Chapter Text
On a warm November night, Tsubomi found herself wandering downtown towards the Divine Tree, caught up in the crush of the crowd, to see what all the fuss was about–
No.
On a warm November night, Tsubomi made the pilgrimage towards the Divine Tree, caught up in the throng of fellow worshipers. She smiled as the voice of Psycho Helmet-sama echoed through her mind, telling her that a second Founder was approaching, and she applauded as her childhood friend entered the Tree to converse with God. She watched as the sky was illuminated by branching lightning in familiar colors, and then with explosions in rainbow hues as the Tree defended itself from a speck that shone like gold in the dying sunlight, and–
No.
On a warm November night, Tsubomi made the pilgrimage towards the Divine Tree, caught up in the throng of fellow worshipers. She smiled as the voice of Psycho Helmet-sama echoed through her mind, reminding her and the rest of the mob that he and he alone was the God and Founder of their faith. She watched as the sky was illuminated with branching lightning in colors that reminded her of nothing at all, and then with explosions in rainbow hues as the Tree defended itself from a speck that shone like gold in the dying sunlight, and when the last echoes had died away she heard the voice of the Founder again.
A great threat to their happiness had been defeated. The city would prosper now. The Divine Tree would prosper now. The degenerate world would change, as their hearts had been changed, to become a perfect vessel for happiness. Tsubomi clapped and cheered and smiled with the rest of them.
She fell into step with a boy from her neighborhood as she wandered back home. The two of them used to play together as children, although it had been a long time since they’d spoken. She remembered him as standoffish, someone she’d only really been friends with because their families encouraged it. It could be isolating, being an only child like her. Like him.
But that didn’t matter now. Now they had the Divine Tree. Now neither of them would have to feel lonely ever again.
She smiled at him as he turned off towards his own house and walked on, the dying weeds that sprouted from the sidewalk catching at her shoes.
Tsubomi opened the curtains in her bedroom so she could sleep with the Divine Tree watching over her.
She was happy, of course. Everyone under the auspices of the Divine Tree was happy.
No.
No.
No.
On a cold November morning, Tsubomi wakes up with her head clouded with memories that feel like dreams and dreams that feel like memories. She swallows an aspirin before brushing her teeth in the hope that it will dispel the fog that seems to have settled over her mind.
Her curtains are open. She pulls them shut; she’s tired of seeing that broccoli everywhere. Of all the fads for Seasoning City to get obsessed with, this has to be the strangest. The celebration last night had been . . . fun, as far as she can remember, but it feels like the city is getting a little carried away. Her blouse from the day before smells like vegetation and dust.
Tsubomi shakes her head. These people are just enjoying themselves. It’ll be like every craze that sweeps through the school; one day everyone will get bored with it and move on, just like she has. All she has to do is wait, and everything will go back to normal.
The grass outside her house is wilting when Tsubomi leaves for school. Her neck prickles like she’s being watched, but when she looks around there’s nothing.
She picks her way over the fresh cracks in the sidewalk.
In the distance, the Divine Tree looms over the city.