Flower will not grow, if the stem doesn't allow.
~Nayreil
The red roses in front of her were being moody.
"Guys, you need to stop getting so jealous whenever I spend a little time with the Daisies. I know you're still holding a grudge because they beat you in sales last month but I can't ignore them because you're upset." The red-headed woman reprimanded, arms crossed as she looked down at the flowers. Their petals were turned away from her, and their leaves were crossed, mimicking her pose.
The bell above the front door to the shop ran, catching her attention and she spun around.
"Good morning Chiyo-san!" She greeted cheerfully, walking to the front of the store from the greenhouse. There was no need for her to see the older woman to know who it was, the buzz of excitement from the plants gave it away.
"Good morning Hanako-chan." Chiyo replied happily, leaning heavily against her cane.
"What can I get for you today? The plants are eager to see who you'll take home." Hanako smiled, the excitement from the plants palpable.
"That Quirk of yours is perfect for you Hanako-chan, just like your name" Chiyo pointed out, hobbling around the shop.
It was true. Hanako Akimine was born with a Quirk that allowed her to communicate and animate plants. Her mother, having a Quirk that allowed her to see into the near future, appropriately named her Hanako, flower child.
The bell chimed again and Hanako turned around. Her greeting stopped short on her lips when she saw the person standing at the front of her store. They looked like more of a skeleton than a person. A ghostly apparition.
Then she noticed the baggy suit. The dark circles under their eyes. Unmistakably human. Hanako chided herself for being so judgemental simply based on appearance.
"Good morning! Is there anything I can help you find today?" She chirped happily, walking towards the stranger. He jumped a little, as if startled by her appearance and she was taken aback by his eyes. They were solid black, except his pupils which were a shocking blue. The person stayed silent, so she smiled and continued. "Perhaps I can help put together a bouquet for you, for a special someone."
"Oh! Um, I'm sorry. Yes, that would actually be extremely helpful. I'm not familiar with the language of flowers." He, because that voice was too deep to be anything but masculine, said hurriedly and Hanako noticed a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth, though he quickly wiped it away with napkin from his suit pocket.
"Well you've come to the right place! The language of flowers if my first language." Hanako joked cheerfully. "What are you hoping to convey?"
The man went still, eyes closed in concentration as he thought about her question. The red-head took the chance to appraise the man standing in front of her further. He was tall, extremely tall, and that's that he was hunched over. His hair was the same shade of golden as the sun despite his sickly complexion. He was actually pretty attractive. Too bad he was in her shop buying a bouquet of flowers for someone. The flowers around them were buzzing mischievously, they were able to feel her emotions just as she can feel hers.
"Appreciation, regret, sorrow." He listed off and Hanako nodded. Not the kind of bouquet she thought he was going to go for, but an easy one to make regardless.
"I don't mean to pry, but is it for a lost loved one?" She asked tentatively.
"It is." He replied.
"Okay, I'll be right back." She said, mind racing through her options as she walked into the greenhouse. "Purple Hyacinths for sorrow."
The flowers were practically vibrating they were so elated when she ran a tender hand over their petals. Taking the knife she kept in her pocket she gently cut three Hyacinths and gently cradled them in her arms as she continued walking. The plants didn't feel pain the same way humans did, a good things since she was constantly having to cut their stems. Being cut at the stem didn't cause them the slightest discomfort.
"Yellow Zinnias for daily remembrance." Hanako muttered to herself, going through the same routine.
"Lavender Roses for thankfulness."
"And Pink Carnations for 'i'll never forget you'."
Grabbing a wrap, Hanako carefully arranged the flowers and put them in the wrapping with a satisfied smile.
Walking from the greenhouse with the bouquet in her arms, her eyes immediately found the man it was going to. He had an inherent sadness about him. She hadn't noticed it at first because of his ghostly appearance, but it hung over him like a dark cloud. It made sense that he was getting a bouquet for a lost loved one, but it seemed deeper than that. However, she wasn't one to pry.
"I hope it's to you liking." Hanako said, walking up to him and presenting the flowers. He took them into his hands, which were incredibly large, and appraised them. The flowers sang they were so happy.
"It's beautiful, thank you." He said, a sorrowful smile on his face as he gazed down at the array of flowers. "How much do I owe you?"
"I can ring you up at the counter." She said brightly, turning and walking to the small counter in the back corner of the shop. "Alright, that's going to be two-thousand eight-hundred and fifteen yen."
The man placed the flowers gently on the counter to dig for his wallet. With his wallet in hand, a small business card fell out and landed next to the flowers. Curious, Hanako picked it up.
"Toshinori Yagi." She said, reading the name.
"Oh! It must have fallen out of my wallet." The man, Toshinori Yagi, said sheepishly.
"I couldn't help but look, I'm curious by nature, sorry." Hanako apologized, about to hand the card back when she noticed the other writing on it. "Oh, you're a secretary for All Might, how cool!"
