The Garden That Waits

Darkness gave way to light.

Not abruptly.

Gently.

As though dawn itself had taken him by the hand.

A melody drifted through the air.

It wasn't quite a lullaby.

Nor was it merely an orchestra.

It was something in between—a melody so delicate that every note felt less like music and more like a memory he'd forgotten he had.

It didn't ask to be heard.

It simply existed.

Like the wind.

Like breathing.

Like home.

The world around him blossomed into color.

Ancient oaks stretched toward the heavens, their branches weaving a cathedral of emerald leaves overhead. Golden sunlight filtered through the canopy in gentle ribbons, setting drifting pollen aglow like countless tiny stars.

Wild roses climbed weathered stone walls swallowed by ivy.

Lavender, daisies, foxgloves, and peonies swayed together in the breeze as though dancing to the same unseen rhythm.

Somewhere nearby, water whispered over smooth stones.

Birds sang without urgency.

Bees drifted lazily from flower to flower.

The scent of damp earth, fresh rain, and blooming flowers lingered in every breath.

Beyond the sea of blossoms stood the silhouette of an ancient castle.

Its towers barely pierced the morning haze.

Time itself seemed unwilling to disturb this place.

There were no wars.

No cities.

No responsibilities.

Only warmth.

Only peace.

Only...

That melody.

It drifted through every leaf, every breeze, every heartbeat.

Without realizing it, Eishin found himself walking toward it.

Every step felt lighter than the last.

His racing thoughts slowed.

The nightmare.

The labyrinth.

Lysara.

Everything faded.

For the first time in what felt like forever...

He simply existed.

"...Is anyone there?"

Silence.

Only birdsong.

Only wind.

Only music.

Then—

"...Is anyone there?"

His eyes widened.

The words echoed back to him.

But...

Not in his voice.

It belonged to someone else.

A woman's voice.

Gentle.

Soft enough to disappear into the breeze, yet somehow impossible to ignore.

Each word flowed like water over smooth stones.

Warm.

Patient.

Effortless.

It carried the strange comfort of a lullaby remembered from childhood.

Not because of what it said...

But because of how it made him feel.

A shiver ran through his chest.

Not fear.

Something deeper.

As though his heart had recognized a voice his mind had never heard.

He swallowed.

"...Can you hear me?"

The wind answered first.

Then—

"...Can you hear me?"

Her voice.

Again.

Closer this time.

His heartbeat quickened.

Somewhere beyond the flowers...

Someone was listening.

"My name is..."

His voice caught.

"...Eishin."

Silence.

Then, almost lovingly...

"...My name is Eishin."

The same voice.

Repeating his words.

Not mocking them.

Cherishing them.

The melody around him slowly grew louder.

The breeze stirred.

Petals danced across the meadow.

Leaves spiraled through shafts of golden light until the entire forest seemed to breathe with the music itself.

His body refused to move.

Not because it couldn't.

Because it didn't want to.

Every instinct begged him to remain exactly where he stood.

To listen.

To breathe.

To exist inside this impossible moment forever.

The wind grew stronger.

Petals brushed against his face.

Leaves drifted across his eyes.

For a moment...

The world disappeared beneath a curtain of blossoms.

He raised a hand and gently brushed them aside.

His vision cleared.

Just enough...

To see someone.

Only for an instant.

A gown of layered ivory silk shimmered beneath the sunlight like fresh cream poured into moonlight.

An almost translucent veil embroidered with delicate vines drifted softly in the breeze.

She stood with her back turned.

Motionless.

Waiting.

Eishin blinked.

...

Sunlight flooded his eyes.

He gasped awake.

Warm morning light poured through the bedroom window.

The curtains swayed gently in the breeze.

Perched on the windowsill, Mochi sat perfectly still, staring outside as though watching someone disappear beyond the glass.

The melody...

Was gone.

The melody still lingered somewhere in the back of his mind.

Eishin sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"...What was that place?"

No answer came.

Only the gentle morning breeze drifting through the half-open window.

He changed into his uniform before pulling the curtains aside.

The world outside looked freshly reborn.

It had rained before sunrise.

Tiny droplets still clung to every railing, leaf, and rooftop. As the morning sun climbed higher, each bead of water caught the light, scattering miniature rainbows that shimmered for only a heartbeat before disappearing.

Eishin leaned against the window.

"...I never noticed that before."

Hundreds of tiny rainbows.

Hidden inside ordinary raindrops.

It felt less like discovering something new...

And more like remembering something the world had always been trying to show him.

He smiled to himself.

