Chapter 2:
This Metallic Heart Of Mine
“What just happened?” Matsuo thought, still confused by the interaction he had just experienced. Matsuo wasn't expecting his first interaction with another human to be so sudden, not to mention that it was with a woman—at least, by appearances. Given that it was a virtual world, anyone could create a character of any gender. But that was something he could learn more about later when he met her again.
As the boy got lost in his thoughts, leaning against the gate of the field of daisies where he had been left by the system, the girl suddenly arrived next to him. She was wearing a white dress with light pink tones. It was also noticeable that she had an iris flower pinned in her pink hair.
“You're still a bit lost, right? Entering a virtual world for the first time can be quite demanding on our minds,” the girl said, unaware of what was truly troubling Matsuo.
“Yes. That must be what's making me confused,” he said, nervously laughing, knowing very well that it wasn’t the real reason for his confusion.
“By the way, it was very rude of me to start talking without introducing myself. Sorry. I'm Mizuki. And you? What's your name?” Mizuki said, a smile stretching from ear to ear, her eyes nearly closed from the muscles in her face.
“I’m Matsuo-o-o-o-o!” he said, embarrassed, as he covered his face with his hands for stuttering while saying his own name.
"Such a cute guy..." - Mizuki thought as she looked at Matsuo, blushing with embarrassment. "Shall we go eat something and talk a bit?"
"Yes, let's..." - Matsuo said, hiding behind his hands that were still covering his face.
The two young people set off in search of a restaurant while wandering through the streets of that rural town. Matsuo was amazed by the beauty of the market run by the locals. It was a chaos and disorganization that he had never witnessed before. In his field of vision, he could see a couple negotiating the price of a basket of fruits with a vendor, a child extremely happy accepting the ice cream his father bought at a stall, and two completely intoxicated people walking arm in arm to wherever the god of alcoholic drinks would take them. In every corner Matsuo looked, he was able to capture something new. Things that didn’t exist in the "perfect" reality he was born into. But what fascinated him the most were all the different types of connections that existed in just one street of that town. Unbeknownst to him, as he took in everything he was witnessing anew, he let slip the most genuine smile possible. A smile that quickly faded once he realized he had smiled without forcing it. Amidst the confusion in his mind, he noticed that Mizuki was looking at him, capturing the whole moment.
"Oh no! No, no, no! She's going to think I'm crazy for smiling out of the blue..." - Matsuo thought, already expecting the worst. Matsuo was even more surprised when he noticed Mizuki's expression. The girl was crying. The boy didn't know what had caused that reaction and thought he had already ruined everything on his first chance to interact and create memories with someone.
"M-M-Mizuki, why are you crying?! Was it something I did?" - Matsuo asked in panic.
"What a fool. You didn't do anything, don't worry! I just witnessed something that made me happy." - Mizuki said while smiling with tears running down her face.
"I didn't know people cried when they're happy." - Matsuo said, surprised by the information Mizuki had given him.
"Let's keep looking for something to eat, Matsuo," - Mizuki said, focusing on the goal and trying to distract Matsuo from the confusion in his head.
Matsuo and Mizuki continued to explore the street until they found a place that caught their interest. A shop with a window full of cakes and other types of pastries. Matsuo looked at Mizuki and saw her eyes shining as she gazed at the store.
“Well, I think we've already decided on the place.” - Matsuo thought.
After they entered the establishment, a waitress approached them and took them to a table for two at the back of the bakery, and they both placed their orders. The decoration excited Mizuki. The entire decor was based on flowers. Various types of flowers. And since the girl worked in a flower shop, she liked everything that was flowers.
“Now it makes sense why you were in the middle of that daisy field.” - Matsuo said.
“Yes. My mother was a florist, and I developed a taste for flowers and their different meanings.” - Mizuki said with a nostalgic smile.
“I see. I didn’t know that flowers had meanings. What’s the meaning of the one you have in your hair?” - Matsuo asked.
“This flower is an iris. Irises usually have a purplish color and symbolize faith, wisdom, and hope.” - Mizuki said confidently.
The conversation flowed, and soon Matsuo’s and Mizuki’s orders arrived. Matsuo chose a crepe with dark chocolate and a black tea, as he liked more intense flavors. Mizuki, who preferred sweets, opted for a berry cheesecake and a lemonade.
“Mizuki, I appreciate your company, but I would like to ask you something...” - Matsuo said, hesitant about the question he wanted to ask or the answer he might get.
“I’m the one who should thank you, I haven’t had this much fun in a long time! And yes, of course you can ask!” - Mizuki said with a smile that made anyone feel welcome.
“I'll ask the question then. When I appeared in the field of daisies, there was no reason for you to help me. You could have simply told me to go away. Why did you want to help? - Matsuo asked.
“It may seem like I'm overstepping, but when I looked into your eyes, you seemed to be in pain...” - Mizuki said, letting her smile fade a little.
Matsuo stood up, thanked her for her company, left enough money on the table to pay for both orders, and looked at Mizuki.
“Thank you for being the first person I felt a connection with. I couldn't have asked for a better person. I'll see you tomorrow?” - Matsuo asked.
“Of course!” - Mizuki replied, surprised by Matsuo's gratitude and words.
As soon as Matsuo turned his back on Mizuki, the boy couldn't hold it in and cried for the first time in his life.
Irises represent hope, is there hope for Matsuo's heart?
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