1 The Flowers With the Red String

It was spring season in Sugimori High School. It was dawn and the sun was starting to bare its light. The leaves of the cherry blossoms were starting to appear on the bare and wooden oak trees. One classroom was empty, blinds closed with a small amount of light peaking into the lifeless classroom. A pigtailed girl snuck inside the room. She wore a clear, white school outfit, and a green, knee-length skirt. She had in her hand three red flowers tied up in a red string. Emotions high and heart pumping, she put the flowers on a desk nearest to the windows and the second row nearest to the teacher. It was then she sat far away from the desk near the windows, perching like a sea captain of a ship. In her pink backpack, she grabbed a history textbook chronicling the history of ancient Japan and pretended to read. Heart pumping and nerves high, she did her best to stay calm.

The classroom started to pile on as the rest of the students started to come inside. The students trickled into the class, students wearing the same outfits, with the males wearing white shirts and blue pants and the females wearing the same exact outfit the pigtailed girl was wearing. The pigtailed girl continued to conceal her face, paying no attention to the incoming horde of students trickling in one by one. Her apathy and act continued on throughout the morning until she heard the sound of familiar grumbles. She took a peak and saw an angel in disguise. He sported a black jacket on top of a white shirt and black leather pants. Hands in his pocket, hair spiky and his face a clear and crisp complexion. This gentleman's name was Ken Yamamoto. Yamamoto himself was with his best friend, Satou Inabi. Ken was large and imposing, making Satou look diminutive and scrawny in comparison. Ken approached his desk located near the windows. Ken noticed the flowers with the red string.

"What the hell is this?" he said.

The pigtailed girl peaked her eyes away from the textbook even more, just as Ken picked up and examined the flowers. The flowers were in a neat little spiral, the petals overlapping each other with tremendous grace and the yellow buds at the center popping out.

"So desu ne," Satou said. "It looks to be a Tsubaki flower. Very peculiar."

"I think we're in the middle of some internet prank show. There is no way these flowers are mine. Should I go throw them away?"

The pigtailed girl felt her heart crack just a little. The hurt extended not just to her heart but her head as well.

"Now, now. These flowers look a little bit like a love confession. I don't think you should throw them away. I think that would devastate whoever gave you this."

"I still think this is a prank, but whatever. I'll just keep them." Ken hastily put the flowers into his pocket. The flowers fit rather awkwardly with his other things in his pocket, including his wallet full of yen.

Another girl entered the classroom and sat next to the girl with pigtails. Black straight hair, designer glasses, and holding an elegant, interwoven black planner, she noticed the pigtailed girl looking like she was reading, but really wasn't.

"How's your luck, Aoi?"

Aoi drops the textbook into the table, her face as red as the flowers she gave to Ken.

"I was just reading my book, Tsubasa. Just learning and doing my classes. It's not like I'm hiding something or anything!"

"Okay. Can you tell me who created the Great Wave Off Kanagawa?"

"Picasso?"

"I knew it! You've been lovestruck by that guy, Ken. Why are you in love with that delinquent anyway?"

"Well, one day my cat was walking in the driveway. The cat was running away from me and it was crossing the street. This car almost came and tried to kill my darling cat, but Ken-san was just there and able to save my cat. Since then, I can't get him off my mind and I have no idea how to talk to him. So I came up with another way how: with flowers." Aoi flustered, she looks away from Tsubasa.

"I don't know if your plan is brilliant or just stupid. Why don't you just talk to the guy like a normal person would?"

"I just can't find the right words. So I just let the flowers send the message. But you'll see, I'll get his attention sooner or later, Tsubasa!"

Tsubasa sighed. "Suit yourself, Aoi. But don't blame me if anything goes wrong."

The class began as soon as the teacher came in. The students paid close attention to the teacher's instructions and took notes accordingly. The class was on Japanese History and today's lesson was on the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Aoi peaked from her paper to the face of Ken in the best view possible. Eyes widened, focused widely on Ken, everything else became background noise. Aoi's heart fluttering, she drew figures of her and Ken holding hands staring each other into their eyes, framed in a rose-covered heart.

"Excuse me, Aoi."

Her train of thought derailed, the books and papers flied off her desk and landed flat in the ground. The flow of the class was interrupted and everyone, the students and the teacher stopped midway into the lecture. Everyone instantly stared into the back of the classroom, Everyone stared at Aoi. Aoi's face as bright and red as a hot chili pepper, Aoi picked up her fallen papers, school supplies and books.

Tsubasa smugly looked at Aoi. "I was asking if you had a point, but it looks like the point was made."

"Ha ha ha. Am I supposed to be amused?" After Aoi's sarcastic retort, she temporarily snapped out of her infatuation and just studied for the rest of class.

