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“For the appetizers, we can substitute the shrimp balls with cheese and crackers. They’re quick to prepare. That should keep the guests satisfied and it’ll give us more time to make the shrimp balls. The guests won’t notice if the food comes out a few minutes late.” Mahiru told the chef. He lined muffin paper onto a tray to help the kitchen prep for the new appetizer as he discussed the menu with the kitchen staff. “I’ll tell the servers to give out drinks for now.”
Last week, Licht won a competition and Hyde organized a large party to celebrate. Mahiru was invited as a guest but then he overheard that the kitchen was understaffed. Thinking simply, he had to offer his help with the catering. Licht was his friend and he wanted the night to be fun for him. It was also obvious that Hyde and Licht had feelings for each other and the party could be their chance to become closer. Mahiru would do his best to support his future brother-in-law.
At that thought, Mahiru glanced down at the engagement ring on his finger. Happiness filled his chest as he pictured Kuro’s subtle smile and he was certain he was grinning himself. He was focused on his ring and he didn’t notice someone step into his path. They crashed into each other and he started to stumble backwards. The person wrapped their arms around his waist to keep him from falling. He immediately recognized the subtle scent the person had.
“Perfect timing, Kuro.” He giggled. Mahiru wondered if he had the ability to appear whenever he needed him. He was reminded of the night they met by chance. After his ex-boyfriend suddenly left him, Kuro found him crying in front of his family’s flower shop. He gave him a flower to cheer him up and their relationship blossomed from that kind gesture. “Can you tell Hyde that the issue with the kitchen is fixed? I need to talk to the bar.”
“You’re the only person I know who gives themselves work at a party.” Kuro ran his fingers through his brown hair and he tucked a few loose strands behind his ear. He came to love Mahiru for his compassion and kindness but those aspects would lead to him offering to help others before thinking of himself. He could never ask him to change so he would help Mahiru remember to relax whenever he could. “Hyde was panicking earlier and you saved everyone from that. I think Kranz can handle the rest though.”
“Food and catering are my expertise so it’s nothing. Though, it would be nice to have a reward. Will you save a dance for me later?”
“I wasn’t planning to dance with anyone but you tonight.” Kuro rarely danced but Mahiru could make anything fun. He kissed his forehead and then leaned closer to him to whisper into his ear. “I can give you a real reward once we’re home.”
The low timber of his voice and the way Kuro lightly tugged on Mahiru’s tie made him imagine the different possibilities behind his words. He blushed and he was grateful that they were alone in the hallway. He buried his face into Kuro’s chest to hide his expression. “You can’t whisper things like that to me in public, Kuro. What if someone overheard us?”
“What were you imagining as a reward for you to get this red, Mahiru? I was thinking of a massage but you probably want something dirtier.” Kuro chuckled and Mahiru realized that he was teasing him. He should’ve been annoyed but he couldn’t bring himself to be angry after he saw Kuro’s rare smile. It was an expression he only showed him. “I’ll give you anything you want after the party’s over.”
He stood on his toes and he kissed the corner of Kuro’s lips before he left. He entered the main hall where people were enjoying the party. Mahiru saw his friends dancing in the center and he waved to them quickly. He looked forward to being able to dance with Kuro later and he quickened his pace to the bar. Kranz was speaking with a server and Mahiru hoped they could resolve everything with a short talk.
When he would’ve called Kranz’s name, someone stopped him. “Is that you, Mahiru?”
The voice behind him was oddly familiar but he couldn’t recognize it immediately. He assumed that it was someone from the kitchen he spoke with earlier. Mahiru turned to answer the person and ice pierced his heart after he saw who they were. A man approached him with an awkward smile. “You usually wear such plain clothes so I didn’t recognize you in that suit.”
“What are you doing here, Itsuki?” Mahiru hadn’t seen his ex-boyfriend since he abandoned him without a goodbye years ago. He instinctively touched his engagement ring for comfort. “Hyde insisted the party should be a big event and he made everyone dress up. I didn’t expect that you would be invited to the party. Do you know Hyde or Licht?”
While he told Kuro about how Itsuki hurt him, they didn’t know each other. The thought that Hyde invited him without knowing their past concerned him. If he was friends with the Servamps, they might meet each other often. Mahiru was usually the type to forgive people quickly yet he couldn’t forget the callous disregard he had for his feelings.
“No, I don’t know anyone at this party. My friend is a server here and he let me sneak in for the free drinks.” He answered. Mahiru didn’t know whether he should feel relieved that he wasn’t friends with Hyde or angry that he sneaked into the party. He only wanted to end the conversation quickly and return to Kuro’s side. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Well, I was on my way to speak with the bartender because Hyde asked me to help with the catering. He wants this night to be perfect for Licht so you shouldn’t crash the party for free drinks. Please, go after you get one drink.” Mahiru’s voice was stiff. He tried to walk around Itsuki and flee the awkward conversation. Itsuki gripped his wrist and he forced him to stop beside him.
Mahiru let out a sigh of frustration and he wanted to yell at him to let him go. Itsuki spoke over him. “I don’t know if I deserve to ask you this after we broke up but… Do you want to dance with me? We can talk and catch up. A lot has happened and I think I’m ready for a relationship now.”
