The Smiling Flower

The Smiling Flower

“The sky is so distant,

The wind so crisp and clear,

The sea so vast, and so brilliantly blue—

And there you were, naturally, in my sight.”

I

This was the 18th blind date she had been on.

After a few polite exchanges, she got straight to the point. “I’ve already told you everything about myself online. Let’s not waste any more time.”

The man fell silent for a few seconds, then slowly rose, nodded as if in salute, and pushed the door open, leaving.

She watched him disappear around the corner. Lana’s California played softly in the background. Through the haze, she saw a sliver of the sea at the far end of the road—its deep blue barely visible behind the cluttered street stalls.

The sea.

The beach.

The smiling flower.

A gust of wind blew past the window. She felt as though the tide might swallow her whole.

II

Summer in the seaside town carried a scent of fish mingled with dampness, and the wind, like a transparent sea, wrapped itself tightly around everyone.

She pushed her bike along the road. On her left stretched an endless plain of water, now dyed with the evening glow, merging with the horizon until it was impossible to tell sky from earth. Not wanting to go home just yet, she parked her bike at the roadside, sat on the curb, and absentmindedly caressed the flowers growing beside her.

“That’s a Smiling Flower.”

She turned to see a boy, wind flickering through his hair, his light-blue shirt gently creased.

He sat down next to her, and she caught a faint whiff of citrus carried by the sea breeze.

Wrapped in the wind, her heart gave a heavy thud. As the sun sank into the horizon, the last clouds of dusk vanished from the sky.

III

Back in the rented apartment, she dropped her bag and shut her bedroom door. Facing the gray, peeling wall, her mind was filled with flashes of color. From beyond the door came her father’s drunken rants, her mother’s resistance, her little brother’s sobs. Her life had always been filled with these grime. So when her eyes, used to darkness, suddenly met light—what came first was confusion, then tears.

She thought of the boy’s hair, his scent, every word he had said.

“That’s a Smiling Flower. It symbolizes never parting. They say those who see it will find lasting happiness.”

“As its name of Smiling Flower, we ought to smile when we see it.”

“This city’s beautiful—with the sea.”

“Oh, and I’m Sakano.”

In her sixteen years of life, it was the first time she felt her blood stir. Under the moonlight, the boy’s face was gently sketched out; his shadow wrapped around her. Raindrops turned to icy shooting stars as she stood on the balcony and made a wish.

IV

The boy had transferred to their school from elsewhere. The first time they met in the hallway, he waved at her with a smile. Their eyes met for just a second, and her heart thundered in her chest. He walked toward her.

“Turns out we’re classmates.”

The corners of his eyes crinkled, reflecting her image in his gaze.

She caught the same citrus scent as yesterday’s sunset, mingled with the sea’s humidity.

“Such a coincidence.”

He was still smiling.

She could feel his breath mingling with her heartbeat—like the rhythm of a rising tide.

His eyes shone so brightly—had a shooting star fallen into them last night?

V

She told a lie. She said she was afraid to walk home alone. So he offered to walk with her.

“I didn’t like my old school. People always made fun of me. Eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore and transferred.”

He pushed his bike along and spoke softly.

“Why did they make fun of you?”

“They said I was like a girl. You know… some people think I’m weird.”

Her heart clenched. She didn’t know what to say. The two of them walked in silence for a long time.

“But I like it here. I love the ocean.”

“Yeah. It’s a beautiful town.”

“When I came here, I wondered what I’d find in this new place.” His eyes looked to the sky, as if truly pondering. “Then I saw the Smiling Flower. And the person sitting beside it.”

“The flower that stands for never parting.”

“And for happiness.”

They said no more and walked the whole way like that.

They walked for the whole year.

VI

He found her crying by the sea.

It had always been her habit—crying near the waves, as if the sea could absorb the sobs hanging in the air, and the wind could carry her sorrow far away. After yet another fight between her parents, she burst out of the house and ran to the beach. As soon as her toes touched the tide, she collapsed onto the sand. Only a few stars dotted the sky, and the water reflected the trembling moonlight. She wished she could dive deep into the sea, swim and swim until the sun replaced the moon, dawn replaced the stars, and happiness replaced pain.

