Chapter Text
Nene awoke to the sound of her alarm. Initially, she couldn't determine the exact source of the sound, but quickly realized her phone, the perpetrator of the sound, had fallen off the small table by her bed. It was now on the floor, humming its quiet, insistent rhythm. She stumbled out of bed to stop the alarm.
"Hmm?" She murmured drowsily, despite no one being there with her.
She turned on the screen and stopped the alarm, yet discovered the device was still making noise. She couldn't tell why, and she promptly discovered it was none other than her dear friend, Emu! Her enthusiasm was practically already spilling out of the phone screen, causing a consistent melody of notifications. It seemed like both the alarm and the messages had overlapped, and as she typed in her passcode, her phone screen was flooded with dozens of unread texts and messages.
Jeez! Thirty-one messages alone in the past five minutes!? Some of us don't wake up at the crack of dawn like you, Emu...
With a small bit of concern and a dollop of irritation, Nene quickly scrolled through the various notifications from games, emails from school, and other messages, eventually reaching the overly-dramatic texts from Emu. She felt herself begin to smile as she opened the text conversation. She wasn't sure if she could still face why..
Emu: Nenenenenenene-chan!!
Emu: Are you exci-ci-ci-cited for our little hangout together today!?
*two minutes*
Emu: Nene-chan?
Emu: Are you there?
Emu: Oh wait, are you awake?
*five minutes*
Emu: Nene??
Emu: answer meeeeeee!
Nene found herself childishly laughing at the texts displayed before her, before abruptly stopping herself.
No! I shouldn't be feeling happy like this over some stupid messages..!
Yet as she looked to the screen again, she found a small, warm smile on her face. She imagined Emu sitting in her excessively-pink bedroom, kicking her feet and typing on her phone. She was probably already ready for later, despite them not intending to meet for a few more hours. Nene half-pouted down toward the screen. She'd be wearing that adorable pink scarf again, while wearing the same bright smile she'd come to know a little too well. That outgoing, lively smile, and the warm look in her eyes. The look that made her heart race...
"No." Nene said. The deny fell out before she could stop it but at the same she wasn't sure why she was talking aloud anyways. She shook her head a few times.
But still...
Nene wondered to herself if there was ever a chance, that maybe, just maybe Emu had a similar view to her. What if Emu had been possibly feeling the same way she'd been feeling, or if she'd noticed how happily.. -no- ..stupidly Nene had been acting around her recently..? Maybe they were just two sides of the same coin, yet at the same time, you can't always find a lucky clover. Besides, Emu probably would've voiced herself aloud by this point if she felt the way Nene so desperately longed her to. It would never happen, there'd be no way that Emu, of all people, could feel like that toward her...
Nene, the sharp-tongued, nomadic girl, had fallen in love with the Emu Otori, and she still didn't know how to handle it.
'What are you even supposed to do when you love someone?' Was the most reoccurring thought, and maybe the occasional; 'How should I tell them?' or even more so the dreadful; 'Should I tell them?'. It didn't help that she also had to fall in love with a girl, too. There would now be even less of a chance for any reciprocation, since same-gender love was still lesser common than whatever you could deem the normal.
She'd been using her abysmally low chances of returned feelings to try and discourage her stupid self, but despite this, it didn't do much to help. She'd still find herself daydreaming like an idiot about whether or not Emu would sneak over to Kamiyama that day, or if they'd be able to go to the mall together again sometime, or just simply thinking about her. She wanted to stay by her side, to be with her in her highs and lows. To hold her hand on a stormy night, or to study for exams together. To share parfaits again, or to walk her home. She kept thinking about a future out of her reach, a future where they could be together, a future where-
She cut off the thought.
I shouldn't be feeling this way, I can't be.
Nene didn't mean for these feelings to happen, nobody in her situation did. She wasn't even sure what started it in the first place, or how she didn't realize sooner..! She hadn't even noticed the way she'd fret about her appearance before going out with her and the rest of their troupe, or the way she'd sometimes lonesomely think back to the time they'd spent together, or even the way that the brightly-coloured birthday card was still pinned on her wall. Emu was just so lovable and cute and everything about her was-...
