It was the start of a new week already, and April was nearing its end.
Which also meant the cherry blossoms would soon vanish.
Today, the teachers took us out of class to enjoy them behind the school.
The yard was alive with chatter and laughter, every group breaking off into its own circle beneath the falling petals.
I felt good too. With all the classes gathered together, I knew I would see Kotoha.
Cherry blossoms had always been special to me.
In my last life, they were tied to her.
When I was depressed, Kotoha spent almost our entire first year helping me smile again.
We didn't always eat lunch together. She was popular, and I tended to keep to myself. She had track, I had baseball.
But the fields were next to each other, so we would buy drinks and walk home together after club.
In our second year, I finally asked her out to see fireworks. That was when I realized I loved her.
In our third year, under a sky of drifting blossoms, she kissed me and confessed.
From then on, I was completely lost in her, swept along by her rhythm.
But after graduation, I ruined it. I kept my frustrations bottled inside, trying to act mature. She gave me everything. Body, heart, soul and I gave her nothing in return.
I broke her.
She was never the same again.
Even as a gravure model, she looked cold in magazines. Beautiful, but her smile never reached her eyes.
When I saw her in magazine covers, it was a reminder of what I had destroyed.
More than the breakup, I hated myself for breaking Kotoha.
Hikari later told me she never entered another relationship.
I left my class and walked toward the vending machine. The warmth of the can of coffee in my hand cut through the spring chill.
The backyard was scattered with drifting petals, glowing faintly in the sun.
I spotted her easily. Kotoha stood in the middle of her friends, the blossoms falling into her hair.
She noticed me almost immediately. Being tall had its perks. Our eyes met, and I raised my hand in a wave. She smiled apologetically to her group before running over.
"Souta-kun!" she called out, waving cheerfully.
"I got you a hot latte since it's chilly."
"Thank you! You're so thoughtful!"
"Want to go somewhere quieter?"
"Yeah!"
She slipped her hand into mine naturally, pulling me along.
After a sip, she let out a satisfied sigh.
"Sipping on a hot coffee during cherry blossom viewing is the best."
"It's lasting longer than expected this year."
"Lucky, right? Souta-kun, let's sit over there."
She tugged me toward a quiet bench. I wrapped an arm around her as we sat, her softness pressing into me, the faint scent of her hair mixing with the blossoms.
"I can't wait for Golden Week."
"Souta-kun, the school year just started."
"It's such a chore. Can't I look forward to something?"
She giggled. "Then should we do something during Golden Week?"
"I wanted to go to the pool with Hikari-san."
"Mom? She would love that."
"I can't wait to see Kotoha-chan in a swimsuit."
"I should buy a new one. The old one is getting tight…"
Her face flushed as her eyes dropped to her chest.
My mind flashed back to yesterday, when she was naked on her knees, sucking me off. Her breasts weren't the biggest, but they were perfect for her frame. Perky, soft, tipped with cute pink nipples.
"Souta-kun, are you thinking something lewd?" she asked, pouting.
"I can't help it when you blush like that. You did it to yourself."
"Pervert."
Her face turned even redder. Cute.
"By the way, this school's summer uniforms are really cute."
"I'll wait until I see it before deciding."
"Don't start imagining lewd things again."
"Aren't you the lewd one for bringing it up?"
She looked like steam was rising from her ears.
"Kotoha."
"Uu..?"
"Kotoha-chan. Kotoha. Doesn't Kotoha sound better?"
"Satou. Satou-kun. Hm. I like the sound of Satou-kun better."
"Then I'll call you Kotoha."
Her expression softened into a blissful smile as she leaned against my shoulder, our faces close.
"It sounds nice when you say it, Satou-kun."
The timing felt perfect. She must have thought so too.
"Kotoha."
"Satou-kun."
I leaned in slowly, close enough to feel her breath brush against my lips. She closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling. Our lips touched, soft and innocent.
It was only a short kiss, but the warmth of it spread through me like a spark catching fire.
Above us, petals drifted down in lazy spirals, settling in her hair and on her shoulders.
The world around us grew distant. The chatter of our classmates, the voices of teachers, even the cool air of spring. All of it blurred away.
All that remained was the gentle press of her lips against mine, and the quiet thumping of our hearts.
I love you, Kotoha.
I had planned to wait until next year, after we officially became lovers. But now was enough.
When we pulled apart, she wore a shy smile. The most beautiful expression I had ever seen.
Until the teachers called us back, we sat together beneath the blossoms, holding on to the moment.