Chapter Two - A Flash of Roses
"Don't go too far," kaa-san reminded me as I made to go out the door. "We should have dinner soon."
Nodding, I left. Since it was too late in the day for me to start anything before eating, I wandered around the building, and glancing into all the public rooms I came across.
Finding nothing interesting that would help me while away half an hour, I let myself out into the garden. Furano was famous for its wild flowers, after all.
There were no other people around. Probably, I scoffed, they were all indoors, sipping coffee in the lounge like I knew kaa-san and tou-san were doing, or else holed up in the computer room.
I wondered if the boy had gone there too, and had half a mind to go back and check.
I stopped myself before I could turn, though.
Can't have him dictate my time, can I?
There were rosebushes ahead. Tall ones. Kaa-san had been right to suggest this trip; to think that in all my thirteen years, I hadn't seen something as ordinary as a rosebush in person. Wanting to walk amongst them, I leisurely strode over.
They were taller than I was, and much thicker. Careful not to prick myself or tear my clothes on the thorns, I slipped by one after another...
There was a sudden, blinding flash of light.
Whipping around, startled, I heard a slight click and a faint whirl of fine machinery.
"I'm sorry, did I frighten you?" A soft, concerned voice rang out.
Well, if the flash hadn't scared me, he certainly had, jumping out from behind the bushes like that.
"No, it's all right," I replied, forcing my voice lower, calmer. "I'm sorry for bothering you."
"Saa..." The brunette stepped forwards. The smile on his face hadn't faltered once.
We both looked at the camera as a square piece of hard paper churned out sleekly from a slit. Curious to see the photo--I had a pretty good idea of what was in it--I waited with him for it to develop.
"Ne," he said at last, holding it out for me to see. "It turned out well, didn't it?"
As I had suspected, it was I in the picture. Me, with my eyes wide and off guard, my lips parted slightly and my hair frozen in a permanent swishing wave as I had turned to face the camera. Behind me was a bed of blood red roses and green leaves.
I smiled wryly. I never look as good as that.
"It's a beautiful photo," the boy commented admiringly. "You caught the light in just the right way. Ne," he looked up at me again. "Do you want it? If you don't, I'd be happy to--"
"Keep it," I told him, much too loudly and quickly for my comfort.
He didn't seem to notice, though, and only smiled radiantly in thanks.
The smile kept me silent even as I was called away by my tou-san to dinner. I wanted more than ever to meet this boy again.
Even if getting interested in someone after he'd only taken a picture of you was still a one way trip to hell.