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There was much Mikazuki loved about his friend’s tea shop. The way it was down a side street, away from the busy traffic of a main road. It was hard to sip tea when you could hear cars constantly going past. Then there was the ambience inside of the shop itself, with it’s low lighting topped off with the fairy lights on the ceiling. The interior was also soothing with plants and flowers adorned almost everywhere, as well as a small arrangement of flowers in a glass bottle that decorated each table that was changed up every now and then when they started to wilt. Walls decorated with scrolls and serene works of art. The soft flute and koto music that would play, filling the air with calm and tranquility. Not to mention the smell of delicious tea, carefully crafted and blended by Uguisumaru, the shop owner himself.
Mikazuki found himself coming here almost every day and his regular patronage was what made him good friends with the owner, who would sometimes join him for a chat if the shop was quiet enough. But it wasn’t just the tea shop itself with it’s scrumptious blends and tasty pastries that kept Mikazuki a recurring customer. It was also the lovely view that could be seen through the large front windows.
The flower shop across the street held most of Mikazuki’s interest. At first, he didn’t think much of it. Just a cute shop with nice looking plants and flowers out the front. He also knew it was where Uguisumaru got all his foliage to decorate the shop with. But then one day, something caught Mikazuki’s eye. A man had walked out of the shop’s door, wearing a dark green apron that adorned the shop’s logo, holding a flower arrangement in his arms. He had blue hair that was reminiscent of the morning sky and a face that was warm and gentle and handsome. A bird had fluttered by the arrangement in the man’s arms, attempting to drink the nectar from it. The man smiled kindly at the bird and placed the arrangement in a pot. Mikazuki had seen the man’s mouth move, as if he was saying something to the bird and found himself imagining what his voice sounded like. His chest felt tight and his cheeks felt warm, and well… Mikazuki now understood what butterflies in the stomach felt like. He had never felt this sort of way before, not for anyone. But he refused to say he was in love. After all, he had only seen the handsome stranger and not even so much as spoke to him.
But even so, Mikazuki found himself watching the flower shop across the street almost every day just to catch a glimpse of the man. Some days he’d go without seeing him at all, and some days he’d come out the front every now and then to arrange or water the plants out front.
It was a lovely view indeed, one that went well with carefully brewed tea and a sweet.
Of course, Uguisumaru had noticed and nonchalantly told Mikazuki about the man who works in the flower shop; Apparently his name is Ichigo Awataguchi and he works part-time there in-between university.
“Ichigo…” Mikazuki had repeated the name. His cheeks lit up. First name basis already and they hadn’t even met? But still, something about the name felt so… charming. Like it suited the stranger well. Even though Mikazuki didn’t know anything about him.
“You know, you can always go across the road and talk to him,” Uguisumaru suggested over the counter as he dried a teacup. Mikazuki looked back at him and shook his head.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
“The part-time worker at the flower shop. You’ve been watching for him every day.” Uguisumaru put the teacup back on the shelf and continued drying another.
“And why would I be doing that?”
“Hm, who knows. Perhaps it’s what one calls ‘love at first sight’ ?”
Mikazuki scoffed. He hardly believed in ‘love at first sight.’ How could one love someone else that they hardly knew? He knows attraction at first sight is real. Infatuation at first sight even. He’s witnessed it first hand himself, by the strangers that would practically throw themselves at his feet his whole life. But love at first sight was just absurd. Yes, perhaps Mikazuki had an odd fascination with this stranger, but maybe these feelings would go away soon enough. After all, it’s not like Mikazuki to feel such things for people at all. Despite always constantly having admirers himself, Mikazuki had never felt romantic attraction to anyone his entire life.
So what made this one, very handsome stranger named Ichigo so different?
Maybe he was just a born charismatic person. People were naturally drawn to him and Mikazuki was no exception. But charm wears off eventually. If Mikazuki watches this man enough times, maybe he’ll become bored and start to ignore him.
Except he never did. On the days he sees Ichigo, he never does anything out of the ordinary besides arranging and watering. Maybe he’ll be waving goodbye to a customer at the door. Perhaps sweeping up any dirt, leaves and debris that have accumulated outside the shop. Mikazuki has watched him do these things countless times by now, and yet, he finds a new charm in them every time and there was no denying the rapid rate of which his heart was beating. There was also no denying the amount of disappointment Mikazuki would feel on days he didn’t see him.