Time had passed and lecture was over. It was late afternoon. Aoi and Tsubasa were walking in the school hall. The students were spread all around, chatting and minding their own business. Tsubasa and Aoi were near the exit leading to the pastoral school grounds. Just as Aoi tried to leave, Tsubasa forcibly stopped and looked at Aoi with a serious and stern look.

"Aoi Kimura. For once, can you think about your future? There's more to life than this random guy you have a crush on. Why can't you just think of yourself? Why are you even choosing this man who randomly saved your cat over yourself and your own dreams and goals for the future?"

"Well, Tsubasa Maeda. You should know that I want to be with somebody. Somebody special, somebody who can be there, and someone who can provide and protect me. Not every girl is like you, Tsubasa. You may be this well-prepared girl who wants to work for a living, but I just want that perfect somebody. I just feel that it's Ken. Ken has this confidence and this charisma that makes me feel warm inside. I don't know how to explain it. I just don't know. "

Tsubasa sighed and reluctantly smiled. "I guess there's no stopping you. I have to admit, you don't know how to quit. That's something I've always admired about you since we were kids. Fine then, I'll get out of your way. But I warn you, look before you leap." Tsubasa grabbed her stuff and held her backpack upright. "Goodbye, Aoi-chan." As soon as Tsubasa left, Aoi reached into her pockets and grabbed yet another flower with red string. This time they were cherry blossoms. They were white as snow but its pinkish hue was easily visible. Aoi prepared those for herself and she knew the perfect location to place them.

Inside the high school was a dimly lit room that carried the shoes of all the students of Sugimori High. Also known as the getabako, the shoe room had every shoe you can imagine, from the small and petite rubber shoes made in modern times to the brown, wooden clogs fashioned from the classical era. The shoes contained the soles of the various students, all in various shapes and sizes. Compact, clean, and complete, this was a room didn't just contain shoes but the very lives of the students of Sugimori High. Without anyone looking, Aoi peaked through the door and entered the shoe room. It was completely empty with no student in sight. Nothing but the array of shoes that filled the room. Aoi sneakily searched across the shoe racks. Aoi had a particular fondness for shoes. She was not only a collector of shoes but was also able to recognize a person just by looking at their shoes. She knew what she was searching: black 20-centimeter boots. Flower in hand, she scoured through the room looking for the shoes of Ken. After a thorough search of every nook and cranny, she was able to locate the black 20-centimeter boots and placed the flowers into the boots.

"Konichiwa."

"Wah!!" Aoi tripped in surprise, she fell by her bottom and the shoe boxes rocked. She recovered a little and recognized the male face and glasses.

"So you're the one mysteriously giving flowers for my friend?"

"Um, no. I was just finding somewhere to plant my flowers."

"So you're planting flowers in my friend's boots?"

Aoi disarmed, she began shyly putting her two pointer fingers together.

"You know, you could just talk to my friend Ken and meet him face to face." Satou put his hand in the back of his head and rubbed it while wearing an awkward grin.

Aoi shyly tried to come up with a response. "I just don't know how to confront him directly."

"It hasn't been that long ago since I met Ken, but Ken isn't that scary a person."

"No, not like that!" Aoi interrupted Satou. "I mean, I just, whenever I see him there's this sense of confidence and calmness whenever I see him. I've never seen a guy like that before. He looks like a guy that cares about doing his own thing and not caring about what anyone thinks. I've never seen a guy like that. There's something about that I wish I had. A strength and confidence that he has that I don't."

Satou was impressed. He never knew a girl like Aoi would ever fall for a guy like Ken. Satou looked at Aoi. She was a small and petite girl. Her face looked concerned and awkward. Her two pointer fingers continuing to touch one another, her feelings looked genuine and real. Face red and eyes facing the ground, Aoi looked away from Satou nervously. Satou made his choice

"I'll help you out."

Aoi's face flashed in surprise.

"There's an upcoming spring festival coming up and I believe there's a way I can set you up with Ken. He tends to be busy in his garage, but I can convince him." Satou's face full of determination, Satou had a plan on how to hook her up with his friend, Ken.

Aoi gasped in surprise. Her surprised face later transformed into a face of elation and excitement. "Please tell me how."

A few days had passed and the spring festival was in bloom. Every year, Sugimori High School had their own spring festival. This was the chance for the students to celebrate spring, the changing of the seasons, and the chance for new beginnings. For Aoi, this was her chance.

