Work Text:
(Part one - The helping hand) - (location: Outside Haru's apartment)
Haru closes his door and locks it, in a hurry as the time on his watch showed he was late for work. It was times like this when he wished he hadn't totalled his car that day when he crashed it into Daisuke's mansion gate on impulse.
He sighs as he steps down on the stairs and he looks over where Daisuke's car usually would be parked for him. He looks to the other direction of the street and then frowns.
He takes his cell phone out of his jacket pocket and then calls the last number on his caller list, but it rings out once and then twice.
He cuts the call and then shouts: ''This bastard never picks up my phone when it's important!'' A cat nearby gets frightened and jumps over the wall into someone's backyard.
Haru calls him again while thinking, ''I bet he went to bed late after promising me he wouldn't stay up working on the adollium lead!'' He hears a click and Daisuke's sleepy hoarse voice comes from the other end, ''What?''
Haru scowls and replies, ''...it's 9:30 in the morning, and you're asking me ''what?'' I'm standing out on the street and you're not here yet! We're both going to be late for work!''
He hears some shuffling of the covers and movement from the other end, and then Daisuke says, ''Don't shout so early in the morning, I didn't sleep well...''
Haru goes still and then replies immediately in a much softer voice, ''...you didn't sleep well? What happened? Did you find something?''
Daisuke mhms and says, ''I'll tell you later...I have to get ready now, I'll pick you up in---''
Haru interrupts him while walking towards the train station, ''No need, I'm on my way to the train station. I'll see you in office, so don't hurry and have some breakfast, okay? If you're tired, you can take the day-off. I'll tell the chief...'' He sees a crowd gathered outside the familiar bakery shop, and his steps slow down.
Haru hears Daisuke sigh and answer in an almost whisper, ''No, I'll be there. I have to tell you something important...and I also want to see you.''
He stops in his tracks and smiles: ''Yeah? Then you should have gone to sleep when I told you to, so you'd be here on time. When did you go to sleep?'' He hears Daisuke hesitate and then say: ''...4:30 a.m...''
Haru sighs and replies, ''I knew it! Daisuke, I know this is an important issue, but it won't mean anything if your health deteriorates in the meantime.'' He hears Daisuke hmm in response and says, ''...I'll see you at the office. Eat some breakfast and we can go home early today, and you'll stay at my place so you don't work on your own again!''
He hears Daisuke give a short laugh and then say, ''Alright...'' After the phone call is over, Haru sighs loudly, and then his eyes fall on a familiar face in the crowd.
He walks up to them and says, ''Fuyumi-san, is everything alright? Did you have a break-in?'' A couple more women who all lived in the same neighbourhood turn at Haru's voice and then one woman says, ''Haru-san, you haven't heard? Kobayashi Obaa-san is sick and is in the hospital...''
Haru's mouth opens slightly in surprise and he turns towards the young girl named Kobayashi Fuyumi, who was the grand-daughter of the old lady who owned the bakery, ''What happened? Is she going to be alright?''
Fuyumi holds her hand in front of her and says, ''She suffered some kind of chest pains so she was taken to the hospital, they're running a lot of tests, so we don't know yet...we're so worried about her health but all obaa-chan is worried about is this shop, and how she won't be able to make her cookies and pastries for people this Christmas...We didn't know what to do, so my parents decided to close it down for now, but I wanted to do something, at least...we don't have that much money in case we need it more for her treatment, so I thought I'd open the shop on my own and tell granny that people were still visiting the shop, but all the part-timers found other jobs. It seems impossible now...''
One woman in the group says, ''Kobayashi-san's Christmas cookies and pastries were so popular in this part of the city, since she had been making them for more than 50 years now, this is so sad! Please give her my best wishes and tell her we hope she recovers soon!'' Fuyumi bows and thanks her.
Another woman in the group says, ''Fuyumi-chan, didn't you go to France last year for becoming a...what was it...a pâtissière? Your baa-chan was so proud of you. Every time we came to the shop, she would boast about how she would pass on this shop to you and how only you could surpass her, you shouldn't doubt yourself, your grandmother believed in you and she believed in your skills...I remember she told me she was looking forward to baking Christmas desserts with you this year...this is really so...our poor Kobayashi-san!''
