The Only One || 𝐒𝐔𝐎 𝐇𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐓𝐎

⌞ 6⌝

❝And when the seasons change Will you stand by me?❞

"There's a new student who joined Bofurin," Lili heard Suo say as they both sat on a bench in a park. The weather was still gloomy from the rain yesterday, and Lili could see a lot of insects around.

"His name?" She asked, looking at the children playing in the swing.

One of them looked at her and stuck his tongue out.

"What's his name?" She asked the composed man, who was already looking at her.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his gaze lingering on the kids at the back.

"I wouldn't be upset about that," Lili said. She had a habit of getting into fights easily and given her reputation, she was barely surprised.

Furin wasn't always bright and sunny, and Lili was well aware of this. However, there were also a few things that surprised her the most, like the few moments when people would approach her to compliment.

The previous occurrence involved her expressing frustration about the unruliness of her hair, only to be interrupted by a kid who remarked that her hair made her resemble a Disney princess.

Red was a vibrant color.

"His name is Sakura Haruka," he said, gaining her attention. Sakura? Lili gazed at the sky above. Spring is approaching, promising an abundance of cherry blossoms.

The resemblance was uncanny.

Lili's attention was on the flower seller next to them. It was a middle-aged lady she'd often see near her apartment. Lili remembered how she would greet her every day, her eyes sparkling as she held a bunch of flowers.

Lili always thought she had a striking resemblance to the flowers she sold—beautiful and calm.

"Mrs. Yuki," Lili said, looking beside her.

The lady seemed to hear her and approached with a warm smile. Her basket was nearly empty; there was a rose that caught her attention.

"How are you, Lili?" She beamed, ruffling her hair.

"G-good," Lili said, a tint of pink on her cheeks.

"I've been hearing a lot from you," she laughed. "Your landlady has a bunch of things about you. I heard you're always late for school."

The landlady doesn't miss the sight of Lili stumbling out of her room with shoes in her hand. Yuki beamed at Suo, appreciating how helpful the boys were.

"Ume helped me with selling the flowers yesterday!" She said it proudly.

"Can I have a rose?" Suo asked all of a sudden and took out a small coin purse. Yuki smiled at him and nodded.

"Of course, dear. I only have a rose left. Would you like it?"

That was the last one.

"Here."

Lili looked at the sound, and her eyes widened. She extended her hand, getting the rose from Suo.

"Why?" She asked a little out of curiosity. Lili noticed Yuki and Suo exchanging smiles as she left.

"You were looking at it like you were about to eat it." He said that and shrugged a little with his usual smile.

"C-Can you..." Lili stuttered.

"Bend down?" She completed her sentence; her face flushed. It's just that Lili thought roses would look good on his hair. It's just that—nothing big, she repeated to herself.

Suo nodded, stood up, and kneeled.

She gently placed the red rose above his ear. She took another look at him; he truly looked like the handsome poet from the books her grandmother used to read to her. His beauty was breathtaking, and Lili could have sworn the time had stopped for a second.

Suo looked pleased with himself at her reaction.

"Do you like roses?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"Do you like them?" Lili asked Suo, curious if he had a favorite flower. He always gives everyone witty answers, and she was expecting one.

Suo looked at her for a while, contemplating something.

"I like you."

"Huh?"

Lili gasped.

"I'm starting to hear things," Lili thought. She looked at Suo, who was now staring down.

Lili peeked to see what he was looking at.

"It's a cicada," he said, pointing to the insect, placing his hand down so the insect could hop on.

Lili extended her arm, and he kept it on her palm delicately.

"R-right, a cicada... so... pretty."

Suo agreed with her quietly, noticing her trembling hands.

"Are you cold?" He asked, concerned about Lili. Lili wanted to deny it, but something else was on her mind. She felt like she was about to burst if she didn't get an immediate answer.

"What did you say earlier?" She asked, suddenly really interested in the cicadas. It was funny to him how she avoided eye contact.

"I said I like lilies."

That sent Lili with her mouth wide open once again. He meant the flower Lili, not her. Stupid, stupid Lili, she scolded herself.

"Are you disappointed?" He asked, a smirk appearing at the corner of his lip.

"M-Me?" She pointed her hand at herself.

"Disappointed? No way."

She ruffled her hair with uncertainty.

"I think lilies are pretty as well."

"Like you."

"Huh?"

Like what? Lili repeated the sentence in her mind. Her palm was sweating badly, and the cicadas jumped off her hand.

"I am?" Lili stuttered, turning the other way at the compliment. Lili needed a few minutes to regain her composure.

"Really pretty," Suo corrected himself.