Work Text:
Disclaimer: I do not own gravitation.
BEAUTY AND THE LITTLE BEAST
Shuichi sat alone in the studio, fingers drifting lazily across Fujisaki’s keyboard. He had set it to a gentle piano tone, and the notes spilled out soft and warm, filling the empty room like sunlight through glass. There was no rush, no pressure — just him and the music. Hiro had taken a half day and was already on his way to Kyoto. Ever since proposing to Ayaka, his heart practically lived there. These days he found every excuse to make the trip. If K hadn’t shown up earlier and threatened to drag him back at metaphorical gunpoint, Hiro probably would have skipped work altogether and disappeared with the wind.
The thought made Shuichi smile to himself. His fingers kept moving, but his mind wandered, wrapped in a quiet happiness he didn’t bother to fight. The melody softened, turning reflective, and with it came the warmth of a memory from just a few hours before…
XXX
Shuichi remembered how Hiro had arrived that morning with the longest face imaginable after being dragged into the NG building by K. The moment he was released, Hiro had rushed straight to Tohma’s office. When he came out a while later, his entire expression had changed. His eyes were sparkling. Half-day leave granted.
He had stormed toward Shuichi like a man reborn. Shuichi had known immediately what had happened. One look was enough. He had cut Hiro off before he could even start explaining, smiling in that knowing way that always made Hiro feel exposed. The stunned silence on Hiro’s face had lasted only a second before he laughed and wrapped Shuichi in a tight hug, loudly declaring how much he loved him.
It hadn’t been anything unusual. Everyone already knew about them. Hiro loved him fiercely, openly, without shame, and Shuichi loved him just as deeply. Their friendship stretched back to school days, yet sometimes it felt older than memory itself. Hiro had always stood in front of him like a shield, ready to fight the world — once even including Yuki in the list of threats. And Shuichi would have done the same without hesitation. Their bond was simple, pure, unbreakable. A platonic love that no one else could truly understand except the two of them.
Shuichi smiled softly at the memory of Hiro’s face falling when he admitted he could only leave after lunch. He had teased him until the gloom disappeared, reminding him he would still make it to Kyoto. The way Hiro’s smile returned instantly warmed Shuichi even now. It had been Valentine’s Day. Of course Hiro was impatient. Ayaka had been waiting.
They had slipped into their usual morning ritual after that, guitars and keyboards filling the studio with sound. The room had felt incomplete without Fujisaki. Sakano fainting from shock and Suguru escorting him to the hospital had somehow become just another ridiculous chapter in their normal routine. Even chaos felt ordinary when they were together.
By lunchtime, Hiro had been vibrating with anticipation. He had hugged Shuichi so tightly it almost hurt, shouted a rushed goodbye, and dashed out the door, sticking his tongue out at K like a rebellious child. Shuichi had watched him go with a fond smile, feeling nothing but happiness for his best friend.
Even now, remembering it, his chest felt warm.
He had been happy simply because Hiro was happy.
XXX
Now Shuichi was sitting alone in the studio.
K was supposed to stay with him, but the man had been called away for another job. These days K didn’t mind leaving him alone. A few months ago that would have been unthinkable. Back then K had to shout, threaten, and sometimes physically drag him to work. Now… things were different. Shuichi had changed, and even K had noticed it.
He smiled faintly to himself at the thought.
K no longer burst into Yuki’s apartment to haul him out of bed. No more gun pointed at his head just to make him finish lyrics. No more endless lectures. Somehow he had grown steadier. He handled himself better. He took care of his friends without falling apart. And sometimes he caught K watching him with a strange expression — like the man was trying to solve a puzzle but didn’t want to ask the question out loud.
Shuichi knew why.
For months he had been arriving early to the studio, full of energy, greeting everyone like the morning itself. The first time he did it, the entire room had frozen. Hiro had rushed over immediately, touching his forehead, asking if he was sick, if he’d fought with Yuki, if something was wrong. But nothing was wrong. He had only laughed and told them he felt fine. The next day he did the same. And the day after that.
Soon it became normal.
K and Hiro had even made a bet behind his back — he found out later — that he wouldn’t last a week before slipping back into his old habits. Weeks passed. Then months. He kept showing up on time. Hiro won the bet. K paid for lunch for two weeks and pretended he wasn’t annoyed. Shuichi still laughed whenever he remembered Hiro bragging about it.
