Chapter Text
Akito was not thrilled to find out about the union between the Aoyagi Kingdom and the Kamishiro Kingdom. No, it wasn't that he didn't like the fact Toya (his best friend) was together with a weirdo like Prince Rui. It was that he now had to see Rui's personal knight, the extremely loud , extremely obnoxious , extremely overconfident and extremely… (he's run out of words but you get the point) the one and only Tsukasa Tenma, every damned day. He didn't find him unbearable per se, no, he just couldn't take someone screaming a very flamboyant "Good morning, Akito!" into his ear at the crack of dawn.
So, you can understand his frustration about the fact he is now standing in the hot, scorching sun with his eccentric senior. Sometimes he didn't get how this guy was his superior, or how he used to lead wars.
"Hmm, hold your sword slightly higher. Hmm..mhm! You're a fast learner! As expected of someone being taught by me!" Tsukasa says as he leaned over, his head resting on Akito's shoulder as he corrected the position of his forearms.
Annoying as he was, Tsukasa knew how to fight well. Akito realized that when a group of assassins snuck past the palace walls whilst Toya and Rui were busy having their… lover's wedding talk… thing? No idea. As he watched Tsukasa fend off the attackers, it felt as though the sword was an extension of his body, his fingers moving along the handle in firm yet versatile strikes. And someone who knew how to fight well with a sword was exactly what Akito needed.
"Are you just gonna praise yourself throughout this entire thing?" He asked, feigning annoyance. In truth, he was in awe of how a few strikes on a training dummy could help Tsukasa formulate a whole training regime for him.
Sword-fighting was not one of Akito's strong suits, his magic saving him more times in battle than he could count. It wasn't unexpected, after all, he'd only decided on a whim that he wanted to become a knight three years ago. After a heated argument with his father, he just… packed up and left. No destination in mind, he just wanted to get away from the suffocating atmosphere. Yeah, then he spent three hours roaming around town practically panicking because he didn’t know what the fuck to do. Then (as any angsty teenager who had run away from home would do) he sat and watched the sunset on the edge of town, right by the forest, pondering life. There, he met Prince Toya, and they grew close.
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted as he felt a pair of eyes scrutinizing him. He looks up to see Tsukasa staring at him blankly.
“Are you okay?” He asks, his voice uncharacteristically soft. He smiles when Akito nods and resumes trying to teach his junior. “You’re holding your sword too loosely, it’ll be easy to knock it out of your hands. Tighten your grip and strike the dummy,”
The ginger lets out a sigh as he follows Tsukasa’s instructions.He knows his knowledge on magic and his friendship with the prince are probably the only reasons he came to be Toya's personal knight. God knows how low ranked he'd be if he were to simply serve for war.
"Hey, Akito," Tsukasa's suddenly stern voice snapped him out of his thoughts, "You're obviously not feeling well. Get some rest, we can continue some other day."
What? How long had he been spacing out for? He's totally fine! No, he WON'T just stop sword training because he's being stupid while reminiscing. He needs to keep training so he can get as good as his peers, so he won't be left behind.
"Nah, 'm fine," Akito says, looking into his senior's eyes and tightening his grip on the sword, "Really, senpai, I'm okay."
"If you say so," Tsukasa lets out an exasperated sigh, Akito feels relief course through his body, "Just tell me if you're not feeling alright, 'kay? Wouldn't want to overwork my favorite junior, after all!"
Akito focused his thoughts on the most effective way to hit the training dummy. He could try to slice diagonally, though of course this motion won't be as effective on flesh as it is on straw and sticks. He could jab it through its chest. Yeah. Yeah! That'll make a severe injury that would definitely be a hindrance on the battlefield.
"OUCH!" He suddenly yells, jumping nearly three feet into the air as a sharp punch to his gut gets him to his senses. He turned to the only other person there, "What was that for?!"
"Ahaha! Y'know, Akito, when you're on the battlefield your enemy won't just stand there while you try to figure out how to slice through them," Tsukasa chuckles, a teasing glint in his eyes.
Akito feels his cheeks heat up, undoubtedly turning a bright shade of pink. God, how long had he just been standing there?
"Yeah, Yeah… Whatever," He mumbles, deciding to settle for the jab through the chest.
