A/N: Hi! Togashi returning gave me motivation to finish this chapter. Been super busy lately with my new work (that I don't know if I like anymore lol) that I couldn't sit down and finish, but here it is, yay! I hope you like it as much as I do uwu

Disclaimer: HxH is still Togashi's (and he's finally back, yeah!!!)

Note: Ba-dum = sound of a heartbeat


TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCE

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Are We Doing This?

It was just seven o'clock in the morning when Yuhi returned to her room from the shower and fixed herself in front of her mirror. She had dressed appropriately for a day at the hillside in the middle of Spring—a white cotton shirt under a baby blue dress screen-printed with Daisies.

Uncertain at first, since that was the first time she would wear such an outfit beyond an occasion that required it, but determined to up her ensemble selection game primarily because of the mood the weather was bestowing upon her lately. Mind at peace and carefree, like Cherry Blossoms flowing smoothly with the whispers of the wind, sunbathing and basking freely under the clear blue sky.

Time, too, provided her with energy to fix her hair in several tries. Added soft braids to her half ponytail at first, then decided on tying it up in one big ponytail, but ended up letting it loose. She secured one side tucked behind her ear with a hairpin instead to keep it from falling on one side of her face at least, and wore her hair tie on her wrist.

It's not much, right? asking while she checked herself in the mirror. She still looked the same, but a little different, a little nicer.

She smiled when she realized that she was having fun in this process—of dressing up and actually liking what she's putting on for herself. The same intent should have materialized on their first date, but nervousness prevailed at that time—thinking twice of every move—that settling for the most comfortable became top priority. This time, she told herself, she's letting go to do whatever her heart sees fit; to let go of thoughts that bother and degrade, and simply live to exist in the moment.

At eight o'clock, she was wearing white ankle-high socks on her feet and a small brown sling bag over her shoulder.

One last look in the mirror—pat some powder on her cheeks and carefully try on a little of Lykira's gift on her lips—she fixed the Daffodil pendant on the center of her chest and gave herself the warmest of beams.

Ne, Yuhi, her mind echoed serenely as she sprinted down the stairs, kissed her guardian a see you later on the cheek, and quickly slid her feet into her white sneakers, today's gonna be a pretty day!

Everything she set her eyes on was. She strolled along the streets and rode the bus admiring the pastel scenery. Blocks and lines and scribbles seemed to be existing in pink, blue and yellow.

The plants and trees were blooming beautifully; flower petals danced delicately on the ground as the sweet scent of fruit and roses infused the atmosphere. It's refreshing, lovely—just the way Spring always tasted—and Yuhi adored it. She savored the view, the wind's caresses on her skin, and thanked her stars for an enchanting welcome. To decide that this day was destined to be "pretty" was an understatement. It was already more than that.

At around eight-forty, she met Killua at the center of town's bus stop.

He somehow knew that she's in the approaching bus that he had chosen to keep an eye out from several meters away, as Yuhi met his eyes and waved at him from the window before it stopped.

Loud thumps drummed in her chest while exiting the bus, excited for what the day awaits, captivated by his casual boyish charm. Yuhi always thought that Killua dressed like a prince outside of school, or a main character from a rom-com flick, and she never ever got used to it. That morning upon seeing him, she did her best to pretend like she was. He looked endearing in his white high-top sneakers, khaki shorts, white tee and an unbuttoned mint green button-down with messily rolled-up sleeves.

It was refreshing seeing him that morning; heart debuting a tireless marching band that woke her senses completely.

Killua's wide-eyed gaze greeted her with a quick up-and-down stare, his pale face coloring and cheeks lifting for a smile after a lively Good morning!

"The weather's pretty nice today," was his welcoming remark, eyes glued to the sun in Yuhi's while he spoke—not sparing his surroundings even a single glance.

Yuhi nodded cheerily, corners of her lips twinkled into a toothy grin when she remembered how he commented primarily on the weather too when they met on their first date.

They bought pork buns, a carton of apple juice for Yuhi and chocolate milk for Killua, a bottle of water for each, and a paper bag full of chips, biscuits and chocolate bars from the nearest convenience store—as instant breakfast while on the road and picnic snacks to munch on at noon.

They fought over the amount of candy Killua added to their basket, and scrambled racing to the counter to pay. Yuhi won the candy argument. But she wasn't sure if that was a victory worth celebrating, because Killua kept laughing at her tone all the while she emphasized her "ne", and he was faster in laying out cash on the counter. That was two times her loss but she wouldn't bother minding. It was one spark after another and she was loving it.

At nine-ten, they were sprinting back to the bus stop to catch the nine-fifteen ride to Komorebi Flower Garden.

Yuhi could never stop herself from expressing her excitement in occasional tiny squeals and tiny claps when they got on the bus. Killua had to be the one to open her packet of pork bun for her, poke the straw in her carton of apple juice, and shove them gently in her grasp because she was too busy talking and feasting her eyes on the view outside.

She suggested that they take this trip for their second date that Sunday; blooming Daffodils instantly populated her mind when Killua asked what she wanted to do and where she wanted to go. It was the perfect time for a visit to the Tomo-famous flower garden.

Komorebi was located at the hillside close to where the forestry and mountains were, delineated by tall Pine trees facing East that filtered the morning sun's rays touching the gardenwalk. Assorted flowers and landscaping contained it, and it's known to house nurseries and propagation facilities for plants. More than that, it's a gorgeous park with ponds, greenhouses and flower gardens for each majority type.

There, Yuhi first discovered the wonders of Daffodils when Roroturo took her along at six years-old for a ramen shop recreational activity. It was a time after Winter and the flora were still recovering from the cold, but the yellow in that one open garden was already as bright as ever.

Daffodils were one of the first flowers to bloom nearing Spring, and Yuhi fell in love with the metaphor as much as she did with its aesthetic. Since then, she always had. There, she'll keep on falling in love over and again.

She was telling Killua everything she remembered about the place as he asked. He had never been there before, which doubled Yuhi's excitement to come with him and sightsee together.

Guaranteed customer satisfaction, she'd say, and he would snicker sweetly, nod, and remind her to finish the half-eaten pork bun sitting in her hand for more than fifteen minutes already. Then in true Yuhina fashion, she would fall asleep after a hefty amount of talking.

At ten-thirty, Yuhi was flickering her eyes open to the view of rice fields, small huts, a flock of birds soaring the cloudless sky, and goats roaming the vast grassland. It stretched as far as the green and brown mountain range in the background.

Nostalgia whispered that they were near; perhaps about twenty more minutes and they would arrive. Still, she didn't move. She closed her eyes again and remained snuggled against Killua's shoulder, trying not to laugh at how he winced and groaned over the game he's playing on his phone.

