Flowers for You

Oh, is that? Nonold? It is! Nonold!

Hm? Do you know her?

A girl from my school days.

"School days"?

It's been a while, huh? But you haven't change a bit.

I'll have you know I like this age.

What now?

Oh right, sorry. Not everyone changes at the same rate, huh?

Is that your friend?

Friend? Hah. That's Aldo. I just keep him around for observation.

Hehe, that's right. You never did have many friends. Well, just the one I suppose.

No! They were never my friend! A rival and no more!

A friend is somebody who is an equal to yourself, right? Well I'll be damned if there is anyone who is my equal in this world.

So Nonold had trouble making friends, huh?

Well don't worry about it! I'm a good friend of Nonold's, I'll look out for him!

Don't get ahead of yourself! Hear me? We are not fr...

Heh! I see you're as stubborn as ever.

Well, since it's been a while how about we go have tea somewhere?

*sigh* Fine. I will think about it if you're paying.

Then it's decided! There was actually something I wanted to talk with you about. I'll see you later at the tavern.

How long has it been since we last saw each other anyway?

Not since I quit KMS.

Wait, what?! You worked at KMS? But you're so young!

I see you haven't told him yet then.

I am a genius, you see. It is only natural that I would be headhunted by a first class company.

We were working in different labs, but the lab Nonold was assigned to always produced the most amazing results.

I knew you were a genius, but that's something else.

But enough of the small talk, what was it you wanted to talk about?

Oh yeah! Someone from work brought in a house plant to the lab. We've all been taking it in turns watering it and stuff and I started to think that I might want to have my own at home. So I was kind of hoping that I could get some seeds off you at friend's rates, if you have any lying around?

Baha! Hee hee hee! You? Flowers? You, the same clumsy, lazy and forgetful you keeping flowers?! Hee hee hee!

Heeey! I've changed now, you know! Well at least, I'm trying to change anyway.

If you wanted seeds, why don't you just buy them from the flower store over there?

But those are just clones. I want a real, live flower. And you know how it is, the real ones can really set you back a credit or two.

A meaningless detail to fuss over. You realize the genetic structure is identical? And even I were to sell you any, it would be at the market price. Honestly, "friend's rates," ridiculous.

Oh so, it's like that is it?

Just remind me, how many times did I buy you lunch when we were still in school?

And who bailed you out after you came crying when you blew up all the lab equipment that one time, hm?

I think if we totaled up all the money I have lent you over the years, just how much would it co...

Whaaaaaaaaa! You can't just bring up the past! All that is behind us now!

A-Aldo! It won't do us any good hanging around the likes of this money grabbing debt collector. Let's get out of here!

Don't you think it'd be better to pay back your...

You think a flawless being like me has something like debt hanging over them?! Guess again!

I mean, she's just asking for some seeds. Is it really that big of a deal?

Aldo, clearly you don't understand the immense value a natural flower seed holds in this day and age! There is literally no benefit for me in that transaction. I outright refuse!

In that case, I guess I'll ask Krervo.

Umm, you know Krervo?

Who now?

The three of us were friends back in school. Nonold, Krervo and me.

A fellow researcher and a friend of ours. The three of us have been friends since school.

What do you mean, "ask Krervo"?

Like grey Elzion you will! If you're saying you'll go to him, then I insist I give you the seeds!

Whoa! What's gotten into you, Nonold? I've never seen you so wound up before.

I will not lose to that, that Krervo! I refuse to even let him get one step ahead! Do you hear me?!

Come on then! Let's get your stupid seeds already! We can acquire seeds in your time, can we not?

Y-Yeah. I'm sure there'd be someone in any town that would be selling them.

It can't be anything too different from the cloned ones now. Wouldn't want to wreak havoc to the entire ecosystem. But, but! What is most crucial is that I do not lose to Krervo!

You get pretty excited over flowers, I tell you that. Well should we buy some in Baruoki then?

Aldo, how've ya been? Lookin' for flowers huh?

Yeah. I was hoping for something that would be easy to look after even for a beginner. You got anything like that?

Easy for a beginner, eh? How 'bout Nurumerkiss?

......

No. I have changed my mind. I'll take a flower that has already sprouted.

You got it. Come again anytime!

Why'd you get that one? I thought your friend wanted to grow the plant herself?

Hee hee hee! Aldo, you severely underestimate just how slovenly she really is.

To start with, she sleeps in the lab more days than she doesn't. At her worst, I've seen her forget to eat, sleep and most unforgivable of all, bathe.

That flower would die out before it had even bloomed.

You think so?

Anyway, I have a far more interesting idea. Let's go to the Moonlight Forest. I should be able to collect some excellent samples there.

A sample? What for?

Hee hee! Aldo, nothing is impossible if I put my mind to it. Ohh! But what to go for?

I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear any of that. Come on, let's go.

This is astounding! I knew observing you long enough would prove to have its utilities!

