My eyes opened slowly, they blurred but for a moment after the long twelve hours of sleep. The light that peered through the window met my eyes and sitting upright, I felt more energized than I had been for the past couple of weeks.It had been a while since I was able to sleep through this soundly and though it made me feel much better, I couldn't help but think why it was this way. I set my feet down on the cold wooden flooring and as I got up on two feet, I heard the sudden knocking of the door downstairs. "Huh? Who could it be this early in the morning..." I said to myself as I made my way toward the front door while donning upon a suitable t-shirt and shorts to make myself presentable.I opened the door but not after another set of knocks sounded through the solid base of the steady wooden door that managed to keep intruders out for many years now. The door swung wide open and on the other side of it, there stood Riku who waved to me with a smile.She was fully dressed in clothes designated for an outing; the bag that hung around her shoulder and the pretty and flashy shirt she wore that fitted well with the skirt that hung on the bottom of her waist.She looked like she had prepared to go shopping, or at the very least, go sightseeing on a Saturday morning. Yet, the only thing that puzzled my mind was why she was standing in front of my house looking for me, what was it that she needed to do to make her come see me so soon after everything that happened yesterday?With the door opened wide, I spoke first. After all, I was curious about her sudden arrival."Riku-san? What are you doing here so early in the morning? Was there something you needed from me?" I asked of her quickly while holding the handle of the door knob open while I stood awkwardly; my face still half-asleep from me just waking up."Huh? It's already twelve, is it not? You must've had a good sleep yesterday, didn't you? Your hair is all messed up~" She said with a small giggle as a few strands of my hair shot out from its sides."Uh-Oh! Sorry about that... Yes, I did get some sleep last night, it was actually the best sleep I got from the past few weeks... Anyways, what brings you here?" I replied, now with a slightly embarrassed tone in my voice as I tried to tidy my hair back to its natural state."Right, I actually came here to invite you out to go shopping with me in central Kyoto! It's only a train ride away and my mother wouldn't let me go without anyone accompanying me...""So that's why I reached out to you, I hope I'm not intruding on your time too much!" She said, trying to make a cutesy in an attempt to plead me to go out with her; her expression reminding me of the puppy videos that I used to watch to pass the time."Is that so... You're not intruding on my time but-" I said as I headed in a direction to refuse her offer and walk straight back into my house."Please! It's really important! This event is literally a once in a lifetime! I can't miss it for the world!" She said, now with both hands and back in a prostrating position, begging me to accompany her regardless of her current appearance."Alright alright! Please stop doing that... I get it- Just let me get ready, I'm still in my sleep clothes..." I said, now me begging her to stop what she was doing in order to not just save face her face, but mine too.As I headed back into my home to get a quick shower and dress up, I noticed the smile on her face; the expression of pure glee, one that exerted positivity above all else. The small expression vivid on my mind throughout the way I got myself prepared............As my entire arm was pulled through the station customs and past the ticket gates, I stood there full of sweat, already tired from the journey out of my house. We stood before the waiting area of the train station where hundreds of others awaited from for their train to arrive.Whilst I stood by one of the entryways where the train doors would open to us, I tried to catch my breath, tired from all the running until I was then suddenly presented with a bottle of water."Thirsty? I got it from the vending machine... Sorry, I hurried you so much, the trains won't be coming for another half-hour if we were late for the current one...""Thanks for sticking on the schedule..." She said while gulping down half the bottle in one sitting while I took my time sipping away at the cold crisp bottle of refreshing water."Thanks..." I simply replied and soon, we entered into the train, taking a seat in one of the rear cabins that were less populated amongst the rest; the people around us numbering close to twenty in a space capable of fitting a hundred.The train was slick in design but still held a sense of comfort. The blue seats that lined both walls and the metal poles for those who had the desire to stand, it was more comfortable than I had thought a train ride would be. As far as I can remember, the last time I rode on a train was when I was six when my father was still around. Back then, the entire journey of boarding the train and feeling the entire transport move at an astonishing scene, I was amazed at each and every second I was on it. We quickly took our seats in the nethermost left corner of the train and right in front of a large window that peered outside the station, I relaxed my legs, letting them rest on the floor while I took a breather of the long distance we traveled to the station."Passengers, please stay clear of the train doors. We will soon depart to central Kyoto in a few minutes.." The intercoms sounded away as the voice of a lady was broadcasted through our cabin loud and clearly.Before long, the train moved, and though it disoriented me for a moment, I soon adjusted and proceeded to enjoy the train ride that was running at top speed to its next destination. I relaxed my back, thinking I should get as much rest as I could during the ride.I wasn't much of an outdoors person and little activities like these really taxed my feet and body, resulting in quick exhaustion. But before I closed my eyes, I shot a glance at the person next to me and though I was much more physically exhausted than her, she looked to be in a more excited state than I was."Say, do you have any questions you might want to ask? Regarding being immortal I mean..." She asked of me, immediately turning her face away while she started swinging her feet off her seat as a hint of pinkish red was dabbed against her cheeks."Questions? I guess I haven't really thought about that...""Then... Is there a way to revert being-" I tried to ask but was immediately cut off."No there isn't... As far as I know, that is." She said quickly as if she was already prepared to answer the question I had brought up."Right... Then, can I ask about you for a bit? How did you discover you were immortal as well?" I asked of her, the question I posed to her catching her off-guard for a moment; the expression she gave almost raised my brows."Oh- Right! How did I become immortal, right... I actually got into a road accident and was abruptly hit by a car...""When I saw the car hurling over, I thought it would no doubt be the end of my life but before I knew it, I woke up and was well and alive with not a single hint of injury on