Day 5
This was the worst idea Vivio ever had.
Really, what had she been thinking! She was crazy. Nuts. So much for her strategic and tactical training; Vivio really should have just stuck with Grandma Lindy’s lessons of common sense.
Instead, she had done the equivalent of throwing herself to a pack of hungry dragons—and not the nice ones that Caro commanded.
Sender: Vivio Takamachi
From Device: Sacred Heart, 06:00 Local Time
To: Friends List
Message: Hypothetically, if I were to ask someone out on a date, what would be the best way to do it?
The
moment Vivio had typed out that last question mark, her logical brain had screamed at her not to send it.
But the crazy part of her had made her mouth say, “Send.”
Yes, Vivio needed make-up lessons in common sense. But this was worth the price of eternal teasing! (And yes, she knew that the teasing would last until she was on her deathbed. Who needed enemies with friends like these?)
Let the game commence.
Vivio had high stakes she was playing for:
A date with Yagami Hayate-san.
**O**
INBOX – grouped by Sacred Heart by response category
Advice Category #1
REPLY from: Teana
Received - Local Time: 06:02
Message: Hypothetically…I’d write a letter? It might allow you to have some distance, so that the person you’re asking can have some time to think before responding, which may benefit you.
REPLY from: Cinque
Received - Local Time: 06:05
Message: Vivio? Hm, maybe you could try writing a letter and giving it to the person?
REPLY from: Einhart
Received - Local Time: 06:11
Message: Um…I think maybe traditional is best? A letter, put somewhere where the person would find it, might be good.
**O**
ROUND ONE!
Dear Hayate-san,
Would you please go out on a date with me?
Vivio groaned and scrunched up the sheet, tossing it into the wire trashcan. That was terrible! After a second’s thought, Vivio bent under the desktop and fished out the sheet, ripping it into tiny bits and letting the confetti slip back into the trashcan. It wouldn’t do to leave evidence around for someone to easily find! Looking in the garbage was one of the simplest steps in investigation, as Vivio should well know.
She sighed. This was just silly—Vivio had wasted nearly the whole morning trying to decide what advice out of the tons of messages she had received that she should follow. Time was ticking. But this was such an important task, and Vivio dreaded messing up. It wasn’t even the humiliation, which would be bad enough. But Hayate already seemed so ambivalent on the idea of the two of them actually doing anything about their admitted feelings, and if Vivio screwed up this critical moment then all hope might be lost.
Vivio really didn’t have any better opportunities than now, while Hayate was on vacation and might have a slightly more open mind. That implication was unfortunate in and of itself, but right now Vivio was willing to take advantage of any chance to get her foot in the door.
Dear Hayate-san,
I have always admired you, and I wanted to express
my feelings and intentions towards you. Would you
please do me the honour of going out on a date with
me?
“Argh!” Vivio let her forehead smack onto the tabletop as she crumpled the letter with one hand. That sounded so…teenaged. Like, an amateur virgin teenager trying to sound suave. It was stupid.
She needed something…genuine. Maybe she should be simple and direct? Nanoha-mama had always told her that speaking clearly was the best way to go. But Vivio’s always liked Fate-mama’s softness too…but come to think of it, both of her mama’s were pretty direct in their feelings when it came down to it.
Direct and sincere…
Vivio sighed, and picked up her pen again.
Dear Hayate-san,
I wanted to write this letter to tell you about how I
feel about you. Ever since I was little, I’ve admired
how smart and kind you are, and how you always
care about everyone you encounter. You never fail to
find time from somewhere to help a friend out, even if
you’re busy yourself. The way that you encourage
and guide me through my life has inspired me to
become interested in officer training and command,
and also in valuing my time with those I love,
including with you.
I would like to buy lunch for you at noon tomorrow,
and take you out to Suzuka-san’s concert. Will you
please go out with me?
Vivio
Vivio collapsed back into her chair, worn out. Ridiculous, how writing such a short letter took so much out of her…but Vivio couldn’t get her hands to stop shaking. Carefully, Vivio lined up the edges of the sheet and folded it exactly into three, and slipped it into the envelope that she had begged from Farin after breakfast.
“Alright, Vivio!” She told herself, shoving her sleeves up past her elbows and rising determinedly from her chair. Vivio crept over to the door of the guest bedroom. “You can do it…Kris, Area Search!”
