It was almost midnight when the dream came.
Riku stood in the middle of a burning field. Scarlet petals rained from the sky, each one glowing like a tiny ember. The ground beneath him cracked, and from within, something roared—a sound not human, not animal… but ancient.
Then, a voice—his brother's again.
> "You're not just waking up, Riku. You're being hunted."
Riku shot awake, drenched in sweat. His pendant was glowing softly again.
He didn't sleep the rest of the night.
—
The next day, the atmosphere at school was off.
Even the usual buzz of gossip and laughter seemed distant, like everyone could feel something creeping just below the surface.
In the hallway, Kaito whispered, "Did you hear about that guy from Class 2-C?"
Riku blinked. "No. What happened?"
"He just… snapped. During lunch. Screamed something about petals growing in his head. Then fainted."
Riku's stomach twisted. "Petals?"
Kaito nodded. "Yeah. Creepy, right?"
Airi walked past them, eyes on her phone. "Another one," she muttered.
Riku followed her. "You knew?"
She stopped. "Riku, listen. It's starting. The Bloom isn't just some cool power-up. It's a chain reaction. Once one seal opens, others start to awaken."
"Like the one inside me."
"Exactly. And now someone else… is breaking."
—
That night, Riku returned to the rooftop. He stared at the ring Toru had left for him. It was simple. Black band. Small scarlet gem at its center.
He slipped it on.
It felt… warm.
And instantly, the world shifted.
Colors deepened. Sounds became sharper. He could hear the wind whispering between buildings. And the moon—it pulsed like a beating heart.
> "I can feel everything."
Suddenly—a crash down below.
Riku looked over the edge.
Someone was running through the alley.
Stumbling.
Bleeding.
Petals trailing from their body.
Riku raced down the stairs and into the street, just in time to see the figure collapse.
A teenage boy—his school uniform stained with blood and glowing red flowers blooming along his arms.
Riku knelt beside him. "Hey! Are you okay?!"
The boy looked up—eyes wide with panic. "He's coming…!"
"Who? Who's coming?"
And then a shadow fell over them both.
From the end of the alley, a figure approached—slow, deliberate. His jacket flared behind him like a cape. His eyes burned crimson.
He smiled.
"Found you."
The boy on the ground whimpered, "Run…"
Riku stood. "Who are you?"
The man didn't answer.
Instead, he raised his hand—and with a flick of his fingers, scarlet thorns exploded from the walls.
Riku barely dodged, grabbing the fallen boy and rolling behind a dumpster. The thorns cracked the concrete like it was paper.
"What the hell?!"
The stranger spoke, voice smooth and cold.
> "Only the worthy keep their Bloom. The rest... are weeds."
Riku's hand ignited.
For the first time, his Bloom responded willingly.
Petals burst from his palm like blades, swirling defensively around him.
The stranger tilted his head, amused. "Interesting. Looks like one more flower's ready to fight."
Riku stood tall.
No more running.
No more doubting.
> "Touch him again," he growled, "and I'll show you how deep my roots go."