Yumeko was enjoying the outside view when suddenly a girl approached her. She told her it was her seat and she pointed Yumeko’s seat which was in front of hers. 

“Oh, I’m sorry! And thank you for telling me,” Yumeko said in embarrassment. She then immediately moved to her assigned seat.

The girl was shocked of her calm response. She saw Yumeko then for quite a few minutes already but she did not approach her immediately. That was because of the rumors that she heard about Yumeko. She was nervous but all of those went away as soon as she saw her shy smile. Nevertheless, she did not put her guard down because she was thinking she might be just pretending.

Mrs. Mori, their teacher, entered the class. She was in-charge of molding these women to become  fine ladies deserving of good husbands. They had to learn the skills properly a fine woman must possess like cooking, sewing, arranging flowers, and etc.

“Kimitsu. Rei." One of the students led the morning greeting. 

"Good morning, Mori-sensei!" The students stood up and greeted her. 

The students were always stunned to see Mrs. Mori. She was tall and had a nice figure. She was in her thirties and had an aura of a fine woman. She was captivating. They could not take their eyes off of her. Her glasses made her even more intellectual and intimidating. Mrs. Mori, was very dedicated to her job. She could be nice or strict, if it required her to be. 

“Good morning, ladies. I am expecting that everyone had a wonderful and enough sleep last night.  

Take your seat.” 

“Wow, she’s very matured and beautiful. I want to learn a lot from her,”  Yumeko thought to herself.

“Listen up. Our topic for today is flower arrangement. As women, we are often referred to as flowers that beautifully blossom on earth. Therefore, we women are significant, for our future household to be more colorful, harmonious, and pleasing. Now, what flower do you want to symbolize you?” asked Mrs. Mori.

Yumeko excitedly raised her hand. Mrs. Mori called her and before she could even speak, a student shouted, 

“Tsubaki!” one said and they all laughed.

“Oh, that’s a beautiful flower! If I am not mistaken, it represents noble death among warriors who bravely fought in the Edo period. Red camellias are amazing!” Yumeko answered and smiled. She learned about it through her readings.

Everyone became speechless. 

“I thought it only means death, I didn’t know there’s a noble in it!” a humiliated student murmured to her seat mate. 

“Maybe you have read the wrong book?” the seat mate replied. 

Mrs. Mori was amazed on how Yumeko calmly responded to her classmates.

“One of the best characteristics of a fine woman is being a good listener. That’s  reminder for all of you. Go on with what you were saying, Hosokawa-san.” She wanted to hear more from Yumeko.

Yumeko stayed cheerful and continued, 

“I want a zinnia flower to represent me. I want to offer my never-ending love, kindness, and faithfulness to those precious to me,” she answered thinking of the flower her mother had given her.

Her classmates’ reactions were dull and full of judgement for all they cared for was the rumors surrounding her family and her being a spoiled brat. Nevertheless, Mrs. Mori then applauded her personality and intelligence, though she had not been at school for for a few days. She was happy that the report she sent to her father helped her return to school again. It was because she was concerned about her, too. She was one of the best students in her school.

Mrs. Mori then called more students to answer. One of them was a curly blonde hair with prickly eyes. She also gave an impressing answer like Yumeko’s. The students reacted to her positively.

“I didn’t know I am surrounded with many intelligent girls! There’s no doubt that you all will become fine ladies one day,” she said proudly.

Meanwhile, the girl sitting behind Yumeko, was starting to feel that she was not a bad girl. She was impressed by her cheerful personality and cleverness. 

“I have heard such wonderful answers from all of you today. I wish you could live like those flowers that you chose to represent yourselves. Now, let’s test your skills in flower arrangement. Go to our garden outside and pick three kinds of flowers you want to arrange. Be back in fifteen minutes.”

The girls got their vintage wicker baskets and headed down to the wide flower garden of the school. 

The students avoided Yumeko yet she cheerfully walked along, unknowingly the girl from behind her seat was simply following her.

Yumeko was astonished from all the lovely summer flowers she had seen such as roses, tulips, daisies, baby’s breathe, morning glories, dahlias, marigolds, sunflowers, and lavenders. 

For a girl who loved the nature, she was over the moon seeing all these. Yumeko started humming while picking flowers. She set her eyes on red tulips and sunflowers. She then noticed that a girl was following her. It was the owner of the seat behind her. She then quickly smiled as she faced her, yet the girl quickly looked away and pretended she was just looking at the flowers. 

Yumeko slowly walked next to her then their eyes were fixed on one flower.

“Do you know what a baby’s breath represents?” Yumeko softly whispered to the girl, with her eyes on the flower.

The girl was shocked. She wanted to answer but she was afraid that her classmates might see them talking so she remained quiet as if she did not hear anything.

“It represents innocence.” Yumeko looked at her and smiled. 

The girl’s eyes brightened as her heart was happy to hear such words. Though she knew that Yumeko was talking about flowers, somehow, it sounded like the compliment was pertained towards her. 

“Yui,” the blonde student called her. Her eyes examined the both of them as if it was a peculiar sight. She was with some other students who gossiped about Yumeko this morning.

The blonde student only called her name but Yui was already startled. 

“Marika-san,” Yui then walked towards them before Yumeko could say another word.

Yumeko did not get any response but she felt that she could have a friend soon.

Mrs. Mori then signaled the girls to come back to the classroom.

To be continued.

End Note

Tsubaki - is Red Camellia in English. It represents noble death among warrior who fought in Edo Period (1603-1868).