Work Text:
That morning, the sky wasn’t fully blue yet.
The air was still cool, and the sun had just barely risen past the edge of distant buildings.
Suo arrived early that day. For some reason, sitting still in the classroom felt unbearable.
Books were finished. The phone offered nothing new.
Eventually, the feet wandered to a place few ever went — the rooftop of Furin.
The wind up there felt different. Cleaner. Quieter.
And the view — stretched endlessly.
But Suo wasn’t the only one there.
—
At the far end of the rooftop, someone stood holding a long hose.
The sound of water flowing and the scent of wet leaves greeted the morning.
“Eh? Suo?” A familiar, cheerful voice called out.
Umemiya turned around, beaming.
“Ohayoo! What’re you doing here this early?”
Suo lifted a hand slightly. “Morning… just needed some fresh air.”
Umemiya returned to watering the vegetables, neatly arranged in wooden beds.
There were tomatoes, scallions, even a lush patch of basil.
“Do you like veggies?” Umemiya asked, pointing at the garden.
Suo walked over slowly. “They’re okay… but I prefer flowers.”
“Flowers?” Umemiya paused, putting the hose down. “Ohh—the colorful kind? I don’t really know the types.”
Suo leaned down a little, eyes landing on a small white flower pot off to the side.
“This one… baby’s breath?” Fingers gently touched a soft white bloom.
Umemiya blinked. “Seriously? I call that one ‘the cute flower’.”
Suo gave a faint smile. “Its scientific name is Gypsophila. People use it in bouquets.”
“WOAAHH. Are you some kind of botanist?!”
“Nah… just something I like.”
—
A few minutes later, Umemiya sat on a small wooden bench.
Suo quietly took the far end.
They both looked at the sky. No words for a while.
Just soft morning air, leaves rustling in the breeze.
“Sometimes I think,” Umemiya suddenly said, “if everyone had a garden, maybe the world would fight less.”
Suo glanced over. “Why?”
“’Cause… when you grow vegetables, you learn patience. You watch them grow, from tiny to full. It’s like taking care of someone’s feelings.”
Suo fell silent for a moment.
“…like flowers too.”
“Yeah! Exactly!” Umemiya pointed at Suo excitedly, delighted by the agreement.
Suo smiled slightly. “Didn’t expect you to think like that.”
Umemiya scratched the back of the head. “Hehe. I think weird stuff sometimes when I water plants.”
—
The wind blew again, this time carrying the earthy scent of wet tomato leaves.
Suo stood up slowly. “I’ll head back down. Thanks… for the chat.”
Umemiya waved. “Come up anytime! We can plant flowers too if you want!”
Suo gave a small nod before heading toward the rooftop stairs.
But just before disappearing from view, Suo turned back for a moment —
eyes calm, expression soft.
And Umemiya, already back to watering the plants, smiled to no one in particular.
That morning, the rooftop garden wasn’t just full of vegetables —
but also a quiet memory that bloomed like a flower.