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Miwa Kasumi was a humble woman, her small flower shop was all she needed. All she led was a peaceful life. Her flower shop was a way for her to help her family ease their monetary issues ever since she gave up on her chance of going to a University.
She was going to do all she could to help out.
The doorbell rang as the door opened to reveal another customer of the day. It was Zen’in Mai, one of her friends from the highschool she went to. Mai and her older twin sister, Maki, were famous throughout their school back then.
“Mai!” Miwa cheerfully greeted her dear friend.
The way Mai was dressed, it was obvious that she was out on a date. The black, tight, sleeveless dress was perfect on her.
“Just thought I’d stop by,” smiled Mai as she placed her crossed arms on the counter, bending down as she talked to Miwa. “How’s business?”
“You know, nothing much really,” Miwa replied.
“Maki and I can always help you promote,” Mai suggested. “Or we could ask Nishimiya to help. Just not Kamo, and especially Todo. I am so glad I don’t see them anymore.”
Miwa let out a soft laughter as she heard Mai’s complaints, “I still remember when you used to complain about every single boy in our class.”
Mai could only sigh in return as memories of their former class came flooding back into her mind. “They are all weird,” Mai replied. “Muta, Todo, Kamo, all weird. I still don’t know why I went with Todo to that Takada meeting…”
“But you did say the meeting wasn’t so bad,” Miwa added. Mai responded with a small nod as Miwa technically wasn’t lying. Mai did find the meeting to be better than what she had initially thought.
“But it is also Todo we’re talking about,” Mai explained.
Miwa laughed as Mai continued to rant about things that happened throughout their school years. Those days seemed so… distant yet also so close. It felt like it had never ever been over. Sometimes it just felt as though they were once again teenagers chatting their lives away while eating, not having to worry about putting a roof over their heads. Sometimes it just seemed so unbelievable that this was what adulthood had introduced them to. Worries after worries.
But Miwa braced those struggles. She was a hard worker. It was important to get through tough times, was it not? She was still helping her own family out, and running her business gave her such a peace of mind. She loved being around her flowers. The beauty of it all seemed to intrigue her to no end. She loved the different meanings each flower had. She loved how different colours represented different things as well. There was just so much to learn.
“Also,” Mai continued. “We’re having a class reunion soon. Nishimiya and I are planning on shopping for dresses, wanna join?”
Miwa smiled and gave her dear friend a small nod. Of course Miwa couldn’t say no. How could she? She enjoyed being with the girls of her former class. They all had a close bond with each other. Miwa often heard Momo and Mai talk smack about the boys in their school, it was almost a daily thing. Suddenly she missed those days where they were teenagers with no worries.
Miwa had missed those old days when they were all so carefree.
Now she had a new worry. Finding the right outfit for their reunion dinner.
She managed to get a dress that she really liked. A knee length blue dress with a thin strap. It was layered really well and seemed to have some volume to it. Both Momo and Mai encouraged Miwa to get her hands on it, so she did.
Now she just had to wait until the day of the reunion to see what everyone was wearing. She was curious about how much they changed. She hadn’t seen most of them ever since graduation. She wondered how Muta Kokichi was doing. They never talked much but she always had her eyes on him. There was something about him that drew her towards him.
It was another normal day at her flower shop. Another day of guiding customers to which flowers they should purchase, talking about the story and meaning behind each and every floral. Every petal was important.
She enjoyed her job. It was simple, just the perfect job for her. She wouldn’t trade it for the world. Being around her flowers and seeing people walking out with joy was enough for the young woman. She was still making enough to support herself and her family, that was all she needed.
Miwa Kasumi was a simple girl. That was all that she was.
A simple girl craves simple things, never will she expect much. Low expectations that get fulfilled easily, sounds like such a dream, doesn’t it?
The night of the reunion approached, Miwa felt nervousness building up in her body as she put on the dress. People she hasn’t seen in ages… she was afraid. How different would everyone be? Who would remain the same?
Those thoughts seemed to scare her. Maybe it was the answers that freaked her out. Who would change for the better and who would change for the worse?
Todo seemed to remain the same. He was still as buff as ever, his scar remained equally noticeable as it was in the past.
Kamo had a different hairstyle. It was chopped a lot shorter, the complete opposite of what he used to have.
Muta Kokichi however, looked different. His hair was let down now, no longer in the high ponytail it used to be in. He had glasses as well. He was unrecognisable from his school days.
“Of course Todo never changed,” Mai scoffed. “Pineapple head. Bet he is still into that idol.”
Miwa seemed to only have her attention on Muta. He seemed so different. What caused his change?
The classmates gathered for a talk. Their respective careers, romantic life, anything that they could talk about. Muta seemed interested in Miwa’s new life as a florist.
Mai and Todo seemed to somewhat clash, as usual. Kamo was more talkative than usual, mentioning how he and his mother were moving to a more luxurious home. Kamo worked hard to provide for his mother and to thank her for all that she helped with in his life.
