Falling Star in My Garden

Aki walked through the quiet streets of Tokyo, his mind burdened by the weight of the revelations that had unfolded. The gods had taken a step back, but their lingering presence still clung to him like an unseen force. Every shadow, every whisper of the wind, felt like a reminder that he was no longer just an ordinary human.

Beside him, Hoshikiri moved with graceful silence, her celestial glow dimmed as she observed his troubled expression. "You're thinking about what comes next."

Aki let out a breath, watching it dissolve into the night air. "I don't know what comes next. That's the problem. The gods hesitated, but that doesn't mean they won't act again. And if they do..."

Hoshikiri's gaze softened. "You're afraid."

He clenched his fists. "Not for myself. For what this means—for my mother's words, for this 'chosen one' title I never asked for. If the gods fear me, then what am I really?"

She placed a hand on his arm, grounding him. "That's what we need to find out."

The city lights flickered strangely, and for a moment, Aki swore he saw something beyond the normal world—a veil shifting, revealing glimpses of a reality he wasn't meant to see.

A celestial realm, hidden just beyond the surface of his own.

Hoshikiri noticed his reaction and followed his gaze. "It's happening, isn't it? You're starting to see through the veil."

Aki swallowed hard. "If this keeps up, I won't just be a part of the legend—I might become something else entirely."

Before she could respond, the air around them pulsed. A ripple, like a wave breaking through dimensions. Aki's vision blurred for a moment, and in that instant, he felt something watching him—not a god, not a mortal, but something beyond both.

Then, as quickly as it came, the presence was gone.

Aki turned to Hoshikiri, his voice barely above a whisper. "Did you feel that?"

She nodded, her expression unreadable. "Yes. And whatever it was... it wasn't one of the gods."

The mystery deepened.

Aki took a steadying breath, forcing himself to stand tall. "Then I need to be ready. No more running. If the gods won't give me answers, I'll find them myself."

Hoshikiri's eyes glowed with quiet determination. "Then let's begin."

The night stretched on, the stars above flickering like distant watchers, bearing witness to the boy who stood between fate and the unknown.

—To be continued—