As sakura said that Shouko flashed a gentle smile and waved at them as Mitsuha hurriedly pedaled the boat.
Ueno Naoka climbed back onto the duck boat, and Sakura immediately followed, pulling Mitsuha or rather, Kyousuke—along with her.
"Hehe, Mitsuha, let's take a few pictures together first. Naoka, you can wait your turn."
Mitsuha couldn't help but laugh at Sakura's mischievous grin and Naoka's slight irritation.
They took photos in every possible combination—Shouko, Mitsuha, and Sakura together; Shouko and Mitsuha; Shouko and Sakura; Naoka and Mitsuha…
Aside from one big group shot with the so-called "troublemaker duo," they managed to capture every combination.
"It's Sakura's turn to take some pictures now," Shouko suddenly announced, noticing that everyone else had already taken individual shots.
"Haha, I don't like taking pictures alone. Mitsuha, come over and join me," Sakura said, standing on the small boat, now the only one left on it.
Doesn't like taking pictures alone? Mitsuha was puzzled but quickly snapped a couple of candid shots of Sakura with her phone.
Sakura's simple outfit—a white T-shirt and black shorts—did nothing to dull her beauty.
On the contrary, her exposed, toned legs and slim yet athletic arms only made her look even more full of life.
Kyousuke would be thrilled to see her like this—so vibrant and cheerful.
With that thought, Mitsuha, spurred on by Sakura's urging, stepped onto the boat.
Even though the person beside her wasn't really Kyousuke, Sakura still happily hooked her arm around Mitsuha's.
Missing out on a photo with Sakura-sama on a day like this? That would be heartbreaking for Kyousuke!
A gentle breeze swept through, snatching hats off passersby on the bridge and sending a cascade of cherry blossoms fluttering through the air like pink snowfall.
Symbolizing life, spring, hope, and love, the cherry blossoms transformed the two figures on the boat into a scene straight out of a dreamlike spring painting.
Sakura beamed at the camera, flashing a bright, carefree smile.
With their photoshoot complete, they bid farewell to Eikichi Onizuka's duo and returned the duck boat.
The four of them continued their stroll along Chidori Greenway, heading toward their next destination—Chidorigafuchi Park.
Finding the perfect picnic spot under the cherry trees wasn't as easy as it seemed.
Most of the best-blooming cherry trees were surrounded by greenery and fenced off from visitors.
Beautiful lawns were also off-limits—otherwise, they'd be trampled beyond recognition.
But Chidorigafuchi was different.
Second only to Ueno Park as one of Tokyo's top cherry blossom viewing spots, it featured a well-maintained cherry grove with specially cultivated grass designed to withstand foot traffic.
On days like this, the park opened up for visitors to enjoy hanami with drinks and food.
Of course, drinking wasn't mandatory—but the locals loved it.
Cherry blossoms, with their dazzling yet fleeting existence, embodied the Japanese aesthetic of mono no aware.
Even those who rarely drank would find themselves sipping a bit of sake beneath the blossoms.
From a distance, the cherry grove came into view—dozens of trees in full bloom, forming a vast pink canopy.
With the lush green grass below, it looked like something out of a fairytale, if you ignored the scattered crowd.
"Mitsuha, you guys go ahead and find a spot. I'll catch up in a bit," Sakura said with a grin before dashing off.
"I hope we can still find a good spot…" Naoka sighed, already worrying about the picnic.
"Don't worry. Onizuka just told me that he had his subordinates save us a place."
Mitsuha finally understood the meaning behind a note in Kyousuke's memo:
———————————————————————
"My subordinates are reliable and resourceful. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to rely on them."
———————————————————————
Truly reliable and resourceful—like Doraemon with his endless gadgets!
Upon reaching the crowded lawn, they spotted two of Kyousuke's subordinates, whom Mitsuha had met before but couldn't recall their names.
They were casually sitting on the grass, playing on their phones to reserve the spot.
Expressing gratitude in the name of their leader, Mitsuha thanked them, while Shouko offered them a few treats from their picnic basket.
