#yuki scribbles

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Valentine's day can mean different things for different people.

To Mami and Nini it's a day to get chocolates.

Mami doesn't like chocolate all that much but he doesn't tell Nini's mother because he likes her smile and her little kiss on his cheek when she gives him the chocolates. He doesn't tell the middle aged lady that hands him a chocolate bar because she's nice and she once gave Nini and him free juice boxes. He doesn't tell anyone really because when they give him chocolates, they look happy.

And besides who'd think a seven year old wouldn't want chocolates?

So Mami accepts the chocolates. Nini gets just as much and by the time they're back home, Nini is all excited and happy and ready to get sugar high.

Mami doesn't tell anyone he doesn't like chocolates except Nini.

Because it's Nini and Mami always tells Nini. Also because the first time Mami celebrated Valentine's day with Nini, Mami had ended up nibbling on the same chocolate bar for an hour and Nini kept asking why he was so slow.

So while Mami accepts the chocolates, it's really Nini who eats them.

It's not until Mami is ten and a girl who gave him chocolates cried because she saw him give it to Nini that Mami understands why people give chocolates on that day.

The chocolates are supposed to convey the giver's affection. "You give chocolates to the one you love." Nini's mother tells him as explantion. "When people give you chocolates they're telling you that they love you."

The Valentine's that Mami is eleven is the first one that Mami has ever refused to accept chocolates offered to him. (The only one he accepts is from Nini's mother.)

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Kei holds the record for most chocolates received in their club.

On the afternoon of Valentine's day, Kei comes to practice with arms full of chocolate: homemade and store bought, boxes of hearts and circles and squares and rectangles, paperbags with ribbons, and even a medium-sized cakebox from a popular store.

Sol whistles when he sees their captain balance his loot as he heads over to the bench pushed to the wall of the gym where their tumblers and bottles of water rest.

"How many did you get after I went on ahead?" Sol says as he reaches over to help carry the chocolates.

"Five. Three of them gave it to me at the same time. The three said they wouldn't mind sharing." Kei says, his voice pleasantly confused. "I thought they meant the chocolate, at first. But they said they wouldn't mind sharing me."

Sol burst out laughing.

---

When Cey and Mami realize that Valentine's day fall on a Monday, they decide to make something for the whole team as a sort of motivational treat. The boys loved chocolate and they could make it during the weeked and bring it over on Monday.

"Brownies are easy to make and transport." Mami offers as Cey skims a recipe book for desserts. Mami looks over Cey's shoulder as they check the selection of brownie recipes in the book. "What about that one? It's dipped in chocolate so we can vary the chocolate dip. Sol-senpai likes dark and Nini-kun likes white. That way they can have what they want." Cey hums before nodding. "Good point."

Between the two of them they manage to make the staple dark, milk and white chocolate dipped brownies, and because they had some more chocolates and brownies left over Mami decided to experiment with other dips (they managed to make a mint chocolate dip that Cey liked, a fudge dip, a light peanut butter dip and even a dip of dark and white chocolate mixed with Irish cream that Mami found stashed in his fridge).

Unsurprisingly, it was pretty easy to get everyone in line on Monday, even Sol gave a hundred percent on practice.

---

As a senpai, Sol likes to give his teammates a chocolate candy on Valentine's day. Nothing fancy or intricate, after all, it is a holiday for girls to be giving chocolates, not boys. Still it seems just right that he'd have something, even as simple as a piece of candy, to give to the people he spends most of his time with.

He goes around handing them over. First, it's to Kei when they meet in class, Kei gives him a 'thank you' before he pockets the sweet. Kei doesn't really need to give anything back because they both know at the end of the day Sol will be getting the dark chocolates Kei wouldn't be eating that he got from his admirers. It's their thing, ever since the female population found out how attracted they were to Kei and Kei found out Sol was nuts about dark chocolate.

Second, during lunch break he treks his way to the second year's classroom and leans against the doorway of class 2-C, waving when Nini notices him. His three juniors heas over to him and he gives each of them a piece of candy. Nini and Mami thank him, Mami hinting that there will be a treat later at practice that Sol will like. Kee looks at him with wide eyes full of admiration while clutching the piece of candy tightly in his hand.

