Disclaimer: I do not own ONS or any of the characters in this story.

Now all he had to do was buy a cake and find the damn flower shop to actually buy the flowers! But he was tired. Really tired from driving all around town so early in the morning with half a feet of snow weighing him down. He needed to rest. And frankly, so did his wallet.

The things he did for Shinoa. You'd have though he was already her boyfriend.

All morning he'd been putting off thinking of what to say to her when he actually gave the gifts. Or if he'd give them all at once or give the watch at the surprise party and the photo later into the night. Or if he'd do it all privately. That is, of course, if Shinoa came back that day.

Yoichi had texted Yuu that Shinoa had apparently snuck out of the house undetected an hour after he had left. The gps tracker on her Volkswagen was turned off so they didn't know where she could be. They finally decided that they'd just have to wait for the birthday girl to come home.

Last night he was such a prick to her that the mere memory of it made him flinch. He brushed her off even though she was trying to make him laugh. It didn't help that he stayed in his room all night to contemplate everything that had just happened.

Stay away from her forever? As if he could. He was surprisingly addicted to her in every way possible. Her presence. Her smile. Her purple hair. Her red eyes. Her petite build. Her warm hands. But she didn't know that. He'd die of embarrassment if she found out just how whipped he was, and they weren't even a relationship yet! He'd probably sound creepy as hell too.

"That's what you get for waiting too long, idiot." Yuu mutters to himself as he walked to a nearby cafe. He kept patting his front jacket pocket, scared that he might somehow lose the precious photos. He hadn't actually looked at them, but he knew they were perfect.

When he got to this mall, it had just opened. He quickly went to the photographer's stand and conversed with the merchant. Surprisingly, that conversation went smoother than he could have hoped for. Way smoother. Although it was kinda weird that the man was so supportive of someone he'd only once talked to the night before.

Right now, he was just glad that he was walking into a cafe. Shinoa's favorite cafe, in fact. Feeling a chill run down his spine as he walked in, Yuu whips his head around. No one. Huh. He could've sworn someone was looking at him. Boring holes at his back.

It hadn't occurred to him that she might be here, and her seeing him right now would ruin his whole plan. Or lack thereof. Sighing, he walked up to the counter and quickly placed his order to go. He told the cashier that he'd just come back for his White Chocolate Mocha and Cheesy Pineapple Sandwich, his and Shinoa's favorite.

Yuu carefully scanned the whole area for a purple haired princess before hurriedly stepping out of the cafe and walking aimlessly to a cake shop. He wasn't really supposed to buy one but, seeing as he had the money to do so after getting the photos for free, why not. And it would probably be a good apology for how he acted last night.

The line, much to Yuu's dismay, was at least 25 people long! He'd never really bought a cake during Christmas before so the line was just really alien to him. So many people, he hoped the shop wouldn't run out of at least red velvet or blueberry cheesecake. Yuu pocketed his hands in defeat as he waited in line. Then, his phone suddenly vibrates.

"Hello?" he answers his phone.

"Yuu! I'm glad I caught you. Could you go get some balloons for tonight? If you're not too busy sulking around or anything. We've just been a bit busy with the food is all." The chuckle in Mitsuba's voice was unmistakable. They really were going all out for this. For Shinoa.

"I'm not sulking! And yes, I'll go buy the ballons. What color?" Yuu resents that. He was not sulking. Maybe a little, but just from the bloody cake shop line!

"Green. How could you not know what color?" Mitsube teases.

"Shut up, Mitsuba. Bye." He mutters.

"Bye! Thanks, Yuu!"

He cut her off right after. Mitsuba was such a damn tease sometimes. No wonder she got along with Shinoa. Well, hopefully the line at the balloon shop won't be that long. Green balloons. Should be simple enough.

20 agonizing minutes later, Yuu was third in line, just in front of the the cakes, trying to figure out which one to get. The shop seemed to supply a seemingly infinite amount of cake which actually made it harder for him to choose. He was sure he needed to get the biggest size possible. Everyone would want a slice or two. But which flavor? He wanted the red velvet one, but Shinoa liked the blueberry cheesecake one. Which was a hella lot more expensive. But since it was her birthday and his sort of apology, the blueberry would have to do. He payed and had a simple greeting written on it in icing before he hurriedly left.

