■■■ - It all happened so fast. The poor unlucky boy had no time to react, just a second to realize that he was heading to the road of deep excoriating pain, if he didn’t space out to hear his classmates’ warning or dodge the killer ball in time. Unfortunately, he was unable to do either. The loud crack the ball made upon hitting his head was deafening loud, that or his crying yelp of pain, made everyone on the field and in the stands pulled in a collective gasp. Mochita went down immediately, collapsing on the spot with tears and blood on his face, close to passing out. Now, there are currently two emotions filling in right to the poor unlucky boy: pain and embarrassment. But pain takes the back seat. No matter how much pain you’re in, if people around you start smiling and laughing, you just can’t help but to force a w- weak fake laugh. To make this situation worse, his two friends even made took wonderful opportunity as a game and carried him to the clinic like a child. He swore that he could hear the girls laugh from the distance. Guh. Talk about embarrassing.
‘Just lie down and rest till the headache is gone.’ is what the nurse instructed him as she treated his wounds and bruises and left. It wasn’t major, just a few bandages around his face and taking some painkillers is enough reduce the pain. As much as he loved sleeping surrounding with pure silence, he tossed and turned on the bed numerous times, but sadly sleep never seemed to arrive His mind is filling up with the image of a certain classmate of his — Hayasaka Akari is her name, was it? Well, that what Natsuki told him. God, why is she in his mind all of a sudden lately? The two barely even talked in the beginning. Oh, the irony that that woman was the culprit who brought him to this painful situation, actually. This is truly strange. Why this happening all of a sudden? She’s honestly the main reason why he was spaced out in the field, but surprisingly, he didn’t feel any rage or upset towards the female — he honestly doesn’t think he could. Could you blame him? Have you seen that bright smile? Her warm laugh…her sweet voice — W- Wait!? What!? The day seemed to pass by quicker than usual, and soon every student was either gone or playing back on the field by the time the after-school bell rung long ago. Light from the setting sun trickled through the windows of the clinic, setting an orange hue to the broad, empty room. Giving a long defeated sigh, the boy slowly sat up and got out of bed, scratching the back of his head. Perhaps he could just rest at home, that sounds like a good plan. At least the headache lessened, that’s a good start right? Before he could even reach out for the door handle, the door opened before him, only presenting a familiar long haired classmate from the other side.
“A- Ah- Uh- H- Hey. It’s you.” Oh, how much he slapped himself mentally on the head for stuttering. What’s with this awkwardness all of a sudden!? What is she doing here anyway?“The nurse already left hours ago.” he spoke, trying to avoid any eye contact with the face. “…Y- You’re…not hurt are you?" Embarrassing.
✿ —— Ah. He knew who she was. Somehow, his recognition made her feel like a complete and utter criminal. The tiny hope she had been holding that he hadn’t seen the face of his assailant flew away. Nerves crackled with guilt and embarrassment and anxiety and plain old shyness.
So taken aback was she about his unexpected concern that she stopped for a moment, blinking and unsure what to say. “Eh—are you sure you should be asking me that? I’m the one who injured you…” said she as she found that her mouth was finally working again. Why was he being so nice? It was making her feel worse. Then again, it was also a relief. If he yelled at her, she would probably burst into tears, which would not be good at all.
She just knew that she was only going to embarrass herself and look stupid in front of him. Her family knew, and so did Natsuki and Miou. She herself knew it most of all. Guilt, to put it plainly, always messed her up. Having to apologize for serious things made her feel very flustered, which really didn’t help situations. Her crime this time definitely counted as a serious thing.
Lifting her gaze from the floor to meet his, she declared her reason for dropping by, “I’m not looking for her. I’m looking for you.” A pause, then, “I came here to apologize.”Well, duh. What other explanation could there be for her presence? Certainly, she hadn’t made her way here to hit him again! Stupid Akari.“I’m not very good at sports… I should have been more careful. Or maybe I shouldn’t have played at all. If I hadn’t, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.
