Soon, we reached the beautiful private spot Haruna had already booked for us.
A large, soft mat was neatly spread beneath a magnificent old cherry blossom tree, its branches heavy with pink blossoms. Petals fell continuously like soft pink snow, gently covering the mat and our matching black-and-gold kimonos.
The air was thick with the sweet, fleeting scent of the flowers, mingling with the warmth of the afternoon sun. Each step we took on the grass felt like walking through a dream, the earth beneath us yielding slightly as if the world itself were holding its breath to witness this moment.
We all sat together. I turned to Kasumi, who was sitting right beside me, and gently placed my hand on her forehead, my palm lingering against her smooth, warm skin. Her hair, soft as silk, brushed against my wrist as she leaned into my touch.
