Blooming Along in the Spring

...Tuesday, 19 March 2019...

...-TSUKITO'S POV-...

^^^It is spring season...^^^

^^^The tulips and lavender flowers had blossomed and bloomed. Butterflies and the bees were flapping their wings, wandering around the flowers for the delicious nectar of the fresh and newly bloomed spring flowers...^^^

Grace was hopping around, near the flower shop of my parents. “Can I pluck this flower, aunty?” Enthusiastically, she questioned my mother. My mother couldn't resist her innocence and adorable sight of her enthusiasm and just nodded in response and plucked out Grace's desired flower, herself and handed it to her.

It was a daisy flower.

Grace's favorite were roses, however, as it wasn't the season for the roses to be grown. There weren't any of them. Hence, grace took the daisy one.

Grace came to me after thanking my mom and sat next to me as she moved her gaze towards me, “I absolutely looooove flowers, you must be so happy every day, watching flowers grow. Right, Tsukito?” Grace asked, while looking at me and sniffing in the delicate stench of the daisy flower in her right hand.

“It's wonderful watching them bloom and grow but, it's nothing new for me, so... I am not as enthusiastic about it.” I scratched the back of my head before chuckling softly.

“You're lucky to be living such a life. I would be much more enthusiastic if I were you!” Grace joked and laughed softly while looking around the flower garden and casually sniffing the fragrance of the daisy flower in her hand.

Grace and I spent some afternoon time in the flower shop before moving to the promenade; for a small walk and also to just spend some quality time, alone together, as in it could be considered a small and low-key simple date for the both of us being only thirteen.

“Your parents are very sweet, truly. Wouldn't it be wonderful, when we grow up and finally tell our parents about our relationship? Oh, I can't wait!” Grace spoke, with a usual hint of excitement and enthusiasm in her voice.

I smiled gently in a shy way at her excitement and words, “I know right? We will definitely get married in future! What do you think?” I also matched her vibe and honestly admitted my thoughts regarding our future.

Grace smirked at me softly while blushing subtly. She teased me, “You really like me that much, huh?” She said before turning her head to face away from me for a few seconds.

Fidgeting with my fingers, I muttered, “Of course, I do...” “You don't know how much I like you?” I asked, turning my head away too, to hide my red face which was absolutely in no way possible to hide.

“As you should!” She grinned playfully. “But, don't worry, I also do like you a lot! I cannot seem to hide it, and I don't know if you have noticed it or not... But, I just melt in your presence!” Grace blushed as she mentioned that, slowly lifting her head to look into my eyes.

“Wait a minute...” I said, to which Grace responded by suddenly pausing and looking at me in bafflement. “Hmm...” I took my hand towards hers and took the daisy flower from her hand. “What... what are you doing?...” She asked, not being able to understand the purpose of my actions.

“Just wait... You're going to love it...” Grace, although bewildered at the moment, still just nodded and stayed still, letting me do what I had in mind.

I grabbed her shoulders and turned her around to face away from me and I untied her hair, starting to tie a braid; I then fit the daisy flowers into her hair before commenting, “You look so perfect... Just how I had imagined! Absolutely gorgeous...” My fingers traced ger baby hair on the either sides of her ears before tucking them behind her ears softly.

Grace untucked those baby hairs and muttered, “Don't do that...” She blushed, as if she was embarrassed about something that I couldn't figure out what it was... I furrowed my brows and uttered an innocent question, “Why?...”

“Well, my face is a little too big and round, don't you think?...”

I laughed softly and tucked her hair behind her ears again before assuring her, “No, no. I don't think so! And, even if it is, it's really cute!” I said, whilst walking along with her, holding her hand in my gentle yet firm grip.

“Honestly?” Grace whined and pouted.

“Yes! I'm being honest, really! You look absolutely adorable. Trust me.” Grace was confident, yet, a little insecure at times, which I obviously disliked, because, she was my choice and I didn't, at all, like anybody disrespecting my choice.

“Mhm~” Grace nodded, and she didn't oppose me tucking her hair behind, this time. Which, obviously, made me genuinely glad.

We walked a little longer before, grace spoke, “I'm tired... Let's sit, no?” I nodded and held her hand, leading her to the bench nearby, just beneath a cherry blossom tree.

“Do you feel better?” I asked, smiling at her gently whilst drawing circles on her palm with my thumb.

Grace was swaying her feet while sitting on the bench, “Yes... But, you know what... I want one ice-cream!...” Grace giggled as she said that and blushed.

I looked at Grace as she wished for an ice-cream. I scratched my head slightly and then looked around before murmuring to myself, “Hmm... Where is that...?” I stood up from the bench and Grace, too, stood up; baffled about why did I stand up, suddenly.