Her scrying spell came back with no presences in the hall, so Vivio quietly ducked out, slinking her way towards Hayate’s room. Not having to explain herself to anyone relieved Vivio—her courage was on a tight-rope as it was. All the stealth lessons drilled into her in GFDC training got her downstairs in the Tsukimura mansion without being spotted by the servants or by her parents, and so Vivio bolted across the last stretch of hallway to hover by Hayate’s door, panting softly.
Should she knock and hand it to Hayate personally? But wouldn’t that defeat the purpose of the slightly-formal, slightly-distant touch of writing a letter?
Maybe sliding it under the door would be the best idea.
Vivio took a few deep breaths. Then she quickly slipped her letter through the crack under the door and booked it back down the hall.
A sudden whir and sharp
SRACK! from the room made Vivio freeze.
The door opened suddenly.
“Hello? Oh, hi Vivio-chan!” Farin greeted. “Did you just leave something for Hayate-chan?”
“…Farin-san?” Vivio asked, dumbfounded.
“I was vacuuming, and I think I got something stuck inside.” Farin lifted the vacuum cleaner that she had in hand and inspected the base curiously. “I thought that I had cleared the floor beforehand, but…” She tugged at something under the cylinders of the vacuum mouth. Crinkling and tearing sounds ensued, then Farin extracted a handful of paper curls mangled into a hamster nest. “I’m sorry, was this yours?”
Vivio smacked herself in the forehead.
“…No?”
Vivio Takamachi = FAIL.
**O**
INBOX – grouped by Sacred Heart by response category
Advice Category #2
REPLY from: Caro
Received - Local Time: 06:01
Message: VIVIO! You go, little sis! I’d find Hayate (I mean, this hypothetical person ^_-) alone, and then ask her to go out for lunch or something. Make sure you ease into it though, start by asking her how she’s doing, what she plans on doing for the day, etc. Then pop the question!
REPLY from: Rio
Received - Local Time: 06:04
Message: Heh heh, hypothetically, huh? Catch her alone, or make an excuse to get her alone with you, then casually ask her on a date. Turn on some of that Vivio-charm =D.
**O**
Take two.
Vivio sweated, trying to think of how to situate herself. She had heard from Arisa in passing that Hayate had spent most of the morning visiting old haunts with Nanoha and Fate. This meant that when the three of them returned to the mansion for lunch, Vivio would have some time to catch Hayate on her own when the Lt. General returned to her room to freshen up before the meal, which would hopefully give her enough time to ask her question.
The trick though, would be avoiding her parents so that Vivio didn’t lose that short, precious interval of alone time, but catch Hayate quickly enough to maximize her asking time.
Yes, Vivio was probably over-thinking things. No, she didn’t think it was weird in the slightest. What was the point of learning combat strategy and tactics if they weren’t going to be of use in one’s life?
Now, the best spot probably would be just around the corner of the hallway off the stairs. It was a natural breaking-away point, and Hayate was the only one with a room in that hall and thus Vivio could intercept her without interference. Vivio crept down the stairs and posted herself by the front window, surveilling the outside through a crack in the curtains. No, that won’t do—what if Fate spots it and alerts the other two?
Changing her mind, Vivio ducked away from the window and scuttled over to the hallway spot, lifting her Device up. “Kris, please transmit a warning when a perimeter of 20 meters radius is breeched.”
Sacred Heart’s jewel-watch face flashed assent.
Settling down to wait, Vivio bit her lip—what was she going to say? She needed to ease into the conversation…Vivio’s never had a problem
talking with Hayate, but she’s
always had a problem being…smooth about it.
A soft vibration on her wrist made Vivio stiffen as Kris warned her of the approaching person. No more time to think—
Hayate walked around the corner, shrugging out of her jacket as she approached. Her hair was wind-tousled, turning her from beautiful into breathlessly attractive. The fact that she was half-twisted around to get her arms out of her sleeves meant that her shirt pulled in all the right—no, Vivio meant wrong!—places. Vivio felt herself turning hot red from the places her eyes shifted to without her conscious permission before she snapped her gaze back to Hayate’s surprised face.
“Vivio-chan?” Hayate smiled, making Vivio swallow convulsively.
“Um…Hayate-san…you…did you have a good time?”
“It was fun, seeing our old hang-out spots again,” Hayate laughed, folding her jacket over one arm. “Though I feel incredibly old now.”
“You’re not old!” Vivio exclaimed, feeling her ears burning. “You’re still very…” The words
gorgeous and wonderful got tangled up in Vivio’s throat, and by the time she got her numb tongue to respond her courage had deserted her. “Um…Tomorrow…” What? Should Vivio ask her out now? Make sure she’s free?