“I know that apologizing won’t make your head hurt less, but it’s only proper for me to say sorry. Because of me, you got hurt, and uh…” She pointed at the bandages that the nurse had fixed around his face. “Wow, um, that looks painful. I caused that.” You think he doesn’t know that?“Aha, I’m dragging this out, aren’t I?” A weak laugh. A hand reached up to scratch her head—a gesture she relied on whenever she felt nervous. There was a whole set of them, really, but she found herself doing this one most of all.
“Gomen!” she blurted out suddenly, followed by a mumbled “I should have started with that…” Fiddling with her fingers, she forced herself to continue despite the burning humiliation rushing through her veins. “I was wondering if there’s a way I can make it up to you. I couldn’t really think of anything else, so, um, if you don’t want something else maybe I can treat you to that new ramen place? It’s near our houses, right?” Natsuki told her about the new joint that morning, along with some complaints about how she had to pay for Yuu’s meal, too, because she had somehow turned her confession to a rehearsal. (Akari didn’t even want to know how that happened.) “And I can make you a bento for tomorrow…” Normally she didn’t brag about her cooking skills, but she knew that her food was good enough. “I know it’s not much, but I don’t really know what to do…”
Taking a small look from the cabinet he finally found the right book. He carried the thing to the table almost throwing the big book onto the surface.
Dust flew everywhere and Mr. Walts, Jonathan’s cat came running out from under.
“Sorry.” He whispered to it before opening the book. “I think I can find it here.”
✿ —— The furry little thing that proceeded to scurry out from under the table hadn’t been expressed and a gasp slipped out of her lips. Shoulders relaxed once she realized what it was. Curious as she was about the big book, her love for cats won out. “Hey! Is that a cat? Is he your pet?”
Nauseating is the paradise he had once hoped for, threatening to vomit; what would he bleed? Pollen petals and pink asters at this rate. The air, the sweet, sweet scent of it all, is a toxin to his lungs, clogging his throat, making it so very difficult for him to breathe. The bees must be flourishing in victory, witnessing now the end of their constant battle at war. Against them is mother of all nature, who bites like a snake and injects venom into all who live under her bosom.
The soft ring of a tiny tinkering bell hanging over top of the entrance into a floral shop makes vivid his entrance when he steps inside. A whiff of green plantations and mossy-like air crinkle his nose, and narrows his eyes. If he were not so irritated with the new blossoming of a warmer day, then by all means, enter a florist’s den.
He will observe a gathering of red roses inside a small bucket hanging from a hook. And how sullenly sweet their aromas are! Instinctively a hand of his presses over top of his nondescript facial expressions to close off his lungs from breathing it into his system. Len will continue walking, gazing at each and every kind of flower until he is brought towards the front desk with a woman not too far from his age standing behind the register.
“Excuse me, mind if I ask for some help? I’m looking for some daffodils. Do you carry them? They’re usually a yellow color, I believe.”
✿ —— Chocolate eyes look up as the girl on the other side of the counter registers the music made by the chimes strategically placed above the door. Just as well that they are, for without the sounds she probably won’t notice the entrance of a customer half the time. Absentminded as she is, with her head often up in the clouds; at school she is often dubbed as an airhead.
“Good day.” Smile plastered on her face, she slips off the stool she is perched upon. Sneakers make no sound as she crosses the length of the room. The customer is a boy, with blue eyes and hair with a shade akin to the flowers he was looking for. Slight surprise—for it is rare that teenage males enter her workplace. “They’re in the back. Please follow me.”
Most of the shop is a greenhouse. The roofed building is where the front desk and indoor plants are located, but the opening right beside the register leads to a garden. Her boss is a steadfast believer in growing plants outside, unless they are supposed to be grown indoors. Just a step through the doorway and her eyes already spot the bright yellow of daffodils located near the far right corner. “Here they are,” she remarks once the blooms are merely an arm’s reach away. “Do you have a particular variety in mind, sir?” It feels strange to call someone her age sir, but he is still a customer.
His heart dropped like a stone when he heard that she didn’t recognize the name. Oh great. Do I have to find her myself?!That little-! Head turned swiftly to look at the girl when she mentioned leading him to the staff room and he nodded. “Uhh, sure, thanks.”
Following closely behind her, Shouhei checked his watch and bit back a curse. Great. He was going to be late for his next class. If he didn’t hurry and deliver this to his sister already, then he was sure to get in trouble. Again. Why does she need me to buy these for her anyway? He thought bitterly, staring down into the plastic bag’s contents. And why so many? Does she plan to eat them all herself?
