In high school, it wasn't uncommon for rumours to fly about everywhere, and spread like wildfire once uttered. Fon personally didn't believe in run-of-the-mill gossip, which was always about romance, romance, who was the most handsome or prettiest in school, and more romance. Sometimes he wondered if the students in this school talked about anything that wasn't romance. As a teacher, he'd confiscated more than a handful of love letters or rumorous notes being passed around in class. But these things never overly bothered him, and Fon paid them no heed. At least until now. Now the rumours among the students weren't even about the students anymore.

Sitting at his seat in the staff lounge, he was relaxing with a warm cup of tea a little after school hours. Well... Relaxing as much as he could with all that had been going on. Fon had decided he needed to sit down and think this over.

Even the wildest of gossip had a little bit of truth to them, it was said, and Fon didn't really want to believe that was true. Just a few minutes ago, he'd been called into the Principal's office, confused and oblivious to what had been going around the school recently. But now that he had been enlightened, so to speak, Fon wasn't sure what he should do now.

If he didn't do something though, them his very job in this school would be at risk. Romance with another teacher was very strictly prohibited. Not to mention that the other teacher was male.

Apparently, there'd been dark murmurs that Reborn, the teacher in charge of Biology, had — bluntly put — the hots for the teacher in charge of Art, Fon himself.

He sunk into his chair further. Oh, dear. Wasn't he in a bit of a pickle? It seemed incredulous, and unlikely at first, but Reborn was a very mysterious man, almost cold actually. So Fon really couldn't tell for sure. The students liked him well enough, but he was strict, and none of them really knew anything much about him past his name and occupation. He was extremely dashing though, and a hot topic among the girls, so Fon had heard in his class.

Even though they were colleagues and the like for a few years... Come to think of it, Fon hadn't really noticed Reborn before. Not to mention they had seats on opposite ends of the staff room. They'd never had much reason to talk to each other much. Even at school events they never said anything more than greetings and 'how do you do's, let alone fall in love. Now, though...

If Fon slid down his chair any further he would end up on the floor.

"Are you all right?" Came a voice from above his head.

Taken by surprise, Fon jumped out of his seat– and nearly tumbled to the floor. He caught himself a few seconds before he would have sprawled unceremoniously on tje floor.

Fon dusted off his hands, glancing up quickly before saying, "I'm fine, I-" He did a double take, his hands freezing in their motions when he finally recognised who had been talking to him.

"... I was just surprised, was all..." Fon finished, suddenly feeling the atmosphere turn a little awkward and tense.

Reborn nodded slowly, eyes giving nothing away... before they softened ever so slightly, and a small smile curved his lips. It made Fon's heart skip a beat, to see Reborn smile like that.

"I guess the old crow told you about everything." It was more of a statement than a question. Fon assumed 'old crow' referred to the Principal. It wasn't an... entirely inaccuate description to say the least. It earned Reborn a chuckle.

"Yeah... He did," Fon replied, sighing.

A moment of silence fell. Neither of them said anything, and Fon found himself fidgeting uncomfortably on his feet. So, he tried to make conversation.

"So, whe–" "Do you want to grab a cup of coffee with me?" Reborn interrupted quickly. "I... Don't really want to talk here," he added.

Fon was about to ask why, but then he noticed the looks that they were getting from the other teachers in the office, not-so-subtly concealing their quick glances behind their computers and open files.

"Oh, sure, just let me grab my coat."