Akito grips the sword by the handle firmly and attempts to drive it through the dummy, pretending as though it was a real person. He imagined it going through the imaginary enemy, puncturing its guts and making it bleed out. Exerting extreme force, he lunges.
What?
IT DIDN'T EVEN GO THROUGH THE DUMMY'S FAKE ARMOR!
"Eh?" He says, groaning. God, he really did suck at using a sword!
"You're putting too much force into your thrust." Tsukas picks up his own sword and jabs it into the dummy with ease, leaving a gaping hole, "Instead of using brute force try shifting your body weight onto the leg you lunged forward with"
"ARGH I'm never gonna get good at this!" Akito collapses onto the bench behind them, sighing at his misery as he fails to stab the sword into the dummy for what felt like the hundredth time.
Tsukasa sits down beside him and gives his hand a reassuring squeeze. Akito looked up to see Tsukasa smiling softly at him. God, he was pretty.
What.
AKITO WHAT.
He quickly pulls his hand away and blushes, embarrassed. He was stupid for thinking like that.
"You've done great today. I mean, you've already improved on your form and grip, that's already good progress," Tsukasa gives another reassuring smile, "Take a rest, Akito! Training can wait."
"But—"
"No buts! You shall train with the future star another day!" Tsukasa says, practically dragging Akito away from the training area and shutting the door that leads to the courtyard.
Akito lets out a sigh. God, his senpai was an idiot.
_________________________________
“Sounds to me like you’ve got a little crush!” An exclaims, punching him in the shoulder. Akito doesn’t miss the triumphant smile that finds its way onto her face as he grunts from the pain.
An Shiraishi, the only heir to the noble House of Roses. Akito hates her (or at least he says he does). So, he doesn’t understand why he’s sitting here in-front of a very ecstatic An (who’s very poorly disguised in a bright sunflower colored dress) in one of their many family-owned taverns.
“I do not.” He denies.
“Oh yeah, because normal people blush and squeal like a little girl when the person who’s training them brushes their hands together.” She rolls her eyes, “Face it, Akito. You’re gay for that man!”
“I’ve known him for, like, three weeks. No way.”
An groans, taking a sip of her lemonade. How dense can a guy be?
“...Besides, wouldn’t it be weird if I dated the personal knight of my best friend’s soon-to-be-husband?” Akito says after moments of judgemental silence. "Hell, Toya's practically the guy's brother!"
“Oh come on, that’ll make it more romantic!” She snorts, “Anyways, I don’t want to be late for my date with Kohane, good luck with your gay dilemma, or whatever.”
“Kohane? Azusawa? The girl who runs the flower shop??” He pipes up, much to An’s surprise.
“You know her?” An says, taken aback. However, a devious smile soon creeps its way onto her face, “Ohh, I know. You’re going over there to go buy a bouquet of flowers for your beloved Tenma! Tsk, tsk. Not slick, Akito.”
“What? No! God you’re annoying…” He says, groaning for what feels like the hundredth time today, “Toya asked me to pick up a bouquet for his beloved. Ew.”
“Says the person who’s been crushing on a guy he’s known for three weeks.” She teases, cackling as she watches him give her an exasperated look.
“One of these days I’m going to murder you.”
_________________________________
“An-chan!” Kohane smiles at her girlfriend, turning away from the assortment of sunflowers she was bundling into a bouquet. “Ah, hello there, Shinonome-kun.”
He gives her a non-committal wave as he watches An tackle her into a hug, effectively making both of them topple over. God, they were so in love it was disgusting.
“Hehe, sorry, Kohane! Couldn’t help it, you’re just too cute!” An says, squeezing Kohane’s fluffy cheeks and leaving kisses.
“I’m still right here, you know.”
“Whoops. Didn’t see ‘ya there, loser.”
His eyes scan the expanse of the familiar flower shop. As usual, bouquets of all shapes and sizes lined the walls. The furniture was somewhat newer, he noticed. The old oak tables that held baskets of flowers were now replaced by much more appealing wicker ones.
“What brings you here today, Shinonome-kun?” Kohane asks, recovering from An’s lesbian attack.
“Just a bouquet. For Toya. Not me.”
