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Season 2 — Chapter 2: Petals at Midnight
The night started like a dream.
The group gathered at Eve's house, a small living room packed with blankets, snacks, and the low hum of an old horror movie playing on the TV. For once, it wasn't about shadows or whispers or what might be hiding in the trees.
It was just… them.
Riku sprawled across the floor, loudly predicting every jump scare before it happened. Sera sat on the couch arm, hoodie pulled over her head, watching with unblinking eyes. Jason leaned against the wall, quiet, occasionally letting out a low chuckle at Riku's commentary.
And in the middle of it all — Kuro and Eve.
He sat beside her, their fingers intertwined beneath the soft blanket. Her head rested on his shoulder, eyes half-closed. He didn't move much. He never did anymore. But there was peace in his stillness.
For a few hours, everything felt… okay.
Then the clock hit 12:00 AM.
Something shifted.
Kuro's smile faded slightly — just for a second.
Outside the window, he saw them.
Sakura petals.
Soft. Slow. Falling from the sky.
But it wasn't spring.
And the tree that once bled wasn't even near this part of the house.
No one else seemed to notice.
He glanced toward the kitchen, where the light flickered just once. That's when he saw it — a figure, tall and still, standing just beyond the doorway in the dark.
Then another.
Then a third.
They didn't move.
They didn't breathe.
They just watched.
Kuro's fingers tightened around Eve's hand — not enough to scare her, just enough to feel real. She didn't say anything. She didn't have to.
The others were too caught in the movie to notice.
Kuro kept his eyes on the shadows until they slowly… melted away, like they'd never been there at all.
No words were spoken.
No fear shared.
He simply looked down at Eve, brushing her bangs away softly, and kissed her forehead.
His smile returned.
But it wasn't peace anymore.
It was preparation.
Something was coming.
And it had just reminded him it was still watching.
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