Breaking Barriers - Chapter 4: Curiosity
Breaking Barriers
Summary:
In this NinoAi High School AU, the presence of Aiba Masaki is there to break the barriers built around Ninomiya Kazunari's heart. But will the walls of trust be built in its place?
Notes: A simple lunchtime tremble. Will it lead to a wave?
|| writer a and z are continuously missing on my posting day ;n;
Disclaimer:
I lost my working notes in a rather stupid way, oh gosh. I don't remember how the schedule is suppose to run anymore ;n;
Warning/Rating:
It's g, again. Also, I think I'm suppose to tag this fic as angst *hinthint* I should really sort the tags out. Guess I'll do it after I complete the fic.
Words: About the length of Chapter 2, this roller coaster ride isn't stopping soon, I think. Apologies!!
Chapter 4: Curiosity
Friday, 7th February
Ninomiya takes a small bite off the soft melon bread Aiba had kindly bought for him. It somehow became Aiba's unspoken task to feed Ninomiya during lunchtime. His strong love for cash has Ninomiya merely not eating otherwise.
The pair had snuck up to the school rooftop that Friday afternoon. They never really ate at only one spot for lunch, so to call it a change of view wouldn't be entirely accurate.
Ninomiya watches as Aiba spins around in random circles, enjoying the wind and warm sunshine. Aiba's blazer is lying beside Ninomiya, as it "gets in the way of spinning" as Aiba had proudly declared. Loosening his school tie, Ninomiya stuffs the bread wrapper in the pockets of Aiba's blazers as his own definition of disposing his trash. The comfortable atmosphere is putting Ninomiya in a slight daze.
Aiba has stopped spinning around in random circles. The older boy is making his way over to where Ninomiya is sitting. It is still winter, and Ninomiya wonders how spinning around in slow circles is able to cause Aiba to soak his shirt in sweat.
Maybe it is the sun radiating out of himself.
The air is freezing cold again, despite the sun being at its highest. As Aiba seats takes a seat beside him, eyes squint with glee and panting rather heavily. Ninomiya feels an increase in his heart rate.
Mentally, he tries to figure out the cause of the occurrence. As much as he didn't want to, the possibility that the cold winter air is lacking oxygen happens to be his best guess. He definitely wouldn't admit that it is the increasingly heavy body leaning against his, long legs outstretched, and a head full of fluffy hair gently resting on his shoulders is his next best.
"Kazu..."
It takes Ninomiya several seconds to process his own name. Ever since Aiba's home visit to the Ninomiya's house, Aiba had started calling him by his first name. Aiba had probably picked it up from Ninomiya's mother, but it still takes Ninomiya quite a while to get used to it. Aiba had casually changed to using his first name that Ninomiya doesn't know if he's suppose to mind it or not.
His increasing heart rate makes him leave it as it is.
"Kazu..." Aiba repeats "Is it wrong?"
"Hmm?"
Aiba’s voice is close to a whisper as he says "Do you think it's alright? For a guy to have a crush on another guy?”
The silence that follows is almost deafening. Or rather, Ninomiya is silent because it feels like he’s going deaf. Yet those barely spoken words seem to echo in his ears. His ear drums seem to vibrate in a tone too low, he thinks he’s imagining it. He probably is, but there’s no way of confirmation so he scowls silently to himself. It doesn't feel like this deafening silence seems to be ending anytime soon. Ninomiya tenses as he starts to feel anxious about really going deaf.
“Ah, it’s really weird, huh?” Aiba sits up as abruptly as he speaks.
The sentence comes like a tidal wave. In the moment it came, the silence that surrounded him seemed to have crashed. Ninomiya feels a slight sense of relief that he isn't going deaf. The sudden loss of pressure on his shoulder makes him feel lighter. It feels like the sun rays peeking through the winter clouds - bright and joyful. However, the hint of forced cheerfulness was not lost to Ninomiya.
“I’m sorry, it was a weird question.” Aiba says, face flustered.
Ninomiya doesn't bother trying to hide that he is observing the older boy as he full on turns to face Aiba. Aiba’s face is getting redder by the minute, and he’s fanning himself with his bare hands now.
"You probably feel uncomfortable, right? Sorry, I didn't mean to.” Aiba is ranting as he rubs his nape. “It’s just, you know. Just, well… umm… there’s really no excuses, huh? Well, I didn't mean anything by it. It was a random thought.”
Ninomiya continues staring at the nervous boy for a whole other minute. He then turns towards the sky, closing his eyes.
“It’s fine, isn’t it?” he says out, and Ninomiya realizes he hasn’t really thought about how to respond.
