Sakurabashi, a pedestrian-only bridge gracefully spanning the Sumida River, was born from the heartfelt donations of residents on both banks. It stood as the only bridge of its kind—built not for traffic, but for the sheer joy of walking, pausing, and taking in Tokyo's beauty. Its charm wasn't just in its design, but in the sweeping views it offered: a wide river glittering under the sun, colorful pleasure boats gliding by, and the breathtaking display of over seven hundred sakura trees blooming along both banks.
It was, without question, the park's crown jewel.
But today... it was an overcrowded mess.
Like a rush-hour train bursting at 180% capacity, the bridge was a sea of people. The mere sight of the crowd gave Kasumigaoka Touji chills—and not the romantic kind.
"How about we skip it?" he suggested with a deadpan expression, glancing over at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
He didn't even bother hiding his discomfort. There was no way he was diving into that human tidal wave.
Sure enough—
"Mmm... let's skip it. Way too crowded," Utaha-san agreed with an elegant shake of her head, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at the Sakura Bridge.
Decision made. The two promptly turned and continued strolling leisurely along the riverbank.
"It's probably this packed because it's the weekend," Touji muttered, casting a side glance at the buzzing crowd.
"But it's all good. We'll board the cruise from Azumabashi anyway, and it passes by this spot. So we'll still get the view—minus the crowd," he added confidently.
Utaha tilted her head slightly. "You already bought the boat tickets?" she asked, her tone curious but calm.
Considering the flood of tourists today, she was right to wonder. Without a reservation, the wait could be endless.
"Of course!" Touji puffed out his chest with pride, his voice filled with reliable big-brother energy. "I booked everything online... a week ago."
It wasn't just any boat either—it was a luxury sightseeing cruise. At 12,000 yen per person, it was no casual outing. Touji had invested heavily in this date-slash-confession plan.
"Heh~ Otouto-kun is so reliable~," Utaha-san praised with a playful lilt, twirling a strand of hair between her fingers. Her gaze glimmered mischievously as she continued, "But... you were already planning this a whole week ago?"
"You know how I am. I like planning ahead so we can enjoy the day without stress," Touji replied smoothly, like it was no big deal.
Utaha-san nodded slowly, her eyes half-lidded. "Yes, yes... Touji-kun is definitely that kind of person~. The kind who even books hotels in advance... to make everything more relaxed and enjoyable, right?"
"...It was indeed more relaxed," Touji muttered, looking away as if he'd just been caught red-handed.
...
They walked leisurely, stopping now and then to admire the riverside. Touji occasionally glanced at his watch to make sure they weren't late.
By the time the hands struck eleven, the two had arrived at the Azumabashi pier.
Azumabashi wasn't just a bridge—it was also the name of the nearby town nestled in Sumida Ward, western Tokyo. It had a classic, nostalgic charm to it.
Touji had secured seats on the luxury sightseeing cruise departing precisely at eleven.
As expected, the boat waiting for them was pristine white, with an air of elegance.
Touji led the way, pulling out his phone and showing the electronic tickets to a staff member. Utaha walked beside him in graceful silence.
"Welcome! May I have your seat numbers?" a middle-aged woman in a formal kimono asked with a courteous bow.
"A7 and A8," Touji responded.
They were led inside the cabin—its interior a clean, polished blend of modern luxury and traditional taste.
Their seats were positioned toward the back and center of the boat. The entire cabin held only twenty seats, organized in two rows of ten.
Every single seat faced a wide window, offering unobstructed panoramic views of the river.
What stood out most, however, were the curtains between each pair of seats—providing a surprising level of privacy.
"Ooh... this looks amazing!" Utaha-san's eyes lit up as she admired the interior. The space was bright, clean, and cozy, with a kind of elegant charm that made it feel more like a private lounge than a boat.
"Right? I compared a bunch of cruises before settling on this one," Touji replied, a bit smug.
Expensive? Maybe. But as the saying goes—you get what you pay for. Even if it wasn't the cheapest option, the service so far was top-notch.
Just then, a crew member appeared beside their seats, respectfully offering them two chilled glasses of iced water and a pair of warm towels. After the refreshments, he presented a menu and asked politely, "Honored guests, have you decided what you'd like for lunch? We specialize in French country cuisine onboard."
The cruise ticket—priced at a tidy 12,000 yen—came with both a meal and dessert, something Touji already knew. He hadn't looked into the specifics, though, so he and Utaha-san leaned in, shoulder to shoulder, as they scanned through the menu together.
In the end, Touji chose the confit duck set meal, while Utaha-san went for the red wine-braised beef.
The crew member nodded, jotted their selections into a small notebook, and reminded them, "Lunch will be served promptly at 12:30." After a respectful bow, he disappeared quietly into the back.
Suddenly, a calm female voice flowed through the speakers in the cabin:
"Dear passengers, welcome aboard this sightseeing cruise along the Asakusa Azumabashi to Odaiba Seaside Park route..."
Right on cue, the vessel trembled slightly beneath their feet, and the scenery beyond the window began to move gently.
"Looks like we've set sail," Utaha-san murmured, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear as she turned to him.
"Want to check out the deck?"
There was still an hour and a half until lunch, and it seemed like a waste to just sit around doing nothing. The sun was out, the skies were clear—it was a perfect chance to breathe in the open air and take in the view.
"Sounds good to me," Utaha-san agreed without hesitation.
Together, the two made their way toward the deck, blending in with the small crowd of other passengers who had also decided to stretch their legs.
Standing there on the open deck, the city scenery took on a new charm—Tokyo from this angle had an almost surreal beauty. The wind carried the distant scent of sea salt and river spray, and many tourists immediately pulled out their phones or cameras to capture the moment.
Utaha-san grabbed Touji's arm and tugged him playfully toward the bow of the ship.
"Touji, hug me from behind."
"Eh? Are we going for the Titanic pose now?" Touji teased with a smirk.
"Baka. I want to try it just for the feeling," she said, sticking her tongue out slightly. "Not for the photo."
"Heh. Got it. Just for the memory then," Touji chuckled as he moved behind her and gently wrapped his arms around her waist.
Utaha-san exhaled softly, lowering her phone. She slowly spread her arms wide toward the vast river ahead, basking in the breeze.
The wind tousled her hair, a few strands brushing against Touji's cheek. The sensation was ticklish, but not unpleasant—it felt... peaceful.
He didn't say anything, nor did she. But in that quiet moment, with the water glistening beneath them and the city skyline stretched across the horizon, it felt like time had slowed just for the two of them.
…