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It was a special date, Totomaru Isshiki's birthday. As a child, he was very fond of celebrating his birthday, he was showered with gifts, praised and paid all the attention. He used to think that nothing would make him forget that his holiday was approaching.
But when he got into Blue, Toto forgot. He only looked at the date when he received some gifts from his grandmother in the morning. After unpacking them, he found with a smile a note among them asking him not to bury himself in mountains of textbooks and asking how his friend was doing there.
"His friend" was Ron Kamonohashi. Unique, handsome, restrained... ah, Blue's best student. Many wondered how Toto, a fool and an idiot, became his only friend. Ron ignored the questions, and Toto smiled sheepishly. It seems that fate decided it, not them. For example, they shared the same room. It was an accident, wasn't it?
When Toto woke up, Ron was gone. His bed was perfectly made, and there were bags of syrup on the table in the small kitchen. It was strange, Ron didn't usually leave so early.
However, Toto was even glad that Ron wouldn’t see the gifts and later wouldn’t understand the disappointment that appeared on his face during the next lecture. Ron really hadn't told him anything about it.
After the last class, Ron suddenly disappeared. Sighing, Toto didn’t look for him and no longer thought about his birthday, he thought about homework, coffee and Ron. He didn't want to ask Ron for help, which meant he had to drink coffee and spend a sleepless night…
Opening the door with a key, Toto was met with silence. Ron hasn't returned yet.
"So much the better,” Toto thought, and hurried into the kitchen.
He paused in the doorway. On the table where the syrup had been in the morning, there was a box tied with a blue ribbon. Holding his breath, Toto approached the table. A gift? For him? He gently pulled on the end of the ribbon. The box opened. Inside were teddy hamster and platypus, strewn with various candies.
Gift… From whom? Who else could have known about Toto's birthday? Who did he tell? He didn't remember. Ron was the only one with a second key to the room, but it's not difficult for anyone in Blue to pick a regular door lock. Toto hoped it was a gift from Ron. Thinking about this, he looked around in fright. But how could Ron know if that was the case?
Toto shook his head. He needed coffee. He opened all the cupboards where he left a bag or a jar of coffee, but instead of coffee he found only small pieces of paper with the same inscription: "No coffee."
“Where did all the coffee go?..” Toto muttered. He looked at the teddy animals again. He broke into a smile. When he opened the fridge, he hoped to find coffee there. There was no coffee, there was something else. Cake. It was very small, and it looked delicious.
Toto carefully took it out on the table. The words "stupid Detective Isshiki" were written in thin lines of syrup at the top. It's definitely Ron's work. Toto's smile widened.
"How did you know, Ron?.. I didn't think you'd do something like this for me..." whispered Toto, looking at the treats and toys. He was so engrossed that he didn't hear the key turning in the door, or the soft footsteps in his direction.
"You let it slip to me.”
Toto almost fell off the chair. Ron let out a chuckle. He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, and waiting patiently for something. His voice sounded muffled, but... gentle? Toto looked at his roommate in confusion.
"Really? When?”
Ron shrugged, which earned him a reproachful look. Toto had seen more than once that Ron had an amazing memory.
“A month ago. You saw the date when a nearby restaurant was closing, and you started muttering that "such a good place stops working right on your birthday." You added that you're unlikely to celebrate it this year. Then you looked at me and asked if I wanted to go to that restaurant with you.”
Ron was smiling, but Toto was embarrassed. It sounded like Toto had asked him out on a date! It's not that he's against it, but... Toto shook his head.
“Thank you!" he exclaimed. He was in a good mood again, and he really wanted to show it. “The hamster and the platypus are very cute. And the candies are my favorites.… You've done so much.… Thanks!!”
And out of habit, he stepped closer and hugged Ron tightly. As he continued to thank him, he unconsciously noticed that Ron was comfortable to hug. He awkwardly hugged him back.
Toto realized what he had done after a few minutes. He gasped and let go of Ron.
“I'm sorry, I forgot that you..." Toto paused and looked sad. He knew that Ron didn't like such intimacy, didn't like hugs, touches, but for some reason he continued to forgive Toto's tactility. He allowed him to hug himself, take his hand, and much more. But when he tried to approach others, he was ready to push them down the stairs. Looking at this, Toto didn't know if he was making Ron uncomfortable.
Ron didn't say anything. Toto glanced at the gifts and asked quietly, “I've been meaning to ask for a long time…”
“No,” said Ron sharply. He shuddered.
"Eh?"
"I know what you want to ask, Toto," Ron explained more gently. “Don't worry about it.”
Toto nodded slowly, sensing some strange implication in the detective's last words. Or maybe he made it up himself.
"If you want to hug me again, hug me," Ron added, "it's your birthday, don't deny yourself."
Toto wanted to think about it, but decided that he would never be able to understand the full meaning of the words, so he put aside his doubts and rushed into a new embrace.
In the end, Toto was finally satisfied. Not noticing Ron's thoughtful expression, he decided it was time to try the cake.
They found candles, Toto blew them out with childish delight and hurried to cut the cake. Ron refused to eat until Toto brought a fork with a piece to his mouth, almost forcing him to swallow. Ron grinned and didn't refuse anymore.
The syrup, which served as a decoration, perfectly complemented the tangerine and chocolate filling. The sweetness spread in the mouth. Delicious! Delicious! Delicious!
