DIANA Bunko Releases "Waiting for Spring Beside You" on June 12, 2026!

ICE Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Katsushi Hamasaki), which handles media businesses such as digital-first publishing within the Impress Group, has released "Waiting for Spring Beside You" (Author: Chikako Matsuya / Illustrations: Iori Kasai) on June 12, 2026, from DIANA Bunko, a romance novel label for adult women. It will be distributed on various e-book stores, including Kindle and Comic Seymour.

Waiting for Spring Beside You

Author: Chikako Matsuya / Illustrations: Iori Kasai

Story

My childhood friend, whom I hadn't seen in 10 years, called my name in that low voice.

The time that had stopped for the two of us slowly begins to move again, accompanied by the scent of flowers --

Mio left her hometown with high spirits for Tokyo 10 years ago. After college, she joined an advertising agency, but the more she worked, the more her spirit was worn down, until she finally fell ill and returned to her hometown with a sense of defeat. Mio coincidentally reunites with her childhood friend, Ryota, and learns that he has been single-handedly protecting his late grandmother Kaoru's flower shop for the past 10 years. Although she had been so fondly treated by Kaoru, Mio realizes she hasn't visited to pay her respects since Kaoru's passing. She notices that the next day is Kaoru's death anniversary and visits Ryota to offer flowers.

The two talk about the nostalgic days they spent with Kaoru and Ryota. Mio, who was saved by Ryota's words when she was exhausted, offers to help him with the shop. Utilizing the skills she developed in her advertising career, Mio brings a fresh breeze to the quiet shop through social media outreach. As she comes into contact with flowers, soil, and Ryota's clumsy kindness, her frozen heart gradually begins to thaw.

Around this time, an offer for re-employment arrives from a former colleague in Tokyo...

Book Information

Waiting for Spring Beside You

Author: Chikako Matsuya

Illustrations: Iori Kasai

Release Date: June 12, 2026

Suggested Retail Price: 500 yen (excluding tax)

Label: DIANA Bunko

Publisher: Tenkaisha

ISBN: 9784295326137

ASIN: B0GYR7CCDL

Tenkaisha Book Introduction Page: https://tenkaisha.com/?p=9078

<Major Retailers>

Available on various e-book stores, including Amazon Kindle, Piccoma, Comic Seymour, Rakuten Kobo, d book, au Book Pass, honto, BOOK☆WALKER, Booklive, and more.

*Sales will begin sequentially on each store as soon as preparations are complete.

[ICE Inc.] http://www.ice-inc.co.jp/ Location: 1-105 Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051, Jinbocho Mitsui Building Established: February 20, 2006 Capital: 100 million yen Fiscal Year: April 1 to March 31 annually Number of Employees: 70 (as of March 31, 2024) Representative Director: Katsushi Hamasaki Business Description: IT consulting and solution business for digital content distribution

[Impress Group] https://www.impressholdings.com/ The Impress Group is a media group with Impress Holdings, Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Yuki Tsukamoto) as its holding company. It develops highly specialized media & services and solution businesses with major themes including "IT," "Music," "Design," "Mountains and Nature," "Aviation and Railways," "Mobile Services," and "Academia and Science/Engineering." Furthermore, it is involved in the development and operation of content business platforms.

[Contact for Inquiries]

ICE Inc. Tenkaisha Contact: Mitsuda / Saika Tel: 03-6837-4800 / E-mail: tenkaisha_team@impress.co.jp

Tenkaisha Official Website: https://tenkaisha.com/