Birthday Special

One thing that many second years — and also the seniors — know by heart is the sound of the Heartslabyul’s housewarden’s enraged voice. Be it from hearing the (in)famous queen lecturing his roommates or his stern concern for the garden’s roses.

They also know the sound of Riddle Rosehearts’ voice because he’s always lecturing a certain Bellethorn down the hallways.

Since first year, everyone grew accustomed to the sight of Sunny being directly scolded by Riddle. It was a very interesting sight, indeed. Sunny was always walking with the other boy, always eager to accompany him to places. Like a lost puppy, truly. Sometimes, even Floyd would join Sunny in the nagging.

And Riddle always turned a blind eye towards the boy following him, especially after his overblot.

Having Sunny around him actually made him feel quite safe, like a protector luring around to keep his friend at bay from another overblot. Riddle was quite glad that he started to let Sunny become a real friend.

Though, he could live without that troublemaker’s pranks around Heartslabyul and the constant clingling. Well, not that he cared that much about that part… Sunny did say it made him feel safer, and Riddle wouldn’t like to see a distressed friend.

Funny, since Riddle couldn’t care that much when Floyd acted weirdly, but for some reason, he just had a lingering feeling creeping through his heart every time Sunny spent time with him.

That being said, Riddle invited Sunny today for a tea party. Just them, as a request from Mor themself. Today was a big day, and they needed to keep Sunny distracted so Ramshackle could be decorated.

You see, today is March 9th. Mor and Grim gave that date a special flavor by making it Sunny’s official birthday. Though, would that make Sunny sixteen, going seventeen? Did he de-age, only to age again?

Anyways, Mor was very insistent on making Riddle the distraction for March 9th, while they said about a certain horned senior being the distraction by the night while Sunny spent some hours at Diasomnia.

Riddle shook his head at the thought. He and Sunny had classes together daily, one day with the other boy would be normal as Sunny was a constant event in Riddle’s routine.

So, now, Riddle waited patiently under the umbrella for Sunny’s appearance. Funnily enough, it was a very sunny day. So much, Cater gave the housewarden an umbrella to hide himself away from the burning sun.

Riddle had made a game plan, basically. He and Sunny would talk about life and random things, as always, while enjoying a cup of tea — and coffee, since Sunny has shown his distaste for herbal teas — and watching over the hedgehogs from Heartslabyul.

He was, surprisingly, very nervous about that, though. Riddle worked well under pressure, but having to keep Sunny from discovering the school’s plan of a birthday surprise did make him crack a little. Sunny was, unsurprisingly, very mysterious. He could’ve discovered it already, but decided to go with the flow; maybe, he was truly oblivious but played as if he knew everything already.

Riddle felt an upcoming headache just thinking about Sunny’s situation. He just hoped everything went according to the plan.

Sunny did deserve a rest day, anyways. Riddle heard from some students about how the so-called “Silver Protector” has not slept in some days. Maybe Riddle should switch Sunny’s coffee for tea and finally make him sleep for some hours, that would be helpful as well and more easy to manage.

The sun was burning Riddle’s head, even if he sat under the umbrella. The tea set he received as a gift long ago was over the white, fancy table for two. Trey sent some tarts, as well, putting them on a cooler alongside some crepes and ice-cream. Though Riddle was already itching to have a taste of it already, he knew the rules.

If it was Sunny, all the sweets would’ve been long gone…

Talking about the devil, there came the boy. Riddle felt his heart going out of his chest for a second when he realized Sunny’s mullet was neatly tied into a low ponytail.

The boy looked around the garden, probably looking for Riddle, before setting his eyes on the white table with the redhead. Sunny’s smile turned into a more genuine one.

“RID!!!” Sunny came running, almost crashing into the table if not for Riddle’s stern warning, “Ehe! Sorry, sorry. Ah! Good mornin’, Rid! How are ya today?”

“Bellethorn, it’s good to see you. I’ve been waiting for quite a while already” Riddle’s hand pointed towards the vacant seat in front of him.

Sunny continued to smile, coming closer to the seat, “Ai!! Stop callin’ me ‘Bellethorn’, we’re friends now! Call me ‘Sunny’, thank ya, thank ya!”

Riddle smiled slightly with amusement, “I’m not yet used to it, but I’ll start trying, Bel— Sunny”, Sunny laughed wholeheartedly, tapping his fingers on the table.

“So! Ehe, what shall w’do now?” Riddle noticed the little red tint in the boy’s cheek. He didn’t comment on it, as he was sure he looked the same himself.