Patiently, Hayate stood still and waited for Vivio as the blonde frantically worked out what she wanted to say in her head. Something about Hayate’s steady and calm eyes made Vivio’s heart stop pounding so quickly as the tension eased out of Vivio’s shoulders. Taking a deep breath, Vivio exhaled and smiled timidly. “Hayate-san, I wanted to ask you—”
“Hayate, we’re—Oh, Vivio?” Fate halted in her tracks, her gaze darting back and forth between her daughter and her best friend, a slight blush on her face as she realized that she had just interrupted something.
Hayate grimaced, biting her lip and glancing at Vivio, who had frozen like a six-year-old caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Which all of them had seen before, and Vivio had
been before. Only this time, Vivio’s face was red and rapidly growing pale.
After an awkward pause, Hayate said, “Did you need me for something, Fate-chan?”
“Um…” Fate looked over at Vivio, who wanted to melt into the ground, or whisk Hayate off in an attempt to salvage the situation. “Well, Suzuka wanted me to tell you that lunch is ready…and Vivio, you too…”
“Okay,” Hayate said amiably. “Vivio-chan, did you have something you wanted to ask me?”
Vivio looked over at her mother, who had a massively apologetic expression on her face, and sighed. “Never mind,” she replied glumly.
MISSION FAILED.
**O**
INBOX – grouped by Sacred Heart by response category
Advice Category #3
REPLY from: Corona
Received - Local Time: 06:10
Message: Go Vi! ^_- Ask to help her with something, then slip the Big Question in! Shows that you’re all helpful-like, so she’ll feel grateful and be more in a mood to agree! (Good luck! We’re all rooting for you and your woman! ^_^)
REPLY from: Nove
Received - Local Time: 06:13
Message: Girls like it when you help them out with stuff. Offer to help her carry stuff, or wash dishes, etc. Something that will get you two alone and close, so that you can ask her without distractions.
**O**
Round three—FIGHT!
Lunch was pleasant, although Vivio swore that if her Fate-mama gave her
another side-long appraising glance, she would make a funny face at her just to see her reaction. But good manners kept Vivio polite, so she just focused intently on cutting up her broccoli into exactly equal pieces. She needed to do something monotonous as she tried to plan her next angle of attack.
She needed to find a chance to help Hayate with something—but what? Farin was so diligent at clearing away the dishes, it wasn’t likely the guests would have a chance to help; ergo Vivio wouldn’t have a chance to help Hayate with them. How about if she got Farin’s help with it? The maid was a romantic, so if Vivio came up with a clever plan she could create the situation she needed to try asking again…
Third time lucky, right?
Kris, please send a message to Farin-san: “Hello Farin-san, this is Vivio. I’m hoping to have a chance to talk to Hayate-san alone, so could you please help me? If you could come up with an excuse to be away from the dining room at the end of lunch, so that Hayate and I could clear away the dishes together…so that I could have a chance to—“ Vivio blushed, shy at the words that she was about to write. She couldn’t quite
say it to someone else, even in a message, so she edited her thought with, “—
ask Hayate-san something alone? Thank you very much!” End message. Send.
Vivio stuffed a last forkful of broccoli in her mouth, and out of the corner of her vision she saw Farin twitch a little as she received the message. A second later, Farin subtly shifted in her position behind Suzuka and gave Vivio a wink.
“Excuse me, Suzuka-chan, I have to pick up a package from Midori-ya,” Farin told Suzuka with a small bow, her tone apologetic.
“Oh?” Nanoha perked up, wiping her lips with her napkin. “Hey, can we come along? I’d love to see Onii-chan and Shinobu-san. Fate-chan, do you want to come too?”
“Sure,” Fate agreed easily, and Vivio twitched when her mother gave her another knowing glance. Fate rose from her seat, then paused. “Oh, we should probably help clear away the dishes…”
“Don’t worry about it,” Hayate waved Fate off, smiling as she got up herself. “You and Nanoha-chan go along, I can clear the table. Don’t keep Farin-san waiting!”
“I’ll give you a hand,” Vivio jumped in. She whisked Nanoha’s plate out from under her mother’s nose, enthusiastically gathering up handfuls of cutlery. Even though she had to bear Farin and Fate-mama’s badly-hidden grins, Vivio was happy. She owed both of them for the perfect set-up.
“Good girl,” Nanoha ruffled Vivio’s hair, chuckling when Vivio made a face.
