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lilteamushroom

technolilly

Feb 12

bittergoldeneyes

-Life’s Sweetness-

Asaba Harumasa x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Just fluff. A Valentines at the office. (Lol, and I’m 2 days, almost 3, late to the party)

Word Count: 3.5K

Valentine’s Day, a day where people showed their affections for others through chocolates, flowers, or other obnoxious gifts. It was a holiday to poach money from people to persuade them if they didn’t somehow buy a gift for their lovers, their significant other didn’t care as much. A random act of kindness was much sweeter than any chocolate given on Valentine’s Day due to tradition or obligation.

But… you weren’t completely immune to falling into the scheme of buying gifts for the people you care for. Something small, but meaningful. Eacpsilly for a certain ebony haired man that just so happened to be your deskmate and partner.

Your sneakers made barely any noise as you stepped lightly through the H.S.O. Headquarters. A small fabric bag full of gifts slung on your shoulder and applying pressure to the muscles of your back from how heavy it was. Stepping around a corner, you noticed most of the desks in the office were already full of gifts already. Numerous bundles of flowers, plushies, and sugary sweets.

A small smile etched across your lips, and you walked into the quiet office before coming around to observe your desk. The white surface was bare, not a single gift or sickly sweet in sight. It shouldn’t affect you much, you were probably the most unpopular out of Section 6. Many people, especially Harumasa’s fans, disliked the idea of you being a part of Section 6. It was as if the public viewed you as an average among elites. You were still a rookie after all, but you always seemed to work best with Harumasa, which is why you were paired as partners a little while after your transfer.

Ignoring the bareness of your desk, you stepped over to Harumasa’s desk, which was -as you had predicted- the fullest of any other members. His fans were… what we like to called “unhinged.” There were numerous letters, some of which you could see had numbers in them, some with pictures, and even some with paragraphs upon paragraphs, likely pouring their heart out in hopes to ignite some parasocial relationship with him that was never going to happen. Hell, there were even plushies and fan drawings of him in some of this pile!

With a shake of your head, you dig around in your fabric bag, finally finding the bottle you were searching for. You placed a bitter gourd juice on his desk and a small bar of 99% cocoa dark chocolate. It was a far shot getting a chocolate bar, but you only hoped he would at least try it, seeing as it was one of the most bitter chocolates out there. A warmth blossomed on your cheeks seeing your gift differing so dramatically from others, surely he’d get suspicious. He was observant like that after all.

You couldn’t spend much time reminiscing, or else you would take back your gifts out of utter embarrassment and fear of getting found out. Before anyone else arrived, you went around to the other members desks, placing personalized gifts on their desks, pausing at Yanagi’s which was just as similar as yours, almost completely empty save for a few cards or sweets that splotched the space of her desk.

Once Yanagi arrived, you had already started on everyone’s coffee. A cup already made specifically for her ready with her name written prettily on the thick plastic holder with sharpie.

“Oh, (Y/N). Good morning.” She gives you a small smile, a stack of papers and a folder neatly pressed against her chest in her arms. “You’re here early?”

“Oh, good morning, Yanagi. I decided to come early to make everyone’s coffee. Thought it would be a nice start to the day.” Your expression remained cool and neutral, not giving away that you had come early to give everyone gifts. You handed her the coffee, watching her take a satisfied sip before sighing in bliss.

“It’s perfect. Thank you.” She says and places a gloved hand over your shoulder as a kind gesture of appreciation. Her glasses gleaming off the light of the lights above.

The other members of Section 6 filed in shortly after. Miyabi was practically drooling over the melon left on her desk, her eyes ignoring anything other than the voluptuous fruit. She wasted no time cutting into the juicy sphere and placing a slice into her watering mouth. Her ears shuddered in happiness, her eyes closing in bliss. Soukaku just devoured any snacks that sat on her desk, but especially enjoying the spicy snacks you had left her.

And last but not least, fashionably late as always, Asaba Harumasa. His slender frame walked through the entrance, his hands already crossed behind his head with a small yawn already leaving his mouth. Drowsiness blinked from his eyes as the glimmering gold of his eyes focused on the mountain of gifts and accessories laid practically covering his desk space.

“Oh? What’s all the fuss about? You shouldn’t have guys~” His lips tugged into a teasing grin, his frame shadowing behind you before he came to investigate the objects occupying his space. “Didn’t know I was so popular. It’s about ten or twenty gifts more than I got last year.”

