Chapter Text
Lied has a problem.
It wasn't a particularly new problem, either. In fact, it was one he'd been carrying around for quite some time now, something he'd gotten surprisingly good at ignoring whenever it became too embarrassing to think about for too long!!
No one can blame him.. i mean it's an absolute dire problem!!
He likes Elizabetta, Everyone knows that. Maybe even Elizabetta knows, but lied isn't sure but either way everyone knows his crush on Elizabetta
That was the problem, an absolute crisis of a problem that !!
Well, technically.. the problem was that Elizabetta liked him too!
As a friend of course.. haha. It's not like he'd want more than that..!! he totally wants to be more than friends
Lied had spent the entire morning thinking about that one little detail, It's been stuck on his mind.. Him being friends with Elizabetta? His long term crush?
He had sat at his desk during class with his cheek resting against his palm, staring blankly at the board while Kalego continued his lecture somewhere in the background. He should have been paying attention, but his mind kept circling back to the conversation he'd had with Elizabetta earlier..
It's very unforgettable in his opinion, Over dramatic but it's okay. Lied couldn't help but feel giddy thinking about it!
Friend
She'd called him her friend..!!
An actual friend. Like actual actual friend. No joke, No bluff to cover it
Lied still couldn't quite believe it, He had to take a long time processing that she in fact considers him as her friend..!! It was honestly the best thing he had ever heard...!
He had liked Elizabetta for long enough that he'd gotten used to the idea that his feelings were probably going to remain one-sided, and he'd made peace with that!! As long as they're friends he's totally cool with that!
Or at least, he'd tried to. Having a crush on someone like Elizabetta Ix was already difficult enough without getting his hopes up, so he'd always been content with whatever little moments he could get with her.. although he's a total coward when it comes to her
A conversation here.
A shared walk there.
The occasional chance to sit beside her.
That was enough, Actually it was more than enough! He couldn't get this lucky to even talk or share a walk with her! Especially having a chance to sit beside her!
Except now she'd actually called him her friend, and for some reason that tiny word had made him happier than he wanted to admit, It's just friend.. but at least it's progress!
Lied couldn't stop smiling about it, It's not his fault. He just felt absolutely giddy at the thought of it, He had a friend, Sure he has a lot of friends but this friend is different this time
Elizabetta was his friend. The one and only Elizabetta, his crush!
That was great!
Fantastic, even..
There was only one problem, The very problem he's been trying to solve but has no idea how to..
He had absolutely no idea what he was supposed to do about it. Like has no absolutely thought of any thing the comes to his mind
What did friends do?
The question sounded stupid the moment he thought it, but the more he considered it, the less certain he became, It's serious because it's Elizabetta! Sure has friends like the misfit class but elizabetta is different than his usual friends
Friends talked to each other, obviously. They hung out, joked around, helped each other when they needed it, and occasionally gave each other things..
Lied paused for a moment, Thinking really hard
Things, Stuff
Maybe that was it..!
He could get her something, How thoughtful of friend!
A gift, maybe..
His eyes brightened for half a second before he immediately shook his head.
"No."
The quiet word earned him a sharp look from Kalego warning him to pay attention to the lecture. But even so, Lied's mind was far from the lecture
But even so Lied straightened up
"Sorry..."
He waited until Kalego looked away again before slumping back into his seat.
A gift would probably be too much.. Or maybe it wouldn't...
He had no idea, Like no absolute thought came in his mind That was the problem.. it made him think too much on what to act how to be her friend..!
He knew how to act around his other friends. With Jazz, he didn't have to think about every little thing he said or did. He could shove him, complain about homework, steal food from him, and generally act like himself without worrying about whether he was being too obvious.
But Elizabetta was different.
Everything felt different around her.
If he bought her something, would she think it was strange?
If he complimented her, would she realize why?
If he spent too much time with her, would she notice that he was doing it because he wanted to be near her? And, perhaps worst of all, what if he tried too hard to be a good friend and somehow ruined the friendship entirely?
Lied groaned quietly and buried his face in his hands.
This was impossible..!!
He just wanted to be thoughtful...
That shouldn't have been so difficult, He didn't think being friends were so hard!
By the time classes ended, he still hadn't come up with anything, it was bothering him deeply the entire time..
He wandered through the halls after everyone else had begun leaving, kicking lightly at the floor as he continued thinking. He had already considered snacks, gifts, helping her with something, even offering to carry her things, but none of it felt quite right.
He wanted something small, but not too small or too big of a gesture, Something that said I thought of you without accidentally saying I have been hopelessly in love with you for who knows how long.
Was that really too much to ask?
Apparently it was
Lied eventually found himself outside, still lost in thought, and only realized where he'd ended up when he spotted the familiar garden..!
He slowed.
Someone was there.
Asmodeus was kneeling beside one of the flower beds, carefully tending to the plants while Iruma and Clara were fast asleep at the nearby table, apparently having exhausted themselves.
Lied blinked slowly
Then he looked at the flowers, Then at the figure before staring back at the flowers
An idea slowly began to form. It was probably a stupid idea. But at this point, he was willing to try almost anything!
"Asmodeus?"