Sol remembers that this is Kee's first year here with them and he tells the younger wing spiker that it's just a little tradition he started when he was in first year. Kee looks like he's a about to cry from happiness and thanks him profusely, promising that he'll definitely get something on White Day.

"It's not really necessary..." Sol says but Kee's already excitedly saying a list of things he could bake; truffles, brownies, cookies, cupcakes, or maybe even a full sized cake, only stopping when Mami scoffs.

"What?" Kee huffs irritably at the redhead.

"We don't need you giving our ace food poisoning." Mami says with a sneer.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah! I bet you'd set your oven on fire!"

Sol looks awkwardly at the fighting duo but Nini tells him that he should get going, knowing gleam in his eyes, and to leave the two idiots for him to handle. Sol thanks him and Nini just holds the piece of candy for him to see.

The last stop is Cey, just before the end of lunch period Sol finds him in his classroom, putting away his bento. He shouts for him and grins when Cey gives him an annoyed look. Sol beckons for him and it takes three long beats before Cey sighs and stands up.

"Yo!"

"What?"

"Grouchy." Sol says teasingly. "If you don't wipe that frown away, you're not going to get any chocolates today."

Cey gives him a haughty look. "I don't care. What are you doing here, anyway? Lunch period's about to end. You'll be late for class."

Sol rolls his eyes. "My class is right down the hall. It's not like it'll take more than a couple of seconds to get to my seat. Beside, I don't want you to feel unloved on Valentine's so here." Sol grabs Cey's hand (earning a surprised noise of protest from the setter) and drops the last three pieces of chocolate candy he has. "Happy Valentine's day. Maybe some sugar in your bloodstream will lighten up your mood."

Cey stares at his hand, at the three pieces of chocolate then at the hand wrapped around his wrist, a flush threatening to flood his face but he remembers that Sol gives everyone in the team a candy on Valentine's day, it's nothing special, so he clear his throat and tugs his hand back. "Thanks." He grumbles as he shoves the candy into his pocket. Sol grins at him like he approves before leaving and Cey watches him disappear into his own classroom just as the bell rings.

Cey fingers the candy in his pocket as he walks back to his seat, wondering when Sol started giving out three pieces instead of one.

---

After practice has ended a little early to allow for Mami and Cey to pass around the brownies they made for the team, the members are clustered around eating chocolate treats, fingers stained and laughter plentiful.

Kei is handing out some of his chocolates to the members (keeping the dark ones specifically for Sol), feeling a little bad but reasoning to himself that it would be worse if the sweets ended up uneaten.

Kee is finishing his third brownie, one of Kei's heart-shaped boxed chocolate tucked under his arm, when he notices a little paperbag sitting just behind Nini.

There were two girls who called out their manager today in class and Kee wonders if the paperbag was from one of them. Considering everyone was sharing their chocolates, even Mami who got several obligation chocolates from their classmates and even three from girls outside their class (what kind of girls would want to confess to a shortie like Mami, Kee will never know), Kee reaches over to the paper bag.

"Hey's what's this? Can I have some?" Although before Kee could even grab at it, Nini slaps his hand away. Kee makes a noise of hurt as he cradles his hand to his chest.

"Not this one."

Kee pouts. "I didn't know you were so stingy. I shared mine with you, didn't I?"

Nini rolls his eyes but grabs a rectangular box from a little pile beside him and hands it over to Kee. "Here."

"I want to see what that one in the paper bag is. I bet that one has the good kind of chocolate! You should share!"

Nini's response is to push the paper bag behind him and out of Kee's reach.

So starts Kee's pestering of Nini while trying to grab for the paper bag (persistent enough that they end up chasing each other on one side of the gym), Kee manages to curl his fingers over the handle but Nini delivers a kick to his shin that makes him let go and yelp.

After that Kei comes over to mitigate damage, about to ask what's wrong when he sees Nini holding a familiar looking paper bag.

"Don't kick players, Nini-kun." Kei says, voice gentle but firm. Nini nods before he walks away, heading towards Cey and Mami. Kei turns to Kee, holding out a hand to help. "Kee-kun if you want some more chocolates I still have some."

"I want to know what's in that paper bag!" Kee whines out still holding onto his shin.

