Work Text:
Shu Yamino rearranged the throw pillows on the pale linen couch for the third time and stepped back with a frown.
Too symmetrical. Too perfect. Too much like his old apartment.
He ran a hand through his hair, sighing. The model unit was finished, pristine, elegant. The kind of minimalist luxury his clients adored. But today, it felt like a stage set. Like a place you pretend to live in, not one you actually feel safe in.
The irony of being an interior designer who couldn’t stand to be in his own space wasn’t lost on him.
A soft vibration broke the silence. His phone buzzing with a message from Uki:
> [Uki ]
> "Elira says you're ghosting us again. I'm dragging you out. Saturday. Wear something not depressing."
Shu rolled his eyes. But a ghost of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
They had stayed. His friends. Even when he’d vanished after the breakup, swallowed by grief and silence. Even when he didn’t answer messages for days. Even when he forgot how to talk about things that weren’t him.
They waited. They showed up. They refused to let him fade.
So maybe he could try. Again.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
It was a housewarming party.
Some guy Sonny knew was moving into a townhouse unit in the city was celebrating. Shu wasn’t interested. He barely remembered the man’s name. But he came for the food, the free wine, and because Uki would absolutely murder him if he bailed again.
And then he saw him.
That laugh. It carried across the entire kitchen. Loud, warm, shameless.
The blond man was trying to stack three wine glasses in one hand while balancing a plate of chicken skewers in the other. He nearly slipped.
“Dude, that’s gonna end in disaster,” Sonny warned from the bar.
“I got it,” the man beamed.
Then his eyes caught Shu’s and for a moment, everything slowed.
The guy blinked. Then smiled wider, like he was genuinely happy to see him.
“Hi! ,” he said, walking over and offering a skewer like it was a gift. “You must be Shu? Uki told me you’d be here.”
“He tells people about me?”
Luca chuckled. “Only good things. He said you have the best taste in lighting fixtures and the worst taste in men?”
Shu choked on his bite.
Luca immediately looked horrified. “Wait-was that too much?! Oh my god, I’m so sorry—”
“No,” Shu said, trying not to laugh. “It’s… accurate.”
Luca’s face lit up. “My name is Luca.. Luca Kaneshiro. Would you like some chicken?”
Shu stared.
Luca grinned.
Shu takes the chicken skewer. “Shu.. Shu Yamino”
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
They didn’t talk every day. But Luca found ways to appear.
A morning coffee sent to his office.
A link to a Tiktok video that Shu ended up watching five times.
A text on a rainy Thursday:
> [Luca]
> “Hope your clients aren’t being jerks today. If they are, I’ll fight them. Just say the word.”
It should’ve been annoying. Too much. But somehow, Luca knew how to exist beside Shu without overwhelming him.
Shu didn’t tell him about the nights he woke up cold, reaching out for someone who no longer shared his bed. Or the way he flinched at affection sometimes. Or how sometimes he still wondered, Why wasn’t I enough?
Luca didn’t ask him to.
Instead, he showed up when Shu’s showroom caught a leak during a storm. He helped rearrange chairs during Shu’s exhibit. He sat quietly beside him when Shu had a panic attack in a café, pretending nothing was wrong while subtly passing him tissues under the table.
And one day, when Shu offhandedly said, “I’m not very interesting to be around, you know,” Luca looked at him and said:
“You’re the most interesting person I’ve met all year.”
Luca wasn’t like his ex.
His ex was calculated, polished, always two steps ahead. Luca was chaos in a hoodie, with the emotional subtlety of a freight train but he meant every word. And that scared Shu more than he wanted to admit.
He didn’t want to fall again. Didn't want to bet everything on someone who might wake up one day and say, I’m tired of you.
But one evening, Luca helped him set up lights for a new project, and as they stood in the glow of a warm ceiling wash, Shu looked at him..really looked..and realized:
He hadn’t just been healing.
He’d been learning to hope again.
And Luca was the reason.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
Shu had never really changed anything about his apartment after the breakup.
Same sofa. Same sheets. Same plates they’d picked out together. Every drawer he opened still remembered someone else’s hands. It had been a year, but the space still echoed with absence.
He told himself it was because he was busy. Because new projects kept rolling in. Because furniture didn’t matter.
But one evening, when Luca stopped by to drop off an iced americano and found Shu half-asleep on a bare couch with paperwork over his chest, he frowned.
“Hey,” Luca nudged his shoulder. “Why don’t you ever use the bedroom?”
Shu blinked groggily. “I do.”
Luca leaned against the kitchen counter, crossing his arms. “Shu… I’ve known you for almost six months now. I’ve never seen the lights on in there. You always crash on the couch.”
Shu was quiet and then..
“I don’t think I want to feel it,” Shu muttered.
Silence.
Then: “Okay,” Luca said gently. “Then can I help you feel something else instead?”
Shu looked up.
“I don’t mean it in a weird way,” Luca added quickly, scratching the back of his neck, cheeks flushing. “I just-I want to help. If you want to change the space. Make it yours again.”
