening into one of reassurance. "I won't, Onee-chan. Thank you for worrying about me."
Huh? Is it just me or they don't know that I'm here?
As I approached Yae Sakura and Rin, I couldn't shake the feeling that they were completely unaware of my presence. Despite my attempts to engage in the conversation, they continued to talk as if I wasn't there.
"Um, excuse me?" I ventured, my voice barely audible above their conversation.
But Yae Sakura and Rin remained engrossed in their discussion, their attention fully focused on each other.
I realized that they couldn't hear or see me. It was as if I was invisible to them, a mere specter in their midst.
"Hey, can you hear me?" I tried again, raising my voice slightly in hopes of catching their attention.
"Uhm, They can't hear you."
Startled, I turned to the source of the voice and found myself facing the young girl.
Despite her youthful appearance, there was a wisdom in her eyes that seemed to belay her age.
"Hello," I replied, surprised by her sudden appearance. "You can see me?"
Rin nodded, her smile widening. "Yes, I can see you. And I can hear you too."
Relief washed over me at her words. "Thank goodness. I was starting to think I was invisible or something."
Rin giggled a melodious sound that filled the room with warmth. "No, you're not invisible. You're just... in a dream."
"A dream?"
"Yes, and I'm the one who brought you here," She giggles before continuing, "Sorry for surprising you," she said, her voice soft and melodic. "But there's something important I need to ask of you."
I nodded, my curiosity piqued. "What is it?"
Please... Release my sister from the painful memories she is cursed with.
[A/N: Shin's about to save everyone's ass = Good Ending]