A/N: i broke this up into two parts but the next one just needs some editing and then it'll be live quite soon! Thanks for your patience!

…

When Chizuru woke up this morning, she noticed that there was no sunlight peeking through her curtains and spilling into the room. In contrast, it was very dark and quiet, the soft pattering of rain the only noise in the room. Without thinking she immediately drew her knees up to her chest, folding up her comforter as she curled into herself. This was the kind of day to stay in bed, dreaming, lazing. If only she could take a day off from school...but who would wake Heisuke up on time? It was an unspoken routine between those two to wait for each other in the morning. So, begrudgingly, she dragged her feet out of bed and hissed softly as the cold air's assault on her bare legs. She never bothered to warm up an empty house at night, after all.

I miss…

She shook her head. This wasn't the time for complaining-especially about him. But even as she felt herself going through the habitual motions of brushing teeth, brushing hair, dressing quietly, the mood and accompanying sour feeling in her stomach didn't fade off. She had a glass of water and toast before she left. Then half a bottle of another one while she waited outside for Heisuke to appear. At half past, he finally sprinted out of the front door, slice of toast in hand and panic written all over his face. Chizuru just sighed lightly, and didn't resist when Heisuke immediately wrapped a hand around her wrist and began to tug furiously. They ran with heavy footsteps down the street, Chizuru's umbrella barely hanging properly over the two of them.

"Heisuke, your hair-!" Chizuru bemoaned, struggling to hold onto his now damp clothing as they hurried along. Her legs were cold and wet with rain. She was cold.

Heisuke's smile was warm though as he craned his neck behind him to look at her. "Don't worry about me, Chizuru! We just gotta make it there...let's go!" His jogging pace quickened as he spoke.

Chizuru hurried along too, feeling a characteristic burn in her thighs grow and soon Souji ran into them both so the duo became a trio. This was just like any other day, almost in sync she thought, and yet she found herself spacing out nearly the entire way. They made it by just a few minutes to the front gate, and were relieved to see no fuss given from Kaoru as he grit his teeth while the trio walked past. But when she finally had her back to him, he called out almost questioningly to point out her crestfallen look and fell back from the other two for a moment to assure Kaoru that she was fine. It was strange how the two of them just seemed to notice things about the other that no one else can, Kaoru murmured in response to her, clearly not believing. But he left her alone. And he wasn't wrong-something was feeling heavy like lead in her heart. Why? Why did it feel like-

"...kimura? Earth to Yukimura?"

She flinched out of her thoughts violently, her large eyes landing right at the front of the room, to her homeroom teacher Harada-sensei and his half-smile at the scattered chortles across the room. That's right-she had stalked off to her homeroom and sat down without so much as a goodbye to either boys. Nothing felt especially cheerful today. Chizuru was hardly one to be called spacey, so she stood up out of her chair quickly and bowed, apologizing.

"Relax, Yukimura. It's only a roll call. I can see that you're here, you know." Harada-sensei said with a soft wink.

"Obviously! She's the only girl here," Ibuki called out amongst the amusing laughter of his classmates. Harada simply rolled his eyes and followed down the last few names as though nothing had changed. Chizuru felt her face fall. Maybe she was hoping to see something flicker across his face. But it was public, they couldn't afford to raise any suspicions after all. He always tells her this. Her fingers anxiously tapped her pencil against her desk as she stared at the broad back of her teacher writing on the board behind him. She didn't catch what he was saying, and the rain was falling down even louder now.

He hardly spared her a glance afterwards for the rest of the early morning-not a good sign. Her stomach tightened uncomfortably.

"What's going on between you two?" Hijikata had him trapped in the upper floor hallway by the stairs.

They were in a space too open for having a conversation like this, Harada thought. Still, he decided to remain cool. "What do you mean?" He questioned, straightening his shoulders. There was nothing to feel guilty for. He would not let-

"You already know who," Hijikata growled with contempt as he sent a narrowed-eye stare towards Harada. "Your idiot partner in crime, Nagakura!"

Harada's heart leapt in his chest. "That idiot…"

Hijikata raised an eyebrow at this, but chose not to comment as she answered, "Yeah, 'that idiot' came in the other day hungover it seemed like and he's been way too pestersome to deal with lately. What's the deal? Are you all celebrating something?"

The red-haired men let out a soft huff of relief. How lucky! "I wish. He's just been on a losing streak lately." That's it, he could blame this on Shinpachi-and make it up to him later, absolutely.

"And what's this I'm hearing about Heisuke, huh?" Hijikata growled, and started patting around his pockets, focused. "Someone said they saw you two hanging around with a student at night."

Another wave of panic crashed into Harada's chest. Someone was watching them, then? If it happened once already, then possibly…

Still, it was better not to object. "We, uh, ran into him and thought it'd be better if we made sure he got home safe. But don't worry, it won't happen again." The two stared each other down for a moment; the tension in the air was palpable.

"Fine. But let's not make a habit of that." Hijikata finally said, eyes now less hardened. "I know you're not one for rules Harada, but any criticism we get of you eventually falls back on this school and Kondou-san. I don't want to hear about any more of these dubious situations you keep finding yourself in, got it?" It was a warning he had heard from Hijikata a few times before, but nonetheless he nodded and bowed somberly, feet rooted in place even as the dark haired man stalked off angrily.

He was right, after all. Sanosuke was pushing the limits here, in more ways than one. Another slip up could cost him his job…

He shook his head, sighing aloud. There were still a few minutes left before the next bell to ring. He might still have enough time to speak with Chizuru about all this first. But then he'd have to back off.

The weather was as turbulent as his mood, Sanosuke thought to himself sullenly. But there was some irony in that, because rainy days always inspired him to come up with interesting lessons. Sometimes, depending on how malevolent the storm was, he'd turn up his rebellious side a bit. Today the rain was not harsh but persistent, and so he settled on taking a small detour in their scheduled lesson plan and telling a story about pirates and famous historical criminals.

It never failed to lighten up the classroom. The boys, especially, seemed to be more receptive to stories of valor and deceit with lots of violence, and Harada was able to slip in a quick lesson or history fact here and there and watch his student soak up the information with vigor.

He didn't think to consider how Chizuru would feel being the only female in the class as her male classmates began to stir and jeer at his storytelling. He assumed he'd have to cut some things out, naturally, maybe make note of a few personal or romantic tidbits to keep her interested as well. But to his surprise as he scanned the room checking for attention, he found Chizuru giggling along and listening intensely, eyes sparkling with interest.

He took a moment to stare at her face in awe, until she noticed and began to fluster and look away.

Damn. He really liked this woman. And yet...

Sanosuke decided to keep his eyes elsewhere for the rest of the period. It was better to take it down for a few days. It was stupid to be so lax, he'd admit it. He had considered even leaving his position before, maybe now was time to revisit that alternate plan. He wished he could just hold out a little longer. But when the next bell rang, he gathered up his portfolio and jacket and cleared the front, not allowing even a moment's privacy between the two of them. He planned to let this continue on for a few days.

He noticed the wilting of Chizuru's shoulders as the days began to pass. As a teacher, he couldn't help but notice the lack of engagement the longer he continued to give her the cold shoulder but still he had to persist. As her boyfriend, this was paining him greatly. He had had to trust that she'd hold on, and wait patiently. Hopefully.

sooooo sorry this took me forever - i need a BETA lol, chopping up my own stories takes forever.