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(Okaaaaaaaayyyy. You can do it, Clover. Just… go up to her. And tell her how you feel. Easiest thing ever, even Kai could do it. If they had a crush on anyone.)
It was after school and Clover was working up their courage. They knew that Dess would be at her locker, so they made their way there, meeting up with Kuroba and Kanako along the way.
“Exit’s the other way, Ver,” Kanako said.
“I-I know, I just…” Clover stammered a bit. “I just want to ask someone something. You two can go on ahead and wait for me.”
Their older siblings turned to look at each other for a bit before turning back.
“Nah, we wanna see how it goes,” Kuroba said with a slight smirk.
“Mn! O-okay…” (This is gonna add so much more pressure.)
Cautiously and nervously, Clover continued until they met up with Dess, who had just closed her locker.
“Oh, hey Clover. What’s up?”
“H, Hi, Dess,” Clover stuttered. “U-Um, s-so, I, I wanna, uh, ask you, uh, s-something. If, if that’s, er, a-alright.”
“Yeah, of course.”
Clover took a deep breath before beginning. “W-Well, uh, what I wanted to say is, uh, th-that I, uh, w-well I… I, I… I—”
“They have a crush on you,” Kuroba interrupted.
“KAAAAIII!!!” Clover whipped around to them.
“What? Just wanted to help you out.”
“Yeah, but you can’t do it for something like this!”
“Aaand why’s that?”
“Because, I have to say it myself!”
“Well technically…”
“Don’t you hit me with that technicality!”
As the twins argued, Dess looked over to Kanako with a look of concern on her face and asked, “Is this… normal for them?”
“Yup, get used to it. Anyways I got what I wanted, tell these two bozos that I’ll be waiting outside for them.”
“Oh, uh, alright. See you, Kanako.”
“See ya.”
As Kanako was walking away, Clover and Kuroba turned back to Dess.
“Now, as I was saying before I got interrupted.”
“(I was trying to heeelp yoouu.) GI-TAH—”
Clover had lifted their crutch and slammed it right onto Kuroba’s foot, the latter of whom then proceeded to hop on their other foot while holding the stomped victim.
“Like. I. Was. Say. Ing.” Clover took another deep breath. “I love you. And I would, uh, like it… if you went out with me.”
“I would love to, Clover,” Dess said smiling.
“W-Wait, really?”
“Yeah, really, why would I say it if I didn’t mean it?”
“O-Oh! U-Um, would you… want to go on a date tonight, then? Or-or is that moving too fast?”
“No, no, that’s fine. How does the park for 5:30 sound?”
“Yeah, that sounds great. Should weeee meet up there? Or at someone’s place?”
“I think at the park might be a good idea. Cuts down on time. And energy usage.”
“Ah, yeah. In any case, I’ll see you then. B-Bye, Dess!”
Dess chuckled. “See ya, Cloves. Kanako said they’d be waiting for you outside.” She turned to leave before turning back. “Oh, right, here. Happy Valentine’s Day.” She gave Clover a box of chocolates before leaving once more.
Clover stood there for a moment, lost in their own world, when Kuroba spoke up while sneakily taking a chocolate.
“You’re welcome,” they said, moving their swiped good to their mouth. “Aaaaa—ptoulgh”
Clover had taken their hand off their crutch and backwards punched Kuroba in the stomach, grabbing the falling chocolate and putting it in their own mouth.
“Don’t interfere again.”
“G… Got it…” Kuroba said in a weak voice. “God… damn that hurt. I think you took some HP off.”
“Good. Now let’s head home.”
“Y-Yeah… Good idea…” Kuroba started coughing. (Alright, don’t mess with Clover’s love life anymore, got it.)
Once the high of having actually confessed to Dess (and beating up Kuroba a bit) had worn off, Clover went right back to their nervous overthinking self. The walking home made it even worse, as it tends to do.
