The rock walls rose steeply on either side of us, and the river gently pushed us towards the rapids ahead. There was time enough to get back to the raft and prepare for those when we got closer. For now, the members of the hiking club were free to float in the clear, blue water, looking at the sky, the rocks and the sandy riverbed.
“So this is what a river is supposed to look like.”
I turned to see Okada-san’s wistful expression, and felt my own eyes brim.
“You know,” she continued, “I always wanted to travel overseas, just to see a real river. I didn’t realise we had one just a few hours from home.”