In the Garden of Lost Things, Coffee: Episode 1: Sanctuary is Beyond the Storm #CreativeAward2024

Episode 1: Sanctuary is Beyond the Storm

Is there really light beyond this darkness? Will the relentless rain stop, and will the dawn come?
"How long must I continue this night flight?"
With a face like a small child, looking as if he were about to cry, I touched his trembling shoulders.
"The darkness is deepest just before the dawn."

Asaki Sena was dreaming in her warm bed. It was the same dream as always, a midwinter snowstorm. The wind roared, trying to block Asaki's path. The wind was so strong it felt like it could blow a child away, and it stung her entire body. Even wearing a thick down jacket, snow boots, and leather gloves, her fingertips and toes were painfully cold. Crossing her arms in front of her face to shield herself from the lashing wind, she slowly made her way through the blizzard, careful not to get caught in the snowdrifts. Asaki's waist-length black hair was whipped up and tangled by the wind.
A fox walked two or three steps ahead of Asaki. It was a fox with high-quality fur, so white it could be mistaken for snow, and it looked soft and fluffy. The fox had three tails. Strangely, despite being buffeted by the fierce crosswinds, the three tails pointed upward gracefully, as if there were no wind at all.
The fox would occasionally stop, sit, and look back at Asaki. Its two golden eyes, filled with light and will, seemed to plead, "Follow me." Asaki nodded and continued through the storm.
Asaki was carrying a large piece of luggage that was more than two-thirds her height. In the dream, she could not remember what she was carrying. It was not just the luggage she couldn't remember. She didn't know where or how she had lived until now, why she was in a snowstorm in the first place, or even her own name. Her memories were locked away in the snowstorm. With all her memories lost, Asaki continued through the blizzard.
How long had she been walking? The storm stopped. She felt warmth on her closed eyelids. Uncrossing her hands from in front of her face, Asaki slowly opened her eyes.
A field of spring flowers spread out before her. Looking down at her feet, the white fox was sitting and looking up at her. The white fox even seemed to be smiling.
The sun, the wind, the scent of plants, and all living things seemed to be celebrating Asaki's arrival.
In the center of the field, surrounded by a deep forest, stood an old Western-style building with stone walls and an old cherry tree growing in its garden. The walls of the mansion were covered in deep green ivy, and vermilion and white climbing roses crawled around the wooden front door.
The door of the mansion opened, and someone walked out slowly.
"Welcome to Tokoniwa!"