Haru clenches his fist and then says, ''Do you really have to close the shop? Is there no other way? If you need any help, you can tell me!''
Fuyumi looks at Haru and then looks back into the shop through the glass window, at the colourful wallpaper, the Christmas decorations that were only put up halfway inside the shop and she says, ''Katou-san...Granny's recipes are with me, but even if I could make it...it would be too much to handle on my own. Watching granny do it all by herself, with the help of one or two part-timers...well, she made it seem so easy but now I see how challenging it must have been...''
Haru looks inside the shop and then nods, understanding what she meant. A woman in the crowd says, ''Fuyumi-chan, you shouldn't give in so easily. You can start looking for part-timers now...I'll ask my son to help you as well. He's in high school now, but he still acts like a kid whenever I tell him I was going to get Kobayashi-san's pastries for Christmas. What do you say?'' Fuyumi's eyes sparkle in happiness and she nods her head. She holds the hands of the woman and thanks her sincerely.
Haru sighs in relief and then says, ''Fuyumi-san, if you need any help, please contact me. I owe Obaa-san a lot from back when I moved to Tokyo and in this neighbourhood on my own. She used to give me an extra pastry whenever she felt I was feeling low...I really want to do something for her when she needs to feel better during a tough time.''
Fuyumi nods and bows in gratitude and says, ''I appreciate your kind words, Katou-san, but I know you're already very busy at your job, I couldn't possibly ask you to add even more burden to your workload. Your thoughts are enough...''
Haru shakes his head, but before he can say anything, the woman from earlier glances between the two and then a smile appears on her face. She looks at Haru and says, ''Katou-san, sorry if this a bit out of the blue...but are you dating someone right now?''
Haru hesitates and says, ''Um...why do you ask, Egawa-san?''
She smiles widely and points to Fuyumi and replies, ''If you aren't, then you'd be free on Christmas eve, right? You can help out Fuyumi-chan that day. I'm sure she'll need all the helping hands she can get on such a busy day.''
Haru hesitates, thinking of Daisuke at once, and then of all the memories of Kobayashi obaa-chan flood his head - of her smiling and greeting him warmly, how she consoled him in her own way during the time when he was struggling with quitting the 1st division.
He sighs inwardly and turns towards Fuyumi and says, ''If it's not too much trouble, I can help you on that day, but...I don't know much about pastries or business-related things...''
Fuyumi laughs and tells him that he didn't have to worry about anything relating to that, and that she'd find something for him to do and she'd call him later. Haru nods and then remembers that he was actually running really late for the office and takes his leave after exchanging numbers with her.
As they watch him leave, Egawa nudges Fuyumi and says, ''Isn't Katou-san a perfect man? He's handsome, he has a stable career, he is so helpful and gallant, and he is very good with children...I heard he helped Nomura-san's son find their lost dog last year as well. I saw him running around the neighbourhood with the kid, putting up posters and whatnot...Fuyumi-san, you should make the most of this opportunity, you know what I'm saying? You've known each other for a couple of years now...what do you think?''
Fuyumi raises her hands to protest at once, wanting to clarify that she already was interested in someone else, but Egawa shakes her head and tells her to try her best in trying to get on better terms with Haru.
She pats Fuyumi's cheek lightly and says, "Fuyumi-chan, the best way to make your way to the heart of a man like Katou-san is to make them feel they are reliable and you need their support..." Fuyumi sighs and doesn't reply, deciding quietly that engaging in this conversation would just make matters worse and it was wise to just let Egawa-san say it all.
Another woman speaks up, ''Fuyumi-chan, Katou-san agreed to help you, but what do you think he can help with? I doubt he can help in the kitchen, or with the handling the business part like taking orders and whatnot...''
Fuyumi sighs, feeling like she was bothering everyone so much already. Then Egawa says in an excited voice, ''When I went to the mall the other day, I saw most customers going into shops where there were mascots outside the shop...'' She starts laughing and continues, ''...seeing Katou-san in that would be really incredible! What do you think, Fuyumi-chan? I can ask my son to rent it for him and he can dress up as well!''
