Prologue
“The cherry blossoms are in bloom.”
This phrase contains several meanings beyond the literal one. It represents the end of the cold winter and the welcoming of spring. It represents the beauty of cherry blossoms and the state of mind where one rejoices in their blooming. In other words, blooming cherry blossoms evoke feelings of happiness and celebration—and that’s exactly the state I’m in right now. This spring, I became a student at my top pick, Kyoto Prefectural University.
“Aoi!”
A familiar voice called out from behind me as I passed through the university gate. I turned around and saw my best friend, Kaori Miyashita, waving at me with a big grin on her face.
“Hey, Kaori.”
Kaori had gotten into the same school as me. Well, she’d actually been aiming for KPU earlier than I had. Considering she had gone from a private middle school to a public high school out of concern for her family’s financial situation, it made