Chapter Text
A silver ring was held by thumb and index finger. It had four divots on it. This was purposely done.
“Sir? Would you like something on the divots?” The jeweler asked.
He searched in his pocket for a square shaped item. When it was found, it was in the jeweler’s hand.
“I’d like those four birthstones in the divots. No specific pattern, but at least one ring has different starting gems.” He explained carefully.
“Hm, how about I start with your beloved’s gemstone first? Or if you have three, just write the pattern by the closet birthday!” The jeweler told him.
That was Izumi himself. His birthday is November 2nd, it’s October 19th. He did meticulous research on this.
“Ok. It’s Topaz, Ruby, Peridot, and Sapphire.” Izumi answered.
Topaz, a stone that Izumi wouldn’t associate with himself. Instead, he’d associate it with Hajime. Healing, brought peace to everyone, dedicated (not that Izumi wasn’t dedicated himself), loves making others happy. That was Hajime to him. However, Hajime was a Ruby. Passionate, strong, filled with love, nobility (ironic considering Hajime’s family is poor), and independent. Hajime’s one of the strongest he’s known.
Peridot: peaceful, dignity, fame, prosperity, intelligent, calm, easy going, creative, loved, happiness, abundance, and self-esteem. It was ironic, Midori’s self-esteem is typically low. But Izumi’s been slowly raising it. The brunette was also creative. Izumi’s seen the mascots he’s made. They were absolutely adorable. Midori was also incredibly loved by fans and others. He thought Midori’s smile could heal millions. It somehow healed his. Midori also was very easy going, preferring to follow then be a leader. He didn’t mind that. Izumi was made for the spotlight, after all.
Sapphire: loyal, hopeful, haver of integrity, achiever, emotional, mentally strong, optimistic, with a magnetic personality. That was Mitsuru. Izumi had no clue when Mitsuru came into his life, but he has. His happiness was contagious. Sapphire was the perfect stone for him.
He loved them all. He didn’t mean to, he believed Makoto was just for him. But Izumi’s learned that he can still dote on Makoto like a sibling, which he still does. He’s unconsciously let himself cling to Mitsuru and Hajime. And they opened their arms widely for the older male. Their hearts were so soft that they melted his. And Midori. Don’t get him started with Midori. He had no clue when it began, but he began having similar feelings to how he felt with Makoto. He wanted to stay by his side. He wished he knew why. At first, it was just to fix his style. Making his brunette locks neater, giving him clothes that fit him, he even gave him jewelry that wouldn’t interfere with the uniform, or with daily life. It was a struggle at first, cause Midori didn’t like anything fancy, it didn’t feel like himself.
So why was it that Izumi thoroughly looked in his closet for inspiration? Or that Izumi personally went to Shinobu to ask for Midori’s interests? Hell, even asked Chiaki as well! Izumi also made sure Midori ate enough, reassuring that he’s liked for his personality, and not his looks. He didn’t understand it at all. Feelings confused him. Almost made him nauseous.
A ping on his phone snapped him back to reality. It was the group chat. Oh..
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The causes of my love life crisis
Cause 3: [Image has been sent]
Cause 2: We went out for lunch! We noticed you were busy so I plan to get some for you too! Want anything^^?
I’ll have whatever the healthiest thing you ordered is.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Or he could indulge.. just for today.
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Scratch that, I’d like something sweet today.
Cause 3:YAY! So I’ll get what Mido got!
Cause 1: It’s nothing much, just a strawberry parfait
Sounds good. I’ll meet you guys back! Stay safe, will you?
Cause 2: Can’t wait! I’ll replace the scent on the sachets as well!
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“Sir?”
Izumi looked at the jeweler. He only smiled at him.
“They must be special, if you’re asking for four of them.”
Ah, Izumi cleared his throat softly. He knew the jeweler was quite young himself.
“It’s nothing much, I’m just asking for rings for myself and three others.” Izumi told him.
“Where is your mom?”
The boy fell silent, ginger locks showing a bit of sadness in it.
“I promised to take care of the jewelry shop to an elderly woman.” The kid explained.
Without supervision?? Izumi was concerned for the kid. He looked too young to run a shop on his own. He held papers to the silver haired male. He looked at the paper. He thought more about the future. He then eyed around the shop. Envisioning Hajime setting up a tea corner, brewing his amazing teas. Mitsuru trying to take most of the food and him having to scold the brunette. And Midori making food for everyone with the produce his family provides. For some strange reason, he felt at peace. But he knew the kid promised to take care of the jewelry shop. His eyes lit up when he realized the best person to care for this shop.
“Kid, I have an idea!” Izumi exclaimed to him.
The ginger boy looked at him with soft Amber eyes.
“I’m gonna call a friend of mine. She loves things like jewelry, and her spouse likes to sew clothes. My friend’s spouse is a retired idol and was hoping to open a shop with a friend of theirs, want to meet them?”
He nodded almost immediately. Izumi contacted his friend and waited for them. He left after they came. He wasn’t letting a child wait alone. Especially not if he was almost 6. But for his age, he’s an amazing jeweler. Holding the rings in his hand, he smiled to himself. He held the one where the Topaz was. It was bigger than the others, which is how he designed it. It looked carefully glued with the machine. Kids were getting smarter these days. It started the 23 year old male. The colors went: yellow, green, blue, red. Oh, he did it in the rainbow order. Cute.
