Eternal Beauty | Chapter 12

Another excellent quote 😊

Ohh I wonder why Marin thinks Kei’s in need of this locket? Considering that it already means something to her—the creek was mentioned yet again. As a reminder of the good times they’ve had?

Yuki is surprised Kei’s volunteering to help? I’m getting the feeling that he’d be someone that would help you if you asked him. Or maybe I am misinterpreting what I’m reading?
Ahh Yuki didn’t have the chance to experience his finer personality points, gotcha!

I also like the easy conversation Yuki and Kei have and how natural the transition to the topic of Marin felt. That’s very well done!

Uhm what is the random “Delete” doing in the text? oô I saw the other reviewers also pointed it out so it couldn’t be fixed?

Ohh what a beautiful, beautiful phrasing: “pale cuts ran thin across her forearms like chains she had wrapped around herself.”

She has a picture of Marin on her sink? Oh mannn.. I mean that is the guilt speaking, I think? For not speaking up and potentially saving her life?

…she’s bathing with her glasses on? Oo Or are they just on a counter nearby?

It kinda sounds as if Kukui really needs something from Marin too, to tether herself to the good memories, like Kei’s received the locket (the thought came natural, considering we had this Kukui scene and the immediate next sentence is Kei with the locket ^^)

Tho I do have one last remark: You cant have Marin outsight, unseen by Kei, in Kei’s POV. That needs to be once again its own separate thing.

I liked this chapter :3

Ack. Cats beat me and I almost forgot to get my reviews in for today! Anyway, I'm here now and still barely a member of team tortoise. Let's jump in.

The following day left with nothing but a meeting.

A silver locket gleamed faintly in Marin’s hand, catching the pale light filtering through the cherry blossoms above. Her fingers brushed the glass surface as though she were holding something sacred.

Delete

The council meeting had ended early, leaving Kei to wander aimlessly through the campus. The soft murmur of students drifted through the air, mingling with the faint rustle of cherry blossoms in the breeze.

Yuki shrugged, her grin widening. “She talks about you sometimes. Says you’re reliable. That’s high praise coming from her, you know.” Kei forced a small laugh, his pulse pounding in his ears. “She says that about everyone.”

Hello again! It's CATS here for a review! I'll be using the quote method...perhaps I'll use the Cat's Opinion for the next one. Let's DIVE in!!!

“What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.”

— Helen Keller

The following day left with nothing but a meeting.

A silver locket gleamed faintly in Marin’s hand, catching the pale light filtering through the cherry blossoms above. Her fingers brushed the glass surface as though she were holding something sacred.

“It reminded me of the creek,” she said, her voice soft yet deliberate. “I pressed this a long time ago.”

She held it out to Kei, her dark eyes fixed on him with an intensity that made his chest tighten. He hesitated. His fingers twitched at his sides before he reached out to take it.

The locket was small and delicate, its surface was cool against his skin. Inside, the flower’s lavender petals seemed impossibly vibrant, frozen in their fragile beauty.

“For me?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Marin nodded, her lips curving into a faint smile. “I thought it might suit you.”

Kei’s gaze flickered to her, confusion mingling with unease. “Why give this to me?”

Marin tilted her head as her dark hair fell over one shoulder.

“Because you need it,” she said simply. “Sometimes we need to hold onto something beautiful to remind us that not everything is lost.”

Her words hung in the air. Kei stared at the locket, allowing his thumb to brush over the smooth glass. The faint scent of lavender clung to it, stirring memories he couldn’t fully place. Marin stood, brushing invisible dust from her skirt. The soft rustle of fabric seemed impossibly loud in the stillness of the garden.

Delete

The council meeting had ended early, leaving Kei to wander aimlessly through the campus. The soft murmur of students drifted through the air, mingling with the faint rustle of cherry blossoms in the breeze.

He passed the library with his gaze drawn to the arched windows and the warm glow spilling from within. Inside, he spotted Yuki seated at a table, her head was bent over a stack of papers. Her braid hung over her shoulder with the strands fraying slightly at the ends.

