Blue petals fell gently, one shaky hand clutched tightly to her heaving chest. Did she regret not telling Sayo about this?
"Tsk, how silly." Kasumi tried in vain to steady her breath "There's no way she will accept my feelings-"
"Toyama-san, what are you doing?" The guitarist quietly entered the student council room, questioning her own vision when she saw blue flower petals scattering all over the table.
"Wait, petals. Are you having Hanahaki?"
Sayo was worry about her, Kasumi could see that. And probably panicked too, since Hanahaki was no joke afterall. The older girl reached her hand out, and Kasumi absentmindedly snuggled into the warmth of that soft palm.
"Sayo-senpai sure knows a lot." She tried to force out smile, to ease the pain, to hide the cause of this disease. But she failed eventually, as more coughing fit came, the petals then turned to turquoise color.
"Toyama-san." Sayo held the brunette close, gently pat her back, "You have to do it. Tell that person."
"I... can... just get some surgery. She won't never like me back afterall."
"How can anyone not like you? You are such-"
"I like you-" a small hesitant "I have fallen for you, Sayo-senpai. Too slowly that I couldn't realize it myself."
Maybe because Kasumi was in a daze. She could blame the disease later. Her eyes blurred themselves, but still clear enough to see the amount of red on her senpai's face. Her next move didn't help wash away that color at all. The brunette burried her face into Sayo's neck, nearly toppled both of them while doing so.
"I love you, I love you" Kasumi's voice was muffled by the falling petals, and Sayo could feel hot tears streaming down, wetting her collar "I don't know why I love you so much. I don't know why it hurts so bad whenever I see someone else near you that isn't me."
Kasumi lifted her face up, a painful smile never ceased to leave her lips. Maybe if they hadn't spent that much time together, things wouldn't have been like this. Maybe if Sayo hadn't always been that strict yet kind at the same time, Kasumi wouldn't have coughed up flowers by then.
"Toyama-san." Sayo had been quiet for too long, but before she could come up with anything else, the other stopped her.
"Don't, I know you're gonna reject me. Sorry for putting you in this, I'm going to talk with my mom about the surg-"
And, before Kasumi could finish her line, a soft hold to her jaw tilted her face. A pair of minty eyes, full with determination, bored into her own purple one.
"Toyama-san, you didn't let me finish my words." A stern voice sent chills down the younger's spines "Let me cure your disease."
"Eh- mmmm"
Soft lips met each other. It lasted for one second, two seconds. Kasumi tried to push away, but Sayo dived back in, for three seconds. No effort was made after, the older girl made sure her partner melt into that sweet new sensation. They parted away eventually, as Kasumi panted heavily, gasping for air.
"Sayo-senpai. You-"
"I love you too. I have always loved you. I... don't just have... enough courage to tell you" Sayo pressed her finger against the place she just tasted. "Now, I would like to kiss you again, if you don't mind."
Sayo's face was still red despite the sudden boldness, Kasumi still couldn't believe what was happening. But they knew, no flowers could ever came between their kisses anymore.