..It was beautiful.
Yet none of it could never happen, Nene herself felt that Emu couldn't know, she couldn't ever know about these stupid feelings. She already knew that the ratio of telling her and it succeeding in the preferred way, or straining their current relationship and crashing it all, was very unbalanced. It was infuriating, she knew it too, but...
"Ugh, Why can't this stupid problem-" Nene paused and considered her wording, even though it was just to herself, "-feeling-issue-thing just sort itself out already..?!" She ultimately pouted. She rubbed her eyes and sighed.
Great, I can't even make sentences even when alone.
She threw the phone across the room, but even in her annoyance, aimed toward the bed to minimize the damage. It landed on one of her pillows before it quickly bouncing back and landing in the middle of the bed. Nene stood there for a minute, letting her emotions cool off. She shouldn't even be feeling irritated or annoyed about this anyway, it was her own fault, at least according to her. Yet, at the same time, it was tiring, and she almost felt like she wished none of it had ever happened. Almost.
She looked back to the device as it stirred on the bed. A new message from Emu appeared, followed by another, followed by another.
Emu: Neeeeeeeeeeneeeeeee!
Emu: ????
Emu: Talk to meeeeeee!!!
Nene let herself smile at the message and suppressed a small laugh at the theatrics of her friend. Emu was still typing out another train when she suddenly stopped, probably seeing Nene's typing bubble appear. Her fingers hovered over the send button for a moment longer than they should have.
Nene: I'm here Emu. Don't panic.
Nene: I thought something bad happened and that you-
Emu: NENE! You're HEREEE!!
The two exchanged a few messages before Nene convinced the girl to let her get ready for the day. This was supposed to be just a regular day-off, but through some stuttered sentences and mumbled words, Nene now had plans with her dear friend, or maybe..
..Perhaps what she wished was more...
Nene walked quietly to the small park Emu wanted to meet at.
The sun blared in the sky overhead, casting a sharp glow over the bushes and planters lining the sidewalk. She could see the leaves of the shrubbery crusted with frost, occasionally crick-cracking off and fluttering onto the concrete. The sidewalks were stained white and it was cold enough to see every breath, but it didn't stop her stride.
Today was going to be a good day, and even if her small little.. issue.. came up, she'd just have to put her acting skills to work, right? She'd been practicing her acting skills particularly more recently, so maybe this could be the time to see the fruits of her labor. Or maybe even she could tell-..
..No, she couldn't place her feelings on her friend like that. What was she even thinking?
She closed off her mind and continued walking down the icy sidewalk. It was going to be a good day, it was going to be a good day, it was going to be a great day.
She curved her hand around the two small circular fruits in her pockets; Oranges.
Her mother had stopped her before she left, and, after finding out she hadn’t eaten anything, insisted she have at least an orange. Nene said she wasn't hungry - mainly due to her nerves, but she wasn't going to tell her mother that - but her mother still demanded she take one. Nene couldn't help but to oblige, since she didn't like to argue with her mother. Before she left though, she snuck an extra one for Emu. She knew Emu preferred strawberries or watermelon, but she often had orange slices packed with her lunch, so Nene knew she at least enjoyed them.
She could imagine the pink-haired girl now, them sitting on the park swings together. Emu would be happily smiling, kicking her legs back and forth like a toddler as she peeled the skin of the orange. The sun would be shining overhead, her hair swaying in the wind and contrasting with the light reflected from the fruit, while a few soft snowflakes fell from the sky. The two would be talking about nothing and everything all at the same time, just spending time together. Her cheeks would be that same gentle pink they always were, and her scarf would be bundled up to her neck like it usually was. Before she realized it, Nene had a smile on her face, a small warm smile.
Oh Emu, why did I have to-.. to- fall in..
She couldn't even say it to herself. She knew the general fact, sure, but she was never able to speak it aloud, or even form it properly in her head at times. Perhaps it was because she still wasn’t sure whether to feel ashamed or embarrassed of her feelings. Maybe both?