The two subordinates happily accepted the food and walked away, munching away with smiles on their faces.
They spread out the picnic mat, they were thicker and more comfortable than usual because both Kyousuke and Sakura refused to settle for anything less than perfect.
If Mitsuha had been in her own body instead of Kyousuke's, carrying it even a hundred meters would have been exhausting.
Kicking off their shoes, Mitsuha sat cross-legged on the mat.
Just the thought of doing this in her original body made her grin—her friends would have squealed in protest at such an unladylike posture.
Shouko and Naoka also took off their shoes and began setting out the food.
Don't even ask about the shoes—because obviously, a beautiful girl's feet always smell nice!
The picnic spread featured thinly sliced beef, an assortment of sushi, and true to Kyousuke's style—several yam-based dishes, including his signature spinach and yam rolls and steamed yam cakes.
No matter the occasion, Kyousuke's cooking always included yam.
Oh, and there was papaya, too. A full liter of fruit salad filled a thermal container, featuring papaya balls and an assortment of other fruits.
Not to mention, Kyousuke's special homemade fruit and vegetable juice—the non-foaming kind.
Since he drank it regularly after workouts, the ingredients leaned more towards mild vegetables and sweet fruits.
"Wow, it's been a while since we've had Kyousuke-kun's signature yam-and-papaya dishes!" Shouko exclaimed, bursting into laughter along with Naoka.
Miyamizu Mitsuha, confused, blinked at them. "Uh… Is it because Kyousuke really likes yam and papaya?"
"Hehe, let's wait for Sakura to explain that one. But you should try the steamed yam cake—it's amazing!" Shouko said, pointing at the fluffy cake sprinkled with black sesame seeds.
"Alright."
Still puzzled, Mitsuha put her curiosity on hold and popped a piece into her mouth.
Wow!
The moment it hit her tongue, the soft, airy texture caught her by surprise. She never imagined yam—something so sticky—could be turned into something so light and fluffy.
A single bite released the nutty aroma of roasted sesame seeds, blending seamlessly with the mild sweetness of yam and the creamy richness of milk. It was an explosion of flavors.
"Delicious! Seriously, this is incredible!" Mitsuha said excitedly, grabbing another piece.
"Hehe, this is Naoka and my favorite yam dish!" Shouko grinned, savoring her own piece slowly.
"But why is everything a dessert? And why is Kyousuke a guy but so good at making sweets?" Mitsuha asked before stuffing another bite into her mouth. It was just too good!
"Hehehe~"
Shouko and Naoka giggled again.
"You'll have to ask Sakura about that."
"Ask me what?"
Sakura's voice rang from behind them.
Turning around, they saw her running towards them, both hands carrying large bags and a bright smile on her face.
"Sakura, is that… ice cream?" Shouko immediately spotted the massive tub through the transparent plastic bag.
"Hahaha, you bet! Chocolate-flavored!"
Sakura plopped down onto the mat, catching her breath while proudly hugging the ice cream tub.
"And that's not all—Calbee chips, wasabi-flavored rice crackers, Coke, Pocky…"
As she excitedly unloaded her haul, she listed each item like a chef announcing their special menu.
"But… Kyousuke-kun…" Shouko hesitated, glancing worriedly at Kyousuke.
Then, as she turned her head, she locked eyes with Miyamizu Mitsuha, who looked utterly confused.
"Oh, right! Kyousuke-kun isn't here." Shouko smiled apologetically at Mitsuha before shifting her gaze back to Yamauchi Sakura.
"Haha, it's times like these that Kyousuke always keeps me company while I indulge in junk food. He secretly drinks cola himself, thinking I don't know. Every time he knows I'm coming over, he hides all the bottles at home."
Sakura scrunched her nose playfully and pulled out four paper cups before popping open a bottle of cola.
With a sharp pop, a burst of fizz and cold mist rose into the air. Before anyone could react, Sakura had already poured four cups of cola and handed them out.
"Cheers!"
Her face lit up with excitement as she raised her cup high, her voice brimming with an infectious energy.
