Short Stories

My Valentine (Part 2)

"Hey, Shinji, you awake?" Hajime asked, knocking lightly on the bedroom door.

"I'm up, don't worry!" Came Shinji's response from inside. "I'll be out in a minute!"

Hajime smiled and began humming as he waited for his boyfriend to come out, trying to quench his nervousness.

True to his word, Shinji came out a minute later, finishing tugging on a sweater. "Sorry about that, bro. I accidentally caught a glimpse of snow outside."

Hajime winced. "Sorry about that. You okay?"

"I'm fine, don't worry about me!" Shinji reassured Hajime, smiling. "Now, what's up? Training again?"

"No, I actually have something for you before we train." Hajime said. "It can wait though."

"Nah, training's the thing that can wait. I got something for you too, actually. It is Valentine's Day, after all. Be right back." Shinji went back into the room for a second before re-emerging with something wrapped in wrapping paper, and he handed it to Hajime with a shy smile. "H-Happy Valentine's Day, Hajime."

Hajime was silent for a second, before smiling back and unwrapping the present. Inside was a handmade card and a sweater with hearts on it.

"S-So, do you like them?" Shinji asked nervously. "I made the sweater myself..."

Hajime quickly wrapped Shinji in a hug, both surprised and silencing him. "I love them, thanks Shinji." Hajime said, barely containing his smile. "Now let's go to the living room, okay?"

Shinji couldn't say anything due to his blush, and he let Hajime lead him to the living room. Once there, Shinji sat down on the couch, and Hajime left briefly.

When Hajime returned, he was wearing the sweater, and carrying something behind his back. He sat across from Shinji and carefully pulled the items from behind his back. "Happy Valentine's Day."

Shinji stared. Flowers, chocolates, and a book about flowers were presented to him in Hajime's hands, with the boxer in question looking away blushing.

The firefighter carefully took the presents from Hajime, staring at them, then put them aside and hugged Hajime. "Thank you."

Hajime was caught off guard, then smiled and hugged back. "Anytime, Shin. Happy Valentine's Day."

"Kokorooo! Where are youuu?" Emma called out, bounding into the dorm happily with the presents she planned to give to her girlfriend behind her back.

"Right here."

Emma yelped as Kokoro seemingly teleported behind her, turning around before any of her presents could be seen.

Or Kokoro might know what they were already. You could never tell with her.

"Jeez Koko, please don't scare me like that!" Emma scolded, trying not to let the presents fall backwards.

"My apologies, I thought you were aware of me being there." Kokoro said. "Now, do you have something for me?"

"Sharp as ever, Koko." Emma chuckled. "Haven't lost a pinch of your skills."

"Glad to hear it." Kokoro walked away from Emma and sat down in a chair, placing her iPad on the table. "Now what do you have."

Emma sat across from Kokoro, sudden nervousness overtaking her. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself, just like what Kokoro had shown her how to do, then held out what was behind her back. "Happy Valentine's Day!"