Day 2:
Ryoma stared at his shoe locker in disbelief. He blinked, then looked again. Still there.
"And here I thought it was going to be a good day," he sighed, unable to tear his eyes away from the sight in front of them.
"Echizen!" Ryoma didn't turn to acknowledge the call from Momoshiro as he came barreling towards him. "What's up? You're staring at that locker like it's going to attack...you..." Momoshiro's voice trailed off as he got a look at the locker-or, more accurately, at the mass of pink inside, stray petals floating to the ground. "What? But that's-"
"Sakura," Ryoma finished for him, as he reached in and fished amongst the blossoms for his shoes. "Lots of sakura."
"Fuji-senpai?"
"There was no note. But I can't think of anyone else who's been gifting me with flowers lately." Ryoma frowned, trying to dislodge petals from his hair and uniform.
"Here, let me help." As Momoshiro plucked the stray bits of pink from Ryoma's hair, he couldn't help but ask, "So, what are you going to do about it?"
"About the flowers? Ryoma shrugged. "Nothing."
"You sure that's a smart idea?"
"Fuji-senpai probably just wants a reaction of some sort. It's better not to give him anything, I think."
"Well, you might have to say something."
"Why?"
"Because he's coming this way."
"Momoshiro-kun, Echizen-kun, good morning!" Fuji smiled as he joined the pair by Ryoma's locker. "Oh, I see you got my gift, Echizen-kun. Do you like them?"
Ryoma's mouth opened and closed for a moment as he considered, then rejected, several retorts. Finally, he settled on a simple, "Why?"
"Why the flowers? Well, you didn't seem to enjoy the roses as much as I thought you would, so I thought that maybe I should try again." Fuji ran a hand through his hair and grinned almost sheepishly. "Why...don't you like sakura, either? I can get something else if you'd prefer..."
Ryoma's head shot up. "No!" he shouted, then cleared his throat, modulating his tone a bit. "I mean, that's not necessary, Fuji-senpai. The sakura are," he swallowed, "beautiful." Ryoma paused for a second, then added, "Thank you, Fuji-senpai."
Fuji draped an arm around Ryoma's shoulders, pulling him close. Ryoma almost jumped...usually, it wasn't Fuji doing the touching, but he didn't call him on it, deciding that, in this case, discretion may well be the better part of valor. "I'm glad you enjoyed them, Echizen-kun." Fuji's smile softened a little as he gave Ryoma's shoulder a subtle squeeze. "I know I enjoyed picking them out for you...thinking of you...and what you'd like." Fuji looked down into Ryoma's eyes. "You understand, right?"
The bell rang them, saving Ryoma from any further comment. Instead, he used the excuse to pull away, ignoring the small part of himself that said it wasn't quite so bad being held by Fuji. Instead, he looked down and said, "Fuji-senpai, we don't want to be late."
Fuji let him go easily. Instead of the many comments he could make, he simply replied, "Yes, you're right. Have a good day, Echizen-kun. Oh, and you too, Momoshiro-kun." With a smile and a wave, Fuji left for his classroom.
Ryoma turned to do the same, only to be brought up short by the look on Momoshiro's face. "What?" he demanded.
"You're blushing, Echizen," Momoshiro said with a smirk.
Ryoma's hand flew up to his face. "What! I am not-I mean, maybe, but..." He gave up. "Oh, just go to class!" He spun and walked away, ignoring Momoshiro's laughter.
At least, Ryoma reflected as he walked away, one positive came thing came of this-he shouldn't have to deal with any more flowers from Fuji.