The truth was… K cared more than he ever admitted. Shuichi could feel it. Every time he cried over Yuki in the past, K looked ready to commit murder. It was ridiculous, dramatic, and strangely comforting. And now when K looked at him, there was relief there. Quiet approval. As if seeing him happy was enough.
Something had changed between him and Yuki. He didn’t need to say it out loud. It showed in his face, in the way his chest felt lighter, in the warmth that kept catching him off guard when he wasn’t paying attention. Even K, who pretended to mind his own business, had noticed.
Shuichi exhaled softly.
He had always been told his smile disarmed people. He never did it on purpose. He just… felt things honestly. When he was happy, it showed. When he hurt, it showed too. He didn’t know how to hide. Maybe that was why K hovered around him the way he did. A silent promise without words: I’ll protect you.
But K still couldn’t rest. Hiro had taken over as the new source of chaos. Watching his best friend spiral into lovesick distraction felt strangely familiar. Skipping work. Daydreaming. Barely concentrating. Sleeping during practice when he thought no one was looking. The gunshots that once chased Shuichi now chased Hiro through the NG building. Today had almost been another disaster. If K hadn’t intervened, Hiro would have vanished entirely.
At around two-thirty, K informed him he had a briefing and left. The door shut, footsteps fading down the hallway.
And just like that, the studio was quiet.
Shuichi sat there alone, fingers resting lightly on the keyboard, surrounded by silence and the warmth of memory.
XXX
Tohma ended the call and lowered the receiver slowly.
He had just finished speaking with Yuki. His brother-in-law had asked for a favour, and Tohma had agreed without hesitation. For Yuki, he would always agree. Over the past few months, he had watched a quiet transformation take place. On the surface, Yuki remained the same — sharp-tongued, impatient, easily irritated. But something in his eyes had softened. The fire was still there, but it burned warmer now. Tohma could feel Eiri inside that gaze, the part of him he had tried for years to reach and failed.
And now, slowly, Eiri was returning.
Tohma knew exactly why.
Shindou Shuichi.
He didn’t understand how the young singer had managed it, but change followed him like light. At first Tohma had despised their relationship. He had seen Shuichi as nothing but trouble — loud, reckless, emotional. He had even tried to separate them. But time had proven him wrong. Shuichi loved Yuki with a sincerity that could not be faked, and that love never wavered. Watching them together had shifted something inside Tohma. Admiration crept in where suspicion once lived.
Somewhere along the way, Shuichi had become family.
Tohma never said it aloud. Only Mika knew. But in his heart he had already accepted it: Shuichi was someone he would protect like a younger brother.
With that thought warming him, Tohma stepped out of his office and headed for the studio. He knew exactly where to find him. There was a small task to deliver — and perhaps, if he was honest, he simply wanted to see him.
The studio door opened soundlessly beneath his hand.
He paused.
Music drifted through the air, soft and unexpected. A piano version of Sleepless Beauty. Tohma recognised the melody instantly. Ryuichi’s song, transformed into something gentle and aching under Shuichi’s fingers. He hadn’t known the singer could play like that. Not just competently — beautifully. Each note carried emotion, warmth, vulnerability. Tohma stood still and let the final chords fade before he moved.
For a moment, he simply smiled.
Sparkle, Ryuichi had said once. Watching Shuichi now, Tohma understood. The word fit perfectly.
He clapped lightly as he stepped forward.
Shuichi jumped from the bench as if startled from a dream, eyes wide like a frightened cat. The sight almost made Tohma laugh.
“Well, well. Good afternoon, Shindou-san. Forgive me for interrupting your private concert.”
He kept his usual pleasant smile as he approached. Shuichi recovered quickly, words tumbling out in a breathless rush — explaining the empty studio, K’s meeting, Hiro leaving early, Sakano fainting again, and how he’d simply been killing time with the keyboard. Tohma listened, amused and oddly charmed by the torrent of honesty.
Some things about Shuichi never changed. And he was grateful for that.
Tohma handed him an envelope.
“Shindou-san, I have a task for you. Would you deliver this letter to the Hilton Hotel? Ask for Eric Snow.”
Shuichi blinked, confused. “Why me?”
“Because you look bored,” Tohma replied lightly. “Consider it a short break.”
