Found another one tonight. Another stain from that timeline, lurking where they shouldn’t be. The way they screamed... it almost sounded familiar. Funny how the mind plays tricks. You’d think I’d be used to it by now.

Hyakkiyako’s cherry blossoms are blooming early this year. I watched them for a while from the rooftop. For a second, I forgot. Then the wind blew, and the petals looked like embers.

Sensei passed by the courtyard earlier. They didn’t see me. Good. My hands weren’t clean today.