She tried to close off her mind as she neared closer to the place Emu wanted them to meet, humming a small melody to herself. Eventually, the familiar, pink bob-cut, entered the view.
She was standing by a lamppost, seemingly calm, but Nene could tell something was off from afar. She had a small, cute smile on her face, and her hair swayed gently in the wind, similar to how it had in Nene's imaginative tangent a moment prior. The sun shone brightly across her, highlighting her beauty for all the world to see. Anybody else would have just seen her like normal, but Nene noticed things closer. Something was different with her and she couldn't tell what.
It was almost strange. Emu normally seemed to be overflowing with energy and enthusiasm, and it wasn't that the girl wasn't happy, she just seemed.. quieter, a little more.. Conscious? Nervous, maybe? With one hand, she was clicking her freshly-painted, pink nails together, and the other hand was held up to the soft, fluffy pink scarf around her neck, twisting a loose thread around her finger. She seemed deep in thought, like she was wondering about something and wondering whether or not she could speak her wonders aloud.
Nene began to slow her pace as she walked closer, a simple blush spreading across her face. She tried to ignore the way her heart ran faster the closer she got to her friend. God, wasn't she just hopeless?
It was then that Emu noticed her walking up to the ice-coated lamp post.
Emu snapped out of her daze upon seeing the green-haired girl walking up to her, shifting back into her usual, bountiful happiness. "Nene-chan!" She yelled a little too loud for Nene's preference, and bolted toward her friend. “Heheheh~!" She laughed and threw herself onto Nene, causing the girl to tense up.
Everything will be completely and totally fine. Everything will be completely fine. Everything will be-..
"H-H-Hey, Emu." Nene was already stumbling through her words, "H-How are y-you?" As she spoke, she sounded more like she was questioning the question itself rather than using it in a conversation. At this rate, she was entirely ready to concuss herself off the nearest wall from sheer embarrassment.
"Hahah! I'm goooooooood~!" Emu still clung to her, and Nene could feeling the girl's hands on her back. They were warm despite the cold weather. Her breath came in soft and warm, while the other's was tenser and more hesitant, as if there were something on her mind, and well, there was;
Just stay in these few more hours, you can do it, you have to do it.
She will never know. She won’t even be able to tell.
Emu loosened her grip and slithered out of her forced, non-consensual hug with bright smile on her face, her strange daze prior completely gone now. Yet something caught Nene's attention as the other began to talk again;
That hug seemed.. longer.. and more ..happy? ..than what she'd deem normal for Emu. Maybe there was a chance that-
Maybe-..
She cut off her own thought and chalked it up to her little.. crush? wasn't that what the Westerners called it?
She turned her attention back to Emu, yet avoided her eyes. She threw her hands into her pockets to prevent them from shaking, clutching the smooth rind of the oranges like a lifeline.
"So... W-where would you like to go first, Emu?"
The two walked through the various streets before them, striking up numerous conversations about school, their next performances, and so on. The leaves were littered with variegation and the bright sun overhead told them that it was around midday. Eventually, Nene and Emu found themselves in front of a small claw machine.
And eventually, Nene found herself repeated pulling for the same plushie over and over again, as Emu watched in anticipation...
They weren't originally even supposed to stop here, but upon seeing the pink-haired girl's face light up at the sight of a specific plush, Nene felt it was right to make a quick stop for her friend. The keyword: Quick.
The small claw hung at the top of the machine as they walked up, practically mocking Nene's claw machine skills before she could even put a coin in. Yet, Emu was radiating with excitement beside her.
I would not be playing this if it weren't for her, huh? She really is quite an interesting girl..
She pulled a small coin out of her pocket and gave it to Emu to put it in. The girl flashed a bright, heart-racing smile at Nene, before cur-plunking the hundred yen into the machine. The machine made a strange whirring noise, before giving them the ability to move the large metal claw at the top.
