From A-Z, and Everything in Between

The Pocky Game

The plan was simple. MafuMafu would casually bring up the fact that today just so happened to be pocky day, then he'd suggest they play the game in "celebration" of this. Soraru would probably refuse at first, but MafuMafu would use his famous puppy dog eyes to convince him, and he'd finally get what he'd been wanting for a long time: a kiss from the dark-haired male. Sure, it was kind of a tricky and roundabout way to go about it, but MafuMafu really didn't know what else to do at this point. They weren't a couple, and there was no way he could actually get himself to just tell Soraru how he felt. That would be way too embarrassing. So, all he could do was fiddle with the thin box of sweets in his hands and hope that his nervousness didn't show when he spoke.

      "Hey, Soraru-san~" MafuMafu started in a singsong voice, leaning over the back of Soraru's chair and hiding the pocky box behind him.

      "What is it?" Soraru asked without removing his gaze from the computer screen.

  As usual, his voice was flat and monotone. Why in the world did such an emotionless voice make MafuMafu's heart race with a single word? He didn't get it at all.

      "Um, do you know what today is?" MafuMafu questioned a bit nervously.

  Soraru glanced down at the date that was displayed in the corner of the screen. "November eleventh, why?"

      "No reason. I just thought I'd let you know that it's pocky day today," MafuMafu continued. Okay, so far so good. That wasn't too suspicious, right?

  Soraru raised a questioning eyebrow at this. "And why exactly would I need to know this?"

      "B-Because I think it'd be fun if we played the game together," MafuMafu stammered out.

  At this, Soraru turned around in his chair to face him, fixing MafuMafu with a confused gaze. MafuMafu tensed up a bit and stared back at him. Would it be too late to abandon the plan now?

      "You want to play the pocky game with me?" Soraru said it more as a statement than a question.

  MafuMafu nodded slightly, wondering if he'd even have the confidence to beg at this point. Honestly, he was almost hoping Soraru would turn him down now. It'd give MafuMafu an excuse to run off and hide away in a corner somewhere in shame at how pathetic he was. Though, to his surprise, Soraru just sighed and stood up from his seat.

      "If that's what you want, then fine. But I have work to do, so let's make it quick, okay?" Soraru responded plainly.

      "O-Okay..." MafuMafu stuttered, unable to help being surprised.

      "I don't really have any pocky here, though... I guess I could run to the convenience store real quick..." Soraru muttered mostly to himself.

      "Oh, there's no need to do that. I actually brought some with me," MafuMafu smiled sheepishly.

  Soraru let out a slight laugh. "You really do want to do this, huh?"

  MafuMafu nodded again, blushing a bit as he did so. He hoped Soraru didn't notice.

      "That's just like you to celebrate weird holidays," Soraru shook his head with a faint smile of amusement. "Whatever. Let's just go over to the couch."

  MafuMafu complied and followed his companion over to the couch in the living room, which they both sat down on. Now that the realization of what was about to happen had finally sunk in, MafuMafu felt beyond nervous. He couldn't even manage to open the box of pocky because his hands were shaking so much. Soraru noticed this and laughed.