Ice got home that day, earlier than usual. He opened the gate to their wing of the Hayashi estate to find his best friend standing still, staring into the garbage bin. He slowly approached River, smelling roses and… something off: the turtle was clearly upset. As the polarbear got closer he saw inside the bin, “Why are there flowers in the garbage bin?”
He was met with silence, the yellow turtle kept looking at the disposed huge bouquet of pink roses.
Ice placed an arm around River’s shoulders and gently pulled him away from the dumpster, leading him towards the house, “C’mon, tell me allaboutit.” Once inside he settled him under the kotatsu in the living room, turning the heater on. He took off his gakuran, “Alright, wha’happened?” then placed a futon so that he could lay down with his head beside River’s, but upside down because he doesn't need the heat. “Is it Rosa?”
River simply closed his eyes, raising an arm to cover them as he deeply sighed.
“The flowers are a dead giveaway, my man,” the bear told him with a forced laugh.
“She finally contacted me.”
“...How is she?”
“She… she said she just found my letter today.”
“Huh. She has been stayin’ with that purple guy…”
“Rosa forgives me… us. And wanted to meet today.”
“Hey, that's great news!”
“Y-yeah. I was so happy and excited I ordered pink roses to be delivered here.”
“Heh, yeah. It’s the least a good boyfriend could do, amirite?”
“I was on my way to bring them to her when she called to postpone.”
“What? Why??”
“She told me Donnie surprised her for their… Monthsary date.”
“Donnie...? Wait, purple guy?? ‘Monthsary’? They’ve been dating for a month??”
“She went back to him…” River brought his hands up, covering his eyes, “Donnie told me I stole her from him. And now they're…” his mouth winced, stifling sobs.
Ice pressed his forehead against River’s temple. He soon felt a damp three-fingered hand hold the back of his head. Patiently, he waited until River smelled calmer, spent from crying.
The turtle slowly turned to lay on his side, facing his best friend, foreheads still touching while upside down from each other. The lack of eye contact seemed to make talking about this easier somehow.
“So… they've been back together for a month now… And she forgives us?”
River nodded, head rubbing against white fur.
“She postponed ta when?”
“Thursday.”
“I was gonna ask her if she could intern in my lab before… bef-... I-is it ok with ya...?”
“...Sure. I don't see why not.”
“No, man. I unnerstan’ if ya don't wanna see her or anything.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m happy enough to have her as my friend again.”
“We can keep using da AI…”
“I’ll ask her, okay?” River looked up to meet the bear’s pale blue eyes, “If she refuses then that’s that.”
“Alright. I just… don't wantcha gettin’ hurt.”
And River did ask her. His dumbass martyr best friend asked.
She didn't refuse.
Ice figured as much the moment he got the text message saying they're on their way to his lab. He got out to the hallway and saw her brighten up the moment their eyes met. Rushing over to pick her up in a bear hug, he took a good whiff of her.
Her scent confirmed she has been sleeping with another turtle. She also smelled genuinely happy to see them.
He led them into his lab, finding an excuse to get her phone to find photos or any snippets to suss out this other turtle they call Donnie. As soon as he got his paws on it he was surprised to find the system tampered with.
Rosa was supposed to start transitioning to campus-issue devices after starting in February.
Ice decided to move the schedule up a bit and confiscated… or rather, borrowed her devices that very night. And as he guessed, her phone was accessed by someone, who he caught on video recording, giving him his first glimpse of the other turtle. Just as planned. Donnie was forced to continue to stay in touch using Rosa’s old devices long after Ice issued her new ones. He started planning to make his move on River since.
