The morning in Tokyo was crisp and fragrant, with a hint of plum blossoms in the air. Ava adjusted her scarf as she and Ryan approached the venue—a serene ikebana school tucked in the quiet backstreets of Bunkyo Ward. Unlike the flashy venues of the past few days, today's challenge took place within a traditional machiya-style house, its wooden lattice exterior and sliding shoji doors wrapped in early spring sunlight.
A gentle breeze stirred as they stepped into the inner courtyard. The air carried a delicate floral scent—peonies, camellias, irises—mingling with the faint notes of incense from a nearby shrine. It was beautiful. Serene. Exactly the kind of place Ava might've appreciated… if not for the chaos she already felt bubbling beneath the surface.
