I still remember vividly those afternoons from years ago. Whenever I had just returned from school to the garden gate, Rinko's tiny figure would already be glimpsed among the apple trees. She wore a puffy, floral-print dress, her short twin pigtails swaying with every toddling step. Her chubby cheeks flushed a bright pink from the sun, and sometimes a few fallen apple blossom petals would catch in her hair, making her look exactly like a little sprite of the garden.

The moment she saw me, Rinko's round eyes lit up. She instantly threw her toy plastic shovel to the ground, flung her plump arms wide, and rushed toward me like a baby bird, her toddler mouth babbling for the very first time: "Ji... Ji-chan!" It was the first time she ever knew how to call me uncle. Then she would cling tightly to my leg, snuggling her small head against my knee, absolutely refusing to let go until I leaned down to lift her high into the air.

Sixteen years passed as swiftly as a falling petal. Before long, she was already off to university, and somehow, she chose to walk the exact same path I once did.

She couldn't quite remember when it started, though checking for new updates on Hide’s story had become the first thing Kira did the moment she woke up. Well, except for those mornings she overslept and had to rush to work. His prose was gentle, always carrying an indefinable sadness for some reason. So, he had a niece and had only just returned after being away from home for so long. Hide did mention studying in the UK, after all. At the bottom of the chapter, there was even a pencil sketch of an apple blossom resting on a branch, signed in Japanese kanji: 芽出. The kanji read as Hi-de. It turned out his pen name meant a tiny sprout, though in English, it was spelled like "hide." A tiny sprout keeping itself hidden? It sounded so fragile.

The spring air was still chilly, with grey clouds floating lazily overhead as if it might rain. Kira had dressed in a cream ribbed turtleneck and a long, warm apricot skirt, topped off with a charming little beret, hoping she looked elegant, not overly done up. She kept telling herself to tone it down and keep her playful side in check. Hide was as gentle and fragile as a petal, while she was nothing but a mischievous bee.

It was the end of March, the season of cherry blossoms and the start of a brand new school year. Ueno Park sat vast and wide, right near two famous universities, Todai and Tokyo University of Art - Tokyo Geidai, so it was no surprise that the train was packed with students. Seeing their fresh, youthful faces made Kira look back at her own university days. Four years had flown by since she graduated. While her friends had already climbed up to management positions, she was still floating around aimlessly, never quite settling anywhere because she couldn't stop talking back to her bosses.

The moment Kira stepped out of Ueno Station, she was overwhelmed by a sea of people. She frowned, watching the crowd inch their way across the large intersection under the guidance of the police loudspeakers. She knew cherry blossom season would be crowded, but this was on a whole new level. A dreamy pale pink canopy of ancient blossoms hung low over the pathways, covering everything in sight. Kira looked around as she walked. If only she knew her way around Tokyo better, they could have met somewhere quieter. Why hadn't she just suggested Showa Kinen Park yesterday? Silly her.

Kira had barely gathered her thoughts in the middle of the crowd when a familiar voice reached her.

"Oh, Kira-chan?"

Kira turned around. It was Hiro, a colleague from her department. He had short, spiked hair, a vibrant personality, and had always been quick to help her out since she first joined the company. But what really surprised her was seeing him holding hands with Megumi, the gentlest and sweetest woman in the office.

Kira never imagined the two of them were a couple. Her eyes widened, and just as she was about to shout, Megumi quickly clamped a hand over her mouth. Her face flushed bright red from embarrassment. She leaned in close to Kira's ear and whispered, "Shh, please keep this a secret. Don't tell anyone at the office."

Kira chuckled and nodded. Hiro stood beside them, scratching his head with a sheepish grin before he asked, "So, where are you headed?"

"I have a date with a friend nearby," Kira said, letting out a breath as she adjusted her beret. "It is so crowded here that I almost got lost."

"Really? Do you want us to show you the way?" Hiro offered warmly.

The words had barely left Hiro’s mouth when Megumi’s expression completely changed. She pointed toward a large crowd of students gathering nearby. "Wait... isn't that Akino-shacho over there?"

