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Fusion in Red and White.
It didn't seem like all that long ago when Celina had despised Yuri's very presence, always rejecting his requests to spend time with her. He had always been annoying at his best and dangerous at his worst, unstable and unpredictable, and she had believed that someone like him couldn't change.
She had been wrong. He was still unpredictable, but he had learned to stop being quite so aggressive, and some of the conflicts he got involved in were actually resolved peacefully these days. His special interest in her had grown, and she had been forced to push him away for a while for her sake, but he seemed to have learned his lesson after that - his demands became less frequent, until they stopped altogether, and that was when she decided to approach him instead.
He had been heartbroken by her rejection, but surprisingly understanding, and Celina's heart had been melted by Yuri's genuine display of regret and acceptance. Now, the two were... together was a bit of a strong word, but they had their dalliances, and she had somehow come to enjoy having him around.
She had learned what he liked and didn't like, and thus finding a gift for him was an easy task. The fanciest chocolates around, dressed in a floral box and a purple ribbon, quite a bit outside of her normal price range - but she had saved up for this occasion, and it wasn't like she got him gifts every day. He didn't deserve to be spoiled that much.
Celina usually knew where to find Yuri. He frequented a few specific locations, and today seemed like a garden day - his personal garden, filled with some of the nastiest plants known to mankind, but they made him happy, so she didn't stop him. At the very least, they weren't as vile and disgusting as his Predaplants...
Sure enough, he was there, happily talking to his leafy pets. Celina had judged him for this tendency at first, but realized after that it wasn't that much different from how she talked with her monsters, and now she found it bizarrely endearing. That described him in general, if she was to be honest, and perhaps that was what had drawn her to him in the first place.
"Oh?" Yuri looked up from what he was doing, having easily noticed Celina's presence. "And what brings you here today?"
He always had a smug undertone to his voice, even when he was trying to be serious, and it had annoyed Celina to no end before. Now, she tolerated it the same as his other troublesome mannerisms - he teased her a lot, but he also offered her praise from time to time.
"I got you something," she told him as she approached him, and once she was within range, she held out the package to him. He studied it for a moment, blinking a few times, and then his lips curled into a smirk.
"Ah, my favorite," Yuri observed, and he took the box from her with surprising gentleness. "You must've spent all your savings from the past month on this..."
...He was definitely still a jerk. Celina bit her tongue to keep from snapping at him, then gave a reluctant nod, confirming his suspicion - there was no use lying to him.
"I do appreciate it." Yuri's expression softened into a smile, one that he reserved only for her. "Thank you very much." He paused, tucking the box away in the bag he was carrying around, and then he pulled another box out of the same bag. "I haven't forgotten what time of year it is. I got you a present, too... though you'll have to pardon me sparing the expense."
Celina stared at him for a long moment, debating whether or not she should give him the satisfaction of accepting his gift if he was going to be like that. She ultimately decided that it was a fair exchange, and took the box from him, scanning it over.
This was not the same gift he'd gotten her last time. It didn't look or sound edible - something metallic jingled from within as she moved it around - and she wondered what in the world this present could have been. She looked back up at him for a moment, and his smile broadened in response, and then she sighed and untied the ribbon holding the box together, lifting the lid from it.
A necklace with a short golden chain, studded with amethyst and sapphire. A small pendant hung down, bearing a white opal that sparkled in the afternoon light, and her eyes widened - this was definitely not a cheap gift, despite what he had said.
Now she felt bad for not getting him something more elaborate.
"...Really?" was all Celina could think to say, dumbstruck by the gesture and the brilliance of the necklace. Amethyst for him and sapphire for her, with the opal representing the moon-
"I suppose you like it, then?" Yuri's smile became smug all over again, knowing that the answer to his question was a resounding yes. "I'll take your stunned silence as-"
Celina closed the box, shoved it in her own pack, then grabbed his face and pulled him in for a kiss - more to shut him up than anything, though he didn't object to the gesture. He placed his hands on her shoulders, but let her take the lead, humming with delight as she pushed him against the very convenient support which stood behind him, covered with vines - thankfully not of the thorny kind.
