Saito sat on a bench in front of the apartment building, casually scrolling through social media as a gentle breeze passed by.

Moments later, Hikari approached, dressed simply—yet to Saito, she looked effortlessly stunning.

"Hey, Saito," Hikari greeted, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Saito glanced up, his breath catching for a moment before he smiled. “Oh, Hikari…”
His cheeks tinted red as well.

“Shall we go?” she asked softly.
“Yeah, let’s,” he nodded.

They made their way to the metro station and boarded a nearly empty train. The city quietly rolled by outside the window as they sat side by side.

“Hey, Hikari,” Saito said after a pause, “have you ever been to Flower Bay Garden before?”

She shook her head with a small smile. “No, not really. I’ve seen pictures on social media and those dreamy TV ads… It looks beautiful.”

“Same here,” Saito replied. “Never had the chance before. It’s a bit far, honestly.”

There was a brief silence before Saito hesitantly turned to her. “Um… since you’re on social media… maybe we should follow each other? And… maybe exchange contacts too?”

He looked away, clearly trying to play it cool.

Hikari blinked, slightly caught off guard. “E-exchange contacts?” she echoed, cheeks warming. But she fished out her phone. “I mean, we are neighbors, so…”

With shy smiles, they handed each other their phones and exchanged info.

—
After a long ride filled with quiet glances and the sound of train wheels humming beneath them, they arrived.

The entrance to Flower Bay Garden burst with life — an array of familiar and exotic flowers lining the path, painting the air with color and scent.

They wandered through rows of tulips, strolled beside sunflowers swaying in the breeze, and snapped a few photos — both of the flowers, and of each other, laughing gently between clicks.

Later, they found themselves sitting on a wooden bench beneath a tree, the garden stretching endlessly around them like a dream.

“Wow… This place is even more beautiful than I imagined,” Hikari said, her eyes shining. “Thank you for bringing me here, Saito.”

Saito rubbed the back of his neck. “I… should be the one thanking you. For coming with me.”

Then, almost nervously, he pulled something from his pocket — a single blue tulip.

“For you,” he said, holding it out.

Hikari blinked, her breath catching. “F-for me?”

She accepted it slowly, fingers brushing his. “T-thank you…”

—
The return ride was quiet, but comfortable.

Hikari sat beside Saito, gently holding the tulip he’d given her.

Saito glanced at it, then at her. “You’re still holding that?”

Hikari turned the flower over in her hand, her voice soft. “Well… you gave it to me, didn’t you?”

Saito smiled quietly, choosing not to say anything more.

The train arrived back in town. The sky had turned golden-orange, the day fading into a calm evening.
As they returned to the apartment building, Hikari looked up at her door, then back at Saito as he disappeared into his own.

Later that evening,

She hesitated.

Should I… make him dinner? Just as a thank you?

After a long pause in the doorway, she made up her mind.

“…Yeah. I think I will.”