Shu stared at him for a moment, then looked away. “You don’t have to-”
“I want to,” Luca said, a little firmer now. “Let me.”
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
They started with the bedroom.
“You can throw away the mattress,” Luca said immediately after Shu opened the door. “That thing has bad energy.”
“I agree,” Uki said through a video call, sipping his tea smugly. “Burn it.”
It was slow. One piece at a time. Shu hesitated often, hands pausing on old sweaters, books, old love notes he thought he’d already thrown out. But Luca never rushed him.
He cracked jokes when the silence got too heavy.
He distracted Shu with an obscure meme he found randomly when he sensed tears coming.
And when Shu finally broke down after finding a forgotten anniversary card tucked inside a drawer, Luca didn’t speak. He just sat beside him on the floor, shoulder to shoulder, and waited.
The sun had long set when Shu whispered, “I thought I was too much for him. And then I thought maybe I was too little.”
Luca’s voice was quiet. “You were never the problem, Shu.”
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
The new bedroom was warm.
Soft creams. Earthy accents. Linen and terracotta. Luca surprised him by framing one of Shu’s old charcoal sketches for the wall.
“This is yours. It should be here.”
They stood together in the doorway that night, side by side, just looking.
“You made this place feel like mine again,” Shu murmured.
“I just followed your lead,” Luca said with a smile. “You’re kind of amazing, y’know.”
And something about the way he said it like it was a fact, not a compliment made Shu’s breath hitch.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
Shu woke to the sound of birds instead of rain.
The window was cracked open, and the morning breeze drifted in with the scent of eucalyptus from the new diffuser Luca had insisted they buy. The sheets were soft. The new mattress firm, grounding.
He blinked slowly, registering the quiet.
No ache in his chest. No weight on his ribs. Just... calm.
He sat up, stretching. The sunlight poured in across the bed, painting it gold. For the first time in over a year, this room didn’t feel like a tomb.
It felt warm.
His phone was charging on the nightstand. A message hovered on his screen from Luca, sent last night before bed:
> [Luca]
> “Did you end up sleeping in the room? If you did, I hope it was comfy. You deserve the best sleep ever, mister interior designer man.”
Shu smiled.
> [Shu ]
> “Yeah. I did. It felt... good. I think I’m going to be okay.”
The reply came almost immediately.
> [Luca]
> “ YEAHHH!!! I’m so happy for you!!!”
Another message followed just seconds later:
> [Luca]
> “So... what’s next on the agenda? The living room? 👀”
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
Later That Day – IKEA
Shu hadn't expected IKEA to be this chaotic.
Families pushing trolleys like it was war. Kids climbing display bunk beds. A couple arguing over curtain rods in the corner. Luca, naturally, was right at home in the chaos.
“Oh my god,” Luca whispered dramatically, pulling Shu toward the living room displays. “Look at this beanbag. That is the beanbag of my dreams. Shu. Sit in it. Feel its power.”
“No,” Shu said, deadpan.
“I’m just saying,” Luca grinned, flopping onto it anyway. “Imagine playing games in this. Eating chips. Making life decisions.”
Shu chuckled. “You make life decisions in beanbags?”
“I do my best thinking in soft places.”
They wandered between sections, picking out bookshelves, coffee tables, lighting. Shu kept catching himself smiling when Luca offered opinions. He was honest, but surprisingly thoughtful.
“You have good taste,” Shu said, watching Luca inspect a modular shelf.
Luca looked up, a little surprised. “Really? Sonny says I’m a menace.”
“You are,” Shu said. “But you have good eyes.”
They ended up in the rug section, Shu crouched down to feel textures while Luca flopped back dramatically on a fake fur one like it was a chaise lounge.
“So,” Shu asked while thumbing through fabric swatches, “what do you do, exactly? Besides harassing my DMs with memes at 2 a.m.”
Luca smirked. “I’m an engineer. Robotics and systems design, mostly.”
Shu blinked. “Wait. Seriously?”
“I know, I know,” Luca sighed dramatically. “Everyone thinks I’m just a golden retriever with muscles. But surprise! I have a brain cell. Maybe two on a good day.”
“That’s… impressive,” Shu said, genuinely. “I didn’t expect that.”
“Why? 'Cause I’m loud and kind of stupid sometimes?”
Shu flushed. “ you're not stupid! I didn’t say-!”
“I’m kidding,” Luca grinned, bumping shoulders with him. “Nah, it’s fair. I like people underestimating me. It gives me room to surprise them.”
Shu looked at him for a moment longer than he meant to. “You really do.”
Later – IKEA Café
They sat at one of those tiny IKEA café tables with two trays of Swedish meatballs between them. Shu poked his with a fork, still smiling faintly.
“Okay,” Luca said, leaning in. “Your turn. What’s something about you people always get wrong?”
Shu tilted his head. “I think people assume I have everything together.”
Luca nodded. “You do seem like you’ve got that elegant, composed thing down.”
