18
Love
Furuichi carried the little box with careful hands. His palms were clammy, but the silvernette made sure to keep his breathing in tempo with his steps. Valentines day fell on a Saturday this year, so, Furuichi had to take the small pink box tied with a red ribbon all the way to Oga's house. He really hoped that Hilda would like them. He supposed that making the chocolates himself didn't make him look cool, but if they tasted really good, then she'd still fall for him, right?
Furuichi took a deep breath before entering the gate and knocking on the door. "Oga! Open up!"
"Whaddaya want? I didn't call you…"
"Just open the damn door."
"Just walk your damned self home!"
"What's with you today? I'm not asking you to climb out the window and twirl around like a princess! Open the door already!"
The grouchy ogre had tumbled out of bed, marching toward the front door. Hilda had taken baby Be'el for the day and his family had gone on a picnic without him. Rare time alone meant Oga could sleep for once. Oga hadn't even called Furuichi over because the idiot always complained about whatever weekend plans the brunet had ruined by calling him over. So, why was the silvernette here now?
Oga rubbed his eyes with the heel of his palms when he opened the door. Furuichi almost looked the same, but more put together than usual. If Oga was going to be completely honest, Furuichi looked really good. Hair painstakingly coiffed, pressed light blue dress shirt, sleeves rolled up and top two buttons open, light washed jeans, comfortable, yet tasteful shoes and was that cologne?
"Is anyone home?"
Furuichi couldn't help the blush that spread across his cheeks. The silvernette began to fidget with the red ribbon as Oga watched him unblinkingly.
"Ah...no. Why?"
Oga couldn't really understand what was going on, but the pink box with the red ribbon piqued his interest. "What's that?"
"A box of chocolates. It's Valentine's Day, moron!"
Furuichi didn't want to make a bigger fool out of himself since Hilda wasn't home, so, he kept the reason for waking Oga up to himself. Oga, on the other hand, didn't know what to do with the limited information. "Do you want to come in?"
"...Okay?"
Both boys shuffled inside the Oga family home completely at a loss at how to salvage the situation. Furuichi went to sit on the couch, but Oga hung back in the kitchen. Are those chocolates for me? Why hasn't he given them to me yet? Does he think I'm going to reject him then let it ruin our friendship? Am I going to accept it?
Furuichi stared at the box in his hands. What am I going to do with this now? Hilda's not here and if I leave it for anyone else it's going to be weird.
"Here."
"Thanks."
The teens sipped on their tea in an unusual silence. Oga cleared his throat first.
"So...are those for me? Or…"
"...Yes?"
"Er...okay. Cool."
Furuichi's face became a brighter shade of pink when his shaky hands passed the little box over to the other set of shaky hands. The silvernette's pride was beginning to bend, should he just come clean? Oga was definitely taking this the wrong way.
"Did you make these?"
"Yeah. I h-hope you…"
"I'm sure they're good. You look good by the way."
The unexpected compliment made Furuichi's face turn a darker shade of red. Furuichi's pride kept bending closer and closer to its breaking point. If this went any farther, Oga would definitely break his face thinking this misunderstanding was a cruel practical joke.
Oga stared at the pink box. It was sitting in his lap, but does accepting the box mean that he also accepted the silvernette's feelings? Or did he have to say that out loud? Furuichi felt the tension in the room raise to an unbearable degree and decided to bail on his pride and come clean. Except when he opened his mouth to speak, Oga spoke first.
"Takayuki...I'll be in your care."
"What."
The deadpan in the silvernette's voice caused the brunet to look sharply at the pale teen. Furuichi drank in the dangerous emotions swimming in Oga's dark eyes and found his mouth moving for him. "I'm glad. I wasn't sure if… I'm really happy." When Oga looked relieved, Furuichi had a small, fleeting thought that the brute looked rather cute.