"Wow, Ino, you're really good with your hands."
In a room filled with a feminine touch, four girls sat cross-legged around a round, low table. Several vases were placed on the table, each filled with different kinds of flowers.
"Well, of course. My family owns a flower shop after all." Ino couldn't help but look a little proud at the compliment.
"No wonder you always get full marks in flower arrangement class."
"If you want to learn, Chihiro, I can teach you," Ino offered with a smile to the girl sitting across from her.
"Really? Thanks, Ino!" Chihiro beamed, clearly delighted.
"Ino, I want to learn too. Right, Aoi?" the girl next to her chimed in eagerly. Aoi nodded in agreement.
"Sure, I'll teach all of you," Ino said casually.
"You're so kind, Ino!"
"I'll start with something simple." Ino reached into the flower basket next to the table and picked out two each of roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, and flamingo lilies. She arranged them in the vase layer by layer, like a staircase placing the most vivid roses and flamingo lilies at the bottom, and the still-budding carnations at the very top.
"There. Take a look." Once she was done, Ino set the vase in the middle of the table.
"It's beautiful."
"How did you even do that?"
"This style uses two of each kind of flower," Ino explained. "The ones in full bloom go on the bottom, and the ones still budding go on top."
"It's simple. Try it yourselves."
The other three girls started experimenting with the flowers on their own.
"Ino, you're so talented and pretty. I bet a lot of boys have a crush on you," Chihiro said as she worked on her arrangement.
"Yeah, I've heard some boys in our class talking about you," Aoi added quickly.
Ino rested her chin on one hand, elbow propped on the table, absentmindedly fiddling with the flowers she'd just arranged.
She didn't respond.
"Ino, do you like anyone?" another girl asked cautiously, sensing something in her silence.
Like? Ino stared at the carnations standing tall in the center of the vase, gently cradled by the flowers below.
Then, she suddenly smiled.
"Yeah, I do," she said.
"Really?"
"Who is it? Tell us!"
With a smile still playing on her lips, Ino glanced at the three of them before speaking.
"There are actually two boys in our class that fit my type."
"Really?"
"What kind of guys do you like?" they asked, visibly intrigued.
"I like…" Ino started, then paused for a moment before continuing, "guys who look good."
"Good-looking guys?"
"Two of them?"
"You mean…" Aoi hesitated for a second before voicing her guess. "Shin and Sasuke?"
Ino met her gaze without saying anything. But her silence made it clear.
The room fell quiet.
Chihiro and the others didn't speak again.
Ino looked at their silence, a bit confused, though not entirely surprised.
After a while, Chihiro suddenly stood up.
"Sorry, Ino. I just remembered something I need to take care of at home. Thanks for having me today." She gave a small bow, then turned and left the room.
"Ino, I have something to do too. Sorry," Aoi said as she got up.
"Same here, Ino," the last girl added, standing as well.
They all gave polite bows before walking out the door.
"You guys…" Ino sat up straight, watching their retreating backs in silence.
What was that about…
She looked around at the now-empty room, at the vases still on the table, and the half-used flowers left unarranged.
A sudden sadness welled up inside her.
"Ino!"
Her mother's voice called from outside the room before she stepped in.
"Ino, why did your friends leave so suddenly?"
"…"
"Ino?" Her mother walked over, then gasped. "Are you crying?"
Startled, Ino blinked and touched her face. She hadn't even realized her cheeks were wet. She quickly wiped at her tears.
"I wasn't!"
Her mother crouched down and gently helped her wipe her face. Her voice was soft.
"Did you have a fight with your friends?"
Ino turned her head away, her voice low. "No, Mom. Don't ask."
"Alright, I won't. But if something's wrong, talk to them. Clearing things up can make a big difference."
Ino didn't respond.
Her mother stood up and said, "One of your friends is here to see you. It's Sakura."
"Sakura?" Ino looked at her mother, then quickly wiped her face again and stood up to go outside.
"This child…" her mother sighed as she watched her go.
Ino stepped into the living room and saw Sakura sitting by herself, idly playing with her fingers.
"Sakura," Ino called softly.
Sakura looked up and smiled the moment she saw her.
That smile made Ino feel much better, almost instantly.
"I… was bored at home, so I thought I'd come see you," Sakura said as she stood up. "I saw Chihiro and the others leaving. Did they come to visit you too?"
"They…" Ino's tone faltered slightly. "They had something to talk about. After that, they left."
She didn't want to explain, especially not in front of Sakura.
"I see." Sakura nodded.
"Let's go out. Let's go to that place we used to go," Ino said as she walked over and grabbed Sakura's hand.
"Okay!"
"Mom, I'm going out!"
…
Autumn had arrived. The afternoon wind carried a coolness with it, and both girls wore jackets against the chill.
"Ino?"
Ino lay on the grass with her hands behind her head and eyes closed, making it hard for Sakura to tell if she was asleep.
"Mm," Ino responded with a soft hum.
"Ino…" Sakura sat beside her, pulling at blades of grass. "Do you… like anyone?"
"…"
Ino's eyes flew open. She sat up abruptly and stared straight at Sakura.
"W-what's wrong?" Sakura jumped in surprise.
"…No," Ino said at last after a long pause.
"Really?" Sakura smiled a little. "I do. I like someone, Ino."
"…Oh?"
Ino's face remained calm. Sakura figured she just wasn't interested, but continued talking anyway.
"It's Sasuke."
"Sasuke?"
"Yeah." Sakura's cheeks flushed pink with shyness. She looked like she was revealing a precious secret.
"I heard someone say that Sasuke-kun likes girls with long hair." Her smile widened. "So I've decided to grow mine out."
She touched her short pink hair, then turned to look at Ino again.
"Ino, what do you think?"
"Do you think I'd look good with long hair?"
"Ino?"
"…Sakura…"
Ino lowered her head, her hair falling like a curtain to hide her face.
"Huh? What is it?" Sakura looked at her, confused.
"Do you… really like Sasuke?"
"I think so." Sakura scratched her head shyly. "Just seeing him makes me happy."
"I see…"
"Do you know? Liking Sasuke means you'll have a lot of competition."
"I figured." Sakura's face fell, but she thought for a moment.
"It's okay though." Her tone suddenly turned resolute. "As long as it's not you, Ino…"
"I'm not afraid of anyone else."
Ino looked up abruptly and stared at Sakura.
So that's how you feel…
Sakura…
"What's wrong, Ino?" Sakura was puzzled by her friend's sudden reaction.
"Nothing…" Ino stood up and didn't bother brushing the dirt off her clothes.
"It's getting late. Time to go home."
"Go home?" Sakura glanced at the sky. "But we just got here."
"It's still early."
"Oh." Ino looked up too, then turned away. Her tone was light, almost careless.
"Sorry, Sakura."
"I just remembered my mom needs me for something."
"I'll head back first."
"…"
"…Ino."