Work Text:
Niki stared up at the heart-shaped decor being hung up onto the ceiling, holding onto the ladder as his manager stood at the top. They were in the middle of decorating Cinnamon for the season, Valentine’s Day approaching very soon.
Normally, Niki liked Valentine’s Day. Free chocolates from all kinds of people? Special Valentine's deals? The chance to fill his basket with discount chocolate the day after? It was literally a holiday made for him, as someone that loved anything related to food. A day not to be missed!!
However, there was one issue this year. One very specific problem that was messing with Niki’s normal love for the season.
And ironically it had something to do with that very word, love. Or affection? Whatever it was, Niki found himself flinching away from all the heart-shaped decor that took over the streets, finding an excuse to run off and not have to acknowledge the concept of ‘love’ being in the air.
Why was he feeling like this? Well…it wasn’t that easy to explain.
It might have something to do with a certain red guy that constantly stuck to his side, constantly annoying him and always, always doing everything to make his life difficult. Always!
Except it wasn’t the annoyance that was bothering Niki, he was used to it. It was a normal thing, something he couldn’t help but accept as the same red guy hid all his true motives behind that over-the-top character. Hell, even if it was a lot, even Niki played along sometimes.
No, it wasn’t that at all. As a matter of fact, it was the complete lack of that stupid annoyance that was throwing Niki’s mind into turmoil. The guy that always found it fun to make others’ lives (mostly Niki’s) hard, who for some reason had been oddly nice lately, going out of his way to get Niki snacks, doing stupid little heart signs at Niki with his hands and actually being…gentle in public? No wallets being stolen, ponytails being yanked, dorm rooms being broken into and leading to rude awakenings. Instead of all that, there was only actual kindness and care, occasionally hidden behind a light teasing when others were around but when it was just them…well, it was clear and quite simply too much.
And Niki knows that Rinne really is a kind person at heart under his spiky, fiery, stupidly charming exterior. He knows that Rinne cares for the people he loves.
It’s just, he’s not used to it at this level, heart racing when Rinne leans his head onto him while talking about something Niki can’t focus on, mind in turmoil as Rinne brushes out his hair wordlessly.
Did he say it was too much? Oh, no, it was more like overwhelming. Very overwhelming. To the point of Niki being unable to enjoy his food in peace without his mind wandering to the strange behavior of Amagi Rinne. Niki is a simple person, or so he likes to think. It takes a lot for something to bother him to this extent.
Niki watched his manager climb down the ladder, wiping their hands. “Shiina-san, do you still need your shifts changed? I heard that you’ve gotten a little busy recently.”
Niki pulled the ladder to the side, folding it up. He smiled. “Yeah! An idol program reached out to me and asked if I’d be a judge on their special Valentine’s Day bake-off. Nahaha, of course I can’t say no when all I have to do is eat~”
“Valentine’s Day? So will it be filmed live?” His manager sat down at their desk, pulling up the shift schedule.
“Nope, we’ll be recording it for a few days this week. Something about multiple rounds~ I don’t remember everything on the info sheet. But some of the days did line up with my previous shift!” Niki untied his apron, folding it up.
“That I understand, but you requested your entire schedule to be changed, not just this week. Did your practice time with your unit get shifted around or something?” His manager looked over their glasses, squinting at him. “Are you trying to avoid someone?”
Niki froze, awkwardly looking to the side.
Manager-san you’re too perceptive for your own good…
“Is it that partner of yours? The one that’s always here?” They sighed, looking back down at their computer and typing away.
Niki didn’t say anything, pulling on his long coat.
“I don’t want to pry, Shiina-san, but running away from your problems will not magically make them disappear, especially when that problem is something that is a part of your day-to-day life.”
Niki laughed airily, his hand on the door handle. “Thanks for the concern, but it’ll pass~ It always does, nahaha. He’ll get tired of it eventually, find something else to occupy himself with.” He glanced at his phone, several missed calls and unread text notifications flooding his lockscreen.
“Eventually. It’s how he always is, like how he leaves practice whenever we don’t respond to his stupidity and dumps all the work on us because he’s bored.” Niki gave a sigh, ignoring the growing number of unread notifications and slipping his phone back into his pocket.
“Shiina-san, human emotions aren’t that simple. You might be making things worse.”
Niki opened the door. “Maybe you’re right~ But really, it’s more of a headache than what it’s worth, nahaha. I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Niki mumbled the last bit, unsure of himself. “Anyways, thanks Manager-san. I’ll see you later.”
Niki walked out before his manager could continue, making his way back to the dorms. He paused, staring down at his shoes.
