Night—on a still, moonlit water mirror.

  Upon its surface, the faint reflection of a lone woman shimmered.

  A café in Ginza.

  By the window, Saori sat quietly.

  A steaming cup, and a softly risen soufflé pancake.

  A hint of a smile touched her cheek.

  Her fingers turned the pages with a gentle rhythm.

  The noise of the city felt distant, as if Saori alone

  were sitting within a small pocket of silence.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  The princess stood before the water mirror, narrowing her eyes softly.

  “…I’m glad.”

  Her words dissolved into the wind, drifting quietly across the night sea.

  The moon cast its gentle light upon the water.

  And then—

  At the edge of the water mirror, a faint presence stirred.

  Like a single flower petal, it drifted down—

  a presence still without a name, a newly born soul.

  The princess slowly turned her face toward it.

  “…Welcome.

  May happiness be yours.”

  Her voice was quiet, like a prayer.

  She lifted her gaze to the moon and danced softly,

  offering a blessing for a single cycle of rebirth.

  MAHIRU-BI NI　CHIRINU RU MONO WA　KAGIRINAKU

  TSUKI NO HIKARI NI　MATA SAKI IZURU

  ※　In the light of midday,

  all things that fall away

  are never truly lost—

  for in the moon’s gentle glow,

  they bloom once more.

  Someone ends a life, someone begins one, and the thread continues.

  Like the moon that waxes and wanes,

  life moves on in quiet circles.

  “This is the deepest place of the heart—

  a world that belongs only to you.

  Beyond the unconscious, in the depths of the soul.

  A profound world that sleeps within your heart…”

  The Princess of the Empty Cicada closed her eyes,

  dancing quietly on the moonlit shore,

  praying for peace of mind.

  THE END