Haha, found a prompt/challenge on Tumblr that set up Shion and Nezumi as college professors, so of course I couldn't resist. Have fun reading.
Discaimer: I don't own No. 6, novel, anime, manga, the whole shebang. If I did, I would have made sure the ending of the anime wasn't the epic mess it is.
Dr. Shion was that one professor that always seemed to live on coffee. Occasionally one could see him with the accompanying pastry or donut, but most of the student population was convinced that caffeine ran through the young man's veins. His colleague was not happy with the situation.
"Shion, you really have to stop doing this," said Nezumi, plucking his coworker's mug out of his hands as he was about to pour himself a fourth cup. "I'm not the bio-ecology teacher here, but even I know that this can't be good for you." Nezumi, or Prof Nezi as his students called him behind his back, still liked to help Shion with the piles of paper that always seemed to accumulate, even if he himself had become a teacher in the English department long ago. Old habits and old affections died hard.
Shion tried to snatch the cup back, straining as Nezumi held it just out of reach. He liked that mug. An old school friend had given it to him long ago when they had graduated together.
"Promise me you'll actually eat a decent, sit down meal with me tomorrow and I'll give it back." Nezumi's voice was teasing, but his eyes were serious. "Heck, I know we're still young and all, but you still gotta look after you health. What would I say to your poor momma if you collapsed on my watch?"
Shion sighed. "I promise, Nezumi, having coffee during the day won't kill me."
His companion smirked. "Yeah, but staying up all night because of it will, especially at the rate you're going." He lowered his arms anyway, returning the mug to the counter. "Come on Shion," he said, looking him in the eye. "We haven't had time just to hang out in forever. What do you say?"
Well, Shion did have a research article to edit, as well as memos to review and some things he'd wanted to get done in the lab - but he couldn't say no when Nezumi was looking at him like that.
"Alright, alright," Shion laughed, defeated. "Let's go then. I've been feeling like Chinese food lately, anyway."
Nezumi wrinkled his nose. "What, you couldn't think of somewhere classier we could go to?" But he didn't complain that much about his friend's choice.
Time together was time together, after all.