AFTERSCHOOL
DISCLAIMER: All characters, names, relations, etc. belong to the Disgaea series and its creator. Not mine.
WARNING: Implied yaoi, meaning boyxboy. I don't know how much of a degree. Plus, the pairing is a little weird. Sorry.
NOTES: Lolz, I should be working on Change of Seasons but I've hit a block, and the last chapter isn't coming out like I expected. I might just throw together an ending, but it feels like I'm cheating the readers. Sorry guys. ;A; Anyway, yei for random pairings from nowhere~!
I slid the classroom door open and my eyes instantly shift over toward the back row of seats, looking for his profile. Many times I'm lucky, because he's usually one of the last students to leave campus. Today is no different. He's there, staring outside the window with the afternoon sunlight coming in and falling on him, making his red hair blaze and his tanned skin glow softly. I start walking into the classroom, but I can't tear my eyes away from him. He's so beautiful.
My foot catches on the leg of a desk in the front row and I stumble hard, staggering awkwardly to catch my balance. My best friend looks up from her books and giggles at me. He glances over from staring out the window with one eyebrow raised archly. I laugh nervously, rubbing the back of my head and rushing over to Saphire's desk. I can feel my cheeks burning. She's closed her book and is now putting her things away in her school bag. I come by every afternoon, so it's routine by now.
"What's up?" she asks, even though she knows. Her green eyes sparkle in mirth. "Miss the table much?"
"Well, you know me," I laugh again nervously.
"Uh-huh," she grins and rises, tossing her bag over her shoulder. "Ready to go?"
"Yeah," I nod, holding up my own bag. She nods and comes around from her desk. We begin walking up the isle toward the back of the classroom instead of going back the way I'd come. Another routine, and all Saphire's idea. We pass by his desk—he's staring out the window once more—and she stops briefly.
"See you tomorrow, Adell-kun," she greets him.
His eyes come back around to lock onto both of us, his chin still resting in his palm. They're a deep, vibrant red. I stare.
"See ya," he mumbles, glancing from her to me. "Later, sempai."
A million things rush into my head. My throat clenches and my voice dies. Then the reaction is gone and I can force my trembling lips into a smile.
"Later, Adell-kun," I manage easily enough.
Then we're past him and out the rear door of the classroom. I let out a huge sigh and slump my shoulders. "I'm so stupid," I groan.
"At least you didn't stammer!" Saphire chimed brightly, trying not to laugh at me outright.
I give her a sideways glance: "Ugh, thanks…"
A door behind us slides open and shut again. We both turn and look, and I freeze. I stop. He's. Right. There. My mind flails for something to do or say. I'm at a loss.
"Ah! Adell-kun!" Saphire saves me. "You're leaving kind of early today!"
"It's as safe as it's ever gonna get," he shrugs, one hand on the strap of his bag and the other tucked languidly in his pocket.
"Safe?" I ask, giving Saphire a glance. She shrugs her shoulders to indicate she doesn't know either. The three of us start walking toward the stairs and—I can't believe this—Adell's walking between us. For the first time ever, I'm actually standing next to him, fully within his presence. I can't stop myself from taking quick side glances at his profile: his uniform sleeves are rolled up to his biceps, showing off his long, muscular arms—there are tiny cuts and scars peppered across the skin—the jacket is unbuttoned and untucked, his bright red tie flipping out and swaying with his deceptively lethargic step; the single thick scar on his face, mirrored on the opposite cheek. I'm barely paying attention to where were going. On his other side, Saphire sees me looking and giggles once more, but Adell doesn't realize what's funny and so he just lifts an eyebrow at her.
I don't know how I didn't fall on those steps, but we're at the lockers in the front foyer of the school. We split up to change our shoes and somehow meet up again at the doors. Adell goes out first, Saphire and I follow him out.
"Are you happy?" she whispers to me.
I can only nod in response, not wanting to open my mouth and ruin the moment with my stupid answer. I watch him descend the small set of steps and stride purposefully toward the front gate.
