Work Text:
Sayo, Imanotsurugi, and Midare are seated at a picnic table. It’s lunchtime, and some of the other children from their third grade class have already finished eating and run around on the playground.
Midare and Imanotsurugi are engaged in conversation, and though Sayo silently eats his lunch he still pays attention, nodding his head and sometimes adding his own comments. The two are fun to be around, even though they’re loud and energetic, they don’t mind the pace that Sayo himself runs at.
Perhaps it’s the influence of his two brothers, Souza’s in his second year of high school, and Kousetsu has just started college. He’s a little more mature than the other kids, but a little awkward too.
Midare’s talking about Urashima, a boy that’s recently transferred into the class next door. Sayo can’t tell if he’s complaining or complimenting the boy, his hands moving fast to keep up with his expressive way of speaking.
“He gave me a flower,” Midare says, it’s tucked behind one of his ears, “and said he wants to be friends.”
“He’s nice!” Imanotsurugi interjects, “I played soccer with him at the park yesterday.”
Midare frowns, “I think I’ll have to say no, I don’t like getting muddy when I play.”
“Since when? We made sand castles just last week, and you thought it was funny how much dirt we got all over.”
Midare huffs, “That was last week, and this is this week. I’m more soph- sophisticated now.”
Neither Sayo nor Imanotsurugi know what sophisticated means, and Midare possibly doesn’t know either. He still thinks it’s spelled sofistakated .
Third graders seem to have their own fair share of concerns, Sayo thinks. He also thinks that Midare should just go ahead and be friends with Urashima, especially since he likes the flower so much.
He says this, “Flowers are a nice present, aren’t they?”
“Mhmm!” Midare cups the sides of his face with his hands, “They’re pretty, I like giving them to Ichi-nii.”
He takes the flower out of his hair and twirls it around between his fingers, “I guess Urashima has good taste. We can be friends.”
Midare runs off to join his brothers after school, and Imanotsurugi walks home with Sayo. He skips as he walks, humming a tune he’s making up on the spot.
“If I gave my brothers flowers, would they like them?” Sayo finally asks, he’s been debating it the entire day.
Imanotsurugi hops once, and then faces Sayo, a grin on his face, “Of course they would! I wanna get some for my brothers too.”
He checks his backpack, but there’s nothing other than his schoolwork, some pieces of candy, and rubber ball. He hands a candy over to Sayo, who thanks him.
“Oh, hmm...I guess I used up all my allowance already.” He frowns a little, “I’ll have to get some next time.”
Sayo nods his head, he has some change on him. How much can two flowers cost anyway?
Imanotsurugi reaches his house first, Sayo’s is still quite a ways down.
“See you tomorrow!” He keeps waving until Sayo is nearly out of sight, and Sayo himself turns around every few paces to wave back.
Sayo walks past the Kunihiro bakery, he’s tempted to stop inside. It smells good, the scent of fresh baked bread and cakes. Souza really likes their cheesecake, and sometimes brings exactly three slices home to share. Sayo considers it for a second, he could buy some and surprise Souza this time instead. He thinks about the way Souza would smile, and Kousetsu also, and it makes him feel all light, and warm all the way down to his toes.
But then he remembers how much change he has and decides against it. It’ll be just flowers for today, he’ll save up for cake another time.
The Kanesada flower shop is right next to it, and some bouquets are placed in baskets outside. He looks at them, but he doesn’t really think he wants to give roses to his brothers. Some kind of flower with a more gentle feeling, just like his brothers.
He enters the shop, and a little bell chimes.
Kasen’s minding the counter, though he’s got his school textbook out in front of him. He frowns, he doesn’t really like math, he’d rather be given double the amount of literature homework than tangle with numbers. He looks up when he hears the bell ding and the door open, but sees no one.
That’s a little scary. He’s not exactly the most strongest of heart either, and grabs the broom behind him protectively, scanning the shop.
He finally finds Sayo, he’s quite short, even for an eight year old and some of the stands rise up quite past his head.
He narrows his eyes, trying to remember where he’s seen the boy before. And then it hits him, Souza Samonji’s younger brother. Souza’s in his class, and usually maintains an aloof, disinterested attitude towards most things. That doesn’t ever stop him from gushing about his younger brother, or sharing all the pictures of him on his phone. Kasen isn’t sure who’s more of a doting older brother between Souza and Ichigo.
