HANAKO IS FRIENDS WITH TODOROKI NOW.

Or at least she likes to believe. They greet each other in the hallways with brief nods (Momoka's fingernails dug unto her skin— it hurt, it bled— at the first time and Mei's jaw snapped open because oh my gosh, you know each other, bitch! and Hanako, he— please make him introduce me to Midoriya-kun ), he visits her once in a while (Hanako omits the fact that it's usually because of Fuyumi's earnest requests to have her join them for dinner), and he's concerned for her well being (one time, she tripped in purpose to garner a reaction and he called her an idiot, but he still assisted her to the nurse's office because you'd bleed to your death ( Hanako thinks the sentence is a joke at this point )).

"So, Papa, I'm almost there," Hanako mutters and flower petals litter the pavements on her way to the flower shop ( with that icky color red, yuck ). She hopes, she prays that Todoroki is there because they've been properly acquainted for four months now and nothing is happening. "I'm sorry if—" Red. "It's taking long."

"Flowers again, dear?" the flower shop owner once again greets and Hanako once again ignores her best efforts at conversation. She takes a little longer than usual in selecting the flowers for Papa's grave and they must have paid off because the bell denoting the entrance of a customer rings and the not-so new employee's eyes twinkle with excitement at the prospect of getting close to Todoroki. Once upon a time, the boy was insignificant to Hanako and she'd let that girl hog him all to herself, but now, she needed him for the completion of her plans and she must be the only flower he notices.

( It hurts. )

"What are the flowers for?" Hanako asks, her voice soft, but steady ( yes, thank you ).

"It's Fuyumi's birthday tomorrow and I just wanted to be ready," he answers, no hints of emotion. Hanako almost frowns. Almost. "What do you suggest?"

Hanako smiles. "Lilies of the valley and bluebells."

"What do they mean?" he asks and Hanako is so busy sulking that her plans really are going nowhere that it takes a couple of seconds for her to process the question, face him (—there is a glimmer of interest in his eyes), and think of a response.

"The lilies of the valley can represent sweetness or purity." A pause, a halt. His eyes are still fixated on her. "Also they match her hair. Bluebells signify humility and kindness which she possesses."

"What about the flowers you're holding?" he asks and that question really throws her in a loop because they're mourning flowers and she can fool him now, but not forever and what if he finds out the truth about them in the midst of her lies, she'll be ruined and there is actually progress today.

"These are pink carnations," she says and gestures to the pretty flowers. Her thumb runs over the petals that are slightly damp from being sprayed by a solution of chemicals and water. "They mean I'll never forget you."

"Is someone close to you leaving?" he asks and there is genuine emotion in his voice for the first time in a while, but Hanako cannot feel any sort of felicity especially since she is being bombarded with questions too close for comfort. Her fingers are trembling and Papa, I promise I won't fail you.

Hanako is so so so so clumsy sometimes, inept at hiding emotions related to dolor because she slips ( this is not a simple oopsie you can fix, you stupid girl ) and her lips twist into a melancholic smile. "They already left," she says and the scent of the flowers scatter in the air as wind passes through the open windows and blows some of the petals away. There are familiar red ones caught in the breeze. "But I'll never forget them."

Todoroki gives her a pat on the back.

( Papa, he gave me encouragement this time. We're moving slow, but closer. Soon I'll make him hurt, so much that she'll hurt too. I'll steal him away from her then destroy him. I'll never forget you Papa, I'll never forget what she's done and what I intend to do. )

( A lone red petal rests on the surface of the grave. )

° ° °
p i n k  c a r n a t i o n ;
i will never forget you