SECRET GARDEN

Hehe, you seem more lively than usual today, Pansy.

I lowered the temperature in the garden a little.

I'll have to keep the temperature like this for you from now on,

since you're so fond of it.

Oh, I just remembered. When I was last in the Ark, I met a forsythia who was as beautiful as you.

I hope I can introduce you two sometime.

Just a moment, Rose.

I'll come to you once I've taken care of the others.

Oh my, I'm sorry, Iris.

I didn't realize the watering robot was running low. I'll have to fill it back up today.

Ahhh, spending time in the garden with you all is always such a joy.

Hmm?

Are those footsteps I hear?

You heard them too, Lysimachia? Someone's coming.

... Judging from their footsteps, they're quite angry, whoever they are.

Damn her, always ordering me around...

I wonder if the higher-ups even agreed to this. If she's gone rogue and is issuing orders on her own, this could be trouble...

Salvia?

Hmph...

Hello. I'm Rian, President Syuen's secretary.

What brings you to the garden, Salvia?

Why are you calling me that? I just told you my name's Rian.

... Oh.

They weren't kidding about you calling people flower names.

Anyway, the reason I came here

is to deliver a directive from the President.

Have a look.

The Botanic Garden Squad is to dismantle the garden within 2 weeks. The reasons for this are listed below.

One: Maintaining the garden is proving too costly.

Two: The garden fails to serve a practical purpose inside the Ark.

Three: Plants can be commonly seen on the surface.

Therefore...

Hmm? Did you say something, Rose?

Only someone with fertilizer for brains could write such a silly "report"?

I agree with you, but...

Lobelia did write this, and Salvia came all the way here to deliver it, so the polite thing to do would be the read the whole thing.

You don't understand why this is happening, Lysimachia?

Neither can I,

but there are many things in this world we can't understand, and people are no exception.

Since she and I don't see eye to eye on this... I might as well give up trying to understand?

That's a good suggestion too.

... Are you able to talk to flowers?

No, their exact responses are only in my imagination.

But I can sense their feelings and emotions.

This girl doesn't seem to be in her right mind...

Sorry, could you speak a little louder? I didn't catch that.

I... said that I also don't understand the President's decision.

It doesn't make sense to suddenly get rid of a garden that has been operating perfectly fine until now.

Very much so.

Botanic Garden is responsible for bringing plants from the surface to the garden for maintenance and preservation.

A task which we have carried out faithfully.

Leaf and Trina are away searching and studying new plants as we speak.

I don't know when they will return to the garden.

Making an executive decision to shut down the garden is entirely unreasonable.

...

This is pure conjecture on my part,

but I suspect that moron—er...

I mean, the President, came to this decision after seeing the Missilis Annual Report.

An inordinate amount of money is being spent to keep the garden up and running, that much is true.

You ought to know that better than anyone.

None of the plant life here purifies the air, and they don't provide any immediate sustenance.

I hate to take sides on this,

but as far as the President is concerned, the garden is failing to produce dividends equivalent to the investment it requires.

Hehe... It seems everyone can't see the forest for the trees.

The Ark currently possesses the most cutting-edge technology there is.

Everything moves quickly in this industrialized society.

When we reclaim the surface, do you think we'll be able to start using all that technology straight away?

I don't think it will be that easy.

It will take a long time for everyone to get used to all of that new technology.

Some people may simply reset and go back to the old ways. If that happens, what will we have to rely on?

Primitive agricultural skills.

The flowers and plants that you see here.

I believe that one day, these flowers and plants will have a beneficial impact on the surface.

That's what we are preparing for.

So, I'm sorry, but...

Could you please inform Lobelia that I can't go along with this order?

I believe that everything I just outlined is more than enough to justify keeping the garden.

This could get messy. I was told to get your signature no matter what.

You know how the President is.

She isn't one to give in easily.

She'll bulldoze the garden if she has to.

...

It would be best if there's something in the garden that can directly benefit Missilis,

but I don't see anything like that here.

It's a shame.

I'll inform the other squad members that...

I deleted the document.

Have you lost your mind?!

I'll find it.

The valuable flower that you need.

... You're nothing but trouble, you know that?

I'm telling you, I'll find it.

Blossom?

I thought you'd be here.

Thank goodness I found you. I have a favor to ask,

that is, if you're not busy?

May I come in, then?

What's that you're holding in your hand?

Could you come with me to the surface to find a rare flower?

That's right.

The flower I'm looking for isn't just any ordinary flower, so it'll fit the bill for sure.

It's called Aurora Bloom.

It's sometimes referred to as the Flower of the Heart.

The sap extracted from Aurora Bloom helps people forget unpleasant memories.

That's right.

We've attempted to cultivate it in the garden several times before,

but we've never been able to succeed.

Perhaps due to a lack of proper facilities.

Now, we have watering robots that patrol the garden, and a greenhouse.

When we first brought back an Aurora Bloom, however, we didn't have any of those things.

We managed to get it to sprout, but it was never able to form any buds of its own.

Although we tried several times, it kept wilting.

...

We haven't tried bringing it back since.

We couldn't bear to watch the flower wither away anymore.

It's a possibility,

but the garden has undergone a complete overhaul.

Right now, it's an environment where plants are bound to thrive.

The temperature, humidity, soil, and sunlight are just right. It has everything.

Of course, it's all provided by artificial machines,

but it's still an optimal environment for flowers to bloom.