The next second she woke, the bus was slowing down into a stop, with the outside packed with people scattered in groups, and stalls that sold flowers and souvenirs lined up toward the entrance to Komorebi.

Ten minutes before eleven, they stepped foot inside the garden—bright, lively and boundless amid the solemn overtone of the earth's hue.

There, welcomed by a variety of plants and flowers painted with the colors of the rainbow, and by a strong yet gentle mix of different floral scents merged with the smell of sun and dew, their eyes and smile glistened along with camera flashes from guests that walked about and took pictures. It felt like a fantasy in there, one which could be found in mystic classics about butterflies, fairies and princesses, set permanently at the highest peak of sunshine.

They gazed at each other's beams as the wind howled a soft, fresh whistle, hems and strands swaying happily with the calming jive of nature's hums.

Yuhi looked around. The vibrant backdrop made her blush, sunlight transforming her eyes into a translucent orange. She gazed back at Killua and her heart galloped as the revitalizing view merged into completion.

"It's even prettier now than when I last went," she zealously said, literally and figuratively, bouncing a little on her toes.

Killua seemed equally enthusiastic, Yuhi could tell. His eyes glistened brightly as they watched the scenery, and back to her, conceding and permitting. Retreating into a small crooked smile, he shrugged, and asked jestingly, "So, Ms. Tour Guide, where do we go first?"

Bridge of her nose crinkled as imaginary blossoms tickled the back of her neck in her suppressed giggles. She was overly excited—tried to quell it a little but failed—that she grinned her widest without caring about how stupid she looked.

She took Killua's hand and marched forward, toward the bridge with an arched roof that housed an ample of crawling Bougainvilleas. Past that would be the gardenwalk to a medley of beguiling plants and attractions, of Cherry Blossoms and Magnolias and Daffodils.

There! Yuhi paused in the middle of the bridge and turned around—her warm smile reaching people passing by as she stepped aside—not letting go of Killua's hand, and squeezing it tight. Sparks continued to fly while she watched him stare at their hands and slowly lift his eyes at her. Buds bloomed—endless blossoms—and flowed gingerly through her veins.

"Here," she said, radiant, "Let's start here, Killua."


It had not been an awkward transition at all.

The past few days leading up to Sunday felt like a walk in the park. It's as though all the worries had voluntarily left Yuhi's body as soon as she left school hand in hand with Killua last Monday.

He had been the sweetest, kindest angel that day. Bashful, a little hesitant, and at most scolding in tone, but he still managed to tell her, about more than five times over, not to worry about anything at all when it's related to him with her. That he remembered saying this to her before, and that she should keep the promise she made to him at that time. At one point, it sounded as though he's telling her off a little too harshly, but really, it was more like he wanted Yuhi to keep that in mind at all times.

Sweet and kind; he tirelessly listened to her apologize, repeatedly explain herself to him, and expound on where it began and how it sprouted a lifeform. He came through with warm, tender smiles and occasional teasing, pumping assurance and soothing comfort back into Yuhi's heart, pulling it out of the abyss it melted into.

Then, the next few days screamed nothing but peace and normality. Lykira still joined the recess and after-school gang. But without any malice hovering like an invisible wall around Yuhi, it became a pleasant and more engaging experience. In those days, she felt incredibly content and carefree, and with the boy who reminded her of serenity in every single one; held her hand and smiled over his shoulder as he led the way home.

—the same boy who sat beside her on a rented, pink plaid picnic mat surrounded by the venus of nature and a hefty amount of sweet snacks.

They were resting under the shade of a Cherry Blossom tree at a park inside Komorebi after touring for almost two hours, lunch served in the form of convenience store snacks they bought that morning; the places they've seen and memories they made so far replayed in a supercut of blithe paradise.

XXx two hours ago xXx

After crossing the bridge of Bougainvilleas, they were welcomed by a breathtakingly massive Wisteria tree in the middle of the main open garden, burrowed a few meters away from the wide crossway they were in; its flowers budding purple, pink and blue as Spring began to burgeon.

A wooden directional signage stood by a metal bench at the center of the intersection. It's labeled with descriptions for when you go straight, left or right. Then along the three major pathways were flowering bushes that bloomed baby blue Hydrangeas and fire-orange Marigolds, which stretched as far as the eyes could see.

It was a beautiful sight.

Yuhi had to pause in her spot and absorb the lovely view in 360 degrees, facial muscles lifting with her toes as she scanned the place with her big bright eyes.

Her low-res camera phone couldn't give it justice, but she took pictures from all directions, heart jumping with her feet. It skydived when Killua's face appeared in the small blurry screen, an ardent smile caught on camera while gazing incandescently at the centerpiece.

He looked achingly pretty—too darn beautiful with the colors of the garden.

For a while, her breath got caught in her throat. For a while, she thought she was in an incredibly lovely dream. So she captured the moment to remember that it was real, and instantly showed it to him.

"Let me take it again with your phone. Yours has a nicer quality!" she beamed with her heart, fire alive and warm in her chest. "So you can show Gon and Alluka too!"

But he had a better idea, he said brightly as he hoisted his phone from his pocket and fiddled with something on the touchscreen. His grin was attractively daunting gazing at Yuhi—the kind that would make anyone stare—and raised his phone above shoulder-level, facing them.

"Let's take it together."

Crazy how euphoric it felt seeing herself in the framed screen next to Killua, filtered with the vibrant colors of Komorebi. Every nerve in her body energized with this new and comfortable feeling.

After a few, Yuhi excitedly led the way to the left side first, hand tight around Killua's who followed merrily behind her.

Their first destination was where the unique plants were at, housed inside small, clean and organized greenhouses. There were about three glass structures nestled at an expanse of an open field, past an archway of crawling Golden Pothos, Heartleaf plants and Ivies. They explored two: of herbs and medicinal plants, and of succulents, and just stood outside of the last greenhouse containing small pots with seedlings yet to sprout, looking over curiously like it was a natal care room for babies at a hospital.

Killua knew of a lot of different plant species, Yuhi reckoned. She interestingly listened to him mutter random information about some as they browsed along, and watched him take pictures of unfamiliar ones to send over to Gon.

"He's addicted to plants," he'd say, grinning and shaking his head while he typed a message to go along with the photo he was sending. "He's like a botanical nerd or something."

Then Yuhi would giggle, remembering how conflicted Gon was when they asked if he wanted to tag along. He wanted to see some cool plants, but he also wanted the two of them to spend some quality time together. The latter won after a staring game of almost a minute with his best friend. And Yuhi still had no idea what that meant.

The trip to the greenhouses was quick. Done after sharing a laughing feat over Yuhi almost tripping on a rock covered in slippery moss. When they returned to the intersection, they headed straight to the right side, which the signage read as: Pink Park and Ivory Garden.