Sometimes, workers from the flower shop would come into Uguisumaru’s shop. It was always either a pink-haired man, with mismatched eyes and a feminine but melancholic demeanor, or a man with long ice-blue hair who was far more stoic. Sometimes, they’d be holding the hand of a small child with dark blue hair and angry eyes. They would order some tea and pastries to go and return to their own shop. Ichigo never came into the tea shop at all. Until one day.
Mikazuki didn’t realize how long he could hold his breath for until he noticed Ichigo coming across the street. He was looking at a list in his hand, coin purse in the other and barely noticed anyone else in the tea shop when he walked in, especially the young women who stopped watching Mikazuki and started watching this handsome stranger instead. And especially Mikazuki, who’s cup was frozen at his lips, and his eyes unable to tear away even though he knew it rude to stare so much, his breath still held in his lungs. But all Ichigo did was head straight to the counter and call, “Excuse me? Kobizen-san?”
Mikazuki almost dropped his tea cup at the sound of Ichigo’s voice… it was soothing and gentle and it made Mikazuki’s heart skip a beat, before releasing all the butterflies in his stomach again. Uguisumaru turned from where he was cleaning and smiled at his customer.
“Oh, Ichigo-kun, they sent you this time, huh?” He said. Ichigo chuckled sheepishly.
“Y-Yeah,” Ichigo looked at his list. “Okay, let’s see, can I get a…”
“No need, I already know their usuals.”
“Oh.”
“Is little Sayo with them as well?” Uguisumaru asked.
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll prepare a slice of persimmon tart for him.” Uguisumaru reached into the pastry cabinet and took out said tart to cut a slice. “And what about you, Ichigo-kun? What will you have?”
“Oh, um, let’s see…” Ichigo placed a hand on his chin and the other on his hip, thinking.
“Perhaps a strawberry green tea blend?” Uguisumaru suggested nonchalantly as he prepared the order, steeping the tea.
“Hm? Ah, right, my name…” Ichigo rolled his eyes but in a light-hearted way that indicated he was playing along with the joke. Even Mikazuki chuckled into his cup a little, making sure he was subtle enough as to not draw attention “Well, it does sound nice, so why not? And maybe…”, he looked into the pastry cabinet and pondered for a moment, “could I please have a slice of the pecan tart?”
“Certainly,” said Uguisumaru. “It won’t be long.”
“Thank you.”
Ichigo paid then stepped aside from the counter to wait for his order and that was when his eyes began to scan the whole tea shop. He noticed the women watching him first, who quickly turned away when they made eye contact, giggling. Ichigo only tilted his head in confusion. Oh, was he really that oblivious? Somehow, that just added more to his charm… Mikazuki shook his head and quickly drew his eyes away and back to the book he was supposed to be reading and the tea he was supposed to be sipping before Ichigo caught him staring too. But then he began to feel someone watching him… will he dare look up? He kept scolding himself not to, but his body didn’t seem to want to listen and he lifted his head up and met eyes that were a golden colour, warm like the sun yet sweet as honey and piercing into Mikazuki’s own like spears of amber, as if they were reaching down to his soul, to his heart to fully consume it, to wrap right around it and not let go, so that Mikazuki could not go a moment without thinking about this man ever again.
Mikazuki swallowed. Ichigo’s mouth was slightly opened, like he was about to say something but was frozen in place. Time stopped and the world disappeared around them. It felt like forever they were looking into each other’s eyes, yet in reality it was only a few fleeting moments and the world reminded them of its existence when Uguisumaru’s voice cut through their haze and let Ichigo know his order was ready.
“A-Ah,” Ichigo turned to the counter and picked up the cardboard tray carrying the takeaway cups and the paper bags with the pastries inside. “Thank you.”
He turns back around and glances back at Mikazuki before quickly walking out the door and across the street, returning to the flower shop. Mikazuki’s hand shook as he raised it to his chest to feel his heart beating erratically, finally completely letting out the breath he had held. Never in his life has he ever felt something like that - and just from looking at someone? Someone who was a complete stranger? What was wrong with him? This wasn’t like him at all.
And he can feel it, Uguisumaru’s knowing smirk at him. He didn’t have to look to know. But he refused to turn his head, instead keeping his eyes focused on his book. He will not give his friend that satisfaction. But now Mikazuki couldn’t help but wonder if this was planned somehow. Uguisumaru had said something to the pink and blue haired shop owners and had them send Ichigo over instead for the first time ever. Just to mess with him.
