Drift Away
Two Days Later…
The students stand up and bow to Yukari after the final school bell rang. "Arigatou, Yukino-sensei." They all said in unison.
"Arigatou, minna-san." Yukari responded solemnly. The students pick their bags up and get ready to leave the school.
Yukari packs her books into her tote bag as the students walk past her desk and make their way out of the classroom. She looks up for a moment when Takao, Matsumoto and Satou walk over to her.
"Study hard for the finals and rest well." Yukari advised the three.
"Understood." Takao replied flatly to her before he turns and leaves the classroom. Matsumoto and Satou glance at Takao in confusion before turning to Yukari.
"What's wrong with him lately, Yukino-sensei?" Satou asked her teacher in concern.
"Nothing." Yukari shook her head with a wan smile. "He just needs some time alone."
"Come to think of it, you two didn't have tuition yesterday. What happened?" Matsumoto inquired.
"I wasn't feeling well." Yukari said half-heartedly.
"I see." Satou said softly. "Well, I hope you will get well soon so that you can go back to teaching him, especially when the finals are approaching."
Yukari lets out a heavy sigh and replied, "Return home and focus on your studies."
Without saying another word, Yukari picks her bag up and walks out of the classroom, leaving behind two bewildered students.
Yukari quietly walks down the school hallways, now filled with students chatting with each other as they make their way out of the building. But unlike the students who are all feeling relieved that the day is over, there is a lingering sense of melancholy surrounding Yukari as she makes her way through the crowded hallways.
She is still trying to recover from the emotions she had when Takao confessed his true feelings for her two days ago. She was shocked upon hearing those words from him, and she remains quiet for a few moments before she tried her best to reject him in a kindly manner. Yukari was hoping that her student would understand how she feel, but she could still virtualize inside her head how Takao looked upon hearing her rejection. She noticed his brows furrowed and his head lowered as if a sharp object had pierced through his heart. And without saying another word to her, Takao simply turned and make his way back to the classroom, leaving Yukari behind with a look of pensive sadness on her face. And knowing how heartbroken Takao was afterwards, Yukari decided to put their tuitions to a halt, hoping it will allow them to emotionally recover what had happened.
Yukari knew that she had hurt Takao's feelings, and she never wanted to. She deeply cares for him, like a true teacher does towards their students. But Yukari also reminded herself that it just seems silly. It's difficult to imagine it at all. The idea of their relationship was actually romantic was an odd thought. How can a student and a teacher be allowed to love each other?
After Taiga steps out of the staffroom and closes the door behind her, she turns her head and smile when she sees Yukari walking down the hallway.
"Yukari-chan!" Taiga greeted her enthusiastically as she waves her hand.
"Taiga-chan." Yukari responded stoically as she walks up to her. "Are you ready to leave?"
Taiga's glee instantly vanished when she sees the frown on her friend's face. "Y-y-yeah…" She murmured as she lowers her hand.
"Good." Yukari said before the two walk down the hallway together.
"Where's Akizuki?" Taiga asked.
"He's not feeling well today." Yukari replied.
"What?" Taiga said with her eyes widened. "You said he wasn't feeling well yesterday and now he's still the same today?"
"Hai." Yukari nods her head.
"What exactly is wrong with him? Maybe we should call his mother and ask how he's feeling now." Taiga said in concern.
"Just leave him alone." Yukari replied flatly as her brows furrowed. "He needs rest and we shouldn't disturb him."
Taiga gapes her mouth open upon hearing the flat tone of her friend's voice. Deciding not to bother her any further, Taiga frowned as she turns back to her front. "Alright."
Later that night, Taiga and Yukari head to Tai Feng's restaurant to have their dinner. They sat down at their usual table and Lenalee wrote down their orders before she heads to the kitchen. And thirty minutes later, Tai Feng walks over to their table while carrying a tray of food that they ordered.
"Here you go." Tai Feng said as he places the bowls of rice, youtiao and pork rib soup in front of Taiga and Yukari.
"Arigatou, Tai Feng." Taiga smiled at him.
