AN UNEXPECTED EVENT PART 1

She existed in the realm of painful averageness.

She blended seamlessly into the plain backdrop of her small town of Enoshima, where nothing of note ever happened, and no one expected otherwise

School was a series of decent grades and unnoticed efforts, a place where her presence was as easily overlooked as the tick of the classroom clock.

Her only brush of excitement had been in middle school — playing the tree in the school play because of her wild auburn hair that stood out too much.

It was the end of March — the last week before graduation.
The air in Class 3-B hummed with impatience. Spring break was so close everyone could almost taste freedom.

Mr. Takashima adjusted his glasses and turned to the board.
“In the old legends, Ryūgū-jō—the Dragon Palace beneath the sea—was said to appear to the pure of heart and vanish by the next sunrise,” he began, voice calm but tinged with drama. “Some say it’s just a story to explain the ocean’s mysteries. Others wonder… what if there’s some truth hidden beneath the waves?”

He looked around the room. “Now then — who remembers where the story of Urashima Tarō was first recorded?”

Hana raised her hand.
“Yes, Hana?”

“It was written in the Nihon Shoki, right? One of Japan’s oldest chronicles,” she said. “Urashima Tarō was a fisherman who rescued a turtle and was invited to the Dragon Palace. When he came back to the surface, centuries had passed.”

“Excellent,” Mr. Takashima said with a pleased smile. “A tale of kindness, time, and consequence. The story teaches us about impermanence — that nothing lasts forever, no matter how beautiful.”

A voice piped up from the back.
“Yeah, but Ryūgū-jō wasn’t real, was it? So why are we learning this?”

It was Mizuki Tanaka, of course.

The teacher chuckled. “A fair question, Mizuki. Then tell me this — if it wasn’t real, why do people still tell the story after more than a thousand years?”

Mizuki frowned, thinking hard. “Um… because people back then didn’t have Netflix?”

The class erupted in laughter.

Mr. Takashima raised an eyebrow, trying not to grin. “Creative answer, but not quite the lesson the Nihon Shoki intended.”

Mizuki sighed dramatically. “Because it’s a moral story?”

“Exactly,” he said warmly. “Even myths hold truth — just not the kind you can prove with science.”

The laughter faded as the bell rang. Mizuki slumped in her seat, muttering, “Still think Netflix would’ve solved a lot of ancient problems.”

The bell rang, and students poured into the hallway, buzzing about exams, scholarships, and summer plans.
Hana lingered behind, organizing her notes at her neatly stacked desk.

Mr. Takashima looked up from his papers. “Good work today, Aihara. I shouldn’t be surprised—you’ve always had a soft spot for old legends. But I do wish you’d keep your head in class more often.”

Hana smiled faintly. “Sensei, I try…”

He leaned back slightly, a faint pride in his eyes. “So, have you figured it out yet? Where you want to go after graduation?”

Hana hesitated, then whispered, “I applied to study film. In California. UCLA.”

Mr. Takashima’s eyebrows lifted in genuine surprise. “Film, huh… I can’t say I’m surprised. You’ve always seen stories differently than everyone. I hope you get in. The world could use someone who still believes in wonder.”

Hana’s heart lifted, and she gave a small bow. “Thank you, sensei.”

She packed her notebooks into her bag and stepped into the lively hallway. Students were exchanging news of university acceptances and summer plans, their voices carrying her forward.
Hana glanced at her phone. No new emails yet.

UCLA.

Her dream. Her chance to show that she could be more than average.

Outside, the warmth of the sun brushed her cheeks as she unlocked her bike — her beloved, slightly rusty companion.

“Hey, Hana,” a voice rang out. “Shouldn’t you take that relic to the junkyard?”

Mizuki again. Of course.

“There’s nothing wrong with this bike,” Hana said. “My dad got it for me.”

Mizuki tilted her head, her black hair glossy under the sun. “Oh, you poor thing. Anyway, I’ll be in New York next year, studying fashion. Big future ahead, you know.”

“That’s great, Mizuki.”

“And you?” she pressed. “Still waiting on that UCLA rejection?”

Hana exhaled slowly. “Still waiting, yes.”

Mizuki smiled sweetly. “You might want a backup plan. Maybe the floral business? Heard your mom’s shop isn’t doing so well.”

That hit.
Hana’s jaw tightened. “The Hanakotoba Shop is fine.”

“Sure,” Mizuki said, her tone mock-sympathetic. “You could always paint flowers if all else fails. Art, right?”

“Right,” Hana said, forcing a smile. “Because dreaming small is so fashionable.”

Mizuki blinked, thrown off for half a second before smirking again.

“See you around, Hana.”

Her car peeled off, leaving only dust and the faint echo of her perfume.
Hana sighed, gripping her handlebars tighter.

UCLA can’t reply fast enough.

She coasted down and stopped before her stepmother’s shop.

Hanakotoba Shop.

Inside, the bell chimed softly.

“Hey, firecracker. We're back here!” Sora Aihara, her brother, called from behind a row of bouquets.

Her stepmother, Ayame Aihara emerged, hands dusted with soil and petals. She wore her usual blue dungarees and a plumeria tucked behind her ear.

“Hi, honey. How was school?” she asked.

Hana slumped onto the counter. “Mizuki being her usual self.”

Ayame smiled gently. “Nobody’s all bad, sweetheart. But some are exhausting.”

“On the bright side. You don’t have to see her after this.” Sora said

Then, her bother step in.

“Also, I got the movie you wanted.” Sora said as he revealed the DVD

“Yes, you got Citizen Kane” Hana smiled

“4K and in English dub” Sora said as he gave the DVD “So, i guess that I should starting to looked around Tarintino movie huh”

“Ew — no.” Hana wrinkled her nose. “I don’t even like him.”

“What I thought all filmmaker watch it as a rite of passage of something.” Sora said

“That because you friend with people who like him. Like saying you cannot become an animator without knowing Walt Disney.” Hana said

“Touche” Sora said

Ayame passed Hana a half-finished bouquet. “Help me with this?”

As they arranged the flowers, the scent of lilies filled the air.

“Sora-nii,” Hana said, “are you going to Shōnan Kaigan Park today?”

“Yup. Don’t forget your helmet,” he teased.

Hana slipped on her coat. “Wait for me.”

“Be back before dark, alright” Ayame said.

“Sure thing, Mom,” they both answered in unison.