The company trip had been the most exciting event since Hana joined the GM's project team, a much-needed break from the daily grind of the office and a chance to immerse themselves in the inspiration behind their upcoming perfume project. The idea of spending a weekend away from the city, surrounded by nature and working closely with Sohei, felt like a dream come true—or, depending on how things went, a disaster waiting to happen. Because Hana still had one major problem: Sohei still didn't seem to remember her.
Despite their brief but unforgettable encounter weeks ago, he hadn't given any indication that he recognized her, and Hana wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed. The private bus rolled smoothly down the highway, the rhythmic hum of the engine lulling most of the passengers to sleep.
Chiaki and Hana sat at the back of the bus, their heads leaning against each other as they dozed off, the gentle sway of the vehicle adding to the sense of calm. At the front, Hayato sat with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window. But every so often, his eyes would flicker toward the two sleeping figures at the back—or more specifically, toward Chiaki, his expression softening as he watched her.
Meanwhile, Sohei, seated a few rows ahead, was tapping idly on his phone, occasionally glancing over his shoulder. His eyes lingered on Hana, her breathing slow and peaceful as she slept, her face relaxed and free of the nervous energy that usually surrounded her when she was awake. For some reason, he found himself smiling. She had been acting weird around him ever since she joined the team—jumping whenever he spoke to her, avoiding eye contact, and always rushing off like she was running from a crime scene.
At first, he thought she just didn't like him, but the more he watched her, the more he noticed the little things. Like how she would sometimes peek at him when she thought he wasn't looking, her gaze darting away the moment he turned in her direction. Or how she always laughed nervously whenever he spoke directly to her, her cheeks flushing a faint pink that he couldn't help but find endearing. It was kind of cute, he admitted to himself, though he still had no idea why she was so flustered around him.
The moment they arrived at their destination, the group was led through a vast, colorful field of flowers, the vibrant hues of petals stretching out in every direction as far as the eye could see. Their guide, a cheerful botanist with a passion for fragrance, explained the different floral notes that would be studied for their perfume project, her enthusiasm infectious. Hana, eager and excited, snapped photos of everything she saw, her eyes shining with wonder as she marveled at the beauty around her. "This is amazing," she murmured, her voice filled with awe as she crouched down to capture a close-up of a delicate lavender bloom. "Right?" Chiaki said beside her, her notebook in hand as she jotted down observations about the scents and textures of the flowers.
A few steps away, Sohei was watching Hana again, his arms crossed as he leaned casually against a wooden fence. For some reason, he found her enthusiasm… refreshing. It was a stark contrast to the reserved, slightly nervous version of her he usually saw in the office, and he couldn't help but be drawn to the way her face lit up as she explored the field.
"You're taking this very seriously," he said, stepping closer to her, his voice light but carrying a hint of amusement. Hana jumped slightly at his sudden presence, her camera nearly slipping from her hands as she turned to face him. "I—I just think it's interesting," she replied quickly, her words tumbling out in a rush. "We don't get to be surrounded by so many flowers every day, right?" Sohei chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he nodded. "That's true. Maybe I should take more photos too," he said, his tone casual as he lifted his phone. Before Hana could react, he snapped a picture of her, the sound of the shutter clicking loud in the quiet field.
Hana's eyes widened, her cheeks flushing a deep red as she stared at him in disbelief. "D-Did you just—?" she stammered, her voice rising slightly in pitch. Sohei glanced at his screen, pretending to check the photo with a thoughtful expression. "Oh, my bad," he said, his lips twitching into a teasing smirk. "I meant to take a picture of the flowers." Hana stared at him, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to process what had just happened. Did he just… tease her? Chiaki, standing nearby, bit back a laugh, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she watched the interaction unfold. This was getting interesting.
Sohei, for his part, couldn't help but enjoy the way Hana's face turned an even deeper shade of red, her flustered reaction only adding to her charm. As the group continued their tour of the field, Hana couldn't shake the feeling that this weekend was going to be anything but ordinary. And as she stole a glance at Sohei, her heart racing and her mind a whirlwind of emotions.
After a long day at the flower farm, the group returned to the hotel for the night, the exhaustion of the day evident in their slow steps and quiet conversations. The moment Hana and Chiaki dropped their bags in their shared room, Hana flopped onto the bed, sighing dramatically as she stared up at the ceiling. "Chiaki, I can't take it anymore," she groaned, her voice muffled by the pillow she had pulled over her face. "Ever since I joined the GM team, my life has been amazing. I get to see Sohei and work closely with him. I'm so happy." Chiaki grinned, propping herself up on one elbow as she looked at her friend with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "Then go for it, Hana!" she said, her tone encouraging. "Who says women can't take the first step anymore?"