She asked, getting my hand in the grasp of hers, “Wait, where are you going?” I smiled at her and then said, “I'll be back, just sit down.” I then removed her hand from mine and quickly walked towards the opposite direction from grace.

......-GRACE'S POV-......

Did I upset him by asking for an ice-cream? “I hope not...” I muttered, biting on to my nails, being worried.

“Should I follow him?...” I questioned myself. I was about to get up, but, then I felt something wet down there... “Huh...? Umm...” I slightly leaned downwards after glancing around. I checked the back of my skirt, and it was stained with some blood.

“Shit! No... Wait, what?...” I anxiously looked around to see if Tsukito has arrived or not. Thankfully, no. I sighed in relief and covered the back of my skirt with my both hands and sprinted towards the girl's restroom in the nearby park.

I saw Tsukito on the way, he was purchasing two butterscotch ice-creams with his pocket money. He glanced around and almost caught the sight of me.

“What should I do...? My home is also a little far from here... I got my first period... What if Tsukito mocked me for this stain...?” I should just act normal. I thought to myself. Furthermore, I just reluctantly went back to the bench where Tsukito and I were sitting, earlier.

I saw Tsukito coming back with a delightful smile, looking at me, his both hands holding two butterscotch ice-creams.

“Here... Your favorite butterscotch ice-cream~”

Tsukito held out his hand towards me, handing me the ice-cream before sitting next to me. He was really a caring person. “Maybe, he wouldn't mock me...” I thought to myself while just staring at Tsukito, feeling a little hopeful.

“It will melt.” Tsukito suddenly said, while looking at me. I was lost in my thoughts, so, when he said that, I jumped back out of my thoughts and I just nodded slightly and smiled, finally beginning to lick and eat my ice-cream.

When it was time to go... Tsukito stood up and held my hand up, saying, “Let's go back home then?” He gently looked at me with an adoring smile.

I reluctantly took my hand away from his, and I insisted, “No... umm, I want to stay here for a bit. You can leave!” I didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him on our proper first date.

Tsukito appeared confused, and he reluctantly nodded but then stepped back and sat down with me. “I guess, I'll stay too...” Tsukito insisted, as well. His gentle smile— still present.

“No no!- I mean, y-you don't have to!”

“Do not worry... I'm staying with you, with my own will... There's nothing much I've to do at home, anyway!” He was making it difficult for me to hide the blood stain. If he wouldn't leave till I do. He would know that I just stained my skirt! It would be so embarrassing!

“No, no, no! I can't let that happen...” I mused, silently.

A look of concern spread on Tsukito's face when I wasn't looking talkative as usual, “Hello? What happened, grace? You're suddenly acting weird, are you okay?” Tsukito asked, holding my hand in his, delicately, rubbing my arm with his thumb.

“Y-yeah, I just wanted to say that you can leave, I want to sit alone for a bit...” Tsukito wasn't buying my excuse, this time, and he looked at me in an accusatory way. “I don't think so.” He said while frowning and expecting me to give him a good and honest reason.

He knew me too well to believe my lies.

“I just... Okay. I will tell you. But...”

“But, what? Please, tell me. Don't hide things from me. You know, I'm here for you!” He pleaded me, looking at me with a soft gaze.

“Well... I got... I got my first period and I was just... Umm...” I stood up slowly, and I turned around and showed him the back of my skirt, slightly stained with some period blood.

“Oh... Got it.” Tsukito laughed softly and shook his head as if it was some joke. “What?- why are you laughing?” I asked, whining slightly. “No, please, sorry... Don't misunderstand. I just- I just couldn't understand why is it something embarrassing...” Tsukito laughed slightly and blushed while scratching the back of his head.

“Here... Take my jacket!” Tsukito smiled and tied his jacket around my waist, which hid the stained part of my skirt perfectly. I blushed slightly and looked down, embarrassed that I even thought Tsukito would mock me for something so natural as periods. “Are you feeling comfortable?” Tsukito asked, with a comfortable and assuring voice. Before I could answer, I felt his hands wrap around my waist, pulling me in for a gentle yet firm hug.

“Mhm...” I just only could nod as an answer. I froze for a second due to the surprising hug, but, I slowly glided my hand up his back to his shoulders and I wrapped my arms, really softly, around his shoulders which gradually got stronger and firmer as a few seconds passed by in that embrace. “Don't ever feel embarrassed with me... It's okay~” He assured me and then leaned backwards for a second, his eyes scanned my face before he leaned back into the hug.

I felt so loved.

How could somebody... Just... not love Tsukito?

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