Maribel took a look at the photo briefly before raising her cup to her lips, then stopped. Placing the cup back down, sliding the photo towards herself and picking it up to take a closer look. Not believing her eyes.

"No, it can't be."

She looked at Renko, who was nodding her head.

"That was my thought exactly when I first saw it. Believed it to be at least coincidental, or thought it was something entirely different. But I looked at the stars and came to the conclusion it's the same place."

Maribel turned the photo in hopes she could point out Renko was wrong. She had to be, right? There is no way it's the same place.

"Scrutinize the photo all you want, Merry. My eyes don't lie."

"But why did your aunt have a photo of the exact shrine we went to two years ago? And why did she give it to you with the stuff in the box?"

Renko shrugged as she took the photo from Maribel. Pocketing it as she noted the confused expression the blonde had disguised the one that Renko wished she didn't pick up.

Fear.

"No clue. She's very cryptic, and hard to believe sometimes. A real joker when it comes to magic, I think."

Renko knew it was foolish to bring up the blonde's fear from the photo, so she feigned ever picking up on it, mostly to make herself believe it wasn't the truth.

"Have you looked through the box?"

Renko shook her head, purposely ignoring the slightly worried tone in Maribel's voice. Grasping her cup before fully answering Maribel's question, and taking a sip from it.

"Not really. I only found the photo when it slipped out one of the books I was taking out. From what I remember, it was mostly filled with what I presume journals and a few smaller boxes, possibly for trinkets. Or some other random crap she brought at the time for the sake of it."

"Sounds like a typical Tokyo resident. Always the weird ones."

Renko coughed on her drink. The comment from the blonde surprising her as she placed her cup down to not spill it.

"You are talking to someone who comes from Tokyo you know."

"You're an exception."

Renko rolled her eyes as she wiped her mouth free of coffee with a napkin.

"We're getting off track here. The reason why I showed you the photo is because I think there's a connection between this shrine and your dreams."

Maribel so truly wanted to not believe it.

"Hmm, I doubt that. I mean this shrine is real, my dreams aren't."

"What about that story you told me? When we investigated the shrine, things did seem to add up to it."

Maribel sighed.

"Renko, that story, at most is fictional. Youkai don't exist, they have never existed. That war I told was fabricated through time, probably as a reason to why Youkai seemingly vanished. It's likely a tale told due to the crisis during that time."

But Renko wouldn't sway as she shook her head and dismissed Maribel's argument.

"But what if it wasn't? What if Youkai did exist? What if they still exist? Think about it Merry, you said it yourself we don't see them anymore because we don't believe in them."

The blonde closed her eyes as she sighed, hoping that she would get through to Renko one way or another.

"Renko, it's folklore. They don't exist."

"Ghosts exist, we believe in the supernatural. Weird shit happens, hell we even put a bloody rocket into space in hopes of finding life! Aliens, we're fine with that! But not Youkai? Come on Merry, at least humour me."

Renko's voice had risen and a few people in the vicinity of the two looked in their direction, curious to what was happening. Maribel, who noticed this, quickly tried to quieten Renko down.

"Renko, calm down. People are staring at us. I don't want us to get thrown out if we cause a scene."

The brunette turned to the people who were indeed looking in their direction, some in confusion or slight annoyance. Others in amusement at the spectacle. Renko didn't even realise she stood up until she sat back down, murmuring a small apology with a sheepish look on her face. Maribel, on the other hand had her head in one of her hands, shaking it in slight disappointment.

"Heh...sorry."

Maribel sighed as she lifted her head up to look at Renko.

"Please try to keep a cool head Renko. You know I agree with you on some things, but there are times I don't. I don't want you flying off the handle on the smallest thing we disagree on to then regret it when it's too late."

"Sorry. But going back to the photo. I'm thinking we need to go back there, the shrine is hiding more than it's letting on and we need to investigate it."

Maribel's concerned look immediately changed to shock before voicing her firm opinion.

"No."

Renko's grinning face fell instantly.

"But-"

"No, Renko. I'm sorry, but if this was under different circumstances I would have agreed with you. We've already proved this shrine is not only very old and very abandoned, but incredibly dangerous."

Yet again, Renko refused to sway.

"Merry, that was two years ago."

"Yes, it was two years ago. Who knows what it's like now. It could be in a pile of rubble or so rotten it could collapse on us and kill us!"

Maribel began to worry about Renko's haphazard plan, which seemingly feels like it was thought of then and there with no actual thinking behind it. Not to mention the one key detail Renko is forgetting to why the shrine was never truly brought up until now.

"Merry, if it was going to collapse, it would have done so already. Even before we arrived."

The brunette felt she couldn't convince her friend.

"Merry, why are you so against this? We have evidence that connects."

"I don't want you to be an idiot and die. One scare was enough for me. I don't want to lose you. Don't you remember what happened last time? You freaked out the other week, I don't want to know how you'll react to the shrine itself."

Renko's eyes widened. Of course, she was so wrapped up in her ideas that she didn't think of Maribel, more so her own health. She would go off in adventures, not caring if it would cause harm to her life, not bothered by it. Maribel, on the other hand, would think it through and consider the health risks involved. Thinking about it, Renko subconsciously gripped her shoulder where her injury was. At times where she is the most intrigued, she would forget about it, as if it never happened. But the time she does remember, such as recalling the memory fully or bouts of anxiety, it pains her. Flashes of visions begin to flood her mind and Renko shakes them out of her head, now's not the time. She needs a distraction.

"Ok, we won't go. I'm...I'm sorry I suggested it."

Maribel sighed tiredly, but gave Renko a reassuring smile nonetheless.

"It's fine Renko. It's just I don't want to worry about you as well as myself. After all, you're the only one who helps me through this."

Even though she was right, Renko felt she hadn't actually helped her in any way at all. In fact, Renko felt as if she might have done more harm than good with all the club activities, not to mention the accident. Maribel must have picked up her shift of mood as she began to comfort her.

"Renko. Don't think you aren't, you are. You're my one true friend, someone who keeps me grounded...Without you, I feel as if I'm lost. Stuck in this strange world where I can't truly tell fantasy from reality."

Renko sighed as Maribel continued.

"Look, despite all the weird stuff that has happened to us, your accident and my condition, we're still here. In one piece and mostly sound of mind. I just don't want us to stress out."

Renko looked at Maribel and gave her a solemn smile. Who returned it with one of her own as she reached across the table to grasp Renko's hands with her own. Without uttering a word, they simultaneously nodded and stood up to proceed out of the cafe in silence. In which Maribel mused about the new information of Renko's aunt.

'And I thought this was going to be a casual meet up. Who knew Renko's aunt was into the occult? Maybe-'

Her thought was stopped short as something heavy and cold hit her on the back of her head. Maribel spun round in alarm, reaching for the spot on her head that was hit. Snow? It wasn't even that cold yet, not to mention there were not many clouds in the sky to deem a snowfall. She scanned the area to see who threw whatever it was at her. Her eyes landed on a small retreating figure dressed in blue before they seemingly vanish into thin air, followed by another that was also wearing blue. Hang on, are those wings? Maribel took a step forward, before her legs became numb and vision black out. Her name called out by Renko before she dropped into unconsciousness.