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Sunlight filled the Gojo Doll Shop. The workshop around him carried the faint scents of silk and wood polish. Wakana folded the hina outfit he had finished just days earlier, smoothing each layer. He pushed down the outer robe one final time, and then he lined it up beside the other finished outfits.
His heart skipped as Marin emerged in his mind, radiant in the garments, her timid smile blossoming the instant he called her beautiful. The memory beat through him, filling his chest with heat that burned sweetly; surprise, shyness, and longing twisted in him, leaving his thoughts swimming.
Wakana pressed both palms to his cheeks, squeezing his eyes shut. He forced himself to focus. He folded the last sleeve, wrapped the set protectively, and kept his hands calm. Across the room, his grandfather watched, teacup paused halfway to his lips.
"You've been staring at that doll for a while," his grandfather said.
Wakana jumped in surprise. “I was only checking the condition!”
Kaoru’s eyes twinkled. “Mmm. Of course.”
Just then, the peaceful rhythm of the shop broke; the door slid open.
“GOJOOO-KUUUUN!”
Wakana’s chair slid harshly across the floor. His heart throbbed in his throat as he whipped his head toward the door. Marin stood there, sunlight glowing behind her, arms outstretched in excitement. “Kitagawa! Good morning...”
“Morning!” she beamed. Her blonde hair swung with her steps as she hurried inside, already holding up her phone excitedly. “I FOUND ONE!”
Wakana blinked. “Found… what?”
A bright illustration filled her phone as she thrust it closer. Marin rushed to the workbench, planting her hands and leaning so far across that Wakana rocked backward.
The screen showed a girl below cherry blossom trees, pastel fabrics flowing, and ribbons fluttering in the breeze. Her look radiated peace and warmth, with a whisper of nostalgia.
Wakana bent closer, studying the design. “This is… very beautiful.”
Marin grinned. “Right?! Her name’s Izumo!” She tapped the screen. “She’s like a chill slice-of-life Vocaloid character. A lot of the art shows her hanging out in parks or under sakura trees.”
Wakana nodded quietly. “The colors are very springlike.”
"Exactly!"
“The flowers, the sleeves, the ribbons, everything looks soft and dreamy!”
She leaned forward with sparkling eyes. “Can we make this?”
Wakana blinked. “You want to cosplay this character?”
Marin spun. “And this weekend! Peak cherry blossoms at the garden!”
He held the phone firmly as Marin’s image overwhelmed him. His eyes went wide in stunned wonder; for a moment, the world seemed to still, and his breath paused as her excitement threatened to sweep him away.
“Fits the theme,” he admitted.
Marin pumped her fist. “Knew you’d get it!” She leaned in. “Will the outfit work in real life?”
He examined the design: light, flowing sleeves, softly layered pastels in pink, cream, and pale blue.
“It should be possible. The structure is less formal than traditional garments, so mobility wouldn’t be an issue.”
Marin clasped her hands. “Yesss!”
Her eyes glanced at a familiar corner of the workshop. She walked over, crouched low, and peered closely at the Hina doll on display. Its mild smile appeared unchanged. “Hehe.” She cocked her head. “Still kinda looks like me.”
Wakana immediately turned red again. “It only resembles you slightly!”
Marin laughed. She stood up again, smiling warmly. “Relax, Gojo. I like it. Now it's time for Operation Become Izumo!”
“First, you’ll need to pick out your favorite reference images,” Wakana said.
Marin saluted instantly. “Roger!”
“Second, I’ll need to make the fabric selection based on those photos.”
“Roger!”
“Third...”
“Photoshoot under sakura trees!”
Wakana paused. “Well, there are many more steps than that. But after, yes.”
Marin beamed. “Oh! And guess what? I already asked someone to help with photos.”
Wakana tilted his head. “Already? We haven’t even made the outfit yet...”
Marin nodded. “I’m gonna help organize for once! I got Shinju to agree pretty quickly.”
Wakana blinked again. “Really?”
“Yep! And she said she’s bringing Sajuna too,” Marin added cheerfully.
Wakana stared at her. “You arranged all of this already?”
Marin grinned proudly. “Of course! Now we just need the costume.” She leaned a little closer, smiling mischievously.
Wakana studied the illustration, picturing Marin in the outfit amid cherry blossoms. An ache of anticipation and admiration arose in his chest, the warmth nearly overwhelming as hope and affection mingled in him. “Yeah … alright.”
Marin’s eyes beamed. “Really?!”
He nodded. “Yes.”
Her smile immediately lit up the room. “Let’s make Izumo.”
Soon, the shop's routine gave way to busy preparation. Fabric samples multiplied: bolts lined the walls, others unfurled chaotically across the workbench where Wakana leaned, studying each one.
