Chapter 18
The faculty building loomed ahead, its aged brick facade standing stoic against the early evening light. Hiroki pushed open the heavy doors, and the familiar scent of paper, coffee, and the faint tang of floor polish enveloped him. The low hum of conversation and the distant clatter of shoes on polished floors echoed faintly, yet it barely broke the stillness that always seemed to linger in the air.

His steps fell into a steady rhythm as he ascended the staircase, the weight of his bag shifting slightly against his side. It wasn't heavy, but the precious contents—carefully found books from the literary festival—made him clutch it a little tighter. For the Dean, his sought-after book and Miyagi, the companion to his research.

By the time he reached the third floor, the faint creak of the bannister under his touch and the worn grooves in the steps had already grounded him in the routine of this place. Yet the moment he approached his office door, his senses sharpened. Through the slightly ajar door, he could already smell the faint curl of smoke, a sure sign of Miyagi's rebellious disregard for the building's no-smoking policy.

Hiroki pushed the door open, the soft groan of the hinges announcing his arrival. As expected, Miyagi was sprawled behind his desk, one hand balancing a cigarette between his fingers while the other flicked lazily through a thick manuscript. The sight was so quintessentially Miyagi that Hiroki couldn't help the faint twitch of exasperation tugging at his lips.

"You know that's against policy," Hiroki muttered, stepping inside and closing the door behind him with his free hand.

Miyagi looked up with a smirk, his glasses slipping slightly down his nose. "Hello to you to, my sweet Kamijou." he sang, his face brightening at no longer being alone.

"I swear, one day, this office is going to go up in flames because of you," Hiroki shot back, ignoring the older professor's jibe and setting the bag down on the desk with care.

"And one day, Kamijou, you're going to walk in here without scolding me." Miyagi leaned back in his chair, taking a slow drag from his cigarette before stubbing it out with deliberate laziness. "But that day isn't today, is it?"

Hiroki rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress the small, reluctant smirk that tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Miyagi leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk and lacing his fingers together, his smirk widening. "So, how was the trip? I half expected you to call in sick today, Kamijou. You know, exhaustion from all the… physical activities with your lover boy."

Hiroki froze mid-motion as he began unpacking the books, his shoulders stiffening. "Don't start," he warned, his voice low and sharp.

"But seriously, I'm impressed you're still walking. Honestly, I thought Nowaki would've sent you back in a wheelchair. Guess I underestimated your stamina."

"Miyagi!" Hiroki snapped, his face flushing a deep crimson as he slammed one of the books onto the desk more forcefully than necessary. "Would you shut up for once in your life?"

Miyagi's chuckle was a slow, deliberate drawl, and he leaned back in his chair, utterly unfazed by Hiroki's rising temper. "Touchy, aren't we? Or are you just sore in more ways than one?"

"You're unbelievable," Hiroki hissed, practically vibrating with irritation. He crossed his arms over his chest, glaring down at Miyagi as if sheer force of will could shut him up.

Miyagi, naturally, didn't take the hint. "Hey, don't get mad at me. I'm just saying if I had a lover like Nowaki, with all that height and stamina, I wouldn't waste time on books. Priorities, Kamijou. Priorities. You must have had quite the work out this weekend."

Hiroki's eyes narrowed. "Miyagi, if you don't stop, I swear—"

Miyagi continued as if Hiroki hadn't spoken, clearly enjoying riling him up. "I mean, spending a whole weekend alone together... in some cozy little hideaway? That's practically a recipe for—"

"Shut up!" Hiroki barked, his voice rising with irritation. "It was a perfectly normal weekend!"

Miyagi raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Oh, sure it was. Let me guess, lots of reading, long walks... followed by a little, what? Midnight stretching exercises?"

Hiroki felt his face heating up despite himself. "You're insufferable, you know that?"

Miyagi exhaled, barely able to contain his laughter. "I'm just imagining the scene—Nowaki tossing you around like a ragdoll, and you pretending to be annoyed when you're really—"

"Miyagi!" Hiroki slammed his hand down on the desk, glaring at him with full force now. "Stop talking about things you know nothing about."

"Oh, come on, Kamijou. I bet you love it when he—"

"Not another word!" Hiroki's face was now bright red, a mix of fury and embarrassment. His patience was wearing thin, and Miyagi seemed to be enjoying every second of it.

Miyagi leaned in a little closer, his grin mischievous. "You're just too easy, Kamijou. If it wasn't for your adorable little temper, you'd probably be singing Nowaki's praises right about now. Maybe even showing off a few... battle scars?"

Hiroki clenched his fists, trying desperately to keep his cool. "I'm not having this conversation with you, Miyagi. Not now, not ever."

