Chapter Text
“Hey, isn’t that…?”
Langa’s eyes shift up from the tik tok video that Reki is in the middle of showing him and he points to Cherry, who’s casually sipping at his glass of Bordolino.
“Hm?” He hums mid sip.
“That ring on your finger. I never noticed it before.”
Curiously, all eyes focus on the pink haired man, intrigued by their friend’s astute observation. They all see it now, the sparkling band of rose gold fitted perfectly around the slim finger on his left hand. Cherry spreads out his fingers at the sudden attention, glancing down at the jewelry.
“You’re only just noticing? I’ve had it for a while.” He brushes off, taking another sip of his wine.
Reki narrows his eyes then blinks in shocked realization. “Woah, wait. Isn’t that an engagement ring?”
Everyone aside from Joe seems equally surprised, now laser focused on him.
“Huh? No way!” Shadow bursts out laughing, slapping his knee as he points towards Cherry. “You’re telling me Mr. Hoity-toity got hitched?”
Cherry’s eye twitches at the phrasing, lips twitching into an annoyed grimace. “Says the creepy clown desperately pining after someone in a committed relationship.” He mutters under his breath, which shuts Shadow up instantly.
“I didn’t even know you were seeing someone.” Langa chimes in innocently.
“Probably one of those rich businessmen you’re always meeting with.” Miya snickers,
“My romantic life is none of anyone’s business!” Cherry growls.
“So it is an engagement ring!” Reki beams, ignoring the older man’s increasingly irritated expression.
That’s when the onslaught of questions start pouring out of nosy mouths. ‘Who is it?’ -- ‘Do we know them?’ -- ‘Are they famous?’ -- ‘Do they know about Cherry Blossom?’ Cherry looks about ready to snap when Joe comes back from the kitchen with a fresh bottle and tops up his glass.
“Now kids, don’t gang up on poor pinky.” He chuckles. “You know how delicate he can be sometimes.” He adds teasingly. Cherry shifts his eyes to glare at him but accepts the wine nonetheless.
“Hey Joe, you guys are pretty tight, do you know who Cherry’s secret fiancee is?” Reki asks, leaning into his elbows at the bar top.
"No clue." Joe shrugged in a tone that indicated he was probably lying. 'All I know is that this person's gotta have the patience of a saint if he can put up with princess here -- Ow!"
Before Joe could even finish his sentence Cherry had whipped out his fan and flicked it hard against his wrist before opening it to hide his blushing face behind the intricate sakura pattern.
"Enough of this or none of you will be invited to the wedding." He threatens idly which makes the kids behave. For the moment at least.
"Oh shit, crazy rocks gonna open in 10 minutes, we gotta go." Reki says, glancing at his smart watch. He grabs Langa’s sleeve and pulls him along, practically dragging the poor boy.
"Hurry up Carrot top, you're our ride." Miya mutters as he hops down from his chair.
"You twerps need to find a new chauffer…" Shadow grumbles after them but still lets them crawl into his backseat.
"You guys go ahead, I'm gonna close up shop." Joe calls out after them, still rubbing at his sore wrist.
The rest of the gang have all headed out, aside from Cherry, who's still in his seat, giving him a hard stare that's completely void of any real malice.
"Way to be subtle about it, you dopey gorilla."
"You're the one flaunting your ring around in public after insisting we keep it on the DL." Kojiro smiles back at him, leaning over the bar top on his elbow, palm gently cupping his chin. "So, a wedding huh?"
Kaoru's cheeks turn the same shade of pink as his hair and he fans himself slightly, suddenly feeling flushed. He glances at the other man, noticing that his left hand is completely bare.
"Where's yours?"
Kojiro grins and reaches down into the high collar of his chef jacket to pull out a silver chain with a similar but more traditional golden ring fastened around the necklace.
"Can't keep it on when I'm working the kitchens but I always have it with me." He says, smiling softly at his lover.
Kaoru weaves his finger through the chain to gingerly touch the band, dragging his thumb across the engraving etched into the outer curve of the ring. He smiles softly despite himself, give the neckle one gentle tug.
"Sentimental brute." He murmurs affectionately, coaxing Kojiro into a loving kiss.
