Cherry Blossom Magic

"Was that Yusuke practicing soccer back there?" asked Ren. "Why is he doing that on Sunday?" He glanced at the field, but the boy there was gone.

"Maybe he likes practicing," Hana said.

"This isn't the place to do it," said Sora. "There are already too many people here."

"He needs to relax more." Momo caught two petals in her hand. More cherry blossom petals floated down to the grass.

"Do you have the blue plastic sheet, Ren?" Hana asked.

The four friends stopped under a tree. The branches were covered in small white flowers. Three families set out sheets under different trees.

Ren pulled the sheet from his bag. "My mom picked this up from the hundred-yen store yesterday. What is it?"

"It's waterproof and clean. We sit on it, so water can't come through. I brought mine as well." Hana took a pink sheet from her bag. "Make sure you put the right side on the ground."

"What's that anime character on yours?" Ren asked.

Hana turned red. "Anpanman. I used this when I was in elementary school," she said.

Ren opened the sheet to lay it on the ground.

"Wait!" shouted Hana.

"What?" Ren jumped.

"See this kanji?" Hana pointed to the corner of Ren's sheet. "That says this is the bottom. It goes on the ground."

Ren shook his head. "I know that kanji. No problem." He flipped over the sheet.

Momo tried to catch the falling petals.

"What are you doing, Momo?" Ren asked.

"Practicing. I have a dance recital next week, so I have to get ready," said Momo. "Dancing between the petals is perfect."

"There are too many people here." Sora took a blue sheet from his bag and set it next to Hana's. "It's going to be too noisy to enjoy the blossoms."

Hana took off her shoes and stepped onto the sheet.

"Why do you do that?" asked Ren, pointing to her shoes.

"I didn't want to get the blue sheet dirty," Hana said. "Join me." She patted the ground next to her.

"No problem." Ren took off his shoes and sat down. Sora joined them. They watched Momo dancing under the falling petals.

Ren looked up at the blossoms. They filled the air with a sweet smell. He leaned back and took a deep breath.

"They'll be gone in a week," said Hana.

"Really? So short. Why do people enjoy them so much?" Ren asked. He counted four more families looking for a place to sit down.

"Because they don't stay, we have to enjoy them now, while they're here," said Hana. "Look at Momo."

Momo danced, twirling through the petals. A small child copied her. For a moment there were two graceful ballerinas. When the child tripped, Momo caught them before they hit the ground. They looked at each other and started laughing. Then they raced to catch the most petals in the air.

"Cherry blossoms remind me that school is starting soon." Sora frowned. "I hate that. I haven't finished my spring homework yet."

Hana laughed. "I finished mine the first week. You should start earlier."

Sora mumbled in a low voice.

"We don't get homework during the break," said Ren. "But school doesn't start in April. It starts in September."

"Maybe I'll move to your country." Sora looked up at the cherry blossoms. "Do they have cherry blossoms there?"

"Not really," said Ren. "We have some, but we don't usually have a picnic under them."

"Then, I'll stay here a little longer." Sora leaned back, his face softening.

Ren stared at the cherry blossoms, watching a breeze move the branches back and forth. A strong wind shook the tree, and a shower of small flowers covered Momo, causing her and the child to giggle.

Maybe the cherry blossoms are okay, thought Ren. It feels like I have no problems.

"What are you thinking about?" Hana asked.

"I've been so busy with soccer that I forgot how to relax," said Ren. "This is nice."

"Me too." Hana laughed.

An angry voice from behind them broke her laugh.

"You failed your last test, boy. You're lucky a practice exam doesn't count for your final grade. Why didn't you study harder?"

Ren turned around. "Who was that?"

Yusuke knelt in front of an older man. The soccer ball was sitting next to the blue sheet.

"I was practicing soccer until nine the night before. I was too tired to study," said Yusuke.

The man waved his hand, stopping Yusuke. "Don't make excuses. I expected more from you. My son must go to Tokyo University, like me." A woman sat beside him and poured tea into a small cup. She was quiet.

"What about soccer?" Yusuke asked.

The man shook his head. "You need to get better at that as well if you want to be drafted. That new boy from another country scored in the last game. Where were you?"

"Who's that?" Ren whispered. "I scored in that game. I think he's talking about me."

Hana turned around. "They're Yusuke's parents. I heard his father's a powerful businessman." She shook her head. "He sounds a bit tough."

"And loud," said Sora. "You have to relax under the cherry trees." He lay back and put his hands under his head.

