By the roadside, Eikichi Onizuka was already waiting, while Danma Ryuji had gone ahead on his motorcycle.
Despite the heavy congestion in Tokyo due to the Sakura Festival, the group managed to reach Meguro without much trouble.
The Meguro River originates from Setagaya, flows through Shinagawa and Meguro, and finally empties into Tokyo Bay, stretching for about eight kilometers.
From Ikejiri Bridge to Kamekobashi Bridge, approximately 830 cherry blossom trees bloom along the riverbanks.
In the wider sections of the river, boats can be seen gliding along the water, while in the narrower parts, only about five to six meters wide, the cherry tree branches meet in the middle, forming a natural tunnel of pink petals.
While the density of the trees here is slightly less than that of Chidorigafuchi, the narrower river gives the illusion of a much fuller cherry blossom canopy.
Unlike Chidorigafuchi, where the cherry trees form an uninterrupted canopy, the cherry blossoms along Meguro River were originally planted as part of a riverbank reinforcement project.
Due to environmental factors and natural replacements over time, many of these trees are younger and smaller, so they don't create the same overwhelming effect.
However, the narrower river enhances the impact, making the "Cherry Blossom River" here even more breathtaking.
The festival's main hub was in Nakameguro.
This part of the river, only five or six meters wide, was lined with quaint cafés and restaurants, which became bustling hubs of activity during the festival.
Apart from the lanterns sponsored by local businesses, the pedestrian paths on both sides were filled with stalls selling snacks, trinkets, and other festival delights, offering visitors an enjoyable way to pass the time while admiring the cherry blossoms.
By the time Miyamizu Mitsuha and her companions arrived, the sky had already begun to darken.
They had left their large picnic box and mat with Onizuka, who would later deliver them to Kyousuke's house.
Having rested earlier, the girls wasted no time and immediately began exploring the festival.
As everyone knows, the Sakura Festival isn't just about the flowers—it's about the rare treats and performances that only appear during this special time of year.
———————————————————————
As night deepened, a sudden gust of wind swept through the area.
A flurry of petals filled the air—the famed "Sakura Blizzard."
Standing on the famous Bessho Bridge in Nakameguro, the four girls watched as the petals danced in the wind before gently settling onto the dark waters of the Meguro River below.
The river wasn't named "Meguro" because of its black color, yet its shallow and narrow waters did indeed appear dark.
Illuminated by the warm glow of red lanterns, the drifting cherry blossom petals seemed almost ethereal, transforming the river into a true "flowing river of cherry blossoms."
Watching the petals scatter and blanket the water's surface, Miyamizu Mitsuha felt an unexpected pang of reluctance.
'Would she remember this scene when she woke up tomorrow?'
'Would she recall the white duck boats slicing through the water?'
'Would she remember the cherry trees forming a canopy over the river?'
'Would she remember the picnic they shared beneath the falling petals?'
'Would she remember this beautiful night, this river of drifting sakura?'
'Would she remember the bright and cheerful Sakura, the adorable Shouko, and the ever-jealous Naoka?'
'Would she remember all of this?'
"Kyousuke!" A sudden voice pulled her from her thoughts.
Turning around, she saw a beautiful girl with chestnut-colored hair dressed in a pale green kimono.
Mitsuha could see the deep joy in the girl's amber eyes, it was the happiness of seeing Kyousuke again.
But… what was her name?
"Ah, hello."
Clueless, Mitsuha could only smile and nod politely.
…Hmm?
No matter how gentle her eyes were, no charm could be conveyed through such a polite, distant smile.
In that moment, Okudera Miki sensed the unfamiliarity and detachment radiating from Kyousuke's gaze.
The countless words she had wanted to say froze in her throat.
The happiness of this sudden reunion, the excitement bubbling in her heart—all of it was swallowed back down.
"…Hello."
Her face shifted to the professional smile she wore at work, and she gave a small bow.
The pale green kimono, embroidered with golden rapeseed flowers, perfectly accentuated her graceful figure, making her look like a classic Yamato Nadeshiko from the Heian era.
But Mitsuha could feel her sorrow.
Realizing she might have made a mistake, Mitsuha wanted to explain.
Yet before she could, Miki had already taken the hand of her companion and melted into the crowd.
