~4~
The end of the day felt like a death sentence. Harry was just waiting for Hibari to pop out around a corner and doom him to a fate worse than death; expulsion. Because that's what would happen if the principle happened to see Harry kissing one of his students; straight to jail, no go home card, no mercy.
School hadn't been out for more than an hour or two and Harry was hoping Hibari wouldn't corner him as he tried to leave the building. It was shameful for him to be this scared of a student, but Harry knew no one would blame him. If the way everyone else reacted to the prefect's name implied anything, it was that EVERYONE was scared of him.
Not...not for the same reason Harry was of course. He didn't think Hibari went around kissing and molesting every poor idiot he saw. At least he hoped he didn't. That would be...Harry didn't know how he felt about that train of thought.
Nope. Stop. Not going there.
Satisfied that Hibari wasn't waiting around a corner or classroom door, Harry left his office. It's not that he didn't know how to defend himself. Harry did take self-defense classes in his youth, but well, it was like an apprentice trying to take on a master in terms of skill. Hibari just gave off that 'I can kill you with a pinky' vibe.
Harry was smart enough to know when running was better than fighting.
And Harry was really good at running.
Walking at almost a jog, Harry made his way through the halls towards the front entrance. Just as he was about to turn the corner a conversation from the passing students made him pause.
'-I know, isn't it scary? Hibari-san usually never watches the front. I feel like his glare could freeze me solid!'
'Right?! I feel sorry for whoever he's waiting for. Did you see how he was scanning the crowds?'
Harry kept pressed up against the wall with his heart in his throat. Really? Really?!
Stepping as carefully as possible, Harry switched directions and headed towards the back of the school. Harry had grown up learning how to run away from thugs and bullies, he could hop a wall or two.
Moving the strap of his bag from his shoulder to across his chest, Harry quickened his pace. Just as he left the building and started to walk across the track field, a voice called out to him.
"Potter-sensei?"
Freezing in place, Harry turned around to see Sawada Tsunayoshi with another student; Gokudera Hayato if he remembered the chart correctly. They had their school bags on their shoulders and had obviously just gotten back from the gym.
"Oh, uh, hello Tsuna-kun."
"Ha? Don't call the Juudaime so familiarly, stupid foreigner." The silver haired teen glared at Harry and honestly, Harry really wasn't that intimidated. He had nothing on Hibari.
"B-But Gokudera-kun...you're a foreigner too!"
The silver haired teen quieted down at Tsunayoshi's point but still glared harshly at Harry. Honestly the teen reminded him of an overprotective guard dog.
"Well...uh...it was nice seeing you Tsuna-kun, but I really need to go."
Harry turned around and quickened his pace as he walked off.
"B-But...the exit's the other way!"
Harry felt a sweat building on the back of his neck and waved at Tsuna as he broke out into a run. The kid was drawing too much attention! He needed to get out of here before Hibari wisened up and came around back.
"Gotta go!"
Making a beeline for the supply shed set up against the surrounding wall, Harry ran at full speed. Once he was close enough, he used his momentum to push off the building and jump up onto the brick wall. Pulling himself up with little effort, he swung his legs over as he dropped down onto the other side. He stuck the landing with practiced ease and broke off into a run. No need to give Hibari any time to catch up to him.
When he was sure no one was following, Harry slowed down and let out a breath. Maybe it had been a bit drastic just to avoid one person, but Harry really didn't feel like getting accosted anymore in one day.
Just thinking about having to go back to school tomorrow and face him again maid his brain hurt. He was a teacher! Escaping all the way to Japan to teach English was supposed to be an escape from bullies and his problems. But now he had all new ones!
Uuuuugh! Why me?!
"Ah! Potter-san! How are you?"
Turning towards the voice, Harry realized he had walked into the local open market. It was a one way street with a bunch of small businesses who lived above their jobs. The old man who had called out to him was a produce vendor who sold local fruits and vegetables. Harry often shopped at his store for the ingredients for his dinner.
"Oh...hello Minamoto-san. I'm uh...I'm good."
"Are you sure?" The old man was in his fifties and had partially grey hair. The wrinkles around his eyes and mouth told a story of centuries of laughter. "You're looking a little winded."
"Ah. Yeah. I'm fine. I just-" Harry struggled to find an excuse "-really wanted to get home before one of my favorite shows came on." Not that he actually watched TV. Harry was more prone to reading books than watching television.
"Ah you young people. Always glued to the television. Try not to watch too much of it, you know it's bad for your eyes."
Laughing a bit at the irony of that statement (his eyesight was already horrible), Harry pointed to his glasses. "I don't think I have to worry about that Minamoto-san, my eyesight is already pretty bad."
Minamoto laughed as well before walking back into the shop. "Don't get sassy with me, kid. I'm still your elder."
Following him in, Harry ran a hand through his hair to straighten it out. He still did need to get some ingredients for tonight's dinner. Perhaps some potatoes and other root vegetables for a curry. Also those strawberries; the batch that came in looked pretty good. He could make a strawberry shortcake.
After getting what he needed for tonight's dinner and a few desserts, Harry was back at his apartment. Letting the stress from today slide off his shoulders as the door closed behind him, Harry took off his shoes and made his way to the kitchen.
Man, today was way too tiring.
Putting the ingredients on the counter and then washing his hands, Harry got lost in his thoughts. What am I even doing? Harry had come to Japan to get away from people like Hibari.
England and the circles he had been drawn into by circumstance of birth were full of politics and infighting. Different people from different factions kept trying to pull him one way or another and Harry had grown tired of it.
The only reason he had gone to Hogwarts boarding school was because it was the best bet he had ever been handed in life. Harry could get any job he wanted if he was able to graduate from there.
Except it was all dirtied and sullied by how corrupt and bigoted most of the allumni were. If Harry had known he would be drawn into a ridiculous power play between power-hungry ponces, he never would have gone.
Their secrets had secrets and Harry wanted nothing to do with the criminal undertones that had followed a lot of the ancient families like bad cologne.
The worst of the lot had been Tom Riddle, a stupid, egotisical, pedophile of a man who wouldn't leave him alone. The man was at least fifty! Even if he looked like he was only in his mid twenties, that was still gross! Harry didn't care that he was some famous CEO or whatever, he wanted nothing to do with him.
Except Harry had underestimated how stubborn and scary the man could be. No matter what he tried to do, the man always had someone watching him. So when a friend of his in London told him about a foreign teaching program, he had jumped at the chance.
Letting out a pitiful moan, Harry stopped chopping the onion and brought a hand up to his teary eyes. It felt like no matter where he went, he'd be followed by egotistical bastards who just wanted to take advantage of him.
A flash of pink drew his attention and he looked out the kitchen window to the cherry blossom's blowing in the wind. The memory of the first day he met Hibari came to the forefront of his mind and he blushed as he stared back down at the half cut onions.
He...he's not like him, right? Tsuna-kun said so. And Tsuna's so nice. Maybe...maybe Harry would give him another chance. Maybe. Hibari may have pushed himself onto Harry a little too much, but there was no...cruelness to it. It was different from before. It was different.
Sniffling and glaring at the onions for making him cry, Harry got back to dicing them up. He wouldn't be weak in front of Hibari anymore. Next time he tried to pin Harry down, he'd...he'd...slap him! Harry would teach him to respect his teachers!
The onions ended being diced a little too finely.
~4~
A/N: Oh ho ho, look out, plot incoming. Also Harry may be fluffy and adorable, but he's also secretly a parkour master! Like an angry bunny! Hopping the fuck outta dodge.