AN UNEXPECTED EVENT PART 3

At Hanakotoba Shop

The front door creaked open.

“Hana? Sora? Is that you?” Their stepmother’s voice called out, tinged with worry rather than its usual warmth.

Ayame stepped into the doorway, her tired eyes softening as relief washed over her. “Where on earth have you two been? We were worried sick.”

Hana froze. How could she possibly explain any of it—the monsters, the blonde girl with wings, her brother fighting shadowy creatures while she just watched from the woods?

She glanced at Sora.

“Sora… having a date with Ibuki,” she blurted.

Sora’s eyes widened in shock.

Ayame narrowed her eyes at him. “Young man, I raised you better than this. You know the park—nighttime—this is dangerous! You could have gotten her—or your sister—hurt. And why aren’t there any messages or calls from either of you?”

Before Sora could respond, Hana panicked and jumped in.

“Sora-nii tried to confess to her, but he chickened out!”

Both Ayame and Sora’s jaws dropped.

“I’m never bringing you along again,” Sora muttered, exasperated.

At that moment, Kenshin, their stepfather, appeared in the hallway.

“Don’t worry, kiddo. You’ll get there. But a word of advice—don’t let the girl wait too long,” he said, giving Sora a knowing look.

“Can we please stop talking about my love life?” Sora groaned in embarrassment.

“Come on, let’s eat before it gets cold,” Ayame urged.

After dinner, they headed upstairs.

“Sorry for throwing you under the bus back there,” Hana said quietly.

“Well… either that or ‘sorry I was late fighting mystical monsters.’ The latter sounds like a wild excuse when said out loud,” Sora replied dryly.

The tension of silence lingered between the two.

“So… are we going to talk about what just happened?” Hana asked.

He stayed silent.

“Does Ibuki know?” Hana asked.

“No.”

Sora sighed.

“Look… after what happened, you deserve to know. But you saw it firsthand—it was dangerous. Let me think about it, okay?” Sora said.

Hana started toward her room, but Sora stepped in front of her, motioning for her to stop.

“This is about the confession thing, isn’t it?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, this is about the confession thing,” he admitted.

“Ughhh… fine.”

Hana handed him her phone. Sora quickly removed Ibuki’s number and handed the phone back.

With that, they both turned and went to their separate rooms.

The next day, Ayame came to Hana’s room.

“Hana? Are you awake?” Ayame called.

Hana stirred awake.

Ayame entered, her eyes full of worry. “You didn’t come down for breakfast. Are you not feeling well, honey?”

“Sorry, Mom. I’m just tired, that’s all,” Hana said.

Her mother sighed in relief. “Okay. Also, can you give your brother a break? He can’t keep up with the speed you give him.”

“No promises,” Hana said.

After freshening up, Hana came downstairs and saw her brother and stepfather watching TV.

“Hey, firecracker. You’re awfully late,” Sora said.

“Well, I had a very weird dream,” Hana said—a signal to her brother.

Sora sighed.

“Dad, there’s this shop that Hana showed me, and I thought about going there,” Sora said.

“Okay, but keep your phone on this time, alright?” Kenshin said.

Both nodded.

As they reached the door, Sora stopped Hana.

“I know you want an explanation about yesterday, but I need you to be sure this is what you want. Because after this… there’s no going back.”

“I… I really want to understand what happened,” Hana said.

“Last chance to back out,” Sora warned.

Hana nodded, serious.

“Okay.”

As soon as Sora opened the door, they both froze.

Across the street, leaning against a lamppost with her arms folded—
the girl from yesterday.

She wasn’t exactly as Hana remembered. This time, the girl wore a sunset-orange dress, her long golden hair catching the morning light, her expression calm yet sharp.

“You have got to be kidding me,” Sora said.

She approached them.

“I apologize for following you home. It was weird… but necessary,” she said.

“No kidding,” Sora muttered.

“Why follow us?” Hana asked.

“I need your help.” The girl said

“Why?” Hana asked.

“Because the monster you stopped wasn’t the end of it. They have a master,” The girl said.

“Sorry to say, but that’s not our problem,” Sora said, turning to leave.

“They were created by a Phantom,” The girl said.

Sora stopped and turned around.

“What’s a Phantom?” Hana whispered.

Sora stared at the girl.

He groaned. “Ugh, fine. Follow us. There are a few things I need to explain to my sister first, who knows it might well explain your situation.”