"It certainly keeps me busy." He said with a chuckle as she handed the card back and grabbed the money.
"Well, it's nice to meet you Toshinori Yagi-san, I'm Akamine Hanako." She said happily, handing him back his change. Toshinori simply stared at her for a moment before a small smile appeared on his own face.
"It was a pleasure Akamine-san. Thank you." Hanako's eyes followed him as he walked out of the shop.
"He's cute Hanako-chan." Chiyo commented, leaning against the counter, a playful smirk on her withered face. Hanako's cheeks lit up and she put her hands to her face in an attempt to hide it.
"Oh, not you too Chiyo-san. The flowers were teasing the whole time." She groaned.
Hanako always had trouble explaining just how she knew what the plants were saying. It wasn't as if they were actually talking to her, it was more she could feel their emotions, their actions, their personalities. When she animated them, something she was able to do with the touch of her hand, they moved around and acted independently. The animation wore off when she was too far away, the longest distance she's been was two miles.
"It would do you some good to find a spouse, male or female! You spend all your time in this shop." The grandmotherly woman chided, and as if right on time, the door was thrown open and two children bounced in.
"Kaa-chan The two red-headed children cheered as they threw themselves at Hanako's legs. Sadness tugged at her heart, but she painted a smile on her face and picked up the children, one in each arm.
"Hello Ayaka-chan." Hanako said warmly, placing a kiss on the little girl's nose. "And hello Haruka-kun."
She placed a kiss on the little boy's nose as well, causing him to squeal happily.
"Thank you so much Sora-san." Hanako smiled, looking at the person standing in the doorway of the shop. He looked down, not meeting her eyes as a red tint lit up his cheeks.
"Don't worry about it." He muttered softly as Hanako set down the twins who shrieked happily when they saw Chiyo.
"Chiyo-obaasan!" They shouted in unison.
"Really Sora-san, thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you." Hanako stressed with a small smile as she wanted the twins compete for the older ladies attention. Her blonde companion didn't reply though, a red tint still adorned their face.
Hanako and Sora were neighbors and he were her first friend when she moved to Musutafu, toting two toddlers. Since then he was always around to lend a hand when she needed it, whether it be babysitting the twins or watching the shop. His own Quirk gave him the ability to manipulate water, perfect for watering plants.
"Kaa-chan, Kaa-chan!" Ayaka said excitedly, tugging at the bottom of Hanako's skirt.
"Yes, Ayaka-chan?"
"Look at what me and Haru can do!" Hanako watched fondly as the twins put on their serious faces and joined hands. The three adults watched in curiosity for a few minutes before they saw it, well, Hanako saw it. A small thorn fell from Ayaka's hand and hit the floor at the same moment that a small sprout grew from the top of Haruka's head.
Hanako's entire world froze.
"Yanno, I always thought your thorn quirk fit."
"Why is that little sister?"
"Because you're such a prick."
"Oh, how splendid! Their Quirks manifested, seems like plant based Quirks run in your family, huh Hanako-chan?" Chiyo laughed, meanwhile, Hanako was pale as a ghost.
"I'm sorry Chiyo-san, but we'll be closing early today." She managed to get out, the older woman looking up in confusion at Hanako's strange tone.
"Right...A quirk manifesting is cause for celebration after all." She responded cheerfully, laying a comforting hand on Hanako's arm as she walked out. The redhead was still frozen and it wasn't until Haruka and Ayaka tugged on her hands in excitement that she moved.
"We'll see you later Sora-san." Hanako said hurriedly, sweeping the children into her arms and rushing home, barely remembering to lock the shop in her urgency.
"What's wrong, Kaa-chan? Did we do something bad?" Ayaka asked worriedly and Hanako repressed a sigh.
"No sweetheart, I'm just so proud that I can't wait to bake a cake for the both of you once we get home." She lied as the twins cheered.
It wasn't that she was angry or upset. No, she was scared. Petrified.
Plant-based Quirks weren't the rarest things on the planet, but factor in her families brilliant red hair and they made it their trademark. Hanako, her father, her brother, and her brother's wife all had plant-based Quirks and were all pro-heroes. They became known for it, loved for it.
The public adored that they were a family who fought crime together. Though they all had their own hero names, when together, they were called 'The Green Thumbs'. They became a symbol of family, of love, of unity.
However, there were those who knew the effect that destroying such a symbol would cause. So that's what they did. Hanako escaped within an inch of her life, taking her brother's two month old toddlers and fleeing, away from the villains who vowed to eradicate her family.
She had been a fool for thinking her niece and nephew wouldn't manifest plant Quirks. People would talk, not meaning to, maybe something said in passing about a pair of red-haired twins with plant Quirks. They would be tied back to her, a redhead with a plant Quirk and the dots wouldn't be hard to connect.
The flower in Hanako's windowsill was drooping when she arrived home and she sighed.
A/N: I wrote this a few months ago after binge watching BNHA and anyways I have no excuse other than I am in love with All Might and need more content. Goodnight.
