After Haruto slashed through the screaming flower bushes, the misty forest fell into a deathly silence. Keijy stood there, her hand gripping the silver bow tightly, her ears twitching slightly. Amidst the thick white smoke, a discordant "tink... tink... tink..." echoed from afar. It wasn't a scream, but the clumsy plucking of a violin string.
Keijy was startled by the sound. Her violin was in someone else's hands, being played clumsily and crudely. To her, it was a cruel insult to the sacred legacy left behind by her late grandfather.
"Did you hear anything?" Keijy suddenly asked, her voice tense.
"No. Was there any strange noise?" Miha looked around in bew astonishment.
Keijy only shook her head slightly, her sharp eyes sweeping across the dense mist of the forest. Suddenly, a familiar melody rang out. It was the very tune she had played for him before he died.
Keijy froze. Her whole body trembled slightly, not just physically, but her mind was also reeling, shaking violently with each stroke of the bow.
That discordant sound pierced her heart, for it was the note her grandfather used to say: 'Never let this key be forgotten, for it is the heartbeat of the artist.'
"The thief didn't just steal the wood and strings; he's using his filthy fingers to torment the only memory my grandfather left me," Keijy thought.
The surrounding scene began to change in a bizarre way. The space was no longer simply shrouded in fog; the trees began to transform, twisting into the shapes of strange musical notes. Keijy was stunned to see the gigantic "keys" sprouting from the ancient tree trunks, black, gnarled, and covered in decaying moss. At the same time, the sound of the music grew louder, but the melody became increasingly distorted and horrifying.
All five immediately turned their backs to each other, forming a tight circle. Their breaths quickened, their eyes darted around, and their hands gripped their weapons tightly. No one spoke, only the tension building in the air. The darkness of the forest pressed closer, the wind whistling through the trees like a warning. They stood there, five points of their spears ready, waiting for the one playing the music to appear…
Amidst the thick fog, Keijy just managed to spot a tall figure standing motionless. It was him – the one who had stolen the soul of the music. The thief didn't flee; he stood there, a slight, mocking smile directed straight at her, a defiant provocation.
Enraged, Keijy didn't think or speak a word, she darted away like an arrow, leaving her teammates behind in bewilderment. Haruto, panicked, tried to chase after her, but a powerful force from Kiki's cloth doll blocked his path. The closer Keijy got, the more pronounced and mysterious the thief's smile became.
However, a rookie like her couldn't possibly understand the strange rules of this forest. When she was only a few steps from the instrument, Keijy's feet were suddenly entangled by the dense thorns on the ground, holding her in place. Seeing his target trapped, the thief calmly dropped the instrument, his body beginning to fade, preparing to vanish into thin air along with the treasure.
In that decisive moment, Keijy gritted her teeth. Although her vision was half obscured by the bushes, she resolutely drew her bow and fired a fatal shot at the fading figure. The arrow whizzed through the air, missing him but grazing his sleeve, embedding itself firmly in the trunk of an ancient tree, pinning a piece of black cloth there.
The thief vanished completely. Keijy silently rose, her eyes reflecting a determined yet regretful expression. At that moment, her teammates arrived. Kiki slowly walked towards the base of the tree, removing the cloth from the arrow. She gently touched its material, then slowly shook her head thoughtfully…
– "This isn't the kind of clothing she makes. The fabric is very different. Mrs. Saki's shop has always been a place where people here can find such clothing, but this is very different. It's definitely of unknown origin and belongs to an anonymous figure in this world. Furthermore, this fabric smells of salt… something only found in the southern fringes of the world."
Suddenly, Kiki turned to look at Keijy with a slightly warning gaze.
– "Keijy, in Matrewer, if you don't control your memories, they will become shackles. That instrument is weeping… and its weeping could kill us all if you hesitate any longer."
Keijy remained silent, only nodding slightly. They continued together through the lost forest. Although the illusions, the musical notes, and the thief had vanished, they maintained a high level of vigilance with every step.
The group stopped beside a giant ancient tree next to a crystal stream. The stream's water was as clear as glass, flowing silently, creating a strange sense of peace amidst the treacherous Matrewer. Miha quickly strung threads of light around the area to ensure safety.
Keijy sat down on a silver-studded rock by the stream, her eyes fixed on the calm water. Her gaze still reflected regret over the missed arrow.
A silver-studded rock stood by the stream, her eyes fixed on the calm water. Her gaze still held a hint of regret over the missed arrow.
Haruto approached, holding two biscuits that Mrs. Saki had prepared. He didn't mention the guitar, nor did he try to console her – because he knew Keijy hated being pitied. He simply pushed a biscuit towards her:
"Here, eat this. If you keep staring at this stream, it'll melt because of your cold expression."
