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It should have been perfect. Mika had booked a table at the best wagyu restaurant in the city six months in advance. He had gotten Yuu's ring size with Shinoa's help and purchased a white gold ring adorned with a single diamond. He had no doubt Yuu would have accepted his proposal. They had been dating for almost ten years, and Yuu had already voiced his interest in marriage, though neither of them had properly proposed. Mika had planned to do so tonight, and it should have been perfect.
But what had been the chances Yuu's boss would choose to dine in the same restaurant, the very same night? Mika cursed his bad luck. To make things worse, Ichinose had "used his connections" to get them a private room. He could not even blame Yuu for accepting. Poor Yuu had been trying to get a raise for months, so turning down his boss's offer would have been equivalent to professional suicide. Even Guren's wife had looked sympathetic.
In the end, what was supposed to be a romantic outing topped with a marriage proposal had turned into an awkward business dinner, with the Ichinose guy ending up very drunk by the end of the evening. Mika wished he could have drowned his frustration in alcohol, but it had not been an option. Someone had to drive home and Yuu could not have refused to join Ichinose's many toasts; though Mika had caught him discreetly pouring his sake in the potted plants decorating the table.
The two of them were now on their ride home, with Mika gripping the wheel and sighing for the umpteenth time. Yuu was fast asleep in the passenger seat. He was going to have one hell of a headache tomorrow.
Mika had no idea when he would find another occasion to propose. It was like fate took perverse pleasure ruining all his attempts at being romantic and tonight was no exception. Maybe it would be simpler to be casual about it, and just ask Yuu to marry him first thing tomorrow morning. Yes, he would do that. No more plans that could potentially be ruined. Real life was not a fairy tale. Perfect proposals only happened in fiction.
Still, Mika sighed again as he parked the car in front of their house.
"I'm sorry," Yuu said when Mika stopped the engine.
"I thought you were sleeping."
"No. At least, not the whole time." Yuu unbuckled his seatbelt. "I'm sorry for ruining dinner."
"It's fine, don't worry." Making Yuu feel guilty over the situation was the last thing Mika wanted.
"It's not fine. Have you heard yourself sigh? You're clearly upset."
"No, I'm fine."
"I should have blown Guren off."
"He's your boss, it's okay, I understand."
"It doesn't make things okay."
"You need that raise."
"Mika—"
"I'm fine! Got it?" Mika's patience that had been growing thinner and thinner during the evening finally snapped, "I've been planning this dinner for months and your stupid boss just went and ruined it!"
He pressed his forehead against the wheel, trying to contain tears of frustration, though it was a wasted effort. Any hope of trying to save what remained of the night had just been ruined, by his own fault.
"Mika..."
Yuu rubbed his hand along the back of Mika's neck. Mika almost wished Yuu would not act so gentle; it made him feel petty as if he was still eight and trying to get people's attention with tears. He straightened up and fished the box holding the engagement ring out of his pocket.
"There," he said, putting the box in Yuu's hand. "Things can't get any worse that way."
Mika did not wait to see Yuu's reaction. He meant to exit the car as fast as possible before he could ruin things further.
"Mika, wait!"
He felt Yuu grasp his left hand and give him back the box. Mika gasped in horror. Was Yuu... refusing his proposal? But when he turned to look, Yuu was smiling. That's when Mika realized the box in his hand felt different. He looked and indeed, it was white and smooth when the one he had given Yuu was blue and velvety.
"Yuu-...chan?"
"When you told me you made a reservation at the Silver Bell, I realized it would be the perfect opportunity to propose." Yuu chuckled. "I guess you had the same thing in mind."
Mika was speechless. More tears fell from his eyes as he opened the box with shaking hands. Inside lay a golden band with three emeralds shining under the light of streetlamps.
"Shindou Mikaela. Will you marry me?"
Mika could only nod. Through his tears, he saw Yuu take the ring and slid it around Mika's ring finger. It fitted just right too.
It was perfect.
Mika threw his arms around Yuu, burying his face into his neck.
"I love you," he sobbed. "I love you so much, Yuu-chan."
"I love you, too, Mika," Yuu whispered back. "Now... before you panic, I need to tell you I just dropped your box and I literally can't see where it went."
Okay, maybe not so perfect after all.