He was snapped out of his thoughts by the girl’s question and he cleared his throat a little before answering, “English, I think. But I can’t be sure. And she’s my eldest sister.”
✿ —— Shouhei seemed to be a quiet type of person, she noted. He didn’t talk much. The space between the was mostly quiet, only snatches of conversation happening between other students filling it. Not much from either of them. “I see…” she murmured once they were in front of the staff room.
Her freshman year had been spent avoiding the staff room at all cost. She had just moved in the neighborhood that time, and was a lot more shy then than she was now. The teachers had intimidated her, the students had intimidated her, everyone had intimidated her. It was a small town and everyone was tight-knit. They all knew each other and she’d felt like a big, fat outsider. If it weren’t for Natsuki and Miou, the first two people who had approached her, then that crippling shyness would have stayed with her until now.
But now, she wasn’t afraid of the staff room anymore. “Morinaka-senpai!” she called and proceeded to lean on the door, wondering who would come out.
「✦」▬♦ “—Thank you..” Ninny said happily as she draped the scarf over the coat rack. She really enjoyed wearing that scarf so the sooner it dried the better. Once looking back over at the newfound companion, she noticed that their smile was wider than it was previously, which made her happy to see.
"—You’re welcome!” She chimed, a childish grin on her face as she spoke. For some reason the girl always had a liking for Japanese names, possibly because her name was both American and a name that isn’t truly even a name! It was an insult, in most cases— but Ninny didn’t even know that much.
"Ninny-san?” She repeated, placing a finger to her lip before she exhaled. “That should be okay.” She finally replied. “And I did!? Yay!” She exclaimed with a certain pep, glad that she was able to say the name correctly. “My native language is American English, actually.” She may not have looked it. "I was created in America, too!” She exclaimed— unaware how odd it may have sounded to say that she was ‘created’ in America.
Hues widen curiously as she hears the type of tea that she had. "—-Oooh? I’ve never had that type of tea before… may I have a cup of that, please?”
✿ —— Ninny’s matching cheerfulness was helpful in lightening up the atmosphere. No trace of the usual awkwardness associated with strangers. That was good; Akari hated that feeling, and the weather looked like it wasn’t going to let up anytime soon. If she had even just an ounce decency, she wouldn’t let the other girl leave while the rain was still pouring. So there was no other choice but to stay in the same room as her until the sun came out again.
"You seemed pretty unsure about it a while ago,” she observed. Created? What a strange term to use! “You were created in America? Is that how you say things there?” If it was, Americans truly were weird. But culture was do be respected at all times, so she pressed her lips together to stop the words from slipping out. Linking both previous statements with the new one she continued, “How long have you been in Japan?”
A smile and a nod. “Aha, I’m really starting to think that you’re a newcomer here.” The thermos containing the hot water she had heated a while ago for her coffee was still three-fourths full so she plucked a teacup from one of the cupboards and proceeded to pour water into it. Gently she removed the lid of the container holding the sencha tea leaves and dumped a tablespoon of the contents into the water. “You seem to be a tea person and not a coffee person, yet you’ve never tasted sencha before. It’s a common tea.” As she lets the tea steep, she decides to make coffee for herself as well. The process was much faster, as she was more used to making coffee than tea.
Ib was glad that the girl had stepped aside so she cuold continue her drawing. She glanced over to the girl before nodding her head. “Sure, I don’t mind if you want to watch me.” She flashed a small smile before continuing.
✿ —— The strokes were confident and skilled, and the girl was all right with having someone watch her sketch. Not an amateur. Almost sure that the other was experienced with the arts she voiced her curiosity— “How long have you been drawing? You don’t seem like a beginner.”
✧*｡٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و✧*｡;;“Hmmmmm~” Staring off to the distance, the young student hummed in deep thought as she tried to recall her current password. Shocks. Now that she thought about it, she changed it multiple times already in a year- but- “Uhhh~ I think it’s Yuu5everhasmykokor—” "W- Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! HOLD UP! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE FIRST PLACE!? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO USING MY PASSWORD!? HEY! THIS IS SUSPICIOUS! NO! I WON’T TELL!!”