"Bie ke qi." Tai Feng replied before asking the teachers in concern. "By the way, I was wondering. Where was the kid yesterday? Don't you guys usually eat together on Wednesdays?"
"He wasn't well." Yukari replied dully to him.
"Oh, I see." Tai Feng said with a worried frown. "Is he in school today?"
"No." Yukari shook her head.
"Well, tell him to get well soon for me, will ya?" Tai Feng asked.
"Sure thing." Taiga nods her head with a wan smile before Tai Feng turns around and walks back to the kitchen. Taiga turns back to Yukari who quietly places her hands together.
"Itadakimasu." Yukari said softly before she began eating her food.
Taiga frowned worriedly at her friend for a moment before she turns to her own bowls of food and places her hands together as well. "Itadakimasu."
Takao returns to his apartment to have dinner with his brother and mother. They quietly ate their rice, omelette, fish and vegetables which are cooked by Reimi tonight. Even Shouta is present in the room to eat dinner with the rest of the family. The Akizukis are glad that the days of Reimi dwelling in her depression and Shouta returning home late to avoid contact with her are long gone. But unlike most nights for the last twelve months, Takao is strangely quiet tonight as he ate his food.
In an attempt to converse with his brother, Shouta picked up a piece of spinach with his chopsticks and holds it above Takao's bowl of rice. "Want some?" He asked encouragingly.
"No thanks." Takao mumbled as he uses his own chopsticks to pick up a piece of fish.
"What happened at school today?" Reimi asked as she stares at Takao in concern.
"Everything's fine." Takao replied stoically as he places the piece of fish onto his rice and eats it.
Shouta frowns at his younger brother and places the spinach back with the rest of the vegetables. "Takao, if there's anything-"
"I'm done." Takao said abruptly as he places down his now empty bowl. "Clean the bowl for me. I'm going to my room to study for the finals."
With that, Takao gets up from his chair, picks up his schoolbag from the floor and walks over to his room. After hearing the door to his room being closed, Shouta and Reimi look at each other, wondering what is bothering the younger Akizuki.
The next day after school, Takao and Matsumoto head to the gym to attend their activities at the volleyball club. Matsumoto did try to strike a conversation with Takao but he remained silent throughout their entire trip to the gym.
During practice, Kitagawa jumps into the air and slams his hand on the ball, sending it flying over to the other side of the court.
"Akizuki!" Wakisaka shouted to Takao who stood in front of him. But Takao remained still with his head down and his arms hanging limply at his sides as the ball landed right beside his feet and bounces away.
"Hey, what's wrong with you today?" Matsumoto asked his friend with a pensive scowl as he stood beside him.
"Are you not feeling well today, Akizuki?" Sasaki inquired as he stood at the side of the court. Takao responded to his coach with a slight nod. "Very well then, take a seat. Toda, come over and take his place." The other players in the court watch in confusion as Takao quietly walks over to the bench, not making eye contact with Toda who jogs past him.
"Akizuki…" Kitagawa murmured as he stares at his teammate with a worried frown. Everyone instantly look back to their front when Sasaki blows his whistle.
Takao sat down on the bench with the substitutes as the other players on the court resume their practice. He continues staring down at the floor even as the player sitting next to him passes him a water bottle. Takao remained silent as he takes the bottle from the player's hand.
Takao still couldn't get over the aching in his heart. For nearly the last two years, Yukari had shown him her kindness and support, and Takao would always express his gratitude in return. But now, it felt like all the memories he had with her are soiled after the rejection he received from her. For the last three days, he questioned himself what does his relationship with Yukari mean after all. Was he really just a student to her? Were all the lessons he had with her and Taiga just part of her job of being a teacher? Was it always in her point of view that he is just another student to teach before he graduates and enters society like everybody else in school?
Takao sighed heavily. Maybe Yukari was right. He can never be with her because of their professions and age difference. A romantic relationship between a student and a teacher? What was he thinking? It sounded both foolish and impossible. And maybe the care and attention that Yukari had shown him was all part of her job, and nothing more.
