The sun, a molten gold coin rising over the eastern hills, spilled its warmth across Elffire City on Monday, April 26th. Delicate shafts of light pierced the dawn, illuminating empty streets still damp with the lingering kiss of a spring rain. It was the second day of Bloom Week, a national holiday celebrated with joyous abandon throughout Sakura Abode, and the city wore the holiday's vibrant colors. Cherry blossoms, a frothy pink cloud, tumbled from the ancient Sakura trees that lined the avenues, carpeting the usually bustling thoroughfares in a fragrant, ephemeral snow.
Fewer vehicles than usual disturbed the serene beauty; the normally cacophonous city hummed with a quieter melody, the gentle murmur of spring replacing the usual clamor. Everywhere, vibrant tulips in fiery oranges and sunshine yellows burst forth from meticulously tended beds, their faces turned eagerly to the sun.
