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It had taken a while, but after moving into their first apartment, Tadashi and Kei had eventually slipped into a system. Kei had insisted on a timetable at first, the kind you’d hang on the fridge. Tadashi had told him he was being silly and that a timetable definitely wasn’t necessary.
Kei had gotten out of the shower one morning, already late for work and realised that he had no more clean underwear left. After that the timetable was quickly made and put on the fridge as initially planned. The timetable worked better than Tadashi had expected. It also worked better than he wanted to admit. He could check it while he was getting breakfast and come home knowing exactly what to expect. It was comforting, in a sense.
On wednesday’s Tadashi folded laundry. Kei put away the dishes Tadashi had cleaned the day prior. Then he cooked. The two had a system. A system that kept their apartment neat and tidy, unlike Shoyo and Tobio’s apartment. Kei had mentioned that when he put the timetable on the fridge, right under the picture of the four of them, and Hitoka, from when they’d gone to an amusement park a few months back. Hitoka’s work had gotten them cheap tickets, through some sort of contest, and they’d all had the best time. Kei had of course denied it when Tadashi pointed it out. Yet he noticed how he’d made sure not to move the picture out of place as he placed the timetable. Even if he didn’t say it, Tadashi knew Kei well enough to know that he was just as fond of their friends as Tadashi was.
Sometimes, looking at pictures of the five of them, especially old ones, Tadashi couldn’t believe what his life had turned out to be. He felt unbelievably lucky that Shoyo and Tobio had been nosey and overheard him telling Hitoka about his crush on Kei. He felt lucky, albeit not at the time, that they told Kei and that Kei asked him to be his boyfriend. He felt lucky that he had such amazing friends, and such an amazing boyfriend, who made even silly chores and a silly timetable a reason to smile.
When Tadashi folded laundry, he also collected the clothes in the hamper, so he could get the next cycle going. After the lack-of-underwear incident he’d done his best to stay on top of the laundry.
Kei was working on dinner. Tadashi paused. He stood in their connected living room and kitchen, leaning on the couch to grab a pair of pants and a sweater Kei had tossed the previous day. He’d had to fenackle around, just a bit, as Kei had tossed his bag onto the couch upon arriving home, leaving it splayed open and threatening to spill its content at the slightest wrong movement. Usually he didn’t just leave things out like that, but he’d seemed a little on edge when he returned home, so Tadashi didn’t think anything of it. Not in a bad way, per say, but almost nervous. Tadashi had wondered if anything had happened at work.
Instead of thinking too much about it, he went back to grabbing the clothes. Like the rest of the clothes he’d gathered, it went straight into the bin he was holding. As he stood back up, he found himself watching his boyfriend. He smiled, feeling a familiar feeling flutter in his chest. Even all these years after getting together, Tadashi found himself feeling like a teenager in love all over again.
Kei didn’t even notice. He was busy, chopping vegetables. Tadashi had no idea what he was making, but Kei seemed focused. He was even humming along to the tune in his earphones. Tadashi only swooned at the sight. And as if that wasn’t enough. It got better. Around Kei’s waist was a neatly tied bow that made Tadashi giggle. The bow was connected to the kiss-the-cook apron he’d gotten Kei for the previous christmas. He said it was silly at the time, yet every time it was his turn to cook he wore it. He was silently grateful at the sight of Kei so casually cooking. Perhaps he’d read him wrong when he came home.
In an attempt to not fully distract himself, Tadashi eventually made his way to the small washing machine setup in their apartment. It was only a washing machine and no dryer and they often had to dedicate half their bedroom to drying clothes. But it was better than Shoyo and Tobio’s building, where they had to share washers and dryers with the rest of the tenants in the building.
Tadashi tried to think of his chores as an opportunity to relax. The motions of folding laundry was so repetitive anyways, so it was easy to get lost in thought instead. Usually he would listen to Kei’s music coming from the kitchen, but at the blonde's decision to wear earphones, Tadashi was left in his own silence. He didn’t mind. He enjoyed the quiet humming coming from Kei much more anyways.
Grabbing a handful of dried clothes, Tadashi got to folding. It was as soothing as he remembered and it didn’t take him long, before he was hanging up the clean, but wet, clothes from the washing machine. Before he knew it he was already looking through the dirty laundry, checking pockets before shoving the clothes into the washing machine.
