"I will never forgive you if you do it."
"I will!"
"Don't you fucking dare!"
"Hiro-san, you knew this day was coming."
Pause.
"Nowaki, I can see you moving your mouse, don't think you're being stealthy! I swear to fucking God, if you- NOWAKI!"
"There, the deed is done."
Hiroki buried his face in his hands, pinching his lips together.
"I hate you."
"Aww, don't say that!"
Hiroki glanced up from his hands as Nowaki laughed at him. He rolled his eyes.
"Okay, maybe I don't hate you, but that was completely unnecessary."
"Oh, come on Hiro-san. I really want you to feel special tomorrow," Nowaki said gently. Hiroki traced his index finger across the pattern of stitches on his white quilt upon his bed, bringing his knees up to wrap his free arm around them. He blushed slightly and hid his face with his knees.
"But… it's so embarrassing…" Hiroki pouted. He blushed even harder and squeezed his eyes shut.
"It's perfectly normal to get someone flowers on Valentine's Day. The only person who's embarrassed is you."
Hiroki's cheeks practically caught fire. For the past week, Nowaki had been threatening to get him flowers for Valentine's Day, and Hiroki hadn't taken him seriously. Now, on the thirteenth of February, Hiroki learned the hard way that Nowaki had been dead serious.
"B-But you're a man, and I'm a man, so-"
"Hiro-san, you're getting flowers. And chocolate. And a little card, that's it. It'll be delivered tomorrow morning," Nowaki said with firm finality. Hiroki's shoulders hunched.
"…is it milk chocolate?" he asked quietly after a long pause..
"Of course, love."
Hiroki looked up, his fingers still knotted in his hair.
"You don't need to get me flowers and candy to make me feel special," he muttered. He timidly scratched his arm. "I mean… I already feel special… you know, because you're with me and everything."
"Hiro-san…" Nowaki murmured. His dazzling smile brought out a shy grin from even Hiroki, who bashfully stroked a lock of chestnut hair behind his ear.
"Um… what color are the flowers?" Hiroki asked, genuinely curious but willing his voice to sound impassive. Nowaki's eyelids lowered knowingly, and Hiroki flushed crimson.
"Well, you'll just have to find out, won't you?"
On the morning of Valentine's Day, Hiroki desperately tried to escape the inevitable visit from the flower delivery truck by fleeing to Miyagi and Shinobu's house with Fuyumi. When he came home later, however, he found the flowers, chocolate, and card on the kitchen table. The flowers were gorgeous: snow white roses and little sprigs of lilacs were arranged in a simple yet effective manner, reducing Hiroki to the consistency of a puddle. After putting the flowers in a vase and setting it on the kitchen table in a ray of sunlight from the window, he read the card.
'Knew you'd try to run away- had the deliverer just drop it off in the kitchen.'
Hiroki pinched his lips together, but before he had time to scowl at the card, there was a knock at the door. He set the card on the table and went to the front door. Warily, he opened it, afraid that he'd see more flowers. Instead, a man stood there, panting slightly.
"Tyvärr! Detta föll på köra här. Sorry! This fell out on the drive here," he said in breathy Swedish, holding out a thick envelope. Hiroki blinked and took it.
"Det är bra. Tack. That's fine. Thanks," Hiroki said after a moment of piecing together the words in his head. The delivery man nodded and left. Hiroki quietly shut the door, flipping the envelope over in his hand. It read Hiroki Kusama. Hiroki leaned against the door and slowly slid his finger under the flap. When it was open, he pulled out the contents. He gasped as his fingers only grasped one of the many papers inside, and all of the rest flopped to the floor. Hiroki sank to his knees to gather them up. His eyes landed on one in particular, it was the only one without a bunch of scratch marks on it. Hiroki picked it up and straightened the creases.
Hiro-san-
As you probably know, I'm really not that great at writing letters. I've started this letter over about a hundred times because it's just so embarrassing. But you know me. I can't throw away anything with your name on it so… I sent you all of them. This letter is the 'final draft', as you literature teachers call it.
Hiroki snickered, rolled his eyes, and continued to read.
