/I have heard your requests, dear readers! I finally have enough time to continue with this story! I hope you enjoy the second chapter, even if it's not as long as the first!

"They had a broken keyboard,

I bought a broken keyboard.

I bought a skeet blanket,

Then I bought a kneeboard."

~Thrift Shop by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

"Oooh, this one looks interesting." Swish. The fabric rustled as it was pushed to the side, the hand that moved it retracting slightly as something else caught its owner's eyes.

"Wait, how about this one? Or this one?" Some shuffling. Multiple hangars were shoved to the side in favor of reaching for a hat, which was hidden for some reason. Who puts a hat where these are supposed to go? The voice quickly lost interest, instead spying something else that was...equally as confusing.

"I see some candy over here." Footsteps increased in speed before stopping in front of a shelf. "I didn't think that they sold candy here."

Edgar Allan Poe sighed, Karl's tail lightly hitting his right shoulder as he watched Edogawa Ranpo dart to and fro around the shop. He initially came here because Mark Twain (that was a shock in of itself, seeing him again) had bumped into him on the street over an hour ago, commenting offhandedly how he always saw the poet wear the same clothes "over and over again" and "needed variety in his life". On his way to the store (as per the adventurer's request) he was spotted by Ranpo, who then decided to accompany him, which led to...whatever was happening right now. All Poe knew was that Ranpo could very well die if he wasn't careful. "Th-They don't, Ranpo-kun! I-I wouldn't eat that if I were you...S-Someone could have left it here; who knows how old it…is..."

He trailed off, staring dumbfounded at Ranpo, who turned to him with his mouth full and an eyebrow raised in question.

Ranpo...ate it.

He ate the candy.

Poe - needless to say - freaked out, striding over to the detective as his face paled. "R-Ranpo-kun!" He tried to snatch the bag away but was rewarded with a glare (at least, it seemed like the other was glaring - ...wait, was that a warning hiss he heard?).

"What?" Ranpo finally replied after swallowing, stuffing more of the candy (?) into his mouth without a care in the world. "It's candy, Poe-kun. I don't see what the problem is."

"Th-There's a lot of problems with this!" The poet tried to raise his voice, he really did. Instead, it came out as a soft stutter, his shoulders raised as if he was expecting to get hit for talking back.

His relationship with Ranpo was...weird. Ever since the kiss about a week ago, Ranpo started to come over to his place more often and hang out. They never cuddled, nor held hands, nor kissed like that again, though; it was as if it never even happened. But, Ranpo seems more willing to be around me...Is it because I acknowledge his prowess or because I'm a (hopefully close) friend? Or, am I his...h-his -

(Everytime Poe's train of thought went that way, he'd flush to crimson and try to think about something else. He'd never dated before, but he'd read books, so he knew what to expect...right?)

And what did all of this result in? Poe being more confused than ever, not knowing how to address him, and Ranpo being ever the enigma. Poe was slowly starting to convince himself that Ranpo only kissed him because it was a spur-of-the-moment-decision, not because he actually liked him in that way. Maybe, since Ranpo didn't look as if he had that many friends, that he thought of him as just that: a friend. With these thoughts in mind, Poe took a small step back and seemed to shrink in on himself. "I'm so- "

"You want some?" Ranpo asked rather flippantly, not seeming to notice Poe's existential crisis at the moment. Despite his tone, however, he held the bag of (questionable) candy out to the poet, making the other freeze.

Why is he offering to give some to me? Poe knew how much sweets meant to Ranpo. The detective usually didn't let anyone have a portion (much less even a nibble) of his stash. Granted, the suspicious bag wasn't necessarily his "stash", but still…

Poe was brought back to reality once Ranpo knocked on his forehead, making him blink (although it wasn't visible due to his bangs covering his eyes) and refocus on the shorter man in front of him. "You think too much, you know. Do you want any or not?"

"U-Um, are you sure…?" Poe had to ask. It was only polite, right? When it came to Ranpo, he didn't really know anymore; any and all expectations he might've had about him flew right out the window after he solved his novel in order to get the blueprints for the Moby Dick.

Ranpo huffed, and Poe could've sworn that the corners of his lips twitched upwards in amusement. He blinked, bemused, and it was gone. Did he just imagine it, then? Even if it was real, why would he find Poe amusing? "Why else would I offer? Besides, I already checked the date. They don't expire for a while."

