SCARS & PETALS

Tsukiko blinked, stunned, caught between a surge of relief and something unfamiliar that stirred in her chest.

"Are you alright?" the man asked, his voice low but calm, as if the danger had been nothing.

She nodded quickly, her voice caught in her throat. "I—yeah. Thank you."

His grip loosened, but his eyes lingered on her, unreadable.

"Be more careful next time," he said, his voice a soft command, yet there was something underlying it—concern, perhaps, or a quiet authority.

Tsukiko swallowed hard, managing a small, awkward nod. "I will."

There was a long pause. Neither of them moved, both seemingly caught in the lingering tension of the moment. Finally, Tsukiko broke the silence, curiosity rising in her like an unbidden wave.

"Who are you?" she asked, her voice steady but edged with surprise. "I thought I was the only one in this wo—" She stopped mid-sentence as her eyes landed on the camera slung around his neck.

"You're a photographer?" she asked, her gaze lingering on the high-quality equipment, now making sense of his presence here.

"Cameraman, mostly," Haruki replied, adjusting the lens on his camera. "But yeah,. What about you? You live around here?"

She shook her head. "No. I'm here for research. Environmental work." She glanced around, as if gauging the landscape's potential. "I'm studying some of the plant life in this area. Specifically, a certain flower."

Haruki's heart skipped a beat at her words. "A flower, huh?" he said, trying to sound casual. "What kind of flower?"

She met his gaze, her expression unreadable. "A rare one. Hard to find, but I think it grows around here. I'm looking for it for a project I'm working on."

Haruki's fingers tightened around the strap of his camera bag. He didn't know whether to be relieved or alarmed. Was she after the same flower? The one his client had hired him to find? And if so, what did that mean for his mission?

For a moment, they stood in silence, both sizing each other up. Haruki wasn't sure what to make of her yet. She was different from anyone he'd met in the city—quiet, composed, but with an edge that suggested she wasn't one to back down easily.

"I'm Haruki," he said finally, offering his hand. "And you are?"

"Tsukiko," she replied, shaking his hand briefly before pulling back. 

"I'm staying at one of the nearby inns," Haruki said, breaking the momentary silence.

"Same here," Tsukiko replied, her expression cautious.

Haruki hesitated before asking, "May I know what flower you're looking for?"

She froze for a fraction of a second before answering, her voice carefully measured. "It's... the Lunar Bloom."

A flicker of surprise crossed Haruki's face, but he quickly masked it with a small smile. "Looks like we're both here for the same thing."

Tsukiko's eyes narrowed slightly as she processed his words, her unease apparent. Another person searching for the Lunar Bloom? The coincidence was too much to ignore. 

"Why?" she asked, her voice sharp with suspicion.

"As per a client's request," Haruki replied simply, his tone giving nothing away.

Tsukiko held his gaze for a moment, then brushed it off with a small shrug. "I see. Good luck, then."

Haruki blinked, mildly surprised by her response. He had expected her to offer a proposal to team up—it would make sense, after all. Instead, she dismissed the situation with surprising ease.

He smirked, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly in amusement. "Yeah, you too."

"I'll be on my way," she said, her voice clipped but not unfriendly. Without another word, she turned and disappeared into the forest, her steps quick and purposeful.

Haruki watched her go, his curiosity now thoroughly piqued. He adjusted his camera strap, the edges of his lips curving into a grin.

"A challenger, huh?" he murmured to himself, already intrigued by this unexpected twist.

The next morning mist clung to the dense forest like a veil, curling around the towering pines and soaking into the mossy earth. Haruki slung his camera bag over his shoulder, his sharp eyes scanning the map in his hand. 

Somewhere in this vast expanse of greenery lay his elusive target: the Lunar Bloom, a rare flower that only bloomed under a full moon.

He wasn't particularly invested in flowers, but the client had offered enough money to make this trek worthwhile. Plus, he appreciated the solitude. The forest was quiet, save for the crunch of leaves beneath his boots and the occasional chirp of birds. Peaceful. Perfect.

At least, until a voice shattered the calm.

"Hey, you!"