Yuhi avidly hopped along the narrow walkway and looked over her shoulder to flash Killua a smile in every ten-second pause—to give way to the elderly and fellow sightseeing guests—and every single time, he gazed into her eyes and effortlessly, warmly returned it.

They breezed through the concrete pathway until the road narrowed and transformed into rocky steps going down. After about ten, they reached a village-like clearing where Bamboos, Acacia and Maple trees stood, scattered, in perfect symmetry. The ground was brown and dry with patches of green grass, and there were small structures made of old Oak and Pine wood—smelled like it too. Singing birds seemed to have found their homes there. They chirped and hovered from different directions, branch to branch.

To the right were gazebos, a large well covered in green moss and crawling vines, and an abundance of Cherry Blossom trees that covered the sunrays and painted the scenery white and light pink.

To the left was another arching bridge over a wide stream that seemed to be connected to a valley in the mountains. Beyond that was a grassy field that highlighted a huge man-made fountain enclosed in white-painted concrete and shrubs full of Lily-of-the-Valleys. Surrounding it were metal three-seater benches under Magnolia trees. And everywhere they looked, there were white Azaleas, lots of them, and they brought a mix of musky and floral scents to the air—like it was subtly infused with perfume.

They headed towards the bridge first and stopped in the middle, leaning against the railing and looking over to watch clear water flow through the stream and butterflies flock to Forget-Me-Nots planted at the shorelines.

Yuhi took pictures of the scenery from where she stood. And Killua did the honor this time— insisted—of taking her photo for her so that she'd have something to show Yellich and Roroturo. He even moved to the other side of the bridge to capture the picturesque backdrop.

She was hesitant at first, and a little self-conscious of the fact that Killua was looking at her through a lens, but he made her feel comfortable with his flattering remarks and cheeky snickers. He jokingly complained about the quality of Yuhi's camera phone too, making her laugh as he replaced the gadget taking a shot with his.

"You're welcome," was his proud comment when he showed the HD photo he took of her from his phone. It was unnecessary, but he added an overly defensive disclaimer that yes, he'll send it to her, he took that photo for her because her camera was wack, he'll just send it; if she wanted him to delete it, just tell him, but he probably won't, no big deal.

It made Yuhi blush so immensely that she had to cup her hot face and avoid his peripheral view. She was smiling so much that it was embarrassingly hilarious.

At that time, Killua was the one grabbing her hand and leading the way towards the Magnolia garden. His fluffy silver hair faded into the trees' dainty ivory flowers as though he belonged to them. Dreamy, that's what it was; that's what it felt, and Yuhi was certain that she'd fallen in love with him even more as the day progressed.

They took more pictures, and then strolled around admiring the beauty and scent of nature while discussing topics like Biology and Ecology. Yuhi had a lot of random questions she unintentionally blurted out whenever she saw something interesting, and Killua gave his own take on them casually, never forgetting to mention his best friend who's obsessed with plants and flowers, and Whale Island .

The Ivory Garden was perhaps her second favorite spot in Komorebi. The white scenery and green grass felt like a slow-moving fantasy. And Killua completing the breathtaking view with the sea in his eyes gazing into her own felt like a miracle. It's as though she's in a fairytale. One spellbinding sanctuary after another.

At one-twenty, they stopped by the reception desk near the Ivory Garden to rent a picnic mat, and found a spot under a Cherry Blossom tree at the Pink Park to lunch and rest.

xXx current time xXx

Gleeful families with their neon-colored picnic mats and rattan baskets surrounded them on the grassland—children running around chasing kites and bubbles, pets playing catch with newfound friends, butterflies hovering as they danced with the wind.

Killua chewed on a chocolate bar as he moved his gaze from the grass to the sky, eyes squinting with his smile when the sun touched his face. It was already around two o'clock at that time, and the rays' power had peaked into the afternoon.

Yuhi couldn't help but stare as she munched on a box of Chocorobos, forever captivated by the view and reality of fate granting them to exist at the same time and be together. She dusted her fingers off crumbs and flipped her phone open. She must capture this view of Killua surrounded by the earth and the sky, washed with the sun's rays— discreetly. But the shutter sounded as she clicked, alarming her subject of a stolen shot. She laughed at her own failed modus as she straightened up.

"Why? What's that?" Killua was leaning an elbow on the ground facing her to reach when she looked up. He's curious about what made her laugh so much from the random photo she took, completely oblivious that it was of his. He held out his palm.

Yuhi checked the picture before flipping it close. "Nothing!" Her smile was wide and sweet watching him narrow his eyes suspiciously at her. Giggles emanating from her stomach must be tampered with a bite on her tongue and her lower lip.

"Did you take a photo of me looking weird?" he had guessed, leaning back and crossing his arms against his chest, masking a smirk and pretending to be vexed. " Again?"

Yuhi shook her head no, looked at the photo again and blushed cackling when she caught his gaze. Maybe it was sugar-rush from their lunch of chocolate bars and wafers and gummy bears, or maybe the photo looked just as surreal as the view in person, and that made her undoubtedly ecstatic.

"Are you gonna blackmail me with that?"

"Why would I!"

"A-ha! So you did take my picture!"

Killua resigned, shaking his head in disbelief whilst letting out airy snickers from his throat. He grabbed a gummy worm and propped it in his mouth, faking a dubious facade. "I'm gonna let it slide today 'cuz this place you picked is neat," he mused as he shifted in his seat.

"Well, I'm glad you like it!" Yuhi returned her phone to her bag and smiled to herself.

Closing his eyes and lifting his face, Killua inhaled a good amount of fruity air as the wind glided through the grass and strands of their hair.

Yuhi, too, gazed at the sky, and earnestly, she started, "It's really pretty, everywhere I look," whilst feeling her heart race of blissful surrender. At least she could blame the sun for the blush on her cheeks.

"Yeah…" he responded softly, "really pretty."

For the split second she tilted her view, Yuhi met his gaze, and her pulses raced with blissful beats. Killua's blue eyes blazed a solid cerulean with the sun's reflection, like the seabed forming diamonds from the light hitting its surface—bright and beautiful.

She moved to face the other side of the field, her teenage high-strung heart laughable, and propped a Chocorobo in her mouth. She wondered if he knew that a garden full of beautiful flowers amplified with him in it. She hoped he knew that his company brought so much joy and sunshine, washing the blues and dark clouds away. Nay, despite the bad days, he's there to be a pillar of solace, gentle and relentless.

"Have you been to a flower garden before, Killua?" she asked, glancing.

The boy, unconscious of the paper arrows he's been shooting straight at the girl in front of him, paused to think. "Well, me and Gon went to flower fields, if that counts?"