They arrived at a café. The bell above the door chimed softly as they stepped inside.
Warm air greeted them, carrying the comforting scent of roasted coffee beans.

Sora led the girls toward a secluded booth in the back. It was close to midday, and the café was quiet—three couples murmuring over warm drinks, and two baristas working behind the counter.

A barista approached. Hana and Sora ordered a latte; The girl stared at the menu like it was written in an ancient language.

“What is… Ice Caramel Macchiato?” she asked, pointing at the menu.

“It’s coffee,” Hana explained. “It’s sweet. You’ll like it.”

“I’ve never had… coffee before.”

The barista blinked but politely noted down the order.

Sora cleared his throat and leaned forward.

“Let’s me introduce myself. My name is Sora Aihara, Nova Celestial of Fire. And this here, is my sister, Hana.”

“Greeting, my name is Princess Luna Lionel, the Heir of Helionel, First Grade Celestial of Light. It is nice to properly meet you and I’m apologizing for my action this morning” Luna said.

“So… you’re a fairy princess? Are we also a fairy” Hana asked.

“Fairy?” Luna echoed, confused.

“Isn’t that what we are?” Hana said.

“I don’t think so, this is the first time I heard of fairy. Usually they called us Sprite. Our real lineage are called Starlight” Luna corrected.

“Star…light? Sound like an alternate name for shooting star?” Hana asked.

Sora chuckled a little. “Something like that. We still the same as the rest of human except we have magical powers.”

“Ohhh… I wonder if this how fairies concept came from.” Hana realized.

“Also shooting star passed by everytime a Starlight are born.” Sora said quickly

Unfortunately, Hana managed to get all of that “Wait, Seriously!”

Hana leaned back, letting the information crash over her.

“This is… a lot.”

The barista returned with their drinks, then quickly retreated at the sight of Hana’s stunned expression.

“Now that Hana is all caught up—why are you here?” Sora asked.

Luna folded her hands.
“I was sent here after a string of Celestials of Fire from the Helio sector went missing. As the heir, it is my duty to find out what happened—until a Phantom attacked me.”

Hana lifted her latte with shaky fingers.
“So this Phantom, why it was after you?”

“I don’t know. But so far, they ignored humans so far—until it found you,” Luna said.

A chill ran up Hana’s spine.

“What do you mean?” Hana asked 

“Those shadowy creatures, that your brother encountered. It was the first time I saw it try to attack someone. That’s not all, they also started to decrease for no reason.” Luna said

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Hana asked

“I would like to hope but as long the Phantom out there. It can just multiple again. I fear whatever comes next would be too late” Luna said.

“Sora-nii… do you think they targeting us?” Hana asked.

“I… No…At least I don’t think so,” Sora said.

“What about your parents? Maybe they trying use you to lure them” Luna asked.

“No, it can’t. We’re adopted.” Sora said 

“You’re adopted?” Luna repeated.

“Yeah, unless they are like us?” Hana said

“No, Ayame and Kenshin are human as far I know them” Sora said.

Luna glance at Sora knowing there more toward the story.

He sighed. “14 years ago, Kingdom of Astrael was attacked by a being that we thought just a fable that you tell to bad kids. They destroy everything in their path leaving nothing but ashes. We met them when we ran away from the Phantom”

“What you saying the Phantom already existed 14 years ago. But I thought Kingdom Of Astrael was destroy by a civil war.” Luna said

“I’m sorry but it’s the truth and whoever did the cover up went a great length to buried the truth. ” Sora said

“If what you saying is true, we truly in danger but how do you know?” Luna said

Luna’s eyes widened. “You two are the last survivors”

“Last Survivors” Hana in shock.

Sora looked at her with sad eyes.

“I’m sorry, Hana, I want to tell you but I don’t want to face it.” he said—but Hana hugged him tightly.

“No, don’t be. I…..I understand why you don’t want to tell me. I can’t imagine what you been through” Hana said

“Everything lines up what happened for the past few days. They must be here to finish the job. The question is why.” Luna said.

“If think about it why they after Astrael people in the first place” Hana said

“Well the obvious one for power. But us, no idea” Sora said 

“I know it’s asking a lot and even if it's true they are hunting you” Luna whispered. “I need your help me stop them. Please”

Sora stared at her hands.

“…I’ll think about it.”

Relief washed over Luna’s face.

“Thank you, Sora. Truly.”

They left the café and began walking back toward the Hanakotoba Shop.