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If you had asked Sakura what career he’d be pursuing after highschool becoming a florist would be at the very bottom of the list.
Not only was his personality, fiery-tempered natural fighter not suited to the gentle almost soft nurturing way it came to tending to flowers. Yet..
Flowers were some of the things in life Sakura would unapologetically call ‘pretty’, the almost meticulous way he’d actively make sure they grow with enough sunlight and water. The flare of pride that unfurls in his chest when the bud blooms in fruition, grinning ear-to-ear quietly patting himself on the back.
It was pure luck that his late grandmother had a flower shop collecting dust in a quiet town far from the city. Belatedly, Sakura reminisces of quiet hot summer afternoons, spent with his grandmother the soft tone of her voice as she patiently taught Sakura how to arrange the flowers into a bouquet.
Sakura struggled so much, briefly the thought of just chucking the crumpled up flowers out the window seemed like a mercy, that is until his grandmother had smiled serenely..
Kindly cupping his sorry excuse of a bouquet. “Not bad for a first try, Haruka.” She’d smile with her eyes then, and it made Sakura flush gritting out that he could do much better next time.
No one had to know just how heartbroken Sakura was when his own mother had delivered the news, no one had to know of the endless nights he’d practice intensely trying to capture the exact way his own grandmother had arranged her own flowers.
It was a no brainer then and there, a week later he’d pack a bag, a few books on floristry in hand and a ticket clasped in his hand.
As he sits there still watching slowly as the place he’d call home for years slips by like one of those old movies wherein they’d transition from one scene to the next.
All the tension slowly but surely eases from his body, tucking his head close to his bag only one thought repeatedly bouncing in his head, a tug of sleep lulling him into dreamland.
Good riddance.
====
Baking followed a simple process step by step if you will, maybe it had to do with the fact that Suo had eventually been more than amused to have inherited their family-owned bakery.
Sure, his grandpa had a heart attack at the easy smile that had grown on his face when he’d volunteered to take over the family business, the unspoken silence that had followed with a few of his own siblings staring at him with befuddlement.
He could have lived a monotonous life of teaching groups after groups of willing pupils the art of fighting with grace, probably making his master proud in the process.
Yet… With careful fingers squeezing even frosted bunny ears onto a red velvet cupcake, his eyes smile when they flicker over to a beaming little girl, arms reaching out to hold the desert.
“Pretty bunny!” Suo matches her expression grinning, setting about picking small carrot decorations to finish the confection with a practiced motion.
When he finally finishes the cupcake, mimicking the little hops she does, a wide smile grows on her face, hopping with each step, eyes fixated on the cupcake.
“You’ve made a wonderful cupcake Suo-san!” Her mother chirps up generously handing a tip, to which Suo greets with a smile.
“No trouble at all.” Once the soft cling of the bell sounds, Suo swiftly discards the note etched with a number straight to the trash. His apprentice Nirei chuckles at the sight, broom in hand already bounding over to his side.
“She’s persistent huh?” Suo sighs, running a hand through his bangs, tassel earrings sway to side in fake contemplation.
“Do you think I should take pity and let her down slowly?” It’s amusing the way Nirei genuinely seems to mull it over.
“I mean she is pretty but-”
“Never going to happen.” Suo quickly shuts down the possibility, not the least interested.
“What about I bring you good news then?” Nirei’s enthusiasm for anything that almost childlike naivety was infectious, subtly nodding along multitasking arranging the pastry display case.
“The flower shop across the street, I saw someone inside.” Nirei animatedly says abandoning the sweeping the floor entirely.
Suo’s interest is piqued, a silent tilt of ‘tell me more.’
“Wait.” Nirei pauses mid-way pulling out his notebook fingers swiftly moving through the pages.
Ah, Suo thinks Nirei’s intellect truly knows no bounds as realization slowly seeps into his expression.
“Wasn’t that the same Oba-chan who owned the old flower shop who was fond of you?” Nirei says, for a minuscule second his eye catches the way Suo’s shoulders slump, eye purely focused on arranging the dessert tray.
“Do you think that’s her family then?” Suo asks this time, scarlet orb glancing to the direction of the shop, subtly making out the form of a guy.
Interesting.
