Work Text:
“Ne, ne, Sakura-kun~.” Suo brightly called.
Sakura was in the backroom working on a bouquet. He had his work apron over his outfit, and was sitting on a stool while cutting different ribbons to wrap around the flowers. “Hmm?” He humed. Hopefully loud enough for Suo to hear him.
“Your lover boy is standing outside his shop.” Suo responds from his place at the front entrance at the cash register. The flower shop had glass windows all along the front with different types of bouquets that each worker had created, displayed behind them.
Along with having a clear view of their neighbors.
Sakura stood up slowly, and walked to the doorway to the backroom, and slammed the door shut. Loud enough for Suo to know his answer.
His face was flamed. He knew it was.
He grabbed his cheeks, and shook his head.
“Wow. You’re still letting what Suo said to you, get to you?” Nirei said from his desk in the corner of the backroom. He was their accountant, and marketing expert.
A month ago, Nirei made Sakura be in their commercial. He fumbled his way through it, trying his best to talk about the different types of flowers they have. Blushing the whole time during an outside segment, when he was supposed to go to their neighbors, and give them a flower to show that they are a part of the community.
The last stop was the Tattoo shop across the street, called Shishitoren Skin Art, run by Togame, and Choji. Usually Choji is at the front desk greeting everyone, but that day had to be Togame, and
“AHHH!” Sakura grabbed his hair in frustration. Remembering what Togame did when he got his flower.
Sakura refuses to watch the video.
Nirei said it went viral on TikTok, and Youtube.
Their neighbors have been coming by sharing their foods, and gifts from their business for thanks since they’ve been getting more business as well thanks to being featured.
The shop run by Tachibana gave them each a coupon book, and it’s been the best gift of all.
Nirei leans back in his chair. “You don’t know if Togame really has a crush on you. Suo is probably messing with you. It’s what he lives for.”
“But he kissed me!”
“On the forehead. LIke a big brother to a little brother as a show of thanks.” He sighed. “You guys have a good relationship.” He looks at Sakura, still a blushing mess, holding his face in his palms. “Don’t you miss fighting with him?”
Sakura shook his head. “I don’t need him! Tsugeura, and Sugishita still fight me.”
“This is sad.” Nirei mumbles.
He drops his hands from his face and glares at Nirei. “Oi, shut up! How about you go out there and talk to the customers, you freaking neet! All you do is sit back here and talk shit.”
“Oi, I’m not as pretty as the both of you. I won’t make sales. I have the stats to prove it for the times I’ve been out there.”
Sakura’s face is less red now. He walks back over to his work bench. His back to Nirei. “You are cute. You dumbass.” He hastily compliments, though it sounds like a threat.
Nirei sighs softly, and touches his heart. “Awww, Sakura-san.” He smiles.
____________
“So this is where you've been?”
Sakura jumps in his skin. He’s in the banquet hall next door run by an annoying old lady, who constantly loves to pretend her legs are shit, but Sakura had video proof of her teaching a pilates class.
She says it’s her twin, and Sakura doesn’t have enough evidence to disprove it, so he ends up driving her the short distance to Tachibana’s shop.
The mother of the husband hired them, and he’s setting everything up in the wedding part, and Suo is working in the dining area with Kiryu.
The dining area is closer to the entrance.
He picks up his phone, and the group chat has a picture from Suo of a Cat gif saying ‘Good luck!’
He’s working on the altar, or he was before he was interrupted. His hands have frozen above the Dahlias.
He makes eye contact with Togame, as he walks to the altar. Thankfully the runner isn’t down yet, so Togame’s sandals won’t dirty it.
He would have yelled at him, and fought him if so.
“Haven’t seen you in a while, little monkey.” Togame says. He has his shades on today. His mullet has gotten longer, or maybe Sakura hadn’t noticed since it’s usually in a ponytail. The dragon tattoo of Shenron from Dragonball Z is wrapped around his neck, and the flower tattoos he has on each hand. One hand has blue bells, and the other has orchids.
It was how they started talking.
He told him those were ugly flower tattoos.
And they started brawling in the streets, but neither of them could beat the other.
Eventually Choji called for Togame, but he walked Sakura back to his shop first, and patted his head,
“I had fun, little monkey.” He gave him a toothy smile before walking back to his shop.
Also he always had a monk type of outfit on.
Fucking weirdo.
“I’ve been busy.” He quickly says. His face is heating up.
Togame tilts his head at him. “Why is your face red?”
Sakura hastily smacks his cheeks. “No reason. It’s probably because I’m doing a wedding. You know romance stuff—wait not like you know romance, like you're a single loser like me. Well it’s not like I enjoy being single, but wait don’t—.” His cheeks are burning, and he puts a hand out in front of him to prevent Togame from getting any closer.
Togame walks closer and closer throughout his ramblings, and pats his shoulder, bypassing Sakura’s weak attempt at stopping him. “Dude, calm down.” He crouches down to Sakura level. Sakura was working on the bottom to middle half of the altar.
Sakura is sitting on his bottom.
Togame is crouched slightly above him, smiling down at him.
“Ne, ne, Sakura-kun. I think Togame has a crush on you.”
He hears Suo's voice in his mind.
He gulps.
“Are you calm now?” Togame asks after enough silence follows.
Sakura stiffly nods. He feels like there's no other options for what’s going on. He’s never had someone have a crush on him before.
