Petals {YukiTsuru}

Spring in Winter

CLANK
The metallic gate shut with a screeching sound, signalling the accumulating rust on its edges and much needed oiling.

"Haa- Yukiatsu?!" Tsuruko stopped mid-yawn, surprised to see the said boy posed stylishly at the side of her house, with one foot on the wall to stabilise himself, the other firmly on the concrete floor.

"Finally! I thought I freeze out there forever!" Yukiatsu replied jokingly, ignoring the piercing gaze of the girl beside him. In fact, he even started walking in the direction of the train station, leaving behind him, Tsuruko who was still in a slight daze.

Did Yukiatsu just... come to pick me up... at my house...?

Never in her life had such a situation arisen. Surely, she must be dreaming then?

Realising that the bespectacled girl wad not keeping up with his pace, Yukiatsu stopped in his tracks, turning to face her.

"You are not coming?" He asked, the slightest hint of worry in his voice.

Finally snapping out of her confusion, Tsuruko looked up to the taller boy for an instant before voicing out her thoughts,"Why are you here?"

Although her tone was firm,the slight waver in Tsuruko's eyes didn't go unnoticed by Yukiatsu which actually took him off-guard at first. Then recuperating, he let out a chuckle.

It was the first time that Tsuruko allowed herself to look do uncertain of herself. Usually she'd just speak out whatever was on her mind, uncaring of whether the person at who her sentences were directed at, was hurt or offended by them.

But at the moment, she hesitated, unsure of her words lest of herself. If one listened closely, they would notice how her voice rose a slight octave higher on her last word.

And yet, despite all these small changes that no one would have paid any special attention to, Yukiatsu did. To him, it meant that he was successful in breaking Tsuruko's fortress and a step further towards her heart.

Had he ever thought that such an unnoticeable thing would actually mean the world to him now?

He had fantasized about Menma smiling his way and to say that those dreams made him happy would be an understatement. But along with his happiness would be sadness, because Menma would never be his...

But now... Instead of impossible goals, Yukiatsu saw a possible future by his side. He could have sworn, a year ago, that he had given his heart to Menma and that no one else could replace the latter. In fact, no one did replace their childhood friend. That was totally unimaginable to both Yukiatsu and all of the remaining Super Peace Busters.

However, Menma did take a step back. Slowly but surely, his world started revolving around Tsuruko but he had yet to take notice of it.

"Why are you laughing?" Tsuruko scrutinised him with her eyes, eyebrows pulled together in a frown. Her cheeks slightly puffed out and her hands pulled across her chest, daring him to continue chuckling.

Geez, how can someone be so cute?!

Surprised at his own thought, Yukiatsu stopped abrubtly mid-laugh before clearing his throat out of embarrassment.

"N-Nothing. And to answer your earlier question, I came to pick you up if that wasn't obvious already."

Yukiatsu rubbed the nape of his neck, looking at his shoes as if they were the most interesting thing in the whole world.

Suddenly, he saw another pair of shoes on front of his, which made him snap his head back up so quickly he could've broken his neck. And if his day had yet to get any better, as soon as his chocolate-brown eyes met with Tsuruko's emerald ones, he took a step backward, tripping over air in the process and ended up falling on the icy path with Tsuruko hovering over him.

Yes, Atsumu Matsuyuki, being the idiot he is, in trying to save himself from the fall, caught Tsuruko's arm to steady himself but of course failed miserably, thus bringing down the aforementioned girl with him.

Tsuruko shut her eyes tightly, bracing herself for the impact upon colliding with the concrete floor but surprisingly, it never came. Slowly, her eyelids fluttered open and her breath caught at the sight before her.

Yukiatsu was looking at her with such intensity that if she was snow, she would've melted on the spot. That's just how much fire Yukiatsu retained in his eyes.

They remained in their awkwardly and embarrassingly intimate position- Yukiatsu's hands lightly wrapped around Tsuruko's waist, Tsuruko's pretty hands rested on Yukiatsu's chest with her ontop of him- both having a mini-staring contest.

How have I never noticed how pretty close-up Tsuruko is?

Yukiatsu smiled inwardly. Even with her tomboy haircut, Tsuruko somehow always managed to look like a model straight out of a runaway.

The moment would have lasted longer had Tsuruko quickly not broken eye contact and scurried up to her feet, looking anywhere but at Yukiatsu.

The latter too was quite embarrassed by this "weird" incident and after a few seconds  passed by and neither had uttered a word, he managed to get out a shaky, "We should get going," before hurrying off in the distance, leaving in his trail, Tsuruko who was holding back a laugh.

"Don't tell me he's being shy right now," Tsuruko thought amused.

She was quite taken aback by the reaction of Yukiatsu who was quite the renowned flirtat school. Who would have thought the poker-faced Yukiatsu she had always known, could be possible of such an adorable reaction? And to think she had a hand in this change.

Picking up her pace, Tsuruko quickly caught up with Yukiatsu and this time instead of keeping the three steps distance between them, Tsuruko walked alongside him.

Things were changing and for the better at that. Slowly by surely, the Super Peace Busters were finally accepting the turn of events in their lives. They would never forget that tragic day but now, instead of mourning for things that could not be changed, they were changing to live their lives to the fullest and without regrets.

They had been given a second chance to make everything right and this time, they'd not mess up the opportunity to live a better life.

For Menma, who was regretfully not by their side to enjoy their youth and for themselves who know that their chidlhood friend would never forgive them for wasting this precious time because of her.

No more would the Super Peace Busters live in "What ifs". Life was a maze for those 5 little kids that got lost in it but with the help of a miracle that went by the name of Honma Meiko, they found their way out.

With shoulders occasional brushing against each other, Yukiatsu and Tsuruko shared a blissful silence. Although their hearts were racing and thoughts were swirling in their minds, no words needed to be shared for the pair to know that they rejoiced each other's company.

Although their love was still budding, the friendship between Tsuruko and Yukiastu had blossomed ages ago.

Like flowers, blooming in spring.

---End---

A/N: I know I took an eternity to update and I'm really very sorry for that... I'm not really satisfied with how this chapter turned out so please so let me know in the comments what you think I should improve on.

Tbh, I came to the realization that idk how to write romantic situations and this is partially why I could not update. Again I'm sorry and thank you all my precious readers who patiently wait for me to update. Love y'all♡♡♡

Signing off,
Ritsuka2