Chapter 14 - Black Garden

The night was silent as Shiori walked alone through the narrow streets of her neighborhood. She felt a deep sense of loss in her heart, not just from the events of the day, but from everything she had failed to express. Her feelings for Rei had always been clear in her heart, but circumstances and misunderstandings had built a wall between them.

Before she reached the garden, Shiori remembered a conversation she had had with Hana just a few days ago. Hana had noticed her sadness and asked her about Rei. "Shiori, you have to be honest with yourself. You can't keep burying your feelings. If you're waiting for the right moment, it may never come," Hana had said. Shiori had nodded, though deep down, she was still unsure about how to express her emotions.

Now, standing in the Black Garden—an old garden that she and Rei had visited many times before—Shiori felt the weight of regret pressing on her chest. She walked past the flowers that Rei had once admired, and her thoughts were flooded with the painful realization that she hadn't been brave enough to speak her truth.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was a message from Rei, just a simple "How are you?" But for Shiori, it was a sign of something deeper, a reminder that they hadn't spoken in days, and she was unsure of what that meant for their relationship.

As Shiori stared at the screen, she couldn't help but feel guilty for all the times she had let opportunities slip by. In the quiet of the garden, surrounded by flowers, she whispered softly, "I'm sorry, Rei. I should have been braver."

Her phone rang, and the sudden sound startled her. It was Rei calling. Shiori hesitated for a moment before answering. "Rei?" she whispered.

"Shiori..." Rei's voice was softer than usual. "Are you okay?"

Instead of immediately brushing off the situation, Shiori opened up. "I've been thinking about everything we've been through. The flowers... I don't even know how to explain it. It's all so confusing. And now, I feel like I'm losing you."

Rei stayed quiet for a moment, as if thinking about her words carefully. Then she replied, "Shiori, I don't want to lose you either. But we need to talk. Not over messages. Not over the phone. I need to understand what's really going on in your heart."

Shiori's heart skipped a beat. "I don't know if I can explain it, Rei."

"Then let's figure it out together," Rei said, her voice filled with sincerity.

At that moment, the Black Garden no longer seemed like a place of loss. It had become a place of potential—potential for honesty, healing, and perhaps, understanding. Shiori's heart, once heavy with guilt, began to lighten. She realized that expressing her feelings wasn't about perfect timing or finding the right words—it was about being t

rue to herself and to Rei.