A dream that ends in light. A friend who always walks ahead. And a message that changes everything.
Ichinose Taichi has had the same dream three times now—Touma turning back to smile at him on the road to school, then a blinding flash, then nothing. He tells himself it's just a dream. But when a message from his quiet classmate Kuze Futaba arrives out of nowhere, asking to talk, Taichi feels it: something is about to change.
In a fading seaside town where the shipyard closed and the young peop
Blue Flag: To Change the Lost Future - The greenhouse promise and the gaze of someone unknown
After school.
The light through the classroom windows had grown a little weaker.
Taichi stared at his phone on the desk.
The screen still showed the message from Touma that had arrived last night.
"Hey, wanna stop by Cafe Minato by the station tomorrow? I'll at least hear you out."
Taichi never managed to reply. Morning came. The first day of second term was almost over.
(What am I supposed to say to Touma?)
He touched the back of his neck with his right hand. It was damp with sweat.
Only a few students were left in the classroom.
Taichi shoved his phone into his pocket.
(I need to get to Futaba's place now.)
Kuze Futaba.
A girl in his class. Member of the gardening club.
Last night, she'd sent him a message.
"Please come to the greenhouse behind the school building. I'll be waiting after class."
He'd replied with a short "Got it."
(What kind of consultation is this?)
The dream of Touma's death.
Touma turning around, smiling, swallowed by light.
Ever since that dream, Taichi's heart hadn't settled.
(Maybe this could be a clue to protecting Touma.)
Maybe Futaba's consultation could help somehow.
That's what he thought.
Taichi stood up.
He left the classroom and walked down the hall.
The late-summer air drifted in through the open windows.
The smell of sweat mixed with the smell of disinfectant.
He changed his shoes at the shoe lockers and circled around to the back of the school building.
Behind the Aohama High School building.
The gardening club's greenhouse stood there.
Glass-walled. Eight meters by twelve.
Thirty years old. A weathered greenhouse.
In the evening light, the glass gave a dull shine.
Taichi stood in front of the greenhouse.
Peering inside, he saw a figure.
A girl with chestnut hair in a loose braid.
Kuze Futaba.
Taichi took a deep breath, then opened the greenhouse door.
Stifling heat and the smell of soil and grass wrapped around him.
"Ah... Ichinose-kun."
Futaba turned around.
Her large, light-brown eyes wavered with a hint of anxiety.
Her palms were covered with small bandages.
She'd told him once that the plants' thorns cut her.
"Thank you for coming."
Futaba laced her fingers together, fidgeting.
A habit she had when she talked.
Taichi had barely ever spoken to Futaba.
They were in the same class, but he couldn't remember ever having a real conversation with her.
"It's fine. So, what's the consultation?"
Taichi tried to sound as kind as possible.
But his voice came out a little quiet.
When he was deep in thought, his voice got small. That was his habit.
Futaba looked down.
Stray strands of hair clung to her cheek with sweat.
"Um... I..."
Her voice was trembling.
"I want to get closer to Touma-kun."
For a moment, Taichi forgot to breathe.
(Touma?)
Futaba continued.
"I don't have any confidence in myself... but I thought I can't stay like this. I want to be like Touma-kun — bright, someone everyone likes. So... I just wanted a chance."
Her voice nearly faded away at the end.
Taichi looked at her face.
Her big eyes were slightly wet with tears.
(Futaba is serious.)
Taichi thought.
(She wants to get closer to Touma.)
A sharp little pain pricked the depths of his chest.
Everyone liked Touma.
Futaba was one of them.
(But this works in my favor.)
Taichi muttered in his heart.
(If I help Futaba, I can stay near Touma.)
(I can watch Touma's movements up close.)
(I can protect Touma.)
Taichi was aware of the ugly calculation buried deep in his heart.
(I'm using Futaba.)
Guilt spread through him, slow and seeping.
But the fear of losing Touma was bigger.
"...Sure. I'll help."
Taichi said.
Futaba's face lit up.
"Really?!"
Futaba took a step closer to him.
"Thank you...! I'll do my best!"
Futaba smiled happily.
That smile was like a flower blooming in the greenhouse.
Taichi couldn't look at it directly.
