Blossoms and Bullets
'She's here again..!'
Kelun had discovered one more great thing about Stefan Flower shop. He admired the mature proxies like Mikhail or William, and from the videos, the massive Shtafenberk who poured out firepower like a tank was impressive too. But the silver-haired proxy who seemed not much older than him stirred even deeper longing in his heart. It made the dream of becoming a proxy himself feel just a little closer, and that thrilled him.
"Been super busy lately? Haven't seen you around much."
Isaac asked the girl swinging her legs from the simple chair out front. Kelun helped Isaac trim the flower stems while eyeing the massive sniper rifle propped beside the proxy with fascination.
"Ah, yeah. A regular army elite platoon just got stationed in Nantigar. I only stepped out briefly to sync up with them."
She scratched her cheek as she spoke. It was true that special forces veterans had been dispatched to prevent clashes between citizens and remnant provisional government forces, and to support the management bureau's interventions. And it was also true that she'd gone out to the barrier outskirts for a sweep with Lieutenant Pedro's platoon. But what weighed on her more was how often she'd been visiting Stefan's shop.
Their acquaintance had started when she asked for directions, and it continued steadily whenever she patrolled nearby. Even when passing by without stopping, the gray-haired kid's actions and glances were always friendly. Isaac always greeted her gratefully, offering a drink or a neat little bouquet of flowers.
"You must've had a tough few days. Glad you made it back safe."
And his kind words of comfort, always paired with the flowers. Before she knew it, this place filled with soft scents and warmth had captivated her just like Kelun.
Isaac handed her a prettily wrapped small bouquet.
"Since it's been a while. Nothing fancy, but a gift for you, Proxy."
"Mm... But I heard around that you're not selling flowers anymore. Is it okay for me to take this?"
She clutched the flowers preciously to her chest but hesitated. That was what nagged at her most. Her first-ever bouquet made her heart race with excitement and trembling. Sergeant Jenny, the fiery redhead from Pedro's platoon who doted on her especially, had once complained about failing to buy flowers herself.
The girl felt special somehow, and though she didn't show it, she was overjoyed inside. Isaac smiled softly at her.
"Ever since you proxies started patrolling, the old provisional government types have stopped throwing their weight around."
Isaac clearly distinguished between the current regular army—fully reorganized—and the previous provisional forces. The remnants still ranted about redistributing resources for the barrier cities and occasionally acted high-handed toward other shopkeepers.
"All I did was walk around."
She bowed her head to sniff the flowers, smiling with her eyes.
A little later, the sound of a car approached, and an old vehicle pulled up in front of the shop. A middle-aged man emerged, arms full of flowers, his youthful looks reminiscent of a grown-up Isaac.
"Well, well, long time no see, little proxy."
"Not... little."
She puffed out her cheeks. He laughed heartily.
"Haha, sorry about that."
His wrinkled eyes and sharp features made it obvious he was Isaac's father. He handed the flowers to Isaac emerging from the shop. Once Isaac disappeared inside, he eyed the girl curiously.
"You like Isaac? The age gap might make it tough, though."
"Huh?"
"Wahaha, just kidding. Kidding."
As she yelped in surprise, he laughed boisterously again and headed inside. Then he ruffled Kelun's hair roughly.
"Don't just stare—say something, or you'll regret it later, kid?"
Bell shot a pouty, flustered glare at his back, only to lock eyes with Kelun.
"Hi."
"Uh, hi."
Kelun shuffled over with a shy greeting and stared at the sniper rifle beside her. Taller than him or the proxy herself, it looked like a massive cannon to him. Proxies can carry something like this... He glanced wonderingly at her slender arms.
"Wanna take a look?"
She tucked the bouquet carefully under her arm, lifted the sniper rifle effortlessly with one hand, and rested it on her knee.
"You can come closer."
Her gentle smile lit up Kelun's face with curiosity, and he scurried over to inspect it.
"It's huge, right?"
She said it almost proudly.