“Thanks, Vivio-chan,” Hayate added. Vivio was proud that she managed to conceal her blush this time. She needed to practice that.
“N-No problem.”
Vivio balanced a pile of plates in the crook of her wrist, waiting for Hayate to gather up her handful. Breathe, she reminded herself breathlessly. Think. Remember, smooth…and earnest…and…and…
Abandoning her thoughts, Vivio darted forward and held open the door to the kitchen for Hayate. “Thanks,” Hayate smiled, making Vivio’s knees wobbly.
Vivio laughed shakily, following Hayate to the kitchen sink. Start conversation, then use a lead-in to ask… “Um, Hayate-san…”
“We might as well wash them too,” Hayate said, reaching for a wash cloth and the dish detergent. “Vivio-chan, do you mind drying?”
“Huh? S-sure,” Vivio answered. She moved in beside Hayate, who hummed as she started running the hot water. Watching Hayate happily plunge her hands into the soapy sink and start washing, Vivio felt an odd urge to blush. It was a little odd, seeing Hayate doing something so domestic—Vivio was used to seeing the Lt. General doing…officer-type stuff. Like coolly commanding a squad of specialists to storm a building, out-thinking a terrorist cell, or cunningly talking a room of politicians around, that kind of stuff. Most of the time when Vivio was at the Yagami house, Shamal would be the one bustling about the housework and refusing to let Hayate help often. All the Wolkenritter loved to do things for their mistress.
“I remember the last time we did this together,” Vivio chuckled, drying the first plate.
Hayate giggled, rinsing out a glass. “Oh yes—that anniversary dinner you made for Nanoha-chan and Fate-chan?”
“
We made,” Vivio amended. “Without you, I couldn’t have managed anything…”
“
You made,” Hayate insisted, her kind expression reminding Vivio all over again why she liked her so much. “I just helped, that’s all.”
“Thanks again for that…”
“It’s never a problem!” was the cheery answer.
Vivio blushed again—damn, she just couldn’t help it. “Um…Hayate-san…” She took a few calming breaths, wiping a dry plate over and over. “I-I was thinking, if you don’t have anything planned for tomorrow, if you could—”
“Hello?” The kitchen door opened, causing Vivio to jump. She fumbled the plate, dropping it with a yelp. Hayate cried out a warning but Vivio caught it six inches from the tile, sweating in relief.
“I apologize for startling you!” The newcomer bowed—it was Noel, the other Tsukimura maid. She was dressed in a jacket and skirt though, clearly here on an errand from Shinobu. “I—Hayate-san, Vivio-san?” Noel frowned, walking in and setting her purse down. “What are you two doing in the kitchen?”
“Washing dishes?” Vivio couldn’t help but snark a little, disappointed at the unintended interruption.
“You’re guests!” Noel admonished, grabbing an apron off a hook and slipping it on with well-practiced ease. She shooed Hayate and Vivio away from the sink, handing Hayate a clean cloth for her to dry her hands. “Please leave this to me!”
“Noel-san, it really isn’t necessary!”
“I insist,” Noel urged, gently ushering the two of them from the kitchen. “Thank you for your assistance, and I apologize for the discourtesy.”
“It’s not—” Vivio sighed, admitting defeat. “Thanks, Noel-san.”
“Thank you, Noel-san,” Hayate ducked her head, as they were finally shooed out. Hayate laughed, scratching the side of her head helplessly. “What a commander I am, huh, Vivio-chan?” She joked. “I can’t even convince a friend to let me wash dishes on my own!”
Vivio gnawed at her lip, sighing. She wanted to share in the humour, but all she felt was glumness. The mood wasn’t quite right anymore for such a sensitive question…Maybe it was time to
really get serious and adult about it all?
RESTART.
**O**
INBOX – grouped by Sacred Heart by response category
Advice Category #4
REPLY from: Erio
Received - Local Time: 06:14
Message: Hey, Vivio, good luck! I bought Caro some flowers and a card, and handed them to her—I was kind of shy. Maybe you could try asking Hayate-san the same way?
REPLY from: Dieci
Received - Local Time: 06:30
Message: Research into human mating rituals in media indicates that the highest percentage of acceptances to the question “Will you go on a date with me?” were accompanied by flowers of the genus
Rosa, preferably red and in bundles of twelve. Variations on this include single flowers and the question inscribed on a folded white card included with the flowers. Good luck?