"...Guess today really is different."

A few minutes later, he locked the apartment door.

Click.

He took a step toward the stairs.

Stopped.

Without really knowing why, he turned around.

Lysara's apartment stood directly opposite his.

Normally, she'd already be waiting outside.

Today...

Silence.

He hesitated before knocking.

Knock.

No answer.

"...Lysara?"

Nothing.

He sighed.

Maybe she'd already left.

As he turned—

A gentle hand rested on his head.

Soft fingers ruffled his hair.

"Good morninggg... Eishin."

He nearly jumped.

"L-Lysara?!"

She giggled.

"I've been standing here for almost a minute."

"...You have?"

"Mhm."

Her smile was as warm as ever.

"Shall we go?"

"...Sure."

The two began walking side by side.

For some reason...

Eishin couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him.

Not from nearby.

From somewhere he couldn't see.

Every time he looked around, there was nothing.

Only passing students.

Morning traffic.

The wind.

Still...

The feeling refused to disappear.

"So..."

Lysara glanced at him.

"Do you like horror?"

"Horror?"

"Movies."

She counted on her fingers.

"Ghost stories."

"Urban legends."

"...Summoning rituals."

"Spirit games."

"Curses."

Eishin laughed awkwardly.

"Not really."

"No?"

She tilted her head.

"I thought you might."

Before the conversation could continue—

"There you are!"

Yuna came running toward them, with Hikari and Sora following close behind.

"Morning!"

"Morning," everyone replied almost together.

Yuna looked unusually serious.

"...Did you guys watch the news this morning?"

Everyone shook their heads.

Except Lysara.

"I did."

Yuna folded her arms.

"They've reported another case."

"What case?" Hikari asked.

"The sleeping sickness."

"The what?"

She lowered her voice.

"Apparently, over the last fifteen days..."

"...People have been collapsing for no reason."

"They've stopped dreaming."

"They can't sleep properly."

"They've lost their appetite."

"They don't even have the energy to speak."

"The doctors still don't know what's causing it."

Silence settled over the group.

Even Hikari looked uneasy.

"...Seriously?"

Yuna nodded.

"They're calling it an unexplained neurological condition."

"No one knows how it spreads..."

"...or if it even spreads at all."

A cold breeze passed between them.

Sora clapped her hands together.

"Okay."

"Let's not ruin the morning."

She smiled.

"So..."

"What were you two talking about before we got here?"

Lysara paused.

"...Hmm..."

Another pause.

"...Horror."

She smiled.

"Spirit games."

"Urban legends."

"Oh!"

Yuna suddenly gasped.

"That reminds me!"

"What?"

"The Echo Board!"

Sora frowned.

"...Echo Board?"

"You've never heard of it?" Hikari asked.

"It's literally all over the internet."

"It's gone completely viral."

Yuna nodded excitedly.

"They say it's not like a normal spirit board."

"It doesn't move."

"It doesn't spell out words."

"It doesn't summon ghosts."

Eishin blinked.

"...Then what does it do?"

Yuna leaned in, lowering her voice.

"People say..."

"...if you ask it a question..."

"...after a while..."

"...you'll hear someone answer."

"...Inside your mind."

The group fell silent.

"Some people hear children."

"Some hear old voices."

"Some hear someone calling their name."

Hikari folded his arms.

"Or maybe they're just imagining things."

"Maybe," Yuna admitted.

"But here's the weird part."

"Nobody hears the same voice."

Sora shivered.

"...That sounds creepy."

"It gets creepier."

Yuna smiled mischievously.

"People online say..."

"The more you play..."

"...the louder the voice becomes."

"Until you can't tell whether the voice is answering... or remembering."

A brief silence followed.

Then—

"I have one."

Everyone turned toward Lysara.

"You... what?" Hikari asked.

She nodded casually.

"I bought one a few days ago."

Even Hikari looked surprised.

Lysara covered her mouth with a small laugh.

"Hehe..."

"If everyone's free this weekend..."

"...we could try it together."

Sora immediately shook her head.

"Absolutely not."

"Oh, come on!" Yuna protested.

"It'll be fun!"

"...Or traumatizing," Hikari muttered.

No one noticed it.

But for just a moment...

Eishin felt that strange sensation again.

Like unseen eyes were quietly watching the five of them.

The school bell echoed across the campus.

Their conversation came to an end.

One by one, they headed toward their respective classrooms.

Only the wind lingered behind.

The classroom slowly settled into its familiar rhythm.

Teachers came.

Lessons passed.

Pages turned.

Pens scratched across paper.

