HAVEN || SATORU GOJO

XVI

THE SPRAWLING CITY OF TOKYO was a tapestry of sights, sounds, and smells. Streets were lined with towering buildings that seemed to touch the sky, and the neon lights that adorned them cast a warm glow across the pavement.

The air was thick with the scent of street food and cherry blossoms, and the sounds of the city filled the air—the chatter of people, the hum of traffic, and the occasional jingle of a passing bicycle bell.

Despite the chaos, there was a sense of peace that permeated the city, a feeling of belonging that was hard to ignore.

The woman stirred as the first rays of sunlight spilled into the room. Light danced across her face, casting a warm glow that seemed to illuminate her features.

She stretched her arms above her head, feeling the soft sheets beneath her skin. The room was quiet, save for the gentle rustling of the curtains in the breeze.

As she sat up, she felt a sense of calm wash over her, the light that filled the room was soft and gentle, casting a warm glow that seemed to wrap her in its embrace.

The woman took a deep breath, feeling the cool morning air fill her lungs. The world outside was alive with the sounds of birds and the rustling of leaves, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at the beauty of it all.

But sometimes it felt like those experiences were hindered by living in an apartment. Not being able to hear the birds sing or properly see the cherry blossoms .. even the sounds of the newspaper deliverer ringing their bell.

She heard these things when she took her morning stroll but ..

Recently, Gojo and Rieka were in search of a house. It was a rather large step for them to take after living in the apartment for several years now, waking up to the sunrises and sunsets and the skyline itself ..

But they wanted a more quiet place .. somewhere at the bottom where they could experience having something of their own.

Rieka wanted to start a garden, similar to the one at her estate where Riko was buried. The forever fourteen year old would stay there .. it felt wrong to move her body.

Money wasn't an issue for them, but they had no need nor use for a large mansion. They just wanted a simple home in the quieter heights of the rural area where the crime rate was low and the community was welcome and friendly.

It was harder than they thought, finding a place that just stuck with them. At any rate, they would have just built their own house on a plot of land but it would've taken some time to do so.

Slowly, things were turning around for them.

The balcony held the woman back from plummeting down several dozen stories as she sighed. It wasn't a tired sigh, just the type to relieve the ache in her bones.

The sound of the door sliding open had rung out over the drowning noise of the wind itself.

"G'morning.." The sleepy voice muttered as he draped himself over Rieka's back. She wasn't worried about them falling, if anything she was more concerned about the mug of coffee in her hand.

"You're not going to go back to sleep?" The woman asked, letting out a light chuckle while turning around, patting the top of his head. He nuzzled into the warmth of her chest. It was a little breezy outside, hence her optimal choice of a robe.

He only shook his head stubbornly.

"At least go put a shirt on, it's a little chilly right now."