“I fake it,” Shu said softly. “A lot.”
Luca didn’t laugh. He just nodded, quiet, like he got it. Like he wasn’t going to say something to make it smaller than it was.
“I think faking it is still surviving,” Luca said after a beat. “Sometimes it’s the best we can do until it starts feeling real again.”
Shu met his eyes and suddenly the IKEA café was too small, too warm.
“I like being around you,” Shu admitted, voice almost a whisper.
Luca blinked, then smiled so wide his nose crinkled. “Good. Because I was hoping you’d let me help with the kitchen next.”
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
The kitchen was the last battlefield.
It still held too many memories of late-night dinners, silent arguments over takeout, half-hearted birthday cakes. It was the one room Shu had avoided remodeling, as if doing so would make it real that the past was finally, fully behind him.
But with Luca grinning at him like they were about to go on an adventure, arms full of hardware store bags and snacks, it didn’t feel so scary.
It felt kind of exciting.
Day 1: Dismantling
“You know,” Luca said, prying off a cabinet door with the confidence of someone who had absolutely no training but too much YouTube exposure, “I thought I’d hate this kind of stuff. But it’s kinda fun.”
“You’re literally doing demolition,” Shu deadpanned. “Of course you like it.”
“You wound me,” Luca gasped, clutching his chest. “I’m a man of elegance and precision.”
As if on cue, the door he was working on clattered to the floor behind him. Shu raised a brow. “Elegance?”
“…Gravity wanted to join in.”
Day 2: Wires
It was sometime mid-morning when Shu brewed them coffee, sweetening his own cup with a spoonful too many of sugar. Luca raised an eyebrow as he sipped his.
“You put like... five cubes in that.”
“I like it sweet.”
“You also drink espresso like it’s water. You confuse me, Yamino.”
“Sweet tooth,” Shu replied simply, tapping his mug. “Caffeine dependency. Judge me all you want.”
Luca grinned. “Not judging. Just noting it down. You like caramel, too?”
Shu nodded. “And matcha. And chocolate.”
“You’re like a walking dessert menu,” Luca said, smiling. “Kinda adorable.”
Shu didn’t respond. But his ears went a little pink.
Later that day, Luca crouched near the exposed wall by the light switches, sleeves rolled up, a focused furrow between his brows as he carefully rewired the broken under-cabinet lighting.
Shu stood nearby, quietly watching.
Luca’s hands were steady, movements precise. He explained what he was doing as he worked how the switches were wired in parallel, and how he was rerouting the circuit to isolate power flow for dimmers.
Shu didn’t really register the words.
He just watched the way Luca’s muscles flexed under his shirt when he reached overhead. The way his expression sharpened with concentration. The low hum of approval he made when something clicked into place.
It was stupid. Shu had seen him laugh with his mouth full, trip over rug edges, yell at IKEA instructions. But now?
Now he was watching Luca build something, and it was...
Hot.
Very hot.
Luca turned around, proud, wiping his hands on his pants. “Boom! It works! Try it!”
Shu flicked the light switch. The warm glow bathed the counter in perfect soft lighting.
“Wow,” he said, smiling. “You’re actually good at this.”
“I told you I’m smart!” Luca beamed, then blinked. “Wait-you didn’t believe me before?!”
Shu laughed. “I did just that… you’re full of surprises.”
Luca smirked. “That’s me. Golden retriever by day, engineer by trade.”
Day 3: Countertops
They were sitting cross-legged on the floor, eating takeout while surrounded by half-installed drawers and bags of tile grout. Luca was carefully picking out shrimp from his noodles.
“Are you just picky?” Shu asked.
“Allergic,” Luca said with a shrug. “Shellfish tries to kill me. Especially crab. It's personal.”
Shu blinked. “Oh. I had no idea.”
Luca grinned. “Now you do. If you ever want to murder me, just leave a crab cake under my pillow.”
“Noted.”
They lapsed into a comfortable silence, chewing.
Then Shu looked up, curiosity nudging him. “Can you actually cook? Or was that just big talk?”
Luca looked offended. “Excuse me! I’m amazing in the kitchen.”
“That’s what they all say.”
“When your kitchen is done. I’ll cook for you,” Luca said without hesitation.
Shu paused.
Something about the way Luca said it..so casual, so unfiltered..made his chest flutter.
“Okay,” Shu replied quietly.
Their eyes met.
Neither of them looked away for a long, long moment.
They were rearranging shelves when it happened.
Shu stood on tiptoe, reaching to adjust the spice rack while Luca hovered beside him, holding the drill. The space between them was barely a breath wide. Shu’s arm brushed against Luca’s shoulder, steadying himself.
“Careful,” Luca murmured.
“I got it,” Shu said, determined.
His fingers slipped on the edge of the shelf. Luca reached up instinctively to steady him, one hand curling around Shu’s waist, the other catching his wrist.
Their faces were suddenly too close.
Shu could feel the heat of Luca’s breath on his cheek. Smell the faint citrus of his shampoo. His heart thudded like a warning. Or a promise.
