"Haru?"

A soft voice called his name and lightly tapped on the door. He quickly closed the curtain and opened it to find a woman wearing a cozy blue sweater and jeans. She had shoulder-length hair tied up in a neat bun, and her brown eyes showed confidence and warmth, with lines around her mouth suggesting a lot of laughter.

He met her gaze, and she bowed her head. "Forgive me, this room is a bit cramped..."

"Please don't worry about it, Nishii-san. I'm really grateful for this room."

"I see that you've finished unpacking."

"Living in a ryokan taught me to be fast."

"Ah, right. I forgot you're from a busy place."

Nishii-san was a dear friend of his mother, Midori. They had been close since their teenage years when they first crossed paths in Yokohama and remained friends over the years. Learning about Haru's decision to attend university in Tokyo, Nishii-san offered him a place to stay for free. She lived alone and this upper bedroom was usually rented to university students. It was a welcome and generous gesture, given the sky-high price to rent an apartment in Tokyo. Haru gladly accepted, and he officially moved in yesterday.

She hummed a brief, familiar melody, probably a jingle from a detergent commercial on TV, before adding, "By the way, I want to introduce you to someone."

"Who?"

"Our neighbor. He lives right across the street."

That guy. Haru had been discreetly keeping an eye on him from his window before Nishii-san arrived. Even with the bruised cheek and the large bandage, he still resembled a model straight out of a clothing ad. Haru couldn't help but wonder what had happened to cause the bruise.

"We're good friends, and I often send him meals," Nishii-san added. "Since you and him are about the same age, I thought it'll be great if you two could become friends."

"That's very considerate of you. Thank you."

They went downstairs, paced through the hallway and halted at the foyer. Nishii-san handed him a bowl wrapped in plastic. "Can you give this to him, please?"

Haru peeked inside the bowl. "Takenoko?"

"Perfect timing, don't you think?"

They shrugged into their coats and stepped out, greeted by a gentle breeze carrying pink sakura petals along the street. In the distance, the towering skyscrapers of the city loomed, stark against the simplicity of his quaint hometown in Nara Prefecture, Yoshino. Though he had never set foot in the capital before, he had seen Tokyo countless times on TV and the internet, well aware of its bustling metropolis. As he took in the grandeur of the scene, he couldn't shake the feeling of insignificance and a tinge of being out of place. He was, in essence, a foreigner—an "inaka-jin" as Tokyoites might brand him: a countryside dweller. Nevertheless, this was home now, and he was determined to make himself as comfortable as possible.

"It's getting warm lately," Nishii-san murmured.

"A good sign for spring."

"Yes. Sadly sakura isn't as abundant as in your hometown."

"We should go to the park, then."

"Good idea. How about going for hanami this weekend? I really want to go. You know what, there's a popular garden nearby, the Showa Kinen. I think you should come along." Nishii-san paused herself. "But I reckon you're tired of hanami."

Yoshino's mountain was renowned in Japan as one of the best sakura viewing spots. Every spring people made their way there, turning his family's ryokan—a traditional Japanese guesthouse—into a lively haven for tourists. Yet the gleam of excitement in Nishii-san's eyes stopped him from declining.

"The weekend sounds perfect," Haru replied, trying his best to look pleased.

Nishii-san nodded in satisfaction, and they found themselves standing across the street. With no doorbell in sight, they opted for a friendly knock.

"Good afternoon," greeted Nishii-san with a wide smile. "Forgive our intrusion."

From inside, a voice hollered, "Yeees..." and shortly after, the door swung open.

The guy stepped into view, his tall, slender frame drawing attention. His pale complexion spoke of days spent away from the sun, highlighting a striking red bruise on his left cheek, concealed beneath a massive bandage. Jet-black hair framed his face, long fringes adding a touch of mystery as they partially obscured his eyebrows. His large, clear eyes briefly scanned the guests before settling on the floor. In contrast, his lips, small yet defined, curved into a polite smile, adding an enigmatic charm to his presence.

"Ah, Nishii-san." His voice thin and hoarse. "Good afternoon."

That bruise caught Nishii-san's attention right away. "What happened to your face?"

"I fell."

"Fell?"

"I was really sleepy last night and stumbled getting up from the bathtub."