Fuyumi hesitates and says, ''I don't know...if Katou-san will be comfortable with wearing something like that...I don't want to make him do something he--''
Egawa pats her arm and reassured that Haru wouldn't mind doing it since it'd be helping out Kobayashi-san. Fuyumi sighs and nods.
(Part two - The Secret) - (location: MCPTF office)
Haru opens the door and stands there huffing. He swallows and then walks towards to Kiyomizu's desk, avoiding Daisuke's narrowed eyes who was sitting in his chair with his arms folded.
He apologizes for being so late, and Kiyomizu waves his hand nonchalantly, and says that he must have his reasons. Haru bows once more and then turns and says that he would work extra-hard that day to make up for it. Kiyomizu tells him to not take it so seriously, which made him feel even worse.
He nods and goes to sit at his desk, and turns on his computer. Kamei turns his head and says, ''Wow, Katou-san being late to work...thought I'd never live to see the day...''
Haru frowns and is about to scold him, but Daisuke taps him on the shoulder and tells him to follow him outside. Haru gets up and gives Kamei a look as if the conversation wasn't over and Kamei salutes him and goes back to working on his computer with a serious expression.
Daisuke leads him to that all-too familiar staircase where they had their first fight and their first kiss as well. Daisuke steps up on stair above his and turns around, folding his arms in suspicion: ''You left for office earlier than me, so why are you arriving 30 minutes later than I did?''
Haru smiles and steps up as well, so they're standing close together, ''Someone who made me wait this morning because they didn't sleep till 4:30...shouldn't be asking me such questions, don't you think so, Daisuke-kun? Hm?''
Daisuke blushes in silence, feeling Haru's hands wrap around his abdomen, and he mutters, ''I'm just asking what took you so long...I was worried you got in some kind of accident or something...''
Haru kisses his cheek and he says, ''And? What if I had?''
Daisuke scowls and turns his head away, ''Then, I don't know what I would've done...I would've probably gone mad blaming myself for not picking you up today. Happy? Is that what you wanted to hear?''
Haru gives a short laugh and holds his face with one hand and lifts it towards him, and kisses him on the mouth slowly, taking his time invading his mouth, until Daisuke's knees started trembling and he held onto his arms for support.
It was just like their first kiss, which was making Haru's heart beat even faster, and his kiss became even more urgent, and he pushed Daisuke against the wall and kissed him some more.
After a while, he pulled back while breathing hard and whispered, ''...n-now I'm happy.'' He kissed Daisuke's flushed cheeks and says, ''This was for not keeping your promise last night, for not picking me up today morning, and for being so irresistible when you're pouty.''
Daisuke huffed and pushed him away slightly and said, ''Don't think if you say such things I will forget to ask you why you were late...''
Haru smiled slightly and then lowered his head on Daisuke's shoulder, ''Actually, when I was on my way to the station, I saw---'' His phone started ringing in his shirt-pocket and then he sighed and raised his head. He looked down at the caller name and his eyes widened.
Daisuke saw the change in his expression, and he was about to ask him who it was, but Haru brushed his face with the back of his hand and told to return first and he'd follow after taking this call.
Daisuke frowned and nodded, heading downstairs towards their office but before he left he heard Haru refer to someone as Fuyumi-san. He wondered who it was since Haru was calling them by their first name...
Daisuke entered their office, and he saw Saeki and Kamei were standing near Haru's desk and talking about something in excited voice. They saw he returned alone and asked where Haru was, so he told them he was taking a call at the moment.
He asked them what they disicussing, and Saeki replied while clapping her hands: ''Ryou-chan and Kamei are planning to go to the Christmas fair in Shibuya on Christmas Eve...I heard they even put a Ferris wheel there this year and everything...it's so romantic, don't you think?''
Daisuke hmms and thinks it over. He was planning on taking Haru to New York since he liked it a lot when they were there during winter last year. But maybe this year...
Kamei looks at Daisuke's contemplative expression and says, ''Kambe-san, do you have any plans for Christmas with Katou-san? Last year you both weren't here...are you planning on going abroad again?''
