Chapter 29: The Departure

The flower was even more beautiful than they had imagined. It looked almost unreal, a treasure hidden away in this forgotten corner of the world, waiting for someone persistent enough to find it.

Tsukiko dropped to her knees, her hands hovering over the flowers, afraid to touch them at first. Her eyes sparkled with amazement as she took in the sight, a bright smile spreading across her face—a rare, genuine smile that Haruki hadn't seen often. 

She turned to him, her eyes filled with joy. "We found it, Haruki. We actually found it."

Haruki nodded, smiling back, though his gaze wasn't on the flowers anymore. 

It was on her.

For a moment, he forgot all about the Lunar Bloom, the mission, and the long, grueling search. All he could see was Tsukiko, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the flowers, her happiness so pure and infectious that it warmed something inside him. 

He admired her silently, his heart heavy with emotions he wasn't ready to name.

Tsukiko, still grinning, turned back to the flowers. She carefully began to collect samples, her hands delicate and precise, as though she were handling something sacred. 

"This will change everything," she murmured, more to herself than to him. "All the research, the hard work… it's finally going to pay off."

Haruki said nothing, just watching her work. In the quiet of the night, with the moon above them and the flowers glowing softly at their feet, he realized just how much he had come to care for her. 

But he didn't say a word. Instead, he kept his admiration hidden, locked away in his heart, content to watch her from afar.

As Tsukiko collected the final sample and stood up, she brushed a strand of hair from her face and looked at Haruki. "Thank you," she said softly. "I couldn't have done this without you."

Haruki's smile was gentle, almost wistful. "I'm just glad I could help."

They stood there for a moment, bathed in moonlight, the Lunar Bloom shimmering at their feet. For the first time in weeks, the tension between them seemed to fade, replaced by something softer, something neither of them dared to speak aloud.

And though Tsukiko smiled at the flower, Haruki's heart was caught on something else entirely—the quiet, unspoken feeling that maybe, just maybe, this journey had brought him more than he had ever expected.

The sun was barely setting over the hills when Tsukiko told Haruki she was leaving. They had returned to the inn just as the sky burned gold, and now, seated at a nearby pagoda with drinks in hand, they watched the horizon shift from warm amber to dusky violet. 

It had been a quiet evening, much like the many they had shared, but the moment she said it, the air between them shifted.

"I'm heading back to the city tomorrow," Tsukiko said, her voice matter-of-fact, but there was something in her tone that felt final, almost distant. "I've gathered all the data I need. It's time to finish the project."

"That makes sense," he said, his tone neutral. "You've worked hard for this."

Tsukiko looked at him, her eyes scanning his face as if she was searching for something beneath his calm exterior. "Yeah," she replied softly, "I have."

They stood there for a moment, both unsure of what to say next. The weight of her departure hung between them, unspoken but present in every breath they took. 

Haruki, with his hands into his pockets, glancing down at the ground. "I guess you'll be busy once you're back, huh?"

Tsukiko nodded, her gaze drifting out toward the fields that stretched before them. "Yeah. It'll be non-stop for a while. The final stages are always the hardest."

Haruki swallowed hard, his throat tightening. "Sounds like you've got it all figured out."

"Not really," she said quietly, surprising him. "It's just... what I'm used to."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was different this time—heavier, laden with everything they weren't saying. 

"I'll miss this place," Tsukiko said suddenly, her voice soft. "It's peaceful. Nothing like the city."

He nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah... me too."

As the first stars appeared in the sky, Tsukiko stood, brushing the dirt from her pants. "I should get some sleep. Early start tomorrow."

Haruki nodded, standing up beside her. "Yeah. I'll walk you back."

They walked in silence, the only sound the soft crunch of gravel beneath their feet. When they reached the inn, the lanterns outside flickered, casting long shadows against the wooden walls.

"Thanks, Haruki. For everything," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Haruki swallowed, his throat tight. "You don't have to thank me."

Tsukiko gave him a small, sad smile. "Maybe I do."

And with that, she turned and disappeared inside, leaving Haruki standing in the cool night air. He stared at the door for a long time, his heart heavy, knowing this might be the last time he'd see her like this—here, in the quiet of the countryside, where everything had felt simpler, even for just a little while.