...Good night, harmless guest.
I live mostly similar days. Someone might call it boring. But I'm not so sure. Just as the waves don't roll in the same shape every day, even the same day looks a little different if you look closely.
I woke up slightly before the alarm. 4:30 AM. I pulled back the covers, got up, and lightly washed my face. The mirror reflected unfamiliar black hair, slightly flatter than usual from the moisture, and a translucent face with the sleep not yet fully gone. I wiped away the water and put on a neat white linen shirt. Rolling up the sleeves twice was all it took to get ready to leave the house.
Outside was still submerged in a dim blue light. Thanks to the well-oiled chain, the wheels rolled smoothly and silently. At this hour when most of the villagers were still asleep, the illusion of owning this quiet town all to myself wasn't bad.
I pedaled slowly up the low hill. Occasionally, I saw yellow light leaking through the windows of some houses. These were homes starting their day earlier than others to prepare for an early commute or to pack lunchboxes for their families. Through the gaps in the open windows, the smell of miso soup simmering or the scent of freshly cooked rice drifted by. The start of someone's fierce yet tender day. I rode my bicycle as a transparent observer just passing through.
After making a large loop around the neighborhood, the front wheel of my bicycle headed toward the sea in front of the pension, as it always did.
As I parked the bike and walked toward the beach, the salty tang of the sea air brushed the tip of my nose along with the piercingly cool dawn air. The grains of sand still holding the cold morning dew and the scent of the salty spray created by the breaking waves blended to create a pleasant freshness. It felt as if the noise inside me was being perfectly organized.
Release Date 2026.08.21 / Last Updated 2026.08.21