Understanding dawned in those violet eyes, bright and grateful. The relief was almost visible. Shuichi hesitated only once, worried about his English, and Tohma reassured him with a soft chuckle. Everything had already been arranged.
“The company driver is waiting outside,” he added.
That did it. Shuichi’s face lit up. He bowed quickly, grabbed his bag, and dashed toward the door with an eager goodbye. The studio felt warmer in his wake.
Tohma watched him go, the smile lingering on his lips.
I’ve done my part, he thought quietly. Whatever you’re planning… good luck, Eiri.
And with that, he turned back toward his office, carrying a quiet satisfaction in his chest.
XXX
On the way to the hotel, Shuichi hummed softly in the back seat of the car. He had no idea who this Eric Snow was, but at least the errand saved him from the empty quiet of the studio. Being alone too long made the world feel hollow. Tohma had rescued him without even realising it.
He rested his cheek against the window and watched the city slide past. Valentine’s banners fluttered from lampposts. Flower stalls spilled red roses onto the sidewalks. Everywhere he looked, the day was announcing itself.
Valentine’s Day.
And he and Yuki weren’t celebrating it.
Not because they were fighting — that thought didn’t even sting anymore — but because Yuki had flown out for an important meeting. Important enough to decide pieces of his future. He had left yesterday. He would return tomorrow. Shuichi wasn’t upset. Truly, he wasn’t. Over the past six months, ever since the night he’d fallen sick and everything between them shifted, their relationship had grown into something steadier, deeper. He hadn’t known Yuki could be romantic — not in public, never in public — but in private… Shuichi’s cheeks warmed just thinking about it.
They didn’t need a holiday to celebrate love.
It felt like they celebrated it every day.
His phone rang and pulled him back to reality. The familiar ringtone made his heart jump. He didn’t even have to look at the screen. Yuki. Of course it was Yuki. Since leaving Tokyo, he’d been calling whenever he could steal a moment. Shuichi answered already smiling.
“Hi, dear.”
“How’s your day, brat?”
He rolled his eyes, laughing softly. Still brat. Some things never changed.
“I’m fine. How about yours?”
A quiet sigh came through the line. “You know how much I hate this meeting. I wish I were home. On the couch. With you.”
Shuichi’s voice softened. “Me too.”
A pause. Then Yuki added, voice dropping lower,
“Or inside you.”
Heat rushed straight to Shuichi’s face. “Eiri! You’re impossible…”
Yuki’s chuckle vibrated through the phone. “You’re blushing.”
“…No comment.”
Silence settled for a second, warm and intimate despite the distance.
“I’m sorry about today,” Yuki murmured. He didn’t need to explain what he meant.
“It’s okay,” Shuichi answered gently. “Really. Don’t worry.”
Another breath. Relief. “Thanks… I’ve got to go. Busy, busy. Take care.”
“You too. I love you.”
There was a beat of stunned quiet on the other end.
“…I didn’t say it first,” Yuki muttered.
Shuichi smiled into the phone. “You didn’t have to. I know.”
He ended the call with warmth still buzzing in his chest.
Outside, the city kept moving, banners fluttering, roses glowing red in the afternoon light. And Shuichi leaned back in his seat, feeling full in a way that had nothing to do with holidays.
XXX
Yuki lowered his phone slowly, the smile still resting on his lips as if it refused to leave. His head felt light, his chest strangely full, and the quiet happiness sitting inside him almost startled him with how natural it felt. This was Eiri — the version of himself he had thought lost years ago. Seguchi would do anything to see him like this, he knew that much. A faint smirk touched his mouth at the thought, but the truth was simple: this side of him no longer belonged to the world, nor to Seguchi. Only one person was allowed to see Eiri completely. Only his brat.
For years he had believed that part of himself had died in the aftermath of Kitazawa. He had accepted the emptiness as permanent, convinced that survival was the best he could hope for. Healing had never been part of the plan. And then Shuichi had entered his life and refused to step back, refused to be pushed away no matter how cruel Yuki had been. Somehow — impossibly — the singer had reached into the ruins and pulled Eiri back out with nothing but stubborn love. Yuki knew the cost of that miracle. Every tear, every rejection, every wound had been inflicted by his own hands. A quiet guilt brushed through him, but it no longer crushed his chest the way it once did. That was the past. Eiri would carry the responsibility now. Eiri would protect what Yuki had nearly destroyed.
