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On the way back to her apartment, a colourful sign caught Miko’s eye. It wasn’t that she hadn’t noticed it before, as she always took the same route to and from Shuchiin. But usually she had too much on her mind, and never took time to look at what was around her. Now, something about her current mindframe made her stop and look into the window of a flower shop.
There were various colours everywhere. It wasn’t a large place, but it held a lot of different types of flowers. There was no particular reason why she should feel the need to go in. Maybe a vase of flowers would brighten up the empty atmosphere of her apartment?
Miko always liked flowers. She liked looking at them, she liked their sweet smell, she liked how each one had a different meaning. She knew where this interest came from, too. It was after she received that special anonymous gift that she began to look at flowers in a whole new way. Not only were they beautiful, they were romantic too.
“Iino?”
Miko’s heart leapt at the voice, and she turned around to see Ishigami approaching her.
“Ishigami, what-”
She cut herself off. Her initial inclination was to blurt out a biting remark such as ‘are you following me?’ but she was trying to change the instinctive, stubborn need to hide her feelings and embarrassment that was ingrained into her.
Even after knowing and accepting her feelings for Ishigami in the last couple of months, it was difficult to break her impulsive habits, but she really didn’t want her and Ishigami to keep being hostile to each other. She knew she was a big reason why their relationship was like that. She’d already known her own shortcomings, her black and white thinking, her flawed sense of justice and tendency to misunderstand people. Hearing them from Shinomiya also put things into a bigger perspective. She did want to change. Not just for her relationship with Ishigami, but for her future working in law, too.
“What are you doing here?” she finished.
Ishigami looked to be in a good mood. He smiled while holding up a plastic bag. “There’s a video game store down the street. New release.”
“Oh.” Iino briefly glanced at it, and back at Ishigami. It was nice to see him smiling. “That’s nice. What kind of game is it?”
Iino didn’t not care. She had genuinely started to be interested in fps video games after playing with Papa Shirogane.
She unfortunately hadn’t had the right opportunity to bring up playing with Ishigami yet though.
Let alone a confession…
Miko shook that thought out of her head. That was the plan to do at some point, but she wasn’t sure how that would even happen. It wasn’t that long ago that she had a hard time even admitting her feelings for Ishigami to Chika.
And the stubborn part of her still felt that it would be a hit on her pride to say it out loud after how hatefully she’d treated Ishigami before, with how much they’ve argued with each other. There was also all the guilt she felt about various things, especially about how she didn’t help Ishigami enough in middle school, which Koba had brought to the forefront of her mind…
But regardless of all that, she did feel like she was at a standstill in her plans. She had started to act proactively, trying to get Ishigami to potentially see her as a romantic partner… but so far, and even after going to the dance together, there was no indication that anything had changed. She had hope after Ishigami appeared to be jealous when he thought she was on a date with Papa Shirogane, and then when he asked her to the dance, but nothing more happened after that.
It made Miko wonder what she should do now. If she came on too strong, she might come across as too easy or too thirsty, and she didn’t want that! That was a big turn off for guys - it was clear, as she’d read it on the internet!
And if he was still hung up on Tsubame, it was all useless anyway…
And what if he was already developing feelings for Shiranui, his new gaming friend?
Miko knew she really had to be more aggressive or else she might end up regretting it.
“A sequel to a boxing game I like,” Ishigami was saying. “All new levels, all new opponents.”
“Oh, I see,” Miko replied with interest. “Boxing, huh. I guess you like all sorts of games, Ishigami.”
Ishigami seemed to be studying her. What could he be thinking about with that look of contemplation on his face? Miko’s face started to grow warm so she turned her gaze back towards the shop window.
“Yeah,” Ishigami said, stepping up beside her. “I dabble in many different genres.”
“I know that, with how many I’ve had to confiscate from you,” Miko couldn’t help but say.
“You’ve never had to,” Ishigami enunciated.
“Of course I did,” Miko’s frustration grew without her being able to help it. “Do you think the rules are just there for show? If I make allowances, then it becomes a slippery slope into disorder-”
“Alright, alright,” Ishigami interrupted. “I get it.”
Miko turned to look at him. At least Ishigami didn’t seem annoyed with her right now. Miko too, was firm in her morals even if she had been questioning them somewhat lately, but she wished she was different, sometimes. And then Ishigami wouldn’t dislike her so much. Then they wouldn’t argue so much. Both of them were stubborn people, and they couldn’t help but clash with their different outlooks.