“Mr Izumi!” The young voice called out.
He turned around. The boy had a bag in his hands. Ah, he forgot the bag. How? The bag was open so he carefully placed the rings in there, his on top. After closing it, he pat the kid’s head.
“What’s your name?”
“Tamaki!” He exclaimed.
“Thank you, Tamaki.”
He ran off right after, leaving the boy with Izumi’s friend, who had her hand on his shoulder.
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“My apologies for being late!” Izumi exclaimed when he opened the door to their shared house.
Izumi offered the three a place to stay, since he had the money to afford it. He only saw Hajime peak his head out from the kitchen.
“Ah! Izumi! You’re just in time! Mitsuru almost ate your parfait.”
The pink parfait was in the silver haired male’s hands. He sat at the table, where Midori was scribbling something on his paper. The way Izumi stared at Midori’s ring finger, he couldn’t wrap around why it bothered him so badly. It was just bare, tanned, callous palms scribbling away. Then the silver haired male remembered the rings, and how long he’s worn his binder for.
“Midori?”
The brunette finally looked up at him, curious blue eyes staring into his. Nearly made him melt.
“Please switch to a sports bra, you’ve worn your binder for a while now.” Izumi slowly said.
Why did he hesitate? He watched as the 21 year old slowly got up.
“Where do you keep the hoodies?”
Midori recently moved in, so he was still confused and lost. Izumi got up, and slowly connected their hands. Midori was warm. Then it hit him. Midori had no ring. Something that shared a deep bond. After showing Midori the location of the hoodies, he walked back downstairs and finally got to eat the parfait. It really was sweet, but boy was it good! He notice Midori return. He was lucky he prepared in advance, the hoodies Midori’s size were mostly of mascots or cute things. And they fit him perfectly. They took their relationship slowly. Mitsuru was more progressed, not because they dated longer. He was a love bug. And Hajime was moderate. He’s kissed both of the younger ones before. Not Midori. Izumi is willing to go at Midori’s pace, if it meant staying with him forever.
While the other three were distracted with their own things. Izumi analyzed each ring. All the kid did was add the gems, the rest were done by a professional. He would’ve had it complete but that jeweler went on vacation right after. Izumi’s had a small diamond next to the Sapphire gem. He looked into the bag. It had a note. Seemingly written by hand.
”Mr. Izumi! I had Miss Ari help me write this! I noticed the names on the back, and recognized who they were! So I let the machine design a small doodle, to make it more special! I hope you and the others like it!”
This kid.. Izumi couldn’t help but give a small chuckle. Since it was the ring with his name and with the Topaz on it, he slipped it on his finger. It gave him warming butterflies. He took the other three out. Hajime’s ended up being the first he picked up. The Ruby was pretty, and bigger than most. His pattern was: Ruby, Topaz, Peridot, and Sapphire. His design also had a bunny on it, fitting. He envisioned Hajime wearing it. The blue haired male wearing it with pride.
“Hajime’s going to love this…” Izumi mumbled to himself, holding it in the air.
It had Hajime’s name on the inside of it. The names on the inside were so it was easier to find. The gentle pressure of lips were placed on his temple, startling the dazed male. The ring now between smaller fingers.
“You said this was mine?”
Oh. It was Hajime. He should’ve known. Hajime’s the only one to kiss anywhere on his forehead, when he could. Izumi could only nod. The softest smile appeared on his face, effecting everyone in the room. The blue haired male carefully slipped it on his finger. Perfect fit. Izumi let out a sigh he didn’t know he was holding.
“You thought of all of us… is the one with the bigger blue gem Mitsuru’s?”
Izumi nodded. Mitsuru popped up from behind Hajime. His ring also had a bunny on it. A bunny with a carrot. The detail of the technology the kid uses is insane. Hajime helped Mitsuru fit it on. Another perfect fit! The last one was Midori’s. Green, blue, red and yellow. And it had a design incomprehensible to Izumi. It looked to be a character of sorts. Izumi believed it was Tamaki’s own character.
“Midori, come here?” Izumi asked.
When the tall male came, Izumi stood up.
“I got the four of us matching rings. I know we’re taking things slow. I hope that I didn’t take this too fast.”
He presented the ring to Midori. Whose expression was unreadable. It made Izumi nervous. Then he noticed the smile that started shining. A tidal wave washed over Izumi.
“The character’s so cute…!”
He liked the design?!
“I love mascots that don’t have a confirmed species..” Midori told the void.
The taller brunette then gave Izumi his hand. Izumi stared confused. The ring held in his other hand.
“I’ve never put on a ring before… can you teach me?”
Izumi’s eyes were the size of plates for a couple seconds. Then he took the ring from him. Making sure the ring was snug, he stepped away. Izumi’s heart was racing. Did this mean their bond deepened? How did he feel about it now? Midori didn’t like anything remotely romantic. Saying he didn’t know how it was to feel romance. When the other embraced Izumi, the silver haired male stopped functioning for a bit.
“If it’s alright.. I’d like more affection… from everyone.” Midori said.
Hajime and Mitsuru joined in on their hug. And they stayed like this for a little while. Or until Izumi stopped crying for whatever reason it was.