Chapter 15: Love Don't Come Easy

Antauri had noticed something was up first.

Chiro had always been prompt about his training, putting his all into it. Some things he didn't grasp instantly but that was expected.

He had been making leaps and bounds though in such a short time, they all had noticed it but now…

There was something else going on behind the boy's eyes that took him away from the moment. He was still paying attention but it was fragmented.

However, now it was common to notice him clearly lost in thought thinking about something else or sneaking his phone out during his lessons to check it.

Chiro was currently sitting in Antauri's room as part of his training with the Power Primate. Specifically, learning to still his mind so he could one day reach that place they had been once more.

Meditation came first. Once he mastered that, everything else was supposed to be easier… but Antauri noticed, as he went about his room lighting some large candles and incense, that the boy was fidgeting.

"Something you want to share?"

"W-What?" Chiro shook his head. "No, no, nothing."

Antauri raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms.

It was written all over his face. Chiro wouldn't look him in the eye, instead eying where his phone was.

Antauri looked over at the device.

"What is on there that has you so distracted?"

"It's…" Chiro sighed.

He supposed he had been out of it the last few days…

Brriiiiing!

"I GOT IT!"

He practically dove for his phone.

"If it's your crazy sister you tell her we're in the middle of sparring!" Sparx called over from the middle of the training room.

Chiro answered it.

"Hey!"

"Chiro!" Jinmay's voice came through, making his heart flutter. "Hope this isn't a bad time."

"Bad time? Noooo, not at all!"

"Ahem!"

"Okay, actually a bit of one. Can I call you back in like 20?"

"Sure!"

"Well…" He mumbled something under his breath.

He lowered his head, his face turning red.

Antauri tilted his chin up.

"You can tell me anything. I hope you know that."

"You're not gonna get mad at me?"

Antauri smiled, shaking his head.

"You could never do anything to do that."

Chiro heaved a sigh of relief, leaning his head back.

"Okay, awesome… SO um… That girl from last week? The one who caught me?"

"Yes?"

"She's been… calling me and texting me."

Antauri hummed in thought.

"Are you uncomfortable?"

"What!? No!" Chiro shook his head. "No, Jinmay's great! She's funny, she's nice… she's…" His face heated up anew, as he thought about something in particular.

"She's…?"

"Can I just… show you?"

Antauri sighed.

This sounded far too familiar to when Nova and Sparx had started becoming interested in one another.

Not to mention…

"Antauri, what are you looking at?"

Antauri gasped as his concentration broke, looking up at his master.

"N-Nothing, Master Xan."

Xan's eyes narrowed, his tail swishing in irritation.

"Antauri… I'm not blind. Care to tell me what's going on?"

Antauri sighed… his eyes locking with a set of blue ones that were looking at him fondly from a distance, a small giggle being heard.

"... There is… something I need to tell you."

I wasn't much better when it came to her and me…

"Alright, but after this, no more phones during your lessons. Understand?"

"You got it!"

Chiro practically sprinted across the room to grab his phone, pulling up an image before showing it to Antauri.

Antauri leaned over, taking a look at it.

Jinmay had texted him a picture of herself. She was wearing a long red yukata with cherry blossom patterns across it as if she was encased in a whirlwind of petals. Her long hair was pulled up into a bun with some of it hanging down in a braid, a set of pins, also resembling cherry blossoms, sticking out of the bun.

She was smiling at the camera, warmth in her gaze.

"She's… adorable." Chiro sighed wistfully. "She gives me that look and I just MELT!"

Why does this sound familiar…? Antauri thought.

Oh wait…

"Is it just me or is Nova being cute?"

Antauri gave Sparx a bewildered look, following his gaze…

Just as Nova hurled Gibson across the training room floor.

"AAAAHHH!"

THUD!

Antauri rolled his eyes.

"Need I remind you, Sparx, of how I truly felt about your relationship with Nova before?"

"Don't get "shot gun" brother on me now."

Oh… Right…

Antauri cleared his throat.

"I see… Then I have some advice for you, if I may?"

"Huh?" Chiro raised an eyebrow, confused.

"Don't act like Sparx."

Chiro busted up laughing.

"PFFTAHAHAH! Yeah, I think that'll be easy!" He snickered.

"Very good… Now, please let's get you back on track. I'm glad you've made a friend but you need to focus too. Alright?"

"Yeah, yeah."

Chiro took one last glance at the phone.

"Are we still meeting up tomorrow?"

"You know it."

Yeah, I'll get back on track.

It'll be okay.

Chiro took a deep breath, closing his eyes.

For now, he had work to do.

Antauri sighed, shaking his head.

What are we going to do with this boy?

oooooo

The store was running better than ever. Hanamura's Botanicals was busy - wedding season was wrapping up and that meant endless bouquets and table setting arrangements.