"The bullets must be massive too."
Kelun pressed his fingers to his lips, staring intently. She nodded.
"Yep. Wanna see?"
With a crisp cha-ching, the magazine detached. It was too big for one hand, packed full of gleaming bullets too large to hold.
"Whoa..."
"The management bureau's tech department made it."
"Whoaaa—"
She felt her shoulders tense with unexpected pride at Kelun's reaction. Just then, voices approached—Isaac's father emerged, followed by Isaac carrying two drinks.
"Dad, it's better to wait for the military to handle it now. Please don't go to the protests."
Isaac trailed close behind his father.
"Isaac, you're not wrong. But that's why we need to keep the pressure on. If it fizzles out, it'll slip away like a snake over a fence."
"I get what you're saying, but... sigh... fine. Just be careful."
"Such a worrier. It's just us old folks making noise—nothing dangerous."
He patted Isaac's shoulder twice, then hopped back in his car and drove off. Isaac watched the taillights fade before handing drinks to Kelun and the girl.
"Whoa—it's really huge."
Kelun echoed excitedly.
"Right? Right?"
The massive sniper bullets even awed Isaac. She burst out laughing at the two of them.
"Haha—sorry, it's just funny. Thanks for the drink."
"Cheers, Isaac-hyung."
Kelun grabbed a drink first, staring openly at Bell. Isaac grinned.
"Kinda embarrassing. But wow, bullets this big."
"I was amazed the first time too."
As Bell smiled and moved the rifle from her lap, Isaac instinctively grabbed the barrel to help—and froze in shock. He'd put in effort, but it hadn't budged an inch under the insane weight.
As he sheepishly withdrew his hand, she hurriedly propped the rifle aside and took the drink. Embarrassment flushed her face.
"Uh... what's your name, by the way?"
She asked to break the awkward air, voicing her curiosity.
"Isaac Stefan."
"Ah, Stefan..."
She murmured the name softly. Beep-beep—a chime sounded repeatedly from her wrist. She slung the sniper rifle over her shoulder, clutched the flowers tight, chugged the drink in seconds, and bowed.
"Thanks again today. Gotta go!"
Kelun beat Isaac to the question as she turned.
"Sis, what's your name?"
"I'm Tiny Bell. See you next time—tell me your name then!"
With a bright smile, the girl who'd introduced herself as Bell gave Kelun an apologetic look, waved to Isaac, and vanished. Kelun waved back, mumbling her name to memorize it, dreaming of the day a proxy would ask his.
But Bell never returned to the shop after that. Patrols switched to the regular army, and Kelun looked a bit disappointed. Isaac felt the loss keenly too but kept the shop running, believing they'd meet again someday.
"Hyung Stefan, if that sis comes back, what flowers will you give her?"
"Mm, maybe blue roses. Father's greenhouse has them blooming now."
"Blue roses?"
Kelun's eyes widened in wonder, and Isaac ruffled his hair gently with a smile.
"Yeah, they're cool. Know how their flower language changed?"
"Flower language can change?"
Kelun tilted his head curiously.
"Sure. Blue roses are special. Originally, they meant 'impossible.'"
"Im...possible? That's a pretty bad meaning for a flower."
Isaac chuckled at Kelun's words.
"True. But blue roses can't occur naturally. It started with dyes, and breeding them was scientifically tough."
"So... impossible."
"Exactly. Then breeding became possible by chance, and now we can grow them. A flower that shouldn't exist... now exists forever."
"I didn't know. That's why the meaning changed?"
Kelun's eyes sparkled, eager for more. Isaac smiled, reminded of his younger self.
"Yeah. Now it means 'miracle.' A miracle."
Isaac felt the meaning suited proxies perfectly. These miracle-born people who fought the impossible. Another meaning—unyielding love—felt a bit too forward for the girl, but he thought of her warmly, like an older brother for his little sister.
But that day, with helicopters roaring unusually loud...
The broadcast announcing the start of "total war" echoed out.