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Rosho doesn’t particularly care for plants.
Having spent most of their youth either cooped up inside studying or on city streets, they figure it’s just due to a lack of exposure to them. But they also don’t particularly have the time to take care of houseplants between work and, now, training with Rei and Sasara. The latter had definitely tried to work some jokes in about flowers and Rosho’s last name, but they were scrapped decently fast when Sasara realized neither of them really knew anything about plants.
But now there’s a bouquet of azaleas outside their apartment, tied together neatly with ribbons and with a small note attached. Patient or modest, it reads, and Rosho smiles to themself. It’s probably from Sasara, so they make a note to thank him in person when they can; he’s out filming his show right now, but this is too nice of a gesture to send a simple text over.
“Whatcha got?” Someone pipes up from the living room, and Rosho snaps back into the moment, gathering up the flowers and heading back into their apartment. “Ooh, fancy.”
“Ah, the mighty azalea.” Gentaro chimes in with a smile, book balanced delicately on their lap while they hold a teacup. “Beautiful flowers.”
“I thought they were deadly or somethin’.” Jiro points out, slumping against the arm of Rosho’s couch. “Someone doesn’t like sensei too much.”
“It’s just the leaves, I think…” Jyushi clarifies. “I don’t actually know. But Rosho looks okay.”
“Yes, I’m alright…Sasara is quite thoughtful when he wants to be.” Rosho smiles, taking their seat next to Gentaro once more. “I’ll thank him once I can see him in person again…”
“How d’you know it was him?” Hifumi asks, setting her drink down on the endtable. “Doesn’t anyone else ever send ya gifts?”
Rosho thinks for a second-Rei had given them a necklace once, but he doesn’t seem like the flower type, but he’s about the only other person. “Not really.”
“That sucks.” Jiro sympathizes, reaching over to pat Rosho on the arm. “We’ll go in on a gift for your birthday, won’t we?” she asks, glancing around the room.
“Ah, I would, but I have actually given the last of my funds to my dearest Dice to gamble with. Apologies, young lady.” Gentaro says, and Jiro looks dejected for a moment before snapping and glaring playfully at the author. “But, that’s a lie.”
“Mean,” Jiro pouts, but she can’t suppress a laugh and the facade drops. “but we got distracted. What if you’ve got, like, a secret admirer or somethin’?”
Jyuto says something in response to that, but Rosho is barely paying attention to him. Someone…might like me? So much that they sent flowers? Their traitorous heart flutters at the idea.
“Do we know anyone who knows flower language?” Jyuto asks, and Rosho racks their brain. Sasara doesn’t, they know that much, so who…?
“I do, but were I to confess to Rosho I would have done it upfront.” Gentaro drawls. Hifumi glares at that, for whatever reason. The scowl is gone when she looks up, however.
“Doppochin does!” The host exclaims, and Rosho’s eyes widen. They have been spending a lot of time with Doppo, but…to think he likes them romantically? It’s just not plausible.
Especially considering Rosho does.
“That makes sense, I think!” Jyushi cheers, eyes lighting up. “You two have been spending a lot of time together, and you do talk about him an awful lot…”
“Oh? Perhaps we shall set up a rendezvous between the flower boy and his lover.” Gentaro teases, eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. Rosho’s face heats up and they bury it in their hands instinctively as Gentaro laughs lightly. “I jest. But you should go talk to him, methinks. I mean, he did leave you flowers on your doorstep, his love is not in question.”
“We don’t even know if it was him for sure.” Rosho points out, really just making excuses at this point. Gentaro and Hifumi fix them with matching glares for that one, almost like it’s obvious that they’re stalling.
“I do.” Hifumi laughs. “I’m the one who told him he should do it! I wasn’t gonna tell you, but you’re, like, super dense. No offense!”
Rosho takes some offense, but decides to just ignore that. So Doppo really had sent them the flowers…
“…so why the hell’re we still sitting here! We gotta hightail it to Shinjuku so sensei can proclaim their everlasting love or whatever to Doppo!” Jiro exclaims suddenly, jumping up and grabbing Jyushi by the arm.
“I’ll drive.” Gentaro says, sliding past Jyuto, who looks like she’d rather die than let Gentaro drive her anywhere, but the author’s left her without a choice. “What’s the matter, dear? Afraid of a little speed?”
Jiro gags dramatically, which is usually a sign that their group needs to get going or else she’ll try to fight someone two times her size. Who is often, if not always, Jyuto.
Rosho sighs. This is really happening, isn’t it?
—🌺—
The ride to Shinjuku is long and arduous, mostly because of Gentaro and Hifumi constantly arguing, which usually ends in Gentaro putting on their best “angry father” voice and threatening to turn the car around. They don’t end up following through, but their deep voice is so convincing that Rosho’s afraid they will at certain points.