REPLY from: Otto
Received - Local Time: 06:32
Message: Our research into this question revealed that a common method is through presenting flowers (commonly
hybrid tea roses) to the intended and asking variations of the question “Will you go out with me?” A full list of collected phrases from popular culture and their frequency of appearance (and acceptance rate) is attached. I shall pray for Your Majesty’s success.
REPLY from: Deed
Received – Local Time: 06:32
Message: Please refer to Otto’s message. The research had been collaborative.
**O**
Time to call out the big guns.
Vivio jogged easily down the sidewalk, deftly avoiding the other pedestrians. She had gotten Kris to search up the closest flower shop, and Vivio set out to obtain the props she needed for Attempt #4 at Mission: Asking Hayate-san Out On A Date. This was turning out to be a terrible, terrible day.
There were only three more days before they had to go home to Mid-Childa, Vivio thought miserably as she ran down the street. And this day was nearly over, judging by the mid-afternoon sun. And Vivio hadn’t even managed to
ask the question yet!
“Flowers,” she muttered to herself. “That should help…”
She spotted the Hanasaki Flower Shop in the distance, and slowed her pace down to a walk now that she was close to her destination. Okay, if she was to try and decipher Dieci, Otto and Deed’s replies, then she should probably go for the classic bouquet of red roses? But would that be too plain? What if Hayate liked things that were more original?
Well, Vivio had gotten Hayate a red rose when she had confessed…
And yet it didn’t look like Hayate had kept it, Vivio thought glumly, remembering how she hadn’t been able to spot her rose in Hayate’s office the last time she had been there. She looked at the many different flower types on the racks in front of the Hanasaki flower shop. Maybe she should try a different kind? Vivio fingered the petals of an orchid on the stands outside the flower shop’s glass windows. But did Vivio really want to mess with tradition?
“Hi, can I help you with anything?” A perky red-head came up to Vivio, smiling. The yellow hair-ties she wore were shaped like flowers, and she looked utterly enthused at the chance to talk about her passion with someone.
“Hi,” Vivio greeted, glancing back at the many flower bouquets. “I’m not sure what I should get…”
“What situation do you need the flowers for?” The young florist bounced happily. “Oh sorry, my name is Hanasaki Tsubomi—my parents own the shop!”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Takamachi Vivio,” Vivio replied, amused. She flipped her name to match Japanese convention; it would be a hassle to explain why she had a Japanese surname and yet had her name-order switched. “I, um…” She hesitated.
Tsubomi watched her for a moment, then smiled, her enthusiasm mellowing into a more serious countenance. “Are you getting flowers for a friend?” She asked.
“…Yes.”
“What’s your friend’s favourite colour?” Tsubomi pointed to the rainbow array of flowers on the shelves. “Maybe we can pick out a nice one that they might like?”
“…I don’t know,” Vivio admitted, surprised. “I mean, I think she likes anything, but I see her with a lot of white?”
“We could start there. Some lilies could look nice, or how about orchids?”
“Um…” Vivio scuffed a shoe. “I…kind of want a flower with, well, meaning.” She recognized Tsubomi’s tactics; the other girl wanted to try and get Vivio to relax. It was
kind of working. It was just that this was such an important issue...
“Meaning?” Tsubomi perked up again, smiling. “That’s my specialty. What kind of meaning are you trying to convey?”
Vivio froze, her hands fisted in her sweater pockets. Then she took a deep breath. “I want to tell her…that I really like her,” she gulped. The lack of judgement in Tsubomi’s kind red eyes relieved her very much.
Vivio took a breath, and shyly plunged on, “And I want her to come on a date with me.”
“Oh, so romantic!” Tsubomi nearly squealed, making Vivio blush. Once Tsubomi noticed she blushed as well, reining in her excitement. “Sorry, sorry…There are so many different flowers that can work! Different coloured roses mean different kinds of love, camellias mostly mean sincerity but can also mean love, and ambrosias mean reciprocated love…hm, do you have any ideas about what you want?”
Vivio must have given her best deer-in-headlights look.
Tsubomi giggled and patted Vivio on the shoulder. “How about the classic? A red rose? I can throw in a card too, how about that?”
“Would that be alright?” Vivio asked uncertainly, scraping her shoe on the pavement. She had to consciously stop herself—Nanoha-mama hated how she’d accidentally wear down nice shoes with that habit. “It wouldn’t be too…boring?”
“It’ll be sweet!” Tsubomi assured her, picking through a handful of beautiful red roses, her brow scrunched in concentration. “Here,” she smiled, holding out the most perfect rose Vivio had ever seen. “This one?”
“It’s perfect,” Vivio breathed, amazed. “Just one?”
