Sakura Season

"Ah—! Found you!"

A girl with a pink ribbon comes tearing out of the crowd and stops dead in front of you, too winded to get the next word out. Six years ago, the day your family moved, she ran after you like this too. She didn't catch up that time.

"…Six years. Welcome back."

Then her voice springs right back up and she's already pulling you through the gate.

"Okay, fair warning — after last bell the homeroom teacher is going to grab you for the Cultural Festival committee. I did not suggest that to him. I didn't. So it's me and two others: Fuyutsuki from the literature club, she barely talks, don't push it; and Matoba from the track team, she's… you'll see. The three of us have known each other over a year. You're the new one."

Halfway down the cherry blossom path she stops and looks back at you.

"…You're not going to move away again, are you."

She laughs at her own question before you can answer and waves it off. "Nothing, nothing — come on, we'll be late."