"...Okay." Ranpo trusts me enough to share sweets with me. The thought shouldn't have made him feel so fuzzy inside, but then again the poet assumed that this is what being in love felt like. "I'll take some, then." He felt his facial expression change, and Ranpo gasped, emerald orbs sliding open so fast that it almost made Poe flinch.

"You…" Ranpo breathed out, arms slightly retracting in surprise, a strange tone - was that awe? - entering his voice. Poe was kind of disappointed at the action, thinking that Ranpo had changed his mind after all, and frowned.

"...O-Oh, you wanted to keep your cand after a- "

"No, no, no." Ranpo cut him off sharply, eyes still wide and breathtaking and oh so tantilizing that Poe couldn't stop staring into the rich pools of his irises (nor did he want to, the poet noted absentmindedly). "Do that again."

"D-Do what again?" If Poe wasn't confused before, he certainly was now. The frown on his face deepened, which seemed to make Ranpo frown himself. Poe watched as the detective set down the bag of candy, turning back to him with an almost demanding gleam in his eyes. "Ranpo-kun, you're confusing m - !"

A pair of hands, soft and gentle and smelling of dessert (and coffee, for some strange reason, but Poe really needed to focus before he lost his mind getting too caught up in all that was - is - Ranpo) cupped his face and applied some pressure onto the left side, making him tilt his head to go with the force. Poe felt his face heat up, mouth parting open just a bit in surprise at the sudden action and his pupils dilating. Just as fast as it had started it stopped, Ranpo pulling back slightly before reaching up again.

Once the hands made contact for the second time, it wasn't his cheeks; this time, it was his bangs. Poe felt them part, revealing his dull amethyst orbs to the world. Despite becoming hyper-aware that Ranpo had, in fact, moved closer, Poe swallowed and spoke up. "R-Ranpo-kun, just what - "

"Smile." Ranpo ordered, making Poe flinch, but nonetheless do as instructed. It felt shaky and hesitant, fake even, but what else was the poet supposed to do? He was asked to do that out of the blue! Ranpo seemed to sense this too, and what he did next would never cease to amaze the poet. His facial expression softened, viridescent orbs twinkling under the lights of the store. "Just...smile."

Poe had to suppress his own gasp at that. Had Ranpo ever done that before? - No, he didn't think that he has. In the time that he's known him, Poe had never once seen the other look so...so tender, so caring, so -

So in love.

Poe's blush darkened, and the smile smoothed out as butterflies danced in his stomach. He blinked in surprise as Ranpo abruptly leaned in, gazing upwards at him with the same tone of awe (so it was that) creeping back into his voice. "That's it. That's what I was looking for."

Having Ranpo so close was sending Poe's heart into overdrive, thoughts spiraling in his head until only a mess was left behind. He...He kind of wanted to kiss Ranpo. He didn't know why, other than the fact that the urge was growing stronger by the minute. Deciding to follow his feelings for once, the poet leaned in -

- only for Ranpo to move back, expression thoughtful as he grabbed his bag of candy again. Poe was slightly disappointed at the action, but he quickly tuned into his surroundings and decided that kissing in public was a step he probably wasn't ready to take just yet. Ranpo moved past him to look at something else in the store, but he spoke as he walked.

"You should show your eyes more often. Oh, and also smile, too. You look better when you do." The detective stated before waving to a cashier, thus leaving (yet again) an astonished Poe in his wake. "Oi, cashier! I found this candy and I was wondering…"

D-Did...did he just -

Karl pawed his face, and he smiled slightly at the action. His face was still red, but he didn't mind; he'd learned something important today.

No matter what Ranpo-kun may view me as, he still cares about me. With that thought sinking into his brain (as well as for him to mull over), Poe followed after Ranpo with an almost fond look in his eyes.

Poe promised that, no matter what happened, he would stay by Ranpo's side.

*Bonus Ending*

"Ranpo-kun, when does that candy expire?"

"...Tomorrow."

"Ranpo-kun!"

(In the end, he forgot to buy clothes for himself and ended up going home to vent his feelings to Karl. The raccoon was not amused.)

/So...I'm sorry that this is out so late! I honestly didn't know how to continue this series, but now with Season 3 of Bungou out (on Crunchyroll if you guys haven't seen it yet!) I've thought of a couple of ideas! I won't spoil what the next chapter is about, but know that I'm back in business :)

Until next time!

~VampChippzRisesAgain