Himawari smiles, clapping her hands as she bows at the shrine and wishes health and good luck to everyone. Today is the first day of the new year and Cecile has taken her to the shrine at the Japanese town as part of the tradition. The young woman looks at her little niece, smiling lovingly as she admires her attire. The raven head is wearing the Kimono that her mom sent her a few days ago and wears her hair in a waterfall braid with cherry blossom pins, her whole get-up amazed everyone around them, especially the elders who look at her and compliment how beautiful she is in the traditional clothing.
"They really enjoy seeing you in the kimono, sweet one."
The young artist smiles at Cecile's comment, enjoying the rare attention that she receives from strangers. After days of cleaning up the house and putting on decorations for the new year, today is finally considered as a free day for both of them. Besides vising the shrine, they're planning to visit the Couffaine household as Anarka has invited them over for lunch and to eat the osechi bento boxes this evening.
Cecile is driving the car back to the Couffaine's houseboat while the young girl protests, telling the woman to at least let her go back home and change to something more casual. Her aunt laughs at it, knowing too well that the raven head is lying when she said that she doesn't want to show off Luka with her kimono. When they stop at the Liberty, Himawari bites her lips nervously as she walks out of the car, and startles a bit when she hears the voices screaming and laughing inside the houseboat.
It seems like they're not the only ones who visit the Couffaine family…
Cecile scowls at her playfully when the young artist refuses to go inside, she grabs her hand and pulls the girl with her, despite the weak protest. Anarka is very happy to see them, as well as everyone inside the Liberty. They're having a small gathering to celebrate the first day of the new year, Marinette's macarons tower is displayed at the center of the buffet table and it is surrounded by plates of food and sodas, ready to be served.
"There she is!"
"Oh my god, you look amazing!"
Marinette and Rose squeal when they see their friend slowly walk toward them, timidly covering her smile with the soft black locks. The bluenette snaps a lot of pictures while her friends are gathering around to check out the fancy outfit she is wearing. As she is checking her friend out, Alya smirks when she notices the pair of amethyst eyes look around, searching for someone…
"Luka is getting changed, Nino accidentally spilled the soda onto his shirt."
"O-oh…"
She blushes, nodding her head. Her friends snicker, feeling interested as the raven head doesn't seem to bother to deny that she's looking for him. Himawari smiles and walks to Mrs. Couffaine, bowing down as she gives wishes to the older woman. Cecile nods her head in agreement and Anarka laughs at the sight, patting the raven head's shoulder as she also wishes her a good year.
As she is talking to her, Luka walks back to the party after getting changed. His jaws drop when aqua eyes spot the familiar raven head, staring in awe at Himawari. This is the first time he sees her in a traditional Japanese outfit and she looks amazing in it. The blue color of the kimono and cherry blossom imprinted on it complement her features so perfectly, her black hair streams down the shoulder and is elegantly braided with cherry blossom pins on it, her lips are painted with a soft pink color. Himawari looks like a beautiful, delicate doll that deserves to be loved and admired by everyone.
Well, she always looks nice in everything…
The guitarist slowly approaches her, smiling when their eyes meet each other. Himawari startles a bit, turning to him as she twiddles the silky black locks in her fingers. She wants to say something, but the way Luka looks at her makes her face heats up and the young artist timidly averts her eyes, trying to focus on anyone except him.
Cecile and Anarka look at them, smiling smugly at the shy vibe around the two. Mrs. Couffaine expects her lad to compliment the girl but all he doing is staring stunned at the pure beauty in front of him. Himawari's aunt just slightly shakes her head, amused when none of them say anything to each other. She clears her voice, drawing the attention of the raven head as she looks at her, puzzling.
"Himawari, don't you have anything to say?"
She blinks at her a few times before realizes what her aunt is talking about. She turns to him, smiling softly, amethyst eyes sparkle with fondness as she looks at him.
"Happy New Year, Luka!" she blushes, her voice soft and tender "Please take care of me again this year."
Luka looks at her again before avert his gaze, sheepishly scratching the back of his head. All their friends stare at him, surprised to see the usual calm guitarist gets flustered at the raven head's words. He slightly covers his face, glaring at his friends as they give him teasing looks while his mother just sighs in defeat. She looks at her son and raises a brow, silently telling him to reply to her as she pats his shoulder.
He nods his head, mumbling thank you and pulling her hand to follow him in front of everyone's eyes. Their friends are squealing, shouting at them teasingly and Cecile just slightly shakes her head, mumbling about 'kids these days…'
Himawari covers her face with the sleeves, smiling in delight when he takes her to the sofa and sits down, his hand never leaves hers. The older boy exhales, tightening his grip before letting go of her. He turns his attention to the young artist, admiring the beauty in front of him again as the girl turns red, knowing that those aqua orbs are staring at her.