Toto forgot that he wanted to do his homework. He spent the evening with Ron. They were sitting in the kitchen, then on the beds. Toto talked about his childhood pranks, showed gifts from his grandmother and shared that his grandmother wanted to meet Ron. Ron listened attentively and chuckled.
It was bedtime. Toto was covering himself with a blanket, putting Ron's teddy animals next to him. When Ron turned off the light and also went to bed, Toto announced that he would take Ron somewhere soon.
"Is Toto asking me out on another date?" Ron suddenly joked.
“Yep!” Toto replied. Ron laughed. Realizing that he had fallen for such a stupid trick, Toto covered his mouth with his hand. “No!! And what does "another" mean?!”
"You just take me out a lot. You're used to me agreeing to any of your invitations. You even pay for me sometimes..." Ron began to explain seriously. He made a pause. “That's... that's what people do on dates, isn't it?"
"Oh? So you're not sure?”
"Yes or no?"
“Yes. Haven't you asked anyone out? You have a lot of female fans! Did you have a girlfriend?”
Ron seemed to grimace.
“No, Toto, not a single one. I've never been interested in that.”
"I see…”
"So I only went on dates with you" — something that both considered unsaid, but both understood. And they fell silent.
Ron spoke first, “It's your birthday today, so choose where you want to go this week, this time I'll pay.” It doesn't look like he's joking.
“And... and when are you free?"
"Always."
There's that weird subtext again!.. Toto frowned. He rolled over, lost in thought.
“Happy birthday and good night, Toto.”
"Good night."
What kind of peace are they talking about? Toto couldn't sleep. He couldn't stop thinking about Ron's words. The subtext… He clearly heard the subtext… Was he making it up? Had he imagined it?
Toto quietly slipped out from under the blanket. He crept up to Ron's bed. He knew that the detective was a light sleeper and was good at pretending to be asleep. Toto climbed onto the edge of the bed first. Ron didn't move. Then Toto carefully swung one leg and arm over Ron's body and loomed over him. Again, nothing.
He wanted to stop himself, he knew that it was a momentary rush and then he would burn with shame. And yet this "rush" was so alluring that he was ready to get burned by his stupidity.
Toto leaned into Ron's ear and whispered, "I want one more present."
Silence.
"You're not sleeping, Ron, play along," Toto said resentfully. He heard a tired sigh. Ron also answered him quietly.
"What present?"
"You."
Toto suppressed a smile as he felt Ron flinch. He sat up. Despite the darkness in the room, he could have sworn he saw a blush on Ron's cheeks. And no one but Toto will ever see it. No one will ever see Ron Kamonohashi like that again.
"Me?" Ron echoed. He opened his eyes wide and stared at Toto in amazement.
"You."
Toto leaned closer to his lips. Ron tensed, and Toto immediately stopped. His conscience wouldn't allow him to do that without his partner's consent…
Toto straightened up.
"I'm sorry, I was too hasty… Too hasty… I can't..." he whispered, hurriedly trying to slip back into his bed.
Ron grabbed his wrists tightly. Toto froze in an instant, once again paying tribute to someone else's strength.
Ron's voice sounded hoarse, uncertain, and he chose his words carefully, but surprisingly, he sounded very sincere.
“You're right, I don’t know if I want more… But right now, I'm sure I want you to continue.” Ron hesitated, pulling Toto closer. Apparently, it was difficult for him to make a confession. "I would have already stopped you if I wanted to…”
"But you're too tense,” Toto shook his head. “No compulsion! Even in such a small matter!”
Ron nodded uncertainly. He gently took one of Toto's hands and laced their fingers together. He didn't want to leave the situation so easily. Ron relaxed as he exhaled. A slight smile appeared on his face.
“And now? I don't know how to kiss, Toto, stop wasting your chance!” He said mockingly.
“No compulsion!” Toto repeated with displeasure. "You're laughing, and you're clutching my arm!"
Ron didn't say anything this time. After a few seconds, he abruptly pulled Toto towards him, wrapping his arms around his neck. Toto, distracted, yelped.
“Toto~”
Toto flinched, blushing. Ron decided to provoke him?! This low-key detective who didn't even go on dates?!
But his gentle, resonant voice was truly mesmerizing. By a miracle, Toto forced himself to concentrate: Ron was completely relaxed and just playing with him.
Toto licked his lips, wondering if he would taste the brown syrup on someone else's lips. He bent lower, no longer thinking about the correctness, and pulled Ron into a kiss. He managed to feel Ron inhale nervously.
Toto stroked his neck, then his sides, then his hair. How he enjoyed exploring his body. A really good gift.
When Toto wanted to pull away completely, he felt Ron press on the back of his head, telling him to continue without words. Toto didn't mind.
Toto really tasted the syrup. Although he didn't like it, he thought the syrup wasn't that terrible…
“Mm... Toto took my first kiss,” Ron whispered. Toto was proud to say that Ron definitely liked it.
“For today it’s enou...” Toto didn't have time to finish, as Ron pulled him down next to him like a kitten and hugged him.
“Yeah. Good night.”
Toto wanted to say something, but he couldn't think of anything, so he obediently closed his eyes. He settled back into Ron's arms.
"...Good night, my present."
This birthday could have been marked as special in the calendar.…