- Scene 1
- Scene 2
- Scene 3
- Scene 4
- Good Ending
- Bad Ending
- Himari
Ugh... What should I do?
- Himari
(I stood in the hallway, my gaze fixed on my childhood friend, Tomoe, smiling with a crowd around her.)
- Himari
(It's always so easy to talk to her, but for some reason, it's so hard today...)
- Himari
...Will she laugh at me?
- Tomoe
What is it? What's up, Himari?
- Himari
T-Tomoe!
- Tomoe
What're you all jumpy for? Don't just stand there. Come on in.
- Tomoe
You forgot some book at home again, didn't you? Seriously, you've always been so forgetful.
- Himari
(Tomoe laughed as she spoke, unaware of the emotions rocking my heart.)
- Himari
N-No, I didn't! That's not what I'm here for!
- Tomoe
What? It isn't? Then why would I laugh at you?
- Himari
Uh...! I-It's because...
- Himari
N-Never mind. I was talking to myself. Forget about it!
- Tomoe
You sure? Well, I'm always here if you want to talk about it. We're childhood friends, so don't be a stranger.
- Himari
(I can't talk to you about it because we're childhood friends...!)
- Himari
(But that's right... To Tomoe, I must just be a childhood friend...)
- Himari
(So if I say that I want to see the legendary cherry blossom tree with her, she'll just laugh it off as a joke...)
- Tomoe
Hm? Hey, Himari, you're acting kind of funny today.
- Himari
Huh? I-I'm not acting funny!
- Tomoe
Oho? I'll bet it's that. The cherry blossom tree thing.
- Himari
(My heart skipped a beat. All of the blood in my body flooded into my face.)
- Tomoe
How long have we been childhood friends? You're thinking, "How should I ask Seta-senpai?" That's what's up, right?
- Himari
What–No, that's not it!
- Tomoe
Huh? It isn't? Then what were you thinking about?
- Himari
I-I was thinking about the cherry blossom tree, but I wasn't thinking about how to ask Kaoru-senpai!
- Himari
(Is she sharp or is she dense? She hasn't changed a bit since we were little!)
- Tomoe
Huh? Then have you decided who to ask?
- Himari
Uh, w-well... Wh-What about you, Tomoe? I'll bet a lot of girls have asked you.
- Tomoe
Oh, well, yeah. But I haven't decided who to go with...
- Himari
(Oh, thank goodness! She hasn't promised to go with anyone yet.)
- Himari
(Then, maybe... I might still have a chance...?)
- Tomoe
But I can say one thing. Himari...
- Himari
Wh-What?!
- Tomoe
Don't worry. You're the one person I won't go with.
- Himari
What?! Stupid! That's what I was going to say!
- Himari
I'm going back to my classroom now! Break's going to end soon!
- Himari
(A usual conversation. We never crossed the childhood friend line. I turned away from Tomoe, holding back my tears.)
- Himari
(I didn't come here to have this kind of conversation...)
- Tomoe
Hey, wait, Himari. Hold up. Actually, I wanted to ask you a favor.
- Himari
What is it now? Did you remember that you forgot a book at home?
- Tomoe
No, it's not something like that. Sometime... If you don't mind, would you...
- Tomoe
...som...
- Himari
Huh? What? Some what?
- Tomoe
You know, like... Oh, right! Ramen! Why don't we make some ramen together?
- Himari
Huh? Ramen? You and... me? Make ramen together? ...Why?
- Tomoe
Wh-Why not?! I just got the urge to make ramen together with you!
- Tomoe
So, how about it? Will you make it with me?
- Himari
(I didn't actually want to make any, but cherry blossoms were still on my mind, so that's what I said.)
- Tomoe
Huh? Cherry blossom... mochi?
- Himari
R-Right! I want some for the legendary tree, so I need to practice! We're childhood friends, so you'll do it with me!
- Himari
(I wanted to ask you to come see it with me, but I can't say that now!)
- Himari
(I peeked at Tomoe's face for an answer. My childhood friend was slightly taken aback.)