"But, Father, I passed him the ball."

Yusuke's father held up a hand. "You're a good soccer player, son, but the player who scores the goal is the one people remember. I'm hard on you because I believe you can become better than me. I want to see you succeed at everything you do. Remember, a soccer player can only play for a few years." A buzzing sound stopped him from saying more. Yusuke's father answered his phone.

"Yes… This is my day off. I see. No problem. I'll be at the office in an hour." He put his phone down. "Sorry, son. I have to go to work."

"But, Dad. This is the last day before school starts. I wanted to spend it with you and Mom," Yusuke said.

"Sorry, dear," said Yusuke's mother. "I'll have to drive your father home to change and then to the station. Stay, enjoy the picnic. I'll be back soon." She put on her shoes.

Yusuke sat back down. His father put his hand on his shoulder. "Take a break, but don't stay too long. You still have to review your notes for the next test. After that, you have to practice." He put on his shoes, and Yusuke's parents left the cherry blossom park. They didn't look back.

The wind picked up, blowing the cherry blossoms behind them.

Ren watched them leave and frowned. Fathers shouldn't act like that. Yusuke was usually so strong, but now he looked ready to cry. "What should I do?"

"About what?" asked Hana.

"Yusuke. His parents just left," said Ren.

Sora stared up at the blossoms. "I heard, but Yusuke isn't my friend. Besides, if I talk to him now after what happened, he'll be too embarrassed."

Hana took a package from her bag and put it on the sheet. "Sora's right."

Neither of them looked at Yusuke.

"I can't do that," Ren told them.

He waved to Yusuke. "Hey, do you want to join us?"

"You? When did you get here? Were you watching me?" Yusuke jumped to his feet. His fists were tight at his sides.

"No. We got here a few minutes ago. I saw you practicing earlier, though. Your parents left, right? I just thought you might want to join us," Ren said.

"Leave me alone!" Yusuke stomped away, leaving his sheet on the ground.

Ren lowered his hand. Nobody said anything. Petals fell on Yusuke's blue sheet.

"What did I do wrong?" Ren asked Hana and Sora.

"Nothing," said Sora. "Some people just can't relax. I told you he was embarrassed."

"You invited him. That was good," said Hana. "Because you two play soccer together, it was easier. But if he doesn't want to come, that's his choice."

Ren looked back, but Yusuke was already gone. So was his soccer ball.

Momo danced back and jumped on the sheets. "That was fun, but I'm hungry." She took out a bento box from her bag. "Was that Yusuke yelling?"

Hana nodded. "He was arguing with his parents."

"I thought so. He's always trying too hard. Kind of like you, Hana," Momo said.

"What do you mean?" Hana asked.

"You're always studying. I'm surprised that you came today." Momo opened her pack of chopsticks.

"I'm not always studying." Hana puffed out her cheeks.

"Yes, you are," said Ren and Sora at the same time. They started laughing.

Hana sighed. "I like studying, and I want to get into a good university. Tokyo University is my dream as well."

"Yes, but what about enjoying the moment?" asked Momo. "The cherry blossoms don't last long."

"That's why I'm here today. Studying is important, but if you never stop, you forget why you're doing it," said Hana.

"I never worry about relaxing." A petal fell on Sora's nose, and he sneezed.

"You relax too much, Sora," said Hana. "How many pages of homework do you have left again?"

Sora stuck out his tongue.

Ren looked up at the flowers. "Back in England, we don't have tests and cram schools. There are parents like Yusuke's, but we don't have to study so hard."

"Must be nice. Many people in Japan start studying for university in elementary school." Hana poured some tea for everyone. "That's why this season is the best. It reminds us to relax and enjoy ourselves."

"My dance recital is important. I need all the practice I can get," said Momo.

"Were you practicing just now?" asked Sora.

Momo turned red. "No, but I can pretend I was."

The four opened their bentos and ate their onigiri while the petals fell on the food. Sora pulled the petal out from his teeth. Momo laughed loudly while Hana giggled quietly.

This is perfect, Ren thought. Too bad Yusuke left.

They stayed under the trees until the sun started to go down. Ren pointed to Yusuke's sheet. "Yusuke's mother hasn't come back."

"She was probably busy. I live near them," said Hana. "I'll bring it back for him." She went over and picked it up.

They walked to the station, passing an open soccer field where Yusuke was practicing some drills by himself. Ren watched him running with the ball.

Wow! He's really good.

The petals fell around him, covering the field.