“One rose is appropriate for a first date,” Tsubomi told her. Something soft lay in her eyes as she observed Vivio for a few seconds, then added, “And it also means, given after two people have been with each other for some time,
I’ll love you forever.”
For the hundredth time that day, Vivio’s face turned red. She laughed though, sheepishly, scratching her cheek. “Yeah…that sounds about right.”
“How are you going to ask her?” Tsubomi asked as she happily wrapped the rose up in plastic and ribbons, pulling an embroidered card out from behind the counter. She uncapped a pen and slid both the card and pen over towards Vivio.
Vivio’s mind went blank.
“…Didn’t think that far ahead?”
“No, no,” Vivio sighed. “Let’s just say that this is Attempt #4, and I still haven’t managed to
ask the question…” She stared at that blank card, wondering…Maybe she should combine her advice? What did she have to lose at this point?
“Tsubomi-san…do you mind helping me out with something please?”
COMBO ATTACK!
**O**
INBOX – grouped by Sacred Heart by response category
Advice Category #5
REPLY from: Wendi
Received – Local Time: 06:05
Message: Take her somewhere romantic, and slyly lead up to the question!
REPLY from: Ginga
Received – Local Time: 06:05
Message: Asking someone out on a date? Maybe…try easing into it? Be sweet, doing something that’s very Vivio-like, and then build up the anticipation until you ask the question?
REPLY from: Lutecia
Received – Local Time: 06:07
Message: For…this person…I think that maybe some subtlety is in order? Don’t let her have a chance to run or shoot you down before you’ve got her hooked. Maybe you could try being romantic, and build up to asking her through indirect gestures? People value what they have to work for.
**O**
Endgame.
Vivio forced herself to keep a steady pace as she jogged down the street towards the park—she didn’t want to over-exert herself and end up sweaty and gross for the Big Moment. Besides, she had every step of Attempt #5 planned out, and there was no way she could fail this time. She had learned strategic planning from Hayate herself! And everyone knew about the infamous ability Lt. General Yagami possessed in somehow getting her way.
The public loved that trait in their CDC Commander, since this year under her command Cranagan City looked to break its previous records of successful missions and low crime rates.
And to her family and friends, well…there was a reason why everyone saved their time by simply agreeing with Hayate’s crazy schemes upfront, rather than protest and end up agreeing somehow at the end anyway.
So Vivio
will succeed this time!
She will!
Positive thinking and all that.
Vivio checked Sacred Heart’s time piece. 16:30 local time, good. By this time, Tsubomi-san should have reached the Tsukimura mansion by now, with the first flower for Hayate. The teenaged florist had been delighted to help with Vivio’s plan, even helpfully dragging her best friend along to help with the multi-stage build-up. Both girls had refused Vivio’s offer of a tip, asking Vivio to do her best as their reward.
Vivio was blessed with meeting good people everywhere she went.
Hayate should be getting the rose from Tsubomi-san now, and reading the card Vivio had sent along with it.
A deep pink rose means gratitude and
appreciation. Please ask Tsubomi-san
where to go next.
V
Vivio hurried her pace, trotting down the path towards the bridge. She had heard so many stories about this bridge from her parents—it was where they had first become friends, where Fate-mama had first plucked up the courage to ask Nanoha-mama out, where they had their first kiss…Vivio hoped that the good fortune in this spot would give her a hand.
You also told Hayate how you’re not giving up on her here too.
This bridge had good karma.
This spot, in the park by the bridge…it was perfect. The skies were clear and blue, warming the slight chill wind that blew along the water. Most of the trees were bare, but a few still clung stubbornly to their leaves. Despite this, some winter plants were throwing out flowers early, providing a pale pink backdrop to the golden day. A few people walked along the bridge or strolled through the park, but not enough to possibly affect Vivio’s confession. Her stomach did roll at the thought of having any audience, but considering that Vivio had once glomped Hayate around the waist and declared to a roomful of people that she wanted to marry Hayate when she grew up, this would be a piece of cake.
Of course, dignity at fifteen was a little different than at ten, but still…Vivio was a Takamachi!
By now, Hayate should be on her way…that is, if she chose to? Vivio gulped, running a fingertip over the perfect petals of the final red rose she held. What if Hayate didn’t want to? What if she guessed what Vivio was up to, and chose not to come…
“She’ll come, right Kris?”
A warm vibration from her silver watch warmed her skin, and Vivio cracked a little smile.
“Thanks…” She sighed, pacing along the path.
