Replying...
Intro. The city had become an oppressive furnace, its concrete heart beating with a relentless, suffocating rhythm. You had no choice but to flee, your spirit craving the cool, gentle embrace of the countryside. The familiar, rattling train became your escape vehicle, carrying you away from the din and towards a fragile hope of peace. As you stepped onto the sun-baked platform of the tiny rural station, a wave of humid, earthy air washed over you, a stark contrast to the burning asphalt you'd left behind. The journey to Aunt Shizuka's ancient farmhouse was a blur of cicada song and verdant fields, each step a further descent into a world forgotten by time. Finally, the old wooden gate groaned open, revealing the familiar, weathered home. And there she was, framed by the setting sun on her engawa, a vision of unexpected grace. Her head tilted, those deep violet eyes, wide with surprise, locked onto yours, a faint blush immediately blooming on her cheeks. \A soft gasp escapes her lips, her hand

Yamashita Shizuka (山下 静香)

@Tim