In the evening it would regularly be filled with people walking down the streets, cars driving and the natural chirps of birds heard from afar.

However, something was very different today. The streets were empty and not many people were seen, so it's only natural for someone to question what was going on. Of course the natural answer would be the heavy rain that falls upon them, people would stay indoors. Except for one…

Dashing through the soaked puddles as it was raining heavily, the dark grey sky looming over the young girl with her backpack who was currently rushing her way through the streets.

It felt as if something was running down from her face, but there was too little time to explain.

While she continued endlessly, something beneath, hard as a rock, made her tremble. Yelping for a second before falling down on the ground.

It took a few seconds before she slowly got up but was bruised on the knee from the fall. Small ounces of red were slowly dripping down as her expression showed discomfort. Not knowing where to go next, the young girl noticed something from afar. It was a bit hard to tell what it was, though it may seem like a place she can take shelter temporarily. With no other choice, she started slowly proceeding her way forward.

The roof was covered below, inside the hallway where shelves were loaded with pots and tools. A few of them had growing plants on the way, ready to be blooming as a new kin. In one of the corners, it appeared to be a young man wearing an apron with blond but brown short hair.

He was holding a pair of pruning shears, luckily they were washed before that, seemingly cutting one of the plant's branches since it may be old. This was his daily routine: cut, prune, and take care of his little friends.

A tuneful vocal could be heard coming from his mouth, a melody that could only be described as sweet and calm… It fills the silence that is currently ongoing in the garden, though perhaps not the weather that is going on outside. Watching it just from the window is enough to tell that it is not going to be an easy day. But that's fine, he enjoyed the rain.

As he continued to prune a few of the leaves and branches, a noise in the background got his attention, it sounded like the sound of a door's creaking. A customer visiting at this time of the day, especially during a rainy day? That was quite new. Though it did not stop him from greeting the new person. He put his pruning shears inside the apron pocket and dusted it a little before walking up to the counter with a warm smile.

"Good evening new customer, I am quite surprised that anyone would visit at all, considering the current circumstances… But I hope you enjoy your visit h-"

His eyes widened a little before he could even finish his sentence upon the new arrival. It wasn't a grown-up or someone he would usually expect to be a customer here. (Much to his dismay…)

No.

It was a young girl instead. Drenched in cold water from the rain that had fallen down on her who had entered his garden. Who could have known…

The garden was now filled with silence once more, the young girl was wearing a towel to make her feel dryer and to prevent a fever. The gardener was leaning against the counter yet had distance from the girl. Silently observing her… She appeared to be short, have short black hair and red eyes. She seems shy too. However even when he tried talking to her, she didn't have the nerve to respond back.

His mind pondered… On what occasion would a young child of all humans be doing here? Judging from her clothing, she was wearing a white school uniform but was soaked, and had a few bruises on her face and knees. Even though she was looking away, her gaze seemed upset and…

Ah, so that's what it is about.

His eyes narrowed, he was never used to being around children nor did he like them due to their more… Lively manners reminded him too much. However, something was more… Different about this young girl. A certain "kinship" if that's the phrase. Yes, it's strange really to say but… She reminds him of himself in a way. Perhaps he could do something to try to cheer her up while being here, after all…

He feels abhorrence when they are miserable in their own worlds.

"Say… Young child…" His words pierced through the shallow and silent garden, brought a little bit of her attention, but she didn't make too much eye contact, only peeking. That's good enough, it shows that she is respectful and willing to listen.

"Would you like to hear a little tale?" The gardener smiled at her, with the girl's eyes slowly lit up in surprise. It wasn't something she was expecting coming from a total stranger. Her expression went from surprise to hesitant, contemplating whether she should answer or not.

"Needn't to worry… It's a very interesting tale I have, something… Children at your age should know when growing up."

Silence flowing for a few more seconds before the young girl finally spoke.

"... Ok."

"Ah! Wonderful… Now, listen closely."