With a loud slam, the doors burst open behind us. Before we can look, a quick rush of air rumples our hair and clothes, and suddenly, Adell is on the ground.
"ADELL!!"
"Gah!" he speaks up from the floor.
"Adell, you left without meeeeeeeeeee!" The girl that had pounced on him latches her arms around his neck and clings to him tightly, her chest pressing into his back. He rose to his feet and tried to unsuccessfully shake her off.
"Rozalin… Can't breathe…" he grunted.
"Who…is that?" I ask Saphire, still a little bit surprised.
"That's Rozalin, the new transfer student," she explained. "It's been like this since her first day."
"Is that why he was leaving early?" I watch her hang on as he shook back and forth, trying unsuccessfully to remove her.
"Rozalin, please get off," he groaned, trying to pry her hands from around his neck.
"Nuuuuuuuu~!" Rozalin tightened her grip even more and nuzzled the back of his neck.
"ADELL-KUN!!"
"Huh?" Saphire and I blinked.
"Crap," Adell did not look happy.
A wall of angry-looking male students barred the way to the school gate. The hostility rolled off them in chilling waves.
"Er…" I said.
"That's the Princess Rozalin fan club," Saphire offered helpfully.
"What did we tell you about hogging the beautiful, lovely, delicate Princess Rozalin all to yourself?!" a spokesperson materialized from the angry mob and pointed an accusing finger at Adell, who looked thoroughly unamused.
"I'm not hogging her…" he frowned.
"You boys are annoying!" Rozalin glared at them, staring them down with an icy glare. "Go away!"
They ignored both of them. "GET HIM!!" the mob yelled collectively and surged forward. Adell quickly leapt up and out of the way, taking Rozalin with him. They both landed beside us on the school steps.
"Hii!" I jumped in surprise. "How did you do that?!"
"Practice," he grimaced, setting Rozalin down gently and ducking his head out from under her arms. "See you guys tomorrow," he re-shouldered his bag with a resigned sigh and ran back into the crowd.
"Adeeeeeeeell!" Rozalin frowned, stomping her foot. "We were supposed to walk home together today!"
"Is he going to take on all those club members by himself?!" I blinked.
"I guess this is why he stays so late afterschool," Saphire grimaced.
I watched as Adell ducked into the fray and began to fend off the angry club members. He hopped, dodged, rolled, darted, and ducked in and out between fists, legs, and assorted makeshift weapons (that appeared from nowhere). It was almost like a violent but mesmerizing dance; I couldn't stop watching him move in and out between them. Adell finally landed on the other side of the gate and dashed down the sidewalk, his hand still tucked squarely in his pocket. That's what impressed me the most, I think.
"He escaped," Saphire breathed in relief.
"He always escapes," Rozalin pouted hugely, flipping her bright blond hair.
"Ah, well," I smiled thinly, the image of his escape still in my mind, "at least no one was hurt."
At my words, the entire fan club whirled and laid their heated gazes on me.
"Hii!" I gulped, shrinking down.
"ALMAZ-SEMPAI!!" the same spokesperson shouted from the head of the group. "You're also guilty of hogging Princess Saphire all to yourself!"
"Wha—?! Wait!" I held out my hands and shook my head back and forth. "It's not like that! You've got it all wrong! We're friends…!"
"GET HIM!!" they lunged.
"Almaz, run!!" Saphire shoved me forward. I stumbled into the swarm, jumping and ducking out of the way of the crazy club members. I survived, staggering out at the gate and looking back over my shoulder. They swarmed toward me. I took off down the street the way Adell had gone, and fast. Saphire called "See you tomorrow!" after me.
Why was this happening?
"So, they finally attacked you too, huh?"
I stopped running and looked over to my left. Adell was there, as if waiting, leaning against the wall with one foot propped up and looking so casual and cool that I thought I would just faint. My knees began to tremble. Without Saphire here to act as a buffer, my reaction time became obvious. I started blushing, staring down at my feet.
