Chapter - 34
By the time they returned to the mansion, Sky had lost a battle he hadn't even known he was fighting.
Shopping bags covered both hands.
Nani walked beside him, completely satisfied with himself.
Dew followed behind, carrying exactly zero bags.
Tee carried two.
Dew looked at him.
"You're very strong."
Tee stared.
"You're very useless."
"Thank you."
Nani glanced at Sky.
"Are you tired?"
"No."
"You look tired."
"I'm fine."
"You bought twelve things."
"You chose twelve things."
"Exactly."
Sky looked down at him.
"You're enjoying this."
"Very much."
---
Inside the mansion, Nani immediately started unpacking everything.
He pulled out a sweater.
"Sky!"
"Hm?"
"Try this."
Sky looked at it.
"No."
"Why?"
"It's pink."
"So?"
"I don't wear pink."
Nani held it against him.
"You do now."
Sky stared at him.
"Nani."
"Sky."
"No."
"Please?"
Sky's eyes narrowed.
"You know exactly what you're doing."
Nani smiled innocently.
"Maybe."
Five minutes later-
Sky walked downstairs wearing the pink sweater.
Dew nearly fell off the couch.
Tee covered his mouth.
Nani froze.
Then slowly smiled.
"...Oh."
Sky pointed at him.
"Not one word."
Nani walked closer.
"You look cute."
"I hate you."
"No, you don't."
Sky sighed.
"No."
Nani grinned.
"I knew it."
---
Later that evening, Nani wandered into Sky's office.
Sky was working.
Nani leaned against the desk.
"What are you doing?"
"Work."
"Still?"
"Unfortunately."
Nani looked around.
Then noticed something inside an open drawer.
A tiny keychain.
His keychain.
The ridiculous little one he'd bought months ago.
Nani picked it up.
Sky immediately looked up.
"Put that down."
Nani blinked.
"You kept it?"
"No."
"It's literally in your drawer."
"I forgot."
Nani looked at him.
"You kept it."
Sky leaned back in his chair.
"Maybe."
Nani smiled.
"What else do you have?"
"Nothing."
Nani opened another drawer.
Sky stood immediately.
"Nani."
"Wait."
He found a folded piece of paper.
Opened it.
His handwriting.
A stupid note from months ago.
Don't be grumpy. - Nani
Nani stared at it.
Then looked at Sky.
"You kept this too."
Sky looked away.
"It's paper."
"Sky."
"What?"
"You kept my note."
Sky's ears turned slightly red.
Nani's smile became softer.
"You really are clingy."
Sky groaned.
"Here we go again."
Nani walked around the desk.
"You kept my keychain."
"Yes."
"My note."
"Yes."
"My old receipt."
Sky went silent.
Nani's eyes widened.
"YOU KEPT THE RECEIPT?"
"It was in my wallet."
"For months?!"
"I forgot it was there."
"You're such a liar."
Sky finally laughed.
Nani sat beside him.
For a moment, the teasing disappeared.
"You kept all this?"
Sky looked at him.
"Because they're yours."
Nani's expression softened.
"That's stupid."
"Probably."
"But..."
Nani leaned against his shoulder.
"...I like it."
Sky wrapped an arm around him.
"Good."
---
A little later, Nani was curled against Sky while he worked.
His fingers absentmindedly traced the sleeve of Sky's shirt.
"Sky?"
"Hm?"
"Are you happy?"
Sky stopped typing.
He looked down.
"Yeah."
Nani smiled.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Even with me annoying you?"
"Especially then."
Nani laughed softly.
Sky kissed his hair.
"I spent so long thinking peace meant having nobody around."
He paused.
"Turns out I was wrong."
Nani looked up.
"What does it mean?"
Sky's eyes stayed on him.
"Having the right person beside you."
Nani's cheeks warmed.
"...You're getting dangerously good at this boyfriend thing."
Sky smiled.
"I'm learning."
Nani tucked himself closer.
"Good."
Then-
his stomach growled loudly.
Silence.
Sky stared.
Nani stared back.
"...Don't."
Sky's mouth twitched.
"Are you hungry?"
"No."
Another growl.
Nani sighed.
"...Maybe."
Sky stood.
"Come on."
"Where?"
"Kitchen."
Nani followed.
"You're cooking?"
"Yes."
