The plum trees were still there.

The air smelled of old blossoms and damp earth. Shinobu stopped a few steps behind him, silent. Suzu’s brother was gazing up at the sky, hands in his pockets, that unreadable look on his face as always.

Shinobu took a deep breath.

—"You always came here when you needed to think."

The other turned his head slightly, surprised, but said nothing. Shinobu kept going, not waiting for a reply.

—"I came too. You just never noticed."

A joyless laugh escaped his throat.

—"No one noticed. Well... Suzu did. She knew before I even admitted it to myself."

He stepped closer, but didn’t close the distance all the way.

—"You know? I always thought you’d figure it out. That there would be a moment, a silence, something that would make you understand. But you..." —he lowered his gaze, hands tightening around the edge of his coat— "you were too busy trying to push me toward her."

Pause.

—"She was in love with me. And you... you just wanted to see her happy."

The wind carried a few petals between them like sweet snow.

—"I wanted to see her happy too. That’s why I never said anything."

His eyes finally lifted, fixed on the other’s back.

—"I’m not sure if you ever... if there was anything. I’m not here to ask that."

Now he did step closer. The space between them was thinner now.

—"I just wanted to say it. After everything. After all these years... after all the times I almost said it."

A blossom landed on his shoulder.

Shinobu let it stay.

—"You were my first love. And I still carry you with me."

The other finally turned to face him. But Shinobu didn’t wait for a response. He held his gaze for a single, trembling second.

—"I don’t expect you to feel the same. But if you ever... if you ever want to stand under this tree again, with me..."

He smiled, softly.

—"I’ll be here."