Luca looked up at him, frozen.
Neither moved.
It would be so easy. Just one lean forward. One slip. One kiss.
But Shu’s breath caught. His hand tightened on the shelf instead.
And Luca stepped back first.
“Okay,” Luca said too quickly, voice high. “That shelf looks awesome. We love that for us.”
Shu blinked, cheeks coloring. “Right. Yeah. Perfect height. Totally practical.”
Luca turned away, fumbling for the drawer handles like they were suddenly very interesting. “Next drawers! Very spicy task.”
Shu let out a quiet breath, heart racing.
He hadn’t even kissed him.
So why did it feel like something just shifted?
Day 4: Sorting
They stood in front of the newly installed pantry shelves, hands on their hips like two sitcom husbands arguing over cereal placement.
“Pasta goes here,” Luca pointed confidently.
“No, that’s where the coffee should go,” Shu countered, arms crossed. “You don’t want spices and grains competing for air.”
“They don’t breathe, Shu.”
“I breathe, and I want the coffee where I can reach it.”
Luca rolled his eyes but relented, watching Shu tuck little glass jars into place with care. His fingertips brushed Shu’s when they reached for the same jar.
Neither of them pulled away immediately.
Later
Once the shelves were filled and the counter was clean, brand new but already lived in Luca dusted his hands off and said, “You should eat something real.”
Shu looked up. “We just had granola bars.”
“Exactly,” Luca said, stepping closer. “As promised. Let me cook in your new kitchen for you.”
Shu hesitated. Then nodded.
It was simple garlic lemon chicken, roasted vegetables, a little salad. Luca worked like he belonged in the kitchen, moving with ease, sleeves pushed up, humming some tune he probably heard from TikTok.
Shu sat on the barstool, chin resting in one hand, watching him with a fondness he hadn’t meant to show.
“You do this often?” he asked.
“What? Be wildly impressive and humble?”
“Cook,” Shu said, smiling.
“Oh.” Luca tossed him a grin over his shoulder. “Yeah. I live alone, remember? I like cooking. It calms me down.”
“You really are full of surprises,” Shu said softly.
Luca didn’t reply, but the flush that crept up his neck said enough.
They ate at the counter, side by side, knees brushing occasionally. Shu moaned softly at the first bite of the chicken.
Luca froze.
“That good?”
“It’s amazing,” Shu said around another bite. “And I don’t just say that.”
Luca looked far too pleased with himself.
“You really could’ve been a chef,” Shu said, teasing.
“I’ll add it to the list,” Luca grinned. “Engineer. Electrician. Personal contractor. Chef. Possible boyfriend-”
He stopped. Choked on his water.
Shu stared.
Luca coughed, waving a hand. “Kidding! Kidding. Wow. Whoa. That came out weird. Forget I said that.”
But Shu wasn’t laughing.
He was quiet. Then slowly smiled into his cup.
“I didn’t say no.”
And Luca, for once, was the one too flustered to speak.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
A week later
Uki had chosen the café, of course.
It was tucked into a quiet corner of the city, full of dried flowers, velvet cushions, and pour-over coffee served in ceramic mugs that didn’t match. Shu liked it immediately.
He was the last to arrive.
Uki waved him over, already halfway through a slice of carrot cake. Elira was poking around the dessert menu with barely concealed glee. Petra, his older sister and the queen of subtle side-eyes looked him up and down the moment he approached.
“You look better,” she said, narrowing her eyes like it was suspicious.
“That’s not how greetings work,” Shu sighed, sliding into the booth beside Uki.
“No, she’s right,” Uki said, sipping his lavender latte. “You’re glowing. Suspiciously.”
“I’m not glowing,” Shu muttered.
“You’re glowing like someone who’s emotionally stable and maybe getting laid,” Uki continued
“Uki !”
“Just saying!”
Elira leaned in with a grin. “Sooo… are you gonna tell us why you’re suddenly sunshine adjacent?”
Shu hesitated, fingers curling around his coffee cup. The ceramic was warm. So was the weight in his chest. Lighter than it used to be.
“It’s Luca,” he said softly.
All four of them reacted instantly.
“Luca?” Petra gasped.
“Sonny’s friend?” Elira blinked. “Tall. Blond. Shiny teeth. Golden retriever energy?”
“That’s the one,” Uki said smoothly. “He’s been texting Shu at weird hours for months.”
“You knew?” Petra hissed.
“I have eyes. I was the one who introduced them..”
Shu groaned, hiding behind his cup. “It’s not like that.”
“Oh, it’s exactly like that,” Elira said with a wicked grin. “Spill. Right now.”
So he did.
Not everything. But enough.
How Luca had shown up when no one else could have. How he helped repaint his walls, choose lighting fixtures, rewire his kitchen. How they sorted tea and spices together like it mattered. How Luca cooked for him. Made him laugh. Never rushed him.
“I don’t know if he knows what he’s doing,” Shu admitted. “But it’s like… he knows how to exist beside me without taking anything away.”