All the other flowers we've brought from the surface have done well.

I'm sure Aurora Bloom will do just fine in the garden now,

and so I plan on going to search for it again.

That's the Aurora Bloom.

Haha, what did you think it would look like?

... What exactly is your definition of special?

Did you expect it to have legs and be walking around?

Actually, there is a flower out there that's like that.

Hehe, just joking.

I can't believe you fell for that.

You're so silly, Blossom.

If I do find a flower like that one day, I'll be sure to show it to you.

Rare flowers aren't much different from common flowers.

As the name hints at, the Aurora Bloom is quite variegated.

If I want to protect the garden,

I need to head up to the surface and bring back a specimen.

Will you come with me?

Thank you!

...

It's just... I feel a bit sad is all.

Unless the flowers in the garden are able to prove they have value,

it seems everyone will deem them worthless.

As for me, they're all equally wonderful in my eyes.

I know they may not seem to be contributing much right now,

but one day in the future, I know there will come a day when every last flower in the garden will play its part.

Sorry to depress you.

It's just that those flowers are always on my mind.

Thank you for your understanding.

Let's go once Sunflower arrives.

Yes, someone that we'll need if we want to locate some Aurora Bloom quickly.

Hey guys!

Welcome, Sunflower. You're right on time.

That's right.

My sense of smell is quite sharp when up close,

but I have a harder time picking up the scent of flowers that are far away.

That's why I asked for Sunflower's help.

Leave it to me!

As a matter of fact, I spent a couple of hours at the shelter with Max playing a scent-tracking game today!

Hehe, I knew you'd be the right person for the job.

Oh, right! Before we leave, could you let me have a whiff of the Aurora Bloom one more time?

That'll help give me a clearer idea of the scent.

Of course. Could you give me your wrist?

Hmm?

It's an Aurora Bloom-scented perfume I made.

I figured I might go back to look for the Aurora Bloom one day,

so I made this in order not to forget the scent.

*Sniff sniff*... *Sniff sniff sniff*

All right, I think I've got the scent locked in.

Great!

*Gasp*!

Are you insinuating that I don't have what it takes to find this thing?

Hmm...

No. Failure is not an option.

I'm not coming back without it.

Then we'll just have to find it, won't we? Hehe.

Ha, that's right.

Thanks for the encouragement, Sunflower. I'm sure we'll be able to find some.

I'll certainly do my best!

Hehe, you're so full of energy.

You really do remind me of a sunflower.

!!

You too, Flora!

You're like a beautiful purple flower.

Hehe!

Hehe!

Oh, right.

I packed plenty of dog food, so we can have a snack later if we get hungry up on the surface.

Unfortunately, I can't eat dog food.

As my job is to take care of flowers, I'm only capable of subsisting on dew.

Okay, no problem.

More for me and Trainer!

What? You're gonna make me eat dog food on my own? *Whine*

Yippee!

I've prepared a bunch of different flavors.

Don't mention it!

Nero and Leona are taking care of the garden.

The garden is designed to be self-sufficient and run without me,

but I still thought it would be smart to have someone stay behind just in case.

I wouldn't want anything to happen while I was away and have no one there to tend to it.

Happy Zoo knows how to take care of living things, so I feel safe leaving the garden in their hands.

I'm sure they're taking great care of it right now.

Hehe, this is the first time I haven't been worried about leaving the garden in someone else's care.

Well, should we get going?

*Meow* As expected, being in a garden is so peacef...

!!

*Hisss*

Calm down, Nero.

It's just one of the watering robots passing by.

... I hate water.

Huh?

*Growl*

Wha...

*Growl*

Max, the dogs...

*Ruff ruff*

*Graul*

... I hope Flora and Biscuit come back soon.

La de dah♩ ♪ ♫ ♬

I feel like I'm on a walk!

Hmm...

Hmm?

What's wrong, Sunflower? You look like you're feeling down all of a sudden.

Oh... I was just thinking about how nice it would have been if the dogs could have come with me.

My dream has always been to run around with them in a vast space like this.

Hehe, that's not too far removed from my own dream.

Do you want to take the flowers for a walk?

I want to see the flowers in the garden basking in the natural sunlight one day.

I say that, yet here I am on the surface, bringing flowers back underground.

What irony.

I dunno.

You're doing this because you're trying to make the surface a better place for the flowers.

The Raptures have wreaked havoc on the ecosystem up here, and there's no way any animals or plants can survive.

Heck, many species are on the brink of extinction!

That's why we have to protect these important species, so they don't die out.

Only by doing that can we guarantee a better future for them.

...

Er... I didn't say anything bad, did I?

No, not at all. I was only thinking about how much you and I have in common.

Hehe, really? I think so too.

I'm sure that our dreams will come true one day!

Yes, I firmly believe there will come a day when animals and flowers can roam freely on the surface once again.

Wow, when I hear you say that, Trainer, I really feel like it's right around the corner.

Hehe... It's great having you around to help, Blossom.

*Sniff sniff*... *Sniff sniff sniff*

Do you smell that? I'm picking up some flowers nearby.

It's a mix of several different flowers.

I'm not sure if the Aurora Bloom is one of them.

Hmm... *Sniff sniff*... *Sniff sniff sniff*

I can't smell anything...

!!

This way, to the right.

Wow, a dog's nose really is more powerful than our own.