But… despite how Ishigami was the epitome of what she stood against, she had fallen for him anyway.
Despite how that one time, when she couldn’t think of any good points for him, it was true that he had many. Ishigami was smart, even if he didn’t use it to his best ability. He was attentive as he’d tended to her when her arm was in the sling, even if some of why was because of guilt. He was kind and caring to people he cared about, even if that part of him had been misunderstood more than once. He looked out for his friends. He tried hard when he really cared about something. He was funny. And he was handsome, even if Miko had denied that to herself for so long out of embarrassment and stubbornness because of how their relationship had ended up.
“Anyway… what are you standing out here for? Are you going in? Is it someone’s birthday or something?” Ishigami asked.
Miko shook her head, realizing how her thoughts had gotten away from her, her face growing warmer by the second.
“No. I was just looking. The flowers are really beautiful.”
She once again thought of her bookmark, which she kept safely in a journal in her bag.
Ishigami stepped closer to her so their shoulders brushed as he looked into the window with her. Miko’s heart leapt up, feeling the warmth through her uniform. She instantly flashed back to how nice it felt when they were close that day in the student council room, when she had been comforting him, when he laid on her lap. And then when he returned the favour by patting her hair. And then later, when he had his hands on her waist as they danced together…
A sudden urge to get closer to him, to hold his hand, to ask him to pat his head again overwhelmed her.
But she needed to make that happen naturally, not blurt it out of nowhere. Her mind whirred, wondering how to make an excuse to get that to happen.
“They are,” Ishigami agreed. “Oh, I see they have hydrangeas. Why not go in?”
Miko blinked, surprised at Ishigami’s response. “Yeah… sure. I wouldn’t mind.”
The two of them entered the shop together and began to look around.
“Do you like flowers, Ishigami?” Miko asked, curious.
“Huh? Well, yeah, I guess,” Ishigami said. “They’re pretty, and have a lot of different meanings and uses.”
“Yeah,” Miko replied. “I didn’t take you for the type to be interested in that.”
“... You’re going to call me creepy, aren’t you?” He looked away, his mood clearly souring.
“No,” Miko said. Truthfully, she might have said that in the past (even though she wouldn’t have meant it). “Why would I?”
Ishigami sighed. “Shinomiya-senpai once heard me out about my plans to confess to Tsubame-senpai with flowers, and she called me creepy.”
Miko’s heart ached at his mention of Tsubame, but she didn’t let herself linger on it.
“Why? What about it is creepy?”
After Ishigami explained his whole plan, Miko’s feet felt stuck to the floor, her heart beating quickly in her chest. Tsubame had been so lucky. Even if it didn’t end up with Ishigami following through with it, she was lucky that Ishigami had thought about her so much to think of something like that.
“... I think that’s really romantic,” Miko said in a quiet voice. “No offense to Shinomiya-senpai, but… I disagree with her. It’s a really sweet plan.”
“Really?” Ishigami looked surprised for a moment, and then he smiled at her. Miko had to try really hard to control her expression, with how flustered she was inside. “Thanks, Iino. Maybe I won’t give that idea up… the next time I plan to confess to someone.”
Miko let out a breath she had been holding, nodding her head. “I think… a lot of girls would really like that.”
Me, included, she didn’t say.
“So you haven’t been scared off… of trying for love?” Miko quickly asked before Ishigami could respond, before she could lose her nerve. She couldn’t help being inwardly worried about response and whether he would brush off her question for it not being any of her business.
Miko could feel Ishigami’s eyes on her, but she stared straight ahead at a display of irises.
“I thought I would be…” Ishigami said. “But no. I am open to love again.”
Miko’s heart began to settle with hope, once again.
But the dreaded line replayed in her head.
There’s no way that would happen.
Said by Ishigami, about her.
She hadn’t known how strong that blow had been to her until now. But wasn’t that even more reason she had to get Ishigami to change his mind and see her as a potential girlfriend?
Miko turned her gaze back and smiled at him. “I believe in you,” she said.
Ishigami seemed startled, his step stumbling slightly as he widened his eyes. There was a light blush on his face, and it was Miko’s turn to widen her eyes seeing that look on him, at her.
“Iino, you-” Ishigami said. And then he shook his head, cleared his throat and looked away. “T-that means a lot.”
He then briskly walked away from her to the other side of the shop. Miko chuckled to herself. Ishigami could really be cute sometimes.
Miko hurried over to catch up to him, sidling up to him, and brushing their arms together. “Why did you run away?” she asked in a sweet voice.
