Blossom Period

Mitsuya and Abe were once inseparable friends, but their close bond abruptly ended during their first year of middle school. Years later, in the spring of their third year of high school, the two unexpectedly cross paths again. Mitsuya greets him with the same unwavering smile he has always worn, a familiar expression that causes Abe to lower his defenses. In that unguarded moment, fragments of a painful past struggle begin to resurface in Abe’s mind, stirring emotions he had long tried to suppress. The fragile peace between them shatters when a disturbing rumor begins circulating through their school: Mitsuya is hiding severe burn scars on his back. Hearing this whisper unlocks the exact reason Abe distanced himself from his friend all those years ago. Buried memories return, bringing with them old wounds and deep emotional turmoil carefully concealed behind cheerful facades. As the truth slowly surfaces, both boys are forced to confront the heavy secrets they have kept hidden for so long, leaving readers to wonder what truly lies beneath their smiles.