Behind the Clow Cards: Tomoyo Daidouji's Secret Filming Diary - The Secret of the School Route — The Law of Shadows and the Vanished Data

Morning light slipped in thin through the gap in the curtains. Tomoyo lay in bed for a while, staring at the ceiling. The feel of last night's dream still lingered at her fingertips. A figure in a black robe. That low voice. *Secrets are hidden in the footage you have captured.* (A dream... surely.) And yet, for a dream, it had been far too vivid. The sensation of those cold fingers touching her forehead, the weight of the words whispered at her ear. Tomoyo reached for the video camera on her nightstand. The cold touch of its body pulled her back to reality. Clutching the camera to her chest, she slowly sat up. Today was Monday. A school day. A day she could see Sakura. (If I see Sakura, I'll be all right. I know I will.) The thought lightened her heart, just a little. Tomoyo dressed with her usual care. She combed out her long black hair and slipped her arms into the white-and-navy uniform of Tomoeda Private Elementary. The face in the mirror looked a little tired. In the end, she had barely slept at all last night. "...This won't do. Before I let Sakura worry about me, I must be the one to pull myself together." She murmured it under her breath and gave her cheek a light pat. When she came downstairs, one of the servants had breakfast ready. Her mother, Sonomi, had been away on a business trip to Europe since last week. On the wide dining table, a single serving of breakfast sat waiting for Tomoyo alone. "Good morning, milady." "Good morning." Tomoyo took her seat quietly. Toast, scrambled eggs, and warm milk. Everything had been prepared with care, yet she could barely taste any of it. It wasn't that she had no appetite. It was just that her head was so full of the footage that she couldn't focus on eating. (What in the world is that shadow?) She set down her fork. (It appears every single time Sakura seals a card. As if it's watching over her.) Something stirred uneasily deep in her chest. She knew this feeling well. The anxiety that always came when Sakura faced a dangerous battle. But this time was a little different. Beyond the anxiety, there was a clear, sharp sense of wrongness. (I'm the only one who's noticed.) That was what frightened her most of all. After breakfast, Tomoyo stepped out the front door. The outside air was clear and a little chilly. The mornings in Tomoeda were quiet. In this town of steep streets, the walk to school rose and fell in gentle slopes. Tomoyo began making her way slowly down the hill in her white shoes. When she turned the corner partway down, she saw a familiar back. "Sakura!" At the sound of Tomoyo's voice, Sakura turned around. Her bright brown bob caught the morning sun and sparkled. Her pink hair clip bobbed slightly. " Ah, Tomoyo! Good morning!" Sakura's face lit up as she came running over, balancing deftly on her rollerblades. The moment Tomoyo saw that smile, something deep in her chest grew warm. (Of course. Sakura is like the sun.) "Good morning, Sakura. Lovely weather again today, isn't it?" " Yeah! It's definitely going to be a great day!" The two of them set off side by side. Sakura on her rollerblades, Tomoyo on foot. And yet their pace matched perfectly. It was a rhythm they had naturally acquired over their long friendship. Tomoyo stole a glance at Sakura's profile. Sakura was humming a tune, cheerfully making her way up the slope. There was no trace of yesterday's fatigue or worry on her face. (But yesterday, Sakura seemed a little down.) Tomoyo was remembering the afternoon before. In the grove at Tomoeda Park, Sakura had said it. "Hanyaaan, I just can't seem to find any cards lately." That slightly troubled smile. It was something she'd said precisely because she took her duty as Cardcaptor so seriously. "...Speaking of which, Sakura. How are things going with the cards?" Tomoyo asked as casually as she could. In her heart, she couldn't stop thinking about that shadow. But she mustn't let it show. She couldn't afford to make Sakura worry. Sakura looked at her, blinking in surprise. Then she smiled, a little embarrassed. " Oh, yeah. Well, you see, lately I just can't seem to find any cards. Hanyaaan, I wonder what's going on." "Oh, is that so?" " But you know, it'll definitely be fine! The cards will turn up for sure, and I'm going to do my best!" Sakura clenched both fists and said it with conviction. There wasn't a single cloud in those straightforward eyes. Tomoyo felt as though she'd been saved by that smile. (If Sakura can be that strong...) "Yes, you'll be fine, Sakura. I believe in you, after all." " Thank you, Tomoyo! Having you with me makes me feel so much braver!" Sakura said it with a beaming smile. The words made Tomoyo so happy that her chest tightened. (I'm the one who can keep going because you're here, Sakura.) But instead of putting that feeling into words, Tomoyo simply smiled quietly. "Please let me film your brave exploits again today." " Of course! Your camera work is always amazing, Tomoyo!" Chatting like that, the two of them continued along the school route. They passed the entrance to the Tomoeda Ginza shopping street and walked by the bakery, Flora. The fragrant smell of freshly baked bread drifted through the morning air. " Oh, Flora's sakura-anpan! What a yummy smell!" Sakura said it, sniffing the air. "Fufu, let's go buy some together sometime." " Yeah, promise!" Idle, trivial conversation. And yet, to Tomoyo, it was precious time. The morning road she walked side by side with Sakura. That was how Tomoyo's day began. (I wish this time could last forever.) But somewhere in her heart, she knew it couldn't. Not as long as that shadow drifted around Sakura. "...Ah." Suddenly, Sakura stopped. "What is it?" Ahead of Sakura's gaze stood a boy. His short black hair stuck up a little, and his sharp amber eyes were fixed straight on them. It was Ri Shaoran. " Oh, Shaoran! Good morning!" Sakura waved brightly. Shaoran looked away for just an instant, then gave