Otoya peaked at Haruka for the eleventh time since they started walking together. Haruka was happily looking around her, enjoying the flourishing garden, blooming in the new Spring air. Otoya moved to drink from his water bottle but rose, letting his arm hang down again. No matter how many times he tried, he couldn't bring himself to press his lips to the same surface as Haruka, the very thought causing his face to turn bright red. He knew that he was being over dramatic about it, but he just found it wrong to do so, like he was forcing her to kiss him.
Haruka however was in a completely different mood than poor, nervous Otoya. She was happily bouncing around, looking at all of the flowers in the garden. She found a few areas dug up with holes pre dug, ready to receive flowers when the servants were able to get around to them. Haruka wondered what kind of flowers would be planted where and what colors they would be. If there was one thing she loved about the Hijirikawa residence it was the garden, especially now that there were actual flowers this time around. Haruka frowned when she saw a patch of dead flowers, unable to regrow after the harsh winter. It was rather cold a while ago after it began heating up again. Some of the flowers had already been pulled up, ready to be replaced.
Haruka moved on from the dead flowers and looked around the perimeter of the garden. Haruka stopped walking when she saw a head of blue hair- whose was yet to be realized. Otoya stopped and turned as well, flinching when he spotted the same tuff of blue hair. Head rose, Tokiya stood up and caught a tuft of pink in the corner of his eye. He turned his head to find Haruka and Otoya, the petty girl waving him over happily while Otoya bit his lip, turning away from Tokiya's eyes. Tokiya's eyes narrowed when he noticed Otoya. He remembered sending Otoya out on an errand and here he finds him goofing off in the gardens- with Haruka no less.
Less than pleased, Tokiya began to approach them, Haruka moving to meet him halfway. She smiled up at him, treating him kindly.
"Good morning, Hijirikawa-san." Haruka smiled, causing Tokiya's annoyance to dissipate into the air, a smile forming on his lips.
"And a good morning to you, Nanami-san." He replied before turning to Otoya, eyes sharp. "Otoya, what exactly are you doing here? Didn't I send you to the post office to mail those checks?" Tokiya asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically at his redheaded personal assistant. Otoya raised his head and puffed out his chest triumphantly.
"As a matter afact, I handed it into the post office yesterday by accident!" By accident? Tokiya shook his head. That was quite the odd thing to be so proud of- accidentally doing something.
"Than what about the files I told you to take out?" Tokiya asked.
"I'll do those later!" Otoya said, waving Tokiya off with a childish smile. Tokiya pinched the bridge of his nose. If Otoya kept this up he would be behind in no time.
"Whatever." Tokiya sighed, shaking his head. "And why are you in the gardens? You never come here when your allergies act up." Tokiya pointed out.
Otoya flinched. There was no way he could tell Tokiya that he came out in hopes of finding Haruka, he would never let him hear the end of it! "I, er, I'm... leading our guest around the garden- can't have her getting hurt or lost!" Otoya lied, smiling nervously. Tokiya narrowed his eyes, sensing Otoya's true ambitions quickly. He should have known.
"How very kind of you." Tokiya said through gritting teeth, causing Otoya to take a step back. Tokiya turned back to Haruka, smiling kindly at her once again. "How have you been? Are you feeling at home yet?"
"Oh yes! It's very nice here and I love the gardens! They're so pretty!" Haruka chirped, her chipper attitude coming through. Tokiya smiled kindly, nearly taken aback by her bright smile.
"I'm glad to hear you enjoy the estate." Tokiya said, nodding his head.
"Oh, would you like to join us?" Haruka asked, causing Otoya to frown. Honestly, Otoya did not want Tokiya to cut into their alone time, but even if Haruka had not asked, Tokiya would have invited himself anyways and Haruka would always let anyone join her. As much as he liked that about her, it meant less alone time and more third wheel time.
"I would love to, thank you." Tokiya smiled. "Not that I could trust Otoya alone with a pretty lady anyways." Tokiya said, causing Haruka to giggle and Otoya to sweat drop.
Tokiya joined them on the path, squeezing his way between Haruka and Otoya immediately. Otoya glared at his boss and quickly darted around to the other side of the petty girl, steeping her attention away from him. Tokiya now glared at Otoya. However, when his eyes wandered down he smirked, turning back to Otoya.
"Otoya, your fly is down." Tokiya pointed out, causing the redhead to flush and quickly fall behind the two of them, leaving Haruka all to himself. "How do you like the flowers we've planted so far this year?"
"Oh, they're beautiful! They are so lovely and colorful- it really brings the traditional Japanese look to the house!" Haruka smiled, looking around happily at all of the flowers. She truly loved every flower she saw, enjoying the variety of colors and species.
Haruka stopped and bent down, pulling a few leaves out of the way of an exotic flower. A beautiful orange flower whose petals seemed wavy and were soft to the touch. They looked like small suns with small, yellow pollen stacks sticking out of the middle. Haruka furrowed her brows. She had never seen such a flower before.
"Hijirikawa-san, what is this flower?" Haruka asked, turning to the bluenett. Tokiya smiled, bending down with her.
"It's called a Kou." Tokiya answered, smiling at the small buds. "It's not from japan, it's only indigenous to Hawaii." Tokiya explained. Haruka's eyes shined with curiosity. "Sadly I'm afraid that they probably won't make it- it's far too cold for them. They can't survive well in the cold, but a colleague simply insisted on us taking it."
"Thats too bad, I would have liked to have one myself." Haruka frowned.
"I'm sure you could keep it alive much easier than any of us could." Tokiya smiled. Haruka blushed and shook her head, looking down.
"No, I like flowers and I grew them, but I never did so well with keeping them alive." Haruka admitted. "But I would have liked to try." Haruka smiled, carefully brushing her fingers along the soft petals, smiling blissfully. Tokiya watched her smile down at the freezing plant, a smile slowly lifting onto his face.
AH! I'm so sorry about the last update! I completely forgot about it and when I remembered, I was swamped with work! I'm so sorry and I'll try not to miss anymore.
Dam, I'm losing my touch when it comes to ending these chapters. I just can't find a good set of words to really rap it up. Oh well.
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