“In the first place, things like who we like or what kind of person we fall for is not something anyone can control. Not even ourselves.” He’s ranting, he realizes, but despite the loss of weight on his shoulder, it doesn’t feel any lighter besides physically.
“There are also various kinds of people on this planet. There’s a good and bad of everyone, so what kinds of people meet, it’s fine isn’t it?”
The white winter clouds have blocked the sunlight now, casting a soft shade over the two. Ninomiya dares to open his eyes, facing up the sky, as the glaring sunray is hidden. He feels the pressure of Aiba’s eyes on him. He knows they’re shining with a hint of tears. In the short period of time he’s known Aiba, Ninomiya thinks that Aiba is probably one of the most emotional guys he’s known. It amazes him constantly how Aiba can reveal so much.
He knows he has just said something cool. He would probably have passed off as a prince in a shoujo manga. He smirks a little, a feeling of smugness washing over him. Yet for some reason, Ninomiya is too shy to face the other boy.
He lies down in an attempt to break the still atmosphere. It isn’t normal for him to rant. The anxiousness brought about by the heavy atmosphere has his heart beating like crazy. It’s senseless how his own body is able to confuse him so much.
The minutes passed, and Ninomiya feels like he’s about to doze of as neither of them continues the conversation. He growls as the school bell rings, signalling the end of lunchtime. Aiba is laughing at him as he is pulled up by the taller boy. He’s rushing down the stairs in an attempt to match Aiba’s pace. They reach Aiba’s classroom fast enough before he is able to catch up. Aiba stops before he enters the back door, and Ninomiya expects him to bid a short, temporary farewell before entering. Aiba always does that, even though Ninomiya never stops.
Instead, “Thanks, Kazu. As expected, you’re really smart.”
*****
That night, as Ninomiya covers himself with his quilt, the happenings of the afternoon lunchtime sneaks into his mind. He recalls the husky tone of the barely whispered words, the pauses before the question, the silent anticipation after. It occurs to Ninomiya then why he felt the need to rant.
It wasn’t a random question.
And Ninomiya finds himself asking the same question, unaware as his body switches off to slumber mode.
“Is it alright?”
A/N: Next issue: I honestly have no idea because I lost my working notes *refer to disclaimer
I don't get my variance in chapter lengths either.
Summary:
In this NinoAi High School AU, the presence of Aiba Masaki is there to break the barriers built around Ninomiya Kazunari's heart. But will the walls of trust be built in its place?
Notes: A simple lunchtime tremble. Will it lead to a wave?
|| writer a and z are continuously missing on my posting day ;n;
Disclaimer:
I lost my working notes in a rather stupid way, oh gosh. I don't remember how the schedule is suppose to run anymore ;n;
Warning/Rating:
It's g, again. Also, I think I'm suppose to tag this fic as angst *hinthint* I should really sort the tags out. Guess I'll do it after I complete the fic.
Words: About the length of Chapter 2, this roller coaster ride isn't stopping soon, I think. Apologies!!
Chapter 4: Curiosity
Friday, 7th February
Ninomiya takes a small bite off the soft melon bread Aiba had kindly bought for him. It somehow became Aiba's unspoken task to feed Ninomiya during lunchtime. His strong love for cash has Ninomiya merely not eating otherwise.
The pair had snuck up to the school rooftop that Friday afternoon. They never really ate at only one spot for lunch, so to call it a change of view wouldn't be entirely accurate.
Ninomiya watches as Aiba spins around in random circles, enjoying the wind and warm sunshine. Aiba's blazer is lying beside Ninomiya, as it "gets in the way of spinning" as Aiba had proudly declared. Loosening his school tie, Ninomiya stuffs the bread wrapper in the pockets of Aiba's blazers as his own definition of disposing his trash. The comfortable atmosphere is putting Ninomiya in a slight daze.
Aiba has stopped spinning around in random circles. The older boy is making his way over to where Ninomiya is sitting. It is still winter, and Ninomiya wonders how spinning around in slow circles is able to cause Aiba to soak his shirt in sweat.
Maybe it is the sun radiating out of himself.
The air is freezing cold again, despite the sun being at its highest. As Aiba seats takes a seat beside him, eyes squint with glee and panting rather heavily. Ninomiya feels an increase in his heart rate.
Mentally, he tries to figure out the cause of the occurrence. As much as he didn't want to, the possibility that the cold winter air is lacking oxygen happens to be his best guess. He definitely wouldn't admit that it is the increasingly heavy body leaning against his, long legs outstretched, and a head full of fluffy hair gently resting on his shoulders is his next best.
