The next day was Monday, and though Ezra usually hated going back to school, for once he didn't mind it so badly-actually, he was pretty excited about it. And why was that? Because Hiro was coming to school with him.
Usually during the week Hiro went to SFIT and Ezra went to high school, but there was something of an unspoken rule of society that, the first school or work day after two mates imprinted, both mates were relieved of their responsibilities for the day to spend time bonding. Technically they could do whatever they wanted (within reason), but it had become something of a custom that the mates would spend the day off visiting each other's place of work or education so that they could get to know the important people in their mates' lives. It was also a way for both to not only be able to sort of show off their new mate, but to make sure that everyone in both their social circles very much knew that their mate was taken and for Alphas to assert their dominance over any Alphas who might try to challenge their claim.
Ezra frankly didn't feel too worried about anyone at SFIT trying to challenge his claim on Hiro-most of the Alphas at the university would consider the Omega too young to be a potential mate for them, and if anyone tried to cause trouble Ezra knew that Hiro had a very protective group of friends who would ward off anyone who tried to take advantage of him. Still, Ezra was excited that he'd be finally getting to meet Hiro's college friends-he'd met most of them in passing, but this would be his first official time going to the university and being introduced to everyone. To make it fair, he and Hiro had decided that they'd spend the morning at Ezra's school and then the afternoon at Hiro's. That's why, even though the Alpha usually had to drag himself out of bed in the morning on Mondays, the second his alarm went off he practically vaulted out of bed to get ready for the day.
Since the school bus didn't know to drop by Hiro's house and it was a special occasion, Kanan offered to drive both the teens to school. Ezra had readily agreed-he wasn't going to turn down an opportunity to skip the craziness of the bus, plus it was always really cool when his dad let him ride in the police cruiser. Still, since Kanan was driving, that meant that Ezra had to wait for him to finish breakfast before they could leave, and it felt like he was taking an eternity to do so, even if the clock on the wall showed that they had plenty of time. Pretty much the second his father had finished the last of his coffee, Ezra was all but dragging him towards the door, eager to get the day started.
"You were just with him yesterday," Kana says playfully as he locks the front door behind them. "I don't think he's changed that much since then, so I don't know what your hurry to see him is."
"Da-ad!" Ezr complains, rolling his eyes at the poor attempt at humor.
"I know." Kanan lovingly ruffles his hair. "And I get it kiddo-I do. It's just hard for me to believe that you're already so grown up, imprinting with you mate-seems like only yesterday your mom and I were bringing you home…"
"Dad…" Ezra turns and hugs him. "You know that no matter what happens I'm always going to love you and mom, right?"
"I do," Kanan reassures him, hugging him back before saying, "Now let's go get Hiro and get you two to school, huh?"
"Yeah!" Ezra agrees, grinning as his dad opens the door so that he can climb into the back of the cruiser.
It took about fifteen minutes to get to Hiro's house, even though it felt like longer. Almost as soon as his dad pulls to a stop in the alleyway next to the Cafe, Ezra was tumbling out of the car and racing up the steps that led directly to the apartment above the restaurant. He had to restrain himself from banging on the door and remind himself to just knock normally-maybe he needed to reign in his enthusiasm a little bit so that he didn't accidentally break anything today…
Only a few seconds after he'd knocked, the door flew open and Hiro was there, beaming eagerly at him. "Hey!" he greets the other teen.
"Hey yourself!" Ezra answers, not at all complaining when the Omega wraps his arms around him in a good morning hug. "You ready to go?"
"Think so!" Hiro answers as he lets him go, grabbing his backpack from by the door. "I should have everything I need in here!"
"Not quite!" Aunt Cass calls, hurrying over to them and handing her nephew a package wrapped in a cloth napkin. "Here-I made bentos for both of you today! I figured you could eat them at Ezra's school or the college, wherever you decided to have lunch."
"Wow, thanks Aunt Cass!" Hiro grins at her, accepting the package and gently putting it into his backpack.
"Thank you, Ms. Hamada!" Ezra agrees, wondering how early she'd gotten up just to make them a special lunch.