Niki knew what he was. A coward. Everything that his manager said was true, and he was the one that was really being stupid here, not the red guy that was constantly plaguing his day-to-day thoughts.
But what else was he supposed to do? Things like that…he really doesn’t know enough about it to properly acknowledge the problem head-on.
So really, the solution Niki came up with was all he could do. Even if he wasn’t sure if it’d pass like he said it would, there was no other course of action for him to take. Of course, except for…listening to his manager and probably anyone else that’s noticed his strange behavior and actually talking to the guy but…who’s to say that doing that would fix things?
For however well Niki knows Rinne even after all the years they’ve spent together, that man was still unfortunately very unpredictable, always surprising Niki for better or for worse. Really, it was easier to simply think only about the food he’d eat for dinner than worry about all of this.
And so, with running and pretending nothing is wrong being his only option, that’s what Niki does.
And it works for a week, hooray!
A week of a changed Cinnamon shift schedule, constantly dodging contact with Rinne when he looks like he’s trying to talk to him, immediately bolting as soon as they finish practice with the other bees up.
Niki even, with the help of Anzu, finds some easy jobs he can pick up to fill his schedule up, leaving no room for any kind of confrontation. Jobs he wouldn’t normally take on like program showings and commercial photoshoots, but he was willing to do anything to make himself look too busy, trying to distract himself while waiting for the problem to disappear.
Niki can tell that the other bees have definitely noticed, especially the red one. He’s not blind. He does see the vague hurt and frustration hidden behind Rinne’s smile as he waves Niki off while he runs off for one of the jobs he picked up. He can tell that the other two don’t approve of it at all.
And maybe, just maybe, there is that ache in his heart that acknowledges the truth. That agrees with everyone, his manager, all the other people that have noticed.
But he truthfully doesn’t know what to do, laughing and making his way to his work, pushing down the guilt bubbling up in his soul.
So all he can do is just wait. Wait for it to pass, smiling and ignoring the way his heart is being torn into two.
—
To Niki’s relief, things do seem to work, despite all his doubt. It’s several more days of his skittish behavior and burying himself in work before he notices Rinne wasn’t actively trying to talk to him anymore, barely giving a shrug and a ‘see ya’ when Niki excuses himself from practice to get to one of his jobs.
If he was being honest, it kind of hurt. Why did it hurt? Didn’t he want this? He stopped his pursuit, finally giving up on Niki. Isn’t that good?
Niki didn’t understand at all. Why wasn’t he satisfied?
True, he wasn’t being his annoying self again like Niki hoped, simply going about his business and actually doing work…but it felt…apathetic? Wrong? Like instead of being his usual self, he’d given up on Niki entirely.
Or was it a front? Could it be an act? Niki knows that he’s good at acting, and knows that Rinne is capable of many convoluted schemes.
Act or not, if Niki had no idea what to do before, he definitely had no idea what to do now. What a headache.
The only option really is to just keep doing this I guess. At least he’s not stealing my money anymore!
Niki sighed, stuffing the rest of his energy bar into his mouth.
It was Valentine’s day. Normally he’d either be doing work with the rest of his unit, or being dragged around by Rinne.
But they didn’t have anything, and well, because of Niki’s ‘avoid Rinne-kun and maybe he’ll go back to normal’ strategy, he found himself actually having nothing to do that day.
Cinnamon was fully staffed and Anzu gave him a tired look and told him she had nothing for him to do and to take a break that day.
Nahaha I guess even Nee-san is fed up… Sorry Nee-san you’ve been helping me out a lot.
Niki hummed to himself, his hoodie pulled up as he walked carefully through the Seisoukan halls.
Niki was asked by Kohaku if he’d help him and some others make chocolate, but Niki refused out of fear that his “problem” would hear and use that opportunity to confront him.
But as it turned out, Niki learned that morning that Rinne had a job that day. Niki isn’t normally a lucky guy, but he couldn’t help but feel that maybe something was on his side, feeling sorry for him.
But! Better safe than sorry, Niki still kept his guard up as he walked.
Niki glanced around the corner, squinting his eyes at the group of people in the Seisoukan kitchen. He could smell the sweet scent of chocolate.
Kohaku-chan…Aira-chan…Otouto-san… As expected.
Niki stared, rubbing his eyes. Why’s Himeru-kun there?
Oh. They probably asked Himeru-kun to help them with their chocolates after I said I couldn’t. Nahaha, I guess he does know how to make them now.