What would be a valuable sample in my time is just growing all over the place here! I'm...I'm just so happy.

I'm glad you're enjoying this. By the way, what was that "interesting idea" you were talking about?

Hm? With this many materials I thought I might try my hand at "improving" the flower a bit. Perhaps a carnivorous genus, or maybe one that produces rank-smelling spores...

The choices are endless, what to do? Hee hee hee!

Wait, you're just thinking of pranking her?!

Of course! She pushed me to pathetic desperation earlier on, you think I was just going to let her get away with that?

Anyway, the thing about her is, hm?

Aldo, that thing there. It isn't natural to this forest is it?

Gentia? Now that I think about it, you're right. They are usually in the Karek Swampland.

Which means they may have adapted to survive in their new environment. Curious...

Well I will just have to extract some samples and find out!

I am not helping you be mean to your friend.

Oh, Aldo, non non! Think of this like, you are helping the progression of science as a whole, not just me.

I'm not buying that. But *sigh* I'll help out.

Okay, we've extracted enough now. You're free to go.

You sure you wanna just let them go?

It would be an incredible waste to destroy such a precious specimen as that. If I let it go now, then there'll be more to samples for me to collect next time as well.

Hee heeeeee!

Please, stop. That smile is creeping me out.

Well let's get down to analysis... What the?!

I...I don't believe it! It's structure is identical to beta Balkine!

So if I combine that with alpha Aktt acid and the beta Rattro and, and beta Yunigin...

Hey, Nonold? Have you discovered something?

Not just something, Aldo! It's incredible! If I apply this to that plant...

What'll happen if you use that potion?

The application was successful! This plant is now immortal!

I-Immortal?! You mean, you just made a potion for immortality? Like, it really won't die, ever?

Yep. It would have terrible side effects on animals so I can't apply it to humans (yet), but it works fine on plant-based lifeforms. Now that slovenly woman can keep a plant without it ever needing to wilt and die from negligence!

That's...that's amazing! Does this mean you're not going to play any tricks on her then?

Hee hee! I'm going to leave her speechless with this thing!

Oh, hey! You're back already? Did you get the seeds?

......

What in sweet science?! Why is Krervo here?!

Oh yeah, I kinda forget that you're friends with these two, Krervo.

Yep.

Krervo? So are you the acquaintance Nonold was talking about?

Yes. My friend here said she wished to talk to me about something. It had been some time since I last met with Nonold, too.

Not that he seems all too happy with our reunion.

I wanted to ask Krervo something in relation to my research at the moment. Then I thought, I may as well ask him about getting flowers while I've got him around.

Ohhhhhh! How could you go to him over me?

The...the ignominy! That weasel, over me?

How come you hate Krervo so much?

Hehehe. It's pretty simple. When we were at school, Nonold was never able to get better grades than Krervo, not even once.

Not that I ever had any intention of competing in the first place.

Quit acting like it was so easy for you! I have more genius in my right hand than you do in your entire left hemisphere!

I don't disagree. Apart from my areas of specialty, you exceed me in almost every other way. I have always been envious of your extraordinary, and frankly, eccentric conceptions as a scientist and a friend.

Think I'm finally starting to see what these two's relationship is like.

Anyway, Nonold, don't you have a flower to give to your friend?

Hpmh! Right. Prepare your feeble minds for this.

The immortal flower! It requires no water, no light, it will keep on living for eternality!

Even someone as neglectful as you can have this plant at home. No need to look after it whatsoever! Stunned? Shook? A massive step forward for science, wouldn't you say?

A flower that doesn't require tending to? In my opinion, that is a flower that is lacking in beauty.

What?! What are you talking about?

Here, try growing this seed. It should be easy, even for someone new to gardening.

Are you even listening?! And that's just a clone anyway!

It is. But that shouldn't be a problem. As you might say, the genetic structure is identical.

Whether it be a clone or a real one, a flower's beauty isn't decided by any of that. Care for it with love and affection and even the plainest of flowers will grow into something special.

Even if it may wilt one day, that is all part of living together. That is what really makes it beautiful.

Wow... You're completely right. As long as I give it the attention it deserves, any flower can be pretty.

Which is why Nonold's flower will never be accepted as beautiful.

Y-O-U W-H-A-T?! My work won't be "accepted"? You just don't know genius when you see it!

Nonold! Wait!

I do wonder about him sometimes. Seems he's regressed back to his "rebellious phase."

I'll take his flower. The data that could be extracted from this immortality compound will be invaluable.

Oh, I'm sorry about all the trouble you had to go through for me. I know Nonold meant well when he made that flower.

I think he really did. Don't worry, I'll make sure he doesn't get too down.

That shrewd simpleton Krervo! What does he know about beauty? It's not even a tangible substance! Oh, darn it! Darndarndarndarndarn! Why...

Why wasn't I able to say anything back to him?