There was a pause.
Then Uki reached over and gently touched Shu’s wrist. “That’s the start of something real.”
Shu’s throat tightened. “I’m still scared.”
“We’d be more worried if you weren’t,” Petra said softly. “But you’re doing good!. Seriously. You look like yourself again. Maybe even better.”
Shu blinked against the sudden sting in his eyes. “Thanks.”
“Oh my god,” Elira said, sniffling. “I’m not crying. You’re crying.”
“You’re definitely crying,” Petra said, tossing her a tissue.
They all laughed, warm and bright.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
As they were standing up to leave, Shu hesitated. Then he turned to them, voice shy but steady.
“I was thinking of doing a housewarming party.”
They froze.
“Wait..you mean like... celebrating the place?” Petra asked.
Shu nodded. “Yeah. By the end of the month, once the last few things are in place. It’s finally mine, y’know? I want to share it. With all of you.”
Elira beamed. “Count me in.”
“I’m bringing flowers,” Uki said immediately.
“I’m telling Claude,” Elira added.
“I’m bringing myself .. it's just us right? ,” Petra said, then side-eyed him. “Unless you’re inviting a certain someone.”
Shu’s ears went red.
“We’ll see.”
But inside, he already knew Luca would be there.
Luca had built that space with him.
Of course he would be there.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
Luca POV
Luca hadn’t planned on falling for him.
He really hadn’t.
It started with a shelf. A broken cabinet. An “I don’t know if I want to fix this” look in Shu’s eyes.
And somehow somehow it turned into eight months of IKEA trips, coffee-fueled weekends, paint-stained shirts, and watching Shu smile again. Slowly. Carefully. Like his heart was stretching itself open for the first time in ages.
Luca had fallen somewhere between light switch rewiring and Shu laughing at one of his dumb jokes with his mouth wide open.
Now?
Now he was gone.
Utterly, terrifyingly, absolutely gone for him.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
Luca sat hunched over Sonny’s couch, nervously picking at the label on a bottle of soda while Ren and Vox stared at him like he’d just dropped a bomb.
“So you’re in love,” Ren said helpfully, sipping his tea like it was gossip fuel.
“I didn’t say that!” Luca blurted, face hot.
“You didn’t have to,” Vox said, arms crossed. “You said you built a custom cabinet with soft-close drawers for a guy you’re not dating. Who you also cook for. Regularly. You’re basically married.”
Sonny raised an eyebrow. “Okay, but real talk…what’s holding you back?”
Luca hesitated. “He’s… still healing.”
The room quieted.
“He was in this six-year thing, and it really messed him up. I don’t want to be the next thing he regrets. Or worse..the guy who swoops in when he’s vulnerable and confuses comfort for love.”
He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I don’t want to rush him. I don’t want to ruin it. I just want him to feel safe. Happy. I’d wait a hundred years if that’s what it takes.”
Ren smiled gently. “That’s not taking advantage. That’s care.”
Sonny leaned forward. “If you’re honest about your feelings, and you keep giving him space to choose…he’ll know. Shu’s not someone who confuses love for convenience.”
Vox nodded. “Just don’t keep it all inside, Luca. Sometimes people deserve to hear that they’re loved. Even if they’re still learning how to love themselves again.”
Luca looked down at his lap.
“…I think I already do,” he said quietly. “Love him.”
Present Day – Luca’s Apartment
He flopped onto his bed after a long day, phone in hand. He had barely hit *Send* on his “Good night, hope your new cabinet’s not crooked 🥴” text when Shu’s reply came in:
> [Shu]
> “Had coffee with my friends today. Told them about you.”
Luca sat bolt upright.
He read it twice. Then a third time.
> [Shu]
> “They want to meet you soon.”
He grinned like an idiot.
Then his phone buzzed again.
> [Shu]
> “Also… I’m doing a housewarming party. End of the month. You’re coming, right?”
Luca didn’t even hesitate.
> [Luca]
> “ I’ll help with the preparations if you want!.”
Another message.
> [Luca]
> “I’ll bring dessert too. Pogu.”
Shu’s reply was short, but warm.
> [Shu]
> “Thank you Luca c: .”
Luca pressed his phone to his chest and collapsed back into bed.
His heart was racing. His brain was fried.
But for the first time in a while, he felt like maybe just maybe Shu was falling, too.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
“Okay,” Luca said, adjusting his sunglasses dramatically as he pushed the cart into the grocery store, “we have a mission. Operation: Shu’s Housewarming Party. Step one produce! Step two, don’t get distracted by the bakery aisle. Step three, no crabs. Death is not festive.”
Shu rolled his eyes, hiding a smile. “I’m impressed you remember all that.”
“I’ve been preparing emotionally for this shopping trip all week,” Luca said, dead serious. “You think I’d let your first real party in your new place be anything less than legendary?”
They cruised through the aisles like they were planning a banquet for royalty..Shu choosing cheeses with a perfectionist’s eye, Luca sneaking 2 cans of pringles into the cart with practiced stealth.
