Suzaku didn't mind school. He liked the kids (mostly) and the teachers (generally) and didn't even mind learning (most subjects).

This year changed that.

It was his first year in Junior High, and he expected it to be different. He didn't expect it to be insane.

"Congraaaaaaaaaaaatulations!" The teacher cheered as he walked in five minutes late without even introducing himself. "You have all made it through the unfailable Elementary system! This is the first year where your teachers will be expecting you to earn that passing mark." He grinned. "Daydreamers, slackers, class clowns… you have three months to shape up until report cards go out!"

…that hardly sounded like something to be congratulated on. Still, although the words were challenging and possibly terrifying, the man himself caught most of Suzaku's attention. He seemed to radiate tons of energy – like a hyperactive child on a sugar rush – but had grey hair. Was he old or young or just… nuts?

"I'm Lloyd!" The teacher announced, and somehow Suzaku had the feeling that that was the only answer he'd need for the previous question. "I'll be teaching you for the rest of the year, except for English and Gym because I don't do grammar and calisthenics. This year, the emphasis will be on science because that's my area of interest and this is essentially a brain-washing facility to turn you all into mini-mes." And that was another, even more terrifying thought.

He rambled on some more, mostly nonsensical things, and Suzaku found his attention wavering. Lelouch would be in class now as well; he would be graduating this year if everything went well. His schedule was less structured than it had been the year before and included night classes. This irritated Suzaku, mostly because that meant an entire day when he couldn't see Lelouch; but it had really worried Genbu who, after the Diethard incident, was more aware of how vulnerable Lelouch was. Milly was still driving him to the University, but she didn't have evening classes, so on those days Lelouch had to wait for the bus. Genbu's schedule didn't allow for him to pick Lelouch up either, which left them with no other options, really.

Lelouch had calmly reassured them both that it would be fine. He was the only one who didn't seem even slightly put out by his schedule and he promised Suzaku he'd make time for him, and he promised Genbu he'd be careful, and eventually he'd soothed them both.

Suzaku was twelve now. He wasn't a child. He could look back and realize that Lelouch had just been saying what they needed to hear in order to end the argument. It irritated him a bit.

"Kururugi."

"Ah, yes?"

"Lampton."

"Here."

Oh. Roll call. Suzaku let his attention drift again. It wasn't that he didn't trust Lelouch; he did. It was that he could tell now when Lelouch was humouring him, and he hated when Lelouch did that over important things. He still didn't seem to truly believe that they'd get married (although he had seemed sincere when reassuring Suzaku that his prior claim would be respected) and every time Suzaku brought up their future family, Lelouch had started to look awkwardly pitying. Suzaku knew that two boys couldn't have kids – he was twelve, not stupid – but he knew that Lelouch loved children. True, Suzaku didn't have any specific plans on how to acquire said children (adoption, probably?) but he knew that their household would be filled with them, enough to make Lelouch's life complete and happy.

All Suzaku wanted to do was make Lelouch's life complete and happy.

Sometimes he was afraid that that got lost in the kisses and the demands for attention and the sudden cat adoption. Really, while Suzaku loved all those things, they were for Lelouch too – he was quiet and alone and needed someone to reach out to him. And Suzaku was more than happy to be that someone. For the rest of their lives.

And Lelouch, when he held Suzaku and breathed in his scent, and smiled… Lelouch must know that he needed that too. Suzaku sighed and smiled at that thought, missing the tall man hovering over his shoulder impatiently.

And that was how Suzaku started his first day of Junior High standing in the halls for daydreaming. It was worth it though, for that moment of treasuring the memory of Lelouch's warm smile.