The Last Petal of Sakura

Chapter 5: Glowing Eyes and Familiar Souls

"I'm sorry, I didn't see you coming to get this book," a voice pierced through Yumi's thoughts, drawing her attention away from the shelves of the quaint bookstore. The stranger's voice held a certain allure, a melody that danced in her ears, making her heart skip a beat.

Yumi blinked, her gaze locking onto the enigmatic stranger standing before her. His presence seemed to fill the room, commanding attention with an effortless grace. But it was his eyes that held her captive. They seemed to glow with an otherworldly light, like two beacons in the dimly lit room, pulling her into their depths with an irresistible pull.

Every fiber of her being resonated with a strange resonance, drawing her closer to the enigmatic figure before her. Time seemed to stretch and warp, bending to accommodate the weight of this inexplicable connection as if the very fabric of reality were conspiring to unite their fates. And in that suspended moment, Yumi couldn't help but wonder if this encounter was merely chance, or the hand of fate weaving its intricate design.

"Excuse me... did you hear me?" The stranger's voice broke through her reverie once again, a hint of amusement lacing his words as he arched an eyebrow expectantly.

Yumi snapped out of her trance, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Yes, sorry. I was... lost in thought." Her voice faltered slightly, betraying the lingering effect of his gaze.

The stranger smiled, a soft warmth spreading across his features like the gentle caress of sunlight. "It's quite alright. Here, takes this book." He extended the book towards her with a graceful gesture, his touch sending a jolt of electricity coursing through her veins.

As he turned to leave, Yumi couldn't help but watch him go, her mind still reeling from the encounter. It was only when her friend, Hikari, approached that she finally snapped back to reality.

"Yumi... Yumi, what is this? Not going home?" Hikari's voice pulled Yumi out of her daze, her concern evident in the furrow of her brow.

Yumi shook her head, her thoughts still consumed by the stranger she had just encountered. "Did you see him... did you see him? The person who gave me this book?" Her words tumbled out in a rush, a flurry of excitement and confusion.

Hikari frowned, shaking her head in confusion. "I did not see... when I came, there was only a girl who looked scared, as if she had seen a ghost."

As she lay in bed that night, surrounded by the comforting darkness of her room, Yumi found herself unable to shake the image of those glowing eyes from her mind. It was as if they were imprinted on her soul, leaving her with more questions than answers, and a sense of longing that she couldn't quite explain.