“Maybe we can give him a warm welcome.” Nirei chirps, the shine in his eyes clear as day that he’d more than be happy to do it.
Suo smiles already expecting the dread his words would bring. “Nirei-kun, have you perfected your macaroons?”
The intended effect comes as Nirei slumps, bashfully scratching the back of his neck, dragging his feet over to the kitchen in shame.
That didn’t mean Suo wouldn’t give him a warm welcome.
===
The sun had already set by the time Sakura had finished cleaning the mounds of cobwebs, grime and thick dust cluttering the space.
He felt sticky, body aching almost possessed with the way he had to clean every spot possible until it didn’t look like a spider made its home.
“Hi.” Sakura jumps, nearly knocking into a rusty metal shelf full of old postcards.
“What the fuck?” Sakura shrieks arms held out in defense almost instinctively.
“Ah, sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.” A tall smiling figure had the gall to look the least apologetic amusement etched onto his expression.
“Why are you here? Get any closer and I’m kicking your teeth in!” Sakura stands in position with a scowl perched on his lips.
“No, you misunderstand, I'm not looking for a fight.” The taller boy makes a show of pulling out a pink box arm stretched out expecting him to take it.
Sakura’s scowl deepens.
“A welcome gift, you're new here in Makochi right? I’m Suo Hayato, the owner of Baked Delights across the street.” He gestures to the store from across his, a smile not wavering in the slightest even with the glare Sakura practically burns into his head.
“Welcome?” Sakura tries to loosen the tension in his shoulders, eyes squinting instead at the pink box held out in his direction.
Mind already whirring with thoughts ‘Was it a peace offering of some sort?’ or ‘Is this him pitying me because-’
Embarrassingly his stomach lurches out loud in the quiet space, a warm flush crawling up his neck watching as Suo’s smile grows a tad bit bigger.
“You don’t look like you’ve had lunch or anything for that matter.” Sakura flushes an even angrier shade of red at the admission already stomping over to Suo’s direction intent on saying his gratitude and eating the treat alone-
Before his fingers can grasp the neatly tied red ribbon of the box- the arm retracts holding the box far above his head.
Suo tuts “Now, now don’t they say desserts are best enjoyed in the company of others?” Mirth swimming in his lone eye, gritting his teeth out for a split second the thought of jumping like an idiot trying to reach for the box in petty annoyance sounds far more probable.
His stomach rumbles again with the slightest hint of pain, grumbling in defeat pacing back and forth laying down a thin cloth on the floor, grabbing a cardboard box as a makeshift table.
“You never told me your name.” Suo grins up at him gingerly taking a seat, placing the box down the makeshift table.
“I didn’t know handing food to strangers required introductions.” Sakura snarks, shuffling through a few cupboards for utensils.
“I wouldn’t say we were strangers more along the line of neighbors.” Annoyance starts pricking at his veins when he’s met with countless drawers of nothing but flower seeds.
It’s only when he slinks back to sit already resigning to eating whatever desert Suo had bought with his hands, a spork is nudged into his fingers.
“A trade, won’t you tell me your name?” Suo says insistent, for a quick second his eye twitches before sighing.
“Sakura.”
“Sakura?”
He’s tempted to say aloud that it didn’t matter because he’d make sure this would be the last time they’d be speaking, yet the nagging voice in Sakura’s head had the feeling Suo wouldn’t stop pressing on the question.
“Sakura Haruka, can I eat my food now?” He’d bite out then patience thinning by the minute, Suo stares blankly at him for a minute.
“Haruka.” Suo says as if he’s committing the word to memory.
“It's Sakura to you.” He barks out carefully tugging the ribbon until it falls away into a sad heap.
His eyes widened, mouth already watering at the sight of the strawberry shortcake. With no preamble fork already digging in, wholly unaware at the flurry of emotions shifting in Suo’s face.
“Do you like shortcake?”
“I’m not picky with what I eat.” Sakura mumbles out a mouthful of cake threatening to choke his windpipe.
“So you wouldn’t be opposed to eating dirt if it was handed to you?” The urge to punch his unfairly pretty face grows by the minute.
“You're awfully smug for someone who’s close to punching distance.” Sakura grits out, tampering his annoyance by shoving another slice of sweetness.
