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It was a normal day. The sun was still orange and the sky was still blue, meaning that today wasn’t the apocalypse. The birds are still chirping, and people are bustling their way to the train station, meaning that there’s no alien invasion either.
Overall, just the usual.
Except for a silver-haired boy strolling down the city, checking every store and looking at everything they sell. From backpacks, shirts, to jewellery, his eyes don't see the quality or quantity, meanwhile the price tags.
Atsushi sighed miserably. All of those are too expensive for his tastes. See, even if Atsushi and Akutagawa both said sappy things like ‘ I’d give everything for you! ’ or ‘ there is nothing in the world that I won’t buy for you! ’, well…
Atsushi’s wallet isn’t exactly supportive of that.
Having only a mother and a sister as family, he has to be the one who shoulder the responsibilities being the only man in the house. He can’t overspend and be careful when he wants to buy things for himself, no, but…
It’s Akutagawa’s birthday, his first birthday since they dated, and Atsushi has to make it more special for the older boy.
But again, his money won’t suffice most of the things in the department store, except for that one Spiderman backpack that first graders use.
On the other hand, he could probably borrow some money from his friends. Kunikida is quite well off, but he’s strict and Atsushi isn’t really sure that he can give back the blonde’s money on time.
He can feel his soul leaving his body every time he sees over than six zeros on the price tags. This won’t do, I really need reinforcements .
“You want to buy Akutagawa presents but your money isn’t enough?”
Ah yes, here he is again, in this position where he had to ask Yosano for suggestions. After that whole drama of him trying to confess and Yosano supposingly ‘help’ him—
It was safe to say that Atsushi doesn't trust women anymore except for Kyouka, his younger sister.
(Literally, bless Kyouka. She’s the best person ever graced the earth and everyone should bow down to her.)
But—yes, another damned buts —he really can’t ask anyone other than the older girl. If he goes to Kunikida, he’ll make a book of unrealistically perfect suggestions. If he goes to Ranpo, he’ll have to bribe with cakes, and that will damage him financially either way. If it’s Tanizaki and Naomi… he tries not to talk to them a lot so he can’t really just go to them. As for Dazai…
Anyways!
Atsushi sagged his shoulder, his palms on his face, mimicking that Shinji meme Kunikida often uses in their group chat. Especially when replying to Dazai and Ranpo’s messages.
“I’m so doomed Yosano-san. What should I give him? It’s his first birthday since we dated. I have to make it special. It’s not like I can just wrap myself in a giant box and surprise him?—Scratch that, that man does not get surprised, I should know that, damn itt! Should I really just spend my monthly allowance? I can probably survive with just water, or I can eat leftover food. But what if he notices that my weight goes down? He has eagle eyes! Jesus, I can’t think—”
“Atsushi, sweetheart, maybe calm down for a second?” Yosano is on the bridge of amusement and concern, because yeah, Atsushi’s ramblings are somewhat funny, but the poor boy is actually confused and really, really wants to make it special for his partner.
The boy inhaled deeply, effectively cooling his head slightly. His eyes met Yosano’s, who gave him a glass of water. He took it and downed it all in one drink.
Yosano gave him an indulging nod. “Now that you feel better, let’s think of an alternative instead of buying things. I’m sure you’re panicking because you think your money isn’t enough right? No offence, by the way.”
Atsushi nodded pathetically, fiddling with his fingers. “None taken. And yes, I checked the department store earlier, but the prices are…” He winced slightly when memories came back. “…Very extracting of my wallet. I could buy five shirts for one of those coats, for the love of god.”
Poor boy. It seems like he had it hard. Yosano tapped her finger on her chin several times, and an idea finally popped out.
“What about homemade gifts? Let’s say, cakes? You don’t have to make a big one, just enough.”
“I’m banned from my house’s kitchen.”
Yosano had to physically stop herself from wheezing. “Okay… so baking is out of the question. What about the crafting stuff, I don’t know, one hundred origami birds?”
Atsushi actually considers that. Those are pretty easy to make, and he probably can reach one hundred quick. “But isn’t that impractical? Like after his birthday, where would he store those birds?”
Yosano nods, that makes sense. Atsushi surely doesn’t want to burden his partner over a simple thing that could’ve been prevented. So that’s out of the list too.
Two hours later, Yosano joins Atsushi doing the Shinji pose meme.
“I give up, Sushi, I didn’t know that you were this complicated. No offence.”
“Slightly taken. And I’m sorry Yosano-san, I’m just confused and worried Akutagawa won’t be happy with any of it—”
Yosano wipes her hand on her face, clearly done. “He’s your boyfriend, Atsushi. He’ll take anything from you, even if you walk in barehanded.”
“What does that supposed to mean—”
Yosano shuts the boy with a raise of her finger. “The point is, that you should stop being so insecure and man up! You love him, and he does too! Don’t be so scared, not only me but everyone, even Dazai, agree that Akutagawa’s eyes are always filled with hearts and roses when he talks to you!”
Okay, now that made Atsushi blush profusely.
“Precisely. Now, I suggest you to wrap yourself with a rope on your head and wear a tiger costume, saying “Happy birthday, Ryuunosuke-kun! Have me as your present!” and he for sure will enjoy the rest of his day.”
Atsushi’s eyes widened in a size Yosano didn’t think would be possible, his heterochromatic eyes shining in embarrassment and his face crimson red.