Daisuke shakes his head and replies, ''I was thinking about taking him to New York again, but I think...this time we can celebrate it at home.''
Saeki claps in joy and comments, ''That's great! You can take Haru-chan on a Ferris wheel as well! Though it'd be hilarious if he was afraid of heights...'' Daisuke ponders for a bit and then says, ''But are Ferris wheels fun? I sat in the London Eye once by myself, back when I was studying in England...but it wasn't anything special...''
Kamei snickers and points it out that he probably didn't have fun because he was on it alone. He stood up and put his hand on his shoulder and said, ''Kambe-san, the best part about riding in a Ferris wheel is reaching the top and kissing the one you love...that's why it's romantic. It's like you and your lover are in the sky, above the whole world, and you're the only two people in the world...well, until it starts moving...but that moment is really amazing. Also, did you know it is believed that if you kiss someone on top of the Ferris wheel, you'll be together forever...'' Daisuke's eyes sparkle and he nods, taking all of Kamei's words to heart.
Haru opens the door and sees the energetic sparkling auras on everyone and he stares at all of them in palpable confusion. He wants to ask, but something tells him he's better off not knowing. Saeki hops to his side and says, ''Haru-chan, prepare to have one of the most romantic Christmas Eve's of your life...'' Haru looks at her with an even more confused face and then at Daisuke who was looking at him with sparkling eyes.
Kamei speaks up and says, ''Katou-san, Hoshino and I are going to the Christmas fair in Shibuya, and they have a Ferris wheel over there this time...Kambe-san wants to take you there as well. Isn't that great?''
Haru goes still and then mutters in a low voice, ''F-Ferris wheel, huh...Christmas fair...we can go there today, no problem. You really want to see it?'' He asks Daisuke and he nods and says, ''But not today...I'm tired. We can go on Christmas eve...''
Haru bites the inside of his cheek and says in a nervous voice, ''Christmas eve...um, it'll be really crowded that day. I know you don't like crowded places...we can go tomorrow...we still have a week until Christmas.''
Daisuke stares at him, and says, ''But we have work, didn't you say we had to work seriously since most crimes occurred during such times...''
Haru frowns and doesn't know what to say with his own words coming back to bite him. Saeki giggles and says, ''No way! We were just joking before, but could it be you're really afraid of heights, Haru-chan?''
Haru rolls his eyes and says it wasn't anything like that. He says in an almost frustrated tone, ''I'm just saying...do we have to wait for Christmas eve to go there...if Daisuke wants to go ride in it, we can go on any other day too...''
Someone knocks the door and opens it. Hoshino peeks in, and then straightens, fixing his suit.
Kamei smiles widely and runs to the door, but Hoshino raises his hand and says he was there to see Haru for some work. After seeing Kamei's droopy expression, he smiles slightly and says they could go home together today and he brightens up and nods.
He turns around and tells Haru he was being called. Haru hurries towards the door and closes it behind him a little too eagerly.
After the door closes, Saeki glances at Daisuke and notices his disappointed face. Her heart goes soft but she decides to tease him and says, "Dai-chan, you should ask him again, maybe he'd change his plans... though I have to say, it is weird that your lover would avoid being with you on Christmas eve...especially when we don't even have work. Wait, no way! Could it be...he's seeing someone else in secret?"
Kamei catches onto her teasing and and decides to join in: ''I agree with Saeki-san! That could be it! Katou-san could have been invited by a pretty girl, you know how bad he is at turning down people if they ask him to do something too politely...It is indeed weird that usually he goes along with whatever you say but this time he is being really stubborn about it for some reason..."
Daisuke frowns and his eyebrows start to droop, and they say quickly, raising their hands in sync and shouted: "Kambe-san!'' ''Dai-chan!'' ''we're just kidding!'' ''We were just joking!'' ''Don't frown, Kambe-san! If Katou-san finds out we upset you even as a joke, he'd get mad at us for real."
Saeki nods and adds, ''He's right! Dai-chan, maybe he doesn't want to go with you on the Ferris wheel because he already made some secret plan to surprise you on that day...''
Daisuke's expression lightens up and they both sigh in relief. He tells them that he'd ask him about it after they went home today, and they wished him good luck with a nervous laughter.
