8/6/2025 Ami
I enjoy taking walks on my days off.
While walking, I often notice things I usually overlook—like the chill of the wind or the warmth of the sunlight—and I feel the changing of the seasons. Sometimes, these walks even bring unexpected encounters. Let me share one such moment.
One morning on a holiday, I went out to a park.
Along the way, the trees were dyed in shades of orange and yellow, and the contrast between the blue sky and white clouds somehow lifted my spirits. Some houses were decorated with pumpkins and bats—though I’m not usually one for seasonal events, I found myself feeling a quiet excitement.
At the park, I sat by the window in a heated rest area and began to read a book. After a while, I looked outside and saw a group of preschool children playing in the park.
They were divided into groups by the color of their hats, and a few caregivers watched over them as they ran freely across the grass, their cheerful voices faintly audible through the glass.
Then I noticed one boy playing alone, a little apart from the others.
He wore a white hat, unlike the rest, and a caregiver stayed nearby, watching over him. I wondered if he simply preferred to play by himself.
Just then, a small bird landed on the ground a few meters ahead of him.
The boy noticed the bird and suddenly ran toward it.
As he got closer, the bird fluttered up into the air, then landed again a short distance away.
The boy chased after it, and again, the bird flew off and landed, keeping just enough distance.
They repeated this—almost like a game of tag. Watching them, I found myself smiling. It was such a heartwarming sight.
Eventually, three other children in blue hats noticed the bird and came running.
Startled, the bird flew high into the sky and disappeared.
The boy in the white hat opened his mouth slightly and followed it with his eyes, then turned and dashed off toward a parent and child walking their dog.
When the boy first approached the bird, I had imagined it would simply fly away. But that quiet assumption was gently overturned.
The boy has probably already forgotten about this little moment.
And I wonder—did the bird enjoy that game of chase as much as he did?
What I witnessed that day was one of those rare moments where truth feels stranger—and lovelier—than fiction.