(I'm using you.)
(And yet you thank me.)
His chest tightened.
That was when it happened.
"Hmm."
A low voice came from the greenhouse entrance.
Taichi spun around as if struck.
Standing there was Itachi Masumi.
A short black bob.
Narrow, sharp black eyes.
A small silver earring in one ear.
She wore the track team uniform, arms crossed.
Futaba's best friend.
"Masumi-chan!"
Futaba's voice rose with relief.
"You were late, so I came to get you."
Masumi spoke gently to Futaba.
Then she turned toward Taichi.
Her narrow black eyes fixed on him.
An appraising, probing gaze.
Taichi flinched under it.
(This one suspects me.)
Masumi walked slowly toward him, arms still crossed.
"Ichinose Taichi, right?"
"Uh, yeah, that's me."
Taichi couldn't answer properly.
Masumi stared at his face.
"I'll be counting on you to look after Futaba. ...You really will help her properly, won't you."
Her voice was quiet, but the force behind it was strong.
"...Of course. I'll help."
Taichi managed to answer.
Masumi murmured a small "hmm."
"I'll take that at face value, then."
Masumi looked away from Taichi and turned to Futaba.
"Futaba, time to head home. You've got club after this, right?"
"Ah, yeah... but, um—"
Futaba looked back and forth between Taichi and Masumi.
"Um, Ichinose-kun. If you'd like... want to walk home together today? We could invite Touma-kun too. The three of us."
Taichi's eyes went wide.
(The three of us?)
(Touma too?)
Futaba looked up at him anxiously.
"Sorry to spring this on you. But if you're really going to help... as a first step, I mean."
Her voice shrank again.
Taichi thought it over.
(This gives me an excuse to walk home with Touma.)
(And I can watch Futaba and Touma talk.)
(I can check on Touma up close.)
"...All right. I'll message Touma."
Taichi pulled out his phone.
Touma's message was still sitting there, unread.
Instead of replying to it, Taichi typed a new one.
"Want to walk home together today? Also, there's someone I want you to meet."
He sent it.
Seconds later, the phone buzzed.
"Oh, nice! I'll wait at the school gate."
Touma's reply.
Taichi nodded at Futaba.
"Touma says it's fine. He'll wait at the gate."
Futaba's face lit up.
"Great...! Thank you, Ichinose-kun!"
Futaba smiled happily.
Masumi watched the whole exchange, expressionless.
"I'll head home first."
With that, Masumi started to leave the greenhouse.
"Masumi-chan, thank you! See you tomorrow!"
Futaba waved.
Masumi didn't turn around. She just raised a hand slightly.
Taichi and Futaba left the greenhouse and headed for the school gate.
Touma was there in front of the gate.
A hundred and eighty-nine centimeters tall.
Short, neatly trimmed black hair.
Tanned skin.
The usual baseball club wristband on his left wrist.
When Touma spotted Taichi and Futaba, he ran over with a grin.
"Taichi! Sorry about the other day!"
Touma threw an arm around Taichi's shoulders.
"It's fine. Don't worry about it."
Taichi said, feeling the weight of Touma's arm.
Then Touma turned to Futaba.
"So this is the person you wanted me to meet?"
Futaba was frozen with nerves.
"Um, I'm... Kuze Futaba. Same class. I'm in the gardening club."
Her voice shook.
Touma smiled brightly.
A dimple formed on his right cheek.
"I'm Mita Touma! I'm the baseball club captain. Nice to meet you, Kuze-san!"
Touma held out his hand to Futaba.
Futaba nervously took it.
"N-nice to meet you..."
Her face had gone bright red.
Taichi watched the scene with complicated feelings.
(Touma really is amazing.)
(He's got Futaba smiling so naturally, and they just met.)
The three of them started walking side by side.
Down Hell Slope.
Touma struck up a conversation with Futaba.
"What does the gardening club do?"
"Um... we grow flowers, take care of the greenhouse... and we manage the flower beds at the school gate too."
Futaba answered earnestly, despite her nerves.
"Whoa, that's awesome! I always thought the flowers at the gate were really pretty!"
Touma sounded genuinely impressed.
"Really...? We planted those flowers."