(Ohmigodohmidohmigodohmigodohmigodohmigodohmigodddddddddddddddddd. Date. Tonight. With your girlfriend. This. This can't be real. Right? You need someone to pinch you. Kai? No, you stomped on their foot with your crutch and punched them in the gut earlier, they're gonna do more than just a pinch. Ko? Maybe. But then they may try and swipe money from you. Wouldn't even need to swipe, if he just asks you'd give some. Ok, ok, maybe Ma? At worst she'd just give you a big hug. Ka-san could also be good. She'd do it just enough to make sure it's all real.)
(Ok, ok. If this is real, should you bring a gift? What would be good? A rose? Might be too cliché... But would she mind? You have no clue. Ugh, why is this so nerve-wracking??????????)
(Crush. You have a crush. A crush-turned-girlfriend. Today. On Valentine's Day. Why'd it have to be today of all days????????????)
(AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.)
In the end, Clover didn’t go to get a rose, or any type of flower, as they were too anxious for the actual date that they forgot. They mostly worried about what to wear, since they thought it would be best to wear something special. They considered a kimono, but felt that was too formal. In the end, Clover decided to wear cargo shorts and a light blue tee. As they neared the door to leave, Kuroba called out to them from the couch.
“Have fun with youw—” Clover rapidly turned their head and glared with glowing eyes. “withyourdate,” Kuroba swiftly finished.
Clover shifted their expression to a smile and said “I will!” before leaving.
Once at the park, Clover and Dess found each other really easily and began their date. They had a nice time simply walking around. Eventually they made their way to a tree and sat underneath it, intending to have that be the end of the date.
“This was nice,” Clover said, putting their head on Dess’s shoulder. “I’m glad you suggested it.”
“Thanks, I thought it might be a nice spot. You know it’s funny, I was actually about to head over to you to tell you myself and give you that chocolate.”
“That reminds me…” Clover took their head off of Dess’s shoulder. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Well… remember back when we had first actually met? And how I had, er, bumped into you? I… uh… k-kinda overheard you that you had a crush on a boy… gotta admit I was feeling a bit heartbroken by the time you came to sit with me, haha, I tried to kill my crush on you. But then at your birthday, I heard you use they/them when talking about your crush when I went to get my piano tuner… So I was, uh, wondering when you had a crush on me, and what prompted it, I suppose.” Dess started to laugh. “W-What’s so funny?!”
“I thought I already apologized for that. I’ve always had a crush on you, dummy. Whole time we’ve known each other.”
“W-Wait, you have? Then why did… OH MY GOD, I’M SO STUPID!” Clover plopped themself fully on the ground. “You apologized for misgendering me when you weren’t the one to do that… That was like the biggest hint ever, how did I miss it????”
“I think you answered that for yourself. You were trying not to focus on me (but clearly you failed), so you didn’t even pick up on that. Why are your hands in your face?”
“Don’t look at me, I’m an idiot.”
“Maybe so, but you’re my idiot now.”
Clover could feel the blush coming in their cheeks. “Thanks, Dess.”
The two kept talking for a while, making jokes and generally enjoying each other’s company, having tons of fun just being together.
That was until Clover felt it. A cold shiver down their spine as they felt an unfortunately familiar presence. They were there.
“Clover, is something up?” Dess asked, noticing the shift in their facial expression.
“N-No, it’s just…” Clover glanced to their side and spotted an ice cream vendor playing the little ice cream jingle. “Oh, there it is! Ice cream!” they said, trying to make it seem like that was what they noticed. “Come on, let’s go get some.”
Dess went along wearily, having easily seen through Clover’s shoddy attempt at hiding their fear. Didn’t help that after they finished their ice cream, Clover’s face suddenly became fearful again.
“I-I gotta go to the bathroom,” they said.
“Alright, I’ll wait outside for you.”
“Y-Yeah, ok.”
While waiting outside, Dess had noticed a woman enter the bathroom, and shortly after received a text from Clover to tell them when that woman had left.
