A/N: Hello dear readers~ It's been a while since the last update, I hope I didn't make you wait too long. This chapter supposed to be the continuation of the previous one, but I'm stuck at some parts so I'm publishing this (non-related) chapter. Thank you for friends, kudos, comments, bookmarks whatever to keep me alive and help me write my fics by this time. I hope you enjoy this chapter ~

Summary: This chapter is most likely an interlude chapter to introduce Umi's college life.

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Ever since two hearts become one beat,

My eyes began searching for the heat,

Now longing for impossible touches with brutal kisses,

Feeling a breath brushing against the skin,

Now it's just a need.

Tapping her pencil on the desk just like using a drumstick, Umi aimlessly wandered in her own thoughts until her vision shadowed by the tall person standing leaned down to inspect her closely.

"...Sonoda. Sonoda are you here with us?"

Umi startled once the professor waved his hand in front of her face, she then hopped in her seat abruptly.

The unexpected silence ran short as rising laughs around her grew longer, as if everyone had waited for a brief moment to distract the professor in the hope of ending this lecture earlier.

Eli right beside Umi, nudged her friend a few times. "Umi, you're acting weird." she whispered, peering through Umi's slightly flushed face.

"Someone seems to have gotten laid yesterday!" someone shouted behind her back. A light giggle escaped from Eli, so did the whole class.

Slightly irritated professor rubbed his brow as if to ward off a headache, as he sighed. It was no wonder that later on he was going to catch the telltale, that had blended into a tiny subgroup. He stepped back to his table, turning his head towards the blackboard. Taking the board marker in his hand, he began to write.

Bona Fide

Then something else that seemed like its doodle under that word, but no one could seem to guess what was that.

"I'll have know who's going to get on the floor soon." He explained, as he shot a smug look directly to the blue-haired girl. "Sonoda, come here."

Early morning's first victim was already chosen as pairs of eyes locked on her shaking stance. At the first glance Umi would be on the verge of dying from sheer embarrassment as she flinched in her seat and briskly marched on where her professor wanted her to be. Taking each step, fear surged up within her. She then closed her eyes and just thought about her girlfriend and how easily they could converse with each other at the moment. She steadied her heart for what would come next.

"Explain ethnic studies."

Without thinking about her surroundings further Umi began to pipe up as she stood in a confident posture, as if some sort of mechanism switched in her body and she was programmed to get the ball rolling. "Ethnic studies is the interdisciplinary study of difference—chiefly race, ethnicity, and nation, but also gender, sexuality-"

"Yes, sexuality," he cut in, playing with his slight-white beard. His serious nature concealing the curiosity, he clasped his hands. "I was about to come to that part. Would you care to explain it for me?" He leaned back to the wall, folding one arm in his armpit. He became all ears just like the class.

Umi nodded, her hands joined together on her back. She knew these tricky questions by heart that her professor needed a student who could relate such a general term to this course.

"If we are to broaden and deepen our understanding of human experience, we have to examine it in all of its diversity and understand the differences."

This time Umi looked up to the whole class, who was left flabbergasted. Her previous shy form was nowhere, as her amber eyes darted over the tiny subgroup that previously made fun of her extravagantly. They quickly huddled back in fear.

"This course brings unique analytical lenses to academic study that help us understand how gender, sexuality, and other forms of difference shape individual and group experiences."

She said with finality, causing every single pair of eyes to set on her.

The professor was in awestruck just for a moment, his mouth agape. He then cleared his throat to get back to his composed self before anyone could detect his unusual befuddlement.

"That's all for now. Class dismissed."

The students in their seats scattered around and stormed away from the classroom as fast as possible, Umi on the other hand, gave a sigh of relief once no one was there.

The professor packed the stuff on the desk into his backpack. Without getting any eye contact, his mouth curled up to a smile. "Good job, Sonoda. I knew you'd explain everything in its fullest sense, as expected from my favorite wandering minstrel."

"M-Miyazaki-sensei!" Umi chided bashfully, as a frown splayed across her face.

"I know you are different from other students. Your sexuality, your gender... but they can't get in your way. You are perfectly reflecting what's supposed to be in our society, not only with your words but having yourself here prove that."

Umi opened her mouth a few times to form a word, but only listened to her professor with a complete attention.

His gaze traced over to Umi. "I know you are dating with the school's ' most beautiful girl according to boys '. No need to keep it a secret."

Baffled for once Umi remained silent.

"I'm taking this silent treatment that gossip is not your thing," he continued, arching his eyebrow. "And you know what Bona Fide means right?"

Umi nodded her head. Thanks to the books she read so far, she knew. "In good faith."

"Yes, just like your personality." His hand slid down to the doodle shape handwriting on the board.

"Carpe diem," Umi muttered. Her lips curled up to form an enthusiastic smile once it clicked her. "Oh! It means-"

"How you should live your life, without thinking too much about the toxic people around you." He patted Umi's head just like a big brother. "And 5 additional points to your next exam. I'll see you later in the next lecture, Sonoda."

He threw the backpack on his back, then waved his hand.

"Say hello to Minami, it seems she is waiting for you," he pointed his index finger towards outside, then made his way to the long hallway.

That being said, Kotori ran over to her lover without any fuss and wrapped her arms around Umi's neck. Embracing her bodily, her face drew closer to Umi which stunned the latter instantly. A blush adorned their faces; unreasonably hot, much contrast to the pale face Umi had wore a few minutes ago.

Knowing they were in the classroom and alone, and before anyone could pass by Kotori took the advantage of the situation.

"Nee Umi-chan, miss me?" she whispered in Umi's reddened ear with her sweet voice.

Umi was flustered by the soft sensation, even if her prompt attempts to disengage herself from her girlfriend weren't enough, she then sunk into her savour.

What her professor said flashed through in her head. Maybe she shouldn't be afraid of what the community would think of them, she then returned the embrace by gently stroking her back.

With a glimmer in her amber eyes her girlfriend leaned in, shaping her lips '3' to initiate the kiss. Everything went peculiarly considering Umi wasn't most interested to interrupt her bold lip action at this time. Their lips were inch distant until Umi noticed someone was watching behind Kotori.

All of sudden Umi put a finger on her lips to stop the forthcoming kiss. A sense of guilt stayed deep down in her heart, though how wrong it was to interrupt such a lovely gesture and soft contact. But there was a reason why she did that, so she signalled Kotori to look back her behind before her girlfriend even complained.

They spun around and looked at the tall person in front of their eyes.

"This is too damn sweet... I need to balance this out with some coffee," the professor chimed in, taking a short notice from their discontented glances and public display. A mischievous smile escaped from his lips as he turned back to go his way. "Carpe Diem, Sonoda! Carpe Diem!"

A/N: Can you guess whose uncle he is?