This had gone far better than she anticipated, but now she knew that he wouldn't settle for something so simple as candy anymore. He'd made the first move, so next time, she would have to step up her game...
Synchronized in Red and White.
Things had changed somewhat in New Domino City, but many of the same problems still remained. Life was still difficult for the Commons, and more often than not, people had to scrape by to survive - but Rin had a strong moral code that she refused to deviate from.
...Most of the time. There was a very special occasion coming up, and she had a very special someone who she wanted to get a very special gift for. That special someone pranced beside her, excited by the simple fact of being able to spend time with her, and she gave him a fond smile as they passed by an open-air stand with some delicious-looking sweets.
Out of her normal price range - unusual in the Commons - but Rin stopped and turned back anyway, causing her energetic partner to look back at her in confusion. It was tradition to surprise one's special someone on this day, but this was far too good an opportunity to pass up.
"What's up, Rin-Rin?" Yugo inquired as he followed her over to the stand, sniffing the air. "That smells amazing."
Easily distracted as always, and while it was frustrating sometimes, Rin wouldn't have it any other way. She signaled the stand's owner, a dark-skinned middle-aged woman with long dreadlocks, and then offered Yugo a simple smile in an effort to placate him.
"Can I have one of these?" Rin asked of the stand's owner, pointing out a bundle of taffy and chocolate. "It's for him." She gestured back at Yugo, and his eyes widened as he realized what she was doing.
"Oh, for your sweetheart?" the woman running the stand teased, and she tied up one of the bundles in a pretty green ribbon before handing it over. "That day is coming up... but isn't it usually the other way around?"
Rin smiled back at the woman. "Let's just say we do things differently." She took the bundle and handed over her payment, then stepped away from the stand, glancing back one last time - the woman had a knowing smile on her face.
"Like I said, it's for you," Rin told Yugo, and her smile broadened. "Just like last year."
"You didn't have to..." Yugo tried his hardest to be modest - not exactly his forte. "...But thanks. I didn't expect you to drop that much on candy."
"Well..." Rin hesitated - she still wasn't used to saying this part out loud. "It's... it's because... well..."
"Because I'm your special someone," Yugo declared, lacking even an ounce of the shame she had as he swiped the package from her. "And you're the best, Rin-Rin. I couldn't ask for a better special someone."
Rin breathed a small sigh, though the smile didn't leave her face. "Just don't eat them all in one sitting. Those were expensive... I want you to enjoy them."
"Yeah, I know." Yugo's ever-present grin softened into a smile of his own as he tucked the bundle away in his bag. "By the way, I got something for you, too."
As per usual. He always got her little gifts, sometimes for no reason at all, and for this occasion... Rin nodded, then gave him an expectant look, waiting for whatever he had in store for her.
"Ta-da!" Yugo pulled a small bundle of his own out of his bag, and it was immediately obvious what he'd gotten for her. "I found these by the road earlier, when I was out testing our runner."
A cute little bouquet of flowers, not expertly arranged by any means, and they looked like the sort one wouldn't bother spending money on. A typical Yugo gift, though his description did concern Rin somewhat.
"You didn't steal these from someone else's property, did you?" Rin narrowed her eyes at him. "If you did-"
"Relax," Yugo assured her, waving his free hand dismissively. "The guy there said I could take as many as I wanted. He even helped me with our runner... it's running even better now!"
That sounded dubious, but Rin accepted the explanation regardless. She did appreciate that Yugo had gone so far out of his way to get her a present, and if the property owner didn't mind...
"Thanks." Rin accepted the cheap, makeshift bouquet without further complaint, and she sniffed the flowers - they smelled wonderful. "These are better than I thought they'd be. You did great, Yugo."
