They Represented Hope and Faith

An art teacher from the class Shouko signed them up a few days ago appeared after noon. The woman was just in her early fifties, called Teacher Makino. The art teacher brought along with her a big box of art supplies. They gathered in the lounge.

"Making flower pressed resin isn't too difficult," Teacher Makino explained as she organized all the items needed on the table. A variety of shapes of molds, stir sticks, mixing cups and a few objects Shouko didn't recognize.

Then, Teacher Makino brought out a case containing pressed flowers from the big box. Shouko's eyes brightened seeing the colorful dried flowers. All of them looked beautiful in her eyes. A few red maple leaves and yellow ginkgo leaves could be found in the case too.

"But, the tedious part is you have to dry the flowers for a few weeks first," Teacher Makino continued her explanation. Each of her words was gentle as if she was talking to a child. "Of course, you could choose to dry them in an oven, microwave or dehydrator but I still keep my way traditional. Well, it's quite difficult when you're a stubborn old lady."

Both Shouko and Teacher Makino laughed, filling the quiet lounge with a warm feeling. Kyoya who stood next to his wife only smiled seeing Shouko's happy face. Then, his eyes landed on her long hair. He frowned slightly.

Without making a noise, he stepped forward and started gathering her hair in his palm.

Shouko was startled with his sudden action. She tilted her head, looking at him who was no tying her hair. "Kyoya?"

"It's inconvenient if you didn't tie your hair," Kyoya answered in a low voice. He skilfully tied her hair into a bun.

Shouko's cheeks flushed red especially when she saw the smile Teacher Makino gave her. She lowered her head, quietly waiting for her husband to be done.

"Alright," Kyoya smoothened her bun before he took his hands away from her head. He turned to Teacher Makino. "I'm sorry. You may continue."

Teacher Makino smiled sweetly. She loved seeing a couple who had good feelings for each other. She focused back on the items on the table.

"All of the items are complete. We will start by mixing the hardener and the resin," Teacher Makino gestured for Shouko and Kyoya to wear the gloves provided. The husband and wife quietly followed the instruction.

Teacher Makino showed them how to prepare the resin first. Shouko diligently scrape the bottoms and the sides of the cup as she stirred the resin using the stir stick. Kyoya who worked beside her did the same.

"Alright, you may choose the molds and flowers that you'd like to decorate your resin," Teacher Makino said after she saw their resin was ready.

Shouko looked at the molds brought by Teacher Makino. The shapes were various as well as their sizes - rectangular, star, heart, circle and triangle. She picked the big sized rectangular and heart-shaped molds. She had decided on which flowers she would use.

"Pour a small amount of resin into your mold," Teacher Makino demonstrated to her diligent students. Shouko and Kyoya quietly followed her steps. Then, the woman took a small steel picker and began picking the dried flowers. "Place the pressed flowers gently onto the resin. Be careful to avoid using too much strength."

Shouko went to pick her flowers. She placed two dried petals of pink peonies and three twigs of white baby's breath onto the resin poured inside a rectangular-shaped mold. Kyoya who was looking at her was stunned when he saw her choice of flowers before warmth gradually filling his dark eyes.

They were the flowers he gifted her a few weeks ago. The ones signified everlasting love and happy marriage.

Did she pick those because of that day?

With a greater mood, Kyoya himself began to choose the dried flowers. His eyes were drawn to the dark blue iris.

"Alright, all of the flowers have been set properly?" Teacher Makino glanced at her student's first resin works. With a satisfied smile, she nodded her approval. The way they arranged the dried flowers looked neat and beautiful. "Now, pour more resin and make sure the flowers are completely covered by it."

"Okay~"

Shouko leaned down, her hands began to work again. She didn't realize how her every action was looked at by the man at her side.

Teacher Makino advised them to let the resin set for 10 to 20 minutes. She placed two straws on the table, earning their curious gaze.

"After 20 minutes, you can blow any popped up bubbles using these straws. Remember to blow them gently."

"Okay!"

As they were waiting for the resin to harden, Shouko had just realized that she was completely immersed in her own art until she forgot to take a look at Kyoya's. But, she had just turned her head to his side before Kyoya's tall body blocked her view.

Shouko moved to her left side but Kyoya followed her movement. Thinking that he wasn't intentional, she turned to her right but the man was still blocking her. Feeling annoyed, she poked his arm.

"What are you doing? I want to see your resin," Shouko wanted to tiptoe but she knew her effort would be worthless since this man was so tall. Even when she raised on her tiptoe, her eyes could only reach his shoulders.

"No can do," Kyoya chuckled, it was funny seeing his wife's expectant face. "I'll show you when it's done."

"But..."

"No," Kyoya refused again. He didn't even budge even when Shouko purposefully pouted.

Teacher Makino smiled again looking at the two of them. When her assistant called saying there was a couple asking for her to come and teach them some art, she actually wanted to refuse. Then, her assistant said it was the lady who went to save the little boy from the fire. Teacher Makino was surprised to hear it.

When the fire happened two days ago, many onlookers saw how a petite-frame lady ran into the cafe blazing with fire. Under the commotion, she reappeared with a little boy in her arms. An ashen looking man dashed to hold her when the woman fainted. It was said that he was her husband.

She didn't expect that the two of them were the owners of this secluded villa.

Every local who lived here knew of the private villa located near the vast lake. It was said that the villa was owned by the developer of their small lake town. Thinking of how this town expanded in these recent years due to his investment coupled with the courageous act of the woman made Teacher Makino interested to meet them.

Thus, she accepted their request. Her assistant also relayed a message from the husband of the lady, hoping for her to bring a few dried flowers that carried the meaning that he wanted. He had even requested her to not speak of it to his wife.

"It's nearly done," Teacher Makino spoke again, attracting the attention of the couple who was bickering lightheartedly. "Come, let's see if there are any bubbles to be popped."

"Okay!"

Shouko quickly left Kyoya, her focus was all on the beautiful pressed flowers resin in front of her. She carefully blew the bubbles away from the surface of the resin.

"Teacher Makino, is my resin alright?"

Although Shouko thought her resin appeared fine, she was still nervous. The older woman came to her side, properly scrutinized her artwork.

Teacher Makino hummed with a smile, silently giving Shouko her approval.

"It looks good! You could remove the resin from the mold after this."

"Alright~"

While Shouko was happily looking at her resin, Teacher Makino's gaze lingered on the man who stood nor far from the little lady. That man would always glance at his wife with tenderness in his eyes.

Teacher Makino looked at the man's resin. She smiled as she recalled the meaning of the flowers that he had chosen.

Hope and faith.

In the near future, words spread in the small lake town, saying how the husband of the little lady, the owner of the secluded villa, only had his wife in his eyes.