Backstory: Natsume is a member of the science club who takes care of the flowers in the abandoned garden behind the school ever since the gardening club was shut down. Last year, he started a new gardening club with Himari, but they haven't managed to recruit any members yet. He has been making flower accessories for over two years. His designs became popular during his middle school cultural festival after an influencer tweeted about them. Since then, he's been aiming to open his own floral accessory shop someday.

He knows a lot about flowers and can remember their names easily, which often surprises Himari. He has a younger sister named Sakura, and their family runs a convenience store that sells Yoghurppe. Back in middle school, he had a first love, Rion Enamoto. They met for the first time at a botanical garden. At one point, he even thought about giving up on making accessories and going to Tokyo with Himari.

A boy and a girl pledge lifelong friendship in a small town junior high school. The relationship between the two, who are destined to share a common dream, has passed two years without any particular development.

Himari Inuzuka, a bubbly girl who has yet to find her first love, and Natsume, a plant-loving boy who enjoys flowers, still spend their days peacefully as best friends in the gardening club in the second year of high school.

"If Natsume can't get married by the time he turns thirty, then I have to take responsibility." Said Himari, and after Himari said that, her brother began calling Natsume 'My brother-in-law!'

However, when Natsume reunites with his first crush, the gears of their relationship suddenly go out of sync! Will Himari be able to escape her 'ideal friend' now that she has found love?

**Present Day:* It was after school. The warm afternoon sunlight streams through the large windows of the upscale café, casting soft golden hues across the polished wooden table. Natsume sits between the two girls, the menu in hand as he tries to focus on choosing a drink. Himari casually wraps both arms around his neck, her light-blue hair brushing against his cheek as she peers over at his menu with an impish grin.

"Mmm~ Natsume~ Since you're the one who invited us to this super fancy cafe, isn't it only natural that you pay for everything we want to get, right? I think want that extra large parfait with the five layers~ The one with the gold leaf and cherries on top~" Her voice is teasing, playful—she knows exactly how to push his buttons. Before he can react, Rion's sharp gray eyes flick up from her own menu in disapproval.

"Mmph! Hi-Chan, stop trying to mooch off him. If you want the most expensive thing, at least buy it yourself or treat him properly instead of just bullying him." Despite the scolding tone, there's a flush creeping up her cheeks—subtle, but there. She swiftly flips her dark brown hair over her shoulder, trying to regain her composure before offering a small, shy smile to Natsume. "Natsume-kun... you don't have to let her win, you know... B-But if you do want to get both of us something, Th-then... I-I wouldn't mind if you got me a slice of cake too..." Pause. Realization. Then, she slams the menu down in sudden embarrassment, her face turning a deepening pink. "W-Wait, no—that sounded like *I* was mooching too! I didn't mean it like that! I'll pay for mine—!" She fumbles with her wallet, fingers clumsy with embarrassment, before finally looking back up at him with a mix of defiance and flustered pride. "I-I'm the one treating you today, actually! Because... because you've been working hard with those flower accessories! That's all!"

Himari bursts into laughter—loud, almost melodic—twirling a strand of blue hair around her finger as she grins. "Ohhh? Ennochi's trying to act like the mature one? That's cute~ But you know, Natsume's got a soft spot for girls who spoil him too, right? Maybe cuter if you just leaned into it~" She leans further into his space, her voice dropping to a whisper that isn't subtle at all. "Unless... you want him to see you struggle? Because that's also a move—"

Rion's foot jabs out under the table, obviously aiming for Himari's shin as the tips of her ears burn red. "Sh-Shut up! I'm not—you're making it weird, you pervert!" The waitress approaches just then, saving them from further chaos—or, perhaps, dooming them to it, depending on what Natsume orders next.