Momo talked about potentially moving overseas, to America. That was where her father was from and she might be moving back due to family reasons. Mai was talking about how she met a new girl recently, which started up a fight with Todo because he did not believe Mai’s claims of a girl prettier than his idol existing.
It seems as though some things just remained the same. As the reunion ended, everyone parted ways. Promises to meet up and chat again were made, though none knew when it would be.
“Can I drive you home?” Muta asked, standing shyly beside Miwa.
She gladly nodded and accepted his offer, handing her address over. The ride back home was somewhat quiet. Muta wanted a conversation, but he did not know how to start one.
He ended up asking about her flower business and where it was. Miwa gladly gave the location to him. He said that he would visit, only to realise that he did not have much to do at a flower shop. He did not need flowers.
At least he found out that Miwa was single. That was good enough for him.
He had liked her ever since their school days, but never had the courage to ask her out. Now that the opportunity seemed to have risen, he was thinking about taking it. He had feared rejection. He still does.
He ended up dropping Miwa off without asking her on a date. Stupid.
Utterly stupid.
The chance was right in front of him and he just blew it like that. He didn’t even manage to get her damn number.
What was the point in starting a business and selling various different types of puppets when he can’t even man up and have a normal conversation with the girl he liked?
At least he knew where she worked…
A flower shop.
Don't girls like flowers? Since Miwa worked at one, surely she knew what different flowers symbolise right? With that thought in mind, he drove home and turned on his laptop after showering.
He decided to settle on pink lilies. It allegedly symbolises femininity and admiration. He did admire Miwa, so he felt as though it was the perfect flower for him to use.
It was simple. But from his knowledge, Miwa was a simple person. He can give her the more grand things next time, he just wanted to be let in her heart.
Now he just needed to mentally prepare himself to ask out the woman. The one thing that never changed about him was how he’d never ask her out.
The chances of hearing a no haunted him.
It took him at least two weeks to drive in front of her shop, and another week to muster the courage to enter. He was pathetic wasn’t he?
“Muta?” Miwa greeted, a little surprised by his sudden appearance. “What brings you here?”
Muta rubbed the back of his neck, looking around nervously. “Uh I need a flower… bouquet…”
Miwa giggled, “Who’s the lucky one?” She asked. “What flowers do you need?”
Muta went silent. Awkwardness filled the room as nervousness took over him. Why was he like this? All he had to do was just ask her out. A simple task. One which he had procrastinated for years. He was over complicating things.
Stupid.
Stupid.
Stupid.
“Pink lilies,” Muta managed to mutter.
Miwa gladly got to work as she started making the bouquet. It was either now or never. He had to ask her now.
Yet he had the guts of a paper bag. He just simply could not. He had not realised how lucky he was to be granted an opportunity like this. He would be a genuine moron if he just let it go out the window.
When Miwa handed the bouquet over to Muta, he decided that it was now or never. He was as awkward as hell.
“It’s uh… for you… Miwa,” he uttered, barely maintaining his eye contact.
She was confused at first, before eventually getting the hint. “Are you asking me out?” She asked, a hint of excitement that was almost undetectable in her voice.
Muta could only give her a small nod.
And it was set.
A cafe date. On a weekend. Muta would be picking her up. It was going to be on a Saturday afternoon. He was nervous. He hadn’t expected it to go this well.
When the actual date arrived, Muta did his best to style himself in a normal way. His hair was tied up. A large shirt and long pants, with a nice belt. That should be good enough.
When he drove up to Miwa’s apartment to fetch her. He was greeted by a simple, yet breathtaking sight.
Miwa’s blue hair flowed alongside the wind. Her white dress swayed gracefully among the gentle wind. Her light makeup look paired perfectly with her outfit. She carried with her a small shoulder bag.
It was so simple, he loved it with all his heart.
He did everything that a gentleman should do. Held the door, let her sit, paid for the meal despite her saying not to. He did it all.
They decided to go for a walk. It was a simple stroll recall. The only hard part was trying to hold Miwa’s hand. Their fingers constantly brushed past each other as they walked and made small talk.
Muta could not bring himself to even glance at her. He was too shy. The soft breeze brushed their faces gently. The sunshine resting upon their faces gracefully. It was a peaceful day. Muta’s mind was not peaceful.
“Look at the birds!” Miwa chanted happily as she pointed at some away in a distance.
“Hah… yeah,” Muta responded, looking at what she was pointing at.
Muta decided to take a deep breath. “Miwa…” He began. The smiling girl turned to look at him, making him speechless, once again.
“Look I… I am serious about wanting us to be together… If you know what I mean…” Muta stammered, his hand rubbing the back of his neck as his cheeks heated up.
Miwa nodded, getting the drift. “I’d like the same thing. Let’s take it slow, shall we?”
Muta immediately looked up, his eyes glistening with hope. He had never nodded so quickly in his life before. He was glad that she agreed.
Holding her hand as the date went on. Small steps, one by one. Taking it a day at a time. What could be better than this?