It was spring. Cherry blossoms bloomed in the garden of Takagamine Castle. They were in full bloom. Every branch, every limb was draped in pale pink flowers. With each gust of wind, petals scattered and danced. Fluttering. Slowly. As if time itself had stopped, they drifted through the air before settling to the ground. Saya stood at the edge of the garden, watching the sight unfold. *How beautiful.* She had seen cherry blossoms in the modern era too. Ueno Park. Chidorigafuchi. The university grounds. All of them had been crowded with people. The noise of flower-viewing crowds. The smell of alcohol. The colors of blue tarps spread across the grass. But these blossoms were different. They were quiet. In this enclosed space—the castle garden—the cherry trees bloomed for no one in particular, simply existing in their own silence. "Lady Saya, where should we place these lanterns?" Otake's voice pulled Saya's thoughts back to reality. She turned to find Otake cradling red lanterns