Only then did Mitsuha notice the girl walking beside Miki, a woman dressed in a white coat with jet-black hair cascading past her waist.
As she turned to glance at Mitsuha, her face was filled with open disdain.
"Miki, why did you stop me?" Hiratsuka Shizuka asked.
"Because the performance is about to start," Okudera Miki replied with a serene smile, her voice devoid of emotion.
"But that bastard Kyousuke pretended not to know you! I should've gone over there and given him a piece of my mind!" Shizuka raised her fist angrily.
"Kyousuke might have his reasons," Miki replied gently.
"Hah! He's just pretending because he's with other girls. I saw that girl walk up to him just now."
"Hmm~ Kyousuke isn't like that. Besides, I don't think he was pretending not to know me."
"You're just trying to make yourself feel better! How could he not recognize you?"
"I don't know… But something about his eyes seemed… different. And besides, it's not like Kyousuke and I are that close. Why would he go out of his way to pretend?"
"Wait, you two aren't actually dating?!" Shizuka stopped in her tracks, stunned.
"Haha, Shizuka, I told you that when we first met."
"…Fine. But I still think he needs to explain himself."
"Alright, alright. I'll ask him later. Kyousuke isn't that kind of person."
"He better give you an explanation! Or I'll go to his school myself!" Shizuka still looked indignant.
"He will, he will. Now hurry up, your favorite comedy show is about to start."
"Who said it's my favorite? It's obviously yours."
Miki didn't argue, simply pulling her minimalistically dressed friend through the crowded festival.
She hadn't just been trying to comfort Shizuka, she truly believed that Kyousuke wasn't the type to ignore her like that.
Though she had no idea why he had looked at her with such unfamiliarity, she chose to part with dignity.
Forcing him into an explanation would only make things awkward. Tonight was supposed to be a joyful celebration of the Sakura Festival.
Maybe… I just look too stunning in this kimono?
Perhaps Kyousuke was simply so surprised that he didn't recognize me right away. Haha.
With that thought, Okudera Miki brushed the encounter aside, turned her attention to the performance, and soon, the crisp, cheerful laughter of two young women rang out before the festival stage.
———————————————————————
Meanwhile, Miyamizu Mitsuha, watching Miki disappear into the crowd, frowned, trying to recall if she had ever seen her in Kyousuke's circle before.
"Mitsuha, who was that?" Sakura, who had been browsing accessories at a nearby stall, suddenly appeared at her side.
"I think she's a friend of Kyousuke's, but I…" Mitsuha trailed off, then suddenly, as if struck by lightning, she remembered.
Oh, right, Okudera Miki, the staff member from the Italian restaurant Kyousuke frequented.
The same Okudera Miki who had texted her during their body-swapping days, wondering why he hadn't come to the restaurant.
"Sigh… It feels like I messed things up for Kyousuke again," the girl said, looking dejected.
"Don't overthink it. Is this really your fault?" Sakura reassured her, patting the tall Mitsuha on the shoulder.
"But Kyousuke always did great in Itomori, he never made a single mistake," Mitsuha said, still feeling down.
"Hahaha, are you sure you're not overestimating him?" Sakura laughed.
"I'm not! Didn't I tell you before? In the eyes of Itomori's townspeople, Kyousuke has practically become a divine messenger. He probably has more influence than my father now."
"Mitsuha, you really think too highly of Kyousuke."
As they spoke, Sakura pulled Mitsuha into a narrow alleyway, a small space between two buildings.
Normally, this alley was empty, but during the Meguro River Cherry Blossom Festival, this mere two-meter-wide gap turned into a sought-after dining area.
Vendors would cook at the entrance while customers sat inside, enjoying their food and resting.
Right now, Naoka was already dragging Shouko to the stall, struggling to decide what to order.
The place specialized in fried chicken, its golden, crispy aroma so tempting that even Sakura had to resist the urge to grab a bite.
But no matter how much she craved it, she wasn't about to risk her health for it. If she was going to indulge, she'd wait until…
"Mitsuha, I already ordered you a chicken leg," Naoka called out.
"Thanks."
Mitsuha had wanted to look at the menu, but Sakura had already pulled her to a small table and sat her down.
"Earlier, when you were braiding my hair, you asked me what I was laughing about, right?" Sakura asked as they settled in.