"Once there was a young man in his early adulthood, during that time he was studying in university with one year left before graduating. While he was a quiet student and finished his tasks like he had to, he was known to be polite and calm, always respectful to others. Though there is kindness, someone will always want to take advantage of it. A student, let's call him "Hoshi", perhaps 3 years older from one of the other courses, liked to torment those who he claimed as "feeble". The young man just happened to be one of them, and him specifically. He would frequently toss out repellent speeches, push him, including frequently mess up his projects. Of course, the professors would not do anything about it due to their blindness to obscure situations. It was arduous, although it didn't stop him from acting respectful still, he still had a life outside all of it."

"As personal hobbies, he liked painting and illustrating real life events, keeping him updated in the land of the rising sun. Furthermore, he enjoyed nature and plants as well."

"He liked plants?"

"Haha… Indeed he did. You seem more interested now… Do you like them?"

"... I like flowers."

"Truly? I see…What makes you say that?"

"They're pretty… I want to plant them myself someday."

"Very interesting… Well, he liked flowers too."

"Really?"

"To his sole heart and blood."

"Watering them, cutting them, pruning them, and keeping them in pots… The list goes on. It felt relaxing with a sense of relief to him. Seeing them as "precious" and the need to protect and take care of them, it's truly something that only happens when you feel a strong connection to it (Or them…) It was one of the only things that kept him, well… Him.

Though it would not be long before Hoshi would eventually find out about one of his "hobbies", with next year passing on closer to graduation. Knowing there was an important project that specifically included gardening to show one's skills with caution and care to truly show if he took it to heart, one that determined whether it would accept him into going further in life because it was so important….

You know what they say… Find something precious that belongs to the person, go ahead and destroy it. "

"Just the same day that it was going to be presented, all the young man found was broken leaves, a torn stem with dirt piled all over, all he had worked for with passion and care, just to show nothing. Dread slowly wrenching down as all eyes looked down at him. Disappointed faces, questioning and quietly whispering to each other. Dismissing him, telling him that he failed and could not graduate, his expression was more detached than a living human from the living world.

With a specific glance catching his attention… Hoshi stood there from the faraway distance, staring right at him with that smirk… Knowing he had sabotaged everything for him.

The young man could only smile… Even laughing quietly, tears streaming down his face with wide eyes as he was handling all of his emotions. Just how much he has kept up to this point of treatment… Emotions could not be explained."

"He wanted to rip that smile right off his skin… Just to have him in agony the same way his torment went on. To enjoy such a scene… Would be a dream for the young man."

He finished his last sentence calmly. The short tale left her deep in thought, and for a valid reason. (Just as he wanted her to…) The young girl was listening with a wide ear, but… Her face showed more concern and even disorientation at the last part. She cannot become too fixated on that. Thinking steadily on how to get her to focus on something else, before glancing outside the window… It was getting dark outside, and it was likely that she had to start leaving by now, so he grinned to himself darkly.

"Truly unfortunate…. Poor boy just has to get the worst of it." He said as she snapped back to reality, turning her head to the gardener.

"I wish it didn't happen to him…"

"... (I wish so as well.) Yet that is how reality is, it's a cruel and unfair world we have to live in, dear. Though I think that is enough for tales today… Too many stories gets your tiny little head mixed up." He chuckled in a cheery tone, booping her forehead to get her to snap out of it.

"Looks like the time is passing and it's getting late, so you should head back before it is too dark outside." As he mentioned that she had to start going, her expression gradually showed a bit of uncertainty and discomfort, oh?

"... It's scary out there… I don't want to." Afraid of going back outside alone… Of course she would say that. But he can't really blame her. Maybe that's just something he cannot really understand with children. He thought for a moment before letting out a sigh. He went up to her side and placed his hand on her head.

"Do not worry… I can follow you out to the entrance outside, that way, it'll be much safer." He reassured her before holding out his hand to her for the girl to hold. She was a bit hesitant at first… But slowly grasped onto his hand, as he started leading her out to the outside entrance. Since it was still raining outside heavily, knowing how soaked the human child already was, it's best to give her something that she could at least shield herself from.