She felt the wind wrap tighter around her. Silently, the tears streamed down, mingling with the sea, making it look like the ocean was formed of her sorrow.

She raised her hand toward the sky, praying for a moment of happiness—but her fingers dropped before they could touch the stars.

Then, in the streak of a falling star, someone embraced her. She smelled citrus.

She turned and saw him, holding her tightly, his head resting on her shoulder, trembling.

His tears soaked through her clothes, into her skin. She turned and embraced him too. Their tears merged, becoming tributaries of the sea.

In a voice broken by sobs, he whispered:

He loved her.

He wanted to give her all the life and warmth he had.

He would stay with her.

She replied incoherently—she loved him too. She was happy. So impossibly happy.

The waves cradled their dream. The wind stood guard.

VII

The days she spent trapped in that small town were overflowing with happiness. She couldn’t stop thinking of him—longing for chance hallway encounters at school, the golden light of sunset after class, the sound of his voice. Through his stories, she learned of the world beyond their little town. For the first time, she imagined what lay across the sea.

But along with that came a helpless fear of losing him. She was like a mayfly drifting in the ocean, clutching him for even a moment of safety. As her anxiety grew, she noticed that he wasn’t as cheerful as he tried to appear. Like before, the boys in their class grew hostile. They mocked his scent, his always-clean shirt, his gentle voice. Then came the ink splattered on his clothes, the hair-pulling, the trash thrown at him.

She didn’t know what to do. Her broken home had made her timid and withdrawn. She could only watch as they humiliated him, feel her heart shatter, and try to piece it back together.

She clung to their walks home, trying to reach him. But his silences grew longer. At first, he would still smile and comfort her—but slowly, he only nodded.

One day, she brought it up again. He stopped, placed a hand over hers on the bike handle.

“I don’t want you to worry about me. I just want you to be happy.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but he pulled her into a hug. Her head against his chest, she heard his heart beating—loud as hers. They stood beside the road for a long time as the wind stirred their cuffs. He whispered love in her ear.

“What if... one day we have to part?”

“Just thinking about it scares me.”

“We won’t… no matter what happens, we won’t.”

“Swear it on the Smiling Flower.”

“Please don’t treat me like I’ll always be here.”

The wild geese flew past. Winter was close.

VIII

Because of illness, I have to return to my old city.

I really tried to stay, but my body won’t let me anymore.

I’ve never once regretted coming here. I saw the sea I loved. I met the person I love most. I used to love the ocean for its freedom and vastness—its endless hope. But after meeting you, I learned the sea is also a girl’s tears. Your tears. Your sorrow.

I don’t have much to offer—I only have a soul and a beating heart. But I want to give them both to you. Even a flicker of happiness for you makes me the happiest person alive.

You always thank me for existing. But I should be the one grateful. In my short life, you were one of the few who didn’t see me as different. You weren’t ashamed that I was a boy who was “too soft.” You listened to all my words. You liked the scent of citrus. Because of you, I learned that I am worthy of love.

I hope you can feel this endless gratitude. The stars above are all proof of my love.

Please, promise to love yourself—carry my love with you. I know you’ll have a future. You’ll leave this place. You’ll see the world beyond the sea. When you do, don’t forget me. Look at it for me too.

Don’t blame me for breaking my promise. Even if I leave this place—I’m still with you. Whenever you need me, I’ll be anything between heaven and earth for you. So never say goodbye. I never left. Every time the sea breeze touches your face—it’s me, kissing your cheek.

Don’t forget me.

It’s getting cold. Wear something warm.

Sakano

IX

She woke up. Dusk had already fallen.

Wiping the corners of her eyes, she felt as if there were tears. Outside the window, where sea met sky, the horizon was tinged with red. A few people sat along the roadside, chatting as they gazed out at the view.

She thought she saw that distant afternoon—saw him and herself, sitting side by side at the edge of the road.

A breeze stirred. The wind chimes outside the shop let out a soft ring.

Is the Smiling Flower still there? she wondered.