Cards — The Roses and the Lost Child 1

[gyaxa]

(The next weekend)

Tatsumi: We've now arrived at the flower garden's entrance. It seems there's a plaza with playground equipment for children up ahead.

I can see a conservatory to our left, and an exhibition area to our right. Further within the park are things like a wooden deck and ponds, and the park's star attraction, the rose garden, is—

Aira & Mayoi: ……

Tatsumi: Is anyone listening to me? Actually, are the two of you okay, for that matter?

Aira: Ah, yeah, 'm listening. Thanks for the info, Tattsun-senpai.

But I'm… still kinda dizzy, so I think I just wanna take it easy for a little.

Mayoi: (wheezing) Huff, Cars… are scary…

Aira: Mayo-san's even turned into a broken car stereo, as you can see.

Based on what I looked up, it seemed that driving would be faster than taking a train or bus, but…

I really do love Tattsun-senpai when he's not holding a steering wheel.

Tatsumi: Hmm…. I suppose I must practice driving more so that you'll love me even when I'm holding a steering wheel.

Aira: You're being way too positive about this…

Uuu, at this rate it's all up to Mayo-san to get his driver's license ASAP. You're my only hope!

Mayoi: Aahh… could it be that Aira-san's directing his hopes and teary gaze solely towards me…?

Ufufufufu ♪︎ I feel aaall better all of a sudden ♪︎

Tatsumi: Thank goodness. The color has returned to your faces, so I presume you're starting to calm down?

Mayoi: Yes, gradually… Thank you for driving us, Tatsumi-san.

—And putting Aira-san and I aside, what I'm more worried about is…
 

Hiiro: ……

Aira: Heeey, Hiro-kun? Why haven't you been saying anything?

You're usually the only one who enjoys Tattsun-senpai's driving, but you were silent the whole time…

Hiiro: I was admiring the scenery, since this is my first time coming to this area.

Tatsumi: Does your stomach hurt? I wonder if you ate something bad…

Hiiro: There's no need for you to worry. I'm completely fine.

Mayoi: Um, then could you be carsick like Aira-san and I…?

Hiiro: I don't think I am. I'm not dizzy or unsteady at all.

Aira: Then why were you so quiet? Aren't you usually way more energetic and enthusiastic than that?

Hiiro: That's probably because… I was thinking about something.

Mayoi: Thinking about something?

Hiiro: I was told to think as hard as I can… But no matter how much I do, I can't seem to come up with an answer.

Aira: Huh? Don't you usually decide things on the spot?

Tatsumi: I don't have a clue as to what you're thinking so hard about…

But if you're worrying about something, please tell us so we can help you carry the burden and think of an answer.

Hiiro: Thank you, Tatsumi-senpai.

But I have to think about this myself. Else, there'd be no purpose in him posing me all those questions… I think.

Aira: You're sure being vague…

Mayoi: Well, everyone has a thing or two they can't tell anyone else…

There are some problems in life that you must tackle yourself, aren't there?

Hiiro: I'm sorry for making you all worry. as I said earlier, there's nothing wrong with me physically, so there's no need to worry!

Now that we've arrived at the flower garden, I intend to enjoy myself to the fullest with everyone…♪︎

Aira: Aha. That's good!

I'm sure if you spend some time relaxing and looking at the pretty flowers and scenery, you'll be able to make some headway.

Tatsumi: In the first place, we came here so that we could take a break, so it'd be nice if this serves as a good change of pace for you.

Where should we head first? Of course, I'd be fine if we stay by these flowers for a little while, but…

Aira: Ah, then I'm gonna go take some pics with those hedges over there! I've been thinking about how pretty its flowers are for a while now ♪︎

Do you know what kinda flowers they are, Tattsun-senpai?

Tatsumi: Fufu, you'll trip if you don't look where you're walking. If I remember correctly, those flowers are—
 

Hiiro: ……

Mayoi: Um, are you really sure you're alright?

Hiiro: Ah, yes. I'm in good health.

Mayoi: Um, it's not your physical health I'm concerned about right now…

Hiiro: … Hm, that's no good. Sorry for making you worry, even after I decided to put my feelings behind me and enjoy myself.

Mayoi: For now, why don't we start walking through the garden too? I'm sure if we take the time to admire the flowers and greenery, you'll start to have some fun naturally.

We could take some pictures like Aira-san is doing.

Hiiro: Pictures, huh… Okay, let's take some together ♪︎

Mayoi: Huh? I want a picture of just you and the flowers though—

Hiiro: Umm… If I want to take a "selfie", I'm pretty sure I have to first switch to the phone's inner camera function.

… Just how do you do that again?

Mayoi: You just press this button at the corner of the screen. Once you do that… look, we can see your face now ♪︎

Hiiro: You're right… Now we can take a picture together. Could you come a little closer to me, Mayoi-senpai?

Mayoi: L-Like this…?

Hiiro: Yep, this looks good. The flowers in the background look great as well, so we should be able to take one of those "trendy" pictures that Aira talks about ♪︎

Mayoi: (He's acting as he usually does now, so I wonder if he's back to normal…?)

(I hope his worries manage to clear up if he keeps up like this.)

Hiiro: … Alright, I think I took a good one ♪︎

But there really are a lot of flowers here. The flower beds go on as far as the eye can see.

I wonder where the rose garden Aira was interested in is?

Mayoi: I'm fairly sure it's in a different direction than the way Aira-san and Tatsumi-san went…

But we have plenty of time, so why don't we head to the rose garden and enjoy looking at all the other flowers on the way there?

Hiiro: Alright, let's do just that. This park might have my favorite flowers somewhere.

Mayoi: Hmm, so there's a type of flower you're fond of, Hiiro-san?

Hiiro: Yes. I'm not really sure what kind it was, but there was this flower in my hometown that bloomed on the mountain slopes in Autumn— …

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