Yet none of it reached Eishin.

Every time he lowered his eyes...

The same image returned.

A glimpse of ivory silk.

Golden sunlight.

The gentle sway of a translucent veil.

Blink.

Gone.

Another heartbeat later—

It returned.

Again.

And again.

Like someone had etched the image into the inside of his eyelids.

He clenched his pen tighter.

"Who was she...?"

The question refused to leave him.

A sudden thud broke his thoughts.

"Sora?"

She had caught herself against the edge of her desk before collapsing.

"I'm... fine."

She forced a smile.

"I'm okay."

Eishin frowned.

"You don't look okay."

"It's nothing."

She straightened herself.

"Just stood up too fast."

Yuna exchanged a glance with Hikari.

"...Actually."

"I saw Masanori talking to Sora yesterday after school."

Sora's expression stiffened.

"It wasn't anything important."

Hikari rolled his eyes.

"First of all..."

"Masanori's full of crap."

"And second..."

He looked directly at Sora.

"When was the last time you actually ate lunch?"

She looked away.

"...I'm fasting."

"What's the difference?"

Hikari sighed dramatically.

"You call it fasting."

"I call it starving."

Yuna nervously rubbed her arms.

"...You don't think..."

She hesitated.

"...it could be related to those people on the news?"

Sora shook her head almost immediately.

"Yuna."

"You're letting fear get to you."

"Let's not jump to conclusions."

"...Yeah."

Yuna smiled weakly.

"I guess you're right."

Still...

Eishin couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in his chest.

Time crawled forward.

One class.

Then another.

Finally—

The classroom door opened.

Silence.

Masanori Shiba entered.

No greeting.

No expression.

He walked straight to the blackboard.

Picked up a piece of chalk.

And began writing.

The room became so quiet that every stroke of chalk echoed across the classroom.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

The wall clock seemed louder than usual.

Every passing second tightened the air.

As if the classroom itself were counting down toward something no one could see.

Without turning around...

Masanori spoke.

"You have proven me wrong."

The chalk never stopped moving.

A long pause followed.

"I'm disappointed..."

"...to call myself your mentor."

No one dared interrupt.

"I have taught countless students."

"They pursued excellence."

"They challenged themselves."

"They questioned everything."

The chalk snapped in half.

He picked up another piece without missing a beat.

"But when I look at this classroom..."

"I see..."

"...dull souls."

The words settled over the room like cold rain.

Inside Hikari's mind—

Come on...

Just five more minutes...

Please...

If you keep talking, I'm throwing you out the window.

Masanori continued.

"I don't see curiosity."

"I don't see conviction."

"I don't even see ambition."

"I see people waiting..."

"...for life to happen to them."

Another tick.

Another line of chalk.

Inside Hikari's head—

Seriously...

I'm about three seconds away from pushing this guy down the staircase.

As if the universe had finally taken pity on him—

DING... DONG...

The bell rang.

A collective sigh swept through the room.

Masanori placed the chalk on the tray.

Finally, he turned to face the class.

His expression hadn't changed.

"If none of you are interested in my lectures..."

"...perhaps you'll find interest elsewhere."

"Our school festival is approaching."

"I'll be hosting a stall."

His eyes slowly swept across the classroom.

"I expect every one of you to support it."

Without another word...

He walked out.

The classroom remained silent for several seconds.

Then—

Hikari slammed his forehead onto the desk.

"...I survived."

Yuna burst into laughter.

"I thought you were actually going to explode."

"I almost did."

Sora sighed.

"You two are unbelievable."

Eishin looked toward the doorway where Masanori had disappeared.

For some reason...

His words didn't feel like a lecture.

They felt...

like a warning.

Students poured into the hallways, eager to escape another day of classes.

As always, the five walked together until they reached the familiar intersection where their paths split.

"See you tomorrow!"

Yuna waved as she disappeared down another street.

"Don't forget your lunch tomorrow," Hikari reminded Sora.

"I won't."

"...You said that yesterday."

Sora sighed.

"I'll eat."

"You'd better."

One by one, they went their separate ways.

Soon...

Only Eishin and Lysara remained.

The evening sun painted the quiet streets in warm shades of gold.

For a while...

Neither of them spoke.

"So..."

Lysara smiled.

"How was your day?"

"It was..."

Eishin thought for a moment.

"...Strange."

She nodded.

"I think so too."

Silence settled between them once again.

Not awkward.

Just... peaceful.

As they reached their apartment building, they both stopped at the same time.

"...Um..."

"I was wondering..."

They looked at one another.

