a/n: I do not own anything. XD
CHAPTER 1 – Of Handkerchiefs and Smiles
He can't even fathom the fact that he likes her this much… especially when he knows it has been only three months since they have met. He wonders what's going on, why it seems so hard to maintain a good tandem with her. Maybe it's because he is a goof? Maybe she doesn't like him at all or maybe, just maybe, his feelings for her create a wall between them. But why, he incessantly asks himself, why is it so hard to keep it, harder to control it. And it only feels worse that he can't understand himself, neither do he understands why she looks so annoyed every time he tries to talk or just even look at her.
Why do I like her?
These words keep pestering Hayami while he waters the plants.
"Hayami! Stop watering the plants already! You are creating a flood!" Takigawa yelled at him while moving the flower pots from one place to another.
"Seriously, why do you need to relocate these plants? It seems like they fit here and can't you do it by yourself?" he continued.
Why do I like that antisocial girl?
"Oww… the plants… no… they are swimming…" Hayami said softly to himself while turning off the hose.
"Hey Hayami? What the heck? Are you even listening to me?" Takigawa glared at him with annoyance.
"Eh? I'm sorry.." Hayami replied.
What's something in her that I've liked?
"You are thinking of something else don't you?" Takigawa scratch his head.
"Of course not!" Hayami replied while arranging the hose.
"Well then, daydreamer, I still have to assemble my new robot model. I think you can do the rest by yourself." Takigawa tapped his back and left.
"Oi Takigawa! It seems like you haven't helped at all!" Hayami yelled at Takigawa.
Takigawa who is now far from Hayami, with his back facing him, waves his hand for his answer.
Ehhhhhhh…
Hayami took a deep breath and sighed. He closed his eyes for a moment and opened them. He lifted the remaining plants and carried them on the other side of the garden. Someone he wasn't ready to see unfolded in front of him.
Someone who he's not ready to see at this time, at this moment and at this place.
"S-Shibamura.." Hayami blurted out while carrying a flower pot in his arms.
He found her sitting on a wooden bench. Dumbfounded, he found himself looking at her eyes and she, answering him with her usual blank face.
He can't do anything about it. He continued doing what he has to do, that is, to lay the plants on the ground near a small fountain.
"They look awesome aren't they?" Hayami said while staring at the blooming flowers of the plant.
Shibamura didn't say anything.
"Spring is just so great.. and calming. The blooming flowers and the soft breeze…" Hayami smiled at her as he continued.
She blushed and looked away.
"U-uhm.. are you all right? It feel y-you know.. kind of unusual.. you… y-you… seeing you here.." He tried to gather his thoughts.
"Huh? Are you the only one who is permitted to sit here?" Shibamura answered him.
He wonders why his words always make her annoyed, irritated and infuriated. Anyway they just meant the same isn't it?
"E-ehh… t-that's not what I meant.." Hayami replied without looking at her.
She looked at him with her usual frowning-like face.
"Is that all you've got to say?" Shibamura asked him.
Hayami looked at her.
Why does he always have to look so pitiful? And wonderful… at the same time…..
She always asks herself this.
"If so… then I've got to keep going." She stood up.
"W-wait…" He uttered.
"What?" she stared at him, controlling her flushed face.
"Y-you.. know, that… our.. uhm, tandem is not d-doing well, so.."
"Shibamura-san, let's do our best? Okay? N-not only tomorrow or the day after… but… always.." He finished his sentence and smiled at the pony-tailed lady in front of her.
Shibamura let out a laughed that she tried to control, obviously.
Did I say something stupid?
"Eh?" he said surprisingly.
"You have mud on your right cheek." She smirked.
Hayami wiped out the mud using his hand and well, the worse thing to happen is that, it scattered all over his cheek.
"Here." Shibamura tried to give him something.
"Eh." He stared at it.
"Just take it!" she said with annoyance.
He stared at her pink cottoned handkerchief and was feeling reluctant to get it. Shibamura sighed.
Is he really this goof?
She placed her handkerchief on his hands and quickly turned her back on him.
"By the way, you don't have to say to me about doing mybest, I know it already." She told him, hiding her blushing face.
Why am I always saying something that contradicts what I really want to say?
She regrets her selfishness.
"..and about the handkerchief, just return it tomorrow. Make sure you wash it." She glanced at him and walked away.
She left the lad staring at her pink handkerchief.
Maybe I know why I like her…
Hayami said to himself while clenching the pink handkerchief in his hand.
He smiled at the thought.