Work Text:
"Sorry, not today. I can see you tomorrow, though?"
"No, it's fine..." Takanori nearly threw his phone. He didn't want to see Yutaka tomorrow, he wanted it today! Who the hell would willingly spend Valentine's Day alone? Not Taka, that's for sure. And not Yutaka either; he explained he already had a date planned with his girlfriend.
Takanori tried to hide his disappointment as he said his goodbyes and ended the call. Of course Yutaka had plans, why wouldn't he? Nobody would choose a friend over their partner on a day like this.
Next Takanori decided to call Akira. He had a strong feeling that the man would be able to meet up. But Akira didn't even answer!
Takanori was still hopeful... Next was Yuu's turn. He knew the guitarist had no girlfriend, so maybe he would be free to hang out today. Takanori dialed his number and waited. Yuu answered after a few rings. "Ah, Taka! How are you?"
"...Amazing. Uh, quick question. Are you free today?"
The line was quiet for a moment. Then Takanori heard Yuu cough and clear his throat. "Sorry, man. Not right now. Look, uhm..."
"What now? Where are you?"
He got no reply. Before Yuu said anything else, there was another voice in the background. "What's he calling for?" Takanori heard the voice asking Yuu. Takanori recognized it. He knew that voice. "Dude. You're with Kouyou?"
"Yeah, we uh..." Yuu never finished the sentence. Taka was curious about what they were doing and why they were hanging out without him. He wanted to join! "You what? Come on, are you doing anything fun? Can't you take me with you? I'm free today."
"No, sorry. Taka, I seriously can't right n- mm, Kou, stop it-"
Oh. So that's how it was... Takanori hung up. Both of his guitarists seemed to be having a busy Valentine's Day after all.
The blond got up from his couch but not without a long, dramatic sigh leaving his lips. He made his way sluggishly into the kitchen. Koron was there, munching on a bowl of kibbles. Even if Takanori's friends were all traitors, at least he had his dog... "Koron! Come here. Do you wanna play? I'll play with you."
Koron stopped eating and turned his head to stare at his owner. But the damn dog didn't move an inch after that.
"Don't you want to play? We can go for a walk then. That's fine." Taka stared at Koron. Why wasn't he reacting to anything? Usually the dog was excited to go outside. He should've been wagging his tail and running to the door by now, but nothing.
"Come on! Are you going to abandon me too?" Clearly. Takanori didn't know if he should laugh or cry. Maybe both? Either way, he was getting closer and closer to feeling absolutely miserable. It sucked to be alone on the day that was supposed to be the most love-filled one of the year.
Being alone didn't mean he couldn't still go out, right? Takanori decided that if any of his bandmates or Koron didn't want to go, he'd go by himself. That would be completely normal and acceptable. He liked his own peace better than the loudness of his friends anyway! Surely it'd be an amazing idea to take some time for himself...
Turns out it was the worst idea Takanori had ever come up with. Everywhere he went, he could see them; couples holding hands, friends laughing and having fun, shops selling anything red and pink and heart-shaped... It was the definition of hell for Taka.
What was wrong with him? He had great friends and never felt left out around them, so was it just the fact that it was the 14th of February and they'd had other plans? It felt like a stupid thing to be so upset about, now that he thought about it. He had to get over it. Taka decided it was time to face his fear of Valentine's Day cakes on display and visit the café. He should at least treat himself if nobody else did.
"Alright..." the barista hummed, tapping something on the screen while Takanori said his order.
"Anything else for you? Waiting for anyone?"
Takanori frowned. Seriously? He was sure the girl had meant well, but still... Way to make a man feel lonely. "Nope. That's all."
He was about to go and sit at a table, but upon taking a closer look, all of them were taken. And by who else than a bunch of couples? But luckily, a man and a woman got up to leave and that's when Takanori rushed to take the table. A sigh of relief, then he took out his phone to pass time while enjoying his nice, not at all lonely café latte.
A few minutes had gone by when the sound of laughter caught Takanori's attention. He looked up from his screen, annoyed at whoever dared to disrupt his peace by being so loud. He tried to locate where the sound had come from; it seemed some tall blond was chatting up the barista.
Typical! Why couldn't those arrogant idiots ever keep it down, no matter how many people they were bothering? Takanori was so close to letting the guy hear what he deserved, but something kept him from doing it.
That haircut. He couldn't see the man's face, but that hair looked familiar. Now that he thought about it, wasn't that way of standing very similar to Akira's...? No, it was Akira.
Takanori's mouth hung slightly open. What the hell? He'd called Akira today, and the guy hadn't picked up because he'd been on a flirting spree for Valentine's Day? When he could've hung out with his amazing friend instead? Taka couldn't understand it at all, but it was honestly not even that surprising.
Takanori got up and almost ran towards the pair. He stopped next to who was definitely his bassist. "You are kind of an idiot" he announced, catching the taller blond by surprise.
Akira stopped everything he was doing and turned to face Takanori. "Taka? Uhm... Sorry, I've been a little busy today."
"Yeah? Busy? How many girls have you tried hitting on today? Leave the poor woman alone. She's clearly suffering," Takanori said and glanced at the barista. She did look a bit... awkward. That surely wasn't because of the sudden interruption, was it?
Akira let out a surprised laugh when his friend grabbed his arm and began dragging him away. "Hey! What are you doing? We were having a good conversation."
Takanori sat Akira down on the seat across. "I don't really care. It's your fault I'm out here alone!"
"And? I was looking for company."
Takanori pouted and crossed his arms, then also took a seat. "But you had me! Yet you left me alone. I could've gotten run over by a car. Or kidnapped. Or even worse, robbed! And that would've been your fault."
"Taka-kun... You sure you've got your priorities in the right order?" the taller asked, trying not to laugh. He then continued: "Sorry I didn't pick up. It's Valentine's Day and no matter how much I love you, you're not exactly what I want in a future wife, so..."
Takanori furrowed his brows at Akira. When he didn't say anything, the latter spoke again. "Why are you here anyway? You could've gone somewhere with Kou. I don't think he has a date."
Taka was quiet at first. Then he let out a long, annoyed sigh. "About that. He apparently does." Takanori would rather not have talked about this.
"Huh? Since when has he had any luck with women?"
"Oh, don't worry. That hasn't changed."
The bassist looked confused. "What do you mean...? Matsumoto Takanori, do you know something I don't?"
Taka knew it was in his best interest to not say anything more. Yuu and Kouyou were both infinitely stronger than him, after all... "Nope. Let's go!" He finished his coffee in just a few sips and was soon dragging Akira out of there. Now that Takanori had him here, he wasn't letting go.
"What is the point of this?"
Takanori didn't understand how Akira couldn't understand. This was the best idea he'd had in a while.
Akira had been forced to enter a flower shop by Taka. The latter wasn't over the fact that he'd been so brutally ignored by who was supposed to be his friend, so he naturally wanted compensation; he wanted Akira to get him flowers.
"Can you at least be a bit faster? It's not that hard to pick..."
"No."
Akira waited for what felt like forever as the vocalist compared bouquets, from the size and color to their smell. He was sure Takanori was doing this just to piss him off.
When the other was finally done, Akira snatched the flowers from him and marched up to the counter. As the man working there did his thing, Akira actually looked at what Taka had picked... The biggest white roses he'd ever seen. Seriously? All that work, and that's what he chose? Should've at least taken something more colorful. Red would have suited him well.
After paying for the roses, Akira grabbed them, grabbed Takanori and brought both back outside. He then shoved the bouquet into his friend's hands. "There you go."
Taka cradled the white flowers close to his chest and smiled. "Thank you! And now you will take me to a movie."