"Is there something wrong?"
Takao turns his head and sees Hitomi walking over to him. She pulls up her own chair next to the substitutes' bench and sat beside him.
"Murasaki-sensei." Takao said as he sits up straight and looks back at her.
"You seem dejected. Mind sharing me what's going through your head?" Hitomi asked.
Takao frowns and turns his head away, remaining silent for a few moments. He looks back at Hitomi again and questioned her, "Do you ever feel like…you have completely lost hope after being rejected by someone you look up to?"
"Were you in a relationship?" Hitomi asked. Takao nodded. "And I assume it ended badly?"
"Hai." Takao murmured in response.
Hitomi silently nods her head. "Let me tell you something. When I was just a child still living in Okinawa with my family, I had big dreams of moving to Tokyo. The problem is, my parents were poor, and they even criticize me that my dreams were too ambitious. But I never gave up and just continue my education, hoping that I'll score grades high enough for me to move to the capital. And when I turned 18, I got into university and hope to earn a bachelor's degree, which will help me get accepted by any job in Tokyo. But while I was in my first year, my parents' financial problems grew worse and they struggled to pay for my school fees. It was to the point I had to decide whether I should continue studying to achieve my dreams, or drop out to save my family from collapsing. Ultimately, I chose the latter. Of course at the time, I was upset that I had to drop out at only the first year of university. I thought my road to fulfilling my dreams to move to Tokyo had ended. But eventually, a friend of mine suggested taking on a delivery job in Naha. And because I needed to support my family, I took her advice. And one day, because I worked so well in my delivery job, my manager wanted to move me to the company's branch in Tokyo. I was shocked, but excited at the same time. So I accepted it. My family and I moved to Mitaka where I continued my work for the delivery company. And eventually, I was able to earn enough money for me and my family to quit the job, move to Shinjuku…" She paused for a moment and gave a wide smile to Takao. "And here I am now."
Hitomi pushes aside a strand of hair away from her eyes and takes a deep breath while Takao continues staring at her with his eyes widened after being amazed by her story.
"The point is, don't ever give up on anything, even if you felt like you had been rejected. I was rejected once in my life by having to drop out from university. But I eventually found hope again in achieving what I desire later down the road. And I hope you can do the same." Hitomi said.
Takao's eyes softened as he turns his head away and looks back at the floor. He frowned again as he murmured, "How I wish."
Later that night, Yukari return home earlier than expected, much to her mother's surprise. She always thought usually her daughter would be having dinner outside with her friend on Fridays, but Yukari chose not to hang out with Taiga tonight, citing to her friend that she needs rest after a long day of work. Yukari and her mother spent the next thirty minutes cooking their dinner. When they are done, they brought their food over to the dining table and ate together.
As she quietly ate her dinner, Yukari continues to contemplate over the events that happened between her and Takao three days ago. Despite knowing that rejecting him was the right thing to do, Yukari still couldn't help but feel guilty for hurting Takao's feelings. He does care about her after all, but he is still young and he needs to focus more on his studies, especially with the finals coming up.
But now, she is also feeling a sense of confusion.
If Yukari had known that these extra lessons, as well as her time spent with him outside of class, would cause Takao to develop such strong feelings for her, she would have never accepted his request to become his tutor. Why did she even accept it in the first place? She knows that he had issues with his family and was struggling with his studies. Does this mean she chose to be his tutor out of pity, or just part of her job as a teacher? Why of all the students in her class, and the whole school, she chose Takao to have special lessons with her and Taiga?
And now that she had realized that he had feelings for her, and had rejected him, is this how things are going to be for the remainder of the school year? Will she protect her pride as a teacher and not make further contact with Takao again? Will they remain apart, until he graduates and she will forget about-
Yukari firmly place her chopsticks down on the table, causing her mother to look up at her in shock. She noticed the scowl on her daughter's face, distorted by the pained confusion she is currently feeling inside her.
"Dear, what's wrong?" Her mother asked in concern.
