It was late. Absurdly so actually. As in Kanata probably had to be up and getting ready to head out to work in an hour and a half late. And yet despite that, the young man showed no signs of actually wanting to go to sleep. Instead he seemed quite content to keep scribbling with what appeared to be crayons, half bent over the desk in his bedroom. With how late it was - or perhaps it would be considered early at this point? -  the only sounds that could be heard were the faint whirrs of the air pump for the tank that was along the opposite wall and the occasional humming that came from Kanata. With how intently he was working though, he probably wouldn’t have noticed even if there was loud noises surrounding him.

Precisely an hour and a half later, Kanata’s work alarm rang and he set the crayon he’d been using down, holding his completed gift in his hands with a satisfied smile on his lips. It was wrapped as neatly as Kanata could wrap something in tissue paper before being set into a box that was then wrapped up in a nice paper covered in a typical fish pattern, all tied off with a blue and gold ribbon. Now, all Kanata had to do was keep his gift dry for once.

Somehow, it seemed even the weather was lending Kanata a hand in his quest of keeping his gift dry. The skies were clear and only the occasional cloud passed by, the weather cooler now as they headed into the colder months of the year. At work he could store his belongings in his locker, on the top shelf where even if he ended up in the water at some point, his wet clothes wouldn’t end up getting his present wet.

Kanata was truly glad that he had found work doing something he enjoyed so much, or today surely would have felt like it had dragged on. Days always did seem to last longer when one was just hoping it would go by a bit faster since they were looking forward to something that could only happen later. In Kanata’s case, he had taken the initiative in asking Kaoru out for a celebratory dinner, just a small affair with only the two of them - a date if you would.

It wasn’t anything fancy, the both of them would be tired after work and what was the point of going somewhere super fancy if they could enjoy themselves more somewhere a bit more casual. Enjoy and also relax. It was one of their usual dinner date spots actually, a seafood place along the beachfront - it catered mostly to a beach going crowd, so it had a much more casual atmosphere than many other seafood spots.

And after that, they’d probably go for a walk along the beach for a short while, Kanata holding tightly to Kaoru’s hand. Perhaps they’d talk about their days or whatever was on their minds, perhaps they’d just walk in silence and enjoy one another’s company.

Then it would be off back to Kaoru’s place where Kanata usually spent most of the week. It actually almost seemed silly that he had his own place when he spent most of his time at Kaoru’s.

Kanata would insist on buying a cake for Kaoru on their way back and happily sing happy birthday to his boyfriend, sheer joy in his expression and the way he would sway absently back and forth as he sang, punctuating his singing with claps. Once the candles were blown out and slices of cake were cut, Kanata would continue to be willful and insist on feeding Kaoru his slice, giggling all the while. He’d lean in to press kisses to Kaoru’s cheek every so often.

Then finally, after they’d cleaned up and settled down again, making themselves comfortable under a shared blanket with a movie of some kind playing on the tv, Kanata would pull out his gift and set it onto Kaoru’s lap, his eyes sparkling expectantly as he waited for Kaoru to open it.

While Kanata knew that Kaoru would probably never really hate any gifts that Kanata gave him, this gift was definitely personal. He couldn’t help that his heart was racing a bit as he waited to see Kaoru’s reaction.

The gift itself was a handmade picture book, the words carefully written with ink and the pictures all hand-drawn with crayons. The story it depicted was of two fish, both in very different situations that in the end were quite similar. It showed how lonely they had been until they’d met and slowly formed a friendship, an understanding, and then something more. This was their story, and at the end of it - on the inside of the back cover - Kanata had carefully strung a chain through. Hung on that chain was a simple silver band with three small circle cut inset blue diamonds. A promise ring, if Kaoru would have it.

On the page facing the ring were only written the words “This is my promise to you.”

A promise that what they had built and fostered would never be taken lightly. That it would always be cherished. That Kanata would always be there if he was needed and sometimes even when he wasn’t.

A promise for more dates, more kisses, more time to be spent side by side.

It was a promise of many things Kanata could and could not put into words.

It was a promise for from now till forever if that’s what Kaoru wished.

Kanata didn’t voice any of those thoughts though.

Instead, he smiled at Kaoru. One of his calm, adoring smiles.

“Happy birthday Kaoru~~”