Chapter Text
“Good evening! Welcome to Trickstar florists! What can I do for you today?”
It was a normal day at the flower shop as usual. The evening shift was always the best, with the soft glow of the lanterns adorning the overgrown small shop unit, surrounded by beautiful flower arrangements on display. It was truly so peaceful this time of day, a good escape from the city.
The chime of the bell has snapped Mao out of his trance. He turned off the phone in his hands as he looked up at his next customer.
Mao has to admit, the man was pretty good looking. A striking jawline with jet black hair, piercing red eyes and a beautifully tailored suit. He can feel his face heating up a little, just a little.
“Ah… I can’t believe I had to actually get flowers this time.” Yawned the man, looking a little bit grouchy. He reminded him of a little kindergartener who didn’t get his afternoon nap, thought Mao as he silently giggled to himself.
“What kind of flowers would you like? Are you taking someone out perhaps? An anniversary” Mao prodded with the roses displayed by his side, rubbing his fingers along the waxy velvety petals fighting nervously, terrified to look him in the eye.
“I’m afraid the reason might be a little bit sadder than that.” Replied the mysterious man, pulling out a piece of paper from his chest pocket of his expensive looking suit. “A…colleague of mine has died, and I'm expected to send flowers.”
“I-I’m terribly sorry for your loss.”
“Don’t worry about it.” The man says as he continues to inspect the flowers displayed around the shop. “He wasn’t a close colleague, so a traditional funeral bouquet would do.” He hands the paper to Mao nonchalantly. “Address it to this man, I can’t be bothered to read it out.”
“W-well alright! Uh, sir, how big do you want this bouquet?” He has to admit he’s quite taken aback by the man’s attitude, he’s not sure how to respond to the man’s nonchalance. “Any specific requirements?”
The man has his hands tucked into the pockets of his trousers, shoulders loose and leaning back looking as if he hasn’t got a care in the world. Yet Mao feels naked under his gaze, as if his red eyes were reading him like an open book, studying him intensely.
His smile was soft, yet there was something about that look that sent a chill down his spine. Mao doesn’t know exactly what it was about this man and his gaze, but he felt like a shivering mouse, avoiding a cat.
“Sweetheart, it’s fine. Make it however you see fit, I can pay for whatever.” He lazily grins. “Can you get this done by… tomorrow? Same time?” Oh, how Mao’s heart jumped in his chest when he called him sweetheart.
“Y-yeah! No problem!” He tries to act like he isn’t intimidated, smiling as wide as he can to combat that chill. “Is that all for today?”
“Yep.” He said, Popping the p sound. “Thanks. Gotta go now. Nice meeting you gorgeous, I’ll see you tomorrow.” He swings the outer coat of his three piece suit over his shoulder as he walks out the door, bell chiming once more.
Mao breathed a deep sigh of relief, as he got on to picking out the white lilies he would need for his next arrangement, shaking a little.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the man for the whole night, feeling as if the man had conquered his thoughts. He looked forward to seeing him tomorrow, yet terrified.
.
.
.
.
.
“A…funeral bouquet ?” Subaru cocks his head to the side as he stares at Mao quizzically. “We’ve never done this before though.”
Subaru and Mao were at the workbench, placing, arranging and rearranging the lilies and daisies in the brown basket.
“Yeah. The man who ordered it was so scary too!” Mao gulps, remembering the man’s stare piercing through his skull. “He was so laid back, yet so intimidating! I felt like I was going to melt under his gaze.”
“Well! Well! Tell me about him?”
“Uh… let’s see..” Mao fidgets with the white lily in his hands, rolling the stem between his fingers. “He was… kind of cute. He had black hair and red eyes—“
“Like a Vampire!” Subaru grins. “Sally, was he a vampire?!”
“Vampires don’t exist Subaru. He wore this three piece suit that looked super expensive, more expensive than my life savings I’m willing to bet!” Mao chuckles, he feels the heat rising up to his face again as his heartbeat quickens. “He looked so dreamy, but so scary too! I felt like I was melting under his gaze—“
“Oh! I know! You’ve got a crush!” Makoto sticks his head out from the back of the shop, Mao can hear the giggles he was trying to stifle. He feels his heartbeat quicken even more as his face starts to actually flush with red. “Did you get a name with the pretty face? Or did he just walk out?”
Now Subaru’s giggling too! Great—He’s going to be eternally teased by these two if he doesn’t make it out here alive today.
“Ooooo~ Sally’s got a crush~ Sally’s got a crush~”
“I-I do not!” Mao barely stuttered out, trying to bury his face into his palm to hide the deep flush. “G-geez, you guys are jumping to conclusions!”
“Don’t deny it Isara-kun,” Makoto shares a wide knowing grin with Subaru. “It’s alright, we’re friends here. You can tell us anything~” they start giggling like school girls, grins so wide that they reach their eyes. Mao just wants to dig a hole and bury himself in it.
“Yeah yeah~ Come on Sally, let us stay a little during your shift to see him? I just want to see if he truly is boyfriend material~”
.
.
.
.
.
.
The bell chimes again that evening. He can still hear those two giggling in the back, as he tried to force out a smile to the handsome man walking through the door.
