By the River, Again
A gold river, an honest letter, and a warm new start
After the festival, the evening sky turned soft .
Aoi walked slowly back to the old river bench.
Haru was already sitting there, waiting for her quietly.
"You were on the stage today," he said.
"I could not do it without your kind words," she said.
They sat together, and the river shone like .
Haru took a slow, deep breath and reached into his bag.
"I have kept this letter for many days," he said.
He gave her the letter with a shy, warm smile.
Aoi opened it and read every single word.
Her eyes became bright, and a small appeared.
"So the girl was your cousin all along," she said.
"I am so sorry that I misunderstood you," she added.
"It is okay. I have wanted to tell you the ," he said.
" spring, we have shared so many quiet evenings," she said.
"The seasons have changed, but this bench stayed the same," Haru said.
Aoi held the letter close to her happy heart.
"I have never felt this happy before," she said softly.
The two of them watched the river together.
"Will you come here again tomorrow?" Haru asked gently.
"Yes, and the day after, and many days after that," she said.
They smiled, and their hands almost touched on the bench.
The spring wind carried the sweet of the river.
From that day, the bench became their favorite place .