Chapter 160: Slope of Fate
From the crest of the hill, the world looked painted in soft watercolors.
Yukima Azuma stood quietly, hand in hand with Kato Megumi. The two of them gazed down the gently sloping street below, the late morning sun casting golden light over rooftops and fluttering trees. From above, the view was breathtaking—not just picturesque, but imbued with memory and meaning.
Azuma’s eyes landed on a particular spot, halfway down the slope, just before the curve in the road. It was a seemingly ordinary corner, yet it held something special—something only he and Megumi truly understood.
"There," he murmured, pointing subtly. "That’s where I stood that day during spring break... right under that cherry blossom tree."
Behind them, a quiet breeze stirred the branches. The petals overhead trembled.
Megumi turned her gaze to the same spot. "It’s beautiful," she said, her voice carrying the warmth of nostalgia. "And back then, the wind blew just right. Remember?"
Azuma nodded.
"When the wind gusted through, it was like... cherry blossom rain."
The slope they stood on was far from perfect—uneven pavement, tiny cracks spidering across the stone, and scattered tufts of grass breaking through the edges. It was the kind of street that had seen decades of quiet footsteps and gentle change. Azuma chuckled softly to himself.
"You know, I still wonder about the odds of it..." he said.
"Hm?"