And it's always been like this lately—random, wholesome conversations making up most of their time together.

"Whoa, really!? What do they look like? Like this place?"

"Hmm, imagine being at the top of a hill seeing nothing but grass. Like that. Except it's not grass, it's flowers that you see. And some grass, yeah!"

"They also have them here. Let's go there later! But I'd love to see the flower fields on Whale Island in person, too!"

"That's why we keep saying that you should come with us! You'll love it there if you're into these kinds of places."

"Yeah, I'm still kind of scared to ask Roroturo-san about that, ne..."

"Do you want me to ask him for you? You know he can't resist this face."

"Haha! He just likes youuu and Gon that much, ne!"

"How 'bout you?"

"Hmm?"

But oftentimes, a question or phrase emitted bashfully by either of them enters the scene. Those statements weren't anxiety-triggering, nerve-racking topics, no. They're sweet and easy, just enough to make their hearts beat a little faster. And beginning the previous week, it's mostly Killua who started inquiring about things that made them both blush.

"Have you, um, done this before with someone?"

It was a bit peculiar, Yuhi noticed—him casually asking her to confirm whether she already did or said the same things he was getting from her. But Yuhi had to admit that it's adorable; a cute extra feature Killua had that she never knew existed until just recently. At that time, she secretly smiled watching him ask that question hesitantly, and nodded.

"Oh…" Killua blinked, then he shrugged and chuckled forcibly. "Was it fun?"

Yuhi took a gummy bear and flicked it straight to her mouth. She nodded again. "But this is my first time here on a picnic date eating snacks. Roroturo-san always brought bentos for us to eat inside the service van whenever we went. It's a different kind of fun."

A pause. "Oh. It was with Roroturo-san?"

And for the third time, Yuhi nodded. "Always has been. Well, until today." Yuhi also always noticed how pleased Killua looked whenever she expressed that he's either first or the only person with her in a boat of precious encounters. She knew that remark would make him smile.

And Killua did smile. No, he beamed; he beamed widely at the grass. Then he turned to her with a cheeky look on his face, saying, "Don't tell him, okay? Mito-san might end up with a zillion calls tonight to scold me."

Yuhi had to laugh, from his joke and from the titters tickling the back of her neck. "Why? I thought you said he can't resist that face?"

"That!" Holding a finger up, he sat straight, gazed straight at her, and smiled the smile that always, always made Yuhi fall for him even more. He laughed along. "Except for when it comes to food. He, like, transforms into something else. Don't ever tell him what we had for lunch. Ever."

"Don't worry." And she loved it. She loved how he took note even of those subtle gestures. "It'll be our little secret."

Another thing that she loved was when Killua leaned in a little closer and gazed straight into her eyes—holding it there as though he's memorizing the lines in her irises—and then letting out a small crooked smile, like he's so sure of something universally uncertain. It made her pulses go wild each time it happened, and the thrill was worth it and never ever enough. But he never failed in delivering over and over and over and over.

He did it again at that time, and his stare was longer. It's almost as if he wanted Yuhi to kiss him. And under the shade of a Cherry Blossom tree, her cheeks puffed pink. She truly did want to. She wanted to kiss him. Badly.

"I'd like that," he whispered. And Yuhi was certain that he's gonna do it, go for it, until he stuck a gummy bear on her forehead and threw a laughing feat while pointing at his masterpiece of a jest.

A series of gummy bears and Chocorobos being thrown at each other in pure comic relief had then commenced. It only stopped when Yuhi was gasping for air laughing at the scene of Killua catching each Chocorobo she threw at him with his mouth. She couldn't understand how she found that incredibly funny. But then, who needs reason when you know you're living in a bubble of unadulterated bliss.

They stayed in that area for a couple more minutes, talking, sharing gummy smiles and heartwarming glances, basking in each other's light.

Every second was in slow motion. Every gaze was intentional and purposeful. The orange and blue in their eyes connected like the horizon, perfectly lined and matched in tranquil waters. It's as if they're functioning according to each other's command, in-sync, complementing and natural. And most of all, beautiful. Just like that day.

Yuhi wished their time there would never end so soon. But they only had a couple of hours left before the garden closes at five. She expressed her dismay over that with a sigh while they cleaned up their little picnic set, unintentionally blurting that she hoped to stay with Killua for as long as she could.

It was cheesy and sudden, and Yuhi thought her heart would burst from embarrassment. But Killua's response saved her impulsive mouth. He snickered—sweetly—looked at her like he felt the same, and said as he grasped the folded mat in his arm and held out his free hand for Yuhi to take, "Ja, let's make the most out of today then."


No words could describe how ardently Yuhi felt for Killua over the course of their Komorebi tour, more than ever.

Her heart danced to a symphony of love, feet gliding along lines of a rainbow in the sky. She was in cloud nine, and Killua was there enabling every moment and capturing memories like he, too, was intending to safeguard and nurture what they had. What he had.

He was acting strange, as Yuhi suddenly came to notice when they got back to the main intersection. He was laughing and joking around a lot. He looked at her eyes with twinkles in his smile and held her gaze a little longer than usual. Charm ample and confident and quick-witted, like a little boy ecstatic about playing out in the sun with his favorite person after school, radiant and iridescently natural.

Had he been acting like it since they met that morning, or since the previous week, and it just appeared evident now that her focus had shifted back to the fire in her chest?

He seemed to be on another level of tickling glee, and Yuhi found it strange how different she was seeing him in this light, like a grand mix of contentment and itching anticipation.

She suddenly felt like she was at the edge of her seat while watching a movie, eagerly waiting for scenes to unfold, plot to develop into something magnificently satisfying. And as he paused in the middle of an archway of red roses to pick a flower from the side lane of shrubs, she felt like they're really the main characters of the fairytale that had been playing in her head.

"Here take it," he said, shoving the blue flower to her hand. Its stem housed about seven to eight bud-like sapphire bells which looked like the blue version of a Lily-of-the-Valley.

Yuhi's pulses revelled for a second, as if he's giving it to her for the sole reason her mind was expecting her to think. She took it and circled the stem with her fingers, making the bells bounce adorably. Curious, she looked at him, eyes full of wonder.

"Bluebells," he said, gesturing 'round the ground where an abundance of it were. "Whale Island has tons."

For some inane reason, Yuhi was too stunned to speak. Her brain was taking precious time to process that moment. Strange. So she just blinked and stared at the flower in her hand and repeated, Bluebell… She then gazed at Killua again, wanting to ask why he picked one up and gave it to her.

Blinking and avoiding her eyes, the soonest it caught his, he cleared his throat and muttered, "Can you try to flip one?"

Eh? Yuhi tilted her head, taken aback by this sudden ask. "Flip?"