"Give me his blue sheet and tea," said Ren quietly. "I'll give it back."

Hana handed Ren the blue sheet. "Do you want us to stay?"

"I can't. I've got too much homework to do," said Sora.

Ren shook his head. "No, that's okay. I want to talk to him," he said. "Like Sora said, he might be embarrassed if everybody goes there. Also, I know soccer."

"You're a good person, Ren. He really needs a friend." Momo caught another falling petal.

Momo, Hana, and Sora waved goodbye. Ren took a deep breath and stepped onto the grass.

"Hey!" Ren said.

"What do you want?" Yusuke wiped his forehead, staring at Ren with angry eyes.

"You forgot your things." Ren placed them at the side of the field. "And I thought you might like someone to practice with."

"Not you. You're terrible," said Yusuke.

"Maybe, but practicing together is still better than practicing by yourself," said Ren.

Yusuke frowned. "Put your bag down first. Then, try to take the ball from me," he said. "We'll see what you can do."

Ren joined Yusuke on the field. The cherry blossom petals fell between them. He faced Yusuke and nodded. "Ready?"

Yusuke ran forward. Ren blocked him and reached for the ball. He slipped on the petals, but his foot caught the side of the ball. He sent it back behind Yusuke.

"Not bad," said Yusuke.

"I was lucky," said Ren.

"Try that again." Yusuke ran to the ball.

Ren crouched on the field, holding his finger under his nose to stop a sneeze. Yusuke brought the ball toward him. Petals covered the ball. Ren reached out with his foot, crushing the petals and taking the ball. Yusuke spun around and took the ball back. He grunted.

"You're trying harder. Nice. I'm going to go faster," said Yusuke.

"No problem," Ren said.

Yusuke ran forward. Ren reached for the ball again but slipped on the cherry blossoms and fell.

"Oww! Sorry." Ren rubbed his back.

"It's okay." Yusuke helped Ren up.

Ren brushed the petals off his pants. "There are a lot of flowers on the field. It makes it difficult to run."

Yusuke was breathing hard. "That's an excuse."

"You're right." Ren leaned forward. "Try again."

The sun was almost gone. Some lanterns hung from the trees, covering the blossoms on the field in a warm light. They looked like they were floating in the sky.

"You should take a break and enjoy your picnic," Ren said. He pointed to the side of the field. "You look tired."

"I can't take a break. If I stop, someone always gets better than me." Yusuke turned red.

"There's always someone better," said Ren. "And the blossoms will be gone soon."

"Maybe." Yusuke looked away.

"Were you angry I heard what your father said?" asked Ren.

"Yes. No. I don't know." Yusuke messed up his hair. "You're a terrible soccer player. We don't even like each other. You just felt sorry for me when you invited me over." He kicked the petals on the field. "Everyone feels sorry for me when they hear him. I hate that."

Petals fell between them.

"I didn't feel like that," said Ren. "You're a great player, but if you always practice, you can't enjoy the cherry blossoms."

Yusuke sighed. "But if I stop, then I'll fall behind."

The sun went behind the trees. A breeze lifted the petals, covering both boys.

"Is that so bad? You missed your picnic," Ren said. "You can't enjoy the flowers from here."

"That's okay. They'll be here tomorrow. Cherry blossom season lasts a few days, and always comes back." Yusuke looked away.

"But it's short. That's why you should enjoy them now. They will come back next year, but you'll forget the feeling if you wait too long," said Ren.

Yusuke sighed. "Maybe I'll do it next year." He bowed. "Thank you for helping me practice. Sorry, I was so mean to you earlier," he said.

"I think I understand why you were," said Ren. "Your father is a very hard man."

Yusuke took a deep breath. "Can I ask you a question?"

"I guess so," said Ren.

"I'm terrible to you on the soccer field. You're not very good, but you never give up. Why?" Yusuke asked.

"I never wanted to stop. I love soccer too much," said Ren.

"Even if you make mistakes?" Yusuke asked.

"Nothing's perfect, even the blossoms. And I can always get better, but only if I have fun. My father taught me that many years ago…" Ren rubbed the back of his neck. Even thinking about his own father hurt.

Yusuke raised an eyebrow.

"Do you want to do this again sometime?" Ren asked instead.

Yusuke nodded. "Someone has to help you get better, especially if you're going to keep up with me. I could use a rival, not a rookie." A small smile flashed across his face, but disappeared quickly.

"I know. It's going to take me a long time to reach your level." Ren laughed. Together, they picked up their bags and went back to the train station.