A reminder that this is based off of the anime, not the manga.
一
Ameko.
I think my fascination with flowers started when I was around eight years old. My grandmother was the one who taught me to appreciate nature.
"Ameko. Sit outside with me."
I found it odd how she told me to sit with her. The real request was take me outside.
She was a very sickly woman, who stayed inside all day every day upon my mother's request. However, when my mother would leave for work or whatever reason, she would have me help her out of the house and into our small backyard.
At the time, I did not like going outside.
"But, Grandmother…"
She would give me a weak smile that was very hard to say no to. She didn't like being weak. She didn't like it one bit.
"Well, maybe… Just real quick… But, if Mother finds out, I never did anything!"
She would grasp onto my arm and slowly, very slowly sit down on the wooden chair that sat neglected on our porch. I got most of my patience from my father. My mother used to be relatively patient. Not anymore.
Our backyard was pitiful, to say the least. Barren. The grass was faded, practically straw, and the peach tree shoved in the right corner wasn't looking so hot. Mother's old tomato garden was long gone (same with her patience), and all that remained was the square dirt section set out for it.
My grandmother would sit in that chair and observe. And listen. And feel. And after I helped her back into her bed, after she'd drifted off the sleep, I wondered why she wanted to go out there and watch everything die.
"I want to see it while I still can," is all she would say when I asked. Then she would tell me stories.
"When I was much younger, I used to have my own garden on the side of my house. Flowers, flowers mostly. What a treasure."
"Ameko, have you ever watched a hummingbird? Quite an interesting creature."
"Let me tell you about azaleas…"
"My favorite flower is the camellia. Have you ever seen those? Just beautiful, really."
I listened to everything. At first, I listened because it was polite. But then, I listened because I wanted to hear. I wanted to know about azaleas. I wanted to dance in cherry blossom petals. I wanted to listen to the wind, watch the clouds roll by, and study the veins in maple leaves. I wanted to see all of these things, like she had done.
My grandmother died from her illness. It was a day in summer where I put the chime up myself.
We moved from that house, into an apartment. It was me and my mother. No grass. No pitiful peach tree. No backyard. There was nothing, and whenever I asked my mom about it, she didn't care.
"It's not like you ever went into that backyard anyways," she'd snap. She didn't know anything at all.
In the months leading up to my grandmother's death, I had started going outside by myself for her. She'd ask me what it was like today.
"It looks the same," I'd tell her, "I saw a few birds. It was sort of warm, too."
She nodded and told me 'good'. That was her only reply.
On the day of her funeral, I told her what outside was like.
"It's st-still hot… A-and guess what, Grandmother?"
"I saw a hummingbird…"
"Ouch!"
"Ameko, pay attention! That's your third paper cut today."
"S-Sorry."
I look at my hands. I need to focus. I close the book and push it to the side.
"Ah, Haruhi, I've been meaning to ask… How's Ouran? Is it nice?"
"Well... I mean, I can't lie. It is pretty nice."
"Your dad was telling me about the club you're in... What was it called again?"
"O-Oh, that…"
She does that nervous laugh of hers. The smell of incense is filling my nose and lungs. It almost burns.
"Would you mind if I visited? It sounds like fun."
"Fun?"
"Well, you know… I've never really been in a club before…"
I wanted to say, 'I've never really had friends before', but that seemed a bit much. I know she knows by the way she pauses to properly look at me.
"Yeah. You can come. Though, I'll have to warn you."
She picks up the book and slides it into its spot on the shelf.
"Warn me? What for?"
"Well, I mean, it's kind of…"
More nervous laughter.
"Kind of what?"
"Welcome~!"
"Kind of annoying," she whispers to me as I walk in with her. I'm wearing normal clothes as I skipped out on school today.
They probably think I'm homeless.
The room is absolutely gorgeous. So this is what rich people are just used to?
Six extremely attractive boys are in front of me. One of them, with blonde hair and amazing blue eyes, walks up to us.
"Haruhi! Is this a girlfriend of yours? Is this a girlfriend of yours!? Daddy is so—"
"Please stop, Senpai."
I can't help but laugh a little. Friends must be so nice. Though, I'm assuming they're friends.
"Nice to meet you. Kamisaka Ameko. I'm a childhood friend of Haruhi's."