Huh?

...

What's a Rapture doing here?

I'm positive that what I smelled was a flower.

No, it was a pleasant floral scent. I'm sure of it.

...

You must have been picking up the flower that it trampled.

It's been walking roughshod over all these different flowers,

so that must be why all the scents were mixed together.

Blossom. Stay behind me.

I think this Rapture would make a fine flower pot.

Whoa...

Is it just me, or did it get really tense in here?

Sunflower, are you ready?

Oh, uh... Yeah, ready!

Then let's take care of this quickly.

Enemy down.

Darn... It crushed so many of them.

It's natural for this to happen to some flowers that live on the surface.

It's what makes them so hale and hearty.

Of course, I'm upset that they were stepped on by that Rapture,

but we mustn't feel only sadness.

I can only imagine how you feel.

If a Rapture injured my dogs,

just the thought of it...

Whew... Yes, you're right. Sorry, I got a little carried away.

Yes, I'm fine.

The flowers will bloom beautifully again soon.

I hope that they will outlast this Rapture which did them harm.

Let's move.

Man, all this walking around has got me working up an appetite.

Sure. Let's catch our breath, then get back to it.

Can I eat my dog food?

Don't forget, Trainer, you've gotta try some too.

*Sniff sniff*... *Sniff sniff sniff*

Hold on, I'm picking up a floral scent here too.

I haven't even taken out the dog food yet.

*Gasp*!

No, I'm picking up the same thing.

It's very faint, though. I won't be able to tell what kind of flower it is until we get closer.

Even so, I don't think it's the Aurora Bloom.

Let's go check it out just to be safe.

I found it! It's a flower this time, no Raptures!

What kind of flower is it? Is it rare?

Unfortunately, no.

This is what's called a Peachberry flower.

Oh, darn. It looked so pretty, I thought it must be rare.

Keep your chin up, Sunflower.

You still found us a nice flower, and one that has edible fruit.

Why don't we have a little snack before we move on?

Peachberry fruit is delicious. Very sweet and juicy. Try some.

They're perfectly ripe, just the right time for picking.

Wow!

Of course.

If we didn't pick them, they'd just sit here and rot, which would be harmful to the surrounding flora.

We're helping by picking these fruits when they're ripe.

Gotcha. Thanks!

I've never eaten such a tasty fruit before!

Nom nom nom ♪ ♫ ♬

Sweet fruits do well in warm environments like this.

Could I have some more?

Sure, there's plenty of fruit to go around.

Awesome!

Haha, it makes me happy to see you enjoying it so much.

Oh, what's this?

There's some fruit here too.

You can find all sorts of fruits and berries in warm climates.

So *munch munch* what kind of fruit *munch* is this?

It's a Puffmelon.

More commonly known as Devil's Fruit.

*Munch* Why's it called that? *Munch*

Because of the strong smell.

Oh?

But they taste heavenly.

Whoa!

*Slurp*

If you're curious, would you like to try some?

Sure thing! Why don't you have some as well, Flora?

Unfortunately, I don't think I can eat Puffmelon.

I only subsist on dew, remember?

Oh, right.

Guess that leaves just you and me, Trainer.

Go ahead and try some, Blossom. I'll cut some for you.

Wow, smells delicious!

Spoiled? It smells fantastic to me. Like a sweet potato.

Oh my gosh! The taste is just like you said, Flora. It's divine!

I can't even describe it! It's amazing!

Can I have some more?

Try some!

Try closing your eyes beforehand.

That's what I did.

Now, open up and say "Ahhhh".

Told you!

Ugh... I'm full.

I don't even think I have any room for dog food.

I'm glad you both enjoyed yourselves.

I had no idea these many fruits were growing up here! It's fascinating.

Isn't it just? Nature gives us so much abundance, without asking for anything in return.

That's why we must do everything in our power to preserve and maintain it.

Now, let's gather our strength and keep on searching for the Aurora Bloom.

... Huh?! Flora! Trainer!

I'm picking up the Aurora Bloom, coming from the north.

*Sniff sniff*... *Sniff sniff sniff*

A bit further up ahead is where I originally found the Aurora Bloom before.

So maybe I'm onto something!

Let's hurry!

Huh? This is where I was picking up the scent,

but...

It's massive!

Is this the place you were talking about, Flora?

This is it, all right, but a lot has changed.

This entire field used to be full of the Aurora Bloom flowers.

Do you think we'll still be able to find any Aurora Bloom here?

We have to, no matter what.

I'll keep my nose on high alert then. *Sniff sniff*

Before we start searching, let's do a chant to pump ourselves up!

Why don't you come up with something, Trainer?

Aurora Bloom, you're ours!

Aurora Bloom, you're ours!

Let's do this!

Let's do this!

We can do it! Let's go and... Ah-choo!

We can do it! Let's go and... Ah-choo?

Oh, really? Gotcha.

All right, guys, we've got this!

Before we start searching in earnest,

let me explain what the Aurora Bloom looks like one more time.

As the name insinuates, the petals come in various colors.

However, this entire field is filled with colorful flowers, so it might not stand out all that much.

Its coloring, however, is particularly diverse and beautiful.

The smell is also quite unique.

Once you catch a whiff of it, your heart swells up.

All right, let's split up and start searching.

All right!

Hmm...

This is a hydrangea.

This is an azalea.

They look quite similar to the Aurora Bloom, but they're not the same.

