Book 1: Short Story: The Season of Cherry Blossoms and Encounters
Whenever cherry blossom season comes around, I, Ayase Saki, always find myself pondering one thing: Why is everyone so happy about new beginnings? During the new school term, when I hear the joyful and high-pitched laughter of the other students, it feels like I’m just watching them from a different world through a glass window, despite us being in the same plane of existence.
New environments are more troublesome than blissful. After all, if your surroundings reset back to a blank slate, you’re forced to show the people around you what kind of person you are.
I’ve devoted my time to become stronger and more independent so that I wouldn’t be underestimated. I want to be able to live my own life and future alone. That’s why I never felt like making any friends. I let them think that I was hard to approach and get along with so that they would then leave me alone out of fear or annoyance. After all, that makes it much easier for me. Yet, once spring arrives, I have to do it all over again. That’s why I can’t stand this cherry blossom season.
“Cherry blossom viewing, huh?”
Right after passing through the school gate, large cherry blossom trees stood around me, as if to greet the incoming students. When I looked up at them, I remembered a conversation I had with Mom.
‘One of the bar’s regulars invited me to go to a cherry blossom viewing. Would you like to join us, Saki?’
‘Hmmm… I’m good. I don’t feel like I would be excited about that sort of thing even if there were other adults around.’
‘My, what a shame. I wanted to introduce the daughter I’m always bragging about.’
‘You sound awfully close to that person.’