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Reki could deny it no longer: he’s utterly head-over-heels for one Langa Hasegawa.
The problem? Reki had no idea how to proceed. He never had a crush on anyone before, let alone a significant other or even a date. So knowing the best way to admit his feelings, ask Langa out, it was all completely new to him.
Thankfully, what Reki did have were adult friends who were all in relationships, some of them also with prior dating experience. Which is why he had called a meeting at Dope Sketch, so they could help him figure out his love problems. Surely, they would give the best, most insightful advice. Right?
“What you gotta do is blow him away with your amazing bod!” Joe exclaimed, puffing out his exposed chest from his unbuttoned shirt. “Never button the top five buttons at least.”
Reki recoiled from the onslaught of chesticles. “I don’t… have an amazing bod.”
“Come on, have some confidence! I’m sure Langa will lo-OW!”
Joe cradled his newly-reddened cheek, courtesy of Cherry’s fan. Cherry narrowed his eyes. “Stop promoting your indecency, Gorilla! It’s disgraceful!”
Joe sideyed Cherry. “It worked on you, didn’t it?” That earned Joe a stomp on the foot. “OW! Jerk face!”
Cherry paid no mind, bringing his full attention to Reki. “Now, what you should actually do in order to charm Langa is to be classy. Dress up in your finest suit and take him to the fanciest of restaurants.”
“Uh…” Reki scratched the side of his head. “I don’t have that much money… And suit? Like a skating suit?”
Cherry facepalmed, groaning out, "You're as bad as Kojiro…"
Before Reki could even think to react, a rose was immediately shoved into his face.
"If you wish to capture your beloved's heart you simply must shower him with roses!" Adam sang out, waving the rose in Reki's eyes. (Reki blinked rapidly as the petals danced along his lashes.) "The most romantic of all blossoms! The sweetest of all scents! Guaranteed to woo the man of your wildest dreams!" Adam brought the rose to his nose and inhaled deeply.
From beside Adam, Snake nodded. "Drop a truckload of roses on him. That will get the message clear," he said, straightfaced.
A sweat drop ran down Reki's forehead. "I don't have a truck…"
"Don't limit yourself to roses, kid!" Shadow thrust an arm around Reki, eyes lighting up. "There are plenty of flowers that convey love! Tulips, carnations, orchids-"
Shadow continued to ramble off his list, and Reki glanced nervously around the surrounding adults. Why did this have to be so much?
“Here’s an idea!” Joe snapped his fingers. “Serenade Langa! Sing him a love song while playing guitar!”
“Yes, yes, most excellent!” Adam raised his arms, stars appearing in his eyes. “Even better, write the love song yourself! Search within your deepest feelings and sing out your heart! Just like I do for my precious puppy every morning!”
“I love my kitty’s singing.”
Cherry furrowed his eyebrows. “Hold on…” He glared at Kojiro. “You never sing to me in the morning.”
“And most important of all, red chrysanthemums!” Shadow exclaimed, grinning like mad.
Reki rubbed his temple. “Guys…”
“Okay, let’s bring it back.” Oka’s voice called out like the cavalry. He walked next to Reki, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I know you all want to help Reki, but I think you might be overdoing it.”
Shadow’s face immediately dropped; tears filled his eyes. “Oh no! Did I upset you, darling!? No, no, no, what have I done!? I messed up! Our relationship is destroyed! NO!” Shadow fled to a corner of the shop, sobbing hysterically.
“No, Hiromi! Don’t cry, I’m not mad at you!” Oka chased after Shadow, much to the display of Reki.
Now, he was left alone with the remaining ‘adults.’ He looked to see Cherry and Joe now locked in heated glares, forehead-to-forehead.
“-but if you really cared, you’d also sing me awake!”
“And risk getting sucker punched because I woke you too early!? Fat chance, Princess!”
Adam tsked and wrapped an arm around Snake. “Again with the bickering. ‘Tis a shame our dear friends can’t have as loving and amazing a relationship as we do.”
The heated glares immediately turned to Adam. “WHAT!?”
Tadashi nodded impassively. “Kitty speaks the truth. Our love is like no other, definitely stronger than yours.”
Joe growled. “Oh you did NOT-”
“No, stand down, love!” Cherry grasped Joe’s arm. “I got this!”
“Guys, please, stay on topic,” Reki pleaded, pulling at his har.
“Here comes the horns!”
“Get ‘em, babe!”
“Don’t worry, Kitty. I’ll protect you.”
“Careful, Puppy!”
Reki could only watch incredulously as Cherry and Snake wrestled, Joe and Adam respectively cheering them on.
