Few notes, 1)my formatting changed but I'm trying to be consistent with this one (A line break indicating a shift from now on to prevent confusion) 2)chapters also go up on AO3 now so if you prefer the format there that's an option, and 3) I've been spelling Mitsukuni's name wrong this entire time. From now on it will be spelt Hani-san and Haninozuka-san, I also posted edited versions of chapters 1-4. That's all, see the end for additional notes.
It was a shock to me when I opened my eyes only to see Hani-san holding my glasses and looking intently at me. At that time it took a few seconds for my brain to process what was happening, but when it did I fully panicked.
I, quite rudely, snatch my fake frames from Hani-san and hurried to slide them on. The thick hard plastic comforting me somewhat. Then I pulled my body up and walked briskly over to the fountain I had been sitting at to pick up my bag before I left as fast as I could without actually running. And never once did I look back at Hani-san despite being able to feel his eyes on my back.
I had to go somewhere, I had to escape even if it were just for a brief moment. Maybe the library, or one of the classrooms that were not in use.
As I was rapidly thinking of places to hide I failed to notice the people and obstacles around me and succeeded in running into someone. The impact between us had not knocked me off my feet completely but it stopped me long enough to breathe and calm down, the person I had bumped into putting a hand on my shoulder as they made sure I was alright.
"Hey kid, you alright?" I heard a familiar voice ask.
"You really shouldn't be movin' that fast through the halls you know, you could really hurt someone including yourself."
I jumped in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
I didn't expect to bump into someone I knew seeing as the only people I had spoken to were Hani-san, his elusive giant of a cousin, and the stranger I met during a training session no more than a few hours ago.
"I should be the one askin' you that. Bumpin' into me all of a sudden." He laughed, his eyes crinkling at the sides.
"You're the one from earlier today right? You came looking for Haninozuka-san." My upperclassman continued as he inspected me
"Well did ya find him? You two needed to talk somethin' over right?"
His words came out continuously, question after question as he looked over me up and down, the smile never leaving his face. I was probably imagining due to my own fluster stated, but I could have sworn his cheeks were slightly flushed as well. Nothing too noticeable, but just a faint tint of pink overlay if you squinted hard enough.
"Um yes, yes we got to talk during lunch. Everything was sorted out."
The words practically fell from my mouth after I realized I was staring at the brunette instead of answering his questions.
"I am truly sorry I bumped into you by the way."
I apologized again as I lowered my head and attempted not to fidget with the hems of my hoodie sleeves.
"No problem, I promise you're all good. I never really got your name 'by the way'." My upperclassman said mimicking me slightly and his grinning only became broader and more jovial.
"I'm Shirahata, third man around here. And you? You're a freshman right? Let me show you around a bit, I'm a great guide." The brunette, Shirihata-sempai, introduced himself; speaking quick enough to prevent me from getting a word in until he was done.
"My name is Mizuri." I introduce with a meek nod and was about to tell him a tour was not necessary until he grabbed my wrist and began dragging me along.
"Well then Mizuri-san, let's go. You're gonna love the place, I guarantee ya. Why don't you start by telling me all the places you've seen so fan and then we'll go from there yeah?"
"I already went to the dining hall, and one of the courtyard gardens and I visit the library more than once a day, but besides those areas and my classes I don't recall going anywhere else." I said listing off all the places I had been so far.
Shirihata-sempai was like a tornado, he came in somewhat loud and a bit intimidating. Defiantly a bit touchier than I would like to get with a stranger, but his intentions seemed to be nothing but genuine and caring. Although, thinking back to it, Hani-san was much closer to me than this, but his presence was gentler and more calming.
"Well then we have a lot to show you!" The brunette exclaimed as he began to speed up, using his slightly longer legs to take bigger strides and forcing me to keep up.
"You've already seen the dojo, so I won't really bother with that, at least not today. First thing first let's show you the clock tower. You might not know it but the view for there is absolutely amazing! I swear you can see the entire campus. All five sections."
Sirihata-sempai explained, seemingly having an 'aha' moment as he figured out were he wanted to take me first.
On the way there we made small talk; what our favourite seasons were, favourite colour and favourite subject. What we disliked about the campus, for me it was the endless amounts of stairs which was a stark contrast to my mansion's widespread one-story floor plan. Along with our least favourite food and if either of us had siblings. Unlike me, who had two younger sisters, Shirahata-sempai was an only child. Which was probably a good thing considering how much energy he always seemed to have.
When we got to the clock tower Shirahata-sempai insisted that we take the stairs rather than the elevator, saying that the experience would be different. But all I felt from the flights was a strong sense of dread and foreboding. In our first day together my upperclassman was already trying to kill me.
Even with my physic and constant training the stairs were and entirely different type of punishment that I had never experienced before. Climbing left my legs burning in a way that my father's caning never had, and I already knew that the pain would be so much worse tomorrow.
