"Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known."
Oscar Wilde
Atsuki hadn't been in there long. Just long enough to stare at the paintings on the wall in the art room. Gifts to Arthur he had to assume. He didn't even need ∑ to take a guess. They were all painted in completely different styles.
"Oh Saijo." A voice came from behind him. He turned to see Yayoi and Mika behind him setting up their sketchbooks on their easels. "You're here early today."
"Yeah. Just wanted to look around." He sighed, eyes skimming over the walls once again for any signs of residual shinen. The Fort had told him to take a breather today but sooner or later work would find him. So there was no use taking a break when he knew he wouldn't get one.
"Looking for something? You look lost." Mika giggled.
"Huh? No, just looking at the paintings."
"Aren't they lovely?" Yayoi smiled, looking along with Atsuki. "They were gifts to Arthur." One point for Atsuki. "Senior students from his past classes gave their last exam paintings as goodbye presents before graduating. We'll be doing one too." She twirled a strand of her dark red hair as she sighed. "I wonder what I'll paint for Arthur..."
"I asked him one time to paint me something and he said he couldn't." The journalist sighed heavily hanging her head.
"Its not like he said he wouldn't..." Yayoi pouted.
"No he actually said he had never been asked so straightforwardly before. He said instead of painting something individually for everyone else, he said he would paint something for the class as a whole. It will be the first time he's ever done this! I wonder what it would be!"
"It has to be some landscape...maybe even a selfportrait! Oh now this is gonna bug me all day!" Yayoi sat down hugging her sketchbook to her chest. Atsuki looked up as their mentioned art teacher stepped into the open door of the room. "O-Oh Arthur!"
"Morning Kamishiro. Nozaki. Atsuki." He smiled and sat his lesson plans onto his desk. "Why are you here so early though?"
"Eh, Saijo was here first." Mika shrugged. "He was checking out your paintings on the wall."
"Oh those." Arthur's smile softened as he gazed at the walls. "Yes, they are rather precious to me."
"Yeah, see, remember when you said you'd do a great big painting for all of us?" Mika beamed, seconds away from gushing. Yayoi too nodded eagerly and waited for response. Arthur blinked curiously rubbing the back of his neck as he looked back at the walls before smiling defeatedly.
"Of course. What about it?"
"Well we were wondering what you were going to do for us!"
"That, Nozaki, is a secret." Arthur chuckled.
"Please Arthur, please oh please just a hint." Yayoi pouted. It was a fact when both Kamishiros pouted they always had their way. Atsuki could attest to that.
"Well...to be honest," He sighed. "I don't quite know myself. But I haven't forgotten it. I'll be thinking on it very carefully, I promise."
"I'll keep you to your promise!" Mika sat down readying her sketchbook along with Yayoi. Any moment now the art class would begin.
Somewhere down the hall Atsuki could hear the bell ring signalling it was time to get ready for next class. He took off his jacket and hung it on the back of his chair. Unusual for it to be so warm this time of year. All teens failed to see the eyes of the teacher fall on the young man. Well, only until Saijo could feel the concentrated gaze on his back did he turn and meet Arthur's eyes unsuredly.
"Mr. ...Mays?" He murmured.
"Hmm?" He blinked out of his gaze and smiled softly at Atsuki. "Can I help you?"
'I think that's my line...' Saijo murmured to himself as he just shook his head. "No, you just looked out of it."
"My apologies. I was just thinking about something." He laughed lightly. Atsuki contemplated using ∑ but he couldn't feel anything odd other than the former. "Alright time for class preparation." He started writing some topics up on the chalkboard as the sounds of chattering and footsteps drew closer to the art room. Within another five minutes art class would be in session. It was bound to be a fun fifty minutes or so.
The bell rang overhead as Arthur looked up first in confusion then disappointment. "Already? Oh well, everyone please take your projects home to work on them. We will finish them by tomorrow, will that be okay?" He smiled when he heard the happy chatter of affirmation. Akira had his ears talked off as Mika remained glued to his side telling him about her latest scoop as Rui had Shinji, Yayoi and Ryo ready for breaktime in the cafeteria. Of course Shinji tried to get away and had failed to do so.
