A tasty aroma, was it from a neighbor's breakfast? Although bacon and egg were no stranger to the Sajyou breakfast menu, the aroma was like bacon, but also like some other type of cuisine. Since Ayaka was unfamiliar with cooking, she really had no idea.
What was it? Ayaka pondered as she walked down the hallway.
She turned after she reached the end.
Ayaka walked towards the garden.
After exiting the washing area, one needed to open the door to the hallway outside, walk along the hallway, and finally open the glass door before reaching the garden.
"Ayaka's house's huge", her classmates would say. Perhaps because she always lived here, she never felt anything special except when she visited the garden.
It was not just big, it was vast.
However, it was not obnoxious.
Even if she walked very far for school everyday, even if she had a lot of homework, she never hated coming here.
----- It was not a yard. It was not a park.
------It was a garden.
Thriving trees. Flowers. Dozens species of plants. And innumerable doves.
Recognizing Ayaka's silhouette, some of the doves flied towards her and congregated at her feet.
There were too many plants in it to call it a yard, but it was not sizable enough to be called a park. Ayaka thought calling it a garden was appropriate.
A long time ago Ayaka asked "why was it called a garden", father did not really provide an answer except nodding vaguely. Ayaka thus thought father did not name this place.
It must be mother.
If one were to classify it, the garden would definitely be a greenhouse.
The wall and the ceiling were made of glass to maximize light exposure. During home visits, teachers used to comment that the garden was a countermeasure against the acid rain and making such a garden was a reflection of father's greatness. In reality, it was not even certain that any of that were the reason for creating the garden. It was not even clear if father was involved in making the decision.
"Good morning."
Not "morning", but "good morning".
Ayaka did not pay attention to the gathering doves. This was Ayaka's morning practice area. It was similar to father's workshop, with medicine bottles and mountains of tomes. Ayaka found her greetings reaching no one but the wooden wall.
"Eh?"
She tilted her head.
Father was usually here at this time.
Between six thirty and seven thirty, an hour before breakfast, Ayaka usually learned black magic from father.
This was Ayaka's morning lesson.
However, there was no one here.
"Father."
Maybe he was not there, but at some other place in the garden. She gently called out. One second, two seconds.
No reply.
Only the doves cooed.
"I am not talking to you..."
Think, was father not supposed to teach me black magic today?
Training was the daily lesson, and also father's teaching. A morning with nothing to do did not exist.
Ayaka was scolded before for forgetting things, so maybe she had forgotten last night father's instructions about this morning.
Come to think of it ----