(on the way home later that day)
Daisuke glances at his side subtly, seeing Haru texting someone on his phone. He clears his throat and says, ''Haru, you really can't go with me anywhere on Christmas eve? Do you have...plans with someone else?''
Haru looks up at once, after hearing Daisuke's sad voice, ''What? No, I don't. I have something to do that day...If you really want to go on the wheel, we can go this weekend.''
Daisuke scowls and says, "Can't you at least tell me what you're doing on that day if you're not free?" Haru puts his phone in his pocket and lowers the car heater: "It's not that I can't..."
Daisuke glances at him and narrows his eyes slightly, "Then? You don't want to?"
Haru doesn't answer and covers his eyes and sighs. Daisuke looks at his tired face and says, "Fine. You don't need to tell me. But...tell me just one thing, you're not going on a date or something with a girl, right?"
Haru looks at him at once and says loudly, "HAH?! W-WHAT? WHO TOLD YOU SOMETHING STUPID LIKE THAT?"
Daisuke stares at him for a moment and tells him Kamei and Saeki did - he taps his fingers on the steering wheel and says, ''...they said it was weird how usually you go along with me, no matter how ridiculous the demand is, but now you were being too reluctant. I think they were joking, but it really made me wonder, though I knew you would never do something like that to me...''
Haru sees the sadness on Daisuke's face and then he clenched his fist in anger and thinks to himself that he was going to scold them hard the next time he sees them.
Then he looks at Daisuke and says, "No, I'm not, you idiot! Trust me this once, please. It isn't like that. It's just...something. I have to repay someone who has helped me a lot in my past, before I met you. It was the thing I got caught up in this morning...listen, if I manage to get it done early, I'll call you, okay? No, I will call you after I get finished."
Daisuke stares at him, gauging the seriousness on his face, and then eventually nods. Haru sighs in relief and then leans forward and kisses him on the cheek, thanking him for trusting him and he'd definitely make it up to him after they got home.
Part three - (The secret is revealed) - (Christmas Eve) - (location: Surveillance room, Kambe mansion)
Suzue walks out of the elevator with excited footsteps, wearing a Santa's hat, and pushing the cart that had tea and red velvet cake on it. She saw Daisuke staring at the screen, at a red dot on the map with a focused stare that he didn't even hear her until he called out to him when she was standing next to him, ''Daisuke-sama, what are you doing?''
Daisuke doesn't reply and then looks at her and sees the Santa's hat and her Santa dress. He looks back at the screen and pretends he didn't see anything. It was Suzue being Suzue. She offers the cake to him which he eats quietly.
After a while, she says, ''Daisuke-sama, though I am happy you're at home during Christmas eve, but why isn't Katou-sama here as well? Don't tell me...is he on a date with someone else today? Is that why you're tracking him?''
Daisuke scowls and says, ''Don't talk nonsense, Suzue. He isn't...and I'm not...tracking him. I only wanted to see what he was doing...'' Suzue giggles and points to the screen, ''Then you should call and ask him, this red dot just shows you where he is...or you could go and see for yourself what he is doing...''
Daisuke looks at his phone and replies, ''...he said he would call after he got free. He was serious about not revealing what he was doing and asked me to trust him...so I'm---''
Suzue interrupts him and says, ''He said what?! Daisuke-sama, you're too innocent! You should go and see what he is hiding...don't you know today is considered the most romantic day in Japan?! What is he doing...not taking you out for dinner or taking you on a romantic stroll around the city...''
Daisuke snickers and tells her to calm down. Suzue frowns and grabs his arm and pulls him to his feet and starts dragging him towards the elevator.
Daisuke shouts at her asking her where she was dragging him, she shouts in return that she was taking him to Haru. Daisuke's eyes widen, and Suzue says without looking back, ''If he can't come to you, Daisuke-sama, you can go to him, can't you?''
(Outside Kobayashi Sweets Bakery, established 1970)
Haru looks at the couple standing on both sides of him, smiling and posing for the camera. He was wearing a reindeer onesie, with antler's headband, and a red reindeer nose made with a lipstick by Egawa-san, who was more pro-active about this than Fuyumi.
