Sublime

Hirai began crying again, touched by Kei’s support.

I thought instead of the dead Tsuneko, and, longing for her, I wept. Of all the people I had ever known, that miserable Tsuneko really was the only one I loved.

‘Can I ask you something?’ said Asuka, looking Nagare in the eye as she stood up. ‘Of course,’ said Nagare, returning her gaze. ‘Why do you think I remember that spaghetti in particular, out of all the other dishes I ate with Grandad?’ ‘Well, this is just a guess, but . . .’ Nagare paused and took a breath. ‘I wonder if this trip was the first time

‘I think she really did want to eat that Katsuden tonkatsu with him one last time,’ said Nagare, a tender expression on his face. ‘You know, sit down with his ashes and tell him how good it tasted. That was what she meant when she told us she wanted him to eat it.’

“That was Kira, the youngest.” Clip. Instead of burning the dead blossom, he held it loosely in his hands as he folded them in his lap. “She was the strangest person. She liked — how else do I say this — gross things. Like spiders and things. Smart as sin. And she was just getting started. She was twelve when she died. No one got the chance to see