Happy Legal Age, Shinoa!

Walking back into the cafe, he was glad to see that his order was already waiting for him. He snatched it up and thanked the cashier before leaving. Yuu had ordered two cheesy pineapple sandwiches, and two white chocolate mochas. He walked to the direction of the photographer but the man was nowhere to be seen. Probably at the loo.

He carefully set down the cake at the table before taking one sandwich and one drink out of the paper bag. He used a pen from the merchant's table and wrote something on the tissue paper before leaving it under the sandwich. He really owed this man a lot.

Thank you for your hard work. I'll be sure to sweep her off her feet. I owe you a lot, but in the mean time, please enjoy this simple snack.

He checks on the cake, the photos, and his food twice before taking off again. He didn't even know why he was in such a hurry. It wasn't exactly like he was running late. And yet he speed walks his way to the car, carefully set down the cake at the front seat and revved the engine. He didn't drive right away. He just sat there, trying to relax. Even though he wasn't sure why he was nervous.

Maybe because it finally dawns on him that he had absolutely nothing to say yet. Or that she might not reciprocate at all. How pathetic. He lightly hit his head on the steering wheel as he let out a heavy sigh.

"Yuu! Come out here! You're missing all the fun!" Mikaela banged on the bedroom door.

"I don't wanna," Yuu whined like a baby. Tangling himself in the sheets even more.

"What the hell is wrong with you? You looked fine when you walked in."

"Just go on without me. I'll be fine."

"There we go," Mikaela mused as he was able to unlock the door with hair pins and enter the room.

"What the hell, Mika. Can't a guy get any privacy?" Yuu grunted.

"Not in this flat they can't," Mika countered. He plopped down on the bedside Yuu wasn't occupying, much to the latter's dismay, and kept poking at Yuu.

"Stop that. It's annoying," Yuu grumbled.

"Then stop sulking around, because that's annoying as well. Come on, Yuu. Talk to me. What's wrong? You were literally fine just an hour or two ago." Mika sighed heavily before continuing. "I'm assuming that whatever the problem is, it's got something to do with Shinoa and if you don't tell me right now I'll lock you two in a room until you've settled whatever misunderstanding there is to settle. And-"

"Okay, okay! Sheesh. Threatening me isn't exactly helpful you know." Yuu got out from under the covers and gave Mika an irritated look.

"So is sulking around and waiting for the problem to disappear on its own." Mika smiled at him. "So, what happened?"

Yuu recounted the whole story from Shinoa's lateness to their strained arrival a few hours ago. And whether or not Yuu admitted it, he was blushing lightly at some point in the story.

"I told her that after tonight or at least tomorrow, I'll stay away from her to prevent other people from thinking of us as a thing." Yuu finished.

"Yuuichiro Hyakuya, you are a humongous idiot."

"I-"

"No, don't interrupt me. You've liked her for years! Sometimes you even look like you love her! And you ruin that one good opportunity to confess. You even blow her off and promise to stay away. That's jus-"

"She doesn't like me, Mika! Even if she did, she deserves someone better. So get off my case. You have no-"

"She came back. She tried to cheer you up after you blew her off because of a little conversation. If that doesn't tell you that she likes you enough to at least give you a chance then you probably don't deserve it anyway. Fine. Give up on her. Just don't come crying to me when you start having urges to kill the guys that start asking her out."

"Mika, I-"

"And for the record, whether or not she deserves better, is up to her. Not you. If she does deserve better, she might not even care if she gets to have you. Remember that, Yuu."

The blonde was out the door and out of Yuu's sight in no more than 10 seconds. That was blown way out of proportion, extremely confusing, and yet it calmed him. The last sentences really stuck to him. Mika never reacted like that though. He was always calm and only just insulting at times. Maybe he was just as frustrated at Yuu as Yuu was with himself.

