When I dipped my feet into the cold waters of Higashikawa, memories of my childhood in Hokkaido came rushing back. Even on the hottest days, there were always pockets of coolness, delicate and refreshing. I remember feeling that these gentle summers were somehow lacking in intensity.

Yet, as I stood there, I was reminded that these memories, though subtle and fleeting, still linger—interwoven with nature, evoking a comforting sense of nostalgia.