The black cat trotted over to Marie’s feet, which made me smile. She squeezed my hand and spoke about whatever came to mind, and listening to her beautiful voice soothed my soul.
“You may not know this, but the spirits become very active around clusters of trees. On days with fine weather like this, they become so powerful they can affect human emotions. Do you remember when we went cherry blossom viewing in spring? Ah― Actually, you don’t need to think about that,” she said.
“Ah...” I emitted a noise and stopped in place. Memories of vibrant cherry blossoms in Aomori and Marie sitting on a bench returned to me. I had moved closer to her as if drawn in by a mysterious force, and then...
“I told you not to think about it,” a pouty voice said from beside me, and my face grew hot despite the chilly weather.
I couldn’t forget about that moment if I tried, not that I would ever want to. So, I pushed through the embarrassment and held Marie’s hand in my own.
“We should go again some time,” I said.
“Yes, we should.”
She had turned away when she replied, but judging by her tone, she was all for it.
I had lived most of my life with apathy. From my guess, most people did. Views that I saw once a year never moved me, and I only thought about the work I had on my plate. Thanks to her, everything around me seemed to glow these days.
The colorful autumn leaves captivated Marie, and her joy flowed into me, filling me with unbridled excitement. All the city’s rows of ginkgo trees were truly breathtaking. Seeing her smiling in the sunlight, I only wanted to keep walking along the beautiful golden path with her.
I noticed the two others who we were supposed to meet up with. We had mentioned wanting to walk earlier, so Wridra and Kaoruko kindly gave us some alone time together. They sat on another bench along the ginkgo trees and waved at us when they saw us approach.
Distinguished students from all over Japan attended the university here in Bunkyo Ward. Since it was a weekend, the areas open to the public were full of people, including families and young people.
It was my first time here, of course. Beyond the greenery was a giant building. There was an unusual air about it, likely because this university was one of Japan’s most difficult to get into. If I had come here alone, my eyes probably would have been darting all over the place like some country bumpkin. But I had some otherworldly companions with me today, and they were simply amazed by the fine school building.
“That’s a nice building. Befitting of a prestigious and historic university,” I commented.
“Yes,” agreed Marie. “Oh, do you remember the gate at the entrance? Wooden gates always look so nice. The roof tiles were a nice touch too. Wridra, don’t you think our mansion could use a gate like that?”
“Indeed. It would be even better if we get surrounded by armed swordsmen,” said Wridra.
I wasn’t sure if she wanted to bolster the mansion’s defenses or get attacked. Historical dramas were fiction, but Wridra could cut down enemy after enemy in real life. Come to think of it, I wasn’t sure when they had started watching those shows, making me wonder what they did while I was at work. As an aside, Wridra was supposedly a fan of a chivalrous blind swordsman.
The rows of ginkgo trees were a magnificent sight. Leaves fell from them and piled up on the ground, filling most of the view with shades of gold. Everyone who walked this path to school daily must have felt pretty good.
The school buildings on either side of us had a touch of the Meiji-era aesthetic. They contributed to the fantastical air, and Marie couldn’t get enough of it. Wridra and Marie wandered off, drawn to the scenery that was brilliant in a way that was different from the cherry blossoms. In the meantime, their beauty shocked the surrounding people.
I heard the crunch of leaves under someone’s shoes and noticed a woman standing beside me. So, I looked to my side to find a pair of black eyes looking back at me.
“Isn’t this campus beautiful? This is where my husband and I used to go. We still walk here sometimes when we’re in the area.” said Kaoruko.
She wore a black-and-white checkered skirt with black tights underneath for a modern look. With the ginkgo leaf in her hair and subtle lipstick color, she fit in quite well with the view here.
Then she bowed slightly and said, “Thank you for earlier. It made me so happy when you all welcomed me.”
Maybe she was feeling shy, staring at her fingers as she spoke. She blinked a few times, and her eyes softened into a smile.
“I guess I’d given up. I didn’t even realize it until earlier,” continued Kaoruko.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
She pointed her finger, and I followed it to notice Marie and Wridra walking farther away. The gesture seemed to mean we’d lose them if we didn’t follow. We started walking toward the others, and her gaze slowly moved from me to the ginkgo trees.
“We left our hometown, got married, started working, and things calmed down a bit. I thought life would stay how it was for the coming decades,” she said softly, and I nodded. I had felt the same way working as an office worker. I wanted to live in peace, causing as little trouble as possible. “The thought of going out and having fun with friends fills me with so much excitement, I can hardly wait. For so long, I’d been separated from my close friends back in Hokkaido.”
I finally understood where she was coming from. That must have been why she felt so moved earlier in the car. She had shed tears because she was truly happy about meeting new friends and discovering a new world.
Kaoruko smiled to hide her embarrassment and said, “I’m looking forward to you teaching me the ancient language, sensei.”
“Are you sure about this? I may look sleepy, but I’m a strict teacher. Will you be able to keep up?” I asked jokingly.