Touching Greener Grass

Walking on the unbeaten path – that was something that Haru rarely did unless prompted by others. He lived in a bubble of comfort, the rich kid going to school and returning home as intended.

If he made detours along the way, then it was likely Koichi or Daichi that suggested them. And now, he was pulled along by the image of Grace in his mind. Haru couldn’t help but wonder if being such a loner had driven him to madness. Such that he would be enamored by someone of his own creation.

He wandered aimlessly around the neighborhood, unsure of exactly where to go. He just needed to get out. Before conversing with appliances and posters on the wall became a thing. How easy he found it to be swept up in the moment. Dreams would bleed into reality, and then what?

Haru soon found himself back where he started, turning to take a different path next. In this way, he idled away the afternoon. The noise of pedestrians eventually grew more numerous, a sign that school and work had let out those trapped for the day.

“Hah… what am I even supposed to do out here?”

Haru could go anywhere, but precisely because he had the freedom to, he couldn’t settle on any one place to clear his mind. Eventually, he stumbled upon a park, a mixture of colors capturing his gaze. That vibrancy made him think of Grace once again, but Haru approached it anyway, hoping that the sight before him would serve as a stronger stimulus.

Haru wasn’t one to notice the beauty of flowers normally. The most that he involved himself in was the yearly Hanami that his family dragged him to. However, that seemed more of an excuse for neighbors to drink and ask embarrassing questions than it was to enjoy the scenery.

But now, the colors called out to him, begging for his attention. Haru pulled out his phone, cross referencing images to put a name to each of them.

He passed by wisteria trees, drooping heavily with violet. Pink and white azaleas seemingly floated upon the bushes along the corners. If he wasn’t careful, he would tread upon blankets of pink and purple creeping phlox that spilled onto the pathways. There were many more flowers in the late Spring, seemingly overshadowed by the importance of cherry blossoms that he was so used to.

Without realizing it, Haru had spent more than an hour gazing at the scenery. And then, it suddenly hit him. These colors reminded him of Grace’s outfit – bright, whimsical, and playful. More and more, Haru wanted her to be part of his reality. It made the lump in his throat even bigger.

“Fancy meeting you here, Higashi-san. Playing hooky today?”

Haru spun around in a panic, not expecting company, especially not from someone judging his casual attire. He instantly recognized his school’s uniform and the familiar face wearing it.

“What the-, Kato-san? No, I was sick today!”

His outburst caused the girl, Kasumi Kato, to take a few steps back and cover her mouth like a makeshift mask.

“Wait, no. I’m feeling a lot better, so I’m just here to get some fresh air!”

Still a bit wary, Kasumi gingerly stepped around him, sizing him up for a moment.

“Hmm… you don’t look unwell. The first thing that you do after recovering is flower gazing? Pretty suspicious I would say…”

“Is there something wrong with that?”

Kasumi giggled, turning around to buy herself some time for the right words.

“Just unexpected. You seem so listless and uncaring of much, so I was caught off guard. This is the second time I’ve run into a different side of you. It makes me wonder what else you’re hiding.”

“I’m not hiding anything. I was just here to, uh… check out the flowers for someone I know.”

Kasumi turned back around and stared into his eyes. And then, down at his phone. It made Haru nervous. He didn’t like being analyzed like that. But then, she simply smiled and walked right up beside him.

“What are you doing?” Haru eyed her cautiously.

“Joining you.”

“For what reason?”

“Curiosity, and boredom, perhaps.” Kasumi pointed down to his phone, filled with images of flowers he looked up. “I come here often. I think I can be a better guide than randomly searching.”

“Gee, I’m honored that you have chosen me to burn some time with.”

“That sarcastic tongue of yours isn’t going to bother me. I have siblings, you know.”

“Was I trying to bother you?”

“Oh, so you’re saying that it’s part of your charm. Isn’t that swell? I’ll charge you extra when I see you at school next.”

!!!

