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Six months ago Mikey never could have imagined that he'd be here again.
Mikey laid back on the sidewalk in the park, arms folded under his head, as he stared up at the lithe passing clouds. Mikey... he was happy. Not fake happy, but for real happy. He never thought that he'd feel that way again after everything he'd lost- but he had.
Six months ago he was miserable, cursed to violence and solitude. Yet, Takemitchy, with all his tears and smiles, changed that. Changed him. Mikey grinned and nodded, leg crossed over the knee and bobbing to an imaginary beat.
The day was a clear one, the clouds were scarce and wispy, and the sky was a light shade of blue. It was warm and the breeze was nice, rare like this in the middle of February. Takemitchy's eyes were blue too, right? Like the sky.
He simply laid there, waiting for Takemitchy to call him. Mikey smiled softly to himself knowing Takemitchy wouldn't appreciate Mikey skipping school again when he was almost done with his diploma program.
To be fair, he had a lot on his mind today.
However, his day of playing hooky would be cut short--
"Mikey!"
The shout startled the lounging man who was quick to sit up--
"Mikey! You're supposed to be in school!" A man stood at the entrance to the park, his tall form casted a long shadow and as he closed in on the irresponsible teen, it engulfed him.
"Hey Kenchin," Mikey stammered, looking guilty. He should have known Kenchin would have found out he wasn't in school.
Draken stopped at Mikey's feet with a disapproving frown, hands in his pockets.
Mikey pouted as he stood, head hung as Draken bopped him. Mikey gasped and ducked down to avoid a second blow, "Hey!"
Draken's hand came down on Mikey's head as the giant noogied his long hair, fluffing it up, "Do I need to call Mrs. Hanagaki? Huh?"
Mikey sputtered as he shoved Draken's hand away, "No way, hmph!"
Draken sighed and stood up straight again, "Then why aren't you in school?"
Mikey scowled more and refused to answer. Draken, always the babysitter, sighed as Mikey continued to grumble.
"Okay, what's up?" Mikey refused to look at his best friend and Draken held back another sigh, "You've been weird for the last few days, Mikey."
Mikey had been acting weird, he knew he had been and the reason was simple.
"Valentines day is today," Mikey muttered as he crossed his arms.
Draken stared at Mikey for a long moment until a spiteful grin split his face, quick to catch on, "Oh I get it, you didn't get anything for Takemitchy, huh?"
Mikey's head turned far too fast back towards Draken, "What?! Who told you that?!" He panicked, trying to hide it, "I-I totally did something--"
"HAH?! Don't lie!" Draken shouted and it sparked Mikey to argue back.
"I-I'm not!" He took a sharp breath, "I'm thinking of something!"
Draken leaned in further until he was in Mikey's face, "Admit it, you're clueless! Hopeless even!"
Mikey was being goaded on and he knew that as his cheeks puffed up, "No way! I-I know what I'm doing!"
Draken smirked, "Then why do you keep stuttering? Just admit it already!"
Mikey didn't refute that as his fists tightened, "Okay, so maybe I have no idea what I'm doing. You happy?!"
Draken leaned back with a satisficed smile, "Yeah, that's what I thought."
"Hey!" Mikey shouted back, but didn't go further. He gave a tired, frustrated sigh and sat back down on the pavement, "How the hell do you tell someone like Takemitchy you love them? He literally gave up everything for me multiple times." He held his head in his hands.
"He died for me." Mikey refused to raise his head and simply stewed in that fact.
The only sound that passed between the friends was the wind. Draken stared down at Mikey with sad eyes. It was true, Takemitchy suffered a lot so that they could be the happiest they could be.
Draken sat next to his friend and exhaled deeply, "Okay," His voice was determined and it caught Mikey's attention, "We've all gotta help you out."
"What?" Mikey asked plainly, "No one's allowed to do romantic stuff to my Takemitchy, but me."
Draken was tempted to knock him over the head again, "No, dumbass, we're gunna all help you do that! Today is Takemitchy's day. And we both know the romantic bone in your body is broken."
Mikey pouted as they lapsed into another bout of silence. Draken's brow furrowed as he... thought of--
"It's gotta be romantic enough that even Emma would be proud of us," Draken whispered.
