Chapter 8

The location of the flower bed, though it’s behind the school building, is a place with good sunlight. There are few people passing by, making it the most suitable place to grow plants on campus.

From a distance, one could see several large yellow flowers of zucchini blooming.

In front of them, a girl with curly hair resembling the sheep of Gensuke Tsukinose was seen fidgeting.

"Good morning, what’s wrong?"

"Kyaa! ...Ah, from yesterday..."

"The flowers are blooming, huh. How about pollination?"

"Um, well, that..."

"It’s easier if you have a cotton swab."

"...I don’t have one."

The girl from the gardening club blushed and looked down, embarrassed. It seemed she had forgotten or hadn’t done her research thoroughly. If nothing was done, the zucchini wouldn’t grow. Even though he had called out to her, Hayato wasn’t heartless enough to just leave.

"Ah, the female flowers have green fruit at the base of the stem, while the male flowers don’t. Is it okay if I pick them?"

"Huh? Y-Yes, please do!"

"The petals are in the way, so peel them off... then rub the exposed stamen against the pistil. Understand?"

"Y-Yes, I’ll try! Like this... um, this?"

"One stamen can pollinate about 2-3 pistils."

"Y-Yes!"

Following Hayato’s advice, she began the pollination process. Compared to a field, the flower bed was small, but it was quite large for a flower bed.

There was little time left before the morning homeroom. She hurried a bit, but her heart was elated by the rare agricultural work, and her lips naturally curved into a smile.

"I always thought vegetables just grew on their own..."

"Hmm?"

"The stamen and pistil stick together, and through such activities, fruits grow... Ah, these plants are alive too. We eat them..."

"Right, that’s correct."

For Hayato, field work was a part of daily life. Many people in Tsukinose were farmers, and such things were commonplace. He had always thought of it as just another task.

That’s why the girl’s fresh perspective was so intriguing, and he couldn’t help but stare at her face.

Noticing Hayato’s gaze, she suddenly blushed and, before he knew it, stood up and flailed her hands, panicking.

"A-Ah, that’s... weird! The stamen and pistil, that’s... it’s so... perverted... Hauu..."

"Wait!"

"No, I mean, the stamen and pistil, this is... Kyyyy..."

"Calm down!"

Hayato was at a loss with her sudden outburst. He lacked the ability to deal with girls of his own age.

"Stamen and pistil, with a red face, Mitate-san... What exactly are you doing, Kiriishima-kun?"

"H-Haruki!"

"Haru... Haruki!"

Just as if to point out the situation, Haruki appeared. Her eyes were narrowed, and they held a scolding look. Given that she was a beautiful girl, she had a strange presence, and both of them took a step back.

"Um, well, I... G-Good morning, excuse me!"

"..."

Unable to bear the atmosphere, the girl fled like a rabbit, already on edge.

Left behind, Hayato was alone with Haruki, who looked displeased.

"This is... well, that..."

"Hehe, as expected, that girl is just like the sheep that run away from Gensuke, Hayato."

"Haruki?"

Hayato was trying to think of an excuse, but contrary to his expectations, Haruki’s voice was playful, and her face was that of a mischievous child who had succeeded in a prank.

"How long have you been watching?"

"From about halfway through the pollination? I was wondering what you were doing, and then she suddenly turned red and panicked, so I thought I should help her out."

"You’ve been watching for quite a while. You could have said something earlier... Now it looks like I said something weird to her."

"I have a certain image and character to maintain at school, so it couldn’t be helped."

"Is it okay for me, then?"

"You’re fine, Hayato."

Haruki twirled her skirt and said with a playful smile.

"Because we’re friends."

"...What’s that supposed to mean?"

It was a ridiculous reason. A chuckle of suppressed laughter flowed between the two.

(Well, whatever.)

For some reason, Hayato thought this way.

The next update will be in the evening.

Bonus

"Haruki, did you know? Zucchini flowers are edible."

"Really?!"

"They’re delicious as tempura. In Italy, they stuff them with mozzarella cheese and anchovies, then fry them into fritters."

"My stomach is growling... Hayato, how do you know such things?"

"Various (parties) have happened..."

"Hayato..."

The home garden is entirely the author’s hobby (serious face).

Playing in the dirt is great, really, it is.