Rim: I have no idea where I'm going with this chapter, it's sort of a secondary part to the last chapter that I originally was going to put in, but I decided to split it up and make the new school year part into another chapter. Let's see where this will lead. And thanks to everyone, so far who has reviewed, your support and feedback is always appreciated. Here's the first new chapter of the new year.
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Part 19
Kenny stared at his reflection in the mirror, brushing aside a wayward fringe of hair only to have it fall back into place seconds later. Shoving it aside again, the stubborn hair reassembled itself in its place no sooner than he lowered his hand.
"That haircut did nothing to this," Kenny sighed, giving up the fight knowing that his hair was going to have its way no matter what. Studying his image in the mirror, he sighed. He looked pretty much the same as he did last year, the only difference between the years being he was hoping that Kai would notice a difference.
Kai Hiwatari was an English teacher who taught at the same school Kenny attended. It was during Kenny's freshmen year at the school that the crush on Kai first developed. There had been something about Kai even back then which Kenny's heart would never let him get over. As more time went by- another school year, another class in which Kai taught- Kenny was more than certain his infatuation for the older man was not a simple phase.
Of course he never intended for Kai to find out about his feelings. He was certain his teacher would not care to have a student pining after him. Besides, Kenny was a minor after all, and Kai's student. Those types of relationships never went over well, so Kenny kept his feelings to himself. Until Tyson intervened, handing over a forgotten love letter Kenny had not destroyed. That single event led to mutual liking, if not a slightly platonic relationship standing between them.
"Hey, how long are you planning to stand in the mirror primping yourself?" Behind him Tyson leaned against the bathroom doorway munching on a bacon and egg sandwich meant for Kenny. "Your breakfast is getting cold."
"You're eating my breakfast," Kenny pointed out.
"There's still another sandwich downstairs with your name on it," Tyson said between bites. "So, are you done in here, or do you want to take the mirror with you to school to finish this up?"
"It's impossible to do anything with it," Kenny replied, shuffling away from the mirror. Walking up to Tyson, he grabbed the sandwich from his best friend, taking a bite out of it.
"Well taking my sandwich isn't going to make your hair better. I don't know why you just don't get it styled or something. It would definitely be more manageable than it is now," Tyson commented, snatching his sandwich back from Kenny.
"It's my sandwich in the first place," Kenny reminded.
"Your sandwich before I made it my own," Tyson corrected. "So, are you done primping yourself? As much as I enjoy summer vacation, it's not going to go well if we try to extend it. Besides, I don't think Mr. Hiwatari is going to think any less of you if your hair is the same as before."
"I know," Kenny sighed.
"Your mind still on what happened before he left on that trip?" Tyson said.
"I'm over it," Kenny said.
"You sure?" Tyson studied his friend who turned back to the mirror momentarily. Deciding that no amount of brushing, combing, or even mousse was going to impact the fringe, Kenny slipped past Tyson out of the bathroom, heading towards the stairs. Tyson followed behind him, a slight frown turning his mouth downwards. "Kenny? Are you certain?"
"Yes, yes, now stop asking me," Kenny said, a hint of irritation arising. Of course he wasn't over what happened during summer break. But dwelling over it would place him in a more sullen disposition than he would like going back to school seeing Kai. If the older male knew that Kenny was still thinking about it, he would be bothered by it. Starting out a new school year with something as trivial as not getting a kiss was no way to start things out.
"You don't have to snap my head off," Tyson huffed. "I'm just trying to look out for you, and if it means giving him a good slap over the head, then well who am I to—"
"Get suspended the first day back?" Kenny finished.
"All for the greater cause," Tyson nodded.
"Your father, brother, grandfather, and anyone else that can get their hands on you will kill you, including me," Kenny stated. "Really Tyson, thanks for worrying, but I'm fine."
"Well if you say so, then I'll take your word for it," Tyson said.
"Sometimes, you're genuinely arcane," Kenny smiled, turning to see the puzzlement in Tyson's eyes. "It means impossible to understand. How are you really going to make it through yet another English class that way Tyson?"
