Gray Rainbow (Soramafu)

Cradle

The next week, after the night Soraru was drunk, I didn't met him a single time. The only conversation was by phone and it was the invitation to my birthday party, that I send him. Actually, I didn't plan to invite anyone but of course Amatsuki was as stubborn as always and didn't stop saying I should celebrate, so I gave in at one point.

I didn't look really forward to it, but knowing that Soraru would come made it a lot better and I even thought that it would be one of the best birthdays since, the time I was a little child and didn't get bullied.

I even decorated my flat with some rainbow colored air balloons. This really did look gay... But no one would notice, so it was okay. Even if, I would just say that I thought it would look better this way than with only one color. I mean, it really looked suiting for a birthday party... Maybe not for an adult, but for a young and maybe sometimes, a bit childish guy like me, it was perfect.

I laid the last forks on the table as the doorbell rang and I went to open the door. "Hello Soraru-san." I greeted him smiling. He smiled back and congratulated me, before going in and then sitting down on the couch. I followed him and looked a bit awkwardly at him. "Ehm, do you want to drink something?" He shook his head and tried to loosen the mood by doing some small talk.

"How have you been the last days?", "Better.", I responded directly. "Actually, I wanted you to explain it a bit more, but I think it's okay for now. By the way, I really like your new hair color. This yellowish, white hair suits you very well.", He complimented me and made me blush a little bit. "Thank you Soraru-san. It's called champagne by the way." He smiled and then said, "Amatsuki already told me, that you change your hair color like your trousers, but I thought he joked. Looks like he didn't." He chuckled a bit and I couldn't stop thinking, that this was the cutest thing I ever had heard. Even with his low voice it sounded cute.

I scratched the back of my head and answered, "I think it's good to have some change in your life from time to time. At least concerning hair colors.", "Maybe I should try dyeing my hair too?", He wanted to know. "I think your black hair already is suiting you the best. Dyeing it would be a waste of your natural hair color, I think."

I could slap myself for this comment. Every guy, who had at least some experience would know, that I tried to flirt with him. "Really? Thank you. I'm glad that you, as my friend, think so." He really was slow. He would never get it into his straight head, that I flirted with him. But actually, it was better this way. Better than him, being grossed out, by me being gay and me liking him.

Finally the doorbell rang and saved me from more awkward, one sided flirting. I immediately went to the door and opened it. Amatsuki, Luz and Tomohisa stood there. Even though I and Tomohisa weren't really close friends, Amatsuki insisted on Tomohisa coming with him. I didn't really care, one more or less didn't change much in my opinion.

I greeted all of them and went with them back to Soraru. "Only Urata and Sakata aren't here yet, right?", I nodded to agree to, what Soraru stated. "They're always late, aren't they?" Amatsuki said, sounding annoyed. I chuckled and responded, "That's ironic, actually, you're always the one late.", "You're totally right Mafumafu-san.", Tomohisa agreed. "You're so mean. Both of you. Only Luz-kun is nice here!"

Soraru looked at him and sighed. "I didn't say anything either.", "You're sounding like your jealous.", Luz said. "Ah... What ever!", Soraru leaned back on the couch and looked at Amatsuki. "Why did you bring Tomohisa with you?", He asked him. "He's nice and fun too.", He explained. "I'm fun too!" Luz said. Soraru sighed again "Everyone besides me is fun, the end.", "But you're fun, too Soraru-san!" I felt like I had to defend him.

The door bell ended our discussion abruptly and I went to open the door the third time this day. "Finally you're here.", I said smiling. Urata looked as annoyed as his voice always sounds and then explained, "It's this weird guys fault." He pointed at Sakata and explained further, "Somehow he had the great idea to begin cooking some sweets for you twenty minutes before the party." Right. They lived together. Everyone else thought that they did so, because they collaborated together often, but I knew better.

