Prompt: Flowers/Date (2020, Part 2 of 7)

Ritsu was panicking.

That wasn't new or really any cause for concern considering he panicked often and over a variety of things, but for Onodera Ritsu the world might as well have been ending.

What was causing the 15 year old so much distress?

It was Valentine's day.

And he had FORGOT ABOUT IT.

Usually, Ritsu's head was filled with all sort of embarrassing and lovey dovey fantasies between him and his Senpai. However, he had been so stressed about studying for an upcoming math test this week (Saga Senpai being kind enough to help tutor him after school) that the holiday had completely slipped his mind!

It was only when An-chan followed him into the library after school with a box of chocolates in hand that he remembered the date.

An would've preferred to do this elsewhere, but Richan was a difficult boy to get a hold of! He was always rushing off to the library as soon as class let out.

Ritsu hadn't even noticed An had followed him into the library at first, solely focused on his Senpai who was sitting in his usual spot. Ritsu smiled and waved, about to approach, but was stopped by his name being softly called.

"Richan?" An said quietly, not wanting to disturb the library's atmosphere. She held the box of chocolates nervously. An had already confessed her feelings for her friend in the past and faced rejection, but still she wanted to give Ritsu something this Valentine's day even if it ended in rejection again. She just wanted to make the boy she loved happy. If anyone deserved chocolate on Valentine's day, it was Ritsu, and An wanted to be positive that he would get some! She couldn't be sure that the person he liked would deliver, after all. She didn't want Ritsu to end up disappointed.

Ritsu faced her and smiled, pleasantly surprised. "Hey, An. What's up?" He hadn't quite noticed the chocolates yet, half of his mind still being on Saga Senpai.

An gathered her courage and held out the box of chocolates. "H-Happy Valentine's day, Richan." Her face turned pink as she presented her gift.

...

EH?!

TODAY WAS VALENTINE'S DAY?!

Ritsu began to have his daily internal meltdown, but An took his silence as a bad sign.

"I-I know you already told me you like someone else, b-but please accept them. Y-you don't have to return the gesture on White Day or anything like that, please just enjoy them and I'll be happy!" An said, pushing the box into Ritsu's arms. "Happy Valentine's day, Richan." She said again, quickly leaving before Ritsu could try to refuse and give them back.

Ritsu wasn't entirely concerned with the box of chocolates he was currently holding, though. He was too busy freaking out over the fact that it was Valentine's day and he hadn't gotten anything for Saga Senpai! And on top of that, Saga Senpai had just essentially watched someone else confess to Ritsu!

That was bad, right? They were dating, after all...right? Ritsu thought they might be exclusive, but he really couldn't be sure and he wasn't brave enough to ask. Plus, he felt like it was such a stupid question and he already made himself constantly look like an idiot. Maybe Senpai wouldn't care about Valentine's day or the confession. Maybe he hadn't even paid attention! However, Ritsu quickly discovered that Saga was in fact staring at him when he turned back around.

Ritsu flushed and shuffled over to their table, putting the box of chocolates in his bag as he did so. He sat down, normally having some magazine release or novel to excitedly talk about, but the heart in his throat silenced him.

"Who was she?" Saga asked, sounding and looking indifferent, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Saga hadn't been able to really make out their conversation considering their hushed voices, but he had seen enough to know that he did NOT like her.

"Y-You mean Anchan? S-She's just a friend of mine." Ritsu laughed nervously, hoping Saga didn't ask for more details. Surely if they talked about this for too long he would accidentally blurt out that he and Anchan were 'engaged'. He was already in one mess, he didn't need another!

"A friend..." Saga echoed, glancing toward Ritsu's bag. "Why did you accept her chocolates?"

"Well, I didn't wanna hurt her feelings...she also didn't really give me much of a choice." Ritsu laughed once more, doing his best to pretend like he felt no tension.

"Tch." Saga scoffed, but didn't say anything else, going back to his book. Saga didn't buy that. After all, the upperclassman had had a few girls try to give him chocolate today and it had been easy enough for him to dismiss them considering he had no interest. If Ritsu truly only viewed her as a friend then why couldn't he do the same? Maybe he was being unreasonable. But, he was jealous, so he didn't care.

Ritsu frowned when Saga basically started to ignore him. Was Saga Senpai...mad at him? "Really, Anchan is just a friend." Ritsu insisted, trying to get his Senpai to look at him again.

"It's none of my business." Saga said, not looking up from his book.

"I-I already told her before that I...that I have s-someone else that I l-l-like." Ritsu could feel his cheeks burning. "I like you, Senpai. Not her." Although this was far from Ritsu's first time confessing, he still felt as if his heart was going to explode.

Saga was quiet for a moment before he shut his book. "Let's go to my house."