How was he supposed to go on now, after making direct eye contact with the handsome florist stranger who smiled at birds and ate pecan tarts?
Easy. He’ll just ride it out, of course. It was just a weird phase. Must be his age. That marrying age, where you must cast aside your youth for good and become a fully fledged adult with a wife and kids. Mikazuki never really cared for such things. He didn’t like being told what to do, what he must have done by a certain time. He had always gone by his own pace. He was just ‘falling in love’ with strangers because it was just that age. That’s all. It’ll go away soon.
The words on the pages blurred, and it had been way too long since Mikazuki turned a page, and he knew Uguisumaru knew. He could still feel his friend’s smirk on him. He closed the book and stood up, gulping the rest of his now lukewarm tea. Terrible, as not only is lukewarm tea a sin, but so was drinking it all at once like that. But it couldn’t be helped. If he stayed in this tea shop any longer, with his friend messing with his mind from behind the counter, and Ichigo messing with his heart from across the street, he’ll go crazy. He said his goodbye to Uguisumaru, having already paid for his drink and sweet, and left out the door, refusing to give the flower shop a single glance as he walked down the street towards the closest train station.
Mikazuki returned the next day, naturally. He wasn’t the type to let these kinds of things get the best of him, and he knew Uguisumaru would have a thing or two to say if he didn’t come back for another day or so. Sure, he may have been a little distracted, which worried his brothers, and he may have stayed up late last night thinking about Ichigo the Handsome Stranger and his warm honey gold eyes, but Uguisumaru didn’t have to know that. Mikazuki met the tea shop owner’s coy smirk with a nonchalant smile of his own and made his order, then waited at his usual table in the corner for Uguisumaru to bring it out to him.
“You didn’t say hi to Ichigo when he walked in yesterday,” Uguisumaru teased as he placed the teacup and a small pastry on a plate in front of Mikazuki. Mikazuki gave a small shrug and his usual laidback smile.
“Was I supposed to?” He asked, reaching for a book inside his bag.
“That was the plan,” Uguisumaru admitted. Ah, so it was planned after all.
“I was not privy to such a plan,” Mikazuki simply said. “Besides, I’m sure he’d feel a little awkward by a stranger trying to talk to him while he was simply ordering some tea.”
“I suppose, but there really isn’t anything stopping you from going across the road and saying hi, now is there?”
The conversation ended there as Uguisumaru left to go back behind the counter. Mikazuki pursed his lips and frowned into his teacup. He knew his friend was right, and all that was really stopping him was his pride. And, perhaps - as hard as it was for Mikazuki to admit to even himself - fear. Mikazuki was not shy by any means, some had even called him quite flirty at times, and he doesn’t turn away from making a sexual joke or an innuendo or two for a laugh. But he had no experience with falling in love, with confessions and asking people out and dating. This was the first time he had these feelings and if he were to pursue them, and ask Ichigo out only to be rejected… the grip on his cup tightened and his brows furrowed even further, stopping himself from thinking any further. His heart was always something he kept close to himself. If it were to break because for the first time ever, he decided to let someone else have it…
Something caught Mikazuki’s eye from across the road, and he looked up to see Ichigo standing in front of the slightly opened door, carrying a tray of small potted flowers. He was saying something to someone inside the shop - probably the pink-haired man, or the blue-haired one - then paused to listen, then say something short and sweet with a nod. Mikazuki watched as Ichigo moved to stand in front of an empty display. Then he did something that made Mikazuki freeze in place. Ichigo turned his head slightly to look directly in the direction of the teashop. Mikazuki felt a panic arise in him. He had always been able to see Ichigo but… but could Ichigo see him too? Had he always been able to?
Mikazuki looked away, and pretended to be fishing for a book (despite the book already being on the table) inside his bag until enough time passed that surely Ichigo was no longer looking this way again. When Mikazuki braved looking up once more, he sighed with relief to see that Ichigo had his back to the tea shop and was kneeling in front of the display, placing the potted flowers in it by colour coordination. Yet Mikazuki himself could still not look away. He sipped tea as he watched, until Ichigo was done and stood up with the now empty tray. Then his eyes moved back to the tea shop and Mikazuki froze. Was… was he looking for him?
Suddenly, the front door of the flower shop opened and the pink-haired man poked his head out, saying something to Ichigo and catching his attention. Ichigo’s mouth moved to reply and he followed his boss back into the shop.
