I know this is kind of a weird pairing, but I just thought it'd go well because they're both hardcore romanticists. This first chapter will be in third person. Usually I'm the type to only read smut fics-I'm a horrible person I know. So why I'm actually making something with drawn out story is beyond me, and I hope it isn't boring. Just look forward to smut in the future at least haha. Let me know what you think too, that's always helpful!
Enjoy~
Sometimes, Azumane hated being tall and bulky. It served its purpose in volleyball, he was grateful for possessing that natural, raw power. But when he suddenly shot up in middle school he was troubled by it and couldn't get a word in edge wise without someone commenting about his height. Instead of giving him a wildly appealing look, the longer hair and the goatee served to make him look older, unruly (in a negative connotation), and like a no good criminal. In addition, Asahi was wearing his school's gakuran, so students weren't taken seriously in the first place. Some shopkeepers, like this particular one at the book store, was eyeing him threateningly from around one of the bookshelves, but quickly retreating whenever Asahi gathered enough courage to look his way.
'Ffffuuuuck this is annoying. Chain store employees don't breathe over your shoulder,' Asahi looked nervous enough, almost calling the search quits, when he'd found the title he was looking for. He forgot about his height and his bulky figure that had him apologizing under his breath whenever someone else needed to pass by between those shelves, forgetting even about the obnoxiously distrusting shopkeeper as he scanned the front cover, and then the back.
There was a shuffle to the side of him, Azumane mumbling a dazed apology and stepping away without a glance, before Takeda Ittetsu was clearing his throat, demanding Asahi's attention.
"Azumane-kun, I didn't know you read." The bearded brunette raised his head from the book reluctantly, eyes widening curiously down at the bespectacled, curly headed teacher. Takeda-sensei realized the err in his statement, quickly adding in, "Wordsworth. There aren't a lot of copies in Japanese, not around here at least. I'm glad you found one." The third year's expression softened, the incredibly gentle giant raising a hand to scratch the back of his head in a shy manner. "My Grandpa had a huge bookcase. He'd help me read through the harder kanji, but let me try on my own the rest of the time. I figured I'd see if they had any other works or collections. It's... haha, sorry, nostalgia gets me rambling like no other." A broad, silly grin melted over the ace's lips, his free hand dropping from his head, and picking at the bottom of his uniform's jacket. Like his volleyball adviser wanted to hear his one-man show about his grandpa.
The volleyball club's adviser looked up with a determined glint in his eye, shaking his head sweetly. His head then tilts, and he recounts perfectly in Japanese translation, "That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet."
It was so corny that Asahi knew he should've disregarded it, or laughed it off. Kids his age were more apt to be reading comics than Romantic Era literature and pretend to not know who Keats and Goethe were. But with the teacher looking at him like that so seriously, he opened his heart and nodded with a smile. "You know Emily Dickinson too. With your quotes during practice, I'd have thought you were strictly a Japanese literature kind of guy."
"Only one type of literature can get you so far. But I do advocate reading some Japanese."
"... Nope. Won't do it," Asahi teased nonchalantly, grinning when he got a buoyantly surprised reaction out of his teacher. It seemed like the shopkeeper had backed off then, still a little frazzled as the two enjoyed each others company, Takeda being the first to stop laughing when he aimed for a particularly high book on the top shelf. There were a few attempts, the tips of his fingers barely brushing against the spine, when the teacher let out a defeated huff. "Azumane, sorry to take advantage of your height, but I'd like to get that book off the shelf." There was a glance up at the taller male, who expressed a look of recognition before nodding. "Yeah, it's no problem." Takeda-sensei didn't make any gesture to move out of the way, so Asahi was shying up behind the teacher, his broad chest pressing forward into the others back. Asahi's ears were a little pink, but he was a highschooler now, it was uncool to get embarrassed by as something fleeting as a little contact. Asahi backed up and presented the book, Takeda looking thoughtful before patting the middle of Asahi's chest with a warm hand. "Strong, aren't you? As expected of the Ace~" His teasing had Asahi thoroughly flustered, handing over the book as his teacher's bubbly, loud laughter filled the corner of the store.
