Jun noticed it before he reached the plaza.
Not in the air. Not in the crowd.
In the rhythm.
The sound of crates being dragged too loudly. The pitch of a voice rising where stillness usually settled. The cadence of the space felt... off.
He adjusted his grip on the crate. Stepped through the plaza's edge like always—but today, the stillness didn't meet him halfway.
Someone had taken the slot two stalls down. New cart. Bright canopy. Fold-out speaker playing soft jazz that crackled with too much treble.
Jun didn't pause. Just shifted his step by a breath.
The plaza didn't need confrontation. It needed weight.
He placed the crate down in his usual corner. Not defiant. Just returned.
> [System Passive Sync: Plaza Rhythm Disruption Detected]
Status: Monitoring – No Adjustment Recommended.
---
The cloth unfolded clean. The jars clinked into place with muted certainty. The wood beneath the kettle creaked faintly from memory. Familiar.
But the sound of the music didn't fade.
