Chapter 4:

Chapter 4 - Gerbera Daisy

By Your Side

[07:17] Yuu-chan : Hey! Hey! Wanna hang out?

[07:17] Yuu-chan : I just found a great place for us to visit at least once.

[07:18] Yuuki : What place?

That morning, I had just woken up, and my phone’s notifications were already full from this group chat.

[07:18] Yuu-chan : Look! Look!

[07:18] Yuu-chan : (Send a picture of a cafe full of customers)

[07:18] Yuuki : Looks like a nice place.

[07:18] Yuu-chan : Right? Right? We need to go take a visit as fast as possible before it’s sold out!

[07:19] Yuuki : Well, I'm free, so bring me.

[07:19] Yuu-chan : Ok!

[07:19] Yuu-chan : Yuuto, are you going to join us?

Uh... I wanted to rest as today is the weekend...

This week, I was always with Akari. She talked to me, asked me, she did whatever she wanted and took me in with her. Turns out, I interacted more than I used to...

[08:07] Yuuto : I'm in, where and when's the place to meet?

[08:07] Yuu-chan : Woah! This slow lorises is finally awake!

[08:07] Yuuto : Who do you call slow lorises huh?

[08:07] Yuu-chan : Of course it's our Yuuto. Who else is waking up this late in the weekend other than you?

[08:08] Yuuto : Shut up. So?

[08:08] Yuu-chan : This noon, at 12 in the city park. Don't be late or face the consequences!

[08:08] Yuuto : Ok.

This noon?

I wanted to rest though...

Wait, if that's so, then why did I agree?!

Well, who cares, I'm also bored because I don't have any plans for today.

I put my phone inside my pants pocket and get up from the bed to go to the bathroom downstairs.

"Hoaaahhh..."

"Whoa, look who's here in the morning." My sister, who had just finished brushing her teeth, teased me.

"I can sleep longer if those two aren't noisy in the group chat." I washed my face after saying that.

"Oh~ What is it about?"

"They invited me to hang out and visit a cafe which I think is popular right now." I wipe my wet face with a towel, and then show her the photo of the cafe I'm talking about.

"Oh, that cafe?"

"You know?"

"Well... My friends and I have a plan to visit it too, next week though."

"Hee..."

"Then, have fun with your friends."

———

[11:50] Yuu-chan : Me and Yuuki are already here!

[11:50] Yuuto : Ok, wait a few more minutes, I'm almost there.

[11:50] Yuu-chan : Alrighty~

...

Uh... Where's the city park...? It's... Should be this way right?

Mmm... How long I haven't been there...?

After walking for a while, I finally see them from afar.

"Heeeyyy! We're heeereee!" Yuuko waved both of her hands.

After gathering with them beside the city park's fountain, Yuuko teased me.

"So slowww..."

"But I'm 5 minutes early, am I not?" I showed them my phone with a clock showing 11:55.

"You shouldn't make a girl wait."

"I'm not your boyfriend, and Yuuki is already here too, right?"

"That's right! Ehehe~" She jumped and hugged Yuuki.

Mmm... What a pain.

"We're already gathered here, shall we go now?"

"Go!" Yuuko shouted full of energy.

She walks beside Yuuki while leading the way, and I'm behind them, alone.

I searched for the cafe name on the web.
Mmm... A lot of people give 5 stars in the review.

I also checked the cafe location on the map.

...

Oh, what a surprise. It's actually close to the city park.

So that's why she set the meeting place at the city park.

"Hey, hey, Yuuto," Yuuko called me.

"What is it?" I answered as I put my phone inside my trousers pocket, and saw both of them stop walking.

"Isn't that the girl who is always by your side?" Yuuko pointed at her.

"Hm? Oh..." I fell silent when I saw Akari and her maid in front of a flower shop. They're looking at some flowers displayed in front of the shop.

"You didn't want to greet her?" Yuuki asked.

"Yeah! Yeah! He's right, you didn't want to greet her?" Yuuko said with a playful tone.

"Mmm... I don't know, I don't want to bother her on her weekend."

"Hee? Aren't both of you close? I think it's not a problem." Yuuko looked at me, and then looked at Akari, then back to me repeatedly.

"Uh... I think we are indeed close ... But it's always Akari who struck up a conversation." I scratched my hair.

"Well then, now's your chance to strike up a conversation with her." Yuuko pushed me from the back.