He held a golden bell in his hand with a red ribbon bow tied around the hilt. In his wildest dreams, never had he imagined, when he agreed to help someone, he'd end up doing something like this.
Every time he started feeling too embarrassed...he'd remember two things: One, he was doing it for the kind obaa-chan, and second nobody he knew actually could see him like this, or they'd never live it down with the teasing.
Then he thought about Daisuke, and how would he react if he saw him like this...would he frown or would he laugh? Haru didn't know which reaction he preferred...
It had been so challenging keeping it from him, there were moments when he wanted to just reveal it all to him, but he didn't know why he hesitated. He never had to keep any secrets from Daisuke before, so it was natural Daisuke had misunderstood him.
He starts thinking about what he would be doing in that moment, and how long would this take so he can go back and apologize to him and take him to the Ferris wheel.
His heart was aching as he thought about the moment he saw Daisuke's face fall when he said he couldn't go, and how he had trusted him even then. He clenched his fists and resolved that he'd make it up to him in any way he could.
As he's feeling energized from this newfound motivation, he hears someone say from beside him, "Can I take a picture too?"
Haru yells excitedly: ''YES, OF COURSE...you...can...'' Haru looks at the steel-blue eyes he loved more than anything looking back at him with mirth in his eyes, and freezes in his place.
Daisuke hands his phone to someone standing nearby and asks them to take a picture for him. He locks their arms and tells the person to click it.
After he gets his phone back, he checks the photo and smiles widely. Haru says slowly, "....What are you doing here? I thought I said---"
Daisuke looks up at him and takes more pictures from all sides and says, "Isn't it obvious? I'm here to eat the famous Christmas cookies...and meet cute reindeer-san."
Haru blushes and says, ''Stop taking pictures, are you going to send it to everyone at the office?''
Daisuke lowers his phone and says, ''What? Of course I won't. You look so cute that I don't even want these people here to see you, much less everyone in the office...'' He walks forward and stands on his tiptoes and whispers in Haru's ear: ''When is Reindeer-san going out to take me on a date that was promised to me?''
Haru looks down at him and says in a uncertain voice, ''Soon...after all the desserts are sold out. Aren't you going to ask me what I'm doing here? Dressed like this?''
Daisuke huffs and says, ''Of course I want to know...but I also know it must be something really important, because you went to such great lengths to keep this from me. I'll wait for you to tell me on your own, until then I'm going to enjoy every second of seeing you in this attire...''
Haru frowns and Daisuke touches the corners of his mouth and stretches them, ''Reindeer-san, you shouldn't frown otherwise children will get scared.''
Haru starts to ask him what children, when a bunch of children approach him to take pictures with him. Haru smiles forcibly and Daisuke heartily laughs from some distance.
After the children leave, Daisuke walks over trying not to laugh at Haru's annoyed expression, but failing miserably. Haru adjusts his headband and says, ''Well, I'm glad at least one of us is having fun...''
Daisuke offers to buy all the desserts so Haru could be free to go if he really was tired. Haru frowns and says "...this is why I didn't tell you - how many times... it's not about that. Just wait here... I'll be free soon. Egawa-san's son has to substitute for me soon."
Daisuke looks inside his shop, and sees a girl with dyed hair giving out the pastries. It didn't look like it'd sell out any time faster.
Egawa and her son approach them and he goes into the shop through the backdoor to change into his santa outfit. Egawa looks at Daisuke, wearing a long black coat, a green muffler around his neck and hair slicked back. She whispers to Haru, "Who is this handsome young man, Katou-san? Anyone you know?"
Haru looks at Daisuke and says, "Yes, we work together and we're really close friends..."
She smiles and nods and asks him, "Young boy, are you here to help Katou-san as well?"
Before Daisuke can reply, Haru says, ''Egawa-san, he's just here to pick me up. I'll get changed now, since your son is here. Have a great Christmas!''