Kira and Hiro followed her gaze. Amidst the bustling crowd, there he was, Yoshi, laughing and chatting intimately with a student who looked to be around eighteen. ​She was in her school uniform, her long black hair cascading to her waist, and her short skirt falling above the knee to reveal long, fair, and slender legs. She naturally held onto his arm, resting her head against his shoulder in a deeply affectionate way.

The girl was as lovely as an angel, so it was no wonder Yoshi, who was usually as cold as ice, looked like a completely different person. Still, Yoshi was thirty years old, and dating a student over a decade younger than him felt a little sketchy no matter how she looked at it. Who would have thought the boss’s type was an innocent little bunny?

All three of them stood frozen in their tracks, watching as the two figures disappeared beneath a canopy of cherry blossoms. Hiro and Megumi said their quick goodbyes to Kira and headed off. Kira started as her phone vibrated inside her bag. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw an incoming Discord call from Hide. She really should have given him her actual number to make things easier. She wished she were somewhere quieter. His voice on the other end was half-lost in the surrounding noise, making it hard to catch every word. Hide told her that something unexpected had come up nearby so he could not make it, and asked if they could reschedule for another time. Kira hung up, her shoulders slumping as she scrolled through her notifications. There were ten missed calls from Hide and a string of text messages.

A sudden heaviness settled in Kira's chest. So, the date was officially ruined. Still, since she had already gone through all the trouble to get here, Kira pushed through the crowd toward Ueno park. At least she would have a place to unwind for the weekend.

Kira walked past the lotus pond. Two rows of weeping willows lined the path along the water, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. The water’s surface this season was left with bare dried stalks from the previous year and small green leaves that had just begun to sprout. She took a quick loop around the Ueno Zoo before taking a train to Asakusa.

Kira walked past the cherry blossom trees along the river. Rows of pink petals lined the path along the water, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. The river's surface this season was dotted with fallen blossoms from the overhanging trees and small green buds that had just begun to sprout. She took a quick loop from Asakusa Station. From afar, Kira’s heart fluttered in sync with the upbeat drums from the festival. She squeezed through the crowd along the riverbank toward Sakurabashi.

​The Sakurabashi Hana Matsuri took place on the last weekend of March, featuring the famous Awa Odori parade dance to bring good luck for the spring season. Amidst the lively drums and flutes echoing across the riverbank, a vibrant procession of dancers, wearing pink yukata and curved amigasa hats, began to twist and turn. They chanted in unison, coordinating perfectly on the tips of their geta sandals as they moved through the thick crowd. Kira shouted along with the crowd around her, completely losing her mind to the lively atmosphere.

Three in the afternoon. The spring sunlight was softening into a mellow, honeyed gold. Kira could feel the exhaustion deep in her bones as she dragged her feet into a vintage kissaten hidden away at the end of a narrow alley. Her legs felt like absolute lead. She flipped through the menu and ordered a matcha red bean sundae to beat the heat. She had barely settled into her seat when her phone buzzed. A call on a weekend could only mean trouble. Kira looked down at the screen, suppressing a groan.

Yoshi the pufferfish. Again.

She let it ring.

...

Ugh, damn it. Was he planning to ring her phone off the hook? The man just wouldn't let up. Kira reluctantly answered. It was always like this.

"What is it this time, Shacho?" Kira grumbled.

"Are you around Tokyo, Kira?" Yoshi asked. His voice was soft, yet it sent a sudden prickle of unease down her spine. The memory of yesterday still haunted her.

"I didn't send any weird emails last night, did I?"

"Ah, no. I just need a small favor. Are you free right now?" Yoshi said, his voice hesitating.

...

Kira caught the next train to Shinjuku, her mind racing with a thousand and one questions. Yoshi was supposed to be out on a date with that beautiful girlfriend of his, yet he was still calling her for a favor. Kira let out a heavy sigh. She had never met anyone with luck as rotten as hers. Not only was she chronically single and fresh off a ruined date, but now she was being dragged out by her boss to help pick out clothes for another girl. At least, that was her guess because she still had no clue what Yoshi actually wanted from her. But meeting up in a bustling shopping district could only mean one thing.