Is that really?
The wind picked up, swirling a cloud of pink petals around Nanami’s face. She wiped her eyes and stared at the dark path leading to the back of the campus.
"Haruki? Are you still back there?” she called out. No answer came from the dark, but the bright cherry forest.
"But I have seen him going in the dark. This can't be my imagination. Haruki, can you hear me? Haruki, Haruki?" She walked towards the pink woods. She was a bit nervous about the weather being rainy and windy. She finally thought that it could be her imagination. She walked back towards her home.
Actually, at the very back of the school grounds sits the “Great Sakura.” It is a massive, ancient tree with gnarled, twisting roots that look like tangled limbs. Its branches are so heavy with blossoms they nearly touch the ground, creating a private, pink “curtain” around the trunk. While it’s the most romantic spot on campus, it feels isolated and eerie once the sun goes down.
But it was the time of evening when the school had ended. Nanami and Haruki were neighbours. They used to follow the same path after school, and they used to meet in front of the Cherry woods. That day, she thought that maybe he had gone home earlier.
"Mamma, what's for dinner today?" Nanami asked her. "Ufff! You'd better starve today. It's takenoko and tai with rice and Takikomi Gohan. Ahh! I know you will not eat; like father, like daughter, everyday drama! Nanami wished her mom goodnight and locked herself in her bedroom.
Dorbell rang. Who's that disturbing late at night? Nanami's mom shouted. "Miss, Mei. I am Haruki's mom." The speaker was confused and worried. "What are you doing here, Miss Himari?'' Nanami's mom asked. "My son has not come home from school. Did your daughter come?" Madam Himari asked in confusion." Yah! She had arrived nearly at 6. What happened?" Miss Mei asked while opening the door. " Maybe, he is lost." Kinda help me, please, miss." Ma'am Himari requested Mei.
Nanami was hungry, so she woke and walked towards the kitchen. She heard that Haruki was lost. This word hit her mind, and she remembered the evening incident. She rushed and said, " Really?" Miss Himari asked if she had seen him. Nanami answered yes and explained about the scenery while she was waiting for him after school.
At this moment, Miss Himari lost her hope. They immediately reported to the Kisaragi police station. As they were coming, Himari fainted. Nanami's mom took her to the hospital. Nanami was scared, and her legs were too weak to walk; they were trembling. She was frightened because that mysterious and horrifying incident scared her scared.
New morning, in school, while Nanami was telling her friends about the scenery the day. It was obvious that her friends wouldn't believe it. "You can be a good storyteller when you grow up, right guys!" One of her classmates taunted her. During the break, she was upset and was thinking," It was not just an instant dream; no one believes me." "Are you sure?" A sound came from nearby. Nanami looked and saw a charming face sitting near her. "Who are u?" Nanami asked. "Myself Ren Ichigaya; Grade 11. You are such a hopeless girl. Am I right?" the sound said. "Do you believe this hopeless girl, mister?" Nanami asked. "I wouldn't believe it, but it was the exact moment when I was feeding my cat. You must check the CCTV footage." Ren replied. "Oh! I have thought about this. Can you come with me?" Nanami asked with a sense of hope.
She called her mother, "Hello, Mom. How is Aunt now? Is she well? I am going to check the CCTV footage from last evening." Miss Mei," She is better than before, and it looks like she's getting mad. She is blaming you for what happened yesterday..." As she was talking, Himari snatched the mobile phone, "You, daughter of a B****, you don't have shame, irresponsible girl. I would have killed you yesterday. Girl, thank God who saved you. Who knows if you both had a fight for which you just took his precious life? I am warning you, if you cannot find him, you will be killed like him..." Ma'am Mei slapped Himari and said," You are a mad sister. You've gone totally mad. Do you know what you are telling?" How could you understand, lady, what the feeling is when one loses her boy?" Miss Himari said to Mei with no care. Miss Mei went out of the hospital room sadly, hearing the open crying of Himari who lost her beloved.
''Who's that crazy woman?" Ren asked. "She is the mother of the boy we're talking about. By the way, let's go!" Nanami answered.
A security guard was sitting freely and reading a newspaper, "Ohhhhhoooo! What is happening in today's world? Young children are getting lost..." While he was murmuring, he heard a crackling sound. "Who's that?" he kept moving towards the sound. First step, second step..." Shit...I was scared that my spicy chips would get eaten by this fucking rats. I would let it go. Come, dear, come to me." "Is he crazy, too?" Ren thought. "Should we go like robbers? I am sure you have too watched what happened?" Ren asked Nanami. "Maybe...not", Nanami replied. They walked to the principal's room to get another set of keys after switching off the cameras in the security room of the principal's room.
The break is over. "Thank you, Ren, we will meet after school beside The Great Sakura," Nanami said to Ren. "Okay, bye. See you soon!"
Nanami was thinking not about Haruki but about those sharp eyes, styled hair, rosy lips and the charming face. "Hey, you...Nanami?Nanaamiii!" shouted the teacher. "Yes, Sir!" Nanami replied, knowing nothing. "Where is your mind?" the teacher asked. "She lost her mind in the pink woods, Sir, " that boy replied. "You do your work, little puppy." "Okay, sir", the boy again made the whole class laugh loudly. "Get out, you both get out of my class and make sure that you never join my class, are you both listening?" ordered the teacher. They both ignored each other and stood until the school got over.
As soon as the bell rang, Nanami rushed to pick up her bags and ran to the Great Sakura. "Hey! Ren, I am not too late, right?" said Nanami. "No, I am here by now," Ren replied. Nanami was surprised to see that today this wood is filled with campus couples, whereas yesterday it was empty. "What should we do now?" Ren asked. "Let's wait here for 10 minutes, then we will check the CCTV footage as soon as the guard gets out," Nanami said.
Nanami was telling Ren about her brother's girlfriend, Aika Mori, when she realized to find her. They went to check the attendance, where they found that she was absent. They saw that the guard went out. They entered the room, unlocking it with the other set of keys. "Are you sure?" Ren asked. Nanami replied to him yes. They were shocked to see that the exact time was deleted. "WTF, why isn't it here?" Nanami was confused and started getting nervous. "Should we rewind?" Rena asked.
Instantly, he found that in the bright dark, one girl wearing a pink mask stepped into the woods. He called Nanami to check whether she knew the girl. "Shit...she is Aika Mori."
