Kaibara High

December, Hajime's 3rd year of High School

22 years after graduation

Hajime is almost 18 years old

"Hey, President!"

Hajime automatically looked around at the call, his gaze darting past his friends as they all made their way back to 3-A after lunch. It was an inevitable part of being the Student Council president, he knew; there was always something, or someone, that needed his attention.

Yet another reason why he hadn't actually wanted the job, but such was life.

Since it was almost the end of lunch hour, the hall was fairly busy, but it only took Hajime to find the speaker, the class rep from class 3-C.

"You need something, Taniguchi?" he asked, stopping, and the other boy nodded.

"Yeah. I wanted to ask you something," Taniguchi asked, frowning.

"So go ahead and ask," Hajime said, glancing towards the hall clock. "But if it's about Student Council business, I'll be in the Student Council room for a bit at the end of the day-"

"With your boyfriend?"

Hajime felt as though the world stopped around him. In that moment, he could see and hear literally everything happening, all at once: the other students in the hall, his friends at his side. Taniguchi, who he'd worked with all year, standing there, frowning at him, and the looks from other people who'd overheard as several conversations stopped or quieted...

Hajime was acutely aware of the pounding of his heart and the way his palms were suddenly sweaty. He knew this was inevitable; he had always known this sort of thing was likely after he and Mutsuki went public, even if 'public' to the wider world meant almost no difference in any of their actual behavior. It wasn't like they had stood up at Student Council and announced their relationship as an agenda item; it wasn't like they were making out in the hallways. They still barely even saw each other for most of the day, given they were on different floors. But Mutsuki was somewhat more affectionate when they did see each other, and when they were walking to school together, or leaving school, they'd often hold hands.

It had already been a few days...he should probably be grateful it had taken this long for the rumor to get back to him.

They had wanted this. He had wanted this. To live his life, the way he always had, but without the hiding. Mutsuki wasn't something to be ashamed of, and neither was Hajime himself. Even if his heart was racing in his chest, even if he felt like literally every person in the hall was staring at him...he would do this.

He was done being afraid.

Hajime took a breath, then crossed his arms as he looked at Taniguchi and said, very levelly, "Possibly, if he has work to do, too. Is that a problem?"

Taniguchi stared at him for a long moment, and Hajime stared back, his body language nonchalant and at complete odds with his rapid heartbeat and sweaty palms. Then Taniguchi shrugged.

"No, no problem. I just figured...I'd ask."

The world unfroze around Hajime; students starting moving again, and conversations continued. The second hand resumed its rapid course around the outside of the clock...and Hajime relaxed.

"Yes, well, you did. Was there anything else?" he asked, a little gruffly, and Taniguchi shook his head.

"Nope. Have a good day, President."

Hajime nodded, then resumed walking, his friends at his side. And around him, he heard the normal sounds of students returning to their classrooms after lunch.

He was still nervous. Things were still new, and it was possible...or even probable...that the more time passed, the more comfortable others would be about speaking up. And some of those things, he might not want to hear.

But today...now...he was ok. It was ok.

Everything was going to be ok.