Monsoon Romance

The first letter arrived a week after Aiko left. Haruto found it tucked neatly inside the mailbox, its envelope decorated with tiny doodles of cherry blossoms and stars. His heart skipped a beat as he recognized her handwriting on the front. Tearing it open, he found a carefully folded piece of pale pink stationery.

Dear Haruto,

How is the cherry blossom tree? I miss it so much. I hope it's still as beautiful as ever. Have you been sitting under it like we used to? It's strange being in a new town, but I'm trying my best to adjust. There's so much I want to tell you, but for now, I'll just say—I miss you.

Love,

Aiko

Haruto reread the letter several times, his chest tightening with each pass. Though the words were simple, they carried the weight of her absence and her effort to stay connected despite the miles between them.

Inspired, Haruto grabbed a notebook and started crafting his reply. He wrote about the tree, their classmates, and how he had been decorating the grove in her honor. He even drew a little sketch of the tree adorned with his paper cranes and lanterns, hoping it would make her smile.

He ended the letter with:

P.S. I miss you too.

The next day, he mailed it, carefully sealing the envelope with a sticker he thought Aiko would like—a small, glittery star.

And so began their exchange of letters.

Each week, Haruto waited eagerly by the mailbox, his heart racing as he flipped through the mail to find an envelope marked with Aiko's unmistakable handwriting. Her letters became a lifeline, painting vivid pictures of her new life. She wrote about her new school, her shy attempts at making friends, and her late-night walks where she thought of the cherry blossoms back home.

Haruto replied with his own updates, recounting their classmates' antics and his adventures in the grove. He shared how he had taken up sketching, inspired by her gift of the sketchbook, and even included a drawing of the kitten, Sora, now growing more adventurous.

One day, Aiko's letter arrived with a surprise—a pressed cherry blossom petal taped to the page.

I found this near my new school, she wrote. It reminded me of us, so I thought I'd send it to you. Keep it safe, okay?

Haruto carefully placed the petal inside his sketchbook, right next to the one he had caught under the tree. It felt like a small piece of her had returned to him.

Their letters grew longer and more personal over time. Aiko began sharing her fears about fitting in and missing her old life, while Haruto confessed how quiet the grove felt without her laughter.

Sometimes, I feel like the tree is waiting for you to come back, he wrote in one letter. But I promise I'll take care of it until you do.

Aiko's response came swiftly:

Thank you, Haruto. Knowing you're there makes it a little easier to be here. And don't worry—the tree and I will meet again someday.

The letters weren't just words on paper; they were a bridge spanning the distance between them. Aiko started adding small gifts to her envelopes—a tiny origami crane, a bookmark she made in art class, or a photograph of her new surroundings.

Haruto responded in kind, sending her doodles of their favorite spots in town or funny anecdotes about Sora's mischievous escapades. He even wrote her a poem once, though he cringed as he mailed it, worried she might find it silly.

To his relief, her reply was enthusiastic:

Your poem was beautiful! You're so talented, Haruto. Maybe one day, we'll publish a book together—your words and my drawings. What do you think?

The thought filled Haruto with warmth.

As the months passed, the letters became a constant in their lives, a rhythm they both relied on. Haruto found himself looking forward to each new letter, not just for the updates but for the way they made him feel—connected, hopeful, and a little less alone.

One evening, as he sat under the cherry blossom tree reading Aiko's latest letter, he felt a sense of calm. The tree, though physically empty, didn't feel lonely anymore. Her words filled the space around him, as if she were right there beside him.

The letters reminded Haruto that while Aiko was far away, their bond was still strong. The distance was merely a test, one they both were determined to overcome. And as he folded her latest letter and tucked it safely into his sketchbook, he smiled.

Aiko wasn't just writing to him—she was reminding him that some connections could withstand anything, even the miles that separated them.