He exhaled softly and leaned back, letting his head rest for a moment. Over the past few months he had caught himself smiling like this more times than he could count. The ease of it still surprised him. People would call it the power of love. Yuki almost laughed at the thought. It wasn’t love in general. It was Shuichi. Only Shuichi. The image of violet eyes came to him effortlessly, followed by the sound of a laugh that warmed every quiet corner inside his chest. And with that warmth came a memory, sharp and vivid.
Five months ago…
XXX
Flashback — about a month after the fever
Yuki was still working when the memory came back to him.
That night he had been deep in a new manuscript, the soft tapping of keys filling the room. His editor had sent another assignment, and for once Yuki had decided to betray his own habits. No tragic ending. No broken lovers. He was writing happiness. The idea alone had made him smile faintly to himself. Maybe he was changing without noticing.
A gentle knock sounded at the door.
He looked up.
Shuichi stood there holding a mug, steam curling around his face, violet eyes warm and shy. Yuki didn’t need to speak. A small nod was enough. Shuichi stepped inside quietly, placed the coffee on the desk, and then — as naturally as breathing — settled onto his lap.
“Time’s up,” he whispered softly. “Coffee break.”
Yuki wrapped an arm around his waist and leaned into him, resting his face against Shuichi’s neck. The warmth there calmed him instantly.
“Thanks,” he murmured.
Shuichi giggled. “That tickles…”
His cheeks were already pink. Yuki pulled back just enough to look at him and smiled — a rare, gentle smile meant only for this one person. He brushed a kiss over Shuichi’s nose. Shuichi answered with a quick kiss to his forehead, light and affectionate.
“I’m going out for a bit,” Shuichi said after a moment. “Just the park.”
Yuki glanced at the clock. Nearly ten-thirty. He frowned slightly.
“I need inspiration,” Shuichi added quickly, blinking up at him. “I won’t be late. Promise.”
That look… Yuki exhaled softly. He never won against those eyes.
“…Alright. Don’t stay out long.”
Shuichi beamed and kissed both his cheeks before sliding off his lap. He was almost at the door when Yuki called out again.
“Why didn’t you ask me to come?”
Shuichi stopped. He turned back slowly, uncertainty flickering across his face.
“I didn’t want to disturb you. You’re working and I… I thought…”
The words trailed off. His gaze dropped.
Yuki was already walking toward him. He reached out and touched that pink hair gently.
“It’s fine,” he said quietly. “I need a break too. Let’s go together.”
Shuichi looked up. The relief in his eyes was soft and overwhelming.
“Eiri…” he whispered, stepping into his arms. “Thank you.”
Yuki held him for a moment, letting the silence settle comfortably between them. The work could wait. The night was theirs.
“So,” he murmured near Shuichi’s ear, “shall we?”
A small nod. A shy smile.
“After you, love.”
The word melted something inside him. Yuki leaned in and kissed him slowly, not rushed, not hungry — just warm, certain, full of quiet devotion. A promise without needing to say it aloud.
When they parted, Shuichi laughed softly, eyes shining.
“I love you…”
Yuki brushed his thumb along Shuichi’s cheek.
“I know.”
Their fingers intertwined naturally as they stepped out of the apartment, pausing only to grab their windbreakers before the cold night air greeted them.
Two silhouettes walking side by side.
Warm. Safe. Home.
They walked slowly toward the park, hands still intertwined, neither of them in a hurry to reach anywhere. Shuichi hummed softly as they walked, lost inside his own little melody. He didn’t notice Yuki watching him the entire time.
To Yuki, Shuichi was light. Always bright. Always beautiful in ways the world didn’t deserve. No matter how long he stared, he never grew tired of that face.
Why do I never get bored of looking at him?
Because loving him never felt repetitive. It felt new every time.
Shuichi’s humming faded when they reached the bench — their usual spot. Without speaking, they sat down. Yuki pulled him closer by instinct, wrapping an arm around his waist. Shuichi adjusted easily, resting his head on Yuki’s shoulder like he had done a thousand times before. Silence settled between them, comfortable and full. Moments like this were enough. They didn’t always need words. Being there was already everything.