"R-really?" Yugo's face turned a lovely shade of pink, and his grin returned. "I-I'm glad you like 'em! I picked them because they smelled really sweet... just like you."
One of the worst pick-up lines Rin had ever heard, but that was just like him. It touched her regardless, and she tucked the little bundle of flowers away in her hair - not the most stable, but she had something else she wanted to give him.
She leaned in and planted a kiss to his cheek, and she felt the way his face heated up even further at the gesture. When she pulled away, he leaned in himself, aiming for her mouth - and even though they were in the middle of a busy street, with that candy stand owner still watching, she didn't turn down his kiss and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him in.
Miraculously, his tiny bouquet didn't fall out of her hair.
Overlaying in Red and White.
Today was a very special day, and Lulu was spending it with her brother.
It was, in retrospect, kind of ridiculous. She'd asked Shay if he would be willing to go out with her so that they could discuss some things, and while he'd seemed confused and a little upset (as he often was), he had accepted. She was one of the few people he could tolerate being around, and as the older sibling, he also felt an obligation to give her advice - sometimes unwarranted, but definitely not this time.
The two had found a relatively quiet corner of town - a difficult thing in Heartland City - and Lulu had seated herself on a nearby bench, while Shay stood beside her, his expression expectant. Since she'd made a weird request, he deserved a proper explanation, so she took a deep breath and braced herself for what she was about to say.
"Shay," Lulu began, "what sort of gift do you think Yuto would like?"
"...What?" Shay sounded equal parts surprised and incredulous. "Why are you asking me?"
"Well... because you two are best friends." Lulu hung her head, feeling a little embarrassed. "I thought that you might have a better idea of what he'd like..."
"I'd say you know him pretty well, too," Shay pointed out. "Figure it out yourself." He paused, and his tone softened. "...I think he'd like just about anything if it's from you."
When they'd first started dating, Lulu had been terrified of the prospect of her brother finding out about her relationship with Yuto. That had changed quickly - Shay made it clear that he approved, even if he did threaten Yuto once or twice at first.
"That's a good point." Lulu allowed herself a smile. "I'm sorry for taking up your time." She considered what day it was. "...After all, shouldn't you be spending it with your own special someone?"
Shay actually laughed at that, and then he shook his head, smiling back at her. "No, there isn't anyone on my mind. Thanks for your concern, though."
"I didn't think so." Lulu giggled. "Just let me know if you ever meet the right guy, okay?"
"I will," Shay assured her. "So that you can stop bothering me." Despite his words, the smile didn't leave his face - he was used to her teasing, and knew how to deal it back in equal measure.
That had led to a lot of embarrassment with Yuto...
"Then I'll be off." Lulu stood up, glancing over at her brother one last time. "Thank you for the advice. I think I know what I'll get for him."
"Don't keep him waiting." Shay gave a single nod. "...Though I'm sure he'd wait all day for you."
Lulu hummed and nodded back, and then she began to walk away, keeping his advice in mind. Shay was right - Yuto always seemed happy to just spend time with her, so wouldn't he be that much happier if he got a gift from her, regardless of what it was?
---
It took more time finding Yuto's gift than deciding on it. Lulu recalled the accessories he wore these days - a set of black leather bracelets, studded with metal - and considered the possibility that, with how often he wore them, they'd started to wear down. Replacements were in order, and when she finally found what she was looking for, she pranced out the door of the shop, excited to show her boyfriend what she'd gotten him.
To Lulu's surprise, Yuto wasn't far from the store. He leaned against a wall just behind the building, staring off into nowhere with an absent look on his face; he didn't even notice her at first, and she tried waving over at him, to no avail.
"Yuto!" Lulu called out at last. "Hey there!"
Yuto stiffened and blinked a few times, then looked over at her, blushing. "...Hey, Lulu. What's up?"
...He was just adorable.
"I bought you a gift," Lulu told him, and she walked over in front of him. "You do remember what day it is, right?"
