Luigi got up at 5 in the morning so he could go to town for a bouquet of flowers. His mother always used to tell him that this was the best gift that he could give to someone special.

He bought an arrangement of sunflowers and daisies. The perfect combination between vitality, admiration and beauty; Or at least that's what Peasley had explained years ago.

As he was riding the bus back to Fungwarry, he received a message from Bowie.

Bowie: It was very nice to be with you yesterday

Bowie: Sorry again for disappearing for so long

Luigi: Don't worry, I understand that you've been busy.

Luigi: By the way, you look very cute in your uniform

As soon as he arrived at the academy, he hurried to take a quick shower and get ready.

To say that he had slept well the night before would be a lie; Well, despite the fact that seeing Bowie always put him in a good mood, he was still sorry for how he had treated Daisy.

He went to look for her at the cafeteria, but she wasn't there. Neither in the garden or in the common room of the princesses. Luigi started to worry; It wouldn't be the first time that the girl disappeared because of her sadness, but getting her out of there was always a difficult task.

He went to the classroom hoping to finally find her. So it was.

"Lu" the girl got up as soon as she saw him.

"Daisy," he sighed, "I was worried, did you have breakfast?"

"You even think I'd be in such a good mood if I hadn't eaten yet," she forced a laugh, then lightly bit her lip. "How do you feel?"

"I should ask you that," he looked at her. "I'm really sorry about yesterday, I shouldn't have talked to you like that."

"I shouldn't have interfered too much either. I just felt guilty; I mean, I forced you to go to that bar and left you alone without thinking through the risk that I might be exposing you to. Then I didn't find him in any file and..." she felt like her voice was breaking with each sentence she said.

"Daisy, calm down" he caressed her shoulders "Nothing bad happened. I'm fine" Luigi smiled at her "I brought you this" he gave her the bouquet.

The girl widened her eyes and made a slight face.

"It's not fair" she pouted "I also brought you flowers" she revealed an arrangement of carnations and forgot me not on her desk.

He giggled. "I guess we're destined for something."

"Yes," she sighed reluctantly, "Lu, I don't fully trust Bowie, but if he makes you happy, I support you."

"Yesterday I spoke to him again," he confessed. "We met in the library."

"Really!? Did you find him inside the campus?"

"And without planning it. He's a library assistant at night. It was a nice coincidence."

"And what happens?"

"I think we almost kissed."

"WHAT!? How did that happen?"

"I'm not even sure. We were just talking and out of nowhere we started getting closer. It was very strange; It wasn't my first kiss, but it felt so warm for the first time" he whispered "I'm not gay, I can't and shouldn't be, but I think I like him" he felt a lump form in his throat "I didn't want to feel anything for him; I don't want to ruin the game. What would Miyamoto say if he found out? What would my brother say!? My parents, Peach, you...

"Luigi!" She held him by the shoulders "I told you before, nothing that we think should matter to you regarding your sexuality."

"I'm scared," he mumbled.

The girl rushed to hug him "It doesn't matter what happens; I will always be there to support you. And if anyone dares to hurt you, I'll kill them."

"Wow, that escalated so fast," he snapped away.

"It was too much?"

"A bit"

They both laughed.

"So here you were, my couple of lovebirds!" Miyamoto burst into the classroom. "We've been looking for you all morning."

"We?" they asked in unison.

"There is my gallant brother" Mario leaned out "It was about time you finally beat me in the votes" he hugged him by the shoulders.

"What are you talking about?" He looked at him.

"From this month's favorite couple. You are in first place!" Peach spoke "You won the polls with a seventy-five percent. Years ago nobody had such an advantage!"

"Now imagine if you did include me in the games," Daisy gave Miyamoto an accusing look.

'But how cute, you brought flowers, ' the blonde sighed. "And to think that without formalizing you are like this. If you were boyfriends, you would surely be the perfect couple – she joined their hands.

Both friends looked at each other nervously.

"Today we will organize a dinner in your honor. Mario, Peach, Link and Zelda will also come; my spoiled children" explained the teacher.

"Sounds good," Daisy forced a smile, "what do you say, Lu? If you feel tired...

"I would never refuse a dinner. Although I may be a little late, I promised the koopalings that I would play with them after school."

"And who cares about lizards?" Mario crossed his arms.

"Me," his brother replied, annoyed by him.

Before Mario could answer, Bowser's shadow appeared in front of them.

"Excuse me, I'm going to pass," he mumbled.

"Luigi!" Junior got in the way "I heard you won something, congratulations" he smiled at him.

The older one chuckled "Thank you very much" he crouched down at his height "But then you should also congratulate Daisy. We won the best couple of the month."

"Oh, congratulations, Princess Daisy," he said after a slight bow.

"Aww, aren't you the cutest little thing in the universe?" The girl pinched his cheeks.

The boy got away and ended up hiding behind Luigi's leg.

"Excuse him, he's shy.

"How did you win couple of the month if you're gay?" Morton entered.

"Did you buy the polls?" Roy followed.

"You two, we already talked about that topic," he replied with a growl.

"Hey, we don't judge you," replied the one with glasses.

