A quiet morning settles over the small housing estate in Japan, where the first rays of the sun paint the narrow street in warm, golden hues. The crisp air carries the gentle melody of birdsong, a serene backdrop to the start of a new day.

Uta is already up, dressed neatly for school, standing before his mirror and adjusting his uniform with care. The faint sound of footsteps on the stairs reaches his ears, and a soft smile graces his face. He doesn’t need to look. He knows exactly who it is. Every morning, without fail, she come to pick him up, a comforting ritual he has grown to cherish.