"Can I help?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Last time you nearly burned water."
Nani gasped.
"That was one time!"
Sky laughed.
And as they disappeared into the kitchen, Dew watched from the hallway.
He looked at Tee.
"Remember when Sky used to terrify everyone?"
Tee nodded.
Dew pointed toward the kitchen.
"Now he's making midnight noodles for his boyfriend."
Tee smiled.
"Character development."
From inside the kitchen came Nani's voice.
"SKY! THE SAUCE IS EVERYWHERE!"
Sky shouted back,
"GET OUT OF MY KITCHEN!"
Dew sighed.
"Never mind."
Tee laughed.
"He's still Sky."
.....
The next morning started peacefully.
Which, in this mansion, was usually a warning sign.
Nani was sitting on the kitchen counter eating toast while Sky made coffee.
Dew walked in.
"Morning."
Nani waved.
"Morning."
Tee followed him.
Then Dew casually announced,
"We're going out today."
Nani looked interested.
"Where?"
"There's a new rooftop café downtown."
Nani immediately turned toward Sky.
"Can I go?"
Sky didn't even look up from his coffee.
"Yes."
Nani blinked.
"...That's it?"
Sky finally looked at him.
"Why wouldn't it be?"
Nani narrowed his eyes.
"Suspicious."
Sky smiled.
"I'm trying to be a healthy boyfriend."
Dew whispered,
"He's been reading relationship advice."
Sky's expression darkened.
"I have not."
Tee looked at Dew.
"That means he definitely has."
---
A few hours later, Nani, Dew, and Tee arrived at the café.
Sky stayed behind for a business call.
Nani was enjoying himself when a waiter approached.
"Would you like anything else?"
Nani smiled.
"No, thank you."
The waiter smiled back.
"You have a really nice smile."
Nani blinked.
"Oh."
Dew slowly turned his head.
Tee immediately noticed.
"Don't."
Dew whispered,
"This is going to be hilarious."
Nani thanked the waiter politely.
But the waiter lingered.
"So...are you here with someone?"
Nani glanced at Dew.
Then Tee.
Then smiled.
"Yeah."
The waiter nodded.
"Boyfriend?"
Nani's cheeks turned pink.
"Yes."
The waiter smiled.
"Lucky guy."
Nani looked down, suddenly shy.
"Thanks."
And unfortunately-
Sky had just arrived.
He stopped several meters away.
He'd heard everything.
Dew saw him.
Then looked at Tee.
"Oh boy."
---
Sky walked over.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
"Nani."
Nani looked up.
"You're here!"
Sky nodded.
"Business finished."
The waiter looked at Sky.
"Is this the boyfriend?"
Nani smiled.
"Yep."
Sky glanced at him.
"Apparently."
Nani laughed.
The waiter smiled.
"You two look good together."
Sky's arm slid around Nani's shoulders.
"Thank you."
Nani looked up at him.
"You jealous?"
"No."
"Sure."
Sky leaned closer.
"Should I be?"
Nani grinned.
"No."
"Good."
The waiter politely excused himself.
The moment he left, Dew burst out laughing.
Sky looked at him.
"What?"
Dew shook his head.
"Nothing."
Tee added,
"You looked like you were about to buy the entire café."
Sky frowned.
"I was not."
Nani poked his cheek.
"Clingy."
Sky caught his hand.
"Keep calling me that."
"What happens?"
Sky smiled.
"You'll find out."
Nani's ears turned red.
Dew immediately stood.
"Okay."
Tee grabbed his coffee.
"Yep."
"We're leaving."
Nani laughed.
"Why?"
Dew pointed at Sky.
"Because I value my eyesight."
---
That evening, Nani found Sky sitting on the balcony.
He walked over.
"You were jealous today."
Sky didn't deny it this time.
"Maybe."
Nani sat beside him.
"Why?"
Sky looked at him.
"Because I like knowing I'm the person you choose."
Nani smiled.
"I choose you."
Sky's expression softened.
"Good."
Nani leaned his head against Sky's shoulder.
"But you know..."
"Hm?"
"If you're going to get jealous every time someone compliments me-"
Sky raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
"You'll have a very difficult life."
Sky laughed.
"Then I'll suffer."
Nani smiled.
"Idiot."
Sky kissed the top of his head.
"Your idiot."
And Nani couldn't stop smiling.