“You’re going to catch a cold.”
“Who are you?” he whispered.
“You don’t have to believe in me. Just believe in the path ahead.” Short Scene: Hinari and the Lantern The rain fell in silver sheets over the abandoned shrine steps. A boy, no older than ten, huddled under a broken torii gate, his umbrella long since stolen by the wind.
She held out her hand. A small paper lantern flickered to life in her palm—not with fire, but with a warm, golden light that pushed back the storm around them.