Maybe it wasn't so bad being tall, or big.
The two finally migrated toward the front of the store, the clerk automatically getting behind the register to throw a few weary glances in Azumane's direction. "Didn't steal anything, did you?" He grumbled as Asahi got out his wallet, the teen's face turning a mortified shade of red. "N-No!"
"Now, I don't think that's fair at all, Mr. Wakamine. Asahi is not that kind of kid." Takeshi was right by his side, but not as intimidating as Azumane was, even when he was trembling in embarrassment and low affect.
"What, he a student of yours, Sensei? You trying to tell me this guy in his midtwenties still going to high school doesn't have anything to lose? You look younger than him, Ittetsu." So that was Sensei's first name? Wait, they knew each other that well?
Takeda wrinkled his nose determinedly, nodding resolutely, "He is my student. And I'll have you know he's also the Ace of our high school volleyball team, the one I advise for. He's a very, very good child." Being called a good child wasn't exactly flattering, he didn't know if he liked being labeled as a twenty something year old guy still going to high school, however.
"Ahh, team sports. That'll keep your juvenile delinquents off the streets. There's statistics about that kind of stuff." Mr. Wakamine, the bookstore owner was ringing Asahi up, taking the money and delivering change promptly, before ringing Takeda's book up. "So you've done your reading too," Ittetsu smiled happily, and the man grunted in assent, "Yer damn right."
"Thanks for sticking up for me." Asahi mumbled around a mouthful of steaming meat and bread, taking in sharp breaths of the surrounding cool air to keep from burning his tongue. The two of them were heading home, both having purchased books, and Takeda-sensei obliging his 'diligent student' by buying the two of them a meat bun each. Takeda was breathing cool streams onto his own, before giving a little shrug. "You're a good kid, so that's not even a question." There it was again; kid. It made Asahi feel conflicted, which probably had to do with the issues at home, which is what had kept him out so late after school.
"... Aren't you going home, Azumane-kun?"
The teen had been looking forlornly down the road, his feet glued to the pavement. "I think I'll stay out for a little longer. Read this book somewhere." He gave a little wave of the bag, trying not to show too much of what he was feeling, but his teacher was quick to walk up to him. "I'll keep you company until you do go home, then... it's cold, isn't it?" Takeda shivered, but nonetheless started walking in the direction of the local park.
"Ah, thank you." Takeda reached upward to take the warmed can of tea from Azumane's gloved hands, the latter joining his teacher on the bench as they waited for Azumane to gather up the courage to go home. "You bought meat buns, so... it's my turn to treat you." Azumane averted his eyes shyly as he drank, and Takeda's pink fingertips warmed themselves on the can while he smiled softly. "What's keeping you from going home?" He asked then, voice gentle and open. He had a knack for earning students' trust, and making them feel relaxed and slightly angry that he only viewed them as children. It was like that in Asahi's case, anyway.
"'m just... fighting with my parents, I guess." Asahi sighed and slouched forward, elbows on his knees, extending his hands out while his thumb skimmed along the rim of the can. Takeda watched, visible concern on his features. "I don't know what I want to do after high school, and I know I'm supposed to have some vague idea... but I know I don't want to go to college and end up going into something I hate. I'd rather just start out small, get a full time job with labor or something. Everybody treats me like a kid who doesn't know any better. God, even that guy at the bookstore took me more seriously than anyone has." The teen brought one of his hands up to his face, rubbing his hand over it thoughtfully with a deep, dragged out sigh. The sound made Takeda shiver, before he quickly composed himself.
As a teacher, it was Takeda's job to instruct, to impart some wisdom, to make a difference in the life of a student. And in that evening, sitting beside the younger male on a park bench, he wanted to fulfill that role. "Asahi... in many ways, you are still a child." The teenager tensed at that, wondering if he was going to get another lecture akin to the ones his parents gave him, but Takeda continued. "But... in other ways, you're very much becoming an adult. I think breaking off from your parents ideals and finding your own is a good way to start... I-I'm not advocating that you start deliberately disobeying them and start acting out..." Asahi laughed a little bitterly, wiping the corners of his eyes and sniffling. "Your parents will be proud no matter what you do. In the end, they just want you to be happy. They don't want you to make any mistakes, at least not the ones they've made. With maturity comes an understanding of other peoples' feelings, and you can more easily decipher why they do what they do. But until then, we're all just children learning."
