Chapter 01: Do You Like Flowers?
"They say that if two people plant a flower together, and it blooms, their love is destined to last forever. But if it never blooms... they were never meant to be."
A pause. A sigh.
"But I wonder… can love truly be measured by something as fragile as a flower?"
The words lingered in the air, spoken softly by a boy standing in front of Akiyama Middle School. The campus loomed behind him—an elegant yet modern structure, filled with the echoes of countless students. But at this moment, it was quiet. The gentle rustling of the wind was the only sound that filled the space around him.
He leaned against the large sakura tree that stood proudly near the school gates, his hands casually resting in his pockets. The branches above him swayed, their soft pink petals carried off by the wind like fragments of a fleeting dream. His black, slightly messy hair fluttered along with them, his dark eyes tracing the sky as if searching for an answer he knew he wouldn't find.
The scene held an air of serenity, but his posture—relaxed yet composed—hinted at a quiet depth beneath his otherwise ordinary demeanor.
"Kaito!"
A voice called out, hurried yet clear, breaking the stillness. Footsteps followed, quick and light, until a girl finally came into view. She stopped a few steps away, bending slightly to catch her breath, her hands resting on her knees. After a brief moment, she straightened up, brushing a few strands of her long, silken hair away from her face.
"Sorry for making you wait. The cleaning duty took longer than I expected," she said, her voice composed despite her hurried arrival.
The late afternoon sunlight caught her hair—a soft, light blonde with a silvery sheen that shifted as she moved. Her eyes, a striking shade of blue, held a quiet depth, almost like a frozen lake that refused to let others see its true depths.
"Don't worry, Aoi." Kaito's response was calm, his voice steady as always. He pushed off from the tree, standing upright, his hands still in his pockets as he met her gaze.
Aoi glanced at him briefly before looking away. "Hmph. That's quite the gentlemanly response."
He only shrugged in response, stepping to her side as they naturally began walking together. The road stretched ahead, lined with cherry blossom trees, their petals drifting along the pavement like whispers of spring.
"I think you deserve a reward for waiting so long," Aoi remarked, side-glancing at him.
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "A reward?"
"Yes. But don't misunderstand. It's not like I feel bad for making you wait or anything." She folded her arms, her voice carrying a slight defensive edge.
"Is that so? Then I guess I should refuse."
"Tch. Do whatever you want," she muttered, looking away. A faint dusting of pink appeared on her cheeks, but she quickly turned her face toward the road, hiding it from his view.
"So, why did you want me to wait for you?" Kaito asked, watching her carefully.
"That's a secret." Aoi lifted a finger to her lips, her expression unreadable.
"A secret, huh? I wonder what kind of secret it is…" He mused, his gaze steady on her.
"Perhaps I was feeling…" she trailed off, her voice lowering just slightly. "...alone. So I wanted to walk with you. That's all."
Kaito remained silent. He didn't react immediately, didn't press further. He simply kept walking beside her, their steps falling in sync.
"...That's it? No teasing? No reaction?" Aoi muttered after a moment, side-glancing at him. "Not even a slight blush?"
"Never."
"Tch. How boring."
Yet, even as she said that, a small, almost imperceptible smile played on her lips, gone just as quickly as it appeared. And Kaito, though he didn't say anything, noticed it.
The wind blew once more, carrying the cherry blossoms through the air, wrapping them in a moment that, like the petals, might one day drift away—but for now, it lingered, just a little longer.
Then they reached a three-way intersection, Kaito naturally continued walking straight—until he felt a gentle tug on his shirt sleeve. He stopped and turned around.
"What?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Aoi looked at him with a small smile, her blue eyes reflecting the last light of the day. "Turn left."
Kaito glanced down the path, then back at her. "Huh? Why? We can get home faster if we go right."
Aoi tilted her head playfully. "Didn't I tell you? I'm keeping a secret. Don't you want to hear it?"
Kaito sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well... if you really want to say something, I guess I'll listen."
"Good! Then follow me." she beamed and started walking left without waiting for his response.
Kaito followed with a sigh. Aoi seemed unusually happy, her steps light, almost skipping. He didn't press further, letting the silence stretch between them as they walked down the deserted road. The town felt peaceful in the dimming light. The sun was low, signaling the approach of twilight, and the cool evening breeze carried the faint scent of flowers.
After several minutes, they arrived in front of a grand school gate. The sign above read Hoshikawa High School. Kaito stared at the name for a moment before breaking the silence.
"Hoshikawa High, huh? After one more year, we'll be coming here, won't we?"
"Yes." Aoi responded simply, her voice holding a tinge of something unspoken. Then, without hesitation, she stepped forward, walking toward the closed gate.
"Wait—" Kaito called, jogging after her. "Why exactly did you bring me here?"
