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It's a dull grey day when Kokichi leaves therapy. The streets are packed, busy as they always are, and he tugs his hoodie deeper into his face.
He's not in the mood to be recognized, even after the hype of Danganronpa has long since died down. People still blame him for ruining the show, and he prefers to keep a low profile nowadays.
As he trails along the large windows of various shops, his eyes catch on a display of red roses and a long dark red dress. There's a heart sign attached, a ridiculous price that doesn't quite concern him, but that's not really the issue here.
He fishes his phone out of his pocket and unlocks the screen. February 13th. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Strange to think, that they have time to worry about such mundane things now.
It's been almost a year since the killing game, and he thinks they are slowly able to move on. It definitely was a hard time, but well worth the effort.
Christmas had been nice, although Korekiyo had a minor breakdown over the scarf Kokichi had gotten him. Happy tears, though. Said he's never received a gift for Christmas before.
It had been such a small thing, not even that creative, Kokichi thinks, because it was just the same bandana he has, and he knows Korekiyo likes things that remind him of Kokichi when he's not around.
Kokichi feels stupid now, because how could he forget Valentine's Day? More so, he's pretty sure Korekiyo doesn't expect anything, which makes the matter even worse. He fishes his phone out of his pocket and opens the chat window.
'Missed my bus, I'll be home a bit later. You okay?'
He learned that Korekiyo gets anxious when he doesn't return on time. Really found it out the hard way, thinking fifteen minutes wouldn't make much of a difference, finding Korekiyo crying in the bathroom close to calling the police because he thought he got hurt.
Not something that's entirely out of the question. Especially in the first months after Danganronpa ended, the streets had been dangerous, and Kokichi evaded one too many times being beaten up by angry fans for ending their sick show.
He gets scared, when Kokichi is gone for too long, and sure, they eventually have to work on his abandonment issues and ease his anxiety, but for now, he's making steady progress.
'I'll be alright. Shall I cook dinner tonight?'
Kokichi smiles at his phone. In the past, he'd now have a frantic Korekiyo on the line, begging him to come home. It's gotten better, and if he's honest, it's a nice feeling knowing there's someone waiting for him back home.
Someone who cares, who would be sad if he didn't return and who worries. Who knows his bad days even when he pretends he's fine, and all that through Korekiyo's own issues. He never tires of him. He plays along, even if Kokichi's antics border stupid. It entertains Korekiyo, wholeheartedly, and Kokichi falls in love with him each time all over again.
'Sounds good. I'll be back soon.'
He pockets the phone and hops into the store. It's packed with all things red and black, pink and white, romantic and fluffy. Kokichi's eyes wander over the displays.
So, what exactly should he get him? He feels like roses or chocolate aren't nearly enough. No, he wants something special, something that makes Korekiyo's amber eyes spark. Something that tells him he's loved, that Kokichi put thought into it.
But frankly, Kokichi has no idea what that could be. Korekiyo never really says that he wants anything, and Kokichi thinks he's sometimes still stuck in his own head, thinking that he doesn't deserve to voice his wishes.
His eyes stop on a shelf with various plastic roses. He wants this to be nice. A smile creeps over his face as he starts stacking items into his arms. Roughly half an hour later, he's armed with a black plastic bag as he makes his way home.
A very convenient skill of Kokichi is that he's able to wake up at a set time without an alarm. Just five minutes shy of 5 am, he wakes up on Valentine's Day morning.
Korekiyo's breathing is the only thing breaking the silence, and just for another minute, he takes in the proximity. He's half laying over his chest, Korekiyo's arm loosely wrapped around him. Warmth seeps into his body, like the first rays of the spring sun after a harsh winter.
He looks so peaceful like this, when his face is all smooth velvets, not scrunched in worry or anxiety or the remnants of another nightmare present on his features. A serenity Kokichi wishes he could have more often. He deserves the break.
Kokichi hates to wiggle out of the covers, but he doesn't want to miss his chance. Slowly, he leaves the bedroom and makes his way over to the bookshelf, where he hid the plastic bag of items he bought yesterday.
Getting past Korekiyo without him seeing it had been a close call, but he was pretty busy with dinner preparations, so Kokichi thinks he didn't notice. That, or he's simply tactful enough not to pry. Something Kokichi would admittedly not be able to hold off on.
So he gets to work, unpacks the bag and arranges the items on the floor of their living room, before heading to the kitchen. Korekiyo has a pretty set routine. One thing is for certain - he gets up every day at 6 am sharp, like clockwork, and -
"Kokichi? Are you up already?"
- today is no exception. Kokichi quickly pulls the curtains closed to shield his surprise from the milky morning sunlight when Korekiyo steps into the dimply lit room.
Only the light of the orange LED candles shines now, and Kokichi crosses his arms behind his arms with a subtle bow. He's trying not to stammer, takes a deep breath and focuses on keeping his voice firm.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Kiyo", he says, and ignores the tremble of his lower lip. The room stays silent, and the silence stretches into what feels like hours, but actually can only be a few seconds before Kokichi dares to glance up to him.
And Korekiyo is just standing there, the back of his hand pressed against his mouth, his eyes big and swimming like troubled water threatening to overflow, sparkling in the faint LED reflections.
"Kokichi", is all he can press out, a single tear escapes his right eye and runs all over his face. Kokichi sighs. Relief washes over him and he straightens back up, offering his hand to him.