*Sigh*...

I wonder if we'll ever be able to find it in a sprawling field like this...

Hmm?

The hydrangeas and azaleas are cheering me on.

...

No, all the flowers here are cheering me on.

I'll make sure your faith in me isn't misplaced.

I'll find the Aurora Bloom if it's the last thing I do.

...

The flowers on the right seem to be calling to me...

*Sniff sniff*

*Sniff sniff sniff*

This one smells a bit too one-note.

This one's too sweet.

The kind of scent that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside...

Hold on.

This is...

This is the Peachberry I just ate.

...

Oh, wait!

I've gotta find the Aurora Bloom first.

Just a quick one before I resume my search, hehe.

Nom nom nom!

All right, back to it! *Munch munch*

*Sniff sniff sniff* The scent of the Aurora Bloom is really strong here...

Huh? Trainer?

These are the flowers that were calling to me...

Blossom?

Uh... No, actually.

I came here because the flowers were calling to me. You just happened to be here.

What are you lying on the ground for?

Oh my goodness! Are you okay?

That's a relief.

The bees must have been following you because you're as fragrant as a flower.

Not yet.

But I can smell it over here.

!!

I'm also picking up a strong scent here.

!!

That must have been it nearby.

Maybe... I'll do some more focused sniffing.

*Sniff sniff*... *Sniff sniff sniff*

Strange, we're definitely close, but...

*Sniff sniff sniff*

Oh! S-sorry about that, Trainer!

I got carried away by the smells.

It's just that it's particularly strong around your legs.

...

Blossom.

If I could borrow your leg for a moment.

Found it.

Hehe, looks like we completed the mission without anyone getting injured.

Great job, everyone.

I couldn't have done it without you.

Then the entire garden would have been done for.

I'm just pulling your leg. We would have found another way.

Great! I'm so glad that we found the Aurora Bloom.

I can't wait to see it survive and thrive in the garden.

Even though I only got to see it for a moment, it definitely was beautiful.

From now on, you'll be able to see the Aurora Bloom in the garden all the time.

Speaking of which, should we start heading back?

Sure.

Hi, Sea Lavender and Peach Flower.

Nero! Leona! Hey!

Back already?

That was quick.

Hmm? Why do you look like that, Scoops?

Why are your clothes all torn?

Flora and Biscuit's clothes seem fine.

Did something happen?

Haha, I thought Blossom was popular with only women,

but it turns out he's a hit with bees as well.

Oh my gosh! Were you chased by bees?

That explains why your clothes are in such a state.

Well, I'm glad you made it back safely.

How did things go in the garden while I was gone?

Everything went fine. No issues.

Nero did scurry off every time she saw the watering robot, though.

And she kept pestering the butterflies.

Sorry, I can't help it. Instinct.

The dogs kept digging holes in the dirt as well.

They also kept trying to pee on the flowers.

Oh my gosh! How could those guys get up to so much trouble when I wasn't here?

It's all right. Max was here, so it all worked out.

*Ruff ruff*

Thanks for doing me a solid.

Don't mention it.

We had a lot of fun here.

In fact, we'd love to be able to come to the garden every day.

Being here is like a breath of fresh air for the mind.

It was nice to sit and gaze at the flowers without thinking about anything else.

It made me feel as if my worries were melting away.

Hehe, that's one of the more charming aspects of the garden.

That's why I got to thinking about how it'd be nice to have a public garden.

That way, Timi and I could go for a walk there every day. Isn't that right, Timi?

*Graul!*

That's a good point.

If there were a public garden, I'm sure the dogs would love it too!

I'll remember my time here fondly, that's for sure.

The flowers in the garden seemed to enjoy themselves while I was gone.

You all did a wonderful job. They're even more animated than usual.

Really? That's good to hear.

Oh, did you find any Aurora Bloom, by the way?

We certainly did! Thanks to Sunflower and Blossom, we were able to bring back some safe and sound.

Wow, what a pretty flower.

I've never seen a flower like that before.

Are you going to plant it in the garden and give it another shot?

No, I'm going to harvest the seeds and plant them.

I only managed to bring back a couple of flowers,

so it would be difficult to defend their value as is.

I also think nurturing my own flowers from the beginning in my garden would be more meaningful.

I've never managed to grow the Aurora Bloom in my garden before.

Hmm... I see.

There are probably around 10 seeds per flower.

Um...

I'd really like to see the garden filled with Aurora Bloom.

Could I maybe come by to see it when it sprouts?

Of course, any member of Happy Zoo is welcome at any time.

Haha, of course. You can stop by in three days.

I think it will have sprouted by then.

I'm going to do everything I can to bring these flowers to life.

I know you'll be able to do it!

*Ruff ruff*

Hehe!

Hey, Trainer!

*Ruff ruff*

We've been waiting for you.

Wow, you're really good at speaking dog!

*Bark Bark* Hehe!

I heard you coming in, so I ran out to meet you.

*Yawn* There you are.

*Meow*

... You just said a dirty word in catspeak.

You're here early.

I was wondering why Max and Biscuit ran off like that.

How have you been?

*Graul!*

Timi is happy to see you.

Yes! I've been ready since yesterday!

Me too.

I... I'll go later.

I have some things to do at the shelter.

Oh, this and that.

You better hurry up, Leona!

We'll be waiting for you.

You all go have fun.