Hrrmm...

"Alright... Then, after that, what should I do?"

"I don't know~ Hope Fortuna is with you~" Yuuko teased me and that made my eyebrows twitch.

Without a clear plan, I walked towards the flower shop to greet her.

I just need to greet her... I just need to greet her...

"Good afternoon, Akari."

Akari turned to me with a surprised face. "Ah, Homura, Good afternoon!"

"Good afternoon, Mr. Homura." Akari's maid bowed.

"Good afternoon." I bowed back.

"What brings you here, Homura?"

"Nothing, really. I just happened to see you while strolling around here and thought I need to greet you."

"O-oh, so it's like that..."

"Yeah, like that. By the way, what kind of flowers are you going to buy?"

"About that... I haven't made up my mind, all of the flowers look very beautiful." Akari smiled between the flowers.

What... What kind of view is this... She looks gorgeous with the flowers...

"Homura."

"Yes?"

"Let's get in, I wanted to see more of these flowers."

"Oh, yeah."

I walked towards the door first, opened it for Akari and her maid to get in.

I also get in after they're inside.

...

Mmm... All of the fragrant aroma strikes my nose and it makes me somehow comfortable...

These aromas are kind of... Too much for me though...

"Homura, come here," Akari called me.

I walked towards her, who's currently looking at the flowers displayed in the middle of the room...

"This flower is beautiful, don't you think so? The white color is so pure and beautiful."

"Yeah, I do think so."

I don't know all of the names of the flowers offered here, but I do know that these flowers looked beautiful.

Even more Akari...

I walked towards some shelves displaying other flowers.

...

Woah, these flowers are really something...

But... What flowers are these? The petals are wide and arranged neatly forming the shape of a circle, the red colors catch my eye's attention.

"Woah! Those flowers are very beautiful aren't they?" Akari came up to me.

"Yeah you're right... But such a shame I don't know the name of these flowers..."

"Don't worry about it too much." Akari chuckled. "Those are Gerbera Daisy."

"You know?"

"I have a lot of flower types in my house's garden, so I can say I'm a big fan of flowers." Akari smiled as she explained. "But I don't have this one, I know this from a book I read before."

"Oh... Then, why don't you buy these flowers? You said you don't have them right?"

Akari stayed silent while looking at the flowers.

What's wrong with her?

"Akari?"

"Oh, yes?"

"Is there something wrong?"

"No... Nothing, it's just..." Akari looked away from me

What's with her, really?

I looked at her maid who's standing right besides her, and she just smiled at me.

"I..." Akari finally said something. "I will buy it."

"Eh? Are you sure? You don't have to listen to my recommendation..."

"No, I will buy it." Akari smiled at me.

"If that's so... Okay then..." I scratched my hair, full of confusion.

I don't get her...

Akari told her maid to buy three of the Gerbera Daisy.

...

I think I'm forgetting something...

Bzzz, Bzzz.

Oh? I take my phone from my trousers pocket.

[12:27] Yuu-chan : We're already at the cafe~

[12:27] Yuu-chan : (Send a picture of her selfie with Yuuki)

[12:27] Yuu-chan : We're waiting for you~

They already arrived?!

[12:17] Yuuto : Hey! Why did you guys leave me?

[12:17] Yuu-chan : Well, you seem to be having a good time with her, so we don't want to disturb you.

[12:28] Yuuto : But weren't you guys the one who forced me to greet her?!

[12:28] Yuu-chan : You're right~ But the rest is up to you, right?~

Uh... She's right...

It's also my fault forgetting about our hang out plan...

"Homura."

"Oh, yeah, what is it?"

"You looked annoyed, what's wrong?" Akari asked me. On her lap, there's a beige colored paper bag with flower motifs on it and a ribbon at the upper left corner of it.

"Ah, it's nothing."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Oh right... You already bought it? The flowers?"

"I have, here it is." Akari took out a plastic package from the paper bag. Inside of it, there's a three cut of Gerbera Daisy.

"Oh you're right."

"Ah, that reminds me. What are you going to do after this?

"Mmm... Going to my friend's place, they just told me they already arrived at the promised place."

"Oh... Is that so... Umm, thanks for accompanying me."

"That's not a problem, I'm happy I can be a help."

"Then, see you at school, Homura."

"Right, see you at school."

I walked towards the door, opened it for Akari and her maid.