It's all because Atsushi's laptop died at the last moment.
Fortunately, all the classes he signed up for had gotten through the jungle that is the school database— except for the one he wanted the most.
This brings him to today, not bright and very early, lining up at the registrar section along with a hundred other unfortunate souls who either missed enlistment period or were just plain unlucky.
Just this one class, and he's out. It's not really that popular of a class, but Prof. Fukuzawa is teaching it, and that's enough reason for him.
Except, it turns out to be a popular one, and he's now vying for the last spot in the class with his boyfriend, of all people.
"I want this class," Atsushi stakes his claim with a well-aimed forehead-butt, pushing his form through the grilled window while edging Akutagawa's out.
"I need this class," Akutagawa growls back, prying Atsushi's hands from his form while somehow managing to supplant his own over it. "I'm graduating in the spring. Take it next year."
"Noooo," Atsushi whines with a shameless pout; he doesn't care if others see how increasingly hands-y they start to get for some reason, but he tends to lose his politeness like shed skin whenever and wherever Akutagawa is concerned. He knows this, too, and they both take it in stride and self-awareness, for what it's worth.
Not today, though.
"It's Fukuzawa-sensei's last year of teaching this class," he reasons. "If I don't take it now, it'll never be the same one again next year."
"Precisely why I need to take it now," Akutagawa matches it with his own. "If I don't, I won't be able to finish my thesis. Back off."
And oh gods, he just had to say it in that same tone that makes him squirm and sensitive all over, did he? How dare he.
He'll show his man who's boss.
"Oh, Ryuu, pretty please," Atsushi uses the wide-eyed kitty expression that he knows will make Akutagawa weak in the knees, "I just really want to say goodbye to Fukuzawa-sensei the best way I can. Won't you at least grant me this?"
He doesn't normally turn on any waterworks for Akutagawa unless absolutely unavoidable, but a little bit of acting won't hurt anyone.
Unfortunately for him, Akutagawa's a lot more obstinate than he had given him credit for— that is to say, a whole lot more than he had expected.
"Back. Off," he merely repeats the command, and the tables are turned in an instant.
By then, the impatient crowd from behind them begins to grumble, and one of them accuses Akutagawa of being heartless to a junior, and it immediately makes Atsushi dial back down in guilt. He is about to admit his mistake and apologize because he needs to clear everything up, it's a misunderstanding—
—when the registrar clerk hands them their forms back, both their requests approved.
"I couldn't help but notice how close you both are," she comments dryly, "so I just enlisted the both of you for the last slot. I'll tell Fukuzawa-sensei he has an extra student. Now get out and stop holding the line."
That shuts everyone up.
Later that morning, they meet up at the front gate of the campus, having finished their respective errands after that pointless debacle. Atsushi tentatively holds onto Akutagawa's hand as they walk, still a bit afraid to look his boyfriend in the eye.
Akutagawa snorts incredulously at this, brusquely adjusting Atsushi's weak hold to properly lace their fingers together. "Don't even apologize," he mutters. "I like you better when you're assertive."
It makes Atsushi laugh, grateful at having the ice broken so easily. "You mean you didn't like me back when I was a— what was it, 'spineless wimp'?" He grins earnestly, too, because it's effective blackmail that makes Akutagawa beet-red from head to toe. "Should I show you what 'assertive' really means tonight?"
The way all the hairs on Akutagawa's body stand in attention tells Atsushi all he needs to know, and he hums in victory as they arrive back at the dorms.
Today's result: Atsushi wins (and Akutagawa, too, but for a different reason).