Mikazuki hadn’t realised he was shaking.
Since then, Ichigo would constantly look back at the tea shop whenever he was outside, and Mikazuki would either watch him back, or avert his eyes elsewhere and pretend he didn’t notice it. Mikazuki wasn’t even sure if Ichigo really could see him or not. But the logical part of his brain had to point out that Ichigo did not look over at the tea shop like this before the two of you met eyes and now Mikazuki’s curiosity and dare he say, even hope was piqued. Did Ichigo feel the same way? Was he interested in Mikazuki too?
But without definitive answers to these questions, Mikazuki still feared taking those few steps across the street to go say hello. And thus, this back and forth of watching each other continued on for some time.
That is until one day, when the tea shop was all but empty save for Mikazuki and Uguisumaru said he was going to close up shop for 5 minutes to go across the road and get some more flowers for the tables as the current ones were starting to wilt, and he asked Mikazuki to come with him. Mikazuki looked at the peonies in the small green vase on his own table and raised an eyebrow in confusion as they were still so vibrant in colour and perky. He knew it was a trap. Uguisumaru was forcing Mikazuki to finally cross the street to the flower shop.
Mikazuki laughed. “I’ll just drink the rest of this and go home.”
“It will only be 5 minutes, I already put my order in,” Uguisumaru said. “I just need to pick it up. There’s no point in leaving when I’ll be in and out.”
“Then why not just leave me in here? What, you don’t trust me?” Mikazuki gave his friend a sly smile to let him know he was on to his game.
“You’re a trusted friend, which is why i want you to come. Tell me if the flowers I picked are any good or not. You’re my most valued customer, so I should ask for your opinion every now and then, no?”
“You’ve never needed my opinion until now, what changed?”
“Just wondered if you had any ideas, is all.”
“Why not ask the florists themselves for ideas? Flower arrangement is their specialty after all.”
Uguisumaru sighed at this fruitless back and forth. “Look, are you coming with me or not?”
Well, now with such a direct question like that, Mikazuki really did find it hard to say no. After all, what was his reason to refuse? And he doubted Uguisumaru really would leave him alone in the shop. He knew this was a trap. But, he did not see Ichigo through the windows at all today. Maybe he wasn’t working at the flower shop right now? And maybe Uguisumaru didn’t know either, and he was just taking that risk. Mikazuki conceded - not so easily defeated usually, but since Ichigo appeared he hasn’t really been himself lately - and let Uguisumaru lead him out the tea shop, locking it behind them, and across the street to the flower shop.
Mikazuki braced himself as Uguisumaru opened the door and they both stepped in.
“Oh, Kobizen-san,” the familiar voice greeted them. “What can I do for you?”
So, Ichigo was working here today. He was behind the counter, cutting some flower stems to make a bouquet. Mikazuki’s heart raced and he could feel the flush on his cheeks grow hot, especially when their eyes met and Ichigo quickly averted them, looking away shyly and… were his cheeks also a little pink?
“Nothing for me,” Uguisumaru replied. Huh? Mikazuki’s head snapped back towards his friend and raised his eyebrows. “But my friend here is looking for something special, think you could help him out? I have to get back to the shop.”
This dirty little... Well, Mikazuki knew it was a trap, but he didn’t expect Uguisumaru to just drop him into the deep end and then bail.
“O-Oh, your friend? S-Sure…!” Ichigo put down the scissors and flowers and brushed his hands on his apron, but he looked like a real nervous wreck all of a sudden.
“Thanks Ichigo. See you!”
“Hey, wait-!” Mikazuki tried to call out to Uguisumaru but he was quick and already out the door. He huffed and balled his fist to his side.
“What can I help you with?” Ichigo asked him with a friendly, charming smile, putting on his professional face - a contrast from the pink-faced awkward bundle of nerves he was all but less than 5 second ago. “Is this for a special event, or… or a special s-someone… or...”
Mikazuki calmed down, turned back to him and shook his head, giving him an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry, my friend was just joking around.”
“Oh. So… no special someone…?”
Mikazuki blinked and tilted his head. “No..?”
Did… did Ichigo’s eyes just light up?
“Really? Oh, well, that’s…” Ichigo’s eyes broke contact and a small smile graced his lips accompanied by another dusting of pink on his cheeks. Oh, he had such a cute side to him too…
Wait.