"I'm sorry mother. It's just…I just…" Yukari struggled to respond. Tears begin to form in her eyes as she bites down on her lower lip. Yukari plants a hand on her eyes as she silently wept, causing her mother to quickly get up from her chair and rush over to her side.
"Dear, please." Her mother said to Yukari softly as she places her hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"M-m-mother…" Yukari managed to say. "I'm just so…confused."
Her mother responded by wrapping her arms around her daughter. Yukari turns to her mother and hugs her back as she weeps on her shoulder.
"It's okay, dear." Her mother said soothingly as she rubs Yukari's back. "Just tell me all about it."
A few minutes later, her mother walks over to Yukari who is sitting on the couch in the living area and handed her a warm cup of jasmine tea. She sat beside her daughter while holding onto her own cup of tea and asked warmly, "Now tell me, what's going on?"
Yukari took a small sip of her tea before turning to her mother with tearstained eyes and asked, "Is a teacher's job…really just to teach the new generation…and forget about them when they enter society…and just move on to the next batch of students?"
"I see. You are wondering whether to forget the people you have made a connection with over the past year." Her mother said. Yukari nods her head. "Are your students really dear to you?" Yukari closed her eyes and pursed her lips before nodding her head again. But when she felt the warmth of her mother's hand being placed onto her shoulder, Yukari's mouth gape open as she looks back at her.
"If you feel that you have a strong connection with your students, then you shouldn't ignore it. Even if they leave and part ways with you, they will always remain inside your heart. Just like how even after your father died…" Her mother places her other hand on her chest. "A part of him will always remain here, inside of me. When he was alive, your father taught me to turn our friendship into love. He made me realized that I'm destined to remain by his side for the rest of our lives. And we did remain married until his death, and I never regret a single moment I spent with him." Her mother smiled warmly at Yukari as she rubs her daughter's shoulder. "And I hope that whatever connections you've made with the people you're close with, you too will also believe that you are destined to be with them…forevermore."
Yukari gazes at her mother for a few moments before she wipes away the remaining tears inside her eyes and turns her head away.
"With him…" Yukari whispered to herself. "Forevermore…"
Three Days Later…
When the final school bell rang, Takao and his classmates got up from their seats and bow down to their science teacher before leaving the classroom in an orderly manner. As they begin making their way out of the school, Matsumoto wraps an arm around Takao as they and Satou walk down the hallways together.
"Finally! The day is over. Are you ready to go to Jiyugaoka with us?" Matsumoto asked Takao enthusiastically.
"Are you really sure we should be doing this? The finals are approaching soon." Takao said flatly with the scowl he had been displaying on his face for the entire day.
"Oh don't worry, Akizuki. We still got five weeks before that happens, don't we?" Satou said reassuringly.
"Hai." Matsumoto nods his head. "You already agreed to this when we asked you this morning. So relax! We need to take some time to rest in between our studies, right?"
Takao blows out a heavy sigh before giving his friends a reluctant nod. And when the three friends step out of the main school building, Takao widens his eyes as he didn't expect two familiar figures waiting for him outside.
"Hello guys!" Taiga said cheerfully as she and Yukari wave their hands at him and his friends. "Are you ready to go?"
"What does she mean?" Takao asked his friends in bewilderment as Matsumoto removes his arm around him.
"Sorry we didn't tell you, but we ask Fujimura and Yukino-sensei to come along with us too." Satou said to Takao with a sheepish smile.
"Why would you do that?! They're teachers! They probably have their own things to do right now!" Takao chided his friends.
"But you aren't having tuition with them tonight, right?" Matsumoto asked him with a smirk.
"Come on Takao. It's been a while since we hung out together like this. Please?" Satou pleaded.
Takao growls at his friends before he closes his eyes and respond to them with a solemn nod. "Fine, but let's-"
"ARIGATOU!" Satou and Matsumoto quickly interrupted him by giving him a tight embrace.
"HEY! What the heck?!" Takao struggled to say as he felt his friends tightening their hug around his body. Taiga chortled and Yukari giggled as they watch the display from a distance. When Satou and Matsumoto back away, Takao lets out another heavy sigh before the three friends walk over to the teachers.
