A/N: Hello all! It's been a little while since I posted anything for this absolutely lovely couple, but while talking to my fandom bestie last night, we came up with some ideas and decided to do a story swap. I'll be writing an alternate version of Faster than a Kiss where Kazuma never took in Fumino and Teppei, but they still managed to fall in love anyway... and she'll be writing an alternate series of events for Love so Life. Anyway, look forward to some altered favorite scenes, and quite possibly a handful of original scenes as well.

Sweet as Candy

"I can't mess this up."

Kazuma leaned against the water fountain around the back of Kumaneko High School, trying to suck in deep breaths of the fresh air so he could clear his head. In less than half an hour, he had to get up in front of the whole school and give a speech as a brand new teacher. Just thinking about all those faces made his breathing quicken, and he fought to stave off a full blown panic attack.

How had he ever thought that a thug like him could turn a new leaf and become a teacher? He had no reference for what made a good teacher except for Maeda Sensei… and even he hadn't been around long enough to give him any pointers. Was it possible that he was making a huge mistake? Would the students be able to see through his anxiety and know how terrified he was of screwing everything up? Could he even teach kids this age properly?

Pain tightened his chest as the doubts began to weigh on him, and he wondered if it was too late to fake sick and hide in the nurse's office until the opening ceremony was over.

"...are you okay?" An oddly husky female voice came from behind him, and he managed to pull himself together enough so he could face her. He was surprised to see that it was a student. From the sound of her voice, he had expected one of the other teachers. "Ah, new teacher," she said with a dubious sort of stare.

He couldn't quite tell her age from her appearance, mostly because the frown made her deep brown eyes positively fierce. Though, from the very proper way she wore her uniform, he would guess a first year. Not like it mattered what year she was, it was almost time for the entrance ceremony and she was slipping out the back door of the school.

"Yeah, are you skipping?" It wasn't the smoothest response, but he was lucky he had been able to say anything at all with his stomach as tied up in knots as it was. Then he pointed out the obvious. "The entrance ceremony is about to begin."

"No, I'm heading home. My uncle finally arrived from France." She said this as if he would understand what she was talking about. He didn't.

"Your uncle?"

Instead of responding to his question, she pulled a piece of candy out of her pocket and tossed it to him. When he managed to catch it, despite his surprise, she grinned at him. Kazuma felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of that smile. It made her face which had seemed sullen a moment before, radiate with happiness. The girl was actually very pretty. He had always been partial to brunettes, and her long, curly, chestnut hair was very appealing. It made him feel bad for her parents. They were going to have to beat off the boys on a daily basis.

"Thank of the candy as a lucky charm," she suggested, her eyes twinkling in a way that let him know she understood exactly the reason he was out behind the school. "Eat that when your speech goes well."

With a casual wave, she disappeared through the back gates, leaving him to stare at the piece of candy she had given him. A good luck charm, huh? Somehow, he did feel better about his speech… but he wasn't sure the piece of candy was why.

Kazuma walked back into the school, stuffing the candy into his jacket pocket and holding his head high. He could picture the girl's smile in his head, and somehow felt as though he might actually be able to do this teaching thing after all.