He nodded, fixing his gaze at the flower and gesturing with his hand how Yuhi should do the flipping. Flip upside down.

"Why?" she asked.

Killua shrugged and blinked, avoiding her gaze in a very confusing way. "Nothing. For science."

"Oh…" Was Yuhi seeing his face color a little? She wasn't sure. It was not that bright in that place because of the thick shade of leaves and flowers hovering above their heads. Still, she did as he asked and plucked a bell, asking him to hold the main stem for her. Then she examined the delicate blossom on her palm. "Won't it break?"

"We'll see." He glanced at her before fixing his eyes again at the single bell on her palm.

Now Yuhi was more interested in knowing if it would tear or not. She took it as a challenge, more than questioning what it meant, and scrutinized it, 360 degrees, inside and out. Then when she's ready, she took a breath, softly clipped the rim of the bell between her forefinger and thumb, and slowly, she pushed the lower part up with her free fingers. Its receptacle was popping up like it was birthing a new plant from its sepal until it sprouted. And then, the Bluebell had somewhat become a whole new flower species.

Amazingly, it did not tear. And a wide grin crept across Yuhi's face. Her sunlit eyes glowed when she looked at Killua.

He caught her gaze immediately with wide eyes, blinking. Then one corner of his lips lifted into a suppressed, delighted smile, eyes turning into half-moons as his colored cheeks crinkled. He looked pleased. He was nodding, looked at the flower then at her again, and took a deep, seemingly relieved breath. "Cool!"

Scenes swirled back as she watched him run a hand against his nape and smile sweetly to himself facing the ground. He looked adorable enough for Yuhi's heart to swell.

"What was that about?" she asked slowly and curiously, trying to catch his gaze.

Killua shook his head. He bit his lower lip in the middle of a beam and lifted his eyes at her. They seemed to twinkle as his cheekbones jutted out from smiling too much. He shook his head again and said that it's nothing. Then he handed her back the main stem. The look he was giving her was charming, hypnotic, then he said, in the most gentle yet excited tone, "Will you keep that for me?"

All the while, Yuhi's internal alarms were sounding off. Sirens cried in her brain as her heart ran laps. Killua was looking way too unreal in that place. More so, he's behaving way too enchanting for her pulses to endure. She watched his face as he stared into her own, and could only respond with a nod when he pulled her by the arm and led the way to her favorite place.

Strange.

It was absolutely, undeniably strange. He's strange. Everything's strange. Surreal yet raw. Gripping yet smooth. It was almost unbelievable how moments were sewed together to form the most perfect fling. And Yuhi's there to witness it all come to life, patiently waiting for how this strange day would unravel a buttery ending she strongly felt it deserved.

Well, okay, she said to herself as she geared her feet to hop forward and overtake him. She looked over her shoulder at him and beamed, dazzling, as they finally approached the gate to her lovely Daffodil Garden, let's make the most out of today, ne!


Entering the Daffodil Garden felt like coming home to a beloved friend's humble abode. Golden heads danced with the wind as though they were waving at Yuhi, welcoming her back to the place where she first fell in love. Their green bodies swayed in impeccable harmony, infusing the air with a rich, vanilla scent—sweet, captivating and unique.

Yuhi's smile was bright from ear to ear, eyes big and blazing yellow. This golden canvass never failed in mesmerizing her every single time she came to see it. And each time, it always felt like the flowers smiled back to her.

She turned to Killua with heightened anticipation, as if to say, with her eyes, Are you seeing this right now? It's beautiful, ne? Do you like it? And when she saw him gaping at the scenery with a wide, genuine smile, and sparkling blue irises reflecting yellow and green, she instantly knew that the answer to all her questions was a yes.

Wind blew the same time she looked back at the garden, caressing her cheeks in tender acceptance, circling into an embrace. It felt nice, a breath of relief, as though they were speaking to her and expressed their gladness, their blessing.

"Ne, Killua," she mused, meeting his eyes; his sanguine gaze blinding amid the powerful afternoon sunlight. "Can we take a picture here together?"

His pleased disposition remained when he responded with a look, locking in Yuhi's gaze like a click of a pen. Then he stopped and stared, for seconds—for a reason Yuhi couldn't decipher what for—then picked his phone up from his pocket with a little struggle on telling which pocket it was housed in, stammering, flushed.

Strange, Yuhi thought again. She scooted a bit closer until she felt the sleeve of his shirt on her arm.

They took only one picture together, with Killua returning the phone in his pocket after staring at their photo for about five more seconds after Yuhi looked up. When she asked why they only took one, he just shrugged and said that it's enough, looks pretty nice already anyway, before clearing his throat and turning away.

Yuhi had no idea how that made sense, but she couldn't help but smile and nod as she stared at the grass by her feet, taking swift time to process Killua's coloring cheeks and his excessive use of the word pretty that day.

"Gotta hand it to ya, ramen girl," he then spoke—in a tone that didn't sound as if he was just flustered—and shot her a look that exuded his casual cheekiness, "this place is pretty."

Yuhi reacted in slow motion upon hearing that word again, and how he smirked before hopping forward with arms crossed behind his head. Reality hit her while watching him walk with the wind along the flock of Daffodils; already a good distance away, yet she had never felt so close to him.

Her heart jolted awake the moment he turned a little over his shoulder to her, as if to say Let's go, or What are you waiting for?, or Let's be together forever from now on. Whatever it might have meant, she ran to him with arms spread wide, giggling of excessive glee, and shoved his shoulder a little too harshly— teasingly—then spirited away, shouting, "Tag, you're it!"

Killua's surprised, wide-eyed gaze followed her as she ran through the field. She met his eyes as she looked back, and felt like the happiest person on the planet. At that moment, time seemed to have slowed down.

Yuhi remembered every movement and every second leading up to Killua bracing for the chase—the way his eyes blinked, the way his fond gaze transformed into the brightest of beams, the subtle sound of his giggle while watching her run, the little nod he responded with before sprinting to her direction.

The rush felt like the cool wind brushing gently yet sharply against her skin. The glee felt like tickles to her sides, making her smile widely and laugh mindlessly.

She tripped on the grass when Killua caught up to her, knees weak as she succumbed to bliss, giggling with arms around her waist as she turned. There she found him laughing as he allowed his back to collapse on the grass beside her. His eyes shined as though they held the world in them. Breathtaking.

He is.

"That was by far the fastest game of tag I've ever played in my life," he teased, sniffing as his grin grew wider and wider, never letting go of the view of the sun.

Yuhi fixed her gaze to where Killua's sight was, holding a palm up for a second to shade her eyes from sudden blinding lights. "I've never even tagged someone while playing tag."