Ishigami jumped in place. He turned toward her, putting a hand behind his neck to scratch it, appearing awkward. “I… you’re being really nice to me. I guess I don’t know how to handle it.”
“Hmm,” Miko said. “Should I stop being nice to you?”
She reached up to put a hand on Ishigami’s arm, smiling teasingly at him. Ishigami was clearly flustered with the way his face was dusted with redness and how jumpy he seemed. That really was a good sign, right?
“That’s not what I meant. I just… I’m having trouble figuring something out.” Ishigami then abruptly, and awkwardly, changed the subject in a higher pitched voice. “Oh, look over there!”
Miko was extremely curious as to what he meant, but she went along with his whim. She could always ask him about it later.
“What is it?”
Ishigami walked up to a wall of flower crowns. He carefully chose one, picked it up, walked back towards Miko and placed it on her head. Surprised, Miko reached up to touch it.
“Just as I thought. It suits you,” Ishigami said.
“Huh?” Miko replied, dazed, warmth spreading throughout her body. “Really?”
“Yeah,” Ishigami replied, staring at her. He cleared his throat again. “It… looks good on you.”
Miko removed her hands from her head, staring at Ishigami in awe, not expecting that move from him. Based on his behaviour, was it okay for her to have hope after all?
“Thank you,” she said sincerely. She smiled again, stepping up closer to him.
Ishigami quickly took it back off her head. “I’m just gonna… you know what, I’ll buy it for you.”
“Huh? You don’t-” but Ishigami was heading towards the till before she could finish her sentence.
A wave of giddiness washed over her, from her heart straight to her toes. Miko might be succeeding more than she thought she was!
Ishigami was not only complimenting her, but he was buying her a present! And she didn’t even have to try to make it happen herself! He was also blushing when staring at her!
Miko’s heart raced even faster, struggling against the urge to put her hands to her hot face and giggle to herself.
She ended up following Ishigami out of the shop after he’d handed her the flower crown again, and she stared at it for a while as they walked together.
Not only was the flower crown really pretty, a mix of beautiful white flowers and greens, but…
It was a type of flower that was really special to her. What a coincidence.
Ever since Ishigami had told her it suited her, she had the extreme urge to hug him. She peered over at Ishigami, who was walking beside her, step by step. He was looking straight ahead. How would Ishigami react if Miko were to hug him?
She turned her gaze back to the flower crown, and stared at it happily. Wasn’t this Ishigami’s first gift for her? Miko automatically felt like she wanted to treasure it forever. Well, she knew that was impossible. The crown was made of living flowers, after all.
“Iino?” Ishigami questioned. He’d stopped walking. Miko came to a stop too.
“What is it?” she asked, unable to keep the happiness out of her tone.
“You…” he visibly swallowed. “I noticed you keep looking at it. Be careful alright, so you don’t trip over your feet.”
Miko smiled as she put the flower crown back on her head. She’d always considered those kinds of comments from Ishigami as condescending before. When he’d warned her against certain things, made it seem like she was too immature for them, or couldn’t handle it and it had angered her a lot. But now, she realized it was just his way of looking out for her.
Just like… who ever had given her the flower and note.
“I was just thinking, that the crown is made of sutera flowers,” she said. “It’s my favourite flower.”
Ishigami’s eyes widened a fraction. “... Really?”
Miko didn’t find the need to keep it a secret. “Yes. I once received one during a really rough time back in middle school. It was just what I needed… it really meant a lot to me. There was a wonderful note, too.”
Ishigami was standing there, silent, staring at her with a shocked expression. Miko wanted to put a hand to her mouth and laugh. Was it too presumptuous to wonder if he was jealous of whoever gave it to her? Maybe. But it was a nice thought.
“Do you want to see it?” Miko asked, urging on the jealousy she was hopefully eliciting from him.
Miko pulled her journal out of her book bag, and showed it to Ishigami, the bookmark protruding from it. “See? It’s the same flower.”
Ishigami still didn’t move or speak, he just stared at her in some kind of silent surprise. It was so unlike him, that’s why Miko couldn’t help but press on.
“It was a romantic gift, given from genuine care and emotion. The meaning of the flower was exactly what I needed to hear at the moment. That’s the kind of thing love should be…”
She stopped herself when Ishigami’s face turned red right in front of her. Startled, Miko could do nothing but stare at him for a few moments longer.
“Ishigami? Hello?”
Had she gone too far? No, that couldn’t possibly be true. She didn’t even make anything up, she’d just…
Ishigami shook his head, hiding his face in his hands. “Just… leave me alone for a moment.”