Well anyways, good. He’s not here. Thank you whatever company needed him for the Valentine’s Day job!! Coast is clear. Guess I can help~
Niki gave a sigh of relief, pulling his hood down and relaxing. He was about to walk forward, before a sudden tug on his back had him stuck in place.
“Niki~kyun~ I finally caught you! You really thought you could run, huh? But it seems that you’ve forgotten that I, Amagi Rinne, am one of the best hunters to exist~” A low voice by his ear sent shivers down Niki’s spine, his entire body flinching.
“Rinne-kun! Why are you here? Didn’t you have a job? Go back to your job, stop messing around!” Niki frantically looked around, trying to fight his way out of Rinne’s grip. He started to consider calling out to the people in the kitchen, before he felt Rinne pull (basically drag…) him further and further away from any help, having caught on to what Niki was about to do.
“That was a lie, of course. It’s scheduled for tomorrow~” He gave a grin, one that annoyed Niki but somehow…felt just right. Like he was back to normal, the same annoying jerk of a guy Niki knew and-
Well. Maybe Niki shouldn’t be happy about it as he is trapped into something that he’s been fearing for the past weeks.
Rinne drags him into an empty room, the door locking behind them. Damn it. Any chance of his escape, gone.
Niki found himself backed against a wall, Rinne smiling down at him. The face of someone who just wouldn’t back down, and unfortunately for Niki, stubborn as hell.
“Now let’s have a good and~ long chat. Just me and you Niki~kyun! And don’t even think about trying to get away from this.” Rinne’s smile morphed into something more serious and…a little unsure? Niki could see the small hint of genuine distress in the other man’s eyes.
Niki looked down at his shoes, wondering if he could get away with kicking Rinne to escape whatever was about to go down. He decided against it for the moment, fidgeting with the strings on his hoodie.
“Why are you avoiding me?” Rinne muttered, expression unreadable.
Niki twisted the hoodie strings in his hands. “I’m not. I’m just busy-”
“Yes you are! You don’t normally pick up these many jobs, you’re always running off whenever I approach, and you’ve even changed your shift schedule.” Rinne growled, his fists clenched.
“Nahaha~ Why does that matter to Rinne-kun? It’s my business, I’ve just been helping Nee-san out because no one else wants those jobs. I’m an idol too, you know? What’s wrong with me doing more work?” Niki laughed, finding the floor so interesting as he stared down at it.
“It’s not normal- It’s not you. There’s gotta be a reason you’re acting so strange, and that’s what it probably is. Why else would you be doing this?” Niki can hear how Rinne’s voice gets quiet at the end. He ignores the aching feeling in his chest.
“Really, Rinne-kun. It’s nothing, I’m just doing more things to get my name out there-”
“And avoiding me. Hey, Niki, look at me.”
Niki doesn’t, finding the color of the floor so interesting.
There’s a beat of silence, before Rinne muttered quietly, barely a whisper. “Do you hate me that much?”
Niki’s head shot up, finding himself face-to-face with Rinne. There was no smile, no annoying smug grin. Just a sad and dejected look, eyes swirling with confusion and sadness.
“No. I don’t hate you Rinne-kun. It- It’s just complicated.” Niki whispered back, hoodie strings dropping out of his hands.
“So complicated that you have to avoid me?”
“Yeah.” Niki averted his gaze again, trying not to think about how close the two of them were.
“You don’t hate me…what else could it be then? Have you fallen for me, haha?”
And as Rinne pulls it out, hitting directly on the mark, Niki can only stand there in silence.
It’s as he said, all the heart palpitations and butterflies, it’s the root of everything. Even with all his annoyance and refusals, even with his strategy of letting it pass, Niki couldn’t escape it.
The problem wasn’t because of Rinne, the problem was that Niki himself refused to acknowledge it, that four letter word that was everywhere in that season.
“Niki?”
Niki frowned.
No it isn’t entirely my fault! This stupid idiot is to blame too!
Rinne with his sweet advances, always laughing, teasing him constantly. Besides the sudden change where he was being overly sweet, Niki’s used to being made a fool of. He knows Rinne is like that, joking around and always, always messing around!
But there’s also a part of him that knows that Rinne often jokes to hide his true intentions. To hide how vulnerable he actually is, refusing to come out with what he wants to say and keeping it in.
And maybe that was the case.
“Hello? Niki~kyun?” Rinne waved a hand in front of his face.
Or maybe it isn’t. And he’s making a fool out of me again! As he always is!
Niki’s head was spinning. He really didn’t know what to believe, even as the guy himself stood in front of him with a worried expression, trying to get his attention.
“Niki? Are you okay? Hey?”
