As the branches of the cherry blossom trees bowed, the drought continued to erode the barren land.
The sky was as dry as fire, with no sign of rain.
This ancient, isolated village had lost its life and vitality.
The villagers avoided going out as much as possible, conserving what little strength they had left.
Early the next morning, Yunduo was hiding under the cherry blossom tree at Yae Sakura's house when she suddenly heard a tapping on the window.
"Yunduo, are you there?"
"I'm here. Did something happen again?"
Yunduo spoke softly, looking at the cherry-pink hair peeking out from the window.
Yae Sakura was looking at her worriedly, her pink lips pursed as she said, "The Village Chief's leg is broken, and now the whole village is looking for you. Maybe you should leave. If they catch you—"
"Tsk~ don't say that. I'm not leaving. I want to see what a mere Village Chief can actually do."
Yunduo was annoyed; she had never suffered such a slight before.
"Don't talk about that. How is Rin? She fainted last night—is she awake now?"
"She's awake, but... her head is still very hot, and she's drifted in and out of consciousness."
Hearing this, tears nearly fell from Yae Sakura's eyes. The thought of Rin's critical condition felt like a knife to her heart.
"She's still saying... I don't know what to do anymore."
"Saying what? Move aside, let me in."
Before Yae Sakura could react, Yunduo pushed herself up with both hands. With a scent of fragrance, her entire body drifted into the bedroom like a breeze.
Approaching Rin's side, Yunduo leaned down. She saw the girl's pale face and tightly closed eyes; the sweat on her forehead had already soaked the cold cloth that had just been placed there. She seemed to be having a nightmare.
At the same time, Rin's mouth was moving slightly, her voice so faint it was like the buzzing of a mosquito's wings.
Yunduo leaned in, her ear almost touching the girl's lips.
"Cherry blossoms... Sister... we'll go see the cherry blossoms together. We promised... Rin will hold on... until the moment the cherry blossoms are in full bloom."
After hearing Rin's obsession, Yunduo was lost in thought for a long time.
Beside her, Yae Sakura lowered her head, changed the cold cloth, and let out a bitter smile.
It was hardly different from crying.
"Even like this, this child keeps saying she wants to see the cherry blossoms with me."
"She probably... won't make it to that day."
The next second, Yunduo interrupted her: "No, there will be such a day."
"Trust me just this once, Sakura."
"..."
Yae Sakura didn't know where the impulse came from, but looking at Yunduo's determined eyes, she truly believed her in her heart.
However, returning to reality, trust aside, the possibility of Rin seeing next year's cherry blossoms was too slim.
Even without the sacrifice, her illness alone meant she likely wouldn't last that long.
While Yae Sakura was grieving, Yunduo had already climbed back out.
Three minutes later, she heard Yunduo's soft call: "Rin, Rin—"
It was the gentlest of voices.
Yunduo was calling out to the sleeping Rin.
Yae Sakura hesitated, not wanting to disturb Rin's rest.
But once she fell asleep, there was no telling when she would improve.
Words of farewell... Hearing the familiar voice, Rin struggled to flutter her thin eyelashes.
Finally, after a long struggle, her eyes opened a tiny crack. That alone seemed to drain all her strength.
Yae Sakura looked over and saw Yunduo blocking the window, her frail eyes lighting up with a ray of sunlight.
When Rin's gaze fell on Yunduo's shoulder, Yunduo moved aside. On the previously withered cherry blossom tree, a brilliant cherry blossom had suddenly grown.
How beautiful that flower was!
The delicate bud was buffeted by the wind, yet it fought back stubbornly.
It did not wither; it had only temporarily hidden its brilliance, waiting for the day after the storm to shine brightly in their eyes.
Like an eternal life, it recorded memories full of hope and light.
Yae Sakura's vision blurred, and her concept of the seasons was overturned in an instant.
In this season, the cherry blossom petals should have long since fallen, let alone during this recent drought. Forget cherry blossoms—even the weeds were withering.
But Yunduo, why—
Rin saw it too. She saw the swaying cherry blossom petal, and her struggling eyes blinked.
Her lips moved, but no sound came out.
Yunduo knew what her moving lips were saying.
Cherry blossoms.
They had bloomed again.
Of course, she had painted them on with her brush.
From a distance, no flaws could be seen.
Yunduo smiled slightly and comforted her: "Rin, promise me, okay? Wait until the day all the cherry blossoms are in full bloom."
"Back then, amidst a sea of flowers, Sakura and I took you to see every single cherry blossom tree."
"..."
Rin no longer had the strength to answer. A few seconds later, Yunduo noticed her eyelids flicker.
That tiny blink symbolized an unyielding life.
Just like the cherry blossoms outside the window, it refused to surrender.
She fell back into a deep sleep.
Yae Sakura stood by the window, gazing at the petals painted upon the cherry blossom trees.
"Sakura, Rin's condition can't be delayed any longer. Besides, the matter of the sacrifice cannot be forced."
"Hurry, we will leave tonight under the cover of darkness."
Yunduo's voice brushed past her ear. At that moment, the feelings in the depths of her heart could no longer be suppressed.
Yae Sakura didn't know what she was doing anymore.
It was just that, if she didn't do something now, she might burst into tears.
So, to prevent herself from crying in front of her sister...
Yae Sakura gently took hold of Yunduo's sleeve, the scent of cherry blossoms swirling between them.
Yunduo didn't understand why, but she suddenly felt a warmth on her lips as the fragrance of cherry blossoms flowed into her breath.
A warm sensation surged through her body, like gentle stamens releasing long-buried emotions to their heart's content.
"Mmm..."
The fleeting, subtle sensation made Yunduo's breathing grow heavy. Her soft, burning lips were pressed tightly, and then her teeth were pried open as if a cherry blossom branch had slipped inside, demandingly seeking more.
All emotions, all hatred and melancholy, were distilled within this passing moment.
The sudden kiss caught Yunduo off guard like blooming cherry blossoms. Her lips were exceptionally moist and sweet, a nectar-like sweetness tangling and rubbing against her tongue. Yunduo's mind went blank; even though she wanted to pull away, her body was firmly held.
In her daze, she seemed to see petals filling the sky.
That day, Sakura stood under the tree, and Rin played beneath the cherry blossoms as well.
Everything was so beautiful.
Until a pair of dark eyes noticed it all—the existence known as a god destroyed everything they had.
After a long time, their lips parted. Yunduo's sense of smell was filled with the fragrance of cherry blossoms.
Her fingertips were buried deep in Yae Sakura's hair, their strands intertwined.
Yunduo suddenly noticed something strange about her body.
It was as if a voice in her heart was telling her she could transform into another form.
At any time.
Yunduo held Yae Sakura and whispered a vow in her ear.
"I will protect you."
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