It's still not that great, though, so if you don't mind, please destroy this letter in the most brutal way possible. I know you can think of something. But then again, knowing you, you won't destroy this letter at all. You'll keep it in a big black bag without telling me. Am I right, or am I right?
Hiroki smiled and shifted so his legs were crossed.
Well, anyway, I just wanted to write to you to let you know just how much I love you, Hiro-san. It has become apparent to me that, had I never met you, I wouldn't be a quarter of the man I am today. I'd probably still be wandering aimlessly.
Hiro-san, you really have no idea about the influence you have had on my life. Not only have I found the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, you have created my life, too. Until I met you, I hadn't had much purpose. I was kind of a 'grab what you need and go' kind of guy. Once I met you, though, I found determination in myself that I had never known before. I mean, obviously I was a hard worker (seeing as I had so many jobs), but my only goal was to become a social worker and donate to the orphanage. With you, I could reach for the stars. And forgive me if that's too poetic or corny for you, but that's the truth.
And then there's you. Just when I thought I knew you perfectly, you were impregnated with my baby. Suddenly, a whole new you appeared. Excuse me for being repetitious, but you truly are amazing, Hiro-san. You are everything a man (or a woman, for that matter. You're that perfect…(not that I'd let anyone else have you)) could ever dream of. You're sarcastic, cute, smart, and unbearably gorgeous/sexy. Not to mention, your ass is probably the hottest thing in the whole world.
Hiroki flushed scarlet as he read the last bit. It looked like Nowaki had erased and rewritten the phrase several times, then finally settled on rewriting it in big, black letters.
All of the things I listed are just the tip of the iceberg, Hiro-san. There is so much more about you that I could write, but I don't think I have the skills or the time to write a whole novel about you (Valentine's Day is only a few days away, after all).
And that's why I proposed to you. I can no longer imagine a world without you in it. Sorry, Hiro-san, but when we get married, there's no going back. Scratch that. The second you and I became lovers, you were tied to me forever. Even if the time comes where you don't need me anymore, I will always need you, and I won't let you ever get away.
Hiro-san, I promise on my life, on my orphanage, on my biological parents' graves, that I will always, always be by your side. I will watch Fuyumi grow up by your side. I will watch Fuyumi get married by your side. I will give our grandchildren the world by your side.
And most importantly, I will grow old by your side. Forty years from now, when we're 'old, wrinkly, and disgusting' (as quoted by you, if you recall. Yes, I remember), I will still be there, holding your hand.
Who knows what will happen after that. All I know is that, if there is an afterlife, I will be by your side at that time as well. You better get used to me, because you're going to see a lot of me for a long, long time.
I love you so much.
I love you more than I love myself. Ten, twenty, a million times more. Always, always remember that.
I will follow you to the ends of this earth. So please, please, love me forever.
I love you, I miss you. Happy Valentines dayyyyyyyy
The 'y' of 'day' began to run down the page as a tear drop landed on it and smeared the scrawled handwriting. Hiroki furiously wiped his eyes, sniffling into his wrist. He could hardly bring himself to finish the page.
Love, Me, your adoring husband-to-be, best friend, and life partner.
Hiroki blubbered into one hand, pressing the letter into his chest with the other. When he had recovered enough to keep himself from falling apart, he shakily uncovered his bloodshot eyes and reached into his pocket. He speed-dialed Nowaki and brought the phone to his ear, sniffing and clearing his throat.
On the third ring, it went to Nowaki's voice mail.
"I don't know if you're at work still, or if you're busy, but… oh wait, scratch that. I'd bet anything that you're listening to this message right now because you're too much of a pussy to pick up the phone," Hiroki said wryly, fighting to keep his voice even. He failed, however, when he spoke his next words, his voice becoming gravelly with emotion. "I-I got your letter… and Nowaki… just know that you never have to worry, b-because I'll… I'll…"
Hiroki sniffed loudly, bringing his legs up to his chest and burying his face in his knees. He wept softly.
"I-I'm always going to be h-here… so just… just pick up the fucking phone, you idiot!"
Hiroki hung up and clenched the phone in his fist, sobbing softly into his jeans.
A second later, the phone rang.
