Chapter Text
It arrived.
February 14th, Valentines day, also known as the day to celebrate love between romantic partners and friends and have an excuse to confess to your crush and eat chocolates, lots of it.
Despite his family always telling him to not fall for the marketing and the industrial commercials that came with the festivity, Ness always felt excited every year. He loved seeing the streets full of decorations, the stalls with the beautiful (and expensive) roses and most importantly, the sight of those sweet couples enjoying a cup of coffee with some chocolates.
Ness checked himself in the mirror one last time before he had to go to school. Everything seemed in place: his usual messy hair has been brushed carefully, his shirt and jacket were ironed and he made sure to wear his best smile today. He was ready for whatever came today.
Before heading outside, he stopped by the kitchen. In his fridge it rested a little box wrapped in red paper and adorned with a white bow. He grabbed the box, his hands shaking as he could hear his own heartbeat going faster. Ness felt so lucky Sendou could help him make these, otherwise he wouldn’t have anything to give for today since his family wouldn’t allow it and if he tried by himself, he would have burned the kitchen.
Michael Kaiser has been a presence in Ness’s life since his first day of highschool, and as time passed he couldn’t help but fall more and more into the warm feeling growing whenever they were together. But, can you really blame him? He’s just a teenager who finally got someone that stayed by his side for more than a month. Plus, he has a charming face, that’s what Ness thinks.
“I’m gonna do it…” he muttered as he put the chocolate box in his bag.
Today, Valentine’s day, Alexis Ness will confess to his crush. Was it a cliché? Yes. But he was already a sucker for romance, so why not risk it?
Deep inside, he had this sinking feeling that Kaiser won’t even bother to entertain him and accept, and he will discard him easily once Ness finally confesses. Trying to push those thoughts away was hard, and as the date got closer, those thoughts were not just worries, but actual fear.
No, I still can’t assume the worst.
With one last large breath, he got out of his house and walked to school.
I just need to be brave.
The hallways on BlueLock’s highschool were decorated with Valentine’s day themed ornaments; every corner had hearts and pink hung on the walls. Even the door to the classrooms had a big heart in it.
“Kaiser?” Ness peaked through the sliding door, trying to find his best friend.
There weren’t many people in the classroom. Even so, it seemed that Kaiser hadn't arrived yet since his usual seat was empty. Maybe he’s late…
Ness left the class disappointed and headed to his own class.
Surprisingly, when he arrived he saw something lying on his desk. It was a red envelope and on top of that a bar of Schogetten three flavor chocolate- his favorite chocolate.
Huh?
“Has someone seen who put this here?” He asked the few people hanging out in class. They all looked at each other confused.
“It was here when we arrived,” Sae answered, not bothering to even look at his eyes.
“Ohhh,” Shidou stood up from his desk and approached Ness. “Our magician has gotten a gift for Valentine’s? Who is it?” There was his shitty grin as he peaked through Ness's shoulder.
“Mind your business, you demon!”
Ness inspects the envelope trying to find a single clue from who it could be, but no name or drawing could be spotted. And its content also didn't say much, as it was a printed letter.
Dear Alexis Ness,
I am sorry I'm being a coward and handing you this letter instead of speaking face to face with you; I can't feel anything but nervous when I have to open up, especially when it comes to you.
I just wanted to say that you should believe more in yourself. Don't let others put you down since you are way more talented and impressive than those scumbags. Real talented people will have enough brain to notice you're amazing, and that they need you by their side.
Plus, your smile is beautiful.
Best regards, magician.
???
Ness wasn't blushing by the end of reading the letter. He wasn't.
He stared at the piece of paper, not focusing on any specific word, just still processing whatever he read.
This had to be some sort of prank, because who the fuck would be dumb brave enough to write him this, as if they knew that's what they needed to hear. They even went as far as to buy his favorite chocolate! Was it a stalker? He couldn't think of anyone close to him capable of doing this. Not like his friends are mean, but he knows if they ever needed to say something, they would speak it face to face, not leave a pathetic note accompanied with sweets.
Not even a clue about his handwriting, trying hard to play anonymous.
The bell rang, so Ness just shoved the letter into his pocket as the teacher entered the class and everyone took their seats.
It was a routine that Ness would come and pick up Kaiser on the third floor to have lunch together, so when no magenta eyes were searching for him that day, Kaiser didn’t waste any time to go downstairs and check up on Ness. He found him on his desk checking a piece of paper.
“Ness,” the mentioned finally, finally looked at him. “Lunch.”
There weren’t any more words needed. Ness stood up and grabbed his boxed lunch, shoving the paper on his backpack.
However, Kaiser wasn’t happy with Ness’s attitude. Usually the latter would be doing all the talking, but today he seemed far lost in his mind. It took him three times calling his name for him to react. And it didn’t stop there.
“What the fuck is the matter with you today?” They were on their way home, and Ness had been in his own world too much for Kaiser’s liking. He never liked when Ness didn’t pay attention to him.
“I-it’s nothing, I promise! Sorry, Kaiser.”
“Is it because what you were reading before, right?” Ness’s face spoke before his mouth could.
“Seriously? Getting all lost just for a paper?”
“It wasn’t just a paper!” Ness frowned and then realized he raised his voice at Kaiser. “That letter… They somehow made me feel better with their words, plus they also gave me a sweet.”
“So what? Now you like this stranger who just gave you some words and a treat?” Ness could hear the scoff coming out of Kaiser. “Are you going to accept it if they're brave enough to confess to you?”
Ness actually hesitated to answer, meaning he was thinking about the possibility.
“I… Uhm, I think I would thank them, but I won’t accept them since there’s already someone I love…”
Kaiser stopped walking after hearing what Ness said. He watched the back of his friend’s head and the tip of the ears were bright red.
For as long as he has known Ness, he could say that the magenta haired guy was devoted to him and only him. His loyalty always laid on Kaiser, and he also would make everything to keep it that way. So of course he wouldn’t doubt this person Ness loves is himself.
But the way he just said it now, his reaction, his dreamy eyes that no longer were on him; Kaiser couldn’t help but feel hopeless as the thought of Ness having feelings for someone else appeared for the first time.
Did Ness finally realize the scumbag of a person he was? Did he get tired of waiting for him? Would he leave? Leave? There would no longer be Kaiser and Ness? No more Michael and Alexis? No more the Emperor and his Defender? Just because he couldn’t get over his own ego and actually accept that he has feelings?
“-er?”
He won’t accept the person at the end of that letter, he loves someone else… He won’t accept him?
“-iser.”
After he spent hours trying to find the correct words, researching things he could give, buying what he knew Alexis liked. Damn it! He even went as far as to ask Noa to place his fucking letter before Ness arrived to class.
“Micha!”
“I’m going home.” Without any more words, Kaiser turned around, even if it meant going in the opposite direction.
Ness called him a few more times, but right now he couldn’t stand being near him. He needed his space before facing reality. A reality where Ness probably doesn’t love him, and he wouldn’t know Kaiser does.