The breeze along the canal gently carried the scent of cherry blossoms that afternoon.
She reached up toward a low-hanging branch, stretching on her toes.
“Just a little more…”
He stepped closer, softly placing his hand on her waist.
“Don’t push yourself. The cherry blossoms are already watching you.”
“Then I wish they’d float down to me.”
At that moment, a single petal drifted down and landed on the tip of her nose.
She giggled and turned to look at him.
“See? I told you so,” he said with a quiet smile.
Their eyes met, and something unspoken passed between them.
He gently took her hand in his.
“Let’s come here every year to see this view together.”
“Yes… next year, the year after, and every year after that.”
Beneath the blossoms, only their promise lingered in the still air.
運河沿いの風が、桜の花びらをふわりと運ぶ午後。
彼女は枝に手を伸ばし、少し背伸びをしていた。
「もうちょっと…」
彼は後ろからそっと彼女の腰に手を添えた。
「無理しないで、桜はきっと君を見てるよ」
「じゃあ、花の方から降りてきてほしいな」
その瞬間、ひとひらの花びらが、彼女の鼻先に舞い降りた。
彼女はくすっと笑い、彼の方を振り向く。
「ほら、言った通りだろ？」
二人は目を合わせ、ゆっくりと口元に笑みが浮かぶ。
彼の手が自然と彼女の手を包む。
「この景色、毎年一緒に見ようね」
「うん、来年も…再来年も、その先もずっと」
桜の下、約束だけが静かに響いていた。