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“Flowers, Yonaga-san?” Yuuma blinks down at the bouquet in his hands. “Why flowers?”
It’s a grand bouquet- anyone would agree. Two large sunflowers, circled by sprigs of greenery and small white daisies, all wrapped up in lovely blue.
But Yuuma looks rather confused- and no wonder. Who wouldn’t be confused at receiving a bouquet of flowers from his coworker out of nowhere? This is stupid. Yonaga is stupid.
But he hadn’t been able to stop himself.
When he went out at lunch to pick up their takeout, he passed by a florist. And the flowers were blooming so wonderfully, the sunflowers so bright and yellow in the sun-
It made Yonaga think of Yuuma.
Before he knew it, he had bought the bouquet. And by the time he had come back to his senses, it had been too late. He was too far away to go back to return it- and he wasn't even sure if florists did returns. And sure, he could’ve thrown it away, but that would’ve been a waste of both the flowers and his money.
Above all though…
(He wanted to see Yuuma with these bright flowers in his hands.)
So with no other choice, he plodded his way back to the city hall to hand the bouquet to Yuuma, face flushed bright red.
“It’s just- they were on sale,” Yonaga lies, then- “I thought it might be nice to have something to brighten up the office, yeah?”
“That’s certainly true!” chirps Yuuma, a smile spreading wide across his face. He sets the bouquet gently down on his desk. “Thank you, Yonaga-san. They’re beautiful.”
“Glad you like them,” Yonaga says. He shifts on his feet, feeling more than a little awkward.
“Shall we go find a vase for it after work?” asks Yuuma. “I’d hate for them to wither too quickly.”
“Mm? Yeah, sure.”
“I can’t wait,” Yuuma says cheerfully- and reaches up to take Yonaga’s hands in his own. His smile is gentle, adoring- Yonaga can’t help but swallow, losing himself in the gaze.
They’re alone in the office right now, the Chief off eating with the Mining Squad leader and Croquette tagging along. All alone with Yuuma, who’s running a thumb soft over the back of his hand, gazing up at him as though he-
Chest thudding, face flushed, Yonaga yanks his hands away and throws himself into his chair.
“C’mon, our lunch is getting cold,” Yonaga says roughly.
He wishes Yuuma would stop looking at him like that.
(It makes him read into things that aren’t there.)
Yonaga has been living with Yuuma for months.
It only made sense, at least at first. Yuuma’s apartment lease had been on the shorter side, and unluckily, it had expired while he was ‘dead’. So of course Yonaga had offered up his place for Yuuma to stay, just until he found somewhere new.
But two weeks turned into four, one month into two, and now, almost half a year since Yuuma returned, they’re still living together in Yonaga’s small apartment.
If it had been anyone but Yuuma, Yonaga probably would’ve tried to kick them out at this point. But it is Yuuma, so Yonaga’s only opinion is that it’s a dream come true. Yuuma is with him when he sleeps at night, and still there when he wakes in the morning. Caring for Croquette is only half the work between the two of them, and it doesn’t feel half-bad, raising a kid together.
In all honesty, Yonaga is desperately hoping that their everyday life won’t change. That Yuuma won’t finally find his own place to stay, that Yuuma and Croquette won’t leave him helplessly miserable in a lonely apartment.
(It’ll happen one day, probably soon- but until then, he’ll delude himself into believing these days will last forever.)
But they do live together, at least for now, and so they walk home together as well. It’s the same walk as usual - aside from the bouquet in Yuuma’s hands - until they pass by a florist. Yonaga is more than a little taken aback when Yuuma exclaims-
“Oh, a florist!”
-and promptly pops into the store, Croquette bouncing by his side.
But then Yonaga remembers their chat at lunch. Yuuma wanted a vase, and it’s not that strange for Yuuma to be looking for one at a florist. So Yonaga steps inside nonchalantly enough, only for Yuuma to promptly betray all of his assumptions.
“Yonaga-san, what kind of flowers would you like?”
“What?” Yonaga echoes blankly.
“Flowers!” Yuuma says again, smiling like the sun. “I’d like to buy you some as well, Yonaga-san.”
“Oh.” Yonaga flushes a little, pleased. “You don’t have to, geez.”
“I want to!” Yuuma chirps. “So, what kind of flowers would you like?”