The plushie was a small, pink squirrel. From the outside of the machine, Nene could see that it seemed to be very soft and limb, which would make her claw machine attempts that much more difficult. It had excessive fluffing in the innards of its ears, as well as its tail, and it looked like it was the kind of plushie that would cover your clothes in loose fluff. The pink colour was rather light and pale, and not obnoxious like the texture, which gave it a very personal and warm feeling. It seemed perfect for Emu, like the kind of plush she'd bring to events for good luck, or hug during a bad thunderstorm.
Nene began to drag the claw across the machine, flinching at the squealing sound it made as she did so. She forced herself to look away from Emu's smiling, adorable face, and back to what she was doing.
"You're doing so good Nene-chan!" Emu cried out as she lulled the grapple across the plush-filled box. Nene thought otherwise to this statement, in fact, she'd barely even done anything yet, but wasn't going to bring Emu's happiness down. She simply huffed a reply and returned her focus to the claw.
"D-Do you want to press the button?" Nene gently asked.
"Really!?, Okay~!"
Emu threw a hand down on the bright red button and the two watched the claw lower itself onto the plushies below. It gripped its talons around the squirrels cotton head, but just as the tail was leaving the pile, it slithered its way out of the metallic grasp. "Awwwwwww- we'll get it next try Nene!" Emu tipped her head and performatively leaned onto Nene, causing the green-haired girl to unintentionally tense up again.
Okay, I think I understand the dynamics of this particular machine a bit better now. It should only be a few more tries...
Nene put another hundred yen in the colourful machine while Emu moved behind her, resting her head on the green-haired girl's shoulder. Even without looking, she could tell Emu was on the tips of her toes to reach her collar, and she didn't understand why she would put in so much effort. She could feel the pink-haired girl's soft, warm breathing on her shoulder. Her hands began a mild tremble, and she prayed Emu wouldn't notice. Of course, the girl was seemingly oblivious to it. Seemingly. She seemed too preoccupied on watching the grapple itself.
The plush fell from the claw again and she immediately put another hundred yen in without even thinking. She had to get this plush for her friend. She had to. There was no way she'd let Emu leave without that pink squirrel in her arms..!
The cycle repeated itself over and over. Her nerves seemed to be affecting her performance, making her even worse than she normally was. It also didn't help that Emu still had her head tipped into her shoulder, or that she kept humming that one song Nene loved to hear her sing. She'd consistently pull the claw over too far, or misjudge the angle of the squirrel, her hands at the machine but her mind elsewhere. She blamed it all on herself, half-heartedly believing that she'd probably be doing better if she wasn't so nervous and shaky.
The claw would inch its way across the machine on Nene's command, and stop when she told it to. Every time, she flinched at the slight, sudden screeching noise as she'd move it from wherever the starting position was, and every time, the sound would eventually dwindle out. After that, she or Emu would hit the red, squeaky button labeled 'pull' and the claw would come down. It would frequently drag the plush across the machine instead of actually picking it up, which one could say was almost spiteful on the machine's part.
Upon the seventh attempt, Emu offered a coin, which Nene declined at first. Although, when the eighth time came around and she could see the money she'd brought with her dwindling, she hesitantly took Emu up on the initial offer.
It was the ninth time where she was able to grab the flimsy body of the squirrel, and what a stupid little squirrel it was..! Maybe it was from the way Emu shifted herself off her shoulder to go look at her soon-to-be plush, or the way Nene had dragged it across the machine in the previous attempt, that she was able to grab it. Its small limb body hung in the claws of the machine, and Nene carefully brought it over to the collections box in the corner of the glass container. She felt a sense of relief as she finally, just barely, deposited the plush down the small chute.
She could make out Emu happily yelling something next to her, but didn't entirely hear it as she bent down and grabbed the pink squirrel out of the metal collection tray.
It was exactly as soft as she imagined it, yet lacked the shedding she expected from it, which was convenient. It was sort of flimsy, but it felt warm and almost child-like. She found herself smiling as she held its small limb body, and then offered it out to Emu.
Emu had other plans of course, which involved tackling Nene again and spinning her around against her will. She swung her in a circle, similar to the way in which one might play the game 'Ring around the rosie.’ Eventually she stopped and happily accepted Nene's offer with a laughter and joy that made the green-haired girl's heart race.