"It's Nini-kun's chocolate. That's the only thing he never shares."

"Why not?"

With a small smile Kei says, "It's from Mami-kun. I'm told Mami-kun makes something for Nini-kun every Valentine's day since they met. It's usually something white chocolate because that's Nini-kun's favorite. Nini-kun will share any of his chocolates, well with a bit of begging usually, except that one."

Kee's brows furrow and he watches Nini with Mami. "Are they dating?" Kee asks, although the thought of Mami dating anyone gives Kee the creeps.

Kei chuckles. "No. Not really. Mami-kun and Nini-kun are a little hard to describe, they joined the club together, even though Nini-kun didn't really have that much interest in volleyball. Mami-kun grumbles a lot when it comes to Nini-kun but he gets really protective of him. And," Kei tilts his head a little to the side, a fond smile on his lips as he watches his two juniors with Cey and Sol. "They don't share things they get from each other."

"So I'll never see what's in that paper bag?"

"No," Kei shakes his head. "And Nini-kun might not look like it but he'll definitely kick you again if you try to take it. So don't, okay? I don't need one of my wing spikers injured."

Following their captain's wisdom, Kee gives up on that little paperbag that Nini keeps close to himself.

---

It's not common knowledge that Mami isn't fond of chocolates. Sure he doesn't hate them, even has moods for them sometimes, but he's not like Nini who could be bribed by them.

The first time he tells Nini this, Nini looked at him like he was weirdo with two heads before proceeding to tell him how Mami's whole outlook in life is wrong if he doesn't like chocolates.

Nini then tried to convert him into a chocoholic (without much success), persisting until Nini realized how benificial it was that Mami didn't like chocolates overmuch.

Chocolates are the go-to presents for most people: for souveniers, for confessing, for gratitude, for apology, and whenever Mami ended up getting them, he would then just give it to Nini because he could only eat so much (the wimp).

So unlike most people, Nini knows not to give Mami chocolates. He may appreciate the thought but it's highly unlikely that Mami would fall in love with someone who gave him chocolates, like what most of the girls confessing during Valentine's thought.

Unlike these girls, Nini knows that Mami would rather open a box of caramel and butterscotch candies, would rather have fudge instead of plain chocolate. So that's what Nini gets him.

And amidst the pile of sweets Mami gets that day, only the box that Nini gets him remains unshared.

---

Kee doesn't leave school immediately after the volleyball club's practice meeting (and possible chocolate orgy) end because of a notebook in class he forgot. By the time he's back in the building, it's late enough that the sun is starting it's descent over the horizon, bathing the whole school in a soft orange glow.

After retrieving his notebook, Kee doesn't hurry his pace as he looks out the large windows spanning the wall of the hallway, the shadows from buildings and trees long and the grounds empty.

It's peaceful, Kee thinks, enjoying the moment.

Kee's so absorbed in the moment though that he doesn't notice the person rounding the corner at the opposite side the same time he does and the quiet is shattered as the other student yelps and items scatter around them.

Kee's about to apologize when he's struck dumb and can only stare at the other student.

He has red hair, dyed even more fiery by the setting sun's light, fairer skin than any of the girls in his class and eyes like rubies.

"Sorry, I didn't see you there." The other student says, moving to pick up the littered art supplies. Once he has them back in his arms, he focuses his gaze on Kee and Kee swears his heart jumps in his chest (and there definitely was an angel choir singing right then, definitely). "Are you hurt?"

Kee just blinks at him.

The stranger's brows furrow with concern. "If you're hurt somewhere I can bring you to the nurse, I'm sure she's still there."

"I'm fine." Kee wants to say but even if his lips part, nothing comes out. The redhead shifts, head tilting to the side.

"I'm Nanato Tsubasa, a third year. You are?"

"You're pretty." Kee manages to say, finally. Except that was something he totally didn't mean to say no matter how true it is.

Tsubasa leans back, eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Uh. Thanks?" Then as if realizing something, "I think you might have hit your head."

Kee shakes his head hard then says in a rush, "I'm Kee, second year but I just transferred this year. I'm okay. I didn't hit my head. Oh! Here." Kee rumages in his bag then pulls out the little container with the leftover brownies that Cey and Mami brought over, thrusting it to Tsubasa's already full arms. "They're good. Happy Valentine's day. Bye."

