The fresh morning air wrapped around Haruto as he strolled along the narrow path by the vegetable fields. Rows of tomatoes, eggplants, and leafy greens shimmered with dew, and the greenhouse glass reflected the soft sunrise. The peace of the countryside seemed endless—until a harsh, desperate noise cut through the stillness.
Haruto froze. It wasn't an animal. It wasn't the wind. It was the sound of splashing, choking, gasping. His pulse quickened.
He sprinted toward the noise, his shoes kicking up dirt. And then he saw her.
In the narrow irrigation canal—a channel built to carry water to the fields—a girl was thrashing helplessly. The current pushed against her, her body sinking, her mouth dipping under water as she struggled for breath. For a split second, Haruto's heart lurched. She's drowning.