Asaki woke up in the attic room. She had been dreaming of the first time she came to this place again. She had the same dream over and over. Confirming that she was now in her safe, cozy, usual attic room, she stretched her arms and legs on the clean sheets that smelled of sunshine. When she got up, she noticed the large piece of luggage placed between the bed and the wall. It was a cello case. That's right, she realized, the large luggage she was carrying in her dream was a cello. It was the usual feeling that came with the usual dream.
The attic room had a skylight. She received the morning sun streaming in through the skylight with her eyelids closed. Today was a clear, cloudless day. Asaki loved the feeling of the sun's benevolent light warming her eyelids.
She could hear the sounds of breakfast being prepared downstairs. This chopping sound every morning always made Asaki feel completely at ease. She pulled her right elbow, which was behind her head, with her left hand and stretched. Getting out of bed, she took off her navy blue plaid pajamas and changed into a white cotton shirt and navy blue tapered cotton pants. This was Asaki's "uniform." Looking in the mirror, she tied her long, waist-length black hair back at the nape of her neck. She didn't wear makeup.
As she walked down the creaky wooden stairs, her stomach growled, lured by the smell of breakfast. Looking toward the kitchen, she saw the back of the dear old lady, as always.
"Good morning! It smells delicious!"
Asaki peered into the frying pan with a radiant smile. Asaki's smile was like wildflowers blooming with a grin, and it suited the morning, just like her name. Two fried eggs were sizzling in the pan.
The kind person Asaki had called out to turned around.
"Good morning, Asaki-chan."
Fusae-san smiled with her wrinkled face. Her light gray hair, cut at chin length, swayed softly. Her gray eyes behind round glasses reflected the gentle morning light as she looked at Asaki. Fusae-san was wearing an A-line dress with a small red floral pattern on a white background. This crisp, ironed dress was one that Fusae-san had sewn herself on a sewing machine.
"I'll cut the bread."
Asaki stood next to Fusae-san, who was frying the eggs, and sliced the mountain-shaped bread. The fluffy scent of wheat and butter immediately made her feel happy. She placed a frying pan on the stove next to the eggs and toasted the thick slices of bread on both sides until fragrant. The bread was baked by Fusae-san in an oven at the back of the mansion. It was said that a secret natural yeast was used for the bread's fermentation.
When she placed the toast on a large white plate, Fusae-san arranged the freshly cooked bacon, fried eggs, and butter-sautéed canola blossoms in the empty space on the plate. Even on the plate, the whites of the fried eggs were still sizzling. The edges of the fried eggs were browned and looked delicious. Steam smelling of butter rose from the canola blossoms. Surrounded by the happy aroma, the two smiled at each other.
"Asaki-chan, why don't we eat outside? It's such beautiful weather, we have to soak up the sun!"
"I agree!"
When she opened the wooden front door, her heart leaped at the scent of spring. A large, old cherry tree stood in the mansion's garden. The cherry tree had its branches overflowing with blossoms, swaying in the spring breeze. This was the cherry tree that appeared in the dreams she always had. At the base of the cherry tree, there was a table made of a single cedar board and four well-polished, dark brown wooden chairs. As she admired the old cherry tree, a petal carried by the wind landed on the edge of the glossy, pure white plate. It was fine as it was. Asaki smiled and lined up the plates on the table.
This is "Tokoniwa," the entrance to the "Tokoyo," a world that is the counterpart to the "Utsushiyo" (the living world). The deep forest surrounding Tokoniwa is a barrier separating the living world from the Tokoyo, and Fusae-san, the god of the forest, governs that barrier. While the forest is closed, there is no traffic between the living world and the Tokoyo.
How long had it been? Asaki had left the living world and was living here in Tokoniwa. Even if she tried to remember how she reached the Tokoyo or what happened in the living world, her memories were always locked in a snowstorm and she couldn't touch them.
When she shifted her gaze to her feet, spring wildflowers like corydalis, wood anemones, dogtooth violets, various violets, and trilliums were budding.
The Tokoyo is a world of eternal spring. The cherry blossoms never end. The plants bloom forever, and the birds continue to sing songs of spring.
Asaki reached out to the cherry petals dancing in the air. The thin skin between her fingers shone red as the sun shone through it.
"Where is Setsuka?"
"That child went out early this morning."
"Then, we have a guest coming to Tokoniwa today, don't we?"
"That's right."
There are three residents of Tokoniwa. Fusae-san, the god of the forest; Asaki, who works at Tokoniwa; and Setsuka, a young guide who is not here right now. Setsuka is the only one who can travel between the living world and the Tokoyo.
"Setsuka is very kind, but very mysterious, isn't he?"
When Asaki looked at Fusae-san, Fusae-san smiled and nodded.
"Let's eat."
Both Asaki and Fusae-san closed their eyes and put their hands together before eating. The hot breakfast eaten with the spring breeze was exquisite.
When she put the fried egg sprinkled with salt and pepper on the thick toast and took a bite, the yolk spread out smoothly. Asaki's smile seemed to melt as well. Fusae-san's fried eggs were the most delicious in the world. The butter-sautéed canola blossoms were also slightly bitter, crunchy, and very delicious.
"Mmm! Delicious!"
"Asaki-chan, you always say everything is delicious, so it's worth making."
Fusae-san was elegantly alternating between the fried egg and the canola blossoms with a knife and fork.
After breakfast, it was time for cleaning and laundry.
"Now, let's do the laundry! Asaki-chan, bring the sheets, bed covers, and pillowcases!"
"Yes!" Asaki said, and went into the mansion. Fusae-san loved washing linens. Since there was no washing machine in Tokoniwa, Asaki and Fusae-san worked together to put the sheets and bed covers into a basin, soak them in soapy water, and wash them by stepping on them. It was good exercise and felt good. Above all, she was happy to see the laundry becoming clean.
When the rinsing was finished, the two of them wrung out the laundry and hung it on the clothesline in the garden. A lot of laundry fluttered in the spring breeze like flags symbolizing peace. Fusae-san laughed, saying that watching the laundry dry in the sun was her greatest daily pleasure.
When the sun was at the three o'clock position, Fusae-san was baking scones in the mansion's kitchen. They were sweets for the "guests" that Setsuka would bring. Fusae-san seemed to know the time when guests would visit. Asaki always wondered how she knew such things. Surely, it must be because Fusae-san is a god.
"Asaki-chan, could you go fetch some spring water?"
The water jar Fusae-san handed her was a glossy, light blue porcelain, and plants were carved into the handle. Several wrinkles were etched into Fusae-san's left hand, and blue, translucent veins ran across it. A gold ring shone on her index finger.
Asaki received the water jar and headed to the spring behind the mansion. The spring, about ten adult steps in diameter, gently reflected the white skin of the birch trees growing around it and the color of the slightly sprouted young leaves on its surface. Water bubbled up from the bottom of the spring. She scooped up the clear water with her hands and took a sip. The water was slightly sweet, mellow, and filled her body with energy.
Asaki brought the water-filled jar back to the mansion and handed it to Fusae-san. Fusae-san stared out the window while holding the water jar.
"I wonder if the wind will blow."
When Fusae-san muttered this, a wind blew with a roar. The wind shook the trees of the old forest and made the forest resound.
Asaki listened to the sound of the wind and stared at the forest for a while.
Fusae-san opened the wooden front door. Fusae-san's light gray hair swayed softly in the blowing spring breeze.
"A guest."
Fusae-san placed her left hand on Asaki's right shoulder and narrowed her gray eyes as she stared at the forest.

The forest had opened.

A guest was coming to Tokoniwa.
Surely, as it always is, carrying an unbearable burden in their heart.


<To be continued in Episode 2>

Episode 2: Before Being a Mother and a Patient

Episode 3: Don't Throw Away Your Life

Episode 4: You Are Needed in This World

Episode 5: Even So, Morning Will Come

Episode 6: Let Me Hear Your Story

Final Episode: Opening a Small Door to the Future