"Come on. There's more."
Korekiyo takes his hand, and Kokichi brushes his thumb over the back of it. Here, within the walls of their home, Korekiyo grew to feel safe enough without the bandages or the mask in place. He still wears them when they go out, but Kokichi feels like this is fragile, something just for his eyes to see.
He guides Korekiyo over to the spot where he arranged the pillows around a blanket on the floor, beckons him to sit down, then wraps his favorite black fleece blanket around his shoulders.
The living room is covered in black and red rose leaves, fake ones, but Kokichi knows Korekiyo wouldn't like it if he destroyed real flowers for decoration. Seated comfortably now, Kokichi hops over to the kitchen and returns just a few minutes later with a silver tray.
There's toast on the plate, with a thin line of blueberry jam, Korekiyo's favorite, and a mug of green tea. Littered around are heart shaped chocolate pralines, a chocolate muffin in the middle of them.
There's a little cardboard box placed on the side, neatly wrapped in black paper with a little red bow. He sets down the tray in front of Korekiyo, before plopping down on the floor as well, stifling back a yawn.
Korekiyo chuckles, and it's light and melodic, because it's genuine amusement. He knows that this isn't usually Kokichi's time to be awake, when Korekiyo often lets him sleep in until 9 am.
And Kokichi, chronically tired as he is, will just take a few bites of breakfast and lay on the sofa to catch another hour of sleep. He settles to lean back, propped on his arms, while Korekiyo eats, sips his tea, before setting the tray aside to take the box.
"Kokichi?"
Kokichi looks down from the spot on the ceiling he has been staring at. Korekiyo is just sitting there, with his legs folded and his arms open. He smiles and shuffles over to him, settling down in front of him and laying down, resting his head inside his lap as Korekiyo closes his arms around him, opening the box on his chest.
Kokichi can't see the content from his position, but he knows what to imagine. A pair of black, heart-shaped earrings, a bat-like wing on either side. Korekiyo taps his finger against the shimmering jewelry.
"They are beautiful", he whispers, setting the box to the side, closing his arms loosely around him again, "You... you went out of your way, for me. Nobody ever has... I..."
Kokichi hears a quiet sob. He reaches up and wraps his hands around Korekiyo's, circling his thumbs over the back of them. It's as touching as it's heartbreaking. He wants this to be normal for him, one day. That he knows he deserves gifts and love and appreciation.
"You deserve so much more. And I'll make sure you get more. Because I love you, and I'll gladly show you just that, every single day."
Korekiyo takes a shaky breath, and the light gets drowned out as he leans forward, placing a somewhat messy upside-down kiss on Kokichi's lips. But it's perfect, just like that. Because it's not perfect. Because it's them, and that's the only way Kokichi needs it to be.
"What would I do without you?", Korekiyo whispers into his parted lips, causing Kokichi to gape. His vision is obscured by dark green, and he thinks it's the most beautiful color he's ever seen.
"I don't think you have to worry about that", he responds, feeling his breath ghost past his face. There's just the hint of a chuckle before Korekiyo sits back up, Kokichi reaches his hand out to swirl a strand of hair around his finger.
Korekiyo hums, and just a second later he's greeted by a praline between slender fingers, just in front of his face. He looks down to him expectantly, and Kokichi feels starstruck yet again. Just faintly illuminated, his eyes look dark from this angle, but not any less beautiful.
"Huh? I got them for you, though."
He carefully takes the chocolate between his lips, and Korekiyo wraps his arms around him again. The praline melts against his tongue. It's so nice, so cozy, warm against his back, Korekiyo's scent lulling him into a sense of security he wouldn't openly admit to feel.
"It's nicer to share", Korekiyo says, as he gently takes Kokichi's left hand. He slides a ring on his finger - silver, like the kind Rantaro wears, but it looks a lot more expensive. A singular, dark violet jewel in the shape of a star sitting in the middle.
Kokichi stares at it, while Korekiyo holds his hand between his like it's a small, wounded bird, and he's scared to injure it further. A tremor runs through his fingers, and his voice is a bit choked when he speaks again.
"I want to spend my life with you, Kokichi", Korekiyo whispers, "And you don't have to give me a response now, and not tomorrow, or anytime soon but-"
"My response is yes. I do. I want. It's yes", Kokichi cuts him off, closing his fingers around Korekiyo's.
"Y...You do?"
Kokichi chuckles and shuffles, leaning deeper into his arms. If anyone told him back just after the killing game that he would ever find happiness like this, he would have laughed. But now things are different.
"Yeah. I don't want to spend my time with anyone else. I'm right where I want to be. Even if we just stay here and eat chocolate all day. It's what I want. Wherever, whatever, as long as it's with you."
And it's all the truth. Korekiyo hums, leans back against the sofa behind them, and Kokichi thinks he closes his eyes. He sighs, before he lets his eyes fall closed as well.
He's going to spend his life with him, he briefly thinks, imagining a wedding at the beach. Inviting all of their friends, and it would be the best day of his life. It will be. Enough to overshadow the ghosts of the past.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Kokichi", Korekiyo mumbles, already drifting off. Kokichi smiles, tiredness catching up to him. Exciting, to dream about what the future will hold. Now, when he can allow himself to let go of Danganronpa and look ahead. It's a long way to a normal life, he knows, but as long as Korekiyo is right here, he thinks they can make it.