What kind of arrangement are we talking about?

"Well…" Laxus began, "I was reading about flower language. Do you know about that?"

"Yes!" Not many customers asked about flower language. "I love flower language!" Each flower meaning something important. Though her customers rarely asked for it, Hisui often found herself using flower language in arrangements and bouquets anyways.

"Well… I was wondering if you could use it in the arrangement. There's this girl… I met…" Laxus mused, his hands balled into fists. Hisui could see a flush rise on his neck and cheeks. A girl…? "She likes flower language… I think, and… I want to give her an arrangement that tells her how I feel."

"Okay!" Hisui glanced away, biting her lip. In all the times Laxus had visited her, she had… well… the way Mira talked was maybe just getting to her head. But Laxus was sweet, and the way he smiled at her… Maybe she had hoped… "You want it to tell her…?"

His face turned a deeper shade of red. He cleared his throat, biting his lip before speaking, "I think she's wonderful and beautiful, and I'd like to ask her out to dinner."

Her heart sunk even lower as she grabbed a bucket and moved around the shop to pick from all the flowers she had on display: red roses—passion and romance; pink camellias—longing for you; red carnations—my heart aches for you; white gardenia—secret love; ferns—sincerity. As she gathered each type she explained them to Laxus. "Just to make sure these are things you'd like to say."

He nodded as she returned behind the counter. "Yes. All those things." For the next while Hisui was absorbed in her art. Laxus went across to the café and brought back hot chocolate and some sweets. "I'm sorry it's taking so long!" Hisui laughed a little, gently pushing some baby's breath into a blank spot. "I want it to be the best I can make it!" For you. "Usually people order these ahead of time, but don't worry. I'm almost done. And it's been a very slow day, so I'm happy to make an arrangement. And done!" She surveyed her work with a bright smile. Her biggest vase—a rainbow of red, pink, and white. It was warm, and lovely—if she said so herself. "What do you think?"

He nodded approvingly, offering her a little smile—almost like he was nervous. "It's perfect."

"Ah! I have a little card here you can sign and put in the arrangement." She handed him a little card—the size of a business card and rang up the arrangement. He signed the card, and tucked it into the flowers, then paid for the arrangement and turned towards the door to go.

W-wait. He's leaving the flowers… "Laxus! U-um… did you… want me to deliver these? I'll need an address." He paused, turning to look over his shoulder at her while he opened the door.

"No. They're for you." And then he was gone. Hisui was frozen, her heart racing, her cheeks going hot. She reached out a hand to steady herself on her counter. For… me…?! She stared at the bouquet… pink camellias and red carnations… Longing for you. Aching for you. Her breath caught in her throat. She had asked him if that sounded right, and he said yes. She felt dizzy.

"I think she's wonderful and beautiful, and I'd like to ask her out to dinner."

"Me… he wants… me…" She reached out with shaking fingers and took the little note from the flowers. Her name was written out at the top in messy scrawl:

Hisui

Call me?

And then his phone number. Before she could even fully process that the man she was falling for had just admitted that he was falling for her too… there was a rapping at her window. She jumped, and then glanced out into the darkening street. Mira was standing there, waving through the window. She pointed to the door and mouthed, "I want to talk." Hisui gently set down the card in her hand and moved towards the door, carefully unlocking it. Mira practically stormed in the moment the door was unlocked.

"Sui. Detective Dreyar was in here for a long time. What did you talk about?" She practically sang. Hisui shook her head.

"N-nothing… he…" She trailed off, glancing at the bouquet. If she told Mira, the young woman would do nothing but tease. But Mira was perceptive. She saw Hisui's eyes move towards the bouquet.

"Did he have you make this?"

Hisui bit her lip, trying to hide a smile. It was just settling in with her—he… he had her make this… He had her pick these flowers, for her. Aching for you.

Mira offered Hisui a frown. "Sui? Did he have you make this for someone?"

"He had me make it," Hisui whispered, and then she burst into giggles, dropping her head into her hands, her whole face burning with a blush.