Takeda wondered if his words were meaningless, whether or not Asahi would take them to heart and listen. Surprisingly enough, he saw the teenager's shoulders slacken, and a warmer smile start on his face. "... Yeah. You keep saying we're just baby crows leaving our shells, when it comes to our skills at least. I guess that can apply to a lot of stuff, can't it?" Asahi sat up a little straighter, looking his pleasantly surprised teacher in the eye. Takeda grinned heartily, chirping out a bright, "It can!"
They spoke some more, but nothing in great length. It was mostly about Asahi's parents and their 'dreams' they had for him. It was getting late, and Takeda urged that Asahi at least contact them to know he was alright. Asahi smiled at his phone, tearing his gaze away when he heard the other standing. "I think it's time to head home. Are you ready, Azumane?"
"... I'm ready."
"I talked to my parents some more. It was a little more calm this time. We all got everything out on the table, at least... so, I wanted to thank you." Asahi had come into the staff room during lunch, where most teachers congregated in the time lapse to work and eat. Takeda was trying to quickly chew and swallow his food to reply in kind, earning a quiet laugh from the taller male when he nearly choked. "That's wonderful! I'm so happy things are getting better for you." Asahi nodded, his bulky stature looking a little too out of place in the high school uniform. Maybe Takeda thought him more a man than he actually let on, but thankfully Asahi spoke up again to rid him of his silly thoughts. "That book you got last time... I wasn't really thinking straight, but I actually had a copy that I could've loaned you. It's a good one, isn't it?" Azumane had been thinking about it all weekend, worrying that Takeda didn't like it and wasted his money, or wondering what his reactions were to the book.
Takeda lit up like a lamp post.
They'd spent the entire lunch period talking about the book, and the author. Takeda hadn't gotten any work done, and Asahi missed afternoon practice. But the both of them found a shared interest, and they exploited it.
"You know, he's doing a book signing in Tokyo, soon." Takeda informed as they walked to class, earning a troubled sigh out of Asahi.
"I do know. But there's no way my parents are letting me go to Tokyo alone." It seemed as if the teacher had been waiting for this, his telltale determined smirk already forming on his lips. "Why do you think I'd bring it up? We'll go together! ... If your parents would be okay with that. If you... would want to." The teacher stopped in front of the brunette's classroom, looking down at his attendance papers. Was he nervous? Why?
The seventeen year old gave a sheepish grin, leaning a little closer. "I want to."
Evidently happy that Asahi was willing, Takeda slapped a hand onto his bicep with a soft squeeze, pleasantly starting the other. "It's cold in the morning, so bundle up. We'll start off bright and early. Almost like an away game, secret from the rest of the team." It was almost like they were meeting up in secret, and it filled Asahi with a delight.
It was an earlier morning than usual, but this time he wasn't awake for some out of town volleyball game. Asahi was heading out to the station for the first train of the day, where he and Takeda-sensei would make it to Tokyo just in time to meet their favorite author, and hopefully get a signature from him. Asahi wasn't the first to arrive, and his walking turned into a jog at the sight of the bushy haired older man, all snuggled up in a coat and a scarf, which did nothing to protect the red tips of his ears and nose. "Train hasn't come yet? Good," Asahi mused, getting a good eyeful of Sensei's clothes. There wasn't anything special about the outfit, but it certainly wasn't the usually professional attire Takeda wore. He was in a stylish coat that went down past his waist and buttoned up in the middle, as well as a pair of casual jeans and sneakers. Asahi himself was in a fur-lined vest, with a long sleeved maroon shirt, and a pair of tan corduroys down below with some decent boots he'd worn in. His hair was tied in a loose ponytail, with a beanie that matched his long sleeved shirt tugged onto his head.