“I love you,” Yuki murmured quietly. “I want to share in everything you do.”
“…Eiri,” Shuichi whispered without lifting his head.
“Brat,” Yuki answered, pressing a light kiss to his forehead.
A soft punch landed against his chest.
“Still calling me that. Stupid Eiri.”
Yuki chuckled. He caught Shuichi’s hand and kissed his fingers slowly, one by one, just to watch the blush spread across his cheeks. Shuichi shifted, lifting his head and turning to face him properly. His expression changed — shy, but serious.
“There’s something I want to ask you…”
Yuki didn’t hesitate.
“The question. ‘Who are you.’ You want the rest of the explanation, right?”
Shuichi froze.
How did he know?
“…Yes,” he admitted quietly.
Yuki inhaled slowly. He had known this would come eventually. He had asked himself the same question many times and had finally found an answer he could live with. Meeting Shuichi’s eyes, he began gently,
“Shu… it’s like those fairy tales. The Little Mermaid. Beauty and the Beast. You’ve heard them, right?”
Shuichi nodded, fingers tightening around Yuki’s hand.
Yuki held on.
And so the story began.
Yuki spoke softly, as if afraid the night itself might interrupt him. He told Shuichi that the man he had become could only be explained through fairy tales — through The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. To anyone else, the comparison might sound childish. To him, it was the only language that made sense.
“In the mermaid story,” he murmured, fingers tightening gently around Shuichi’s hand, “she changes back when the water touches her. No matter how human she wants to be, her true form waits underneath. And in Beauty and the Beast… the monster becomes a prince only when someone sees him and doesn’t run.”
He smiled faintly.
“For me… those stories are the same story.”
In his heart, Eiri was a merger of both worlds — beauty and the little beast. It sounded strange when spoken aloud, yet it felt truer than anything he had ever said. When he was away from Shuichi, when the world closed in and the cold returned, he was Yuki: distant, sharp, untouchable. That was his armour. His water. His original shell. But when he stood beside Shuichi, when those violet eyes looked at him without fear, the armour dissolved. The beast softened. And Eiri emerged — warm, human, alive.
He was Eiri with Shuichi.
He was Yuki without him.
That was the spell. That was the transformation.
And because of that boy — his Beauty — the prince did not disappear again.
Yuki’s voice lowered, thick with something fragile and sincere. Without Shuichi, Eiri would have remained buried forever. He would have lived and died as Yuki alone, never knowing that another self still breathed beneath the ice. Shuichi had pulled him out of a nightmare he thought endless. He had given him a second life, a second chance to feel joy without fear.
So now Yuki loved him openly. Fiercely. Tenderly.
He wrapped Shuichi in affection the way one protects something sacred. He held him close not out of possession, but gratitude. Every touch was a promise: I see you. I choose you. I stay.
Because Shuichi deserved nothing less.
And that was the fairy tale of Beauty and the Little Beast.
Also known as Shuichi…
and Yuki Eiri.
And unlike most fairy tales —
this one did not end.
“That’s it,” Yuki murmured softly. “You are my Beauty. My saviour. My heart. My life.”
He sealed the confession with a gentle kiss. It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t hungry. It was warm — a promise pressed into Shuichi’s lips. He had given him everything Shuichi wanted to know. His thoughts. His truth. And he would keep giving. There was nothing left he wanted to hide from him.
“Eiri…”
Shuichi couldn’t find another word. His chest felt too full. His eyes shimmered as tears gathered without permission.
I’m his Beauty… his saviour… his heart… his life…
The thought overwhelmed him.
He slapped his own cheek lightly.
Yuki caught his wrist immediately. Laughing softly, he whispered, “Hey, Beauty. Stop that. You’re not dreaming.”
“I’m not…?” Shuichi blinked rapidly. “I’m not dreaming? I’m really not?”
God, he was adorable.
Yuki grinned. Alright. I’ll prove it.
He pulled Shuichi into a tight embrace and leaned to his neck. His voice dropped to a whisper.
“I’ll prove it to you.”
Then he bit him — just enough to sting.
Shuichi jerked. “Ow! What was that for? It hurts!”
Another soft punch landed on Yuki’s chest.
“I’m marking my territory,” Yuki replied calmly. “If this were a dream, would it hurt?”