Yuu sighs heavily. In the past 24 hours, almost everyone has been acting weirdly. Weirder than usual anyway. How was he going to do this? He only had it planned out up to this point? What's next? The confession? Where was Mika when you needed him?

Anyway, it wouldn't do him much good to keep wasting his car's battery by staying longer than needed. He still had to buy the balloons and flowers too. He puts his coffee in the beverage holder and put his sandwich on the dashboard to keep it warm. Seconds later, he zooms out of the parking area and headed for Trost. Where you could find almost anything you needed.

The weather wasn't letting up. Yuu felt like he was the car every time it plowed into an untouched pile of snow. The coffee kept his body warm, but barely. His car didn't have a heater. It was imported from a tropical country and they didn't exactly need heaters there.

After several wrong turns and multiple conversations with strangers, Yuu found a balloon store. Well, not exactly. It was a party store. The ones where you can buy all the needs for party decorations. He unwrapped his sandwich as he walked in and started looking around.

The first bite is always the yummiest.

This thought floods Yuu's head as he happily chomps down on the defenseless sandwich. Cheesy Pineapple goodness. The joyous music of the store just adds to his euphoria.

"Welcome! Are you looking for something in particular, Sir?" the aide offers.

"Ah, yes. I'd like some balloons please. For a birthday party and some party poppers," Yuu answers.

"Customized balloons, Sir? You can pick them up 3 days after your order has been placed," the aide informs him.

"3 days? I uh, need them right now," he says nervously.

"Oh, well, we have some single colored, generic balloons but I'm afraid we won't be able to design them if it's for tonight."

"That's okay! I uh-"

A brilliant idea struck Yuu.

"I just need a few words on a balloon or two. Could you do that right now? Please?" He continues a bit desperately.

"I can try. How many words on how many balloons?" the girl asks.

"9 words on one and 5 on another," he smiles at her. Thinking of his plan as beyond brilliant. "And could you make those two the ones on a stick? And the rest can be the floating ones."

"Of course, Sir. We can work with that. How many floating ones would you like? And please write the words here," the girl presents him with a pen and paper.

"Let's see," he carefully wrote down the first 9 words then the 5 words a bit below it, "here you go. Thank you." He smiles.

"And about the number, let's see, how many would fit in my car? 18 big floating balloons, and around 12 non floating ones that we can scatter on the floor. And don't forget the party poppers. About 2 of the biggest you got." Yuu says joyously. Not thinking about his wallet at all. Because if it's for someone you love, nothing is too expensive or over the top.

"Very good, Sir. That would be $XX. They'll be ready in about 45 minutes." Yuu hands over the payment before retreating to his car to make some room for the balloons and go to the flower shop.

He was seriously regretting not bringing anyone else with him. The balloons would be really hard to fit into the car without popping them. But he'd worry about that later. For now, he needed to call Guren and ask for directions to the nearest flower shop. Which hopefully, wouldn't be too far away. It took him 2 tries before he got an answer.

"Guren!"

"Hey, kid. Go disturb someone else I'm a bit busy-"

"I don't care. Tell me where I can buy the flowers you mentioned earlier. Starmies, I think."

"They sell the best ones at Trost. Near the plaza. And they're called Stargazers, idiot." Guren sighs.

"Plaza. Stargazers. Right. Thanks," Yuu ends the call and drives to the plaza, which was about 15 minutes away, hurriedly. Although he really didn't have to. It wasn't like he had a call time. Though he did have to make it back before Shinoa did.

Wait, he had to make it back before Shinoa! He does have to hurry because this'll all be useless if she gets home first. He groans at every stoplight he waits at before he got to the shop. He got out of his car, clicks the lock remote and swiftly walks into the flower shop.

He didn't know whether the fragrances calm him or made his head go woozy. It smells like spring in there. Looks like it too, though what else would you expect from a flower shop.

"A bouquet of Stargazers please," he says to the cashier.

"For what occasion, young man? And what color should I wrap it in?" The old lady asks with a warm smile.

"18th birthday. Purple?"

"Is it for your girlfriend?"

"Err, not yet. But I hope she will be by tonight," Yuu runs his hand through his hair and chuckles nervously.

