The massive oak tree towered over the backyard, its thick branches stretching outward like arms embracing the sky. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, scattering warm, golden patches across the bark and the grass below. The leaves whispered softly in the afternoon breeze, their shadows shifting with every passing gust.

  Akitsu Shouga and Kaoru climbed steadily, their hands gripping the rough, textured bark. The scent of earth and resin clung to the air, mingling with the faint aroma of the surrounding flowers. Beside Akitsu, Seraphine Orion floated lazily, her small fox-like form glowing faintly, tails swaying gently as if in sync with the wind.

  Akitsu’s hands trembled. Each movement felt like a battle against gravity itself. His breathing grew uneven, shallow and ragged. Halfway up, he froze and cautiously lowered himself onto a wide branch, hugging the trunk like it was the only thing anchoring him to safety.

  “This is nerve-racking!” he shouted, voice cracking slightly.

  Seraphine Orion crossed her tiny paws midair, eyes narrowing. “You shouldn’t be afraid of heights. It’s pathetic!”

  “That’s easy for you to say!” Akitsu snapped, clinging tighter, fingers digging into the rough bark.

  Above them, Kaoru leaned over a branch, her golden hair catching the sunlight. “Shouga-kun!! Hurry up! You won’t get to the sunset if you don’t climb fast!”

  Akitsu swallowed hard, forcing himself to stand despite the shaking of his legs. Every instinct screamed at him to stop, to descend, to avoid the dizzying heights—but he pressed on.

  Seraphine Orion hovered beside him, tails swaying with quiet annoyance. “Be careful, or you’ll fall to your death!”

  “Shut up!” Akitsu barked, teeth gritted.

  “I thought you were supposed to protect me?!”

  “I’m not obligated to protect you,” Seraphine Orion replied casually, her voice tinged with amusement. “It’s a choice whether we protect the wish-maker or not.”

  Akitsu clicked his tongue, irritation mingling with exhaustion. “If you’re a spirit… are there any others like you?”

  “Yes,” she said. “But I’m a special type called a boundless spirit. I can roam freely. Other spirits are bound to specific locations, unable to adventure across the world.”

  Akitsu paused again, chest heaving.

  “There are many types of spirits,” she continued, voice calm. “The most common are wandering spirits and vengeful spirits.”

  Akitsu Shouga stopped to catch his breath, feeling the coarse bark under his palms. “What’s the difference between them and you?”

  “Vengeful spirits and wandering spirits can do whatever they want,” she explained, “but they don’t truly think. They’re consumed by hatred or lingering emotions.” Her tone carried quiet pride. “Boundless spirits like me have minds, personalities, and freedom. We can travel the world and act on our own will.”

  Akitsu shook his head, exasperated. “This world is so complicated!”

  Kaoru tilted her head from above, curiosity bright in her eyes. “What do you mean?”

  “Oh—nothing!” Akitsu replied quickly, forcing a smile. “Don’t mind me!”

  Seraphine Orion chuckled softly, tails flicking. “I know. It’s complicated—but also very simple once you understand it.”

  He climbed again, slower now, muscles aching. “Alright… but why did you grant my wish?” he asked quietly, voice tinged with fatigue. “Aren’t there countless people around the world who want to make wishes?”

  “Yeah,” Seraphine Orion said thoughtfully. She hovered closer, eyes glinting faintly. “I wonder why myself… Maybe I was attracted to you somehow?”

  “That doesn’t make sense.”

  “You give off a unique aroma,” she said lightly. “That’s probably why.”

  Akitsu shook his head. “Spirits don’t make any sense to me.”

  Finally, he reached the topmost branch, sitting down beside Kaoru. His legs dangled over the edge, the wind ruffling his hair.

  She smiled, eyes sparkling like sunlight on water. “Isn’t this view pretty?”

  “Yeah,” Akitsu admitted, voice soft. “But it takes way too much effort to climb up here every single day.”

  “Don’t worry,” Kaoru said cheerfully. “You’ll get used to it someday.”

  “I guess so,” he muttered, letting his gaze drift across the sprawling landscape.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  “I can see the royal family’s mansion from here!” Kaoru pointed excitedly. “And the horse barn where we met!”

