The scene opened in the festival afternoon in the town square
They met in the town square, where a small festival was being held. Food stands lined the streets, and children laughed as they tossed plastic rings onto bottles, trying to win stuffed prizes.
Ruri wandered among the booths, occasionally buying a snack or attempting to play a game. Koharu and Reina walked beside her, chatting animatedly about the rumors circulating around town. Minato tagged along behind, munching on skewered meat and grinning at everything like a kid seeing it all for the first time.
Ruri glanced back and noticed Ryo following quietly. His dark eyes scanned the crowd, never resting.
"Hey, Ryo," Ruri called.
Ryo snapped out of his thoughts and walked up to them.
"You look bored. Do you want to try this game?" Ruri asked, pointing to a small booth with a crystal ball and hanging charms.
"Nope," Koharu said, cutting in with a grin. "That's not a game. That's a fortune-teller's stall! C'mon, let's all get our fortunes read!"
"Really?" Ruri raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?" Koharu nudged her. "It'll be fun."
She pulled them both along, and even Ryo followed, his steps slow but willing.
Inside the dimly lit tent, a woman in layered scarves and silver bangles smiled at them from behind a small table.
"Three fates, three threads," she said, gesturing for each of them to take a seat. "Let's see what the stars whisper."
Koharu went first. The fortune-teller placed her hands over Koharu's and smiled. "Your path is bright and open. You are surrounded by warmth. You'll walk with someone who will one day carry you far."
Koharu laughed. "Ooooh, mysterious! Sounds romantic."
Next was Ryo. The fortune-teller paused as she held his hand. Her smile faded, her eyes narrowing.
"You walk a long road, full of ash and fire. Your shadow is large. But something clings to you, someone important. Your choices will echo for a long time."
Ryo blinked but said nothing.
Finally, Ruri sat down. The woman hesitated before slowly placing her fingers on Ruri's palm.
The air felt colder.
"Yours… is clouded," she whispered. "Dark roots grow beneath your steps. A choice will come, and with it... loss."
Ruri shivered.
Koharu grabbed her arm gently after they left the tent. "Hey, don't let it get to you. Those things are meant to be spooky."
"Yeah… I know," Ruri said, though the weight in her chest remained.
To lift the mood, Koharu pointed toward another booth. "Let's hit something fun. Darts, anyone?"
They arrived at the dart booth, and Ruri urged Ryo forward. "You want to try this one?"
Ryo raised an eyebrow. "You want me to play?"
Ruri nodded and stepped aside, allowing him access.
Ryo glanced at the prizes, his gaze briefly pausing on a small stuffed cat hanging from the back. He handed the booth owner some coins and picked up the first dart.
"Ready? Begin!"
Ryo tossed the dart. The point sank into the edge of the board, a little too high.
Ryo threw the second dart, and it hit the bull's eye.
Ruri blinked, impressed.
Ryo grabbed the third and final dart and launched it. It landed dead center.
"Ohh!!" Koharu gasped.
The booth owner, looking a little pale, handed him the plush cat.
Ryo turned to Ruri. "Is this yours?"
"No," Ruri said, shaking her head.
Ryo gave her the toy, his face remaining neutral. "Here. It's a gift."
"Th-thanks," Ruri mumbled, feeling a little embarrassed.
Koharu looked from the cat plushie to Ryo, her eyes wide. "I didn't know you had such a cute side," she teased.
He looked at her briefly, his expression unreadable, but for a second, something softened in his eyes. "You're welcome," he said simply.
A sudden burst of fireworks cut through the air.
"Look, fireworks!" Reina said, pointing upward.
Above, bright colors painted the sky.
"Woah!"Koharu grinned. "This is amazing! I love fireworks!"
Ryo stepped back, his eyes following the trail of smoke and sparks.
A flash of white.
Another burst of color.
Then a deafening boom echoed through the square, and the whole world shuddered.
For a moment, everything seemed to freeze.
And then
Ruri noticed her charm was glowing, but her attention shifted.
A dark figure appeared in Ruri and Ryo's line of sight; the others could not see it. It stood still, tall and humanoid, in the middle of the street, but only for a second before disappearing into thin air.
The crowd remained oblivious, their faces lit by the spectacle in the sky. Koharu and Reina were excitedly pointing out their favorite colors, completely unaware of the tense silence that had fallen over Ruri and Ryo.
Ruri clutched the stuffed cat tighter, her heart hammering against her ribs. She risked a glance at Ryo. His face was drawn, his eyes narrowed, scanning the crowd with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. He'd seen it too. Whatever "it" was.
"Did you… Did you see that?" Ruri whispered, barely audible over the booming fireworks.
Ryo nodded, his lips a thin line. "I did."
"What… what was it?" she pressed.
Ryo's gaze flicked to her, a warning glint in his eyes.
"Not here." He subtly gestured with his head towards Koharu and Reina, still enthralled by the display. "We'll talk about it later."
Ruri nodded, understanding dawning. They couldn't risk alarming their friends. But the fleeting glimpse of the dark figure had planted a seed of unease deep within her.
The festival, which had moments before been a joyful celebration, now felt like a stage set for something sinister.
The fireworks continued, a dazzling but hollow display. Ruri tried to focus on the colors, the patterns, the sheer spectacle of it all. But her mind was racing, replaying the brief apparition in her mind. What did it mean?Was it connected to the rumors swirling around town? To the strange dreams she'd been having?
Finally, the grand finale erupted, a cascade of light and sound that seemed to shake the very foundations of the town. Then, as quickly as it had begun, it was over. The crowd, momentarily stunned by the intensity, began to disperse, murmuring their appreciation of the show.
"That was awesome!" Koharu exclaimed, stretching her arms above her head. "I wish it could last forever!"
Reina nodded in agreement. "Me too! So, what should we do now? Anyone hungry for something sweet?"
Ruri forced a smile, trying to match their enthusiasm. "Sounds good," she said, her voice a little shaky. "Let's go find some cotton candy."
As they walked away from the town square, Ruri couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She kept glancing over her shoulder, but the crowd was thick and the shadows were long. Whatever she and Ryo had seen, it was gone now. But she knew, with a certainty that chilled her to the bone, that it wouldn't stay gone for long. The festival was over, but something else, something darker, was just beginning.