At the age of 27, he thinks Togame is 29. Togame probably has had a lot of experience with dating, but to Sakura it’s just so scary, but…. he also wants it.
“Can I–.” He stops, clearing his throat. “Have you ever had a crush on someone?” Sakura meekly asks. He shifts his eyes off to the side.
“You’re avoiding me because you have a crush?” He laughs. “What, you don’t want them to see how much of a little monkey you are? Always ready to fight at a moment's notice?” He shakes Sakura with the hold of his shoulder.
Sakura slips out of his grip. “No! You fuck-ass. I’m asking if you like someone?”
Togame tsk. “Fuck no. I don’t have time for that shit.” He grabs his shades, moving them to the top of his head. Then let his elbows rest on his bent knees. “Choji takes up too much of my attention, and I’m taking on an apprentice. I don’t have time for a relationship.” Then he looks pensive for a moment. “Well, I don’t think anyone wants to date me. I used to be a real asshole in my past relationships. So I’d rather not try again.” He shrugs.
Sakura listens to him.
So he has his answer.
Suo was wrong.
He feels—
Hmm, he doesn’t know how to feel.
“Oh.”
“If you were looking for relationship advice, shouldn’t you have asked Umemiya? Hasn’t he been with his husband for like six years.”
Four years ago his old Senpai called him up and asked if he wanted to buy his flower shop. He was looking to sell, so he could invest the money. He wanted to buy a house, and built a closet for his husband, Tsubakino.
He didn’t understand because as far as he knew Tsubakino was pretty wealthy.
Umemiya just laughed at him, and told him, “You’ll understand one day.”
Suo, and Nirei helped pitch in buying it, and they’ve been successful ever since.
Though his senpai will bring them a basket of fruit and vegetables every week in exchange for a bouquet to give to Tsubakino.
“He speaks in riddles. He’d say something like.” He imitates Umemiya’s voice. “Ahh, the leaves will tell you how to speak one day, and you’ll know how to show your true colors of love!”
Togame laughs at him. “He would say something like that.” He smacked his knee to emphasize his amusement. “And Choji would eat it up.”
Sakura laughs too.
He missed this.
They’d usually get something to eat after fighting, or sometimes he called Togame over to the flower shop to sit with him, while he sketches next to Sakura as his work table. He’s seen a few of Togame’s artwork, though he won’t show Sakura every sketch he does when he’s invited over.
His heart is feeling lighter, so he feels he can be honest. “You want to know why I was avoiding you?”
Togame flicks Sakura’s nose. “At least you admit it, you little monkey.”
Sakura tries to kick him, but Togame jumps in time.
Sakura pouts.
Togame reaches out, and rubs his thumb over Sakura’s bottom lip, “Come on, tell me why.” He’s still smiling at him.
Sakura licks his thumb, and Togame leans a bit closer. “Ahh don’t start something, I know you won’t finish.” Togame sultry glares at him, before slowly taking his thumb away. “But I shouldn’t mess with you when you are trying to speak.” He puts the thumb in his own mouth, making eye contact with Sakura.
Sakura instantly combust.
He thinks Togame can see the imaginary fumes coming out of his ears.
“I have work to do!” He loudly reminds, pointing a finger at him. “GO!”
Togame chuckles, “Not until you tell me why you were avoiding me?”
Sakura quickly shakes his head. “NO! You made it weird!”
Togame groans, throwing his head back. “Come on. I’ve missed you. I was going to invite you over to my place. I got a free couples coupon from Tachibana’s place. I was going to use it with Choji, but he’s beefing with her for some reason.” He puts his head back up again. “Then I remembered I know a lost primate that probably hasn’t eaten since he’s a little workaholic.” He teases.
He wants to feel offended, well he is offended, but that’s not the point.
Free food from his favorite place!
“Suo said you have a crush on me, but I know it was a lie to mess with me.” He quickly spits out.
Togame pauses.
Sakura pauses.
Then a snort comes from deep in Togame’s chest. Togame covers his mouth to keep the giggles in.
“Stop laughing at me. I know I’m dumb sometimes. Nirei was right. He said I’m like a little brother to you.”
Togame snorts again. He closes his eyes and looks away from Sakura.
“STOP IT!” He grabs a few flowers next to him on the floor and throws it at him. The altar is mostly done. This extra batch wasn’t going to be used.
Togame lets the flowers land on him.
He turns back to Sakura.
Sakura jolts from the blank stare. “What?”
“For being a dumbass, you’re staying the night at my place.”
Sakura’s eyes widened. “What? Why?”
He dusted a few flowers off his chest. “To make up for lost time.” He decides.
Sakura wants to dispute it but it does make sense.
So he nods.
Togame grins wide at him. “Call me when you’re done here. I’ll bring my motorcycle, and we can drive then since you don’t know where I live. I’ll bring you back in the morning.” Togame stands up.
“Oi, I’ll need clothes. We have to stop at my place first.” He asserts.
Togame waves him off. “Drivers rules. You can wear my clothes, little monkey.”
“To work?!” He screeches, face flamed again. “Suo will be so mean to me.” He whines.
Togame walks back down the aisle. “Not my problem. Text me your order beforehand, and I’ll have our meals waiting for us.”
Sakura watches him walk away, and out the door.
He smirks.
He can’t wait to tell Suo he was wrong!