- Tomoe
Do you... already have someone? That you're seeing it with?
- Himari
Huh?
- Himari
Like that matters to you, Tomoe! So how about it? Are we making cherry blossom mochi or not?
- Tomoe
I mean, I'm okay with that, but...
- Himari
But... what? What were you going to say?
- Tomoe
N-Nothing? Going to see the tree with you! Some people are into the weirdest things!
- Himari
H-Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!
- Tomoe
Since we're doing it, let's make the best cherry blossom mochi ever!
- Tomoe
Haha, don't worry about it. Nothing to get worked up about. I'm not that insensitive, you know.
- Himari
(Tomoe's pearly whites shone as she gave a thumbs up. She doesn't know how I feel about her.)
- Himari
Okay. We're doing it. That's a promise.
- Himari
(And with a promise that I didn't want, I went back to my own classroom.)
Continues to Good Ending
- Himari
(So many things were running through my head. Half out of desperaton, I agreed.)
- Tomoe
Huh?
- Tomoe
Are you really sure? We're making ramen.
- Himari
You asked me first!
- Tomoe
Well yeah, I did, but... Okay, got it. Since we're doing this, we're making the ultimate ramen!
- Himari
(And so, whatever the reason, I ended up making ramen together with Tomoe.)
Cue Bad Ending
- Himari
(The words left my mouth before I could think. Momentum was acting on me. I continued.)
- Tomoe
Wh-What was that?!
- Himari
Just think about it! Even for soup and noodles, every shop has their own unique style! Any shop would be better than us!
- Tomoe
Uh... Well, you're right, but...
- Himari
We'd need to get the ingredients, process them, and clean up! It's a lot of work! Even ramen shops have trouble doing it all!
- Tomoe
Y-Yeah, but–Himari, is that what you're mad about?
- Himari
A-Anyway! It won't be that easy for you to make a ramen that can satisfy me!
- Tomoe
What was that?! Hold up! I can't let that slide! My opinions on ramen are as valid anyone's!
- Tomoe
All right, that's it! I'm gonna show you just how good I can make it! I'm gonna make a ramen that'll satisfy you!
- Tomoe
No, we're making it together! Got that, Himari?!
- Himari
Oh, it's on! I'm not gonna lose either!
- Himari
(While wondering how things ended up this way, I went with the flow and agreed to make ramen together with Tomoe.)
Cue Bad Ending
- Himari
Why did I even think it would work out?
- Himari
(It was lunchtime. Everyone in class was eating lunch. I was mumbling under my breath.)
- Himari
(Tomoe and I are just childhood friends. We're too close to each other. I guess that's why it didn't work out.)
- Himari
(In the end, we didn't talk about the cherry blossom tree. How will this end?)
- Himari
(As I thought that, I looked out the window. And there was Tomoe playing basketball.)
- Himari
(She made a beautiful turn and took a shot. Her three-pointer swished right through the net.)
- Students
Ah! Tomoe-chan, you're so cool!
- Students
Did you see that?! That was crazy!
- Himari
(Excited voices rang through the building. Tomoe was popular. I wasn't the only one watching her.)
- Himari
(But Tomoe was having fun playing hard. I almost couldn't care about everyone else. Her face was so pretty–)
- Himari
Th-That's right! Tomoe might be super popular, but I need to do what I can!
- Himari
And we promised we'd make cherry blossom mochi together!
- Himari
(Oh, that's right! Maybe while we make it, we'll promise to see the cherry blossom trees too...)
- Himari
(While watching Tomoe smile, basketball in hand, in my mind, I shouted to myself, "Hey, hey, hoh~!")
- Himari
(And so, the promised day arrived. I waited in my living room watching the clock, waiting for Tomoe.)
- Himari
Ah! She's here!
- Tomoe
Hey, Himari! Thanks for inviting me!
- Himari
Yeah, come in, come in! I've got all the tools we need!
- Tomoe
Oh, looks like you're all ready! It's like you way too serious about this.
