"Sakura in the Morning"

In a small village on the outskirts of Kyoto, there lived a woman named Airi. She was known as the most beautiful mother in the village—not just for her graceful and gentle appearance, like the sakura blossoms, but for the kindness that flowed from her heart. Every morning, Airi rose before the sun. She would prepare a bento for her daughter, Hina, who was still in elementary school. Though her days were filled with chores—cooking, gardening, helping neighbors—her smile never faded. People often paused just to greet her or watch as she passed. Her long black hair flowed like a spring river, and her calm, warm eyes could ease the worries of anyone who met them. But Airi's beauty wasn’t only on the surface. When her husband passed away years ago, she remained strong, raising Hina on her own without complaint. She taught her daughter to be gentle, patient, and respectful—of nature and of others—just as she lived her own life. One spring day, when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, Hina brought a painting of her mother to her art class. In the picture, Airi stood beneath a sakura tree, holding a red umbrella, smiling. "This is my mother," Hina said proudly. "She’s as beautiful as a sakura flower, but much stronger." From that day on, everyone in the village no longer called Airi just a beautiful woman—they called her a living sakura, blooming all year long in the hearts of everyone who knew he