As he starts to turn, she holds him back and says, ''Katou-san, are you really leaving? What about Fuyumi-chan? What do you think about taking her out to show her arou---''
Haru grabs Daisuke's hand and pulls him next to him, ''Sorry Egawa-san, but I already have plans with someone today. But I'll check in with Fuyumi-san before leaving...thank you so much for all your help today.'' He bows slightly and takes Daisuke by the hand to the locker room. On the way they meet Egawa's son and Haru tells him to work hard and he smiles widely and nods.
After the door closes, there is silence in the room. Haru takes off his headband and removes his onesie, his black t-shirt still on. Daisuke senses he was in a bad mood, and then walks to him and picks up the antler's headband and puts it on. He says after a while in a serious voice, ''Haru, look at me.''
Haru looks back and his eyes widen, and then a smile breaks out on his face, and for a long while he just stares at him, like he was committing this moment into his memory. Daisuke asks him in the same serious tone: ''What is it, do I look weird? Why aren't you saying someth---''
Haru leans forward and kisses him, slowly at first and then roughly. He kisses his cheeks and says, ''How do you always know when to make me smile? You look even cuter than I imagined. I actually was going to borrow this until tomorrow and make you wear it on some dare. I thought...before you came here, how I was going to make it up to you, for keeping today a secret, and also for making you sad...now you're the one making me smile. I can never win against you, can I?''
Daisuke kisses him back lightly, and says, ''I'm just glad you weren't out doing something stupid, instead you were actually...'' he remembers the scene when Haru was forcibly smiling in the costume and children tugged on his onesie, and starts laughing again, ''...i-instead, you were doing something so unfathomably cute. It was almost worth all the time I was worrying by myself...''
He starts laughing again and Haru starts kissing his neck and mutters, ''I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you...we can leave now and still make it to that Ferris wheel you wanted to go on, right?'' Daisuke nods and then Haru gets changed in a flash. Putting on his hoodie jacket, and wearing a black sweater underneath it.
They head inside the shop, and see Fuyumi taking a break as the customers finally lessened. She sees Haru approach with someone behind him and she stands up. Haru motions her to keep resting and says, ''Fuyumi-san, how is it going so far?''
She tells him more people than they had anticipated had come so it was alright. She tells him that she sent the pictures of him dressed as a reindeer to her granny and she was laughing until her doctors scolded her.
She smiles and says, ''She'll be home by New Years, so until then, I'm going to run the shop. Thank you so much...words can't express how grateful I am for your help today, Katou-san...I know you didn't want to dress up like that, and you did it for granny, so I'm even more thankful...'' She stands and bows deeply.
He tells her to straighten and says, ''Please, I was only doing what anybody else would've done...and anyway, I'm glad obaa-san laughed because of me. That alone just made it all worth it. Please don't hesitate to call me if you need any help...''
Fuyumi nods and bows. She looks at Daisuke and says, ''Oh, you brought a friend?''
Haru looks back and sees Daisuke looking at the pastries behind glass with a hand under his chin, like he was looking at complex mathematical equations. He smiles and turns to her and says, ''He's...more than a friend, actually. We're dating.''
Her eyes widen and she smiles and replies, ''Is that so? I'm happy for you, Katou-san. Oh, I almost forgot...please wait here.'' She returns with a big box and inside it were plenty of different pastries and desserts and she goes to Daisuke and hands it to him. He looks at her in confusion and hesitantly accepts it after seeing Haru nod at him.
She says to Daisuke, ''Thank you, for lending us Katou-san for today. I'm sorry if we kept him for too long...I hope you'll have a very happy Christmas together and a happy life as well.''
Haru knocks Fuyumi on the back of her head and says, ''If you say it so directly, he'll get embarrassed...'' Fuyumi smiles apologetically, and as new customers enter, she bows again and goes behind the counter.
Daisuke looks down at the box and says, ''But I wanted to pay for them...'' Haru tells him to just accept people's goodwill and not see everything in life so black and white. Then he grabs his free hand and says, ''Come on, I have a promise to keep.''
(Part four - The Promise) - (Christmas fair, Shibuya)
Haru was right. It was really crowded on days like this. Everyone around them were mostly couples, holding hands, and some even kissing while taking selfies. He looks up at the Ferris wheel and then at the line in front of them.
As he exhaled a loud sigh, Daisuke looks at him and says from beside him, ''What is it? Are you cold?''
