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August 11th, Ichika’s “I’m taking you out and buying you everything you lay your eyes upon” day.
Or, their birthday. But that’s what the day was to Shiho, basically. Pretty much immediately after the small party Ichika had, the two went to the mall, always leaving whatever store they entered a few items heavier.
”Darling, this is too much.” Ichika told them. “You can’t spend this much money on me.”
”But it’s your birthday.” Shiho responded, looking almost confused.
”Well yeah, but—“
“Hush.” Shiho said. “Let me spoil you for a day.”
”’For a day?’”
”…Alright, I spoil you a lot. But you get the point, Mi Vida.”
”You still won’t tell me what that means.”
”And I never will.”
Ichika huffed, before smirking. “Fine then, mon cœur.”
Shiho blinked in confusion. “…What?”
”I’m not telling~! I promise it’s good, though!”
Shiho rolled their eyes. “Rude.”
”Stop bullying me on my special day.”
”I wasn’t even—whatever…Saki’s a bad influence on you.”
”So are you.”
”Fair.”
The two continued to shop for a while, and then, proceeded to get lunch.
”No, seriously.” Ichika mumbled. “Stop spending so much money on me, you’ll go bankrupt.”
”I will not.” Shiho retorted. “And besides, I’m doing it for you, so it doesn’t really matter.”
“But babe—“
“No ‘buts’, I’m going to makeup for the birthdays I missed and that’s final. Let me spoil you, alright Love? You just sit there and look pretty.”
Ichika giggled. “You’re making me feel like such a princess. Prince? What’s a gender neutral term for that?”
”Princette, perhaps?”
”Yeah, that. That’s what you’re making me feel like right now.”
Shiho hummed. “Anything for you.”
Ichika rolled their eyes, smiling. “You’re such a charmer, you know.”
”Am I really?”
”Without knowing it, yeah. You’re so romantic sometimes.”
Shiho shrugged. “I guess you just make me feel that way.”
”See? You’re doing it again!”
”Oh c’mon, you could hardly call that romantic.”
“Whatever you say, Shiho.”
If Ichika thought Shiho was being sweet before, then boy, were they not prepared for the surprise that happened when they went over to Shiho’s house. They were anxiously waiting for it all day, wondering what I’m earth it could be.
“C’mon, Shiho, I’m getting a little impatient.” Ichika smiled teasingly. “I’ve been waiting all day.”
”You’ll have to wait another thirty seconds.” Shiho hummed, Ichika dramatically gasping.
”You’re subjecting me to such torture?!”
”Oh, hush. Close your eyes.”
Ichika stuck their tongue out, but closed their eyes anyway. “Fineee.”
…
”Okay, now open.” Shiho’s voice sounded slightly more nervous compared to before.
Ichika happily shot their eyes open, looking at the small item pressed into their hand.
”Huh…?”
”Promise ring.” Shiho mumbled. “For you.”
”Wha—you—for me?” Ichika stuttered in disbelief.
”Mhm.” Shiho hummed. “Because I love you and I wanna be with you forever. If you’ll let me, that is.”
”Shiho…!”
”Im not finished, bunny.” Shiho teased before continuing. “I know I wasn’t there in the past…and I know your birthdays during that time weren’t the happiest, because you weren’t with us and everything. So I—“
Shiho didn’t get to finish before Ichika jumped on them, in tears. “Shiho!”
Shiho let out a surprised squeal. “I-Ichika—?!”
”You—“ Ichika sniffed. “I—this is—“ Ichika squeaked. “I love it!”
Shiho sighed with relief. “You scared me for a second there.”
Ichika quickly handed Shiho the ring. “Here! Do the thing! Put it on for me!”
Shiho rolled their eyes, beaming. “If I must…”
Ichika stared in awe at the ring on their finger. “It’s perfect…”
”Only the best for you.” Shiho replied.
”I love you.” Ichika said. “So so much. I don’t know how to—to—“
Ichika paused, before pulling Shiho in for a kiss by their collar.
Shiho let out a second surprise squeal, Ichika feverishly planting kisses all over his face and neck. “I gotta thank you somehow.” The mumbled in between.
Shiho blinked in surprise (and probably gay panic) before replying. “If you wanna thank me—“ they held Ichika’s face in their hands. “Keep going up here, idiot.”
”Okay.” Ichika said, pressing their lips to Shiho’s again.
“I love you.” They hummed, in between the flurry of kisses. “So much.”
”I love you more.” Shiho hummed back. “That’s why I brought you the ring. The things I do for you, you know.”
”I love it. I love you. Don’t ever leave me.” Ichika stopped kissing them to say it.
”I won’t, bunny. I promise. I love you, too. My perfect star.” Shiho responded, already pulling them in again.
“Shiho…”
”You’re my everything, I’ll never leave you again. I mean it, Ichika. Never again. I’ll always be here. I promise.”
”Sh-Shiho…you’re my everything, too.”
The soft smile on Ichika’s face melted Shiho’s heart in a split second. If you told any of the girls at school that, they wouldn’t believe you.
Ichika connected their lips again, letting Shiho hold them and run a hand through their hair until he tumbled on top of them, keeping them pressed together.
Ichika let their arms fall limp, feeling Shiho grin against their lips and let out a happy hum. He intertwined their fingers, and they stayed like that until it was time to go to SEKAI for Ichika’s (second) birthday party.
Ichika felt happier than ever.