As the last of the sunlight disappeared, the air turned cold. The higher we climbed, the fewer people we passed. Before long, it felt like the shrine path belonged only to us and the sound of crickets.
Soft lights lined the way beneath the torii, guiding us through the dark.
'I feel cold.' Kasumi shivered, rubbing herself.
She pulled her jacket from her bag and slipped it on. Hina did the same. Saki and Eri of course, did not.
'Cold? From this?' Saki scoffed. 'This is nothing.'
'This lord does not yield to weak weather,' Eri declared.
Kasumi looked at them.
'Are you both sure? I don't want you getting sick.'
'We're fine.'
I looked ahead.
Marie was still walking a little in front of everyone. She only had a thin long-sleeved top on, and even from here I could see the small tremor she was trying to hide.
I took my jacket from my bag and caught up to her.
'Here.'
She slowly came to a halt and looked at it.
'I'm fine, darling. You don't have to—'
'You're cold,' I said. 'And you didn't bring anything else.'
I held it out a little closer. After a brief pause, she took it.
'Then… thank you, Dylan.'
She slipped it on. The sleeves swallowed her hands, and the hem nearly reached her knees.
'Sorry… looks like it doesn't fit you well.'
'No.' She shook her head. 'It's alright.'
For a moment, her gaze softened, and so did her smile. It was gentler than any expression she had shown all day. She almost looked like a different person.
It was a welcome addition.
Neither of us said anything. Then I felt a tug at the back of my shirt.
'My servant.'
I turned, only to find Eri clutching the fabric behind me.
'Yes, Eri?'
'…'
Her gaze was down, staring at the floor beneath us.
I rested my hand on her head.
'Are you worried about me?'
Her eyes lifted.
'Are you worried that I'll get cold?'
She nodded.
'I'll be fine. You know that much, don't you?'
She hesitated, then nodded again.
At the corner of my eye, I saw Marie glance our way before turning and walking on.
'Love is in the air for Master.'
'Hush,' Hina said, pulling her along.
Kasumi followed after them, smiling to herself.
'Come on, Eri.'
I gave her one last pat, and we continued up the path.
After walking for another couple of minutes, we made it to a place where we could gaze down at the city from afar.
Lights spread across the night like a river of stars.
Even though I've seen many things in life, I couldn't help but appreciate just how beautiful the scene was.
'Wow, so pretty,' Saki said.
She whipped out her phone and tried to take a photo.
'My phone camera is too crappy.'
*Click*
Hina already had her proper camera out. She checked the screen.
'Not good enough.'
She adjusted the lens and took another shot.
Kasumi stood beside me, watching everyone else more than the view.
'You don't want to take a photo?' I asked.
'I… do.' Kasumi nodded. 'But… I want one with everyone.'
I looked around.
Hina was now showing Eri how to use the camera. Saki had wandered off in search of the perfect angle and Marie was gone.
'I'm going to get Marie. I'll be back.'
I walked farther up the path until I found her standing alone at the edge of the lookout, staring down at her city.
'Marie.'
'…'
She continued to stare at the city.
I stepped beside her and touched her shoulder.
She flinched.
'Yes… darling?'
'Why did you come here by yourself?'
She looked back at the lights below.
'I thought it would be better to give everyone some space.'
'Do you think no one wants you here?'
She smiled faintly.
'Darling, it would be rude of me to intrude where I'm clearly not wanted.'
'Do you really think that?'
'…'
For a moment, she said nothing. Only the sound of the wind passed by.
Then she laughed softly.
'Sorry, darling. I was just teasing you. You should've seen the look on your face.'
'I don't think that was all it was.'
She still wore her smile, but it no longer looked as effortless as before.
'Darling, must you always ruin my attempts at being charming?'
'Yes. Because you're clearly hiding something.'
'…'
For a while, neither of us spoke. Wind moved through the trees behind us, and the city shimmered below.
When Marie finally spoke, her voice was softer.
'I didn't know darling could be so mean when he's being perceptive.'
'I'm serious.'
Marie went quiet. Then her smile finally dropped.
'It's just…' she looked back out over the city. 'I'm used to being around people without really being with them.'
She smiled after saying it, but this time the smile came too late, like she had put it on out of habit.
'That was more honest than I meant to be.'
'Good.'
Marie giggled, and this time it sounded real.
'You really haven't changed, Dylan.'
Her fingers tightened around the sleeves of my jacket.
'Still saying things so directly.'
Before I could answer, Saki's voice cut through the night.
'Master! Redhead! Hurry up! Hina says if you two take any longer, she'll kill me!'
Marie covered her mouth and laughed.
I held out my hand.
'Come on. They're waiting.'
Her eyes dropped to it.
'I can walk on my own?'
'Does it matter?'
She reached out carefully. Our fingers brushed. She flinched, like the contact surprised her, so I closed my hand around hers before she could pull away.
'Let's go,' I said. 'I'd rather not watch Saki die.'
I helped her down the step, and together we made our way back to the others.
Saki was already waving both arms at us. Hina had set the camera on a tripod and was adjusting the frame.
'Is everyone here?' Hina asked, peeking over the camera.
I started to step into place, but Marie tugged lightly at my sleeve.
'This is a photo with your friends, I'll wait here.'
I looked at the group.
'Hey. Can Marie join?'
The group looked at me. After a while, Saki gave a thumbs-up and Kasumi followed with a small nod. Eri said nothing, but she did not object.
That was enough.
I led Marie into the group and she took her place beside me. Eri stood on my other side. Saki crouched in front with a V sign. Kasumi copied her a second later, awkwardly enough that it almost made me laugh.
Marie, meanwhile had gone completely stiff.
'Relax,' I murmured. 'It's only a photo.
'That doesn't help,' she whispered back. 'How am I supposed to pose?'
'Just smile.'
'That sounds even harder.'
'Okay, everyone!' Hina raised her hand. 'Get in position.'
She hit the timer and hurried over, only for Saki to immediately drag her down into a crouch beside her.
'Join me, Hina!'
'The camera is about to—'
*Snap.*
'Now I have to do it again.' Hina slumped her shoulders.
We ended up taking a few more after that.
While Hina and Kasumi checked the results, Saki and Eri started messing around beside me.
Marie stood alone, in silence, but unexpectedly, she spoke, 'Thanks… everyone.'
We all looked at her, but that was all she said. She quickly spun around and watched the city again.
Once the photo was sorted, we continued up the shrine path.
Marie was still a little ahead of us, but now, for the first time today, it felt like she was walking with the group instead of apart from it.