Title: Things that change for better or for worse
Chapter 9: Confronting the Change 1
By: Sissy

Disclaimer: DRRR shall never belong to me otherwise there'd be more yaoi.
Warning: More fast pacing.

"Professor, I've brought the materials." Mikado came into the classroom just before class was about to start. He seemed in good spirits now that he was working.

"Huh? Professor, when did you get an assistant?" One of the few students that had arrived early asked with a curious look towards Mikado. None of them had heard any news about this so they found it odd.

"Ah, I guess I can mention it now, though I was hoping you'd ignore Ryugamine-kun for a while." The professor grinned and a student that was sitting by the window came running towards them.

"Ryugamine-kun? As in the famous Ryugamine-sempai that all the professors in the department go crazy about? The one that went to America to study?" The student asked with an admiring look.

"Yes, that Ryugamine-kun." The professor nodded and the few students near them went crazy.

"This is awesome! Will you tell us about your experiences? Sempai, how was it over there?" They all asked at the same time, surprising Mikado and leaving him unable to utter a single word.

"Hey, now. He's still only my personal assistant. You can ask him anything after class when he's free." The professor interrupted them all and brought their attention to him.

"Still? Does that mean he's going to be teaching us as well as a professor soon?" The students got excited again by the news, even though neither Mikado nor the professor had said anything. "When do you start teaching class? Can we take your classes when you do?"

"Ah… You'll have to talk to the professor for that." Mikado managed to say and all eyes fell upon their professor.

"Since I'm retiring at the end of the year, he'll be taking over all my classes. So be good to him and sit down. I want to start class now." The professor simply said and ordered them to sit. They all pouted but obeyed as Mikado sat in a corner for when he was needed. "Now that we're all here, let's start with the topic from last week…"

As the professor began his lecture, the students remained quiet but kept glancing at Mikado every so often. Some noticed him bring out his cell phone and checking it before putting it away every five minutes. Eventually, they began to wonder whether someone was calling Mikado before Mikado put it away one final time, never looking at it again during the rest of the class.

… … …

"Is this a bad time, Ryugamine-kun?" Anri called out to her friend with a shy look after approaching Mikado. Currently, he was being surrounded by a group of students who only kept asking questions about his study abroad and for help in their studies.

"Ah, Sonohara-san! Well, excuse me. I have a date with her." Mikado flashed a bright smile in their direction and quickly made his escape with Anri in tow.

As they got farther away, Anri still managed to hear their comments. "Eh~? No way! He has a girlfriend? Even after being abroad? That's so cool!"

"Um, I think they got the wrong impression about us…" Anri tried to speak up but Mikado shushed her with a smile, as if there was nothing wrong with that. Once they were farther away, they sat down on a bench and Mikado sighed comfortably. "Were those students of yours?"

"Huh? Oh, no. They're the professor's. But they're very interested in knowing about America, I hope, and wouldn't stop pestering me. I think if you hadn't come I'd be the cause of a mob fight." Mikado spoke lightly about that, as if there hadn't been any problem whatsoever.

"I see. I'm glad I was able to help at least. Ah, this is your lunch. You left it at home. I tried calling your phone but it wouldn't connect." Anri seemed worried about that and even more so when she noticed Mikado flinch.

But the boy quickly recovered and brought out his phone. Anri saw him turn it on, realizing that he had it off the whole time. As Mikado gave a sad smile at the phone, he explained, "He was calling. But I still don't know what to say so I couldn't pick and decided to just turn it off. Sorry."

Anri placed a hand on his and smiled as softly as she could. "It's alright. Just take it a day at a time. I'm more worried about you than the issue at hand."

"Thanks Sonohara-san. And I'm sorry I put you on the spot like that. It was the first thing I could think of when you came." Mikado smiled and lowered his gaze while blushing lightly. He felt bad about having done that to her.

"No, it's alright. And I did say I was glad to be of help. But it reminded me, I guess Ryugamine-kun has changed a bit. It reminded me a bit of Kida-kun." Anri chuckled lightly and Mikado felt embarrassed by those words. To have been told that he was similar to his best friend would have been a compliment if not for the personality said friend had. Mikado felt a bit conflicted on that part.

"Do you need to go back to the shop or would you like to stay a bit?" Mikado decided to offer in the meantime but saw Anri shake her head in response.

"I'll go back. Being here with Ryugamine-kun is nice but I should tend to the shop. I left Erika-san alone there after all." Anri replied with a smile and walked away.

As soon as she was gone, Mikado sighed tiredly. He turned around to leave and jumped when he heard his cell phone ring. With a frown, he looked to see who it was and quickly sent it to voicemail. I guess even after six years, I'm still scared of apologizing… Mikado's thoughts left his heart hurting and he walked back to his professor's office to eat in peace.

… … …

Once the day was over, Mikado gave a sigh of relief. He had been hassled every free hour by every single class of his professor's. At the moment, he was resting in his professor's couch as said man prepared them some tea.

"You handled yourself well, Ryugamine-kun." The professor commented with a smile and handed him a cup of tea.

"Thank you. I just hope they'll get over it by the end of the week. I know they're obsessed with me right now simply because of the rumors." Mikado sighed again before sipping some of the tea. He was referring more to the legend of 'Ryugamine-sempai' rather than any rumor but felt the need to call it that as rumors usually went away after a time.

A knock was heard from the other side of the door before the professor could make any joke regarding Mikado's comment. The older man stood up and walked over to the door, sliding it open. "Yes? Was there something you needed from me?" The professor seemed to be covering for Mikado in case they had come to pester him especially since the offender wasn't someone he knew.

"Oh, I'm not here to see you. It's your assistant I'm looking for." Mikado paled when he heard the voice and quickly looked over to the door. As surprised as he was, he should've known that it was only a matter of time before an information broker like Izaya knew he was back in Ikebukuro.

To Be Continued…