"I just wanted to make sure you were both eating well today!" Aunt Cass answers, seeming to be radiating with positive energy despite the early hour. "You two have fun, okay?"
"We will!" Hiro reassures her, hugging her goodbye before following the other teen down the stairs.
"Are you as excited as I am?" Ezra asks him with a grin.
"Oh yeah, definitely!" Hiro answers, lightly bumping his forehead against the other's shoulder as they walk. "I mean, high school was kind of hell for me when I was going through it because I was so much younger than everyone and majorly stood out 'cause I was this tiny kid genius no one wanted to be friends with… But hey, at least this time I'm going in with you, I'm the same age as everyone else, and your friends sound like they're really nice!"
"They are," Ezra reassures him, hating that Hiro had had to go through everything that he had when he'd been in high school but hoping that today would help make up for it.
From Hiro's house, it was just a short ten minute drive to the school (which felt way shorter to Ezra now that he had his mate with him) and once they wave goodbye to Kanan they head inside to the front office to get Hiro checked in as a visitor and to fill out the paperwork so that Ezra could leave right after lunch. It was just the tiniest bit awkward having to explain everything to the rather gossipy ladies who ran the front desk, and Ezra feels his cheeks burning when the woman who was filling out the paperwork informed him that they would be letting the school counselor know that he had imprinted so that he could set up an appointment to see him. It was an embarrassing prospect thinking of having to go sit in the counselor's office and talk about his "feelings" or any "new urges" he might be having, but he supposed that it was just something the school made all teens who went through imprinting do-he'd heard a few classmates who had already imprinted talk about having to do it so at least he wasn't the only one. All the same, he was grateful when Hiro finally got his visitor's badge so they could get heading to first period.
The Omega stayed close by him as they make their ways through the hall-obviously he hadn't forgotten his experiences here years ago and didn't feel fully comfortable revisiting this place. Still, Ezra kept an arm firmly wrapped around his waist for support as he guides him through the busy hallways, and something about that seemed to help Hiro stay calm.
Once at the first class of the day, Ezra gets Hiro settled at his desk before going up to the teacher to explain the situation. It was almost more awkward to inform his teacher, who saw him every day, than the office ladies that he barely knew of the fact that he had imprinted and was bringing his mate to see his school. Fortunately the teacher was very understanding about it and didn't ask too many questions, which made the whole situation that much easier. Still, as Ezra returns to his desk and Hiro, he could feel the eyes of his two best friends, Jai and Zare, on him, and almost as soon as he was within range they came hurrying over, obviously intent on getting an explanation.
"Who's this?" Jai asks, gesturing to Hiro.
"You planning to introduce us?" Zare adds, his tone playful but his gaze serious.
"Of course I'm planning to introduce you guys!" Ezra answers, rolling his eyes at them before putting a gentle hand on Hiro's shoulder. "Hiro, these are my best friends, Jai and Zare. Guys, this is Hiro."
"Hiro, as in the famous Hiro you're always going on about?" Zare asks, eyes lighting with interest.
"The one you've apparently been best friends with since preschool?" Jai glances at the newcomer with renewed curiosity.
"Yep," Ezra chuckles before looking down at the younger teen and adding fondly, "But… He's not just my best friend anymore. He's... kind of my mate."
Jai and Zare just stare at him in stunned silence for a full minute, but then the moment is broken by a wide grin spreading across Jai's face.
"Oh my gosh, I knew it! I knew it was going to happen!" he laughs, sounding oddly victorious. "Zare, didn't I tell you they were going to end up mates with the way Ezra was always going on about him?"
"Yes, yes you did," Zare sighs, rolling his eyes.
"Wait, what?" Ezra gapes at him.
"Oh c'mon, Ez, you weren't being that subtle!" Jai chuckles. "You never shut up about him, it was obvious that you were head over heels for him!"
"I…" Ezra wanted to argue, but honestly he couldn't find a solid argument against that and so finally he just sighs and shakes his head before saying, "In the future if you want to make speculations about my personal life, I'd appreciate it if you'd come to me with them instead of talking about them behind my back."
