Chapter 79: Shadows in Bloom
Location: Hidden Bloom Cavern – Midnight
A damp stillness hovered over the underground cavern as flickering crystal blooms pulsed softly in shades of azure and violet. Riku stood motionless at the edge of a crumbled altar, Airi's hand still clutching his tightly, her eyes refusing to meet his.
Silence stretched between them like a blade on skin.
"I saw it, Riku..." Airi's voice broke the silence, trembling. "That memory… the one you never wanted anyone to see. The fire. Your brother. And… the words you whispered when you thought no one was listening."
Riku looked away. "That wasn't meant for you to see."
"But I saw it. The pain. The regret. And… the truth about the Bloom inside you. That pendant—it wasn't just your brother's memory, was it?"
His fingers tightened around the chain on his neck. The pendant, now cracked and dull, seemed to pulse faintly at the mention of his brother.
"It's a seal," he whispered. "One my brother left behind… not to pass on his power, but to hold something back. Something inside me."
Airi stepped back, eyes wide. "You mean… the Bloom fragment inside you… it's not his?"
"No," Riku muttered. "It was born inside me. A corrupted Bloom. And it's waking up."
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Flashback – Four Years Ago
Riku sat on the rooftop, watching as the rain blurred the lights of Hoshikawa City. Beside him, his older brother Kai leaned back, face calm, eyes distant.
"You'll understand someday," Kai said, handing him the pendant. "This isn't just a gift—it's protection. From yourself."
"From… myself?" young Riku had asked.
Kai nodded slowly. "There's something inside you, Riku. Something that was never meant to bloom. I've been hiding it… locking it away. But I'm running out of time."
The next day, Kai disappeared without a word.
---
Present
"Why didn't you tell me?" Airi asked, stepping forward. "All this time, we were chasing Bloom relics, fighting others… and you were hiding the most dangerous one inside yourself?"
"Because I didn't want you to look at me like that," Riku said, his voice low. "Like I'm a time bomb."
"You're not," she snapped. "You're Riku. The idiot who stood up for me in front of the council. Who risked his life to protect that village from Bloom beasts. Who—"
"I'm the reason Kai vanished," he said suddenly.
Airi froze. "What?"
"He used the last of his power to seal my Bloom. He vanished because of me."
---
Elsewhere – Council of Bloom Elders
High above the peaks of Mount Hibara, the ancient council gathered in whispers. Elder Reina frowned at the glowing shard on the center pedestal.
"The corrupted Bloom has awakened."
"Do we eliminate the vessel?" one voice asked.
Reina shook her head. "No. We let the vessel guide us. If he survives the awakening, he may be the key to ending the Bloom Cycle."
"And if he doesn't?"
"Then the world burns again."
---
Perspective Shift – Sora's Thoughts
Sora sat in the abandoned observatory, scribbling furiously in his notebook. His hand trembled.
Riku… you always smiled. Even when you were hurting. I should have known… the signs were there. The nightmares. The blackouts. The whispers you said you heard.
He flipped a page—one labeled "Bloom Variants." Among all the recorded ones, none matched what Riku described.
You're not just a vessel. You're something entirely new. And if the Council finds out… they'll use you like they used Kai.
Sora stood, eyes burning. "Not again. I won't let history repeat itself."
---
Back in the Cavern
The air cracked with tension. Airi reached forward, gripping Riku's collar. "You listen to me, you idiot. You are not your Bloom. You are not a monster. You are—"
"I can't control it anymore!" Riku snapped. "When you touched my memory, I almost—almost—hurt you."
"You didn't. And you won't."
Suddenly, the ground trembled. A distant explosion echoed from above.
Riku turned. "What now?"
Airi's eyes widened. "The Council... they're here."
---
Perspective Shift – Elder Reina
Descending through a portal of swirling light, Reina's gaze settled on the cavern.
"Riku Kurozawa," she called out, voice like a bell. "Step forward. Your trial begins."
Riku shielded Airi and took a step forward. "What trial?"
Reina's eyes glinted. "The Bloom inside you—if you cannot master it, you will be sealed. Just like your brother."
His heart sank. "He was sealed?"
Reina's expression faltered. "He chose to be. To save you. But we can no longer trust that choice."
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Internal Monologue – Riku
I wanted to protect everyone… but I couldn't even protect my own brother. Now I'm standing here, between the Council and the girl I—
He glanced at Airi.
—the girl I can't lose.
---
Dialogue
Airi: "If you touch him, I swear—"
Reina: "You would stand against us? The Bloom Council?"
Airi: "If that means standing for him—then yes!"
Sora appeared behind them, panting. "She's not the only one."
More footsteps echoed behind him—Luka, Hana, and even Kaito.
Luka: "We all know what Riku's Bloom is. But we also know who Riku is."
Kaito: "He's the guy who dragged me out of the fire and said, 'You're not done yet.'"
Reina's voice hardened. "Then you all defy the Council?"
Riku stepped forward. "No. They don't. I do."
---
Setting Detail
The cavern lit up as Riku's pendant shattered completely. A roar of ancient energy filled the space, lifting stones and scattering petals of light.
From his chest, a dark flame emerged—swirling with violet and obsidian hues. The corrupted Bloom.
"I'll show you," he said, eyes glowing, "that even darkness can bloom into something beautiful."
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