The soft hum of the radio filled the flower shop as Kasumi carefully arranged a bouquet of lilies and roses. The familiar scent of fresh blooms usually brought her peace, but today, her mind was elsewhere. Yasushi. She couldn't stop thinking about him. Ever since the festival, thoughts of their brief but meaningful connection lingered in her mind. His quiet demeanor, the way he listened, the shared silence that felt comfortable, not awkward. But with that warmth came a familiar hesitation, a nagging fear that had followed her for years.
What if he, too, walked away? What if she opened herself up, only to be hurt again?
The gentle jingle of the bell above the shop door pulled Kasumi from her thoughts. Her mother entered the shop, her face lighting up with a warm smile when she saw Kasumi working.
"Busy today, Kasumi?" her mother asked, walking over to examine the bouquet Kasumi was arranging.
"Not too bad," Kasumi replied, trying to sound nonchalant. But her mother knew her too well.
"You seem distracted, dear. Is everything alright?" Her mother's tone was soft, concerned.
Kasumi hesitated. Her relationship with her mother had always been close, but there were certain things she struggled to talk about—especially matters of the heart. Still, the weight of her thoughts was too much to bear alone. She set down the flowers and took a deep breath.
"Actually, there's something I've been thinking about," Kasumi began, her voice unsure. "I met someone at the festival."
Her mother's eyes sparkled with interest. "Oh? Someone special?"
Kasumi gave a small nod, her cheeks flushing slightly. "His name is Yasushi. He's a graphic designer. We were paired up for one of the games, and... I don't know. We connected. We talked a lot, and he seems... different from anyone I've met before."
Her mother smiled, but she sensed the unease in Kasumi's voice. "That sounds lovely, Kasumi. But I can tell there's more on your mind. What's bothering you?"
Kasumi sighed, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of the counter. "I just... I don't know if I'm ready. I'm afraid of getting close to someone again, of letting someone in. What if he leaves? What if I'm not enough?"
Her mother's face softened as she listened. She placed a gentle hand on Kasumi's arm, her touch warm and comforting. "I understand your fear, Kasumi. After your father left, it's natural to be afraid of opening your heart again. But holding onto that fear won't protect you—it will only keep you from experiencing something beautiful."
Kasumi bit her lip, her mind racing. "But what if I get hurt again?"
"Getting hurt is a part of life, dear," her mother said softly. "But so is healing, and so is love. You can't close yourself off forever. You've spent so long hiding behind your flowers, expressing your feelings through them, but at some point, you need to express what's in your heart to someone who can listen and understand."
Kasumi looked down, her mother's words sinking in. She had always used her flower arrangements as a shield, a way to avoid confronting her emotions head-on. But now, faced with the possibility of something real, something genuine with Yasushi, she wasn't sure how to move forward.
"What if he doesn't feel the same way?" Kasumi asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her mother chuckled softly. "You'll never know unless you try. From what you've told me, it sounds like Yasushi is a kind and thoughtful man. If you felt a connection, there's a good chance he did too. But you have to be willing to take that first step."
Kasumi nodded slowly, her heart heavy with both fear and hope. "I don't want to lose him before I even have a chance to know him."
"Then don't," her mother replied simply. "Reach out to him. See where it leads. Life is full of uncertainties, but you can't let that stop you from living."
Kasumi took a deep breath, her mother's words filling her with a sense of calm. She knew her mother was right. She couldn't let fear dictate her actions forever. If she wanted to see where things could go with Yasushi, she had to be brave enough to take that risk.
Later that evening, after the shop had closed and Kasumi was alone in her room, she found herself sitting on the edge of her bed, phone in hand. Her heart raced as she opened her messaging app and scrolled to Yasushi's name.
She hesitated for a moment, her thumb hovering over the screen. Should she wait for him to message her first? Was it too forward to reach out so soon? But then she remembered her mother's words—life is full of uncertainties, but you can't let that stop you.
With a deep breath, she began typing:
Hey Yasushi, I've been thinking about the festival. It was really nice meeting you, and I was wondering if you'd like to grab coffee sometime?
She stared at the message, her heart pounding in her chest. It felt like such a small step, but to her, it was monumental. After a moment of hesitation, she hit send.
For a few agonizing seconds, nothing happened. Then, her phone buzzed. Yasushi had replied.
Hey Kasumi! I was just thinking about you too. I'd love to grab coffee sometime. How about this weekend?
A smile spread across Kasumi's face as she read the message. Her heart still raced, but this time it wasn't fear—it was excitement. Maybe, just maybe, this could be the beginning of something beautiful.