(Meanwhile, as they sat atop the counter:
“Slimes,” Miya said, not even bothering to look up from his game.
“Yup,” Koyomi agreed, stroking Sketchy who was sleeping in her lap.)
At that moment, Langa walked into Dope Sketch. He glanced from the brawling adults to the rallying adults to the wailing adults. He blinked a few times and asked, “Are you all filming for a reality TV show?”
Langa’s question snapped Reki out of his dumbfoundedness. “LANGA!” He rushed to the front and pushed him and Langa outside, slamming shut the door. Reki sagged forward, letting out heavy breaths.
A gentle hand touched his shoulder.
“Reki? What is it?”
Reki looked up slowly, meeting Langa’s crystal eyes. The way his hair shined in the sun, his look of concern, caring…
And it all came to him.
Seize the moment.
Reki straightened. He took Langa’s hand off his shoulder and into both of his hands.
“Langa, there’s something I need to confess.”
Reki squeezed their hands and took a deep breath.
“Langa… I…”
Two palm trees burst up upon a pink background.
“Woah, woah, let’s keep the feelings~”
Noctis gave a low whistle, staring as the credits continued on the TV screen. “Gonna end on that note? That’s crueler than Specs on a vegetable agenda. Wouldn’t you say, Prompto?”
Silence.
“Prompto?”
Noctis paused the credits and glanced to his side. Prompto was next to him on the couch, but completely motionless and wide-eyed, mouth slightly agape. Cautiously, Noctis raised a hand to Prompto’s arm. “Uh… You all right there, Prom Prom?”
Prompto still made no movements. Noctis grew more alarmed, wondering if he should call Specs, but then, just under his breath, Prompto spoke:
“What. The.”
Noctis raised his eyebrows.
“HELL!”
Prompto shot up from the couch, hands clenched into tight fists. He glared angrily at the TV. “What was that!? Ending there!? No, no, no, no, NO!” He stomped his feet.
“Woah, Prompto! Chill! It’s just an anime!”
“It is not just an anime, and I will most certainly not chill!” Prompto screamed. “I’ve been wanting for ages for Renga to become canon! I’ve been suffering through multiple teases! And when we finally get confirmation of Reki’s feelings? Right before he confesses to Langa!? WE GET FRICKIN’ PALMS TREES!?” Prompto waved his hands and sang in a mocking manner, “Woah, woah, let’s keep the feelings~” He dropped his hands, seized a pillow from the couch and hurled it on the ground. “SCREW YOU, PALM TREES!”
“Hey!” Noctis frowned. “Be nice to my pillow! It didn’t hurt your Renga heart!”
Prompto paid no attention, instead dropping to his knees and throwing punch after punch into the poor, innocent pillow. “Can’t believe this!”
“Okay, but Prompto-”
“Stupid palm trees, ruining my life!”
“Prompto, don’t be-”
“How could they do this to me!?”
“Prompto! I have the next episode!”
Prompto froze mid-punch. He whipped to Noctis. “What?”
“Yeah, don’t you remember? It was a double-feature that aired yesterday, and I recorded both. We can watch the continuation now.”
“Oh, right…” Prompto glanced between the beaten pillow and Noctis, before scrambling to the couch. “Then what are we waiting for!? Play it! Now!”
“On it!”
With a few clicks of the remote, the familiar opening began once more. Noctis started humming the tune as the opening continued, and Prompto’s face fell.
“...Noct, why aren’t you skipping the opening?”
“What? It’s catchy.”
“...Noct.”
“Don’t try to deny it, I know you have it as your ringtone.”
“NOCTIS LUCIS CAELUM, I WILL THROW YOU INTO A CRYSTAL!”
“OKAY, FINE! Geez, with all this drama, you should be king…”
Noctis skipped through the opening credits, and Langa and Reki reappeared on screen.
Reki straightened. He took Langa’s hand off his shoulder and into both of his hands.
“Langa, there’s something I need to confess.”
Reki squeezed their hands and took a deep breath.
“Langa… I…”
Langa leaned in closer. “You?”
“I love you!”
The world seemed to stop around them. Reki stared in captivation as Langa’s eyes dilated and just a sprinkling of blush dusted his cheeks. He could feel his own cheeks heat in sync.
Then, Langa’s eyes sparkled and a beautiful smile graced his lips. He pressed his forehead against Reki’s. “Oh, Reki, my love…”
Heart racing and thoughts scrambled, Reki squeaked, “Of skateboarding?”
“No, you. I love you, too.”
“Langa!”
Reki embraced Langa tightly and caught his lips in a kiss. The two kissed passionately, happiness soaring past infinity.
(Meanwhile, Prompto squealed. Take that, Palm Trees.)