But other than that the six of them arrive okay, and when Rosho gets out of the car Hifumi grabs their shoulders like a boxing coach. “Okay, Rosho! You got this-Doppo has the day off, so he’s inside!”
Rosho balks. “You’re not coming with me?”
“We expected you’d rather have privacy.” Jyuto points out, examining his glove. Hifumi nods and Rosho thinks; while it probably would be better to do this in private, they also won’t be able to say anything without backup.
“…I need moral support.” they admit, gripping the bundle of flowers in their hand. They’d stopped by a flower shop on the way, recommended by Jyushi who knew the owner’s son, and picked these up, guided by Gentaro’s in-depth explanation of the flowers’ meanings both in hanakotoba and western flower language.
Hifumi grabs Rosho’s hand and beams at them, smiling like a ray of sunshine and suddenly they see her appeal as a host. “We’ve gotcha covered! Don’t worry; I’m sure Doppochin’s just as nervous. It’ll be fine.”
“Yeah! You got this; kick that confession’s ass!” Jiro exclaims, and Jyushi lets out a laugh while gripping their girlfriend’s arm.
“Yes, may the romantic vocalist of twilight bless you with good luck for the intertwining of souls! Truly a momentous day…and to have the confession occur under the gaze of the 14th Moon!”
With that…interesting reassurance, Rosho finally works up the guts to head into the apartment complex, followed by their friends. The elevator ride is extremely awkward and they can only hope trying to confess to Doppo is at least better than this.
When they get to the apartment door Rosho stops, hand poised to knock, but something stops them. “It’s all gonna go wrong.”
“Well, it will if you keep saying that.” Jyuto points out bluntly. “He obviously feels the same about you, so what’s there to panic about?”
While she may be harsh, Jyuto’s right, and with renewed confidence Rosho knocks on the door, and Doppo answers almost instantly.
He looks disheveled, hair fluffier than usual and face paling when he sees six entire people at his front door. “Hifumi…did you do this?”
“No, silly! I just dropped off those flowers for you!” Hifumi replies, sauntering into the house and immediately making for the kitchen. “And when Rosho here put 2 and 2 together, we tagged along! Do you all want to stay for dinner…?”
As Hifumi herds the others into her kitchen with a wink shot to Rosho, their confidence fades just a bit and they hand Doppo the flowers. “I…I’m not great at thanking people, but I appreciate the flowers…so I got these.”
Doppo looks at the bouquet in awe-red roses mingling with sunflowers and, near the middle, two tiger irises-the namesake of Doppo’s first solo song and holding the meaning of love me. A bit of a pleading gesture from Rosho, who had still been nervous that Doppo wouldn’t feel the same at the time. “They’re gorgeous…” he breathes, fingers daintily brushing over rose petals. Rosho smiles warmly, finally im their element. “You really went out of your way to do this? I, uh…thank you.” Doppo goes a shade of red to match his hair and Rosho finds that unfair sorely because of what it does to their heart.
“It’s nothing, really, I mean you went out of your way to get those azaleas for me so I felt it was only fair-“
“If I’m being honest I didn’t think you’d know they were from me-“
The two only talk over each other nervously for about a minute before Rosho really realizes what’s happening and laughs softly, and notices faintly that Doppo flushes even darker when they do so. “I came over here to ask…oh God, I’ve never had to do this before…”
“I-I’m sorry! If only I was less awkward-“ Doppo tries, but Rosho just grabs his hand and takes a deep breath. Fuck it, might as well just go for it.
“Don’t apologize. I-I really like you, Doppo, and we’ve been spending so much time together…would you maybe like to go out sometime?” They get the last part out in a rush and turn away as fast as possible after, thoroughly embarrassed.
There’s deafening silence for a moment before Doppo squeezes Rosho’s hand gently. “I’d…like that a lot.” he says softly, and Rosho turns back to him, unable to suppress a huge smile.
“Jeez, that was hard to watch.” Jiro comments from the kitchen, but she’s smiling brightly. Jyuto pokes his head around the corner and nods approvingly, and Gentaro does the same while lifting their hand interlocked with Jyuto’s. Jyushi gives a small but impassioned woohoo! from the kitchen where they’re helping Hifumi chop vegetables, and the man herself is nearly crying from happiness…or the onions. Likely both.
Doppo ducks into the kitchen for a moment, likely to reprimand Hifumi about something or other, but not without a quick and barely-there kiss to Rosho’s cheek that embarrasses the salaryman so much that he all but scampers into the next room, and once Rosho’s done being stunned about this they pull out their phone to text someone.
Hey, Sasara. You’re not going to believe the day I’ve had.