"Are there any other questions?" Hiroki asked his students as he adjusted his glasses. He skimmed his sharp, russet eyes over the heads of the students as he stood before them, daring any of them to talk, text, or sleep. His marker hovered expectantly over the whiteboard, and a thick text book was open on his podium, where several lines were highlighted to aid in his lesson. A student in one of the middle row raised her hand. Hiroki gestured to her in silent acknowledgement.
"Yes, I was wondering about the phrase on page 148, line 96? I don't understand the metaphor it's using."
Hiroki glanced down at the book and flipped a few pages. He read the lines and nodded, turning to the chalkboard.
"Ah, yes, I was hoping someone would ask me that question. You see, the metaphorical value..." Hiroki answered the question confidently and smoothly, his eyes half-lidded as he entered full teacher mode.
However, somewhere in the back of his mind, thoughts of his baby and Nowaki buzzed through his head, and every once and a great while, he'd stumble over his words ever so slightly.
Needless to say, the students were practically relieved to tears that Kamijou the Devil seemed to have gone into hibernation. Having learned their lessons, no one dared to talk, text, or even hunch over their tables.
Secretly, Hiroki appreciated his student's willingness to learn instead of waste time, and he found himself enjoying teaching more and more, in turn becoming more approachable. By the end of the week, his class had become one that students looked forward too. While Hiroki was somewhat uncomfortable by the sudden closeness to students, he was glad that he could finally teach without worrying about who was or wasn't paying attention.
"I was very pleased while grading your tests last night," Hiroki said one Friday afternoon as he climbed up the staircase between the rows of student seats, handing out stacks of papers for the students to pass down their rows. He glanced up momentarily to check and make sure everyone was present in row 5, and his eyes immediately caught one student who was slumped over his table. Several students around him were prodding him, whispering desperately to him to get up and not bring Kamijou the Devil back out. Hiroki's hand clenched around his paper in initial anger, but when the student shifted and finally sat up, Hiroki realized it was Misaki Takahashi. His eyes were red and swollen, and he was staring straight ahead of him.
"Takahashi, I'd like to see you after class in my office," Hiroki said coolly, slapping down a stack of papers at the end of row 5. The students around Misaki slowly went back to their seats, frowning with fear at what Kamijou the Devil was going to do to poor little Misaki. "Bring your lunch, it's going to take a while."
Misaki glanced up at Hiroki, a sad look in his eyes. Hiroki glared at him before continuing up the rows.
At the end of class, Hiroki gestured for Misaki to come to him while everyone else chattered and filed out for lunch. Misaki trudged down the staircase. Hiroki raised his hand, and Misaki flinched. However, Hiroki put his hand on Misaki's shoulder and squeezed gently. He stooped down slightly.
"Play along," Hiroki hissed in Misaki's ear. He led Misaki out of the classroom, and Misaki obediently acted like he was being forcibly shoved down the hall. Hiroki took him into his office, shutting the door softly behind him. Misaki stood in the middle of the room, his fists clenched at his sides. Hiroki silently thanked the heavens that Miyagi was currently attending a lecture and wasn't currently present in the cramped office.
"I'm sorry, Kamijou-sensei," Misaki said in a small voice, facing away from Hiroki. Hiroki sighed through his nose exasperatedly and slid his glasses off.
"I thought I told you that you could talk to me if something was wrong," Hiroki said lowly. Misaki whirled around to finally face him. Tears ran openly down his cheeks as his face contorted. Hiroki rolled his eyes and pursed his lips as he outstretched his arms. Without hesitation, Misaki barreled into Hiroki, burying his face in his dress shirt.
"Kamijou-senseeeeeei," Misaki cried, his body jolting as he sobbed. Hiroki patted his student's back awkwardly, chuckling nervously.
"Try not to get snot on my shirt, I've got another class to teach in fifth period," Hiroki said firmly. He looked down his nose at the crying boy below him, however, and smiled sympathetically down at him. He stroked his hair, rubbed his back, did anything he could to comfort him.
After what seemed like hours, Misaki finally pulled away, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hands. He sniffled pitifully as Hiroki coaxed him into his office chair. Hiroki pulled up Miyagi's chair and sat in front of Misaki, leaning back and crossing his legs.
"Me and Usagi-san got into a fight," Misaki said after a long silence, his voice shaking.
"Why?" Hiroki asked softly, rolling over to his desk and retrieving a box of tissues. He handed it to Misaki, who took it with a mumbled 'thanks'.
"Well, you know how I had to get that surgery to get my appendix removed?" Misaki asked before blowing his nose.
"Yeah."
"Well, he told me that h-he wanted to take the Append-X himself and h-have me impregnate him… a-and then I told him that I thought it w-was a bad idea b-because of the d-d-danger of the riots, and the p-p-possibility of losing his c-career," Misaki said. Hiroki's eyes widened as he imagined a pregnant Akihiko.
"Okay," Hiroki said after a slight pause.
"S-So, Usagi-san got really mad, and st-started shouting things like 'you only care about my career' and 'what do you want from me, money?', things like th-that… and… and…" Misaki burst into tears again, weeping into his hands. "Th-That's not what I meant at all, Ka-Kamijou-sensei! I j-just don't w-want Usagi-san to get h-h-hurt!"
Hiroki chewed his lip, knowing all too well of Akihiko's irrational habit of jumping to wrong conclusions.
"I understand, Takahashi-kun," Hiroki sighed. Misaki sniffled and looked up at his teacher with glimmering, emerald eyes. Then, Hiroki continued in a very quiet, solemn voice. "He… He didn't kick you out, did he?"
Misaki's face contorted and he sobbed uncontrollably, wilting in his chair.
"I h-h-hate that stupid drug!" Misaki wailed, knotting his fingers in his hair and yanking. "It r-ruined everything!"
Hiroki's heart wrenched and he subconsciously put his hand on his belly, furrowing his eyebrows. He suddenly felt guilty, realizing that Append-X, in the end, really was a two-sided drug. While some couples like him and Nowaki experienced only love and comfort from the thought of pregnancy, other couples, like Misaki and Akihiko, were suffering. Hiroki reached out and put a hand on top of Misaki's head.
"Takahashi-kun, if you need somewhere to stay for a while, I will gladly take you into my home. We have a guest room that we kind of just use for storage, but we can make a space," Hiroki said. Misaki looked up, his lip trembling. Without a word, he leaned forward and allowed himself to be wrapped in Hiroki's warm, almost motherly arms.
"Haa, thank goodness it's Friday, right?" Hiroki said cheerfully as he wiped the sweat from his brow. He adjusted the white bandanna holding his hair back before moving to shove another box to the side. Misaki helped him silently, stacking some books in a cardboard box and handing it to Hiroki to put up on a shelf.
"Yeah," Misaki said softly, smiling a little. Hiroki sighed and patted Misaki on the shoulder.
"Look, you've got to be strong about this, kid. I know you're upset and all, but I know everything is going to work out very soon. You should know this. You've been living with Akihiko for a long time. I'd even go as far as saying that you've spent more time with him in these past years than I have in my lifetime. Deep down, you know that things will get better, right?" Hiroki asked. Misaki paused, then exhaled calmly through his nose, shutting his eyes briefly.
"I guess you're right, Kamijou-sensei," Misaki said, his features finally relaxing.
"Drop the sensei and just call me Kamijou-san when you're here," Hiroki said, turning away from Misaki so he could put more boxes away.
"Okay. Thank you, Kamijou-san," Misaki said, his voice lightened. Hiroki didn't respond, but instead he smiled to himself, patting his belly absentmindedly.