Title: Preserved Flower

School after the holidays is killing me.

I wish with all my heart that school would be closed due to some terrorist attack or natural disaster. Yes, it’s a peace-loving kind of thing. Let’s say what I just said was a joke because it’s inappropriate.

However, all Japanese people must hate Mondays. The faces of the working adults that come and go look asleep or dead. I became into a zombie and joined the March of the Dead.

As soon as I walked into the classroom and took my seat, Makoto came over.

“Good morning, Sui.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I’m sorry if you had a bad Friday. Sorry for bothering you.”

“Don’t apologize. I got to see something interesting.”

Something interesting. That was Arina. That rare drama that turned the atmosphere upside down was really interesting. Don’t tell anyone that I muttered to myself, “Drama? If Arina asked me about it, I’d be afraid.”

“So what happened after? How did the badminton and tennis teams end up?”

“We split up for about five minutes, and then we talked it over calmly once everyone settled down. We decided to share the place with the tennis club like we have been. I’m seriously glad. I was cringing because I thought we were gonna have another heated argument…”

“Are you all in the clear?”

“As a matter of fact, I heard that the badminton and tennis teams are having their last meeting today, so they’ll decide everything there.”

“Oh. Good, good.”

If that argument won’t happen again, I’ll have no complaints.

“But,”

“What?”

“I was surprised that Hiwa came…. I didn’t understand what was happening at first.”

“Certainly not what I expected.”

“As I thought, Hiwa and Sui…”

“Why is that?”

“I can’t help it! What’s the real story!? I won’t tell anyone!”

“Makoto, I’m really not dating anyone but don’t say too much, okay? Arina might get pissed off and my life might be in danger…. in fact, she almost killed me.”

“Shit. This bothers me so much.”

“Let me give it to you straight. I’m not dating Arina.”

“…Well, I’ll give it a break for today.”

What, you’re gonna keep doing this in the future?

A dinner party with Makoto.

“Well, it’s a dinner party.”

“Sui, stop saying that every time we eat. It’s embarrassing.”

“What? It’s a noble dinner party. Is there a chef?”

“The chef is Sui’s mother…”

“No, it might be my sister.”

“Ah, ummm, ‘Ugin’-chan, right?”

“Yep. Ugin Sakaki is my sister’s name. What’s your name?”

“Takane Makoto… I just want to say…”

“Hai, itadakimasu.”

“Itadakimasu.”

Then, as I was silently eating my made-in-Sakaki meal, Yuri Hiiragi burst into the classroom. As soon as she saw me, she approached me.

“Thanks for the help.”

“I didn’t do anything. You can thank Arina instead. That was all Arina.”

“I did already, though~. The only reply I got was ‘I see’.”

“That’s just like her.”

“So you’re going out with Arina after all? What’s up with that!?”

“Wait, no! I’m not going out with anybody! I’m about to throw a sausage!”

“Mou, you’re so stubborn. Who do you want, Arina or Shirona?! Be clear!”

“Shirona has nothing to do with it either! My female relationships are super healthy!”

“Sui, don’t do that with Hiwa, you’ll die…”

“Been there, done that. Don’t worry, I won’t be confessing to Arina like you did. You’ll be the only one who dies.”

“Kuhn, it hurts…”

Makoto was starting to turn pale. He was probably having flashbacks. Don’t let your PTSD develop here.

“I’m grateful that Sui brought Arina with so. Thank you. We’ll take care of the rest.”

“I don’t know about that either. Play nice, club president.”

Class was over and I headed to the Rose Garden, as usual. Arina hadn’t come yet.

If she didn’t come, this place would have no reason to exist.

I wonder how Akakusa-sensei managed to secure this place.

“I’ll clean up…”

The environment was still not perfect, so I picked up my broom and started sweeping. I opened the window and let the air out. Awful air. I opened the door to let more air in.

“Uwa—”

“Get out of my way.”

Arina was standing in front of the door. She looked up at me slightly and I was a little frightened.

She walked by quickly and put her bag on the long desk with a thud. Each movement was a bit erratic. “Keep it quieter,” I swallowed my words as they started to come out and focused on the large paper bag in Arina’s right hand.

“Arina, what’s that? It’s so big.”

“It has your head inside. It’s fresh.”

“What? Isn’t that wrong? No way, I didn’t think my brain was going to become a machine before I knew it—”

“No, it’s not. It’s no better than a cabbage.”

She has a hobby of hurting me with harsh words. I think cabbage is pretty important, though. Is she trying to tell me that he brought me up as a comparison object, that Sakaki Sui is a worthy being? You’re praising me under the guise of undermining me? You tsundere. But I’m sure all the housewives in the world would choose the cabbage, no questions asked, if they had to choose between my life and all the cabbages in the world. It’s so sad. This is reality. Human life seems to be worth less than cabbage.

Arina put her hand in the paper bag and took it out.

“Oh my god. A blue rose.”

There were many blue-dyed roses. She took out a bouquet of flowers.

She placed it in a small vase and gently placed the vase on the long table.

“How often do roses need to be watered?”

“These roses don’t need water.”

“They’re gonna die.”

“Do you know what preserved flowers are?”

“Nope.”

“It’s a dehydrated and processed flower. They’re dead.”

“Huh, was there always such a thing?”

“My mother gave them to me because she makes preserved flowers as a hobby. So I thought I’d bring them into this tasteless room.”

Arina said and stared lovingly at the roses. She always wrinkles her brow, so this was an unexpected side of her. It’s weird to see her smiling. I’ll be careful not to talk about this, because if I do, I won’t be able to escape her punishment.

“Arina. Why did you come at that moment?”

Of course, I was talking about when she showed up at the gym.

“Use that brain of yours, that’s no bigger than a walnut, to think.”

I didn’t expect to get an answer from the start, so her reply was to be expected. Society isn’t kind enough to give us easy answers.

I stopped asking because Arina seemed to be enjoying arranging the blue roses. Arina in a good mood made for a nice scene.

“That said,”

“What?”

“Why are people saying we’re dating? I’m about to run out of patience.”

“It’s a problem for me too. Let’s just calm down and figure it out. Don’t kill me.”

“No, but I can hear it all around me. You’re going to have to do something, or I’m going to erase your name off the records.”

What kind of state power does this woman have?

It was a problem for me as well, so I’m going to clear up the misunderstanding. It’s going to take some time, but it’s better to do it quietly. That was going to be better than saying it loudly and standing out.

“But the fact that I’m dating the beautiful Arina Hiwa is something to be proud of.”

“Give me your hand. I’m gonna rip all of your nails off.”

I ran into the men’s room. Seeing Arina walk away in frustration gave me the best feeling of superiority I’d had in the long time.

T/N: You’re playing a dangerous game, Sui.