Killua snorted. His giggles were nonstop. "You're kidding, right?"

She chuckled and playfully shook her head.

He snickered.

They laid in silence for a moment, staring at the sky and inhaling the sweet scent of peace and tranquility. Background music played in the form of children's laughter echoing nearby. Yuhi closed her eyes and listened for a while. They must be having a blast, chortling as though they just saw the funniest thing to ever exist.

With lashes flickering up, colors shone in bright blue, green and yellow. Carefully, she shifted her gaze to her right where the sky extended in the eyes of Killua, as though he's waiting on them for a while now. Sparks flew as the birds did, and she could only stare back and swim in the pool of his soft gaze. Her heart galloped gleefully at this scene, brows slowly rising to subtly ask him what's on his mind at that very moment.

He seemed thoughtful—the hesitant type—as if he's about to budge when she looked but held back; the bump on his throat moved as he slowly leaned back.

Yuhi was beginning to memorize bits of Killua's mannerisms in any given situation. That time, it looked as if he wanted to tell her something. So she thought of encouraging him a bit to speak his mind. She lightly brushed her knuckles against the back of his left hand positioned on the grass between them, and gave him a warm, tender smile.

The instant reaction Yuhi got was his fingers flinching. Then he abruptly sat up. Wind blew and swept his hair to one side, revealing the back of his right ear blushing hot pink compared to the paleness of his hand.

Killua being easily flustered was too adorable for her to erase her genuine smile. She sat up too, and was about to lean forward to take a peek at his face when she suddenly felt his hand encapsulating her fingers tight in an awkward yet sweet squeeze. Yuhi held her gasp in, eyes lowering at his grip on her hand on the grass. And then warmth spread across her face, burning fire and gold.

She looked up and found no change in Killua's position. She tried to move her hand to reciprocate his touch, but he kept it in place as he cleared his throat.

"I, uh…" His voice was suddenly small and shy, head turning a little to the left to face her—a little—but decided against it. Instead, he inhaled a significant amount of air. "I've been meaning to tell you something," he mumbled fast. When he finally turned, even just for a second, the blush that had spread wildly across his face stunned her.

Strange.

"Just… listen first, okay?" he checked.

She nodded and said yes.

Killua paused, took another breath and cleared his throat. "I know we already talked about this, but—" still, his voice was timid as he chewed on his words, "I've been thinking about what you said about how you felt about the witch… and me."

Yuhi swallowed and felt her heart beginning to run a race. She nodded in response even though he couldn't see her.

"Well, you know, the truth is, I meant what I said to you, but, um, that was not really what I wanted to say to you at that time."

Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. In every millisecond-pause, her heart drummed faster and deeper. Killua was speaking slowly so her brain was keeping up with processing his words for her to rationalize. But it was all so sudden. One second they were laughing like dorks, the next they were talking about things that made them too nervous to speak. And something about his tone felt thrilling and terrifying. Yuhi felt that she needed to prepare her heart for a bad nuclear explosion—a consequence to her happiness—but she didn't want to think. Her mind was blank and clean.

"Truth is, I've been thinking of, um, telling you this for"—he cleared his throat—"a while now. And uh, it's, like, already overdue, you know? Well, I wouldn't know if you know. Anyway, I should've said this to you sooner, but—" The tense was incredibly obvious in Killua's voice. It was shaky, and the mode was unstable, as though he's singing a ballad off-key.

His struggle to put out words made Yuhi want to tell him that it's okay, that he could take his time if he needed to. But in turn, she, herself, couldn't speak. Her mind blacked out. What remained was a little white hole that contained her sight of him, waiting patiently and eagerly.

Killua shifted in his seat, turning a little more to the left where he could easily take a glimpse of Yuhi. He did, for a second, and his face had never been so red.

Yuhi could feel sweat on his palm when he squeezed her fingers tighter. She held her breath, the drumming sound from her chest felt like a ticking time bomb.

Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum! Ba-dum!

"I don't really…" Killua inhaled deeply, and scoffed in his exhale. Ba-dum! Exasperatedly, he said, "Look, I don't really… I don't like, like you, ramen girl…"

Ba-dum! Ba-dum. Ba-dum… Ba-d—

And then, the time bomb stopped ticking. But there was no explosion—just complete and utter silence. For a second, Yuhi wished that she was looking at Killua's eyes when he said that. But at the same time, she refused to see how truthful those words were. Still, she was void of feeling. Numb. Is this how it's supposed to be?

But then, she looked away. And there it was, the sea overflowing and devouring her entire city. Waves crashed and tsunamis shook her lungs, and it started storming inside. But she remained unmoving.

Killua, on the other hand—who wasn't seeing how she was reacting—wasn't done talking. He cleared his throat for the nth time, catching Yuhi's attention.

She waited as she stared at the grass, her mind blank and garbled.

"I don't just like you…" was what he mumbled next under his breath.

And suddenly, some kind of light shone through. Her eyes grew wide, and she looked at him again, pulses beginning to race in a way that felt illegal after he said that he didn't like her.

There was a pause in the air. And Yuhi wasn't sure if he was looking straight into her eyes after that because it suddenly felt as if she's in a dream—his striking blue eyes, his soft, windswept silver hair, the apples on his cheeks, pigment spreading cutely to his nose and ears. Yuhi wondered what might happen next. But somehow, she's at peace.

It took a while, and Killua was rolling his words behind his lips, fidgeting in his seat, but it was clear as day when he told her, "I'm kinda— No, not kinda. I'm… I'm in love with you, Yuhi. If that wasn't obvious enough."

. . .

The time bomb reached its last second. Air had left the surface in the millisecond interval. And then, an explosion of rainbows and paper hearts commenced, blinding and seeping through. They were unending and tickling.

When it flickered the light in her head open, Yuhi smiled, and it was so delightful her cheeks could burst. Everything, every breath, every strand of hair was crystalline.

She watched as Killua finally turned to face her fully. His face was still hidden behind his forelocks, but the wind had once again helped them catch each other's gazes.

"Are you?" he asked in an earnest whisper.

And Yuhi knew that she shouldn't be laughing when Killua was being adorably shy and serious, but she let it go. She gave him a series of aggressive nods. Then she took his other hand and cupped them safely and warmly under her own. And just like that, she confidently and thoughtlessly— finally—said, "I love you, Killua." It felt like a whole new world for her—a world she could conquer with all that she felt for him. "I love you. I really, really do!"

Killua then finally looked her straight in the eyes, albeit too stunned for words. His lips parted, gearing to speak, but no sound came out. Yuhi smiled and waited for him, resisting the urge to touch his blushed cheeks. He wasn't smiling back, but it looked as if he wanted to. Instead, he blinked, his jaws clenching like he's eating candy, and quickly leaned forward to give Yuhi a swift kiss on the cheek.