"Of course I do." Through his blush, Yuto managed a smile. "I got something for you, too."
That was just like him - he loved to spoil her, even when it wasn't a special occasion. Lulu looked forward to his gift, but she wanted to present hers first.
"Here you go." Lulu held out the box that contained the twin bracelets she'd bought, and Yuto peered down at it for a moment before accepting it. He looked back up at her, asking for confirmation that he could open it, and she nodded, smiling brightly at him.
"That's..." As Yuto opened the box, his eyes went wide. "...They look the same as..." His gaze strayed to one of the bracelets he was currently wearing, and... yep, they looked like they'd seen better days. As it turned out, this was the perfect gift.
"I thought you might want them," Lulu told him, giggling. "So, do you like them?"
"I love them." Yuto's smile broadened, and he took a moment to slip his old accessories off and replace them with the new ones. "They're a little tight, but they'll grow onto me."
"Oh, sorry..." Lulu didn't get to finish her apology - Yuto stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder, and when she met his gaze, she saw a warm look in his eyes.
"That's normal," Yuto informed her. "These are the right size. You did great, really."
He seemed embarrassed by all the praise he was heaping onto her, and that prompted another giggle from her. Some things never changed...
"I'm glad you like them." Lulu eyed the bag that Yuto carried with him, curious. "Sooo..."
Yuto nodded, then tucked away the box she'd given him - holding his old bracelets - and pulled out another box. This one was more colorful, with a frilly purple ribbon wrapped around it and little blue hearts all over it, and-
"I know it looks silly, but it made me think of you." Yuto's face turned even redder. "And... it has your favorite. I think."
"Anything from you is my favorite," Lulu declared, and she took the box from him. She could tell already what it was - the faint scent of chocolate was a dead giveaway.
Just to reassure him, she opened up the box and took a look inside. Sure enough, that was definitely her favorite... well, half of it was. The other half was another thing she enjoyed, so she had nothing to complain about - not that she would've.
"Thank you, Yuto." An idea popped into Lulu's head, and she picked up one of the chocolates. "Would you like to share?"
She didn't anticipate Yuto's face somehow turning an even deeper shade of red than it already was, and she had to hold back a fit of laughter. He was just too easy to tease.
"...Sure," Yuto murmured, after a brief silence. He watched Lulu as she placed the chocolate between her teeth, then leaned forward, putting herself within reach of his mouth.
To his credit, Yuto didn't hesitate as much as he would've a year or two ago...
Swaying in Red and White.
Yuzu had decided a while ago that she wanted to do something unique for that special day, but she hadn't quite thought it through.
Pancakes were simple enough to make, and Yuzu had thought herself capable of cooking them properly. She wasn't able to get them perfect, though, and nothing less would do for her date. It was only a week into her training that she got sick of eating pancakes for breakfast and put her project on hold, but then the day crept up on her before she knew it.
That was why she was sitting in a very average restaurant across the table from Yuya, who had ordered himself a huge stack of pancakes. She'd ordered something else for herself, of course, but watching him made her feel like she had really screwed up this time.
"Hey, Yuya..." Yuzu addressed him, hesitant, and she didn't miss the sparkle in his eyes when he looked up at her. No matter what he faced, he was always able to put on a smile, and she sort of envied that about him.
"What's on your mind, Yuzu?" Yuya tilted his head, and there was a distinct undertone of concern in his voice. Had he noticed that she was upset?
"I'm sorry," Yuzu said quickly, and then she cleared her throat. "I mean... about this. I wanted to make you dinner, but I couldn't get the recipe right and... I know this isn't as personal..."
"Hey, I don't mind," Yuya insisted, and he reached one hand across the table toward her - inviting her to hold hands. "I get pancakes, and I get to spend the evening with you. It's a win-win!"
"...You're really okay with this?" Yuzu inquired, just to make sure, though she accepted his invitation, twining her fingers with his. "You're sure easy to please..."