"Heheheh~! what should we name him, Nene-chan?"
"That's entirely your choice Emu, it's your plushie." Nene responded as calmly as she could, once again putting her hands in her pockets.
Emu turned around and looked at her with an indecipherable expression on her face. "You don't want to name him with me..?" A performative sadness began to play on her face. She held the plushie up to her face and tried to make it look sad, pressing its plastic eyes down.
Nene could feel a subtle panic rising in her chest. "W-what? Wait- no-I -I'll name -I'll na-" Emu took a step closer, causing Nene to avert her eyes away. "I'll name him with y-you."
Uh oh..
Nene could feel Emu's gaze rested on her. It stayed neutral but it seemed like there was more going on behind her eyes. They glittered with a sort of analyzation unfitting for the moment, and all Nene could wonder was 'Did she figure it out..?'. She stepped backward but Emu just took a step closer to fill the space, leaning in too close to the green-haired girl. Her pink eyes flickered with an emotion she couldn't decipher, but it seemed very significant to the whole moment itself.
It was almost similar to Emu’s daze by the pole in the morning hours. Those eyes, they were almost soft and vulnerable, yet held something interrogating as well, like they were trying to figure out something hidden beneath; Something Nene didn’t want to tell her..
There was a hint of dreariness in there too, like the feeling when you've reached the point where you know it's too late and can't help but smile. Those eyes, they were bright yet dull, soft but heavy, avid yet tepid. It was almost everything Nene could think of at once, and those bright, warm, pink-eyes held so much prosperity that it made her feel like she couldn't breathe anymore. She could taste that sweet strawberry smell against her tongue once more, while Emu seemed to space deeper into her unidentifiable daze. Nene moved her purple eyes as far as she could from her, yet Emu still held the complicated, confusing gaze.
They stood like that for another moment before Emu abruptly shifted back to her normal, bountiful trot. "Hahahah! Yaaaaaaaaaaaay!!" Emu was happily snickering as they walked down the street. Nene's mind was still on the moment prior though. Why had she walked up to her like that? What was she thinking about? Had she noticed Nene's.. behaviour? Although, the other had already moved on from the scene and was elated that they’d be naming the squirrel together.
"So, do you have any cool, silly, sparkly name ideas for him?!"
Fog began to crowd around the edges of the park, fighting a battle with the glowing sun. The December sky had paled over the past few hours, yet the cold only strengthened its grip. Most people were already inside their homes, trying to stay as warm as possible.
The two girls still continued their day however, and were now at a small, familiar park.
The flowers of the boxes ranged from various colours, yet most were beginning to die in the cold weather. While there wasn't much snow yet, the dropping temperatures were problematic and killing them off. Nene analyzed the flowers, taking in their feelings and emotions. Some felt calm and quiet, radiating a subtle confidence only someone near enough could see, while others were loud and outgoing, showcasing their colours and personalities like prized possessions. Each one had something different to offer, something different to show the world, kind of like people.
Nene was hunched next to a planter, admiring the way the carnations twinkled in the dwindling light. She always liked them, they were easy to recognize and in general were very appealing to look at. A particular one caught her eye; it was a small yet bright flower. It was pink, faded on the edges, tucked neatly at the edge of the planter box. It seemed like it was in full bloom, which was very surprising when considering the weather they'd been having recently. The way its petals shone under the masked sun made it seem like it was almost proud of itself, like it was confident and happy, enjoying its life.
It swayed in the gentle breeze, and the movement looked like it was done by the flower itself, like it was truly joyful to be where it was, even with said place being a wilting planter box. There was a whole personality behind the flower, and it reminded her of someone, someone very dear and special to her..
It reminded her of Emu.
Speaking of whom, she could hear Emu humming a happy melody - the one she loved to hear from her, though she'd never admit it aloud - as she searched further through in her own planter box. The pink-haired girl was somewhere behind her, looking through the chrysanthemums again. It'd been the third time already that she'd gone over there, and Nene never failed to notice the way her smile would grow even further as she approached them.