Miyagi straightened up, finally taking pity on Hiroki—but not without one last jab. "Alright, alright. Just saying, I'm surprised you even had time for books. But, if you did somehow manage to get any reading done, I'm impressed. Truly."

Hiroki, beyond exasperated, buried his face in his hands. "Why do I even bother talking to you?"

"Because, deep down, you love the attention," Miyagi said, winking as he leaned back in his chair, satisfied.

Hiroki shot him a death glare. "I hate you."

"Love you too, Kamijou."

Exasperated, Hiroki sat down, already feeling a migraine creeping in.

Miyagi grinned but didn't back down. "Is that any way to treat me? Especially after I worked extremely hard today covering your classes while you were off having fun." His tone was playful, but Hiroki wasn't in the mood.

He glared, refusing to respond. If it wasn't Akihiko getting on my nerves, it's Miyagi. No escape, he thought, rubbing his temples.

Miyagi, undeterred by Hiroki's previous outburst, wandered over and casually leaned against Hiroki's desk, crossing his arms as his teasing smirk shifted into something softer. "So, did you get the goods?" he asked, his tone losing its usual edge. There was a glimmer of genuine interest in his eyes as they flicked to the bag.

Hiroki paused, momentarily thrown by the sudden lack of sarcasm. "I did," he replied, carefully touching the bag and pulling out a slim, hard-back book. "This one's yours."

He held it out, and Miyagi took it with an almost reverent touch, his smirk fading completely as he studied the cover. For a moment, the room fell silent, save for the faint rustle of pages as Miyagi thumbed through the book. His usual nonchalance was replaced by something far more earnest, almost boyish.

"This is…" Miyagi began, trailing off as he read the title again. He let out a low whistle, shaking his head slightly. "You actually found it. I didn't think you'd bother."

Hiroki shrugged, trying to feign indifference but feeling an odd pang of satisfaction at the rare look of gratitude on Miyagi's face. "Well, it wasn't easy. But I figured someone as lazy as you wouldn't get around to finding it yourself."

Miyagi snorted but didn't rise to the bait. Instead, he carefully placed the book down on the desk, his fingertips lingering on the cover for just a moment. "Thanks, Kamijou," he said quietly. "Really."

The sincerity in his voice caught Hiroki off guard, and he blinked, unsure how to respond. He cleared his throat, shifting awkwardly as he reached back into the bag. "Don't get too sentimental on me. Here's the other one—the one the Dean's been after."

He placed a weightier volume on the desk, its gilded title catching the light. Miyagi glanced at it, nodding approvingly, but his focus quickly shifted back to his own book.

"You know," Miyagi began, his teasing grin sliding back into place like clockwork, "I'm actually surprised you managed to find the time to pick this up. What with your romantic getaway and all. I thought for sure you'd be too… preoccupied to get any actual shopping done."

Hiroki stiffened, his fleeting surprise at Miyagi's gratitude quickly dissolving into irritation. "Why do you always have to ruin the moment?" he snapped.

"I'm just saying," Miyagi continued, completely unfazed as he flipped through his book. "Must've been tough to drag yourself out of bed. Or did Nowaki just carry you to the festival?"

Hiroki's face turned a deep shade of red, and he rounded on Miyagi, jabbing a finger in his direction. "You—!" Those were the only coherent words he could muster at the moment.

Miyagi chuckled, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, Kamijou. You're just too easy to rile up. Besides," he added with a grin, "you wouldn't have it any other way."

Hiroki muttered something decidedly uncharitable under his breath, but he didn't deny it. After all, he knew better than to expect anything else from Miyagi.
Ignoring Hiroki's grumblings, Miyagi picked up the Dean's book, his movements uncharacteristically careful as he turned it over in his hands. The weight of the text seemed to anchor him, his teasing demeanour momentarily subdued. His eyes traced the lettering on the cover, and he gave a low hum of acknowledgment.

"This is the one he's been after, huh?" Miyagi murmured, brushing a thumb along the spine.

"Yes," Hiroki replied, his voice quieter now. The room felt heavier, and he shifted on his feet, unease creeping in as the reality of their plan settled around him. He crossed his arms, staring at the book as though it might burst into flames. "Do you… do you really think it'll work?"

Miyagi didn't answer immediately. He placed the book back on the desk with deliberate precision and reached into his pocket, retrieving his pack of cigarettes. Lighting one with practiced ease, he took a long drag, exhaling slowly as he stared at the book in silence.

"There's only one way to find out," Miyagi finally said, his voice measured but tinged with something Hiroki couldn't quite place. He tilted his head back, exhaling another stream of smoke toward the ceiling, his gaze distant. "But how should we go about it?"

Hiroki rolled his eyes at the predictable move and opened the office window wider to let the smoke out. "I was thinking you could take it to him. You're practically family with the Dean."