“Well, I guess…” Yonaga runs his gaze over the displays. Roses and hyacinths and plenty more he couldn’t name- it’s a little overwhelming, especially with Yuuma staring up at him so expectantly. He coughs. “Whatever you want is good with me.”
“That’s no fun.” Yuuma is pouting now. “I’d like to give you flowers you love.”
“I’ll love anything you give me,” grumbles Yonaga- then jerks back as Yuuma jumps to his feet, eyes utterly shining.
(Crap. He hadn’t meant for Yuuma to hear that.)
“I suppose that makes sense,” Yuuma says, cheery again. “I feel the same way, after all!”
It’s too bright. Yuuma is too bright. He feels like he’s going to be sunburnt, and his gaze flicks away despite himself.
“Right,” mutters Yonaga.
“In that case, then- would you be able to hold this for a moment?” Yuuma asks.
He holds out his own bouquet, and Yonaga accepts it gingerly. And as soon as he does, Yuuma turns back towards the displays.
“Then I suppose I’ll purchase…” Yuuma hums for a bit, then points confidently at a bouquet on display. “That one!”
And Yonaga’s heart thuds to a stop.
Sitting still on his couch, Yonaga stares a little blankly at the bouquet in his arms.
“Are you okay, Yonaga-san?” Yuuma asks, “You’ve been quiet since we left the florist.”
He’s setting out the vases on their coffee table, both filled with water from their kitchen sink. Beside him, Croquette is happily attempting to re-arrange Yuuma’s bouquet. The vases are nothing special, just simple glass large enough to hold a decent-sized bouquet.
No, what’s special is-
“Yuuma,” Yonaga says weakly, “Is there a reason why you picked these flowers?”
“Do you not like them?” asks Yuuma, looking dejected, but Yonaga fervently shakes his head.
“It’s not that! I-” Yonaga coughs, cheeks feeling a bit hot. “I really love them. Thanks, Yuuma. It’s just- they’re kinda…” He shifts on the couch. “How should I say this…”
“Romantic?” Yuuma asks innocently, and Yonaga almost chokes.
“Well,” mumbles Yonaga. “Yes.”
There’s a dozen red roses in his arms right now, wrapped with white paper and tied with a scarlet bow. They’re not the kind of flowers someone would normally gift to a friend, and Yonaga is equally overflowing with joy and desperately trying not to read too much into it.
“That was the idea,” Yuuma says sunnily, and Yonaga does actually choke on air this time.
“Yuuma?” Yonaga sputters.
“But flowers are fairly romantic in general, wouldn’t you say?” Yuuma says brightly, then- “And you gifted me some first.”
“I- yeah,” Yonaga says, because he can’t exactly deny it.
“That’s why I thought that I could try the same,” Yuuma explains with a hum. He heads towards Yonaga - who can’t help but swallow - and sits himself down right next to him.
“Try the same?” echoes Yonaga. His throat feels dry.
A hand caresses over Yonaga’s thigh, a head thumps against his shoulder, and Yonaga’s heart stops for the second time that day.
“Yonaga-san,” Yuuma says, voice cheery, “Would it be wrong to say we’re dating now?”
“Mm- hm?” Yonaga’s head twists to stare down at Yuuma, heart in his throat.
“You gave me flowers, and accepted my roses,” Yuuma says, cheeks a bit flushed. It’s not an expression Yonaga has ever seen on Yuuma before, and Yonaga ends up flushing in return. Yuuma smiles up at him. “I can’t help but think that means you like me back.”
“That’s-” Yonaga swallows, “-not wrong.” His hands clench the bouquet, paper crinkling. “Not at all.”
“Yonaga-san!”
And in the blink of an eye, arms have snaked under the bouquet to squeeze tight around him, Yuuma’s chest warm against his side. Yonaga’s heart is beating a mile a minute, his eyes wild. This doesn’t feel real, and yet-
The sound of Yuuma happily mumbling his name into his shoulder. The feeling of Yuuma’s hold around him. The roses still in his hands, bright and red and beautiful.
A helpless smile spreads wide across Yonaga’s face.
It doesn’t feel real, but it absolutely, definitely, is.
The rest of the evening, surprisingly, passes on by just like any other evening. They cook dinner - or rather, Yonaga cooks while Yuuma and Croquette help. They have a lovely meal, play with Croquette, and tuck them gently into bed.
