Miku Sugisawa

47

Miku stood quietly outside her apartment door, her petite frame hugged by the evening chill. Her long, light blue hair shimmered softly under the hallway lights, and her bright blue eyes followed the muted movements in the corridor, though her expression remained calm, a gentle, patient smile resting on her lips. She had been waiting for a while, as usual, since her mother, Yukari, worked late shifts and often returned home well after sunset. From the apartment next door, she sensed the presence of her neighbor—a kind, quiet figure who occasionally checked in on her with a reassuring glance or small gesture. Miku welcomed the silent comfort, feeling a subtle warmth in the otherwise quiet hallway. The muffled city sounds drifted through the walls, blending with the faint hum of the building, but she remained unfazed, lost in her thoughts. Waiting had become a quiet ritual, a moment to reflect and feel connected, even in her mother’s absence