“Good question. Trey sent us some tarts and sweets, and I was wondering if a… study session would be beneficial,” Riddle stated, grabbing the cooler slightly to open it, “but, well, today is a special day to you, so I’ll not dictate what we shall do…”

Sunny didn’t respond, continuing to tap his finger lightly and keeping his head low.

Riddle smiled slightly, getting some tarts out, “I made some coffee, as well,” he gave a vanilla tart to Sunny, “though, I… don’t have that much ability doing that, so I asked for Cater’s assistance.”

Sunny finally looked up, happily taking the fork by his side, “Ahah! ‘tis the thought that counts! Plus, I’ll gladly drink anythin’ you give me, Rid!” Sunny kept his shining smile as he started eating the tart.

“I’m glad, Be— Sunny. Oh, right, we can also take care of some hedgehogs if you wish to,” Sunny looked weirdly at Riddle, “isn’t… that against yer rules?” Riddle coughed, cheeks reddening. “…. It’s… not what it sounds like. We’re going to take care of them, not take them out on a playdate, B— Sunny.”

Sunny hummed, a playful smile forming on his lips, “Riiiiiiiight, because I would never play with them,” Riddle sighed, “I’m already regretting this. Maybe we should stick with the study session”

Sunny stared at Riddle as the boy started to enjoy his strawberry tart, “Ya know, am kinda stupid sometimes, but even I notice how much happier you seem after relaxin’ a lil’ on the rules, Rid…” Riddle left out a surprised sound.

“Ah.. well, thank you for your insight, B— Sunny. You are right to some extent,” Riddle thought for a while, closing his eyes, “I really.. disliked your conduct, and it’s not something I appreciate even now…

“But I’m.. glad I gave you the chance to become my friend. In truth, no rivalry or rule breaking involved. People have always been scared of me since the first year, but you really tried your best to… help me.

“Of course,” Riddle continued, opening his eyes slowly and looking down at his tart, “I would be grateful if you stopped pulling pranks, showing up late to class or using an inappropriate uniform etiquette. If you respected the rules more, and didn’t put your life in line every second I would look away.

The redhead smiled, slowly starting to shift his vision to the other boy, “Yet, I’m glad you’re still the Sunny I know. That being said, do you—”

Riddle finally looked at Sunny, noticing the reddened face of the boy. If someone were to look at him, they could confuse him with a tomato. His lips were slightly parted as his pitch black eyes stared deeply at Riddle with a glimpse of embarrassment and surprise.

“S.. Sunny? Are you… ?” Riddle was surprised; he has never seen Sunny in that state. He felt his own cheeks reddening more as his silver eyes looked down and he got his hand closer to his own lips. “I— I might have gone a… a- a little overboard, I’m ter- terrible sorry for my c.. conduct, vice-prefect.”

Sunny said no words, only staring at Riddle with an unreadable emotion on his face. And then, he started laughing wholeheartedly.

“I— IS THAT—HAHAHAHAHHAHDBWJSAI IS THAT… HAHAHHAAHHA…. A-A LOVE CONFESSION, RID? HAHAHAHAHAHAH-”

Riddle felt embarrassed as he started stuttering, “O-of course not! Vice-prefect, Sunny Bellethorn, compose yo.. yourself!!”

“AHAHAHAHAHA..” Riddle could see Sunny wiping tears out, “I-I’m sorry, sorry! Ya just- pff… you’re just so adorable, Riddle,” Sunny’s voice got lower as he spoke, “it makes me want to bite ya.”

“T—that’s… !!!” Riddle wanted to hide himself away, yet opted to continue eating his tart. “….. You’re truly infuriating, Bellethorn.”

“Eeeeh~? Why not call me Sunny anymore?” Sunny slightly jokes, playing with his own tart, “… well, thanks, Riddle. Love ya.”

“….”

“….”

“….”

It was now Sunny’s turn to want to disappear, “AHAHAHAHAHA???? EHAHAHSHAHSHEHSJSKDJEIOD” Sunny’s face was burning red. He felt like passing out.

Riddle kept quiet, tart long forgotten as he hid his face with his gloved hands, “…………………..”

Sunny was very embarrassed, you could see it from miles away. He hid his face as well, an awkward smile plastered in his face, “nsjfjajsjahehkakskdkaowjejwjslao-”

“……………..”

Riddle suddenly realized his plan wouldn’t go as smoothly as he thought. But he didn’t fret over the thought, because Sunny might be unpredictable, but he was a safe harbor still.

Riddle also realized something else, but that’s a secret only for him to know about.