Kazuki sat on a large rock by the lake, his damp clothes clinging to him as the morning breeze cut through the air. He shivered but tried to hide it, his breath visible in soft puffs. Across from him, Luna sat quietly, her green and white hair cascading in messy strands, her eyes darting between him and the shimmering Lunis Bloom in her hands.
"You should really go home and warm up," Luna said gently, her brow furrowed with worry. "If you stay like this, you'll catch a cold."
Kazuki shook his head, his teeth barely keeping from chattering. "I'm fine. I… I want to know more about you, Luna." His voice was steady despite the cold, his gaze unwavering.
Luna froze for a moment, caught completely off guard. No one had ever spoken to her like that before—not with curiosity, not with genuine interest. Most avoided her entirely, or worse, whispered behind her back.
"…Why?" she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Don't you think I'm strange? The villagers do. They call me a witch… don't you find me weird?"
Kazuki leaned forward, meeting her eyes with an earnest intensity that made her heart skip. "Weird?" He chuckled softly. "If being kind, creative, and strong enough to stand on your own makes you weird, then I guess I like weird people."
Luna's eyes widened, her breath catching in her chest. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. For the first time in her life, someone saw her not as an outcast, but as someone worth knowing.
The air between them grew warmer, and for a brief moment, the world felt softer, more forgiving.
Then Kazuki sneezed—loudly.
Luna blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "You're freezing!" she said, standing up quickly. "You really are going to get sick if you don't dry off and warm up."
Kazuki sniffled, laughing awkwardly. "Yeah… maybe."
Luna hesitated for a second before glancing back at him with a rare softness in her eyes. "Come to my place," she offered quietly. "You need to rest. I… I can make you some tea or something."
Her voice was calm, but there was a nervous warmth behind it, a crack in the quiet shield she had always kept up.
Kazuki smiled, his tired eyes lighting up. "I'd like that."
Without another word, Luna turned toward the path leading back to her house, Kazuki following close behind. For the first time in what felt like forever, her steps didn't feel so heavy.
Kazuki sat on a soft chair, wrapped in a thick blanket that smelled faintly of lavender. The chill of the morning had mostly left him, replaced by the soothing warmth of a cup cradled in his hands. The rich aroma of whatever Luna had brewed filled the small room, calming his frayed nerves. He took a sip—smooth and slightly sweet, with a floral aftertaste.
Luna sat across from him on a stool, quietly observing him with a curious expression.
"This is really good," Kazuki said, raising the cup slightly. "Thanks for letting me stay here… and for the tea."
Luna nodded, her eyes briefly meeting his before flickering away. "You're welcome. You needed to warm up."
The room settled into a soft silence for a moment, the crackling of a small fire in the corner filling the space. Kazuki glanced around the house, noting the stacks of books on the floor, the scattered drawings pinned to the walls, and the lingering scent of flowers everywhere. It felt cozy—lonely, but cozy.
He looked back at Luna. "So… what's the story with the villagers? Why do they treat you like that?"
Luna's fingers tightened slightly around her cup. "It's nothing," she said quickly, her voice soft but firm. "They just… misunderstand me, that's all."
Kazuki tilted his head, sensing the shift in her tone but deciding not to push. "Fair enough." He smiled. "Your tea's amazing, though. I bet they don't know what they're missing."
Luna's lips curved into a faint smile before she glanced at him with a spark of curiosity. "What about you?" she asked. "Where are you from? Another village? Another city?"
Kazuki paused, considering how to answer. "I'm from… a city far away," he said carefully. "It's a pretty big place. Different from here. Busy and loud, but it has its moments."
"A city?" Luna asked, leaning forward slightly. "What's it like?"
"Well, it's full of tall buildings, lots of people… and at night, there's something called fireworks. They light up the sky with all kinds of colors and patterns. They're loud, but beautiful."
Luna's eyes lit up with interest. "Fireworks? I've never heard of that."
Kazuki grinned. "They're hard to describe. Imagine flowers blooming in the sky, but made of light. Reds, blues, greens—all kinds of colors, bursting into life for just a few seconds before fading away."
Luna rested her chin on her hand, her eyes far away as if she were trying to picture it. "That sounds… beautiful."
"It is," Kazuki said. "If you ever get the chance, you should see them. They make you feel like anything's possible—even just for a moment."
Luna glanced down at her cup, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I'd like that," she said softly.
_____________________
Meanwhile Sonnet, Andreas and Lumi were in a inn talking about kazuki.
Sonnet leaned back in her chair at the inn, tapping her fingers on the table. "Okay, I'm officially annoyed. Where's Kazuki again?"
"He's been sneaking off every morning," Lumi added, her brow furrowed. "He doesn't even tell us where he's going anymore."
Andreas crossed his arms. "Suspicious. Very suspicious."
Sonnet shot him a look. "Suspicious? He's our friend, not some criminal mastermind. He's probably exploring the village or… meeting someone." She smirked mischievously. "Maybe he's got a little romance going on?"
Lumi sighed. "Even if that's the case, he could at least tell us something. We've barely seen him for days now."
The three of them exchanged glances before nodding.
"Let's go find him," Lumi said firmly.
The group stepped outside, wandering through the cobblestone streets of Greenfall Village. The air was crisp, and the sky was overcast with hints of morning fog.
As they strolled, Andreas's sharp eyes began to notice something strange. His warrior instincts kicked in—a subtle tension pulling at the edge of his mind.
"Hey…" Andreas slowed his pace, his gaze narrowing as he scanned the street. "Does something feel… off to you?"
Lumi and Sonnet stopped, following his line of sight. The villagers moved about their daily routines—buying goods, chatting, sweeping their front porches. It seemed normal enough… at first.
"What do you mean?" Sonnet asked, confused.
Andreas pointed toward a nearby vendor. "That woman. She's been sweeping the same spot since we got here."
Lumi frowned. "So? Maybe she's just really dedicated to cleaning."
Andreas shook his head. "Look closer. The same movement. Same rhythm. Like she's stuck in a loop."
Lumi's eyes widened slightly, and Sonnet looked around with growing concern.
"Not just her," Andreas continued, his voice low and serious. "That man over there… he's having the same conversation with someone that I swear I heard yesterday—word for word."
Sonnet glanced nervously around. The more she looked, the more she began to notice it too. The villagers moved like clockwork, repeating the same actions, the same conversations, over and over.
"This is… weird," Lumi muttered. "You think Kazuki noticed this?"
Andreas crossed his arms, his eyes darkening. "He might have. Or maybe it's why he keeps sneaking out."
"Then we need to find him," Sonnet said, her voice more urgent now. "Something's definitely wrong with this village."