Work Text:
Tanizaki was 371 pages into a book about flower symbolism when his phone rang. It was Tachihara on the other line. He gently put down the book and debated whether he should answer his phone or not. Ultimately, he did.
“Michi —”
“Yo, Junichiro. Can I come over?”
“What? Now? It’s almost 10 pm.”
“Okay and?”
“I’m busy.”
“Too bad. Open your door.”
Tanizaki hesitantly got up from his couch and opened the door.
“Yo!” Tachihara greeted him with a smile.
“Please tell me when you’re coming over beforehand,” Tanizaki sighed.
Tachihara disregarded Tanizaki’s comment and made his way inside. He spotted the flower symbolism book on the couch, it was slightly open and accompanied by a bowl of popcorn.
“You’re still reading that book?”
“Yeah, I have my job interview tomorrow.”
Tanizaki grew up loving flowers. When he was little, he used to collect small flowers at the park and decorate his room with them. As one would expect, his parents had to stop him because it attracted ants, but that didn’t stop his fascination with flowers.
He admired how beautiful they were, everyone does, but the meaning behind them is what really stuck with him. The art of expressing emotions with flowers was something Tanizaki has always been very passionate about. Getting the job at the local flower shop was extremely important to him.
Tachihara knew that as well, they’ve been friends since childhood. He also knew he didn’t like seeing Tanizaki so stressed.
“I don’t know why you’re so stressed, Junichiro. The flower shop is going to accept you,” Tachihara took a seat on the couch and stuffed his face with popcorn.
“I’m not stressed, and getting the job is not guaranteed.” Tanizaki made his way back to the couch, taking the bowl of popcorn from Tachihara’s hands and placing it on his lap.
“Yeah, you’re definitely stressed. You’re eating popcorn. You always eat popcorn when you’re stressed.”
“What? No, I don’t!” Tanizaki took the bowl off his lap.
“Yeah, you do,” Tachihara replied while reaching over to devour another handful of popcorn.
Tachihara knew he was right.
In the past, he always assumed that popcorn was Tanizaki’s go-to study snack since he constantly made some whenever the two of them had study sessions. But then he noticed that Tanizaki ate popcorn whenever he was nervous or stressed. For example, he ate popcorn before going to the doctors, taking his driver’s test, looking at his report card, eating Naomi’s food, the list goes on.
“Junichiro, people don’t care about the symbolism of the arrangement, they care about how pretty it looks. The florists know that. You’re going to get the job.”
“Whatever. Just don’t bother me. I was in the middle of reading when you called,” Tanizaki picked up his book.
“Nope. As your friend, it is my duty to bother you,” Tachihara grinned.
“You’re such a pain.”
“Ouch, that hurt. I’d rather you tell me that in flowers.”
An idea sparked in Tanizaki’s head. He turned his body towards Tachihara, who then mirrored him. They were now facing each other.
“Michizou, give me different situations, and I’ll say the flowers that correspond to that situation. I get to practice, and you get to talk to me, it’s a win-win situation.”
“Okay, like what’s ‘suck my dick’ in flowers?” Tachihara jested.
“Literally or…”
“You’re you being serious? Wait, let me get my phone out.” Tachihara grabbed his phone from his back pocket and opened the notes app, “okay, continue.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Both?”
“Well, for literally I would choose corianders. They represent lust so giving them to someone could be like saying ‘have sex with me.’ However, it’s also cilantro and I don’t think someone would want to have sex with you if you give them cilantro. Metaphorically I’d give them geraniums. People get really offended if you give them geraniums,” Tanizaki rambled on.
“That’s all I needed to know. If you see a bouquet of geraniums on your doorstep anytime soon, it’s from me,” Tachihara stood up. He was immediately brought back down by Tanizaki pulling on the sleeve of his shirt.
“Nope, you’re helping me. You’re the one who decided to come over, so give me more.”
“Like what?” Tachihara complained.
“Well, what are the common reasons people ask for flowers?”
“Apologizing?”
“Red roses and lilies if it’s for a romantic partner. Yellow roses and tulips for friendships and stuff.”
“Death of a loved one?”
“Pink carnations.”
“Breaking up with someone?”
“Cyclamens.”
“You want more?” Tachihara was running out of ideas.
“Yes. I need as much practice as possible.”
“Okay, let me think.” The moment Tanizaki came up with this idea, Tachihara had only one question in mind. “How would you confess to someone with flowers?”
