A Voice Unraveling in the Spring Warmth | [Short Story]

When the city turns pink, everyone's conversation is filled with nothing but "cherry blossoms."

It's Wednesday, the day for my food truck business.
With each passing week, it was easy to see that people were walking without looking at their feet.


I don't really like that season when flowers bloom.

My mission in spring is to make sure that doesn't get across to the customers.

I'll leave that balance to Mi-chan, the black cat on the sign.

~Under the tree, I can hear the voice of the person I want to see.~

I once lived in a town where there was a cherry blossom tree that had such a rumor going around.

At the time, I was being looked after by my paternal grandparents because of my father's overseas assignment. Where my mother was... I no longer have any memory of that time.

Both my grandfather and grandmother were kind, and I lived without any hardships. At school, there were many children who cared about my special family situation, but no matter how much I tried to act tough, there was no way I wasn't lonely.

After all, that was back when I was still a young child.

Back then, I always wanted to be in touch with my memories of my father.

The cap, T-shirt, and soccer ball that my father gave me as a gift.

My father's back, which I had never forgotten.

Even though I should have remembered it so well, there was one thing that was gradually fading away.

It was my father's voice.

As if to anchor that faint, fading voice to my own memory, I waited impatiently for spring every year.

My young self was pure and very honest. As the cherry blossoms bloomed, I would walk to the tree almost every day and just wish.

"Please, just once, let me hear my father's voice. It's something precious I don't want to forget, but I'm about to forget it soon."

Every time I look up at the cherry tree, only my father's smile comes back to me.

But... I still cannot hear his voice.

My earnest wish as a young child was, heartlessly, never granted.

In the photo from my junior high school entrance ceremony, it was my grandparents who were standing next to me.

The soccer team at the junior high school I entered was a powerhouse, and my school life was entirely consumed by club activities.
Weekdays and weekends alike, I spent my time practicing soccer, and before I knew it, I was so busy that I forgot about the cherry blossoms blooming.

I no longer believed in the rumors about that cherry tree, either.

In my memories, where I had swapped loneliness for busyness, my father's voice had faded away. It was just like cherry blossom petals, blown away in a strong wind, scattering in an instant.

Once these cherry blossoms fall, the season of fresh green leaves begins.

It will be time to visit my grandparents' grave.

...

...Master! Hellooo!! Hey, Master!

"Oh... yes?!"

It seemed it wasn't a dream that I was being called. When I came to my senses, the young man who had become a regular customer was at the order counter.

"You finally noticed. I called you so many times. Master, you watch the customers' movements and take orders at the perfect time, but unlike usual, your mind seems to be elsewhere... Were you mesmerized by the cherry blossom trees in the park that are starting to reach full bloom?? It's warm with the spring weather, so it makes you want to space out a bit, doesn't it? Well then. One of the usual, please."

"No, I wasn't mesmerized by the cherry blossom trees. That's not it..."

"Right. Because what you like, Master, is women, isn't it? I get it, you know~? Honestly, I've got you figured out."

It seems the regular customer sees right through everything.

Pulling myself together, I focus on brewing my signature coffee.

I pour the freshly made coffee into a paper cup and hand it to the young man.

"Thank you."

The young man takes the coffee, takes a sip, and opens his mouth.

"Master, you might have a lot going on, but... this little one, Mee-chan, has been worried and watching you too, so please don't forget that there are customers like me here."

“Here, take this,” he said, handing me enough money for two cups of coffee.

“They say the wind will pick up starting tomorrow, and it’ll rain at night. By the time we’re open next week, these cherry blossoms will probably be gone. After you finish up today, please have a cup of coffee and enjoy the blossoms before you head home. Today’s coffee is on me. Use the rest to get something for Mi-chan. She’s always working so hard, too. I’ve got a lot to do today, so I’m cutting my break short to get back to work. I might not be able to make it to the shop this week, but
I’ll stop by eventually. See you later!”

“Cheer up!” I said, watching the young man’s back as he walked away, giving a small wave.

Evening. There is a time of day when this park becomes quiet.
Usually, I spend this time people-watching, which doesn't bring in any sales, but today, at the young man’s suggestion, I decided to close up shop.

While cleaning up, I prepared a single cup of coffee for myself.

What a luxury this is.

Since I’m at it, I decided to enjoy the coffee from a customer’s perspective. I stepped out of the food truck and sat down on a nearby bench.

There was no wind.
The sunset and the cherry blossoms blended together to create an indescribably magical scene before my eyes.

It’s not too cold, and the number of pleasantly warm days has really been increasing.

My moment of peace, accompanied by the aroma of coffee, was short-lived.

Caught in a sudden gust of wind, the cherry tree swayed violently, and several petals danced down from the branches.

~ Your existence is
Daddy's greatest treasure. ~

I turned my body toward the direction of the voice, but there was no one there.

That shouldn't be possible, should it...

There is no way I could recognize the voice of a father I have already forgotten. What a convenient auditory hallucination.

As I prepared to head home as if nothing had happened, a black cat 🐈‍⬛ approached me with a light step and rubbed against my feet.

"Hey. Are you trying to tell me that the voice I just heard wasn't an illusion...?"

Meow♪🐈‍⬛

"I see. If I am happy now, it doesn't matter if that voice was a lie. An April Fool's Day like this isn't so bad after all."

What are you meowing about?

In the sky, the first star had begun to shine.

A Voice Unraveling in the Warmth of Spring
<<End>>

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