- Himari
Oh, be quiet! What's wrong with that? You bought the ingredients for making them, right? That's a lot of stuff you're carrying.
- Tomoe
Yeah. I bought all the "ingredients"!
- Himari
(Tomoe smiled mischievously. How much mochi did she think we were making? She handed me a mountain of stuff.)
- Himari
Wh-What is all this?!
- Himari
H-Hold on, wait, Tomoe! This is way too heavy for making cherry blossom mochi...
- Himari
(A suspicious, cunning smile and unusually heavy bags. I opened the bags, and there were a giant pot, flour, chicken bones, and pork bones inside.)
- Himari
T-Tomoe! This isn't what we promised!
- Tomoe
Hahaha! What's wrong with making some ramen together?
- Himari
Everything's wrong with it! I was looking forward to making cherry blossom mochi!
- Tomoe
Come on, ramen or cherry blossom mochi, we're making it together all the same.
- Tomoe
And is there someone you want to feed cherry blossom mochi to that badly?
- Himari
(Without thinking, I played it off as a joke, just as usual.)
- Himari
(But instead of laughing it off, Tomoe suddenly went silent. I felt a strange feeling in my chest.)
- Himari
Tomoe? Um, er... Sorry. Was I too harsh?
- Tomoe
No, it's okay. Yeah, you would. You'd have one or two someones like that.
- Tomoe
Sorry for prying. Okay, let's get to that cherry blossom mochi!
- Himari
(After that, Tomoe opened a different bag. She took out the cherry blossom mochi ingredients that I asked her to bring from it.)
- Himari
Huh? You actually did bring them?
- Tomoe
Don't be stupid. Making ramen was clearly a joke! We're childhood friends. It wouldn't be fun unless I went this far on a joke.
- Himari
W-Well, you did bring what I asked you to bring! Okay, let's get started!
- Tomoe
Yeah, leave it to me!
- Himari
(And so, we started making cherry blossom mochi, but we weren't in tune with one other.)
- Tomoe
Oh, sorry! I spilled the flour!
- Himari
I-It's okay, it's okay! Don't worry, I'll clean it up. You go wash your hands.
- Tomoe
Sorry, Himari, and thanks. Hm? Hey doesn't this pot of red bean paste smell a bit strong?
- Himari
Ah! O-oh, no! I forgot to turn off the stove after it was done!
- Himari
(Argh! I don't usually mess up like this!)
- Tomoe
I turned off the stove just now. Hm? I just got a message.
- Himari
What? Who's it from?
- Tomoe
Oh, it's from a girl in my class. She wants to see the legendary cherry blossom tree with me.
- Himari
(When I heard that, my body froze instantly.)
- Himari
(I somehow managed to open my frozen mouth and ask Tomoe...)
- Himari
So what are you going to do? Are you going with her?
- Tomoe
Hm... I don't know. Well, I'll send her a reply later.
- Himari
I-I see...
- Tomoe
Hey, Himari, all that's left to do now is wrap them with cherry blossom leaves, right?
- Himari
Oh, y-yeah. You're right... It's time to wrap this all up!
- Tomoe
Hey, I think we did a pretty good job. Now it's just a question of how they taste.
- Himari
Yeah. I only hope they turned out good.
- Tomoe
Let's see. I'm eating one now.
- Himari
Ah! ...H-How is it?
- Tomoe
Yeah, it's god. You try one too, Himari. Pretty good for our first time, don't you think?
- Himari
Okay, then I'll try one... Mm! It's good!
- Tomoe
Haha, I'm glad. Now, for the real deal, you just have to not be a total klutz!
- Himari
I-I won't be! Hey, Tomoe, your phone's ringing again.
- Tomoe
Hm? Oh... Well, I'll check it later.
- Himari
O-Okay...
- Himari
(The two of us silently ate the mochi. Tomoe's phone rang several times while we ate.)
- Himari
(Each time it rang, my anxiety grew. The day ended without me asking her to see the cherry blossom tree with me.)
Continues to Good Ending
- Tomoe
Huh? What was that?