"Oh, I haven't said it yet…"
"Hm?"
"You really look beautiful in the Kimono, Himawari."
She giggles, feeling herself turn into a big mess after hearing his compliment. The young artist bashfully turns away, smiling in contentment. She finds the compliment very sincere, or maybe it's her who can't stop the fluttery feelings that are slowly rising in her heart.
Luka stands up and leaves to get some food, telling her to sit here and wait instead of coming with him. Himawari blinks at his words, feeling odd at his request but she complies anyway. Looking at him as he walks to the buffet table, the raven head holds her hand to her heart, feeling it beat faster as each minute passed by.
She and Luka have been very close lately, so close that she starts to believe that it's getting harder for her to hide the affection she has for him. Despite telling herself that it's just a one-sided love, Himawari has this feeling that he might be into her as much as she is to him.
The raven head wishes that she's being delusional or just being in her dreamland but no, she clearly sees that he is slowly returning her feelings. She's not blind and Luka is not stupid, no one will tell their friend that they will steal the first kiss if they don't have any affection for the other. Himawari sighs, her one-sided love is turning to a chasing game of who is going to be the first one to confess, her or Luka.
Like every girl in a romantic story, she wants Luka to say it, it will be very embarrassing if she has to be the one who tells him about her feelings. However, in one of her conversations with Kagami, the young fencer told her that she should come forward with her feelings rather than wait for a prince charming to come and sweeps her off her feet. Himawari was very stunned at her friend's advice but she took it to her heart, believing that as long as they feel the same, anyone can confess their feelings first. To her, she can see Luka's affection towards her, she just needs more time to gather her courage, just a little bit more…
"Here you go."
He gives her the plate full of food and she gratefully accepts it. His action didn't escape Anarka's eyes as she turns her attention to her son who is making himself comfortable next to the young artist.
"Hm…"
"What are you thinking?" Cecile walks up to her, smiling "They look cute together, don't you think?"
"Of course! I've always known that he will return her feelings." Mrs. Couffaine replies "Too bad my boy hasn't made any move…"
"You're worrying too much, Anarka! They'll be fine, kids these days are full of surprised, you know…"
Mrs. Couffaines nods her head in agreement, still looking at the young pair smiling and giggling flirtatiously. The more she looks at them, the more she realizes how similar Luka is to his father. That charming smile, that soft and gentlemanlike manner when it comes to someone that he loves, how he silently cares for the young artist,… They're almost identical to Lukka when he was still a young man in his twenties. Anarka just hopes that Luka really knows what he's doing and appreciates the young girl who has never left his side from the beginning.
Himawari is enjoying the food herself when she looks around a bit then nervously turns to Luka. Today is a good day and she doesn't want to ruin his happiness with her silly questions. The guitarist notices her gaze and smiles at her, asking if she needs anything. She slightly shakes her head, opening her mouth and then shutting it, unsure of how she should phrase her question to not upset the older boy.
"My father visited us yesterday. He's gonna come here this evening."
"Oh…" amethyst eyes blink at him, happy yet stunned at the same time "Luka, you know how to read a person's mind?"
He almost spits out his drink after hearing this. It's not that he knows how to mind-reading, the expression on her face just said it all to him. Himawari pats his back when Luka coughs, laughing a bit at his unpleasant experience.
As he stated, Luka's father came to visit them yesterday. Despite the 'tension', he still had a good time with his family. Since the Kitty Section has signed a contract with the Evergreen Record Label, Luka and Juleka meet their father more regularly, most of the time is to discuss their music and debut single. Despite feeling uncomfortable, the young guitarist did try his best to get used to the idea that his father has returned to their life.
At yesterday's dinner, the man wasted no chance to tease his son about his relationship with the certain raven head, which caused the boy to spit out of his food. Anarka and Juleka look at him, amused at his response. Everyone knows that the older Couffaine is very fond of Himawari to the point that he doesn't care to hide his affection anymore. Luka didn't deny any allegation about his 'odd' relationship with the young artist, he just found it very annoying when his love life suddenly became a topic of discussion on the dining table.
You better not let that sweet little lady wait for your confession.
The guitarist grits his teeth, thinking about how his father is so troublesome for bringing the subject up. He knows exactly what he needs to do and he doesn't need the 'adult advice' on the matter, although Mr. Couffaine has his point about not letting Himawari wait for it.
The raven head's affection is quite obvious, especially when he's an expert in reading other people's feelings. At first, Luka thought that her crush is very cute, very…innocent to say the least. He notices the way she would look at him, longing and then just sighed and returned back to her sketchbook. He's not surprised at her little crush on him, Luka understands that he's quite popular at school but he has never taken any of their feelings seriously because of his own feelings for Marinette.