"Don't worry if you look like you're dying I'll be a good sempai and help you out. I can carry a lot more than you're probably packing on." He joked as he powered through the hellish climb.
By the time a we reach the last step I was in every sense dying. I dragged myself over to the nearest wall and fell onto the floor, sitting with my back supported so I wouldn't have to do too much work.
"I'm impressed, you took that like a real warrior Mizuri-san. I didn't think you had all that in ya. But you're missing the view down on the floor like that." Shiahata-sempai commented before pulling me up into his arm, sliding his hands down over my shoulders to meet my own hands.
His hold was much gentler compared to before when he had dragged me away, and he walk much slower as he took me to the guard railing the was only a few more yards away.
Just like he promised the view from the clocktower was breathtaking. You could see the entire campus from this high and everything below looked so tiny and insignificant in that moment.
Feeling the breeze ruffle my hair, I took a small step away from Shirahata-sempai and close to the rail, closing my eyes and spreading my arms to recreate that iconic moment from The Titanic. Surprisingly, Shirahata-san place himself behind me and place his hands on either side of my waist. Slowly slipping them down lower until they rested on my hips.
He leaned in close, his chin fitting between the junction between my shoulder and neck, before whispering in my ear. A tone that I did not this the brunette to be capable of. "Feel like king a the world up here huh?"
He asked quietly, and although I couldn't see his face I could feel the intense heat radiating from him.
"Enjoy it for a while, we can take the lift back down whenever you're ready." He assured me before burring his face in the crook of my neck.
I lowered my arms and open my eyes to look back out at the seemingly endless expanse before me while I thought a few things over. I knew the action was intimate and I would have to talk with sempai about all of this later, but for right now I just wanted to enjoy the moment.
The two of us stayed up there for maybe half an hour before we made any move to leave, and the extended silence between the two of us rather pleasant on the ride down back to ground level.
Neither Shirahata-sempai nor I made anymore attempts to talk until we were back by the high school section, the brunette walking me back to my homeroom.
"I might have ta steal ya away more often Mizuri-san, this was kinda fun. I have ta go now though so I'll see you tomorrow when I'm free before I take you roaming again." Sempai said with another lingering gaze before he let go of my wrist and left with a small wave and a coy smile.
Not only was it time for Shirahata-sempai to go, but most of the students not involved in any clubs were leaving as well. It was the end of the day and time to home, and somehow I had managed to ditch two classes with someone twice my senior.
I gave my face a quick slap to focus myself before gripping the handle of my bag tightly and walking out to the front gait to meet my ride. Surely Yoshinobu was waiting for me by now.
As I had guessed Yoshinobu had be parked and waiting diligently for my arrival, and in the backseat of the limo was Mari and Setsu who both looked varying degrees of happy to see me. The rid back home was comfortable with Setsu seated in my lap and Mari leaning on my shoulder despite the number of available seats.
Everyone seemed to bee in a good mood, riding the high that only comes when both my father and stepmother are out of the house for an extended period of time, and by the time that I was back in my room I was sighing in relief.
After today I didn't want to do any training, or extra studying or sit through a lecture. I didn't even want to eat or wash off. Instead I kicked off my shoes, and with my uniform still on I crawled under the covers.
I pulled one of my larger plush toys into my chest and wrapped my arms around it, burying my face into the fluff and using it as a makeshift pillow before I fell asleep.
My alarm blared to life successfully shocking me into a semi awake state, my shoulders tensing as I jumped from my mattress. Usually Mari wakes me up or I wake up naturally around the time when I should be getting up, so hearing the jarring sound for the first time in so long was shocking to say the least
I found myself, unceremoniously, on the floor in a somewhat tangled mess of limbs and blankets as I tried to calm my sense. My fight or flight instincts kicking into overdrive before I let out a shaky breath and allowed myself to collapse into a boneless pile on the floor.
Getting ready for school after that entire fiasco was a chore, it threw my entire day of more than it should have. I put my undershirt on backwards and starting lacing up my shoes on the wrong foot. I almost left out my pencil case from my school bag and I barley even touched breakfast. Not to mention my legs were definitely still sore from yesterday's stair climb.
It's a good thing Otou-sama wasn't home today, because if he saw me acting this way I would have gotten more than a few bruises before starting my school day.
By the time I had gotten to school I had calmed down considerably. I was relaxed enough to stop myself from looking around every ten seconds, but I still remained aware of my situation.
In my leisure I had almost managed to forget yesterdays events and the awkward situation between Hani-san and I that had led up to it. He saw my eyes and then I ran off.
Today I did something similar. It was terrible as far as manners go, but as soon as I saw the familiar fluff of Hani-san's blonde hair I turned the opposite way. I needed to get away from Hani-san, and Shirahata-sempai had come to 'steal me away' again. It was just a coincidence that he had perfect timing.