a small nod. "...Morning." His voice was as short and curt as always. But Tomoyo noticed. The tips of his ears had gone just slightly red. (My, my.) Tomoyo smiled inwardly. "Good morning, Ri." "...Yeah. You too, Daidouji." Shaoran gave Tomoyo a glance, then immediately looked back at Sakura. There was a soft light at the end of his gaze. The look that this quiet, cool boy showed only to Sakura. Tomoyo had seen that change in him countless times before. (Ri really does care for Sakura, doesn't he.) Tomoyo felt a quiet certainty. Shaoran's feelings for Sakura were genuine. It came through painfully clearly in every awkward corner of his manner. But at the same time, Tomoyo knew that Sakura was completely oblivious to those feelings. Sakura took Shaoran's shyness and the meaning behind his glances as nothing more than "the usual Shaoran." (Sakura really is so dense.) Tomoyo watched the two of them with complicated feelings. " Are you headed to school too, Shaoran? Let's go together!" "...I mean, I wasn't—" Shaoran started to say it bluntly, but his feet were already carrying him to Sakura's side. In the end, the three of them walked together. Sakura in the middle, with Tomoyo and Shaoran on either side. " Hey, hey, what are we doing in gym today again?" "...How should I know." " Oh, Shaoran, you should remember these things!" When Sakura laughed, Shaoran's ears went even redder and he turned his face away. Tomoyo watched the exchange with a fond smile, murmuring softly in her heart. (Hang in there, Ri.) But for now, before she could cheer on that romance, there was something she had to do. (That shadow...) Tomoyo let out a small breath so Sakura wouldn't notice. When they reached school, the three of them headed to their separate classrooms. Sakura and Tomoyo were in the same class, and so was Shaoran. When they entered the classroom, several classmates were already there. " Good morning, Sakura, Tomoyo!" " Morning!" "Good morning." As Tomoyo took her seat, she looked out the classroom window. Beyond the schoolyard spread the townscape of Tomoeda. In the distance, she could see the green of Tsukimine Mountain. (I hope nothing happens today, either.) But somewhere in her heart, she knew it wouldn't be that simple. After school, Tomoyo hurried back to the Daidouji residence. She had told Sakura she had errands to run. Sakura had looked a little lonely, but she quickly smiled and waved, "See you tomorrow!" (Forgive me, Sakura. But this is for your sake.) Apologizing in her heart, Tomoyo opened the door to her filming room. The room, with its blackout curtains drawn, was dim even in the daytime. Tomoyo turned on her editing computer without switching on the lights. The screen glowed pale blue, rising up in the darkness of the room. "...Now then. Let's begin." Tomoyo began arranging all her past footage in chronological order. The footage she had accumulated from the day Sakura first began fighting as Cardcaptor to today was an enormous amount. She sorted it by date, and by the type of card sealed. The work proceeded quietly, but steadily. Tomoyo's fingers glided over the keyboard. The footage played frame by frame. (This clip too... and this one too.) The shadow was there in every clip, just as she'd thought. Every time Sakura sealed a card, without fail. From the same kind of position, at the same kind of angle. Tomoyo enlarged the footage and examined the shape of the shadow in detail. About the size of a cat. Its outline was blurred, its form undefined. But looking closely, she could see the shadow's orientation shifting subtly in time with Sakura's movements. (It's as if it's chasing after Sakura.) Tomoyo advanced the footage further. Sakura raises her sealing wand. She chants the spell. Light overflows. In that instant, the shadow moved as if leaning slightly forward. "...Here." Tomoyo replayed that moment over and over. The instant Sakura's magical power peaked. The very moment the card was sealed. The shadow always, and only, showed movement at that moment. (The shadow isn't absorbing Sakura's magical power.) As she analyzed the footage, Tomoyo felt that clearly. If it were absorbing power, the magic around Sakura would be disturbed. But she sensed no such sign in the footage. (Rather, it's observing. Recording.) The shadow's movements resembled those of a camera lens tracking its subject. The gaze of a relentless observer, determined to capture Sakura's every move without missing a thing. (Just as I film Sakura.) When that thought reached her, a chill ran down Tomoyo's spine. (Someone is filming Sakura.) (Somewhere I don't know, someone I don't know.) Something stirred deep in her chest. She was afraid. But more than that, a feeling of outrage welled up inside her. (Sakura's brave figure is mine to film.) Tomoyo clenched her fist. (...No. That's not it.) She shook her head. (I have to protect Sakura.) That was what mattered most of all. Tomoyo continued analyzing the footage. Was there some pattern to the times and places where the shadow appeared? She reviewed the footage again and again, took notes, and marked them on a map. Before long, a pattern emerged. The shadow always appeared "immediately after" Sakura sealed a card. And its position was always "behind" Sakura. (Behind... in Sakura's blind spot.) Tomoyo shuddered at the realization. The shadow observed Sakura from behind, so as not to be noticed. As if it knew Sakura would never turn around. (This shadow is deliberately hiding in Sakura's blind spot.) It was no mere coincidence. It was action driven by clear intent. Tomoyo drew a deep breath. (Calm down. One thing at a time, whatever I can do.) Tomoyo compiled her analysis into a notebook. The conditions for the shadow's appearance, its position, the characteristics of its movements. She wrote it all down carefully. (This record will surely be useful.) She belie

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Episode 2

Name: Behind the Clow Cards: Tomoyo Daidouji's Secret Filming Diary
Author: Novelia

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