"Please wait a moment, I'll be back, do not move." He told her head before walking inside for a second, leaving her to wait before he came back outside with an umbrella, handing it over to her, much to her surprise now that she has her own umbrella.

"This will prevent the possibility of fever and coming back all soaked. Do not let it go to waste, ok?" He looked down at her as if analyzing whether she was truthful or a false predicament. As she was silent for a few seconds before slowly nodding, sharpening his gaze at her... That made him smile a little, chuckling softly.

"Very good, dear child." He nodded at her, contemplating for a few seconds before bending down to her height since she was really short, not really that surprising due to the fact that she's a child…

"Before you go… I want you to close your eyes for a second and hold out your palm."

"Why?"

"Just keep them closed until I tell so, it'll be a fun surprise!"

"Ok…" She closed her eyes, not peeking through as she held out her palm. He slowly grabbed out something from his apron pocket, the tool he was using earlier. He then placed them in her palm, in which she could already feel something was in her hands.

"You can open your eyes now." He told as the young girl slowly opened one of her eyes, with her gaze being met with a pruning shear, wide with puzzlement. Pruning shears? She's always dreamt of having one… It left her speechless, not knowing how or what to tell the gardener in front of her, this felt too much for her to deserve at all.

"You said that you'd like to plant and garden your own flowers one day, right? Well… Now you can. Just make sure that you take extra good care of them, hm? I spent a lot of time with those precious little babies… "

"... T- Thank you, I don't know what to say…-

Uhm.. I'm sorry… I don't want to sound rude or unappreciative but… This… Smells a little funny?"

"Oh. Apologies for that, haha, well, that's normal for pruning shears to do, use them too much and they'll get the smell of dirt. You get used to it." Thank the flowers that were washed before that.

"Oh… Well ok… But thank you so much again, Mr…."

"Of course. But… There's just one thing I want you to promise me."

"?"

"If you are ever going to become upset… Don't. If there's anything I do not enjoy, it's crying and disoriented children. Only do it the moments that you truly need to. You don't wanna show others your "weakness" and make them think that you're "fragile"... Hm? It's easy for others to pick on as noticeable as you."

"Oh… I see."

"Do not feel sorrow, child. Make yourself seem more than you are, what you aspire to be… You need to start standing against those who deem you as "Feeble"... Letting them take advantage of you will be a great disadvantage. And if anything more ever happens…" He narrowed his eyes, gazing at the pruning shears she held that he gifted her, before smirking a little.

"It's for a reason. And one I can understand if that ever happens with you."

"... Why are you telling me this?"

"You and I are more alike than you think." He smiled a little while pointing at the little red flower on her head.

His word of choice confused her, with the rain still falling down, the umbrella shielding her from it as a bit of wind breeze made her hair. But she didn't argue against it, the gardener has been overall kind with her all this time up until now where she has to leave.

"Now… Remember that promise, and keep it to heart, hm?"

"... Promise."

"I'm very delighted to know that… I'd be very disheartened to see those eyes dwelling with desolation once more." He said, wiping away dry tears from her face before standing up to his own height.

"Now… Up you go, my dear. There are people waiting there for you, ones that care for you." He chuckled, nudging her to go with her expression showing surprise, as she turned around, starting to walk away finally. Glancing back one last time, with the gardener bidding her a farewell. She smiled a little back and waved her last farewell.

As she left his sight, he smiled to himself, turning around to the door entrance and starting to walk back inside. As he did, glancing at the corner, spotting a little red smear on the floor. Narrowing his eyes at the sight, looks like he missed a spot… What a pain.

"Hm… What a sweet yet pitiful child… So much for a little girl at her age. Though… I'm sure she'll be more alright when she grows up." He thought to himself, strolling his way to the backroom where all the other supplies were stored. As he got inside to get the mop and water bucket, he stared at the backside where a small pinboard was seen, he smiled to himself staring at the picture on the center of it all.

"I cannot wait for us to meet again… And to see your blood make a fine painting for my illustration."