"The same way I've been struggling, pledging to give you my first born child in exchange for knowledge," Tyson grinned, causing Kenny to once more chuckle at his best friend. Entering into the kitchen, Kenny found his mother cleaning up.
"Mom, I'm heading out," Kenny said, grabbing his backpack from a chair along with his other sandwich.
"Have a good first day you two," Kenny's mother smiled, turning to them briefly.
"We'll try," Kenny and Tyson said concurrently, leaving the area. At the moment Kenny's father was out doing research for an upcoming short story scheduled to appear in a literary magazine. Kenny's father had tried pestering Kenny into giving him a story to have published also in order to get his son known as a newcomer writer, but the brunette once again refused. Of course if his father had a say in it, Kenny would eventually give in to the request.
"Hey, how about we make a bet about how many kids are going to be running around looking freaked out today," Tyson spoke up for the first time in some time two blocks away from where the school was.
"I'm not starting this game with you. I remember last year when you told that group of kids on their way to gym not to look the PE teacher straight in the eyes or he might snap," Kenny said, thinking about the poor kids who had turned green when Tyson fibbed towards 'grueling activities they would be embarking on'.
"I didn't think they would believe me!" Tyson laughed.
"Try not to scare any kids this year," Kenny shook his head.
"Oh come on why not?" Tyson gaped.
"Because if we have to see one more freshman burst into tears, they are going to eventually rebel against us. Try to act more your age this year, we're juniors now," commented Rei who was walking up with Max in tow to join the two. Tyson stuck his tongue out at Rei, who rolled his eyes. "This is what I'm talking about Tyson."
"Tyson never grows up," Max said. "The day that happens is the day hell freezes over."
"This year might be the year I kill you both," Tyson glowered, swiping at Max who easily moved out of the way. "I swear you are not making it to your next birthday."
"You said that last year, you never followed up with your threat," Kenny reminded.
"Don't make me start in on you either," Tyson warned.
"I'm not trying to get involved, I'm just stating a fact," Kenny voiced.
"It's not welcomed, so why don't you run on to school and—" Before Tyson could finish the sentence, he found Kenny's backpack slamming into his legs, nearly tripping him. Yelping in pain, Tyson scowled at his best friend who was mimicking the action. "What was that for?"
"I think you know." Kenny replied, slinging the bag on his back once more.
"I wasn't going to mention that, for your information!" Tyson exclaimed. "Don't get bent out of shape because you're going on the fritz by yourself."
"I thought I told you I'm not agitated," Kenny commented.
"Well you could fool me," Tyson snorted. "Do you know how much that hurts? What do you have in there anyway?"
"Materials for school, something you never seem to have."
"Did you buy out Office Max?" Tyson hissed.
"You deserve it," Kenny said.
"I didn't even mention it!" Tyson argued.
"Mention what?" Max asked curiously.
"Nothing," Kenny said, speeding up to put space between him and Tyson. Tyson grumbled slightly, stopping to reach down and rub his legs. Max and Rei stopped in their tracks, looking at where Kenny was continuing on without them then back to Tyson.
"Someone seems agitated today, what did you do to Kenny?" Max inquired.
"I didn't do anything to him, he was already agitated before arrived," Tyson voiced. "And before either of you start up, I'm not the cause of it either."
"We know it's not really our business towards your personal love lives, but it's been nagging us, so we want to know, it wasn't a lovers' quarrel right?" Rei questioned, his gold eyes flickering.
"Is that what you two are always whispering about when I'm not paying attention?" Tyson asked rolling his eyes. "You two are worst than a pair of old ladies without nothing to do but gossip. It was not a lover's quarrel or anything relatively close to it."
"You still haven't confessed to him how you feel, have you? You've had all summer to do it," Max shook his head. "Rei and I get tired of wondering when you will stop being such a blockhead and realize it."
"What's this, an episode of Doctor Phil?" Tyson frowned. "For the record, Kenny's like a brother to me, he thinks of me the same way."
