Boy beneath the Sakura tree

My mom once asked me, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up, Savitri?’

I replied, ‘A Queen of my own making.’

When I thought about it much later, it made me laugh to think of my tiny voice saying those big words; I didn’t even know exactly what they meant. I do remember that my dad got a good laugh out of it. But never did my parents say no or correct the thought. After all, I was only a child at the time.

Dreams of being in my own tower of power built from something I had worked hard at, I suppose, was a worthy goal in life.

...----------------...

The drum beat on the second hand of the clock in the classroom. The teacher was dragging all of us through the different procedure , giving us new outlook to same question, and making us work through them. Gruelling as it was, it was a good exercise. .

The bell rang, and chatter rose among my classmates; now that school was over.

" I hate my brain" My seatmate Aika said out of blue 

" Hmm....Is that so, Why " I thought to tell her how you can hate something,You don't have .But I stop, not wanting to start cat fight .

After all, getting into a catfight with Aika is like challenging a lioness to a game of tag—I'd be the one left licking my wounds.Besides, it's not every day you get to witness someone hating on their own gray matter

"Like you know , I have read some in textbook .How to increase your brain power " She said, leaning toward me " After that, I was like .Okay " She nodded" Okay I can do it " Clenching her fist she said 

For A moment, I thought I saw fire burning in her eyes 

" But ..." She grunted, And continue in dramatic form " Hi brain, you obstinate fucker. I drank the clear splashy stuff. I ate the green things. I went under that bright fucker up there. I did the thing with the moving and sweating and whatnot. Now make the happy chemical, you lump of fuck." 

I looked at her , opening my mouth. I asked " did you do the thing with lying unconscious for 8 hours" 

"..." 

"..." 

" FUCK"  She cursed, ruffling her hairs

I grabbed my bag off the floor, stuffing a pencil into the side pocket, then unzipping the bag and sliding my notebook into it.

Swinging my bag over my shoulder, I passed through the long corridor and descended the stairs, heading towards my home. I grabbed my earbuds to play music as I walked.

"The wind is strong today," I observed, a wry smile tugging at the corners of my lips as I struggled to tame my unruly hair, tousled by the relentless gusts.

The way home was unusually silent, devoid of the usual hustle and bustle of pedestrians and chatter. It felt as if the world had paused, leaving only me to navigate the empty streets.

Approaching the vending machine at the corner of the street, I craved a sweet treat to lift my spirits, settling on a strawberry milkshake.

As I fumbled with my bag, trying to retrieve some change from the front pocket, a sudden gust of wind swept through, catching me off guard. I struggled to remove my jumbled hair from my eyes, making it difficult to see.

Swish-!

A fierce gust swept by.

In the chaos, something fluttered from my bag, whisked away by the relentless breeze.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized it was— a peacock feather. Instinctively, I reached out to catch it, but hesitated, fearing I might harm it if I grasped too tightly or hastily 

The feather, with its distinct eye-like pattern surrounded by vibrant concentric rings of blue, green, and bronze, held special significance to me

It was more than just a feather; it was my cherished goodluck charm, a beacon of luck and hope. Sometimes nestled in the depths of my backpack or tucked in my pocket, it was a constant companion, offering comfort in times of uncertainty

Abandoning thought of about the strawberry milkshake, I increased my steps and chased after it

But whenever I was about to catch it, it always flew past my fingertips. In the end, the wind speed increased, and I hasten my pace.Frustrated by the sudden cat and mouse play. In the end, I watched as it gracefully descended into the bushes in the park.  

Entering the park, I walked toward it. Thankfully, the feather didn't flutter away again in the wind.

Picking it up from the bushes, I lightly ran my fingers over the feather, removing any dust it had gathered. I then touched it to my forehead and kissed it

Peacock feathers symbolize  rebirth and royalty, In Greek mythology, peacock feathers represent protection, while in Buddhism, they’re associated with wisdom and enlightenment.

And one of the most common symbolism lies between a peacock and rain. The peacock is said to be able to foretell rain by dancing before it pours. And, if a peacock cries more than usual, it is said to foretell the death of someone in the family.

 The day I first saw a peacock up close remains vivid in my memory. Its feathers, adorned by nature in vibrant colors, exuded an aura of built-in royalty. But what left the deepest imprint on me was looking into those shining eyes—it felt like gazing at fleeting cosmic energy.