“You have the sweet tooth, but I know how to stockpile snacks,” Luca said smugly.
Shu nudged him with his hip. “You’re ridiculous.”
Luca just grinned.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
“Shu?”
A familiar voice rang from behind the noodle shelf. Shu turned and immediately lit up.
“Claude?”
A man in a black shirt jogged over with a wide smile, practically tackling Shu into a hug. “Heyy man.”
Shu laughed, arms wrapping around him briefly. “You shop here now?”
“Moved into the neighborhood last month, remember? Leo and I are five minutes away.”
Claude slung an arm casually around Shu’s shoulders as they caught up, animated chatter about Leo’s new studio, their talk last week and about Shu’s house warming party.
Luca, a few steps away by the tomato sauce, blinked.
He didn’t know who this guy was. But he was tall, confident, gorgeous and touching Shu like he belonged there.
The way Shu laughed at his jokes, the easy comfort between them, the soft look in Claude’s eyes…
A small weight curled in Luca’s chest.
He turned away, pretending to read a label.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
Claude noticed. He always noticed.
As Shu stepped away to grab a box of crackers, Claude walked over, arms folded, smiling like he knew exactly what was going on.
“You must be Luca,” he said easily.
Luca straightened. “Uh-yeah. That’s me.”
“Nice to finally meet you, man. Shu talks about you a lot.”
Luca blinked. “He does?”
Claude grinned. “Relax. I’m Claude. One of his best friends. Not… y’know. That kind of friend.”
Luca opened his mouth, flustered. “Oh, I didn’t think-!”
“I’ve been married for five years,” Claude said, holding up his left hand with a glint of his ring. “Trust me. I’m not a threat.”
Luca laughed sheepishly. “I… totally thought you might’ve been his ex.”
Claude raised a brow. “I am. But like, high school ex. The tragic 17-year-old angst kind. We realized we were better at helping each other dye our hair than staying in love.”
Luca blinked. “Wait, really?”
Claude winked. “You’ve got nothing to worry about..”
Then he turned on his heel. “Now go help your boy pick out drinks. He’s terrible at deciding.”
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
They were carrying grocery bags back to Shu’s place when Luca finally said it.
“So… that guy. Claude. You two seemed close.”
Shu nodded. “Yeah. He’s one of my best friends.”
Luca hesitated. “Were you…?”
Shu glanced over. “He’s not the ex. Not the big one.”
Luca relaxed slightly, but Shu continued.
“We dated for like… a year? in high school. We were each other’s firsts. But it was more about learning than love. We broke up when we realized we were just friends who tried dating.”
“Oh.”
“We’ve been best friends ever since.”
Luca nodded, trying not to let how relieved he felt show too much.
“And,” Shu added softly, “I’m really excited for you to meet everyone at the party. I want them to meet you.”
Luca stopped walking for a second.
The bags dug into his hands, but he barely felt them.
“You do?”
Shu looked at him with that quiet, steady gaze. “Yeah. You’ve been helping me rebuild everything, Luca. I want them to see what I’ve built. And who helped me do it.”
Luca’s chest felt full tight in the best way.
“…Then I’ll be there,” he said. “Front row. With snacks.”
Shu smiled. “With no crabs.”
“Exactly. I’m trying to live so I can keep falling for you.”
Shu blinked.
Luca froze.
“That came out wrong-”
But Shu didn’t look scared.
He just smiled a little wider and kept walking.
And Luca followed, cheeks pink, heart thundering, knowing something had definitely changed.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
The house was warm. Like honey. Like late summer.
Fairy lights curled above the balcony. The smell of roasted vegetables and lemon rosemary chicken drifted from the kitchen.
It felt like Shu.
For the first time in a year, maybe ever..it felt like him.
He wasn’t just living in the space. He was the space.
And as his friends trickled in, arms full of wine, pastries, and poorly-wrapped gifts, Shu realized he wasn’t nervous. Not like before.
Petra hugged him tight at the door. Uki kissed his cheek. Claude and Leo brought fancy non-alcoholic wine “because we’re classy,” and Elira twirled into the apartment like a tornado in a sundress, yelling, “THIS PLACE IS SO YOU I’M GONNA CRY.”
And Luca…
Luca was already in the kitchen, finishing the side dishes. He wore a dark button-down rolled to his elbows, flour on his cheek, sleeves pushed up, barefoot and radiant in the warm kitchen light.
Shu watched him for a beat longer than necessary.
Uki noticed.
“Don’t stare too long,” he whispered beside him. “You’ll fall...”
“Too late,” Shu murmured before he could stop himself.
The apartment filled with voices. Elira and Petra danced to a ridiculous playlist in the living room while Claude taught Leo how to mix drinks. Uki commandeered the couch like it was a throne.
Shu didn’t know how many times people said you’ve really come back to life tonight, but he took each one like a quiet hug.
Then Claude stood on the coffee table and raised his glass. “To Shu. Who’s finally home. And to Luca who helped him remember how to live in color.”