Mahiru’s eyes widened and he quickly pulled his hand from his grip as if he had burned him. The rejection was clear when he added: “Itsuki, I have a fiancé and his brother is the one throwing this party. I don’t want to talk to you here. Please, let me go.”
“You’re dating someone already?” Mahiru couldn’t believe that the man had the audacity to appear hurt and betrayed after he left him. He hoped that Itsuki would leave him alone once he learned that he was engaged. Itsuki’s eyes narrowed and he reached out to him again. “There’s a lot of people here so maybe you’ll feel more comfortable speaking with me in the hall.”
At the mention of the guests, a rock dropped into Mahiru’s stomach. He didn’t know if Itsuki was threatening to make a scene and ruin the party, yet the possibility worried him. He wouldn’t allow him to do so. Mahiru reluctantly nodded and he followed Itsuki into the hall. He told himself he only needed to have a short conversation with him and then ask him to leave.
They stepped into a hallway and Mahiru bit his lip after he found it mostly empty. He had hoped there would be someone in the hall so he wouldn’t be completely alone with Itsuki. He stood a few feet from him so he couldn’t grab him again. “I have to help with the party so I can’t talk long, Itsuki. I’ll listen to what you have to say but that’s all.”
He hoped that he wouldn’t sense that helping with the party was an excuse to keep their conversation short. Mahiru was taken back to the night he left him. He had imagined how he would’ve felt if they ever met each other again. The anger and awkwardness he imagined remained but he didn’t feel heartbroken anymore. He thought of Kuro and the warm love in his red eyes. That contrasted Itsuki’s cold, green eyes now.
“I was going to come back, Mahiru. Didn’t you trust me enough to wait until I was ready? You know relationships are hard for me after everything. I just needed time.” Itsuki said. From his tone, Mahiru couldn’t tell whether he was more annoyed or sad that he moved on.
“It has been years, Itsuki. Did you honestly think it was fair to me to wait on you?” Mahiru spat back. “You brought me to that flower stand and told me to wait there. I waited. Then, you didn’t come back for hours and I went looking for you. I went to your house where you packed up everything and left without a goodbye. What was I supposed to think after that? For weeks, I wondered if I did something wrong for you to leave me like that.”
“I’m sorry, Mahiru. I love you.”
“People don’t abandon the ones they love. You never cared about my feelings because you just wanted someone there for you. You even guilted me into a relationship when you first asked me out. You just tried to do that again so you haven’t changed at all.” Unresolved anger and tears poured out of Mahiru. “There is only one good thing you did for me, Itsuki. That flower shop you abandoned me in front of was where I met Kuro. He loves me.”
Mahiru didn’t have anything further to say to him and he shoved his way past Itsuki. Tears were brimming his eyes and he frantically wiped them away with his sleeve. He didn’t want anyone at the party to see him crying. He wanted to search for a bathroom so he could wash his face but his vision was hazy due to the tears.
Then, he heard someone call his name. Mahiru looked up from the ground and he saw Kuro standing at the end of the hall. Confusion filled his expression but he opened his arms to him. He forgot how he wanted to hide his tears and he ran into the haven of his embrace. He hugged him and he buried his face into his chest. The strong, warm hand stroking his hair was more comforting than a thousand words.
“Are you okay, Mahiru?” He whispered as he kissed the top of his head. He nodded. The gesture was so small that he felt it rather than saw it. Mahiru was a strong person but, as he held his smaller body, he was reminded that he could also be vulnerable. He wanted to wipe away his tears and keep him from being hurt again.
Kuro looked up from Mahiru and his eyes met the man down the hall. Earlier, he heard Mahiru arguing with someone and it was likely the man in front of them. He tightened his arms around protectively. He didn’t know what he did to make Mahiru cry and a part of him wanted to confront him. The slight trembling of Mahiru’s body stopped him. He knew it was more important to comfort Mahiru.
“Let’s go get some fresh air, Mahiru. The party is a little crowded. Don’t worry, Kranz already talked with the kitchen and staff for you.”
They found a bench on the roof where they could be alone. While it was a cool night, Mahiru felt warm with Kuro’s arm around him. He sat on his lap and he rested his head against his shoulder. He tenderly played with his fingers as he had told him about his confrontation with Itsuki. After the emotional outburst, he was grateful for Kuro’s soothing presence.
“I can’t believe I wasted my time with someone like him. Even if I felt bad for him, I shouldn’t have let him manipulate me for so long.” Mahiru sighed. “I hope he doesn’t ruin Licht’s night. This party was supposed to be about him.”
“I’m pretty sure Licht would’ve been the one to cause a scene if he knew who Itsuki was. He’ll kick him while he makes a speech about how a demon like him doesn’t deserve an angel like you. I would like to see that.” He joked lightly. He was relieved when Mahiru giggled. Kuro caught a stray tear against his finger and he wiped it away. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Mahiru was happy to have someone he could give his heart to. He looked up at him and smiled. “I want to have that dance you promised me but I don’t know if I can go back inside yet.”
“We can have our dance here.” Kuro circled his arms around him before he stood. He placed Mahiru on his feet but he didn’t let him go. They could hear the music from the party and he began to hum along to the tune. Mahiru placed his hands on his shoulders and they began to dance in a languid circle. “I love you, Mahiru.”
From his voice, the gleam in his eyes and his gentle hand, Mahiru knew that it was true. Kuro wouldn’t leave him. “I love you too.”