Haru felt his rhythm get completely thrown off. He wouldn’t normally have talked back in such a way, not to someone unfamiliar. Perhaps, being with Grace had given him loose lips. Stopping himself, he sighed before falling back into his normal rhythm.

“Fine, I’ll stick around for a bit.”

Haru and Kasumi walked side-by-side down the rows of flowers, chatting idly. Kasumi apparently lived nearby; cutting across the park was part of her daily route to school. As such, she would often run into the caretaker of this park, who was more than happy to share his enthusiasm. Haru simply listened as she took over the conversation, a cheerful grin on her face.

“There are only buds here at the moment, but if you come back in two weeks, that is when the hydrangeas will blossom. They are quite beautiful summer flowers, but you have to keep children and pets away from them as they are poisonous….”

Haru found himself staring, drawn in by how into it she was. She seemed so plain and unnoticeable before. Just another face in his classroom until this point. He wondered what the difference was.

“Did a bee land on my face, Higashi-san?”

“What? No! I was just so focused on listening that I didn’t realize that I was staring. That’s all!”

“I managed to capture your sole attention for so long? Wow, go me!” Kasumi said sarcastically. “I’ll take that as deserving of a better favor!”

Haru looked around. The sun was already beginning to set, so they had spent a while together. He was starting to dread what she would ask of him in return.

“What are you doing tomorrow after school, Higashi-kun?”

The sudden closeness made Haru recoil instinctively.

“Kun? Aren’t you being a bit hasty, Kato-san?”

“Geez, so stiff. After all I’ve done to become acquainted with you. You don’t act that way around Motoyama-san and Kurabe-san.”

“That’s because we’ve been buds since elementary school, Koichi and Daichi are just that close to me.”

“A bromance, how cute.”

“Anyways, I’m busy tomorrow.”

“And the day after that?”

“Busy too.”

“And-”

“Busy.”

“Doing what?” Kasumi put her hands on her hips, unsatisfied with Haru dismissing her.

Haru said the first thing that came to mind. “Going… to the aquarium, I guess.”

“With your bros?”

“No, alone.”

Kasumi’s eyes narrowed, highly skeptical. Haru mentally kicked himself for not having a more solid excuse. The aquarium felt like a nice dream date for Grace, but he hadn’t made plans yet to visit. Especially not after his revelation. Apparently, Kasumi jumped on his hesitation.

“Then, how about I be your guide again then? Haven’t I proven myself in your eyes from this encounter?”

“How much extra will that put me under?”

“A jumbo narwhal plushie would do the trick. After all, you would look far less awkward accompanied by a cute girl than all by your lonesome. And I know a certain someone that would have fantasies for miles if a guy went with you.”

Gah, she’s right. It’s not like I can ask Koichi or Daichi to come. I already got some weird looks from the cake buffet.

“Fine.”

“Yay! See you at school, Haru-kun.” Kasumi ran off quickly before he could reject, the date or the new nickname.

What have I gotten myself into? Haru wondered. Now, he was even letting a real girl walk all over him.

He shook his head and pulled out the GPS, ready to find his way home. At least, he learned a lot about flowers that he could dream about.

#####

“Hey, Haru. Is this your idea of a joke?”

Haru was rolling on the ground laughing. He hadn’t expected this result.

“I like flowers just as much as any girl, but did you have to imagine me in such a way?!”

Sure enough, a field of flowers stretched from horizon to horizon in Haru’s dream that night. However, it was Grace herself that bore the brunt of his wild subconscious.

“I am not a freaking bee! I am a Dream Fairy!”

Haru quickly leapt to his feet, dodging the enlarged stinger that was aimed straight for him. The buzzing of wings was more noise and less graceful than normal. That was because Grace turned into some monstrosity of a bee person. Her normally pink hair was a sun-bleached yellow. Fuzzy stripes of a black and yellow oversized sweater made her look bloated. It brought tears of laughter to Haru’s eyes.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Blame my subconscious! But on another point, can’t you just turn back with your own magic?!”

“Not before I sting you!”

Certainly, things didn’t always go as planned. But for now, Haru had convinced himself that Grace was more sting than honey.