Was he… seriously bragging right now?

“Well, ‘Mr. Popular’ your coffee is in the pot over there. Still warm.” You interject, pointing your finger over to the coffee machine, pure black coffee brewed to perfection from an intelligent machine sitting in the pot simmering.

“Awe~ just for me? I knew you liked me somewhere deep down!” His hands clasped together dramatically, bringing them to press against one of his cheeks while his mouth upturned into a wide appreciative smile. “You don’t seem as popular. Want some of my gifts? I’m not going to touch most of this just from a quick glance.”

“I want it!” Soukaku raised her hand wildly, sitting up from her desk.

“Hey! I was offering them to (Y/N) first!” Harumasa argued back, pouting as you beckoned Soukaku over without a seconds hesitation. “You know, now I’m starting to think you actually hate me…”

“Oh don’t be dramatic, Harumasa.” You scold lightly, rolling your eyes at his dramatics as you let Soukaku pick and choose what she wanted from Harumasa’s mountain of sweets and snacks. “I would much rather Soukaku enjoy them than me. I can always buy my own valentines stuff. I’ve done it before.”

Harumasa was oddly quiet after your comment, but you didn’t think too much about it.

Once Soukaku went back to her desk with a newfound spark of happiness with her newly acquired food, you sat back down with a sigh before looking at your thick stack of paperwork. Your fingers held your favorite pen loosely, wrist fluidly gliding over the wooden desk as you signed off and detailed your boring reports.

Every now and then, you would glance over at Harumasa. Of course, he wasn’t doing any paperwork whatsoever, and the due dates had long since past. His eyes were instead skimming through some of the obnoxious valentines gifts hoarding his space. A plethora of colorful expressions crossed his face, ranging from horror, disgust, and light hearted smiles. There was even one point he practically slammed a card closed with a red blush on his cheeks, obviously something he didn’t want to have seen or read.

After some time passed, Harumasa was shredding almost every card or picture he’d gotten. His fans really were unhinged. The only few he kept were either from kids or genuine words of appreciation and admiration from fans. Sugary sweet candies and chocolates were tossed in the trash, plushies given to Soukaku or if there was one of himself, offered to you with a flirtatiously teasing wink and a mischievous smile.

It was almost as if he had saved your gift especially for last. His gloved hands picked up the bitter chocolate you’d gotten him, inspecting it curiously before flipping it to the back to read more of the nutrition facts and ingredients. Curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to open the bar and break off a small piece of from the corner. The piece disappeared behind his soft plush pink lips, jaw moving slowly, savoring the bitter richness of the chocolate. A second piece was then broken off and slotted between his lips once more, his eyes closing in concentration.

And the ever clever mind of Asaba Harumasa was just that, clever.

He never really opened up much about himself, especially to the press or any fans or social media posts. He kept his personal life locked behind iron bars only few had the privilege of glimpsing inside. Section 6 was one of those privileged few, as well as the siblings that ran Random Play. It narrowed down his suspicions on who sent these gifts.

The letter gave you away.

‘May the bitter tastes and flavors make life feel sweeter. Your life deserves the sweetest things.’

How cheesy. Only you would think of something that cheesy and heartfelt to write in a card accompanied by gifts he would enjoy. The letter was signed by a straight line, precise and strict, almost as if you were drawing a line you didn’t dare want to cross no matter how much you or him edged it.

Harumasa didn’t acknowledge you for the gifts you’d gotten him, much more interested to see what you would do next. Would you admit you were the one who placed them there in the wee hours of dawn? Would you remain anonymous, treating him the same as always, but locking your heart tightly away in fears of having him slip through your fingers too soon as he eventually would.

The next day came similarly to the last. Gifts appeared on the desks of Section 6, all except for yours. Yanagi got an expensive bottle of her favorite hair product and a new sleeping mask for small breaks in the office. Miyabi got a multitude of new brushes for her woven scrolls and another melon, this time bigger and flavored a bit differently. Soukaku got some new art supplies for her doodles in the office and some stickers.

Lastly, Harumasa got a new choker, an ink stamp of his signature (ahem, for his lazy nature to help with paperwork), and an expensive leather archery glove, much better than his current one that looked worn and tattered at the edges. The choker was a smooth and crisp leather, narrowed slightly where his Adam’s apple would press flush against the material. A yellow gem sparkled under the light, shimmering a similar shade to his smoldering golden eyes.