"Fujimura-sensei, Yukino-sensei." Takao greeted as he bows to them. When he stood up straight, he made a brief eye contact with Yukari before turning his head away. Yukari sighed inwardly as she gazes at Takao.
"Now then, what are we waiting for?" Taiga asked everyone around her with a wide smile. "Let's go!"
The five walk to Shinjuku Station, boarded a train and travel their way to Jiyugaoka. Takao and Yukari never spoke or looked at each other throughout the ride. All they did was sat beside each other, waiting for their train to arrive at their destination while Matsumoto, Satou and Taiga stood in front of them, conversing with each other as they cling onto the handles above them.
Takao couldn't help but still feel a bit of anger inside him after what happened last Tuesday. He never wanted this icy atmosphere between him and Yukari, but he just doesn't know what to say to her ever since. He still kept wondering to himself if all the moments they had together ever truly mean anything. He knew he needs to stop dwelling so much on such things, but he could not help it. Takao had strong feelings towards Yukari. He realized that she is more than a teacher to him. And yet, did she ever truly felt the same for him in return? Was he really just a fool all along?
Before he knew it, they arrived at Jiyugaoka Station. Takao and the others leave the train, step out of the station and walk through the streets of Jiyugaoka. The five look around in awe. The neighborhood consists of small buildings built in a very European-like architecture that would make any visitor feel like they had left Japan and entered an entirely different continent. Most of the buildings are made of bricks and painted in various bright colors which helps give each of them their own unique personality. Trees and bushes with all sorts of flowers are grown between and alongside the wide pavements, bringing life and tranquility to this small neighborhood located within the busy urban areas of Tokyo.
For the next hour, the five spend their time in the neighborhood visiting various shops and looking through several items such as clothes, shoes and gifts. But unlike their shopping trip in Gotemba, Takao and Yukari just could not enjoy themselves. The sense of happiness inside them wasn't there during their journey around the neighborhood, and the fact that neither of them is still willing to speak to each other make them feel even more despondent.
By the time they step out of the last store they visited, night has fallen all across Tokyo. Satou and Taiga could hear Matsumoto's stomach rumbling, which causes him to blush and making everyone realize that they haven't had dinner yet. Matsumoto, Satou and Taiga chuckle for a moment before turning to Takao and Yukari for a moment to see the blank looks on their faces. The three frown as they turn to each other. Taiga approaches Yukari from behind and places her hand on her shoulder.
"Yukari-chan, why don't you and Akizuki take a seat while the others and I look for a place to eat?" Taiga suggested. Yukari turns to her friend and wordlessly nods her head.
"Go have some rest, Takao." Satou said softly to Takao. Takao nodded to Satou before he and Yukari stare at each other for a brief moment. They turn their heads away shortly after as they both walk over to the bench in front of them placed in the middle of the large pavement.
"Don't go anywhere. We'll be right back." Taiga grinned at Takao and Yukari. She turns and walks away along with Satou and Matsumoto, leaving the two behind and alone with each other.
Takao and Yukari sat together in silence for the next five minutes. Despite the fact that they are only a few centimeters apart, both the student and teacher refuse to make contact with each other. Yukari simply sat there and stares blankly into nothingness while Takao leans back on the bench with his head down and his arms folded.
Eventually, Takao's teeth broke out into a grimace. He couldn't stand it anymore. For the last six days, neither he nor Yukari ever had a proper conversation with each other. He is tired of Yukari constantly keeping things to herself. Tired of being lectured by people who are older than him. Tired of being treated as nothing more than a student who should only focus on his studies. He just can't tolerate this ignorance from her any longer.
After stomping his foot in frustration, Takao stood up from the bench and turned to Yukari with an ugly scowl. Not caring about the shock and confused expressions from the passers-by, Takao said to Yukari with his voice quivering with rage, "So is this it? Is this how things are going to be between us from now on?! HUH?!"
Yukari's brows furrowed as she continued sitting on the bench in silence, listening to Takao as he lets out his fury.