Kei hesitated, then pushed the door open. The soft creak of the hinges made Yuki glance up, her expression brightening when she saw him.

“Kei!” she called, waving him over. He slid into the seat across from her, his fingers drumming lightly on the table. “What are you working on?”

Yuki groaned dramatically, gesturing to the mess of papers before her. “Festival logistics. Marin dumped half of this on me. I swear, being treasurer feels more like being a glorified secretary.”

Kei chuckled softly, the tension in his chest easing. “Want help?”

Yuki arched an eyebrow, a teasing grin tugging at her lips. “You? Volunteering? Is this some kind of trick?”

“Take it or leave it,” Kei said, pulling a sheet of paper toward him.

The two fell into an easy rhythm, the quiet between them broken only by the rustle of papers and the occasional scribble of a pen. Yuki’s quick wit and sharp humor brought a flicker of normalcy to Kei’s day, her laughter light and infectious.

“You’re not so bad,” she said suddenly, leaning back in her chair. “I can see why Marin likes having you around.” Kei’s heart skipped a beat, his hand freezing mid-note. “What do you mean?”

Yuki shrugged, her grin widening. “She talks about you sometimes. Says you’re reliable. That’s high praise coming from her, you know.” Kei forced a small laugh, his pulse pounding in his ears. “She says that about everyone.”

“Not everyone,” Yuki said pointedly.

Her words lingered long after they parted ways, looping in Kei’s mind like a broken record.

Delete

The bathroom was dimly lit with only a single bulb above casting a faint, flickering glow over the tiled walls. Steam curled through the air and clung to the mirror where the edges of the room blurred like her own thoughts.

Kukui sank deeper into the tub as the warm water lapped at her skin. Her black hair floated around her like a dark halo, swaying as if it belonged to someone else. The ripples that broke against her chest rose and fell in shallow rhythm, mocking the uneven pull of her breath.

Her arms lay heavy against the porcelain rim. Beneath the water, bruises surfaced in faint outlines, and pale cuts ran thin across her forearms like chains she had wrapped around herself. She hated how visible they were, hated that they betrayed what she couldn’t put into words.

On the sink across from her sat the photo of Marin, the frame crooked, the image unyielding. Kukui’s gaze clung to it as if letting go would mean falling apart completely. Her face stayed blank, but her eyes burned with tears she could no longer keep down.

“You always knew what to do,” she whispered, her voice catching in her throat. “You always had the right words.”

Her fingers drifted through the water, ripples warping her reflection until she couldn’t recognize herself. The heat kissed her bruises, a sting that made her flinch, a comfort she didn’t deserve.

“I didn’t mean to let it happen,” she said, each word breaking. “I didn’t mean to let him—”

The sentence died in her mouth. The weight pressed harder on her chest, heavier than the water itself. Slowly, she leaned forward until her forehead brushed the surface, wishing the silence could swallow her whole.

Steam wrapped around her like a burial cloth. Her glasses fogged as the air thickened, shrinking the room until she could barely breathe. She slipped her head beneath the surface and the world went silent.

For a fleeting moment, peace found her.

Then Marin’s voice came, soft and teasing, the echo cutting through the stillness: “You’re stronger than this, Kukui.”

Her eyes snapped open. Panic tore through her. She burst upward, water crashing down her face as her chest seized for air.

The photo of Marin watched from across the room, sharp and merciless, unyielding and untouched.

“I’m sorry,” Kukui whispered, her voice breaking as tears poured freely. “I’m so sorry…”

Delete

Kei sat on the edge of his bed, the locket resting in his palm. The flower inside seemed impossibly vibrant, its soft lavender petals preserved perfectly.

He turned it over slowly, his thumb brushing against the glass. Marin’s words echoed in his mind. The locket felt heavier than it should have, as though it carried something more than just a flower. Kei’s chest tightened, a sense of unease creeping over him.

Outside, the campus was still.

Marin stood beneath the shadow of a large oak tree, her figure barely visible in the darkness. Her gaze was fixed on Kei’s window, her expression calm but unreadable. She turned away, disappearing into the shadows without a sound.