Saturday morning, the sun was bright, and the sky stretched endlessly in a clear blue expanse.
As Kasumigaoka Touji stepped out of the house, a gentle spring breeze caressed his cheeks, carrying with it the refreshing scent of cherry blossoms. It was the kind of breeze that made you want to breathe in deeply and smile without reason.
"Onii-chan, where are we going~?"
That sweetly teasing voice came from right beside him.
Turning his head, Touji met the curious gaze of Kasumigaoka Utaha, his older sister, who looked absolutely dazzling today.
She wore a light pastel dress with a low neckline, revealing an expanse of smooth, fair skin and beautifully defined collarbones. Her generous bust pressed against the fabric, unintentionally accentuating her deep cleavage—it was practically a natural trap designed by the gods themselves.
Over the dress, she had thrown on a washed-blue denim jacket, cropped stylishly just above her waist, giving off that classic otona onee-san vibe. Below, her long legs were elegantly wrapped in sheer black stockings that shimmered subtly in the sunlight, leading to a pair of bright orange round-toed leather shoes that added a splash of cheerful color.
The balance between light elegance and mature allure made today's Utaha-san irresistibly eye-catching.
"First stop, Sumida Park," Touji declared confidently, taking her soft, slender hand into his and leading her out of the courtyard, straight into the warm morning sun.
"To see the sakura?" Utaha tilted her head slightly, her wine-red eyes glinting with interest.
Sumida Park was famous for its cherry blossoms, and this time of year, the sakura were in full bloom—soft pink petals painting the world in fleeting beauty.
"Yep," Touji nodded. "We'll walk around the park in the morning. Then, around noon, we'll take a sightseeing boat from Azuma Bridge that'll bring us to Odaiba in about two and a half hours. The rest of the afternoon? We play at Odaiba Seaside Park."
As they walked, Touji explained the whole itinerary like a proper tour guide.
Utaha-san blinked in mild surprise, then smiled slightly. It was a good plan.
"What about tonight?" she asked, her voice carrying that signature lazy allure.
"Tonight?" Touji glanced at her, his eyes trailing over her perfectly sculpted features before answering softly, "I'll take you to the Hilton Hotel. We'll have a perfect view of Tokyo Bay and the Rainbow Bridge. I heard the night view is breathtaking."
"Just admiring the view?" she asked with a mischievous smirk.
"We can do other things too…" Touji replied, expression perfectly straight.
"Like what~?"
"Like... practical health education. Studying the human body in depth. You know, hands-on learning."
"Sensei Utaha, please teach me well," he said solemnly, bowing slightly.
Utaha's mouth twitched, her expression caught between amusement and disbelief.
She sighed dramatically, feigning distress but failing to hide the pleasure in her eyes. "How can you say such things so seriously, baka! You've turned into a little perv!"
"I only learned from the best," Touji said shamelessly.
"Eh?! I never taught you that!"
"Don't be modest, Utaha-sensei. You're my life mentor."
"You make it sound like I write ecchi novels or something... I'm not taking the blame for that!"
"The blame is yours and yours alone!"
She didn't respond, simply activated her signature Onee-san technique—her deadly, hypnotic hip sway.
Touji's face turned red. "Oi, stop that!" He slapped her hand away gently.
"If we're staying overnight... I didn't bring a change of clothes," Utaha said nonchalantly, as if just now realizing.
Touji blinked. "Huh, me neither... But no worries. There's a mall nearby. We'll just buy some."
He said it with a wave of his hand, like a rich young master brushing aside trivial concerns.
Utaha smiled and nodded in agreement.
...
There was no direct train from Wako City to Sumida Park. Kasumigaoka Touji and Kasumigaoka Utaha first took the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line, their usual school route, to Ikebukuro Station. There, they transferred to the 'Kusa 64' bus heading for Asakusa Station.
Sumida Park was just a short walk from the station.
The moment they stepped off the bus, a wave of rich, mouth-watering aroma greeted them!
"Ah~! I smell takoyaki, taiyaki, and... mmm, oden~!" Kasumigaoka Utaha's wine-red eyes sparkled as she scanned the food stalls lined up at the park's entrance like a festival street.
