The Uke Flu
Chapter Forty-nine: Official
"Professor Miyagi?"
Miyagi shook his head at the sound of Hiroki's voice. His mind had been swirling with the memories of his and Shinobu's fateful weekend.
"So what happened?" Hiroki asked again curiously.
Miyagi studied his junior professor. While he trusted Kamijou implicitly (the younger man had, after all, kept his and Shinobu's secret for three years now), he had no desire to parade their disaster in front of anyone else at the moment.
"Let's just say we won't be invited back any time soon."
"And your job, Professor?"
"Safe at the moment, it seems, Kamijou" Miyagi said softly. "Right now anyway. However, my biggest concern is Shinobu." He sighed wearily. At the hospital they had learned that Shinobu was lightly concussed and made official their speculations he truly pregnant.
Their visit should have been relatively simple, as straightforward as these discernments could be made. They had encountered some problems though since, with the Uke Flu epidemic, domestic violence was up amongst yaoi couples and given the age difference in their pairing, even though Shinobu was legal now, they had difficulty convincing the attending doctor initially that they hadn't been fighting and that Miyagi wasn't a danger to Shinobu. The whole experience had been humiliating.
Miyagi had then spent the rest of his weekend alternating between comforting his teary-eyed terrorist, who was far more distraught about being disowned than he would admit, and rubbing Shinobu's back as he helplessly watched his uke vomit for hours. Shinobu had been hit with some serious morning sickness and the doctor said it could last for weeks if not months.
He didn't want to say anything to Kamijou at the moment, but Miyagi knew he would have to talk to his junior sometime soon about bringing Shinobu to work on a regular basis for a while. Shinobu was too sick currently to attend classes and in his fragile mental state there was no way he was leaving him home alone.
All these troubling recollection evaporated when Miyagi was suddenly struck by a new thought. He cocked his head at Hiroki and watched as the younger professor cracked open the can of cold tea he'd purchased and took a sip.
"Oi, Kamijou!"
Hiroki lifted his eyebrows in response. "Eh?"
"How come you've been so healthy? I mean, you've been irritable, but then you're always that way. But how come you haven't been sick. In fact, I don't think I've seen you even look any more tired than you usually do.
"I saw some other Flu victims when I took Shinobu to the hosp… eh, the doctor's to have his eye looked at, and down to the last one, those ukes all looked awful."
Hiroki all but choked on his tea at this observation. After sputtering a moment he looked at Miyagi sheepishly. "About that…"
Miyagi looked at him with interest. Hiroki took a quick look around the near empty lounge and said in a low voice.
"Well, you see, Professor… uh… the truth is; it's Nowaki who's having the babies."
Miyagi's eyes widened at this and his face took on a shocked expression. "But I thought… I mean… What about height rule?"
Hiroki shrugged, feeling slightly guilty for enjoying Miyagi's stunned expression in the midst of all of his senior's current drama. He felt a flush of wicked pleasure too at being able to counter years of Miyagi's merciless teasing about limping and moods provoked by a sore ass.
"What can I say? We're versatile."
This seemed to disconcert Miyagi further.
"You mean…" Miyagi actually blushed. He had secretly always wondered about his co-worker. Not to mention how mild Kusama was…
Mild as long as Kamijou's giant didn't catch you putting the moves on his uke, Miyagi corrected himself with a grimace. His hand unconsciously rose to his throat. He coughed lightly and pretended to straighten his tie.
"Wait… Does that mean now that semes can get "caught" too?"
"Well, it's a little more complex than that." Hiroki nodded politely to two junior faculties who had just wandered in to the lounge. "Maybe I can explain it more fully on our way back to the office."
"I'm all ears," Miyagi said earnestly as he followed Hiroki out the door, drinks in hand. He was anxious to get back to Shinobu anyway.
It was late afternoon now as Hiroki sat at his desk. He was working on some lectures for a new class he was going to be teaching the following semester. Miyagi had left the office as soon as his last class was finished, taking his still-sick Shinobu with him.
While Hiroki had made the decision that he wasn't going to worry about other people making assumptions regarding his possible "condition," he was glad he had the chance to clear the air with Miyagi. He liked and respected the man too much (as annoying as he was at times) to be comfortable misleading him.
Miyagi had been surprised but had accepted his explanation with far less difficulty than Akihiko had. In fact, if anything, the older man seemed relieved that he had one less uke to worry about. Not that worrying about Hiroki was his concern. Even so Hiroki knew that Miyagi cared, in his own weird Miyagi way.
Hiroki frowned as he considered how long their office might be hosting this third occupant. Even though he wasn't particularly fond of Shinobu, he felt bad for how sick the youth seemed, if the number of times Shinobu had pushed himself up off the couch and staggered out of the office in the direction of the lavatories was any indication.
More than this though, Shinobu had seemed surprisingly deflated. The normally outspoken brat had been incredibly quiet all day. When he wasn't sleeping, he had mostly just lain there silently, staring off into space, the only sound an occasional sniffle. Even without the snuffling, Hiroki perceived a profound sadness and wondered if this had to do with his and Miyagi's undisclosed dinner fiasco.
