Chapter Text
With their anniversary quickly approaching, Keiji is scrambling to find the perfect gift for his boyfriend. He’s always been concerned with getting the best gift for Koutarou because he deserves the world — and more.
For every special occasion, Keiji asks himself the same questions. Does he get Koutarou something practical that he can use for volleyball matches so that he can make his games a little better? Or does he go for something meaningful so that when he looks at the gift he’ll be reminded of Keiji’s love for him? How about something silly so that he can see the smile light up on his face when he opens his gift and hear his wonderful laugh?
Keiji recalls Koutarou’s birthdays, Christmas, and past anniversaries. Without fail, Keiji would give his gifts in the same manner. He’d give Koutarou a disclaimer with a bashful smile: “it’s not the best, but I hope you like it.”
And without fail, Koutarou always responds with, “I love everything you give me, because it’s from you!”
Keiji knows that Koutarou doesn’t mind what he gives him. In fact, he might not even care all that much for gifts. After all, he loves it when Keiji showers him with praise and when they have their lazy days on Koutarou’s days off where they lay together in bed, legs tangled and arms wrapped around each other.
Still, Keiji wants to express his love for Koutarou in ways that go beyond compliments and cuddles. Koutarou has done so much for Keiji and he wants to reciprocate the same love for Koutarou.
Keiji considers consulting with his friends to get ideas, but decides against it. He wants to think of something on his own, believing that doing so would have more meaning. He settles with giving himself a few more days to think before he feels more defeated than he already does.
-
A few days later Keiji is sitting at the kitchen island with his laptop open, scrolling mindlessly on various websites to get inspiration for a gift. He also has a pen and notepad next to him to jot down any ideas that come to mind. Koutarou is humming softly in the background as he cooks breakfast for the pair, his back muscles flexing as he maneuvers his way around the kitchen.
Keiji stares at Koutarou’s back in despair. How could it be so hard to think of something for this lovable man?
Keiji starts to get distracted by Koutarou’s back and the smell of the food wafting in the kitchen. He rests his hand on his chin and sighs, turning his attention to his blank notepad in an attempt to focus on thinking of gift ideas. Scribbling mindlessly, Keiji’s head slowly starts to throb at using so much energy to think. What on earth could he get for his boyfriend?
It’s not until Keiji looks at what he scribbled that the idea popped into his head, and he feels foolish for not thinking of it sooner. Truly. How could he not have thought of it before? It’s what he does best.
“Breakfast’s ready!”
Koutarou’s voice startles Keiji, causing him to jump in his seat.
“Everything alright, Keiji?” Koutarou’s face is filled with worry, his hands full with their steaming breakfast. He quickly places them down on the island counter and looks into Keiji’s eyes.
“Yeah, everything’s fine. Perfect, actually,” Keiji grins, grabbing a fork. “Thank you for breakfast!”
-
The morning of their anniversary, Keiji is woken by Koutarou hovering over him, planting kisses all over his face. Keiji smiles and wraps his arms around Koutarou’s neck, snuggling into his warmth and basking in the scent of Koutarou’s shampoo from his shower last night. His heart starts to beat faster at the thought of his gift that he spent hours working on for the past couple of days.
“Happy anniversary, Keiji,” Koutarou whispers into Keiji’s ear, kissing the spot beneath his ear.
“Happy anniversary to you, Kou,” Keiji says back, wrapping his legs around Koutarou’s waist and then squeezing his whole body in an attempt to feel every warmth of him that he can. Koutarou laughs softly, moving one hand to grab one of Keiji’s thighs and squeeze gently while moving the other so that he can balance himself properly as he hovers over Keiji who clings to him like a koala.
“What do you feel like doing today? We have some time to kill before our dinner reservation.”
Keiji unlatches himself from Koutarou and smiles, moving his hands to cup Koutarou’s face in his hands. He moves up to peck him on the lips before responding.
“Whatever you want to do. I just want to spend time with you.”
Koutarou grins down at Keiji before moving to get off the bed. He admires Keiji who lays in the middle of their bed, gunmetal blue gazing up at Koutarou while clutching the comforters close to his body as the sun gives the room a soft glow.
“Let’s get ready and get lunch at the place you wanted to try. We can go for a walk in the park or watch a movie or something before dinner,” Koutarou says, moving to grab clothes out of his drawer.
Keiji smiles and moves to get up, walking behind Koutarou who’s deciding which t-shirt he wants to wear and wraps his arms around Koutarou’s waist.
“Sounds good,” Keiji rests his head against Koutarou’s back, staring at his drawer which holds his gift to Koutarou. Keiji decides that he can’t wait any longer and wants to give Koutarou his gift before he lets himself get distracted thinking about it for the rest of the day.
“Actually, before we go I have something to give you,” Keiji says, “it’s not the best, but I hope you like it.”
“Keiji, I love everything you give me, because it’s from you!” Koutarou responds exactly how Keiji expects.
“Yes, Kou, you say that every year,” Keiji deadpans, moving to open the drawer and take out the box. It’s a small, black rectangular box with a gold ribbon wrapped around it. Attached to the ribbon is a tan label that reads, “to my star.”
He hands it to Koutarou who grins at him, giving him a peck on the lips before removing the ribbon.
“That’s because I mean it,” Koutarou says, placing the ribbon on the top of his drawer, “and you should know that.”
Keiji watches as Koutarou removes the lid from the box, his heart pounding against his chest. Koutarou stares inside the box for a moment before looking at Keiji with curiosity.
“Letters?”
Keiji smiles and nods his head.
“Mhm, each one is meant to be for different situations. I labeled each envelope with when you should open them. Some of them have pictures too. I know it’s kind of lame, but I wanted to try something different. I haven’t written anything for you before, so yeah,” Keiji rambles. He starts sweating, feeling that maybe this gift wasn’t so creative after all.
“Keiji, I love it,” Koutarou smiles, taking envelopes out one at a time. He begins to read some of them and Keiji feels his face burn, thinking of some of the photos he took that he would have never dreamt of taking if it weren’t for this gift.
“For when you open this gift. For when you win a match but I can’t be there. For when you miss me at an away game. For when you can’t think of what to cook for dinner. For when you can’t decide what to wear for an interview. For when you want me- KEIJI! Can I open that one now?”
Keiji’s face burns hotter and he grumbles some words in disapproval before turning around and pretends to be busy getting clothes out of the closet.
Koutarou comes up behind him, holding some of the letters in his hands. He plants a kiss on the side of Keiji’s neck before swaying their bodies from side to side.
“I love this. I can’t wait to read them,” Koutarou says, “thank you.”
Keiji continues to stare at the clothes with his jaw tight, still too embarrassed to look at Koutarou.
“This is your best present yet, Keiji! I mean it,” Koutarou mumbles, “I love you.”
Keiji finally gains the courage to look at Koutarou.
“I love you, too. Happy anniversary, Kou.”