"You never thought about going out with him?" Rei blinked.
"Not once in the history of our friendship," Tyson shook his head.
"That's a shocker. We always thought that by college you would be going out," Max admitted.
"Not a chance. Do you really believe he would accept me on that sort of level? He'd sooner turn straight," Tyson said amusedly. "Come on let's catch up with that volatile friend of mine."
Watching the bluenette go back to walking, Max and Rei looked at each other, before smiling. Perhaps it was just a cover so they wouldn't be teased. Tyson and Kenny had a lot more chemistry than the two of them knew.
In the meantime of that talk, Kenny had made it to the steps of the school, stopping momentarily to see if Tyson, Max, or Rei were close behind him. Not spotting the three, Kenny sighed continuing on into the school building where there was a crowd of kids looking around uncertainly wandering around aimlessly. Perchance he was being just a little emotional and irritated by the events of summer…then again, he could throw it off as being Tyson's fault. No matter what, the bluenette would chalk it up to being Kai's fault, and forgive him. Feeling a little better-and guilty-about this notion he began weaving through the bustle of new students, boisterous chatter, and returning kids stationed in the hallways.
Kenny's feet carried him up stairs to the second floor where most of the literary subjects held class. Turning down the first hallway on the left hand side once he was past long window panels where more kids were clustered around jabbering about their summer vacation, Kenny peered up at the name markers beside each door, he eventually discovered Kai's classroom for the year. Popping his head inside, he looked around, finding that Kai was not there yet.
Before Kenny could turn around and leave, he heard someone say "You should get to your homeroom boy since you seem to have so much free time."
Recognizing Coach Parker's voice immediately, Kenny composed himself as he turned to face the teacher. As usual, the red head's eyes seethed with dislike, a scowl depressing the corners of the PE teacher's mouth. Lucky for the both of them Kenny abstained from taking any physical education classes in order to stay out of the man's kill zone. If the man ever found out that Kai was now in agreement with Kenny's feelings, hell would most definitely sweep through the school behind it. The last thing Kenny wanted was Kai being fired from his job, and his own sexual orientation to be brought to light.
"Good morning Coach Parker," Kenny said neutrally. "I hope your summer vacation was a good one."
"It was fine," Michael replied, shifting his eyes into the class room. "It's obvious that you don't want to talk to me, you came to see Mister Hiwatari didn't you?"
"I was going to wish him a good morning and ask how his summer break was," Kenny said. "I hope it's not much trouble, since my homeroom is the next hall over anyway. I still have plenty of time before the bell rings after all."
"Don't think you're going to get away with doing what you want this year, boy," Michael snapped, turning slightly red. "I'm going to be watching you carefully."
"I didn't do what I wanted to last year, so you have no need to watch my every step. It's called harassment after all," Kenny replied.
"Are you threatening me?"
"Are you threatening me?" Kenny cocked his head to the side, meeting the dark eyes seething with jealousy amongst other things. "I suggest we just call it a truce. There's no point in getting worked up over nothing."
Michael was about to open his mouth to snap at the brunette when Kai walked out another classroom across the hall being followed by a woman with short mousy hair appearing to be blushing fiercely. Michael closed his mouth as Kai bid the woman a wave and walked over to where the two were standing once noticing them; worry temporarily flitted in those auburn depths, replaced quickly with annoyance picking up the atmosphere.
"Good morning Mister Parker, I hope you are not starting off the new school year continuing from last year?" Kai sighed.
"He started—" Michael immediately begun.
"You are old enough not to be baited by childish remarks," Kai interrupted. "I don't have time to babysit this year, so please learn to settle things on your own."
"He wouldn't accept my truce," Kenny said, crossing his arms over one another. "I don't want to have to start off the new school term with such animosity towards me."
"Kai, he's just—"
"Mister Parker," Kai said sternly.
"This isn't over boy." Making a hasty exit from the scene, Kenny waited until the red head was out of sight before looking up at his teacher who was rubbing his temples.
