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Love is a very funny thing isn’t it? It is such a weird emotion. No it went deeper than that, but there’s no word for it yet. Maybe there will never be. You can’t describe it with mere words; it’s a feeling but also an experience. It makes us blush, it makes us swoon, and all over one person. It’s refreshing in a sense. You could have the worst day in your life, but just loving someone can make it all better. Because you know no matter how bad it gets, they will always be there for you.
Gokuhara Gonta wanted to experience this more than anything. He didn’t remember much of his childhood, so he didn’t remember being loved or cared about. Now that he thought about it more and more, he wondered if his parents cared about him at all. It was still fuzzy because he had gotten lost in the woods so many years ago, but he still had vague memories about his early childhood.
He remembered his mother and father constantly being away for business trips, so he was left alone in a huge mansion. Outside of the maids and butlers who cleaned up after him and fed him, he really had no one. Well almost no one. Although most people probably would consider them nuisances.
He thinks the first thing he caught was a small tarantula. Most children would probably be scared at the sight, but he was not most children. He immediately picked it up and kept it in a small tupperware container. He planned to at least get rid of it in the morning, but then the next day he found himself writing notes about it and drawing it, and then eventually began to research it. Pretty impressive for a kindergartner too. Of course eventually the maid found it, and he lied and said he would get rid of it. But he just began hiding it. His only regret was not taking it with him when he got lost in the woods that day, he just hoped it was able to somehow escape.
But this romantic love? It made him get literal butterflies in his stomach (Ouma said they must have been poisoned ones). Yet he still knew it was a positive feeling. Those butterflies were of course caused by Saihara Shuuichi, the main culprit.
Saihara was… very interesting to say the least. It’s not that he was dangerous, quite the opposite actually. If he saw actual blood he’d probably faint. At first Saihara seemed like the average shy boy that you would see at a local cafe, sipping tea while he read his favorite novel. If you glanced at him he’d probably immediately hide his face with his book.
But Gonta was one of the only people who was able to get close to him. He would not say that Saihara had an alter-ego, but an interest that he hid, not wanting to be seen as “weird” or even worse a “freak”.
What was that interest you might ask? One of the most popular franchises in Japan, Danganronpa. Gonta had only seen a bit of it, only knowing it to be a murder mystery show. Or shows with all the spinoffs it had. But Shuichi on the other hand? He practically had everything memorized.
Which is why Gokuhara was so nervous right now. A few weeks ago, Tokyo had announced a Danganronpa convention, only about an hour from where they lived so getting there would be no problem. However the tickets were extremely expensive, which discouraged Saihara greatly. Saihara did not have the fund for it, but Gokuhara did. He had been saving up money, especially with their anniversary coming up so soon. So money was no problem, it was more that he’d never been to such a huge event like this. But if it meant making Saihara smile, it would be worth it.
He decided to ask after classes were over, finals had just finished so he knew it was a good opportunity to ask once everyone was gone.
He slowly approached Saihara as he was slowly putting his books away. When Saihara noticed him, he immediately smiled.
“O-Oh hi Gonta!” Even though they were dating (Saihara was still shy to call him his boyfriend). “How were finals for you?”
Gokuhara nodded, “Gonta’s finals went well! How about Shuuichi’s?”
Saihara nervously scratched his head, “O-Oh, pretty well I guess,” he stuttered out, “I think I should have studied more, but I had to watch the newest episode last night, it was too tempting.
Gokuhara supposed that this was a good time to finally ask the question.
“Does Saihara remember the convention he wanted to go to?”
Saihara frowned a bit, “Yeah, I still regret buying those Despair Twins figurines, I probably should have waited a while. I’ll look up the names of the vendors and look up some of the panels later…”
Gokuhara felt a small smile on his own face, “Gonta doesn’t think that would be necessary,” he quickly pulled out the tickets, “Gonta got this for Saihara!”
Saihara just stared at the tickets, like a deer in headlights for several minutes, it felt like hours.
“Is Saihara okay?” After he asked that, Saihara immediately screeched like a banshee. To the point where he could see other people in the hallways looking at them.
