The Spider Lily Turns into a Chrysanthemum

Prologue: Part 2

Classes had ended for the afternoon by the time Shouma stepped outside the university.

Students gathered along the walkways in small groups, talking about dinner plans and weekend schedules as they made their way off campus. Shouma moved past them with his hands in his pockets, already thinking about getting back to Osaka.

Then he saw the car waiting for him. His expression immediately soured.

Tsubaki was sitting in the back.

Her personal butler stood beside the car, waiting patiently with the rear door open.

Shouma stopped several feet away and stared at them.

Tsubaki smiled.

She had dressed as though she were going somewhere considerably more interesting than picking Shouma up from university. Her lavender dress had delicate lace detailing along the neckline and sleeves, with a fitted waist and a softer skirt that fell around her legs. Clear heels decorated with Swarovski crystals caught the afternoon light when she crossed her ankles.

The entire outfit had the romantic, slightly eccentric quality of Vivienne Westwood, softened by pale colors and delicate details. Tsubaki herself looked perfectly content.

Shouma looked passively annoyed.

“Shouma,” she said, her expression soft and dreamy, “you really should smile and be grateful that I’m giving you a ride so we can see our sweet Yoshino.”

“I can get there myself.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Shut your mouth.”

Tsubaki’s smile widened.

Shouma walked toward the car.

“I can get there myself,” he repeated, “but since you got here before I could make a decision, and I don’t want to waste Renji’s logistics, I’m going to take it.”

“How considerate of you.”

He got into the back seat beside her. The door closed.

Tsubaki’s butler returned to the driver’s seat, and within a few moments, they were pulling away from the university.

Tsubaki turned toward Shouma.

“Oh, someone’s cranky today.” She rested her cheek lightly against her hand. “Makes no sense, because you get to see Yoshino, and she’s back for good.”

That only made his expression worse.

“I wanted to pick her up from the station.”

“I know.”

“And your stupid meddling made Renji demand that I show up for class.”

Tsubaki blinked innocently, “I didn’t make Renji do anything.”

“You told him.”

“Well, yes.”

Shouma looked at her.

Tsubaki smiled back.

He clicked his tongue and turned toward the window.

“Well, it’s not my fault your motorcycle ended up in the ocean,” Tsubaki continued. “That’s your carelessness.”

Shouma’s head turned back immediately, “Shut your mouth. You know nothing.”

“I know your motorcycle is at the bottom of the ocean.”

“You don’t know why.”

“No,” Tsubaki agreed. “But I do find the result funny.”

Shouma stared at her for several seconds before deciding she wasn’t worth the effort.

“I’m getting my new bike soon, so thanks for the ride. Now stop talking. You’re giving me a migraine.”

“Oh, you’re no fun, Shouma,” Tsubaki turned toward the window.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Then her expression changed. It wasn’t dramatic. The smile simply disappeared.

When Tsubaki spoke again, the playful tone was gone.

“You know more than anyone that I have the power to make any of you change identity and disappear.”

Shouma looked at her.

Tsubaki continued watching the road through the window, “So you should learn how to shut up.”

The words sounded strange coming from someone dressed in lavender lace and crystal heels.

Shouma’s eyes narrowed.

“The only reason Yoshino can come back unscathed is because I told Kirishima that I can make her disappear.”

Tsubaki finally looked at him, “The same goes for you,” there was no smile on her face now, “All I need is for my sweet Renji to tell me to.”

Shouma held her gaze.

Tsubaki held his.

Neither seemed particularly interested in backing down.

Then Shouma looked away.

The rest of the car ride was quiet.

Tsubaki didn’t try to fill the silence again, and Shouma was perfectly happy to leave it that way.

Kyoto gradually fell behind them.

The dense streets near the university gave way to wider roads as they traveled south. Buildings and neighborhoods passed beyond the window, interrupted by stretches of trees and the rivers running through the Kansai landscape. The afternoon light softened as they continued toward Osaka, and before long the outskirts of the larger city began to appear.

Shouma rested his head against the seat and watched everything pass.

He had wanted to be at the station.

He had pictured it more than once since Yoshino told him she was coming home. He would’ve been waiting when she stepped off the train. He would’ve taken her suitcase before she could complain about it. Maybe she would have complained anyway.

Probably.

The thought made him look down.

A small smile appeared on his face.

Yoshino was back. Not visiting. Not coming down from Tokyo for a few days before leaving again.

She’s actually back.

For the past year, Tokyo had been where her life was. Kirishima had been there with her while Shouma remained in Kansai, hearing pieces of what was happening through phone calls, messages, and Renji.

Now she would be close again. They would eventually attend the same university.

And before that, she would be working with Tsubaki on whatever business idea the two of them had apparently decided was important enough to postpone university for a year.

Shouma glanced toward Tsubaki.

She had returned to looking peacefully out the window, as though she hadn’t threatened to erase his identity twenty minutes earlier.

His smile disappeared. Annoying woman.

He looked back outside. Osaka was getting closer.

And despite Tsubaki, Renji forcing him to attend class, the loss of his motorcycle, and the fact that someone else would be standing at the station when Yoshino arrived—

Shouma smiled again.

He had Yoshino back, and for now, that was all he cared about.