“You look cute for someone who’s just eating cake.” Sakura doesn’t even bother gracing that with a response, cheeks flushing averting his eyes wholly unaware of the light dusting of pink covering Suo’s face.
===
What’s ironic is Suo doesn’t stop visiting Sakura. Not when a poorly made reopened banner is draped over the entrance.
Not when Sakura struggles adjusting to the lively kind townspeople who come by a dime a dozen, stars in their eyes with how gorgeous his flowers were.
Especially not when he’s closing up shop, Suo eagerly waiting for him just at the other side of the street promising to have them both dinner.
It makes the warmth bubbling in his stomach flutter, when Suo casually tells him about his day about a customer that requested a sweet 6ft cake to be delivered by Nirei the next day-
Or how he’d seen a stray cat and gushed about how much it reminded him of Sakura with its heterochromic eyes. The Sakura of three months ago would have probably lashed out of pure defense thinking it was Suo’s way of mocking him, yet..
“I started leaving food for him because the adorable little thing reminded me of you.” He nearly chokes on the ramen Suo had been claiming he’d cook specifically for their dinner, face easily flushing at the admission.
Suo says the weirdest things he decided then and there not to take them to heart easily making the churning in his stomach twist into confusing knots, his brain no doubt already overthinking about what it could mean.
“You really should stop saying things like that so easily, it almost feels like you're flirting with me or something.” Sakura grumbles, face heating further when Suo scoots further into his space. His eyes glancing at the way their arms are touching.
“What if I was flirting then?” Suo grins up at him, his finger darting out wiping at his cheek, Sakura’s close to combusting flushing impossibly redder when Suo merely smiles back at him light and swoon-worthy.
Something compels Sakura to lean a bit closer, the allure beauty Suo easily possessed gravitating him further closer. He doesn’t know where this sudden surge of confidence comes from, but Suo isn’t backing away it’s almost as if-
“Suo-san! I’m sorry I forgot my phone-” The door bursts open the moment instantly ruined Sakura jumping from his seat knocking head straight into Suo as matching pained groans at the impact permeate the air.
“Ah!?” Nirei looks both torn between confusion and surprise at the mere sight of Sakura in one of the more hidden parts of the kitchen, almost missing the glare Suo throws his way.
“I’m sorry, was I interrupting your date?!” Nirei panics, already making a beeline for his forgotten phone charger until it's Sakura who manages to embarrassingly stand up grabbing the apprentice by the shoulder.
“It wasn’t a date!” Sakura nearly howls out face still flushed red, Nirei’s eyes then flit back and forth between the two.
“But, you two looked you were having a-”
“The dinner was nice! Suo, it’s getting late though.”
An awkward chuckle is forced out of Sakura’s lips, a strange sort of humiliation seeping into his stomach, the urge to run as far away from the situation biting the heels of his feet.
Suo stands up then, hand reaching out to Sakura. “Let me walk you home then.” It wouldn't be the first time he did, but it would be the first time Sakura declines.
“It’s fine I have a few things to do, you should rest.” Sakura mutters the last part loud enough only Suo hears it, whilst Nirei watches the whole scene still looking apologetic.
When Sakura leaves the night with an unexpected chill going down his spine it's the first time he's ever felt much colder in Makochi.
===
Suo had only been interested in knowing more about Oba-san’s nephew when he’d gotten a taste of such a strong personality and it didn’t help one bit when he’s easy on the eyes too. Suo was drawn into Sakura’s orbit when he watched him arrange flowers, handling them with the utmost care.
A deep part of his heart wondering how it’d feel having those fond eyes glance at him, hands calloused as they may be from the steps feel as he presses small kisses to the knuckles.
Countless deserts Suo would devote his time to, the rewarding smile each time seeing Sakura looked at them with gratitude, the undeniable flutter of butterflies in his heart when an easy smile would glide on the boy’s face.
It made the effort all the more rewarding, committing to memory each of Sakura’s expressions.
“Suo-san I’m sorry!” Nirei was on knees begging for forgiveness no doubt noticing the obvious dark cloud looming over his head, his normally fixed smile almost strained glancing at the closed sign from Sakura’s flower shop.
“Next time, please just knock.” Suo tries not to sound that irritated, as he pointedly goes about wiping the counter.
