(note: you might not like this chapter so feel free to skip it)
The sky was orange, slowly shifting into purple.
On a quiet roadside, three Otonokizaka students walked home while chatting— their voices cheerful, light, full of energy.
A girl named Honoka walked in front, hopping lightly as usual.
"Come on, hurry up, Umi-chan, Kotori-chan! If we're slow, the shop will close!"
"Honoka… can you please walk normally for once?"
Umi's tone was firm, though a bit worried.
"We haven't gone through this road for a long time. If you get too excited, you might—"
"Haha~ it's fine, Umi-chan. We're just going to buy sweets~ ♪" the girl beside her added.
"Don't underestimate Honoka's stupidity, Kotori! She could get lost even on a straight road!"
Kotori covered her mouth, giggling softly.
"Well… that part is true…"
Honoka turned around, puffing her cheeks.
"Eeeeh!? You two are so mean!"
Umi and Kotori caught up, smiling.
But then—
Right when Honoka passed an old wall separating the public road and the warehouse area…
Her steps halted.
She froze.
"Honoka? What is it?" Umi asked.
Honoka slowly raised her hand, pointing behind the wall.
With a small voice
"…Umi-chan… Kotori-chan…
am I dreaming?"
Kotori and Umi hurried forward, standing beside Honoka.
They turned toward the direction she pointed.
And instantly—
The two girls froze as well.
Behind the wall, the place they knew as an old ruined warehouse—
dark, abandoned, full of debris—
Had completely changed.
The ground emitted a soft glow.
Thousands of flowers bloomed, covering the entire field like a living carpet.
Young saplings grew from the soil, their leaves shimmering in the evening breeze.
Sunset light framed everything, making it look like a fantasy realm.
There was no sound except the chirping of birds and the soft whisper of the wind through countless petals.
Honoka held her chest, eyes widening.
"This… is so beautiful…"
Kotori covered her mouth with both hands, eyes trembling with emotion.
"W-what… happened to this place…?"
Even Umi, usually the most rational, lost her words.
Her throat moved slowly, trying to find an explanation— but failed.
"…This… isn't a normal scene."
None of them expected
A place they once passed by would transform like this.
The three stood silently for a long time, not daring to move, simply being swallowed by the mysterious beauty.
Honoka raised her hand, ready to step forward—
but Umi grabbed her wrist firmly.
"Honoka. Where are you going?"
Umi's tone was strict, though trembling slightly.
Honoka pointed toward the gap in the wall, eyes sparkling— a mixture of curiosity and awe.
"I want… to see it up close. This… isn't normal…"
"No."
Umi pulled her back slightly.
"Honoka, this is not normal. Something is very wrong with this place. We have to leave. Now."
Kotori was still frozen, her face reflecting the sunset light that fell over the unnatural flower field.
"B-but—" Honoka tried to protest.
"No buts! Kotori, you too—"
But Umi suddenly stopped.
Because Kotori pointed at the warehouse, eyes widening.
"Honoka-chan… Umi-chan… look."
Her finger trembled.
"Animals… they're going into the warehouse."
A stray cat stepped inside slowly, tail raised.
A small dog followed after, tail wagging, as if drawn by something inside.
Kotori was mesmerized.
"I—I want to see it up close!"
"Kotori! Don't go there!" Umi shouted.
But it was too late— Kotori already ran forward, her steps scattering blue petals into the air.
Honoka broke free from Umi and chased her.
"Kotori! Wait for me!"
"You two…!"
Umi wiped her face in frustration.
"There's no other choice."
She ran after them.
---
The three began entering the wildflower field.
A gentle silence filled the air.
Umi frowned.
"Are you sure this is okay?"
"This place… feels strange. Like—"
"—like nature took over everything."
Kotori finished, eyes tracing the wildflowers, moss, and fresh air.
Honoka spread her arms, closing her eyes.
"The air here… it's so cool. Like a secret garden!"
Kotori grabbed Honoka and Umi's hands, pulling them forward.
Until they finally reached the warehouse door.
They stepped inside—
And immediately stopped.
Their eyes widened.
Inside the warehouse—where there should have been the smell of rust—
was now a green room with delicate roots crawling along the walls.
At the center of the room, a teenage boy sat cross-legged.
His jacket was torn in many places. His hood had fallen back. His hair was messy, his face pale.
On his lap, a small cat slept soundly.
A dog sat pressed against his arm.
Several other cats rubbed against his hand, seeking attention.
The environment around him seemed to adore him.
Honoka placed a hand on her chest, stunned.
Umi stepped back reflexively.
Kotori covered her mouth, shocked.
"…hic… hic… why…"
A weak voice came.
"…why did you two… have to suffer all that…"
The boy—Yuuto—had just woken up.
Tears still flowed from his now different… unnaturally beautiful eyes.
The three girls watched silently.
That face—
It wasn't a human's face.
And Honoka, with a trembling voice, whispered:
"F… fairy?"
Yuuto jolted.
The cats on his lap opened their eyes.
He slowly turned toward the voice—
And the three girls saw clearly:
A tear-stained face
and irises glowing like divine lights.
They froze, bodies locked between fear and awe.
Yuuto looked at them—
eyes shaking, confused, still wet with tears.
His fae-like eyes reflected the sunset like fragments of crystal.
The animals around him suddenly scattered.
Yuuto flinched.
"H-humans…?!"
He tried to stand in panic—
a reflex even though his body wasn't ready after the drastic transformation.
"W-wait!" Honoka called out.
But Yuuto didn't listen.
Wind swirled violently under his feet, lifting dust and petals.
WHOOOM—!!
A burst of wind exploded like a small storm.
The three girls squealed softly, shielding their faces and holding their skirts.
"W-what is this—!?"
Umi shouted.
Kotori crouched slightly, hair covering her eyes, heart pounding fast.
And as the mini-storm settled—
BRAAK!
A loud crash echoed.
Yuuto was thrown backward, hitting the warehouse floor.
He curled, holding his stomach.
"Ngh… wh… why am I feeling hunger…?"
His arms and legs trembled—
And he collapsed again, like a baby trying to stand for the first time.
Honoka ran forward without hesitation, pushing through the remaining swirl of wind.
"Stop!"
She stood right in front of Yuuto, blocking his attempted escape—
even though he couldn't stand at all.
Then Honoka crouched down, lowering her head until her face was level with his.
Their faces… only inches apart.
"Honoka! Don't get close to him!!"
Umi shouted, panic rising.
Kotori stepped forward too, eyes full of mixed fear and pity.
But Honoka only focused on the being in front of her—
a being that looked human, but clearly wasn't.
Yuuto's glowing fae-like eyes trembled deeply.
He looked like a scared child.
Honoka swallowed.
"A-are you… a fairy?"
Silence.
Sunset dust fell gently.
Yuuto's fresh memories of the fae surfaced—
their cruelty, what they did to humans, how deceitful they were.
Yuuto stared at Honoka, trembling, confused… and a little sad.
And his breath formed only one small word.
"…don't… come near me…"
Yuuto still believed himself to be a fae after waking up.
And the sins of the fae still clung to him.