Niki doesn’t realize that tears are falling from his eyes, his frustration hitting its limit. He doesn’t notice at all until he feels a shaky hand wiping some away, a worry-filled mumble.
“Niki? You’re crying-”
Niki flinched back, reaching his hands up to rub furiously at his eyes, pushing the other man back. “I’m fine.”
“No you’re not-” Rinne had his hands up, not moving.
Niki laughed slowly, lifting his head up through tears. “No, I am. I’m fine, and completely normal. Just go back to the stupid and annoying Rinne-kun you always are, Rinne-kun. You don’t need to worry about me.” Niki hiccuped, unable to stop the stress from everything pouring out.
“Niki, you can’t just tell me to not worry about you when you’re here crying and not telling me anything. Haven’t I gotten it into your stupid head that you can rely on me?” Rinne frowned. “And what do you mean ‘go back’?”
Niki sniffled, staring down at his shoes. “It’s exactly as I say it. Go back to being yourself Rinne-kun, I don’t care if you’re stealing my wallet or being a jerk. It’s so weird, Rinne-kun. Your cruel joke has been messing with my mind. I can’t enjoy my food, can’t think, can’t distract myself at all from it. Stop it!”
Rinne’s eyes widened. “Cruel joke? What are you even talking about?”
“Everything! How you’ve been actually nice for once, actually so sickeningly sweet? How it’s probably you messing around with me as always, getting a sick rise out of watching me become a mess!” Niki yelled, slamming his hands on the wall behind him and startling Rinne.
“What? You think it’s a joke?” Rinne yelled back, eyes wide.
“Yes! As everything you always do! Flirting with me, all your proposals, everything! I know you care, but pretending to care like this is just too cruel, even for you!”
“Has it even occurred to you that it’s not a joke? That I’m being genuine?!”
Niki shook his head wildly. “There’s no way! If it’s not, why did you stop when I started avoiding you?”
Rinne glared at him. “So you HAVE been avoiding me! What else am I supposed to think when the guy that is the most important to me starts avoiding me out of nowhere? I started to think that you hated me!”
“Yes I have! Because this is all too much for me and I am so confused, Rinne-kun. I don’t know what to do! You’re being genuine? Really? You?” Niki glared back through angry tears.
“Yes? Niki, I have been telling you my true feelings, you just don’t listen!”
Niki snarled. “Through stealing my wallet? Making me see stars while trying to suffocate me? Constantly making a fool out of me at any time you can-”
Rinne suddenly grabbed him by the collar, pulling him off the wall and closer to him.
“No! I’ve been saying it loud and clear for so many years, but it’s YOU who won’t just listen. You’re always brushing it off!” Rinne spat back in frustration.
Niki’s had enough of the games. He’s tired. He just wants everything back to normal.
But his heart said otherwise. And so did his mouth.
“Oh really? So it’s my fault, then? For being stupid and not picking up on it? Okay Rinne-kun, fine! If it’s all genuine, all your true feelings, say it. Say it!! Say it clearly without joking around, like you actually mean it! Like-”
Niki froze, slapping his hands over his mouth.
Crap I didn’t mean to say that!
He started to move his hands to cover his ears, only for Rinne to let go of his collar and grab his hands, pulling them down.
“No! You asked, so fine! If that’s what Niki wants, it’s what he’ll get! I’m gonna say it loud and clear! So clear that even stupid Niki will understand it!”
“Rinne-kun w-”
Niki’s hands are let go, and a finger is jabbed into his chest.
“Now listen here, Shiina Niki! And don't try to cover your ears, I will keep yelling it until you accept it! Over and over again until you understand! I'm going to make you my wife! Even if I die trying! I'll wait days, weeks, months, years, CENTURIES! Until you finally understand just how much I love you, how much you drive me insane. Do you hear me?!" Rinne stood close to him, blue eyes burning through him like a fire.
Niki started to stammer, trying to look away. “But I’m a man- I. I can’t be a wife and marriage between men is illegal here and centuries is kind of an exaggeration and-”
“Do those things really matter or are you just making excuses so you can run away again? Running away doesn’t magically solve everything, Niki~kyun.”
Niki couldn’t respond, head spinning. Face-to-face with the fact that he already knew deep-down, that he’s just been rejecting.
Rinne sighed, pulling back and scratching at his neck. “Is it so strange for me to love you? The guy that saved my life? The guy that was with me from the start, and stayed? Who was willing to drop everything to run away with me, away from everything familiar and comfortable?”
“I-”
“Who makes sure I eat well? Who takes care of not only me, but everyone around us? Merumeru, Kohaku-chan, even my own little brother that I myself have trouble talking to sometimes?” Rinne continued, not leaving any room for Niki to interrupt.