Half-anticipating, half-nervous, Yonaga wonders if Yuuma might bring something up now then Croquette is sleeping sounding away on their kid’s futon. Because if they’re dating now- surely, there’s something more to say? To do?
But no such luck. Yuuma suggests a card game- they play a few rounds. Yonaga loses more than he usually does, heart still beating far too fast, mind distracted.
“Yonaga-san, you’re playing pretty badly today,” says Yuuma, blunt as ever.
“Sorry.”
“Well, that’s fine too!” Yuuma says cheerily. He tidied up the cards strewn on the table, then- “Shall we go to bed a little early instead?”
Yonaga’s heart pounds with an emotion he can’t quite place, but he somehow manages to force it into submission. He really needs to get himself together. Yuuma obviously isn’t wanting much to change, regardless that they’re dating now- Yonaga needs to expect the same.
“Sure. Sounds good,” Yonaga says, shifting on the ground. He coughs. “I’ll take a shower first.”
“Shall we take a shower together?”
And Yonaga freezes, heart beating a mile a minute. Yuuma just smiles up at him in response.
“Wha-” Yonaga coughs again, clearing his throat. “What?”
There’s a slight pink tint to Yuuma’s cheeks- Yonaga can’t help but stare, transfixed. He’s seen Yuuma blush more this evening than he has these past six months combined, and he can’t help but love it.
“I wouldn’t want to rush into anything,” mumbles Yuuma, “But, Yonaga-san- you’ve been looking a little unsatisfied all night.”
Yonaga flushes red. “That’s not- I just-” He glances to the side. “I wouldn’t mind taking a shower together, it’s not like we haven’t done it before, but it’s just- ah, geez.”
“What would you like?” asks Yuuma. “You can tell me!”
If it were anyone but Yuuma, Yonaga would swear that they were teasing him on purpose. But it is Yuuma, so he knows that Yuuma is completely sincere.
Which makes it worse, really.
“I just…” Yonaga clears his throat. “Maybe- um…”
Yuuma tilts his head to the side, looking wholly innocent. It makes Yonaga want to melt into the ground with shame.
“It’s nothing!” Yonaga says quickly, jumping to his feet. He whips around. “Anyway. Shower. Good night, Y-”
A warm hand tugs at his wrist, and Yonaga stops in place.
“Yonaga-san.”
“…Yuuma,” mumbles Yonaga.
Yuuma slips his way to his feet as well, hand warm and tight around Yonaga’s wrist.
“I promise, I’m more than happy to go as slow or fast as you’d like. So-” Yuuma smiles brightly. “Good night! But if you’d like anything from me-” he presses into Yonaga’s chest, and his heart thuds with a loud thump. “-all you have to do is ask.”
Yonaga swallows, staring down at Yuuma’s head of blond hair, snuggled so happily in his chest, and…
“Yuuma,” Yonaga says again, a little louder this time. “Do you- would you wanna- kiss?”
Yuuma leans back a bit, blinking up at him with a surprised look, and Yonaga wants to melt into the ground with shame.
“I mean- never mind. Forge-”
“Yes! I’d love to!” Yuuma exclaims, smile returning brighter than ever on his face. His hand sneaks up, cups Yonaga’s cheek- “You’ll have to lean down though.”
“Ah, um. Right.”
It’s Yuuma who closes the final distance in the end, pecking Yonaga’s lips with a light kiss once he’s leaned his way down. Yuuma’s hand is still on Yonaga’s cheek, soft and gentle, and Yonaga’s chest feels so warm he thinks he’s about to explode.
Yuuma falls back before long, just a little- he’s still only an inch away from Yonaga’s face, and Yonaga can’t help but lose himself in those perfect eyes.
“You look satisfied now, Yonaga-san,” murmurs Yuuma. “I’m glad.”
“...You seem happy too,” Yonaga says, because it’s true, very true. Yuuma looks as though he’s on cloud nine, and that makes Yonaga just as happy in return.
Yuuma laughs. “Of course!” At last, he lets go of Yonaga, skipping back a step with a cheerful bounce. “Good night again, Yonaga-san. Have a good shower!”
“Yeah,” Yonaga says, voice soft. “You too.”
Yuuma wants him too. They’re dating now, after all. It only makes sense. And while Yonaga may still be nervous, may not know entirely how to act as a boyfriend instead of a friend-
He knows how to be with Yuuma.
And somehow, he thinks that’ll be enough.