Monsoon Romance

Haruto's usual walk home from school felt strangely quiet without Aiko by his side. He often wandered past the cherry blossom tree, pausing to sit beneath its branches, lost in thought. The letters he exchanged with Aiko were a comfort, but they couldn't fully replace her presence.

One afternoon, as Haruto approached the grove, he noticed someone unfamiliar sitting beneath the tree. It was a boy around his age, with tousled brown hair and a carefree smile. He was leaning against the tree trunk, flipping through a thick fantasy novel.

Haruto hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. "Hey," he greeted awkwardly, "I've never seen you here before."

The boy looked up, his grin widening. "Oh, hey! I'm Riku. My family just moved here last week. I like this spot—it's peaceful."

Haruto nodded, feeling a flicker of curiosity. "Yeah, it is. I come here a lot too."

Riku patted the ground beside him. "Then sit! I could use some company."

Haruto settled down, keeping a bit of distance at first. Riku didn't seem to mind and launched into a conversation with the ease of someone who wasn't afraid of silences.

"So, what's your deal? You always hang out by this tree?" Riku asked, tossing a pebble into the distance.

Haruto hesitated, unsure how much to share. "It's special to me. My best friend and I used to spend a lot of time here. She moved away recently."

Riku's expression softened. "Ah, I get it. That's rough. Moving's no picnic either. I had to leave all my friends behind."

For the first time, Haruto saw something deeper beneath Riku's cheerful demeanor—a hint of loneliness that mirrored his own.

Over the next few days, Haruto found himself crossing paths with Riku more often. Whether at school or under the cherry blossom tree, Riku had a way of drawing him into conversations. They talked about everything—favorite books, their teachers, and even their dreams for the future.

One day, Riku brought a soccer ball to the grove. "Think fast!" he called, kicking it toward Haruto.

Haruto barely managed to stop it with his foot. "Hey! A little warning next time!"

Riku laughed. "Where's the fun in that? Come on, let's play."

Before long, the two of them were chasing the ball across the grass, laughing and shouting. For the first time in weeks, Haruto felt a spark of joy that he hadn't realized he was missing.

As their friendship grew, Haruto started to notice things about Riku that reminded him of Aiko. Riku had the same curiosity about the world and the same knack for finding joy in the little things.

One evening, as they sat under the tree watching the sunset, Haruto shared a story about Aiko. He told Riku about the time they had rescued Sora, the stray kitten, and how they had named it together.

Riku listened intently, a small smile playing on his lips. "She sounds amazing. No wonder this place means so much to you."

Haruto nodded. "Yeah. She's... special."

Riku stretched his arms behind his head. "Well, I can't replace her, but I can promise you this—I'm here now. And I think this tree could be special for me too."

It wasn't long before Riku became a regular fixture in Haruto's life. He introduced Haruto to new hobbies, like sketching characters from the novels they both loved and attempting (and failing) to bake cookies from scratch.

Haruto, in turn, shared his love for the grove and the memories he had built with Aiko. He even showed Riku some of the letters she had sent him, carefully omitting the more personal parts.

"Wow," Riku said, holding up one of Aiko's doodles. "She's talented. And thoughtful. You're lucky to have a friend like her."

Haruto smiled. "I am."

One day, Riku surprised Haruto by showing up with a small sapling. "Let's plant this near the grove," he said.

Haruto raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Riku shrugged, a playful grin on his face. "Because every good tree deserves a companion. Just like you and me."

Haruto couldn't help but laugh. Together, they found a spot near the cherry blossom tree and planted the sapling, carefully patting the soil around its roots.

As they worked, Haruto felt a sense of gratitude. Aiko's absence still lingered, but with Riku by his side, the world felt a little brighter.

That evening, as Haruto wrote his weekly letter to Aiko, he added a new update:

I've made a new friend. His name is Riku, and he's a little loud, but he's a good person. He reminds me of you sometimes—the way he makes everything feel less lonely. We planted a tree today, right next to ours. I think you'd like him.

Sealing the envelope, Haruto felt a small weight lift from his heart. Life was changing, but it didn't feel like a bad thing. With Aiko's letters in his pocket and Riku's laughter in the grove, Haruto realized that new beginnings didn't have to mean leaving the past behind—they could mean finding new ways to carry it forward.