"You know what? I take back what I said. I'm not in love with you anymore. I was crazy all along, thinking that I can have such feelings towards a teacher." Takao laughed for a moment before throwing his head back. "What the heck was I thinking, right? Who the hell do I think I am?" Takao grits his teeth again as he looks back at Yukari and shouted, "I'm just a student! That's what! A childish student who doesn't know anything better and shouldn't stick his nose into an adult's business! If I had known you are just like every other adult, I never would have requested you to be my tutor! All those lessons and times we had together, including the volleyball tournament and our trip to Gotemba with Fujimura and Aizawa…THEY WERE ALL MEANINGLESS!" As Takao bellowed the last sentence, hot tears freely roll down his cheeks. "You never really cared for me! You were just there to teach me what I don't know, and only expressed your support for me because it's your damn job to do so! If you really wanted to take your job as a teacher seriously, you should have just been honest with me! That I'm just an idiot with foolish thoughts and dreams! Becoming a shoemaker? What a joke! Find something else that's more respectable in society! Study harder and get a degree! Think what's better for yourself and stop wasting your time on pointless things!"
Takao collapses onto his knees with a whimper. As he lowers his head and closes his eyes, unable to fight back his tears any longer, Takao screamed with a mixture of sadness and pure rage, "SO JUST TELL ME, GOD DAMMIT! Tell me that I'm a nuisance for constantly going out with you and requesting extra lessons from you! TELL ME!"
Suddenly, much to his surprise, Yukari gets up from the bench, fell on her knees and threw herself against Takao, pulling him into a tight embrace. Takao's eyes snap back open as Yukari lets out a loud wail. She openly wept onto Takao's shoulder and her tears spill onto his uniform every time she sobbed.
"P-Please Akizuki…P-Please don't s-say that…" Yukari took a hard gulp as she tried to regain her composure. "When I first returned to working in your school…I felt like someone starting her life all over again…and then I met you…you told me what you went through…and I became willing to help you…because you were just like me…someone who is struggling to walk again…to find a reason to keep moving forward…and every time we see each other…every lesson we had together…it reminds me why I wanted to be a teacher in the first place! So don't…don't ever say that the times we had were meaningless…don't ever think you are an idiot and a nuisance…I cherish every moment we spent together…YOU WERE ALWAYS MAKING ME HAPPY!" She screamed at her last sentence and ending it with a hoarse sob.
Takao grits his teeth and closes his eyes. He hugs his teacher back and rests his chin on her shoulder, letting his tears flow freely down his cheeks. They both remain where they are, crying and hugging close to each other and not caring about the passers-by who were watching them.
A few minutes later, Takao and Yukari break away from their hug and stare into each other's tearstained eyes. They both take a moment to wipe away their tears before Takao spoke up, "I'm so sorry…Yukino-sensei…"
Yukari shook her head. "It's okay…I know you didn't mean a word you said…" She replied softly. "I know you care about me, Akizuki. But to be honest, it's just not the right time."
Takao sighs heavily and lowers his head. "I know that." He said sadly.
"But don't give up." Yukari said as she grabs Takao's right arm, causing her student to look back up at her with pained confusion. "Don't ever forget these feelings you have for me. When you have grown older and finished what you have to do, you can always find me again."
Takao and Yukari silently stare at each other for a few more moments before the teacher pulls him into another tight embrace.
"I love you, Akizuki." Yukari whispered into his ear.
Takao's eyes softened as he wraps his arms around her. "I love you too, Yukino-sensei."
Yukari chuckled. "Not sensei…Yukino-san." She said softly. A wide smile plasters across Takao's face as he turns to his teacher.
"I knew you two will finally talk to each other."
Takao and Yukari gasp with their eyes widened and their cheeks blush crimson upon hearing Taiga's voice. They turn their heads to see her standing in front of them with a lopsided smirk, along with Satou and Matsumoto who both stood at her sides.
"Taiga-chan!" Yukari cried in embarrassment.
"Satou! Matsumoto!" Takao exclaimed as he stares at his friends in shock.
