CHAPTER ONE

Aki seemed to be the only girl who noticed the existence of the boy who took care of the flowers in the school yard.

He had black hair the color of a dark night, and his eyes were as green as a forest's leaves. The way he took care of the flowers fascinated Aki. She never knew that a boy could be soft with things such as flowers.

The rest of the school laughed at him, called him names, and bullied him. They called him the 'green freak', and ignored him altogether. But he did not stop.

One day, Aki made her mind and went to talk to him after school. He was watering some daffodils.

"You really seem to like these flowers…" She said, inspecting his work.

The boy stiffened and his face turned red. "Y-yeah….a-a bit…."

"My name is Aki Izayoi. I sit behind you in science class." Aki said, smiling and introducing herself. "What is your name?"

"S-Shu…M-Moriyama Shu….." He stammered.

"Nice to meet you Shu-kun." Aki said, putting her hand out to shake.

"N-nice too m-meet you too…." Shu mumbled, and shyly put his gloved hand out to shake.

"Likewise." Aki smiled, retreating her hand. "Why do you talk so weird?"

Looking back, Aki would've been embarrassed to ask Shu such a personal question. But her innocent 8 year old self won't know that.

"I-I a-am really s-shy…." Shu mumbled, suddenly finding his hands really interesting. "N-nobody talks t-to me…they only bully m-me. A-aki-chan….you are t-the only different one…."

"What's so special about the flowers? Why do you like them so much?" Aki asked, examining a red rose.

"They can't talk…." Shu answer end, facing the flowers again. "They can't insult me when they open their mouths to speak to me. Besides, they are colorful and lively, not like the world we live in."

'How sad….' Aki thought, almost crying. She made her decision at that moment.

"I can help you!" She cried, looking up at him. He blinked. Once. Twice.

"Really?" Shu asked, surprised.

"Yeah! Even better, we can be friends! Best friends!" Aki said excitedly. "We will plant flowers, a hundred of them! It will be so much fun!"

Shu smiled, a small one, but the way his face brightened and the happy tears that came to his eyes told her he was into the idea.

"I-I would love that…." He mumbled.

It was the day Aki never forgot. The day she meet the boy who would stick by her side no matter what. Shu Moriyama.