Warnings: Elementary-school!Mute!Neku, teacher!Joshua, fluff
Author's Notes: jacked my father's computer and typed this up while he was busy playing Halo Reach, I will admit I am a bit confused on the note I ended it on. Let me know if you think there's a better way to end it while maintaining the same feel. Also, thanks for all the reviews I've gotten so far. makes me so happy!
82. Can You Hear Me?
The small student stared up at his teacher with wide eyes. It was the first time anyone outside his parents had bothered to attempt to communicate with him in sign language. His preschool teacher looked like he could be one of his older cousins, not a teacher of all things.
The man's bright ashy hair was pulled into a low ponytail, and his bright purple eyes were filled with warmth as he attempted to communicate with him. It brought a smile to the six-year-old's face. The gestures were a bit off, but Neku was pretty sure the teacher meant to introduce himself. Finally Neku was able to make out a name, 'Kiryu'. Neku quickly spelt out his name and the teacher ruffled his hair playfully.
Neku had been told that his mom and dad couldn't afford to play for Neku to go to a school for the Deaf and Blind, so he was stuck being sent to the general public school. This meant he wouldn't learn any words and phrases in sign language, but he would be able to go to class and learn history and such like everyone else. He could probably take home all his schoolwork and find out the gestures for the different words later. His parents hoped to get a tutor eventually, and the tutor could help him with his signing, while possibly this Kiryu teacher would teach him everything else.
The redheaded boy fiddled with his bangs and met Mr. Kiryu's gaze with a blush. This year was probably going to be the best ever.
-.-.-.-.-
So quickly the school year went by, and Neku was dreading leaving his dear Mr. Kiryu behind. He liked Mr. Kiryu, he was kind, gentle, and always knew how to explain something for everyone to understand. Sometimes Neku had the feeling Mr. Kiryu could read their mind, like some sort of magician. He always knew what they were going to ask beforehand. He was always ready for any questions they threw at him.
Neku glanced at the dry erase board Mr. Kiryu had bought just for him. Any time he had a question he could write it on the board and Mr. Kiryu would answer it. It was helpful for both of them, because Mr. Kiryu didn't have to worry about translating the signs, Neku didn't have to worry about Mr. Kiryu misinterpreting it, and all questions were easily answered.
And sometimes Mr. Kiryu would surprise him, admitting he had gone home and researched different gestures and common phrases, hoping he could assist Neku in learning the signs.
Every time Mr. Kiryu would wander over in-between lessons and show him a new gesture, or learn one from Neku, the little boy would blush so brightly, and he would advert his gaze.
He knew he liked Mr. Kiryu. The teacher would cause a fluttering feeling in his stomach and made him feel like he was really special when Mr. Kiryu would check on him. Part of Neku knew it was probably just because Neku couldn't call out if he needed help like everyone else, that he couldn't talk like everyone else. And the thought of it made Neku want to curl into a ball.
-.-.-.-.-
Neku sat on a bench during physical education, watching as everyone else played four square, or hopscotch. No one really bothered to play with him, because he couldn't communicate with them without his dry erase board. He knew all the rules to the games, and it wasn't like he was physically incapable of playing it. They just didn't want to ask the kid who had to carry a board with him everywhere to talk to him. All because they couldn't hear his voice. It was times like these that Neku truly wished he wasn't mute.
Mr. Kiryu sat beside him, a small smile on his lips as he scooted a bit closer to the student. "Don't want to play Neku?" The boy shook his head. "Any reason why?" Neku quickly began explaining in sign language, knowing Mr. Kiryu could only catch certain words like: "can't", "talk", "interfere". Mr. Kiryu let loose a giggle, the sound erupting butterflies in Neku's stomach once more. "Silly little Neku."
Mr. Kiryu stretched slightly, glancing at a watch on his left arm. "We have plenty of time before recess is over." He then pulled out a dictionary, particularly a dictionary specifically for sign language. Neku felt his eyes go wide and he immediately moved as close to Mr. Kiryu as possible. The teacher grinned and handed it to him.
Neku ran his hands over the cover in awe, running his tiny fingers over the bindings and the engraved words. When the student looked up at the teacher, Mr. Kiryu ruffled Neku's hair, a habit he was forming whenever the student was nearby. "Neku, we don't have much longer until the school year is over. So I decided that I'd give you this dictionary." He reached around Neku, flipping the cover page open to where he had written "Yoshiya Kiryu" followed by different ways to contact him. "I doubt any other teacher will be wanting to help you with signing. So just email me, little Neku, and I'll figure out a time we can always meet up."
Neku placed the dictionary to the side and wrapped his tiny arms around Mr. Kiryu's waist. There was a small pause, and Mr. Kiryu was quick to return the hug. Neku had a huge blush on his face, but he knew he would never feel this happy again unless Mr. Kiryu started to hug him all the time too.
Neku reluctantly pulled away, gesturing "Thank You", and Mr. Kiryu responded. Neku returned to sitting beside his teacher, but at a much closer distance than before. He pulled up his dry erase board and pulled out a purple marker from his pocket. He liked this color better than the other colors the package of markers had given him.
/Do you think I'll ever have friends?/
Mr. Kiryu nodded, "Of course Neku. How anyone decides they don't want to be your friend is beyond me."
/Do you think I'll ever hear my own voice?/
Mr. Kiryu paused in responding, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "I don't know if you'll ever hear your voice Neku. I'm not sure that kind of technology exists." Neku slumped over slightly, trying to hide the tears in his eyes. His teacher wrapped an arm around him, practically pulling the boy into his lap. "Even if you never hear your voice Neku, I can guarantee that the person who loves you can hear you. They know how you sound, they know how melodic your voice can be.
"You don't need to hear it to know how wonderful you really are." He pressed a kiss to the crown of his head, giving a small hum.
Neku pulled his board and his new dictionary onto his lap, hugging them close, reveling in the feel of his teacher's arms wrapped around him.
-.-.-.-.-
The rest of the school year flew right past like a dream, and after three more years in public school the Sakuraba family was able to afford Neku's tuition into a school tailored specifically to his needs. Neku was able to practice his sign language and use it, he was able to make friends and play games with everyone else. And how quickly time would pass. Before Neku knew it, he was sixteen, in high school, with more friends then he'd ever imagined and the memory of his first crush on his mind.
Every day he'd return home, sit on his bed, and pull a specific dictionary onto his lap. He would go through and look at the different words and gestures. He'd stare at that first page, listed with all the different emails and phone numbers for his favorite teacher and reach for his cell phone. He'd dial a certain cell number, press call and would hang up half way through the first ring. Sometimes he'd dare to let it ring until someone would answer, or the voicemail would click in. When that happened he'd listen to that voice on the other line, and would remember his first year in school.
And when he'd let the voicemail start recording, he'd wonder if Mr. Kiryu, no, if Yoshiya could hear him and all the words he wanted to say.