Mikey didn't respond. He simply stared at the swaying grass beyond the pavement. Emma... The thought of his little sister hurt less and less with each passing day, with each morning he woke up being held by Takemitchy. But it still hurt.
"Yeah," Mikey agreed, "I gotta go all out."
Draken nodded, "Yeah."
Mikey's eyes snapped open and he turned his head slowly to his best friend, a look of realization on his face, "Hey... Kenchin?" he spoke slowly.
Draken turned to him quizzically.
"Aren't six month anniversaries important too?"
Mikey felt doomed.
('▽'ʃ♡ƪ) ('▽'ʃ♡ƪ) ('▽'ʃ♡ƪ)
"Alright, Manjirou, you should know that the act of picking out flowers is an art form."
Mikey's brow rose as he walked with Ma into the florists. The store was well out of Mikey's comfort zone, but he had Ma with him, so he should be fine, right?
They were just flowers.
"You just pick the prettiest ones right?" Mikey asked cluelessly and the older woman turned a sharp eye to her charge who wanted to slink away from that look. The seventeen year old was hailed to be the strongest of their generation, yet one look from Takemitchy's mom scared him.
"Just pick pretty ones?" Ma asked sharply as Mikey stared at his future mother in law with that brow raised once more.
"Yes?"
She held him in her narrowed gaze, "Okay," the woman exhaled. She wandered the isles, the shelves full to the brim with dazzling colors of red, whites, pinks, blues, all the colors. They wandered further in and Mikey held the cuffs of his long sleeve shirt in an uncomfortable anticipation. Ma stopped in front of an arrangement of orange flowers.
She picked a single flower and presented it to Mikey, "Would you give this to Takemichi?"
Mikey stared at the flower, it's sharp petals a pretty orange.
"Well," He looked from the flower to the shorter, black haired woman, "Orange is his favorite color, so yeah."
Mrs. Hanagaki's green eyes narrowed further, "This is an orange lily and they represent feelings of hatred, pride and contemp."
Mikey's eyes widened.
"If you gave my Takemichi this flower, he'd accept them knowing you didn't know what they meant, but they would make him sad."
"Wait flowers have meanings like that?" Mikey asked in a panic.
Ma nodded sagely, "Of course. Giving someone flowers can hold many meanings, even negative ones." When she noticed just how panicked she had made him she smiled softly, "So, lets put some thought into this arrangement, right?"
Mikey hopped to attention and nodded, "Yes!"
They swiftly get down to business, Mikey went through dozens of flowers, none good enough yet and Mikey was starting to lose hope.
"This one?" Mikey asked again, lifting a yellow buttercup this time.
Ma shook her head, "Buttercups mean ingratitude, childish behavior, and unfaithfulness." Mikey tossed back the flower like he had been scalded.
Ma chuckled while Mikey groused, "Why do flower shops even sell flowers like that if they're so mean?"
"Because people give flowers to express themselves in all ways, Manjirou."
"Okay," He shook his head, "This one?" He picked out another bright yellow flower.
Ma shook her head, "Yellow carnations mean disdain and rejection." Mikey sighed and placed the flower back.
He scanned the shelves with a focused intent, he reached out again, "This one?"
The flower was shaped like a pink and purple sakura petal, it was cute.
"Hm, a sakurasou. Desire and long-lasting love," She nodded approvingly, "It's a good choice."
Mikey smiled and held the flower a bit closer to take with him, he finally won one.
They trailed the isles and Mikey picked out a few more with a nodding mother behind him, proud and touched by his choices.
In the end the bouquet was perfect.
('▽'ʃ♡ƪ) ('▽'ʃ♡ƪ) ('▽'ʃ♡ƪ)
"Okay," Mrs. Hanagaki nodded in approval at the flowers, "Where are you going to give him these flowers?"
Mikey's eyes widened in a panic, "Wait! I-I have to give them somewhere special?!"
Ma laughed, a hand to her stomach, "Wow you're hopeless, Manjirou."
Mikey crumpled on the spot. He knew he wasn't gifted in romance, but to think he would be called hopeless twice today?! "What?!"
"I'm joking," Ma laughed again, "It's really cute." She smiled and pulled Mikey to her side, "Okay, so you have to do this somewhere romantic, okay?"
