Note: This fic takes place while Misaki is in college and taking Hiroki's literature class.
Disclaimer: I own my own twist and onthing more.
Misaki's Last Week
"So, after reading last week's book, I want all of you to write a seven to eight page paper on what you would do if you knew you only had one week to live."
Professor Kamijou casually picked up an eraser, silently daring anyone to groan or complain. Nobody did…on the outside.
"Yes, and to make it easier, I want you to write it over the course of next week. You should start writing this Sunday, so you can turn in your essay to me next Monday. Now then, hurry along to your next class. I'm sure if you tell your professor who held you late, they'll understand immediately" Hiroki said drily. A few of his older students cracked smiles; this was his way of saying sorry and joking about himself without damaging his pride in the process.
Misaki Takahashi took no note of this however; he was thinking about the assignment. Ordinarily, he wouldn't have bothered with starting his essay until it was time to, but this particular assignment struck a deep chord with him. If I only had a week to live… he mused as he walked slowly to his next class.
"Oi, Takahashi! Get a move on!" Professor Kamijou's voice drawled from down the hallway, not unkindly. "Yes, professor!" Misaki blushed with embarrassment as he pushed the assignment out of his mind for the moment and hurried towards his next class.
XxX
"I don't understand it, Hiroki." Akihiko glared into his coffee cup as Hiroki stirred his own with a mild expression. "One minute he's ridiculously resistant, and then all of a sudden, he keeps giving me this weird look that just sends chills down my spine. And he's so clingy all of a sudden, not that I mind that, but it's not like him to be so…I don't even know! He keeps looking over at me like he's thinking really hard, and then as if he wants to cry, and then he gets real quiet and just keeps snuggling up to me. Quite frankly, I'm frightened, Hiroki!"
Akihiko lifted his gaze to find his friend's eyes twinkling in mild amusement. "What's so funny?"
"Oh my dear friend, I don't think you have anything to worry about." Hiroki chuckled into his coffee mug, a rare sound for the serious professor.
"Nothing to worry about? Why, do you know something I don't?" the author demanded, setting his cup on the table in front of him and then crossing his arms.
"Well, as the professor who sees him when you do not during the day, I indeed know a few things that you do not." Hiroki smirked as this dawned upon the author and the indigo eyes shifted from uneasy to irritated.
"So enlighten me, Hiroki. And please wipe that smirk off your face, before I decide to write about you in my next BL novel. Now it was Hiroki's turn to glare across the table.
"Alright, if you must know, the boy's thinking about what would happen to you if he were gone. Satisfied?" Hiroki growled as he set his coffee down on the table with a slight clank.
"Why would he do that? Why would such a thought even enter his head in the first place?" Akihiko growled right back, glaring pointedly at the professor. Instead of responding to Akihiko's obvious challenge to explain himself, Hiroki reached for his bag under the table. Inside were graded papers and a few extra student handouts. He took one of the latter and handed it to his friend.
"What's this?"
"Why don't you read it, genius?" Hiroki snorted as he picked up his coffee again.
Frowning, Akihiko read the paper over. It was an essay prompt. It read:
If you knew you only had one week left to live, how would you spend that week? Be specific and give reasons why you would do what you would do in your final week. Your essay should be at least seven pages long, double spaced, and in proper expository form. Essays may be turned in early for extra credit.
Akihiko's brow furrowed. "So this assignment is what's got him bothered? But I still don't understand…"
Hiroki sighed and then reached for his bag once more. He retrieved an already graded essay and handed it to Akihiko. "That there is Takahashi's response to the prompt. Turned it in the day after the assignment was given and it has nine pages to boot. He brought it in on a Saturday, and he doesn't even have classes that day. Best grade he ever got or probably ever will get in my class." Hiroki gazed into his coffee cup carefully as he let this information sink in for the novelist.
Said author put on his reading glasses and sat back in his chair and began to read Misaki's essay, his eyes widening with every word he took in.
A/N: Clearly this first chapter is pure exposition (background information/ plot foundation), but I hope you all stick around to see just how Misaki would spend his time if he knew he had one week left to live. As for the morbid tone of the fic, it's been Apocalypse Week on History Channel 2, and it made me wonder what I myself would do if I had one week left to live. But that's, as they say, another story. ^-^