Everyone cheered.
Shu looked at Luca from across the room. Their eyes met.
And everything else faded.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
Later: Just Them
After the laughter mellowed, after the glasses were rinsed and the last of the cake devoured, guests slowly began slipping out into the night, hugging him goodbye, promising brunches and follow-ups and sleepovers soon.
Uki was the last to leave, pausing by the door.
“Text me later,” he said. “Or just… be happy. That’s all I want.”
Shu nodded.
And then, it was just them.
Shu and Luca.
The lights dimmed to soft glows. The music had long faded into silence. Luca stood by the kitchen sink, drying his hands on a towel, quiet.
“You okay?” Shu asked, stepping closer.
Luca looked at him, something gentle and awestruck in his eyes. “You did it.”
Shu blinked. “Did what?”
“Made this space yours. Made yourself yours again.”
Shu smiled. “I had help.”
Luca stepped closer.
“Shu…” His voice dropped. “I know I said I didn’t want to rush you. And I meant that. But if I don’t tell you this now, I think I might burst.”
Shu’s breath caught.
Luca took another step.
“I’m in love with you. I’ve been falling for months. And I didn’t want to scare you away or make you feel like you owed me anything. I just every moment with you has felt like home. And I don’t want to keep pretending I’m not thinking about you all the time.”
Shu stared at him, stunned.
Then slowly, carefully, he closed the space between them.
“You’re not rushing me,” Shu whispered. “You’re the reason I remembered how to stand.”
Luca’s eyes widened.
“And I’ve been wanting to do this since the day you rewired my kitchen.”
And with that…
He kissed him.
Finally.
Soft and steady, like the light that filled the apartment. Like sugar in coffee. Like the first breath after winter.
Luca kissed back, hands curling around Shu’s waist, holding him like he’d never let go.
And when they pulled away, foreheads touching, Luca whispered,
“Welcome home.”
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
3 years later
Uki arrived with a bottle of rosé and two slices of cake from that fancy place in town with no signage and all the menu items written in cursive.
Shu greeted him in pajama pants, one of Luca’s oversized hoodies, and a bunny hair clip holding back his bangs. His smile was soft but dimmer than usual.
“Long day?” Uki asked, settling onto the couch with him as Shu passed over a wine glass.
Shu curled up beside her. “More like a long week.”
They clinked glasses
“So,” Uki began casually, swirling the drink in her hand. “How’s Luca? You two are almost at the four-year mark now, right?”
Shu’s face lit up instantly, a dreamy smile tugging at his lips.
“He’s wonderful,” he said. “Still brings me flowers. Still calls me beautiful even when I’m in just a hoodie. Still makes coffee for me before I wake up.”
Uki grinned. “Still clingy?”
“Worse,” Shu laughed. “Like... He literally cannot sleep without cuddling.
“Gross,” Uki said affectionately. “Continue.”
Shu sighed, eyes twinkling. “We met each other’s families last year, did I tell you? I thought his mom would hate me.”
“And?”
“She started tearing up,” Shu said. “She said she’s never seen him look at someone the way he looks at me.”
Uki smiled. “Because he’s obsessed with you.”
Shu giggled. “Also... I didn’t know he was rich rich.”
“You’re just realizing that?” Uki laughed. “He drives a custom Audi and wears watches that cost more than my rent.”
“I thought he just... liked gadgets!! I didn’t know his family owns, like, several buildings and a vineyard.”
“Shu.”
“I panicked and knocked over a cheese platter, Uki!”
Shu’s smile dimmed again.
“…But he’s been coming home really late lately.”
Uki raised a brow.
“He says it’s work,” Shu continued, chewing on his lip. “And I know he’s busy, but... it’s been days since we had dinner together. We haven’t cuddled all week. He just comes home, kisses my head, and crashes.”
Uki listened quietly.
“And today I asked if he wanted to watch a movie and he said he had a thing.”
“A thing?”
“He wouldn’t tell me what it was.”
Shu’s voice was getting smaller.
“I don’t want to be paranoid, but... what if he’s just tired of me?”
Uki gave him a look.
“What if the honeymoon phase is finally over?” Shu whispered. “What if I’m boring now? Ugly? Maybe he’s just realizing I’m not-”
“Shu.”
Uki put his glass down and reached out, gently holding his hands.
“You’re spiraling.”
Shu bit his lip, eyes watery. “I just…what if I’m not enough anymore?”
“You are,” Uki said firmly. “You always were.”
“But-”
“Shu,” Uki said softly, brushing a thumb over his knuckles. “Luca adores you. He worships you. He’s probably just... caught up in something.”
Shu’s shoulders drooped.
Uki hesitated.
He could feel the words on the tip of his tongue.
He had known for weeks now. Luca had pulled him aside with a notebook full of messy sketches and flower arrangements and ring designs.
He was planning a proposal.
He’d been coordinating with Petra, Claude, Uki and Elira.
The ‘thing’ tonight? Finalizing a reservation at a hidden rooftop garden.