Haru shakes his head and says, ''I...hate waiting in lines, but I guess this time it's not so bad, since you're here. Though I would enjoy it even more, if you were still wearing that antler's headband...''
Daisuke flushed cheeks from the cold get even redder and he looks away and mutters idiot under his breath. Haru grabs his hand and puts it in his pocket, intertwining their fingers together. Daisuke glances around and says, ''What are you doing? People---'' Haru exhales a cloud and says, ''Ah, it's so cold today. I wonder when we'll get to sit in the ride...''
Daisuke moves closer so it won't be so apparent to people they were holding hands. Haru looks down and says, ''Daisuke, do you really like Ferris wheels so much that you'd stand in freezing cold for a whole hour to ride in it?''
Daisuke looks at the front of the line that was getting shorter, their turn would be next. He says, ''Not really...I've only been on it once. In London, you remember that round thing you asked about when we were there? I rode in it by myself back when I was in university...I heard it was fun but I didn't feel anything. Then Kamei said...'' Haru was listening intently and asked, ''What? What did he say?''
Daisuke blushes and shakes his head, too embarrassed to say those corny things in public, especially when the people behind them were listening to their conversation.
Haru smiles, already knowing what, but he kept asking him what Kamei said, and Daisuke refused to relent. After they sat inside the closed cabin and the door shut, they both sat opposite each other.
Haru looked at Daisuke who was looking outside with a neutral expression. He reaches for his hand and then holds it, removing his black leather glove so their bare hands could touch. Haru says, ''So what did Kamei say that made you want to come here?''
Daisuke frowns and then says while looking outside, ''Nothing...you don't need to know.''
Haru smiles secretly and says, ''Is that so? Are you sure it wasn't about how if you kissed on top of the Ferris wheel, you'd be with that person forever?'' Daisuke blushes and doesn't say anything.
Haru caresses his hand that he was holding and tugs on it, ''Hey, Daisuke-san, are you perhaps planning on kissing me when we reach the top?'' Daisuke continues staring outside, not wanting to see Haru's face because he knew his face would give it away.
Haru looks outside and notices they were about to reach the top and he tugs at his hand and says, ''It's your chance now, Daisuke-kun...do you want to be with me forever?''
Daisuke looks back at Haru and sees him staring at him, while smiling widely, with his ears slightly pink, his nose slightly red from the reindeer nose from before...his hair slightly dishevelled by the wind, his golden brown eyes sparkling, full of affection and challenge, just for him...this person belonged to him. As soon as he thought this, he got up from his seat and he was kissing Haru hard on the mouth.
Haru wrapped his arms around Daisuke, and raised his head even more so their kisses could last longer and he could kiss him even more deeply. As the Ferris wheel started moving forward, Daisuke put his hands on his shoulders and moved back, but Haru didn't let go of him.
He whispered, ''Haru, let go...we're about to reach the ground, people will see....''
Haru didn't open his eyes and replies, ''Relax, they won't see anything, it goes fast, and this will at least have 5 rounds...so focus on this, Daisuke.'' He kisses him again and Daisuke sighs and sits properly on him, and lets Haru get his way for once.
As they pass by the ground level, he could see people gasping at them, but he didn't mind. He closed his eyes like Haru, and Kamei's words echoed in his mind: ''It's like you and your lover are in the sky, above the whole world, and you're the only two people in the world...'' He thinks to himself that he didn't need to be in a Ferris wheel to feel like that...whenever he was with Haru, like this, he couldn't see anybody but him, and he felt like he was all Haru could see as well. They were able to create their own world as long as they were together...maybe that's what soulmates were. When you find them, everywhere in the world becomes your home as long as you have them around you.
As they reach the top once more, Haru murmurs in Daisuke's ear, ''I want to be with you forever as well, Daisuke. Thank you for loving and trusting me as much as you do. I love you and trust you even more than I can say...I promise I won't keep you in the dark in the future about anything.''
Daisuke smiles and mutters idiot and kisses Haru once more and the Ferris wheel stops there for a moment, just like time did, capturing this moment forever and ever in their minds and hearts.