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“Okay, what about this one?”
“Yuuta, this stupid pile of leaves looks like every other one here.”
“Aren’t you supposed to — I don’t know… help me?”
“You dragged me out of bed to look at plants, what did you want from me? I don’t even know how to garden.”
“Yes I know… but you knew Toge before I did, so… maybe that counts for something?”
“Hmm…”
“Maki, I’m having a moment of weakness and am asking for your help.”
“When did you get so bold? I preferred you when you cried over confrontation.”
“I did not cry!”
“What about that one ti—“
“It was one time !”
“Mhm. Once was more than enough, Yuuta.”
Yuuta grumbled to himself, “Nobara is a terrible influence on you.”
Maki beamed devilishly, a shit eating grin plastered on. “Noh is an absolute delight and you are more than fortunate to know her. Humble yourself.”
“Point proven.”
Maki tsked at him. “No manners these days. Toge went right to your head.”
Yuuta, in a single moment of composure, elevated beyond the need to bicker with Maki. He was better than this. Instead, he offered a surrendering, soft smile and went back to bothering the flowers.
She pouted, “Boo, you’re the weak link.” Maki watched Yuuta as he aimlessly ran his fingertips over multicolored petals and tested the textures of leaves. He was essentially killing them before her eyes. In an effort to spare the poor flora, she grabbed Yuuta's wrist. She sighed, giving in. “If you would’ve noticed the jungle he’s been growing in what’s supposed to be our apartment, he’s been bringing flowers inside as it’s getting colder. He offhandedly mentioned needing white flowers as an offering to winter.”
“An offering?”
“Yeah, something about good fortune and cleansing, I don’t know, he sounded ridiculous.”
Yuuta couldn’t help but crinkle his nose at the thought. He himself didn’t think much of the natural world, but Toge took it very seriously, diligently investing his time into selecting plants and crystals to protect their home.
[[ Their home. It just happened, much to Maki’s faux disgruntlement. What was once a poorly organized, barely functionable university apartment for Yuuta and Maki had been revitalized into a bright and inviting home, courtesy of their third addition Toge.
He came over once. Didn’t really come over even, just one time he had to hand off some papers to Maki for a course project. Wasn’t even invited inside, barely saw past the threshold of their place. Next thing they knew, he was brewing them jasmine tea in hand thrown ceramic mugs and placing some vine-like plant on their coffee table (Yuuta later learned it was called a String of Pearls and it’s so low maintenance that even Maki and Yuuta couldn’t kill it). ]]
“What about these, right?” Yuuta held up a small cluster of white carnations. “Would these work?”
Maki patted his shoulder, “You’ll do just fine, Romeo.”
“What does that mean? What are you implying?”
“Nothing, honest!”
Yuuta hugged the flowers to his chest. “I don’t believe you for a single second, Maki Zenin.”
Maki smiled so hard her eyes squeezed shut. “What ever could you mean, Yuuta Okkotsu?”
Yuuta kicked the door firmly shut behind them, sealing the cold morning air out. Their apartment showed no signs of movement yet, a little patch of the sun’s rays across the living room rug was their only light.
“I leave you here.”
“Maki you’re just across the hall, it’s not this dramatic.”
“Hey, it’s early, you made me suffer for you, now we’re here.”
“Okay fine, fine. Go on, apologize to Nobara for me, I guess.”
“Mhm. You’ll owe her for this, mark my words.”
Yuuta traced an X over his heart. “Promise. I already knew the consequences.”
Maki saluted and they parted ways.
Toge was still in the same position Yuuta had left him, blanket snug around his frame and pulled up just over his face to block out any light that may filter in through the gap in the curtains.
Yuuta set the new flowery addition on the window ledge, partially opened one set of blinds, and gave the bright white flowers a little water. Shrugging off his coat, he made his way back to their bed and sat on the edge. Yuuta lightly ruffled Inumaki’s hair and ran his hand along the smaller boy’s cheek.
Under Yuuta’s touch, Toge finally stirred. He gave the biggest yet smallest stretch Yuuta had seen, the endearing moment drawing a soft smile from the black-haired boy, his eyes crescent moons.
“Good morning, lovely.”
In lieu of a response, Toge reached over and held Yuuta’s hand to his face again, shutting his eyes.
Yuuta rubbed his thumb over soft skin. His voice was gentle, “Hi. Sleep okay?”
Toge nodded.
“I brought you a gift back from errands.”
Toge opened one eye curiously.
Yuuta chuckled. “Come on, babe. Get up and you’ll see. It’s also warming up outside, so we can tend to your balcony garden today.”
Toge hummed in disbelief, Yuuta had a tendency to downplay the severity of the cold.
Yuuta smiled at him, “I promise this time.”
Toge was clearly still skeptical but he sat up anyway. The comforter fell off his shoulders but he was still swimming under the size of his favorite, permanently borrowed sweater. As he blinked to adjust his eyes to the morning light, he immediately noticed the carnations.
Ever the outspoken morning person, Toge simply pointed at them.
Yuuta followed his movements. “Yeah?”
He pointed at himself, Yuuta chuckled lightly. “Yes, they’re for you.”
That got him up. Toge let go of Yuuta’s hand and clambered over to the little round, grey pot. He fully opened the blinds and doused the room in sunlight. It didn’t phase him at all either, the white-haired boy cradling the flower petals and inspecting them.
He hums in surprise as he feels a weight behind him. Yuuta drapes his arms around Inumaki’s shoulders, resting his forehead in the crook of his neck.
“Do you like them?”
Toge hums again, soft and affirmative this time, and he feels Yuuta smile into his shoulder. He taps Yuuta’s cheek with his hand, and when the other boy looks up he places the gentlest kiss on his cheek.
“Of course,” Yuuta answers, “Come on. Let’s change, wake you up with some tea and we can go bring in the rest of the plants today. Sounds good?”
Toge leaned back against Yuuta and nodded softly, letting Yuuta guide them into their day.