“S-Sorry, I just…” Saihara immediately hugged Gokuhara tight, “Thankyouthankyou-! I don’t know what to say! No one’s ever gotten me a gift this expensive!”
Gokuhara patted him gently on the back, “No problem at all Saihara! Gonta knows how much it means to you! Gonta can pay for things you want at the con if Saihara wants!”“T-That’s amazing! I have to start packing now! I wish I had gotten-” he began mumbling to himself as he frantically attempted to put the other books in his bag as fast as he could. He scrambled to put his backpack on. “A-Again thank you so much!”“Saihara doesn’t have to thank Gonta, he deserves it.”
Saihara smiled.
The plan was for Gonta to meet Saihara outside of his apartment, he had been waiting for a while, no doubt Saihara was getting all of his stuff together. And sure enough, Gokuhara soon heard the jingling of keychains. Saihara really went all out, wearing several hair clips, several bags, and a huge backpack.
“Saihara knows we’ll only be gone for three days, right?”
“Ooh I know! But this is all the stuff I’m going to get! My parents sent me a check, so I’ll have more money this time!” Saihara was practically jumping up and down like a bouncing ball, “S-Sorry I’m just really excited!”
“Gonta is glad, Gonta can take some of your bags?” Gokuhara raised his hands out and started getting his bags, “Saihara is drooling by the way…”
Saihara blushed and wiped his mouth, this wasn’t the first time it happened and it would not be the last. It did not happen a lot but when Saihara got really excited, he had the tendency to drool.
Gonta held Saihara’s hand as they walked to the train station, “What does Saihara want to do first.”
Saihara quickly pulled out his phone, “Well we’ll be there soon but…! I want to go to the vendors’ hall first, go to these panels, and get the voice actors to sign my posters, and-”
Gonta patted Shuuichi’s back. “Shuuichi might need to calm down, we have time.”
“S-Sorry…! I just can’t believe I finally get to-”
Gonta held Shuuichi as he passed out in his lap.
The day went pretty well all things considered. Although it was a bit tiring at times. He had to constantly look out for Shuuichi, almost to the point where he wished he had a leash. But it was adorable seeing him so happy. The panels were overcrowded but it was worth it to see his smile. The lines for autographs were hours long but it was worth it to hear his laugh. Everything was worth it.
Gonta carried most of the bags back to the hotel room, while Shuuichi followed behind and practically bounced in circles.
“Gonta supposes Saihara had a good time?”
“The best! It was better than I ever thought! This was amazing!” He began to stim by flapping his hands and walking in place.
Gonta smiled, “Does Saihara want to get ready for bed?”
Shuuichi stopped, “Oh yeah!”
He quickly began to take off his clothes while Gonta looked away, still embarrassed to see his boyfriend naked.
He quickly got on the bed with Gonta, giggling frantically.
“I’m just excited for tomorrow- and…” he stopped for a moment, “S-sorry, I went overboard…”
Saihara stopped again, “Do you think I’m… weird.”
Gonta sat up, “Of course not! Shuuichi is just very passionate!”
“I just feel… I love Danganronpa but… I wish I could be interested in other stuff…”
Gonta shook his head, “Gonta doesn’t care what Shuuichi likes, he’s still Shuuichi at the end of the day.”
“Yeah but…” Shuuichi fiddled with his fingers, “I talk about nothing else, I spent the entire day talking about fictional characters. I wish… I just wish I could be
normal
.”
“Gonta thinks that would be boring.”
Shuuichi perked up, “Pardon?”
“Shuuichi is so smart and kind. And others like you too! Akamatsu, Ouma, Amami, we all love you. Although Gonta likes you more.”
Shuichi blushed.
“Gonta doesn’t understand, but Gonta likes hearing Shuuichi talk. So Gonta doesn’t care. Gonta loves Shuuichi no matter what.”
Shuuichi sat there for a bit, “T-Thanks… I love you.”
Gonta leaned him back and began to cuddle with him as their limbs tangled like a knot. It seemed uncomfortable but they both fell asleep quickly.
I guess that’s true love for you.