"Haha, cheers!" Mitsuha, captivated by Sakura's vibrant and confident presence, was the first to respond.
"Kyousuke-kun's going to find out, you know," Shouko chuckled as she lifted her cup as well.
"Happy Sakura Festival, Sakura," Naoka said, raising her cup.
"Happy Sakura Festival! Let's come again next year!" Sakura clinked glasses with each of the girls in turn.
"Cough, cough—oh wow, that's good!"
Sakura had barely taken a sip before choking on the carbonation, yet she still managed to praise the drink enthusiastically.
Next year, huh…?
As Mitsuha watched the cherry blossoms swirl in the air before being carried away by the wind, she found herself recalling her grandmother's words with newfound clarity.
Time gathers. Forms. Twists. Intertwines.
Time almost felt like it had a shape—like the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms, blooming gloriously for a brief moment, bringing hope and love.
Time almost felt like it had a shape—like the laughter of a girl dancing in a flurry of petals, radiant and full of life, making spring even more beautiful.
Sitting cross-legged on the mat, Mitsuha felt as if she had entered a strange state. It was as if her soul had drifted beyond her body, and the connections between all things in the world suddenly became visible to her.
Lines stretched out from Kyousuke—one connecting to Sakura, another to Shouko, another to Naoka. Some extended skyward, disappearing into the unknown…
Her mother's words echoed in her mind: Everything in this world has its destined place.
For the first time, Mitsuha seriously pondered the question she had always brushed aside.
Why did she and Kyousuke swap bodies?
Why her and him?
Was it her mother, or perhaps the gods, who sent Kyousuke to restore the Miyamizu Shrine?
Then what about her? Why had she, an ordinary girl, come to this place? Why was she here, sharing this beautiful spring day with these wonderful people?
What was the meaning behind her meeting Sakura and the others?
At that moment, the insecurities that had always lurked in her heart seemed to fade away. Just like her mother had said—there must be a reason she was here. She just hadn't realized it yet.
A vision of her mother's warm, gentle face appeared in her mind, whispering her name.
———————————————————————
Mitsuha…
———————————————————————
"Mitsuha? What are you daydreaming about? Hurry up and eat something!"
"Ah—yeah, yeah, I'm coming."
Snapping back to reality, Mitsuha found herself still sitting on the mat. Her mother wasn't there, and she hadn't experienced some out-of-body phenomenon.
Smiling, she caught the bag of chips that Sakura tossed her way. But as she did, she noticed something amusing—despite all her talk about pigging out on junk food, Sakura was currently holding a steamed yam cake in one hand while stabbing at a papaya ball with a toothpick in the other.
Curious, Mitsuha blurted out the question that had been on her mind.
"Sakura, why does Kyousuke like making dishes with yam and papaya so much? And why are they all sweets?"
"Oh, that's a long story! Back when my family had just moved in next door to Kyousuke's, he took one look at me and instantly knew I was going to grow up into a super beautiful girl—"
Sakura chewed twice, swallowed, and then launched into her favorite story—the tale of how she and Kyousuke met, and the past they shared.
Shouko and Naoka exchanged a glance before slipping on their shoes and heading off to take pictures. They knew that once Sakura got started on this story, there was no stopping her.
What they didn't know, however, was that this time, Sakura's story had something new.
"...So, to make sure I exercised every day, that guy started cooking all sorts of delicious treats to bribe me into going running with him."
"I see."
Childhood friends, huh? That sounds nice.
As Mitsuha listened to their story, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Her own childhood friends were just Teshigawara, the buzz-cut monk-in-training, and Sayaka… Though, well, Sayaka was pretty cute.
"But why only yam and papaya? If he wanted to make sweets, wouldn't it be easier to just use regular sugar like normal kids like?"
"Oh, that~"
Sakura glanced toward Shouko and Naoka, who were now some distance away, still happily taking photos.
"This is a secret. If I tell you, you can't tell anyone else, okay?"
"A secret? Even Kyousuke doesn't know?" Mitsuha asked, puzzled.
"Hehe, it's a secret that Kyousuke thinks I don't know, but I actually do."
