Inside the woods, two teenagers moved carefully between the tall trees. A red-headed boy with square glasses held up his phone with the flashlight on, and beside him was a black-haired girl with round glasses. She had a big flashlight in one hand and a school bag on her back, earphones plugged in both ears as soft music played.
A gentle tap landed on her shoulder. She pulled out one earpiece and looked up.
"What happened, Taki? Did you see the blue mushrooms?" she asked.
Taki shook his head. "I've been calling your name, but you're too into your music," he said, adjusting his glasses. He looked toward the moonlight. "We should've gone home first to change out of our uniforms."
"The moment I step into that house, my mom won't let me out till tomorrow morning," Rieko said. She swept the flashlight ahead, scanning the dark ground. "Are you sure this is the right place? Feels like we've been walking in circles."
The light suddenly hit Taki's face. He flinched and shut his eyes. "Do you want to blind me or something?"
"Oops," Rieko said quickly, turning the light away.
"Rieko, this is the place that was mentioned," Taki said firmly. "We have to find it tonight. I want to prove those idiots wrong and show them blue mushrooms actually exist." He adjusted his glasses again and glanced at the sky. "The clouds are gathering. We need to hurry before the moonlight disappears. The mushroom only glows when the moon hits it."
Rieko sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Fine. Anything blue and bright then. But how do you even know this is the right spot?"
"Well, that would be me," said a cheerful voice from the phone in Taki's hand. Both of them looked at the screen.
Rieko rolled her eyes. "I still don't get why you're waiting by the car."
"Well, first, someone has to watch my car," Miko replied. "And second, if a ghost shows up, I'll be the one calling for backup."
Taki raised an eyebrow. "So, you do believe in ghosts?"
"Obviously not," Miko said quickly. "But if the rumors are true, maybe it's not a ghost. Maybe it's an alien."
Rieko frowned. "Why would aliens act like spooky people? That makes no sense."
"Maybe they're trying to say hello," Miko said, "and people mistake them for ghosts."
"Or trying to steal your banana," Taki muttered, though he sounded nervous.
"Really? You're the one who said we had to find the blue mushrooms tonight, and now you're the one sweating and talking nonsense," Rieko said, shining the light at his face on purpose.
"Stop it, it's hurting my eyes," Taki said.
"I know," she said, smirking. "I just wanted to look at my best friend and make sure this is actually Taiyaki Santos."
"What? Why are you looking at me like that? Did I do something wrong again?" Taki asked.
"When were you going to tell me you started working at the White Tasty Noodle Shop?" Rieko folded her arms.
"What?" His eyes widened.
"Oh, oh," Miko said softly from the phone.
"Wow, so I'm the only one who didn't know?" Rieko said, realizing Miko was in on it too.
"Maybe we should go home first," Taki mumbled. "I can explain everything, and then tomorrow we'll come back for the mushrooms." His voice trembled. The flashlight was still in his face, and he couldn't see Rieko's expression.
"No. We're finding the mushrooms tonight, just like you said," she replied sharply. "But seriously, out of all the shops in Hellion City, you had to pick the one where my ex works?"
"Well, no one hires fifteen-year-olds. The only place that would was that noodle shop. At first, I didn't want to go, but then I thought about my mom struggling. I needed to help. Even if I hate the White siblings, they're the worst, I still need the money."
Rieko slowly lowered the flashlight. "You should've told me first. I hate being the last person to know. Everyone at school already knows where you work. Everyone but me."
"I'm sorry," Taki said softly. "I was scared of how you'd react, knowing I'm working with Charlie White."
"Well, I don't care about Charlie anymore," Rieko said. "She's gone, and I've moved on."
"Really? Because just a moment ago, you were listening to her favorite song, and you were deep into it," Taki teased.
"Shut up," Rieko said, pushing past him. "I don't get why you'd be scared of me. I'm your best friend. Why would you be scared of your best friend?"
"Do you want an honest answer?" Taki asked.
"Do you lie to me often?" Rieko said.
"No, but you freak out about everything, and that's scary. Very scary."
"I don't freak out. I never do! When have I ever freaked out?" Rieko snapped.
Taki raised a finger, counting. "The time I played that game without you, you smashed the controller. The time I scored 98 and you scored 97, you tore both our papers. And the time we lost the science fair, you destroyed Robo, the robot we spent four weeks building."
He paused and watched her face. "You're about to freak out again, aren't you?"
"Miko! Do I freak out all the time?" Rieko grabbed the phone.
"Well… yes, you do," Miko said reluctantly.
"I don't freak out! I—" Rieko stopped mid-sentence, realizing from their faces that they were right. Her voice softened. "Oh, I do freak out. Wow. I'm sorry, guys. I didn't know I scared you. You two are the last people I'd ever want to do that to. From now on, I'll try not to freak out about anything."
Taki raised a brow. "So, you won't freak out about anything that happens from now on?"
"Yes. I won't," Rieko said firmly.
"What about the secret Miko's been keeping from you?" Taki asked with a sly grin.
"What secret?" Rieko turned to the phone.
"You idiot!" Miko shouted. "Why are you using me for an experiment?"
"What secret are you keeping from me, Miko?" Rieko's voice rose.
"I thought you said you wouldn't freak out," Miko said carefully.
"What are you hiding?" Rieko's tone turned serious.
"I didn't know how to tell you," Miko said. "But my parents got a job abroad, and I think I have to move with them."
"What the hell!" Rieko shouted, slamming the phone to the ground. She bent down, standing up again, pacing fast, her breathing uneven.
Taki stepped back.
"Why is everybody leaving me?" she cried. "First Dad died, then Ryusie got married, Rinzo's in college, Charlie dumped me for being too much, and now one of my best friends is leaving. I'm going to be all alone."
Taki moved closer. "You're not going to be alone. You still have Ryuki, your mom, and me. Plus, Miko isn't even sure she's going yet. You're not alone, Rieko."
Rieko's voice broke into soft sobs. Taki crouched beside her.
"People might leave, but I'll stay by your side forever," he said gently. "I promise."
"How can I be sure? Your new job already takes away our gaming and adventure time."
He smiled. "We still ride our bikes to school together. We still play games. We live next door. I'm not leaving your side, Rieko Rokutaro. We'll go to college together, build our gaming company like we always dreamed, and create the best games ever."
Rieko sniffled and smiled a little. Taki wiped her tears, then noticed something glowing near them. His eyes reflected blue light.
Rieko turned around and gasped. "Oh my God, Taki. Look."
There, just a few feet away, the ground shimmered with glowing blue mushrooms.
"They're real," she whispered. "Those losers are going to scrub the school toilets tomorrow!"
Taki grinned. "Miko, we found them! The blue mushrooms are real!"
Silence.
He picked up the cracked phone. "Great. You broke my phone. Again. Now I'm phoneless. Again!"
"Sorry," Rieko said, chuckling. "But hey, you have a job now. You can buy a new one."
"If I saved all the money I've spent on new phones and controllers, I could've started a gaming company by now," Taki said.
"I said I'm sorry! Besides, I help pay for them sometimes."
"Yeah, because you keep breaking them in the first place," he muttered.
They kept bickering until they noticed a huge tree nearby.
"Wait, how did this tree get here?" Taki asked.
"I thought it was over there, where the mushrooms were." Rieko pointed, but the glowing patch was gone.
"Where the hell are the mushrooms?" she whispered.
Taki suddenly grabbed her hand. "Something's wrong. Let's go, now."
Without waiting, he pulled her away from the tree. Both of them ran through the dark forest, not daring to look back.