It was a day when the wind felt unusually gentle. A paved farm road running halfway up the hill. The peach orchards spreading to the left and right were in full bloom, just like last year, as if time alone had avoided this place. —Nothing is more cruel than scenery that never changes. Thinking this, I walked slowly. The slightly higher field on the left, the lower field on the right. In both, the peach blossoms were blooming in the same way. Just like that time.

---

That day, I was walking side by side with Rina on the road halfway up the hill. Peach blossoms were blooming profusely on both sides, and every time the wind blew, petals floated softly into the air. "This place is amazing," Rina said, walking a little ahead and looking back. Her smile was direct, without a hint of hesitation. "They'll bloom the same way next year, right?" "Probably." "Then," She turned and looked at me. Her eyes were a little serious. "Let's come back again." For a moment, I stopped talking. But I nodded immediately. "Sure." I thought that was enough... at the time. She smiled and said, "It's a promise."

---

I think back to that day many times. After finishing work, we met in front of the station. Rina arrived a little late. "Sorry, things were a bit hectic," She said with a laugh. The same voice as always. The same gestures. But— I felt like our eyes didn't quite meet for just a split second.

We went into a pub, ordered, and talked about trivial things. "Oh, by the way," Rina said, holding her glass. "I'm going on a little trip next week." "A trip? Where to?" I asked casually. I meant it as a light question. Rina paused for just a moment. "...Um, somewhere in the countryside. I want a change of pace." At that moment, I felt a slight sense of unease. But I didn't think deeply about it. "By yourself?" When I asked that, Rina looked down at her glass. "...Yeah. It's fine, I'll be back soon." I didn't ask any more.

When we parted. In front of the station ticket gate. "See you." After that—Rina stopped for a moment. She looked like she was about to say something but stopped. "...What's wrong?" "No, it's nothing." She just waved and went through the gate. If I had taken one step further back then. Would anything have changed?

---

The phone rang just after noon. It was an unknown number. I hesitated for a moment before pressing the call button. "This is the ○○ County Police—" With those words, the atmosphere changed. The explanation was concise. A traffic accident. Transported to the hospital. And— "...She has passed away." The words stopped in my head. "...We confirmed your name as a recent contact from Rina's smartphone—" Ah. I see. That's why they called me. I found myself accepting it with a strange, cold calmness. "...I understand." That was all I could say. I hardly remember the way to the police station. I got on the train, transferred, and realized I had arrived. —Maybe it's all a mistake somewhere. That thought was the only thing that stubbornly remained. The reception room was quiet. The officer sitting opposite me began to speak matter-of-factly. "The accident occurred this morning. First, could you please identify the body?" I nodded. The room I was led to was terribly sterile. A white cloth covered a stretcher. "It's this one." The officer's voice sounded distant. I put my hand on the cloth. I hesitated for just a moment. Slowly, I peeled back the cloth. The person there was—without a doubt, Rina. "..." I tried to call her name but stopped. Her face looked more peaceful than I expected. She looked like she was sleeping. Ah, she really is—gone. The moment I thought that, something sank quietly deep in my chest. There was only the sensation that something had definitely ended.

Back in the reception room, the officer explained the accident. The location, the time, the circumstances—. Then, the officer spoke, looking a bit hesitant. "...There is one more thing I need to explain." I looked up at those words. "There was another passenger... that person has also passed away." "...A friend?" I don't know why I asked that. The officer paused for a moment before saying, "A man. His name is—" It was a name I didn't know. The sound of it floated in my head. "Based on his belongings and lodging records, it is highly likely they were on the same trip—" It felt like the words were cut off in the middle. "...Eh?" Something collapsed without a sound.

When I left the room, it was already night outside. The smartphone in my pocket felt heavy. I opened the screen. The last message remained. "I'm going to go have fun!" I realized what that "trip" really was. I closed the screen. I exhaled. I felt nothing. Only one thing remained. "...What was real?" There was no answer anywhere.

---

About eight months have passed since then. I am walking alone on the path through the peach orchard where I came with Rina a year ago. The peach blossoms are in full bloom on both sides of the road. Just like that time. "Let's come back again." Those words just won't leave my head. To my own surprise, the anger was gone. Only a hollow sensation remained.

That was when it happened. I saw a figure on the road ahead. It was a woman. Light-colored clothes. Hair swaying in the wind. And— A quiet standing posture, as if she were melting into this scenery. As I got closer, I finally noticed. She wasn't walking or taking pictures; she was just looking around. She suddenly noticed me, and our eyes met. For a split second, I felt as if time had stopped. I thought she was beautiful. But what caught my eye before that was— Her expression. She wasn't smiling, nor was she crying. But she certainly had the face of someone standing there while carrying something. An expression that seemed like it would break if put into words.

We were supposed to just pass each other. Without saying anything, just pass by and keep walking alone. That's how it should have been. But my feet stopped slightly. I didn't know the reason. I just felt that if I passed by like that—I would lose sight of something again. "...Is this your first time here?" Before I knew it, I had spoken. It was a natural voice, even to my own surprise. She opened her eyes slightly, And then shook her head gently. "...No. I came last year, too."

The wind blew again. A few peach petals fluttered up, Falling quietly on her shoulder and onto the road.