"Hey Mizuri-san, bumping into me again I see." He said with a laugh before wrapping his hand around my wrist like he did last time and dragging me off. Truthfully I could have stopped him if I wanted to, but I chose to let myself be pulled away.
"You have great timing you know, I was just looking for ya so I could steal you away again."
"Hello Shirahata-sempai. I apologize for bumping into you again." I spoke as we walked to whatever my upperclassman had planned for us today.
"Didn't I say you were good from last time? But here ya are apologizing to me again. I can't tell if you're super mannerly or just really formal Mizuri-san." The brunette joked lightly as he reassured me on my mistake.
"So today I'm gonna take you around to the clubs, get you to meet some new faces and see what type of things you like. It might be early but I'm sure no one will mind."
Shirahata-san said with a wide grin. "We have a couple club leaders who I'm familiar with, so we'll start with those. Soccer, Dance, Art, and Broadcasting. And maybe if we have time I can visit a friend in the Student Council.
For the rest of the week it continued on like that. Hani-san catching a glimpse of me and me avoiding him through Shirihata-sempai. Whether the brunette knew it or not his was an accomplice in this grand scheme, helping me to avoid one big awkward conversation that I am not looking forward to having with my partner.
Most times it was just the two of us, but sometimes we would meet up with friends of his briefly just to introduce me to a few new faces or a group of students that new Shirihata-sempai would stop us to talk to the third year.
The arrangement between the two of us wasn't terrible, rather I found myself enjoying Shirihata-sempai's company. But as the days drawled on by I could seen that Hani-san was becoming more and more fed up with my constant disappearing act at every free opportunity.
On Friday Shirihata-sempai apologized to me for not being able to continue our plans from earlier today. He had promised to sneak me into the pool area after lunch was over, but we never got around to it because as soon as the bell rang the brunette remembered that he had a prior engagement with a teacher.
So finally, being alone for once since Tuesday when my avoidance technique began, I was able to have some time to myself.
Taking a chance I venture alone to the library to explore a few books again. I was taking a risk since Hani-san knew I enjoyed going there, but it had been four days since I say the crimson carpets and dark wood of the bookshelves.
I picked out a few titles I like and stacked books in my arms from random shelves, letting my pile grow taller and taller as I made my way towards the back.
In my excitement it seems as though I had been spaced out, too unaware of my surroundings to notice someone was behind me until I felt a hand touch my back.
I jolted, my tower beginning to lean because of my erratic movement and my books threatening to topple over. Before they could drop though two small hands shot out to steady them, catching a few stray and rebellious children that refused to stay in my arms.
Truthfully I don't know which had my heart racing faster, the sudden feeling of a hand on my back or making eye contact with Hani-san who had been the one steady my pile after he caused it to topple in the first place.
The blonde stared at me, waiting for me to calm down before he said anything.
"You've been avoiding me." He said bluntly as he took some of the books from me and began to walk towards our table.
"…You saw my eyes." I said after an extended silence, preparing to defend my action this past week. My shoulders were squared as I looked anywhere else but my partner, not willing to say anything on the subject unless being prompted or questioned.
"They are beautiful. You don't know what I would give to see them again." Hani-san commented filling the silence. I could feel his eyes on me all the while, practically boaring holes into my figure.
There was an uncomfortable silence between us as my partner stood switching my weight from one foot to the other as my mind race a thousand miles a minute, going over every possible bad scenario that could happen right now in my head. Yet somewhere in the back of my mind I had registered Hani-san's complement and felt the subtle heat rising on my cheeks.
In the midst of my internal panic Hani-san called out to me, casing me to unintentional look his way.
Although before I had a chance to turn back around or even say anything I had felt hands cupping my cheeks, gently pulling me down before a pair of lips captured mine is a soft, gentle, butterfly kiss.
You thought it was a continuation from the kiss, but no! It was me Dio! Sorry for not continuing for the kiss, I really needed to write Ii's week and I didn't want this chapter to feel rushed.
I'm feeling nice so here's a Christmas present for you guys who made it to the notes, I don't know what chapter this is gonna be in, but I am so ready for this scene.
"Ii, are you sure?" "Please Mitsukuni, please." He begged as he fisted the fabric of Mitsukuni's blazer. "Make me forget, please I just want to forget. Even if it's just for tonight." His eyes were brimming with tears and he was near sobbing again.
Hani held his cheeks in his hands, a pained expression crossing his face as he wiped the tears away with his thumbs. His face drawing closer to pressed his lips against Ii's. The kiss was gentle at first but gradually grew more passionate over time. Slow but searing with heat.
Hani broke the kiss to look at Ii's tearful flushed face. "I'll make you forget, so right now only focus on me." He spoke, his voice low and gravelly as he locked eyes with his partner.