Now, she was too stunned to move.

"S-Sorry!" Killua said, nervously louder than his tone from a minute ago.

Yuhi felt that her heart punched her ribcage with all its might, and heat immediately spread to her skin. Rattled, she covered her face with her bag, and did a quick breathing exercise to calm her darn nerves down. Then she slowly moved the bag to cover just half of her face to see him.

Killua looked horrified with what he just did, but he was waiting for her behind that bag.

"It's okay," she mumbled calmly while her pulses hammered like crazy. Yuhi was an absolute nervous wreck at that point, but adrenaline fueled her courage even more. "I don't really mind if you do that, um, o-often."

The look on Killua's face then easily transformed back into panicked zealousness, head turning into a red balloon with how much his face was blushing. It seemed as though he was internally fighting with himself on whether he'd do it again, but he resulted in giving out tiny nods instead, lips pursed and cheeks puffed when he tried to give a smile.

"Okay," he replied, voice still shaky from an earthquake of emotions.

Yuhi did the same and slowly, silently took a deep breath, pulses still hammering loudly as though she just had poison injected straight in her veins and she had no means of stopping it from spreading. But she liked it anyway. She loved it. I love him.

Every movement from then on had been delicate and slow.

Killua was the first to rustle in his seat, doing one long exhale when he looked away and then giving Yuhi the warmest of smiles before he returned to lay on the grass beside her. It was a gentle yet exhaustive motion, as though he satisfactorily finished a painstaking 2-hour-long videogame and won first place.

Yuhi laid back down too, flattening her back against the grass like she's ready to sleep after a long productive day. She exhaled deeply then breathed slowly, calmly, as she watched the clouds move beneath the blue sky.

She suddenly felt the exhaustion from one whole day under the sun. It felt like she came from a battlefield that just ended, resting by the shade of a tree that seemed greener, surrounded by daffodils that seemed more energetic and golden, and hand held by the boy who looked even more golden and happier than five minutes ago.

As he serenely looked into her eyes, she thought of how much time had changed them both. And she knew that they would never be the same again.

Maybe this strange day was really meant to be beautiful. And Yuhi was grateful for that. She's grateful for everything. Most especially, she's grateful to Killua for reciprocating her feelings. For hanging out with her. For taking care of her the way he did. And for loving her for the way she was.

The proceeding moments were met with gentleness and warmth. They returned to the main reception area to get small baskets for flower-picking, which was their final activity for the day.

Yuhi's basket was full with colorful, assorted flowers she'd fill their vases with at home and keep in her room. Killua picked a sum too—for Mito, grandma, and a few unique ones for Gon. At the checkout counter, he had them wrapped in paper like bouquets, while Gon's present was wrapped in a small box.

Yuhi had hers all wrapped in one loose bundle. Then she asked for a small box of her own to house in the Bluebells Killua gave her.

He smiled at that gesture and never let go of Yuhi's hand after that.

On the bus going home, Yuhi pulled a stem of bright yellow Daffodil from her bunch and placed it casually inside Killua's paper bag. She smiled at him when he gave her a look of surprise, and said that the flower's for him—to remember this trip by.

"That's the prettiest Daffodil I saw when we were picking flowers," she added, sheepish. She was to say that she thought of him whenever she saw something pretty but was too shy because of a packed bus.

It took Killua a moment, and flushed, still, he took out a small brown box from his bag and handed it to her. "Here," he said in a tone similar to that of when he gave her the Bluebell, then mumbled, "It's for you… for today."

The box was a perfect fit on her palm when it landed there. Staring at it, Yuhi allowed for a few fast heartbeats before she opened it. Then her eyes sparkled wide. The box contained flower petals from Magnolia and Cherry Blossom trees.

She asked when and where he got them, and Killua said that he was picking them up earlier when they were at the parks and just kept them in his wide pocket. He had them boxxed when she was in the restroom. "Don't worry, the lady took out the damaged ones."

Yuhi looked at him and beamed. Her chest caved at this picture he painted in her head. He's adorable. "Thank you," she said, and it took some courage, and a 5-second pause, but she managed to add in a shy whisper while looking at anything but his eyes, "I love you."

Yes, he must get used to hearing that from her from that point forward.

Killua's face turned into a tomato in an instant, and bashfully looking away, he struggled with putting the same words out. Yuhi was about to tell him that it's okay if he didn't say it back because he had already told her once. But he beat her to it when he touched her hand and mumbled, "O-Okay," while staring at the flower she gave him. "Me too."

Unintentionally—and she admittedly didn't expect him to say anything back—she gasped so loud it sounded like a hiccup. It was embarrassing, and her cheeks heating up while her pulses raced didn't help in saving her face.

If she was at home and in her room at that time, she would have buried her head in her pillow and screamed her heart out. Instead, what her nerves told her to do was turn the hand he was touching and secure his fingers in a tight interlock. She squeezed it more when she felt her lungs about to jump out of her chest. A hug might be too much in a bus full of people, so she just snuggled closer and leaned her head on his shoulder, hoping he would feel and hear how loud her heart was beating for him.

Outside, the onset of sunset painted the scenery orange and gold. It was ethereal; a paragon of an art, worthy of every person's attention and praise. But Yuhi found her masterpiece behind closed eyes. In the comfort of Killua's presence, there she rested, unbothered, and that was enough to call it a beautiful day.


The sky was bright purple with streaks of pink when they returned to Tomo. They hopped off the stop near the ramen shop and walked in soothing silence.

Twilight Sundays always felt tranquil and nostalgic. The streets were almost empty, and shops closed early to prepare for another bustling week ahead.

Yuhi felt like she had slept like a log on the bus, tired from a whole day's walkathon. But she felt like she still had the energy of a five-year-old child. Her feet were tired but her senses were very much awake.

She was waiting for Killua to say something; her brain worked hard while she concentrated on calming her nerves down so that she wouldn't hiccup in response like what happened a while ago. On the other hand, she couldn't bring herself to start a conversation at that time. Her head was still empty except for the words I love you, Killua multiplying like bacteria in her veins. Although, it might be a funny ice breaker if she suddenly said I love you, Killua after a significant moment of silence, wouldn't it?

A few more meters and they would reach the ramen shop. The evening lights were already on, which always signaled that it's almost time to call it a day. It's time to ask Killua if he wanted to stay over for dinner.

The latter, however, stopped in his tracks—under the shadow of a lamp post. When Yuhi looked at him to ask, she was met with a bashful gaze that he'd been sporting since he confessed about what he felt. He must not have been over what happened that afternoon.

"By the way, if it's alright with you, I'll head home early today," he slowly said. "Gon texted earlier. Mito-san cooked for four tonight."

