Chapter 4 - Beneath the Cherry Tree Shade
The cherry blossoms were in full bloom by the time the fourth week of the semester began.
Their pale petals drifted gently in the breeze, carpeting the school grounds in soft shades of pink and white.
The sight was enough to make anyone pause — and Yuuta did just that as he stood at the main gate, his school bag slung over one shoulder, watching the flurry of falling petals like snowfall in spring.
"Hey," a familiar voice called behind him, and before he could even turn, a pair of soft arms wrapped around his midsection from behind.
"Miyuki—" he started, a smile already tugging at his lips.
"You're early," she murmured into his back, not letting go. "I was hoping I'd get here before you."
"I just wanted to see the trees this morning," Yuuta said, placing a hand over hers. "They reminded me of you."
Miyuki pressed her face into his uniform for a moment longer before slipping around to his side.
Her hair glowed golden in the morning light, and her bow was slightly askew — a detail Yuuta quickly fixed, fingers gently adjusting the ribbon under her collar.
"You always do that," she said, eyes warm. "It's like you're afraid I'll fall apart if you don't."
"I think I'd fall apart first," he replied quietly.
They walked in together, hand in hand, ignoring the occasional glance from their classmates.
By now, it was no secret they were dating — it had become common knowledge after the incident at the festival.
Yet rather than shy away, Miyuki seemed to grow bolder with each passing day, leaning on him, playing with his hair during breaks, and stealing quick kisses behind vending machines.
Yuuta hadn't minded the attention — not when it came from her. But he did notice the way some of the other students looked at them. There were whispered comments, quiet giggles, occasional teasing smirks. It wasn't malicious, but it was persistent.
During lunch, Miyuki pulled him aside, away from the usual crowd. "Let's eat behind the music room," she suggested.
"It's far," he said.
"I know. But I want to be with you, not everyone else."
He followed her without further complaint. They sat beneath the windowsill where faint notes of piano music drifted from inside.
Miyuki handed him a small bento box she'd made herself — slightly crooked tamagoyaki, rice balls shaped like rabbits, and slices of orange fruit jelly.
"You made this?" he asked in surprise.
She looked proud. "I woke up early. My mom thought I was sick."
Yuuta smiled. "It looks great. Almost too cute to eat."
"Eat it or I'll cry."
"I'd rather kiss you."
Blushing, she turned her face away. "Stop saying things like that with a straight face."
"But it's true."
They ate in the silence of their little world, the rustle of trees and the piano accompaniment giving it all an almost cinematic touch.
When the lunch ended, Miyuki lay on the bench, head resting in Yuuta's lap.
"Do you think people talk about us a lot?" she asked.
Yuuta ran his fingers through her hair. "Maybe. But I only care about what we say to each other."
She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
That afternoon, while the cherry trees continued their gentle snow, the two sat beneath one of them behind the gymnasium.
Miyuki had dragged him there after class, saying she wanted to eat snacks and "soak in spring." But as they shared a packet of sweet potato chips, her mood shifted.
"Yuuta…" she began, unusually hesitant. "You'd tell me, right? If I ever annoyed you? If I was too clingy?"
Yuuta blinked, caught off guard. "Where is this coming from?"
She bit her lower lip, eyes not meeting his. "Some girls were talking. Saying I hang on you too much. That it's embarrassing."
He placed the half-eaten chip back in the bag and turned to her, cupping her cheek gently. "You're not too much, Miyuki. Never. I love the way you are. I love… all the ways you love me."
Her eyes trembled with relief, and she quickly climbed into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I don't want to hold back. Ever. If people are annoyed, they can look away."
He chuckled softly. "They'll go blind from how cute you are."
She nuzzled his cheek with hers. "Only for you."
The bell that signaled club activities rang soon after, but they didn't move. Instead, Yuuta leaned his back against the tree trunk while Miyuki laid on his chest, ear pressed to his heartbeat.
They spoke in low voices about nothing and everything — favorite songs, dreams of traveling to Hokkaido during winter, what their children might look like.
Yuuta was embarrassed when she brought up that last topic, but Miyuki only laughed. "Come on, it's not like we're rushing anything. But it's okay to think about it sometimes, isn't it?"
He glanced down at her, brushing a petal from her hair. "Yeah… it is."
As the sun dipped toward the horizon and the petals glowed gold under its rays, Miyuki pulled away just enough to meet his eyes.
"Can I ask you something selfish?"
"You can ask me anything."
"Then… don't look away when I get insecure. Hold me tighter. Remind me I'm not alone."
Yuuta kissed her forehead. "Always."
Later that evening, as the school emptied and they walked together under the quiet sky, Miyuki slipped her hand into his and squeezed tight.
"I used to wonder what it would be like to really love someone," she said. "Now I know. It feels like walking through falling petals and knowing someone's hand is warm in yours."
"And I used to wonder what it would be like to be seen," Yuuta replied. "Really seen. You do that for me, Miyuki."
They stopped walking.
Miyuki stood on tiptoe and kissed him gently, the kind of kiss that didn't need to be deep or passionate — just honest. The streetlights blinked on around them, casting a soft glow on the moment, and neither of them spoke for a long while.
Under the cherry trees, with twilight settling in, they were just two teenagers trying to hold onto something that felt eternal.
To be continued...