Atsuki shook his head with a smile and turned to get his jacket as the rest of the students filed out. "Atsuki! You comin'?" Rui smiled back waving at him.
"I'll be there shortly." He smirked then gave her a lopsidded smile. "Save me a seat will you?"
"Sure! Come on guys. I have to tell you about the newest cake!"
"Oh you mean the-"
That was all he heard as the girls gaggled and the boys groaned. When he reached for his sketchbook he blinked as a hand stopped him. He looked up to the questioning eyes of the man who watched him so oddly nearly an hour ago.
"Arthur?" He murmured softly.
"I've been meaning to ask, sorry, but have you ever thought of modelling?"
Eh?
"Modelling?" Atsuki furrowed his brow lightly in confusion. "For what? What do you mean?"
"I mean for artists." Arthur laughed nervously, brushing his fingers through his blonde hair. "You make a nice subject Atsuki. You have the kind of eyes and face. And your frame." Atsuki blushed lightly at the praise.
"No I've...I've never thought of it. I've never even been asked..."
"You're kidding!" The elder grinned. "You have a mysterious...beauty, for lack of better words." That there was a pretty awkward situation for Saijo to be in. He looked away rubbing his neck shyly still feeling Arthur's eyes on him. "How about this. Would you like to model for me? I don't expect you to work for free of course, I'll pay you."
"H-Huh? N-No! I mean, no you don't have to pay me...I..." He groaned closing his eyes, ruffling up his hair. "You want me to pose for you? That badly?"
"Well it would be a shame if you didn't want me to paint you...but I would appreciate your cooperation. See I've been at a kind of block lately. After donating my treasured painting, my brush has begun to feel heavy again. I can keep the depression under control and keep all the horrible thoughts at bay. To put it bluntly, I think finding a subject can help me. Will you model for me Atsuki?"
Well...Saijo had been feeling fluctuating shinen from the Production Art building lately...and around Arthur himself. But he wasn't infected. Though who's to say he couldn't become infected again if he didn't find a way out of his natural slump? Not only that...but Arthur was a kind man. Even he had helped Saijo out a few times. He owed it to him. Just a few minutes of standing still. He could live through that.
"Atsuki?"
"...yeah." He sighed with a smile. "I'll do it."
"Oh great!" Arthur let out a breath looking relieved. "If you don't mind I'd like to get started as soon as possible. Is your schedule free today after school?"
"Hm...I didn't have anything planned." He fingered his chin thinking if maybe he didn't make any last minute promises to one of the girls. Or Akira. These days he always wanted Atsuki to drop by the bakery. Or to the dojo like last time. Both himself and Unami were whimpering quietly in pain from overworked muscles the next day. Atsuki was a seasoned telepath. He was used to exercising his mind, but his body not so much. Just enough to keep himself safe in hand to hand combat. Which wasn't enough to keep throbbing muscle pain from flaring up. "No I suppose I'm free."
"Excellent." He clapped his hands together rubbing his palms briefly before looking around. "Alright. Let me clean up here. And after school I'll meet you down in the Quad, is that okay?"
"Sure." He nodded.
"Here. No need to be so formal." Arthur laughed as he handed his QR card to Atsuki. "Now we'll always be in touch." Yes, now they would be in touch. Atsuki just didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. For sure he knew, he wouldn't be telling the girls anytime soon. Not unless he wanted Mika to spread the gossip like wildfire. Juicy gossip of a student meeting up with the beautiful Arthur Mays after school would be a huge scoop for the school. He could just imagine her words in his mind's eye right now.
'What? Atsuki at Arthur's? How can this be? Omigosh it explains why Arthur turned down all the girls that asked for him! A-Arthur is...is-!'
And then Rui would hit her...yep. He blinked though. Hm...actually it kind of would explain it wouldn't it? Why he turned down so many young girls' advances. At first he thought he was into older women, but it was the same result. Could Arthur really swing the other way? It was possible. Beautiful man like that was way too good looking to stand next to a woman...did he really just think that?
Atsuki blushed and ruffled up his hair some with a sigh. Fresh air. Fresh air would do him some good. Now he regretted agreeing to meet the man at the Quad.