"Yeah, I thought I had said something funny."
"Hahaha, no, I was just thinking, Kyousuke probably had no idea how much that auntie's watermelon business makes each year. That's why he suggested her son move to the city without a second thought."
"No way! Even if we locals get cheaper watermelons, I've only been here a few days, and I already know how expensive they are in Tokyo."
"It's possible. Unless it's for cooking something for me, Kyousuke doesn't really care about food. He'd never go out of his way to buy something like watermelon, he just picks up whatever fruit is convenient to get his vitamins."
Shouko, who had just returned with a plate of fried chicken, joined the conversation.
"You've swapped bodies with him so many times, you must've noticed his fridge, right?" Sakura asked.
"Now that you mention it… I think I only ever saw papaya and beef in there."
Yesterday, they had bought other fruits for dessert, but they were already gone.
And in Kyousuke's notes, the only food-related reminder was that if he got hungry, he could use the beef for a late-night snack.
Despite being so skilled at making desserts, he never made any for himself.
Mitsuha found herself once again astonished by Kyousuke's "laziness."
"And you say Kyousuke was great in Itomori, so much so that your father now avoids you whenever he sees you. Doesn't that seem a little strange?"
"…Not having to get scolded by my dad is a good thing, isn't it?"
Wait a minute.
'What the hell did Kyousuke do to my father?! '
Mitsuha finally realized something was off.
"Hahaha! And even those subordinates you think are so reliable—at first, Kyousuke couldn't stand them."
"Back when school started, he was so afraid of getting jumped that he carried a bamboo sword around every day."
"He only ended up as the leader of the delinquent gang because of Kisaki Tetta and Makki Hojou. Once he became the boss, he figured having a gang of underlings wasn't so bad after all."
Sakura laughed. She had dug up these stories from Eikichi Onizuka, she had to, since Aunt Mikiko was eager to hear all the gossip.
'Afraid of getting jumped?'
Mitsuha was dumbfounded.
The leader of Tokyo's largest delinquent group… afraid of getting attacked? She recalled all the stories about Kyousuke single-handedly taking down entire gangs.
"Oh, and you've all seen the writing on his socks, right? He never buys plain T-shirts because it takes him too much time to figure out which side is the front."
Sakura continued exposing Kyousuke's little quirks.
"He doesn't even realize it, but he always slips into a Hokkaido accent. When he says 'very,' he uses なまら instead of the typical とても."
Shouko chuckled, sharing her own small discovery.
"Hahaha, I knew that too! Aunt Mikiko talks the same way," Sakura laughed, picking up a fried chicken drumstick.
"Kyousuke always ties his shoelaces into tight knots because he's too lazy to retie them when they come undone," Naoka added, not wanting to be left out.
"And Sakura, look at your stomach," Naoka said, poking Sakura's waist with her finger.
"What are you doing?!" Sakura yelped, reacting like a startled cat, though she still refused to put down the chicken. She quickly covered the spot Naoka had poked.
"Careful, you might gain weight," Naoka teased.
"This isn't fat, it's happiness weight!" Sakura declared with confidence.
———————————————————————
Mitsuha had wanted to help Kyousuke maintain his friendships, but in the end, she was the one who ended up getting comforted.
Watching the three girls laughing and bickering, Mitsuha grabbed a piece of fried chicken and took a bite.
Then, she started wracking her brain for embarrassing stories about Kyousuke from Itomori.
"He once tried braiding my little sister Yotsuba's hair, but the moment he finished, she immediately pulled it out in disgust."
"Hahaha, he used to braid my hair when we were kids too—but he has zero talent for it," Sakura said.
At the end of the cherry blossom festival, the four girls made plans to meet up in Itomori.
———————————————————————
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
A certain blonde-haired, blue-eyed doujin artist found herself stranded in a banquet hall, watching the fireworks outside.
Unfortunately, this time, no prince came to rescue her. The self-proclaimed hero was hundreds of kilometers away, deep in the mountains.
And a certain black-haired, red-eyed bestselling author was similarly stuck at a corporate networking event in Wako City.
Her father, delighted at her interest in Tokyo's cherry blossom festival, he figured going to Wako city was just as good, plus, it gave him a chance to brag about his daughter to his friends.
And so, this historic gathering remained limited to just four people.
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