(Caption) Flowers and New Girls

The town was small, surrounded by dense forests. Most of the residents were elderly or middle-aged, as the younger generation had long moved to livelier places. There were hardly any girls around—until one spring, a strange kind of flower began to bloom at the town's edge.

The flowers were beautiful, with pale pink petals edged in gold and a faint glow in the center. At first, people thought it was a natural wonder. But as time went on, some residents began to disappear. Around the same time, unfamiliar girls started appearing in town. They wore elegant dresses, gathered in gardens for tea, and chatted as if they had stepped out of a fairy tale.

At first, he didn't pay much attention, only finding the girls strange. They spoke softly, always talking about tea, sweets, or the weather, never about the past or who they were. He once asked one of them if she had seen the missing residents, but she only smiled and invited him to join their afternoon tea.

One day, he walked alone to the edge of the forest and stared at the blooming flowers. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, making the petals appear almost transparent. He stepped closer to one of them. The flower swayed gently, as if reacting to his presence. Unable to resist, he reached out and touched it.

The petals opened and latched onto his chest. He instinctively tried to push it away, but his fingers went numb, and a strange warmth spread from where the flower had attached. He stumbled back, but it felt like something was pulling him forward. Looking down, he saw the flower now blooming on his chest, as if it had grown from within.

His clothes began to change. The fabric softened, transforming into lace and light chiffon. A skirt flowed naturally from his waist. His hair grew longer, and delicate bangs fell into his view. His voice turned lighter, his chest gently curved. She—was no longer "he".

She stood there, stunned, as a thought surfaced quietly in her mind, replacing all others: It's almost time for tea. I mustn't be late.

Turning around, the hem of her dress swaying, she picked up a small embroidered purse and headed back toward the town. Sunlight warmed her face as she smiled faintly, a soft blush on her cheeks. The other girls waited in the garden, each wearing the same flower over their chest.

As for the person she used to be—he had simply become another one of those who vanished after spring arrived.