The campus was quiet on Saturday, far removed from the bustle of weekdays. Sunlight filtered through the tall trees, scattering patches of light along the path to the Ecology Park. Fūki Ran was in the habit of strolling around campus on weekend mornings, sorting through the week's thoughts. He wandered over to the greenhouse in the Ecology Park, a place rarely visited except by the gardeners who tended it and students taking biology classes.
Just as he was about to walk past, a familiar citrus fragrance drifted over, mingling with the greenhouse's distinctive scent of damp soil and green leaves. Fūki paused and turned toward the glass building. Through the hazy condensation, he could just make out a figure moving among the plants deep inside.
He pushed open the greenhouse's side door, and a wave of warm, humid air washed over him. The lush plants formed a small oasis, filling the air with a mixture of floral and fruity scents and the earthy smell of soil. He walked quietly past row after row of tall foliage plants and spotted the figure in a relatively secluded corner at the back of the greenhouse.
Ichinose Honami had her back to him, crouched in front of a carefully tended collection of small potted plants. She wore a simple white blouse and a dark school uniform skirt, and her chestnut hair was casually pinned up with an ordinary pencil. A few damp strands clung to the side of her neck. Fūki had never seen her so focused. She carefully misted several seedlings that looked like herbs with a small spray bottle, then picked up a notebook and diligently wrote something down. The soft light filtering through the glass roof lent her profile a calm, serious look, quite unlike the image of the exemplary student who was always smiling warmly in a crowd.
Fūki didn't interrupt her. His gaze fell on the small "growing area." Dozens of tiny pots were arranged neatly there, but they weren't growing ornamental flowers. Some of the plants looked like herbs; a few were dwarf citrus trees bearing small, unripe fruit; others had unusual leaves he didn't recognize. Each pot had a small label, apparently marked with a date and number.
Just then, Ichinose seemed to run into a problem. Frowning at a plant with yellowing leaves, she gently touched one with her finger, then checked the soil in the pot. Her expression turned confused and a little discouraged. She flipped through her notebook and compared it with the nearby, healthier plants of the same kind, murmuring to herself, "...Is it getting too much light? Or is the nutrient solution mixed in the wrong proportions...?"
Fūki watched quietly for a moment. He noticed that the area was set up quite professionally, with a simple Grow Light and a humidity meter. This clearly wasn't something she'd done on a whim. The plants, along with her focus and concern, all pointed to one conclusion: she was conducting a personal study that called for diligence and sustained effort.
He took a few steps forward, and the sound of his footsteps startled Ichinose. She spun around, a flash of panic crossing her face as if someone had caught her secret. When she saw it was Fūki, she froze for a moment, then quickly stood and instinctively closed her notebook, hiding it behind her back. An awkward, uncertain smile appeared on her face.
"F-Feng Qi?" Her voice carried a trace of barely perceptible tension. "What are you doing here?"
"Just taking a walk." Fūki's tone was even. His gaze passed over the little growing area behind her. "Are you taking care of these plants?"
Ichinose's cheeks flushed slightly, and her gaze wandered as if she were unsure how to explain. After a few seconds of silence, she seemed to make up her mind and nodded lightly, her voice dropping. "Mm... It's something I wanted to try on my own." She didn't say exactly what it was, but her eyes held a hint of pleading, as if she hoped he wouldn't ask any more questions.
Fūki looked at the hand hiding her notebook, then at the plants, each growing differently. He didn't press her for details. Instead, he looked at the struggling plant and studied it for a moment before calmly saying, "The drainage might be poor. Have you checked the holes in the bottom of the pot?"
Ichinose stared at him, as if she hadn't expected him to offer advice. She hurried to crouch down and carefully lifted the pot to check its base. "Oh... It does seem a little clogged." She found a small tool and carefully cleared the holes, working gently and meticulously. When she was done, she looked up at Fūki with a smile that mingled gratitude and relief. "Thank you, Feng Qi! I'd been thinking it was a problem with the light or fertilizer."
"It's just one possibility," Fūki said. He looked at the girl crouched among the plants, her skirt lightly smudged with soil and beads of sweat on her face, yet her eyes bright. The distant air of the perfect student had vanished, replaced by the genuine, captivating focus of someone absorbed in something she loved.
"Do you know a lot about plants, Feng Qi?" Ichinose asked curiously, picking up the spray bottle to water the others.
"Not really." Fūki watched her work. "I've just read a few books here and there."
Ichinose smiled and didn't ask anything more. She tended to each plant with care, occasionally telling Fūki the name and characteristics of a particularly unusual variety. Her words carried an unconscious affection and pride. Fūki mostly listened in silence, offering the occasional response.
The greenhouse was quiet and warm, filled only with the fine hiss of the spray bottle and the faint chirping of birds in the distance. Sunlight passed through the glass, scattering tiny glimmers across the leaves and droplets of water. It also bathed Ichinose in a soft halo of light. Her focused profile blended with the vibrant greenery around her, making for a serene, beautiful scene.
After a long while, Ichinose finally finished her morning's work. She put away her tools and brushed the soil off her skirt, a faint blush of satisfaction on her face.
"Thank you, Feng Qi," she said again, her smile much more natural this time. "I hope I didn't interrupt your walk?"
"Not at all." Fūki looked at her. A fresh scent of plants and soil seemed to cling to her, mingling with the familiar citrus fragrance and creating a unique, comforting aroma.
They left the greenhouse together. The Saturday morning sun was bright but not harsh. Ichinose held her notebook and walked lightly.
"Um..." At the fork where they were about to part ways, she hesitated, then turned back to Fūki, her eyes clear. "About running into me here today... Could I ask you to keep it a secret for now?"
Seeing the cautious appeal in her eyes, Fūki nodded.
"Thank you!" Ichinose's smile relaxed completely, like warm, bright sunlight after a rain. She bowed slightly, then turned and headed toward the Dormitory Building.
Fūki stood where he was, watching her go. The complex scent of the greenhouse seemed to linger in his nose: damp soil, green leaves, and Ichinose's distinctive citrus fragrance. He glanced back at the glass building gleaming in the sunlight.
The secret hidden in the corner of the greenhouse, and Ichinose Honami, absorbed in her own world and so different from usual, had left a vivid impression on him, like an unexpected scene unfolding before his eyes. Catching a glimpse of this unknown side of her made him feel that the girl who was always smiling warmly was more multifaceted—and more interesting—than he'd imagined.
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