Oh pigeons… let me give you some bread.
Let me give you some tasty bread and please let me hear all your pretty voices.
“Coo-coo-roo”
A chilly breeze wraps around me and makes the bread in my hand a little damp.
The outside air gets warmer. The cold air and warm air mix, and I quietly feel spring calling. It feels like telling the fortune of my days of falling in love.
Then, they coo, “Coo-coo-rooo.”
Walking here, the ground is soft, and I feel the kindness of the pigeons, so I do not feel any pain.
Looking around, it matches nicely with the deep green waterside.
Plus, this is a park by the river with thick woods.
Where on earth did these pigeons come from? They peck at me as I am lost in love.
I was a little tired of human relationships and came here to make my work break time smile.
Pigeons, where do you come from, and where do you fly away to…
As I tear the bread in my hand, I whisper the name of the girl I like…
“My name is Karen Minakawa, and I am a woman.”
Himi… Ako… Tetsuko… they make many flowers bloom.
The flower of this forest is Tsubaki.
I whispered the name of the girl I met at the bakery near my office, too, but the butter smell is too strong, so it feels like a matter of personal taste.
Every girl is warm and fluffy.
But for me, since tastes vary, should I date them freely, or just let them go—
My love life goes in all directions, which is really graceful.
Even so, why do pigeons fall in love?
Maybe it is because I feed them bread every day. They look very plump.
There is a rumor that if you feed pigeons, they follow you like a chain.
The pigeons stay right at my feet the whole time—it tickles so much…
—20 minutes later
A pigeon swims over on the river splashes.
Normally they cannot swim, but it looks very still, like it is looking for the bait called love.
After all, it is a warm spring. Unlike the winter, they are breeding.
“Coo-coo-rooo-oh!”
I agree. Are you telling me to look ahead?
Seriously, when it comes to you guys, you are good animals that push me forward, I thought.
Also, when dealing with so many little ones, I sometimes want to come to this park.
Instead of drowning in human kindness, it is better to drown in affection… especially love, which is plain to see.
Because, you know… I like you pigeons better than humans.
I like you because you are quiet, soft, and listen to everything I say.
What about her, being a pigeon…
She walks even with an injured foot, and I thought, maybe I should try doing something nice here too.
—Animal Hospital
Excuse me, a pigeon is hurt, so can you please “save” it?
Of course, I will take care of it, so please help us.
Yes, yes, I will keep it as a pet.
“Are you okay? If you want, I will take care of it for you.”
What—really…? Oh, yes, that helps a lot!
Huh? Her name? Umm, Popporo.
—It was so sudden.
I slowly give a name to the injured pigeon.
Also, you could say this is the best place to look for a new meeting.
Citrus perfume and a voice as beautiful as a harp.
“Ah, please write it down.”
At the clinic counter, there were spaces to write my name, birthday, gender, address, and relationship.
I am Karen Minakawa, and I am a woman.
Yes, Popporo, the head vet, and the receptionist are all women.
Surrounded by the ones I love, I float up with joy.
Should we get married? Or stay just like this? Which one should I choose?
“The surgery is done. If you want, do you want to exchange contact info?”
What are you seriously saying that to me?
I took that a little too seriously, myself.
The head vet’s name is Kanade Harui.
She is free-spirited, has a strong sense of responsibility, and seems interested in animal photography.
She is taller than me and always has a fresh smile.
“Let’s meet again.”
Just like that, I fell in love once a month.
It sounds long, but I do not think I will get tired of it for a while.
With love—
And then, the pigeon laid chicks.
Thank you—she said.