It kind of makes him wish his own younger cousin were a bit cuter. Izuminokami’s nothing but a brat.
“Can I help you?” Kasen crouches down next to Sayo, and tries not to startle him.
Sayo nods his head, “I want to buy flowers for my brothers.”
Kasen smiles, “You’re Souza’s brother, right? Did you want help picking something out?”
Sayo nods his head again, and then points to a pale pink flower, “I think he’d like this one.”
“Ah, that’s a peony.” Kasen picks one out, “It’s pretty, isn’t it?”
Sayo nods his head, and takes the flower from Kasen. He looks at it and gives a small smile, Souza will definitely like it.
“I need one more flower,” Sayo turns around in a slow circle, but there are so many flowers he feels a little overwhelmed.
“Hmm…” Kasen thinks, realizing Sayo’s confusion, “Is there anything you have in mind? A color?”
He decides to add in, “Sayo, did you know that flowers have meanings? Maybe you can describe your brother, and we can pick out a flower that suits him.”
If there’s anything that Kasen enjoys, it’s symbolism. The poetry that he writes into his journal is full of not only metaphor, but also flower language.
Sayo’s eyes go a little wide, he didn’t know about that. “Th-that sounds cool…”
“Right?” Kasen smiles, liking Sayo’s reaction. The kid is cute, he can understand why Souza is such a doting brother.
“My brother…” Sayo starts to describe Kousetsu, “He’s a little quiet, but when he talks, he says nice things. He cares a lot about others…”
Kasen nods his head, his smile spreading wider. He stands up straight again and walks over to a different row, Sayo following after him.
“What do you think of these? They’re pansies, they mean thoughtful and caring. That sounds like your brother, doesn’t it?”
Sayo nods, his small smile growing.
Kasen takes a few of the blue pansies after Sayo asks, and then heads back up to the counter.
He wraps the flowers up with pastel paper and a small ribbon, letting Sayo choose the colors of everything. He seems excited about this, and it makes Kasen appreciate the family business all the much more.
Kasen doesn’t want to make Sayo pay, he’s just a kid, after all. But Sayo places his change down on the counter, and seems to stand just a little taller in his shoes. He feels like a big kid, and Kasen decides it’s alright.
He thanks Kasen, and leaves the shop with a small spring in his step.
His brothers aren’t back yet when he reaches home, but it’s alright. He pulls out his house key and enters their apartment. It’s quiet right now, but it usually is. He doesn’t mind it, it’s a comfortable kind of silence. He lays the two small bouquets on his bed. Souza gets home before Kousetsu does, and he wants to wait until they’re both home. He then goes to find himself an after school snack.
Just as he’s washed and put away his plate and mug, Souza gets back. Sayo goes to the front door to welcome him back, and gets scooped up into a hug, “I’m home!”
Sayo smiles, “Welcome back.”
The smile makes Souza’s heart entirely melt, and he squeezes Sayo tighter against his chest, “Ahhh, I’m not tired anymore.”
Sayo works on his homework as he waits for Kousetsu to get back, today his classes finish an hour later than usual. It doesn’t take long for Sayo to be done with his work. After that, he sits with Souza, and the two talk about their respective days.
Before Sayo can finish recounting the events during lunch break, the front door swings open. Sayo hops off the couch, and is given the same treatment as earlier, squeezing hug and all.
“Um,” Sayo says, “I have something for you.”
He has his two brothers wait by the sofa, and dashes to his room. He picks the two bouquets off his bed, and then walks back into the main room, hiding them behind his back.
“I thought...I thought you’d like these.” He hands each brother their bouquet.
“You’re both busy with school and work, and you look tired sometimes.” Sayo looks at the ground, he wishes he were a little better with words, “Flowers are nice, I thought they’d make you happy.”
He finally looks back at his brothers, Kousetsu’s eyes have watered, and Souza daintily wipes a tear off his cheek.
“Come over here,” Souza says, and pulls Sayo into another hug.
Kousetsu wraps an arm around the two of them, and Sayo smiles. Flowers are nice, but he thinks his brothers are even nicer.