Futaba's voice brightened a little.
"Yeah, they're great. Must be tough to maintain, huh?"
"It is... but I like it, so I can do my best."
Futaba smiled.
Taichi walked a little behind them, listening.
(Touma's enjoying listening to Futaba.)
(Futaba looks happy too.)
(Good...)
Taichi felt relieved.
Touma was smiling.
Touma was healthy.
(Touma is safe.)
Relief spread through the depths of Taichi's heart.
But at the same time, guilt spread too.
(I'm using Futaba to stay near Touma.)
(I'm trampling on her feelings.)
Taichi bit his lip, watching their backs.
"Taichi, what's up? You're slow!"
Touma turned around and called to him.
"Ah, sorry. Coming."
Taichi jogged to catch up.
"You're awfully quiet today. You feeling okay?"
Touma peered at his face.
"I'm fine. Same as always."
Taichi looked away.
"Yeah? All right then."
Touma gave his shoulder a light pat.
"Kuze-san, this guy's shy, but he's a good one. Be good to him!"
"Ah, yes... Actually, I was the one who asked Ichinose-kun for help."
Futaba glanced at Taichi.
"Wait, really? Taichi did?"
Touma looked surprised.
"Um... I asked Ichinose-kun to help me get closer to you, Touma-kun. And he said he'd help."
Futaba told Touma honestly.
Taichi's heart jumped.
(Futaba, you're telling him everything?)
Touma looked a little surprised at her words.
Then he grinned.
"Oh, so that's it! If I'm good enough, I'll be friends with you as much as you want!"
Touma gave Futaba a light push on the back.
"Huh, ah, thank you...!"
Futaba stumbled but smiled happily.
Watching them, Taichi's feelings grew tangled.
(Touma is kind to everyone.)
(Futaba got closer to Touma.)
(And me...)
Taichi felt his heart turning into a mess.
They reached the station.
"This is me. I take the train."
Touma stopped at the station entrance.
"Thanks for today, Taichi. See you again, Kuze-san!"
Touma waved to them both.
"See you tomorrow."
"Thank you so much...!"
Futaba bowed deeply.
Touma passed through the ticket gate, smiling.
Taichi watched until his back disappeared.
(Touma was smiling.)
(Today was all right.)
Taichi repeated it in his heart.
"Ichinose-kun."
Futaba spoke softly beside him.
"Thank you so much for today. I was really happy."
Futaba blushed and smiled.
"It's nothing. I didn't really do anything."
Taichi touched the back of his neck.
"No. Because you were there, Ichinose-kun, I could be brave."
Futaba looked straight at him.
"I'll be counting on you from now on, too."
Futaba bowed once more.
Watching her, Taichi's chest ached.
(When you ask me like that, it hurts.)
(When I'm using your feelings.)
"...Yeah. Same here."
That was all Taichi could manage.
After parting with Futaba, Taichi headed home alone.
The setting sun dyed the town red.
The ridge of Mt. Tohmi stood out sharply.
Taichi took out his phone.
Touma's message was still unread.
"Hey, wanna stop by Cafe Minato by the station tomorrow? I'll at least hear you out."
Taichi opened it.
(Touma's worried about me.)
(But I can't tell Touma the truth.)
(If I told him about the dream, would he laugh?)
(Or would he worry?)
Taichi started to type a reply, then stopped.
(What am I supposed to say?)
He put the phone back in his pocket.
When he got home, his mother was preparing dinner.
"Welcome back. You're late."
"I was walking home with some friends."
Taichi answered while taking off his shoes.
"Friends? Oh my, that's rare."
His mother looked a little surprised.
Taichi said nothing and headed to his room.
He went in and collapsed onto the bed in his uniform.
He stared at the ceiling.
(Today was long.)
(Meeting Futaba, walking home with Touma.)
(And Masumi suspecting me.)
Taichi thought of Masumi.
Those narrow black eyes.
They'd stared at him as if seeing through to the bottom of his heart.
(Masumi senses something.)
(That I'm using Futaba.)
Taichi shuddered.
Just then, his phone buzzed.
He sat up and picked it up.
He looked at the screen.
The sender was Itachi Ma
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