"Do I take him somewhere... with the flowers, then give them?" He asked as he tilted his head to the side. He was completely out of his depth with this.
"No, that's silly."
Mikey pouted even harder.
"You can either meet him there or have someone wait there with the flowers."
Mikey's face struggled to remain neutral. He had to ask for more outside help?
"Okay... um," He scratched his head to think really hard, "We can go the shrine. That's somewhere special to us."
"Good. It means something to you both."
Ma nodded in approval and Mikey sighed in relief.
He wasn't completely hopeless.
('▽'ʃ♡ƪ) ('▽'ʃ♡ƪ) ('▽'ʃ♡ƪ)
[OUTBOX]
Mitchy! Be ready tonight. 7pm xoxo
[INBOX]
What are we doing tonight?
[OUTBOX]
That's a secret
[INBOX]
YAY!! I can't wait. Love you.
Mikey did his best to remove his blush before his friends made fun of him.
('▽'ʃ♡ƪ) ('▽'ʃ♡ƪ) ('▽'ʃ♡ƪ)
Mikey was pacing at the shrine, hands moving swiftly as he tried to explain in his head that those flowers were enough. That they were special and meant a lot--!!!
It kinda felt like he was drowning.
Was it enough? No, it couldn't have been. How the hell could a single bouquet of flowers translate his overwhelming feelings for Takemitchy? No he needed help. He needed Toman.
He needed more help and he felt shameful, he should know how to romance his boyfriend, right? Shouldn't it come naturally or something? Why couldn't he just be smooth and sweet without effort? Or even with effort? Why the hell was Takemitchy even with him?
Would Takemitchy leave him if this wasn't enough? What if he did?! His heart beat erratically in his chest at the thought.
"Mikey!" A voice shouted from bellow the stairs, "You're thinking too hard."
Mikey swiftly turned to face the voice and was pleasantly surprised. Mitsuya stood where he normally would with Hakkai smiling behind him. Chifuyu and Inupi were to his right and Pah and Peh to the left. Walking up to them was Smiley and Angry and Draken ascended the stairs to Mikey's side.
This was nostalgic. So nostalgic that it brought a small smile to Mikey's lips.
"We're here to help, Commander," Draken spoke with a grin and Mikey returned it.
The man nodded, "Well, I do need your help."
Smiley laughed snidely with that ever present grin, "Yeah you do."
Mikey didn't let it take the smile from his lips, "Yep."
Hakkai nodded, "You're in deep. We gotta dig ya out."
Mikey wouldn't let it effect him, so he continued to smile, though it did look a bit strained now, "Ye-p."
"You have to give a grand display of love since Takemitchy went so far for you. You've gotta be extravagant to him for the rest of your life." Inupi gave a bland stare, but it morphed into a smile that made everyone else chuckle.
Pah nodded, "He's got a point. Takemitchy saved us all."
Peh made noises of agreement, hyping Pah up who was nodding along, "Yeah, yeah."
Everyone is in agreement and they begin brainstorming together, the suggestions becoming more and more ridiculous as they got more excited.
"Don't be foolish Pah," Mitsuya chastised, "No helicopters."
"But! Need ta shoot the fireworks from the air."
"You're stupid, Pah," Smiley laughed, "We can set 'em off in the tree line."
"Hey!" Draken shouted, "We aren't gunna set fireworks off in the trees. Imagine the lifetime of bad karma if we burn down a shrine!"
Mikey stood at the top taking it all in with a nod.
Chifuyu was the only silent party who looked to be deep in thought. "Mikey!" He shouted and everyone quieted down, "If you fuck this up for Takemitchy, I'll never forgive you." He pointed a finger at Mikey dramatically, brow set in a scowl.
Mitsuya, ever the mediator intervened, "Hey now, Chifuyu, lay off Mikey like that. You know he's trying his best."
"No, he should put that pressure on me," Mikey agreed with another nod, "Mhm. Mhm. Takemitchy deserves this level of effort."
Draken grinned and everyone else began to chant 'Ro-Mance! Ro-Mance!'
"Then we gotta go all out!"
As they were all being dumb and ridiculous Angry finally piped up, "I-I have an idea."
