I leave Pucca's room and grab my phone. I dial Pucca's number. No answer. The call goes to voicemail. I call again, "H-Hello....?"

"Hello? Pucca?"

"Huh? Who's this?"

"What, you don't recognize my voice?"

"Um....Abyo?"

"Heck no!"

"Garu?"

"Yeah."

"Oh how did you get my number??"

"Dada."

"Of course. Anyways, what's up?"

I sighed. "Nothing, just been bored without you around. Everything feels so weird and empty, as if the village had a cloud of gloom and depression hanging over."

"Oh, well....I-I'm doing great here! I might come out as a pro cook haha!"

"Pucca."

"Hm..?"

"I can tell when you lie."

"H-huh!?"

"You studder in the beginning of your statement and laugh it off at the end."

"..."

"Um...hello?"

"I didn't think you knew that... I mean the other two and my uncle's can never tell. How come you can?"

"I hung around you a lot remember?"

"Yeah...that's true..."

"So what's wrong..?"

"N-nothing! I'm fine- haha........shit- Garu I have to go...."

"W-wait!" Pucca hung up.

I sigh, something's wrong. I don't know what though. I want to help her but will she let me? Wait- why am I worrying so much!? Is it because she's my friend, or is it something more........?

It can't be something more...I like her as a friend, as a little sister...

I shake my head and downstairs, the place is already full. "Yeah, ok. Anything else..?" I see Dada on the phone. "Mhm."

I head to a table and wait. "Oh, ok Pucca. We'll talk later ok? Miss you." And with that Dada hungs up. He was talking to Pucca.. but she said she had to go to class. Wait, what's today? I pull out my phone. April. Saturday.

I put my phone away, ugggghhhh, she lied to me. Dada comes up to me, "good afternoon Garu. I see you finally woke up, haha. Anyways what would you like?"

"The special please."

"Alright, that will be out soon. Anything to drink?"

"Hmm...can I get some water?"

Dada nods. He heads to the back and brings a cup of nice cold water. I take a sip and sigh.

I look outside the window and see some cherry trees lining up around Goh Rong. Right! It's Sakura season. I almost forgot, my hometown is having festivals for this week. I really want to go back to Japan. Just for the festival, I did go back once. With Pucca, Ching, and Abyo. I did sumo wrestling cause of Abyo and his big mouth, but it was fun.

"Yeah." I look over and see Ching. "Wait, why not? Did he do something??" Ching notices me looking and walks over. "Oooh- wait. Ok. Alright, talk later miss you!" She hungs up. "Pucca?"

"Pucca" she nods.

I sigh, "hey Ching. Wanna go to Japan again today?"

"Huh!? Really? Why?"

"Well." I point outside, "cherry trees- er... Sakuras are out and in Japan there's festivals for these. Sakura festivals." I smile. Imagining myself running under the falling Sakura petals as my dad grabs up some food. "Yeah, ok. Sounds like fun!" Ching smiles. My heart dances. WE GET TO GO TO JAPAN!!! Not because of Ching. Haha.

Abyo comes in and spots Ching and I. He walks over, "Hey."

"Hey, me and Ching were gonna go to Japan for this week, wanna join?"

"Japan!? HELL YEAH!!" He jumps up and rips off his shirt. Ugh.

"Haha. At least it wasn't my undershirt." I look at him, "seriously?"

"What-?"

"Nothing. Anyways, after we eat head home and pack for the week alright?" They both nod. Suddenly Dada appears beside the table placing a pink water bowl with noodles. "What's that Dada?"

"Oh hey Ching, Abyo. These are the cherry blossom noodles. Today's special, maybe even for the whole week."

I smile, "this looks great." I grab my chopsticks, splitting them in two and begin to eat, "Garu...I don't thing Cherry petals are edible." I grab a petal that's floating on the water and eat it. The taste is outstanding. I swallow what I had in my mouth, "They are edible. In Japan they make so much food with these flowers. It's really delicious, and it doesn't help that it's a seasonal thing either."

"Oh. Huh. I didn't know you could eat flowers."

"Actually, some other flowers can be eaten as well. Like the Lilac."

"What? For real-" suddenly Ching's phone goes off. "Hold up." She pulls out her phone and answers the call.

"Hello?"

"Oh hey Pucca, what's up?"

A long silence. "Are you ok? What happened?"

Ching's eyes widen. "WHAT!? NO WAY! THATS AMAZING!!!"

Ching puts the call om speaker for all of us to hear. "The only issue is that Hikaru isn't here and I don't know what to do with these cherry petals. I-"

"Why don't you make some Hamani Dango and a cup of Sakura tea?" I chime in. Silence.

"That does sound good. Alright! I'll talk later bye guys!"

"Bye Pucca!"