"I just feel bad that I didn't get anything for you." Yuya's expression shifted. "Sorry... I totally forgot about this day."
"I nearly forgot about it myself," Yuzu admitted with a giggle. "So you aren't alone... and don't worry about getting me a gift."
She wanted to say that he was right, that just spending time together was enough, but the words refused to leave her mouth. Even after all this time, she wasn't really used to them being together, and sometimes it was hard to express how she felt.
Yuya seemed to understand, though, and his grip on her hand tightened just the slightest bit. He brushed his thumb across the back of her hand, his touch gentle, and her eyelids drooped a little as she lost herself in his bright, beautiful eyes.
...Was it okay to describe him like that? He didn't seem like the sort who'd be offended, but...
"Thanks for this, Yuzu." Yuya gave her a sweet smile. "...And thanks for looking out for me all these years. I would've been completely lost without you."
That was unexpectedly sentimental, and Yuzu was caught off-guard by his statement. She stared at him for a long moment, and then managed to collect herself; she gave him a nod and a smile of her own, then returned the thumb gesture he'd made, and she took note of the way his own eyelids shuttered when she did that.
"I could say the same to you," Yuzu told him, mirroring his expression. "You're really one of a kind, Yuya."
Normally, she wouldn't say those sorts of things to him in public, but they were on a date together for a very special day, and he deserved her honesty. It was a shame he was so short - more than anything, she wanted to lean across the table and kiss him, but there was no way she'd be able to reach him without-
"Oh yeah, I just remembered!" Yuya perked up quite suddenly, grinning from ear to ear. "Actually, I do have a present for you... well, I'm going to make it when we get home..." He trailed off, winking at her, and it took a moment for Yuzu to comprehend his meaning.
Did he just imply...?
"Ummm..." Yuzu's face burned hot, but she gave him a single nod, acknowledging what he'd said. The temptation to reach for her fan and smack him for saying something like that in public was strong, but... she remembered that she'd left her fan at home, so she couldn't do that anyway.
No matter how much she loved him, he could be a real brat sometimes.
"Sorry." Yuya had evidently expected the fan as well, and his grin somehow became even wider. "I'll keep it a surprise next time. That'll make it more fun!"
"You idiot." Yuzu gripped his hand tight. "You aren't supposed to surprise a girl like that."
"Oh, yeah!" Yuya's grin immediately disappeared, and his face turned as red as his hair. "S-sorry..."
"It's okay," Yuzu assured him. "I don't mind if it's you. I know how you are... and I'll let you know if I'm not okay with it."
"O-okay..." Yuya still looked a little frightened, so Yuzu rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb again, and that seemed to calm him down. He was still blushing like mad, though, and... wow, he was really cute like this.
She wouldn't admit it out loud, but she was very much looking forward to his gift...
"I-" Before Yuzu could make any progress in her sentence, the server approached, carrying both their orders. It was more than a little impressive that the guy was able to balance that huge stack of pancakes without dropping any.
"Here's your order," the server said as he placed the two plates down on the table. "Do you need anything else?"
"No, I'm good," Yuya replied, and he glanced between the server and Yuzu briefly. "Thanks for asking!"
"Yeah, this should be good for now," Yuzu agreed, nodding. "Thank you for your service!"
"I hope you two have a great date." With those words, the server left, and both Yuya and Yuzu stared at the absurd amount of pancakes he'd ordered. Yuzu knew that her boyfriend loved pancakes, but was he really going to... no, he was definitely going to eat them all. He had an appetite even bigger than his mouth.
"Pancakes!" Yuya exclaimed, just barely within the volume limit of modesty. "Breakfast of champion dueltainers... and dinner, too! Next time, I'll have 'em for lunch!"
Yuzu couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm, though she did wonder if eating pancakes for all three meals would be at all healthy. She supposed that if he needed some help working them off, she could always lend him a hand... in an action duel, of course!