Three hours had passed. Shiori, Yuzuki, and I were beyond exhausted. Our hope was fading fast as we collapsed under the shade of a massive oak tree.
"Maybe... maybe we've gone too far," Yuzuki sighed, her voice heavy with despair. "It feels like we're the only ones here. No one came before us, and no one is coming after."
Suddenly, a faint sound drifted through the air. I held up a hand. "Wait. Shhh... do you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Yuzuki asked, tilting her head.
"It's a voice," Shiori whispered, her eyes widening. "A human voice. It's coming from behind this tree!"
We crept forward gingerly, rounding the thick trunk of the oak. There, in a small clearing, stood a girl. She was singing softly to herself, the melody haunting and beautiful:
"Nihon no ito ga anata o yonde iru...
Ippon wa aka, mou ippon wa ao.
Sore ga chikazuku to...
Anata no kokoro ni karami tsuku
Aka wa kioku o kizuki, ao wa monogatari o tsumugu..."
She stopped abruptly when she noticed us.
"Eeek!" she shrieked, jumping back. "Who are you? Fans?! Oh my god, are you guys in here too?"
I stepped forward to calm her down. "Wait! We aren't fans—well, we're just like you. We ended up here by mistake. Who are you?"
Before she could answer, Shiori leaned in and whispered urgently into my right ear, "Are you serious? You don't know who she is? That's Ame Hoshizora! She's the biggest pop star in Tokyo! She just sold out the Tokyo Dome!"
"Wait, really?" I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling sheepish. "Sorry, sorry! I'm a huge Harem anime fan, so I mostly just listen to OSTs. I don't know much about the pop charts. My bad, Miss Ame..."
Ame's eyes lit up. Instead of being offended, she beamed and threw her arms around me in a sudden hug. "Yeah! Finally! I found someone who isn't a fan!"
I could feel the temperature in the group drop instantly. Shiori and Yuzuki were practically radiating jealousy.
"Okay... well," I said, gently detaching myself while trying to ignore the glares from my companions. "Why don't you come with us? We found a mansion nearby."
"A mansion...?" Ame asked, blinking.
"Let's go. We'll explain everything on the way."
As we approached the estate, we saw the Chemist's bus parked outside. "Sayaka and Hanako must have handled it," Shiori noted, looking relieved.
We entered the foyer and found everyone else waiting. Their jaws dropped when they saw Ame-san trailing behind us. Once the initial shock wore off, we filled them in on our journey. While we talked, Kagitari and Ai busied themselves in the kitchen, eventually returning with a tray of hot tea.
We settled onto the plush sofas, the steam from the tea rising between us.
"So... Ame-san," Miss Yunin asked, leaning forward. "How exactly did you get teleported here?"
"I was in the middle of a costume change," Ame explained, her expression a mix of confusion and wonder. "One second I'm backstage, and the next—poof! I'm here. But honestly? It might be a blessing in disguise. This guy," she gestured to me, "had no idea who I was. It's a miracle! My first 'not-fan' friend!"
She giggled and nudged me. "Plus, both our names start with 'A.' It's fate! I'm so happy!"
She blushed and looked down shyly. Yuzuki watched her closely, her thoughts racing. Teleportation? A miracle? Or just a massive coincidence? Ame looked like she stepped straight out of a 'Harem God' anime—pink and blue hair, gorgeous eyes, and a style that was somehow both cute and sophisticated.
"Uh... are you thinking gross things again?" Yuzuki asked, snapping me out of my trance.
"What? No!" I stammered. "So... what about Rin?"
"Sorry girls," Ame said, her tone softening. "We couldn't find a doctor. I feel like I failed you... I come from a family of herbal medicine makers, but I couldn't find a single useful plant out there."
"Oh! Yeah! I heard about that too," Miss Yunin said, her voice filled with a mix of relief and worry. "Please, do whatever is necessary."
Ame turned to me with a playful but determined glint in her eyes. "Don't worry, I'll do anything for my favorite 'not-fan,' Akiro-kun!"
Just then, Kagitari and Ai arrived with a tray of fresh tea. We each took a cup, the aromatic steam swirling around us. After the long, stressful trek, that first sip felt like heaven—a moment of pure peace that we couldn't help but savor.
"Wow! You two are incredible at making tea!" Ame praised, her eyes sparkling.
Kagitari and Ai both turned bright red. "Oh! Thank you, Miss Ame," they stammered in unison.
"Oh, don't call me 'Miss Ame,'" she giggled. "Just call me Ame-sama. I'm only sixteen, after all!"
"Thanks, Ame-sama," Ai replied with a shy smile.
But the relaxation didn't last long. We headed upstairs to one of the most luxurious bedrooms any of us had ever seen. In the center of the room, tucked under heavy silk blankets, lay Rin.
Ame's expression immediately shifted to professional focus. She checked Rin's pulse, felt her forehead, and gently peeled back her eyelids to check her pupils.
"Gimme a thermometer," Ame commanded.
"On it!" Ai hurried to the medicine box and produced one.
Ame waited for the reading, her brow furrowing. "101°F.. this is a serious threat to her health. We don't have much time. We need specific leaves and roots."
"T-tell us everything we need," Miss Yurin urged, her hands trembling slightly.
