"Welcome."

For just a moment,
Liam thought he heard a gentle whisper.

It was his first spring in Japan.

As he wandered beneath the moonlit cherry blossoms,
countless petals drifted gracefully through the night air,
as if unseen spirits had come to welcome him to their land.

Perhaps it was only the spring breeze.

Or perhaps...
this was Japan's own quiet way of saying,

"Welcome."