As he went through the clothes, a small thump was heard. Tadashi had been confused at first, thinking maybe Kei had dropped something. That was until he saw the velvet box that had hit the floor and scattered just without reach of him.
He paused. He looked confused. He felt his heart skip a beat and his hands grow a bit clammy. Tadashi shook his head. He was overthinking things again. A small sound of struggle left him as he leaned over and grabbed the box. He’d return it to Kei after he was done with the laundry, he told himself, before setting the box aside.
Though as Tadashi continued to try and sift through the clothes, he felt his eyes wander and linger on the box. It was a nice box. Small, the kind that would fit in the palm of one's hand. Tadashi thought a bit, before reaching out and grabbing the box again. Surely it couldn’t be what he thought it was. He felt a strange lump in his throat as he let his thumb brush over the soft surface.
A little peek wouldn’t hurt. That’s what Tadashi told himself before flipping open the box. Once open, Tadashi had to keep himself from letting out a small squeal. The box had indeed held exactly what Tadashi had thought, though somehow so, so much better. A ring. With a swirly silver band, neatly placed white stones and a shining green emerald as the centrepiece. The emerald was uncut, making the entire piece of jewellery look like the kind that could be taken right out of a fairytale story.
Tadashi took a deep breath, sitting there in front of the washing machine. Clothes were everywhere and he felt almost a little faint. Kei wanted to propose to him. He almost couldn’t believe it. The last time the two had talked about marriage, Kei had said it was silly. That he didn’t need it to prove how much he loved Tadashi. And even though Tadashi had been sad, he’d respected Kei’s wishes. No wedding then. Or so he thought. Though as he sat with the ring in hand, having gently fidgeted it out of the box for a better look, he couldn’t help but feel a little hopeful. Was it bad that he felt hopeful?
Even though the initial shock was still hitting him, Tadashi also felt another thought fill his head. What was he supposed to do now? Was he supposed to tell Kei yes? Put it somewhere and pretend he never saw it? He didn’t even know how it ended up in the laundry, so how would Kei find it again if he put it somewhere? And surely the blonde would notice it was somewhere he hadn’t put it.
Tadashi tried to stand, to go into the kitchen. But his body still seemed in shock and despite how much he tried, it was like his brain wasn’t communicating to his body that it was supposed to stand up. Instead he sat there, on the floor, voice a little hoarse as he called his boyfriend’s name. No answer. Tadashi should have known he wouldn’t be able to hear anything with his earphones in,
“Tsukki?” He called out again, this time much louder. The blonde heard it this time, pulling his earphones out and drying his hands before leaving the simmering vegetable dish on the stove. He hummed, to let Tadashi know he’d heard him before walking over. He leaned on the doorframe, looking down at Tadashi.
“Yeah?” He asked, taking a moment before the sight of what was going on in front of him even registered. There it was. The ring. In Tadashi’s hand. He couldn’t believe it. How had he even found it? A million questions ran through his head, yet he couldn’t settle on one. He couldn’t settle on a question to ask, on something to say. Instead he just stood there, dumbfounded, as he watched his lover, his best friend, the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. His chest grew tight.
Kei recollected the last time they’d talked about marriage. About how much he’d thought about it after. And about the conversation he’d had with Tetsurō about how marriage wasn’t about proving anything, but instead celebrating the love he had for Tadashi. When he realised marriage could be exactly what he wanted it to be, he’d changed his thoughts on the subject.
So he’d bought the ring. Hidden it away in various places before eventually growing paranoid and putting it in his bag. Tadashi never bothered to look in his bag. Had he looked in his bag? Kei furrowed his brows unknowingly.
“Kei!” Tadashi exclaimed, finally forcing the man back into reality. Tadashi was standing, right in front of him. He looked right up at him, hopeful eyes shining. He was holding his breath, waiting for Kei to say something.
“I uh..” He took a moment, clearing his throat a bit. “I didn’t mean for you to find it,” He admitted. Tadashi’s brows furrowed. A bit of awkwardness filled the room, though most of it seemed caused by confusion. “I had this big thing planned,” Kei elaborated, looking a bit away as he corrected his glasses, though shrugged a bit. It was instinct, Tadashi knew that. When Kei got nervous or anxious, he pretended like things didn’t really matter. Though in doing so he proved just how much it did in fact matter.
Kei seemed to struggle with what to say, causing Tadashi to speak up. “I don’t.. I don’t need a big thing, Kei,” He spoke, reaching over and taking the other's hands. He was careful not to drop the ring, instead sliding it into the palm of his hands. Tadashi let out a small breath, smiling up at his boyfriend. “I just need you. Ask me, Kei..” He whispered.
