“Bye-bye! ★” An waved her hand to her dad, her smile radiating sunlight, though in truth, it was the sun's rays reflecting off the rings on her fingers.

Vivid street buzzed with life as An strolled past familiar faces, they were smiling at her, the air rich with the scent of blooming flowers and fresh soil. Roses climbed fences, hydrangeas nodded in the breeze. The soft hum of music drifted from a nearby park where street performers sang. Every garden, every window box overflowed with vibrant plants. An couldn’t help but smirk as she passed Mr. Hiiragi’s garden, where his prized tomato plant was stubbornly refusing to grow anything but weeds—just the way she felt about tomatoes. This was the street of her childhood. Everyone here knew An—the girl with a bold spirit and a strong, radiant voice.

Turning a corner, An slowed down and then came to a halt. By her favorite community garden stood a guy with messy ginger hair, inspecting a sunflower. His brows furrowed in concentration.

“Hey, you’re new around here?” An called out, a teasing note in her voice as she approached, “Don’t look so serious. Flowers can feel that, you know!”