“Huh?”
“I’m so embarrassed that I want to go die,” Ishigami mumbled.
Now that phrasing was alarming. Miko hadn’t remembered Ishigami saying that for a while now.
“What’s up with you so suddenly?” A worried feeling fluttered in her stomach. She stepped up to him and put a hand on his shoulder. Ishigami shrugged it off, taking a few steps back without removing his hands from his face. The sight was almost comical.
Miko huffed. Ishigami certainly could be just as stubborn as her sometimes.
“It couldn’t be…” Miko tried, her heart racing, “that you’re jealous, right?”
He’d never answered her after the scene with Papa Shirogane… he’d changed the subject and she’d left with Onodera.
“You’re jealous of the one who gave it to me, the person with such a secret romantic heart-”
“As if,” Ishigami blurted out, “it’d be pretty stupid to be jealous of myself.”
Miko blinked, her head and heart becoming shaken at once as she processed the meaning of his words. “What?”
Ishigami’s face became even redder if possible, and he quickly spun around and started walking away. “Nothing, I didn’t say anything!”
Miko darted after him, grabbing his hand before he started to run even faster. “Ishigami! Don’t you dare run away!”
Ishigami was held back by her, and he stopped, groaning to himself. He kept mumbling undecipherable words under his breath.
Miko’s heart was racing faster and faster, her world spinning out of control. If grabbing onto Ishigami’s hand wasn’t grounding her, she was sure she’d float away. She stared at his hand, at his back, and her mind spun endlessly.
It couldn’t be…
How could it be?
All this time…
This position felt familiar, with the way she was holding onto Ishigami’s hand, the way her face was burning up, feeling like her insides were squirming. The only difference was that she was holding onto him so he couldn’t escape rather than him leading her, helping her when she’d been injured, which had been before she’d realized her feelings and what they meant.
And now…
Ishigami’s first present for her hadn’t been the flower crown, it had been…
“Ishigami…” Iino said, quietly choked up. “Does that mean…”
Ishigami turned around, his reluctance and embarrassment shown clearly on his face.
Miko held onto his hand tightly, not letting go. She didn’t know if she’d ever be able to.
“Yeah,” Ishigami mumbled. “Fine, I’ll admit it. It was me who put that note on your desk. But I didn’t think the topic would ever come up again, let alone finding out you kept it …”
“I like you,” Miko blurted out.
She hadn’t meant to, but this new knowledge caused her feelings to well up inside of her, growing stronger and overflowing.
Ishigami stilled. “... Huh? Did I mishear you just now?”
“I like you a lot,” Miko said again, her face burning. “Ishigami.”
It was like a weight was dropped off her shoulders, now that she’d finally got the words out. All of her pride, her fears, it seemed like none of them mattered now, not when Ishigami was her ideal all along.
Ishigami’s face was still red. He lifted his free arm and covered his face. “You… I think you don’t know what you’re saying,” he said, “you’re just confused by the moment and what I just said…”
“Are you kidding me?” Miko argued. “Do you really think I’m that fickle?”
“No, no, of course no-”
“I was trying to get you to notice me for a couple of months now, you know,” Miko said, sure her own face was turning bright red now.
Ishigami’s eyes met hers. He looked just as shaken as Miko herself felt. “But… don’t you hate me? I know you’ve been really nice to me lately. And I did wonder about your intentions, and I thought… maybe… but then I thought to myself, no way, you moron, you’re just being too self-important, there’s no way-”
“I can’t even fault you for being oblivious,” Miko said.
That seemed to surprise Ishigami even more.
“Iino-”
“I’m gloomy, and stubborn, we couldn’t stop arguing every time we were in the same room. I had too much pride to change how I interacted with you even after I realized my feelings… and too much pride to give up my morals and the rules. Besides, you also said that it would never happen… it’s no wonder you never noticed… it’s my fault. It’s just who I am.”
It took a lot for Miko to admit that. She felt all squirmy and uncomfortable inside, for being so honest. So far, it was hard for her to even say those things to her best friend. It was hard for her to even admit them to herself. It was embarrassing, and terrifying. Miko hated the feeling. But… if this was her chance to put it all out there, for Ishigami, it wasn’t like she could step back, not after everything, knowing that Ishigami could be snatched up by someone else soon if she did nothing.
Ishigami stared at her, and it was unclear what kind of emotion was in his eyes. He stared at her like he was seeing her anew, and it made Miko’s heart pound like a drum inside of her.