('▽'ʃ♡ƪ) ('▽'ʃ♡ƪ) ('▽'ʃ♡ƪ)
Takemitchy had been excited all day, ever since he rolled out of bed and saw that Mikey had helped make breakfast. He knew in his bones that Mikey was planning something. Mikey's been nervous and excited for the last two days and it made Takemitchy happy. He didn't care what it was, just that it was something Mikey did, and it was all Takemitchy needed to feel special.
So long as Takemitchy could wake up to Mikey's bed head every morning for the rest of his life, he'd be happy.
He walked from class with a pep in his step and finally saw Hina for the first time today. She had to leave earlier than he did so it was just Takemitchy and Chifuyu walking to school with the other Mizo Mid guys this morning. He didn't have the chance to give Hina his Giri-choco since then. He knew it was usually girls who gave them, but he needed to repay Hina for helping him out with his gift for Mikey. Her mom, Mrs. Tachibana, was a life saver as he felt the little box still in his pocket.
"Takemitchy-kun!" He spun around when he heard the girl he was searching for.
"Hina-chan!" He waved as they approached one another excitedly, "Here," He handed off a small bag of chocolates and to his surprise Hina returned the favor.
"How were your classes today?"
"Chifuyu bailed halfway through the day, but they were fine." Takemitchy shrugged his shoulders, but wasn't too worried. Maybe Chifuyu had something come up with his new job at that pet store?
They grinned together and were about to speak more until he heard the familiar 'Babbuu~Babbuu~Babbuu'.
He grinned and turned swiftly, "Mikey!" And there was Mikey. He was in that white tank top and the oversized black sweater, his bare shoulders slightly red from the sun. His hair was let down, longer than ever, with his bangs in his face. He sat back and pushed them to the side and Takemitchy started blushing from staring.
He was so beautiful.
"I gotta go, Hina-chan!" He bowed his head and took off towards Mikey with Hina shouting 'Good Luck'.
"Manjirou!" Takemitchy greeted as he barreled into his boyfriend with a mega-watt smile and Mikey corrected their weight so they wouldn't topple his bike.
"Wow, you're excited Takemitchy," Mikey gave that lazy smile that Takemitchy loved so much and he leaned in, lips pressing to his boyfriend's eagerly. Mikey didn't resist, but he did pull away hurriedly, "We gotta be quick. It's almost sunset."
That's right it was almost five in the evening wasn't it? His study session was that long wasn't it? Well it had to be if he wanted to get good enough grades to qualify for the college scholarship he wanted for business school.
Takemitchy threw a leg over the bike and adjusted his messenger bag. He leaned forward, head rested against Mikey's warm back and arms wrapped around his waist, all snuggled in.
"Ready?" Mikey asked as he revved the Babu.
"Yeah."
And they were off.
Takemitchy enjoyed the ride as he was always the opportunist to hold Mikey close. The vibrating from the bike, the warmth of Mikey's body and the cold from the rushing wind was enough to lull the boy into a restful state.
He felt blessed when he heard Mikey chuckle.
When the two pulled up to the shrine nothing seemed to immediately jump out at him. It was touching that they're at the shrine again, somewhere so special to the both of them. This was where so many incredible things happened... it's where they reconnected after an agonizing year apart.
Takemitchy leaved his messenger bag behind and they ascended the stairs, Takemitchy's arm was wrapped tightly around Mikey's own and Takemitchy noticed that the other was strangely quiet.
"Are you alright, Mikey?" Takemitchy asked with an innocent tilt of the head that had Mikey blushing and turning away slightly.
"Yeah... just excited."
"Oh yeah? For.... what?" He had to pause as they reached the top of the stairs and... ahead of him was an effort that he did not expect from Mikey.
The sun was mostly set, so the red lanterns that lined the path to the shrine stairs glowed ethereally as the red light casted a glow to the path made of red petals between them. They stretched all the way to the dais where Mikey would have stood as the commander of Toman and at the end laid a single bouquet of flowers on it's side.
The beauty of what laid before the two choked Takemitchy up, he couldn't speak. His arm unwound from Mikey's and he grabbed his hand instead, the other humming softly at the action.
Mikey led him further and when Takemitchy looked at the other, his features were glowing. The red on his skin made him look like an other worldly being.
He was beautiful too.
He gazed at his feet as they passed over red petals, the flowers scattering with the evening breeze. Was this what Mikey had planned for him? He came up with this? This? It as beautiful.