Takeda was all eyes too, smiling sweetly once their eyes finally met. "I don't think I've seen you out of your uniform, Azumane. You look good! I bet you must be very popular." Compliments and Asahi didn't mix well, and they were poorly received by the shy, humble giant. "U-Uhm, thanks. I don't know much about that." There had been the occasional confession or two from girls who clearly knew nothing of him but wanted a go at 'taming the wild delinquent', but after a nerve-wracked apology and rejection, they understood fully what they were missing. And seemed to be fine with it.
"I think Sensei… looks good, too." The recipient of the compliment looked surprised to see it, and his expression became bashful and and pleased. "Oh, really? Thank you." He replied with a goofy grin, which he hid in his scarf.
What was with this atmosphere? It was nice, sure. But wasn't it kind of like a...
Date?
They were both thinking it. The older man was completely rejecting the thought, no matter how mature Azumane looked and acted, he was still his student and underage. Asahi was a little more liberal with the thought, open to himself as he glanced down his teacher's body, which was covered by cute warm clothes anyway. They were playing stare tag, Asahi looking away as soon as he saw his teacher's gaze shift onto him, the two returning gazes until the train reared up to the tracks. "It's here!" Takeda announced for them, and the two boarded and sat down near each other.
The teacher had a bag on his lap that Asahi earlier hadn't realized he'd been holding. When he looked down at it, Takeda met his gaze excitedly with a thumbs up. "I bought us lunches for the trip!" The excitement dulled as he looked embarrassedly into the bag, his hands supporting the contents with a little frown. "We could probably stop by a cafe if you wanted, and get something better prepared instead of weird store bought boxed lunches... I just thought..."
"No! No it's fine, I want to eat it. Thank you!" Asahi quickly corrected, eager in his attempts to sooth the apprehension. With Asahi's tenderness, whatever embarrassment Takeda held melted away, and he was hugging the bag to his chest sweetly. "Wonderful. I'm happy~"
It was hard to derail after such a picture perfect moment between them, but Asahi managed it, because he was already stifling the urge to call Takeda out on his cuteness. That'd definitely get him a weird look out of the usually tolerant teacher. But as Takeda spoke animatedly about the author they were about to meet, as well as the very few novels that Asahi hadn't read, it was difficult to describe his teacher in any other fashion. He was just cute and so tenderhearted that Asahi wanted to... well, protect him. He figured no one else would understand it. The other third years from the club always made fun of him for being sentimental, and the next closest person to him, Nishinoya, acted on his instincts but rarely thought about them. But Takeda-sensei... Asahi could always rely on him to understand the beauty in everything, how it was connected, and how they could live by appreciating it.
Would Takeda understand Asahi's feelings then?
Well, growing feelings of friendship. That's what it had to be. He hadn't been able to talk to anyone like this about books or family problems like this since his grandfather was around. And Takeda-sensei obliged him by listening, and exploring each new topic as they discussed books.
It was around the end of their ride when they'd pulled out the box lunches, Asahi eyeing his with awe and reverie. "Thanks for the food, Sensei! Looks good." Takeda was breaking apart his wooden chopsticks with a smile and encouraging nod, watching the teenager dig in. "I'm not very good at cooking, so even if I tried, I think these ones from the convenience store are better. What about you, Asahi, can you cook?" Asahi was already through two mouthfuls by the time his teacher asked his question, which was awkward with a full mouth when he was expecting an answer, Asahi hurriedly swallowing before wiping his mouth off with the back of his hand. "Yeah, a little. If I wake up early enough, I make my own... bento..." The ponytailed teen trailed his sentence slowly, as he watched his teacher lean forward and swipe off a few rice grains from his cheek with a thumb. Asahi could feel the heat rushing to the tips of his ears as Takeda then licked the thumb, before the teen commented, "You... seem like you're used to taking care of people. Do you have any siblings?" He had to get his mind off of Takeda's small, pink tongue, and the way his lips sweetly wrapped around his chopsticks.
