I don't care. [ The words are gentle, yet there's a hint of a steel growl underneath. Naoshi thrills at the feel of Homare's hand over his, the revealing delay between it merely resting there and the actual attempt to move him. Which Naoshi of course resists. It's only a token gesture, after all. His tone grows happier with each passing moment.
He lifts his other hand as well, pressing it over the one on his, clutching them both there over his student's honest heart. Naoshi was going to say Homare didn't have to answer him right away, but his body already has. Was Naoshi really so uncertain before? Everything is so clear now. ] It's not so wrong, really. I'm not that much older... and in a few more months, you won't be a student. I know how important appearances are to you. If it's our secret, I can wait for you.
[ He uses his free arm to break out of that hold, panic overriding whatever sense of propriety he had left. Haruki-sensei was serious, to the point of disregarding whatever he might say on the matter. ] I don't like you, Sensei. [ It's the truth, right? He's scared, not--not excited. He never saw the little man as anything other than his teacher. ] Not like this.
[ The sudden breakaway catches him briefly by surprise, but that sense of desperate panic is gone. Naoshi lets him go, arms and hands retaining the warmth of being able to hold him so long. The little man is smiling and it's almost classic Haruki again, except he never looked at anyone with such fondness in his eyes before.
He puts his hands in his coat pockets, calmly at ease. ] Homare. [ Just once, to test the word, say it with affection. ] It'll be alright. I meant it: I know you, and I'll never hurt you. Or your reputation here at school. I'll wait, and no one will know.
[ He stumbles forward, surprised that he actually did let go. He doesn't turn around, afraid of what he might see even if that voice is almost normal now.
But it will never be normal to him, when he says his name like that and claims to know him, know all of him. He should be happy for that, but... ] Leave me alone.
It'll be alright. [ He promises, and it will be. He'll make sure of it. This is his precious person. His. For the first time, he's found someone just as afraid of being hurt as he's always been, which means they'll never hurt each other. ] I'll wait, I'll act normally, I won't pressure you. I'm sorry I caught you by surprise... but that's how afraid I was, of-- of caring so much for the first time, of losing you. But now I know everything will be alright. I won't let it turn out any other way. I promise.
[ There are so many things wrong here. He hadn't wanted his time at Seigetsu to end like this. Haruki-sensei claims to know him--how sure is he even of that? It could all just be a front, like he's been doing all this time.
He takes another breath to calm himself, mustering up his conviction. ] I don't like you, Sensei. Please never speak to me again. [ And with that, he makes his way towards the exit, fighting his trembling. ]
[ He can see how clearly Homare struggles to keep his composure. But of course. Naoshi gave him no warning, no time to prepare, and he's a Taurus, after all. He doesn't like sudden change. But he'll have time to adjust, now: the whole remainder of the school year. And Naoshi will be around, just enough to reassure him that the warm light of this little Leo isn't going anywhere. He's a stable sign, too, even if he got caught up in the sudden passion of his confession.
Homare just needs time for his rational head to catch up with his tell-tale heart. Naoshi can wait for that.
Even if he isn't looking, even if his sense of propriety compelled him to say 'never speak to me', Naoshi knows better. The little teacher lifts his hand in an ordinary farewell wave, new self finally meshing with old. ] Later, Kanakubo!
He lifts his other hand as well, pressing it over the one on his, clutching them both there over his student's honest heart. Naoshi was going to say Homare didn't have to answer him right away, but his body already has. Was Naoshi really so uncertain before? Everything is so clear now. ] It's not so wrong, really. I'm not that much older... and in a few more months, you won't be a student. I know how important appearances are to you. If it's our secret, I can wait for you.
[ He uses his free arm to break out of that hold, panic overriding whatever sense of propriety he had left. Haruki-sensei was serious, to the point of disregarding whatever he might say on the matter. ] I don't like you, Sensei. [ It's the truth, right? He's scared, not--not excited. He never saw the little man as anything other than his teacher. ] Not like this.
[ The sudden breakaway catches him briefly by surprise, but that sense of desperate panic is gone. Naoshi lets him go, arms and hands retaining the warmth of being able to hold him so long. The little man is smiling and it's almost classic Haruki again, except he never looked at anyone with such fondness in his eyes before.
He puts his hands in his coat pockets, calmly at ease. ] Homare. [ Just once, to test the word, say it with affection. ] It'll be alright. I meant it: I know you, and I'll never hurt you. Or your reputation here at school. I'll wait, and no one will know.
[ He stumbles forward, surprised that he actually did let go. He doesn't turn around, afraid of what he might see even if that voice is almost normal now.
But it will never be normal to him, when he says his name like that and claims to know him, know all of him. He should be happy for that, but... ] Leave me alone.
It'll be alright. [ He promises, and it will be. He'll make sure of it. This is his precious person. His. For the first time, he's found someone just as afraid of being hurt as he's always been, which means they'll never hurt each other. ] I'll wait, I'll act normally, I won't pressure you. I'm sorry I caught you by surprise... but that's how afraid I was, of-- of caring so much for the first time, of losing you. But now I know everything will be alright. I won't let it turn out any other way. I promise.
[ There are so many things wrong here. He hadn't wanted his time at Seigetsu to end like this. Haruki-sensei claims to know him--how sure is he even of that? It could all just be a front, like he's been doing all this time.
He takes another breath to calm himself, mustering up his conviction. ] I don't like you, Sensei. Please never speak to me again. [ And with that, he makes his way towards the exit, fighting his trembling. ]
[ He can see how clearly Homare struggles to keep his composure. But of course. Naoshi gave him no warning, no time to prepare, and he's a Taurus, after all. He doesn't like sudden change. But he'll have time to adjust, now: the whole remainder of the school year. And Naoshi will be around, just enough to reassure him that the warm light of this little Leo isn't going anywhere. He's a stable sign, too, even if he got caught up in the sudden passion of his confession.
Homare just needs time for his rational head to catch up with his tell-tale heart. Naoshi can wait for that.
Even if he isn't looking, even if his sense of propriety compelled him to say 'never speak to me', Naoshi knows better. The little teacher lifts his hand in an ordinary farewell wave, new self finally meshing with old. ] Later, Kanakubo!
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