Starting a new chapter in his life as a student in Tokyo, Haru never expected his world to be turned upside down. Across the street, he encounters Fujiwara, an aloof and enigmatic young man with a mysterious past. As Haru grapples with unfamiliar em...
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The changes in this town over the past five years were obvious. New buildings had risen on once-empty lots, and there had been a noticeable increase in American presence. It seemed busier than Yokohama, perhaps because Yokohama had already been a large city, leaving little room for further development.
One thing that hadn't changed was the town's cold temperatures, even as summer approached. The thin layer of ice on the asphalt remained, a sight both familiar and haunting. But with the sun fully up, it hadn't lasted long.
Shop owners around the bus stop had already been bustling with activity. Some had started with Taiso exercises, while others had greeted neighbors and exchanged news. Middle-aged men, clad in jackets and rubber sandals, unlocked the barred doors of grocery stores, accompanied by their wives who was sweeping. It was a routine he remembered very well from five years ago when his own shop still stood. Every day, he cleaned the sidewalk and wiped the glass while Keina prepared lunch for Takeru to take to school.
The woman who owned the flower shop across from the bus stop smiled and waved at him. He took it as her way of saying "welcome back." He wondered, had his relatives in Misawa still remembered him?
He had hoped they hadn't forgotten. How could they forget Hirose Tora, the "tiger" center, the pride of this city's hockey scene?
But that had been in the past. There had been no one to carry on his legacy now. All the hard work he put into hockey felt like a distant memory, something he had once dreamed of but now seemed unreal.
Perhaps what lingers in people's minds is the tragic incident in the rink parking lot.
He took a sip of the coffee he'd bought from the twenty-four-hour supermarket. It had gone cold. Earlier, he'd only eaten a handful of onigiri, and now hunger gnawed at him once more. But he shrugged it off; he could find something more substantial later. Is Yoshioka's ramen shop at the T-junction near Matsuzono Kindergarten still open? The ramen is delicious and he knew it was always available this early in the morning, but he'd heard rumors that the owner might rent out his land to McDonald's.
The woman who owned the flower shop brought out large jars filled with daisies, chrysanthemums, and lavender, then displayed them in front of the window. The colors were vibrant, and everything was blooming perfectly, making the front terrace of the kiosk look lively. It was spring, after all, and more flowers were blooming.
Suddenly he remembered he had to buy flowers. It was best to visit the grave first, then look for food. What flowers would be suitable? Usually, it was chrysanthemums, but today he wanted something different. He wanted to make Hikari's grave look beautiful, just like her when she was alive. Hikari resembled his wife, Keina. From a young age, it was clear Hikari would grow up to be a charming woman like her mother. As for his youngest child, people often told him that Takeru looked like him when he was younger. But on their inside, his two children were very different. Hikari inherited his traits; she was passionate and strong-willed, whereas Takeru was gentle and reserved like Keina.
