Chapter 1: sweet summer wind
The White Hana Estate overlooked the crowded city of Yokohama, grand and elegant beneath the evening lights, yet painfully lonely for the little girl inside.
A four-year-old girl stood quietly by the tall window, watching the colorful drone show brighten the night sky. The glowing lights reflected softly in her wide brown eyes, but there was no excitement on her face.
The bedroom door slowly opened.
“Oh, Princess Aiko,” a gentle voice called.
It was Madam Yumi, Aiko’s nanny. She carried a tray of warm dinner carefully in her hands.
“Come eat your dinner,” Yumi said softly. “Madam Mizuno called earlier.”
Aiko turned around immediately.
“Mom called?” Her eyes sparkled for a second. “Is she coming home? I wanted to show her the drone show. Sister Yumi, please help me get ready.”
Yumi’s smile faded slightly.
“Your mother said she can’t come tonight,” Yumi answered quietly. “She has a very busy schedule at the hospital.”
The small excitement on Aiko’s face slowly disappeared.
“This time too…” she whispered.
She turned back toward the window.
Yumi walked closer and rested a hand lightly on her tiny shoulder.
“Don’t be upset, baby,” she said warmly. “Your parents save people every day. They’re busy… but you should still be proud of them.”
Aiko lowered her head slightly.
“I know… I love them, but…”
Her voice became smaller before disappearing completely.
Trying to cheer her up, Yumi sat beside her.
“But tomorrow is your last day of school,” she said with a smile. “Summer vacation finally starts. You’ll get to visit your grandmother’s village again.”
Aiko’s eyes immediately brightened.
“Really?! When are we going?” she asked excitedly, running toward Yumi.Aiko suddenly sat up on the bed, clutching Yumi’s sleeve with sparkling eyes.
Yumi laughed softly and began feeding her dinner.
“Someone suddenly became energetic again.”
After dinner, Yumi gently cleaned Aiko’s face while the little girl slowly became sleepy.
“You know,” Aiko mumbled sleepily, “Grandma’s village is really beautiful… There’s a river beside the road, and the wind smells sweet in summer.”
“Oh?” Yumi smiled while adjusting her blanket. “Then you must tell me more stories about your grandmother’s village tomorrow.”
Aiko nodded happily.
“Yes! And this summer, Haru and I are going to the summer festival together.”
Her voice slowly faded as sleep finally took over.
Within minutes, little Aiko had fallen asleep.
Yumi carefully adjusted her pillow and quietly walked toward the door. Before leaving, she turned back one last time and smiled softly at the sleeping child.
Poor little princess.
The next morning, sunlight poured softly through the classroom windows, warming the wooden desks with a golden summer glow. Outside, the clear blue sky stretched endlessly above Yokohama, while the distant sound of cicadas drifted through the open windows.
The classroom buzzed with excitement.
“Did you see the drone show last night?” one student asked loudly.
“It was amazing! The dragons looked so real!”
“My father took so many pictures,” another girl said proudly while showing photos to her friends.
Children gathered around each other, talking excitedly about fireworks, summer plans, and vacation trips.
But near the window, little Aiko quietly sat in her seat, resting her chin on her arms.
She had watched the drone show too.
But somehow, it had felt lonely.
“Aiko!”
A cheerful voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
Her classmate leaned closer with sparkling eyes.
“What are you doing during summer vacation?”
Aiko blinked once before a small smile finally appeared on her face.
“I’m going to my grandmother’s village,” she answered softly.
“Again?” the girl asked. “You really love that place.”
Aiko nodded immediately.
“There’s a candy shop near Grandma’s house,” she said happily. “And there’s a river beside the road too. In summer, the wind smells sweet there.”
Her classmates stared at her curiously.
“Sweet wind?” someone laughed.
But Aiko didn’t mind.
To her, Hinomori Village truly smelled different in summer.
Warm. Sweet. Peaceful.
And somewhere there, beneath the singing wind chimes of the little candy shop, Haru was probably waiting for summer too.
Just then, the classroom door opened.
Their teacher walked inside carrying several papers, instantly quieting the noisy classroom.
“Well then,” the teacher said with a gentle smile, “today is the last day before summer vacation.”
Excited cheers immediately filled the room.
“Remember to finish your summer homework,” the teacher continued while handing out papers. “And don’t spend the entire vacation playing.”
The students groaned dramatically.
Aiko, however, barely listened.
Because for the first time in months, her heart already felt light.
Summer had finally arrived.
After dinner, Yumi carefully packed Aiko’s tiny summer clothes into a small cream-colored suitcase. Floral dresses, ribbon clips, and her favorite stuffed rabbit were folded neatly inside.
Aiko stood nearby, unable to hide her excitement.
“We’re really going tomorrow, right?” she asked for what was probably the tenth time that night.
Yumi laughed softly.
“Yes, Princess Aiko. Tomorrow morning.”
The little girl immediately wrapped her arms around Yumi tightly.
“Thank you, Sister Yumi.”
Yumi gently stroked her soft brown hair before helping her zip the suitcase closed.
Just then, the bedroom door opened quietly.
Aiko turned around instantly.
“Mom?”
Madam Mizuno stood near the doorway, still wearing her hospital coat over her shoulders, looking exhausted beneath the soft hallway light.
But despite her tiredness, a gentle smile appeared on her face when she saw her daughter.
“I heard someone is finally going to Grandma’s village tomorrow,” she said softly.
Aiko’s eyes widened with surprise before she quickly ran into her mother’s arms.
For a brief moment, the lonely room finally felt warm.
