She notices him the first time he comes through her family's flower shop. It would be hard not to, since he has a huge mob of hair atop his head, and, well, the florist doesn't usually have many customers in a day.
She puts the practiced customary smile and greets her first customer of the day.
"Can I help you?"
The man looks relieved and grateful, like most men who step into the shop. Unlike them though, he does not look flustered. He's smiling brightly, though it is mostly out of politeness, since she could see it doesn't reach his eyes.
"I'm looking for some pink azaleas, feverfews and yellow tulips."
She nods, hiding her astonishment that a guy would ask for flowers that aren't roses. And these aren't flowers that even a normal woman might know. If his orders are so precise…
"It's for a girl, isn't it?" Curiosity gets the better of her, and the question slips out of her lips before she knows it. She kicks herself mentally for asking the obvious, then berates herself again when she might not get the answer her mind wants.
The customer looks distracted, and seems to have been jolted to reality by her sudden question.
"Ah… yeah."
She doesn't pursue, since it is not her right, and the man looks somewhere between uncomfortable and sorrowful. She cuts the flowers cleanly, arranges and ties them neatly, then wraps the bunch into a pretty bouquet.
When she looks up from her finished job, she sees the man fingering his wallet, probably at a picture of the girl who is about to receive the bouquet. She calls to him.
"Sir? Your bouquet's done."
He smiles, and comes forward to pay for it. She thinks it would look nicer if his pretty brown eyes actually smiled, but emotions are a very strong thing. Love can screw, pretty much, anyone up.
He pays up, and she passes the bouquet to him. A thrilling jolt shoots through her arm, as their hands make contact, and she withdraws her hand a little too quickly. Fortunately, the bouquet is already safely in his arms.
"Sorry," he apologizes, even though there is no need for it.
She raises a hand and shakes her head.
"It's all right," she tells him with a smile. "I must have had too much static electricity stored from being in here for a while. Air conditioning tends to do that. I think."
His smile evolves into a grin, and she sees his eyes lights up a little more than a little while ago, when his eyes are nearly devoid of emotion. This time, it is her heart that gives a jolt.
He gestures to the bouquet and waves.
"Thanks for the bouquet…" She sees him squint to read her name tag. "… Takenouchi-san. You've been a great help."
She bows gratefully.
"Thank you for patronizing."
She wonders if she'll ever see him again, as she watches him exit, and chastises herself when she catches herself thinking that way.
Cue: Pity
A/N: This piece is an impulse piece that came out of nowhere, so I'm not sure whether it feels a little rushed. I think it'll be continued, because my head has more stories that seem to continue from here, so, for now, enjoy!
Reviews will be sweet 3