Story Reader / Festival Event Story / To the One and Only You / Story
At Bianca's invitation, you enter her room. The moment your weary body sinks into the soft chair after days of exhausting missions, a long-awaited relief washes over you.
A faint fragrance drifts toward you. Turning your head, you find the source: a row of delicate glass bottles on the table, each filled with liquid of a different hue.
You have a good nose, Commandant. Though at this stage, they're more like promises than a finished perfume.
I found a "Make-Your-Own-Fragrance" set in the commercial district. The store staff said blending these scents can create something truly unique to the wearer.
Commandant, I know I should have had your gift prepared in advance, but for this... I was hoping for your assistance.
Bianca pauses, collecting her thoughts, then turns to you with a look of newfound determination and inquiry.
This is because I want this scent to be more than just a fragrance. I want it to be a memory... of the time we've shared.
It says here that a perfume has three layers: top notes, middle notes, and base notes. They unfold over time, releasing distinctive scents at each stage.
So, would you help me choose three scents that speak to you? We can create it together.
After you consent, Bianca moves behind you. Before you can question her, a soft, opaque silk settles over your eyes, plunging your world into darkness.
Her fingers are deft as she ties the blindfold, adjusting the ribbon until it is snug but comfortable, ensuring not a sliver of light can breach your newfound sightlessness.
Sometimes, resting one sense allows another to blossom. Please, just let your sight rest for a moment.
Now, Commandant, don't try to name it. Just experience it. Then... simply tell me if you enjoy the scent.
As promised, with your vision surrendered, the delicate sounds of her movements sharpen into focus. Your mind, unmoored from sight, begins to paint its own picture: Bianca, meticulously dabbing a slender test strip into a bottle.
Meanwhile, you can make out the subtle rustle of fabric as she moves, turning and approaching you with graceful steps.
Then, a new sensation cuts through the air: a scent that is sharp and cold, yet pristine. It calls to mind the crisp silence of a snow-blanketed field and the delicate dance of snowflakes on the wind.
Now, Commandant, what does it bring to mind? Anything at all... Your first impression is all that matters.
Yes. The label calls this one "Snow". Your perception is as sharp as ever. I'm quite fond of this scent myself.
The top notes are the first greeting of a fragrance. Now that they're chosen, next for the middle notes... the soul of the fragrance.
After the introduction fades, it is the middle notes that will stay with you for hours.
As she speaks, a new fragrance drifts toward you.
It's a fresh, elegant scent that, unlike the previous "Snow", pulses with a vibrant, living heart.
Instantly, a scene blooms in your mind: a sun-drenched spring meadow where lilies sway, their leaves and petals rustling in a gentle breeze.
Now then, Commandant, what's your impression this time?
It seems you have a fondness for the scent of lilies, Commandant. I cherish that fragrance as well... It reminds me that after the deepest winter, the snow always gives way to spring, allowing the lilies to bloom.
And now, we come to the final choice. The base notes.
The instructions describe them as the lingering resonance of a melody. They are the final, lasting trace... the part of the fragrance that remains for days, leaving an unforgettable impression.
From the subtle hesitance in Bianca's voice, she seems uncertain about the final choice.
The delicate clinking of glass and cork tells its own story. She is not merely selecting a fragrance, but composing one, opening and closing various bottles in a creative symphony.
Finally, the sounds cease, and she returns to your side. The new, blended fragrance now lives in the fibers of her clothes, a moving sillage that accompanies her.
She is closer now. So close you feel the whisper-soft brush of her hair against your cheek, carrying her unique scent.
In the warmth of her breath, you detect a new ribbon of fragrance emanating from her fingertips.
Unlike the previous two, which were simple and distinct, this scent is richly harmonious, a tapestry of countless notes that instantly paints a vivid, three-dimensional picture in your mind:
Fragrant pine crackles in a fireplace; the honeyed wax of dancing candles releases its distinctive aroma, intermingling with the comforting scent of delicious food.
And amid this complex yet harmonious blend, one warm note shines through, clear and distinct: the essence of a woman in a white dress...
Commandant... I'm so glad you think so. This... this was my own blend. Now, please allow me to remove this ribbon for you.
My apologies. In my care to be gentle, I seem to have made the knot a little too stubborn. Just a moment more... There.
A gentle touch caresses your cheek as her fingers brush past your temple, seeking the ribbon secured at the back of your head.
A moment later, the ribbon falls away. As you open your eyes, the world returns, revealing Bianca's face mere inches from your own.
For a long moment, you simply gaze at one another, the silence a language of its own. Finally, it is Bianca who looks away, a soft smile gracing her flushed cheeks.
Then... with your permission, Commandant, I will blend these chosen memories into a perfume that belongs only to you.
She turns to blend the fragrances you selected. As she works, an entirely new scent begins to bloom, subtle at first, then gradually claiming every corner of the room with its unique character.
When she returns, she holds a small bottle of amber liquid, as clear and luminous as her own gaze.
With deliberate care, she dabs the perfume onto her fingertips and applies it to the pulse points of her wrists, behind her ears, and along her neck. The warmth of her skin carries the fragrance, allowing it to slowly unfurl and linger in the air between you.
You close your eyes, surrendering completely to this soul-soothing atmosphere. It is then that Bianca's whisper reaches you, softer and more sincere than you have ever heard before.
Happy birthday, Commandant. I hope you like this gift.
A perfume's sillage may fade in time... but I will carry the memory of this day with me always. And of every day we are granted after this.
No matter what the future holds... having the honor to share it with you is my greatest treasure.
