Mutsumi's taciturn nature was composed of two reasons.
On one hand, her high-pressure family environment caused her to severely lack the confidence to proactively speak up. On the other hand, overthinking caused her to always enter a state of self-doubt before expressing herself.
For example, on this outing with Tetsuya, even though she had a very clear destination in mind, she still subconsciously hid it deep in her consciousness out of fear that Tetsuya wouldn't be interested in the place she wanted to go.
So for Tetsuya, how should he resolve this situation—
"...So cucumbers can be grown as potted plants too."
Tetsuya said this while looking at the bagged cucumber seeds in front of him:
"An annual climbing herbaceous plant... It must be a lot of trouble to cultivate it to the point where it can bear fruit, right?"
(T/N: Those words describe three characteristics: Annual means it completes its entire life cycle within one growing season or year.. Climbing as in, it grows upward by using supports such as trellises, fences, other plants, or tendrils. Herbaceous means it has soft, green, non-woody stems rather than woody trunks or branches. I didnt know cucumbers were these ngl)
"Compared to those flowers that have higher requirements for soil and sunlight... it's already considered relatively simple. Plus, this kind of vining plant is also more convenient to prune than plants with branches."
Mutsumi said:
"It's a pity. If it were two months ago, I could have let you see what it looks like when it blooms, Chihaya-san."
"Heh, is that so..."
Tetsuya, who knew absolutely nothing about cultivation and plants, could only marvel blankly.
This was his first time learning about Mutsumi's other hobbies besides the guitar, and it was also his first time hearing Mutsumi explain her hobbies with such full enthusiasm.
"It seems you really like cucumbers, Wakaba-san."
"Mhm... I really like them."
Mutsumi first nodded, then after a slight hesitation, she asked in a somewhat unconfident tone:
"...What about you, Chihaya-san? Do you like cucumbers?"
"Mhm, I really like cucumbers too!"
Tetsuya gave a thumbs up.
"It's just that compared to the level where you even know the cultivation process inside and out, Wakaba-san, I'm probably only interested in the fruit it bears at the end."
"That's true. After all, you aren't a picky eater at all, Chihaya-san..."
Recalling how Tetsuya always looked like he had a great appetite no matter what he ate, a hint of a smile involuntarily appeared on Mutsumi's face.
"Although I've already planted quite a few at Tsukinomori, should I plant a few pots at home too..."
Mutsumi really wanted to see what kind of expression Tetsuya would show after eating a cucumber she grew herself.
On the other side, compared to the cucumbers, Tetsuya was instead incredibly surprised by what Mutsumi had just said—
"I see, you've already come to treat that apartment as 'home' now, Wakaba-san."
"..."
Hearing this, Mutsumi also showed a slightly stunned expression.
Because she was too focused on imagining the cucumbers just now, Mutsumi herself hadn't even noticed what she had just said.
Come to think of it... even though until recently she had only viewed that ordinary apartment as a temporary place to stay, yet... now she had already started to treat it as her own home as well.
It must be because life here was simply too comfortable.
Her opinions and thoughts would no longer be unilaterally ignored, and she could be together with everything she liked without any reservations.
The music she liked, the potted plants she liked, and the... she liked.
...
"Ohh, this variety of cucumber looks completely different from the one just now!"
Tetsuya picked up another variety of cucumber seeds and looked at the display picture on the packaging with great amazement.
"This one looks very mini, it's completely different from the ones we usually eat!"
"..."
How strange.
Whether it was at the instrument store or here, even though she had only chosen places that she herself would like, this person who was supposed to just be unilaterally accommodating her... was instead acting even happier than she was.
Was it because she happened to choose places he was also interested in?
...That wasn't it at all.
Mutsumi knew very well that if it weren't for her, Tetsuya would never have gone to the instrument store, much less come to the flower shop to look at cucumber seeds with her.
Just like how until a few minutes ago, he hadn't even known that cucumbers were crops that could actually be cultivated in pots, and he knew absolutely nothing about other crops and flowers...
So, was the happiness he was showing right now just an act to coax her?
That was even more impossible.
As for exactly how bad Tetsuya was at lying, she had already personally experienced it countless times while living together day and night over the past few months.
In other words, whether it was the gaze full of admiration and enjoyment he cast at her in the instrument store, or this attitude of equally holding enthusiasm for the things she liked right now, all of it was immediate, genuine feedback.
Thinking of this, Mutsumi suddenly felt her heart fill with an unprecedented sense of being moved and joyful.
For Mutsumi, who had always merely acted as an "accessory" to Sakiko and the band, and who had never proactively revealed her hobbies to anyone, the feeling of having the things she liked accepted by others was simply too novel. Especially when the other person was the "hero" she had always respected and admired so much, the one who had saved everyone she cared about...
...
Therefore... since her hobbies had received this level of acknowledgment. Then next, for her to continue showing more of herself... should be fine too, right?
Carrying the anticipation of a first attempt, and the apprehension of an unpredictable answer, Mutsumi said to the man who was carefully reading the cucumber seed packaging:
"Chihaya... -san."
"Mhm?"
"Next... I'd also like to go to a chocolate shop. Can we?"
"Of course we can! Ah, but my understanding of chocolate is limited to the ones Anon gave me for Valentine's Day before, so I might not be able to help much..."
That completely unhesitating reply shattered all the misgivings and timidity in Mutsumi's heart, just as she had thought it would.
He truly would, just as she had imagined, hold equal curiosity and respect for everything she liked.
If that was the case...
"This, I want to try planting it at home and see."
Under Tetsuya's somewhat surprised gaze, Mutsumi proactively took that bag of seeds from his hand.
"Although I don't know yet if I can successfully raise it, once it matures, I will bring it for you to taste first, Chihaya-san."
"...Mhm."
Faced with this girl who had suddenly mustered her courage, Tetsuya replied with his usual smile.
"I will properly look forward to the arrival of that day."
Cucumber, an annual climbing herbaceous plant.
It seems that for a very long time to come, this verdant and slender vine will not easily leave this sturdy and reliable support.