“When did I say it would never happen?” Ishigami asked.
Huh, that’s what he wanted to comment on?!
“... When Fujiwara-senpai asked, after you were talking about wanting a girlfriend…”
Somehow, it was hard for her to repeat the whole exchange.
Recognition flashed across Ishigami’s face. “That, huh? Fujiwara-senpai is one hundred percent not my type, and I meant that… but with you… it’s more like… I was just sure you hated me, so I never let myself think you’re an option.”
Miko was the one to blink in surprise now. “I… did treat you like I hated you,” she admitted.
“So I never noticed that at all.” Ishigami scratched the back of his neck again. “But anyway, it wasn’t just you… I was harsh with you as well.”
“We never were able to get along,” Miko agreed. And they both had a part to play in that. “I don’t want it to be like that anymore, though.”
“Yeah. That’s why… you know, it’d be a lie if I said I never thought of you in that way before.”
Ishigami averted his eyes to the ground, a red flush moving to his ears.
Miko’s heart leapt with joy, electricity buzzing all throughout her veins. “Really?” Her voice was quiet, hopeful.
“Yeah, come on, Iino. You’re beautiful.”
If that wasn’t a sudden attack, Miko didn’t know what was. It felt like his words hit her squarely in the chest, making her heart throb more and more.
“You’re straightforward and passionate, and care about the school,” Ishigami continued. “Despite any pushback you get, you’re strong and don’t stray from your morals. Even if they conflict with me, that’s always been pretty admirable. And not to mention, you’re cute. And endearing.”
Miko inhaled deeply.
“Ishigami…”
“So yeah,” Ishigami said. “I have… had those thoughts before, but anytime any sort of feeling for you came up, I just squashed it down and ignored it. I thought it was useless, Iino hates me, we would never be able to get along. I just pretended it wasn’t there.”
And then… he fell for Tsubame. Miko wouldn’t regret that she hadn’t realized her feelings sooner, because Ishigami needed Tsubame, to make him more self confident, to open his world to new possibilities. She didn’t want that taken away from him.
Miko’s hand began to tremble, but she didn’t let go of Ishigami’s hand. She threaded their fingers together tighter, stepping closer.
“I… I did the same thing,” she murmured. “I pretended like you didn’t have any good points because I was embarrassed and didn’t want to admit my feelings after how I fought with you all the time. Until I broke my arm, and I realized.”
“It was then?” Ishigami looked shocked again as he met her eyes.
“... Speaking of, I’ll confess something else to you, Ishigami. My arm actually healed earlier than I said it did. I just wanted you to look after me longer.”
Ishigami stared at her for a beat longer, and then he burst into laughter. “Iino, I didn’t know you were that mischievous.”
Miko weakly glared. “Geez. I know I was a bad girl, but you don’t need to make fun of me!”
“No, I’m not.” Ishigami deliberated for a moment. “If it was reversed, I can’t promise I wouldn’t have done the same thing.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I almost pretended to be really heartbroken again, so you’d let me lie on your lap again…”
Miko gasped. “How sly! Well… obviously I have no right to talk.”
Ishigami smiled at her, and Miko’s whole world was still narrowed in on this one point - Ishigami, and his reactions to her. This was more than she ever thought possible.
“As to my answer…”
Oh. Miko’s stomach flipped around. She wasn’t sure she was ready for that yet.
“You don’t need to give one now. I hadn’t even meant to say that yet, so-”
“I’ll be honest… the rejection from Tsubame-senpai still stings a bit.”
Miko nodded. She hadn’t expected Ishigami to have completely gotten over it already.
“But what you said just now… it made me so happy I could cry.”
“Cry?” Miko’s eyes widened.
“... So…” Ishigami turned a fresh shade of red. “I do like you, Iino. So will you let me take you out on a date?”
Miko was dreaming. She must be dreaming. She took her free hand and pinched her arm from under her uniform, hard.
“Iino?!”
Miko breathed in and out in disbelief and overwhelming emotion. She dropped Ishigami’s hand and stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, unable to control herself.
Ishigami let out a stuttered breath as he hugged her back. Miko didn’t care that they were still on the sidewalk where anyone could see them. She held him tightly.
“Yes. Take me on a date, Ishigami.”
“... And maybe on the date, you can tell me all my good points that you had been too embarrassed to say before?” Ishigami said quickly, like he’d been waiting for an opportunity to say it.
“Maybe,” Miko teased.
She couldn’t wait.