“Oh, that looks nice, Asaba.” Yanagi comments, papers hugged to her chest per usual as she adjusted her glasses and looked over the gifts he’d gotten. “Someone clearly admires you strongly.”

“It seems that way.” Harumasa comments, looking over the gifts with a strangely conflicted yet heartfelt expression. His deft fingers toyed with the choker in his hands, running a smooth thumb over the expanse of the light leather inked black. “Did you get some too, Tsukishiro?”

“I did.” She answers swiftly. “Everyone’s gotten very unique gifts these past two days. I suspect it’s someone from the agency. They’re all very carefully selected for each of us.” Her glasses shine off the light as her dark pink eyes shifted to your empty desk. “The only one who hasn’t gotten one of these gifts is (Y/N). She has been arriving early these past few days.”

Harumasa shifted his gaze to your desk, clean and empty albeit a neatly stacked pile of papers and a picture sat diagonally to your computer of you, him, and the rest of Section 6. Your chair sat vacant, as it had for hours as you helped out a different section with their reports and management of files.

A frown etched onto his pale pink lips, dark ebony brows furrowing as he thought to himself. Now that he had confirmed to himself that it was you giving him and everyone else these personal gifts, he needed to get you something right? His conscious (and heart) wouldn’t let your kindness go unpaid. After all, the gifts you got weren’t cheap by any means.

You were too kind for your own good sometimes. Always taking care of his gruesome paperwork when he was on sick leave or just too tired or lazy to do it. Making his coffee in the morning along with any other member that hadn’t been there at the office yet. Giving away any of your food or medical supplies to Soukaku or him in hollows when you yourself needed those things too. And even now, helping another section get out of whatever mess they’ve caused themselves with their files.

The day before valentines was no different than the last two, gifts once more on everyone’s desks. Except there was one thing different. There were flowers on your desk. A small vase full of tulips, roses, carnations, and hydrangeas. It was something you weren’t expecting at all, but it wasn’t something unpleasant you didn’t welcome. The card attached to the thin transparent plastic piece read ‘Thanks for helping Section 4, I owe you one. Let me know what you want ;).’ The note had the second in command of Section 4’s phone number signed with a winking face and his name on it, very clearly implying he had taken an interest in courting you somehow.

Your cheeks blossomed with warmth after reading the small letter card attached to the bouquet. It was at this time, Harumasa walked in, earlier than normal he might add. His eyes were immediately drawn to the decently sized object obscuring your desk. Naturally, his sharp golden gaze didn’t miss the tint of pink coloring your cheeks, a foreign feeling twisting in his gut.

“Oh? Who’s this from? You got a secret admirer or somethin’?” Harumasa inquires, a faux smile on his face as he leaned over you to snatch up the card from the thin plastic stick. Despite your protest, he turned himself around from you to keep your arms at bay from snatching it back before he finished investigating. “The guy from Section 4? Heh, how cute, he even left you his number. Such a gentleman!”

His tone was bitter, almost as bitter as the medicine he pocketed in his mouth on a regular basis. The expression he was making didn’t match the intensity his eyes shown. A teasing grin pulled taut over his mouth, but his brows creased and twitching ever so slightly, golden irises having a darker glint in them than their normal mischievous shine. It didn’t help his stomach was knotting up more and more and his heart was beating firmer against his ribcage.

“Don’t be mean, Harumasa!” You finally pulled the card out of his strong gloved hands and fitted the card back between the thin flimsy plastic in the vase of flowers. “I don’t need him to owe me anything. I was just doing my job. I am appreciative of the gesture.”

“In that case, want me to walk down and tell him you won’t be calling him then? I’d be more than happy to do that for my wonderfully kind partner!” His attitude perked up, gloved hands coming to rub together evilly, eager to shoot down a man’s flirtatious gesture towards you. He did have a knack for pissing people off.

“That… won’t be necessary, thank you.” You replied wearily, confused by his sudden change in behavior. “Oh!” Your eyes flickered to his throat, a new choker adorning his slender neck. The yellow gem gleamed in the light, brightening up his already pale skin and accentuating the features of his neck. “That new choker looks really good on you, Harumasa.”

