Sakura stood behind the wheelchair for a while, then suddenly spoke. "Hayashi, want to keep going up?"
Hayashi looked back at her.
"Sure."
The path toward the summit was a little steeper than the stretch halfway up.
Sakura pushed the wheelchair, its wooden wheels creaking as they rolled over loose stones.
The little bunch of wildflowers tucked into the armrest bobbed with every bump. She freed one hand and straightened it.
"Slow down a little."
It was hard to tell whether she was talking to the wheelchair or the road.
The summit and the mountainside were two entirely different places.
Up here, the sea receded far into the distance, leaving only a narrow line. Even the sound of the waves grew faint, vanishing whenever the wind died.
In its place stood an endless expanse of trees.
They grew tall and straight, one beside another, slicing the sun that had yet to set into little patches scattered across the thick carpet of fallen leaves.
A bird called twice, paused, then called twice more, entirely unhurried.
Insects sang softly in the grass. Wind filtered down through the treetops, sending leaves spiraling slowly to the ground.
Without realizing it, Sakura slowed her pace as she pushed the wheelchair.
"Forests were pretty common back in Konoha, too." She watched for a while, her voice unconsciously softening. "There was one right behind the school. I just never thought there was anything special about it."
"But this is the first time I've seen somewhere so peaceful."
"Yeah." Hayashi nodded.
It really was peaceful.
Back in his previous life, they could have fenced off a hill like this, built a boardwalk, and raked in admission fees.
Here, it simply sat in quiet serenity, free for anyone to enjoy.
He let Sakura push him a little