"Family?" Miyagi scoffed, clearly amused. "You mean because I was married to his daughter, or I'm now fucking his son without his knowledge? If that's family, then sure."

Hiroki snickered. The web Miyagi had tangled himself in was always a source of quiet amusement. "Although, once he finds out you've defiled his only son, I doubt he'll think so highly of you anymore."
"If anyone is defiled, it is me, Kamijou," Miyagi pondered, his expression softening, thinking of his Shinobu andthen snapping back to reality.
"But both of his children, if Takatsuki-san wasn't so young, I might be more impressed." Hiroki chuckled.

"Details, Kamijou, details." Miyagi took a long drag of his cigarette, exhaling slowly.

Hiroki chuckled but left it at that.

"Actually," Miyagi continued, "Your idea is not a bad idea."

"What, that you're a cradle snatcher?"

Miyagi shot him a sharp look, but didn't bite, "No, about me taking it, but we should take it together just before the meeting. You found the book, so he should know it came from you."

Hiroki leaned back in his chair, relieved to have a plan in place. "Fine. But you're handling the awkward family dynamics."

Miyagi smirked. "Wouldn't dream of making you do it."

Just as Hiroki and Miyagi were about to delve further into their plan, a sharp knock interrupted them. Hiroki looked up, feeling the usual irritation, but it softened when the door swung open to reveal one of the few colleagues they found agreeable.

"Professors Kamijou, Miyagi," greeted Professor Sato Ayame, the university's creative writing professor, as she entered the room.

Sato was a force to be reckoned with. Though she wasn't feared quite as much as Demon Kamijou, her students had given her the nickname "The Writing Shogun" due to her demanding standards. She was known for her sharp critiques and no-nonsense attitude, making her one of the stricter professors in the faculty, though she shared a mutual respect with Hiroki and Miyagi. She wasn't one to engage in gossip or unnecessary pleasantries, which suited both men just fine.

"Ah, Professor," Miyagi greeted with a lazy grin, the cigarette between his fingers trailing a thin wisp of smoke toward the ceiling. "What brings the Shogun of Words to our humble little den of despair?"

Professor Sato stepped into the office, her sharp eyes taking in the scene with a mixture of amusement and scepticism. She adjusted her glasses and shot Miyagi a brief, withering look before turning her attention to Hiroki. "I was passing by and smelt the cigarette smoke. I thought I'd pop in and join you degenerates. What are you two up to? You look like you're scheming something."

"Scheming? Us?" Miyagi drawled, pressing a hand to his chest in mock offense. "We're far too virtuous for that."

Hiroki scoffed, muttering under his breath, "Speak for yourself."

Miyagi ignored him and reached into his pocket, pulling out his pack of cigarettes. "Care for one?" he asked, holding it out to Sato.

Sato arched a brow but smirked, plucking a cigarette from the pack with practised ease. "Don't mind if I do. It's been a hell of a day already."

Miyagi flicked his lighter open and lit the cigarette for her, leaning back against the desk with his usual casual demeanour. "There you go, Professor. One of life's few remaining pleasures."

Sato took a long drag, the nicotine rush hitting her instantly. She closed her eyes and exhaled loudly, the smoke curling into the air in a dramatic flourish. "Ah, that's the stuff," she said, though her voice cracked slightly as she broke into a brief, dry cough.

Hiroki, who had been watching the whole exchange with barely concealed disdain, burst into a laugh. "You'd think someone who relishes in it so much would actually know how to smoke properly."

Sato glared at him, though there was no real malice behind it. "Quiet, Kamijou. Not everyone's a sanctimonious health nut like you."

"Yeah, yeah," Hiroki retorted, rolling his eyes. "Enjoy ruining your lungs together. Just don't come crying to me when you're hacking up your insides."

Sato smirked, tilting her head to the side as she studied him. "Oh, Kamijou, you're just bitter because you've got nothing to take the edge off." She raised the cigarette and took another leisurely drag, her lips curling into a wicked grin. "Sometimes it's nice to have something in your hands and mouth to take your mind off things, wouldn't you agree?"

The room went still for a beat before Miyagi erupted into laughter, his head tipping back as he clutched his sides. "Professor Sato, you're a treasure," he said, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. He shot a sly look at Hiroki. "Though I'd say Kamijou here already knows a thing or two about that. After all, he's spent his whole weekend with his hands and mouth full. Surprised he's got anything left running through that little head of his."

Hiroki froze, his face immediately turning crimson as his jaw dropped. "You—! That's not—" He spluttered, words failing him entirely.

Miyagi doubled over with laughter, while Sato raised her cigarette in a mock toast. "Fair play, Kamijou," she said with a smirk.

Hiroki groaned, burying his face in his hands. "You're both unbearable," he muttered, wishing desperately for a way to escape.