"Alright then. I know the perfect bouquet for you. I'll be back in 10 minutes. Try to relax, boy," the grandma tells him as she walks into the back room.

She was right. Being a bundle of nerves now wouldn't help him. He needs to calm down and make sure he got everything and got back in time. Just breathe. Everything will be fine.

The woman did come back after almost exactly 10 minutes. The bouquet she was carrying was just... perfect. And even that was an understatement. It was wrapped in something as white as the snow outside. The stargazers were blue and purple but there were more purple. There were other small blues and white flowers peeking out but they didn't take any attention away from the big purple stargazer in the middle. It was darker than Shinoa's hair and that would contrast with it beautifully! This grandma must be psychic or something to know what he exactly needed!

"Wow, just wow. Thank you so much for you hard work. It's beyond perfection," Yuu bows to her. Genuinely grateful to the stranger.

"Dear, it's the least I could do for such romantic fellows these days. Here you go. I attached something the the stems to make jt last for a few days. I hope she likes it."

"I'm sure she'll like it even if she rejects me. Thank you very much! Please, how much do I owe you for this?" The both chuckle lightly.

"Just $XX." The woman smiles.

"Seriously? Thank you, again! So much! I promise to keep buying flowers here for the rest of my life and introduce Shinoa to you when she becomes my girlfriend so she can thank you herself for the amazing flowers." Yuu, hurriedly places his payment on the counter, carefully picks up the flowers and runs to the door. "Thank you again. Merry Christmas." He bows lightly and smiles at the grandma before leaving.

He quickly gets into his car and carefully places the bouquet in the front seat where it would have lots of space and cold air. He'd have to drive slower to make sure it didn't fall but that was okay. It was so beautiful that he wishes he was getting one. Wow. He was more excited and confident now. Definitely.

When he got back into the party shop, the aide greets him with a big bundle of floating green balloons and a bag of small non-floating ones and two balloons on a stick. With the words that he specifically asked for imprinted on them. He couldn't be happier at that moment. They were perfect too. Now he just had to stuff them in his mustang and drive slower that ever to make sure they didn't pop. Piece of cake.

Not really. Specially the part where they had arrange the balloons inside the car one by one. He put the bag of small ones and the two on sticks and the party poppers in the trunk. The floating ones were, as mentioned above, carefully arranged inside the car one by one. He gives the helper a small salute before driving away. By the time Yuu got out of Trost and got home, all he could think about was how thankful he was that he didn't have so much pointy objects inside his car.

He got back to the flat okay. No balloons popped. No flowers wrecked and no Shinoa's car in the driveway, garage, or anywhere in the vicinity. He was glad he got back before she did. Although he did already miss her and wished she would come back as soon as they finished their final preparations.

He honks the horn hard as he parked in the garage. He instructs Yoichi, who came as soon as he can, to close the garage to make sure none of the balloons would fly out. Then they let the balloons out one by one through the window and brought them to the living room where Mitsuba and the others were to tie them up. The boys scatter the small ones on the floor and had the party poppers on standby.

All the girls giggle as they saw him hall out the bouquet and the two balloons on sticks and along with the golden watch, put them in his room for the moment. For safekeeping. When he got back down, everyone was holding a marker and was writing their messages on the balloons. Neat or horrid handwriting, it still looks cute and adorable. The balloons. Not the people. This really was a party fit for a princess.

"Now you just wish she'd just get back, don't you?" Mika smilest him as he offers his marker to Yuu. "From what I saw on the two other balloons, or even just the bouquet, you finally got some sense knocked into you, huh?"

"Yeah. I do and I absolutely had. Thanks, buddy." Yuu grins back, taking the marker from Mika and ruffling the blonde's hair. All while oblivious to everyone's fond smiles all around the room.

A/N: This took a while. Had a lot going on the past two weeks so yeah. Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. Longest one yet, I think. So glad that the Owari Manga was finally updated. Though it was a bit different that the anime ending, I think. It was still go though.

p.s. I don't really know how to describe bouquets so sorry if it wasn't too good. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks a lot again. God speed.