Silence filled the room for but a moment.
It's just superstition. Not real.
"So…uhhh…Miyuki, what does that mean?"
Ryuo broke the silence.
Staring at them was card number 13, death. A skeleton on horseback.
"Throw a guess Ryuo."
"Well…death? But why is it upside down?"
"Excellent deduction, have you considered a career in philosophy?"
"Huh?"
"Well, it being upside down…can mean many things. Such as sleepwalking."
"What does that have to do with death?"
"How should I know? I've just read the book. And in addition, I think this divination should be performed under the moon, not during the day."
"That would make sense."
They looked at the cards for a while longer, before Miyuki finally collected them and they disappeared into her dress.
I still don't understand where she holds those.
"Well guys! And girl! Should we get going?"
"Where exactly are you planning on taking us, Airi?"
"I thought we could go visit the festival site, ask some elders there if they can tell us more about our village's history."
"Kaito, you wouldn't happen to have an extra bike laying around? I'd prefer not to fear for my life again traveling on Souta's bike."
"I agree."
"Sorry, I don't think I do."
Miyuki turned to Souta.
"Surely you'd love to just run alongside us?"
"No."
"I'll loan you a book of your choosing?"
"Even bigger no."
"Too bad, reading might do you some good.
They made their way through the hallways, making sure to thank Kaito's mother again for the food. His father was nowhere to be seen, so silently they just slipped out and walked to the back of the building where Kaito said he had his bike.
The backyard was similar to that of the front, old, moss-covered pathways, small stone altars plotted around. In the back two huge oaks grew, and between them, a fountain.
I bet this place is beautiful to others.
Souta looked around.
The dark forest surrounding them was impenetrable, not a single ray of light could shrine through the canopy. The trees towering over them seemed to sway a bit, but in a weird, harmonized way.
Creepy.
He tried to look for the eyes he had seen before in the darkness, but they were nowhere to be seen.
"Souta, stop phasing out!"
He saw that the others were already returning to the front of the place and quickly walked after them.
If I stare into that void for too long, it will stare back.
Soon they were back on the road. All four of them couldn't ride side by side, so Airi and Ryuo were leading the way with Souta, Miyuki and Kaito behind them. After clearing the forest, the trees no longer protected them from the wind which had picked up again. Souta could only hear bits and pieces from the conversation with Ryuo and Airi.
Seems like they are planning the next few days.
"Hey Souta."
He quickly turned his head to see that Kaito was talking to him.
"Yeah?"
"Do you remember a lot about our childhood?"
Where's this coming from..and what should I say…
"Well..not really no…but I don't remember much of anything really. I think I was just born with bad memory"
"I think that you just don't focus on what you're hearing, you airhead."
Miyuki had also joined the conversation.
"Hey, that's uncalled for. I listen most of the time."
"Hmm…I think Miyuki is right."
Not you too.
"Think what you think."
"And I don't think it has to only do with what you hear, but also with what you see."
Souta's heart skipped a few beats.
What does he know? Try to remain calm…surely he doesn't mean…
"Are you saying that I also don't focus on what I'm seeing?"
"No…not exactly…"
crap
"More like…I don't know how to explain."
"I can. When I look Souta into the eyes, it's like he isn't really there. And he doesn't look people in the eyes anyways."
How are they catching on?
"I do look people in the eyes. I just don't enjoy it because…because…uh…people are ugly."
Yeah that's it.
"I don't believe you."
"Me neither…but whatever. You can keep your secrets."
"There are no secrets!"
Why can't they just let me be.
The fields were rolling by, soon more and more houses started popping up.
It's been so long since I last visited the festival, I can't even remember where it's held.
Ryuo and Airi turned left towards a less used path.
Isn't the cemetery this way as well, if I remember correctly.
Indeed it was. The path led them to the point where the mountains started to rise. There on the side, the old cemetery stood.
That place must be ancient, there are so many graves with so few people living here.
After passing the graveyard, a bit longer along the path they finally came upon a large grassy field where there were many people working on putting up the festival stands.
Oh right, it was here. There's also an ancient site in the middle of this field where the festival has always taken place.
All around them they could hear the pouding of hammers, wood being sawed and shouts of the people. A giant torii gate was guarding the entrance to the field, and soon after that market stalls were starting to take shape. They abandoned their bikes on the edge of the field, Souta and Miyuki almost falling over when trying to get off their bike.
"Look guys! So many stalls! I wonder what delicious delicacies they'll sell this year!"
"I'm going to devour Dangos when the festival day comes!"
The five of them walked along the pathway that crossed the field.
"Look, that place will for sure sell traditional masks!"
"And that's the fortune slip place!"
"All right Airi and Ryuo, calm down. It's not the day of the festival yet.
"What's that stall over there? I don't recall it from childhood"
"The people are wearing funny outfits for sure."
A bit further from the others, a big stall was being built. Hanging from top of the stall there was a big white sheet with some text on it. As they got closer, Souta could read it.
The Holy Apostles of the Crimson Moon.
I've never heard of such a movement.
As they got even closer, one of the people suddenly turned to greet them. He was robed in a long, dark red gown with some symbols adorning the piece of clothing.
Souta looked at his face out of curiosity and almost fell on his back.
Looking back at him was a familiar face.
A perfect circle carved into the spotless skin.