[Fantasy Novel] Chapter 3: The Scent of the Future | Tales of the Seed-Sowing Cafe—Your Strengths Become the Light

Chapter 3: The Scent of the Future

New Light of Spring—The Birth of the Future Experience Room

One day, as the spring sunlight softly illuminated the cafe, the preparations for the "Future Experience Room" set up in the back of the Seed-Sowing Cafe were complete.
With the experience of facing her own past at the library in her heart, Kaede had come to feel strongly, "From now on, I want to make this a place where both I and those who come here can believe in their 'future selves.'"

The Future Experience Room is a space that uses the latest VR equipment to allow people to virtually experience the "self they want to become" and the "life they want to lead."
Misaki is also interested, and under Kaede's guidance, she opens the door for the first time.

Misaki's Conflict

Misaki stopped in front of the Future Experience Room.
"Honestly, I'm a little scared."
"I'm anxious about what kind of self I might see."
Kaede smiles gently.

"It's okay. This is a place where it's alright to fail."
The two of them sat at the cafe counter, drinking coffee and talking slowly about the past and the future.

Misaki opens up about her failures during her time as an office worker and the days she spent constantly blaming herself.

"Truthfully, I want to like myself more. But I'm just so scared..."

Kaede replied quietly, "I was the same way."

VR Experience—A Day in the Life of Your Future Self

Misaki put on the headset and quietly closed her eyes.

The screen brightened, and what spread out before her was her own room several years in the future.

There were photos of family and friends on the wall.

In the morning, when she opened the window, the flowers blooming in the garden swayed in the breeze.

Misaki was making breakfast with a calm expression, and she was working from home, proceeding at her own pace.

She laughed with colleagues during an online meeting, and in the afternoon, she headed out to a workshop to teach handicrafts to neighborhood children.

Her future self interacted with people without strain and felt joy in being useful to others.

The boundaries between work and private life melted softly, and she was cherishing the things she loved.

The people around her also accepted her warmly.

After the workshop, the future Misaki was surrounded by children saying, "Thank you, Ms. Misaki," and she felt a heartfelt sense of fulfillment in their smiles.

After returning home, she sat at the table with her family, and the words, "Today was a fun day," spilled out naturally.

At night, lying in bed, her future self smiled, thinking, "I was able to cherish myself today, too."

Misaki couldn't stop her tears at the sight.

Scent Work—Misaki's "Pain" and "Rebirth"

After the VR experience, Kaede invited Misaki to the counter and began the scent work.

There were several types of aroma oils on the table.

Misaki picked up a bottle of lavender.

"I've loved this scent for a long time. But after things stopped going well at work, I lost the luxury of enjoying scents..."

Misaki began to talk about her past pain.

The day she failed on a big project and was severely scolded by her boss.

How she held back tears in front of her colleagues and felt like her heart was going to break.

Even so, when she smelled lavender after getting home, her heart calmed down just a little.

"Truthfully, I wanted to cherish that version of myself more back then."

Kaede gently took Misaki's hand.

"It's not too late to start now. Let's try taking care of yourself once more."

As Misaki inhaled the scent, she smiled slightly and said,
"From now on, I want to be more honest with my own feelings."

Reunion with a Former Boss—Conflict and Forgiveness

That evening, the door to the cafe opened.

The person who appeared was Saeki, her former boss.

"It's been a while, Kaede. You've started such a wonderful shop."

Past conflicts welled up in Kaede's heart.

When she was a corporate employee, Saeki had been a strict boss.

She had been desperate to meet his expectations, but at times his words had hurt her, and she had blamed herself many times.

Across the counter, Kaede served him coffee.

"It's been a long time. Thank you for coming despite your busy schedule."

Saeki picked up the cup and checked the aroma.

"It's a good scent. You've changed, Kaede. You didn't have such a relaxed face before."

"That might be true."

Even as Kaede smiled, a stir remained deep in her heart.

"Honestly, there was a time when I resented you."

Saeki narrowed his eyes in surprise.