Tears blotted Takemitchy's vision as they made it the the end and Mikey bent to pick up the flowers.
"It took a lot of effort to understand flower language, so I hope you like them," Mikey spoke shyly, the flowers slightly obscuring his soft smile.
Takemitchy accepted the flowers wrapped in a white cellophane like sheath and they held the bouquet between them.
"The Akaichurippu," Mikey mentioned the single red tulip in the center, "Represents all the love I'll have for you forever."
Takemitchy blushed as Mikey continued to smile.
"The bunch of Rabenda surrounding it is the faithfulness I'll always show you." Mikey's fingers reached out to hold the flowers over Takemitchy's hands, "The Sakurasou," He nodded to the cute little white, pink and purple flowers scattered between the lavenders, "Is my desire for you, that I wanna be with you forever. A-and-"
Mikey stuttered and paused as his cheeks reddened more considerably and Takemitchy's heart raced faster, "And th-the, um," He cleared his throat and continued with a whisper, "The Agisai that sits o-on the outside is my gratitude for you loving me no matter what."
Mikey said it. Mikey said all that and Takemitchy was speechless. They stood together for minutes in silence as Takemitchy just watched the way Mikey smiled.
"I love you," Takemitchy's voice sounded far away and it startled Mikey out of whatever thoughts he was in while staring at the flowers.
Mikey didn't respond verbally, but instead he bent down and picked up a single bluish flower in the sea of rose petals. Mikey's hand rose and the flower was tucked behind Takemitchy's ear.
"Oh?" Takemitchy exclaimed in surprise, the further romantic gesture unexpected as it made butterflies flap away in his tummy.
Mikey smiled such a small, fond smile, "A single Asagao, to represent our bond of love."
And the water works came. Takemitchy tried to stop his tears, but they just flowed out like a broken faucet.
"~M-Mikey~" He blubbered unattractively, but Mikey didn't look put off by it in the slightest.
"My crybaby," He whispered, "I love you too." Mikey rose a hand and his thumb traced the plane of Takemitchy's cheek bone to wipe away some of his tears.
They stood in the light of the red lanterns as the sun fully set and they were plunged into darkness, staring into the other's eyes.
Takemitchy wanted to kiss him. He wanted to lean in and kiss him, but before he could move he heard a loud, hissing whine that soon lit up the night sky with a---!!
*B O O M SHHHHHH*
Takemitchy's face reared towards the sky that was lit up in reds, blues and greens, dancing lights twinkling out of existence, just for three more to take their place. Again. And again.
The fireworks continued as the lovers held the flowers between themselves and stared up at the sky. The moment was magical and Takemitchy had to wonder who was helping Mikey out because these were far too many coincidences.
He placed it on the back burner as he turned to Mikey as the fireworks continued and felt now was the perfect time.
He dove one hand into his pocket and fisted a velvet case, something he had been excited to give Mikey for the last few weeks.
He held the case up to Mikey, it sat in the palm of his hand as the fireworks drowned out their words, so Takemitchy said none. He simply smiled and Mikey stared at the object with wide eyes, obviously knowing exactly what that was.
He let go of the flowers and opened the box in the palm of Takemitchy's hand. In the case was two rings, both silver and, Mikey's eyes glistened as he saw the little taiyaki fish engraved in a bronze on the outside of both rings.
Mikey reached for one and plucked it from the box and didn't quite know what to do with it until Takemitchy offered his right hand, fist closing around the box with the second ring.
"Will you be my fiancé, Manjirou?" Takemitchy finally asked when the fire works ended.
Takemitchy watched as Mikey's black eyes widened, "You're... asking me?"
The two stared at one another and Takemitchy took the initiative and leaned in, soft lips pressing against a red cheek. He stayed close, the flowers pressed between their chests as he removed the other ring and placed it on Mikey's finger.
The cute little engraved taiyaki stared back up at Mikey who was ogling it in wonder.
Takemitchy touched his forehead to Mikey's and smiled, "I wanna be together with you."
Black eyes glanced away from the ring and back to Takemitchy.
"I love you," Mikey whispered as he leaned in further.
Their lips met and a final firework set off.
They stood in the darkness, illuminated by paper lanterns and promised forever.