My heart skipped a beat  As I felt an overpowering gaze upon myself. A chill ran from my spine to my brain, and a fear of ultimate danger gripped my heart. Before I knew it, I fainted.

The next thing I remember was waking up to my parents' worried faces.

And to my surprise, a peacock feather was found in my side pocket. How it got there remained unknown till now 

A gentle breeze swept through bringing me back to reality, carrying with it the distant yet captivating sound of a guitar playing. The melodic strumming seemed to blend effortlessly with the rustling leaves, creating a serene tone that enveloped the soothing atmosphere of the park.

Turning, I spotted a tan guy with striking white hair and orchid eyes, his Hanafuda earrings glinting in the sunlight.

He sat beneath a Sakura tree, surrounded by fluttering petals that danced in the breeze.

I watched as he opened his mouth; his voice soon followed the lead of his finger playing the guitar.

With each chord he played, his voice soft, yet resonant filled the air, 

                  Did you hope I wouldn't notice

             You served me empty words to drink?

But my tongue's savored more lies

Than you'd ever dare to think.

You're not alone in this,

Truth like poison courses through many veins,

Ribs molded into cages,

Clutching tightly to the pain.

I've tasted the bitterness

Of hearts that have given up,

Before my lips met that cursed cup.

And when you pour out words

To cloak what you conceal,

Don't let your secrets cling

To the edges, all too real.

His words echoed through the quietude of the space .As the chorus swelled, his voice soared, each note like a heartfelt plea to the heavens above. 

the flower petals danced in winds swirling around him. In that moment, it felt as if he were the sole inhabitant of the entire world, his voice echoing into eternity.

In that moment, a fleeting thought crossed my mind to go and hug him. His voice carried a desperate longing, as if yearning for something... or someone.

There's a scream inside that we all try to hide We hold on so tight, but we cannot deny , it Eats us alive .And for fleeting second I heard his scream hidden behind soft notes, A bare faced seeking for shelter underneath a fancy mask 

^^^We're dreaming of a tomorrow^^^

^^^That never seems to come,^^^

^^^Chasing a glory we're not sure we want,^^^

^^^While the new day has already begun.^^^

^^^We flee from battles we must face,^^^

^^^Avoiding the call we barely heed,^^^

^^^Hoping for a future built on empty plans,^^^

^^^Ignoring wisdom we daily need.^^^

^^^We pray for a savior,^^^

^^^Unaware salvation lies within our grasp,^^^

^^^Trapped in a cycle of fear and slumber,^^^

^^^In a world where we endlessly clasp.^^^

In that moment, as the chorus swelled and the boy's voice soared to new heights, I couldn't tear my eyes away. My gaze lingered on him, capturing every detail, as if etching the scene into my memory forever. The sight of the beautiful boy, reflected in my iris, filled me with wonder and awe, leaving me breathless

It was as if time stood still, and everything around me faded into the background, leaving only me, him, and the enchanting melody of his song. In that suspended moment, a sense of tranquility washed over me, as if the beauty of the scene had seeped into my very being, calming my racing heart.

If love at first sight existed, I would have fallen down the rabbit hole by now. But alas, it doesn't.

 remained transfixed, unwilling to let go of the magic that had enveloped me, wishing for the moment to last an eternity.

Buzz-!

a buzzing from my skirt pocket brought me out of daze .

...----------------...

The boy with orchid eyes—Izana kurokawa—glanced toward the side of the park.

"Hmm... I thought someone was there, weird?" Izana frowned, his senses are sharpe .So he believe that someone was definitely there. But all he saw was the wind dancing with old leaves from the bushes

.Despite his suspicions,words continued to slip out of his lips.and his slender finger playing with guitar

It's not that Izana would mind if someone heard him sing; if not, he wouldn't be foolish enough to sing outside.

He took pride in his singing and guitar playing. During the day, he was in juvenile detention. He used to sing with other gangsters whenever he was in a good mood.

Today, especially looking at the Sakura trees blooming so beautifully, he felt a sense of happiness and couldn't stop himself from bringing his guitar and singing.

But soon, he had to stop after receiving a message from Kakucho—his servant. It was time to bring haitani brother, into his kingdom 

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