Kei looked confounded. His face was a little blank and he felt his heart race in his chest. He was sure Tadashi could hear it. Suddenly the plan he’d come up with, with Tetsurō’s help was thrown out the window. Even as he felt the lump in his throat, he parted his lips to speak.
“I..” Kei took the ring, a small smile falling on his lips as he looked down at Tadashi’s expecting expression. Looking at his boyfriend and the fond expression caused by the mere thought of him proposing was enough to calm him down. He was absolutely making the right choice.
Kei grasped tighter onto the ring, tracing it a bit. He tried remembering the speech he’d practised, but in the end he had to speak from his heart. Tadashi made every rehearsed part float away. It truly seemed like it was only the two of them in the world.
“I uh.. Had all this shit planned. Because that’s what you deserve. The best,” He started before clearing his throat a bit. “I always thought marriage was silly. That I didn’t need to prove how much I love you to a bunch of people. I still don’t think I need to prove it like that. Because you already know it.” Tadashi nodded, a strand of hair falling into his face. Kei lifted his hand to push it behind the other’s ear, cupping his cheek after.
“But I want to show you. You and only you. Every day. For the rest of our lives,” Kei admitted. He felt like his heartbeat was making his entire body thump. It was rare for him to be pouring his heart out like that, but the look on Tadashi’s face made the effort worth it. He cleared his throat before moving to hold both Tadashi’s hands before getting on one knee. He shuffled a bit, having placed his knee on a slippery, folded sweater and both he and Tadashi laughed. Tadashi reached out to hold Kei’s shoulder steadying a bit, while also steadying and readying himself.
When Kei was no longer halfway falling over, he held out the ring. Golden eyes met dark green, and Kei felt as if he was watching a thousand stars sparkle, just for him. Silence filled the room for a moment, Tadashi giggling to fill it, gently nudging Kei again. “Say it.. Go on,” He urged, biting his lower lip as he smiled widely. It was clear he could barely contain himself, if not from looking at his smile, but also from the tears that were threatening to spill.
“Tadashi. Please.. Will you marry me?” He asked, voice a little hoarse.
The tears that had previously threatened to spill were now running down tanned, freckled cheeks as Tadashi nodded his head. “Yeah. Yeah, I’ll marry you, Tsukki,” He spoke softly, not even allowing Kei to place the ring on his finger before he’d thrown his arms around his now fiance's neck.
Kei quickly returned the hug, his smile widening as he held his arms around Tadashi. He clutched onto the ring, not daring to pull away from the hug just yet. Albeit out of the ordinary, this time Kei couldn’t be the one to pull away. He didn’t dare to let go of his forever person.
They stayed like that for a good minute or two. Tadashi had pressed their lips together in a soft and loving kiss and Kei had pulled the sleeve of his sweater down to dry Tadashi’s eyes. When they were finally ready to pull away, Tadashi held out a slightly shaky hand. “I wanna see it on. Please,” He urged, sniffling softly so his nose didn’t become runny.
Kei wasted no time sliding the ring on, admiring it on Tadashi’s hand. It fit like a glove, the uncut looking all the more beautiful against Tadashi’s fingers. Tadashi allowed his own finger to run over the stone and he smiled at his boyfriend.
“You know.. I can’t wait to show this to Shoyo and Tobio,” He pointed out, tone almost a little teasing, a laugh following. Kei smiled softly, though sighed deeply and shook his head a bit as he stood in front of Tadashi. “I have to call Kuroo and tell him the whole thing got messed up,” He chuckled.
Tadashi watched softly, raising a brow at the other. “Messed up, huh?” He wiggled his finger around a bit, showing off his ring again. “I’d say you did pretty well. I said yes, didn’t I?” He asked, Kei nodding a bit.
“I think I would have said yes, even if you’d proposed to me with paperrings. Or a ring pop,” Tadashi pointed out, eyeing the other a bit.
“Really? Because that would have been a lot cheaper,” Kei teased.
Tadashi only rolled his eyes, smiling still. He would have said yes to a ring pop. He would have said yes to paperrings. He would marry Kei with nothing but the clothes on their backs if that was the life they’d been dealt. It truly didn’t matter. As long as he had Kei, Tadashi knew that that was the life he wanted.