✿ —— “Calm down. Why must you assume that I have the worst intentions?” Lips formed a sunny smile as she quirked an eyebrow, amused at the other girl’s reaction. “Trust is the foundation of friendship, you know!”
“And I just wanted to look at your phone.” There it was, Natsuki’s precious phone, cupped in both her palms. “Mine is dead.” The sheepish expression that accompanied the statement only proved that she had forgotten to charge it before leaving for school. “You have games, right?" Or maybe all of those had been deleted to make room for Yuu-related things…
He barks a laugh before turning towards one of the shelves. “ I might have a charm for that, a spell maybe.”
Running inside one of the cabinets and started to browse through the books and items. ”Oh please wait in the waiting area, it’s just in the corner, that small table with the rocking chair and arm chair. And don’t be alarmed by the flying teacup either, just drink it, sugar and milk are at the table.”
He shouted from the cabinet.
✿ —— Relief expressed itself in the form of a sigh, and the word that followed soon after— “Arigatou.”
“Wait. Flying teacup?!” Gingerly she rested on the arm chair, fingers wrapped around the once-airborne teacup. After mixing alarming amounts of sugar and milk with the tea, she took a sip.
“Well, hello miss Akari.“ Jonathan bowed a little, still grinning.
“Oh they don’t then what have I been doing all my life then.” He clutched his hands to his chest, overacting a heart attack.
Once back from where he had mock fainted he took Akari’s question seriously.
“I’m not so sure, I really don’t get out much, always here to watch over the store.”
✿ —— Light laughter bubbles out of her lips. "That’s a bad imitation.” A bit of the light leaves her eyes, and she immediately proceeds to try and mask her disappointment. “I see… Do you have a potion or something, that can reveal where it is?”
“Oh no, when I say charms, potions, and curses I do mean them, literally.”
"Where are you going to, I’m Jonathan by the way.”
✿ —— “Oh.” Silence, for a moment, before lips part once more. “I had no idea that things like that really exist.”
“My name is Hayasaka Akari. And nowhere, really. I was just walking around and suddenly I couldn’t recognize my surroundings. But have you heard of Sakuragaoka High? I can make my way from there.”
“Oh, so you re not here for her, then.. What can I do for you, a charm, a potion, a curse?”
✿ —— "Directions, maybe? I’m pretty sure I’m just lost. But before that can you explain what’s going on? Charms, potions, curses? Are those code words for something I don’t know?”
✿ —— “I forgot…” Her voice lowered until it was only a fraction louder than a whisper. “Nacchan, what’s your password again? Is it setoguchinatsuki or yuuislove? Or maybe it’s none of those. I know it’s somewhere along those lines, though…”
Sneakers pounded across the pavement, strands of purplish black trailing behind in fluid succession. Not a soul occupied the hallway; indeed, a glance at the clock and the dusk creeping across the sky warned that night was just by the corner. Few dared to stay in school at this time, usually to play sports with their peers. Akari had been one of them just a mere minute ago, but then it happened, and after the ice rooting her to the ground finally melted she found herself sprinting towards the entrance.
No sign of the boys—but it was a no-brainer. Where else were you supposed to head if a clumsy girl accidentally hit you with a tennis ball? Guilt and anger warred inside her; it was all her fault! Why did she have to be so useless at sports or anything that demanded physical exertion? If only she had had better aim, then this wouldn’t have happened! Next summer would be spent for self-improvement, and she would enter university a different person. One who wouldn’t hit someone with a tennis ball by accident.
Familiarity met the victim’s name; he was Mochizuki Souta, more commonly known as Mochita. Dark-haired boy, film club member, same class as hers and childhood friends with her best friend Natsuki. Always found with a striped scarf wrapped around his neck. Fingers touched the hollow of her throat. Her own scarf was supposed to be resting on her shoulders as well, but in her haste she had left it back in the courtyard. Alas, there was no time to retrieve it. The door to the clinic stood in front of her, bright light leaking out of the tiny opening. Trembling hands pushed it back, and she slid partway through.
✿ —— “Mochizuka-kun?” The voice that came out of her lips was seconded only by a whisper.