They have been a couple since high-school, but didn't tell anyone, mainly because they were afraid of the reaction. The other thing was, that they were afraid someone would out them unconsciously. I only knew, because the only person, I ever outed myself in front of, was Sakata. We have been friends for a long time now and I trusted him unconditionally, but I still couldn't tell him about Soraru. Either way... The day I told him I was gay, he told me, that he was in a relationship with Urata. I really granted it both of them. They suited each other well and I could easily tell, that they, even though they fought sometimes, made each other happier than anyone else could.

"Come in." I stepped to the side to let them get in and followed them, after closing the door. I sat next to Soraru and looked at the table. Not a single present besides Sakata's sweets...

I didn't really expect anything, but this was... How should I say? I felt like a child, which friends played football without even asking if I wanted to play too. I sighed in my mind and looked at them. "Who wants cake?", I asked and they all said in unison, while raising their hands like students, "ME!" I went to bring the cake from the kitchen, into the living room and put it on the plate, in the middle of the table.

I started eating just like them, without thinking, that everything big would go to happen on this day. We talked about our current work, about our plans for the future and at some point we went to the next, for me most annoying, topic. Relationships.

"I'm not dating anyone, but I would love to find a girl, that has the same humor as me and plays all kinds of video games with me!", Amatsuki said looking at Tomohisa who agreed to his idea. "I think I'm okay as long as she's nice and loves me.", Luz explained. "You're all not really looking any further than the next days, hm? I want a girl, who's good with kids and who I can make a big family with. It would be great if she's able to cook for the family too.", Soraru said smiling a bit. You could really tell, that just the thought of a family made him happy... It was something I could never give to him.

"So you're saying you want a housewife?" Sakata asked and Soraru simply answered by nodding. "Could you imagine not having any kids." He answered Urata's question by shaking his head. He really didn't talk that much. What a waste of his wonderful character and voice...

Why do I think about this? Isn't him, not being able to imagine a family without kids, more important...? Obviously, but for this day I decided to stop caring about it. I often decided this the last days, but in the end I started thinking about it again and again and I cared so much...

The ringing of the doorbell made me startle and I looked completely confused at my friends. Who the hell could this be? I slowly stood up and opened the door.

What, or better said, who I saw in front of my eyes made me get even more irritated. "You're Mafu-kun, right?" the person in front of me said and now I realized who stood there in front of me. "How's this even possible?", I heard noises of footsteps behind me, till everyone who was in the living room stood behind me and said at the same time, "Happy birthday Mafumafu."

"You're all such idiots! Letting me think that you wouldn't have any presents for me! And now... How did you even arrange it? Oh, I'm sorry... Let's go in before continuing talking." The guest came in and sat down on the couch. I sat next to him, a bit nervously, and then looked at my friends, waiting for an explanation.

"You talk all the time about Glutamine, so I thought this would be the best present.", Amatsuki said. "Don't talk like it was your idea! It was mine!", Sakata exclaimed. "Thank you guys.", I smiled and looked at Glutamine. "I'm sorry if I'm wasting your time, but I'm really thankful, that you're here.", "Your friends really were a bit annoying, but it only shows how much they actually like you.", He said smiling. "You should be glad that your friends care this much about you, that they even tried for weeks, to get me to agree to this.", he then continued. "Thanks again, guys." I smiled and had the feeling I really could forget my problems and everything else, that made me get sad, for this one day.

"Let's take some selfies as the end!", Amatsuki suggested. "Let's do it.", I said while moving a bit closer to Soraru, so that everyone would get in the picture. I felt my heart race as I realized how close we actually were, but fortunately... Or unfortunately? Either way, we were in this position only for a really short time. Then, after everyone, except for Soraru, said goodbye and left I looked at the only person still there.

"Why are you not going with everyone else?" I asked. "I wanted to know if you felt better today... I think this day was really nice." He said. "I think the same. It was amazing. I never thought I could have this much fun again in my life." I answered. "Good, then I will get going too." I nodded and opened the door for him. "Be careful on your way home.", I said before seeing him going down the street.