He firmly shakes my hand, actual tears streaming down his face. It makes me jump.
"It is my absolute pleasure to meet a girlfriend of Haruhi. Suoh Tamaki, King, Haruhi's father. Address me as King, please."
I give Haruhi a look, and she just nods. She's painfully used to it.
"Come, come, meet everyone."
He coaxes me over to the rest of the group. Haruhi leaves to make tea, but I don't want her to leave. This is a host club. I mean, Ranka-san told me it was something like that, but it's not like I've ever been around hosts before. More importantly, these are rich hosts. It doesn't even matter that we're relatively the same age. I'm starting to panic.
Suoh-san introduces everyone.
"This is Otori Kyoya, vice president!"
He politely bows. Black hair, seemingly black eyes framed by glasses, clipboard in one hand, pen in the other. Overall intimidating. Overall frightening.
"The upperclassmen, Haninozuka Mitsukuni and Morinozuka Takashi. Or, Honey-senpai and Mori-senpai. "
He's a third year!? I think, staring at the extremely short blonde boy clutching a stuffed rabbit. The other is extremely tall, and I find it an odd 's solemn looking. Blank expression. Nice enough. I smile as soon as Honey-senpai does. It's pretty cute, honestly. Though, I also don't want to leave bad impressions on them.
"And these are the Hitachiin twins, Hikaru and Kaoru."
Huh?
I feel like I've seen one of them before. But which one?
Mm, whatever. It's probably my imagination.
"Hello, Haruhi's friend!" they say in perfect unison. They shake my hands until I'm dizzy.
"I'm Hikaru!"
"I'm Kaoru!"
I nod, my eyes moving to and from each face.
There-is-literally-no-difference-at-all-whatsoever-in-their-faces.
"Ameko."
Mental note: Hikaru has a deeper voice, and his part is to the left. It would be extremely offensive if I got them mixed up, but I don't know if I'll be good enough to remember.
Hikaru.
That's her.
That's definitely her.
I watch her carefully sip her tea as the Boss rambles on. I like how she's clearly not listening.
"She sure does seem interested in the Boss's stories, huh?" Kaoru says, staring at both of them.
"That must be sarcasm..." I mumble, my face becoming surprisingly hot. I get up from my chair. Kaoru quickly follows behind.
"Why are you being weird?" he whispers while grabbing my arm and looking around. I sigh. It was a few weeks ago when it happened.
Basically, it started out like this:
"We're out of instant coffee!" Tamaki moaned. Everyone naturally looked at Haruhi.
"I'm busy today. I have to study for that test in history. I don't have time to go get coffee; do it yourself!" she snapped, breaking her pencil.
She's been in a bad mood for the past week. It's actually kind of scary.
"We'll go get it!" Kaoru piped in.
It's odd, but I've been exhausted lately. I don't have my normal devilish glow even now.
Alone time, I thought, that's what I need. Sorry, Kaoru.
"You know, I can just go get it. By myself, y'know."
Everyone, Kaoru especially, gave me a look like I said the most ridiculous and stupidest thing ever.
"I mean... if that's fine...?"
"Yeah... Sure," Tamaki said, hesitantly. He's clearly surprised. Kaoru looked at me like he was a little hurt, but then told me to try and not space out or anything.
I wasn't going to. She was, actually. And if anything, it was actually energizing that I could be on my own for once.
And then, that's when it happened.
When I met her.
I didn't care in the beginning. It was just another person not paying attention. It was just another person bumping into another person, dropping their things. It was just another small, meaningless moment like that, that one would forget in ten minutes after it happened.
But then, I strangely began to wonder.
Why does someone need that many gardening books?
Then, I started to wonder more. And more. And more. But it was different.
Why does she like gardening? Does she even like it? Were those even for her? Do gardeners normally have long hair like that? Does she tie it up? Does it get hot?
It wasn't even about the books anymore.
I started wondering about this girl too much. It started to piss me off, quite frankly, but I never told anyone, not even Kaoru.
But now she's here in front of me, and worst of all, she's Haruhi's childhood friend. How am I supposed to deal with all of this?
Lilliko here. Thank you for reading the first chapter of my first fanfiction on this site. It means a lot!