Kohane sends a questioning look to An as she snorts at the declaration, perhaps the florist thought they were both crazy.
“What flowers would it be then?”
“Uh…” He trails off, suddenly realizing he forgot to ask the prince which flowers he would like for the arrangement.
An looks at him expectantly, while Kohane sends him a look that plainly says “Take your time.” accompanied by a kind smile. Suddenly, the chimes of the front door rang, alerting the three of them to the presence of another customer.
“Azusawa? I’d like a bouquet, please!”
The familiar voice of the one and only Tsukasa Tenma rang throughout the small shop. An smirks in his direction whilst her lover sends Akito an apologetic smile as she rushes to the newcomer. God, those two are so different. How did they end up with each other?
“OHH!! Akito, is that you?” Tsukasa says loudly, he turns to face An and bows politely, “Ah! You must be Lady Shiraishi of the House of Roses. Pleased to make your acquaintance!”
An and Tsukasa’s conversation is drowned out by his thoughts. What is Tsukasa doing here? Why is his heart pounding in his ears? He’s brought to his senses when he notices Tsukasa’s face inched closer to his, concern etched onto his expression, he vaguely sees An’s devious smirk.
“...Uh?! Jeez, a little personal space maybe, senpai?!” He jumps back, blushing madly.
Tsukasa apologizes purposely as An laughs like a maniac in the background.
“Anyways. Uh, about that bouquet…” He says, turning to Kohane, “Could I get an arrangement of pink carnations, pink bluebells, and some white orchids?”
“Hehe, quite the romantic bouquet you have here, Tenma-kun.” Kohane compliments as she gets to bundling up the flowers. “Gratitude, everlasting love, and purity. Who’s the lucky guy?”
Both An and Akito look at him in shock. Akito had no idea the man was so well versed in floral arrangements. Akito’s thoughts were racing.
“Huh? Oh, why of course I am quite well-versed in romantic escapades!!” The man declares, flashing one of his signature poses, “Though, the flowers are a long story, hehe.”
Akito watches as Kohane pulls a ribbon around the bundle, tying it up into a nice bow. He vaguely hears An and Tsukasa conversing as his thoughts continue to race. If Tsukasa wasn’t lying, and he truly was good at picking out flowers, then maybe maybe he could help him choose whatever flowers would make Toya happiest.
The chimes of the bells above the door brings him back to his senses.. He spares a glance at the two lovers and sprints to keep up with Tsukasa; he knows how fast that guy could be if he tried.
“Woo! You go, lover boy!” Akito hears An scream from a distance.
Turning a corner, he spots the familiar purple cloak of Tsukasa Tenma. He rushes up to him.
“Eh? Akito? Need anything? Are you hurt?? OH MY GOD WHY ARE YOU RED??? ARE YOU HAVING A FEVER??” Tsukasa says, fretting as he brings his hand up to check Akito’s temperature.
“Haah… don’t worry… ‘m fine …” He pants, god why do these streets have to be so crowded? “Can… Can you help me pick a bouquet?”
“If you needed a bouquet you should've just said so!” Tsukasa laughs lightheartedly, suddenly he holds out the bouquet he had just purchased, “Here, these are for you.”
Akito felt heat rush up to his face. What?
But that bouquet was for someone else! Honestly, giving up a bouquet conveying such a deep meaning for no reason, what’s up with this guy? Unless…
UNLESS THOSE FLOWERS WERE FOR HIM ALL ALONG?!
“E-Eh?? Didn’t Kohane say something about that bouquet having such a deep meaning? Why’re you just giving it to me?” He asks, hoping his confusion covers up the fact he was as red as a tomato.
A light breeze goes by, and it feels as though the whole world just stops on its axis. Tsukasa’s finely parted hair gracefully flutters in the wind. The sun shone on him just the right way, highlighting his handsome features, but in Akito’s opinion, he was the thing shining the brightest in that moment. Their eyes meet as a light chuckle is pulled out of Tsukasa’s throat, he continues to reach the bouquet out, his eyes glinting majestically.
“These flowers are better suited for you,” He says, his voice sweet like honey, Akito really wants to melt into it, “You’d best be going if you want these flowers delivered on time.”
Fuck.