They head to the harbour. A small crowd is looking at the graffiti and talking excitedly.
‘See what I mean?’ Hotaka says as they pass. ‘You’re famous!’
‘Quiet! Where are you taking me?’
‘How about a deserted island?’ Hotaka suggests, stepping onto the marina. ‘Or, even better, a hidden cove?’
‘Very funny.’
‘I’m serious. Keep up.’
He goes straight to his uncle’s boat-shed, drops his bike and enters. Uncle Yori is on a stool mending a lobster pot. He stands as soon as he sees Sakura and is about to say something, but Hotaka speaks first.
‘Uncle, this is Sakura Tsukino.’
‘Delighted to meet you.’ Uncle Yori bows.
‘She did the graffiti,’ Hotaka adds.
Sakura glares at him. But Uncle Yori immediately claps his hands in delight.
‘Then I am honoured as well,’ he says. ‘Deeply honoured. Well done, my dear.’
Sakura blushes. ‘Thank you, sir. It’s good to know someone cares.’
‘People care, don’t you worry. They just don’t know how to express it…yet.’ Uncle Yori takes a good look at Sakura, nods, then turns to Hotaka. ‘I think Mayor Nakano is in for quite a shock.’
‘I know he is, Uncle Yori. But right now I must ask a favour.’
‘What is it?’
‘I wondered if we could take out Jīchan’s boat?’
‘I told you before, the sabani is yours. Come, I’ll help.’
Hotaka takes Sakura to a beach on the ocean side of the headland, only an hour from Omori-wan, but a world away. They cut across the bay and out into the open sea, then skirt the coast a short sail north to a tiny cove.
‘You were serious,’ Sakura says as they slide the sabani ashore. ‘It really is a hidden cove.’
They walk up the beach and sit in the soft white sand.
‘It’s perfect,’ Sakura sighs, lying back in the warm spring sun. Hotaka hears the dreaminess in her voice, and doesn’t bother replying. He knows how exhausted she is, and lets her sleep. It’s what she needs. Besides, he has plenty to keep himself busy. This place is full of memories.
He sits back and drifts into a kind of dreaminess himself. This is where he and Grandpa spent so much time together, and Hotaka can feel the old man’s spirit, not in any particular place or thing, but everywhere – the rocks, the sand, the water, the breeze, the air – a soothing, peaceful presence.
Hotaka feels Takeshi’s spirit here as well, having sensed him when he and Sakura arrived. He looks around, glancing across to the cliff they both used to leap from, and knows that Takeshi is somewhere near.
‘Where are you, my friend?’ he whispers.
Stillness descends. There’s a breeze on the water further out, but here is an all-encompassing calm that transports Hotaka to somewhere that is everywhere. He hovers in an eerie, timeless silence.
Sakura suddenly stirs. She gives a little gasp and sits up, squinting at the sun.
‘I drifted off.’
‘You did, and for quite a while.’ Hotaka smiles as the breeze joins them again. ‘I’ve never seen you look so peaceful.’
‘How long have we been here?’
‘I’m not sure.’ He checks. ‘A couple of hours actually.’
‘I slept that long?’
‘I think I might have, too. You sure needed it, though, I know that much.’
Sakura stretches. ‘Thanks for this. It’s beautiful here.’
‘I call it Grandpa’s Beach. We used to come here all the time; fishing, swimming, diving.’
‘What fun. You must teach me one day.’
‘To dive?’
‘No, to swim.’
‘What? You can’t swim?’
Sakura shakes her head.
‘We didn’t live by the sea. There was no need.’
‘But you’ve just been right out to sea, and you can’t swim?’
‘You’re a good sailor. Your uncle said so.’
‘But even the best sailors hit trouble. What if you’d been thrown into the water?’
‘I’m wearing a life jacket, duh.’
‘I know, but—’
‘But, but, but. You sound like a busted motorboat. Lose the buts. They just get in the way.’
Hotaka stands. ‘What did you say?’
A dizziness grips him. His eyes creep across the beach and over a stretch of deep water to the base of the cliff. There’s no stopping them.
‘Are you okay?’ Sakura asks.
He can’t reply. His eyes are already climbing the cliff. Higher.
‘Did I say something wrong?’
Higher. Only when they reach the top do they stop. He swallows hard.
Two boys stare into the sea, toes poking over the edge.
‘Ready?’ the taller one whispers.
The smaller boy swallows hard.
‘We agreed. Today is the day. The big leap.’
‘I know, but…’
‘Forget the buts, Hotaka. Buts get in the way of everything.’
‘I can’t,’ Hotaka whispers.
‘What is it? Are you okay?’ Sakura is standing beside him, a steadying hand on his arm.
Hotaka shudders, still uneasy. ‘We should go.’
‘Not until you tell me what that was about.’
‘All right. On the way.’
They walk to the boat. Sakura climbs aboard while Hotaka checks the ropes and sails, then pushes off. A gust catches them and they’re soon skimming out to sea. At a safe distance from the shore, Hotaka turns the boat and points towards the cliff.
‘I used to jump from there.’
‘Right up there?’
‘Not quite. From that halfway ledge. I wanted to go from the top, but I couldn’t.’
‘I’m not surprised. It’s so high!’
‘Yes, but it was always my dream.’
‘Why?’
‘To be like Takeshi.’
‘Takeshi?’
‘My best friend. My hero. He was like a brother.’
‘I get it. He jumped from the top.’
‘No. He dived.’
‘Impossible.’
‘He did. I would’ve been happy to just jump like a frightened frog, but I couldn’t even do that. All through summer he’d urge me on. A few times I came close, only to pull out, always with some lame excuse – but this, but that. Those freakin’ buts!’
A strong gust hits them and the boat rocks as though impatient. Hotaka steadies it, easing the sheets.
‘The last time we came here, Takeshi lost his patience. And do you know what he said?’ Hotaka turns to Sakura. ‘What you said. Forget the buts. They get in the way of everything. When you said those words on the beach, it was as if Takeshi was talking through you.’
‘So where is Takeshi now?’
‘Lost. The wave.’ Hotaka finds it difficult to speak. ‘We were rescuing people. Takeshi kept going back. We were exhausted, but Takeshi wouldn’t stop.’ He takes a deep breath. ‘And then he was gone.’
Sakura frowns. ‘Except he hasn’t gone, has he? He’s still with you. Isn’t he?’
‘If only…’ Hotaka can’t finish. If only I, if only he, if only we could find peace.
He bears the boat away from the wind and tightens the sheets. They sail off, each wrapped in their own thoughts. He glances back once, but Sakura keeps her gaze on the cliff.
They continue down the coast in silence. It’s a fast ride, for the on-shore breeze is strong. Only after they leave the open sea and are halfway across the bay does Sakura speak.
‘I’m still exhausted, you know?’ she says.
‘Hardly surprising. I bet you’ve barely slept in the last two days.’
She yawns. ‘When I get back I’m going to crash big-time.’
‘No, you aren’t.’
‘Why not?’
Hotaka nods towards the marina.
Sakura turns and gasps.