"And it begins."
"You weren't helping," Kai shook his head.
"I tried to throw in a truce," Kenny spoke up.
"I'm going to end up insane, I just know it," Kai groaned. "Between you, Michael, our Vice Principal, and half the female population of the school…"
"Hey Kenny, there you are!" Tyson jogged up to Kenny and Kai. "Morning Mister Hiwatari, I think we have another class together this semester!"
"And Mister Kinomiya," Kai added in desperately.
"What about me?" Tyson blinked.
"You factor into my loss of sanity before the school year ends," Kai clarified.
"You know…teachers aren't supposed to say that about their students!" Tyson voiced.
"Unless it's true," Kai chuckled.
"You know, if you really want me to drive you insane, I will," Tyson threatened.
"And I will make sure I give you extra homework every night."
"You can't do that! It's illegal!" Tyson gaped.
"My classroom is not a democracy," Kai said simply, sparing Tyson a glance.
"Kenny, you're my witness to this injustice, right?" The bluenette turned his attention to his friend, who seemed more interested in a cluster of giggling girls who kept eyeing Kai as they walked by. "Kenny?"
"I don't know, after earlier, I can just turn a blind eye and say I didn't notice anything unusual happening," Kenny thought.
"You're cruel! I told you I wasn't going to mention that, and you're still being grumpy. It wasn't on my mind to even mention it in the first place," Tyson huffed before turning his attention towards the older male. "You're nothing but trouble, Mister Hiwatari. Come on Kenny, they changed our homeroom class, it's now downstairs, we should get going if we want to find it on time."
"I guess we'll see you later in class then," Kenny said, the remark directed towards Kai who nodded.
Kai watched Tyson drag Kenny down the hall, the two disappearing around the corner out of sight. For a long minute, Kai stood staring at the spot where Kenny had disappeared from his sight. He had wanted to ask the brunette if he was free during the lunch period to talk. He supposed it was fine. Vice Principal Balcov had already gotten on his case the moment he stepped into the teacher's lounge. Kai was to "behave like a teacher" instead of "a dog in heat" and allowing things to 'obscure' his better judgment. Needless to say, it only meant that the vice principal was going to breath down his back if he so much as caught the scent of any illicit actions taking place.
"Mister Hiwatari?"
"Hm?" Pulling his thoughts from his situation with his student, Kai looked down to find Emily looking up at him.
"Homeroom will begin soon," the girl informed.
"In just a few," Kai agreed, checking his watch.
"Did you have a good summer, Mister Hiwatari?" Emily inquired.
"It was quite eventful, I suppose," Kai said, with a small smile before his mind went over the last time he had saw Kenny before his trip. The thought of Kenny's request immediately came to mind; a thought which plagued him these past few weeks gone. Kenny seemed like he was okay about it now, then again looks could be deceiving. Under the surface, for all Kai knew, Kenny was feeling insecure towards their relationship not at all Kai's intentions to do so.
"Oh?" Emily smiled. "I'm glad you had a fun summer, mind wasn't so bad either."
"I'm glad," Kai said, returning her smile. "You should get along to class. The bell should be ringing soon."
"All right, Mister Hiwatari. See you later!" Emily went across the hall to her homeroom as a group of giggling girls passed Kai entering his classroom. Almost out of earshot he could hear them going on about him. The number of freshmen who crushed on him never failed to cease each year, and in the end, there was always going to be one or two who confessed to him.
Those few students were his major concern of course; his thoughts were laden by Kenny. He was absolutely going to have to figure out the line to draw between separating the brunette as a student and a love interest. His own emotions were beginning to conflict, down the road if he didn't have things figured out…
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Rim: I know what sort of note I stopped this chapter on. It's only because of where I'm kicking the next chapter to. I supposed you could call this chapter a sort of filler since I really just didn't want to bother with this chapter, but it would have made the next transition weird without it. Oh well, what can I do, sometimes you just end up with those types of chapters, moving onwards!