"I'll go with Akiro to find them," Yuzuki stepped forward, her voice steady.
Ame nodded. "If you're that eager, listen closely. We need to find lemon grass—it's often called 'Fever Medicine' in herbalism. We need it fresh."
"Oh! I've read about that in a novel before!" Miss Yurin exclaimed, hopeful.
"Then let's move, Akiro," Yuzuki said, turning to me. "She's suffering, and every minute counts. Ai, please, give us a torch."
"Okay," Ai and I said at the same time, ready to face the darkness outside.
Ai handed me a heavy torch, its beam cutting through the dim hallway. Yuzuki, Shiori, and I turned to head out, but a voice called out from behind us.
"Ahiro-kun! I want to go with you!"
It was Ame-sama. She was hurrying toward us, looking determined but a bit shaky.
"No, stay here with the others," I said, stopping. "It's safer."
"Please..." she pleaded, her eyes wide.
She looked so sincere—and honestly, so cute—that we couldn't bring ourselves to say no. We allowed her to join us.
Outside, the world had transformed. A half-moon hung low in the sky, casting jagged shadows across the grass. The jungle was alive with "creepy" sounds; wild creatures skittered through the underbrush, and the rustle of the leaves felt like whispering voices. Suddenly, an owl screeched and swept low over our heads, its wings nearly brushing us.
"Whoa! What was that?!" Ame cried out, her voice jumping an octave. In her fright, she instinctively grabbed my left arm, clinging to it for dear life.
I felt her heart racing against my arm. "Don't worry," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "We told you not to come, but now that you're here, we've got you."
"Yes, we're daredevils and you're a pop star, after all," Shiori added with a smirk, though she kept a watchful eye on the treeline.
"Ahiro... can I keep holding your arm?" Ame whispered.
"Okay," I muttered, feeling a bit of heat in my cheeks.
As we walked, I found myself noticing the others in the moonlight. Shiori looked striking with her unique hair—it started jet black at the roots, faded into a pure white, and ended in a vibrant blue at the tips. She was still wearing the "Chemist Lab" group uniform, which gave her a sharp, professional look.
Her companions were equally eye-catching. Hanako had bright yellow eyes that seemed to catch the light just like Shiori's, while Sayaka's eyes were a cool, piercing silver. Both of them had long, yellow hair, though Sayaka wore hers in a shorter, practical bob.
"Um... Shiori?" I called out.
"What is it?"
"You both forgot that we actually need her to come along," I pointed at Ame. "We don't know what lemon grass looks like, but she does."
"Right! Sorry, Ame," Shiori admitted, sheepishly.
"It's okay! Oh! There—I see one!" Ame pointed toward the riverbank.
We spotted an unknown plant growing thick beside the rushing water. Ame confirmed it was the one. I reached down, pulled it from the damp earth, and secured it. With the medicine finally in hand, we turned back toward the mansion.
In Rin's room, we all gathered there. Ame-san was spotting the leaves of the plant in a glass bowl by a potato smasher.
A few times later she said, "It's ready! Gimme a clean cloth."
Ai brought one and then Ame bounded the bowl slowly on the cloth which was on Rin's open mouth holded by Kagetari and Hanako.
Rin was babbling because of fever—
"Noh... phleash... Ah... hih... noh..."
"Is she saying your name Ahiro?" asked Yuzuki.
"Maybe."
Rin had finished the whole herb.
"Okay, give her rest for this night. But someone have to stay here," said Ame-san.
"Me," said I.
"Okay, me too!" said Ame-san and Tsukiko both.
"Mom... you're going to sleep with me," said Yuzuki with irritation.
"OK. Ahiro and Ame-san is gonna stay with Rin," said miss Yurin.
"Okay, but we've to eat the dinner. Kagetari-senpai and me were making the dinner while they were gone," said Ai.
"Wow! I'm gonna eat something after many days," i said.
"Oh no! So he's not gonna drink my milk again!?" said Tsukiko with hopelessness.
"Mom!"
I ate soya curry and rice in dinner. Night 10:32 pm. Everyone were gone in their rooms, me, Rin and Ame were in a single room. Ame and me were sitting besides Rin because the bed was too big for a single human.
Moon light was coming through the window.
"Ahiro... it's fun night?" said Ame.
But she looked that i was already slept. She smiled.
Birds chirping, me lying on bed. I opened my eyes and saw a beautiful face which was sleeping. It was Rin's face. I saw Ame too besides Rin, we all slept together under a same blanket. I thought might be Ame placed me here there when i was sleeping.
I realised a thing and stood up and then screamed with very loud noise, because, Rin's temprature had gotten normal i felt by touching her forehead.
By my scream they woke up. Asked me that why i did scream.
I told them the truth then Ame laughed but i saw the horrible look on Rin's face.
"You! Thanks for caring about me but what are you thinking me? Your girl-friend?" "And who's she?"
Ame introduced her and then she hugged her too. "Whoa! You too didn't know about me! I like you both!"
"What kind of popstar are you?"
We decended from upstaires and looking Rin well everyone greeted her and Ai also introduced herself to her. We were drinking tea, then i realised that every girls i had are all too much cute to not like, so i screamed in mind— "KAWAII!!!!"
END