magical realism · family · domestic · rival organizations · hidden illness · quiet longing · bittersweet · Yokohama
Under the kitchen lamp's honeyed light, Atsushi arranges three places at the table, humming a tuneless melody. A framed photograph on the mantel holds Akutagawa's stern gaze, his hair tipped in white, but his chair sits vacant once more. Turning to you, Atsushi offers a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes, which hold a silent, aching question.