“You think so?” The way he smiles makes you regret even saying anything. He raises his right hand, his new archers glove wrapped snuggly around. His fingers trailed suggestively down his Adam’s apple, down to flick the small gem before trailing his fingers down to the edge of his buttoned shirt. Your eyes couldn’t help but follow his pretty fingers, and he seemed to know that. “It does doesn’t it? An admirer of mine got it for me~ I’m so lucky~”

“That you are, Harumasa.” Your smile faltered slightly, your cheeks flushing as you finally tore your gaze away from his neck and half exposed clavicle “it’s nice to be admired from time to time.” Your fingers reached out to gently run the pads of your fingers over the petals of some of the roses that sat in a small corner of your desk. “Lets you know that someone cares enough to show it to you through small acts of service. Or words of praise and appreciation. Or even gifts. Though I much prefer something like that on a random non-special day than a holiday or occasion.”

Harumasa listened to your words intently, liquid gold eyes watching your fingers tenderly touch the flowers another man had gotten you. The first gift you’d gotten for the upcoming Valentine’s day. His cheeks puffed into a pout, strong yet thin arms coming to cross over his tone chest.

When Valentine’s Day officially arrived, Harumasa came into the office on time, frankly a little early. An incredibly large and obnoxious bouquet of flowers in tow as he sat it on your desk loudly, startling you out of your focused daze of paperwork. It startled the other members of Secruon 6 too, especially Harumasa arriving early! The flowers took up practically the entire space in front of your desk! You didn’t even believe they made bouquets that big!

“H-Harumasa what is this?” You ask bewildered, eyeing all the pretty flowers perfectly arranged to accentuate all the species of flora in their own aspects. Roses were the most common among them, varying in color and size. “I-it’s so big!”

“Well, I couldn’t just let someone show me up in getting my partner a gift can I?” He replies proudly, triumphantly picking up the bouquet of flowers you received yesterday. “There’s no need for these anymore right? I’ll help you clear them out!”

Without giving you any time to protest he dropped the other flowers into the garbage can, a sly and victorious smile plastered over his face. It was then you noticed a small red ribbon clipped to his inky bangs, sparkly with a little cat pendant in the middle. His hands placed on his hips proudly, holding his nose high.

“Besides! Your best gift is right in front of you.” He placed a dramatic hand on his chest, slender digits splaying over the expanse of his chest. “Having me as your ever so trustworthy, hardworking, dashing partner!” You couldn’t help but laugh at his sudden change in behavior. He was acting like a child, exaggerating himself for your praise and favor. “H-Hey! I’m trying to be serious here!”

You adored the way a gentle pink dusted his pale cheeks, his arms instead coming to cross over his chest with his lips puckered in a kiddish pout. His gaze was averted, ebony locks slightly obscuring the visage of his golden eyes. A warm hand came into contact with the exposed flesh of his arm, making him jump, but soon relax once he realized that warmth was coming from you and your tender touch.

“Harumasa.” You say his name gently, sweetly, almost as if you were addressing him as your lover. You squeezed against his forearm lightly, a genuine and incredibly warm smile painting over your lips. “Thank you. I’m very lucky, to have a partner like you. I wouldn’t want anyone else.”

Harumasa’s eyes widened, face exploding in blossoms of red that rivaled the roses on your desk. He pulled away from your touch quickly, coughing lightly before covering his mouth with a gloved hand, his other hand coming up to put some distance between the two of you.

“Ahem! Uh, it’s hot in here isn’t it? I’m going to grab some fresh air for maybe an hour or so, maybe I won’t even come back now that I think about it.” He turned on his heel, footsteps quick as he approached the entrance. His ears peeked out from beneath his dark hair, flushed just as red if not redder than his face. “Anyways! You guys got this without me, right? See ya!”

And just like that, Harumasa was gone. The office was quiet, everyone having witnessed the exchange between the two of you due to his boisterous entrance. Yanagi didn’t even try to stop him when he decided he was going to leave. You couldn’t help but think about what an odd, yet wonderful devoted companion he was. You truly were lucky to have him.

Your gaze suddenly caught the sight of a card nestled between some of the stems of the flowers, small and barely noticeable. Carefully extracting the card, you flipped it open carefully, Harumasa’s surprisingly neat and beautiful penmanship decorating the white paper. Your eyes widened slightly, a blush dusting over your cheeks before they closed with a shake of your head. You pocketed the card, a reminder to yourself to thank him. Your heart hammered against your ribcage, butterflies fluttering around in your stomach as you replayed the words written on the paper to yourself again.

‘Life is already sweet enough with you by my side. -Harumasa, your ever devoted partner ;3