"..."

"..."

"I thought of inviting you to dinner, but—"

They both spoke at exactly the same moment.

A second of silence passed.

Then they laughed.

"You go first," Eishin said.

"No."

Lysara smiled.

"You."

He scratched the back of his neck.

"Well..."

"I was thinking..."

"...I'm not exactly a good cook."

"So..."

He looked away, slightly embarrassed.

"...Would you like to cook together?"

Lysara blinked.

"...Together?"

"Y-Yeah."

"I can help."

"I'll wash the vegetables."

"Cut them."

"Slice them..."

"...Probably burn something."

A faint blush colored her cheeks.

Then...

She laughed.

A soft, breathy giggle.

"I'd like that."

"What were you going to say?" Eishin asked.

Lysara tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"...Actually..."

"I was going to invite you over for dinner."

"But..."

She looked at her phone.

"I have an important call tonight."

"So I can't."

A tiny smile returned to her face.

"...But next time."

"I'd really like to cook with you."

Eishin smiled.

"It's a promise."

She nodded.

"A promise."

They reached their apartments.

"See you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow."

Eishin unlocked his door.

The moment it opened—

"Mrrrow!"

A blur of black and white launched itself toward him.

"Mochi!"

His tuxedo cat sprang into his arms before immediately climbing onto his shoulder.

"Ack—"

Tiny paws repeatedly tapped against his cheeks.

"Hey!"

"Ow!"

"Okay, okay!"

"I know."

"I'm late."

Mochi answered by patting his face again with surprising determination.

Eishin laughed.

"I missed you too."

An hour later...

The apartment is filled with the aroma of homemade dinner.

Nothing fancy.

Just a simple meal.

Still...

It was better than yesterday's burnt ramen.

He placed a small portion into Mochi's bowl.

"Here."

Mochi sniffed it.

Eishin waited nervously.

"...Come on..."

The tuxedo cat took one bite.

Then another.

Then immediately wandered over to Eishin's plate and stole a piece for himself.

Eishin couldn't help but grin.

"...Guess I did something right."

Mochi continued eating without the slightest hint of guilt.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

The apartment fell quiet once more.

After dinner...

The dishes were washed.

Homework was finished.

The lights dimmed.

Eishin collapsed onto his bed.

Mochi circled twice before curling up beside his pillow.

Outside...

The wind whispered against the window.

Inside...

Sleep arrived far more quickly than usual.

Tomorrow...

Would be another ordinary day.

At least...

That's what Eishin believed.
The melody returned.

Soft.

Gentle.

It drifted through the garden like a forgotten lullaby carried by the wind.

The same warmth.

The same breeze.

The same endless peace.

As though the dream had simply continued from where it had left him.

Eishin stood beneath the ancient trees, surrounded by fields of blooming flowers that swayed beneath the golden morning light.

The castle still watched over the garden from afar.

The pond shimmered quietly beneath the sky, every ripple catching fragments of sunlight like scattered pieces of glass.

And...

She was there.

His breath caught.

Not far away.

Sitting atop a weathered stone beside the pond.

The stone was broad enough to serve as a natural chair, softened by years of moss and creeping ivy.

She sat with effortless grace.

One knee was drawn slightly toward her chest while the other leg rested comfortably beside it.

One arm rested loosely across her knees.

The other supported her face, her cheek resting gently against the palm of her hand.

She seemed completely absorbed by the water before her.

She never turned around.

Only her back faced him.

The afternoon breeze played with the layers of her ivory gown, sending gentle ripples through the silk until it shimmered like moonlight drifting across a quiet lake.

Her veil floated behind her, embroidered vines and tiny blossoms catching the sunlight before disappearing into the breeze.

Her hair fell in endless waves to the small of her back.

Golden light slipped between each strand, giving it the soft glow of spun silk.

Loose curls escaped wherever the wind pleased, dancing lazily around her shoulders before settling once more.

It wasn't hair that had been carefully styled.

It looked...

Free.

As though nature itself had woven it.

For a long moment...

Neither of them moved.

The only sounds were the breeze...

The distant birds...

The quiet ripple of the pond...

And that melody.

The wind carried a handful of fallen petals across the water.

They drifted lazily toward her before circling away.

A single white flower floated across the surface of the pond.

She didn't move.

Not even slightly.

It was as if she had become part of the landscape itself.

The melody continued to play.

The breeze brushed through her endless hair, lifting a few loose strands before letting them fall once more.

Sunlight danced upon the rippling water.

Time itself seemed unwilling to disturb the moment.

...

To be continued.