Hamamatsu Flower Park

Kyoto, a hot spring day with an azure and blissful sky. I walk towards Kyoto Station, humming the new poem that I had memorized by heart. During my walk, I think back to yesterday when Yuri-chan and I reunited.

I was able to confirm that my feelings for her never disappeared as we shared a transient, yet magical hug. She told us about her time in Italy and also gave us authentic souvenirs, and we told her about our lives here. We had our fun then, but I knew the real fun wouldn't start until we reached Hamamatsu.

Yuri-chan is already there at the station, I see her standing by the entrance with a long white skirt, plaid brown blouse, and a rose gold beret sitting atop her head. She spots me and waves, I return the gesture.

"Good mornin', you really make those clothes look amazing."

"Fufu," she giggles, "I missed such compliments when I was away. I must say, you make your clothes look nice as well."

"The train should be arrivin' soon, let's go to the platform."

Walking to the Shinkansen Tracks, we arrive at our platform and sit on a bench. Our journey will take an hour and a half, so we should arrive around noon. Yuri-chan looks at her phone and tells me it's from Maru.

"She just informed me that she's going to a shopping mall with Atsui-kun. It seems like their relationship has really become solid."

"It was solid even before he asked her out, but I've never seen either of them so embarrassed before when that day happened. They were cute though."

"I wish I could've been there to see such a confession."

The brakes of the train are heard not that far from our position. I pranced to the edge of the platform to see it docking.
"C'mon, let's take our seats!" I say excitedly.

We board the Hikari Shinkansen train and begin our journey to Hamamatsu. It's my first time on this luxurious train system. I have never left Kyoto, nor have I ever traveled far within the prefecture by train, so I think my "kid in a candy shop" enthusiasm is valid.

We mutually agreed that she'll have the window seat now, and I would get it on the return.

While she watches the mountainous landscape glide by with attentiveness, she says to me, "I've never been to Shizuoka prefecture before, and you still haven't told me what's in Hamamatsu?"

"I'm sure you know that I won't tell you until we're standin' in front of the place."

She turns towards me and pouts, and I close my eyes and display a pleased smile in return. For most of the journey, we talk about trivial things, mainly about what our plans are for the rest of her limited stay. A quarter into the journey, I turn to the window to see her peacefully sleeping with her arms across her stomach.

In slumber, her natural beauty illuminates with the window's assistance. I see no pain inside or around her as the faintest sound of air enters and exits her nose. She remains in a deep sleep until we arrive at Hamamatsu Station. We take our first steps in the southern coast of the prefecture.

In uncharted territory, I lead Yuri-chan by the hand to the bus section, since we're going to take that to the actual park. We were able to see the landscape of the city, which resembled Kyoto in terms of atmosphere. At its penultimate stop, the bus arrives in front of the park. We dismount and gaze upon the sign that displayed, "Hamamatsu Flower Park" in giant red text.

She stares at the sign in awe, not being able to speak as she covers her mouth with her hands. She finally gathers her words together to say,
"This is…where you brought me to…?"

Five minutes past noon, we enter the botanical garden and are immediately welcomed with the first attraction: the "Welcome Garden." The garden is a long horizontal strip made of sand that's filled with layers and layers of flower beds and bonsais. The purpose is to provide a warm welcome to the arriving guests, and it's working on Yuri-chan.

She reads a sign about the garden.
"It says that in the spring season, the flowers on display are wisterias, tulips, and cherry blossoms. They switch out the flowers in the garden depending on seasons!"

There are signs and posters about a special event occurring today, and I task myself with distracting Yuri-chan from them, because they contain a huge spoiler for her. Directly behind the garden is a parkwide three-car "Flower Train." It tours the many attractions of the park along its main road and has multiple stops along the way.

"Are we going to take that right away?" asks Yuri-chan. "I would like to visit each attraction at our own pace, if that's okay?"

On most occasions, I would have agreed with her, but this time was different.
I reply with, "This park closes in seven hours, so we'll have plenty of time to explore the attractions later. But there's actually something I need to show you, it starts in an hour."

I purposely leave her with curiosity lingering in her mind. I want us to take the train because she'd have less time to see the posters around the park. Plus, the train would take us to our destination in time for the unveiling.

We board the train on the last car since all the ones before are packed; they have the same destination as us. The train drives to a downward slope to where a garden and miniature bamboo forest is located. I imagined Yuri-chan taking many pictures of this journey, but she instead chose to enjoy the moment and bask in the bliss she was feeling. She beams and gleams at the blossoming flowers that were planted together to form multiple patterns and symbols such as hearts and peace signs.

We then pass by the "Rose Garden" sitting atop a hill that has a gondola leading towards it. After that, the train makes another stop at an intersection near a pond in the far northeast of the park. The "Waterside Agora" stretches roughly a mile along the northside of the park, and it would actually cross the newest attraction too. Before then, the train will stop at a large structure made entirely of glass––a greenhouse dubbed, "Crystal Palace."

This will be our stop on the train, and it's also everyone else's stop. Together at the hip, I lead Yuri-chan to the wooden doors of the structure. Her breath is taken away upon seeing the contents of the greenhouse. I can hear her inhale firmly and I assume she would turn that air into words of appreciation.

"Oh my goodness!" she exclaims with euphoria. "Look at the plant pots dangling from the ceiling! The vines are stretching their long limbs against the walls! The sparkles reflecting off the freshly watered flower petals!"

She's animated enough to draw every pair of eyes to her, but there's no remorse in the crowd, and she only brightens their day even more. That is her power, and it's working the best on me.

Her ramblings about the scenery and the interior continue as I merrily observe her. Plenty of varieties of flowers were scattered and planted in this greenhouse. Alongside the typical herbs are seasonal plants –– such as cherry blossoms and plum trees. The floor design transitions from the typical square tiles to gray stone bricks laid out to imitate the waves of the sea.

"Kiyoshi-kun, look at that over there!"
She grabs my arm and tugs.

"Alrighty, you're goin' to rip my arm off here."

"Sorry. Anyways, look at the fountain on the other side of the greenhouse!"

"Ah, I see it… Woah, it looks really nice!"

"Right, right? Come on!"
She jumps in front of him, turning around, and slightly arches herself forward.
"We have to keep moving!"

My pupils dilate as I see her close her eyes and smile infectiously –– causing me to smile with her. Her teeth – as white as a porcelain teacup – peering between her raspberry shaded lips makes me inadvertently purse mine. A breeze from an opened door frills her hair back, waving it around, mirroring the bricks below their feet. The fountain paints her with a blue background.

When she turns away, a trance of affection wears off. I quickly take out my smartphone to check on the time, and I receive a message from Jino.

It reads, "Where are you two, it's almost time."

I reply with, "On our way. Wish me luck."

Without saying a word, I cut Yuri-chan's experience in the greenhouse short by gently taking her hand and leading her back outside. She doesn't question my action and instead asks,

"E-Eeh, Kiyoshi-kun? Is it time already?"

Behind the building is where the main attraction for today is located. I lead her around the corner where a swarm of people blocks us from our destination. I maze through and eventually lead her to the other side, where a vista of orange comes revealing itself to her. My hand is tugged and I stop to turn around. She stands still with her eyes widened, pupils dilated, and jaw practically to the ground.

"Ki…Ki…" is all she can say.

The sun is shining and the skies are clear, yet drops of water are still hitting the ground. They're from her eyes, they're from her heart. Before her and everyone else is a long strip of butterfly weed flowers.