Shuichi narrowed his eyes, teasing. “Oh? Since when am I your territory, Mr. Beast?”
Yuki’s smile sharpened.
He’s asking for it.
“Since now.”
He caught Shuichi again and kissed him fiercely. This time the warmth burned. A deep kiss that stole breath and thought alike. When they finally separated, Yuki smirked.
“Serve you right, brat.”
Shuichi buried his face against his chest, cheeks burning.
“Eiri no baka…”
And then — revenge.
He bit Yuki’s neck.
Yuki hissed. “You bit me!”
“Hihi… payback time.”
Angel face. No guilt.
“You little—!”
He lunged, but Shuichi was already running.
“Come back here!”
“Catch me if you can!”
Laughter echoed across the empty park as Yuki chased him. They ran like children, reckless and breathless, the night air sharp in their lungs. Shuichi was fast — frustratingly fast — but Yuki’s long stride closed the distance. He tackled him gently into the grass, both of them collapsing into laughter.
They lay there panting, staring at the sky.
“Eiri… I think… I just got… a hundred ideas… for my song,” Shuichi gasped.
“Same…” Yuki breathed.
He rolled over and kissed him again, slower this time, deeper. A kiss that lingered. That promised more. When he pulled back, he traced kisses across Shuichi’s eyelids, his nose, the corner of his mouth. Shuichi trembled beneath him, breath uneven, fingers gripping his shirt.
Yuki’s lips found his neck again — the marked place — and lingered there. A slow breath against warm skin.
Shuichi whispered, voice low and trembling,
“It’s time to go home… don’t you agree, Eiri?”
Yuki chuckled near his ear. “I agree. You’re being dangerously cute right now.”
Shuichi stood and reached down, smiling.
“I’m your Beauty, remember? Come on, Mr. Beast. Let’s go home.”
Yuki caught his hand and held it tight.
Side by side, laughing softly, they walked back into the night — toward warmth, toward home, toward each other.
Flashback End
XXX
Arriving at the Hilton Hotel, Shuichi steps into the lobby and pauses.
The Valentine decorations catch his attention immediately. Soft lights, ribbons, roses arranged with careful elegance — the entire space glows like something out of a romance movie. For a moment he simply stands there, quietly impressed, wondering how a hotel lobby can look this beautiful. Then he remembers why he’s here and walks toward the counter.
He bows politely and asks about Eric Snow.
The two young staff members begin explaining where to find him — and then both of them suddenly stop mid-sentence. Recognition hits at the same time. Their eyes widen.
Shindou Shuichi.
Lead singer of Bad Luck.
They stare. Blink. Freeze.
“…Hello?” Shuichi leans slightly forward and reads their name tags.
“Ueki-san… Kinomoto-san…”
He gives them a playful wink.
Both of them jump.
“Oh! We’re sorry, Shindou-san!” they apologize together, faces turning red.
The young man hurriedly moves to locate Eric Snow while the young woman remains at the counter, clearly trying to calm her racing heart.
“Shindou-san… c-can I have your autograph?” she asks softly.
Shuichi smiles. “Of course.”
She hands him a piece of paper and a pen. He signs, then looks up.
“What’s your name?”
“Hikari. Ueki Hikari.”
He repeats it gently while writing, adding a short message before handing it back. She accepts it like a priceless treasure.
“C-can I get one for Kinomoto too? He’s a very big fan,” she asks, voice trembling.
Shuichi laughs lightly. “Don’t be scared. I don’t eat people. What’s his name?”
“Kazuki. Kinomoto Kazuki.”
Another signature. Another smile.
Just then, Kazuki returns with Eric Snow’s location — and the moment Hikari gives him the autograph, his eyes grow huge. Without thinking, he throws his arms around Shuichi in shock.
Then he realizes what he’s done.
“My apologies, Shindou-sama!”
His face turns tomato red. Shuichi laughs and pats his shoulder.
“It’s okay.”
With directions to St. George’s Bar in hand, Shuichi thanks them and heads deeper into the hotel.
An English-style pub. On Valentine’s Day.
He frowns slightly.
What is this Eric Snow planning?
Still confused, he pushes open the door.
The place is quiet.
Too quiet.
No crowd. No chatter. Only dim lights and soft music. It feels strange for a night like this. A waiter approaches and bows.
“Mr. Snow will arrive shortly. Would you like to order something while you wait?”
