A Harmonious Visitor

Flowers of Tomorrow had slipped into Shinya’s routine in the most surprising way. He watched it almost religiously every night, sometimes even with pen and paper in hand, jotting down the characters’ choices and actions he deemed important, thinking about when he might put them into practice himself.

Hana didn’t complain. In fact, she found his dedication to the show rather amazing. She never imagined a roommate would get so deeply involved in something that, for her, was just a way to unwind after a long, tiring day at work. But it wasn’t something that bothered her at all. If anything, watching it with Shinya made the whole thing more enjoyable. And the initial suspicion she felt toward him was beginning to fade with each passing day.

Once he discovered, thanks to Hana, that he didn’t need to wait for the show’s airtime on TV, his obsession only grew. With access to streaming services, he was hooked. He spent hours lost in drama and series marathons. The excuse he gave himself was that he was ‘studying,’ and the more he watched, the better he could understand humans and their feelings. At least, that’s what he believed.

Shinya was at home in the afternoon. Of course, watching one of his shows, when the doorbell rang, interrupting him. Visitors weren’t common in that house. Since he arrived, Hana hadn’t had anyone over, and he certainly wasn’t expecting anyone. Or at least, that’s what he thought... until that moment.

He got up reluctantly, his ‘study time’ now officially ruined, and headed to the door to see who dared disturb him.

When he opened it, he came face to face with a familiar face he hadn’t seen in years, and certainly didn’t expect to see anytime soon.

“Hello, Shinya. Long time no see.”

The one speaking was a tall, slender man, much like Shinya himself, but with an even more serious and apathetic expression. Brown hair framed his rectangular, emotionless face.

The moment Shinya saw him, he slammed the door shut in his face, without hesitation. But the man on the other side wasn’t giving up that easily.

“Wait!” he called out. “You were really going to slam the door in your brother’s face?”

“I don’t know how you found me, but every time you show up, it’s to complain about something. So yeah, I’d rather avoid contact.”

“I thought you had at least a bit of consideration for me,” the man said, his voice laced with a hint of sadness.

Shinya knew that his time in the human world would eventually attract the attention of other gods. That wasn’t a surprise. But still, he had hoped for a little more time before that happened.

“Alright,” Shinya said. “Come in. Let’s talk calmly.”

He opened the door and gestured for the man to come in. The visitor straightened himself before stepping inside, moving with a clear respect for the space that now belonged to his brother.

“Make yourself at home,” Shinya said, nodding toward the couch. “I’ll make some tea.”

His brother sat down and spent a few moments quietly observing his surroundings. The bookshelves, the colorful cushions, and the plants decorating the room. Everything seemed new to him as if it all belonged to a world he wasn’t used to seeing.

“Never would’ve guessed this was your decorating style,” he said, glancing toward the kitchen.

“Well... it was already like this when I got here. Didn’t really have a choice,” Shinya replied.

He finished making the tea, poured two cups, and handed one to his brother. Taking a sip from his own, he seemed to test the taste.

“So, Tsubasa… tell me, what does the god of balance want with this poor god of death?” he said, setting his cup on the coffee table.

Tsubasa took a slow, deliberate sip before replying.

“You probably already know why I’m here.”

“Does it have to do with me living in the human world?”

“What else would it be?”

Shinya had expected as much. As the god of balance, Tsubasa was responsible for maintaining harmony in the universe. Another god’s presence on Earth could disrupt that harmony, and if he was here, it meant he’d sensed something unusual.

“How did you find me?”

“Akari told me.”

Damn Akari, Shinya thought. Sometimes he couldn’t tell if she was on his side or just enjoyed watching chaos unfold.

“Well, just so you know, I don’t intend to break any rules or cause instability. I have one goal here. Once I’ve found what I’m looking for, I’ll return to the celestial realm.”

“And may I ask what exactly that goal is?”

Shinya figured it was best to just lay it all out like he had with Akari. Maybe being honest would get Tsubasa off his back.

“For a long time, I’ve been trying to understand human emotions,” he began. “But I’ve never succeeded. What they call happiness, love... it’s all deeply confusing to me. I’ve seen it in memories and heard it in conversations, and still, I don’t get it. So I decided to come observe it for myself.”

Tsubasa took another sip of tea.

“You do know your presence here could seriously affect the balance, right?”

“I do. Absolutely.”

“And even knowing that you still want to stay?”

Shinya nodded. Tsubasa sighed. He knew he shouldn’t let a god roam freely among humans. Akari alone was already more than enough trouble. But the determined look in Shinya’s eyes made it clear that he wasn’t doing this on a whim. It meant something to him.

“I know I can’t stop you, but I had to come and see for myself.”

Shinya felt a small sense of relief at that. Tsubasa’s reluctant approval gave him a little more peace of mind to continue his plan.

“But I want you to know that I’ll be watching. At the first sign of imbalance, I’ll step in,” Tsubasa continued. “Even if you are the god of death.”

Shinya knew he was serious. Balance was crucial to the universe’s function, and any disruption could have serious consequences.

“So… is that it?” Shinya asked.

“Yes. I won’t take up more of your time. And… thanks for the tea.”

Tsubasa set down his cup, stood up, and straightened his clothes. Shinya walked him to the door. Before leaving, Tsubasa commented:

“And… this place isn’t too bad to stay in, honestly.”

Shinya gave a slight smile. He knew that behind all that rigidity, Tsubasa had a softer side, even if it rarely showed.

He watched as his brother descended the stairs and stood for a moment by the door. He knew the risks he was taking, but something inside him was starting to shift. As if by discovering what he sought, an even greater, more powerful truth might be revealed, and that made him all the more restless.

Soon after, Hana came up the stairs. When their eyes met, they both smiled instinctively, and almost at the same time, looked away, embarrassed by their reactions.

She paused in front of him, as if on the verge of saying something.

“I-I’m back,” she said, trying to maintain eye contact. “So… who was that? I saw him leaving the apartment. A friend of yours?”

He figured she was talking about Tsubasa.

“That was my brother. His name’s Tsubasa.”

“Hmmm… so he’s another god,” she said, with that sarcastic little smile Shinya was starting to understand quite well.

He didn’t answer. Just gave a soft smile.

“Flowers of Tomorrow is about to start. Aren’t you coming in?” Shinya said.

They went in together. Their company no longer felt awkward or suspicious like in the beginning. It was as if they both looked forward to these moments now. There was something about being around each other that made everything feel lighter.

Shinya still didn’t know exactly what this feeling was that kept showing up whenever he was with her. He just knew one thing:

He liked feeling it.

And he wanted to feel it for a long, long time.