Hiroki thought too about how strangely nurturing Miyagi had been to Shinobu throughout the day. The true depths of the senior professor's awkward compassion had been clearly revealed to him today as he had watched the man tend to his distraught partner. Hiroki understood implicitly that, far beyond the visible evidence of physical violence both men wore; something terrible had occurred that the couple was struggling to deal with. Hiroki rubbed his forehead; this brought up thoughts of his own impending parental visit and the proposal he was going to make there.
Hiroki's biggest worry was not himself. He'd learned to deal with his father's rejection long ago. No, he was far more concerned about Nowaki. His giant wanted to be part of a happy family so badly, after all his years of lack. Hiroki could already imagine the likely outcome of the impending event, but Nowaki, ever the optimist, in his lovely and maddening way, was convinced somehow that this trip would lead to some kind of reconciliation.
He, however, harbored no such confidence.
The last thing Hiroki wanted was for Nowaki to be disappointed or, even worse, hurt. He was reminded again that despite Nowaki's stalwart and easy-going demeanor, he was really very tender. Hiroki put his hand to his forehead at these thoughts, feeling his deepening furrow. He looked up when he heard a knock on the door.
"Enter," he called out. His eyes widened, however, and he stood up at his desk and bowed when the Dean walked into his office unexpectedly. He felt his stomach flip, having little doubt it was the weekend's events that had brought Shinobu's father down to the office.
"Afternoon, Kamijou-kun, working late again, I see."
"Good afternoon, Dean Takatsuki. What a pleasant surprise. Please excuse me for not answering the door. I was just finishing some lecture notes. I'm trying to work ahead as I'll be doing some traveling soon," Hiroki offered humbly.
"Ah, preparedness is a good quality," the Dean murmured. "I imagine the travels you mentioned are your book tour?"
"Yes, sir. Well, and I will also be making a short trip in a few days to visit my parents."
"Good, good," the Dean hummed as he glanced around the office. "One can never underestimate the value of family. I imagine your parents are pleased with all your accomplishments."
"Ummmm, I would like to think so." Hiroki was uncomfortable: the Dean didn't usually ask him such personal questions. "Of course one always strives to do better." He offered this in lieu of any truly personal disclosures.
"Ah, looking forward and doing one's best are important," the senior Takatsuki agreed.
"Um… Please excuse me, Dean Takatsuki, but I believe Professor Miyagi has left for the day already."
Takatsuki gave Hiroki a hard look at the mention of Miyagi's name and narrowed his eyes. "Yes, Kamijou-kun, I know… I saw him out in the parking lot a bit ago." He nodded to a chair next to Hiroki's desk.
"Of course, please have a seat." Once the Dean was settled comfortably and nodded at him, Hiroki resumed his place behind his desk.
"I understand you're up for your tenure review in a few months," Takatsuki offered amicably, "You know, you're highly thought of by your colleagues and everyone is pleased with how well your publication has done."
Hiroki's brow furrowed again, but other than that he sought to keep his face impassive. He was reading a big "but" somewhere in the man's praise.
"Yes, well,I am daring to be hopeful. To become an associate professor instead of an assistant has been a goal I have long been working towards."
"Mmmmm. It is good to see one reaching for their goals… Always so tragic, really, when one fails."
Hiroki found himself beginning to sweat as he wondered about the subtext of the Dean's comment.
"I understand that you were offered an office a bit ago and yet you remain here sharing with Miyagi-kun, is that correct?" The Dean unexpectedly changed the course of the conversation.
"Yes. Well, in a manner of speaking." Hiroki hesitated, not quite understanding Takatsuki's sudden interest in his office arrangements.
"Oh?"
"Well, I accepted the office," Hiroki admitted. "Professor Miyagi and I have been using it as a library. We have so many books between us that it seemed a better use of the space." He gestured to their additionally book and scroll-filled office.
"At this point there's hardly room for a desk in the other space, and truth be told, Sir, working in such close proximity, I enjoy the exchanges regarding literature Professor Miyagi and I frequently have."
"Intellectual exchanges… hmmm…" the Dean said thoughtfully."I wonder about that, Kamijou-kun. Miyagi-kun is charming, no doubt, but the man hasn't published anything in ages; makes one wonder if he's not been too easily distracted."
Hiroki suddenly understood what the Dean was getting at.
"Excuse me, sir, I do not wish to seem contradictory, but Professor Miyagi has always set a strong example for me of what it means to be a devoted scholar. Also, in my humble opinion, his latest work on Matsuo Basho is nothing short of brilliant. That it has not been published, to me shows great short-sightedness on the part of the printing houses, not any lack in his research."
Hiroki was careful to deliver his words in a most conciliatory tone. He understood that given the events of the weekend, he was putting himself in a precarious position by supporting Miyagi. He also knew that the Dean's sometimes bumbling appearance on campus was a skillful strategy the man used to downplay his shrewd nature and entice people to let down their guard around him.