Was Ichigo trying to gauge if Mikazuki was single or not?... Was he actually… also interested in Mikazuki after all? Suddenly, Mikazuki felt some courage begin to swell in his chest.
“Yes, even if I really were here for a bouquet, I don’t really have a special someone to give one to,” he said. “What about you?”
“Huh? Me?” Ichigo seemed taken by surprise. “No, no there’s no one. Well, one could say my little brothers are my special someones, haha,” Ichigo chuckled and shook his head. “But if I said that, a certain friend of mind would tease me for it.”
“You have little brothers, huh?” Mikazuki asked, trying not to feel too excited at the fact that Ichigo was also single.
“Yes, many of them,” Ichigo’s demeanor somehow changed when talking about them. He became more prideful and confident. Mikazuki smiled. A family man, huh? Why did that make him all the more attractive? “It’s why I have a part-time job here, despite also being in university. I try to help take care of them, I can only let my uncles do so much.”
“I see. That’s very admirable of you.”
“Oh, thank you…” Ichigo’s cheeks turned pink again. “A-Anyway. I’m not sure what kind of joke Kobizen-san was playing, but you don’t have to stay here if you do not want to.”
Mikazuki chuckled and shook his head. “It’s true that I don’t really need anything in particular, but… I’ve always wanted to see this flower shop, so is it alright if I browse?”
“Of course! Go ahead.”
“Thank you.”
They exchanged smiles, which resulted in quickly averted eyes and a racing heart for Mikazuki, who made quick work in turning around to go right into browsing. As Mikazuki perused the shop, he couldn’t help but admire how all the flowers and plants were all beautiful and well-taken care of. The owners - and Ichigo - do a pretty good job. Ichigo must have such gentle, nurturing hands… Mikazuki glances over at Ichigo who was focusing on arranging the bouquet he was working on when he and Uguisumaru walked in.
He may not be a flower, but he was still the most beautiful thing to look at- Mikazuki mentally slapped himself. What a cheesy thought!… He looked away, hoping Ichigo didn’t notice his blushing face. Little did he know that Ichigo was also sneaking glances his way.
“See anything you like?” Ichigo asked. “If you have any questions, I’m happy to answer them.”
“Thank you, I- oh!” Mikazuki spotted a small pot of forget-me-nots and held them up so Ichigo could see. “These remind me of you.”
“O-Of me…?” Ichigo blinked and if Mikazuki didn’t know any better, at this point he would have assumed the pink hue of his cheeks was Ichigo’s default state of being. “Why… why is that?”
“Their colour mostly. They’re blue like your hair, and the yellow in the middle reminds me of your eyes…” Then it just hit him that he was probably being a little too forward with this statement. “Hahaha, sorry, that was a bit strange…”
Ichigo shook his head, but he still avoided Mikazuki’s eyes. “No, it’s fine. I’ve never been compared to a flower before…”
“Oh?”
“Do you know the meaning of forget-me-nots?” Ichigo asked, but continued without waiting for Mikazuki’s answer. “They represent true and undying love, and a connection that is so deep and true, it cannot be untethered or forgotten.”
“Oh…” Mikazuki looked down at the flowers in his hands. True love, huh…
Gah! What was with him? He only just finally talked to Ichigo after who knows how long of admiring him from a distance and now he was thinking of true love?
He really wasn’t himself at all, and Ichigo was to blame.
Though, he couldn’t really be mad about it. He put the pot back down and smiled.
“How lovely. To think, every flower has a meaning behind it.”
“Yes,” Ichigo said. “Even one flower can mean many things, and when combined with other flowers, it can send a heartfelt and meaningful message.”
“So what is the message the bouquet you’re making now trying to convey?”
Ichigo glanced at his unfinished arrangement of gloxinia, jonquil, lilacs and variegated tulips, then back at Mikazuki with a sheepish, yet somewhat coy smile. “It’s a secret.”
“A secret you say…” Mikazuki wasn’t going to lie, his curiosity was piqued.
“This is… a personal one, that I’m making for display,” he said. “For out the front, facing the tea shop.”
“So that anyone in the tea shop could see it?” Curiouser and curiouser…
“Yes.”
The straightforward admittance stunned Mikazuki a little. Was… Ichigo making that bouquet for Mikazuki? To send him a message? Now he really had to know the meaning of the bouquet… but he didn’t have enough courage right now to ask.
“Well, it’s a striking bouquet,” Mikazuki said.