Aoi was working on the art of flower arrangement for her club, the floral club. Most of the club was made up of females, who also liked flowers just like Aoi. But unlike all of the students of the club, she wasn't just an admirer of flowers, she was an expert of the art of flower arrangement or ikebana. Her floral arrangements were placed in ancient-looking, Heian period bowls. The flowers were long, antiquated, and expressive. Simple, unifying colors, and minimalist to show the simple eloquence of flowers. Aoi learned flower arrangement through her mother ever since a young age and Aoi has perfected this art for a long time.

The ikebana she worked on for this year's spring festival was no exception. The main star of the show was the momo peach flower. The flower acted as the centerpiece, with its elongated stems shaped in exaggerated lengths. Left and right, the peach flowers exposed its leaves and its bud in extravagant form. The peach flowers were in a beautiful array, blooming in close proximity. This was Aoi's art and this was how she expressed herself.

She was able to see her one and only Ken, walking with Satou. She gazed at her Ken while trying to overhear his conversation with Satou.

Satou and Ken walked around the spring festival. All of the clubs had their own events and activities. All of the effort, hard work, attention, and love were put to the stands, the costumes, the events, the arts, and crafts. This was a day of celebration and joy, a day of tradition, and a day community.

"Why the hell do I have to be a part of this stupid festival?"

"Whoa, relax there. There's something I want to show you."

Ken went along with Satou reluctantly. Ken kept a stern, straight face, with his hands noticeably scratched with a few bandages to cover up the bleeding. Satou, meanwhile, was in silent awe of this year's festival. Hordes of origami in a rainbow of colors hung to make it look like the cranes were flying. Simple and clean tables with high school girls dressed in conservative yet elegant maid outfits. And the main highlight of the festival, a stage play dedicated to the Tanabata festival, a festival celebrated every year in Japan. Ken and Satou were close to the flower booth. As the two were in close proximity, Aoi stopped working and immediately swooned upon the sight of Ken. Awestruck and her eyes glowing with flashing hearts, her face red and fidgeting with nervousness, this was her moment. Tsubasa, volunteering the Flower Club, tapped Aoi on her shoulder.

"There he is. Don't blame me if this all goes horribly wrong."

Ken went face to face with Aoi. Aoi, losing her confidence, barely found a way to form her sentences.

"Konichiwa, Ken." Aoi looked away from Ken's face, coming up with the words inside her head.

"So you're that girl who's been sending flowers."

Without saying a word, Aoi showed Ken her elaborate flower display, which included the tsubaki and cherry blossom flowers. Ken gazed at them for a moment. He closely examined the flowers. He noted the shape of the flowers, the way they were arranged, the construction and color of the overall design. But never once did Ken considered what the floral arrangement actually meant.

"The flowers. They're nice. Did you make them?"

Aoi barely glanced at Ken. "Yes. Yes, these flowers belong to me."

"Do you want to go out?"

Aoi's heart blew up like firecrackers in the night. Aoi has waited for this moment for a while. This was her time and this was her chance.

"Yes. Yes, I want to go out." Aoi's confidence grew, her response definitive, she was ready to overcome her nerves and ask her one and only Ken on a date.

It was the late afternoon, and Aoi and Ken were inside an exquisite-looking Japanese restaurant. The restaurant was one of the most extravagant places to eat for young people, as it was home to some of the best local food in Japan. Fried tempura and fresh onigiri, rice on the side and glazed with soy sauce, the place was a sprawling palace, no matter the preference or palette. An ideal place for young couples.

The two of them looked over the menu, as the two of them sat near a pond full of koi. Aoi peeked away from her menu for just a moment and took a look at Ken. Ken took his time searching through the assortment of options the restaurant contained. Aoi blushed and looked away, worried about how the date would turn out as thoughts kept racing in her mind. After a few minutes, the two of them finished their order and the two of them began to talk.

"How are you doing at school?" Ken asked.

"Oh me? Just, you know, just trying to pass, and make it out, somehow," Aoi nervously chuckled. Aoi's quickly looked around the restaurant confused and bewildered on what to ask Ken. Her feelings became less hot and more lukewarm. Her eyes landed on Ken's choice of clothing and asked straight up what she always wanted to ask.

"Your clothes, why are they so different from the rest at school?"

"These clothes come from my older school because the school clothes from Sugimori High don't fit me."

"So, you're not a delinquent?"

Ken raised his voice, "Wait, people think of me as a delinquent? I can't believe people still think of me like that! I'm no delinquent, I thought my friend Satou told you that."

"Whoa, I didn't mean it like that." Aoi tried to diffuse the situation the best she could but only made things more awkward between her and Ken.