my body...""That was how I found out I was immortal..." She said recounting the story of how she discovered her new-found powers as she smiled at me; the story she told reminded me of how another man discovered his immortality."Is that so, it must've been scary back then... But to be cursed of immortality, I find it hard to accept, even now... What will I become in the future if I can't pass away like everyone else...""When will I be able to see my parents..." I said depressingly, changing the mood quickly and unintentionally as Riku sat in a panic while scrambling for a way to recover my positivity.As the feeling of disparity filled the air, tension followed and awkwardness right after that. It felt choking at one point because of how depressive the mood had become. I quickly realized that fact as I noticed Riku beside me unable to sit properly in her own seat and wanting to change the mood, I decided to make conversation, trying to break the wall of ice that had suddenly erected between us."That's right, Riku-san-" I said but suddenly, she turned toward me with a glint in her eyes."You don't need to keep addressing me as Riku-san you know, we're friends now, aren't we? Try addressing me more casually, it's a little uncomfortable to be so formal when we're basically buddies, aren't we?" She said towards me with a smirk face while I was taken aback by the sudden proposition."I-Is that so... It feels a little strange to address someone this casually other than my neighbors... I guess I could try... Then, Riku-chan?" I said with a hint of pink blush on my face while she smiled in satisfaction at the way I addressed her."Hehe, now that's more like it, Eito-kun~" She replied, immediately flushed with pink but quickly regained her composure with a small scoff right after."Well then, Riku-chan... Where are we headed for anyways? You said you wanted to go for some light shopping in central Kyoto, but where exactly are we heading to?" I inquired as I watched the blurred scenery of the train through the long horizontal windows both ahead and behind the two of us."That's right! I didn't tell you, did I? Well then... hehe, the reality is that we're actually headed for two destinations!"I wanted us to have some extra fun today and since you look like you don't have much to do anyways, I thought it'd be better if we somewhere else too~" She said smiling brightly at me after revealing what she had kept from me all along.Her smile beaming with cuteness in such a manner that it overflowed with adorableness enough to make the heaviest hearts of men wrench and kneel in defeat."What? I thought you said it'd only be some light shopping. This wasn't what we agreed on-" I replied with a slightly raised and shocked tone."Oh come on! You're already here with me, what one more destination anyways~ Besides, I'll guarantee that it'll be a blast!""So let's head on onward! We have a lot on our schedule today!" She said while full of excitement, springing her right fist into the air with enthusiasm; the act startling the seated passengers by our side for a fraction of a moment............I stood in the middle of the street, my eyes darting around the scenery before me as the city of central Kyoto showed me its impressive scale and size. The toppling tall buildings that reached the skies, the bright lights of advertising billboards on buildings, the hundreds of citizens and tourists that walked through the streets. It was all too much to take in at once and standing in the middle of it, I couldn't help but stand to appreciate all that happened around me.I remained standing in place for a second longer, taking in the captivating scenes of the enormous but before long, I was quickly pulled away by Riku who was now holding onto a map and was urging me to leave."Come on! We're going to be late if we don't go now... Our first destination is where the cherry blossom festivals are held!""I've been craving the mochi they serve there ever since I was little, you've got to try them out with me, they're to die for!" She exclaimed, excited at the prospect of tasting and enjoying the many dishes and snacks offered by the stalls pitched up in the city streets.As my arm was pulled away, we rushed straight to the venue, passing by the honking cars that pushed their way through the congested traffic of central Tokyo, and soon, we could see the stalls pitched far ahead in the distance.Even from where we stood, we could visibly tell that the current year's festival was as lively as ever. The colorful stalls and vendors housing hawkers who lured in customers with the scent of their alluring food, the scene brought me back memories of the times with my family.Nearing our destination, Riku quickly pointed out the falling of the petals from the pink tress; the way the petals of the vibrant tree swayed and eventually fell to the floor, looked mesmerizing and felt as if it drew you in to continue watching.I watched a moment longer, taking in the calming murmurs and chatter that sounded about me, I felt at ease right then; a feeling I haven't felt for a while. I kept my eyes closed in front of a cherry blossom tree, thinking through the thoughts I had for a while now but before a minute had even passed, I was suddenly disturbed.There Riku called toward me and upon opening my eyes, I noticed her holding onto two papers and a wide smile on her face."Here you go, thanks for waiting around, the line was pretty long. We should've gotten here earlier, if only we'd known this year would be especially crowded like this. But I guess it's a good thing...""The more people who attend an event like this, the more fun it is, right?" She asked of me as she handed me the paper plate that turned out to be the mochi she spoke of.I held onto the plate firmly and as I picked up one of the two small servings of pink sakura mochi in hand, I bit into it and felt a wave of deliciousness waft through my mind.The soft exterior of the pink mochi that was wrapped with a leaf and the red bean paste that was filled til it was on the brim of bursting, the taste was truly to die for as Riku had described it."Pretty good right? I'm already tempted to get another serving but we can't fill up with this just yet! There's still tons more we've got to try!" She exclaimed once more and before I could finish the second mochi on hand, I was dragged away once again.I stuffed the remaining piece of mochi in my mouth and as the two of us hurried off and ran straight into the heart of the festival, I couldn't help but be enamored by the presentation of the festival itself. From the decorated stalls full of fun decorations that ranged from traditional paper lanterns to tiny mascots that were full of creativity and ingenuity to attract new customers, it was breathtaking at the very least and added to the greatness of the long-standing festival celebrated by many.We sped through the streets, glancing at each stall and as Riku held my hand and guided me through the crowds of people, I felt a sense of joy that I felt hard to find in the past few weeks I'd been through."I'm really glad you brought me here..." I said under my breath just loud enough for myself to hear and others to pass off as but silent murmurs...