The evening breeze moved softly through the cherry blossom trees of Sakuragawa Garden.
Haruki stood near the edge of the lake.
The peaceful scene in front of him made the noise of the world feel very far away.
Then he noticed someone approaching.
The girl he had seen yesterday slowly walked toward him.
Her steps were light and unhurried, her long hair swaying gently with the breeze. When she stopped a few steps away, she looked at him calmly.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
Then she said softly,
"Hi… you're that new student, right?"
Her voice was gentle, almost blending with the quiet of the garden.
Haruki hesitated slightly, surprised that she spoke first.
"…Yeah."
He nodded once.
"I'm Haruki Aizawa."
He didn't say much more. That was simply how he was.
The girl smiled faintly.
"I'm Aoi Hoshino," she replied.
"We're in the same class. Nice to meet you."
Haruki realized she had noticed him in the classroom earlier.
A small silence settled between them.
The lake rippled quietly as a breeze passed over the water.
Aoi looked toward the lake and asked,
"Did you just move to Sakuragawa?"
Haruki nodded.
"Yesterday was my first day."
He looked around the garden again.
"This town is… beautiful."
He paused for a moment before adding quietly,
"And peaceful."
Aoi followed his gaze toward the drifting petals.
"That's what I like about it too."
After a short pause, she asked,
"Do you come here often?"
Haruki shook his head.
"No… yesterday was the first time."
He thought for a moment before speaking again.
"I used to live in the city. Far from here."
His voice was calm, but distant.
"But this place feels… nice."
Aoi smiled gently.
"I come here sometimes."
She stepped closer to the lake and looked across the water.
"When things get noisy… I come here to study. Or just sit and watch the lake."
Her voice carried a quiet sincerity.
"It helps me think."
Haruki nodded slightly.
The two of them sat down near the edge of the lake.
Neither of them felt the need to fill the silence.
The quiet between them felt comfortable.
A stronger breeze suddenly moved through the cherry blossom trees above them.
Petals began falling like soft pink snow.
Some landed on the surface of the lake.
Some drifted through the air around them.
Aoi watched them quietly.
Then she asked,
"Is moving difficult?"
The question was simple.
But it lingered in the air.
Haruki looked at the water for a moment.
"I've moved… a few times."
His tone remained calm.
"Different towns. Different schools."
He stopped there.
There was more he could say.
But he didn't.
Aoi seemed to understand that.
She didn't ask further.
The sun slowly sank lower in the sky, turning the horizon a deep shade of orange.
After a moment, Haruki spoke again.
"Do you come here every day?"
Aoi glanced at him, slightly surprised that he asked something.
Then she smiled softly.
"Not every day."
She looked around the peaceful garden.
"But if you like quiet places…"
Her hand gestured lightly toward the lake and the cherry blossom trees.
"This is the best place in town."
Haruki nodded.
Strangely enough, talking to her didn't feel tiring.
It felt… easy.
The sky slowly began changing colors.
Orange faded into pink.
Pink slowly turned into soft purple.
Evening was arriving.
Aoi looked up at the darkening sky.
"It's getting late."
She stood up and brushed a few petals from her skirt.
Haruki looked up at her.
"I should go now," she said.
Then she smiled gently.
"See you tomorrow, Haruki."
It was the first time she said his name so naturally.
Before he could say anything else, Aoi began walking along the garden path.
Her figure slowly disappeared between the sakura trees.
Haruki remained sitting near the lake.
He leaned back slightly and looked up through the branches of the cherry blossom trees.
Petals drifted across the fading sky.
He thought about the conversation they had just shared.
About her calm voice.
Her quiet smile.
"Aoi Hoshino…"
He murmured softly.
Then he exhaled quietly.
"…Maybe this town won't be so bad after all."
After a moment, Haruki stood up and began walking along the path that led out of the garden.
His footsteps slowly faded into the distance.
Soon, the garden became completely silent again.
The lake reflected the deepening colors of the evening sky.
Cherry blossom petals drifted slowly across the water.
For a moment…
It seemed like no one was there.
Then—
From behind one of the old sakura trees on the opposite side of the garden…
a shadow slowly moved.
A figure stepped forward quietly.
The person had been standing there for a long time.
Watching everything.
The shadow slowly stepped closer to the old sakura tree near the lake.
On its trunk…
an old symbol was engraved into the bark.
The figure brushed away a few fallen petals and looked at the mark silently.
A faint smile appeared in the darkness.
Then a quiet voice whispered
"…So it begins again."