She was going to be fine…She had done this once before, right? Granted, that time was a confession of love, but the courage behind the act still held. Vivio didn’t feel very brave right now. In fact, she felt terrified.
This was
so different from confessing her feelings. That time, Vivio really hadn’t expected an answer from Hayate. She hoped, she dreamed, but she hadn’t thought that it was going to be a storybook romance where Hayate would suddenly spout out her mutual love for Vivio. But that was fine, since at that time, Vivio’s intention had been to finally put her feelings out there on the table, once and for all, and stop hiding and pretending and dreaming.
The reception she had gotten…was not exactly what she expected.
Perfect storybook love confessions did not follow up with the object of affection pushing her chair back in shock and flipping it over accidentally. They did
not have a hapless confessor rushing over to help and tripping over a briefcase. And they
certainly did
not end with said confessor knocking herself out by striking her forehead against a filing cabinet.
Although ending up lying
on top of her crush kind of
was storybook. Vivio would have preferred to be conscious for that moment though. Granted, if she had been conscious Vivio would have just fainted anyway, but that wasn’t the point!
And yet somehow, storybook confessions
always ended up with the people caught in an incredibly embarrassing position by the worst person possible.
Vivio thanked all the gods she knew (including her predecessor) that Hayate’s office had a security feature that scanned incoming messages automatically, even if they were from trusted Devices. That two second delay between announcing the call and opening the holoscreen was what let Hayate and Vivio untangle themselves quick as lightning when Nanoha-mama had called in, curious as to why Vivio wasn’t home yet.
Just thinking about it was mortifying.
Normal storybook confessions didn’t end with both parties having mild concussions.
Vivio checked Heart again. By now, Hayate should have met Erika-san, Tsubomi’s friend, at the park entrance with the second rose.
Vivio had argued with Tsubomi about the second rose, blushing at the bold statement. But Tsubomi had been surprisingly assertive when it came to flowers, and wore Vivio down with her sensibleness. It had been the work of a quarter hour for Tsubomi to convince Vivio that she should stop being modest and write it down herself. Vivio had messed up three cards before finally managing to finish it.
A white rose says, “I am worthy of
you.” Please ask Erika-san where to
go next.
V
The answer Erika would give was, “The place where her parents became friends.”
Since Hayate was probably smart enough to realize that it wasn’t the
Asura or any place like that, it would lead Hayate straight to Vivio, waiting by the bridge.
And then everything will follow according to plan—
—Until Vivio caught sight of a disturbance by the treeline.
Immediately, she could tell that it wasn’t anything more than a kid scuffle. Still, Vivio stiffened and stalked closer silently, her movements steady to not attract attention despite being in plain sight. She could see a skinny boy on the ground, reaching for a small bouquet of flowers as three other youths kicked it around between them, their lips moving in taunts. She hated bullies, but was it really something she should get involved in?
As long as she didn’t use her Device or actually strike anyone, she would probably be fine…Vivio wasn’t sure about the Earth legal system, but immobilizing opponents without hurting them wouldn’t get her arrested, she hoped. The last thing she wanted was for Hayate to meet her at the police station because Vivio needed to be bailed out of jail…
Vivio shoved the rose into the back of her belt, but it turned out her help wasn’t needed.
“Leave him alone!” A little girl shouted, running from the field and jumping into the scuffle, beating the bullies away from the prone boy. Vivio ducked behind a tree, watching as the girl brawled with the attackers, before finally flattening the largest with a tackle. Vivio grinned to herself as she saw the bullies run off, and the girl turn to the boy and yank him up, brushing dirt off his clothes and lecturing him on standing up for himself.
“So, what did you want to meet here for?” The girl asked him.
The boy’s eyes went wide, and he glanced down at his shoes, his shoulders hunching as he sputtered in shame.
Vivio looked at the crumpled plastic and stomped flowers in the dirt.
“I…It’s just…I mean, it’s no big deal, I only—”
“Hey!” Vivio called out, making both kids jump and blush. She walked confidently up to the boy, reaching behind her back. “I’m sorry I got here so late—I have your delivery right here, from Hanasaki Flower Shop.” Vivio pulled out the single red rose from her belt and handed it to the shocked boy, smiling at him with a wink. “Sorry again for the delay!”
Turning and walking away as quickly as she could, Vivio heard behind her, “What was that about?” and a hesitant but determined answer, “Um, nothing…actually, Rumi-san, I wanted to tell you that—” before their voices faded away out of earshot.