She glanced back toward the aforementioned pink carnation, and then back toward Emu, who was now looking in a mixed planter box. She was focused on something out of view to Nene, while Nene, before she even realized it, was staring at her soft face again. She could feel her face grow hot in personal shame as she noticed what she was doing. Why was she still acting this way?
She turned herself back to the planter again to give her hands something to do, while she slowly tried to calm her racing heart. Actually, racing was an understatement. Her heart was really hammering against her chest like a trapped bird, threatening to break out of her chest.
As she stifled through the flowers once more, a stupid, stupid thought began to form in her head;
Maybe I could give...
..Maybe I could give her a flower?
She considered it, but ultimately pushed the thought away, fearing the gesture may reveal things she didn't want it to. For all she knew, she'd probably start to short-circuit before she could even muster a word..! All because of her dumb feelings! She had to keep it to herself, she had to keep her feelings away from Emu. She wasn't sure what she'd do if she ever let her find out. Emu would probably distance herself, kindly, of course, but just as painful as it would've been any other way. Nene would have to find something in herself to get over her crush and stop her foolishness, but at the same time, she didn't think she'd ever not love that chaotic girl.
While she scanned the next planter box, she heard Emu's humming abruptly stop. The quiet, gentle melody she'd grown to love just suddenly ceased, and its absence was louder than any song ever could've been.
She heard a small gasp from Emu's planter and turned to see her reaching into her aforementioned planter box. Her arm was fully engrossed in vines and tendrils, and her coat was covered in soft, yet dry soil. The small plushie from earlier, now named Aki, sat beside her, looking up at the planter.
She seemed to be reaching for something, something deep within the box.
Nene barely noticed the way a smile formed on her face. She was just so gentle, that Emu. Maybe it was the way she intentionally placed her other hand on the rim of the box, not wanting to squish any flowers, or the way she laughed at the plants that reached her face, but Nene felt her heart pounding in her chest again. Emu's entire head was coated in flowers and petals by the time she paused, made an affirming sound, and began to slink out from the stemming plants.
The green-haired girl left her planter, and walked up to her struggling friend, who was still wriggling her way out of the flower box.
"Are you alright, Emu..?"
"Yep! Just give me a quick little second!"
Nene promptly noticed the squirrel, Aki, had successfully fallen over in the process of Emu's planter box journey. She picked up the plush, feeling its soft fur in her hands, and held it for a moment. She simply held it. She felt the way it moved limply in her hands, and the way it was only able to be swayed with specific force. It already had that smooth, strawberry-bubblegum smell on its fur, the one she sometimes tasted when she was around her favourite pink-haired fool..
It really does remind me of her..
She placed it back down next to the wooden, flower-filled box. Emu stood up off the ground and brushed some of the dust off her sleeves, very obviously hiding something behind her.
"Okay, close your eyes~!"
"Huh? Uhm..Okay..." Nene closed her eyes like she was asked, a little confused and also a little curious.
She could feel some thin and bumpy being slid into one of her small, tied-up pieces of hair in the front of her head, causing her to flinch and slightly pull back. Emu ignored the action and grabbed her hand, and with the other, fidgeted with whatever was now on the left side of her head.
"Heheheheh, open your eyesss!
Nene opened her eyes to find Emu smiling excitedly in front of her, an eager look in her eyes. She brought her hand up to her head and could feel the soft, smooth texture of a flower petal. The ends of the petals reminded her of a frayed, uncut fabric. She took out the supposed flower out of her hair as Emu watched, anticipating her reaction.
"Emu! T-these are my favourite! How did you- ..How did you kn-know..?
The small lisianthus gleamed in falling sun, almost as brightly as the pink-haired girl beside her. The gesture felt so special, so personal, so loving, it made Nene's heart ache once again. It was her favourite flower, the kind she'd loved since she was young. While they weren't normally the most noticeable in a patch of flowers, they had a sort of allure to them she'd never get over, and they really meant something to her. The pink-haired girl didn't seem to understand how close or deep the move was to her and she felt a subtle pain within her chest. She never would know what it meant to her, would she?