  Akitsu followed her gaze, nodding slowly. “Yeah… we should get down before it gets dark.”

  “Okay. Let’s go down.”

  They descended carefully, each step deliberate. Seraphine Orion floated beside them, examining the tree in quiet awe. “Now that I think about it… how big is this tree? I’ve never seen one like it.”

  “Kaoru’s family is rich,” Akitsu replied, brushing a strand of hair from his eyes. “They can get whatever they want whenever they want.”

  “Lucky,” Seraphine Orion murmured. “That girl is a gemstone. You better not lose her.”

  “I wasn’t planning on losing that precious gemstone,” Akitsu said quietly, voice low. “And can you please be quiet? I need to focus.”

  “Alright.”

  When they finally reached the ground, Akitsu made a beeline for his room and collapsed onto his bed, arms spread wide. “Climbing trees is the thing I hate doing the most!” he groaned. “And I’ll never get used to it!”

  “Then why did you do it?” Seraphine Orion asked, tilting her head.

  “Because Kaoru asked me to climb with her.”

  “Oh?” she teased. “So you do whatever your maiden tells you to do, huh? Why not tell her you don’t like climbing trees?”

  “If I said that,” Akitsu muttered, voice heavy, “it would break her heart. She loves climbing trees.”

  “Ooooh,” Seraphine Orion hummed, tails swaying. “So… do you like her by any chance?”

  “I don’t know,” Akitsu replied, staring at the ceiling. “She’s more like a sister to me.”

  “Nope. That’s a lie,” she said confidently. “I can smell your emotions—and it’s definitely something else!”

  “That’s impossible,” Akitsu snapped. “Spirits can’t smell emotions.”

  “How do you know?” Seraphine Orion asked, tilting her glowing head.

  “I thought you didn’t know anything about spirits.”

  “I just guessed, that’s all!”

  “That didn’t sound like a guess.”

  “Shut up!” Akitsu turned onto his side, closing his eyes. “I’m going to sleep. I’m too tired to talk!”

  “Alright. Sweet dreams!”

  Not long after, Akitsu Shouga fell into a deep, heavy sleep. And his past returned to him.

  Flashback

  Akitsu Shouga was fourteen, newly entering his second year of middle school. Rain poured relentlessly, drumming on rooftops and puddles alike, soaking through his clothes as he walked home alone. Shoes splashed in every puddle, the cold water chilling his feet. When he arrived, he went straight to his room, tossed his bag onto the bed, and collapsed on top of it. Exhaustion swallowed him whole.

  When he woke, shouting echoed from downstairs. His mother—Akitsu Kisuragi—and his father—Riyusei Arai—were arguing, voices sharp and frantic.

  Akitsu descended slowly. The moment he entered the living room, his breath caught. His father’s hand struck his mother violently, each blow punctuated by angry words.

  Riyusei Arai turned on him, eyes blazing. “What are you looking at, brat?!”

  Akitsu’s heart raced. He ran upstairs, breath ragged, and burst into his little sister’s room.

  When he turned on the light—she wasn’t there. A large, dark bloodstain soaked the bedsheet. Fear and rage twisted together, a storm in his chest. Hands shaking, he grabbed the knife hidden under his bed and raced back downstairs.

  Both adults froze when they saw him.

  “Hey, brat…” Riyusei sneered. “What do you think you’re doing with that knife? Planning to stab me?” He laughed cruelly. “If you want to threaten me, you’ll need a gun.”

  Akitsu dashed forward. Riyusei lunged to grab the knife, but Akitsu stabbed his hand and dragged the blade downward. Riyusei screamed, staggering back. Akitsu Kisuragi shoved him from behind, and Akitsu lunged again—stabbing his father straight in the heart. Blood sprayed.

  Riyusei collapsed, gasping, and Akitsu stared at his trembling, blood-soaked hands. His mother approached, pressing a folded piece of paper into his palms.

  “Go get your sister, Shouga,” she said, voice trembling. “Don’t look back. Go!”

  Rain poured as Akitsu ran from the house. Behind him, Akitsu Kisuragi sank to the floor beside her dying husband.

  “I’m sorry, Shouga…” she sobbed. “I wish I could’ve given you a better life.”