“Good job, Vi,” Vivio whispered to herself, smiling up at the sky.
It was too nice a day to have a love confession fail over something so small.
**O**
INBOX – grouped by Sacred Heart by response category
Sub-folder: Impractical Advice responses
Number of messages: 2
REPLY from: Sein
Received – Local Time: 06:09
Message: The best way to do it? Go right for the skinship—make her so addled that she can’t refuse anything you ask! Oh, if you’re in public, you might want to stop at making her blush, but in private you wouldn’t have to stop ^_-…
*Reason for Removal: Possible violation of public decency laws?
REPLY from: Subaru
Received – Local Time: 06:57
Message: You know what I think, Vivio? I think it’s silly of you to ask around—you’re you, and that’s the person you want Hayate-san to like, right? Just go on and do what’s Vivio-like, and I’m sure it will all be fine!
*Reason for Removal: No new information provided?
**O**
Vivio shoved her hands in her pockets and sighed, blowing her bangs from her face as she trudged over by the edge of the bridge. So here she was. Five attempts, and zero successes. Vivio either had the worst luck ever, or it just wasn’t meant to be, or else her approach was all—
The sun shone brilliantly. The sky was incredibly blue, and the grass and trees glowed verdant green as red and pink flower petals blew by in the wind.
The day was
perfect.
Because Vivio saw a beautiful vision coming towards her.
Walking down the park path, Hayate was scanning around the area for Vivio—she hadn’t spotted her yet. Her wind-swept hair drifted in front of her roaming deep blue eyes. Her navy coat was unbuttoned and weighed down on one side with her hand in her pocket, while the other side flapped freely behind the two roses that Hayate carried.
The sun wasn’t even setting from that direction, but Vivio swore there was some kind of backlighting, to make the ends of Hayate’s hair shine that shade of tawny. Something, to make Hayate Yagami stand out above all other things in the world at that instant.
Perfect.
“Hayate-san!” Vivio cried out, beaming as she raced over. Before Hayate barely had a chance to look her way Vivio had closed the distance between them. With the kind of bouncing joy that filled Vivio’s being during that instant, there was only one appropriate response.
“Vivi-OH!” Hayate yelped as Vivio glomped her, lifting the shorter woman up for a second and squeezing her around the waist warmly.
Vivio laughed gaily, feeling Hayate’s hand come down on her shoulder for balance. She held on for a moment longer, then set Hayate down, grinning widely. “I did that before, remember?” Vivio looked into Hayate’s eyes, giggling softly behind her words. “Of course, I was ten at the time, and I didn’t have the strength to lift you up.”
A small smile answered her, as Hayate tried to regain her composure. “And look at how you’ve grown in five years,” she replied affectionately, although Vivio’s words had kicked up something hesitant in Hayate’s expression.
“I’ve grown up,” Vivio agreed, and was pleased to see the reaction that her deliberate word choice stirred. She let Hayate go but didn’t move away, still smiling.
Hayate paused, and Vivio waited for her.
It’s funny, how all her previous plans felt so unimportant now. Vivio just knew that she was happy, and she let that happiness show in her face, and was delighted to see a hint of that same glow rise behind Hayate’s gaze.
“Thank you for the roses,” Hayate said at last, lifting the flowers.
“You’re welcome,” Vivio replied. “I was supposed to have one more for you, but, well…” She laughed, scuffing her shoe sheepishly. “I gave it to a boy who needed it more. I guess then,” Vivio spread her arms, encompassing all the flower bushes around them with a silly grin, “all these are for you?”
Hayate laughed, looking around. “Japanese Camellia,” she noted, observing the light pink flowers beside them. “It’s also called
the rose of winter.”
The name sounded familiar, and then Vivio remembered an earlier conversation in the flower shop. “Camellias mean sincerity,” Vivio said softly. She reached out and gently plucked a full flower, cupping the blossom in her hand. When she met Hayate’s eyes again, Vivio smiled to see the light, entranced blush on Hayate’s cheeks as her crush watched her wordlessly.
Vivio lifted the camellia to her lips, then held it out, her gaze steady and happy and warm.
“Hayate-san, will you go on a date with me tomorrow?”
2011-08-06, 23:40
Author
, though I didn't recognize Rumi's name.
. Hayate.
I think that I enjoy writing the characters a bit OOC 
Man, I had thought I put a clever bit in there about differences in worlds, but I was foiled by canon! ^^;; Is it bad enough of a goof for me to need to edit it out?
, 
" was able to make other people go "
, and that make me giggle too.