After a considerable and uncomfortable silence, Takatsuki confirmed both these things when he next spoke.
"I can understand why you might say such a thing, Kamijou-kun. I see why you would feel the need to defend him. Birds of a feather and such….
"And he has been your 'mentor' for years after all. Though I wonder, perhaps, if you haven't had a rather profound influence on him as well. He certainly seems to have made some significant shifts since the two of you began working together."
The Dean paused a moment. "Of course, you have seen him through some difficult transitions, his divorce proceeding started not long after you began assisting him. Neh?" Hiroki felt the color rise to his cheeks at the implications of the Dean's words.
Is he truly asserting that somehow I am responsible for Miyagi's shift in orientation? That there is some unwholesome alliance between us? Hiroki looked at the Dean unwaveringly.
"I wouldn't know about any changes in his personal life, Dean Takatsuki. I have preferred to keep our exchanges on an intellectual level. While this may sound cold to some, I am interested in Professor Miyagi's scholarship, little else."
The Dean studied Hiroki intently for a moment, then he sighed as though he was conceding some debate.
"Ah… that's good to hear, Kamijou-kun, refreshing in fact. You see, despite my seeming embrace of western sensibilities, I am a traditional Japanese man at heart. As such the modern world is sometimes confusing to me." He sighed again, "Take your research for example, Kamijou-kun. All your assertions about the "homo" history of Japan…" Hiroki felt himself bristle at this and couldn't keep from responding.
"Forgive me, Dean Takatsuki, but they're not assertions; it's historical fact. My research is impeccable."
"So you say, Kamijou-kun, so you say. I am certainly no expert in your field, so I will not even begin to try and challenge you there." Takatsuki's tone suddenly dropped several degrees in its warmth. "It just brings me back to my earlier comments on the complexities of our times. You know, a decade ago, your text would have been shunned. Instead, today it is embraced." The Dean leveled a steely gaze at Hiroki, any hint of his amicable and clueless persona completely evaporated.
"So much more enjoyable I can imagine, Kamijou-kun, to be lauded rather than scorned."
Hiroki's brow furrowed further at these words.
"Please excuse me, Sir, but while I am told that I have keen perceptions in my field of study, I find that outside of this I can sometimes be painfully obtuse. Is it possible that you might offer me some greater clarity regarding your comment?"
Takatsuki chuckled at this, but there was no humor in the sound. "You are a young man still, with the possibility of a very long and bright future ahead of you. The only danger I see to your prospects is if you align yourself too closely with lost causes: others whose careers are headed in the opposite direction.
"Better to be a rising star than a falling one, Kamijou-kun.
"If you want my advice, which, as I am the Dean, I imagine you would," Takatsuki said without an ounce of warmth in his tone. "I would recommend you reconsider using your own office. With your impending elevation in status, it's unfitting for you really to be sharing a space as you are. Appearances, as you know, Kamijou-kun, are very important if one is to be respected and succeed in this life."
With this the Dean rose. Hiroki immediately stood also and offered the man a bow. The elder Takatsuki responded curtly. As Hiroki made to move around the desk, the Dean raised his hand.
Hiroki noted with this motion for the first time the man's bandaged knuckles.
"No need to see me to the door, Kamijou-kun. I let myself out. I am sure you'd like to return to your work. It would be terrible if you lost your forward momentum." Hiroki remained rooted in place as Takatsuki headed out of the office. The Dean hesitated at the door and turned back.
"Once again I commend you on your work ethic, Kamijou-kun. I am sure your pregnant partner appreciates it as well. After all there are few things more important than a man being able to support his family."
With that the elder Takatsuki left, closing the door softly behind him.
Hiroki stood for another moment in shock before weakly sinking into his chair. He ran his fingers through his unruly hair as his mind raced wildly with all the Dean had just said. He was startled from his reverie, by the vibration of his phone in his pocket. He pulled it out and looked at the caller before flipping it open. His mind and chest both suddenly felt incredibly heavy.
It was Nowaki.
If you are catching the Uke Flu fever, the following writers are spreading the epidemic here on FF (please note that each is following his/her own trajectory... so timelines, etc. don't necessarily match):
Black Flamingo 101: Sekai ichi Hatsukoi: Takano/Ritsu, Yanase/ Hisashi (OC), brief mention of Hatori/Chiaki (ongoing)
Miss Mysty: Sekai ichi Hatsukoi: Kisa/Yukina (on hiatus)
Estelle J: Okane ga Nai: Kanou/Ayase (ongoing)
Don't Preach (Me): Sekai ichi Hatsukoi: Kirishima/Yokozawa (upcoming)
Cerberus Revised (Me): Junjou Romantica: Romantica (upcoming)
The Black Flamingo 101: Sekai ichi Hatsukoi: Kisa/Yukina (upcoming)
Mini Blue Skirt: Full Metal Alchemist: Elric/Mustang (upcoming)