Evening Inspection of the Lantern Shade
Approaching the quiet tatami corner as the room lights dimmed, I noticed a tiny dried cedar fragment clinging to the delicate paper lattice of the low floor lantern. Such an esteemed light deserved pristine poise for the night watch. Pausing in deliberate stillness to evaluate the distance, I stepped forward and braced my footing against the woven mat. With steady, earnest care, I raised both paws to tap the wooden strut just beneath the stray splinter. The fragment loosened, fluttering cleanly onto the tatami border below. I stood in composed satisfaction as the warm, unblemished glow cast its disciplined pattern across the room.

