Chapter 6: It was so beautiful... wasn't it?

That night.

Sayuri sat quietly on the veranda of the shrine.
Beside her, the nekomata was curled up, its breathing slow and steady.
Sayuri gazed at the cherry tree as she stroked the nekomata.

The nekomata was staring fixedly at her.
This one—she’s far too kind.
With that same smile, she might dissolve into the glow of the blossoms and disappear.
I don’t want that—but if she’s the one who chooses it...

No matter what might happen—the nekomata had decided to witness the ending with its own eyes.

The sky was already dyed in deep indigo, and the air within the shrine grounds was completely still.
The cherry branches, their blossoms now showing a few gaps, were translucent in the moonlight, and though no wind blew, they somehow seemed to stir.

Before long—suddenly, it felt as though the air had changed.

Sayuri narrowed her eyes and looked toward the inner part of the shrine grounds.
There, wrapped in a soft light, stood a girl in a kimono.

“Then, let’s go.”

Sayuri stood up and looked at the nekomata.
The nekomata looked back at her.
Yet nothing could be read from her expression.

“I was waiting for you.”

Waving her hand, she floated softly toward the cherry tree.
When she called out, the girl gave a small nod.
As expected, not a single word fell from her lips.

At that instant—the hana-akari grew brighter.
At the same time, Sayuri’s figure grew even fainter.

Her form had become paler than that of the girl before her.

Sayuri let out a small breath.
Then she took one deep breath. When she lowered her gaze to the nekomata at her feet, their eyes met, and the nekomata gave a nod.

“Hey… your body.”

Sayuri quietly pointed her fingertip toward the base of the cherry tree.

“There… it’s there, isn’t it?”

In that instant, the smiling face of the ghost was filled with surprise.
Beside Sayuri, the nekomata seemed to catch its breath, eyes widening.

Tears rose silently in the ghost’s eyes, spilled over, traced down her cheeks, and soaked the collar of her kimono.

“I… remembered everything. I… I did something awful…”

Saying that, the girl covered her face with both hands and began to cry where she stood.

“...I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… please…”

No one knew whom the words were meant for.
For the cherry tree? For those who had vanished? For herself? No one could tell.

The ghost lifted her face and looked at Sayuri.
With the traces of tears still upon her cheeks, she moved her lips clearly.

“…Thank you…”

It was at that instant.

The girl’s body began to fade like mist.
In contrast, the cherry tree began to take on light.
The blossoms that had yet to fall all started to shine at once.

“…Beautiful…”

Sayuri couldn’t help but smile.

The hana-akari—so beautiful it could steal one’s gaze—had become even more vivid, shining with dazzling brilliance.

Within that light, the girl’s figure vanished.

Before she knew it—there wasn’t a single petal left.
The blossoms, and even the branches that had borne them, hung down as if they had lost all life.

Without a sound, the cherry tree split apart.
That cherry tree—had completely withered.

Sayuri picked up the nekomata at her feet and held it to her chest.

“…That was incredible. It was insanely beautiful. Really—so beautiful.”

The nekomata’s ears twitched, brushing away the drop that had fallen.
It was Sayuri’s tear.

“…Even though that girl vanished… even though the cherry tree withered…
I still thought it was so beautiful… so incredibly beautiful…
I’m awful, aren’t I… even though she… vanished…”

Sayuri gently set the nekomata down and wiped her tears.
But no matter how many times she wiped them away—the tears kept overflowing, one after another.

The nekomata let out a small sigh.

“…You did nothing wrong. They did nothing wrong. No one did anything wrong.”

That voice was not one of comfort.
It was simply all the nekomata could say—and all it truly believed.