Timi and I will catch up later.

Make sure Biscuit and Nero don't get into too much trouble, Zoo Keeper.

Hehe! Let's hurry, Trainer.

Let's go.

Flora, we're her...!

*Gasp*!

Hey, Flora...!

*Meow*!

*Ruff ruff*

*Sigh*...

Welcome, Blossom.

Looks like the Aurora Bloom seeds are coming along nicely!

Yes, they finally sprouted today.

They're growing a bit slower than I anticipated, although I don't know why.

Yes, I've been a little worried.

The way you looked, I thought something terrible had happened.

Haha, sorry. Didn't mean to scare you.

There there, Aurora Bloom.

Don't get sick and grow up big and strong, you hear?

Giving them some encouragement.

We do the same thing with any puppies who are runts and slow to mature.

Haha, your good vibes are reenergizing me, Sunflower.

Oh, really?

Hehehehe!

Hahahaha.

Hm? Just a moment.

Salvia just message me.

She said she'll be coming to the garden tomorrow.

What for?

There could only be one reason why she'd be coming here.

To see whether the garden is worth keeping around.

It's already been quite some time since I last said I would improve things.

... This is bad.

Why?

We found the Aurora Bloom. Isn't that good enough?

But it hasn't fully bloomed yet.

If it withers at any point, it won't mean anything.

And it will take at least two weeks for it to mature.

Oh no!

What should we do?

I need to find another way.

Like what?

Should we go back up to the surface and look for another rare flower?

No, we don't have time for that.

How about showing Rian the Aurora Blooms that we first collected?

Since I harvested the seeds from them, they've already withered.

They're useless now.

She'll uncover the truth sooner or later.

Hmm... Is there no other solution?

How about visiting Missilis and asking President Syuen for more time?

I don't think that would work.

Huh? No way!

She'd never treat us that poorly.

I've had times when I couldn't meet a deadline, and had to explain to my President.

You know what he said?

Oh, don't worry your pretty little head, mon petit pup. The deadline isn't that important.

I'm sure Syuen would be the same.

...

...

I'm thinking about opening up the garden.

Yes. For two weeks, starting tomorrow.

That's how much time I should need to make the flowers bloom.

By drawing people's attention to the garden, you're buying yourself some time.

That's right.

I think it's a good idea.

Will you be allowed to open up the garden like that?

I thought the garden was like the shelter, in that it isn't accessible to the general public.

I'll say that it's being opened per a special directive from Lobelia.

Since all the plants in the Ark are artificial, it'll be a rare opportunity for people to see real flowers.

I'm sure that if I open the garden,

there will be a lot of interest.

If they're wondering why the garden is now accessible,

I'll tell them it's because Lobelia gave the go-ahead.

We can attribute it all to her. Say how that in granting permission to open the garden, she hopes that

the people will be invigorated by glimpsing upon these evergreen flowers and witnessing their zest for life.

It's not a great option, but it's the best one we have available to us.

Lobelia has her sights set on the garden right now.

If we asked her for more time, there's no way she would be receptive to it.

At the same time, we can't sit back and do nothing either.

That's right! Otherwise, nothing will change.

If we open the garden to the public, everyone's eyes will be on it, and Lobelia won't be able to shut it down.

Blossom, Sunflower, Sea Lavender.

Will you help me?

Of course!

I've been all in ever since we went out to find the Aurora Bloom.

*Meow* I'm in.

Thank you. I'm so grateful to have all of you.

Well then, what do you say we give Peach Blossom a call?

So, Rian is paying a visit to the garden tomorrow,

and you're planning on making the garden accessible to the public until those special flowers bloom.

You got it.

All right, so where do we come in?

I would like for Happy Zoo to build a fence.

A fence?

Yes. Since this will be the first time the public has access to the garden, there's no telling what may happen.

There will be plenty of people who genuinely come to admire the flowers,

but there might also be some bad apples who are up to no good.

For example, some might try and pick the flowers,

or sneak into the flower beds.

If we fence off the flowers ahead of time, we won't have to worry about any of that.

I see!

Well, I'm a pro at making fences.

I build them all the time at the shelter, hehe.

That's true.

The animals are always breaking them, so she has to keep rebuilding them.

We also need some supplies to make artificial flowers.

Why do you need those?

I'm going to set up an arts and crafts table for the visitors

so they can make their own flowers.

That way,

they'll have even more and longer-lasting memories of their visit to the garden.

That's a great idea.

When's Rian supposed to arrive?

She said she'd be here around this time tomorrow.

That quick?

So we've got 24 hours to

build a fence, prepare the materials for the artificial flowers, and promote the event?

... Can we do it?

Of course we can!

If you break it down, that's 1,440 minutes!

And if you break it down into seconds, that's...

Uh...

That's right!

Wow, you're a real human calculator, Scoops.

You're so smart, Trainer!

That's right!

What? No, it isn't.

24 hours is 86,400 seconds.

Oh, sorry. I got confused.

You must have as well, right, Trainer?

Okay, let's think positively.

It's all gonna work out.

*Graul!*

You're gonna help too, Timi?

*Ruff ruff*

Max says he wants to lend a paw as well!

Let's put our best foot forward, everyone.

Blossom and I will help as much as we can while tending to the flowers.

Hey Nero, wanna check out the fence I made?

Nicely done. As expected from the Master of Fences.