Hana shook her head, her voice muffled but still audible. "Nah! Just being able to see him every day is enough for me," she said, kicking her feet in excitement like a teenager with a crush. Chiaki rolled her eyes, her smile widening. "Right. That's totally enough," she replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Hana ignored her and suddenly sat up, her eyes narrowing as she turned to Chiaki with a mischievous glint in her gaze. "Wait a second… speaking of men…" she began, her voice trailing off as she studied her friend. Chiaki raised an eyebrow, her expression wary. "What now?" she asked, already sensing where this was going. Hana smirked, her tone teasing. "You haven't told me—what exactly is your relationship with the GM? I saw him looking at you all day!" Chiaki scoffed, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush as she waved a hand dismissively. "You're imagining things. You were too busy spying on Sohei to notice anyone else." Hana crossed her arms, her smirk widening. "I have super vision!" she declared proudly, as if that explained everything. Chiaki laughed and threw a pillow at her, the two of them dissolving into a fit of giggles as they teased each other.
The two spent the next hour talking, giggling, and enjoying their time together before finally getting ready for dinner. Downstairs at the hotel café, the group gathered for the evening meal, the atmosphere lively and filled with the chatter of colleagues unwinding after a productive day. But Hayato was nowhere to be seen. Chiaki, noticing his absence, turned to Sohei, who was sitting nearby. "Where's Hayato?" she asked, her tone casual but her eyes betraying her concern. Sohei shrugged, his expression relaxed. "My brother isn't feeling well," he explained. "He said he had a headache and wanted to rest in his room. I was planning to grab some medicine for him later." Chiaki perked up at this, her practical nature kicking in. "I actually brought some medicine with me. I'll give it to you to pass on to him," she offered, already reaching for her bag. Sohei thought for a moment, then smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Wait a second, why don't I just give you his room card?" he suggested. "I still have some errands to run later, so I won't be able to check on him myself." Chiaki hesitated for a second, her mind racing as she saw an opportunity. She turned to Hana, who was sitting nearby, her expression innocent but her eyes sparkling with mischief. "In that case, could you take Hana with you? She wanted to buy souvenirs for her family," she said, casually trying to set them up.
Hana's eyes widened in disbelief, her fork pausing mid-air as she stared at Chiaki. "You're not coming with us?" she asked, her voice rising slightly as she sensed the setup immediately. Chiaki smiled innocently, her tone light but firm. "Sorry, Hana. I have something else to take care of," she replied, her expression giving nothing away. Sohei, completely unaware of the matchmaking attempt, just nodded, his tone casual as he pocketed the room key. "Sure, let's go," he said, standing up and leading the way without a second thought. Hana, still in shock, followed behind him, glancing back at Chiaki one last time with a look that screamed traitor. Chiaki simply winked, her smile widening as she mouthed, Good luck, Hana.
The night air was cool and crisp as Sohei and Hana walked along the row of souvenir shops outside the hotel, the soft glow of streetlights casting a warm ambiance over the quiet street. For the first few minutes, neither of them spoke, the silence between them filled with unspoken tension. Hana, still trying to recover from the unexpected alone time, kept her eyes glued to the souvenir displays, her hands fidgeting nervously as she tried to think of something to say. Sohei, on the other hand, was glancing at her every now and then, his expression thoughtful as if he were trying to piece something together. Finally, he broke the silence, his tone light but carrying a hint of curiosity. "You've been acting weird since the project started," he said, his words casual but his gaze sharp as he studied her.
Hana's heart jumped, her cheeks flushing as she stammered, "W-What do you mean?" Sohei grinned, his expression teasing as he leaned slightly closer. "You always run away from me," he said, his tone playful but his eyes searching hers for a reaction. Hana gulped, her mind racing as she tried to come up with a plausible excuse. "I—I don't run away! I just—I'm just busy!" she said, her voice rising slightly in pitch as she waved her hands in a frantic attempt to deflect.
Sohei raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Uh-huh," he said, his tone dripping with skepticism. Hana panicked, her heart pounding as she realized she needed to change the subject—fast. So she grabbed the nearest random souvenir and shoved it toward him, her words tumbling out in a rush. "L-Look! A keychain! You should buy one!"
Sohei blinked at the tiny, pink, heart-shaped keychain in her hand, his expression a mix of amusement and disbelief. Then he smirked, his tone teasing as he said, "You're really bad at changing the subject, aren't you?" Hana froze, her cheeks burning as she realized she had been caught. Busted. Sohei chuckled, his laughter warm and genuine as he reached for a different keychain—one with a small glass bottle filled with dried flowers. He handed it to her, his expression softening as he said, "This suits you more." Hana stared at it, wide-eyed, her heart beating too fast as she took the keychain from him. "…You think so?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Sohei just smiled, his gaze steady as he nodded. "Yeah."