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You took Hiromi to see the sunflowers.
It sort of began as a joke when you first learned the meaning behind why a sunflower pin sat on his lapel. Of course, you read somewhere in the past that the distinct flower was a symbol in Japan to represent lawyers, but didn't quite read far enough to learn the history of how exactly that came to be.
Hiromi was more than happy to share that, quick on his feet to woo you even at the first meeting.
An exchanged number, a date, a few more dates and several months later, you couldn't help but be surprised to find that the man had never actually been to a real sunflower field.
“Never had the time,” he shrugged unbothered when you asked him. “Too busy with work.”
Which sounded like a half-assed lie to you (what about as a child?), but if it was true....then that just wouldn't do.
So on your next trip back to the states, you suggest taking a roadtrip through the east coast—planning trails to hike as well as making fun and entertaining stops to sightsee—taking it upon yourself to be his personal guide.
With all your findings in order, and thanks to his most recently successful case, it took the man little convincing to take a well-deserved break. Though, you had the sneaking suspicion the enthusiasm emanating from each of your ideas would've won him over regardless.
“This doesn't look like it was on the itinerary,” he muses aloud, watching the countryside fly by while you took the wheel.
You snort, “It's for VIPs only.”
Hiromi returns your crooked grin before you slow and pull into a surprisingly busy lot, just off the curb of the highway and a ways away from the attraction that wasn't exactly hard to see, but you feign nonchalance anyway.
The smile fades from Hiromi's expression, taking on a look of awe-like realization instead. “Is this...”
With a half-turn, you beam at him, “Surprise!” You take his arm then, leading him to the little entry shack where families with children were all lined up to receive passes. “Come on.”
Soon, the both of you stand before the field of tall, upright flowers. Each one reaching above your heads, open and blooming to catch the sun's bright, golden rays. On a warm summer day like this one, the entire scene caught the moment just right. Just like you had envisioned in your mind.
“Come on, Hiromi,” you repeat, walking him deeper into the threshold of sunflowers. “Now you can call yourself a real lawyer.”
But the teasing seems to fall on deaf ears as the brunette traces a hand up one of the strong, fibrous stems to its head. His fingertips feel over the rough face to brush the yellow petals lightly, before he takes it between his thumb and forefinger to feel its softness.
An entranced look is on the man's features, but it melts into a look of tenderness when his gaze falls on you. “You're so sweet to me, Doll. Never change.”
He brushes a kiss against your cheek, and the warmth you feel remains on the skin.
Frolicking in the sunflower fields like you were children again, your heart feels just as light. Hand in hand with the man you could feel yourself falling deeper, deeper in love with.
Hiromi encourages you to pose next to the sunflowers particularly catching his eye, which you oblige—but not after insisting he needed to join in on a couple as well.
Eventually, the two of you huddle back into the car after what feels like hours. Treasures from the tacky gift shop stuffed into a brown paper bag a new passenger as Hiromi drives to the next stop this time. He scrunches his nose as you munch around the "high-end and organic" sunflower seeds (he'll never understand why foreigners like them). You were simply too smitten with the refreshed and relaxed air around him to take any offense.
Needless to say, the time had become a fond memory of the trip, standing out amongst the rest when like all good things, his vacation had come to an end.
On Hiromi's desk appeared a new addition to the knick-knacks that littered his office space since meeting you, each one reminding him of his favorite moments in life:
A framed photo of you, in your billowing sundress and wearing a smile so bright it rivaled the surrounding flowers themselves.