Hehe, I'm just glad I got so much experience making them at the shelter.

Good job. Keep at it.

You got it!

Wow, you're really good at this.

You're the best fence maker I know.

Nero! Did you hear that?

*Meow*

How's the Aurora Bloom doing?

It's still the same.

I'll stop by the greenhouse later to give it some nutrients.

I was just popping over to see if you needed a hand with the fence.

Ah, I see.

I rounded up all the materials you'll need for making the artificial flowers.

Flower stems, leaves...

*Meow*!

!!

Wait, Nero! Stop!

*Meow*!

Leona, don't shake the stems too much!

Huh?

!!

Hey, you guys! Don't do that to the fence! I spent a lot of time on it!

No no, don't mark your territory!

*Ruff ruff*

*Graauul!*

Nero, calm down!

*Meow*!

Gah!

Haha, this is wonderful.

The garden hasn't been this lively in some time, and now it's positively bursting with energy.

It seems like the flowers are enjoying it too.

It's time to give some nutrients to the Aurora Bloom.

We should get going, Blossom.

Haha, you must have been so focused that you lost track of time.

Ooof...

All that work has got me feeling sore.

If it's okay, can I come with you?

Can I come too?

I wanna go hunting really badly.

Of course, you're all more than welcome to come with us.

You guys go ahead.

I'll put up the fencing.

Wow! This is my first time coming into the greenhouse.

It's super warm in here.

Aurora Bloom grows in warm places.

Aurora Bloom.

Could you bloom for me soon, please?

We're all waiting for you.

Can it hear you?

It may not be able to understand the words, but it can sense the emotion behind what I'm saying.

That's why it's important to talk to flowers often.

...

I'd really like for you to grow up big and beautiful really soon.

We went through a lot to get you here,

especially Trainer...!

Hmm...

Hurry up and grow.

And... *Meow*

You can do it.

Hehe, you guys are so cute.

I can feel that Aurora Bloom is enjoying this.

Really?

Fascinating!

Bloom and spread your beautiful petals. We'll take good care of you until then.

You're truly a special flower.

And...

aren't you going to say anything, Trainer?

I don't know, I think it would appreciate it if you said it out loud.

You're confessing your love to it?

What if it shrivels up and hides because it's shy?

I hope it sprouts and becomes a flower soon.

With you all supporting it, I'm sure it will.

You think so?

In that case...

Grow, grow, sprout, sprout!

I'm cheering it on!

That way it'll grow up big and strong.

Hmm... I like the sound of that cheer you did.

Grow, grow, sprout, sprout!

Join in, Trainer.

You all have such wonderful energy. You're like beautiful flowers yourselves.

Why don't you join us, Flora?

I'll be cheering for it in my heart. For now, I need to finish giving it nutrients.

Oh, okay. Then you can join us, Trainer.

Grow, grow, sprout, sprout!

Grow, grow, sprout, sprout!

Come on!

Phew... All finished!

I'm exhausted.

I'm all done on my end as well.

Thanks to Timi, it was easy setting up all the fencing.

*Graauul!*

Yep.

How do you think we should go about it?

Since we're asking people to come to the garden,

why don't we make it out to look like an invitation?

The only question is, what do we put on it?

Hmm...

It'd be good to have an attention-grabbing phrase.

...

...

...

...

Since we're asking people to come to the garden,

why don't we make it out to look like an invitation?

The only question is, what do we put on it?

Hmm...

It'd be good to have an attention-grabbing phrase.

I can look up some examples that we could use as a reference.

Posters are complete!

The garden is good to go as well.

Now everything is ready!

All we have to do is put up the posters and spread the word.

Promotional team... I like the sound of that!

There's not much time left,

so you and Flora can stay here and prepare for the opening.

I'm a bit worried about how many people will come on such short notice.

We'll work doubly hard to spread the word, so don't you worry.

Let's get going.

We'll be back!

Whew...

A little, yes.

It's been a long time since I've felt like this.

It's just like when I raised my first flower and had it bloom.

...

Can I tell you something, Blossom?

The truth is, I always thought the garden was a place only for me and the flowers.

A secret garden.

A sanctuary for me and the flowers, and no one else.

That's why I originally was against showing it to anyone else.

But I was only being selfish,

and because of that, no one was able to visit the garden, and people grew to care less and less about it.

I think that's what led to all this in the first place.

The reason I'm opening the garden to the public isn't just to give me time to let the Aurora Bloom grow.

I also want everyone to see that these flowers are worth something.

Do you remember what I said to you in the Commander's Room?

How did it feel as if no one recognized the value of the flowers here?

If more people come to visit the garden, not only will they get to appreciate the Aurora Bloom,

but all the other flowers here as well.

They'll realize that there's no such thing as a flower without value.

*Sigh*

I knew I'd find you here.

Didn't you say you were coming tomorrow?

That's not important.

What is important is for you to explain this.

That was quick.

It's exactly what it looks like.

We're going to unveil the garden to the masses.

Unless you've gotten permission from President Syuen, I don't believe that's possible.

...

It doesn't look all that different from when I first visited.

I thought you said

you'd bring a flower of proper value.

...

I'll take your silence as an admission that you've failed to do so?

No, I've got something.

I just need more time for it to bloom.

In other words, it's not ready.

Not that it matters anyway.

The reason I'm here is because of President Syuen.

She's given the order to have the garden shut down immediately.