The smaller man nodded, fixing his glasses with his knuckles as he chewed. "Three younger, one older. When I lived at home, I watched the younger ones. Should've learned how to cook in all that time, I guess." The teacher laughed a little, before nodding Azumane's way. "But in your case, it's just you and your parents, right? Ah, here's some water." The bespectacled instructor rummaged through the bag for two water bottles, handing one to Azumane as he'd been pounding his own chest to get the food down his esophagus. One bead of water leaked from the corner of Asahi's lips as he drank, trailing down the firm jawline, sliding over his goatee and down his neck, over his Adam's apple. Takeda watched the journey of this little stream of water before Asahi let out an invigorating sigh, holding his bottle in between his thighs before eating some more. "Just me. One problem child was enough, I guess." Asahi teased, though felt there was some truth behind it. Ittetsu frowned at that, stirring his chopsticks around the side dishes. "I think that's unfair to say, when you've been working so hard to cooperate and talk things out with them. I think... you're a very good child."
"Just a child?" Asahi asked, a little more confidently than he previously intended. His gaze was locked onto Takeda's, and the taller male could've sworn he saw the briefest flicker of shock in his eyes, before he was calmly regarding his student. "No. You face your problems head on and figure them out whether with your parents or volleyball. I think that's the mark of a man, even if you feel hesitant at times and second guess yourself. You're also very diligent when it comes to school and the team. It's almost heartbreaking how much you've grown in the few years I've been advising for the club. It's like you're almost ready to leave the nest." Takeda laughed sadly, using his chopsticks to bring a few bites to his mouth. More bird analogies, Asahi understood. He ate some more himself, nearly finished when his teacher commented, "You also seem a bit older than you are... physically, you know?" Takeda's face heated up a little, before he was leaning in close to affectionately rub his arm against Asahi's. "But don't be in any rush to grow, that'll come sooner than you think. Enjoy your youth while you can, my friend." Saying that really didn't suit the twenty-nine year old, Asahi chuckling lowly. "Youth has no age," the younger man countered, before Takeda looked up, a gleam in his eyes.
"Who said that?" he asked, looking as if he'd use that in every one of his speeches from now on.
"Pablo Picasso, Sensei."
"Oh. The one with the weird paintings?"
"That'd be him."
The trip lasted for a little longer before they ushered off of the train and away from the station to find the site of the book signing. The teacher opened the door for Asahi, and the two headed into the bookstore toward the back, where a number of people were already sitting in rows of chairs that'd been set out for the Q&A before signing went on. The two of them grabbed a seat somewhere in the middle, Takeda practically bouncing in his seat, holding the copy of the latest book that he'd have the author sign. "Isn't this exciting? Ah, I can't wait to read this!" He began to flip through the pages before he stopped himself, wanting to properly organize his thoughts for the man coming out on stage. Asahi was excited too, though displayed it more subtly than the man beside him, and most of his focus was taken up by the adorably ecstatic fan, watching his eyes go wide with wonder as the author made an appearance.
The author seemed so casual and average it was almost startling, since Asahi and Takeda revered him like some god. It went by smoothly, even Ittetsu had a question of his own answered, and they were lining up for the book signing. Asahi waited until his teacher was done profusely thanking and congratulating the man before they were heading out, the taller male watching how his shorter counterpart marveled at the signature in his book. "He shook my hand! I shook the hand that writes those novels!" He sighed dramatically and held his book close to his chest, before finally looking at Asahi. "Wonderful, wasn't it? ... We've still got some time before we have to head back to Saitama. Is there... anything else you wanted to do? Are you hungry? It's still cold out, isn't it?" The older man asked before he was looking back to his book, longingly. Asahi chuckled, plopping his own book on top of Ittetsu's head. "Let's find a spot to read. You want to start right away, I can tell. Me too." Asahi's assumption had been correct, the brunette taking in the overjoyed expression on his teacher's face with the utmost of mirth. "Let's!"
