April 1st, Clear Weather
My Birthday
Tokyo
"Nannan, hurry up and eat breakfast! Don't just stand in front of the mirror trying to look good. What's there to see, flowers growing out of your head? We'll be late if you don't hurry, and today's the first camping trip with our classmates."
I was awakened by my mother's nagging voice early in the morning.
"Ugh, I know, I know, stop rushing me. I'm going to look beautiful today, I don't want to be teased by Dami again," I muttered as I sat at my vanity, clipping my hair with a hairpin. I shook my head from side to side, admiring myself, and then went downstairs to eat breakfast.
Sure enough, it was the usual soft-boiled egg and hot noodle soup.
"Mom, can you make me something different for my birthday? I've had eggs and noodles so many times already."
I pouted and whined to my mom, but she began her usual lecture.
"You should be grateful for having eggs to eat. When I was young, even eggs were a luxury. Eating noodles on your birthday is a symbol of longevity. Besides, I don't want you to leave the house when you grow up. You'll spread your wings and fly away..."
Sigh, having a mother who's always nagging, I'm getting a little drunk on it. To stop the endless chatter, I grabbed the remote control and turned on the TV. The morning news is always the thing that grabs her attention, because after the news, there are always supermarket specials about vegetables being aired on loop beneath the screen. Maybe that's what housewives like best, huh?
The TV flickered on.
"Good morning, everyone. I'm currently in Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyoto, where the annual cherry blossom viewing festival is being held. Tourists from all over the world have gathered here to enjoy the beautiful blossoms. Let's talk to some of them."
"Excuse me, ma'am, where are you from?"
"Hello, I'm from Kumamoto Prefecture. I've heard that the cherry blossoms here are the most beautiful at this time of year, so I came to see for myself. I also heard that after the festival, there will be food and souvenir transactions, so I plan to buy something for my family. The cherry blossoms here are so lovely and pink."
"Thank you for your time, enjoy your visit."
"During the cherry blossom season, sitting beneath the trees while enjoying tea and admiring the flowers is a yearly tradition. From March to May, it's a time when the cherry blossoms bloom all around. We welcome travelers from all over to come and visit. Cherry blossoms come in different varieties and colors, with common ones being snow-white and pink. As the breeze blows, the sweet scent fills the air. How long will the cherry blossoms last? We'll have to wait and see. This is reporter Yuichi Kinoshita, reporting for you."
"Thank you, Yuichi, for your report from Fukuoka. However, while cherry blossom season is beautiful, it's also important to be cautious of pollen allergies. Every year, those with pollen allergies need to be especially careful during this season. Make sure to wear masks to avoid inhaling the pollen, and if you experience swelling or itching, please seek medical attention immediately. I'm your host, Yoko. We'll see you tomorrow."
"Wait, why hasn't the broadcast cut to the next segment? What's going on? Kinoshita, are you still there? Kinoshita… what's happening? Why are so many citizens fainting? What symptoms are appearing at the scene? Kinoshita…"
"Uh, yes, I'm still here. A gust of wind just blew through, and it seems many citizens fainted due to pollen allergies. We've already called 110 for emergency help, and our staff is helping with crowd control… Ah…"
The panic at the scene caused people to rush away, knocking over reporters, microphones, and cameras. The live feed from the news station was also cut off.
"Director, try contacting Kinoshita in Fukuoka again. See if we can reconnect. Hello, Kinoshita… Alright, maybe it's a signal issue. We'll update you on this situation after further investigation. Please remain calm and avoid crowded places."
(Advertisement break...)
"Mom, did you see that? It's terrifying. The cherry blossoms are beautiful, but life is more important. Please stay home as much as possible. Let us know if you need anything, and make sure to close all the windows and doors. There are so many people outside, and they all fainted while watching the cherry blossoms on TV."
"Oh dear, why are you so anxious, my little princess? I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice. There's no need to worry. Eat your meal and hurry up. Don't keep Dami waiting. Didn't we agree to go camping? Everything's ready for you. I know how to take care of myself. You too, come back early tomorrow, or if not, return in the evening. Don't stay out too late."
"Alright, I know. I can't let her down. We'll be careful. Bye, Mom, I'm leaving now."
"Be sure to come back early!"
As I left the house, I headed for the gathering spot with Dami.
"Nannan, did you hear? There were people fainting at the cherry blossom viewing festival. Are you allergic to pollen? Do you think it's dangerous?" Dami nervously grabbed my hand as soon as she saw me.
"It's fine. When my parents and I first came here, we checked for allergens. The doctor said it's no problem. Come on, the weather is perfect today. Let's not let it ruin our fun."
"Alright, let's go. We're heading to Hokkaido, where the toast is the best. Then we can go climb a mountain, and finally set up a tent by the sea..."
Dami excitedly described our plans for the day.
"Come on, let me check if you've got any drool. Let me wipe that for you… Dami, you're still so cute."
"Ah! Stop teasing me. Let's go already," Dami blushed and urged me to hurry up.
