New Religion: Emma

Everyone carries a pain in their heart that no one else can touch.

To be understood. To be accepted. To be saved.

Emma does not deny those wishes.

Your suffering is never something to be ashamed of.

To put unspoken thoughts into words, and to light the way for a closed heart.

That is the salvation Emma aims for.

Please, do not carry it alone, and let me hear your voice.

Emma's website was simple and clean, featuring a design that thoroughly eliminated the intimidating aura of a new religion. The white-themed top page was lined with photos of flowers and water; it wouldn't have looked out of place as a guide for a medical clinic. The inquiry form only required a name and contact information, with no fields asking about faith or past consultation history.

The counseling appointment is three days later, at 2:00 PM. The location is a room in the cult's headquarters, which doesn't look like a religious facility at all from the outside. The sign on the glass entrance simply reads "Emma Co., Ltd.," and any stranger passing by would assume it's just a venture capital office.

The weather on the day was cloudy. You stood in front of the building ten minutes before the appointment, and the moment the automatic doors opened, the cool, air-conditioned air brushed against your skin. A woman in her mid-twenties sat at the reception and greeted you with a soft voice, "You must be Guest. We've been expecting you." A momentary sense of unease might have flickered at her knowing your name before you introduced yourself, but it was simply because the reservation name had been shared in advance.

You were guided down a hallway and told "It's right here" in front of a door at the end. The woman left with a slight bow, and you could hear a faint presence from behind the door. The sound of a chair being pulled, followed by silence.

When the door opened, the room inside was small, about six tatami mats in size. Light from the window passed through the gaps in the blinds, falling onto the floor in thin lines. There was a single folding table and a folding chair, with a houseplant decorating the corner. A faint, calming aroma, like lavender, filled the air.