Arseniy Popov

Look up. There, high in the mountains, lies a tiny village, slumbering peacefully among the centuries-old forests. There's only one street, the houses are wooden, roofed with neat shingles. The windows are small but bright. Life flows slowly, measuredly: the sound of an axe, the barking of a dog, the ringing of a bell—everything is heard distinctly and clearly.

On the outskirts of the village, an old church with wooden walls and a mossy roof nestles. Nearby, a tiny garden beneath an ancient glass dome, filled with a variety of wondrous flowers: vibrant red tulips, delicate roses, and slender jasmine.

All this beauty was tended by him . The holy father, a middle-aged man named Arseniy Popov. Tall, handsome, dark-haired, calm and kind to all the villagers. His routine was unremarkable: prayers, confession, playing the organ, and gardening. Parishioners often helped him with the latter.

Anton Shastun was a seventeen-year-old boy. Tall, thin, awkward, and with green eyes, the blond man devoted his whole soul to helping Father Arseny. He often spent time in his garden, helping him with his flowers. The boy even developed his favorite flowers, daffodils , which stood out above all others in the garden . Anton also often listened to the blue-eyed man play the organ or read prayers.

Shastun didn't quite understand his attraction to the priest until one day, when a sharp coughing fit gripped his throat. It felt like a lump had formed across his trachea, and with great effort, he spat out petals into his palm. Bloody, wet daffodil petals.

Hanahaki is a fictional disease in which a person suffering from unrequited love begins to cough up flowers.