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It felt like he’d forgotten something important.
Yet Ramuda concluded the day with a soft yawn as he closed off his studio’s window. It has been a fruitful day, with him finishing his final draft for the spring collection and spending time with his two best buds- Gentaro and Dice. He hummed a joyous tune as he took his shoes off and hit the couch, tired but happy.
The shoe he’d tossed off hit the bottom of the small, almost unnoticeable cabinet on the corner. And it was at that exact, random moment that Ramuda remembered.
Today was Jakurai’s birthday.
His mind instantly dislodged images of the time when he and Jakurai were together. Happy, beautiful memories that now only causes Ramuda pain and irritation each time he’d remember.
He did approached Jakurai a few years back under Chuuoku’s orders, teamed up with him, but everything else that occured amidst- they’re camaraderie, the laughter and stories they shared, the places they’d gone to, the unexpected emotions- was all beyond Ramuda’s control.
Before TDD, and with Gentaro and Dice, it was first with Jakurai when Ramuda felt he can be his true self.
He was tired, so tired of pretending.
“I hate him.” Ramuda muttered.
He had hurt Jakurai, and Jakurai had hurt him. Terribly so.
“He can go drown in alcohol for all I care.” Ramuda groaned, turning the lights off and curling up in the couch.
However, fifteen minutes later, he roughly stood up with a sigh, slipped his shoes back on and headed to town. The colors of sunset sky reflecting on his hair as he crossed the road, stuffing his hands inside the pockets of his blue-green jacket.
I must be out of my mind.
Jakurai sat in the living room of his house with a cup of tea in hand. It was already late in the evening. Hifumi and Doppo had gone home some minutes ago after helping Jakurai tidy up his kitchen and dining area. The two young men had thrown Jakurai a small birthday feast- a private celebration. Hifumi had cooked all their food, and Doppo bought cake and drinks.
His gaze went to one side of the room, where boxes in all shapes and sizes were piled. He let out a sigh.
They were gifts Jakurai had yet to open. Gifts he’d gotten from the hospital staffs and a few patients, including the presents and letters he’d received from fans of Matenro. It will surely take him some time to unwrap and read all of them.
Nevertheless, his birthday this year has become a lot less lonely one.
Blinking, one of the boxes caught his attention. Jakurai didn’t remember receiving it, so it must have come from the last batch of mail along with many others. It was a big box wrapped in bright, shimmering pink tied with a neon yellow ribbon it hurts the eye. It stood out.
And it strongly, instantly reminded him of one person.
No other than Amemura Ramuda.
Jakurai then stared over his tea, mulling over all kinds of possibility, until he found himself suddenly looking back to some of his most priced memories with a certain small, pink-haired man- those times when they were genuinely happy and smiling. Or at least Jakurai was.
He remembers them all too well, including the painful ones- the day his heart broke in two. Followed by the betrayal and jarring confrontation with Ramuda, shattering of what remained of Jakurai’s heart.
Picking up the pieces while carrying old wounds and deep scars.. . will likely take a very long time.
For now, Jakurai went to the pile of gifts and pulled the big, pink box out. It was surprisingly heavy so he unwrapped it on the spot.
There was no name of sender, no stamp, no anything. It was just a big box.
A big box filled with vegetables.
He half expected a prank or surprise of a sort, but there was nothing else inside except fresh, unharmed goods. Buried in the middle of the leafy greens however, was a single foreign object- a bar of sweet milk chocolate with a pink note stuck to it.
“Happy birthday, incompetent old coot.”
It should have irritated him, but Jakurai found himself smiling. It was true that they have hurt each other, and obviously not yet ready to forgive and make up, but as the truth slowly began to unfold, Jakurai felt like he has now come to understand Ramuda a bit better.
Ramuda would call him names, annoy him and all without an ounce of respect, but this gift was an irony to Ramuda’s firm anger and hatred towards him, a proof that Ramuda somehow still cares for and respect their long-ago bond.
And that was alright, because Jakurai too, still cares for Ramuda deep inside, in one of the shattered pieces of his heart that he conceals desparately so. It was sort of ridiculous that Jakurai softly laughed at himself, for it sounded like he was totally in love with Ramuda and trying so hard to supress and hide his feelings.
Jakurai silently prayed that someday, he will be able to celebrate his birthday with Ramuda once more.
Until then, they will perhaps remain as unlikely enemies, as unlikely rivals...