Kee scrambles up then hurriedly flees before he hears anymore than a cut off, "Wait--".

"What do you want for lunch: chicken, beef or pork?" Kee asks Basa who's lounging on the couch with his laptop balanced on his thighs.

"We had pork yesterday, I think chicken would be nice."

"Oh yeah, we have that new one we got two days ago. It's supposed to a little spicy." Kee says as he rummages through the cupboards, bringing out a pot and placing it on the stove.

Basa gives him a thumbs up and goes back to his screen.

Six minutes later Kee comes over and places a large bowl of chicken instant ramen on the table, handing a smaller bowl and some chopsticks over to Basa.

Halfway through eating, Basa sighs. "It's Micchan's turn this week, right?"

Understanding what Basa meant, Kee nods. "Yeah, we already called on Fu-kun last week."

"Right. I'll call Micchan and ask what's for dinner."

When a drunk Basa's phone dings again, Mami grunts and gives into the urge to check it. In hindsight, he wishes he didn't.

His lips curl when he sees Kee's name on the sender's box asking when Basa will be home.

"Clingy fucker." Mami mutters as he scrolls up the thread of messages, alcohol impeding his sense of not invading other's privacy.

It's hard to judge Kee of being a clingy fucker when Mami finds out all of the similar text messages from Basa ranging from "message when you're coming home" to "you're such an idiot, miss you" to "where are you, it's late".

"Kee could you hand me my underwear." Basa says as he untucks the towel around his waist.

"Sure. Here. Do you need your pants?" Kee says as he hands over Basa's boxerbriefs.

"Yeah. Just wait a second, I gotta put these on. Mm, yeah okay, pants now."

When Kee comes back (comes home), the first thing he's greeted with is canvases and papers full of Basa's art, some colored and some not. It's a welcome sight since he's always enjoyed Basa's art. But of course, there's no sight more welcome than the artist walking over to him, his usual gentle smile greeting Kee.

He launches himself at the redhead, glad to feel that specific warmth that only Basa has.

He hears, feels Basa's chuckle against his ear and the redhead wraps his own arms around Kee.

"Welcome home. How was your trip?" Basa asks, a smile in his voice.

Kee thinks back to it. It was fun. He had fun. He pulls away a little from their embrace but is unwilling to completely let go as he tells Basa about the trip.

"It was great." Kee says. "Had fun with friends and you'll never believe how good the food was there!"

He remembers laughing and bonding with some cousins and old friends. The resort they had stayed at had the best food Kee's ever had since he started living independently with Basa. And there were activities that Kee enjoyed to the fullest.

But despite the near perfect three days, Kee doesn't feel as satisified as he thought he would. There would always be that feeling of something missing, nagging at the back of his head, worming its way between his laughs.

And as he stands in their living room, hands resting on Basa's waist, Kee realizes that it wasn't something missing but someone.

"It was fun." Kee says again but when he smiles it's a little rueful. "But I missed you. You would have liked the food there. And the beach was great. We should go to something like that next time!"

When Kee is out of town, the apartment is quiet, feels a little bigger than needed. Basa would rather not say it but he hates it.

Hates the way his footsteps seem to echo as he moves from room to room even though they don't really. Hates that he only needs to heat enough water for one package of instant noodles. Hates that no one picks up the clothes and books lying around the living room.

Hates how lonely it feels.

But there is an upside to it. When Kee's away, Basa is filled with an anxious need to move, to do something, to fill in the space that his usual hyperactive roommate usually has no problem filling.

So Basa draws.

He moves from medium to medium, drawing this and that. Some are the drawings required for school and some are for fun, and there's that one or two (just one or two, mind you, because that's all Basa's ever going to allow himself to draw) of Kee.

Basa draws Kee from memory, each rendition better than before. He still can't quite capture the way Kee's eyes sparkle when he smiles, the way Kee exudes motion and relaxation at the same time, the way Kee's expression shifts ever so slightly when he turns to look at Basa.

But it's getting better; he's gotten the softness of the curve of Kee's cheek, found the perfect mixture of color for his hair, realized the combination of sharp angles and rounded lines that make up Kee's figure.