A Ray of Sunlight

Chapter 31 - Cherry Blossoms (Haruto's POV)

Things are getting better...right? I mean father gets out of bed and seems more cheerful. That's good...right?

I peeked through a tiny crack in the commander's office and saw father sitting at his desk and joking around with Aoi. Seeing father smile makes me both happy and bitter. Father's still coming back home late and still has barely any energy to do anything at home. How come he's so different in front of his co-workers? I sigh and walk away. It's a good thing he's getting better though. Maybe things will be different.

I walk through the crowd of people and watch the pink blossoms float down from the tree. Every year when the cherry blossoms bloom, the park workers will hold a cherry blossom festival to celebrate the upcoming of spring. Father used to take me to it every year until I was 12 and he stopped going outside as often. I still remember the last time he took me to it, I was nagging him not to go saying how grown up I am. I was so stupid.

I found a spot underneath a tall cherry blossom and sat down on the soft grass. I watched the short grass sway slowly in the wind. Slowly, the crowds walking by start to blur and I start to see a short kid walking beside his father. His father had a smile but his eyes were dull. Gosh, I was so stupid. How could I not have seen?

"Father! Father! Can we leave already? This is boring. I'm a big kid now. We should go somewhere more exciting." The kid said.

"You? Grown up? Haruto, you're still 12." The father said. The father's so gentle yet he looks so bold.

"I am grown up. I'm almost 13 years old. My birthday's in 2 months, remember?"

"Haruto, you're not ready for the real world yet." The father said, chuckling.

"No, I am. I'm all grown up and I could practically do everything by myself. You know, Yukio said I have good spirit. Can you ask him to mentor me?"

"Maybe."

"Ugh! Father! You never see that I'm ready!"

Even though I'm 15 already, I still wasn't ready for the real world. Perhaps that's what fate has for me. I sigh and was about to get up when something gently touched my head. I touched my head and found a cherry blossom on my head. It was in perfect condition, perfect shape, no wrinkles or bruises.

I walked among happy families to go home. Each of their smiles were so wide. When was the last time I had smiled like that?

That night, I continued to work on my project, folding paper cranes after the next. Just as I was done folding, I heard the door creak open and faint footsteps. I turned around to see father walking over.

"Hi." I replied, almost whispering. I wasn't sure what to say so I continued to fold the last paper crane.

"Hello. What are you doing?" Father asked, sitting on my bed, watching me fold.

"Oh...umm...just folding cranes. It's a new hobby I got into I guess. It's...comforting."

"Oh. That's great." Father reaches for a piece of paper and starts to fold one too. "Here." He said, handing me the neatly folded crane. "What are you folding them for? Seems like you already folded a lot."

"It's a secret." I picked up the cranes and tossed them into the jar. "Father, did you know cranes represent good luck? Apparently if you fold 1000 cranes you get a wish granted."

"What wish do you want? I'll try and grant it."

I stayed silent, not wanting to answer the question. "It's a secret."

Father simply smiles. "I'll grant it, really."

I turned my head away from father and turned off my lamp so we were sitting in darkness. The dark casts dark shadows on my face that will cover the tears that are slowly building up in my eyes.

"I don't think you can grant it. Sorry father."