"Y-Yeah," I laughed slightly. He got up from the wall and began to walk down the street. When I didn't follow right away, he looked back over his shoulder expectantly. I jumped and hurried to keep up with him.
"It's been happening to me ever since Rozalin transferred in last semester," he sighed, blowing his long bangs out of his eyes.
"Are you two dating then?" I asked, a cold dread creeping into my stomach. Please, say no, I thought to myself. And then: …Why does it matter? It's not like he's going to date me.
"Nah," he wrinkled his nose. "She just lives with my family."
"Huh?" I blinked in confusion.
"She transferred in on the Foreign Exchange Program," he elaborated. "My parents are really into that stuff. So, she's living with us until her dad moves over too."
"I see," I answered, not trying to sound too relieved. "That's very nice of your parents."
"You think so?" he shrugged. "It gets crowded from time to time."
"How many are in your family?" I asked.
"Three kids, including me," he held up three fingers. "I've got a little brother and sister."
"I wish I had siblings," I smiled at the thought of Adell's younger siblings. "I'm an only child, so it can get kind of lonely sometimes."
"What about your parents?" he asked, looking over at me. He was looking at me. I felt my face getting hotter. I managed to look away casually enough.
"My dad works full time, so I never really see him," I shrug a bit. "My mom's really into her job too, so I'm home alone a lot."
He returned his gaze ahead of him. "Sorry I asked something personal like that."
"Huh? Oh, no! It's fine!" I flailed a little bit. "I really don't mind! Besides, I'm used to it, so it doesn't bother me anymore."
"Being alone bothers me," he mumbled and I stopped in surprise. He always seemed as if he were a natural loner. He had this air about him that demanded space, not in an unfriendly way, but just because he preferred it.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know," I caught up quickly, giving him a little grin. "But you know, you are pretty popular."
"Ugh, don't remind me," he made a face.
We were approaching two children playing on a bus stop. The boy, a little older, was sitting and leaning on one hand casually, sipping a milk carton with a straw. The girl—younger—was walking heel-toe along the back of the bench with her arms extended. She saw us approaching and leapt down to the sidewalk and rushed over, lunging at Adell.
"Nii-chaaaaaaaaaan!" she squealed. Adell bent smoothly and scooped her up in mid-air, lifting her up into the crook of one arm.
"You guys waiting long?" he asked them.
"Not really," the boy stood, slurping up the last of his milk.
"We just got here!" the girl clasped her arms around Adell's neck and beamed at him. Then she turned her little face to me and stared questioningly.
"Ah, hello…" I lifted a tentative hand.
"Who's that?" she looked back at her older brother.
"Classmate," Adell answered her, looking over at his younger brother. "Ready to go?"
"Yep," he nodded, tossing his empty carton into the trashcan beside the bench. He dusted off his hands and looked at me too. He nodded. "Hello."
"Hello," I smiled, nodding my head.
"Hey," Adell addressed me and I looked over at him. "Sorry to drag you out like this."
"Oh, no! It's fine!" I smiled. "I got to meet your brother and sister."
"What's your name?" the girl asked me. I told her. "My name's Hanako, and that's Tardo."
"Taro," he automatically corrected her, giving me a slight bow. "Nice to meet you, Adamant-san."
"Almaz is fine," I bowed back. "Nice to meet you too, Taro-kun. And you, Hanako-chan."
When I smiled at her, she looked down at the floor. Then she leaned over and whispered something in Adell's ear. He looked over at me.
"You wanna come to my house?"
"W-What?" I could hardly believe my ears.
"My house. It's close," he gestured further up the block. "I can give you something to eat."
"Ah…" I didn't know how to answer. Would yes sound too eager? Would no be too rude? I couldn't decide. Finally: "I don't want to impose…"
"It's fine," he waved it off, moving forward. I had no choice but to follow. "Besides, Hanako wants you there."
"NII-CHAN!!" she flailed, looking flustered. Adell chuckled. I had never seen him smile before, let alone laugh at something. It was endearing; like around his siblings, he was a totally different person. It made me smile too.