- Himari
Just look at these ingredients! You brought way too many pork bones!
- Tomoe
O-Oh, you're talking about the ramen.
- Tomoe
Yeah, well I'm trying to make pork broth ramen. Wait, did I mess up?
- Himari
Y-You won't get a deep flavor with only pork! You need sardines and seaweed for the stock!
- Tomoe
Oh, I see? Well, if you know what you're doing, then you can make the ultimate soup, right?
- Himari
Er... O-Of course I can!
- Tomoe
Then it's a duel! Let's see once and for all which of us can make the ultimate ramen!
Cue Bad Ending
- Tomoe
Huh? Th-That came out of nowhere.
- Himari
You're always only talking about ramen! I'll bet you only think as much of me as noodles and a boiling pot!
- Tomoe
Y-You know that's not true! All I wanted... was to see you slurping up ramen with a smile on your face!
- Himari
Really?
- Tomoe
Yes, really! I'll prove it and make the ultimate ramen right now! Himari, help me out!
Cue Bad Ending
- Himari
(And on the day the legendary cherry blossom tree was set to bloom...)
- Himari
(I never asked Tomoe to see it with me. So, keeping my distance from the courtyard, I spaced out and thought to myself...)
- Himari
(Is it because w'ere childhood friends? Why couldn't I ask her one simple question? Why did I have to be that way?)
- ???
Hey. You're standing in my spot.
- Himari
W-Whoa!
- Himari
(I turned around in surprise to the sudden voice. Standing behind me was a small girl that I'd never talked to before.)
- Himari
(If I remember correctly, she's a genius that skipped grades... Um... CHU²-chan?)
- Himari
U-Um, sorry about that, CHU2-chan. Maybe I should go somewhere else?
- CHU²
It's fine. Whatever. I only come here a few times a year anyway.
- Himari
O-Okay...
- CHU²
Hmph. Today has sucked so much! I can't get anywhere near the courtyard!
- CHU²
If you're standing around out here, maybe you're the same as me? You don't want to deal with those freaks there?
- Himari
I... I don't really know, I guess.
- Himari
We've been childhood friends for so long... I wanted to ask her to see the tree with me, but I didn't know what to say to her.
- Himari
I can joke around and make sharp comments, but why can't I say anything that's actually important?
- CHU²
What?! What's wrong with you?! You're even worse than those freaks piling into the courtyard!
- Himari
What?!
- CHU²
Why are you even together with that person? If you can't say it, then all you're doing is running away.
- CHU²
If you aren't going to face her directly, then end the relationship already!
- Himari
...!
- Himari
(I'm only running away? That... might be... true. I... I'm...)
- Tomoe
Hey, you! What do you think you're doing to my childhood friend?!
- Himari
Huh? T-Tomoe?!
- CHU²
What's the big idea, interrupting me? Who the heck are you?
- Tomoe
That doesn't matter right now! I don't care who you are, but if you want to pick on Himari, you have to go through me first!
- Himari
(Tomoe pushed me behind her while laying down the line–she was so cool...)
- Himari
(But what CHU²-chan said was right too... I... I... I won't run away anymore!)
- Himari
No, wait, Tomoe! I'm the one who's at fault here! CHU²-chan didn't do anything wrong!
- Himari
(The tears started flowing, as though breaking through a dam.)
- Tomoe
Huh? Himari, a-are you okay?
- Himari
I... I could never tell you how I felt. I haven't told you even half of how I feel! She was just chiding me for that.
- Tomoe
Wh-What do you mean?
- CHU²
Ugh... Seriously, you people are so stupid.
- CHU²
Take a good look at the people in front of you before you start assuming and assaulting. I've had enough of you. I'm out.
- Tomoe
People... in front of me?
- Himari
Ah... Sniff... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Tomoe...
- Tomoe
Himari... I'm sorry too.
- Tomoe
I've been looking all over for you today. There's something I wanted to tell you.
- Himari
Huh? Tell me?