Sakura lay back on the mat, staring up at the cherry blossoms. Though she was smiling, her voice slowly grew quieter.
"Huh?" Mitsuha was confused by the seemingly roundabout statement.
"I'm going to die soon, Mitsuha."
What?!
Mitsuha, who had been expecting another lighthearted childhood story, was utterly stunned.
She stared blankly at the girl lying there with her hands folded over her stomach, unsure how to react.
For the first time since they'd met, this vibrant, energetic girl, always full of life like a blooming cherry blossom, was completely still.
If not for the way her brown eyes followed a drifting petal through the air, Mitsuha might have believed she had actually died after saying those words.
"Gotcha!"
Sakura suddenly turned her head toward Mitsuha, startling her out of her daze.
"Of course I was scared! Anyone would be if their friend suddenly said they were dying!"
"Hehe, that's why I made sure Shouko and Naoka couldn't hear. Besides, Kyousuke wouldn't be shocked."
"Huh?"
Mitsuha suddenly recalled the strange phrasing Sakura had used earlier.
So… did that mean—?
"Kyousuke knows? Wait, no, no, wait—how can you say you're dying when you look perfectly fine?!"
"Haha! You're sharp, Mitsuha. You've got the makings of a detective!"
Sakura sat up again, grabbed a bag of chips, and started devouring them with unmatched enthusiasm.
"Never mind that! Explain! What do you mean you're dying?! Are you trying to give me a heart attack first?!" Mitsuha nearly snatched the chips out of her hands in frustration.
Who wouldn't panic if a friend they had just gotten to know suddenly announced they were dying?
Especially someone like Sakura—a girl whose very presence made everything around her brighter.
"Mitsuha, you're turning mean, just like Kyousuke~"
Sakura giggled.
"Hehe, yeah… I guess acting all cutesy doesn't really suit me. That's more of Shouko's thing."
Seeing Mitsuha, who is currently in Kyousuke's body looking so anxious, Sakura finally spoke up.
It was the first time she had ever confided in someone about this, and her nerves made her ramble before she could get to the point.
"Even though I don't know why… Kyousuke seems to believe that I will die in the future from some kind of pancreatic disease."
"Huh?! Did that damn Kyousuke get possessed by a god or something?! How would he even know that?!"
"Hahaha, Mitsuha, you making that face in Kyousuke's body is just priceless! I need to take a picture and show Aunt Mikiko!"
Sakura quickly pulled out her phone, but Mitsuha had already composed herself.
"Possessed by a god? What are you even talking about?" Sakura asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'll explain that later! First, you need to tell me everything about this."
"You know how Kyousuke absolutely hates dealing with anything troublesome, right?"
"Yeah."
If anything, Kyousuke's mild case of obsessive-compulsiveness came from his desire to avoid unnecessary hassle.
Everything in his room was arranged meticulously, so he wouldn't have to search for anything later.
If he started something, he would make sure to finish it perfectly—because leaving things half-done would just create more work down the line.
Even his socks had "L" and "R" labeled on them, just so he wouldn't mix them up and stretch one out the wrong way.
Mitsuha still remembered how speechless she had been when she first noticed the labels.
This guy truly lived his life in a way that minimized all future inconveniences.
"And yet," Sakura continued, "this same guy, who hates hassle more than anything, has been making me different desserts every single day since third grade, just so he could get me to exercise with him."
"And not just any desserts, always ones made with papaya and yam, both of which are beneficial for the pancreas."
"On top of that, he's constantly nagging me about eating too much oily or cold food."
Sakura turned to face Mitsuha directly.
"So tell me, why would someone who avoids unnecessary trouble at all costs go out of his way to do something so painstakingly meticulous for so many years?"
Mitsuha fell silent, staring at the girl in front of her.
A few petals had landed in Sakura's brown hair, reminding Mitsuha of a cherry tree that had already begun to shed its blossoms, its season coming to an end.
The thought sent a shiver through her. She quickly pushed it aside and refocused on what Sakura was saying.
She was right. There had to be another reason—something more than just the one she had given.
But what was it?