Chapter 30: Marigold Revival

As Tsukiko walked into the bustling laboratory, the familiar hum of machines and chatter of her colleagues filled the air. The city's energy felt both comforting and overwhelming after spending so much time in the countryside. 

She had spent weeks out there, knee-deep in the soil, searching for the elusive flower that could be the key to their breakthrough in anti-aging research. Now, with the sample in hand, she had returned, exhausted but triumphant.

The moment she stepped through the glass doors of the lab, her teammates looked up, eyes wide in disbelief.

"Dr. Takamura!" Midori called out, a grin spreading across her face. "You're back!"

In an instant, the entire team gathered around her. There was an excited energy buzzing through the room—more than the usual pre-lunch slump atmosphere she remembered. Tsukiko had been away for longer than expected, and her colleagues had almost given up hope that she'd find the rare flower they needed for their research.

Midori eyed her with a mixture of curiosity and excitement. "Don't tell me…" she began, her voice rising with anticipation. "Did you actually find it?"

Tsukiko smirked, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "Well, I'm back, aren't I?" she teased, pulling a small, carefully wrapped pouch from her bag. She unwrapped it slowly, revealing the delicate flower within—its soft, pale blue petals shimmering faintly under the lab's fluorescent lights.

The room went silent for a heartbeat.

"No way," Reika murmured from the back.

"You did it!" Midori practically screamed, rushing forward to get a better look. Her hands hovered over the flower, reverent but hesitant to touch. "I can't believe it! After all this time… we thought the countryside expedition might be a dead end."

Tsukiko laughed softly, though her heart was still racing from the excitement of finding the flower. "Believe me, I wasn't sure it would be there either. I had to hike through rivers, climb hills, and avoid some angry wildlife to find it. But it was worth it." 

Her mind briefly flashed to Haruki, remembering how he had guided her through some of the toughest parts of that journey, his quiet reassurance never wavering, even when she felt like giving up.

Souta's eyes sparkled with excitement as he gently took the flower from Tsukiko's hand. "This… this could be the key. Boss, we can finally move forward with the serum!"

The rest of the team erupted into cheers, a mix of laughter and disbelief as they gathered around the workstation to examine the flower more closely. Tsukiko felt herself being pulled into hugs and congratulations, her teammates patting her on the back and showering her with praise.

"I have to admit, Dr. Takamura, I wasn't sure you'd come back with it," said Reika, who had been skeptical of the flower's existence from the start. Her grin was sheepish but genuine. "But I'm glad you proved me wrong."

Tsukiko chuckled. "So am I. There were a few moments when I wasn't sure I'd find it either."

"Alright enough with the stories, We've got work to do," Tsukiko reminded the team.

Souta interrupted, "Let's start the analysis on this flower as soon as possible. Boss, you've done the impossible, but now it's our turn to take it to the next level." his tone light but eager.

The team quickly shifted into work mode, excitement still palpable in the air. As Tsukiko moved to her workstation, preparing to help with the next phase of the project, she couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment settling over her. 

The journey had been long, and at times, she had doubted herself. But now, seeing the joy and determination in her colleagues' faces, she knew it had all been worth it.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the city, the studio buzzed with energy as Haruki strolled in, his backpack slung over one shoulder and his camera dangling casually from his hand. The moment he crossed the threshold, all eyes turned to him.

"There he is!" Yumi called out, drawing laughter and cheers from the gathered team.

Ryan, his boss and best friend, leaned against a desk with a broad grin. "Well, well, look who finally decided to show up. Took you long enough, huh? I'm guessing this means we're about to get some good news. So..." He straightened, crossing his arms. "Did you find it? The flower?"

Haruki set his camera down on the table with deliberate nonchalance, humming a tune. "Of course. Who do you think I am?"

Ryan clapped his hands together, laughing. "I knew I could count on you! The client's been breathing down my neck, but now the money's practically in our hands. You've saved the day, Haruki."

Ken chimed in, "Seriously, man. It's been weeks. We thought you got eaten by a tiger or something!"

The room erupted into laughter, and Haruki smirked. "Tigers? Nah. I ran into something more terrifying."

Ryan arched an eyebrow. "Alright, enough stalling. Let's see it already! Show us the pictures. This legendary lunar bloom had better be worth the wait."

Haruki flipped open his camera, scrolling through the memory card at an excruciatingly slow pace. The room fell silent, anticipation thick in the air as everyone leaned closer.

But as the moments dragged on, Ryan's grin started to waver. "Haruki... What's taking so long?" His tone grew suspicious. "Don't tell me you're messing with us."

Haruki hesitated for a beat too long, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. "Ah... about that—"

The entire room froze. "Don't even—" Ryan started.

Haruki scratched the back of his head. "I forgot to take the pictures."

"HAH?!" A collective gasp filled the room, followed by stunned silence.

"You WHAT?" Ryan's voice echoed off the walls, sharp with disbelief.

"Completely slipped my mind," Haruki said with a shrug, as though forgetting to capture the rarest flower in existence was no big deal.

Chaos erupted.

Ryan stared at him, his jaw slack, before his hand clenched into a fist. "You—forgot?! After weeks of trekking out there? After all the money we spent on gear, transport—DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE CLIENT IS GOING TO SAY?"

Haruki backed away, hands raised in defense. "Okay, okay! Calm down! It's not that bad—"

"Not that bad?!" Ryan lunged, swiping at Haruki's shoulder in frustration. "You're dead, Haruki!"

Haruki yelped, dodging another swipe. "Alright, alright! I'll fix it! I swear!"

Ryan pointed at him, seething. "Fix it? FIX IT?! You'd better, or you're personally explaining this to the client!"

Haruki darted toward the door, laughing nervously. "Noted! Bye, boss!"

"GET BACK HERE!" Ryan yelled, but Haruki had already vanished, his laughter echoing down the hallway.

The team dissolved into laughter, shaking their heads.

"Why do we even put up with him?" Yumi asked, smirking as she leaned back in her chair.

Ryan groaned, rubbing his temples. "Enough with the talking. Back to work, people! We've still got deadlines."

Just as everyone started to settle back into their tasks, Haruki popped his head back into the studio, his signature smirk firmly in place. "Oh, by the way," he called out, holding up his camera. "I was joking. The flower's in here. Perfect shots, too. You can thank me later."

Ryan's face turned red. "You WHAT?! You little—!"

Before he could finish, Haruki disappeared again, his laughter echoing in the hall as the studio erupted into chaos once more.