C97 Yuki’s Request
“Hanami Yuki? Hanami-san?” Shion echoed the name, a sudden flash of recognition crossing her features.
“You are! You’re Kazama-san’s…” Shion gasped, covering her mouth in astonishment, her gaze fixed incredulously on the girl before her.
Hanami Yuki wore a simple floral dress, white with light blue flowers, reminiscent of her hair color.
However, her complexion was remarkably pale.
While her pupils were a strikingly bright sky blue, they were, for some inexplicable reason, veiled by a shadowy layer, like a beautiful sky obscured by dark clouds.
Yet, the smile gracing her face remained as brilliant as ever.
“That’s right, it’s me.” The blue-haired girl before her took a light step, sipping another mouthful of fruit wine.
“We’ve known each other for a very long time, since we were tiny children.”
Only then did Shion notice that the girl before her was barefoot.
Her smooth calves gleamed faintly in the soft moonlight, yet they appeared remarkably cold.
With summer’s end giving way to autumn, the evening air by the sea was particularly chilly, yet this girl walked along the beach with bare legs and feet.
“Kazama-san has been looking for you!” Shion exclaimed, a note of urgency in her voice.
“She told me, you know, she never believed you were missing.”
As she spoke, Shion instinctively reached for her phone, intending to immediately relay the news to Nanami, regardless of the late hour.
After all, the girl before her was the childhood friend so deeply cherished by her dear friend.
“Perhaps, let’s wait a moment?” Hanami Yuki gently placed a finger to her lips, blinking as she made a gesture for secrecy.
“Eh? Not tell her?” Shion gazed at the girl, her surprise evident.
Hanami Yuki shook her head, her brilliant smile dimming slightly.
She turned, leaping with light, agile steps onto the reef behind her.
Only days prior, Nanami had brought Shion to this very reef, where they had felt the sea breeze, sipped fruit wine, and gazed out at the boundless ocean.
Hanami Yuki extended a hand to Shion.
“Would you like to come look at the sea with me?”
Shion pondered for a moment; she was still clad in her Miko attire, with Spirit Cutter (TL Note: A ceremonial sword often carried by Miko or spiritual practitioners.) fastened at her waist as a companion blade.
Yet, faced with Hanami Yuki’s earnest invitation, she found it truly difficult to decline, and so she took Hanami Yuki’s hand.
However, the instant Shion’s fingers brushed Hanami Yuki’s hand, a chilling sensation nearly made her shiver.
The girl’s hand was incredibly cold.
This icy touch felt utterly devoid of warmth.
Shion hesitated for a fraction of a second.
Yet, Hanami Yuki maintained her smile, gripping Shion’s hand firmly.
Though no light seemed to penetrate her sky-blue pupils, veiled as if by storm clouds, she still presented her gentle kindness to Shion.
Meeting Hanami Yuki’s smile, Shion offered a soft nod, then, with a slight push of her foot, ascended the rock to sit beside Hanami Yuki.
“Hanami-san, your hand…” Shion observed Hanami Yuki’s hand.
It was a pallid white, almost bloodless.
“Hmm? What is it?” Hanami Yuki looked at Shion curiously, blinking.
“It’s a bit cold,” Shion replied, gently placing her own hand over Hanami Yuki’s, feeling that almost frigid touch once more.
Hanami Yuki smiled, choosing not to pursue Shion’s topic, and instead directed her gaze towards the distant horizon.
“This ocean is truly beautiful,” Hanami Yuki murmured, her eyes fixed on the boundless expanse before them.
Moonlight cascaded upon the waters, and without the shroud of clouds, the sea shimmered with a myriad of sparkling ripples under the gentle breeze.
Shion nodded, understandingly choosing not to press the matter further.
Yet, as she too looked out at the vast sea, Shion spoke in a low voice:
“Just a few days ago, Kazama-san and I sat right here, watching the ocean.
When we watched the sea, it was in the afternoon; the sun shone brightly on the water, and we could see distant ships sailing as far as the eye could reach.”
Hanami Yuki nodded, taking another gulp of fruit wine.
“Nanami and I discovered this spot together.
It’s a subtly perfect distance from her house, so we never had to worry about her parents finding us.
And watching the sea from here, with the breeze blowing, is especially comfortable.”
“Then, Hanami-san, were you very happy when you used to watch the sea with Kazama-san?” Shion asked, her lips parting as she continued to gaze at the ocean.
Hanami Yuki lifted her head slightly, a genuine smile gracing her features—it must have been a truly beautiful memory.
“Of course… of course, I was very happy, exceptionally happy.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Shion noticed something shimmering at the corner of Hanami Yuki’s eye.
“Then… Hanami-san, why don’t you go see Kazama-san?
She… she truly misses you.
She told me that many people around her have even forgotten you, but she’s the only one who has continually tried to find you.”
Shion looked at Hanami Yuki, watching the bright moonlight and scattered starlight reflect in her eyes.
“But I can’t see her.
And she can’t see me either.”
As Hanami Yuki spoke, her voice caught, tinged with a slight sob.
Clear tears welled from the corners of her eyes, tracing two glistening paths down her cheeks.
Shion took a deep breath; it was just as she had suspected.
Hanami Yuki, standing before her, felt exactly as Shion had perceived.
There was a peculiar aura about her, even one that bordered on that of an evil spirit.
Yet, this girl treated her with immense kindness.
Unlike those irrational and soulless evil spirits, even though her hand was frigid, her heart remained undeniably warm.
Moreover, many mysteries still surrounded her.
Even if she had died and become an evil spirit, it was illogical for “everyone except Nanami to have forgotten her,” as if she had never existed in this world.
This situation defied all reason.
“Then… if you can’t see her, she might be quite disappointed.
But why, then, won’t you let me tell her you exist?” Shion asked, patting her cheeks to compose herself.
Hanami Yuki’s movements seemed to freeze for a few seconds as she simply gazed at the ocean, as if lost in thought.
Then, she turned to Shion, observing her briefly before her eyes settled on the ceremonial sword at Shion’s waist.
“You’re a Guardian-san, aren’t you?” Hanami Yuki asked, her gaze fixed on Shion’s eyes.
“A Guardian?” Shion didn’t immediately grasp the term.
It was the first time she had ever heard herself called that.
“An envoy who purifies evil spirits, Guardian-san.
I knew it the moment I saw your attire,” Hanami Yuki said, offering a somewhat strained smile.
“That sword instinctively frightens me.
However, I have a small request I’d like to ask of you, Guardian-san.”
“I… I won’t wield this sword against you unless you commit evil,” Shion stated.
Hanami Yuki chuckled.
“No, it’s not that.
But first, I’d like to know your name.”
“My name is Shion, Hoshimori Shion,” Shion replied.
“Then, Shion-san, I have a plea for you.”
“Use that sword, and kill me.”