Once the weekend is over, Luce doesn't get a chance to see Sato again until school starts back up for the spring semester. But they had only been interacting so much because they shared a class together so obviously how often they meet up will surely decrease, right? Sure, there was still what was needed to fake their engagement as needed but this was clearly at least a partial end to Lucius' fictional whirlwind romance... Satoshi had signed up for another early childhood development class that Luce was in. Two this time, actually.

"I thought you admitted that last semester's class was a misunderstanding."

 "Well... I found that I actually quite enjoyed the class and material taught. It is not as if learning more will do me any harm. One never knows when something will provide useful in the future."
Stupid, perfect golden boy even continued to sit in the front row so the only way Luce could avoid staring at him all class was to sit in the front as well. And who would of guessed Mr. Negative-emotional-intellegence already had a reputation with the teachers of not working well with others, causing Luce - the only known person to work well with him - to be assigned as his partner for all group projects for the classes they shared? It was torture and a dream come true at the same time....
Sato looks up from his homework one evening while they're working in his dorm room. "Grandmother asked yesterday why we had not gotten any sort of engagement rings yet. Would that be something you would be comfortable getting or shall I figure out some sort of excuse why we decided against buying some?" 

Luce wants one. Something to make all this feel more real and tangenible he can keep to continue feeling connected to Satoshi. But... this is fake. "I mean... You've spent so much money on things for me to convince your extended family that we're together. I wouldn't want you spending even more on something that big for the lie." Luce gives a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "Can't have you running out of money for these things before even meeting your real future life partner." Luce should stop being so selfish.
"That is assuming that I will have a life partner in the future. I can assure you that you do not need to worry about me having enough, if you think it would be a good idea to get rings and it is something you would be comfortable doing." 

"...I suppose if it's to keep your grandmother from asking too many questions and you don't spend a huge amount, we could at least go look."
That is how the two find themselves in a local jeweler that weekend. Luce tries to only look at the simplest designs but some of the nicer rings with inlaid gems keep catching his eye. Which one would he want if they were really engaged? That one would look so good on Sato. Really let everyone know he was taken... "You look quite happy. Does that mean you like that one?" Luce looks down at the one he is currently wearing. 

Not really... "It really is nice, don't you think?" He holds it up as if admiring it. "Though I was thinking... We haven't told them who proposed, right? So maybe this time, I could be the one getting you something." 

"Actually... I told them I proposed. I thought it would be easier to keep straight since I did technically ask you for the help." That earns Sato a light punch in the upper arm. 

"Idiot. That's something you should have let me know. What if I had told them I had proposed to you first? They would have figured out we were lying if our stories don't line up and that's kinda of a big thing in an engagement."
Sato rubs his arm. "Sorry. I thought that I had told you..." 

"I'm buying a ring for you instead of the other way around. You're dense enough about these things that your family will believe that you proposed without realizing I already had tried to before you. We can tell them I bought the ring beforehand and wasn't sure what to do with it when you accidentally turned me down, but ended up giving it to you anyways." Luce glances at a ring that really would have been perfect for himself. He knows he'd feel bad having Sato spend that much money on something that wouldn't mean anything to the intellectual. At least he could have the boy he loves wearing something he picked out for a while, even if said boy discarded it once the ruse was done. Luce takes off the ring he'd been trying on and picks up the one he'd been eyeing for Satoshi. He takes Sato's hand and slides the ring on. It looks just as amazing as he'd thought it would. "How's that? A perfect fit..."

Sato looks to be still processing what's going on. "Yeah... I suppose it is..." That surprised expression makes Luce want to just kiss him. But Sato didn't seem the type big on PDA and they hadn't done much past holding hands anyways. Luce shyly takes the ring back off and goes to pay for it as an excuse to walk away before he does something stupid.

Over the following week, Luce caught Sato wearing the ring, sometimes even fidgeting with it, as if trying to get used to the feeling of having it on. At least he didn't look upset about having it. Luce could even imagine that he might feel happy about wearing the ring. Obviously just his delusions causing him to see something not really there.
Satoshi would never treasure something he- 

The light reflects off the ring's gem as Sato mindlessly turns it on his finger, distracting Luce again. He wants those fingers entwined with his own right away. They always felt so warm and comforting every chance he got. And in rare moments, he would allow himself to imagine where else he'd like those more tender than they appear hands to touch him.