"I do" spoke the oldest of the brothers "Not because you're gay or not, but your existence is annoying."

"Thank you, Ludwig," he snorted.

"I'm really sorry," Bowser snapped, "They don't mean it."

"Leave them alone, they're children" he smiled as he carried Junior "Surely they're just excited for this afternoon" he tickled him.

Bowser couldn't help but be moved by the scene in front of his eyes.

"Is this the return of mamma Luigi?" Daisy mocked.

"Leave me alone," he laughed as he went to his seat.

"But you're adorable," she followed him with little jumps.

The others decided to imitate them and go sit down too. However, before the older koopa could move, his master stopped him with a look that seemed to scream "I'm watching you."

That meeting was more than anything to discuss the next Mario Kart tracks. And when they got to the point where only Mario was giving his opinion, Luigi took the opportunity to talk a little with Daisy about the night before with Bowie; he even showed her the last conversation of them.

"You look very cute in your uniform? Do you want to come out of the closet without being very explicit or what is that message?" she frowned.

"Does it look like that?" he worried, "I just wanted to give him a compliment. I believe that recognizing the beauty of another man is not something gay."

"It's not, but please," she stifled a laugh, "Luigi, Bowie would have to be quite an idiot if he doesn't realize that you also feel the same way he does."

"What does that mean?"

"You're very obvious," she replied. "You'd better just confess, the poor guy might think you're just playing with him if you don't act fast."

"He thinks that of me!?"

"I'm not saying that he already does, but it can pass."

He swallowed. "Actually, I'd like to confess," he admitted. "But, you know, I feel like that would only cause more trouble."

"Well, I think it's time for you to risk something in your life. You're always playing it safe, should you ever just jump right in; something beautiful could come out."

"Or something horrible," he looked at her out of the corner of his eye.

"At least you would finally have a funny story to tell."

"What does that mean?" he frowned.

The girl laughed and hugged him.

"I love you very much" she gave him a kiss on the cheek "Let's not fight again, okay?"

"Then be good," he shook her hair.

"You know I'm the most interesting thing that's ever happened to you. Or well, maybe I have already moved to second place."

"Whatever you say, sweetie."

As soon as the bell rang, the koopalings surrounded Luigi and started pulling him impatiently.

"Leave him alone, you're gonna make him fall," Bowser said.

However, for the one with the mustache, that scene was something cute enough for it to really bother him.

To say that he would reprise hid role as babysitter would be the wrong thing to say; after all, Bowser would also be there. So he saw it more as an afternoon of games with the children.

He was surprised to realize that they had arranged to have time with him that they even made a schedule so that hhe could spend half an hour with each other, except Ludwig.

With Junior he was reading stories and singing. With Larry he played video games. In the case of Morton and Roy, they taught each other self-defense techniques. Iggy showed him his collections of miscellaneous things; they ranged from insects to gum that every Fungwarry student had chewed. The only girl had prepared a small SPA session and did her nails. Finally, Lemmy taught him how to balance on a ball.

It had been a very tiring afternoon, but fun for Luigi.

When ten o'clock fell, again everyone gathered around him to listen to a story, this time being "The Rabbit on the Moon". After that, he and Bowser went to take the children to their respective beds.

They heaved a heavy sigh as they plopped down on the couch.

"Are all your days like this" asked Luigi.

"Are you kidding? I think they like you more than me now," he replied.

He chuckled "It's not like that, it's just that as an older brother sometimes they see you more as a boss than a friend."

"Happen to you?"

"Maybe more often than I should," he murmured.

A small silence formed.

"I guess you should go now," Bowser said.

The younger bit his lip –"Wouldn't you like to spend half an hour together too?" He looked at him.

"Really?" He was surprised, "Why would you want that?

"Because I'm stressed, confused and also I like you" he smiled.

"I like you too," he looked away in an attempt to hide his blush. "We could go up to the roof, I have a few beers in the fridge if you'd like."

"Sounds amazing," he got up.

The koopa followed.

The villain room might look disgusting to everyone, even its residents, but there was something about it that others envied. And it was that it was the only one who had access to climb to the roof of the academy.

It was not uncommon for anyone to sometimes see some antagonists admiring the sunrise from there.

It was the first time Luigi had gone up and, despite not being a sunset or sunrise, he was captivated by the landscape in front of his eyes.

The moonlight had never been the most powerful, but it seemed to embrace the academy thus protecting it from the complete darkness. And the stars seemed to twinkle so beautifully that they were putting on quite a show.

"Cute, isn't it?" Bowser spoke.

"Beautiful" he sighed "Let's make a toast" he grabbed a beer.

"Why?" He laughed.

"I don't know, maybe... A toast to us! Our friendship" he looked at him "For having found a safe place in someone we never suspected, do you think?" He raised his can.

"Cheers"

They had that deja vu again.

They were chatting for several minutes. Telling their stories inside and outside of Fungwarry; Luigi had to admit to being a little nervous after what Daisy had insisted about his boring life, but Bowser seemed to listen with such interest that it made him feel safe.

"Uhm," he suddenly blurted out nervously, "Hey, can I ask you a strange question?"

"Go ahead," the koopa smiled at him.

