Work Text:
Typically during lunch, Yahiro would be away from his classmates, eating whatever sounded decent in the canteen while reading through a random book that he picked up. On occasion, Sakura would come join him to tell him some new story that she’s heard about or something mildly interesting. Unfortunately, today the young Ushikubo heiress was chatting away about her Jun. While he is happy for her, he doesn’t particularly enjoy hearing every detail of Sakura’s dates with Jun through her rose colored glasses.
“What about you, Yahiro?”
He looked up from his book, “Hm?”
“For White Day! Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about it?”
“Oh that.” He does get quite a few chocolates from families who want to be on his good side, most of which only deserve the bare minimum courtesy. “One of my assistants already prepared a suitable present for everyone who’s given me chocolate.”
“No, no, I’m talking about your White Day present for Megumi! Didn’t she give you a honmei chocolate on Valentine’s Day?”
She did. It’s rare that someone gave him chocolate in person (most people prefer going through their servants or use express shipping). She always has this rabbit-like demeanor that’s amusing to watch whether she’s smiling or angry so it was fun to tease her while she was waiting for him outside his school.
And the chocolate wasn’t half bad either.
“Who knows,” he answered whimsically while turning his attention back to his book.
But Sakura wasn’t going to let the conversation end there, “Are you gonna get her anything for White Day?”
“Like I said, one of my assistants already prepared a suitable present for everyone who’s given me chocolate.” He vaguely remembered that the White Day present this year was going to be a macaron assortment from one of their chefs. Megumi liked sweets so she’ll probably enjoy that.
“That’s not what I meant! Aren’t you supposed to be more romantic than that? There’s nothing that a girl likes better than a boy she likes picking out a present for personally, you know! I know that I would be happy with anything that Jun-kun gives me as long as he’s put a lot of thought into it. ”
“I got it already. I know just what to get her.”
Sakura’s eyes instantly lit up, “Ooh, what, what?”
“A Yappie plushie.” Specifically one that’s the same size as her. She liked rabbits to some extent, so it would be something that she’d enjoy.
“Take this seriously, damnit!” Sakura shouted, bringing her fist towards him.
He dodged her attack with a simple move of his head. “Is this really something to get that worked up over?”
“White Day only comes around once a year, you know? You should give her something meaningful.” Sakura clapped her hands together in a ‘eureka’ moment. “Ah I know! If you don’t have any ideas for what to get her, then why don’t you ask Jun-kun? Or maybe Ryuu-kun?”
“Rejected,” Yahiro responded instantly.
He doubts that Megumi’s twin brother wants to help him out given previous situations. And he definitely doesn’t want Tsuji-kun’s help. If he asks, then it’ll be like he’s losing to Tsuji-kun and he can’t have that, otherwise Tsuji-kun will hold it over his head for time to come.
He’ll deal with this himself.
He quickly dialed up one of his assistants who promptly answered, “Yes, Saiga-sama?”
“Call all of the jewelers and ask what they have in terms of jewelry for young women. Ones that suit someone with a spring tone.”
“Saiga-sama, here is the finest that we have to offer,” one of his servants said, gesturing around to the sparkling gemstones and fine metals that were luxurious enough to be seen on royalty.
Yahiro scanned around the room with a close eye. Megumi doesn’t have her ears pierced so that takes out a third of the jewelry here. From his sources, Tsuji-kun is getting her a pink diamond bracelet. Obviously, he could’ve just bought her a better bracelet, but again, he’d just be losing to Tsuji-kun.
The sapphires and aquamarines were alright, but they don’t fit with the colors that Megumi typically wears outside of her school uniform. The morganite wasn’t bad, but the shape these were cut in were too sharp and didn’t match with her fluffy image.
“What do you think of these products, Saiga-sama?”
“Nothing special.”
Looks like jewelry’s out. What else do people give for White Day?
Snacks? That seemed too common.
Plushies? No. Sakura already said that wasn’t ‘meaningful’ enough.
Flowers? No. They’ll only be good for about a week if they’re fresh. If they’re preserved that’s a possibility, but the idea of preserved flowers seemed drab and uncreative.
He could get her a new studio to sing in… But he just built her one while she was preparing for that other concert. He could make a new studio that’s more her taste in terms of decor, but it wouldn’t be done in time for White Day since they’ll need to make a new building from scratch.
Nothing seemed quite right for S.A’s little singer.
Wait…There’s nothing that she adores more than music. Even on their ‘date’, she was always watching as the street performers were singing and playing their instruments. Heck, the first time that she claims she ever sang properly was in front of him.
As though hit by a bolt of inspiration, Yahiro snapped his fingers to grab the attention of one of his servants, “Get me the best artisans available now. I need this done as soon as possible.”
“I’ll get right on it, Saiga-sama.”
Ha! This’ll be better than any White Day present that Megumi’s gotten before!
(And he didn’t even need Tsuji-kun’s help– There!)
“Saiga-sama, we’ve arrived,” the driver informed him.
“I’ll call you when I’m done.”
Yahiro looked down at the white box decorated with a light pink ribbon, making sure that it still looked perfect. He could’ve just had it sent through the mail, but what fun is that? It’s more amusing to see Megumi’s reaction in person.
Besides, should he at least return the courtesy she gave him?
“Yahiro?” a soft voice called out. There stood Megumi, mouth slightly agape in shock, “What are you doing here?”
“Ara~~~ I thought I gave you that sketch toy for you to write so you don’t have to talk, so why aren’t you using it?” he asked, while poking at her cheek. Really, why is it that she always tries to use her voice while he’s around? Especially when she could just use the sketch toy instead.
Megumi flailed her arms so he would stop. Then she pouted prominently before quickly flipping her drawing board, “Why are you here?”
“Here,” he said, holding out the present.
“What’s this?”
“A return for those chocolates you made me eat.” Megumi’s eyes were wide as she looked from the present to him multiple times as though she was expecting the present to vanish right before her eyes. “What’s with that reaction?”
“You came all the way in person for that?”
“What? Do you think I don’t have enough to get you something in return?”
Megumi quickly flipped her board to write, trying to hide her face. But the board didn’t hide the pink blush that was spreading all the way to her ears. “I didn’t think that you would actually come in person to give me something.”
“What kind of person do you take me for? Anyways, just hurry up and open it.”
Megumi untied the ribbon to reveal the intricate pink and gold box on the inside. She traced the ornate details of the box before carefully opening the top. Her eyes were lit up in joy as she realized what this box actually was. On the inside of the box, delicate crystal butterflies spun in motion as a familiar song played, the first song that Megumi had ever sung for Yahiro, the first song that ever moved Yahiro to tears.
Megumi beamed in joy. “Thank you, Yahiro!”
Huh… When was the last time he gave a gift to someone and it made him feel this happy? Most of the time, his ‘gifts’ are more for his own entertainment, but this time he had focused on looking for something that Megumi would genuinely like. Was that why seeing her smile like this felt even more worthwhile?
The corners of his mouth curved up.
“You’re welcome.”