Bankara Girl ③ ~ Under the Cherry Blossom Tree

The night before graduation. I couldn't sleep as I remembered so many things.

The first sunrise we watched together from the sea, holding hands and saying how beautiful it was.
Going to the first shrine visit of the year together.
When I rang the bell and put my hands together, what I wished for was to become Azami-san's bride.
When I told her that, she laughed and patted my head.
Azami-san's wish is to become a singer-songwriter.
The first time I went to Azami-san's house, she sang a Spitz medley and Mika Nakashima for me on her guitar.
With her husky singing voice.
I didn't know Azami-san could sing.
When I was talking to a boy in the hallway, Azami-san came over, took my hand, and said, 'Sorry, I got jealous.'
And then, Valentine's Day.
She ate the heart-shaped chocolate I made and said it was delicious.
Playing Taiko no Tatsujin together at the arcade.
Azami-san was very good at it.
Eating snacks at the taiyaki shop 'Tai-Yume' on the way home.
Exchanging the pocket warmers we were carrying.
Talking on the bench behind the school until it got dark after class.
And our first kiss.
Every bit of it is precious.
I held onto the memories of being happy and fell asleep while crying.

And then, graduation day.

After the graduation ceremony ended, I walked unsteadily toward the classroom, unable to stop my tears.
Then, a male classmate approached me and handed me a note.
'Here, this is for you, Ichijo-san.'
When I read the note, it said, 'First cherry blossoms, waiting for you on the hill behind the school. Azami.'
Azami-san doesn't have a smartphone.
I skipped homeroom, and with my heart feeling like it would break from loneliness and sadness, I stumbled up the slope leading from behind the school building to the hill.
The top of the hill is a park with a great view called Senjojiki, and I had spent time there on the bench with Azami-san, watching the town grow dark after school.
Because of the abnormal weather this year, spring came early.
Now, many cherry blossoms are in bloom.
Azami-san was under the largest cherry tree.
'Yo, Misaki-chan, you came.'
Azami-san said that as she turned around, wearing a patched-up school uniform, a student cap, and geta sandals, with a hand towel hanging from her pocket.
The 'bankara' look I hadn't seen in a while was very cool.

'Misaki-chan. Watch closely, okay?'
'Eh?'
'Here I go. Rah, rah, Mi, sa, ki!'
My senior cheered for me in a loud voice.
A cheer just for me.
Was she practicing during winter break for my sake?
Then, she pressed the button on the radio cassette player she had placed at her feet and spread her arms wide.
As the cheering song began to play, she performed a dance, waving her white-gloved hands with all her might.
Amidst the dancing cherry blossoms.
Even though I had been lonely and sad and crying just a moment ago, I couldn't help but laugh.
It's cool, but it's not very romantic, is it?

After finishing the dance, Azami-san stood with her arms crossed, looking proud.
Clap, clap, clap.
'Azami-san, thank you for doing that for me.'
'Yeah, you've taken care of me, Misaki-chan. I wanted to show my gratitude.'
'I'm very happy, but... I'm sorry. I laughed.'
I bowed my head.
'Hehehe. Misaki-chan, your smile is the cutest.'
As she said that, my senior took off her worn-out student cap.
Her long, beautiful black hair flowed in the wind amidst the cherry blossoms.
'Meow.'
Suddenly, a white kitten appeared from somewhere and rubbed against Azami-san's feet.
'Oh, a kitty.'
'Oh, Chibi, you came again?'
Azami-san crouched down to pet it.
'Isn't it cute? Maybe Chibi is here for cherry blossom viewing too.'
'Azami-san, do you like cats? That's surprising.'
'Really? I just thought it kind of looked like me.'
'Haha, maybe it does look like you.'
As we took turns petting the cat, it suddenly slipped through our hands and went over there, perhaps because it saw something in the grass.
'Aw, it left.'
'It did, didn't it?'
Then we both looked at the cherry blossoms.
'The cherry blossoms were early this year. Maybe because of the El Niño phenomenon?'
'If you're going to say that, it's the El Niño phenomenon.'
'Was it? But I'm glad we could see them. On graduation day.'
'Yeah, it's like... it's for us.'
'...Yeah.'
I decided to firmly etch this moment of us looking at the cherry blossoms into my heart.
Because it will surely become a precious memory.


After a while, Azami-san said,
'I put on makeup properly today. How is it? Is it pretty?'
'Haha, senior, you've turned into a panda.'
'No way? Seriously?'
'Just kidding.'
'Oh, you tricked me!'
Saying that, Azami-san tapped me on the head.
I feel very happy somehow.
'Ah.'
We both spoke at the same time.
'That happened before, too, didn't it?'
'It did, it did.'
'I guess we really are on the same wavelength.'

'Azami-san. We'll be able to meet again, right?'
'Yeah.'
'Are you really going on a journey?'
'Yeah. I'm going to see a lot of things. And I'll try writing songs and poems. I think I can only write them now.'
'Until when?'
'Until the money I saved from my part-time job and the fixed deposit my parents made for me runs out. For now, I'm aiming to go around Japan on my motorcycle.'
'Please come and see me again.'
'Yeah.'
'Oh, that's right. Please give me your second button.'
'Sure. Here.'
My senior casually tore off her second button and handed it to me.

Then, my senior took a small knife out of her pocket and carved an umbrella for two into the cherry tree trunk, engraving 'Heart, Azami, Misaki'.
I might get in trouble if we get caught.
It's kind of retro.
I'm sure I'll remember this every time I come here.
A premonition of parting spreads through my chest.
I wonder if I can become as strong as Azami-san.

'Misaki-chan. Thanks to you, I had a fun high school life.'
'Azami-san. Thank you for treating me on Christmas.'
'No, no. I'm glad I got to have a girlfriend like you, Misaki-chan.'
'I'm glad I got to have a girlfriend like you, Azami-san.'
'Hehehehe...'
'I love you.'
'I love you too.'

And then we kissed.

When Azami-san, who is taller than me, leaned down slightly to kiss me, I saw a single tear run down her cheek.
Her lips were trembling slightly.
Senior, you're really going to turn into a panda.
I thought that, but I was crying too.

At that moment, a strong wind suddenly blew, and the cherry blossoms that had fallen to the ground danced up into the sky all at once.