Flowers of the Future

Present - Anniversary

Umi had sent a text earlier, telling me she'd be running a little late. Apparently, some urgent matter came up during today's archery practice. I was hoping that urgent did not equate to dire, but her text didn't make it seem that way. As such, I sat on the couch patiently, anticipating the sound of keys turning the front door's lock. There was still time until we were expected to be at the restaurant, her favourite place in the city: a cosy, traditional establishment. I was dressed in a floral yukata for the occasion, even though I didn't like the look of that garb on me. Umi on the other hand could make it look like she never wore anything else, that was how natural of a fit a yukata was on her. Hers in particular suited her well, adorned with an intricate wave pattern all over, and a detailed artwork depicting the setting sun on her back. Getting to see her dressed like that was worth the embarrassment of wearing a yukata myself.

I was idly playing with her gift in my hand, concealed in a box under a layer of pristine, silver-colored wrapping paper. I would give it to her after placing our order at the restaurant; I really wanted to give it there. After all, both the restaurant and this gift were very meaningful, given this particular anniversary. I hoped that Umi would catch on to the symbolism, but there was no way she wouldn't. Umi was so diligent after all.

I was alerted by the sound of activity at the front door. I quickly slid the gift back into my purse and shot upright, adjusting my yukata in the process. Before long, the door opened and I heard her call out to me from the hallway: "Sorry for being late, princess, my coach wished to talk to me about something." The way she called me princess... Anyone else would make it sound derogatory, as if I were a spoiled brat, but there was something about the refined and polite way in which Umi said it that made it sound affectionate. "I'll tell you more about it during dinner though. I hope you're hungry, because I'm making your favourite!"

"Spaghetti?" I replied. I remember telling Umi about the time my family took me to Italy and how I had a dish with noodles and tomato sauce there. It was an unconventional combination in Japan for sure and I haven't seen a place here where they served it. Shortly thereafter, Umi started looking into it and discovered it was a dish called "spaghetti bolognese". She tried out a number of recipes and had me taste them, making slight adjustments after each iteration, until eventually she had cooked up a dish that tasted exactly as I remembered it. I almost cried tears of nostalgia upon putting the first forkful into my mouth.

"Exactly-" Umi confirmed, but when she saw my attire after entering the living room, she interrupted herself.

"I'm sorry, my ocean, but I'd already taken the liberty of making dinner plans for us both..." I felt a little bad, rejecting her cooking tonight, but on the other hand, it was unfair to have her spend this day in the kitchen, while I lazily lounged about, right? Cooking spaghetti from scratch was hard work after all.

"I-I see... that's alright, but I insist on making it for you tomorrow instead." She was still as headstrong as when I first met her, so I knew I couldn't talk her out of this, but the prospect of getting to enjoy my ocean's home cooking wasn't such a bad one. "I suppose I should get changed too then", she added, still a little dejected.

I walked toward her and took hold of her hands, all the while staring deep into her eyes. "What's that? No kiss?" I inquired with a sly smile on my face. After all these years, she still got this flustered when I approached her like that. It was a sensation she couldn't get used to, it seemed. I let go of her right hand and raised my left all the way to her chin, carefully stroking it. Umi bravely tried maintaining eye contact, but eventually she broke that connection.

"Sh-shameless..." she said with a nervous tremble in her voice.

I chuckled, before closing in and placing a soft kiss on her lips. I pulled back slightly and said: "Welcome home, darling." She tugged at my right hand, gesturing me to come closer again, after which she greedily extended the kiss by several more delightful seconds. It made my heart soar when she was the one leading the dance for a change; it was why I loved this lip gloss so much.

"I'll take a shower and get changed now", she said with flushed cheeks after our lips had separated again.

"Mhm~" was all I could still say after that exchange.

---

"I'll never get tired of the atmosphere of this place." Umi took a sip from her cup of green tea. I had decided to indulge in a cup of sake instead, not my preferred alcoholic beverage, but it would do. "And it's fitting for the occasion too", she continued.

"Yeah, it's a very important place for us both, isn't it?" I remarked.

"Y-you're right, but it's especially meaningful for this particular anniversary, wouldn't you agree?" I could tell what Umi was getting at, but I decided to have a bit of fun instead.

I donned an exaggeratedly pensive look and began scratching my chin. "This particular anniversary? Oh, I completely forgot, we have multiple anniversaries, don't we? Which was this one again...?"

Umi's growing agitation was reflected clearly in her expression; she had always been the type to wear her emotions on her sleeve. Gradually though, her expression shifted to something more sorrowful. "Please don't tell me you forgot which anniversary today is..."

I didn't like seeing my ocean that way, so I cut the act. "Of course I remember, darling! It's been five years since our first date, right? That's why we're here." A wave of relief washed over Umi and she was able to relax again, though there was still a hint of suspicion in the air.

"... you didn't just guess that, did you? I basically gave the answer away", Umi inquired after a short pause.

"No, my ocean, I knew the whole time, and I'll even prove it to you." I proudly extracted the gift I had gotten for Umi from my purse, and held it out in front of her.

"O-oh no, you didn't have to! I'm sorry for doubting you-"

"Please, I insist," I interrupted her, "I'm sure you'll love it." After some hesitation, Umi took the gift from my hands and carefully began unwrapping it. Most people would dig their nails into the wrapping paper and tear it to pieces, but not Umi. She always exercised exceptional self control and carefully removed the pieces of tape in order to unfold the wrapping paper. It was a sight to behold, but it also served to extend these moments of intense anticipation. She'd appreciate the gift, right?

Before long, Umi had exposed the box underneath and was just about ready to open it. The top half smoothly slid off the bottom half, finally revealing the contents: a golden, crescent-moon-shaped necklace with a deep blue gemstone pinched between the two tips of the moon. The look on Umi's face upon seeing the accessory spoke volumes: she still recognized it after all those years.