My Blooming Rose; chapter 3
Title: My Blooming Rose
Chapter: 3
Author: nene-chan
Type of Story: full-fledged story.
Genre: Romance, General, Love-triangle
Pairings: Sakurai x OFC x Ohno
Girl used in image banner: Yaida Hitomi
Summary: Passing through a flower shop one day, Ohno finds a person who makes his heart jump. She’s captured his heart at first sight and now Ohno wants to pursue her. But love doesn’t always go as planned; and an unexpected twist occurs, changing three lives forever.
Comments: You know what? This chapter focuses more on Sakurai and Natsuko, so I guess there won’t be much Ohno-ness here? He was practically in the last two chapters anyway! XD Somehow this story is starting to remind me of Honey and Clover… no reason why though. O.o
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“Is this what we’ll be eating for dinner? Looks delicious!” Aiba exclaimed as he sat down on the dining table.
“Don’t worry, there’s plenty to go around!” Natsuko smiled, taking a seat in between Nino and Sho. “Well, is everybody here?”
“Hai! Itadakimasu!” The five boys cheered and immediately dug in.
“Ah, Oishi!” Jun exclaimed with a wide grin. Natsuko laughed as she thanked him. They were really amusing.
“So, Natsuko… you’ve never heard of our music before?” Sakurai asked as he took a sip out of his water.
“No, I haven’t. I’m sorry.” Natsuko apologetically said, helping herself to another serving of spaghetti.
“Not one song?” Nino added. She shook her head. “So, what do you work as?”
“A florist. I work at the shop down the road from here.”
“Oh! You mean the one near the café?” Aiba said, pointing the fork in her direction. Natsuko merely nodded her head once more and continued with her meal. All during the while, Ohno couldn’t stop looking at her. Jun, who noticed his strange behaviour, nudged him.
“Why are you staring?” He asked, raising an eyebrow, looking at Natsuko and back to Ohno.
“Me? Oh, uh…” Ohno stammered, looking down at his place. “It’s nothing. I was just… thinking.”
Dinner passed by with random chatters fluttering about, and as soon as it passed, everyone was seated around the living room.
“So what do we do now?” Nino asked, none of them said a word. It was completely obvious that they were bored right now, with nothing to talk about. Natsuko was the first to get up from her seat.
“Where are you going, Natsuko-chan?” Aiba asked.
“I’m going for a walk outside.” She simple stated, looking at the group of boys who were sitting down. “Anyone want to tag along?”
No one said a word, and shrugging her shoulders, Natsuko headed for the door.
“Wait. I’ll go with you.” A voice said behind her. Turning around, she saw Sakurai standing up with a serious look on his face.
“Okay then.” She said, nodding her head. “Oh and Ohno… thanks for everything.”
“No problem.” He said; smiling at Nastuko as he, Nino, Jun and Aiba watched her and Sakurai leave the apartment.
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“You know, you can really cook well.” Sakurai complimented Natsuko as they began walking down the street together.
“Thank you.” She said; looking down at the road she was walking on. “You didn’t have to follow me you know.”
“Well, it’s better than doing nothing anyway.” Sakurai gave a chuckle. “So… where exactly are we walking to?”
“I don’t know. Maybe the park? It seems like we’re going that way.” Natsuko said, not looking up from where she was walking. She was right. In the distance, Sakurai could see a lit up place with benches and a children’s playground. There were still people walking about, probably on a date with each other.
“You know, people might think we’re on a date or something.” Sakurai joked as he shoved his hands into his pockets. This has earned a small giggle from Natsuko.
“That’s highly unlikely. I mean, we practically don’t know each other!”
“We could always get to know each other, right?” He suddenly stopped in his tracks, looking at her with a wide smile. Natsuko stopped too, and looked at him with questioning eyes.
“Maybe.” She plainly said, and the couple resumed walking through the park. “You go first.”
“Me? Why me?!”
Natsuko looked at Sakurai and gave a small grin. “Plainly because you wanted to do this. So why don’t you go first?”
Sakurai gave a small laugh and looked up into the starry sky to think for a moment. “Well, there isn’t much to know… I’m Sakurai Sho. I’m 26 this year. I’m a university graduate and… I sing?” He said, looking from the sky back to Natsuko. “It’s your turn now.”
“Natsuko Fuji. I’m 26 this year as well, I work at a flower shop and there’s nothing else you need to know.” Natsuko dashed off a few steps before stopping and turning around to face Sakurai with a grin. “Oh, and I can seem and be straight-forward at times.”
“I can see that!” Sakurai said, jogging up to her. They just stood there, facing each other with silly grins on their faces, until Natsuko spoke by gazing down at her shoes.
“Well, isn’t this… interesting…” She said, finally looking around her surroundings. People who were walking by gave them strange looks, perhaps it was because Sakurai was there with a relatively ‘unknown girl’. “I think these passer-bys think we’re dating each other.”
“I thought you said it was highly impossible.” Sakurai teased.
“I did. The only fact is that your apparently a celebrity, and I’m a regular person, and I guess they people are wondering why your doing with someone like me?” Natsuko pointed out. Sakurai’s reply was a ruffle on Natsuko’s hair.
“There’s no problem with that, now is there? Unless you harbour a secret infatuation for me… that is.”
“Why would I? I have no reason to like you more than a friend.” Natsuko said, removing Sakurai’s hand from her head. “Now if you’d excuse me, I’ll be going back to my apartment now, and I think you should head back to Ohno’s.”
Sakurai nodded his head in agreement. “So, can I walk you back then?”
“What’s with the request? We’re going back to the same place after all.” Natsuko said, walking past Sakurai. “Well, aren’t you coming?”
“Ah, yes!” Sakurai said, catching up with her, and the two spent the rest of their time going back to their original destination talking about things they had in common.
