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Jotaro Kujo, with a school messenger bag on his hand, wondered why he here in the bustling city of Tokyo at six in the evening. He still had his gakuran jacket on, a hat, and a wallet inside his jacket to pay fares back home. Right now, he was crossing the streets of Shibuya, looking for something that would appeal to him. As he walked on the sidewalks, he narrowed his eyes due to the bright neon lights shining the entire city. Jotaro stopped on his tracks when he saw something on the other side of the street.
The shop was beaming in green and blue colors. It had different items that Jotaro thought someone would love it, so he ran through the streets. Once he approached it, he opened the door.
“Good evening sir. Welcome to the game shop.” The shopkeeper bowed and followed the tall teenager. “How can I help you?”
Jotaro scanned the shelves, looking for something green. Unfortunately, he felt unsatisfied. “Do you have the green Gameboy available? With emerald designs?”
“Yes sir, we have one. Luckily, it’s the last stock. I will get it for you.” The shopkeeper went to the storage room and picked what Jotaro requested.
Jotaro sighed. The suspicions were correct—Green Gameboys with emerald designs were famous in Shibuya. Known of its design and durability, even common people wanted it as a present and part of a collection. The high demand caused game retailers to hide them until someone requested it.
Once the shopkeeper went back with a green box on his hand, Jotaro grinned.
“Do you have a gift-wrapping service?” Jotaro asked, “it’s for my friend of mine.”
“We have one, sir. Just pay first and we will wrap it for free,” the shopkeeper answered as he gave the green box to the cashier. Jotaro went to the counter and gave an exact amount of yen. The shopkeeper then wrapper with perfection—like you were folding an origami. Lastly, he placed a tape on the top portion and put the gift into the plastic bag.
“There you go, sir. Thanks for buying,” the shopkeeper thanked. Jotaro received the plastic bag, kept it in his school bag, and left the shop with a smile and blushing cheeks.
If you were wondering why he had this giddy expression, today was Kakyoin’s birthday. Since their trip to Egypt, Jotaro grew feelings for the redhead. He didn’t know when he had this flustering feeling, but he began to worry when Kakyoin almost lost his eyesight. When the redhead felt into a comatose, Jotaro feared losing a chance to tell what’s lingering in his mind. Daily hospital visits, not ditching school to get notes, and his parents worrying about arriving late, Jotaro’s clutched hope brought to light when Kakyoin opened his eyes.
Now, Jotaro was enthusiastic to enter the hospital. As he stepped into the entrance door, the staff noticed him quickly due to frequent visits. He went to the receptionist and asked. “Is visiting hour for Noriaki Kakyoin over?”
“Visiting hours is until nine in the evening.” The receptionist gave Jotaro a logbook and pen. “Please fill up your name.”
When Jotaro was done, he went inside the elevator and pressed a floor number. Once the elevator door opened to the desired floor, Jotaro stepped out. The quiet halls echoed every step he made until he saw a room number. Jotaro took a deep breath and placed his ear to the wooden door for a while, listening to the sound of a television. He knocked the door three times and that particular sound went off, replaced with a soft human voice.
“Come in.”
Jotaro opened the door and saw Kakyoin, smiling at him dearly. Kakyoin sat down with his back inclined to the pillows behind him. He had both hands placed in front of him, with some needles attached. Beside him was a bedtable with a food tray. The bowls on the tray were empty with a few leftovers and chopsticks were placed horizontally. Jotaro placed his bag on the floor and pulled a seat near him.
“How are you, Kakyoin?” Jotaro asked.
“I’m fine, Jotaro,” Kakyoin replied, “just ate my dinner. I didn’t expect you to arrive late.”
“School made me come late,” Jotaro lied, “I was consulting with my teachers.”
“How diligent, Jotaro.” Kakyoin chuckled. “Didn’t expect that a delinquent will have an outgoing attitude, but you don’t have to do that for me.”
Jotaro didn’t speak. His eyes looked down and he clenched his left fist.
“Don’t worry Jotaro. The doctors will release me this week.”
Jotaro sighed and stood up from his chair.
“What’s wrong, Jotaro? Did I say something wrong?”
Kakyoin watched Jotaro opened his bag and searched for something. Jotaro picked up a wrapped box, surprising the redhead. Afterward, Jotaro returned to his seat and gave the gift to him.
“A gift?” Kakyoin raised his eyebrows. “Why did you give me a gift? Is there an occasion?”
“It’s your birthday today,” Jotaro reminded.
“Oh really?” Kakyoin looked at the calendar posted on the wall and laughed. “Silly me. I forgot to track my days here in the hospital.”
“Now open it.”
“Sure, Jotaro.” Kakyoin tore the wrapper slowly and noticed the green color of the box. His eyes widened in surprise as he continued removing it. When he removed the cover, he cried to see the precious present. He opened the box to get the Gameboy—new and durable, remembering its high price. It was expensive that his parents didn’t allow him to buy one before their vacation to Egypt. Feeling the sturdy touch through his delicate hands, he looked at Jotaro with wet eyes. “Jotaro… I can’t believe you—”
“Happy birthday, Kakyoin,” Jotaro greeted, “I hope you enjoy the present.”
“Oh, Jotaro…” Kakyoin turned on the Gameboy. “How did you learn this?”
“Your mother told me yesterday. She told me everything about you. She even told me her gratitude that I am your friend who sees strange things.”
“I see… Mother always tells everyone that I see things. It’s like telling everyone their son has an incurable mental illness.”
Jotaro didn’t respond, freezing on his position. He thought of Kakyoin’s mother as someone who loved him dearly but to hear her attitude changed his perspective.
“Kakyoin, I’m sorry to hear that—”
“It’s fine. It’s part of the past, now I have someone like you,” Kakyoin interrupted. He picked a game in his Gameboy and played it.
Jotaro slightly blushed, but he didn’t want to assume it as a love confession—like the ones he heard in melodrama series from his mother. After Kakyoin finished a round, Jotaro returned to his senses when he heard him speaking.
“You blanked out… what’s wrong?” Kakyoin placed his Gameboy on his bedtable. “Did I say something bad again?”
“No, Kakyoin—”
“I think you want clarifications on what I said.” Kakyoin grinned and narrowed his eyes. “I notice something reddish on your cheeks.”
Jotaro tipped his hat. “It’s nothing, Kakyoin. The room here is cold, so my cheeks will turn red too—”
“I increased the temperature before you came in,” Kakyoin admitted, blushing the taller more, “I think I already decipher something in your mind.”
“Don’t be a tease, Kakyoin. It’s not what you think—”
“That you have feelings for me?” Kakyoin moved his face closer to Jotaro. “I’ve been yearning this for so long.”
Jotaro widened his eyes and looked at Kakyoin, who was a few inches closer to him. Racing heartbeats, still breaths occupied the room as two boys sensed the tension between them.
“I have this irking sensation for a while since you saved me. You made me feel like my life just restarted…” Kakyoin whispered.
“Me too,” Jotaro admitted lowly, “I even feared your death, Kakyoin.”
Kakyoin gasped. “Now, you don’t need to be scared. I will go back to school and get to spend more time with you—”
Without hesitation, Jotaro embraced Kakyoin. The redhead didn’t expect this tall teenager to do this cozy gesture, even sobbing.
“What’s up…?”
“I love you, Kakyoin,” Jotaro admitted his feelings, “I don’t want you to leave me.”
Kakyoin hugged him in return and rubbed his back. “I will not leave, Jotaro. I promise that you are already my birthday present.”