"I wasn't doing it behind your back!" Jai answers innocently. "I just knew you'd clam up if I tried to talk to you about it and I needed someone to share my observations with!"
Again Ezra was left without a good argument to the contrary, and fortunately he was saved from having to try to find one by the teacher calling the class to order.
"It was nice meeting you, Hiro," Zare says politely before he and Jai head back to their desks.
"Yeah, you too," Hiro answers, waving shyly back.
"You doing okay?" Ezra asks softly as he takes the empty desk next to the one his mate was currently at.
"Yeah," Hiro reassures him with a warm smile. "I'm fine." Then he adds in a playful whisper, "I'm with you, how can I not be?"
Ezra can't answer because just then the teacher begins the lesson, but he feels a happy glow inside that lasts all the way through the rest of the morning.
At lunchtime, Ezra takes Hiro to the table where he and his friends usually sat. Since Aunt Cass had already made their lunches, they didn't have to go through the lunch line and so they make sure to stake out seats for the others until they arrive.
"You guys are so lucky," Jai groans when he and Zare reach the table with their trays, jealousy eyeing the bentos that the couple had. "You don't have to eat this slop the rest of us have to endure on a daily basis…"
"It looks as bad as I remember it," Hiro notes, wrinkling his nose up at what was supposed to be some kind of meatloaf but looked more like a greyish brick. "There's a reason Dashi started making his and my lunches while we were here. He didn't trust the school cafeteria food farther than he could throw it-which, as you can probably guess by the fact that most of it has the consistency of cement, wasn't far."
"You're so lucky you had a brother who took pity on you like that," Jai sighs.
"Does cooking run in your family?" Zare asks curiously. "I know Ezra said that your aunt owns a Cafe."
"Well, she and Dashi are really good in the kitchen," Hiro answers with a slight shrug. "I'm not too bad-like, I can fend for myself in a pinch but I can't make all the fancy pastries and stuff they can."
"Do you think now that you're an Omega you might get better at it?" Jai asks.
"Uh… I don't know?" Hiro answers, looking uncomfortable. "I mean, I don't see why I'd suddenly get cooking skills just because I presented…?"
"Sorry!" Jai apologizes, realizing from Ezra's glare that he had stepped over a major line. "I didn't mean to-! It's just… I'm still waiting to present, and I'm hoping I might be a Beta-I don't think I'm really Alpha material-but everyone in my extended family keeps telling me they think I'm going to be an Omega since I grew up having to take care of my mom all on my own. And, well, since cooking is something that Omega's are naturally supposed to be good at I'm just trying to find something positive in all of this, like maybe randomly getting some new skills…."
"Jai…" Zare reaches over and puts a hand on his shoulder. "C'mon, don't do this to yourself."
"There's no reason you have to change anything about yourself even if you present as Omega!" Ezra adds firmly. "You're still you, no matter what class you end up being."
"Definitely!" Hiro agrees. "Trust me, I was worried about the same thing, but Ezra helped me get past that. I mean, I presented and I'm already imprinted, but I'm still definitely the same person I've always been!"
"Yeah?" Jai asks, looking slightly more hopeful.
"Absolutely," Hiro answers. "And when or if you start looking for a mate, if someone doesn't tell you the same thing, they're not worth your time."
"Definitely," Zare says firmly, gently squeezing Jai's shoulder.
"Thanks…" The other teen smiles almost shyly up at him, and Ezra had to wonder if it was just because he'd recently imprinted and was now imagining things or if there was actually something going on between them. Still, before he can try to figure it out, Jai quickly brings up the topic of a history test they had later that week, and in commiserating about how hard it was going to be he quickly forgot all about it.
As soon as the bell to release lunch rings, Hiro and Ezra says goodbye to the others and then head up to the front office to sign themselves out so they could get heading to SFIT. Hera had already been called that morning to confirm that Ezra had permission to leave after he'd filled out the forms, and apparently she'd given her consent as no one gave them any trouble about leaving.
Once out of the school, together the two took a streetcar across town to the university. Hera could have picked them up, but neither of them had wanted to trouble her and so they had decided that public transit was their best option. As Ezra contentedly settles onto the seat next to Hiro and the tram begins to roll down the street, he asks curiously, "Do your friends know that I'm coming?"
