Where Spirits Rest

The morning sun glimmers across the surface of the river. From the bridge, Ryo spotted her again—Tsukiko Hoshino—dresses in her soft white outfit that flutters gently in the breeze. His heartbeat skipped.

"Good morning, Tsukiko-san," he greets, voice slightly nervous.

"Good morning, Kazama-kun!" she replied with her usual gentle brightness. "Shall we?"

He nodded, falling into step beside her.

(Ryo: “Damn… it really feels like a date. I’ve never gone out with a girl before..”)

They walk quietly for a while, the silence hanging between them not heavy, but uncertain.

"So… where are we going?" Tsukiko finally asks with a tilt of her head.

"There's an old shrine I know. It’s a bit deep in the hills, but from its outer edge, there's this incredible view of the whole town. Have you been?"

She shook her head. "Nope. First time."

As they walk uphill, Ryo searched for something more to say.

"Do you live with your parents around here?"

"No," she replied softly. "I live in Alderford City. My parents are archaeologists—they’re quite well known in the city. Since they’re on a research trip nearby, I came to stay for a while."

(Ryo: “That explains why she’s new in town... and why she feels so mysterious.”)

Soon, they reach the base of the shrine path—a towering staircase of nearly two hundred stone steps.

"Are you alright with stairs, Tsukiko-san?" Ryo asks.

To his surprise, she climbs with ease, light on her feet like a breeze on petals, while he struggled slightly to keep up.

( “She’s got so much energy… and here I am, gasping. This is kind of embarrassing.”)

Halfway up, he motioned to a side path.

Ryo-:"This way. Not the shrine yet—just a spot I really like."

Hoshino-:"But the gate is that way… isn’t that the shrine?"

Ryo-:"The gate is just the beginning. The actual shrine is deeper. But this height gives a perfect view."

They stepped off to a mossy ledge where the town stretched below, wrapped in mist and morning light.

Tsukiko took it in with a smile. "It’s beautiful. I feel like I can breathe easier here."

After a moment, she turns to him. "Let’s go to the shrine now. I want to see it ."

He nods. “Alright.”

As they continued climbing, the forest thickened and cooled, the air turning almost unnaturally quiet. The towering torii gate of Yūrei-no-Miya stood ahead, cloaked in shadows and framed by moss-covered lanterns. The ground beneath them felt untouched for years.

"So… this is the Shrine of Wandering Spirits?" Hoshino whispers.

"Yeah. People say it's haunted—spirits that lost their way are said to gather here, especially under the old sakura tree inside. It blooms even in winter." Ryo Whispers back.

She paused, intrigued. "That sounds like a place full of stories. Are you… afraid of spirits, Kazama-kun?"

He hesitates. "Not really… but I heard about evil ones—spirits that feed on human presence."

They stood in silence for a moment. Then, he added, his voice quieter:

"My grandma always says I can't see the difference between spirits and humans. Once, when I was little... I almost got taken away."

Her gaze shifted to him.

"I was playing near the forest alone," Ryo continued. "A woman appeared—beautiful, dressed in white. I didn’t even feel scared... until she reached for my hand. Her skin was ice cold."

(Ryo: “Her eyes... weren’t human. They were like empty wells.”)

"I followed her without knowing why. It was like my body wasn’t mine anymore. If Kai hadn’t seen me and called my name… if Grandma hadn’t come running with the sacred charm… I don’t know where I’d be now."

Hoshino looks at him quietly for a long moment.

"So... if I were a spirit," she said, her voice light but unreadable, "would you be afraid of me?"

Ryo blinks. Her question settled into him like an echo. Before he could answer, she stepped through the torii.

They enter the shrine grounds, their footsteps muffle by damp leaves. A gentle breeze whispers through the trees. In front of the ancient structure, Hoshino clasps her hands, eyes closing.

Ryo joins her in silence. But when he opens his eyes midway, he saw her still deep in prayer—serene, almost glowing in the dappled light.

(Ryo: “She looks… like she belongs here. Like she’s part of this place. But... I don’t want her to fade away.”)

When her eyes opened, he quickly turned his head.

Hoshino-:"Kazama-kun, is something wrong?"

Ryo-:"N-No, not at all. Um… what did you wish for?"

She smiled. "It’s a secret. And you?"

Ryo-:"I wished for our safety."

She giggled softly. "Of course you did. Safety first, right?"

The next few days passed like a whisper of summer wind.

They wandered the lantern-lit streets of the evening town, shared laughter in crowded alleys, and basked under moonlight.

At one lively festival street, Hoshino stops abruptly. "Kazama-kun! Look! That kitty keychain—so cute!"

He smiles. "Then let’s get it."