Asmodeus glanced over his shoulder staring at Iruma and Clara nearby on a table sleeping, They got tired.
"Lied."
Lied approached, shoving his hands into his pockets looking quite nervous
"Uh... can I ask you something?"
"You already have."
"Right."
Lied winced
"Okay, forget that. I mean-.. do you know anything about flowers?"
Asmodeus stared at him for a moment before looking back toward the garden.
"Of course I do."
"Great!
Lied crouched beside him looking at the flowers before staring at Asmodeus feeling nervous to ask
"So, like... what do flowers mean when you give them to someone?"
Asmodeus paused slightly confused why he asked about that
"That depends on the flower."
"Oh."
"And the color."
"Oh."
"And the person receiving it."
Lied's expression became increasingly confused about this flower talk.. Everything seems important just to give someone a flower huh
"But... generally?"
Asmodeus sighed, apparently deciding to entertain the question.
"Flowers are significant symbols for everything. Friendship, affection, admiration, gratitude, love. Their meanings depend on the circumstances in which they are given."
Lied's eyes slowly widened, Maybe he can do it?
"Friendship?"
"Yes."
He looked toward the flowers, Then back at Asmodeus, Then toward the flowers again.
"Wait."
His expression brightened almost instantly as it perfectly fits his idea of giving a gift..! Maybe a flower was the best choice he had ever made!
"So friends can give each other flowers?"
"They can."
Lied stared at the garden full of plants and flowers surrounding them
A smile slowly spread across his face.
That was perfect.
Flowers were thoughtful.
Flowers were pretty.
Flowers weren't necessarily romantic.
Most importantly, friends could give each other flowers. He had found it...!!! The perfect solution, An absolutely perfect solution!
He could give Elizabetta a flower..!! It was the perfect gift!
Just one or maybe a few more
Something simple! Something a friend would totally give to another friend!
He could tell her that he saw it and thought she'd like it, and that would be all..! Maybe he could try to strike up a conversation ehe... That would be nice..
No awkward confession.
No suspicious behavior.
No risk of ruining their friendship.
Just a small gesture from one friend to another. Lied stood up, suddenly feeling much more confident than he had all morning, Finally having a sudden boost of courage
"Thanks, Asmodeus."
Asmodeus looked at him suspiciously, He has been acting weirdly all this morning until now
"For what?"
Lied grinned and with full confidence spoke
"I think I figured out how to be a good friend."
Asmodeus watched him leave, he slowly was starting to think it was a bad idea telling him
Then he glanced down at the flowers, They all have different meanings and knowing lied he doesn't know what each flowers mean
"...I have a feeling that isn't what he's actually figured out."
Lied didn't hear him.
He was already thinking about which flower Elizabetta would like best without actually thinking of the other stuff
For once, he felt like he had a plan.
He didn't realize that this was how it would begin
Not with a confession
Not with a date
Not even with Lied deciding to pursue her..!
Just a boy with a crush, desperately trying to figure out how to be a good friend without letting his feelings show! Although he was quite bad showing it
Elizabetta had been wondering why Lied was acting strangely all afternoon.
He kept glancing in her direction, looking as though he wanted to say something before immediately looking away again, and she'd almost begun to wonder if she'd done something to embarrass him.
Then, after class, he finally approached her.. it was odd something must have happened
There was something hidden behind his back, It wasn't a secret with how he was trying to hide it. But it made her even more curious what it is
Elizabetta raised an eyebrow while trying to figure out what he was holding behind his back
"Darling?"
Lied visibly stiffened hearing him call him that, She could see a slight red blush on his ears even when it's slightly covered by his hair. It was cute
"Ah-h.. hey."
She smiled slightly amused with his reaction
"Is something wrong?"
"No! Nothing's wrong..!"
He sounded far too nervous for someone who claimed nothing was wrong, it was interesting
Before she could ask again, Lied finally brought his hands forward.
A hand tied bouquet, it wasn't too much just a few flowers but not too few either rested in his palms, it was a mix of daises and red tulips wrapped in a nearly nice floral wrapping
Elizabetta blinked slightly stunned at the choice of flowers but it was nice
"For me?"
"Yeah."
His cheeks were already turning red matching the red on his ears
"I-i.. uh... I saw it and thought you'd like it."
He indeed just picked them due to thinking it was pretty and wasn't sure if she would like these flowers or even knew her favorite
Lied had seen it and thought of her.
That was enough for her, She looked at the flower for a moment before taking it from him.
It was such a simple gesture, it was somewhat lied in a unique way
And yet, for some reason, it made her chest feel warm
"Thank you, darling."
Lied looked away almost immediately.
"Y-yeah. Sure..!"
Elizabetta smiled softly
She didn't know why he'd decided to give her these flowers, or why he would think of getting her flowers
But she knew she liked it.
And, judging by how embarrassed he looked, she suspected that whatever reason he had for doing it was probably rather sweet.
He had no idea that this little gesture would become the beginning of a habit.
A flower would become chocolates.
Chocolates would become desserts.
Desserts would become remembering every little thing Elizabetta said.
Remembering would become listening.
Listening would become spending more time together.