"Kazu..."
It takes Ninomiya several seconds to process his own name. Ever since Aiba's home visit to the Ninomiya's house, Aiba had started calling him by his first name. Aiba had probably picked it up from Ninomiya's mother, but it still takes Ninomiya quite a while to get used to it. Aiba had casually changed to using his first name that Ninomiya doesn't know if he's suppose to mind it or not.
His increasing heart rate makes him leave it as it is.
"Kazu..." Aiba repeats "Is it wrong?"
"Hmm?"
Aiba’s voice is close to a whisper as he says "Do you think it's alright? For a guy to have a crush on another guy?”
The silence that follows is almost deafening. Or rather, Ninomiya is silent because it feels like he’s going deaf. Yet those barely spoken words seem to echo in his ears. His ear drums seem to vibrate in a tone too low, he thinks he’s imagining it. He probably is, but there’s no way of confirmation so he scowls silently to himself. It doesn't feel like this deafening silence seems to be ending anytime soon. Ninomiya tenses as he starts to feel anxious about really going deaf.
“Ah, it’s really weird, huh?” Aiba sits up as abruptly as he speaks.
The sentence comes like a tidal wave. In the moment it came, the silence that surrounded him seemed to have crashed. Ninomiya feels a slight sense of relief that he isn't going deaf. The sudden loss of pressure on his shoulder makes him feel lighter. It feels like the sun rays peeking through the winter clouds - bright and joyful. However, the hint of forced cheerfulness was not lost to Ninomiya.
“I’m sorry, it was a weird question.” Aiba says, face flustered.
Ninomiya doesn't bother trying to hide that he is observing the older boy as he full on turns to face Aiba. Aiba’s face is getting redder by the minute, and he’s fanning himself with his bare hands now.
"You probably feel uncomfortable, right? Sorry, I didn't mean to.” Aiba is ranting as he rubs his nape. “It’s just, you know. Just, well… umm… there’s really no excuses, huh? Well, I didn't mean anything by it. It was a random thought.”
Ninomiya continues staring at the nervous boy for a whole other minute. He then turns towards the sky, closing his eyes.
“It’s fine, isn’t it?” he says out, and Ninomiya realizes he hasn’t really thought about how to respond.
“In the first place, things like who we like or what kind of person we fall for is not something anyone can control. Not even ourselves.” He’s ranting, he realizes, but despite the loss of weight on his shoulder, it doesn’t feel any lighter besides physically.
“There are also various kinds of people on this planet. There’s a good and bad of everyone, so what kinds of people meet, it’s fine isn’t it?”
The white winter clouds have blocked the sunlight now, casting a soft shade over the two. Ninomiya dares to open his eyes, facing up the sky, as the glaring sunray is hidden. He feels the pressure of Aiba’s eyes on him. He knows they’re shining with a hint of tears. In the short period of time he’s known Aiba, Ninomiya thinks that Aiba is probably one of the most emotional guys he’s known. It amazes him constantly how Aiba can reveal so much.
He knows he has just said something cool. He would probably have passed off as a prince in a shoujo manga. He smirks a little, a feeling of smugness washing over him. Yet for some reason, Ninomiya is too shy to face the other boy.
He lies down in an attempt to break the still atmosphere. It isn’t normal for him to rant. The anxiousness brought about by the heavy atmosphere has his heart beating like crazy. It’s senseless how his own body is able to confuse him so much.
The minutes passed, and Ninomiya feels like he’s about to doze of as neither of them continues the conversation. He growls as the school bell rings, signalling the end of lunchtime. Aiba is laughing at him as he is pulled up by the taller boy. He’s rushing down the stairs in an attempt to match Aiba’s pace. They reach Aiba’s classroom fast enough before he is able to catch up. Aiba stops before he enters the back door, and Ninomiya expects him to bid a short, temporary farewell before entering. Aiba always does that, even though Ninomiya never stops.
Instead, “Thanks, Kazu. As expected, you’re really smart.”
*****
That night, as Ninomiya covers himself with his quilt, the happenings of the afternoon lunchtime sneaks into his mind. He recalls the husky tone of the barely whispered words, the pauses before the question, the silent anticipation after. It occurs to Ninomiya then why he felt the need to rant.
It wasn’t a random question.
And Ninomiya finds himself asking the same question, unaware as his body switches off to slumber mode.
“Is it alright?”
A/N: Next issue: I honestly have no idea because I lost my working notes *refer to disclaimer
I don't get my variance in chapter lengths either.