As time goes on and he gets closer to the raven head, the guitarist realizes that she's wise beyond her age, despite being 2 years younger than him. Calm and soft-spoken, Himawari is a girl full of love, compassion and devotion for her friends and family. A pacifist person who sincerely cares for everyone. Despite telling himself that he likes Marinette, Luka couldn't deny how he's also drawn into the raven head and before he knows it, she has been the melody that playing in his head.
When Luka slowly gave up his feelings for the bluenette, something more beautiful has definitely blossomed between him and Himawari. The more he gets to know about the young artist and her life through her work, he realizes that she is exactly the same as him, an artist who expresses her feelings through her art, her drawings and her stories. His feelings for her grow stronger as time goes by and he really wants her to know that he loves her too, but…
"It's not the time…"
"What time?" she turns to him, puzzling "Are you okay, Luka?"
He snaps out of his thought, smiling when her amethyst orbs look at him full of concern. Such a lovely and caring girl…
"It's nothing." he pats her head gently, feeling her soft black locks against his skin "Don't worry about it. You want to eat anything else?"
"Oh no, I'm full now!"
She giggles, patting her stomach lightly. She's about to say something but her phone rings. Himawari picks up and squeals in excitement when she sees the familiar faces on the other side of the line. It's her family…
"Mommy! Daddy!"
"Sweet one! Happy new year!"
"Happy New Year!" her face beams up cutely "Where's Taiyou and Asahi?"
Himawari speaks in Japanese, smiling at her family when they gather around the phone to wish her a great new year. As they are chiming and talking, her father notices another figure near his daughter. His father instinct immediately comes up as he askes her about the friend who is sitting next to her, which her woman is also very curious about them.
She sweatdrops with their demand, bashfully looking to her side and asks Luka if she can show him to her family. He is surprised at first but it does no harm to him or anyone so he agrees.
"Uhm, thi-this is my friend, Luk-?!"
"Nee-san has a boyfriend?!"
"She has a boyfriend!"
"Oh my, he's very cute, sweet one!"
She isn't able to say anything as her family is screaming through the phone, excited to see her friend. Himawari smiles awkwardly at Luka, who seems to be very amused at all the reaction he receives from her family members. At least they're all talking in another language, it'd be so embarrassing if the guitarist understands everything they said.
"Young man, your name is?"
"It's Luka Couffaine, sir…"
The sudden change in language surprised Himawari when she looks at her father, feeling an invisible tension rise when the wise man looks at Luka with a stern expression.
Mr. Ono doesn't forbid his daughter to have new friends, he encourages her to go out and meet new people, but this boy… His instinct tells him that the relationship he has with his daughter is not that simple. However, today is a beautiful day and he doesn't want to ruin anyone's fun so he decides to keep it short and simple. His amethyst eyes look at Luka, smiling kindly.
"Well, I think that you know what I want to say, Himawari…"
"F-father, uhm, I…" she stammers, not knowing how to respond.
Her father is a wise man, he's a teacher at a local school who is admired by everyone for his kindness yet stern teaching. The middle-aged man shakes his head lightly, still keeping his gaze at Luka. The guitarist notices this, straightening his back as he tries his best to look professional in front of him.
"Please take care of my daughter, she may look wise and mature but she's still a little girl. I'm very happy that at least, she has someone to lean on to beside her aunt."
"Y-yes, don't worry, sir! I'll try my best to look out for Himawari!"
"And you, Himawari…"
"Y-yes, father?"
"I see that my beautiful sunflower has slowly bloomed into the most beautiful flower on the field."
She blushes at his compliment, timidly hide her smile behind the sleeves of her Kimono. His words have always been the greatest encouragement to her, just like her mother's compliment. Her parents look at her, smiling softly. Despite having three children together, Himawari has always been the most precious jewel in the family. Even her brothers are very protective of their sister, especially when it comes to her male friends.
"Nee-san! Is he your boyfriend?"
"Nee-san! He's not your boyfriend, is he?"
"W-will you guys stop asking me this?"
She lightly scowls at her younger brothers, hoping that the older boy didn't catch any of that. Despite them talking in Japanese, she still doesn't feel comfortable talking about this subject in front of him. Knowing Luka, the guy might know something that even she doesn't notice and if he knows Japanese, she will have to bury her head deep in the sand due to embarrassment.
"You go and have fun, sweet one. We'll call you later!"
"Okay, I'll see you guys this evening."
Himawari laughs awkwardly, turning to Luka and cast him an apologetic look. Her family, especially the twins, are quite loud.
"Your family is fun."
"Well…"
"Come, you wanna grab some macarons?" he offers her a hand "Marinette's macaron is very good, though I still like your cookies more…"
The raven head stares at him in awe before a soft laugh erupts from her. She covers her mouth with the sleeves, giggling sweetly behind it.
"I'll make you some tomorrow, okay?"
A satisfying smile appears on his face as Luka nods his head, can't wait to munch down those cookies…