"You'll understand soon enough." Aoi's voice was soft, yet mysterious.
They walked through the side gate, past the school building, until they reached the back of the campus. Kaito's eyes widened as they stepped into an open space.
A hidden flower garden stretched before them, illuminated by the last glimmers of the sun. The variety of colors—soft pinks, deep purples, and vibrant yellows—created a breathtaking contrast against the greenery. A gentle breeze rustled the petals, making them dance in the fading light. The sight was mesmerizing.
"Beautiful..." Kaito muttered, captivated.
Aoi turned to him with a grin. "Isn't it? I was just as surprised when my friend first brought me here."
Kaito nodded. "Yeah, I wouldn't expect a garden like this behind a school. So... you brought me here just to see this? Well, thanks, I guess."
"Don't thank me yet." Aoi smirked. "I didn't bring you here just for that."
Kaito narrowed his eyes. "Then what for?"
Instead of answering, Aoi set down her bag and carefully unzipped it. She reached inside and pulled out a small box, presenting it to Kaito.
"What's this?" he asked, curious.
"A flower."
Kaito blinked. "A flower? You brought it in a box like it's jewelry?"
Aoi giggled. "You wouldn't understand. Girls love flowers. It's natural."
Kaito sighed. "Okay, okay. So?"
Silence.
Aoi's expression changed. Her voice softened. "Hey, Kaito."
"Yeah?"
"Do you like flowers?"
Kaito scratched the back of his head. "Kinda, I guess. Never really thought about it."
Aoi chuckled. "Then, have you ever heard of the legend of the flower?"
Kaito looked at her, intrigued. "Legend? What legend?"
Aoi's gaze lowered slightly, her fingers brushing over the petals of a wildflower swaying in the breeze. "They say… if two people plant a flower together, and it blooms, their love is destined to last forever. But if it never blooms… it means they were never meant to be."
Kaito raised a brow, leaning back against the tree behind him. "Oh, that kind of legend. Sounds like a load of—"
Aoi shot him a sharp glare before he could finish.
"—I mean, sounds romantic," he corrected quickly, clearing his throat.
She narrowed her eyes, unimpressed, before suddenly reaching over and pinching his cheek.
"Ow—hey! What was that for?" Kaito flinched, trying to pry her fingers off.
"For being rude." Aoi finally let go, crossing her arms. "You don't have to believe it. But… let's plant one together."
Kaito rubbed his cheek, still frowning. "Why? What's the point? It's just a superstition."
Aoi tilted her head, her lips curving into a playful smirk. "Oh? Or… are you afraid of falling for me?"
His frown deepened. "Tch. As if I'd fall for a girl like you."
Aoi gasped, dramatically clutching her chest. "That's harsh! But then, if you're so sure, you should have no problem planting one with me." She nudged him teasingly. "Unless… you're scared."
Kaito exhaled, running a hand through his messy black hair. He hated when she got like this—so annoyingly persistent.
"Superstitions are just coincidences given meaning by people," he muttered, more to himself than her. But the way Aoi was looking at him… she actually believed it?
Aoi tapped her foot impatiently. "Well?"
He sighed. "Fine, fine. You got the tools? Or do you expect me to dig with my hands?"
"Of course, I came prepared," she said triumphantly, pulling out a small gardening trowel from her bag and handing it to him.
Kaito took it, kneeling down. The soil was soft beneath his fingers as he started digging a small hole. "You're still a kid, you know that? It's hard to believe you're fourteen."
Aoi huffed, puffing her cheeks slightly. "I'm not a kid!"
"You're pouting like one."
"Am not!"
Kaito smirked but didn't push further. He focused on the task, creating a neat hole. Aoi knelt beside him, cradling the small flower in her hands. The petals were delicate, trembling slightly in the wind.
Together, they lowered it into the soil. Their hands brushed for a brief moment—just a fleeting touch, but neither reacted. They had grown up together. It was normal.
They covered the roots carefully, patting down the soil in silence. The wind rustled through the leaves above them, filling the quiet space between their words.
Kaito stood up first, brushing off his hands. "There. Happy now?"
Aoi clapped her hands together, her face lighting up with a bright smile. "Perfect. Now, we wait and see."
She lowered her voice, almost as if speaking to the flower itself. "One day… we'll see it bloom, right?"
Kaito glanced at her, then at the tiny mound of soil where their flower now rested. Something about the way she said it made him pause.
A rare, genuine smile crossed his face.
"Yeah. Of course."
Aoi's cheeks flushed a soft pink as she turned away. "Then promise me you'll be there to see it bloom with me."
Kaito exhaled, a quiet sigh escaping him. " I promise. We'll see it bloom together."
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~~~~~~~~~Chapter Ended)~~~~~~~~~~