On next Monday, after homeroom, it was Yuu's and Mika's art class. This was one of Mika's favorite class. No, it was his favorite one. There were actually two reasons to that. The first one was his interest in arts. When he was still living with them, Mika's parents had made him take lessons in arts and music, in order to make him a "perfect child". And while his efforts were insufficient to meet their expectations, no matter how hard he tried, it was how his passion for art was born. When Yuu had heard about that, he was surprised to learn that. To be honest, he didn't expect Mika to be the artist type, he was so serious. But he was. Actually, while he had free type during his time as a vampire in Sanguinem, he would spend some of it to paint, in the silence of his room, where he was alone. Art class was, in fact, the only class where Mika openly smiled, where he was free to do what he liked without being judged. The other reason was that Yuu, Shinoa, and Yoichi were in his class. And so whenever they had team work, he was with one of them. They were the only ones who were truly friendly with him, without it being forced. They were his only friends. But, at least he had friends, despite what he was.
Well, talking about team projects, today happened to have one those.
Standing in front of the class, the art teacher, who was a petite woman of roughly the same shape as Shinoa, started to give the explanations: "Today, we will do a team project, as you already know. So, for this project, you must team up with another one of your classmates and draw a picture of your partner. Both will have to draw. You will be noted on the quality of your drawing, but also for your efforts. So, do your best, everyone!" To that, everyone cried:"Yeah!" And they all stood up. Mika already knew who he wanted as a partner, and so he walked toward Yuu. "Yuu-chan? Do you want to team up with me?" Yuu smiled. "Yes, sure." He took Mika's hand in his and dragged him toward the back of the class. They sat at one of the tables, with Shinoa and Yoichi being at the neighboring one. "Hello, Yuu-san, Mika-san!" Shinoa said, waving at them. Yuu and Mika returned her gesture, both smiling. The teacher went to pass the sheets of paper. "There," she said as she gave the little group their sheets. "So, we both have to draw the picture. You start or I do?" Mika said, looking at Yuu. "You first," Yuu said.
Mika took his sheet of paper and a pencil, beginning the task he was asked to do. He then started to draw, humming to himself and smiling happily, a sight that you would not see as often now than in the past, so Yuu enjoyed seeing it whenever he could.
And quickly, the image started to take shape, looking more and more like Yuu. He smiled, satisfied by his picture. It was really good. Then, Shinoa, who was sitting on Mika's right, leaned towards him, whispering in his ear: "I like your picture, Mika-san," she said with a smirk. Mika then looked at his picture. The drawing was a picture of Yuu, naturally, with hearts and flowers all around his head. He blushed. He actually drew it without realizing, he didn't even realize it until the girl pointed it out. She then spoke again, her voice low enough so that Yuu wouldn't hear what she was going to say."The way you drew Yuu-san... With hearts and flowers all around his portrait... It looks a lot like you like him. Am I right? Do you love Yuu-san?"
Mika was now blushing madly. "What the hell are you saying?!" He then lowered his voice, quiet so that Yuu would not hear. "Su... Sure, I like Yuu-chan. We're friends, family... But... To say I love him..." Shinoa sneered, obviously not believing him. "Oh, really? You don't to hug him? To kiss him? Don't you want to go on dates with him? Spend the rest of your lives together? Is it not what you want? Admit it, you're madly in love with Yuu-san." The girl now had a big smile on her face. She was enjoying it way too much for Mika's taste. The poor blonde was starting to feel really uneasy being close to her. Fortunately for him, he was saved. Not by Yuu, but by Yoichi, who heard everything and went to Mika's defense. "Shinoa-san, stop bullying Mika-kun, please!" Hearing that, Yuu immediately reacted and also flew to rescue Mika from the lavender-haired girl. "Shinoa, leave Mika alone!" Yuu said, hugging Mika close. "So, Yuu-san went to protect his boyfriend." Now it was Yuu's time to blush. "What?! Boy... Boyfriend?! Mika's not my boyfriend! Right, Mika?" Mika broke free from Yuu's embrace and muttered softly: "Of course we're not dating. Why do you think that? That's stupid." Yes, they were not lovers, and they would never be. Because, even if Mika did love Yuu, he didn't deserve him.
"Mika?" Yuu said, bringing the blond out of his thoughts. "Oh, sorry, I just... Spaced out a moment." He said. Not wanting to stay in that subject and having to tell Yuu what Shinoa said to him, he added: "Can we just... Go back to our work? It's... It's your turn to draw." He was nervous but hoped Yuu would not take notice of that and just go back to the task at hand. Fortunately for Mika, he did. Yuu nodded and said: "Sure." Mika relaxed, allowing Yuu to draw him. Meanwhile, he looked at everyone, doing their work like all that commotion never happened. He then turned to look at Yuu, his face concentrated on the task at his hand. He smiled. How much had he longed for that? How lonely had he felt, all alone in the vampire town? All those years wanting nothing more than being with Yuu. "Mika, stop moving. I can't concentrate!" It was then that Mika realized that, lost in his thoughts, he has begun to move unconsciously. He stopped and Yuu continued his drawing. He kept on drawing his picture of Mika, and once, he finished, he showed it to the blonde. "There! Done!" He said with a bright smile.
Yuu's picture was a very detailed drawing of Mika, smiling, eyes shining. Mika was speechless. Where did Yuu learn how to draw like that? It was amazing. "Like it?" Yuu asked. Mika simply nodded, still unable to speak. "Now, show me yours!" Mika felt dread. He then hid te picture behind his back. "N... No! Don't want to!" Yuu then turned around Mika, trying to recover the sheet. "Yuu... Yuu-chan! Stop please." But Yuu didn't listen and eventually got the sheet. He then stopped. "Mika... You..." The blonde tried to defend himself. "I... I don't know why he drew you like this!" He covered his face with his hands, feeling embarrassed. But Yuu's reaction was not the one he expected. "That's so cute!" He hugged Mika. "Huh... What?" Didn't think it was weird? He did draw him with hearts and flowers all around him, after all. "Now, everyone, bring me your picture. Don't forget to write your name on the sheet." Mika wrote his name on the sheet and went to the teacher's desk, his face red like a tomato. He then waited for Yuu by the door and they left the class together.