A Flower of Perfect Symmetry

The sky was grey.

The gentle wind carried the scent of salt.

It was about to rain. A storm was approaching.

Raindrops slowly began to fall, staining the dirt beneath my feet.

A flash of light, followed by a roar in the distance.

The terrified screams of a group of girls could be heard as they ran past me toward the school entrance.

They made it just in time.

I, on the other hand, didn't.

Rain suddenly began to pour, loud and unrelenting. By the time I reached the main entrance, I was completely soaked.

Of course, I had an extra uniform in my locker room. I always had.

After changing in the boys' bathroom, I headed straight toward class, where I now sat beneath the bright lights of the room.

Staring out the window, it looked like night outside as raindrops battered against the glass.

Light flashed in the distance. A loud bang followed a split second later.

The classroom was filled with chatter. I could hear almost every individual conversation, as only a small number of students had come to school that day.

"I'm low, protect me while I heal!"

"Okay, I'm using Phoenix Barrier—"

"No, save your Alt for the second phase!"

The group of boys next to me spoke, completely immersed in the game they were playing on their smartphones.

The girls, on the other hand, were talking about something much more interesting.

"Did you guys hear about that club in the old school building?"

"Yeah, it's called Camelia, right? I heard it's some sort of flowering club..."

"The members are all so beautiful. I heard only top students can join the club."

"I wonder why? Maybe it's a club full of vampires...?"

They began to giggle and laugh at the one girl's strange remark.

But still.

Camelia, huh... Sounds interesting.

A club named after a flower. It was fitting for a flowering club.

If it was a flowering club, that is.

As the bell rang and the teacher entered, the students took their seats as he began to take attendance.

And so time passed.

Another normal school day slowly came to an end, and the afternoon arrived, yet rain still fell and the clouds were still dark.

After all my classes had ended, I immediately made my way toward the old school building.

The outside of the building was covered in moss and vines, cracks spreading across the entire structure.

I entered.

Unlike the outside, the interior looked brand new—almost identical to the main school building. I say almost because potted flowers could be seen everywhere.

Violet. Blue. Red. Pink. White. Yellow.

Roses. Sunflowers. Lilies.

All sorts of flowers, but the most prominent flowers were...

You've probably guessed it.

Camellia.

It was a round, symmetrical white flower.

"It's beautiful... but it needs a bit more water, though. The soil looks dry."

It looked soft. Just looking at it made me want to grow it—to see how beautiful it could become.

"I'll take one home and show—"

Tap.

Before I could finish my thought, the sound of footsteps echoing filled the building.

My finger twitched.

Tap.

Tap.

They were coming from the stairs leading up to the second floor. Hearing the sound, my head immediately snapped toward it.

The first thing I saw was a school uniform.

Tap—tap.

They stopped on the final step.

"They're beautiful, right?"

I looked up.

The voice belonged to a girl. It was a sweet, soft voice—but her face was even more so.

Her hair was light blonde, like falling snow resting over her shoulders. Her eyes were like pink cherry blossom petals—gentle, yet captivating.

She was beautiful.

To the point where the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my entire life dulled in comparison.

And that frightened me.

What was this warm feeling I was currently experiencing?

A pleasant warmth spread across my cheeks.

"Yeah... They look just like you," I answered, touching a petal.

She giggled.

That wasn't a lie. She reminded me of the Camelia.

Flawless. Almost inhuman.

Would she also feel as soft as the flower I was touching?

Huh?

What was that thought just now?

I pulled my hand away from the plant before standing up and facing the beautiful girl.

"This is the flowering club, right?"

A smile colored her face.

"Yes... but also no."

I raised a brow.

"Then the gardening club?"

She laughed again.

"Not quite, mister detective~"

Hmm...

If it wasn't one of those, then...

"The flower appreciation club?"

She crossed her fingers in an X.

"Beep. Wrong again," she replied. "I'll give you one more chance to guess."

She tilted her head slightly.

"Hmm... Let's see. If you get it right, I'll tell you a secret."

A secret?

That's not much of a prize, but still—for some reason, I couldn't help but smile.

"What secret? Since you'll be telling me in a few seconds, it won't be a secret anymore."

At my words, she let out a small chuckle.

"Confident, are you? But I'm also confident, and to show you how confident I am, I'll double the reward."

She held up two fingers, a confident grin on her face.

I closed my eyes.

I could probably rule out the chances that this club had anything to do with growing plants, but since there were flowers here...

Could it be the flower arrangement club?

No. I didn't think that was it.

Then what about...

Just then, I recalled what that girl had said earlier.

"Maybe it's a club full of vampires..."

That was a stupid thought.

But what would be the harm in trying?

Her terrifying beauty was all the more reason that statement lingered in my mind.

I swallowed hard, before opening my eyes.

"Is this a club for vampires?"

I hesitated.

Hearing those words come out of my own mouth made me realize it really was a dumb question.

But why was she so silent?

She walked down the last step, a smile on her face.

A wide smile.

At that moment, lightning struck outside, its light flashing into the building.

In that very instant, her eyes flickered red for a split second as she stood completely still, that knowing smile still plastered across her face.

There's no way... right?

And so the start of a normal—but not so normal—high school experience began.

And it all started with meeting her.

Tsubaki Yuki.