Title: The Boy Beneath the Noh Mask
Day/Theme: 2nd November/"Life imitating art imitating life"
Series: Eerie Queerie
Character/Pairing: Senpai/Kanau
Rating: PG
Notes: Nakano Shinji is the name I use for the unnamed upperclassman in Kanau's story.
The first time Nakano meets Kanau, they are in the drama club room and he has returned after school hours to fetch a textbook he had forgotten. He finds it and turns to leave nose to nose with a waxy face, forever frozen in a hideous grimace. He starts backwards, not quite yelping, and holds up his chemistry book as if to shield himself from the creature. Then the Noh mask is taken off and Nakano sees a human face, one of a boy a little younger than himself.
"I'm sorry, Nakano-senpai," he says, bowing formally. "I didn't know there was anyone in here."
Nakano tilts his head uncertainly. "It's all right, um. It's all right." He doesn't know the other boy and he wishes himself a mile away, at home.
"I'm another member," the boy explains, looking at Nakano with huge dark eyes. "I remember you from the first meeting."
Nakano stares at the boy, because he spent the entire first drama club meeting gazing at the floor. Kanau is blushing. Nakano finds this interesting.
"Do you want to get something to drink?" Kanau is watching him anxiously and Nakano feels himself reddening under the intent gaze.
"All right," he says, speaking to his chemistry textbook.
"Here, let me take that," says Kanau, his manner suddenly much easier, and he slides the textbook from Nakano's grip before Nakano even registers the touch.
There is a café quite near to the school, where the third years congregate. Kanau stays close to Nakano, who ignores the strange looks they're getting and orders coffee for both of them. Kanau doesn't like coffee, Nakano realises the second after he places the order, but Kanau says nothing. They drink it together (Kanau burns his mouth on the first sip and is obviously fighting the urge to gag every time he lifts the cup to his mouth, but again, he says nothing) and they talk – or rather, Kanau talks, in a quick, nervous undertone while steadfastly gazing at the graffiti on the table. Nakano listens, trying to ascertain what Kanau is attempting to say when Kanau stammers over a perfectly simple word and he realises with a shock that the younger boy is shy.
"It's all right," he says clearly, interrupting Kanau's soccer-related ramble. "I don't mind it here." Nakano holds his breath for a moment, waiting for a reply, but Kanau smiles like the world is righted for a moment and he lets it out with a sigh. "Let me walk you home," he tells Kanau.
"Thank you, senpai."
They walk home and stand on the doorstep like they're shy lovers on a first date, which, Nakano supposes, they are. Kanau toes the cement and his eyes flicker between Nakano's face and the step. Nakano touches his shoulder awkwardly and Kanau's eyes fix on him, worried and unsure. He's clutching Nakano's textbook like a protective talisman and his face is tilted upwards.
"See you tomorrow," Nakano says, and turns on his heel to walk down the driveway. He hears the crunch of gravel as Kanau jumps down from the step and then Kanau's voice calls:
"Senpai - !"
He turns again to face Kanau. "Yeah?"
"I – nothing, senpai. See you tomorrow."
It is not until Nakano is home and about to start his homework that he realises Kanau still has his textbook.