Takeshi arrived at the shrine ten minutes earlier than planned.
He had left the apartment earlier than usual because he hadn't slept well, and walking slowly hadn't changed the outcome. By the time he reached the entrance, the gate was already open. One of the workers recognized him without saying anything and simply nodded toward the inside.
He waited in the front courtyard. At that hour, the shrine had a kind of calm that wasn't threatening at all, just silence lit by the morning sun. The trees along the side stood still, and there was no wind.
Ophélia appeared right on time through the side door, wearing her school uniform with a small bag hanging from her shoulder. She stopped for a second when she saw him.
"You got here early."
She commented.
"Yeah, I was ready ahead of time…"
"I wanted to leave early too."
She walked over and greeted him with a brief bow, as always.
"Shall we go?"