A lively crowd buzzed around each stand, and the air was filled with the tantalizing scent of sizzling sauces, sweet batter, and grilled meats. The whole scene screamed hanami vibes.
Touji chuckled. "Should we grab something before the walk?"
"Sanshoku dango for me! It's not hanami without dango, you know~♪"
Her eyes were already fixed on the pastel-colored rice dumplings.
"Then I'll go for takoyaki," Touji said, rubbing his stomach. "I want something hot. We'll split up and meet back here?"
"Roger that, commander!" Utaha gave a playful salute and skipped off.
A few minutes later, they returned with their chosen snacks. Touji's takoyaki box held six golden-brown spheres, crispy on the outside with perfectly crisscrossed sauces—one white, one dark, forming a net. Topped with pork floss, dried seaweed, sesame seeds, and fluttering bonito flakes, they looked almost too pretty to eat.
"Ah~" Touji teased, holding a skewer up to Utaha's mouth.
She leaned forward without hesitation—only for him to swiftly redirect the skewer to his own mouth.
"Let me test for poison first," he mumbled cheekily, cheeks puffed with hot takoyaki.
Utaha pouted, eyes narrowed. "Baka... So? What's the verdict, taste tester-kun?"
"Mmm... Crisp shell, fluffy inside, sweet corn and carrots give it a fresh bite. And the octopus—super chewy! Solid 9 out of 10, I'd say."
Satisfied with his critique, he offered the half-eaten ball to her.
She paused. "You're not just trying to get me to eat your leftovers, are you?"
"Ehh?! I'd never! It's romantic, you know? The classic anime indirect kiss!"
"Fufu... I see. Then, it's my turn later, okay?" she said, taking the skewer and giving him a smug look.
"You're overanalyzing it!"
The two continued their food-sharing as they strolled deeper into the park.
Sumida Park stretched along the Sumida River and was famed for its cherry blossoms since the Edo period. Back then, they called it "ten miles of embankment, flowers like clouds."
That wasn't just poetic nonsense either. The canopy overhead really did resemble pink and white clouds, blending seamlessly like a dreamscape straight out of an anime.
On one side was the glistening river, on the other, endless rows of sakura trees in full bloom. In the distance, the Tokyo Skytree towered above it all, framed by the crisp blue sky.
It was like stepping into a two-dimensional world.
Then suddenly—
"I'll always, always remember you..."
A gentle melody drifted toward them.
"Even if someday, I can't see you anymore..."
Touji and Utaha stopped walking. Their eyes settled on a street performer beneath a blooming cherry tree, strumming a guitar and singing softly.
"This is... your song, isn't it?" Utaha asked, her voice low, thoughtful.
Touji nodded. "Yeah. 'Sakura.' My seventh song."
The performer was a graceful onee-san with an elegant bob-cut hairstyle—what people might call a "dangerous wife" look. Her guitar skills weren't exactly pro-tier, but they were good—steady strumming, full of emotion. Her voice carried well through the spring air.
A small cardboard box lay open at her feet with a handwritten sign accepting tips.
Without a word, Touji stepped forward, pulled out a ten-thousand-yen bill, and slipped it into the box.
The people around them murmured in surprise.
"Let's go," he said coolly, waving Utaha along.
"Heh~ Touji-kun is so generous today," she teased, smirking.
"She was good. That's all."
"Still... I prefer your version. Your voice has more... heart."
Touji blinked, then smiled. "Arigatou, Utaha-san. That means a lot."
With the warm exchange lingering between them, they wandered further down the path, framed by fluttering petals.
Naturally, in such a picturesque place, selfies were a must.
"Touji~ Stand here! The lighting's perfect!"
Click! Click!
Utaha pulled him along like a determined influencer, capturing candid shots and scenic views alike.
Without realizing it, they reached Sakurabashi, the iconic cherry blossom bridge, where countless petals danced upon the water.
And the day was still just beginning... ..
****
English version of "Secret Base (Kimi ga Kureta Mono)" — the ending theme of Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day.