My school is close enough to walk to from home.

Even though the apartment building I live in is right in the heart of the city, there’s actually a surprising amount of greenery around it.

Just a short walk from the building is a large park.

Going straight through the park is a pretty good shortcut to school, so that’s the route I usually take.

It’s spring now.

Cherry blossoms are blooming everywhere, painting the park in soft shades of pink.

Apparently, it’s also a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing.

There are several entrances to the park, and the east entrance is the closest one to my home.

Just inside is a small playground with a sandbox and a couple of swings.

I used to play there all the time when I was little.

There are several playgrounds scattered throughout the park. The one near my home only has the sandbox and swings, but farther in, there are jungle gyms and larger play areas with all kinds of equipment.

Once I pass through the playground, I reach the center of the park.

There’s a large pond there, surrounded by benches.

Tall trees grow beside most of them, their branches providing just enough shade to make the area surprisingly comfortable during the summer.

Ducks and swans play on the water, and if you look beneath the surface, you can see carp and crucian carp swimming lazily through the pond.

When I was little, Mom and I used to come here with bread crumbs.

We’d feed them to the carp, the ducks, and the swans.

The park is full of beautiful places to sketch.

Back in middle school, I often came here with my sketchbook.

Even now, I sometimes see students sitting around the park drawing.

I’m not particularly good at art.

But I’ve always loved painting landscapes.

Watercolors are my favorite, especially the ones painted in soft, delicate colors that almost seem as though they might fade away.

Even when I was little, I used watercolor paints instead of crayons to color in my coloring books.

Because of that, my clumsy little watercolor paintings are displayed all over our home.

Not because I put them there, of course.

“Kaname is an artistic genius!”

That would be Dad, proudly declaring it to anyone who will listen as he hangs up yet another one of my paintings.

He really is a hopelessly doting father.

Once I cross the park and come out on the other side, I reach the riverbank.

It’s always busy in the mornings.

People on their way to work.
Students heading to school.
People walking or riding bicycles.
Joggers.
People walking their dogs.
Others simply sitting and watching the river.

Everyone is spending their morning in their own way.

The riverbank is also used by sports clubs from the elementary, middle, and high schools in the area, so even after school, people can often be seen here until fairly late.

Following the river downstream eventually brings my school into view.

Today is the entrance ceremony.

I left home before my parents, and we agreed to meet at school.

When I arrive, a large, impressive sign announcing the entrance ceremony stands in front of the school gates.

Despite the rain, quite a few new students and their families are gathered around it, taking commemorative photographs.

I pass through the gates, and the school buildings rise before me.

It’s an old school with a long history, so the original wooden school building still remains, standing across from a newer reinforced-concrete building.

The school grounds are surprisingly spacious considering we’re in the middle of the city.

Along the path leading from the main gate toward the athletic field, cherry trees are in full bloom.

Today’s entrance ceremony is being held in the gymnasium.

I follow the path alongside the athletic field until I see the gym standing at the far end.

Several students who look like upperclassmen are stationed near the entrance, directing new students and their families.

I’ve just reached the reception desk when—

“Hey... Haven’t I seen you sketching by the pond in the park?”

The question comes so suddenly that I look up in surprise.

I stare at the upperclassman standing in front of me, unsure what to make of him.

“Ah, sorry, sorry. That was kind of out of nowhere, wasn’t it?”

He gives me a friendly smile.

“I’m Koji Yano. I’m a third-year starting this year. My childhood friend is the student council president, and he roped me into helping out at reception today.”

Then he looks at me again.

“I’ve seen you a few times on my way to school. You used to sketch in the park, right? I kept wondering if you liked drawing. I wanted to talk to you, but then sometime around New Year’s, you suddenly stopped showing up. I wondered what happened.”

Then his expression brightens as though something has just clicked.

“You were studying for your entrance exams, weren’t you? I never expected you’d end up coming to the same school.”

He seems like a pretty friendly upperclassman.

“Yano... senpai?”

“Yep. Yano.”

Still smiling, he asks me again.

“So, do you like drawing?”

“Ah... yes.”

“Then you should come check out the art club sometime. I’m the club president. We’re actually kind of famous around school for having really good art supplies. I think you’d like it.”

...Is he already recruiting me?

Still, the art club was one of the clubs I’d planned to check out anyway.

“Yes. Thank you. I’d love to stop by.”

Yano-senpai grins happily.

“Great. Then I’ll need your name and class.”

Just like that, he switches right back into reception-duty mode.

“Kaname Akagi. First year, Class Three.”

“Class Three, Kaname Akagi.”

He nods as if committing it to memory.

“Got it! I’ll remember that. We have exams starting tomorrow, so club activities are still on break, but once exams are over, I’ll come find you in your classroom.”

...Talk about enthusiastic service.

“Ah, I shouldn’t keep standing here chatting with you. The ceremony’s about to start, so you’d better head to the gym. Aren’t your parents here yet?”

“They should be arriving any minute now, I think...”

And just as I say that, I hear a familiar voice behind me.

“Kaname! Sorry, sorry! We’re late. Your dad had to wear that ridiculous—”

Mom stops mid-sentence when she notices Yano-senpai.

“Oh! Good morning. It’s very nice to meet you. I’m Kaname’s mother.”

She smiles pleasantly, as though she hadn’t just been about to complain about Dad.

“This is Yano-senpai,” I explain. “He’s the president of the art club. He was just inviting me to come by since I like drawing.”

“But Kaname... you...”

Mom starts to interrupt.

I give her a small smile.

“I’ll be fine. More importantly, we really need to go or we’re going to be late.”

“Oh, right. Here—this is for the new students.”

As if suddenly remembering his job, Yano-senpai takes a ribbon badge and pins it to my chest.

And then—

“Kanaaame! Sorry I’m late, dude!”

Dad appears wearing exactly the same ridiculous disguise I saw him in this morning.

...Dude?

Seriously, Dad?

I feel slightly embarrassed as I introduce him.

“This is my father. Sorry. He’s weird.”

“Ah... no... He’s certainly... unique.”

Even Yano-senpai seems to be struggling to find the right words.

“Hahaha. Thank you. No one’s ever put it that way before.”

I bow politely to Yano-senpai, then practically drag my parents away as we hurry toward the gymnasium.

Yano remains behind, watching the three of them disappear into the crowd.

“...His mom looks really familiar.”

He tilts his head.

“She’s so beautiful that I feel like I’d remember if I’d ever met her before...”

He thinks about it for a moment, but nothing comes to mind.

“But still... his dad sure was a weird guy.”

Then he mutters quietly to himself.

“I guess it really is true... there’s someone out there for everyone.”