flower plate　Higuruma leans against the wall of the abandoned village's main auditorium, breathing heavily.
　The black fabric of his suit is sticky and wet with a sticky liquid, and its surface is covered with multicolored flowers.

　...Not a metaphor.

　Nanami has half-closed eyes, he is wielding a machete, the same rich colors clinging to him body.
　It was only after they began to fight that they realized that the first-class spirit they had heard of was an object of faith of some kind, and that it was equivalent to a special-class spirit.

　Higuruma recalls Nanami muttering, "It's just like that time..." and the crease between his eyebrows deepening.

　Nanami unleashed the GARA-GARA for the second time.
　The spirit was cracked open again, but not enough to finish it off, and with a horrified cry, it disappeared into the ground.
　The curse power is moving away from them.

　But now they had no power left to pursue.
　Nanami looked back, and a flower bloomed anew in his left eye.
　He staggered to his feet in front of Higuruma and fell on his buttocks.

"are you alive"
"yes yet. But it's only a matter of time, I suppose"
"Yes. this flower is an abomination"
"so this is we're final resting place. Let me see your face"

　In place of the left eye, which was glowing green, there was a blue rose.
　Just as he was about to touch it, Nanami changed his position and leaned his back against Higuruma.

"hey"
"i don't want you to see me die"
"i'm going to die with you"
"even though I know that, I don't want to"

　Higuruma laughed and spat out a gurgle of blood.
　The flower's roots are slowly beginning to eat away at him internal organs.

"i never thought I would end up surrounded by flowers"
"yes, I thought it would be more mud or just a moment"
"me neither. and you, with Kento"
"i'm sorry, i just wanted to save you"

　At Nanami's frustrated voice, Nikusha shakes his head.
　Then, in a calm voice, he asks.

"hey, i remember when you made me those flowery knobs..."
"...yes.i remember. ham, tuna, and tube-shaped fish-paste cake"
"yes, that's right. i was taught how to serve them carefully, piece by piece."
"you were working so hard to cut tube-shaped fish-paste cake"

　Nanami, now with a small chuckle, spits out blood.

"i've been able to live carefully since I met you. thanks"
"i was happy to walk with you. thanks and i love you"

　After a brief conversation, Nanami leaned back and turned to Higuruma.

"I thought you didn't want to be seen"
"please kiss for the last time"

　Their lips meet in the scent of flowers and rust.
　As if to cover them, the flowers bloomed.