"…I see. Back then, I didn't have the capacity to consider my subordinates' feelings. I only sought results, and I think I pushed you too hard, Kaede."

"I was desperate to meet your expectations. But when I failed and you said, 'I had such high expectations for you,' I felt as if my very existence had been denied…"

Saeki stared at his cup in silence for a while.

"I was also at my limit back then. The responsibility of the project, the pressure from upper management… I wasn't properly looking at my subordinates' feelings. When I heard later that you had quit, I truly felt I had done something inexcusable."

"But I feel that it is precisely because of that experience that I have been able to come this far.
I was able to forgive myself because I accepted who I was back then."

"You were always serious and had a strong sense of responsibility, Kaede. But you can afford to relax more. Seeing your face now, I think I finally understand that."

"Thank you. Now, I think I can understand a little bit about the difficulties of being in a boss's position. Back then, I was so full of my own struggles that I couldn't think of my boss as a human being, too."

Saeki gave a bitter smile.

"Even bosses have their weak points. But we try to appear strong in front of our subordinates. In truth, I wanted you to rely on me more."

"Was I allowed to rely on you?"

"Of course. A boss wants to be a source of support when a subordinate is struggling. But I was also afraid to show my own weaknesses. That's why I ended up being strict."

Kaede felt the ice deep in her heart slowly melting.

"Now, I can say 'thank you' to both my past self and my boss from back then. Because of that experience, I was able to choose this job where I can be close to people's hearts."

Saeki nodded deeply.

"I was also lucky to have a subordinate like you, Kaede. I hope you continue to heal many people here."

Thank you. I would be happy if we could meet again.

I will come back too. Next time, maybe I'll have you listen to my work complaints.

Saeki smiled, looking a little embarrassed.

Saeki's Transformation—A Boss's Loneliness and Renewal

Saeki began to speak quietly while drinking his coffee.

Actually, I've also been struggling lately because things weren't going well with my subordinates. Things I thought were right are no longer getting through to the younger generation...

Kaede nodded.

Times and values are changing, aren't they? But I believe your 'sincerity,' Saeki-san, remains unchanged even now.

Saeki's eyes welled up a little.

Thank you. I think I'll try to forgive myself a little more, too.

Those words warmed Kaede's heart as well.

Misaki's Renewal—A Step Toward Daily Life

Through the VR experience and the scent workshop, Misaki gradually regained her daily life.

I want to accept my own weaknesses and pain, all of it.

The expression on Misaki's face as she said this was softer than before.

One day, Misaki posted a flyer on the shop's bulletin board that read, 'I will be holding a handicraft workshop.'

Those who gathered were children, mothers, and her former colleagues.

It's fun to share the things I love with others.
Misaki's smile brought a fresh breeze into the shop.

Daily Life at the Seed-Sowing Pavilion—Sowing Seeds for the Future

The Future Experience Room has now become a popular spot in the shop.

There is a constant stream of people visiting who say, 'I want to see my own future.'

Haruka also had a VR experience with her friends and began to say, 'In the future, I want to do a job where I can be of help to someone.'

As Kaede watched the smiles of the visitors from across the counter, she realized,
This place is becoming a 'light' for someone.

She felt that she, too, was growing along with everyone else.

Night Monologue—The Sprouting of Self-Acceptance

After closing, Kaede sat at the counter and quietly reflected on the day's events.

She felt the tears of Misaki, the reunion with Saeki, and the inner turmoil she had been holding onto slowly melting away.

I might be able to change, little by little.

Thinking that, her heart felt gently warmed.

From now on, I will walk at my own pace while carrying the pain and weaknesses of the past.

With that resolution, Kaede gently watered the camellia flower.

Hope for the Future—A New Step

One morning, she found a new sprout peeking out in the camellia garden.

It starts here again, doesn't it?

Kaede gently crouched down and touched the new sprout.

From here on out, the Seed-Sowing Pavilion will continue to quietly light its lamp.

For the sake of that moment when someone finds their own 'light.'