"Hisui!" Mira gasped, "What is it?! Tell me, tell me, tell me!"

"He wanted a bouquet with flower language! He said it was for a girl."

"This bouquet?! What do the flowers mean?" Mira gasped. "It looks romantic!" Hisui put her head in her hands again. "Hisui!"

"I told him the language of each flower I chose so he could approve. Red roses—passion and romance…. Ferns—sincerity… white gardenia—secret love… pink camellias—longing for you… red carnations—my heart aches for you. He paid for it and then…" She couldn't say anymore, she lifted the little card from the counter and handed it to Mira. The woman's eyes traced over the little card and with each word her mouth dropped lower and her eyes widened.

Hisui crumpled against the counter as Mira let out a squeal. "Hisui, I KNEW it. I told you! He's falling for you. You have to call him! You have to call him." Mira placed the card into Hisui's hand.

"B-but… But…"

"You have feelings for him too, don't you?!" Mira asked.

Hisui closed her eyes. She could see his smile, the warmth of his orange eyes. The gentleness in his glance towards her. Once or twice he had touched her shoulder, once or twice their hands had brushed. And she wanted that warmth… she wanted to hold his hand… to hold him. "Y-yes…" she whispered. "Yes."

"Then call him."

"But how long do I wait?!" Hisui whispered. "What if it's too soon?"

"Just do it, Sui!" She gasped.

"Tsk…" Hisui shook her head, pressing cool hands to her hot cheeks—trying to calm her blush. "When am I going to find a guy to tease you about?"

Mirajane laughed. "Me?! You'll have tough luck with that one, I think." She winked. "Can't wait to hear what happens next."

It was a busy day—Laxus's day off, so she didn't see him in the morning like she did when he stopped by on the way to work. Lots of arrangements were ordered and made. Flowers watered, trimmed, and set out on display and then brought back in—and the whole day Laxus's messy scrawl was sitting in the drawer of her counter. When she finally was able to turn the little sign on her door around from OPEN to CLOSED she was exhausted. Behind her counter the ground was covered in petals, trimmed stems and discarded leaves. There were things to clean up, things to put away, but she hesitated. Her drawer was lying open—trimmers and pencils, pens and scissors all there… and… Laxus's card and phone number.

She gently lifted the little piece of paper, and turned to grab the landline, pressing in the numbers and waiting…. It rang… once… twice…

"Detective Dreyar here." She slowly sunk down, leaning against the counter, sitting on the floor—the cord of the landline stretching with her. "Hello?"

"Hi," she whispered. "It's… me."

His voice immediately grew softer, "Hisui?"

"Y-yeah," she smiled, twisting the cord around her finger. She glanced up at the painting above her—red tulips and white violets.

"You called."

She bit her lip, grinning like an idiot. "You agreed that I should put pink camellias in the bouquet."

He laughed, "You say that like I remember what that means."

Her cheeks grew warm. "'I'm longing for you.'"

There was a short pause, and a soft breath, "Maybe I agreed because it's true."

Her heart skipped a beat. "Don't say things like that!" She gasped, trying not to smile. "You're making me feel…" All flustered…

"Everything… everything you said in flowers… it's all true." He said, Hisui's grip on the landline tightened, her heart bubbling with excitement. "And… I would like to take you to dinner… if you'd like—"

"Yes!" She whispered.

He paused, "What was that?"

She took in a breath, "Yes. I'd really like to go out to dinner with you. How about tomorrow?"

"I'll pick you up after work. Someplace nice."

"I'll see you then," she whispered.

"Goodnight."

She stood slowly, murmuring her goodnight, and then set the phone back down on the receiver with a little click. She was frozen for one moment, her heart hammering. And then she let out a scream, hopping up and down in a circle, before dropping down against the counter, pressing her cheek against the cool counter. How will I tell Mira?! She's going to tease me endlessly. She laughed a little, sitting up to rest her head in her hands. And then she shot up, eyes wide. What am I going to wear?!