"Heheeh! when we first entered the park, it was in the first planter you went up to! I just thought you had a liking to these flowers after that!" Emu was laughing and seemed to be proud of how she picked up on that fact about Nene. Nene was still stunned.
At least she still oblivious, or seemingly oblivious.. and that all of this is just a friendly gesture on her part. That’s all it will ever be to her...
Why do I even let myself feel this way..? She's my friend, she was always just my friend, but my stupid head is making more of her antics than what a friend should make of them..! But... At the same time, I feel like if given the choice between returning back to normal and to keep feeling this way, I'd choose the latter..! It doesn't make any sense, no, but...
Ugh, she's just so sweet! Why does she have to be so sweet?!
The flower was a mostly deep purple, a very calming colour, in her opinion. There was a mild ombre on the flower, as the innards of the petals seemed a little darker than the borders. It had a whole personality behind it, a quiet confidence that reminded Nene of herself in some ways. Maybe that’s why Emu chose it. Maybe the pink-haired girl saw flowers like she did, like they had personalities, like they were individuals. Maybe she'd seen her green-haired friend in this particular flower..
The lisianthus held its small, quiet stance even as a gust of wind blew by. She held it softly in her hands, still, as the moment continued forth. She felt her face beginning to grow hot, and something sharp began to sting her eyes. Her chest ached while her throat went dry, and she knew very well it wasn't from dehydration..
"Ooh, let me put it back in your hair!"
Wait, what?
Nene found herself impulsively taking a step back, but thankfully the other didn't notice and just filled the space between them once again. The girl walked uncomfortably close to the other and lifted her heels of the ground to get a better aim for insertion. Emu bit her tongue as she slid the flower back into Nene's hair, the cold, bumpy texture feeling different against her scalp the second time. Emu then ruffled the flower so that the darkened insides of the petals were visible to an outside perspective.
"There we go!" Emu was beginning to hum the same happy melody she was humming earlier and Nene felt the pain in her chest beginning to recede because of the beautiful sound.
"T-thank you.." She stuttered, still a little taken aback from the whole scene. As Emu turned to catch a butterfly, Nene found herself watching her dumb face again. Her adorable, dumb face. It made her look back to the pink carnation she'd seen earlier.
While it wasn't the loudest or the brightest of the bunch nor Emu's favourite flower, it seemed.. perfect. The way its petals swayed in the gentle wind, the way it seemed to be pure and genuine, the way it seemed to radiate with the same feelings as the humming girl beside her... It was no wonder Nene had noticed it! A soft feeling began to fill the air around her, like she was being wrapped in a cozy blanket of warmth, and this time, Nene didn't try to ignore it.
As Emu was taking a few final pictures of the flowers, Nene found herself walking back to one particular planter box. She carefully picked the carnation from the planter. Its tendrils loosened their grip on the soil and the flower shifted into her hands, its hues glowing in the dimming sun. The earlier fog had mostly surrounded the park, blocking most of the sunlight, and only a select few rays could puncture through the thick, heavy mist. One of said rays fell directly onto the carnation in her hand and she smiled at the sight.
She slipped the small carnation in her pocket, positioning it in a way so that the petals wouldn't get crushed. She knew she wouldn't be able to find the strength to give it to Emu, but maybe she could keep it for herself. Maybe just for a little warmth, or maybe just to make the possibility of them actually being... y'know... a little more tangible.
Nene glanced over to Emu, who now had a bright yellow chrysanthemum in her hair, and the two began to leave the park. They still had one more place left on their agenda.
"Lets go, Emu." She said with a soft smile.
Emu nodded happily and began to jump into more stories, mainly about her 'adventures' at school.
Nene lifted her hand up to the small lisianthus still perched in her hair, and then back down to her pockets, both oranges in one and the carnation gently laid in the other.
She's just so sweet.. and I think I want to tell her someday.. despite my contests against the thought..
...But could it really work out?
Would she ever see me as more than just a friend..?