word count: 668


i

Clothed in casual attire, his black umbrella absorbs the summer sun and his only good eye meets Natsume as he walks out of the school gate.

"It's so nice to see you," Matoba Seiji greets with a soft smile, meeting the young boy half-way as he comes to a slow stop. His black umbrella shades himself, blocking the rays of sun that burn through his clothing. "May I walk you home?"

Natsume glances at the older man, pushes the umbrella back just enough to get a decent look at his face, then slides his hands into his pockets and begins walking away in the opposite direction. Matoba pauses, then tails behind Natsume, all the while leaning his umbrella over the latter with a content smile.

ii

A lingering scent of oranges and tea permeates the large room and in the center, where sunlight falls into a giant pool of warmth and vibrancy and cicadas sing in the background, Matoba and Natsume sit with documents and tea, the two painfully close, but not touching.

Natsume asks, "Is there any particular reason you invited me over?" He eyes Matoba, who focuses only on the document he reads over.

"I enjoy your presence," Matoba answers simply, a soft half-smile appearing. "Isn't that enough of a reason?"

Red dusts up Natsume's neck and cheeks and he quickly averts his gaze when Matoba glances at him, pure amusement glinting in the dark irises. When he turns to look back at his document, his hand brushes against Natsume's, causing the younger to inhale sharply.

"Natsume-kun's flustered appearance is so cute," the older laughs. He glances once again at Natsume, who pouts.

"I-I'm going home."

He quickly rises and grabs his things, refusing to spare the other even a glance as he leaves the room. Matoba sits back, smiling to himself, and takes a sip of tea as he wallows in the dispersing scent of shampoo floating in the space.

iii

Cotton candy sticks to his fingers and a sea of voices is blurred to background noise by the incessant thumpthump's in his chest and hair that doesn't belong to him tickles his eyelashes as something soft, soft brushes against his lips.

In the corner of the amusement park, where even light hesitates to intrude, Natsume holds his breath as Matoba kisses him softly, three, two, one, and pulls back to stare at the boy.

"If I knew it was this easy, I'd have taken you here more often."

Natsume pouts and shoves some of his cotton candy into Matoba's mouth, just vaguely aware of how many flips his stomach does at the older's gentle laugh.

iv

"Nyanko-sensei says I smell too much like you."

The black umbrella's shadow stretches along the cement in the evening sun and with every brush of Matoba's arm against his, Natsume feels his skin burn and burn.

"Is that so?" Matoba hums in amusement. He moves in closer to Natsume when the younger blushes.

"Yeah," Natsume confirms. "He said if he smelled your scent one more time, he'd come and eat you."

Matoba chuckles and Natsume blushes a little bit more. He slides his hands into his pockets and falls into sync with the older's step.

"I guess he'll just have to get used to it, right, Natsume-kun?"

Matoba shifts the umbrella to his other hand and pulls Natsume into a hug. He feels bony and frail in his arms, and when Natsume struggles to free himself, Matoba only tightens his hold and smiles.

"M-matoba-san!"

"Nyanko-sensei might eat me, so shouldn't I get a hug before he does?"

Just for a moment, Natsume ceases his struggling and very subtly hugs Matoba back. But the gesture is over before it's treasured and Natsume frees himself of the other's grasp.

"I'm going to be late," Natsume huffs out air. His cheeks border a deep red as he smooths out his uniform and continues walking. The older laughs, a soft, content laugh, and falls back into step with Natsume.

owari