Yokozawa Takafumi's Mistakes (Sekai ichi Hatsukoi fanfic)

Kirishima's Birthday Special #2

                Work had been suspiciously smooth and efficient today. The five planning meetings had ended in Yokozawa's favor, the three book stores he visited had increased the shelf space provided for Marukawa's books, and the multiple sales proposals he scanned over were feasible and given permission to proceed. So why was the salesman feeling so annoyed? All day, Yokozawa had a nagging voice in his head saying that he had forgotten something.
                Staring at the calendar the salesman was puzzled. It showed today to be the sixteenth of June. A circle had need drawn around the sixteen by the salesman. Nothing stood out to him about the day though. 'June 16th...June 16th...I wouldn't have circled it for no reason...' Annoyed, Yokozawa looked through his emails and paper work to see if he forgot a work related thing. His search brought up nothing that would be worth circling the day. 'A smart person would have left themselves a little note. Unless I was confident about being able to recall what I had to do today.'
              Giving up, Yokozawa knew he had better things to do than stare at an inanimate object that was to going to answer him. 'It can't be anything important.' Busying himself with work, Yokozawa found himself yawning. Satisfied with the amount of work done, Yokozawa was ready to head home. The clock displayed the time as 10:30 pm. 'Should I contact Kirishima?' Yokozawa held his phone in his hand indecisive. 'No, the cycle ends today. I'm sure he is has a lot of last minute things to do.'
               Brrrr ring. Brrrr ring. The salesman nearly dropped his phone as it started ringing. Eagerly, the dark haired man answered his phone without checking who it was. Yokozawa was sure that his lover had called to tell him he had finished early. Also, to order Yokozawa to come home with him as he has done so many times now. It would be just like him to do the sort of thing. It was part of what he hated and loved about the chief editor.
               A grin rose to Yokozawa's lips.
Yokozawa found it pleasing that Kirishima rushes through his work to be able to make time for them. It showed how much Kirishima cared for the salesman and the effort he put into making him feel valued. Although that was another thing that Yokozawa added to the list of things he would never actually say out loud to Kirishima.
            "Hey. I thought about calling you," Yokozawa said, a faint blush on his cheeks at how excited he was at the prospect of spending the night with his partner.
           Lately, their chats and breaks during the week at the office wasn't enough time together for Yokozawa anymore. Seeing each other at work wasn't the same as sharing private moments at home with no else around. Recently, Yokozawa had been subtly leaving his guard down allowing Kirishima plenty of opportunities to have his way with him. Of course, Kirishima had jumped Yokozawa every time he could.
             Grimacing, Yokozawa could feel the shame that he had being ignoring for a while. 'I can't even tell Kirishima when I want have sex. I use around about ways to entice him. I call Kirishima childish. And yet I have to wonder if I am not actually more childish than him. I can't expect him to always be able to guess what I want or to be on the same page as me. '
             Nodding his head, Yokozawa makes a silent vow. 'Eventually, I have to use my words. Most importantly I need to make sure I say the words in a situation where it doesn't seem like I am agreeing to have sex because he wants it.'
               A concerned female voice registers in Yokozawa's mind and the sound cuts through his onslaught of thoughts. Returning to reality, the salesman is reminded of the phone pressed against his ear. Shifting his eyes down to his watch, Yokozawa notices three minutes have passed in his distracted state. Blushing from his mistake, Yokozawa gives his full attention to the phone call. 'Well that was unbelievable. To make him wait for three minutes like that...eh? For a second that sounded like...'
              "Sorry for not listening or answering you," Yokozawa apologized sincerely while waiting to confirm something and hoping he was wrong.
           "Don't worry Yokozawa Oniichan. It happens to everyone," a familiar girl's voice answers not at all sounding bothered about having to repeat anything she had said before.
            A sigh is halted from leaving Yokozawa's lips as he finds Hiyori and not Kirishima on the other end of the line. A disappointment swells in his chest. The previous joy from his assumption at hearing from his brown haired partner vanished. The salesman loves Hiyori and by all means finds her conversations to be wonderful. He will always have a special place in his heart for the girl that has basically became his daughter as well.
           Right now, Yokozawa would prefer to be in touch with her father instead. Mentally, scolding himself at how immature he was being Yokozawa forced himself to regain his natural attitude. Breathing in and out real quick, Yokozawa prepares to have his ear talked off. Contrary to what he expects, only the sound of silence is heard.
              "Hiyo? Is something wrong?" Yokozawa asks as panic builds inside him. It had occurred to him that was late for Hiyori to be calling. On any other night she would be asleep by now.
             "Everything is fine," Hiyori answers with a hint of sadness.
               "Please tell me what is upsetting you. I don't like when you are unhappy. If I can do anything to help, I will," Yokozawa softly encourages Hiyori.
                "Well..."Hiyori begins hesitantly going back and forth in her head between wanting to tell Yokozawa and not wanting to bother him.
            "Go on. I'm listening. I am always willing to hear what you say. You don't need to hold back," Yokozawa says coaxing the little girl to spill whatever was bothering her.
             "Yeah," Hiyori said with a grateful tone. "My father's birthday is today. I was warned in advanced that he had work and wouldn't be able to celebrate. I thought I would be fine with that, but it seems lonely and sad to spend your birthday alone at work. I am at my grandparent's house tonight. I haven't been able to see him. He was too busy to talk for long when I called."
              Mind slowing to a halt, Yokozawa found himself zoning out after the first sentence. His earlier stare down of the calendar hit him full force. 'Kirishima's birthday...is June 16th.....today is June 16th....shit I forgot his birthday.' A sense of being a horrible person/lover crept up on Yokozawa.
               "....if you were done with work...I was thinking that you could go and visit him. I'm sure he would be happy to see you," Hiyori continued on unaware of Yokozawa's depressed mood.
               "I will visit him. Don't worry, have fun with your grandparents. Tomorrow we can celebrate together," Yokozawa forced himself to sound calm despite his inward panic.
             "Yay! I knew I could count on you! See ya tomorrow, Yokozawa Oniichan!" Hiyori gleefully shouted in his ear.
              "See you tomorrow. Good night Hiyo," the salesman said a smile on his lips as usual when he talked to the little girl.
            Hanging up the phone, Yokozawa glanced around the office completely unsettled. Standing up, Yokozawa started pacing in front of his desk. 'What do I do? I don't have a card, cake or present. Most of the stores closed early due to the festival today.' Running a hand through his hair, Yokozawa flopped dejectedly into his chair. 'Even if the stores were open, I don't know what to get him. Ah, I could have asked Hiyori....that's kind of pathetic though.'
            Thoughts whirled through his mind and then an idea hit him. 'There is one thing I that he always asks for and I always deny....but I don't know if I can...' Wincing, Yokozawa remembers all the crap that he put Kirishima through and how Kirishima has always supported him. 'For tonight, I'm going to have to discard all my pride and embarrassment.' Hands balling into a fist, Yokozawa steels himself for the plan he has mind. 'He deserves a special reward once in a while.'
          Picking up his phone, Yokozawa sends Kirishima a text. Gathering his items Yokozawa leaves the building to prepare for Kirishima's arrival.