Omoi no Hanazono

Eleventh Flower. Snowdrop

👉Galanthus nivalis

"The girl's bath is now vacant. You can now use it." Yui-san said.

"Yey!" I and Hana-chan said happily.
But Shiota-san is still sobbing.

Before going to the spring, I told Yuricchan to go first.

"Yuricchan, kimi wa osaki ni ike yo. [Yuricchan, you can go first.]" I said.

"Atashi wa choudo ocha o tsukuru nda. [I'll just make some tea.]" I added.

I went to the kitchen and made some tea. But before going to the bath, I thought to buy some flower first.

I searched Tanaka-san's shop for snowdrop flowers. Their clear white color and bowing appearance are perfect as a consolation flower.

*Yuriko's POV*

"Why does Hana-chan took so long preparing for just a small pot of tea?"
I asked to myself.

I've waited for several minutes.

5 minutes has passed but she still didn't came. So I decided to go check her at the kitchen. I wrapped the towel around my body and went straight to my destination.

When I was already there, what I saw were just a small teapot and three teacups.

"Where did she go?" I uttered to myself.

Five minutes had passed but she still hasn't come back. I decided to go to my room. But when I was about to leave the kitchen, Hana-chan suddenly came, gasping.

"Where have you been?" I asked.

"I went to Tanaka-san's shop. I bought a snowdrop flower." She answered.

"Snowdrop flower?"

"Hora. Kireii deshou? [Here. Beautiful, isn't it?]"

"Honto da! Kireii! [It's true! It's so beautiful!]"

"Are you finished already?"

"Yes, I got bored waiting for you. But anyway, what does that flower mean?"

"This snowdrop has two meanings: consolation and hope. But this time, it's only consolation."

"Naruhodo."

Then I went to my room to wear some clothes.

*Hanayuri's POV*

After Yuricchan left the kitchen, I went to the living room to search for Shiota-san.

When I arrived there, I saw her still sobbing.

"Shiota-san, let's go to the bath." I said to her.

"But... Sniff... But... Sniff..."

"Okay okay. I know it's hard to move on if your parent died. But there's no point crying over it.  You have to be strong and accept the reality." I said.

"Follow me. According to my research, hot springs don't only heal us physically, but also emotionally." I added.

And so, we went inside the bath. I brought the teapot and teacups with me as we enter the bath.

I went near Shiota-san together with my tea set and the small vase of snowdrop flower.

I comforted her down and said...

"Here, drink this. It will help you calm down," as I hand her a cup of warm green.

"Isn't it feels good to drink a warm cup of tea while in hot spring? And here, for you." I added.

I hand her the little vase of snowdrop flower. It seems she starting to calm down and stops sobbing.

"Hanayuri-san, kono hana no namae wa nani? [Hanayuri-san, what's the name of this flower?]" She asked.

"Sore wa matsuyukisou desu. [That's the snowdrop.]" I answered.

"Kireii deshou? [It's beautiful, isn't it?]" I added.

"Yeah! It's so beautiful. But why is it facing down?"

"Sore mo kimi no kanashimi o kanjiru desu kara. [It's because it also feels your sadness.]"

"Ahhh... So touching."

And so, we chatted for hours.

When we started to feel dizziness, we immediately got up the bath and went to our own rooms. Shiota-san finally cheered up after that.

When noontime came, Yui-san knocked at my door and said...

"Ichida-san, you have a visitor."

"Who 's my visitor? I've never invited anyone." I said.

"Ow, I forgot to ask his name."

"HIS!?"

"Yeah. It's a rich little boy."

"Rich? Little? Ah! It must be Yuzuru. But what is he doing here? I never invited him." I thought.

"Where is he?" I asked.

"He's at the reception area." Yui-san said.

I immediately went to the reception area. When I arrived there, he was really there just as Yui-san said.

"Yuzuru, what are you doing here?," him I asked.

"I wanted to see you," said he.

"But, what about your classes?"

"Kyou wa doyoubi desu yo. [Today's saturday, you know.]"

"Eh!?"

I looked at the date on my phone and the day of the week was really Saturday.

"Honto da! Tehehehe. [It really is! Tehehehe,]" said I.

"So you came here just to see me?" I added.

"Nope. Actually, I booked myself a room here."

"Eh!? Is that so?"

"Hai desu. [Yes.]"

And so, we went to our own rooms.

When the night came, Yuzuru knocked at my door and said...

"Hanayuri-san, Yui-san said that we will be having a night picnic later at 7 PM."

Then he left.

I looked at my wristwatch. It was still 6:00.

I searched my wardrobe for something suitable to wear at night. Then I searched for my makeup kit and wore a night makeup.

I checked the time on my watch again. It was quarter to seven.

I treaded the hallway searching for the picnic's location when I saw Yuzuru reading a book inside the dining room.

I approached him and when he saw me, he said...

"I've been waiting for you. Follow me; I'll show you the way."

When we arrived at the location, I was shocked when I saw they were already grilling the barbecue.

"I thought the picnic will start at 7." I said in confusion.

"Actually, we started at 6 o'clock. Tachibana-kun said it will start at 7 so that you'll have time preparing yourself." Yui-san.

When the barbecue meats were already cooked, we ate to our heart's content. While I was eating, I saw Ittoki-kun sitting on the branch of a sakura (cherry blossom) tree.

I approached him and asked...

"Soko ni nani ga shitteiru no ka? [What are you doing there?]"

"Ore wa hoshizora ni mitteiru ndesu. [I'm looking at the starry sky.]" He answered.