Soft pink, pale blue, and cream fabrics were each carefully examined under a light. Wakana gripped one piece between his fingers, gently rubbing it to assess its quality.
“Too hard,” he spoke quietly. He placed it aside and reached for another.
Across the table, Marin rested her chin in her hands, watching him with complete fascination. “You always look so serious when you do that,” she said.
Wakana blinked, glancing up. “Ah! Sorry.”
“No, no! It’s cool!” She bent closer, eyes following his hands as he compared fabrics. “You get this look like you’re solving a puzzle.”
Wakana tilted his head slightly. “I suppose costume design is a bit like that.”
He grabbed Marin’s phone, angled it to the light, and stared intently at Izumo beneath drifting cherry blossoms.
“The sleeves need to move lightly in the wind,” he said thoughtfully.
“So heavier silk wouldn’t work?”
“Correct.” He lifted a softer piece of fabric. “This one should drape better.”
Marin reached out and touched it. “Ooooh. That feels super nice!”
“It’s a silk blend. Light enough to move freely, but durable enough for outdoor photography.”
Marin grinned. “You’ve already thought about the photoshoot.”
He smiled. “I guess I am.”
Marin giggled. “You’re excited too, huh?”
“I’m only focusing on proper construction.”
“Sure you are.”
She leaned back slightly, clearly unconvinced. Then she suddenly remembered something. “Oh! The wig!” She pulled out a small bag and proudly placed it on the table. “I ordered it!”
Wakana looked up. Inside the bag lay a long wig in a soft cherry-blossom pink. Marin lifted it dramatically. “Tada!”
Wakana leaned forward slightly, studying the fibers. “The color fits the illustration very well.”
Marin grinned. “Right?! How’s it look?”
He jerked his gaze away, color rushing to his face. Marin’s face, framed in cherry-blossom pink, flashed vividly in his mind. His fingers stiffened on the table, and he kept his head down, avoiding her eyes.
“It will look appropriate once styled.”
Marin narrowed her look playfully. “Gojo.”
“Yes?”
“You totally imagined it just now.”
His face turned red. “I was only visualizing the completed costume!”
Marin laughed. “Relax! That’s exactly what I wanted!” She suddenly hopped up from her chair. “Wait here!”
Before Wakana could respond, she rushed behind the workshop screen. A few seconds later. “Okay! Now imagine it!” She popped back out wearing the wig. The long pink strands flowed over her shoulders, contrasting brightly with her usual gyaru style. She struck a pose. “How do I look?”
For a moment, he stared, struck silent as the soft color fit her perfectly. Awe and tenderness seized him, his heart beating as her shining smile made everything brighter and more alive. “It suits you.”
Marin blinked. Then she laughed again, covering her mouth. “You said that so seriously!”
“I was only stating an observation!”
“That makes it worse!” She spun once, letting the wig swish behind her. “Hehe! I feel like a magical girl!”
Suddenly, the lively mood was interrupted as the workshop door swung open, drawing Wakana's attention away. “Good afternoon.”
The calm voice made Marin straighten immediately. “JuJu!” she said brightly.
Standing in the doorway was Sajuna; next to her, her sister, Shinju, quietly carried a camera bag.
Marin waved excitedly. “You made it!”
Sajuna crossed her arms and examined the workshop. “I only came because you said there would be cherry blossoms.” Her eyes moved to Marin’s wig. “Is that the character?”
Marin nodded excitedly. “Yep! Izumo!”
Sajuna came closer, studying the reference image. “The aesthetic is good. It would go well for a cosplay.”
Marin gasped. “JuJu approved!”
“I didn’t say that...” Sajuna replied.
Shinju giggled. “I think it will photograph beautifully.”
Wakana bowed. “Thank you for helping with the photoshoot.”
Shinju grinned. “I’m happy to.”
Sajuna had already moved closer to the fabric table. She lifted one piece and inspected it. “This one will wrinkle too easily in outdoor wind.”
Wakana blinked. “Oh, you’re right.”
Marin’s eyes beamed. “JuJu’s already directing!”
“I’m not directing,” Sajuna said. She pointed at the reference image again. “But if you’re doing a cherry blossom shoot, you need movement in the sleeves.” She lifted another fabric piece. “This one will photograph better.”
Wakana studied it. “That is a good point.”
Marin leaned toward Shinju and whispered loudly. “JuJu’s totally invested.”
“I am not!”
The room slowly filled with activity. Fabric comparisons. Reference images. Camera settings. At one point, Sajuna grabbed Marin’s shoulders and physically turned her in the direction of the window.
“Stand still.”
“Huh?”
“I need to check how the wig reflects light.”
Marin froze obediently. Wakana watched quietly from the table. The pink hair gleamed lightly in the sunlight. For a moment, the image from the illustration appeared again in his mind. Cherry blossoms. Soft sleeves.
