Chapter 42: Garden of Us

So, when she stepped out of her house in a light floral dress and soft waves in her hair, she found Haruki leaning casually against his car, dressed in black jeans and a fitted white t-shirt with a denim jacket. 

His slightly long black hair looked even messier than usual, like he had just rolled out of bed—but somehow, it suited him.

Haruki's lips curled into a small smirk as he took her in. "Beautiful as ever," he said, opening the passenger door for her.

Tsukiko blinked, caught off guard, before rolling her eyes to hide the way her cheeks warmed. "Flatterer," she muttered, but the way she averted her gaze only made Haruki's grin widen.

"Not flattery if it's true," he quipped, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Shall we?"

Tsukiko raised a brow, skeptical but intrigued. "So, where are we going?"

Haruki just grinned. "You'll see."

Their first destination was a charming rooftop café overlooking the city. The moment they stepped onto the terrace, Tsukiko gasped at the view—an open sky, a gentle breeze, and a perfect view of the streets below.

"You planned this?" she asked, suspicious.

Haruki rolled his eyes. "I can be romantic too, you know."

They ordered pancakes topped with fresh berries, eggs, and iced coffee. Tsukiko took a bite and groaned. "Okay, I'll admit, this is good."

Haruki smirked. "Told you."

They lingered there, chatting about everything and… sometimes random.

As Tsukiko took another bite of her pancakes, she absently twirled her fork in the syrup and mused, "Did you know there's a flower called forget-me-not?"

Haruki, caught off guard by the sudden trivia, raised a brow. "Oh, the blue one? Isn't that the kind of flower that literally demands people to remember it?"

Tsukiko scoffed, rolling her eyes before lightly kicking his shin under the table. "It's not like that! It symbolizes true love and memories that shouldn't be forgotten. There's even a legend behind it."

Haruki smirked, rubbing his leg dramatically. "Alright, hit me with it."

Leaning forward slightly, Tsukiko lowered her voice as if sharing a long-lost secret. "The story goes that a knight was picking blue flowers for his lover by the river. But his armor was too heavy, and he fell in. As the water carried him away, he threw the flowers to her and shouted, 'Forget me not!'"

Haruki watched her, amused, trying to hide his smile. It wasn't often she got this chatty. Then, deadpan, he asked, "So… he died?"

Tsukiko sighed. "Yes, Haruki. That's not the point."

Haruki burst out laughing, shaking his head. "Damn. Flowers are brutal."

Tsukiko huffed, crossing her arms. "It's romantic, okay? It's about remembrance and devotion."

Haruki's laughter softened, his teasing fading into something quieter. 

His eyes lingered on her for a moment, watching the way the sunlight caught in her hair, the way her lips curved ever so slightly in thought. "Forget-me-nots, huh?" he murmured.

Tsukiko chuckled and took a sip of her coffee. Haruki studied her for a moment longer before asking, "So, what's your favorite flower?"

She tapped her fingers against her glass, thinking. "Hmm… Baby's breath."

Haruki frowned. "That tiny white filler flower?"

Tsukiko shot him an offended look. "Excuse you. It's not just a 'filler flower.' Actually, it does have a bit of history. Baby's breath, Gypsophila—comes from the Greek word 'gypsos,' meaning gypsum, because it thrives in soil rich in calcium sulfate."

Haruki blinked. "You lost me at gypsum."

Tsukiko rolled her eyes. "Basically, it grows in tough conditions, which is why it symbolizes resilience and purity. But the whole 'everlasting love' thing? That actually comes from the Victorian era. Back then, flowers had secret meanings, and baby's breath was often tucked into wedding bouquets to represent true, undying love."

Haruki smirked, teasing, "Ohhhh… we're not in a meeting, are we?"

Tsukiko hesitated, suddenly self-conscious. "Oh. Sorry, I must be boring you. My bad."

Haruki hadn't expected her to take his joke so seriously. Without thinking, he reached out, brushing his fingers under her chin as she tried to distract herself by sipping her tea.

""I'm just messing with you, dear. I love your stories."

Tsukiko's lips parted slightly before she averted her gaze, her voice quieter. "Really?"

Haruki tilted his head, studying her with an amused gleam in his eyes. "Do I look bored to you?"

"…No?" she answered, still uncertain.

Haruki leaned forward, resting his chin on his palm. "Alright, flower expert. What flower suits me?"

Tsukiko took a slow sip of her coffee, eyeing him like he was some rare specimen under a microscope. Then, with a completely straight face, she said, "Cactus."

Haruki nearly choked. "Cactus?!"

Tsukiko nodded, looking far too pleased with herself. "Yup. Prickly, low maintenance, and somehow still alive even when neglected."

Haruki groaned. "I hate that you're right." With a dramatic sigh, he muttered, "Fine. What about you? What kind of flower would you be?"

Tsukiko tilted her head, pretending to think. "Hmm… maybe a cherry blossom?"

Haruki smirked. "That's way too cute for you."

She frowned. "Rude."

He leaned back, grinning. "You give off black rose energy. Like one of those rare, brooding flowers that people can't decide whether to admire or be terrified of."

Tsukiko narrowed her eyes. "…You're just saying that because I smack you a lot."

Haruki didn't even hesitate. "Correct."

She shot him a glare, but he only grinned wider. "And rare. And a little scary."

Tsukiko stared at him for a beat before smacking his arm. "I hate you."

Haruki just laughed. "Admit it, I nailed that one."

Tsukiko huffed, but a tiny smile tugged at her lips. "Whatever. Eat your pancakes, cactus."

As they ate, she suddenly perked up again. "Oh! Did you know that tulips can keep growing even after they're cut?"

Haruki, caught off guard by another flower fact, found himself smiling despite himself. "Really?"

Tsukiko nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah… Even after they're cut and put in a vase, they keep growing toward the light for a few days. That's why tulip arrangements sometimes end up looking a little messy."

Haruki shook his head in amusement, watching her ramble with that same soft expression. "Messy, huh?" he mused. "Sounds kind of nice."

Their conversation carried on as they finished their meal, the easy rhythm of their banter lingering as they set off for their next stop.