“Thank you,” Ichigo smiled, and it felt like an arrow had shot itself into his heart. “Although, maybe when I am done arranging, I won’t display it.”
“Oh?”
“Perhaps I will give to a certain someone directly. And I will tell them the meaning then.”
Many thoughts ran through Mikazuki’s mind. Did Ichigo mean him? Or was he being too hopeful? Ichigo was staring directly into his eyes, as if he really did mean Mikazuki. Mikazuki’s mouth fell open, then he closed again, unsure of how to respond. Ichigo’s eyes turned into piercing ambers again, like when they had first met and they were all but too effective in pinning Mikazuki in place, as if he was a bug that had been caught inside it.
“I’m sure…” Mikazuki begins to speak. “That they would love to receive such a bouquet from you.”
“Then may I ask that they wait just a little while longer?”
Mikazuki swallowed. “They may be willing to wait.”
Ichigo’s demeanor changed once more, reverting back to the shy, cute young man with the pink cheeks who couldn’t meet Mikazuki’s eyes.
“Then I am glad…”
Mikazuki’s own eyes fell back towards the plants in front of him and he wondered what that was all about. Did Ichigo receive a burst of courage somehow? He was such a striking, fierce and charismatic man in those moments, that it all but drew Mikazuki more and more to him. Not only was there a cute side, but a cool side as well? If he wasn’t already so very attracted, he definitely is now.
Not much was said again after that for a little while.
“Ichigo, we have an order for-” Neither noticed the pink-haired man who came out from the back of the shop, but upon sensing the weird, romantic tension between his employee and the customer, he just huffed and returned to the back. “I’ll just do it myself then.”
Soon enough, Ichigo spoke up again. “So, do you often visit the tea shop across the street?”
“Almost every day,” Mikazuki responded.
“Wow,” Ichigo said. “You must really like the tea there.”
He let out a soft chuckle and that was enough to ease Mikazuki of the tension from earlier.
“Indeed, Uguisumaru’s blends are divine.”
“What tea is your favourite?” Ichigo asked.
“Haha, I’m afraid I’m quite the traditionalist. Matcha has always been my favourite,” replied Mikazuki.
“Can’t say no to a good matcha… although if you ever wanted to do things a little differently, you could alway ask Kobizen-san to make you a matcha blend with dried roses,” Ichigo suggested. “There’s also a type of matcha made from butterfly pea flowers that is blue!”
“Oh my, that sounds a little scandalous,” Mikazuki joked, but he was also quite surprised at this knowledge. He made a mental note to ask Uguisumaru about it later. “Although roses in my matcha does sound heavenly…”
“Let me know what you think when you try it,” Ichigo said with another one of his winsome smiles. “If you dislike it, I will take full responsibility.”
“Alright, I’ll hold you to that,” Mikazuki said with a chuckle, which Ichigo returned. But when it fell silent again, Mikazuki started to feel a little awkward. He had circled the small flower shop many times by now, and as much as he would love to stay and talk with Ichigo, it was probably for the best that he left now.
“I… should probably get going,” Mikazuki said, and he couldn’t help the ache in his heart at seeing Ichigo’s face fall. “It’s a lovely shop, and thank you for the tea suggestions.”
“Wait!” Ichigo called out to him and ran over to stop Mikazuki by the door, a single red rosebud held out to him. “Please… please do come again.”
Mikazuki’s eyes widened but he took the rosebud and held it to his nose. His heart raced again and he wondered if his cheeks matched the colour of the petals.
“My,” Mikazuki began to tease. “Do you give out roses like this to all your customers?”
“No. Just you.”
Another arrow shot straight through the heart.
“O-Oh… why, thank you.” Mikazuki tried to laugh it off, but wow could he feel himself burning up.
“So, will you visit again?” Ichigo asked.
“Sure. If you promise to visit the tea shop when I’m there as well,” Mikazuki gave Ichigo his most sincere smile.
“Of course.”
“Then, I’ll see you later, Ichigo.”
They smiled at each other for longer, lost in the other’s eyes, until Ichigo’s expression became confused.
“Wait, did I ever introduce myself? How do you know my na-”
Mikazuki was quickly out the door the moment it dawned on him and he knew that only Ichigo was to blame for this uncharacteristic and embarrassing slip up.
But still, Mikazuki thought as he held up the rose to his nose again, this whole being in love business? Not so bad, after all.