“Umm…” Niki, still thinking he could get out, looked around for a gap to escape. Turns out, Rinne knew what he was thinking, his arms coming up against the wall, caging Niki in.
Rinne shook his head. “No, you asked for it so I’m telling it all to you clearly. And you will listen. You’re not just a chef. You’re an idol. You’re my savior. You’re my friend. You’re Shiina Niki, an amazing person that doesn’t believe he’s anything. Your self-esteem issues aside, you are an incredible person that is loved. And a lot, in fact.”
Niki stopped staring at an interesting spot on the floor, glancing at Rinne.
Rinne was blushing, a cute nervousness Niki wasn’t a stranger to but hadn’t seen in a long time. It made him relax a little, a familiar sight.
It wasn’t just him, Rinne was obviously taking every fiber of his being to say everything, the arms that were caging Niki against the wall shaking a little.
“I don't know how else to say it. Is this what you wanted? These are my true feelings, Niki. And I’ll wait for however long it takes for you to understand them. I'm not exaggerating. Yeah, I'm probably going crazier for each day that passes. But for you I will wait forever, for eternity even. Now do you understand?” Rinne sighed, lowering his arms.
“I don’t expect anything, you can take your time. It just makes me happy to know that you finally understan-”
“...chocolates.” Niki mumbled, leaning forward.
“What?” Rinne stared at him, confused.
Niki smiled. “You’re supposed to give chocolates while confessing on Valentine’s Day. Where’s my chocolate, Rinne-kun?” He punched him lightly in the chest.
Rinne was still staring at him, mouth wide open. Niki laughed, wiping away the last of his tears.
You know what. Maybe I am dumb, nahaha. You could stand to be a little less of a jerk about it though.
“If you don’t have chocolates I don’t know if I can accept this confession.” Niki smirked, clasping his hands behind his back.
Rinne didn’t move, red in the face. Now he was the one looking everywhere but Niki. He finally closed his mouth. “What the hell! Okay fine, I'll get you your chocolates, what kind?” His gaze softened, full of fondness.
Niki tipped his head to the side. “Hmm. I kinda want home-made ones, but I think Kohaku-chan and the others are still using the dorm kitchen right now. I know you lied about the date of your job, but are you busy tonight?”
Rinne caught on immediately, grinning. “Nope, and I don’t have that early of a start either tomorrow. I can handle a longer commute.”
“Well then let’s go~ I’m excited for Rinne-kun’s homemade chocolate~”
—
They leave the dorms and stop by the supermarket that they used to always go to together back when they still lived only at the apartment, a familiar scene that even through the years felt the same as it did years before.
After leaving the store they walk back to the apartment together, baker’s chocolate and fruits in the bag swinging in between them, a handle held in each of their hands.
Niki’s trying to think about what he could cook for dinner when he feels a light punch on his shoulder. He turned towards Rinne.
“So…confession and all…do you have an answer for me?” Rinne asked, the setting sun casting an orange glow over his flushed face. Niki couldn’t help but think it was cute.
“Hmm. Still thinking. Ask me again after I get my chocolate~” Niki hummed, pretending to look like he was lost in thought.
“Wh- Hey!”
“Didn’t you say you were willing to wait for forever? I’m sure an hour or two more is nothing compared to that~” Niki giggled, sticking his tongue out. He let go of the handle, running ahead of the other man.
“Hey! Get back here!”
Niki laughed as he ran, the breeze feeling nice against his face, Rinne’s shouts not far from behind.
Sorry for always running, Rinne-kun. I really am stupid~
There’s no telling what the future has in store. He knows they’ll laugh together, maybe get into silly fights, maybe even cry over serious ones. They’ll grow, and things will change. Change is inevitable, after all. It’s unpredictable, something no one can figure out beforehand.
But Niki knows in his heart that no matter how much changes, even they themselves, the two of them being together would still be a constant.
Niki made a vow, didn’t he? On a hot summer day, a day where anything could’ve happened, a vow of forever.
Maybe Rinne forgot, but Niki remembers it.
Niki ran around a corner, the familiar sight of his apartment complex coming into view. He could still hear Rinne chasing after him, only lagging behind because he was stopped by a crosslight that turned red.
Niki smiled, making his way up the stairs. He lied, if it wasn’t obvious. He already knew his answer to Rinne’s confession, no thinking required.
(But that doesn't mean he can't have his fun. Rinne does always say to live life to the fullest, how can he get mad at Niki if he's doing just that? Chocolates included.)