A Very Simple Story (A VOCALOID Fanfic)

What about the present?

"How about..." Oliver's fingers tightened around Fukase's wrist. His hand hovered inches from the doorknob. "We don't go?"

It was 6:20 pm, and they were about to leave for the Kagamine twins' birthday party. Winter had arrived in full force, and the two of them wore coats and hats. However, Oliver had taken his hat off. He held it limply at his side.

Fukase had come to Oliver's house to pick him up, and had waited inside the front door as Oliver scrambled to find his right shoe. He was the only one home, as his older siblings were off taking full advantage of winter break to spend time with their own friends. He didn't mention where his parents had gone. When Oliver had finally found his shoe, he grumbled about how his older brother must've hidden it before he left earlier that evening.

But now, after all that rushing to be on time, Oliver didn't want to go? Fukase immediately agreed with Oliver in his head. Then the absurdity of the words clicked.

"But..." Fukase held up the little gift bag. "What about the present? I thought you were excited for this party."

Oliver shrugged, his expression dull with nerves.

"You know they've been planning this for literal months," said Fukase, trying to draw out Oliver's reasoning. "We told them we'd go. It's a little late to be backing out."

"Kase." Oliver let go of his wrist. He took a deep breath. "Lately we've both been really busy and when we go out, it's always with other people. It's been a really long time since we've been alone, just the two of us. I want to spend some time with you. Let's stay here.

"I'll think up an excuse that we can text Rin. If they get mad, I'll take the fall." Oliver dropped his gaze to the floor. "And if you really want to go then I'll forget it, but I guess what I'm trying to say is..." He fiddled with his coat sleeve. "Is it okay for me to be selfish? Just this once?"

"You really don't want to go?" Fukase asked.

Oliver didn't look up, but shook his head no.

Something was off. Oliver never asked for anything so seriously. He usually nagged and joked his way through Fukase's common sense, and Fukase, amused, let him. Something was very different tonight.

"Well, that's too bad," Fukase said.

"Kase..."

"For Rin and Len. They're not getting their presents today." I hope I don't regret this.

In the next moment, any worry about consequences vanished. Oliver threw his arms around Fukase and buried his face in the space between Fukase's shoulder and neck. Fukase was sure he had made some kind of embarrassing noise at the unexpected embrace but returned it anyway, tenderly holding Oliver like he was cradling something too delicate for words.

"Maybe we can buy them extra presents to make up for it," Oliver mumbled through the nylon fabric of Fukase's coat.

Fukase voiced a reply and the next thing he knew, their coats and hats had been tossed over the banister. The credits of some movie they had spent the last hour and a half gleefully criticizing from their place squished together on the couch scrolled to a comically dramatic pop song.

"That ending was so awful that 'It was all a dream' would've been ten times more satisfying."

Oliver chuckled at Fukase's final jibe and fiddled with the strings on his sweatshirt. "Have you had any strange dreams lately?"

"Now that you mention it, I think I did. I don't know what it was about though. You saying that made me remember I had it. Whatever it was."

"I haven't had any dreams at all the past month. Do you think maybe all this is a dream? We could be sleeping on opposite sides of the earth right now."