Marin smiling beneath drifting petals. “This will work,” Wakana said.
Marin turned toward him immediately. “Really?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
Her smile grew so bright it rivaled the afternoon sunlight. “Then let’s finish it!”
Sajuna crossed her arms. “The blossoms peak in three days.” Everyone turned toward her. “That means,” she continued calmly, “the costume must be finished before then.”
Marin pumped her fist. “Deadline!”
Wakana looked at the fabric again. Then at Marin. “We should begin immediately.”
Marin grinned. “Operation Become Izumo officially begins!”
Behind them, Shinju quietly pulled out her camera. She took a photo of the moment. Neither Marin nor Wakana noticed. But the picture captured them perfectly. Standing close together over the table. Already creating something beautiful again.
Spring arrived quietly. The public garden near the river had developed almost overnight. Cherry blossom trees lined the curving paths, their branches overflowing with soft pink blooms. Petals drifted lazily through the air, carried by soft breezes that made the whole park feel like a moving painting.
Visitors wandered slowly along the paths, many stopping to admire the trees or take photos. Near one of the larger cherry blossom groves, Wakana stood stiffly beside a small pile of equipment. He held a large white reflector board in both hands.
A few feet away, Shinju stood with a camera, adjusting the lens. “Gojo, could you lift the reflector a little higher?”
Wakana lifted it higher, trying to stay steady. “That’s good,” Shinju said.
Next to her, Sajuna crossed her arms. “Not that high.”
Wakana lowered it. “Now tilt it slightly left.” He tilted it. “… not that much.”
Wakana froze mid-adjustment. “Sorry!”
Sajuna sighed. “You’re supposed to reflect the light, not panic.”
Shinju gave him a soothing smile. “I think the lighting looks good, sister.”
“It will look better if the assistant stops shaking.”
“I’m not shaking!”
The breeze lifted a handful of petals past them. Sajuna shifted her stance slightly and glanced at the path. “… where is she?”
As if called by the question. “Sorry! Sorry! I’m coming!”
Marin appeared between the cherry trees. Wakana forgot how to breathe for a moment. The Izumo costume moved softly with each step, the pastel layers flowing gently around her legs, the lightweight sleeves drifting in the breeze, and the ribbons attached to her outfit moved gently.
Her wig shone bright in the sun, cherry blossoms falling around her. She looked like she had stepped out of the spring scenery itself. “I’m so sorry! Did I keep everyone waiting?”
Shinju raised her camera. “No! Just getting the setup ready.” Click.
Marin looked her way. “You’re taking pictures already? I haven’t even posed yet!”
Shinju smiled. “Natural reactions photograph best.”
Marin laughed. “Shinju’s scary ready!”
Shinju’s camera clicked several more times. Click. Click. “Good movement,” Sajuna muttered next to her.
Wakana remained motionless with the reflector still in his hands. Marin noticed. She walked toward him, careful with the flowing sleeves.
“Well?” she asked.
His brain struggled to reconnect. “… beautiful,” he said in a quiet tone.
Marin froze for half a second. Then her cheeks turned bright red. “You said it again!”
“I was only evaluating the costume!”
“That’s still worse!”
Sajuna crossed her arms. “If you two are done having a moment, we have photos to take.”
Marin straightened immediately. “Right!”
She hurried beneath one of the largest cherry blossom trees. The branches arched gently overhead, petals falling slowly through the sunlight. Shinju moved her camera.
“Stand there,” Sajuna said, pointing toward the branch.
Marin stopped in the soft shade of the blossoms.
“Hands relaxed,” Shinju added softly.
Marin changed her posture.
“Look toward the river.”
She turned slightly.
Wakana watched from the side. The scene looked strangely familiar. Pink petals floating through the air. Soft sleeves moving in the breeze. The sunlight passed through the blossoms above her. It was almost identical to the Izumo reference image.
Except Marin looked happier. Warmer. More alive. Shinju snapped several photos in quick succession.
Click. Click. Click.
“Good,” Sajuna said, watching the framing.
Marin shifted into another pose, lifting one sleeve slightly as petals drifted past her. Shinju came closer with her own camera.
Click. Click. Her voice was soft. “I like this angle.”
Shinju lowered the camera for a moment to check her screen display. “Wow,” she uttered softly. “These are turning out really nice.”
Marin hurried over immediately. “Really?! Let me see!”
She leaned over Shinju’s shoulder, careful not to disturb the camera, her pink wig slipping slightly as she looked at the preview images. “Whoa… that one looks amazing!” she said excitedly.
Petals drifted across the frame of the photo. The soft lighting beneath the blossoms made the pastel sleeves glow gently.
Wakana looked over, too. “… it does look very good,” he admitted.