"No," Hiro admits. "I asked Tadashi not to tell them. It's not that I don't want them knowing about you!" he quickly adds. "It's just that-well, telling them I have a mate means having to explain the fact that I've presented, and both of those are things I'd rather tell them about myself rather than having Dashi do it for me, y'know?"
"That makes complete and total sense," Ezra reassures him, gently squeezing his shoulder. "I'm just really excited to officially meet everyone! And maybe just a bit nervous that they won't think I'm good enough for you or something…"
"Trust me, they're going to love you!" Hiro says firmly. "There's no way that they won't!"
"Well, you might be a little prejudiced, but thanks for the vote of confidence," Ezra chuckles, lightly pecking his forehead.
The rest of their trip is spent in relative silence, the two contentedly cuddling as they make their way through the city-that was one sort of new thing, Hiro seemed to be enjoying physical forms of affection more than he had before (although, to be fair, Ezra had never dared to try this sort of thing before they'd imprinted so maybe Hiro would have been open to it if he'd actually attempted it.) They were actually so caught up in it, in fact, that they almost missed their stop, but Hiro manages to hit the button signaling that they wanted to get off just in time and the streetcar pulls to a stop next to the university.
"Wow…" Ezra breathes after they've climbed off and started making their way through the campus to get to the Ito Ishioka building which contained the lab (lovingly dubbed "the Nerd Lab" by the students) where Hiro and his friends worked and studied. "I know I've been on campus tours before but still, I can never get over how cool this place is!"
"And just think-hopefully next year you'll be coming here with me!" Hiro beams at him, playfully bumping against his side as they walk.
"I know!" Ezra chuckles, lovingly ruffling his hair. "It's going to be awesome being on campus every day so I can see you more! I just wish I had a better idea of what I actually want to study…"
"You've still got plenty of time to figure that out!" Hiro says firmly. "You can just start with the basic prerequisites everyone has to take and see if maybe something catches your interest."
"That sounds fair," Ezra agrees optimistically before frowning and adding, "Although, I mean, since I won't really have anything for the Expo I definitely won't be getting into your lab, I'll just be a regular student…"
"But you can still come spend time with us in the lab anyways!" Hiro reassures him. "I mean, Fred doesn't even actually take classes here-he just audits them-and he's in there all the time because Tadashi lets him in!"
"That… Is very true," Ezra chuckles.
"And I can help you study for your classes since I'll have taken most of them, at least for the first and maybe the second year!" Hiro adds eagerly.
"I'd like that," Ezra tells him, playfully nuzzling against him before adding a bit more seriously, "But we'll have to make sure we actually get some studying done on our study dates instead of concentrating too much on the date part, okay? If I manage to actually get a scholarship of some sort like I need, I'll probably have to keep my grades above a certain level so that I don't lose it."
"You think I'd let my mate even come close to failing a class when I can do something about it?" Hiro answers, looking mildly insulted. "When I'm done with you, you're going to be top of all your classes!"
"I appreciate that," Ezra chuckles, ducking his head slightly. "Just don't be disappointed if I'm not making all A's, okay? I know you tutoring me is going to help a lot, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to still make B's and maybe some C's…"
"Hey, as long as you're doing your best no one can ask anything more from you," Hiro states firmly. "I'm going to be proud of you no matter what grades you make as long as I know you're working hard!"
"Sounds good." Ezra grins and wraps his arm around Hiro's shoulder, and the Omega happily nuzzles against him as they make their way up the stairs leading to the massive Ito Ishioka building.
"You ready for this?" the Alpha asks gently as he reaches to open one of the glass doors, noticing that his mate was starting to look a little bit nervous again.
"As I'll ever be," Hiro answers, smiling wryly up at him.
"Hey-no matter what happens, I'm here for you and we'll get through this together, okay?" Ezra tells him, giving his shoulder an encouraging squeeze.
"Yeah," Hiro agrees, summoning up the most confident smile that he can muster at the moment. And then, together, they push the door open, ready to face whatever the afternoon had in store for them.
