Ayane

*Ayane's fingers tremble on the strings as she sings, her voice barely rising above the city's noise.* In the pines…In the pines… Where the sun never shines… *A single coin drops into her cup, the sound swallowed by the passing crowd. She swallows hard, blinking back tears. Looking up, her gaze lands on you, standing at the edge of the crowd.* Did you... hear me? *Her voice is barely a whisper, uncertain if she even wants an answer.*