"Do you think it's gay to tell another man that he looks cute in his uniform?"

The other was silent for a few seconds. He knew well what he was referring to, but he wasn't sure how to respond.

"I mean, I guess you can appreciate another man's beauty without being gay, right?" Luigi said.

"Maybe I'm not the best option for you to ask that," he replied.

"Why?" Bowser replied with a nervous smile. "Wait, WHAT!? You are gay?

"Surprise," he muttered.

"Wow" was the only thing he could blurt out.

"Please don't tell anyone," he whispered.

"I would never do it! I mean, if you're not comfortable, I can keep your secret. It's just... What about Peach?"

He forced a laugh. "Trust me, even if she were a man, that girl is far from my type."

"I understand. Then you too fake it for the good of the franchise."

"Not exactly, I pretend because I feel like my life here would get worse if people found out."

"That doesn't sound fair."

"You get used to it," he shrugged, "So there's a guy who looks cute in his uniform?" He gave him a quizzical look.

"It's not what it seems!" He blushed, "I mean, he's already pretty enough, I just think the suit made it even more so. God, I think that made me sound worse," he squealed.

"You worry too much," he laughed

"Yes, I've been told that before," he sighed, "Bowser, how did you realize... you know?"

"That I'm gay?" the minor agreed "I'm not sure. Maybe when I turned fifteen. I didn't feel the same as the other men at the academy; I couldn't even feel the slightest attraction to Peach when I met her. And she's gorgeous! Seriously, I think she's so perfect that he even scares me a little" he felt a chill "But sometimes I got nervous when I saw other boys; there were times when I wondered what it would be like to date them and well" he laughed "here we are."

"And did you like someone from Fungwarry?"

"Several have physically attracted me" he confessed "But to the point of liking them, I think only one."

"Really!? Who is he?"

"You even think I'm going to tell you."

"You're bad." He opened his third can.

"Well, I don't know if you've noticed, but that's my role," he blurted out with a certain air of flirtation.

"Oh, now you like being the bad guy?" He answered with his look.

"Sometimes," he approached him, "But I won't be with you, you can't tolerate it."

"Oh really? Wouldn't you like to see me try it?" He imitated him.

They both laughed.

"And this cute boy in uniform, is he a friend of yours?:

"Yes, his name is Bowie" he formed a tender smile.

"And you like him?"

"Is it very noticeable?" he looked at him out of the corner of his eye.

"I only intuited it from all the conversation we just had."

"He is amazing. Do you know how it feels to wish that time would stop when you are with that special someone? And you just want to hear him tell the same story over and over again because somehow his voice is serotonin to your ears."

"Does he have a nice voice?" he asked sweetly as he thanked the darkness for hiding his blush.

"Yes, it's actually very similar to yours," he paused, "I'm not saying that you... Ugh, what I meant is that it's deep and elegant?" he swallowed. "But it's not just his voice." He tried to change the subject "His eyes are also..." but when he searched for the koopa's eyes, he could only find Bowie's. His brightness was identical, they even shared that aura of mystery and interest in getting closer "And his hands, they have something special that every time I touch him" he placed his hand on the older one. He felt that warmth again; However, what surprised him the most was realizing that he was bandaged in the same way he had done with his friend the day before "...it feels like magic" he murmured without detaching herself.

"Everything alright?" Bowser looked worried.

"Everything's perfect" he broke away suddenly "I think the alcohol is already starting to rise" he laughed nervously "Don't you feel hot?" He looked everywhere.

"My skin is resistant to high temperatures, so not really. But we can go back in if you want."

"No need," he played with the sack of him.

"Luigi Are you sure you're okay?"

"All in order!" He hastened to reply. He felt his cell phone vibrating "Thank heavens" he whispered to himself "Hello?"

"Luigi, where the hell are you? We've been waiting for you for half an hour," Daisy growled on the other end of the line.

"Waiting for me?"

"Dinner for being the favorite couple. Did you forget?"

"Dinner? Oh right, dinner!" He jumped up "Sorry, I'll be over there right away" He hung up "Bowser" He looked at the koopa.

"Don't worry, it was nice talking to you" he also stood up "Let's go down."

Hee accompanied him to the entrance of the villains' common room. He barely opened the door, and they were met with Miyamoto holding a bottle of whiskey.

"Luigi?" The professor looked surprised.

"I'm late, I know. I'm really sorry, I lost track of time" he hurried to leave "Rest" he left.

"What are you doing here?" Bowser looked at the older man.

"I came to comfort you, I supposed that seeing that Luigi and Daisy had won the couple of the month could have made you feel bad, but I see that it didn't," he watched the man with the mustache move away. "Do you want to explain to me?"

"He just took care of the kids and we talked for a while, nothing happened," he huffed.

"And would you still like to have a drink or would you rather for me to gi?" he pointed to the bottle.

"Miyamoto, I am a monstrous villain who is in love with someone who will never reciprocate him and who has just won an award along with his girlfriend; I always need a drink" he laughed and then invited him in.

On his part, Luigi's head was in a mess, but his conversation with Bowser had helped him decide once and for all.

He would propose the next day.