After the tournament, Hana and her teammates went home by a bus that the school provided.

For me though, I had to commute back home. It takes about 40 minutes to go back home from Setagaya city.

While I was on the Oimachi Line, I received a text from Hana.

– Hiro r u still on da train?

I send her a thumbs up dog sticker.

– lol

– Weird

It’s cute! –

Unlike cats…… ­–

I texted, as a way to piss her off. I’ve always knew she was a cat person.

– Don’t even compare cats to dogs

– Cats r definitely cuter

Even though I was badmouthing cats, I don’t have a problem having a pet cat.

I send her a cute smirking dog sticker.

After I send her a couple of text messages, she stopped sending immediate text. I know she’s still on her phone because I see the seen indicator on the chat.

– I still cant talk to my dad

– im scared to go in my house

– im sitting outside my house right now

– i thought dat I could talk to him right after da tournament but now dat im here I cant even stand

I wish I could call her right now, but I’m on the train.

I send her the most heartfelt message I can that can encourage her.

hana, ur a strong person, I know u can talk to him again –

the time will come when u can talk 2 him again, just not right now –

I know dat ur really really tired, its ok to rest –

stop by my house –

Then I send her a cute encouraging dog sticker by the end. I felt like she would laugh at the sudden cute sticker, that’s why I send it.

– hahaha

– why’d u send a sticker like that after a serious message!

I thought it was encouraging –

it’s called, da encourging dog –

*encouraging –

I corrected my misspelled word.

– hahahaaha

There was a pause between her next text.

– love u

I felt like I was hit by an airplane, but then she instantly deleted it.

noooo why’d u deleted it!!!! –

– it’s too embarrassing

I love u –

I love u –

I love u –

I love u –

I love u –

I spammed her with more “I love u” text.

She didn’t reply for a couple of minutes.

Did I made her angry?

sorry –

I just got so happy when u send dat 2 me –

I send a ‘sorry’ cute dog sticker.

– love u

My heart skipped so many beats that I thought I was going to die!

– don’t spam it again!

– I won’t delete it dis time As I was reading her text, I noticed that I had a big grin on my face. I instinctively checked to see who saw my grinning face. There were a few.

I’m sorry stranger! I can’t help it! My girlfriend is being so cute right now!

Then a few minutes of texting, I arrived at Togoshi-koen Station. My last stop.

im almost there –

i just arrived at the station –

She send out a “ok” frog sticker.

I was tempted to make fun of her sticker choices, but I also really wanted to see her in person. I decided to resist the urge and start fast walking back home. She told me that she’s in front of my house.

I walked as fast as I could, my heart is beating with excitement of seeing her.

When I got to my house, I saw Hana leaning on my porch.

She had her usual hair tied up into a ponytail, she still has her gym clothes that she used during the tournament with her backpack on.

Hana.

Flower.

When I first noticed her, she had a hint of sadness on her face while she was eating her lunch. My first thought was why she’s lonely. After I had noticed her, I couldn’t stop noticing her. I didn’t knew what I was feeling at that time, but as time passed by, I got frustrated. I didn’t liked the feeling of just looking at her from afar, I wanted to interact with her. Then time went by, I became friends with Hana. I thought she hated me at first, but later on she opened up to me. Right after we became middle schoolers, that’s when I discovered that I like her as a romantic partner, but that only lasted a moment when the news of her mother’s passing. After the funeral, she cried almost every night. Then she asked me and Kaito for the first and last time for help. All she wanted from us was to tell what her family problems are and what she wants to do to fix it. That was the last I ever saw her cry.

My chest suddenly aches after I saw Hana’s face.

Every single time I see her now, I would always remember why she always look at a flower. Her mother was the one who named her Hana, which means flower.

When she noticed my presence, she made eye contact. Her eyes were red, but she forced herself to smile as she jokingly said, “Hey, you’re late.”

Electricity shocked my fingertips as I search what I can do to ease her pain. All I can think of was my usual banters and casual conversations.

“You’re just early.” I banter.

“Smart ass.” she smirked.

I laughed.

I offered to carry her bag for her by showing my palm towards her.