After she caught wind of this event, she expressed that flowers served no purpose, regardless of their rarity or so-called "value".

!!

You're to issue a statement informing everyone the event has been canceled.

No, wait...!

Hello, I'm Natural, a reporter for Tetra News.

We've gotten word that the garden is going to be opened to the public? Could I possibly get a quick interview with you?

What is this?

Actually, this is perfect timing.

We can issue the retraction right here.

Hello. I am Rian, secretary to Presiden Syuen of Missilis.

I have a statement to make regarding this.

Oooh, Syuen's secretary, you said?

I have a few questions for you as well.

Our news team received this poster from the event's promotional team.

Promotional team? What are you talking about?

According to them,

President Syuen has given her full support for this event.

She expressed her desire for people to experience the vitality that flowers bring.

She hopes that glancing upon these everlasting flowers will instill hope in the visitors.

How is it that she came to this conclusion?

Getting to see real flowers in the Ark is an all-too-rare opportunity.

Would you be willing to give us a brief statement on behalf of President Syuen?

What the...

Oh, we're live, by the way.

What with this being such a monumental event and all.

... What?

...

...

Miss?

... Oh.

Yes.

I hope everyone has a good time.

Excellent, thank you for giving us your time!

The garden will officially be open tomorrow,

so everyone please come out and show your support.

Okay, cut.

Thanks for giving us that little soundbite.

The second I saw that poster, I knew I had to cover this story. It's gonna be a big scoop!

This is my first time seeing real flowers. They're absolutely gorgeous.

I'm sure everyone will enjoy themselves.

Thank you again for opening up the garden like this.

...

Well, we better get going. We've got plenty more footage to get.

...

This is bad.

Salvia...

Don't talk to me. I'm thinking.

I'll take responsibility for everything, and two weeks from now, I'll return everything back to the way it was.

And although Lobeila said she wasn't interested,

I'm still going to show her this flower.

So that I can protect the garden.

...

*Sigh*

I knew you'd be tough to handle the moment I saw you, but I didn't know the half of it.

I have to go report back to the President.

We're not out of the woods yet,

but at least we can open the garden and have a chance to nurture the flowers for the next two weeks.

I wanna see the flowers already!

I was so excited after seeing that poster, I didn't even sleep last night.

They smell wonderful.

This place is bigger than I thought it'd be. Do you think we'll have time to see everything?

I brought my camera so I could take pictures.

I hope it opens soon!

There you are, Blossom.

I know, I was shocked to see them too.

I didn't think so many people would come.

I had no idea so many people were interested in seeing the flowers.

It looks like opening up the garden was a good idea after all.

Trainer! Flora!

We're not late, are we?

What's up with this line?

Are they all waiting to get inside the garden?

Guess all that promoting we did paid off.

Hehe, I'm glad to see so many people came!

Oh, by the way! Did the Aurora Bloom grow any bigger?

No, it's the same as yesterday.

Oh... I see.

We still have plenty of time.

Right, I'm not worried. I know you'll do a great job taking care of it.

Ha, I think so too.

Well, should we open up the garden?

I want to show all these people the flowers.

Sure!

Timi, you and I can patrol the garden and make sure people aren't picking at the flowers.

*Graul!*

Nero, you're not allowed to go hunting today.

Sure am.

Come in, everyone. Welcome to the garden.

Wow!

It's so pretty.

Are they letting us inside now?

Feel free to look around as much as you want.

Woohoo!

E-excuse me, could you take a photo of me with the flower?

Sure! Can you take one of me afterwards?

Hehe, so pretty.

Honey, over here. Which one do you think is more beautiful?

Of course, darling. It's the one on the right, you!

Mom, what's the name of this flower?

Hmm...

That one is called...

Echinacea.

Ah, yes, thank you. It's such a beautiful flower.

Haha, no problem.

Huh? Teacher?

I didn't expect to bump into you here.

Naga wanted to visit the garden, so here we are. There are so many pretty flowers here!

What about you, Teacher? What are you doing here?

What? Really?

Where is she? Introduce us.

Yeah, introduce us!

How old is she?

What does she do?

Where did you meet her?

Is she pretty?

Haha, I knew it.

Hehe, that's a relief.

At the garden?

My goodness, you really lead a busy life, Teacher.

I should follow your example, but it's not easy living such a full life.

You're plenty busy, Tia.

I am?

Anyway, it's almost time to go and get some desserts.

Oh yeah, time really flew by. Well, we're gonna head out, Teacher. See you later.

Bye bye!

Sweetie!

I came to show my lovely Lupins this garden,

and I ended up running into you! How lucky am I?!

You bet I am! The garden is being opened to the public, how could I not stream it?

Hmm? Ask Sweetie what now?

Hm... Okay!

Sweetie!

Which one is more beautiful, me or this flower?

Oh my goodness, you're such a smooth talker, Sweetie!

Did you see that, everyone?

If your girlfriend ever asks this, be sure to give the same brilliant answer that Sweetie just gave, okay?

Huh?

Oh, right!

You are as beautiful as a flower yourself, Sweetie.

But why? Can't you stay and livestream with me for a while longer?

Aw, that's too bad.

I guess I should let you go then.

I'll see you around, Sweetie.

No problems so far.

Happy Zoo is walking around and keeping an eye on things.

The Aurora Bloom is also growing better than expected.

Apparently, these flowers were once used as medicine.

