Truffles

Isshiki had been upstairs all day. Usually, he’d come down to help, but he’d left Shirou to deal with all the clients on his own today.

It would have been a much calmer day if Isshiki were there. A second couple stormed out and it wasn’t even his fault. Young couples could be so petty about things. He’d barely got them in front of the screen before they’d started arguing.

Honestly, who had time for bullshit like that!

Whatever. It was about time he took a break anyway.
“Shirou?” Isshiki opened the door; no doubt having also noticed the time. He was wearing that awful white apron again. He had nicer ones - longer ones - that never saw the use of that old thing.

And today it was marked with streaks of chocolate. And Isshiki’s face was once again marked with icing sugar.

He came in, holding something behind his back.
“I made you something.”

God never offered him mercy.

Isshiki held out a small bento box, lined with tiny paper cups, each holding a not-quite-round chocolate.
“Thank you.”

Isshiki puffed his cheeks for a second, before smiling.
“I never got a chance to make you valentines chocolates when we were kids, so I thought I’d give it a go now.”

Shirou remembered. In fact, he may have spent a week crying and telling his parents he didn’t want to talk to Belle anymore. She didn’t give him chocolates, so she mustn’t like him anymore. Looking back, he could understand why his parents had been so desperate for him to calm down about it. His crying must have truly worn them down for them to let him bring her chocolates for white day.

His long-awaited chocolates from Belle. If only his childhood self had known how lucky he was.

Shirou steeled himself, picking out one of the chocolates and closing his eyes as he bit into it. The outer shell cracked into smooth pieces, the truffle inside was soft without the overwhelming texture of cocoa, and yet-

“Salt!”
“Do you not like salted chocolate?”
“Why would I want salted chocolate?”
“It’s nice.” He took one of the chocolates, popping it into his mouth. He chewed for a couple minutes and swallowed it.

“It tastes fine to me.”
“You’re used to eating these kinds of things!”
“I’m always willing to admit when something’s bad, Shirou,” Isshiki sighed. He was pouting, just a little. “If you don’t want them, I’ll eat them.”

“No.”
“Shirou-”
“I’m eating them.” He picked up another one, popping it in his mouth again. The taste of salt was far too much, but now he had to swallow it to prove a point.

Isshiki stared at him as he did, no doubt trying to judge his reaction, waiting to see if he’d give up on it. He couldn’t take another, but even getting a drink could be seen as giving in.

He handed Isshiki the box of chocolates he’d had waiting.

“Shirou,” he whispered taking it from him, his eyes going wide as he stared at the box.
“I didn’t make them,” Shirou cut in before he could ask, trying to hide a slight cough. “There’s a chocolatier that specialises in foreign chocolates.”

He hadn’t really understood a thing they’d said, and they’d almost talked him into their most expensive box just to know he was getting something of good quality.

But the second most expensive had more flavours Belle had liked.

Isshiki undid the ribbon, wrapping it around his wrist as he did with such tokens he liked. He said he’d find a use for them, but it was yet to happen. He opened the box and took out one of the chocolates, examining the perfectly shaped hexagonal cup, topped with tiny curls. He popped it in his mouth, sucking his fingers where they’d touched it. A gentle squeal came from between his lips as he smiled.

“Thank you, Shirou! They’re lovely. We’ll have to ask if they do wedding favours.”
“Wedding favours…” Right. Right. They probably should have an actual wedding. He’d go back tomorrow and check if they did things for weddings. Though maybe he’d be best off waiting for Suzu to decide which were the best they did.

Too distracted, trying to sort everything before they’d even discussed it, he picked up another of his own chocolates popping it in his mouth.

He grimaced as the salt hit him again, though not as bad as the first two times.
“Maybe if you eat all those, you’ll be able to handle swallowing other salty things,” Isshiki laughed.

Swallowing… other…

“ISSHIKI!”