“Were you two really not on a date?” Nirei questions then, the curious glint in his eyes, making Suo sigh.
“I was warming him up to the idea of it, but..” The underlying root of his bad mood could contribute to the fact Sakura didn’t seem to think it was a date.
Suo tries not to think too hard about it.
“Maybe, he just got spooked.” Nirei wonders aloud, catching the glare Suo sends his way.
“Oh, pray tell who do you think is the culprit?” Nirei shrinks into himself muttering a litany of apologies as Suo sends him away to prepare the meringue fresh from the oven.
Huffing, a few recipes conjuring off the top of his head to bridge this awkward.
===
Sakura tries. Keyword tries. Looking disappointed at the sad heap of cookies lying charred on the plate, taking in deep breaths already mourning no doubt the past batches of cookies that looked much better than this.
“I don’t even know why I’m doing this?!” He growls out, warmth flushing his neck at the mental image of Suo who’d look far more reserved than usual when he’d pass by disguised ofcourse to see how the bakery was doing.
Because you feel sorry for having embarrassed him in front of Nirei.
Gripping his hair, the memory of the night before flashing in his mind like a wildfire refusing to die out. The memory of their chest close, the air turning electric as if they were lead by their pure-
“What the fuck am I even thinking!?” Steam oozes out of Sakura’s flustered face, channeling his frustrations instead into baking Suo cookies for a change because it’s only then occurred to him that Suo’s always the one bringing him desserts-
Which Suo doesn’t even let him pay for! The audacity! Does he not consider Sakura’s pride?
Morning comes all too soon, as Sakura rubs his eyes raw yawning clutching the poorly wrapped cookies. Praying to a deity that Suo doesn’t greet him this early, the adrenaline and confidence he had conjured up from the night before all but dissipated once the sight of the familiar maroon of the bakery.
“You can do this.” Sakura mutters to himself, jamming his keys unaware of the figure looming behind him.
“Do what? I hope you're feeling well today Sakura-kun.” He jumps all too suddenly Suo easily dodging his elbow with a practiced grace.
“Geez! I really should put a bell on you or something!” Sakura squawks out, on instinct clutching the bundle of cookies hiding it from sight.
Suo notices quickly, already looking over his shoulder.
“What’cha got there?” Sakura flushes backing further away, tongue feeling heavy all too suddenly when Suo leans in closer trying to make out what Sakura’s hiding.
Ultimately, Sakura rips the bandaid off, better said than done as he takes a deep breath.
“For you.” Sakura definitely doesn’t squeak out, shoving the crumpled cookies to Suo’s chest who flinches at the sudden movement. Blinking rapidly until his own hands cup the bundle.
“Me?” Suo mutters back, as he slowly nods he doesn’t dare let his eyes wander longer on Suo’s expression expecting rejection or even disgust to contort his face.
Instead, as if possible his smile grows wider cupping the bundle closer to his chest, a small hint of a blush covering his cheeks.
“I made them, because I felt guilty… you always gave me your baked goods..” Sakura barely stutters out, blaming the cold morning chill in the way his hands tremble hidden in his pocket, the fear of rejection still a possibility in his mind.
“I just wanted to repay the fa-” He was too in his head to catch the body slowly moving closer to him, of arms wrapping around his waist pulling him into an embrace, this time his whole body flushing when he registers Suo hugging him.
“I gave them because I wanted to court you Sakura.” Suo mutters into the crown of his head, this time it’s Sakura who takes the initiative wrapping his own arms shyly around Suo’s neck grumbling about the difference in height.
“So.. you like me right?” Sakura squirms meeting his lone cherry-red eye head on fingers fidgeting with the fabric of Suo’s scarf.
Suo melts further into the embrace, leaning his head against Sakura’s matching pink cheeks.
“If I ask permission to kiss you, would that be enough?” Suo nuzzles his forehead against Sakura who’s supporting a small pout as if wondering what’s stopping him.
“Maybe if you did I would.” Sakura huffs and it's enough for Suo to cup his cheeks and close the distance, the minute their lips connect slowly reminiscent of the days…
Suo had been playing with Sakura back in the summers he’d visit his grandmother- Not the least bit surprised when his lips feel just like summer greeting fall familiar in all the ways he’d still remember falling in love with the boy with the most beautiful set of eyes.