Shuichi exhales.
“Yes… banana split, please.”
The waiter leaves. Shuichi sinks into his seat and glances around again. The silence suddenly makes the distance feel heavier.
Eiri… what are you doing right now?
I miss you, Mr. Beast…
The banana split arrives.
He brightens instantly.
Ice cream has always been his weakness. Chocolate, pocky, cake — anything sweet. The first spoonful melts on his tongue and he sighs happily.
At least something tonight tastes perfect.
And sitting there alone in a Valentine-lit pub, eating dessert and thinking about the man he loves, Shuichi smiles to himself.
Because even apart, his heart still feels full.
XXX
Yuki watches his lover from a distance.
That familiar pink head bent over a bowl of ice cream, that small smile of pure satisfaction — it pulls warmth into his chest instantly. Shuichi is happy. That alone is enough to steady his breathing.
As long as he’s smiling… I’m fine.
His fingers curl slightly at his side.
Wait for me, love. Just a little longer.
Everything is unfolding exactly as planned. The hall is reserved. The night belongs to them. Even Shuichi’s arrival had gone smoothly. Yuki allows himself a quiet breath of relief and keeps watching, unable to look away.
Shuichi finishes the last spoonful and sighs happily.
Five more minutes, Beauty.
He notices the shift immediately. Shuichi’s fingers begin tapping the table. His head tilts, eyes unfocused for a moment.
Yuki smiles.
He knows that look.
Inspiration.
A spark hitting all at once, too fast to hold. Any second now Shuichi will panic, searching for something to write on before the melody escapes him.
Right on cue, Shuichi waves at a waiter. A notebook and pen appear within seconds. He bows gratefully and starts scribbling, completely absorbed, lips moving silently as he chases the rhythm in his head.
Yuki’s chest tightens with something soft and overwhelming.
That is his Shuichi. Bright. Alive. Creating without fear.
And all he wants — all he has ever wanted — is to stand inside that world with him.
I love you, Beauty, he thinks quietly.
Let me stay there. Let me stay beside you.
XXX
Shuichi checks the time again and sighs softly. Where is this Eric Snow guy? I’ve been waiting almost fifteen minutes… Bored and restless, he pulls out his phone and calls Yuki, just wanting to hear his voice for a moment. After a few rings he stops the call himself, smiling sheepishly. Still in the meeting… sorry, dear. He quickly types a message instead, telling Yuki where he is, apologising for disturbing him, admitting he misses him more than he should. When the reply arrives, his face lights up instantly. Yuki says he can’t talk but wishes him a happy Valentine. That alone is enough to make Shuichi kiss his phone and press it tightly against his chest. He doesn’t notice that from across the dim hall, hidden in the shadows, Yuki is watching him with a warm, private smile.
A waiter suddenly appears carrying an enormous cake and sets it in front of him. Shuichi blinks in confusion and reads the icing. Happy Valentine’s Day. I love you, Shuichi. He nearly jumps out of his seat. His voice drops to a whisper as he asks who sent it. The answer — Mr. Snow — twists his stomach instantly. Tall. Handsome. Blonde. Rich. Every word makes the situation worse. Panic crawls up his spine. He tries to escape, shoving the envelope into the waiter’s hands, ready to leave before this mysterious admirer creates a disaster… and then warm breath brushes his ear. A slow lick follows. A familiar chuckle vibrates behind him.
His entire body freezes.
Slowly he turns. Black shoes. Dark coat. Pale skin. Necklace. Lips. Gold eyes.
“Eiri?!”
Yuki steals the rest of the shock with a kiss. It isn’t teasing — it’s grounding, claiming, warm enough to melt the panic away. When he pulls back, he laughs softly and murmurs, “Surprise. Happy Valentine, Shu-chan.” Shuichi crashes into his arms without hesitation, tears spilling as laughter bursts out of him. He repeats how much he loves it, over and over, voice shaking with happiness. Yuki holds him in a tight, never-let-go embrace, breathing him in like he’s home. The world disappears until a polite cough reminds them dinner still exists. Yuki leads him to the table, smiling at the way Shuichi still looks stunned and glowing at the same time.
The explanation comes out between laughter. The cancelled meeting. The fake excuses. The entire night planned weeks ago. And the name.