Yuhi nodded. Then she glanced at the ramen shop, now close enough from where they were standing that she could see a tiny version of Roroturo through the window. Her guardian seeing them that night might keep Killua longer than he's allowed to. So she suggested, "I can walk home from here if you need to get going."

A little reluctant, still, Killua nodded. "Ja, I…" He pointed a thumb over his shoulder and glanced at his route home. "I'll go then." It didn't sound convincing, but he did give her a small smile after that.

So Yuhi had no other choice but to return it willingly. It didn't even matter that Killua expressed his leave earlier than usual. What's more important was that she now knew what every look and every smile he gave her meant.

"See you at school," he added, squeezing her hand and never letting go of her gaze even though it was the perfect timing to part.

Yuhi had no idea, again, what he could possibly be thinking at that moment, but her senses were quick to move forward and respond to his body language by tiptoeing and giving him a goodbye kiss on the cheek. She could easily say I love you once more, but instead she said, "Thank you, Killua. Today was really fun."

The way he responded had always been an expected blush. And that was enough for Yuhi to end their day. She didn't need to hear him say anything back. She didn't need anything else but a gaze from his sea blue eyes. She beamed, stepped back, and waved a hand, brightly saying, "See you tomorrow!" before turning for home.

But then, she felt a hand around her wrist, and just as she was about to turn around for him again, she found herself enclosed in an armlock. Her pulses raced the instant she felt someone else's heart beating fast against her chest.

Killua was hugging her. Sweetly.

"Thanks, too, for today," he said, mumbling words in her hair. "I really like hanging out with you, ramen girl."

Yuhi's eyes grew big, surprised by this sudden speech. How much courage build-up has he done that day, or even before that day, that he could tell her all of these love poems without having to miss a single word? Still, curious and dazed, she returned his embrace.

"I can't promise to say this all the time," he continued, "but I'd really like for us to, um, stay together for longer." Gulping, he stammered. "And I…"

Killua allowed for a hesitant pause again, and Yuhi could feel heat waves starting to breeze through her veins—slowly yet sharply—and she felt herself melting. He didn't need to say it! He doesn't have to! But…! She held her breath, bracing for a collision of a lifetime.

He tightened his embrace and pulled himself closer. Under his hold, Yuhi felt like a pillow he's hugging to sleep. Against that pillow, he pressed his face, and almost inaudibly, he whispered the words—on-brand skittish and tiny, but the clearest sound of all.

"...I love you… Yuhi…"

He didn't have to say it. He shouldn't have. Because now Yuhi was unwilling to let go, unwilling to believe that everything that was happening was real. It felt like she was shot with an arrow straight to the chest, but instead of killing her, it made her feel more alive. It gave her wings to fly.

Killua's eyes were the bluest that night. They sparkled like fairy dust swam in them when he gazed straight into Yuhi's. And the latter wasn't sure if she was dreaming or not, because it's as though she was still watching a live flick of the two of them alone on the dim streets: nervous and shy, faces inches away, yet full of love and hope.

Yuhi closed her eyes when Killua did. Heartbeats served as their drumroll, and Killua squeezing Yuhi's arms that he held in his hands as their cue—they kissed. That wasn't the first time but it still felt new and euphoric. Simple and clean. Head-spinning, heart-stopping. Magic.

Cherries populated their cheeks when they let go, unable to look at each other's eyes. But when they did, both shared a shy smile and a slightly awkward chuckle. It was kind of embarrassing—nervousness prevailing all the way—but both of them didn't seem to want to let go of the night. If not for Mito's call, they would have stayed there a little longer.

Yuhi gleefully hopped toward the ramen shop after saying goodbye. And each time she looked back to check, Killua was where she left him, smiling and waving a hand. He only turned to walk back to the bus stop when she reached the door. Yuhi returned the favor, and only entered the shop when Killua was out of sight.

She almost squealed when she shut the door behind her. The chatters from people inside the shop were a blur, but eventually they snapped her back to reality. Roroturo, on the other hand, felt that something special had happened when she greeted him with a lively tone. So he asked her as she was placing the flowers on a large vase half-filled with water.

Killua's kiss swam around and duplicated themselves in her head, but she wouldn't tell her guardian that. Instead, she showed him the flowers he gave her, Bluebells, Cherry Blossoms and Magnolias, directing the reason for her bloom to that.

Roroturo seemed impressed. Then with a surprised "Oh!", he pointed at the upsidedown Bluebell and asked, "It's flipped?"

Yuhi nodded, recalling sweet moments at the back of her mind.

"It didn't tear?"

"It didn't! Cool, isn't it?"

Roroturo then grinned widely, impishly, then looked at Yuhi as though he knew a secret she'd been hiding. "So, did you ask him to flip that or he asked you to?"

Yuhi blinked and cocked her head to the side, suddenly curious and nervous. "He asked me, so I flipped it."

And then, Roroturo guffawed, nodding proudly, saying, "That boy's sneaky, eh?"

It startled Yuhi for a second, but she ended up with brows creased. She had no idea what this thing about flipping Bluebells was about. Killua seemed interested in it earlier too. She wondered if it's a prank, or some kind of joke, so she asked—gingerly, "Why? What does it mean?"

Shaking his head, Roroturo crossed his arms against his chest and looked at Yuhi like he's about to tell her something magnificent or hilarious. "Well, it's really just an old people saying, but I can't believe Killua actually made you do it."

Yuhi's eyes grew wide, mind already thinking of ways to tease him about teasing her—if it were really a joke. But what Roroturo said next stunned her in a way that made her remember vividly how Killua had reacted when she flipped the Bluebell. And then a flashback of memories after that episode flooded her brain in a supercut.

His enchanting smile. The mystical looks he was giving her. His sudden confession. His tender hug. I love you, Yuhi. That kiss.

"You ask the person you like to flip a Bluebell. If it doesn't break, it means they like you back."

Was that where he got his courage from? Did he actually think that she didn't like him back so he had to check by making her flip the Bluebell?

That's… That's so cute…!

Yuhi had hoped that Roroturo wouldn't easily notice how warm her cheeks were becoming. She looked at the flipped Bluebell and couldn't believe herself to be liked and loved by Killua Zoldyck. If she could scream at the top of her lungs at that very moment, she would. Instead, she beamed, and then she laughed heartily—nonstop. She felt like the happiest and luckiest girl in the world.

-Chapter End-


AN: I don't know, but I've had quite a share of squeals while writing this. How about you? :)))

Anyway lol thanks to everyone who reads this fic and waits for new chapters to be uploaded! I see the stats even without the reviews so thank you thank you! Hope this story still shines light to your darkest days *hearts*

NEXT CHAPTER: Finals? Spring break?!