Haru nearly chuckled at the response. It seemed a bit awkward, not quite fitting the heroic backstory he had imagined—perhaps something involving the yakuza. But then again, that would be too far-fetched. Haru realized he had been watching too many action movies lately and chided himself for it.

"Did you put the bandage on yourself?" Nishii-san asked with concern. "Do you want me to take a look?"

"Thank you. I'm fine."

"Please be more careful next time."

"I will." The neighbor gestured for them to come inside. "Please come in."

Nishii-san led the way, and Haru followed her into the foyer. She and the neighbor were already engrossed in a friendly chat. Suddenly, the neighbor's gaze turned to him, silently questioning why he was trailing behind Nishii-san.

Nishii-san gestured for Haru to hand over the bowl. He hesitated for a moment before extending it towards the neighbor. "Please accept this small gift," he said quietly.

The neighbor blinked nervously before accepting the bowl. "Ah, thank you."

"You're welcome..." he hesitated, pausing to recall the neighbor's name until he realized that Nishii-san hadn't mentioned it yet.

"Haru, why don't you introduce yourself?" Nishii-san came to rescue.

"I'm Nakano Haruki." He bowed to the neighbor. "From now on, I'm staying with Nishii-san. Pleased to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," the neighbor replied with another bow. "I'm Fujiwara."

"Haru just got here yesterday evening, all the way from Yoshino in Nara. He's never been to Tokyo before," Nishii-san explained. "He's starting uni at Hitotsubashi this April. Yuki, isn't your cafe close to the campus? Maybe you can walk to work with him and show him around the area?"

A cold smile, more of a smirk, played on Fujiwara's lips. His expression showed no sign of interest in Nishii-san's suggestion; he reacted as casually as if discussing the weather.

Haru felt a pang of embarrassment, wondering if following Nishii-san here was a misstep. While he didn't expect a warm welcome, considering the reputed reserve of Tokyoites, he hadn't anticipated such a chilly response either.

It dawned on him that the first name seemed fitting: Yuki can mean snow.

"I can give Nakano-san a tour around the neighborhood if he wants," said Fujiwara without looking at Haru. "I know you're busy at the hospital, Nishii-san."

"Actually, I don't want to bother," Haru interrupted.

"No bother at all. Happy to help a friend of Nishii-san."

He didn't believe him. Fujiwara didn't look happy at all.

"Perfect!" boomed Nishii-san, her tone was overly hopeful. "By the way, Yuki, do you want to go for hanami this weekend?"

"Oh, thank you for the offer. But I'm truly sorry..."

"You need to go out more. The weather is getting warmer lately. Fresh air is good for your health. I'm not taking no for an answer. Remember last month when you mentioned going out once it gets warmer? Spring has begun. It's warmer."

"I said I would consider going out..."

Nishii-san didn't take rejection lightly. Haru watched as she bravely convinced Fujiwara to join, not hesitating to apply a little pressure. The more Nishii-san urged Fujiwara, the more uncomfortable Haru felt. Fujiwara's expression clearly showed he didn't expect guests at this hour—whether bringing food or not, let alone someone persuading him to go out. Haru wanted to ask Nishii-san to let the neighbor go and return home, but he struggled to find the right words without adding to his own embarrassment. It felt as if he were a child being pushed around and longing to retreat to the safety of home.

Yuki kept saying no, and Nishii-san shot Haru a look, signalling for backup.

"If Fujiwara-san could join," Haru added. "I'm sure it will be more fun."

The neighbor locked eyes with him. His eyes widened, and Haru braced himself for potential eviction. Suddenly, an enigmatic smile graced Fujiwara's face.

"If you two keep insisting," he said. "I'll join the hanami."

---

"Takenoko" refers to the edible shoot of the bamboo plant. They are known for their crisp texture and mild, slightly sweet flavor. Takenoko is commonly used in soups, stir-fries, and pickled dishes, and it's often considered a seasonal delicacy in spring when bamboo shoots are harvested.

"Hanami" (花見) is a traditional Japanese term that literally translates to "flower viewing." It specifically refers to the practice of appreciating and enjoying the beauty of cherry blossoms (sakura) or other blooming flowers, typically in the spring. During hanami season, people gather in parks and other outdoor spaces to picnic.