So they found a cafe near the station, each of them getting something warm to drink as they read the first few chapters. Asahi would occasionally look up from his own pace to watch Takeda's eyes buzz from beneath his glasses, soaking up every word like it'd be his last. There was something constricting in Azumane's throat, he didn't know what it was that made him so happy to be here, reading a book with his teacher. He glanced back down, sucked into the vast imaginative world of their mutually preferred author, until Ittetsu's chipper voice broke the silence. "Have you gotten to page fifty yet? O-Oh, no? Tell me when you do." Instead of going on, Ittetsu seemed happy enough to set down his book, using his napkin as a place marker as he took up the tea in his hands, watching Azumane. It was making the teen feel a little self conscious when Takeda was staring at him so expectantly, Asahi's face turning a shade of red as he tried to busy himself in the text. When he did happen to catch up and come upon the very passage his teacher referenced, he was caught by the powerful words, and it had him stumbling over his words. "This is..."
"Caught in the tormenting passivity of life's eternity, daunted by death's grip in which no religion or train of thought can sustain me. None can quiet the dull thrum of mortality's ever continuous precedence over all that is." Asahi read along as his teacher spoke each word like scripture, feeling his own heart all but give out. "It's so good, isn't it? Wordy for him, sure, but... God Azumane-kun, I won't ever be the same! Not ever!"
Asahi laughed beside him, just as eager as his older counterpart, eyes lit with fascination as he studied his teacher. "You've been advising us for... three years it's been. I don't think I've ever seen you so excited." The boy shifted in his seat as Takeda's expression softened into an exceedingly, gently precious manner, and with it his voice. "As a teacher, there are professional standards you have to keep up, but... well, I very much consider you a friend. You're very pleasant to be around, Asahi." It was Asahi's turn to feel the warmth spread through him, his excited smile dimming into a goofy calmness as he regarded the older man that didn't seem to be that much older at all. "Thanks. It means a lot to me." They watched each other for a moment, Asahi neglecting restraint as he carefully drank in each minute detail of the smaller man's face, before Takeda quickly went back to reading. They'd lingered a little longer at the cafe, gushing about the book and the author, before it was time to leave.
They sat closer this time, but Azumane hadn't noticed it until Takeda's head drooped onto his shoulder. The curly haired megane had fallen asleep somewhere along the line and used the ace's shoulder as a makeshift pillow. Without disgust or anxiousness, Azumane settled into the slow, soft rhythm of his teacher's breathing, staying awake if only to make sure they got off on the right stop. That, and the twenty nine year old looked pretty cute on his arm like that.
"Sensei... our stop's coming up." His gentle, deep voice woke Takeda out of the rolling movement of the train that'd hypnotized him into sleep in the first place. His fingers curled and came up to his face to rub the sleepiness from his eyes, and a quiet yawn left him. "I fell asleep," he then said, smiling in a silly, tired way that had Azumane's heart melting. He was addicted to learning all these new sides of Takeda, he really hadn't wanted this day, or this warmth between them, to end. "You did. Here, the doors are opening." Standing up, he hooked an arm around his shorter counterpart to help him up, shuffling the two of them out of the sliding doors and onto the platform, only letting go when he was sure his teacher was steady.
"I go in a different direction from your house, don't I?" Ittetsu asked, looking as if he could fall asleep while walking. Asahi stepped forward, concern masked over his features. "Maybe I should walk you home. It's late out, and you're tired." The bespectacled male quickly shook his head with a smile, looking toward the road. "No, the cold will keep me nice and awake until I get home and under the covers. I'm the one that should be concerned about you walking out late at night, my student!"
"... Alright." Asahi relaxed, a good natured smile on his face as he nodded almost in a ducking manner. "I'll see you at school then, Sensei."
"See you." Ittetsu waved before turning to start down on the road. He'd almost wished he'd taken Asahi up on his offer, invited him over for a cup of tea, then had him stay the night. But it was a school night, even if there weren't any hidden motives, it'd be better if Asahi went home to his family safe and sound.
And that he did, all the while thinking of the new book, their day together, and the new feelings that sprung inside him concerning his teacher.