Keijy glanced at Haruto, her usual bland expression softening slightly. Gushiken took the biscuit and ate in silence. In the quiet stillness of the stream, Haruto began to unconsciously whistle a gentle, soothing melody…
Keijy's hand, holding the biscuit, froze. This melody… was the one her grandfather used to play for her whenever she was tired from practicing. She turned, staring at the boy who was whistling absentmindedly beside her. Haruto looked completely different – no longer the carefree swordsman he usually was, but like a piece of memory slowly emerging from her subconscious.
"Are you whistling along to a song?" Keijy asked, breaking the silence.
Haruto froze, his face showing a bewildered expression, as if he himself didn't realize what he had just done. He scratched his head, forcing a smile:
"I don't know either… it just happened naturally."
This strange coincidence made Keijy thoughtful. She turned her face towards the gently flowing stream, her voice lowered:
"Hey, is it okay for you to follow us like this? There's so much work waiting for you at school, and… your parents too."
Haruto was lost in thought, his eyes fixed on the clear water, where the pebbles were clearly visible.
– "It's really tiring." – He sighed –
"Being Vice President has made me more confident and responsible, but sometimes it's also a huge pressure. And my parents… they're rarely home. They're always busy with their travels."
Keijy quietly took a bite of the cake; the sweetness was subtle, but her heart still stirred. She decided to bring up a name she believed would worry him:
– "And Aikari too. What do you think would happen if she found out Haruto suddenly disappeared?"
The name Aikari startled Haruto. Since entering this place, he seemed to have temporarily forgotten the outside world.
– "Aikari-san?" – He sighed softly.
– "If she knew, she'd definitely scold me terribly. As President, she's always on the go, with no private time. Luckily, I'm here to help her out a bit."
Keijy didn't answer, her gaze following a dry leaf being swept away by the rushing water. She spoke slowly, as if testing him:
"Speaking of which, she must be very worried about you. Who would let their loved one disappear without a word of farewell like that?"
Haruto froze. The three words "loved one" coming from Keijy's mouth clearly confused him.
"Don't say that. Me and her..."
"If what I just said inadvertently offended your relationship, I apologize." Keijy interrupted.
Suddenly, Haruto laughed. A strangely nonchalant laugh. He gently stroked Keijy's head, a gesture so intimate that she looked up in surprise.
"Even you believe those silly rumors?"
Keijy paused, pushing Haruto's hand away, her expression a mixture of seriousness and curiosity:
"What do you mean by silly rumors?"
– "Aikari-san and I have never had any romantic feelings for each other. Our relationship is purely that of partners running the Student Council," Haruto asserted confidently.
Keijy breathed a sigh of relief, but then pressed further:
– "So it's just a rumor? But you really don't have any feelings for her? You two look so good together."
Haruto calmly took the last bite of his cake, his gaze distant:
– "To me, Aikari-san is like a blazing torch. She always guides everyone, always shines brightly. But my feelings for her are simply admiration, not love."
Then, he turned to look at Keijy, his eyes sparkling mischievously:
– "Or… are you jealous?"
Keijy remained unfazed, raising an eyebrow in response:
"There's nothing worth wasting my time being jealous of someone like you!"
Haruto smiled faintly. He sensed a closeness from her, unlike when they first met. This was her true self, or perhaps the one she hadn't fully revealed yet.
Keijy stood up, not continuing her journey, but drawing out a silver arrow. Her sharp gaze fixed on a leaf drifting lazily on the silent crystal stream.
"What are you going to do?" Haruto asked.
"That thief is too fast. If I don't hit him in the fog, I'll never get my lute back," Keijy replied, her voice flat but firm.
She began practicing shooting at tiny moving targets on the water's surface. Seeing this, Haruto's lips curled into a slight smile.
"I think I need to practice too. Good luck!" He then left.
Now only Keijy remained in the scene. A leaf fell from a tree. Keijy's arrow had managed to pin it to the opposite tree trunk. She murmured softly.
"I guessed right."
On Fushima's side, he was also practicing with his new swords. In the tranquil space of the "silent" stream, Fushima stood alone on a flat rock. He took a deep breath, his cold, sharp eyes focused on the void. Suddenly, Fushima turned, the sword in his hand tracing an arc that tore through the air, carrying with it the full vigilance of someone in a land fraught with danger.
Just then, from behind the bushes, a sharp "CLANG" rang out. The sound of metal rubbing against the scabbard was so decisive it sent shivers down one's spine.
Instinct for survival, Fushima didn't need to turn his head. He used the momentum of the previous slash to channel all his strength into his wrist and executed a deadly reverse slash behind his back. The sword moved as fast as a black lightning bolt, aimed directly at the spot where the sword had just been drawn.
