(1,7) I WANT TO SMILE BESIDE YOU IN THE SPRING THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN YET - CHAPTER 1, PART 7

"Nice to meet you. My name is Haruka Hirose."

When I met someone for the first time, my parents always told me to introduce myself, and I did just that.

Then he leisurely turned his head and suddenly sat down on the ground.

As I looked at him and wondered what he was doing, he picked up a pebble that had fallen nearby.

Using the stone, he began to write something on the ground.

Impulsively, I leaned forward and peered into his hand.

I thought he was drawing something, but contrary to what I expected, he was writing.

It read, "Spring Flower"

The handwriting looked delicate and methodical, it was a very beautiful handwriting for a boy.

When I looked down at it, I tilted my head and thought, "Spring flowers?" But I soon realized that it read "Haruka" (はるか).

I looked up and saw that he was looking at me as if he was searching for a reaction.

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I shook my head, realizing that he was trying to confirm the kanji of my name.

"No, it's far away. It's Haruka"

Then he carefully erased the character he had just written by stroking it with the fingertips of his left hand, and this time he wrote "Haruka".

I reached out and gently erased the "香" character.

He wrapped his hands around the word "Haruka" as if it were a treasure.

Then he tilted his head and looked at me.

His thin, soft, brown hair swayed softly and shimmered, golden in the soft winter sunlight.

Even his light-colored eyes sparkled like jewels.

As I gazed at him, he smiled softly. It was a smile that almost melted my heart.

'Like an angel,' I thought again.

What a beautiful boy he really is.

Not only his appearance, but the clear beauty of that smile left me speechless.

It was as transparent and beautiful as glasswork, yet it was a fragile and delicate smile that could crumble if you put too much force into it.

If someone did not hold it carefully and protect it, it would soon be broken.

I opened my mouth to let out the strange thought that had occurred to me.

"What about you? What's your name?"

He smiled and again used a pebble to write on the ground.

"Amane."

It was much smaller and more subdued than when he had written my name.

"Amane?"

I asked, and he gave a small nod.

"Sounds like it's coming down from the heavens. It's a lovely name. It suits you very well."

He blinked when I said that.

His eyes seemed to moisten again.

My tears had dried up.

My heart had been so turbulent, but now it was calm and tranquil as if nothing had happened.

I stared at Amane, who was crouching on the ground facing me.

He was also looking at me.

I am sure there will be another day when I will feel the same pain as I did today.

But remembering him will make me feel a little better.

If I remember his singing voice and his smile …

"... Hey, can you sing that song again?"

I found myself letting those words out of my mouth.

Amane widened his eyes in surprise for a moment, then bit his lip lightly and furrowed his brow.

He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly.

He gently touched his throat with his right hand and closed his eyelids as if in prayer.

Then he slightly shook his head.

His lips quivered slightly as if he was saying something, but he didn't speak.

Then he gave a small shake of his head.

But it seemed to me that his lips moved in the shape of a "No".

"... What's wrong?"

I asked softly, and he slowly turned his head toward me and smiled sadly.

While I was at a loss for words, Amane slowly stood up and bowed to me.

Reflexively, I returned the bow.

Amane waved me a hand flutteringly and walked out of the park, swaying in the cold winter air.

I, the one who was left behind, continued to stare in the direction in which he had left as if tracing his vanished presence.