Ken was able to calm down for the moment but noticed a strange in his mouth "Is it just me, or is my mouth all of a sudden in need of some water?" Sweaty, Ken picked up the rather sizable glass of water and chugged as much as he could. Aoi waited, with her facial expression being that of sadness and regret. Discouraged, the date was not going the way she expected. Feelings of uneasiness started to erupt inside Aoi's stomach. Or maybe she was just hungry.

The waiter came with the plates of food ready, just as Ken finished chugging the glass of water. For Ken, he ordered fried tempura with rice and green beans. For Aoi, it was a bowl of ramen with a miso broth and egg on top. After the waiter finished serving the food, Aoi gave thanks to the waiter, but almost wanted to punch the waiter for not coming sooner. Aoi silently prayed for the food given to her and Ken, something she always did before eating as common courtesy. Ken promptly ignored Aoi and began eating. Ken gobbled up the food with his shovel-shaped incisors as fast as he could. Promptly munching on the crispiness of the shrimp, he couldn't help but make crunching sounds as he continued to eat. The flow of Aoi's prayer was interrupted constantly by the sound of Ken's eating. Aoi was able to finish her prayer, wishing God to end this date as fast as possible. Aoi properly grabbed her chopsticks and used her chopsticks to capture the rogue noodles from the steamy broth. She slurped up the noodles, and the combination of the soupy broth and stringy noodles enlightened her taste buds. She thought that maybe the food will save her date. Maybe this will salvage what felt like a bad date night. Alas, this did not come true.

Aoi, slurping on her noodles, noticed a small white note fall from the sleeves of Ken, just as he continued to feast on his meal. She paused and picked up the small white note. She opened it up and read the note as soon as she was done eating. Ken stopped eating too, his face as dumbfounded as a deer near the headlights of a truck.

"How are you doing at school? What are your favorite hobbies? What is your favorite flower?" Aoi read aloud what was written in the note. "What the hell is this?" That was not on the note.

"Look, I don't know how to explain this." Ken stood up. "I'm going to be blunt, I don't think we're meant for each other. You're cute and all, but I don't really I love you all that much."

The entire facade shattered. Aoi herself was brokenhearted, but she somehow knew this was coming. She tried to piece together her once romantic feelings towards Ken, but the romance faded away and all that was left turned to dust.

"You're completely right." Aoi stood too. Fighting back tears, she said, "When I first saw you, I viewed you as something more. When you rescued my cat, I thought you were the bravest man I've ever seen and I wanted to get closer to you. I got my wish, and now all I see is a broken reflection." Aoi's tears started to stream down her face. Dealing with emotions completely foreign to her, she found it hard to stop the wave of tears pouring in like a typhoon.

Ken had feelings inside him too and they were also new to him. But it was a very different feeling. He felt a sense of uneasiness, not just in his head but from his stomach as well, and it had nothing to do with the food. He felt no romantic passion for Aoi, but he knew he hurt Aoi. He didn't want it to end it like this. With a deep sigh, he said, "Wait Aoi, please. I wasn't ready for this either. Satou told me all about you, and to be honest I never expected to have anyone, especially someone as cute as you, to have a crush on me. I may not be the hero you wanted, but your flowers have inspired me. In fact, there's something I want to show you." Ken reached into his pocket with his bandaged hands and showed the tearful Aoi what he had inside in his pocket. In the palm of his hand was a metal flower. Shaped like a lotus, the petals were straight and sharp. From the light of the restaurant, the metal flower reflected the light and gave it a metal sheen. Aoi, tears still on her face, was able for just a moment to glance into the metal flower.

"You made this, by yourself?" She glanced onto the hard-edged yet somewhat elegant design of the metal flower.

"Yes. I was inspired by your flowers. Your flowerwork is incredible and it helped me make this. I make art using metal. I never really liked flowers, but your flowers are very different. The way you portray flowers is very artistic, it reminds me of my own art."

Aoi's flood of emotions weathered into a steady stream of rough waters. "Gomenasai, I'm sorry for the way I've acted."

"What the hell? I'm sorry, too. I'm not a very sensitive guy, but you, you're different. People have always viewed me as brute. You're only one to think otherwise. That, and Satou." Ken heartily laughed.

Aoi smiled shyly, tears almost gone. "Maybe you weren't the person I dreamt of, but now I want to know the real you. Can we keep in touch? But this time, as friends?"

"You know what, it's a deal! Just one thing, you have to show me how you make those flowers."

"Consider it a done deal. And, trust me, I don't need a note to show me how," Aoi laughed.

The two of them finished their meals and Ken agreed to pay for the meal. Aoi decided to go on ahead and leave the restaurant. Near an oak tree where the cherry blossoms started to bloom and a pool full of black-bodied, white spotted koi fish, she closed the door and left the restaurant. She never looked back.