Tanizaki was slightly taken aback but answered before his reaction became obvious. “Roses are obviously the most common, but I wouldn’t do roses.”
“Well, what would you do?”
“Daises. A mixture of pink and white daisies is like saying ‘I just have eyes for you’ and I think that’s more romantic than roses.”
“That makes sense.”
“Huh?” Tanizaki cocked his head.
“I don’t know much about flowers, but I know daises represent innocence and purity,” Tachihara waited for Tanizaki to give him a nod of approval before continuing, “and that’s the type of lover you are. Or at least the type of lover I think you are.”
Tanizaki felt the heat rising in his cheeks. He’s never talked about love with Tachihara, and it didn’t help that he’s had the biggest crush on Tachihara for years. He realized the only reason Tachihara brought up confessing and love was to help prepare Tanizaki for his job interview. Despite that, his heart was feeling unusually sensitive tonight. If they continued like this, he might burst.
“Michizou... “
“Yes, Junichiro?”
“I think it’s time for me to take a break.”
“Finally! I’ve been waiting for you to say that!”
Tachihara moved the popcorn bowl out of the way and faced the TV, so they were no longer looking at each other. He wrapped his arm around Tanizaki’s shoulder and shook him, “now let’s watch some Netflix!”
»»————- ✼ ————-««
“Really? I got the job? Thank you so much Kunikida-san, I look forward to working with you.”
Tanizaki placed his phone down and sat in his bed for a few minutes, allowing it all to sink in.
After almost 2 weeks of waiting, he finally got the job.
He got the job.
He got the job.
“YES YES YES YES YES!!!!” Tanizaki he threw his fists up and started kicking the air.
“Oh, I should tell Michizou. Maybe we can celebrate together…” he thought once he finally calmed down.
Before Tanizaki was even able to pick up his phone it started ringing. Sure enough, it was Tachihara calling.
“Oh, Michizou. Perfect timing I was just about to call you.”
“Junichiro, open your door.”
“What? You’re here already?”
“Yes.”
“What if I wasn’t home?”
“Then I would’ve waited for you. But you’re inside so open your door.”
“Okay, okay.”
Tanizaki was practically running towards the door. He was so filled with excitement that he tripped on his own feet a few times.
He opened the door, “I got —”
Tachihara enveloped Tanizaki into an affectionate hug, “Congrats!”
“You knew?”
“I may have visited a certain flower shop earlier and asked them about you,” Tachihara mumbled. He avoided making eye contact with Tanizaki.
“Did you harass them into accepting me?” Tanizaki yelled.
“No. Definitely not that. I stopped by to purchase these,” Tachihara picked up a bouquet of flowers that were previously by his feet, “for you.”
Tachihara’s arm was straight out, so he was able to conceal his flushed face with his shoulder.
“Thank you,” Tanizaki took the bouquet out of Tachihara’s hands and observed the flowers.
They were pink and white daisies. Pink daisies represent love and romance, while white daisies represent purity and innocence. Why would Michizou give me these? Tanizaki wondered, until a certain conversation played in his head:
“Okay, how would you confess to someone with flowers?”
“Daises. A mixture of pink and white daisies is like saying ‘I only have eyes for you’ and I think that’s more romantic than roses.”
“Michizou, are you confessing to me?”
It seemed like the answer was obvious, but Tanizaki still could not believe it. His best friend of nearly 8 years, his crush for nearly 8 years had feelings for him.
“Junichiro, I’ve had a crush on you since the first time we met.” Tachihara still avoided looking at Tanizaki, his face was redder than ever.
“That’s a long time,” Tanizaki let out a small laugh.
Me too Michizou.
“Do you accept?”
“Look at me.”
They stared into each other's eyes. People always say “eyes are the window to the soul” and by the way they were looking at each other, you could tell they were soulmates.
“Michizou.”
“Yes?”
“Does this answer your question?” Tanizaki wrapped his arms around Tachihara’s neck and slowly moved in to kiss him.
Tachihara held Tanizaki by the waist and pulled him closer, closing the gap between them. The moment their lips touched their hearts blossomed like flowers. Years of bottled up feelings were being released all in this one kiss.
Tanizaki pulled away first as his grip on the bouquet was getting loose and he didn’t want to accidentally drop it. But the second he pulled away he instantly regretted it, he wanted more. “Why don’t we go inside now?”
“Wait, does this mean you like me back?”
Tanizaki grasped Tachihara’s hand and softly kissed it, “I only have eyes for you, Michizou.”