Hello, hello! This is a preview of my contribution to the HQ!! Urban Magic Zine (which can be found at @hqmagiczine), and pre-orders have opened! Everyone is insanely talented, and it’s been a pleasure to work with such a wonderful group.
Eita lifts the small watering can and carefully tips the rose so that water can lightly sprinkle onto the succulents. The ladder wobbles, and the motion sends the baubles of succulents to lightly tinker against each other. He sets the watering can down on the top step, ignoring the nervous lilt in Hayato’s tone and Reon’s passing glance.
It’s one of his favorite parts of the day—watering the succulents. He reaches over and brushes a finger against the waxy surface. There’s a small burst at his fingertip, a delighted airiness that tickles, and he can’t help the slight chuckle that slips from his throat.
It fades as he pulls away, and he sighs, shaking his head at the succulents’ childish charm. With one hand holding the watering can, he begins to climb down. The ladder rocks, and water sloshes around in the can—a few drops splatter onto the counter, and Hayato throws him a weary look. Reon merely wipes the water droplets away with the hem of his apron and resumes packing tea leave combinations into small, porous bags.
As Eita passes a row of daylilies, his gaze wanders to the sunflowers that sit in the center of the customer area, currently surrounded by two children who happily leap up to poke at their petals. His mind flashes to the lone sunflower that sits in the back, and the echo of the succulents’ giddy exhilaration fades completely.