A full day of eating, drinking, and having fun, Dami and I ended up lying in a tent by the sea in Hokkaido. Dami asked me about my background. Although we were close, we had never really discussed personal matters.
"Well, I'm from EN with my parents. We just moved here because of my dad's job, and we're renting an apartment. What about you? You grew up here, right? Are your parents from here?"
"Yeah, I've lived here my whole life. My biggest dream is to travel the world, and my first stop is to visit your hometown, Nannan."
"That sounds great! I'll be your tour guide when you come to my hometown. We'll eat, drink, and have fun, and you'll probably become a big, chubby girl from all the food! I have so much delicious stuff, like steamed lamb, bear paws, venison, and flower ducks..."
"Ah, stop, stop, I'm getting hungry just listening to you. I can't let myself get too fat here. I don't want to eat boiled veggies every day—it'll be so boring."
"By the way, Dami, why do so many people here have pollen allergies? It doesn't happen in my hometown."
"Oh, you're asking about that? Well, about a quarter of the people in Kyoto have pollen allergies. Even if they're not originally from here, if they stay long enough, they'll eventually develop it. You should be careful too, Nannan."
"Why's that?"
"Well, most houses here are made from cedar wood, which is fast-growing and light, making it great for construction. However, there are male and female cedar trees, and during the flowering season, the female trees release a lot of pollen. This, along with the cherry blossoms, causes a huge increase in pollen levels around this time of year. That's why so many people get allergies. It's common for people here to wear masks to protect themselves, and some even wear masks while they sleep."
"Then why keep planting so many trees if so many people are allergic?"
"Because in Kyoto, the cherry blossom season, also called 'Sakura Time,' symbolizes the arrival of spring. People associate it with the start of a new, hopeful year. Even though the allergies are bothersome, the beauty and meaning of the cherry blossoms make people endure it."
"Ah, that makes sense. Dami, you know so much, you're so smart!"
"Well, not really. It's just what my parents told me. So Nannan, be sure to wear a mask for protection."
We spent the night chatting, and though we hadn't known each other for long, it felt like we had been long-lost sisters. Dami had become my first true friend in this place.
The next morning, the fog lingered. Dami and I, still sleepy from our late-night talks, were about to take a nap before heading home when we overheard a conversation on the beach.
"President, we can't keep going like this. The cherry blossom festival has already caused problems. We should stop the experiment. There's no such thing as a pollen allergy prevention drug. If there was, the previous researchers would have already made it. This is a trap—please stop it."
"Guangshi, don't be so negative. Our research is already showing results. How can it not work? You called me out here just to say this? The experiment is at a crucial stage. We can't stop now. It's already in the news that we can create this drug. Once it's finished, we'll be famous. You're not going to throw all that away, are you? Once it's done, I'll be well-known, and my wallet will be full. I'll never have to live under someone else's thumb again."
"President, stop fighting this battle. There's still a chance to stop the damage. The country will contain it. Don't keep making mistakes."
"Guangshi, it's too late. We've come this far, there's no turning back. We've almost perfected it. We just need to test it on the lab mice for a while longer."
"But President, the leak from last time caused so many people to faint, even people from abroad. Don't continue with this!"
"Stop talking! My decision is made. If you don't want your wife and children to live well, don't talk to me like this. I'm not stopping now."
The voices faded as they walked away, leaving only the sound of their hurried footsteps.
"Dami, did you hear that? Did you hear what those two people were talking about?"
"I did, Nannan. It sounds like they're from some pharmaceutical company, testing something. We need to go home and tell our parents. This is serious, especially since it involves the cherry blossom festival. What if they find out we overheard them and try to catch us? Let's leave quickly."
"Right, let's go home now. We'll tell our parents, and later, we'll meet up to figure out what to do."
"Okay."
We quickly packed up our camping gear and took the earliest bus home.
Once home, I couldn't wait to tell my parents what Dami and I had overheard. My father fell silent, while my mother just smiled.
"Nannan, are you playing too much? This sounds like one of your wild dreams. When you were young, you always believed your dreams were real. Don't worry. If something happens, we have the country and your parents to protect you. You need to focus on your studies now. Your future is the most important thing. Don't get distracted by things like the morning news. If you're tired, just go take a nap. Everything will be fine when you wake up."
Mom patted my head and handed me a glass of water.
"I think Nannan's right. She's not dreaming. Dami said the same thing, and it's unlikely they both dreamed the same thing. Nannan, don't spread rumors. It's a serious issue, and we can't afford to take risks. I'll check with the authorities when I get to work. Don't say anything more about it. The laws here are strict. We don't want to get into trouble."
"I understand, Dad. I won't say anything else. You can verify it if you want."
"Alright, that's enough for now. I'm going to work. We'll figure it out later." My father finished his breakfast, grabbed his briefcase, and left for work.
"I'll go back to my room, Mom."
I dragged myself upstairs, took a shower, and plopped onto my bed.
Sigh, honestly, no one will believe me. At least Dad is reasonable. Mom, on the other hand, just doesn't get it. I'll sleep for now, and later I'll meet up with Dami. Thinking about it, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.