“Hey. How’s the bouquet going? Are you done with it yet?” He flashes Mao a lazy grin. Mao feels his ears turn red as cupid strikes an arrow into his heart.
“I-it’s done Sir—“
“Please, no ‘sir’, that makes me sound like my brother. Just call me Ritsu.” The man—no Ritsu says as he yawns. “What’s your name? You seem like the type to have a cute name.”
“…sara”
“Sorry, I couldn’t hear you.”
“Mao..Isara..”
Ritsu lets out a light chuckle. “Mao huh? Sounds like a cat. I think I’m gonna call you Maa-kun! That’s cute!”
“Uhhh, so I guess you’re…Ritchan?” He silently cringes internally. Wow… Mao what a stupid way to make your totally not crush think you’re corny. Good going.
The giggles in the back ramp up even more, not even bothering to stifle it down anymore. Mao just wants to dig a hole and die in it now, it has to be better than this embarrassment.
“Ritchan huh? I love it. It’s adorable like you.” Mao feels his heart soar in ecstasy. “Can I please see the flowers?”
“C-coming right up!”
.
.
.
.
Ritsu’s intense gaze was no longer directed at him, instead inspecting the basket arranged with flowers. Mao can feel the sweat forming on his forehead, as a million scenarios run through his mind, terrified of what Ritsu would think of the basket.
Is it not to his liking? Is it ugly? Was it too disrespectful? Was it too depressing—was it too joyous?!
“I did remember asking for a boquet, not a basket.”
Eek! Mao feels the chill run down his spine once again. Ritsu’s tone was so harsh— he just wanted to cry under his scrutinising gaze. He knew something was wrong with his work—
“But…I thought—“
“Oh well…I did ask you to choose whatever size you want for creative freedom and all that. Maa-kun, thank you. It’s beautiful.” Ritsu smiles.
“N-no problem!” He doesn’t even notice the full fledged laughs in the back room, nor the flowers. All he saw was the sincere smile on Ritsu’s face.
It was so… dreamy. His red eyes were so beautiful and his hair was so pristine. His sharp canines, flashing as he lazily smiled without a care in the world.
How could anyone smile like that? He doesn’t know who, but he’s pretty sure only this man who he’s met for a day could pull it off.
“Well, I’ll see you again.” His knowing grin spreads to the corners of his eyes, Making Mao’s heart stop for the bajillionth time today. “Bye for now Maa-kun”
His footsteps resonate with the chime of the bells as he opens the door, but Mao can’t help but feel disappointed that it was already over.
He sinks back into the stool behind the counter, hoping to calm his beating heart—-
“SALLY! YOU DIDN’T GET HIS NUMBER?!”
“MAA-KUN?! RITCHAN?! WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT ISARA-KUN!”
Makoto and Subaru are kicking and hitting the floor, their rambunctious laughter overpowering the soft music playing to help the ambiance of the shop. Mao blushes even harder, he thinks he’s honestly starting to turn purple instead of red. He hears a few sobs, and he’s pretty sure they’re crying out of sheer ecstasy at this point.
He sighs deeply, regretting ever telling these two idiots about the handsome man.
“SALLY.—HAHAHAHA—“ Subaru howls with more laughter. “M-MY SIDES HURT SO MUCH FROM LAUGHING—“
Great.
.
.
.
.
.
Makoto pulls the key out the door, placing it in his pocket. The shop has closed for the day, and their heading back to their house.
The street lamps illuminate the pavement with a lovely mellow glow, as the autumn chill breezes through their hair. Mao can see the nice red brick townhouses lined up neatly along, as the cars on the streets have gone quiet.
It’s beautiful, he thinks. how the autumn can make the trees turn from green to red.
“The trees are so pretty, the color is so vibrant and red.” Mao remarks, picking up a fallen maple leaf. He looks at the beautiful transition from yellow to red. He can’t help but—
“Like a certain someone’s eyes eh?” Subaru sends him a punchable look, teasing him. “I’m sure your boyfriend will appreciate your sentiment—“
“H-HE’S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!” Mao whisper-screams. He’s so done with their teasing today, they haven’t shut up since Ritsu left the shop!
“Oh come on Isara-kun! It’s not everyday that someone catches your eye!” Chuckles Makoto. “You deserve to have some fun with a hot dude you know. He seems to like you back too.”
Likes him back? No way! How could someone so handsome, refined and so elegant like him out of all people? Just plain boring Mao?
“N-no way! You’ve got it all wrong!”
“Don’t deny it Sally! We all saw how he looked at you. And that nickname, and the horrendous flirting.” Groans Subaru “I felt like I was gonna die when I heard him call you gorgeous or sweetheart for the gazillionth time.” Gagging visibly. “I swear if this is some flower shop romance shit, and he shows up again tomorrow I will—“
.
.
.
.
.
.
“YOU’VE GOT TO BE FUCKING JOKING ME— HOW INFATUATED IS THIS DUDE WITH SALLY?!”
“Good morning Maa-kun~”
Mao can hear the loud smack coming from Subaru’s facepalm from the back.
Welp.