The Newcomer's Ball I

 We took odd jobs throughout the week to earn enough money for our outfits. Lili said she wouldn’t mind showing up in her usual dress, but I insisted we should try and dress up. It’s a special event, after all. I took on manual labor jobs, while Lili took on more magical jobs. In her free time, she practices magic to assist me with daily chores; Her hair also grows surprisingly fast, and her left eye is now entirely covered by her bangs.

“Together, we should have like… 3,000 gold! That should be enough, right?” Lili excitedly held up two pouches of money. She swung them back and forth while humming, waiting for my response.

“Yeah, let’s go shopping, Lili,” I said, heading out of the house before she stopped me.

“Wait! Watch this,” She grabbed my hand and led me outside. A wooden stake lay, like a broom without the bristles, with a handle on one end. She glances back at me before chanting a spell at the stake and watching it slowly levitate above the ground. She climbs on the stake, tightly gripping the handle before beckoning me to sit on it too.

The stake began slowly and smoothly cruising along the town when I sat on it. I was surprised to see how much control Lili has over it; for a moment, I could see a future where she’s an esteemed sorceress. It wasn’t long before we arrived at a crowded store full of ball gowns and suits. The two of us browsed the shop, hurrying past all the people continuously flooding the store. I consider Lili’s personality and assume she wouldn’t want a dress that would make her stand out too much.

Deep in this thought is when we stumbled upon the perfect outfits. An off-shoulder champagne-colored dress with poofy sleeves and a skirt that extends to the feet, accompanied by a matching champagne-colored suit with intricate designs on the cuffs of the sleeves and a frilly cravat around the collar. Lili was instantly captivated, gazing at the dress before turning to me.

“Do you like them?” She asked, seeking my approval of her choice.

“Do you like them?” I echoed her question.

“I do- but I don’t want them if you don’t.”

“Then I think they’re perfect.” The truth is, I always thought they were. In the end, we bought the outfits.
—
On our way home, I convinced Lili to stop at a garden. I had a sudden idea for an accessory to complement her outfit. We sat on the grass together, admiring the flowers. I gently remove the flower from her hair, explaining that it’ll just be a minute.

I plucked a few stray lilies of the valley and tied them into a crown. She looked at me with an expression I hadn’t seen in a while- an affectionate, loving smile. She placed the finished flower crown on the ground and enveloped me in a tight embrace.

“There’s no one I’d rather be with in this world…” she mumbled, burying her face into my shoulder. She lifted the crown back up, inspecting it closely.

“Do you like it?”

“I love it! Thank you, Haru,” She kissed me on the cheek, which I’ll admit surprised me.

“What? I remember confessing my love to you, so this shouldn’t be that weird,” She teased.

I chuckled at her comment, “I guess so, huh?”

Thinking about it for a bit, it does worry me that she hasn’t regained any memories since then. She notices the uncertainty on my face and asks me what’s wrong. After explaining my worries, she pulled me to my feet.

“If it worries you, I can try harder. I-I can-” she started talking frantically before I pulled her close to me.

“You don’t have to do that. Yes, I’m anxious to see Touko again, but you’re also a special person to me, Lili.” She stared at me, a smile forming on her face again.

“It’s so like you to say that…” She comments, turning around. “Let’s just go home. The ball’s tomorrow, right? We need to rest up.”
—
That night, I woke up in a familiar field. Various lilies trickled throughout the grass but were vastly outnumbered by prickly black roses and petunias. Standing amidst the field, plucking petals off a lily, was me. As I approach him, he turns around, dropping the petal-less flower to the ground.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Haruki,” he said in a monotone voice. Nervously, I dig my fingernails into my palms.

“Why are you here?”

He bent down and plucked another lily from the ground, “Touko’s entire self got repressed. I represent the feelings you can no longer express.”

“What do you mean?”

“Touko’s gone for now. You can’t love her, protect her, or even speak to her. I’m the part of you that can’t exist without her.”

A sense of uneasiness struck my heart, causing me to tighten my grip on my hands.

“The reason I exist… it’s all your fault.”

I don’t respond. Instead, my eyes trail off into the distance.

“You aren’t even helping her. You’re just sitting back, watching her struggle.” He forcefully tore the petals off the flower.

More silence.

“You don’t deserve the warmth of another person. You don’t deserve anything. She might forgive you, but God knows I won’t.”

I tried to hold myself together as he approached me.

“What gives you the right to have fun with that phony?”

His face is directly in front of mine. Everything he said was true…

“You don’t deserve to be happy.”

He extended his hands and shoved me backward, causing me to fall into a bed of thorns. I fell through the flowers, my body riddled with cuts; as I fell, it felt like I was drowning in the sea. Sinking to the bottom, my lungs fill with water, and I try to cough it out. Yet, I didn’t struggle. I deserve this, after all. When I opened my eyes again, my cuts were bleeding into pure white lilies.

Kneeled by my sides were Touko and Lili. Both girls looked at me expectantly.

“We’re having so much fun together, Haru… Wouldn’t you feel awful if you got rid of me? Well, it’s to be expected… after all, my body is a prison keeping the person you love trapped.”

“I put everything in your hands, Haru! Now look at me… I don’t exist anymore. You feel bad, don’t you?”

They intertwined their hands together, smiling at me, “Don’t you pity us? Don’t you want to save us? Too bad you can’t! After all… this is…”

I took a deep breath and uttered the words, “It’s all my fault.”

They cheer, “Right! It’s all Haruki’s fault!” Their smiling faces burn into my mind before melting into a black puddle on the ground, staining the flowers a now dark red.

Then again, I wake up.
—
Seeing Lili up and around startled me when I woke up. Usually, she doesn’t sleep until late. She was in her dress already, twirling around the mirror. I looked at her warmly as I slowly realized my nightmare had ended. But, what the old me said was right. I’m not helping her at all; I just expect her to find out everything herself. I’m selfish and want everything handed to me.

“I’m sorry,” I blurted out, startling Lili.

“For what? Waking up late?” She chuckled.

“No… for everything. I’ve been lazy and selfish to you. From now on, I’ll help you with your memories; I’m truly sorry.”

“It’s okay, Haru. Together, we can bring Touko back, okay? There’s no need to feel guilty…” Her dress rustled as she leaned in to hug me. She pulls away, “Now we need to get ready for the ball.”

Following her lead, I put on my suit and tidied my hair, slicking it back and revealing the side of my face I normally conceal. I never really noticed, but it takes me a considerably shorter time to get ready than Lili. After getting ready, I help her put her hair into a bun and delicately set my flower crown onto her head.

When we stepped outside, a magic-drawn carriage patiently awaited us on the road outside our home. I follow Lili as she steps inside the carriage, sitting beside her and gazing at the scenery as we approach the castle.