“Eric,” Yuki murmurs. “Eiri.”
“And Snow…” Shuichi whispers.
“Yuki.”
The meaning settles between them, warm and intimate. His real name hidden in plain sight. A secret only meant for the two of them.
Dinner arrives — extravagant, indulgent, and sweet enough to make Shuichi beam. Yuki has booked the entire pub, candlelight flickering while a violinist plays softly nearby. The night belongs to them alone. When Yuki asks him to dance, Shuichi whispers that he doesn’t know how, but he follows anyway. Hands find their places naturally. Bodies align. They move slowly, guided by breath and heartbeat, eyes locked. The music wraps around them until the hall fades away and nothing exists except warmth and rhythm and love. Yuki pulls him closer, and Shuichi melts into the embrace, and in that moment they are drowning — in music, in feeling, in each other — safe inside their own small universe.
The world of Shuichi and Yuki Eiri.
And in that world, they dance as if the night will never end.
XXX
Exhausted but glowing, Yuki guides Shuichi back to their seat. Hours of dancing and far too many stolen kisses later, Shuichi is still flushed bright red, breath uneven, eyes shining. Yuki glances toward the musicians with a faint smirk. No words needed. Tonight has already gone beyond perfect.
“Eiri… I’m tired,” Shuichi murmurs softly, smiling. “Can we go home?”
“No.”
Shuichi blinks. “Huh?”
“No home for three days.”
“…Eh?”
The confusion melts into shock.
“Another surprise?” he whispers.
“For both of us.”
Yuki hands over an envelope. Shuichi opens it carefully — and his eyes widen.
Three days. Two nights. Honeymoon suite. This hotel.
“…Eiri…”
He covers his mouth with his fingers, staring.
“I filed your leave with Seguchi two weeks ago,” Yuki says calmly.
“It’s not that I don’t want to say thank you — thank you, thank you — but… my clothes?”
Yuki narrows his eyes. “You don’t need them.”
“Eiri…!”
Yuki exhales slowly, his voice lowering, softer now.
“I need you, Shuichi. No matter what happens… I always need you.”
The words settle deep between them.
“Come here,” he murmurs. “Sit.”
“Where?”
“Here.”
“…On your lap?”
“Yes.”
“…Okay.”
Shuichi settles into him, head leaning against Yuki’s chest. Yuki wraps an arm around his waist and places another envelope in his hands.
“For you.”
Shuichi opens it while Yuki tightens his hold, resting his chin on Shuichi’s shoulder, watching every flicker of emotion.
The note reads:
To the one I love,
I need you. No matter what happens, I’ll always need you.
I love you. You are my Beauty, my savior, my heart and my life.
I love you Shu-chan. We need each other, to have and to hold.
I love you dear. We were two, but now, we are one.
I love you Beauty. I want to be part of your world.
I love you love. I want to share in everything you do.
I love you Shuichi. Will you marry me?
Uesugi Eiri
The world collapses into silence.
Shuichi breaks.
Tears spill down his face before he can stop them. He never imagined something like this could belong to him. These past months had already felt like a miracle. He had been afraid to wish for more — afraid the dream would shatter if he reached too far.
Now the dream is real.
He turns and buries his face into Yuki’s chest, sobbing helplessly. Yuki holds him tighter, arms wrapped around him like a shield, like home. He doesn’t rush him. He lets him cry.
Eventually the sobbing slows. Shuichi lifts his head. Yuki is crying too. Quiet tears slipping freely. Shuichi reaches up and wipes them away — but more fall.
“They won’t stop,” Yuki whispers hoarsely. “I don’t know why… they won’t stop.”
Shuichi leans in and kisses him gently.
“They will,” he whispers back. “When they’re ready.”
A breath. Then laughter breaks through the tears. They’re both laughing now — shaky, breathless, overwhelmed with happiness. Shuichi cups Yuki’s face and looks straight into his eyes.
“Yes,” he says.
Then louder:
“Yes! The answer is YES!!!”
Yuki closes his eyes in relief. The tears finally slow. He takes Shuichi’s left hand and slides a simple white-gold ring onto his finger.
A promise. A future. A life chosen together.
“Arigato…” Yuki whispers. “I love you, Shindou Shuichi. I love you.”
And in that moment, nothing else in the world matters.
XXX
OWARI