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It was freezing cold, snowflakes falling down on Suo, his feet planted into the snow. His nose was numb, bright red, yet his heart was running a thousand miles, igniting a fire inside his chest, burning his body.
The air he exhaled quickly turned thin and crisp. His fingers clenching onto the snow globe in his shaking hands. Whether it was from nerves or the cold, Suo couldn’t say.
Suo’s plans to confess to Nirei at the autumn lantern festival fell apart. He prepared everything, from his gift, his speech, and the special place he wanted to bring Nirei to. However, from the start of his plan, it all went badly.
Suo wanted to have a sweet, romantic time at the festival with Nirei, showing him the events that he knew Nirei would enjoy. He wanted the day to be him and Nirei, pouring all his affection and love to him, hinting to Nirei about his feelings.
Instead, when Nirei arrived at the festival; Sakura, Kiryuu, and Tsugeura were also there.
Immediately, Suo could feel his lips fall to a grimace, but he kept his facade, hoping to calm his rage for Nirei’s sake.
Suo assumed that as the day went on, everyone would separate and Nirei and him would finally be alone. Yet, that never happened, in fact, Nirei spent most of his time being around Sakura, leaving Suo stuck with Tsugeura. Kiryuu had eventually split from the group as his main focus became the ballon pop game he kept losing.
It was hard not to feel jealous when Nirei was always, always talking about Sakura. He felt left behind, constantly trying to reach the gap between him and Sakura. To Nirei, Sakura was his first. Sakura was important to Nirei, in a way Suo couldn’t be towards him.
Suo knew that, he knew he couldn’t win against Sakura. However, Suo wasn’t the type to weep nor quit, especially when it comes to Nirei.
Now as he stood in the winter cold, his chest rising and falling a bit dramatically as he saw Nirei from a distance, getting closer.
Nirei waved at him, his flushed face and twinkling chocolate eyes was enough to warm Suo’s body.
Suo’s breath hitched, his grip on the snow globe almost slipping from his wooled gloves.
So beautiful…
“Suo-san, what was so important you wanted to talk about?” Nirei asked, his breathing a bit panicked as he finally arrived to where Suo was.
Suo chuckled, his smile growing. “Did you run here?”
Nirei nodded, taking in quick breaths. “I was worried, I thought you might be hurt..”
“Worried about little old me?” Suo teased, exhaling a cloud of frigid smoke. “I’m honored.”
Nirei frowned, lips into a pout. “Of course I’m worried about you, I care about you.”
Suo sniffled back a laugh, his smile reaching his eye. “Do you?”
Suo took a step closer to Nirei, holding the snow globe in one hand, the other hand reaching out–touching Nirei’s coat, his palm placed onto his heart.
“Do you care about me the way I care about you?”
Nirei let out a hushed gasp, eyes blinking. “W-what..?”
“You care about me as a friend,” Suo began, a soft sigh out his lips. “But, my feelings for you are beyond that.”
“Suo-san..?” Nirei whispered, his cheeks tainting a light pink.
He let his hand fall from Nirei’s heart, revealing the snow globe in his hand. Inside the small circular toy was a giant Christmas tree decorated in the brightest lights and two sculpted replicas of them.
Miniature Suo was holding miniature Nirei’s hand, both looking up at the bright lit tree as the snow fell on them. The snow globe was simple, cute, but underneath the snow globe was where the real present was.
“This is for you,” Suo said, letting Nirei take the snow globe, his eyes lighting up with joy. “Read what’s under it.”
Nirei quickly turned it upside down, reading it out loud; “No snowflake is ever alike, each a different beauty of its own. Nirei, to me, you are that rare snowflake that fell into my life. A beauty, a delicate wonder of the world that must be treasured and protected. If you’ll have me, I would like to be the one to protect you, treasure you, hold you, and love you for our whole lives…”
As Nirei finished, his face was an alarming red, forcing Suo to hold back a smile at the flustered blonde.
“Nire-kun, I love you,” Suo breathed out, taking Nirei’s hand, placing it onto his own heart. “This is what you do to me, this is how I feel towards you. My heart won’t stop racing, it won’t stop ramming out of my chest when it comes to you.”
“Ah…,” Nirei squeaked, the hand pressing onto Suo’s chest trembling.
“I’ve been in love with you ever since I met you,” Suo confessed, his grip on Nirei’s arm firm, yet relaxed. “You’re so kind, optimistic, cheerful, genuine, open, honest, and real. You are literal sunshine, a chamomile tea that warms my heart in every way possible. You’re my soulmate, the love of my life…”
Suo exhaled out a shaky breath, an adoring smile plastered on as he watched the blubbering Nirei.
“I love you,” Suo finished, wiping away Nirei’s tears and snot.
Nirei tried to hide his face, arm covering his eyes. “Don’t look at me…” he muttered, voice cracking.
“Why not?” Suo asked, a teasing grin on his face. “You look cute, all covered in snot and tears.”
“Ugh..!” Nirei groaned, sniffing. “Please look away…”
Suo chuckled, “I can’t do that. It’s impossible to not look at you.”
Nirei snatched back his hand from Suo’s chest, now using both hands to hide his face.
“Stop it,” Nirei whimpered, his face a glowing red. “I’m embarrassed…”
“Don’t be,” Suo gently removed Nirei’s hands, leaning his head to bump his forehead onto Nirei’s. “I’m the one who should be embarrassed, I haven’t gotten my answer yet I’m a fool thinking you’ve already accepted.”
Nirei snorted, grinning. “But, I do… I do accept your confession.., I love you Suo-san…”
Suo’s smile couldn’t be contained, he swiftly held Nirei in his arms, chin resting on his shoulder.
His heart hadn’t stop pounding, his body still in torrid heat in this glacial weather. He felt warm, hot, and the outside snappy air couldn’t help ease how his face was a searing shade of roses.
“This is our first day,” Suo declared, letting out a soft laugh. “And I hope to spent more days with you until I’m old.”
Suo could feel Nirei nod, a giggle entering his ears. “Me too.”