Oniisan… Ohitori Desu Ka? ((exclusive)) -

“Oniisan,” she said again, softer this time. “Do you think it’s possible to miss someone who’s still alive?”

“Both,” she said.

I was standing at the edge of the shrine steps, halfway between the torii gate’s shadow and the molten gold of late afternoon. The air smelled of damp cedar and the faint ghost of last night’s rain. That’s when I heard it. oniisan… ohitori desu ka?

“Yes,” I said. “I’m alone.”