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"Ah, Otouto-san!" The silver haired man looked up from the pudding he was devouring as his roommate entered the room; a soft smile illuminating his features.
Niki took a moment to fully capture the face. He does look similar to Rinne-kun, Niki couldn't help thinking as he involuntarily mirrored the smile.
"Shiina-san…" Hiiro started before his words drifted off. He hesitated for a second — his expression suddenly serious — before he opened his mouth again. "If it would be possible, could you perhaps...tell me more about what happened to Nii-san after he arrived in the city?"
Every word sounded heavy as it was being said. Hiiro looked determined. He wanted to know more. Niki looked at him and lifted his shoulders with a sigh. Hiiro's puppy face was difficult to refuse but he knew it wasn't his place to get between the brothers.
Rinne-kun should be honest by himself. When he's ready, he'll tell this child everything. Until then, I can't meddle and become a nuisance. Such a pain~
"I'm sorry, Otouto-san," Niki’s voice was lined with regret. Hiiro could instantly make out that he was being rejected again.
“I see…” the situation wasn’t unfamiliar to him. It wasn’t the first time he had asked about Rinne after all. But everytime, he was met with no answer. Hiiro clutched the package in his hand closer to his chest. Maybe not then but he was determined to eventually understand his brother's heart.
Taking sudden notice of the brown paper, Niki pushed away his pudding before turning to Hiiro. "What's that thing with you, Otouto-san?"
"Oh, Nii-san...gave me something."
Niki's ears perked up at the answer. Rinne-kun?
Hiiro walked to the table Niki was sitting at and placed the package on the table, gently emptying its contents. They caught the light in the room and bathed in it, giving out soft glimmers.
"Silver?" Niki questioned.
"Umu," a tender smile highlighted Hiiro’s face. His eyes sparkled as he viewed the accessories spilled onto the table — a silver necklace with a pendant, a matching bracelet, two rings and a pair of earrings.
Hiiro took the necklace in his hands, carefully running his fingers through it. It was undoubtedly pure silver. The pendant had the initials "A" and "H" carved on either side of it. Hiiro traced his fingers over them, trying to envision the feelings that ran through his brother as he bought the necklace. Niki eyed the boy patiently, waiting for him to finish admiring the gift. Next, Hiiro examined the bracelet. It looked similar to the one that always adorned Rinne's wrist — tiny silver beads joined together in a perfect circle. The boy gently slipped it onto his own wrist and looked at it from every angle; the smile on his face and the shine in his eyes only growing brighter as the bracelet sparkled under the light.
"Hiro-kun~" a boyish voice suddenly drifted into the room. Niki looked up to see the familiar blond boy peeking in, probably searching for Hiiro.
"Aira!" Hiiro jumped up at the sound of his name, beaming at his friend and running towards him to show him his new gift.
"What do you think, Aira? Does it suit me?"
"Huh?" Aira took a long look at the piece of silver, before breaking into a small smile. "Did Rinne-senpai give you that? Ehehe, it looks so idol-like and rabui~"
Hiiro grinned at the compliment, clearly pleased.
“Hiro-kun,” Aira pulled the taller boy by his sleeve to bring him back to the present. “Did you forget? Everyone’s waiting for you to arrive. You disappeared all of a sudden so I thought you had a stomach ache or something.”
“Ah,” Hiiro suddenly remembered that he was supposed to be at the StarPro office. “I am sorry for worrying you, Aira. Let me put everything back and I will join you soon!”
“Don’t worry, Otouto-san!” Niki’s voice interrupted. “I’ll do that for you! Go join your friends now!”
Hiiro smiled at the man in gratitude before disappearing with Aira. Niki cast the same smile at the boy’s disappearing back before whispering, “Happy birthday, Otouto-san.”
Once the silhouette had completely disappeared, Niki sighed. “Rinne-kun pretending as if he didn’t spend weeks fussing over what to give. What a troublesome man~”
He paused to examine the pair of earrings that was still left out in the open. They resembled Rinne’s own favourite pair. Niki grinned remembering how Hiiro’s features were flushed with happiness. He laughed.
“Well, at least it seems that your feelings have reached the boy regardless. You’re not very honest now, are you, Rinne-kun?”