Mila sighed as she balanced her phone between her ear and shoulder.

"And you want your mother in law's bouquet to mean that? Are you sure?"

"This witch has been stomping boundaries for too long!"

"You got it. I'll have it delivered to you bright and early tomorrow."

She hung up, jotting down the order on a notepad.

Mila looked up, glancing around the store, sighing a bit.

It was still hard to believe that just two months ago the entire place had been decimated. Everything living inside of it dead and dried up.

Now it was like nothing had ever happened.

"You sure this isn't gonna kill them?" She asked, looking between Gibson and her flower pot.

Little seedlings, a bright green, poked out of the soil.

Gibson was stirring something in a vial before adding it to a spray bottle, handing it over.

He grinned, mischief gleaming in his eyes.

"Trust me. You'll never go back."

She hesitated before spraying it over the seedlings…

In a matter of minutes, they were fully grown, back to the stage her prior flowers had been at.

Mila's eyes grew wide in wonder before she let out a squeal, scooping Gibson up into a tight hug.

"YOU ARE THE BEST!"

He let out a small screech, trying to wiggle away.

"MILA! CHOKING! NOT HUGGING!"

"Sorry, sorry, I'm just so happy!" She squealed, nuzzling the top of his head.

Gibson sighed, chuckling.

"Happy to help…"

I really owe him and Otto some extra snacks. I'll pack them a bento or two…

Goodness knows Gibson forgets to eat enough as it is…

For now, though, get through these last arrangements so I can take a break.

Right now, the store was empty, aside from herself. Over the speakers above her, a steady stream of music floated over the store.

All was right in her world.

Ding!

The door opened, catching her attention.

"Hello, welcome to-" Her words died on her lips as her eyes grew wide…

There was a young man, around her age, looking around the store curiously.

He was tall, his skin pale, wearing a muscle shirt and jeans… What caught her attention though, was his long dark purple hair that trailed down his back and the tattoos on his arms. One of a fox in white ink, looking up at a crescent moon on his left arm… The other, a small animal skull surrounded by flowers on his right arm.

He looked over at her, revealing a set of gleaming green eyes.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Oh gosh…

He's…

Oh wow…

She cleared her throat.

"W-Welcome to Hanamura's Botanicals!"

He chuckled.

"Thank you very much."

She nodded, giving a small bow.

"Just let me know if there's anything you need."

Outside, Mila was as cool and put together as ever when working with her customers…

On the inside, she was trying so hard to keep her heart from racing.

As the man walked around the shop, she tried to make herself look busy…

But she kept looking up every chance she could.

Dang…

Wonder if he works out.

The man furrowed his brow, looking over a set of roses and cosmos before looking up with a sheepish smile.

"Um, weird question… Do you happen to have plants for installation?"

Mila nearly jumped before nodding, pulling out a catalog and a pen.

"Right here. We have a lot of different live plants. I can have them arranged for delivery and I will hand install them myself."

The man made his way over, looking through it.

His brow furrowed as he examined each of the pictures, biting his lip a little.

He looked up after a moment, completely confused.

"So… This is another weird question…"

"Oh?" Mila tilted her head. "Is something wrong?"

"Do ya have anything from Japan?"

Mila smiled, knowingly.

The man's accent was a tell.

"Indeed so. You happen to be from Osaka?"

The man blinked, bewildered.

"Y-Yeah. How'd ya tell?"

She giggled, twirling a bit of hair around her finger.

"Your accent. I can recognize that anywhere." She pointed to herself. "I'm from Hokkaido."

"Ahh, I used to love going there with my family. Hokkaido had the best food."

"Didn't it!?"

The man nodded, chuckling.

"Yeah, my favorite was hot piping croquettes. But the real gem was-"

"Imochi?!"

The man grinned, snapping his fingers.

"That's the one!" He chuckled. "Though my favorite has to go to a good okonomiyaki."

Mila smiled, sighing wistfully.

That brought back very pleasant memories.

"Goodness, I haven't had that in ages-Ah!" She shook her head. "I'm so sorry! I started rambling and-"

"No, no… It's nice someone else gets it." The man chuckled. "There's stores around here that have things from home but… it's not the same, y'know?"

She nodded, sighing a bit.

"Don't I know it… Erm, sorry." She bowed her head. "I'm Mila Hanamura."

"Ren Kanno." He chuckled. "Sorry, I should've done that first."

"No,no!" She shook her head rapidly, a blush coming across her cheeks.

Ren shrugged.

"Still." He smiled sheepishly. "Now…"

He went quiet, looking over the catalog, humming in thought.

Mila fell quiet, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet.

For some reason, her heart wouldn't stop racing.

Okay…

Admit it Mila.

You got a thing for guys with long hair.

I mean…

She bit her lip.

She was so rusty at this. Back on Earth she never had the opportunity to properly date.