But he… is actually contemplating it? Yosano is always on point, and there’s really no harm in trying, really. Probably an unimpressed raised (nonexistent) eyebrow and a series of chuckles from Akutagawa, nothing more, nothing less.
…Akutagawa will never let him live it down though.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Yokohama…
“Achoo!”
The redheaded waitress looked at him, unimpressed. “Bless you.”
Akutagawa wipes his nose with his handkerchief, unintentionally glaring at her. “Thank you. Now, can I have my choco-coffee?”
The girl raised her eyebrows, her green eyes piercing with Akutagawa’s grey ones. Almost like a glaring contest, and the boy isn’t going to back down any moment. The waitress sighed.
“Fine, it’ll come in a few.” she replied curtly, turning her back on him to make his order.
But anyways, his ears are tingling and his nose is itchy. Possibly someone is talking about him somewhere, and he hopes for that person to stop .
“You look adorable , Atsushi!” Naomi squealed in joy when she saw Atsushi in the tiger costume that Yosano suggested.
Dazai nodded in approval, a mischievous grin on. “Spectacular. Akutagawa won’t be able to resist you.”
Kunikida on the other hand, has a particular vein on his forehead that looks like it’s about to burst while half-strangling Yosano, who made a peace sign and a triumph expression, looking extremely proud of herself.
Atsushi looked at himself in the mirror, spinning and feeling very ridiculous. “I dunno, I feel like he’ll finally laugh like a madman instead when he sees me.” Atsushi grumbled.
“Now, now, don’t want to slander your own boyfriend on his birthday right?” Ranpo snorted and has this shit-eating grin on his face right now, and if only Atsushi were older than the guy who’s already in college, he’d give him a slight smack.
Atsushi rolled his eyes when he saw a giant red box on the floor. He can’t believe his friends went that far just for this one occasion—well, it’s not a just occasion, it’s his boyfriend’s birthday—but he does appreciate them for their help.
Atsushi smiled. “Thank you for all of these… I think I’d still be in a crisis if you guys didn’t help.”
“Of course, that’s what friends do!”
Akutagawa… surely didn’t expect for much people to come.
Yeah, he did invite Gin’s friends to come over, definitely Atsushi too, and he did told Atsushi if he wants to bring his friends, he can.
But he didn’t exactly expect for all of them to come, even Kyouka, Atsushi’s younger sister. She always gives him a glare promising death whenever Akutagawa tries to touch her brother a little too intimately in front of her.
(Too easy to bribe though. Especially with strawberry crepes and fried tofu.)
The problem here is that Atsushi himself, his boyfriend, the love of his life, isn’t there. All of his friends are there, with a one hell of a present box.
So, he’s very grumpy.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Ryuu! Happy birthday to you!”
The birthday boy blew his candles reluctantly, his mind wandering to a certain silver-haired boy who has an unhealthy obsession with white tigers every single second. When he was supposed to pray for his well being and everlasting relationship, all he saw was a sweet smile from Atsushi. When Gin was holding his hand, cutting the cake, all he thought was that it was Atsushi who held his hand.
And well, it’s just Atsushi.
Since when did the boy invade his whole brain? He doesn’t know.
Here comes the supposingly highlight of a birthday, opening the gifts. It seemed bland now, almost boring just because of the absence of a single person.
Tachihara gave him a medium-sized box, and so he opens it.
…To meet a smaller box inside.
Akutagawa glared at the ginger, and everyone in the room laughed slightly. Indulging them, he decided to chuckle slightly. He opens the smaller box, and discovers… two lemons?
“Happy birthday Akutagawa! Gave you raw, primal lemon juice! Ya gotta squeeze the juices out first though.”
And everyone officially lost it, except for Akutagawa being incredibly unamused.
The gift opening ceremony—as Gin likes to say—continues. Higuchi gave him a bouquet of flowers (seems like she still has lingering feelings for him), Gin gave him a fairly expensive watch (which is nice and attacking, they said he has the worst time coordination ever). Chuuya gave him one of his fedoras (surprisingly) and Kouyou gave him an airpod (which is very nice of her, he lost his few weeks ago and never found it.)
Lastly, a giant box of present was pushed to him by Yosano, a senior in third years that Atsushi is close with. Akutagawa furrowed his eyebrows, expecting something similar to Tachihara’s shenanigans.
So he unwraps it without any expectations.
And there, he founds a giant, white tiger plushie?
“He’s pretty expensive, you gotta treat him right okay?” The guy with spiky brown hair and green hair snickers.
Wait— he ?
“Happy… birthday Ryuu-ku— fuck, I can’t do this. God, I’m so sorry, but please have me as your birthday present.”
No fucking way .
His cheeks heated up in a matter of seconds, and so does Atsushi too. Everyone there (exclusive mentions of Yosano and Dazai) have this shit-eating grin. Well. Except for Kunikida, who is pinching his nose bridge.
After a few moments of struggling, they finally get Atsushi out from the box. “You—You fool. I thought you forgot about my birthday—or something like that.”
Atsushi laughs a little ( god , Akutagawa would pay with his kidneys to hear that laugh again), “Of course not! Your birthday is practically tattooed in my brain, I would never forget it.”
Akutagawa smiles so fondly , you practically can see hearts dancing in his pupils. He held the younger boy’s hands—it’s so warm —and brought it to cup Atsushi’s pink cheeks. “You’re such an idiot.”
“Yours truly.” Atsushi giggled.
“Alright boys, there are single people in this room. You guys can be lovey-dovey all you want when we leave.”
Dazai Osamu, the party pooper.