Authorly preamble or somthing: Did you know that Ojima Naoya is in the drama adaptions of both HanaKimi and RH Plus? This discovery made me really want to write Umeda/Kiyoi. Look, I don't pretend to know how my mind works; it's probably best not to wonder. I'd originally meant to expand the universe this takes place in; it's yet to happen, but never say never.

Not So Estimable, Profitable Neither

What was both impressive and frightening about the two men, Makoto realized as he paused in the doorway and glanced hesitantly back, was how they each seemed to have an aura of quiet intensity completely separate from each other in an atmosphere that was otherwise quite calm. It made him think of two vivid red splatters of paint on a background of cool blue, or Ken and Ryu at the character select screen.

"Ageha, Makoto, why don't you two go look around the school grounds?" Kiyoi had said, smile as kind as ever. "You should get to know your way around. I'll come find you when I'm done here."

"Makoto, come on," said Ageha, already half a dozen steps down the hall, and Makoto reluctantly pulled the door shut behind himself.

"You wanted to talk to me about something?" Kiyoi asked calmly after the sound of footsteps had faded.

"Those kids," replied Umeda, glancing down at the clipboard in his hands. "Their checkups. I noticed... some strange stuff."

Kiyoi's gaze intensified but he remained otherwise impassive. "I see."

"You don't sound surprised," Umeda observed, not sounding very surprised himself. He held up his clipboard. "It'll have to go in their medical records, you know."

"They're good kids," said Kiyoi quickly, hesitating before continuing. "Please... don't."

Umeda set his clipboard down and raised his eyebrows. "But if I've found abnormalities, don't you think they should be recorded? For their own good, of course."

"I don't think you're the one who should decide what's for their own good," Kiyoi replied evenly, eyes flashing.

"Hmm." Umeda closed the distance between them quickly, seizing Kiyoi's hand and pressing fingers to his wrist. "As expected, you're the same as them, aren't you?"

Pulling his wrist free, Kiyoi's eyes flashed again, more dangerously this time. "They're good kids," he repeated. "I won't let you put them in harm's way."

Umeda crossed the last step that remained between them, grabbing Kiyoi's wrist again when he tried to take a step backward. His other hand landed on Kiyoi's shoulder, ensuring he wouldn't be going anywhere. "You don't really want to fight, or whatever it is you're thinking of doing," he said, and Kiyoi's uneasy silence was as good as agreement. Umeda smiled slowly. "So why don't we talk this out? What would you... be willing to do to keep that stuff off their records?"

Ageha dropped down onto the grass next to Makoto with a satisfied sigh, looking down the hill at the soccer game going on. "Why so glum?"

"Just... thinking about Kiyoi-san," Makoto replied, pulling his legs up to his chest and resting his chin on his knees contemplatively. "I feel bad. I mean he's cleaning up our mess, even if there wasn't anything we could really do. You think he's okay?"

Ageha sighed again, squinting in the bright sunlight. "You shouldn't worry so much, you know," he advised, leaning back and stretching his arms above his head, shade from his fingers casting shadows on his face. "It's Kiyoi. He'll take care of everything somehow."