The botanical garden was a fifteen-minute walk downhill from the café.

  Honestly, I’d rather have gone by my brother’s car, but the owner said,

  "The parking lot’s closed at this hour, and there’s no street parking allowed around there,"

  so we ended up walking.

  "The parking lot might be closed, sure, but the building entrance will be locked too, right?

  It’s an old facility, and even if we sneak in somehow, they’ve probably got security cameras or guards patrolling.

  What exactly is your plan?"

  My brother asked the owner as we walked.

  I only just realized it now, but my brother had dropped his polite tone.

  Even though the owner was clearly older, my usually well-mannered brother was being casual with him.

  It meant he didn’t trust him.

  If he was a regular at that café, even if they weren’t close, they should at least recognize each other.

  So maybe… my brother sensed something strange.

  What if the man walking in front of us had already been replaced by someone from the underground?

  The owner, for his part, acted light-heartedly—so exaggerated it almost felt theatrical.

  "You’re right, it’s easy to get to the entrance. But of course, the doors are locked.

  That won’t be a problem—he’ll unlock them from inside.

  The security cameras… well, that’s a problem, but I’m sure he’ll handle it."

  "…"

  I wasn’t reassured at all.

  If we got caught, Tsurubami-kun and I would definitely be suspended.

  And my brother? He’s a civil servant. Suspension or a pay cut would be unavoidable.

  "How did that man in white get inside in the first place?"

  My brother asked as we walked down a mostly deserted main road,

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  the warm night wind brushing past us.

  It was only a little past 8 p.m., yet the path to the garden felt so empty.

  "During the day, he wore some black clothes I lent him and entered like any other visitor.

  Then he stayed hidden inside.

  I was planning to check on him after closing the café anyway, so I believe he’ll be waiting."

  The owner sounded like he was heading off on a cheerful nighttime picnic.

  "Didn’t you just say earlier that you weren’t sure we could meet him?"

  "Well, I wasn’t sure I could trust you. I had to be cautious."

  "And now you do trust us—?"

  I followed behind as my brother and the owner continued their back-and-forth.

  My brother, tall and slender. The owner, roughly the same height but broad-shouldered and solid.

  They were both adults—living years ahead of me.

  But walking beside me… was Tsurubami-kun.

  An angel you could touch.

  That’s what I call him in my heart.

  My feelings for him weren’t friendship, or admiration,

  and definitely not romantic.

  —It was faith.

  That’s why, even now, walking side by side, I couldn’t say anything.

  "Have you ever been to the botanical garden, Aki-kun?"

  Tsurubami-kun’s voice broke the heavy night air.

  I couldn’t even tell if it was hot or cold—it just felt drowsy and heavy.

  "Ah, uh… yeah. A few times.

  How about you, Tsurubami-kun?"

  "Really? Me too. I like plants.

  I’ve never said that at school, though.

  Which flower do you like, Aki-kun?"

  His voice, which had felt weighed down before, now sparkled.

  It was like a flower blooming in the night.

  Something bloomed inside me too.

  To have something in common with him—something just between us, for now.

  "I like the Rafflesia.

  Unfortunately, they only have a preserved specimen at the garden."

  "The big red one, right?

  It looks scary, like it could eat people.

  I heard it smells awful.

  You’re funny, Aki-kun."

  Tsurubami-kun’s pale face melted into a smile in the lukewarm night.

  My chest tightened.

  "And you, Tsurubami-kun?

  What flower do you like?"

  I asked, trying to steady my breath.

  "Let’s see…

  Maybe the jade vine."

  "The emerald green one?

  That suits you perfectly!"

  My voice must’ve been too loud,

  because the two adults walking ahead turned around.

  "Sorry—it's nothing."

  Tsurubami-kun smiled beside me.

  I pictured the jade vine behind him—an entire curtain of pale green fire.

  Its meaning, if I remembered right—

  “Don’t forget me.”

  Tsurubami-kun said softly.

  "That’s the flower language of the jade vine."