"Eh? R-r-right now?" Ritsu was surprised by the sudden offer, especially since Saga seemed to be in a bad mood.

"Yeah. Do you not want to?" Saga shifted in his chair and almost looked...nervous? No, surely Ritsu's mind must be playing tricks on him. He was probably just projecting.

"No! I mean, yes-I-" Ritsu took a breath. "I would like to go to your house."

Saga stood and picked up his bag, expecting Ritsu to follow as he started to leave. Ritsu did so, scrambling to stand and flinging his own bag over his shoulder, exiting the library with him. Saga couldn't be that upset if he had invited him over, right?

The walk was quiet, which was normal, but Ritsu was overthinking even more than usual. Was Saga disappointed that Ritsu hadn't gotten him anything for Valentine's day? Did he doubt Ritsu's claims about Anchan only being a friend? Did he want to break up and was bringing Ritsu to his house just to spare him the public humiliation? Ritsu was far too wrapped up in his own head to notice that Saga was almost just as nervous as he was.

Although his face never portrayed his emotions, his shoulders were tenser than they'd normally be. Saga usually walked with confidence, always sure that Ritsu was following, but now he glanced back every so often to check that he was still there.

'Of course he's still there.' A voice would scoff at his worries each time, but he couldn't dismiss these new and ugly insecurities. For now he'd simply do his best to ignore them. He was a man on a mission, after all, and he couldn't let them derail him.

"Tadaima." Saga said as Sorata came up to greet the two boys. He leaned down to scratch under his chin before turning back to Ritsu. "Sit on the couch for a second. I'll be right back."

Well, that didn't help Ritsu's nerves at all! They never hung out in the living room, they always went upstairs! Still, he nodded despite becoming a pit of despair. He sat down and waited anxiously as Saga disappeared deeper into the house where Ritsu assumed the kitchen was, Sorata following the older teen to ask for more attention.

'He's going to break up with me. He's going to break up with me and then ask me to leave, that's why we didn't go upstairs. But would it really even be a break up? We're only kind of dating. But obviously it wasn't okay that someone else gave me chocolate, so does that mean Saga considers us a couple? Well, if he did, he probably doesn't anymore and he's going to break up with-!'

"Happy Valentine's day."

Ritsu was brought out of his spiraling thoughts by his Senpai's voice, looking up at him from the couch. Saga was holding out a rose and a container of chocolates for Ritsu.

Ritsu sat there frozen, making Saga shift from one foot to the other. "I didn't bring it to school because I didn't know how'd you feel about a public display of affection. I thought maybe we could go on a date tonight. See a movie or go to dinner or something." Saga started to mumble at the end of his sentence, feeling like a moron. The faintest blush crept up on to his cheeks. He had absolutely no idea what he was doing. He had already been nervous about giving Ritsu his present and seeing that girl give Ritsu chocolate definitely hadn't helped. It also wasn't helping that Ritsu wasn't saying anything!

Ritsu was too shell shocked to realize his Senpai was becoming distressed. Saga Senpai was giving him gifts on Valentine's day? And wanted to go on a date? Oh God, Ritsu was about to cry. No, no, no, he couldn't cry, that would be the final nail in his coffin if he started crying. Trying to keep his hands from shaking, he accepted the chocolates and rose.

"Sorry, I didn't really know where to get a nice box..." Saga mumbled, referencing the chocolates in tupperware.

Saga Senpai had given Ritsu homemade chocolates for Valentine's day.

Ritsu was dead.

That was the only explanation! Either he was dead and in heaven or he was asleep and dreaming, but subtly pinching himself had no effect, so the only conclusion was he was dead.

"I hope you like them." Saga said, sitting down next to him, nervous about the fact that Ritsu STILL hadn't said anything.

Ritsu's heart was growing fuller and fuller with every passing second...oh no...this feeling...it was overflowing again.

"I love you, Senpai!" He blurted out, unable to contain himself as he carefully set his gifts aside. He then hugged Saga, tearing up.

Saga was flooded with relief. Maybe he'd try his hand at more romantic things if it meant Ritsu would initiate touch. Saga returned the hug, wrapping his arms around Ritsu tightly. "You owe me on White Day." He teased. 'He'd better not give that girl anything for White Day...' He thought to himself, but his thoughts weren't able to travel down that road for long, Ritsu's enthusiastic nodding gaining his attention.

"Of course!" Ritsu smiled brightly, still a little teary-eyed as he pulled away, but Saga didn't let him get too far. "I'll start planning something now." He said with a determined expression that Saga secretly adored. Ritsu would make White Day the best, most romantic, most fun day ever for his Senpai!

'Damn it. He's too cute.' Saga thought, biting back a smirk. "I'll be looking forward to it."