Satou giggled before responding to Takao, "Sorry we hid this from you. But Matsumoto and Fujimura-sensei discuss with each other after our club activities last Friday on how to make you and Yukino-sensei get along again."
"We don't want you to go back to being the cold and quiet guy from our first year all over again. And we know Yukino-sensei is the only person who is able to help you. That's why we desperately want you two to make up with each other before the finals." Matsumoto explained.
"And we are so glad that our plan in bringing you guys here actually worked." Taiga said with a cheerful grin as she places her hands at the sides of her hip.
Takao lowers his head and said to them with utter embarrassment, "I'm guessing you guys think I'm shameful, right? Being in love with someone who is nearly twice my age."
"Don't worry. We knew all along." Satou smiled at him. Takao looks back up at them in surprise.
"Yeah." Matsumoto said as he shrugged. "I mean the way you two are always conversing and smiling at each other. It's obvious that you two became close to each other ever since Yukino-sensei became your tutor."
Taiga kneels down on the pavement and asked Takao, "Tell me, Akizuki. Do you really care about Yukino that much?"
Takao stares wordlessly at Taiga for a moment before nodding his head. "Yes, I do." He said solemnly.
Taiga turns to Yukari and inquired, "And Yukari-chan, do you share the same feelings for him?"
"Hai." Yukari replied as she nods her head as well.
Taiga looks back at Takao and said, "Then Akizuki, let me tell you something."
"What is it?" Takao asked. Taiga uses her finger to gesture him to come closer. Takao leans his head towards her and without warning; Taiga quickly gave a gentle smack on the top of his head. "Ah, hey!"
"Focus on your studies first!" Taiga chided him. Takao stares at her in surprise as he sees a rare stern scowl on her face. "I know you and my friend have feelings for each other. But you really want to make her truly happy, concentrate on your utmost priority first! Promise us that you will study hard to enter university and achieve your dream job by the time you are old enough to enter society!"
Takao frowns back at Taiga and vowed, "Yes Fujimura-sensei! I promise!"
Takao bows down to Taiga for a moment. And when he looks back up, he sees that the scowl on her face had transformed into a warm smile. Taiga places her hand on his right shoulder before saying gently to him, "And once you fulfill those goals, and your feelings towards Yukino never changed, then you are allowed to come back to us."
Takao responded with a solemn nod. "I understand." He said.
Taiga places her other hand on Yukari's left shoulder and she pulls her friend and Takao into an embrace. "Until then, I wish you two all the best." Taiga whispered to both of them. Yukari and Takao smile blissfully as they hug her back.
"Arigatou, Taiga-chan. Thank you for understanding." Yukari replied softly. She could feel Taiga nodding her head in response.
When the three pull themselves away from their hug, Takao looks back at Taiga and said, "Arigatou, Fujimura-sensei." Afterwards, he looks up at Satou and Matsumoto. "You too, Satou, Matsumoto. You guys really are my friends."
"It's nothing." Matsumoto said with a lopsided grin as he rubs the back of his head while Satou simply gave a cheerful smile to Takao.
Suddenly, the moment of happiness was rudely interrupted by the loud rumbling of Taiga's stomach, causing Takao and Yukari to laugh.
"I guess we completely forgotten about dinner, didn't we?" Yukari asked Takao.
"Hai." Takao said to Yukari before turning to Taiga. "Come on. Let's go find a restaurant…Tiger."
Taiga flinched for a moment, but kept a lopsided smirk on her face while her left brow twitched. "Sure, let's do that…Mr. Can't-keep-your-dick-in-your-pants."
"Huh?! What does that mean?!" Takao cried exasperatedly. Taiga, Yukari, Satou and Matsumoto all began laughing in response. Takao grumbled under his breath before turning to Yukari. As he sees his literature teacher burst into laughter and expressing her joy, Takao briefly smiled at her before he too began laughing with everyone, not caring about the puzzled reactions from the passers-by.
Sovereign: I would like to thank Dreamaholics and LayLay lives for reviewing and Crimson-Tuna-Sub for checking out my story. Thank you!