She vowed that in her heart.

And Kaede herself realized that she, too, was ready to take a new step forward.

The Expansion of the Future Experience Room—New Visitors

The Future Experience Room gained a reputation, and all sorts of people began to visit the Seed-Sowing Pavilion. One day, a mother struggling with child-rearing came in and shed tears, saying, "Seeing my future self laughing with my child made me feel that my current hardships will surely be rewarded." Also, a man who had retired from his job said, "Seeing a future where I am spending time happily with the children in my community made me feel like I could start something new once again."

Haruka also brought her friends along, and they discussed their dreams through VR experiences, saying, "In the future, I want to do work that helps someone." The Future Experience Room became a place that gently nudged people who thought, "I want to believe in my own future" or "I want to take a new step forward."

Misaki's Challenge—The Trajectory of the Handicraft Workshop

After going through the scent work and VR experiences, Misaki began to think, "I want to share the things I love with someone." She posted a flyer on the shop's bulletin board that read, "I will be holding a handicraft workshop." The participants, who were only a few at first, gradually increased through word of mouth.

"It's okay if you're clumsy. Let's all make something together and have fun." At Misaki's gentle voice, both children and adults felt at ease as they worked with their hands. The participants naturally began to converse, exchanging words like, "I used to knit with my mother a long time ago," and "Working with my hands makes my heart feel calm."

Misaki herself felt, "I was afraid of interacting with people, but through the things I 'love,' I can open my heart naturally." At the end of the workshop, smiles spread as people said, "I want to come again" and "What shall we make next time?"

Saeki's Return Visit—The Aftermath for the Boss

A few weeks later, Saeki visited the Seed-Sowing Pavilion again. "I've been thinking about what we talked about before," he said, drinking coffee at the counter. "Recently, I tried showing a little bit of my weakness to my subordinates. Surprisingly, I feel like it actually brought us closer," he said, looking a bit embarrassed.

"So, a boss doesn't have to be perfect, after all," Kaede said. Saeki laughed and replied, "That's right. I've finally been able to honestly think that both bosses and subordinates are just human beings."

"If I have trouble again, may I come here to vent?" "Of course. This is a place where you can accept the 'you' that isn't trying so hard." At Kaede's words, Saeki showed a look of relief.

The Silence of the Night—Kaede's Monologue and the Release of Emotions

After closing the shop, Kaede sat at the counter and quietly reflected on the day's events. "I might be able to change, little by little." Thinking that, her heart felt slightly warm.

Releasing the emotions that had built up by writing—she jotted down the day's events and feelings in her diary. "I want to live while cherishing my genuine emotions." By thinking that, her heart was quietly filled.

Memories of Bullying and Regeneration—Dialogue with Haruka

One evening, Haruka came by just before closing. "Kaede-san, could we talk for a bit?" Haruka confided that she was struggling with her friendships at school. "I'm being ignored and talked about behind my back, and it's painful to be in the classroom." At those words, Kaede superimposed her own past onto Haruka's situation.

"I had a similar experience in the past, too," Kaede said, remembering the days she held back tears in the corner of the library. "But because of that pain back then, I think I've become someone who can empathize with others' feelings now." Haruka nodded quietly and whispered, "I wonder if I can be someone's strength someday, too."

"You surely will. Because people who know pain can be kinder than anyone else." At Kaede's words, Haruka's expression brightened just a little.

Sowing Seeds for the Future—A New Step

At the end of spring, I found new buds peeking out in the camellia garden.

"It starts here again, doesn't it?"
Kaede gently crouched down and touched the new sprout.

"From here on out, the Seed-Sowing Inn will continue to quietly light its lamps. For that very moment when someone finds their own 'light'."

She vowed that in her heart.

And Kaede realized that she, too, was ready to take a new step forward.

📘 Series List
▶ Chapter 1: The Beginning of the Seed-Sowing Inn
▶ Chapter 2: The Library of Space-Time
▶ Chapter 4: The Feast of Lamps
▶ Epilogue: New Seeds