[Fine. But on one condition.]
[What’s that?]
[You tell me what’s going on
with you. ]
[Yeah, it’s only fair, I suppose.]
Once the woman had left and Clover stepped out of the bathroom, they guided Dess to a specific area of the park. The Memorial.
“So? What’s up?” Dess asked.
“Well… you remember our roof conversation? Where I… talked about my old home life? Well… the thing is… t-they were nearby. A-And I got scared…”
“Ok, but what about the bathroom? I didn’t see anyone who looked similar to you.”
Clover stepped to the side and gestured to a plaque that read:
Clover Bay Bush
March 17th, 2007 - December 9th, 2019
The Underground’s Best Deputy
“Heh, Kai told Ma our full deadname for that. Luckily that part wasn’t done when I came back.”
Dess turned to look at Clover.
“L-Look, I’m sorry about lying, but… well…”
“This… is you?” Dess asked with a strangely bored tone.
“Yeah… I don’t know how or why, or why it was just me and not the others, but… Well, it did. I, I was going to tell you anyways, but… then all this happened, and… I’m sorry.”
“If I can ask, why is this something you’re hiding?”
“Well, um… publicity for one. It getting out that one of The Seven Fallen is, uh, alive would be like a major thing. And then there’s the possible repercussions. The families of the others might wonder why their relative isn’t back and it could get messy, and then there’s…” they shuddered, “how they might try and take custody from Ma and Ka-san. There’s no way that I ever want to go back to them… S-So, um, yeah… that’s why I hide it…”
“And what about Kuroba? You two are clearly related.”
Clover scratched the back of their head embarrassed. “Ah, well… we’re actually…” they trailed off as a realization dawned on them. “Wait… you… already know, don’t you?”
“Heh, guilty,” Dess shrugged with a smirk. “Suspected it the moment they said something about a technicality earlier. At least you two being the same person, anyways. Having been human, however, was a bit of a surprise.”
“That’s… an insane thing to even suspect, how?”
Dess looked a bit sheepish.
“I… read a lot of fiction novels. Honestly I kinda chalked it up to an overactive imagination, but hey. That ain’t the case.”
“But—” Clover decided to drop it. “In any case… you’re not mad? Th-That I kinda. Lied to you? The whole time we’ve known each other?” they asked wearily.
“Why would I? It just means I have the most unique partner in the world. Not a single soul out there like you.”
(Factually incorrect, it’s the complete opposite, but you get the sentiment. Not like Kai’s gonna get with anyone.)
“Th-then—”
“And if your parents try to take you or Kuroba, I’ll beat ‘em up for ya. How’s that sound?”
“Um. Maybe. Don’t do that. I don’t wanna see you get arrested or something. ‘Sides.” Clover made and spun a gun around in their hand. “We can handle ourselves. Quite the sharpshooters, if I do say so myself,” they said with a wink. “And it’ll be self-defense so we can get away with it. But if you want a hit or two (or maybe a billion), feel free.”
“I’ll take you up on that. It’ll be nice to crack some skulls that deserve it.”
The two shared a laugh before finally heading home, with Dess being the one to bring Clover to their house. (“I don’t want you to walk home from my place by yourself.” “I could stay the night.” “I don’t think Mom would like that so soon after we started dating.” “Yeah, that’s fair.”) Clover had rung the doorbell and Dess was going to leave when suddenly…
“Oh, I almost forgot something,” Dess said.
“Hm, what—” Clover turned around just as Dess gave them a kiss that landed right under their nose. They immediately froze up.
“G’night, babe,” Dess with a little wink before leaving.
The front door opened as Kuroba walked out.
“Ah, hey Hirai.” Clover didn’t respond. “Hirai? Y’good?”
Slowly, Clover started to tip over backwards and ended up falling right onto Kuroba, who had gone up behind them to try and get a response.
“Huh? Wait, wait, WAIT—GAH!”
(Why is Hirai out to get you today???????)