But Uki kept it in.
Because Luca wanted it to be a surprise. So he just squeezed Shu’s hands a little tighter.
“You’ll see. He’s not tired of you, Shu.”
Shu looked down. “Then why do I feel so… distant?”
“Because when you love someone that much,” Uki said gently, “even a few days apart feels like forever. But trust me, he’s not pulling away. He’s just getting ready for something.”
Shu blinked at him. “Like what?”
Uki smiled.
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
The Next Day
Shu woke up to an empty bed again.
It had been like this all week. Luca leaving before sunrise, coming home after midnight. Whispers of “just a few more days, baby” pressed into his hair before slipping away again.
He tried not to think too much about it Uki’s words echoed in his head like a mantra: He’s not tired of you. You’ll see.
Still, the bed felt cold.
Shu poured himself coffee, staring out the kitchen window at the soft golden morning. He was wearing one of Luca’s shirts-plain white, huge on him, smelling faintly of amber and cedar.
He missed him.
That evening, when Shu was washing up the dishes, his phone buzzed.
> [Luca]
"You free tonight, baby? Dress up a little. I’m taking you somewhere."
> [Shu]
"oh? what’s the occasion?
> [Luca]
"You’ll see 😎"
Shu rolled his eyes but couldn’t help smiling.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
When Luca arrived, he looked dangerous. Black button-up rolled to his forearms, a gold watch glinting against tan skin, hair tousled like he’d run his fingers through it a hundred times from nerves.
He kissed Shu’s temple before saying anything. “Hi, beautiful.”
Shu blinked. “You look… nice.”
Luca grinned. “You look perfect.”
They drove as the sun dipped lower, turning the city gold. Luca hummed along to the radio, one hand on the wheel, the other reaching to hold Shu’s.
And even though he didn’t say where they were going, his thumb brushing over Shu’s knuckles said enough.
He’d missed this. Missed him.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
When they arrived, Shu froze.
It was the rooftop of that quiet garden café they’d gone to two years ago—the one with the ivy-covered walls and fairy lights strung between trees. But now, it looked like something out of a dream. Hundreds of warm lights twinkled overhead. Petals lined the floor, a soft pink trail leading toward the center. There was a small table set up, candles flickering, and the faint hum of their favorite jazz record playing in the background.
Shu turned to Luca, wide-eyed.
“W-What is this?”
Luca’s smile was nervous, soft, so tender. “A dinner. With someone I love more than anything.”
Shu felt his chest tighten. “Luca…”
“Come on,” Luca said, leading him by the hand. “You’re gonna make me nervous if you stare like that.”
They ate a little. They laughed between bites, teased each other about the first time they met, about IKEA, about burnt cookies and accidental paint fights.
It felt like them.
But then Luca stood up.
And the air shifted.
He walked around the table, coming to stand in front of Shu. His hands trembled slightly as he reached into his pocket.
“Shu.”
Shu blinked, confused, heart racing. “Luca…?”
“I’ve been thinking about how to say this for months.” Luca exhaled, eyes soft, voice low and steady. “Three years ago, you were… healing. You didn’t even know how to love yourself again. And I–” He smiled faintly. “I just wanted to make you smile. I didn’t think I’d fall this hard.”
Shu’s breath caught.
“I’ve watched you rebuild your world piece by piece,” Luca continued. “I’ve watched you learn to love your home, your work, your laughter again. And every time I see you every single time I still get that same feeling I did when you smiled at me over a box of IKEA shelves.”
He laughed shakily, then went down on one knee.
Shu gasped. His hand flew to his mouth.
Luca opened the velvet box. Inside was a ring, simple, elegant, a small band of gold with a tiny tulip engraved on the inside. Shu’s favorite flower.
Luca’s voice broke when he spoke again.
“I want to wake up next to you for the rest of my life. To come home to you, to kiss you goodnight, to build every version of ‘home’ we can think of together. Shu Yamino, will you marry me?”
Shu didn’t realize he was crying until Luca reached up to wipe his tears away, smiling through his own.
“Yes,” Shu whispered, breath trembling. “Yes, Luca. Of course I will.”
Luca let out a shaky laugh before pulling him into his arms. Shu buried his face against his neck, sobbing and laughing all at once.
When they kissed, it was slow and sure, the kind of kiss that said everything words couldn’t.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
Later that night, when the candles had burned low, Luca and Shu sat on the rooftop steps, hands intertwined.
Shu turned the ring over on his finger, smiling softly. “You really scared me this week, you know?”
Luca kissed his knuckles. “I’m sorry, baby. I just wanted it to be perfect.”
Shu leaned his head on his shoulder. “It was.”
The city glittered below them, and the night hummed with quiet promise.
Luca squeezed his hand. “You know I’m never gonna stop loving you, right?”
Shu smiled, eyes glistening. “Good. Because I’m never letting you go, either.”
And under the fairy lights, with the city spread out like gold beneath them, they kissed again soft, teary, and infinite.
Home.