Marin twirled toward him, grinning brightly. “Right?! Shinju’s incredible!”
Behind them, Sajuna folded her arms. “… of course it looks good.”
Everyone turned. Sajuna looked away, clearly pretending she hadn’t been watching the camera screen the entire time. “My sister’s photography is always good.”
Shinju smiled sheepishly. “Sister helped with the pose, though.”
Sajuna stiffened. “I only pointed out the obvious framing.”
Marin leaned forward suddenly, eyes beaming. “Ooooh! JuJu wants to try a pose too!”
“WHAT?!”
Marin grabbed her hand. “Come on! Just one photo!”
“I’m not the one cosplaying!”
“But you’re the pro model!”
Sajuna’s face turned red immediately. “I am NOT doing a cherry blossom shoot in my normal clothes!”
Shinju giggled softly. Wakana quickly looked away to hide his smile. Marin laughed. “Okay, okay! But next time you’re totally joining the shoot!”
Sajuna turned away, still red. “… we’re losing daylight.”
But her voice sounded just a little less annoyed than before.
Marin smiled sweetly. “Oh! Should I look up?”
“Yes.”
Marin cocked her face toward the blossoms overhead. A breeze passed through the tree. Petals rained down around her. For a brief moment, the entire world looked pink. Wakana’s chest tightened. He forgot to breathe again.
“… Gojo?” Marin’s voice pulled him back. She was looking at him now. Still standing below the blossoms. “What do you think?”
He blinked. “… it’s perfect.”
Marin’s smile relaxed. Sajuna groaned. “You’re supposed to be holding the reflector, not flirting.”
“I’m so sorry!” Wakana lifted the reflector again.
The photoshoot continued on. Marin posed beneath the cherry blossom trees, walked along the garden path, and sat briefly on a wooden bench as petals drifted around her.
Sajuna kept changing Marin’s positioning. “Turn your shoulder to the left... lift the sleeve slightly... hold that pose.”
Shinju occasionally suggested angles that made Sajuna pause. The cameras clicked constantly. Marin laughed between poses, clearly enjoying herself. Eventually, the afternoon light began softening.
Shinju lowered her camera. “I think we have enough.”
Sajuna leaned over to look at the display screen. “… yeah,” she admitted. “That’ll work.”
Marin exhaled dramatically. “Whew!” She stretched carefully. “That was so fun!”
Shinju checked her camera screen. “These came out beautifully.”
Sajuna nodded once. “Yes.”
Marin’s eyes beamed. “Really?!”
“Yes.” She turned toward Wakana. “You built the costume well.”
Wakana blinked. “… thank you.”
Marin beamed proudly. “See, Gojo? JuJu approved again!”
“I did not say that.” Shinju laughed softly.
A few minutes later, the group began packing up. Eventually, Sajuna and Shinju headed toward the garden exit, discussing camera settings quietly. Marin lingered beside the cherry tree. Wakana returned the reflector to the equipment bag.
When he looked up again, she was standing below the blossoms once more. Petals drifted slowly around her. The garden had grown quieter now when evening came.
He looked at her again. The pink wig shimmered lightly beneath the blossoms. The sleeves of the costume floated quietly in the wind, the pastel colors fusing with the drifting petals around her. For a moment, the scene looked exactly like the illustration on Marin’s phone. Except it felt warmer. More alive.
Wakana realized something quietly then. Izumo had been beautiful in the artwork. But beneath the real cherry blossoms, Marin looked brighter than the idea that inspired her. His chest tightened slightly. He wondered if he would remember this moment for the rest of his life.
Marin looked around the park. “Gojo?”
“Yes?”
She looked at him with a small smile. “Which one do you like better?”
Wakana blinked. “Huh?”
Marin held up her phone. The Izumo reference image appeared on the screen. Then she pointed to herself.
“… oh.” Wakana didn’t hesitate. “You.”
Immediate answer. Marin froze. Her face turned bright red. Petals fluttered between them. Marin lowered her hands slowly. Her smile eased. “… thanks for making this with me.”
Wakana nodded. “… I’m glad we did.”
A breeze passed through the tree again. More petals fell. For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Wakana smiled. “You know, the cherry blossoms look beautiful today.”
Marin looked up at them, then back at him. “Yeah... they do.” Marin paused for a bit. “Hey, Gojo?”
“Yes?”
She smiled sweetly. “Let’s make another one sometime.”
Wakana returned the smile. “… of course.”
The cherry blossoms continued to fall quietly around them, soft witnesses to another moment neither of them fully understood yet. But both of them hoped it would happen again.
For a moment longer, neither of them moved. Petals glided between them in the soft dusk breeze, catching briefly in Marin’s hair before falling to the path below. Wakana watched one land gently on her sleeve. He didn’t realize he was smiling.