A large Japanese maple tree sat on the cliff at the edge of town. This cliff is a straight 40 meter shot down with a rocky terrain that means the end of your life if you were to fall. The only real way to get there is at the back of the cliff where a clear trail led to the tree. The Japanese maple sat crooked. Its jagged trunk is covered in moss. It's crooked branches are dark like a nightmare. The crimson leaves bleeding out of the tree glowed from the late afternoon sun.

"I swear. People have said this tree is growing on top of a grave," Akane said, fidgeting through her hair. She is rather pretty for having short shoulder-length hair. All the other girls had told me that beautiful means to have long hair but it seemed like Akane could care less.

"Botan, do you believe me?" Akane resumed.

Akane, Shisui and I are sitting with our backs leaning against the tree. Every day after school, we would go and explore the city together for an hour or so. This is the life of three seventeen year olds living outside of Kyoto.

Akane is the smart one, but she's extroverly smart. Not the kind where she gets bullied by others for passing a test with all correct answers. She has short hair, a pretty face, a short stout body and a charismatic personality. Until you make her mad.

Shisui is the athletic one, but believe me when I said it's all for show. He's tough when he's on the court playing basketball or in kendo club with his stick. However, when it comes to real brawl, it's usually Akane who saves his butt. Don't get me wrong. Shisui is strong, but he likes it when he knows the rules and goes by the pattern. Ever since young, Shisui rarely gets bullied because of his strong front. But when he does, Akane would always come to his rescue.

And then there's me. Botan. My mother named me after the flower peony and I think that's why I am so influenced by such. I have really curly dark hair. I'm between the heights of Shisui and Akane. I'm rather skinny but trying to gain some muscle weight. I like drawing, poetry, cats, and listening to calming white noise. Maybe that's why I'm a little irritated today because I forgot my Airpods at home.

"If you believe her, then you can be her slave," Shisui replied to Akane, then giving her a hard kick on her leg.

They could play rough with each other, but they know not to play rough with me. My skin breaks like flower petals, they said. For a boy, that hurts to an extent. But taking that they are my friends I let it slide.

"Will the two of you stop it?" I covered my eyes from the incoming sun rays. "I'm more worried about why we are sitting so close to the edge."

Shisui patted me on the shoulder. "Forget what Akane said. Take out your phone."

I almost forgot. Last night, I found an app called Talisman that acts as a medium and lets you use your phone to call someone from the dead. Of course I knew it was a hoax, but it's something fun for bored teenagers to do other than the loads of homework on a daily basis. We were just going to call, play a joke with the voice actor on the other end of the line and then go home.

Digging for my phone in my school bag, the screen flashed from a notification. It was a text from my mom asking if I want my eggs fully cooked or not. Since my phone was the only one with the app downloaded, we opened it up and looked for a signal.

The area is on the outskirts but there should be service. I mean, we can see cars running below us. It's saying two bars. I ran around the tree and jumped on my tiptoes, all the while holding my phone high above my head. Shisui, who was taller than me, took it and it was his turn. Hopping around on his toes.

Akane noticed something and snatched my phone from Shisui. She took it to the edge and it raised to three bars. Akane looked up at the branch casting a shadow over her. The large canopy was skewed over the edge. A few sturdy branches were leaning over the edge daringly.

Akane came back to me and shove my phone in my hands. She gestured with her chin up to the tree. I looked into her eyes for a second before understanding what she was thinking.

"No. There is no way!"

"Dude, come on. What are you scared of?" Akane said. "We're running out of time."

"Here. If you don't want to do it, let me." Shisui was going to swipe the phone from my hand but I retrieved my hand back.

"No I'll--" I looked at the two pairs of eyes staring back at me. This may sound stupid and idiotic, but this might be the most exciting thing that has happened to us and that tells how boring out life is. It's because our life is boring, that's why I want to be the one to make this phone call.

I put the phone in the side pocket of my jacket uniform and started to climb the tree. The jagged trunk with knots made it easier for me to climb, along with the fact that it wasn't high until I reached the first branch. Within half a minute, I was crouching down, inching my way along the branch to the edge of the cliff. My two friends were underneath me, seeing the possible danger of our act and was always telling me to stop. We've played stupid games in the past that only ended in knee scrapes and cuts. But this. This is falling from a 40 meter rocky cliff.

As I got closer to the edge of the branch, I opened my legs and hugged the mossy wooded structure underneath me. Still scooting over to the edge, I reached for the phone in my pocket. Finally at the verging point, I extended an arm but slipped my footing.

My friends shrieked in shock and covered their mouths.

"You idiot. Be careful. Don't scare us," the nagging mother Akane snapped.

"When you call, don't forget to put it on speaker," Shisui announced.

I returned them a reassuring smile and looked back to my phone. Turning it on and unlocking the passcode with two fingers, I start to wonder why I chose such a large smartphone. After the phone was opened, I clicked on the orange app. It revealed a list of different kinds of ancient warriors and politicians. Not their names per se, but their titles. At the top, was a button for random. I clicked on it.

Instead of dialing a number like I would expect, it called with no ringing sound then died. The call was probably three second long. I looked down at Shisui and Akane.

"I can't call. I need more bars."

Akane scratched her head. She was starting to worry and looked from the horizon back to the trail where we came from. She suggested we try this another day. I can even call later and do a line so they all hear.

The logical side of me thought it would be a great idea. I still have a stack of homework. If I slack off anymore my mom would make me take cram school and our after school adventures would be cut short.

However, there was a small part of me that wanted to carry through with it. I want to prove to my friends, not that I'm capable, but there can be excitement in our friendship. There can be adrenaline and explosions in our lives, sparks that are usually not there in our daily lives.

I scooted three more inches closer to the edge like a worm. Akane is now flinging her arms for me to get down. Shisui had his arms on his hips, squinting his eyes. I held up my phone one last time. Four bars. I clicked on randomizing the call.

"Put it on speaker," Shisui called.

"Shut up, Shisui," Akane exclaimed. She pointed a finger at me."Botan, get down right now or I'm calling your mother."

"Didn't you want this," I said as it started to ring. "Be quiet. It's calling."

"Speaker, dude."

"I know. I know."

Securing the branch with my elbows, I put two hands together so I can reach the speaker button.

"Get down!" The irritated Akane yelled. She began to trot to the base of the tree and attempt to climb.

"No." I saw her and howled.

Turning back to face Akane, I released an elbow from the branch with only one elbow securing my weight on the tree branch. My elbow joint rolled and the next thing I know, I saw my two friends spun in front of me. The tree went completely upside down. There was a quick shot of its blood red leaves stained on my memory. Then the green canopy of trees below the cliff. I didn't feel the tickling butterflies in my stomach and maybe it's because I was upside down. The fall was quick and it was painless. And it was dark all of a sudden.