Really? I had no idea flowers could be medicinal.

And the scent of these ones helps relieve stress.

Oh, no wonder! I've really felt at ease ever since I got in here and smelled the flowers.

...

I'm thinking about how opening up the garden was a good decision.

Many people are beginning to better appreciate what flowers can offer, just like I'd hoped.

... Haha, that's right.

Everything in this world has value.

And that applies to each and every one of these flowers as well.

That should be enough nutrients.

I ought to raise the temperature a bit more. They seem to like warmth.

...

I hope you form buds soon.

I believe in you, Aurora Bloom.

All the roses, irises, and lysimachias in the garden also believe in you.

Honey, how about we make this flower?

I think it really suits you.

We can make it together.

Sure!

You two look wonderful!

Haha, thank you.

This flower is called Dahlia.

It symbolizes everlasting and blissful love.

I think it's the perfect flower to represent you two.

Here, I'll show you how to make it.

Scoops...

Watching them make all those flowers...

really makes me want to go on the hunt.

Look at this, Lupins!

Aren't these flowers I made beautiful?

I made them with Leona.

*Graul!*

Timi says he helped too.

Oh, and of course our adorable little Timi helped as well.

I have a special announcement to make:

The top five fans who leave the most beautiful comments will each receive one of these flowers that I made as a gift!

What kind of flower is it, you may ask?

It's a Marigold.

The reason I chose this flower is that it symbolizes something quite beautiful.

Happiness that is bound to come your way.

So, I made it in hopes that happiness will come to every last one of my precious Lupins!

Whoa... Why's everyone in the chat crying?

*Graul!*

Not you too, Timi!

This is Natural, reporting to you live from the garden.

Today is the last day in which the garden will be open to the public.

For that reason, even more crowds have shown up, wanting to get one last look before the garden closes.

I wanted to show you all something.

...

Hmm... I can read canine facial expressions easily,

but I haven't the foggiest idea what Flora's expression means right now.

I'm not sure either.

Did something happen?

...

Oh my gosh, Flora, you scared us!

Hehe, sorry.

I wanted it to be a surprise.

They finally bloomed.

Oh my goodness... They're so beautiful.

Did you do this all by yourself?

I did, yes.

I was starting to get worried because they were taking longer than I expected,

but in the end, they did wonderfully.

Aren't they amazing?

They certainly are!

I want to thank all of you as well.

You've been incredible in helping me with the garden these past few weeks.

I didn't do all that much.

I liked being in the garden!

I will contact Salvia tomorrow and...

You won't have to do that.

!!

*Meow*!

*Ruff ruff*

*Graul!*

I don't see what you're so surprised about.

The greenhouse appeared to be open, so I came in.

Is this the "valuable flower" you've been mentioning?

It doesn't look terribly special to me.

What are you doing here, Salvia?

I came here to relay a directive from the President.

From Lobelia?

Yes.

... What are they this time?

Is the garden going to be destroyed?

No, it's not.

To get to the point,

the garden will continue to be maintained.

!!

The public's reaction has been overwhelming.

Missilis's stock prices have been rising ever since the garden opened up.

Even that absolute moro... I mean, even the President can't deny it.

She knows that to get rid of the garden now would be a devastating blow to the company.

However, she also wanted me to let you know that if you ever do something like this again without her permission, you won't get off so easily.

...

Frankly, I agree with her.

If you hadn't been so lucky, this all could have ended in disaster.

Anyway.

I must admit that you were quite smart.

The garden will not be destroyed,

and you also got the flowers to bloom.

I didn't think you'd be able to do it.

...

I will be taking this flower.

I believe it has immense research value, even though the President insisted otherwise.

I will be sending researchers from Missilis here soon.

She comes here, says her piece, and then leaves without so much as a goodbye. She's as bad as Syuen.

So... everything worked out?

...

*Sigh*...

Flora! Are you okay?

Yes, I'm fine. It just felt like a load had been lifted off my shoulders.

I'm so glad we were able to protect the garden.

Finally, I don't have to feel so nervous.

*Graul!*

You feel the same, Timi?

My nervousness is gone too... and has been replaced by hunger.

Haha, I'll go buy us something to eat.

Thanks! Could you get some sweet potato-flavored dog food?

I'd like some cat treats *Meow*.

You're such a kind person.

Thank you, Blossom.

Could you please get something for Timi as well?

*Graul!*

Zzzz...

Purr...

...

...

Dog food... Nom nom nom...

*Meow*... *Meow meow*...

Timi...

*Grauul*...

... Blossom.

Blossom?

I'm glad you're here. I was hoping to catch you.

Were you about to go somewhere?

May I come in?

What's that in your hand?

I feel like I didn't properly thank you before,

so I came to express my gratitude and also share the results of the Aurora Bloom research.

It's still ongoing, so I can't share too many details,

but they said that it absolutely has research potential.

Since opening the garden to the public,

the citizens have had an increasing interest in flowers.

All sorts of flower-related products are popping up on the market.

Also, do you remember how we had people making flowers of their own?

People fell in love with giving handmade flowers as gifts,

and it's become quite a popular thing now, with people giving others different flowers based on their meanings.

I couldn't have done it without all of you.

I made you a flower

as a token of my gratitude.

It's a rose.

That's up to you to find out, Blossom.

How about a walk in the garden today with me?

The flowers would love to see you.