She had a few dates on and off…

One her parents had especially not approved of.

Ren was quiet, his head bobbing a bit to the music. He paused as he went to flip another page, furrowing his brow.

Mila fumbled with her hands, concerned.

"Is there anything I can do?"

Ren jumped, smiling sheepishly, as he shook his head.

"No, no! I…" He pointed up at the speakers. "I know this song."

Mila's eyes lit up anew, her heart fluttering.

"You like metal and rock?"

Ren smiled, brushing his hair out of his face, his face turning pink.

"Love it."

"Do you know it though? Truly?" She smiled playfully. "What's coming up next?"

Ren fell quiet, listening intently to the music, closing his eyes, humming along a bit, his brow furrowing.

"Once upon a night we'll wake to the carnival of life!"

He reached out to her with a flourish and a warm smile.

Mila giggled, clearing her throat.

"The beauty and this ride ahead, such an incredible high!"

Ren smiled, his eyes lighting up.

"It's hard to light a candle, easy to curse the dark instead!"

They both busted up laughing, a second later.

"Okay, okay, I am sorry. I just keep…"

"No, no, it's my fault! I pointed out the music!"

Mila blushed, giggling, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

What am I doing?

I don't have time for this stuff… but…

She looked him over again the second he turned his gaze back to the catalog book.

Goodness, he is cute…

I…

Should I?

She took a deep breath.

It was now or never.

"So…"

"Hm?" He looked up.

She looked down at the paper.

Looking up at her was a brilliant array of carnations and camelia's.

Devotion and long lasting love…

Oh what the heck?

She leaned over the counter.

Ren blushed, leaning back a little.

"Are you a carnation? Because I'd like to devote my time to getting to know you more."

"You would?"

Wait… Carnation?

He rubbed his chin in thought.

"Yeah, I would." He chuckled. "I mean… Be better than being around just my co-workers all day."

Just who are you? She thought.

I mean…

Mila wondered for a moment if she was going too far… but the way his gaze lingered…

"I mean… It'd be nice." Ren shrugged a bit, blushing a little."I don't really know anyone here yet…"

"Just moved here?"

He nodded.

Her gaze softened.

"That's hard. I know it took me forever to memorize everything."

"I still get lost thinking sector 11 is the shopping district instead of the transit tunnel." He rubbed the back of his neck. "It's really dumb I know-"

"No, no… Maybe I could…" She shrugged, "I dunno, show you around and we could get some food somewhere?"

Ren's eyes grew wide, pointing to himself.

"Yes, you." Mila gave him a playful grin. "What do you think?"

"I'd like that. Oh! You probably need my number right?"

"Yes but I'd need it for the order anyway."

"Ah right, I am so smart… Lemme just-"

Ren checked his phone, cussing a bit under his breath as he noted the time.

"Ahhh crap, I gotta go get my sister from lacrosse. Can we talk more about this and maybe you could pick out something?"

Mila's eyes widened.

"You want me to… Oh no, that is such a personal thing."

He flipped through the catalog.

"Alright um… I need plants that will look good while guests walk into a large establishment. Like, say… an inn?"

"An inn…" She flipped through the pages. "Water outside?"

"Big pond."

"Alright, how's this? I'll make a list and I'll bring it when we hang out next."

"That'd be great." He blushed. "T-Thank you. Are you sure about all that?"

Mila smiled, her gaze softening.

"I think it'll be wonderful." She giggled.

He quickly jotted down his number, Mila doing the same on a couple of spare business cards.

"I'll see you around then?"

"Yeah…"

She walked him to the door, watching as he hurried out.

Sitting outside her store was a large motorcycle, painted black with purple flames on the side.

"Whoa!"

"Oh… this isn't gonna be a worry is it?"

"No, no!" She grinned. "It's a gorgeous bike."

He smiled.

"Thank you."

He put on his helmet before hopping on, revving up the engine.

Mila waved, watching him go…

Before he disappeared around the corner, he caught her eye, speeding up, popping a wheelie.

She swore her heart took off flying as well.

Oh, GOSH.

I JUST GOT A GUY'S NUMBER!

She let out a loud cheer, jumping up.

"I GOT A HOT GUY'S PHONE NUMBER!" She squealed, running back inside.

She spun across the floor, letting out a louder squeal as she put his contact in her phone.

"I'M GONNA GO ON A DATE!"

THIS IS A WIN!

"Whoohoo! Take that Valina! Take that Skeleton Jackwagon!" She cheered. "You can't ruin it for me this time!"

About an hour later, a text popped up on her phone.

"So… Are you free tomorrow? I know a great place to get some unagi?"

She nearly dropped her phone.

"YES! Meet up at 2PM?"

"Sure thing!"

"It's a date!"

She squealed, jumping up again.

"YES!"

Maybe things were finally turning around in her favor.