Flowers for the Lady (1)

It had been two days, and Shouichi couldn't shake the heart-wrenching scene from his mind. It was buried deep inside his memory, wired into his thought process. His once cheerful face had turned grim and sombre, drained of energy — like a star in the midnight sky losing its light. 

As for Yoko, she had been trying her best to act naturally, but the tension between the two remained. They couldn't find the right words to say. Only brief exchanges, here and there, and nothing more. Shouichi could no longer look at her the same way again.

The gloomy boy wandered through the busy streets of the Hoshimashi shopping district that evening. The weight of the trauma had begun to ease slightly with time, but his relentless mind remained obsessed with it, constantly processing for logical explanations and solutions.

"I should make up with her…" he mumbled softly to himself.

"I'm sorry, Mum. I couldn't be the man you needed… It's incestuous and disgusting!"

"But I want to be by your side. I made a promise to never leave you, and I intend to keep it." Several thoughts crossed his mind.

"I want to see you smile brightly again. So, I'm ready to face you properly this time!" Shouichi declared, his determination clear as he gathered his resolve. As he looked up, he found himself standing before a small florist's shop. 

The shelves were lined with various types of flowers, their vibrant colours creating a soft, welcoming display. The delicate, fresh scent of the blooms wafted through the air, filling the nearby passageway and easing his troubled thoughts as he took in the peaceful atmosphere.

"Good evening, young man," the shop owner greeted him as she poked her head out, preparing to close for the day. She appeared to be in her sixties, with full grey hair and a calm, kind expression that radiated hospitality.

 "I haven't seen anyone your age in my shop for a while… You look troubled." She observed, her voice shaky but warm.

"Is that so?" Shouichi gave her a weak smile, trying to appear amiable.

"A troubled heart, hmm? If you don't mind me prying," she continued.

 "Granny, your eyes are pretty sharp," Shouichi replied politely.

"It's not about sharp eyes; it's about being observant. So, what brings you here, young man?"

"I'm trying to reconcile with a lady…" he admitted awkwardly, standing still, clutching the bouquet in his hands.

 "A make-up flower, huh? You're quite the romantic. Not many people truly appreciate the novelty of giving flowers," the kind shopkeeper said as she browsed through the shelves.

 "Thank you…" Shouichi muttered softly.

 "How about this?" She handed him a bouquet of beautiful white tulips. Shouichi instinctively lifted them to his nose. They had a faint, clean scent that was refreshing.

"White tulips often signify forgiveness and a new beginning… Is that what you're looking for?"

"Haha, you hit the nail on the head, Granny," he replied with a smile. "I'll take this one, please."

***

With the flowers in hand, Shouichi began his journey home. His heart felt lighter, a sense of relief filling him. He couldn't wait to give them to her and tell her how much he loved her. 

Though he couldn't be the man she wanted, he would still be someone she could rely on. He wanted to be her light, guiding her towards happiness.

"Yes, I'll protect you, always, Yoko-san," the thought echoed in his mind.

"I'll show you how strong my resolve is!" His lips curled into a grin. He had arrived at the front of his house, spotting Yoko's car in the driveway. He assumed she was already home. 

The evening moon hung brightly in the sky, and the starry night was both mesmerizing and beautiful. Shouichi couldn't remember the last time he took the time to appreciate this view, always in front of him, yet never noticed.

"I'm home," he called out, as he did every day.

 "Huh? It's unusually quiet today." He glanced at the clock on his smartphone.

"Yoko-san? Mum? Where are you?" He shouted, looking around the first floor.

"Is she asleep already? It's not even 8:00 PM yet."

As he climbed the stairs, he noticed his mother's door was ajar.

"Yoko…" The bouquet in his hand slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground. Shouichi froze at the horrific sight in front of him — a female figure hanging from the ceiling.

"NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" He screamed, unable to accept the reality. Frantically, he grabbed her legs, trying to push her body up. But it was too late. Her body was cold, a sign that no amount of effort would bring her back.

"WHY?! WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME?!" He shouted, tears streaming down his face. The memory of her flooded his mind — her smile, her kind words, her warmth. 

The essence of Yamamoto Yoko no longer existed in this world.

He cried and cried… until there were no more tears left to shed…

***

Akiyama Suzuki received a sudden phone call about a suicide case involving a woman. She never expected it would lead her straight to Yamamoto's front gate. Seeing the boy she loved sitting motionless by the door, her heart ached, and a scream built within her chest. What kind of hellish purgatory had fallen upon him and his family? Why did his life seem to be filled with one tragedy after another? It felt like fate had condemned him to suffer worse than death itself.

"… Shouichi-kun…" Suzuki softly called out to him. He was sitting with his school uniform on, his graphite-black hair obscuring most of his face, eyes hidden. As he sat with his back turned to her, she couldn't read his expression.

"..." There was no response from him.

 "Umm… Shouichi-kun…" Suzuki said his name slowly, but he didn't react. Only soft sobs escaped him occasionally. Her heart sank at the sight. His entire world seemed shattered, and desperation seeped from every pore. It felt like he had detached himself from this reality, existing only in his own isolated world.

"..." Suzuki figured it wasn't the right time to share what she had discovered—a precious message from the dead: Yoko's suicide note.

Without words, she crouched in front of him, lightly tapping his shoulder. She wanted to convey a silent message: "I'm here for you." Unsure whether he heard her, she could only hope and pray that he might eventually come around.

 This was the most desolate day of her life, and she feared it would be the same for him. The loss of a family member was too much pain to bear.

"Please, at least look at me. I'm here for you!" She prayed with her gestures. But like a lifeless statue, he didn't respond.

Warm, damp tears rushed down her face as she gazed into his vacant eyes. Nothing but her own miserable face reflected back at her.

"My love… I've failed you, haven't I?" Her soft sobs broke into wails, loud and miserable, like a dam breaking under immense pressure. Her crying was raw, without shame, and it echoed through the empty space.

"Huh… Why are you crying, Suzuki-san?" A voice called out, causing her to glance up at Shouichi. Though he had never called her by her first name before, he did so instinctively now. 

His weak attempt at a smile, a curl of his lips, managed to soothe her heart slightly. Even with his brokenness, he still cared enough to comfort her.

The realisation that Shouichi's gesture was meant to console her made her heart ache even more. Overwhelmed by emotion, Suzuki cried harder, her hand resting on his shoulder as her face hung low. Her endless tears fell onto his lap.

"Please… don't cry anymore," he murmured softly.