- Tomoe
Please, don't ever leave my side. Forget about Seta-senpai and let me protect you instead.
- Himari
Wh-What does Kaoru-senpai have to do with this?
- Tomoe
Because... today, you were going to see the cherry blossom tree with... Seta-sernpai, right?
- Himari
(Surprised by her words, I looked into her eyes. But Tomoe's eyes weren't joking.)
- Himari
Sigh...
- Himari
(While I was exasperated, I also understood what she was thinking. Ah, this was my childhood friend, all right.)
- Himari
You can be so dense when it matters, Tomoe. It was so obvious that I was only pretending.
- Tomoe
Huh? You mean... it wasn't like that? Aw, what the heck? It was just me assuming things, huh?
- Himari
(She said it playfully, but she looks relieved. She's dense, so if I'm not this clear with her, she'll never understand what I'm trying to say.)
- Himari
But it's true that there's someone I want to see the cherry blossom tree with!
- Himari
I meant with my childhood friend! Ca nyou figure out who it is, already?!
- Tomoe
Huh...
- Himari
(With all my courage, I looked Tomoe in the face. Her lips were slightly open, as though searching for the right words.)
- Himari
(Just then, a single cherry blossom petal fluttered down between us.)
- Tomoe
Should we go?
- Himari
Yeah!
- Himari
(Maybe we didn't need any fancy words. We only exchanged those few shorts words and started casually walking.)
- Himari
Wow...!
- Himari
(The legendary cherry blossom tree that blooms once every ten years was fully bloomed. Without thinking, I said exactly how I felt.)
- Himari
...Tomoe, I want to be together with you forever.
- Tomoe
We can't stay the way we are now, can we?
- Himari
No. If we do that, we'll definitely... regret it one day.
- Himari
Every time I imagined you seeing the cherry blossom tree with someone else, my heart broke.
- Himari
Now and forever. I want to be the on by your side, Tomoe.
- Tomoe
..! Me too. Frankly, I was always pretending.
- Tomoe
And apart from Seta-senpai, I assumed you'd always be with me forever. That was wrong of me.
- Tomoe
I can't be like that, can I? I promise you, Himari. I'm going to make you happy.
- Himari
...! Tomoe!
Under the blooming cherry blossom tree... You and I–
This is the story of an unbelievable April day for me–
She acts strong, and is always pretending, but she's the coolest childhood friend that I could have.
I'm sure that we'll remember this day every time that we eat ramen together, maybe!
- Himari
(Just how many times have I boiled pork bones? How many times have I made soup stock? How many times have I made fresh noodles?)
- Himari
(Cut the onions, boil the egg, boil down the pork belly.)
- Himari
(Tomoe was being stubborn. I was being desperate. We just kept making more ramen.)
- Tomoe
Not yet... We haven't created the ultimate ramen yet!
- Himari
(With dozens of bowls stacked before her, Tomoe roared in frustration.)
- Himari
(Just how many times have we taste tested? My stomach was crying for us to stop.)
- Himari
T-Tomoe, I think... I'm finished...
- Tomoe
What?! Himari?! Are you okay?!
- Himari
(I dropped to my knees. Tomoe ran to put her arm around me. Did her face look so pretty because I was losing consciousness?)
- Himari
(I can't do this anymore... I'm so full of ramen that I can't think...)
- Tomoe
No... Tell me it isn't so! We promised that we'd make the ultimate ramen!
- Himari
I know. I'm sorry, Tomoe... I entrust you with my dreams... You have to make it... The ultimate ramen...
- Tomoe
W-Wait! Himari... Himari!!
- Tomoe
Sob... Argh! Now I have to... I'll do it. I'll do it! Himari, I'll make a bowl that'll satisfy you!
- Himari
(As my consciousness faded, I heard Tomoe swear to do it.)
- Himari
(If only, back then, in the classroom, I hadn't joked around and told her how I felt instead...)
- Himari
(Then maybe it wouldn't have ended up this way. As I lay on my bed, filled with regret and ramen, the legendary cherry blossoms all fell.)