CLANG!
The sharp clang of two steel blades echoed across the stream. Fushima froze, his eyes narrowing in astonishment. His sword hadn't hit its target, but had been blocked by a gleaming silver blade held upright.
Haruto stood there, one hand holding the scabbard, the other gripping the hilt, firmly blocking Fushima's attack. His face remained calm, even slightly curved into a smile, even though Fushima's blade was only a few inches from his shoulder.
"Isn't this kind of greeting a bit too 'harsh,' Fushima?" Haruto said casually, his wrist subtly flicking Fushima's sword away.
Fushima sheathed his sword, his gaze still fixed on the young man before him. He silently assessed: When did he draw his sword? I didn't even hear footsteps.
Haruto's reflexes were too quick, unlike those of an ordinary student, but more like someone whose swordsmanship was ingrained in his blood.
"That was a quick draw." – Fushima's voice was low, his expression less menacing but still full of scrutiny.
– "Ah, just instinct. I saw you practicing so intensely, so I thought I'd join in the 'fun' a little." – Haruto shrugged, sheathing his sword with a flourish, then returning to his usual nonchalant demeanor as if nothing had happened.
– "Your reflexes are good, kid. But next time, don't sneak up behind someone and draw your sword like that; this isn't a schoolyard." – Fushima said.
Haruto smiled slightly. He drew his sword.
– "Are you practicing swordsmanship? Do you need my help?"
Just then, Fushima slashed through a nearby silver-colored bamboo stalk. A slight smirk appeared on his lips.
– "It's an honor to face you."
With that, both simultaneously lunged at each other like two lightning bolts.
"CLANG!"
The first sound was a sharp clash as the two swords collided head-on. Haruto didn't back down. Using the strength of his incredibly flexible wrist, he deflected Fushima's sword, then spun around to execute a low, horizontal slash.
Fushima reacted even faster, leaping into the air, his toes lightly touching the stream's surface for momentum, then descending from above with a thousand-pound sword strike.
"CRASH!"
The pressure from Fushima's slash shattered the moss-covered musical notes beneath Haruto's feet. Haruto gritted his teeth, his blue eyes gleaming with the excitement of a swordsmanship genius. He dodged through an extremely narrow gap, his silver sword vibrating violently, creating illusory sword movements that forced Fushima to constantly retreat in defense.
Both moved so quickly that Miha and Keijy, standing nearby, only saw flickering white streaks of light intertwining. The sound of steel clashing echoed repeatedly:
Clang! Clang! Clang! – creating a rapid rhythm amidst the stillness of Matrewer.
In the final beat, both Fushima and Haruto poured all their strength and speed into a direct thrust.
"CRASH!"
A shockwave from the collision of two extremely powerful energies erupted. The recoil was so great that both lost their balance. Haruto and Fushima's hands were numb from the intense shock.
In a breathtaking moment, both swords were simultaneously flung into the air. They spun several times on the surface of the crystal stream before plunging into the white sand by the stream's edge, their hilts still vibrating.
They stood facing each other, their chests heaving from lack of oxygen, but their eyes met with admiration.
The battle ended beneath a thick fog. Miha shouted from afar.
– "You two were so cool!"
Haruto approached his sword and drew it out decisively.
– "Thanks, Miha."
They returned to the ancient tree to rest for lunch. Miha took out the cakes that Mrs. Saki had prepared. Keiji suddenly noticed that Mrs. Saki knew why they were there. Feeling a little wary, Keiji didn't take a bite of the cake immediately.
– "Hey, Kiki, how did you and Saki know why we were here?"
Haruto, Fushima, and Miha paused briefly. They stopped chewing their cakes. All eyes turned to Kiki. Kiki didn't seem flustered; on the contrary, she was somewhat indifferent to the question.
– "You just need to understand that I'm always searching for rare flowers or plants for Mrs. Saki to use as fabric to create unique costumes. So I have all the information related to Matrewer at my fingertips."
Fushima ate his cake with peace of mind. He nodded.
– "What a reliable girl. But, do you know where the guitar is?"
Kiki's face showed a hint of displeasure.
– "If I didn't know, I wouldn't be able to lead you around aimlessly. It's best not to ask such pointless questions in front of me."
Miha chuckled. She gently patted little Kiki's head.
-"You look so cute, but you're so cold. But you look really cool."
Kiki pushed Miha's hand away, looking a little flustered.
-"Are you trying to win me over or something? No way."
The whole group burst into laughter at Kiki's annoyed expression. Although not very friendly, Kiki was always the one who cared about everyone's actions and lives.