Day 2: Sunflower
"Wooooow!"
The awe-struck gasp that left the ginger-haired girl's lips echoed around the field. "They're so tall! Taller than trees!"
"I wouldn't go that far, Chika-chan," Riko chuckled softly as she walked up to Chika's right side. "Still, I will agree that these sunflowers are breathtaking."
"Do you think we can climb them like a tree?" A thoughtful murmur came from Chika's left, as You bobbed up and down to observe the structure and size of the sunflowers in the first row of many that lay before them. "Hmm, I think we'd break it," she concluded at last with a heavy sigh.
"You-chan..." Riko could already feel anxiety beginning to form beads of sweat on her forehead. "Don't do anything reckless." Looking after Chika with her boundless energy and minimal foresight would be enough of a challenge; Riko wouldn't be able to supervise both girls if they were to go wild among the towering flowers.
You responded with a salute. "Aye aye, Cap'n Riko!" she exclaimed. That was enough to help Riko unclench her jaw; You never broke a promise made under a sailor's salute.
"But we can play hide and seek!" Chika piped up, leaping forward to partially conceal herself behind the stems of the nearest flowers. "Boo!"
Nevermind, Riko was going to be stiff and sore tomorrow from all the tension in her body. "L-let's make sure our cell phones work, first. So nobody gets lost."
After confirming that they had reception, the girls did a quick round of rock-paper-scissors to determine who would be seeking first.
"No!!" You wailed as she withdrew her outstretched fist, while Riko and Chika high-fived with their matching "paper" hands. "Okay, but you'd better hide really well, because I hate losing!"
Chika giggled and began bouncing on her toes. "Don't worry, You-chan! After your turn, then I'll go, then Riko-chan. Everyone will get a turn before we sit down for lunch! And after a picnic, we can play sardines!"
"Sardines is even harder!" Riko protested, but Chika didn't seem to hear her and continued spouting ideas. "Then we can pose like sunflowers and take pictures! Oooh, maybe they can inspire some new outfits!"
Riko cast a quick look sideways, only to find You glancing at her as well. A knowing sparkle glittered in her eye. When Chika was fired up with excitement, she absolutely glowed. And neither of them wanted to put out that light.
"Hey, hey, why are they all tilted that way?" Chika pointed to the tops of the sunflowers, which indeed were all slightly facing the left by a few degrees. "Were they all planted at the same time?"
"Unlikely," Riko mused, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Sunflowers face the sun when they grow, so this field must get the most light when the sun is in that position."
"Face the sun," Chika echoed. "Like me! I'm always chasing the sun to find that special shine!"
But as You announced she was going to start her countdown and Chika darted into the flowers without another word, Riko cast a knowing glance to the ashen-haired girl, who simply nodded.
To them, Chika was the sun, and You and Riko were the flowers always eager to follow her light.