“I’m not giving you money.” she mistakenly thought I was begging.

“Tch, that’s not what I meant! I meant your bag.”

“Why would I give you my bag?!” she secured her bag, making sure I can’t steal it from her.

“Argh, I was offering to help carry your bag! Jeez.” he found it a little amusing that she couldn’t get a normal offer of help, but when it comes to jokes and skits, she’s number one.

“Oh!” she realized, then she gave her bag to me.

As I took her bag, I got the sudden idea to run off with it. So, I pranked her I little bit by making it look like I was trying to get away from her after stealing her bag.

“Hey!” she attempted to catch me.

“Pfft! Hahahaha, joke!”

She scoffed and scratched her head.

“Anyways, are we just going to stand here or go inside?” she said.

I quickly took out my key and entered the property. As I opened the door, I let Hana go in first. My mom always used to tell me to be a gentleman in front of a lady, so I heeded her advice.

Of course, Hana already knows my house like it’s her house. She’s been here most of the time, back then. But even though, Hana still acts politely whenever she’s in my house.

“I tried you doorbell before you came, but no one answered. It really is just you and me here today, huh.” she commented as she goes further inside the house.

‘It really is just you and me here today, huh.’

What is she implying?! It can’t be ‘that’? Right?! I mean, we haven’t even been dating for a long time! But she’s already implying she—! No no no! That was an inappropriate thought. I need to calm myself.

“Yeah, they’re always busy with work. Mom’s already packing up for her work in New York city. Her flight’s this Saturday.”

“Oh, yeah. You did tell me that she mostly work abroad. How long does she stay there?”

“6 months.”

“That’s why I don’t see her that often.”

“Yeah, you know how they are. Always busy with work.” as I said that we got to the living room and told her she can seat down on the sofa, “You want any drink?” I asked as I went to the kitchen.

“Green tea.” she said a bit louder than her normal voice, because the house is spacious.

I made green tea for me and her, plus some chocolates cookies as a snack.

“Chocolate and tea? That’s an unusual combination.” she said.

“We don’t have any other snacks this’ll do for now.”

She didn’t comment any further and just drank her tea.

We both sat beside each other on the sofa as we sip on our drink. I turned on the TV and went to an anime broadcasting station. Commercials were playing when I turned the TV on.

We were seating and facing the TV.

My eyes just kept glancing at her. I noticed that she’s still wearing her gym clothes.

“Sorry, Hana. I forgot that you just did a tournament today. Do you want to use the bath?” I asked.

“Oh! I also forgot too.” she chuckles, “I’m a bit nervous.” she whispered under her breath, but I heard it.

I shouldn’t think of anything weird! That’s a normal reaction.

“Sure, I’ll take a shower first.” she stands.

I also stand up, “I’ll lend you some extra towels.”

After I got her a new towel and some of my mother’s old clothes, she took a shower for couple of minutes. I was downstairs in the living room trying to keep my composure by watching a baseball anime that’s airing.

When she finished, I took the shower and cleaned myself.

Just in case.

I got out of the shower and as I walked into my room, Hana was seating on my bed. Still on her towel. Her hair was down, and I could see her shoulders and legs.

She stood up and came towards as she saw me.

When she looked at me straight in the eyes, she pushed me against a bookshelf and went for a kiss.

Her lips were soft and wet with her saliva. I could taste the green tea that she had earlier. I didn’t know that my heart could pound this hard.

After that first kiss, she looked me into my eyes………. But all I saw was sadness.

This isn’t right.

She stopped.

“I’m sorry, Hiro. I shouldn’t have tried to use you like that.” she lets go of me.

One side of my was telling me to continue on. Another side was disappointed. Another side of me knew that this isn’t the right time. But I can’t stop myself.

As soon as she lets go of me, I pushed her down to my bed and went for another kiss.

“Hiro.” she moaned after I kissed her.

I was breathing heavily because of my heartbeat.

After I kissed her on her lips, I went down to her neck and started to touch her.

I had one of my hands holding her wrist and the other on her chest.

That evening, I took her first and she took mine.