A/N: This was inspired by a post on tumblr about how ace culture should be brought back and I felt the need to write a pride fic about the black rings.
"Kuroba, what the hell is wrong with you?" Saguru demanded. He hadn't been optimistic enough to believe he'd make it through an entire day of classes without getting pranked after a month away from Japan, but this particular prank had Saguru feeling more targeted than usual. (He was determinedly not looking at the eye-searingly pink ring that appeared to have been glued to his hand in place of his own ring.)
The magician grinned at him, "Don't you think it looks cooler like this? Black is such a boring color."
Saguru's hand twitched as he forcibly restrained himself from lunging across his desk to punch the smug prankster in the face. He'd started wearing the black ring after a client of his back in England had noticed his curiosity and explained the meaning to him—he hadn't realized he'd become so attached to it so quickly. Kuroba probably had no idea that the ring even meant anything.
"Give it back," he said flatly.
Titling his head, the magician pretended to think about it, "Hmm…still think pink suits you better!"
Damn, he thought. Kuroba was probably the last person he wanted to explain the significance to, but it seemed admitting the ring was significant would be the only way he'd get it back in the near future. "Kuroba, that ring is important to me and I would greatly appreciate it if you would return it."
"Why? It's literally just painted black, I'd have thought a rich kid like you would go for something fancier."
Saguru sighed heavily. It did nothing to relieve his irritation and Saguru gave in to the impulse to make his response deliberately unhelpful. "The ring is a secret indication of membership in a marginalized community."
Kuroba spluttered, "You—you're telling me you're part of—like a secret club or something? Wait—is it a secret crime group?!"
He gave Kuroba a look of disgust, "No. What would possibly make you think of that?"
"Nothing, nothing!" Kuroba waved his hands, "It's just you see that a lot in the movies, right? The villains always have like, some secret identifier thing."
"Just give it back, Kuroba," Saguru put his hand out, more than done with the conversation. To his surprise, the magician returned his ring with a small puff of smoke, vanishing the pink atrocity as he did so.
"Hey, Hakuba, why do you wear it on your middle finger? Is that, like, part of the secret code thing?"
"Yes," he said flatly.
Kuroba waited for him to continue, and huffed in annoyance, "Well? What does it mean? Oooh! Is it like that American insult thing? You're part of a club that insults everyone?"
"Kuroba, please shut up."
"I'm gonna keep guessing until I get it right."
"You won't get it."
"Then I'll keep going forever I guess. Oh, wait—is this some detective thing? No? Are you like, secretly a vampire? What about a—"
Saguru groaned and dropped his head into his hands, "If I tell you, will you leave me alone?"
"For today, sure."
He huffed, "I suppose that's as good as I'll get from you." Looking up, he raised his hand and explained, "You're familiar with playing cards, yes? The black ring worn on the middle finger is meant to symbolize the ace of spades."
Kuroba stared at him, "Seriously?"
"Yes," Saguru wondered for a moment if Kuroba actually recognized the meaning—
"So you're in a secret gambling club?"
"NO!" exasperated, Saguru bluntly stated, "Kuroba, it means I'm asexual."
"Huh? What's an a…ace…"
"Asexual," Saguru repeated. "It means a person who doesn't experience sexual attraction. If you want more details you can likely look it up and find several websites that discuss the asexuality spectrum. The term is often shortened to 'ace'," he wiggled his fingers, "thus the playing card symbolism."
"That's…huh," Kuroba tilted his head, "I think I will actually. How come I've never seen that ring stuff before?"
Saguru shrugged, "it may not be popular in Japan, or perhaps you simply saw them without observing."
"Geh, not Holmes again."
"Actually, Sherlock Holmes is believed by many fans to be asexual, aromantic, or both."
"Wait, is that why you wore that stupid coat all the time?"
"Whether or not Holmes as a character is asexual has nothing to do with my admiration for his skills as a detective."
"So that was just you being a fanboy, got it."
"Shut up, Kuroba."
The magician just grinned and bounced away, presumably to find someone else to prank.
~~ A little omake ~~
Kaito, staring at a pride website: …How am I supposed to know which of these I fit in when I know nothing about sex?
Later, while trying to find an actually informational website that isn't porn: Wait, is THAT why Aoko always gets so mad when I flip her skirt?
Kaito, reading through a 'signs you're interested' website like a checklist: No, no, thankfully not, nope, …wait—that actually happens? It's not just a phrase?
Kaito, staring at the definition for demisexual: …Oh
A/N: Hope y'all enjoyed reading!