Himawari and Lieutenant General Izumi Yanagi

Two days later, a man in a military uniform entered the Apricot Apothecary. His presence was commanding: his black hair was styled exactly as one in the military would: short, clean. His uniform transmit authority.

He was accompanied by an older man with grey hair, neatly combed, featuring a prominent scar over his right eye. He also was wearing his military uniform. Both men held a truly imposing presence.

"A few days ago, my mother came here for some medicine," the young officer said. Haruto noted a certain tendency to avoid presentation. "I thank you. What you told to my mother was useful. It helped me a great deal."

"Thank you very much for your kind words," Haruto began to reply, though he wasn't sure how to address them. The officer noticed his hesitation.
"Forgive me," the soldier said. "I am Lieutenant General Yanagi Izumi, and this is my father, Colonel Yanagi Shinobu."

The colonel bowed, greeting the apothecary, and Haruto returned the gesture in silence.

“I'm Apricot Haruto. It is a pleasure to have been of help."

"In gratitude for your assistance, I ask that you accept this gift," Izumi commented, with the intention on fostering a friendship with Haruto.

A small metal box featured gold decorations and phrases in english was put on the table. It was black tea from England.

"Thank you very much for the present," Haruto replied with a bow. Quickly, before both officers could depart, he made his move. "Himawari, darling! Can you come here, please?”

Haruto’s youngest daughter appeared, catching Izumi by surprise. Her hairstyle, though simple against her dark brown hair, complemented her pale skin. Her elegant poise and straight back accentuated her pale green summer kimono. Although a certain nervousness was visible in her trembling hands, she attempted to remain as calm as possible.

"My daughter," Haruto remarked with a hint of pride, "Himawari."

The girl offered a slight bow, which surprised Shinobu. She appeared quite thin and fragile, but her bearing and downcast gaze suggested she was attentive. Izumi lowered his gaze. The following day, Shinobu returned to the apothecary—not to give thanks, and not to ask for medicine. He was alone and he inmediatly began to talk:

"I spoke with my wife about... Himawari, right?" Shinobu said confidently. Haruto nodded silently. "She wishes to meet the young lady, if you find it appropriate."

"It would be a pleasure," Haruto replied trying to maintain serious. Both men agreed on a date, and when the colonel departed, Haruto sighed in relief, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He finally smiled.

He had done it. If all went well, this would be his victory. With no people watching him, he made a movement with his arms only to celebrate that he is having a success. That afternoon, after he closed the apothecary he went to the temple to pray for the future of Himawari.

Throughout that summer, Izumi and Himawari met constantly. Usually, it was Akiko who supervised the encounters. During that season, Sachie, always busy with the garden, ignoring to what was happening with her sister.

By the end of September, while Sachie was attending to some customers in Haruto's absence Urara entered the apothecary. It was the first time the two women interacted. It was also the first time Urara doubted whether to continue her son's courtship of Himawari.

The first impression that had Urara with Sachie that she was only an employee. When she discovered that was the elder daughter of Haruto she nodded disapproving her attitude, her manners and the way she talks. 

Were it not for her son’s interest in continuing the pursuit, she would have already desisted and looked for someone else. Himawari proved to be a good candidate, and at least she had to be grateful that the girl possessed manners. 

Izumi spoke to his mother about Himawari: how she was quiet, kind, and how she corrected her mistakes without contradiction. They began to compare her to Sachie. It was a shame they were sisters; they would have to find a way to separate them.

In late October, Haruto received the proposal for Himawari’s engagement. He accepted it with delight. That same afternoon, Akiko told her daughter what was happening.

"We have received a formal proposal," Akiko told her daughter, who listened intently. "The Yanagi family has requested an engagement."

Himawari listened and reflected on the matter. She felt, in a way, happy to be a good candidate for the family. At the same time she knew her sister would not be happy, and that from that day forward, their fights would only increase.

"We have accepted, dear," Akiko continued. Himawari sighed and looked at the floor. “It will be in two weeks, in November."

During the night, alone in her room, she pulled a notebook and an inkwell from a drawer. She began to write a few paragraphs. She wrote about that man in the military uniform: he was kind, attentive, and she liked being near him; she felt comfortable.

The day the family was waiting for had come quickly for the family; grey clouds covered the sky. A cold wind blew in from Mizutani Port. The previous days a nervous Akiko overprotected Himawari to prevent her from falling ill. Haruto asked Sachie to behave—that the date was important and she must conduct herself properly. For once, Sachie agreed. She had recently been ill and was unusually quiet because of it.

Akiko dressed her daughter in a new kimono and she made a more elaborate hairstyle for her daughter. Both women stayed in Himawari’s room until the Yanagi family arrived. How long had it been since the youngest member of the Apricot family wrote in those notebooks? That was the only place where she could express herself in peace, without judgement.

A signal was given, and both women left the room to meet the family of her now-fiancée. Izumi was there. His attire surprised Himawari: for the first time, she saw him in a kimono—simple and dark-colored. She greeted his parents and then he greeted Izumi, waiting and feeling more nervous. Both silently accepted their engagement.

They toasted with sake and discussed plans for the future. The evening was a success, but there were also warnings, complaints, and concerns. There was one name that was uttered with a certain fear, with warnings for the Apricot marriage: Sachie.

Before leaving, Shinobu spoke seriously to the Apricot couple, asking them to ensure Sachie did not associate with either her sister or the Yanagi family to avoid any misunderstandings.

"I don’t need trouble or scandals," Shinobu remarked before departing. "That daughter of yours is a headache; you could even disown her to avoid future issues."

"You want me to disown my daughter?" Haruto asked, his voice rising slightly, which displeased the Yanagi couple.

"Do whatever is necessary for this engagement to be a success. If you do it well, even your business will prosper."