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The alarm clock's continuous beeping was ringing through Yuuichi's room, startling him out of his sleep in the early morning hours. He was drowsy and confused as he reached out to stop the sound with a heavy arm and blinked wildly at the dim light of morning peeking through the curtains. Yuuichi rubbed his eyes and sat up, feeling the weight of the upcoming day crushing down on him as the room fell silent once more.
Like every other single day, it was just another one, and he knew that tomorrow would be the same. Him waking to the sound of the alarm clock, groggily shutting it off, his feet searching for his slippers and walking down the stairs, His routine was accompanied by the same companions every time-the creak of the stairs and the soft light that came in through the corridor. Stepping into the kitchen, the only thing drawing him forward was the promise of a steaming cup of coffee. After getting himself a mug, he made his way to the kitchen counter and got ready for a cup of coffee. Scooping up the coffee grinds, filling the kettle, and enjoying the soothing sound of boiling water were all automatic gestures. Yuuichi leaned on the counter and stared out the window as the rich aroma filled the room. Like him, the world outside was slowly awakening.
His eyes quickly lighted up, and his heart jumped out of his chest as he saw what he was looking for: a cherry blossom tree in full bloom. Its tiny pink petals graced the branches as a charming, brief reminder; It was springtime outside. From the window, he could see the vivid hues of newly bloomed flowers and the green and pink leaves of the trees swaying in the light wind, and birds singing melancholy. Outside, children played, their laughter filling the air, as he saw bikes and other cars go by. His moods were immediately raised by the cheerful atmosphere the scene created, which was bright and full of color and life.
Yuuichi was a spring lover. He always did because it was alive and lively, 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢.
Spring with you was such a great experience. He sat on his hospital bed inside the room, while you occupied the other corner, seated on your own hospital bed. When the doctor put you in the same room as him, you got to know him. He was quite friendly, often asking how you were feeling and if everything was okay, even though he was a patient himself.
He would be lying if he said he hadn't grown quite attached to you during that springtime.
There were times when your nurses would take the two of you outside to feel the spring air, hear the birds sing, and admire the vibrant pink blossoms adorning the trees. He recalled back to the time he and you went on a picnic with his younger brother, Kyousuke.
He had a lot of wonderful times together over those days, and that's how a new friendship-bright as spring itself-rose. The hospital room, which had been silent when it was only him inside, was now filled with color from your grin and reverberated with a sweet, melancholic sound from your laughter. He thought everything was too perfect; you truly did look like an angel. There was truly an aura about you that made his heart leap and butterflies flutter in his stomach-a feeling he had never quite understood before.
You looked like spring to him... and he loved spring. Sakura are beautiful to see in their prime, but the flowers and the trees are short-lived-
𝐽𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒.
Silence...It was defeaning. Summer would soon be here and you were fading along with the Sakura trees.
Just as people couldn't stop the Sakura trees from withering, he felt powerless to stop himself from losing you.
He was alone in his shared hospital bedroom with you that time, thoughts clouding his mind. A room once filled with laughter and soft giggles fell silent once again. He remembered your words-that no matter what, you would die-and now you had. He was jolted awake by the flatline beep of your life monitor. Doctors rushed in immediately, desperately trying to save you. He watched it all unfold as the doctors tried to revive you-nervousness and hurt filling his chest. It was futile. You faded away, and nothing could ever bring you back....
Why was he so attached to you...? The two of you were only together during springtime-it was such a very, very short time. Yet, why did he feel this way about you...? What were you to him..? It was all too much for him to comprehend...
...𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠? 𝐻𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑖𝑚𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑐𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔...
There were four seasons-spring, summer, fall, and winter-that repeated every year.
Seasons change, and so do people, just like him. As the cycle of seasons continues, so does he. He always brings flowers to where you rest and says his prayers-especially during the spring season. Though their time together was brief, it remains unforgettable, and to this day, he carries it within his heart.
The promise of unlimited possibilities in life, along with the inevitable trials and changes, is symbolized by meeting someone new in the next spring...
Even thousands of times, even ten thousand times, it's fine to remember it over and over again as preparation for the next season that will come thousands of times more in the future.
