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Toya never wanted for much. He needed quite a bit, though—he needed to get good grades, he needed to keep his parents happy, he needed to succeed… but most of all, he needed friends.
Of course, he never expressed this need to his parents. He never wanted to bother them with such trivial things like “wanting someone to play with”, or “wishing he could talk to someone who enjoys his presence and vise versa”. Preposterous!
And yet, it’s all he really wanted during his teenage years—that, and freedom from his father’s mandated, endless, torturous hours of piano. So much of his life was spent breaking his fingers on those hypnotic black and white keys to the point where music sounded like nails on a chalkboard to him.
But one day, it all stopped.
He arrived at college—a nice one, but nothing too fancy—and for once, it didn’t feel like he was being dragged everywhere by a metal chain. He gained so many good friends, it was a little overwhelming at first. However, three people stood out to him, three people he
knew
were going to be his friends for a long time.
Shiraishi An—a very energetic person with a bubbly energy everywhere she went. She used to work at her father’s cafe and was going to college for music, as she wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps.
Azusawa Kohane—very similar to An, since they seemed to hang out often, but more timid and sweet, rather than bubbly. She started a business called “Cupid’s Candy Contributers” (name still pending, according to her), which is more active during the winter months, and even asked Toya to be a part of it!
And Akito.
Akito Shinonome… how can one even describe him?
Freedom,
is the first word that comes to Toya’s mind. Because Akito was his first friend in college, after all—the start of freedom from his parents, as much as Toya loved them. Akito helped him learn about other aspects of freedom. Freedom to make friends, for example.
Freedom to waste a little time after school baking (and burning) food because he doesn’t have to spend every second of every day studying.
Freedom to love music again, to sing along with him, An, and Kohane because no matter what his father did, Toya found himself free as a bird while singing.
Freedom to love.
…and freedom to be afraid of that love.
Because Toya’s never had feelings like this for anyone.
So time and time again, Toya would look across the room, trying to make it look like he wasn’t staring at Akito, and wondering… what would it be like to hold his hand? How would it feel to be held by him?
If we were together, would he ask me to be his valentine?
Toya wondered one day while delivering sweets and flowers to people who wished to show their loved ones how they appreciate the other.
You see, Kohane’s business was a delivery service that only delivered on Valentine’s day. Someone would order something (like roses or cake) and somebody (right now, Toya) would bring it to the person they liked or wanted to be their valentine!
Must be nice to receive something like that.
And now, at 6pm as the sun set, Toya had this last delivery.
“Alright, this is addressed to a certain…” he began as he looked through his notes app, checking off the last customer’s name.
“Hm,” he thought. “There’s no name. Just a location…
Sunpetal cafe?
” that’s… where Akito worked!
Did Akito have a valentine?
He didn’t tell Toya.
As if like clockwork, Toya’s expression shifted to a more uncomfortable one. He felt like something was slipping out of his hands—something he doesn’t know if he’ll experience again, or when.
I don’t have to give it to him,
he thought before mentally slapping himself. How could he even think that? Taking happiness away from his… best friend? ~~that’s all they’ll ever be, isn’t it..~~
That’s not something he wants to do to such a good friend. Toya sighs and gets on his bike (which took too long to learn… he falls off even now), brushing off the unpleasent feeling and thinking;
Maybe if I ignore it, these emotions will go away, and we can be just friends.
(that’s not happening anytime soon.)
It wasn’t long before he fixed his hat (which one of his friends so graciously designed—how he loved saying that) and went on his way. Maybe his upset will fly away with the wind.
~
“Fuck.. gotta do everything myself around here…” Akito muttered to himself, staring at the pile of dirty dishes.
We hire people for a reason!
he thought, painful silence meeting his ears.
You see, Akito ordered something that had to be delivered today. Something more important than dirty dishes or taking over the bakery for the day.
And it has to be delivered by Toya, his best friend.
Hopefully that title will change soon,
Akito pondered as the thought of Toya being his… boyfriend… overtook the frustration of dirty dishes.
Ever since they met, there was something special about Toya. It was during class, they were paired up for some icebreaker project and then Akito invited Toya to the bakery to work on it. Soon after, they both began singing together, and then added in An and Kohane. They’ve have so many happy memories, and now here he was, giggling about the prospect of holding his partner’s hand.
And today was Valentine’s day, so Akito had to use all his three whole brain cells to ask Toya to be his valentine.
His plan? Order something from Kohane’s delivery service, something to share, and specifically ask for Toya to deliver it. Hopefully he does and he can ask him on the spot. Conveniently, there was nobody in the bakery. Although Akito was getting worried, what if Toya didn’t show-
Ding!
…up.
Akito dropped a half washed fork into the sink before running out, still in his chef uniform.
Toya.
“…hello, Akito,” he said, in all his… handsomeness glory? Is that even a word? Author stop making up words.
Anyways, Toya put a box on a table next to him and walked up to Akito. “Happy valentine’s day,” he said, wiping some frosting off his cheek. “I see you’ve been working hard in the kitchen today. Did you take any time off?” Toya asked.
Unfortunately, all Akito was thinking was
ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod-
“I- I did,” Akito stammered, completely out of character before bringing his confident persona back. “Yeah, I’ve been running this place for the day.. Ena’s out with her partner and my parents are having a night out tonight, so it’s just me… alone here.”
“You’re not alone anymore, though,” Toya said, and the light behind him made him look like an angel. Akito couldn’t help but smile. “Yeah. I know,” he replied, followed by a few moments of comfortable silence.
“Oh- uh, by the way, is that…?” Akito asked, pointing at the box on the table, snapping Toya out of his fantasies. He nodded, but it seemed… sad?
The latter gave Akito the box. “I hope whoever you’re giving it to likes it.” As if like clockwork, he began to leave. Wait, what?! No, he cant leave right now, he just built up the courage to…!
“Akito, can.. you let go of me?” Toya asked with a chuckle, before Akito noticed he was holding his partner’s hand.
“…no.”
What?
“I don’t think I can. Not right now.”
Akito squeezed Toya’s hand and led him to the box he was given, containing heart shaped cookies with messages like “I 🤍 U” written on them, and gave one to Toya.
The other boy was confused, though. This.. couldn’t be what he thought it was, right? Reluctantly, he took the cookie.
Akito then took a deep breath and began to speak. “Toya, ever since I’ve been you, there was something special about your character. You were kind like nobody else I knew was. You’re understanding, you’re generous, you’re selfless, and to be honest, I cant continue without going on for an hour.”
“Point is… Toya, do you know who I bought the box for?” Akito asked. His partner didn’t move a muscle as the ginger put a hand on his cheek (while his face became as red as a tomato).
“I got it for you. Toya, will you be my valentine… and maybe, my boyfriend?”
Silence.
“…of course,” came a small whisper before Toya wrapped his arms around Akito. “Akito, you showed me freedom, in a sense. Being around you makes me feel like I can do anything, so yes, of course I want to be your boyfriend.”
Toya melted in Akito’s touch, and kissed his partner under the light of the setting sun.
And this time, partner had a new meaning.