"Lighten up, Kamijou. You might even enjoy yourself for once," Sato said, blowing out another puff of smoke as she leaned casually against the desk.

Miyagi, still grinning, clapped Hiroki on the shoulder. "Come on, admit it. This is why you love us."

Hiroki rolled his eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn't get stuck. "If by love you mean barely tolerate, then sure. Let's go with that."
Sato laughed, "So what were you two plotting? You definitely weren't working when I arrived, especially this old geezer at this time," she commented as she jabbed a thumb in Miyagi's direction.

Hiroki nodded, appreciating her acute observation skills, "We managed to get our hands on the rare book the Dean has been after," he said, placing his hands on it with a touch of pride.

Miyagi leaned in with a mischievous grin. "Hoping the book will distract him enough to conclude the meeting early, like that time his wife brought him that rare book set for their anniversary."

Sato's brows lifted in genuine surprise. "Impressive," she said. Then she added, "Is that The Crane's Lament? He complained about that for ages when he couldn't get a copy.I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself."

Hiroki smirked, recalling the way the Dean had droned on about the book to anyone who would listen,

Sato crossed her arms, clearly impressed. "If this works, the next time we go out for drinks, they're on me."

Miyagi's face lit up, cheering. "Now that's a deal! I could drink to that."

Hiroki, though more reserved, couldn't hide the small smile tugging at his lips. He could already imagine an evening of drinking with Sato and Miyagi being far more eventful than he might like. But knowing them, it would be one to remember.

Sato, ever practical, then offered a suggestion. "Are you taking the book to him just before the meeting starts? Catch him before he starts on one of his long-winded travel stories."

Miyagi nodded, "That's what I we were thinking. Presenting it just before the meeting seems like the best shot. Right, Kamijou?"

Hiroki sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I just want to get it over with. The sooner we're done, the better."

Sato smiled slightly, understanding the sentiment. "Don't worry, Kamijou. If you two can handle managing the students, I'm sure you'll manage the Dean."

She gave them a rare, gentle smile, though it was clear she held a soft spot for her fellow literature enthusiasts. Miyagi glanced at her, amusement flickering in his eyes. "I see you're still terrifying your students. I overheard one of them earlier muttering something about 'the Shogun strikes again.'"

A glint of pride crossed Sato's face. "Only those who fail to meet their potential. I expect the best from them, as you do from your students, Professor Kamijou."

Hiroki gave a faint smirk. "Better to be feared than to let them slack off. Isn't that right, Professor Sato?"

She chuckled. "Absolutely. Fear works wonders in this profession."

Miyagi nodded approvingly. "A sentiment I agree with wholeheartedly. Literature is a battlefield, after all. The unprepared will always fall behind."

For a brief moment, the room fell into a comfortable silence, the shared understanding between the three clear. They weren't the most sociable people, but when it came to the written word, their passion bound them together.

Miyagi broke the silence with a wide grin, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Let's hope the Dean is in a good mood today. If not, we might need more than just a book to distract him, maybe I could create a family emergency." He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled under his chin, a playful glint in his eye as he imagined all the possible calamities that could unfold.

Hiroki let out a light chuckle, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "I'll take whatever luck we can get," he replied, the laughter threading through his voice. The thought of the Dean's notorious mood swings, ranging from jovial to irritable at the drop of a hat, added a layer of unpredictability to their plan.

Sato glanced at them, a warm smile breaking through her typically composed demeanour. "Just remember, if things go awry, I will not be getting drinks," she said, her tone teasing yet sincere.

Hiroki rolled his eyes but couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips. "Drinks with the two of you? I'll definitely need a week to recover, I might fair better if this doesn't work," he said, the absurdity of their future escapades already forming in his mind. The image of him nursing a hangover while listening to Miyagi's endless stories and Sato's witty banter filled him with a mix of dread and amusement.

Miyagi laughed heartily, the sound bright and contagious as he clapped Hiroki on the back. "That's the spirit! Now, let's go charm the Dean and make this happen." His enthusiasm was infectious, igniting a flicker of optimism within Hiroki that he desperately needed.

With their plan solidifying and a renewed sense of determination igniting within them, they gathered their things. Hiroki tucked the book, The Cranes Lament, securely under his arm, a weight that felt both promising and daunting. He glanced at Sato, who was collecting her notes, and then back at Miyagi, whose confidence radiated like a beacon.

As they made their way toward the door, Hiroki felt a surge of adrenaline. The faculty meeting loomed ahead, filled with the potential for triumph or disaster. They exchanged quick glances, an unspoken understanding passing between them. Whatever awaited them in that room, they would face it together.

Stepping into the hallway, the noise of students and faculty bustling about filled the air, a reminder of the vibrant life surrounding them. "Remember, stay cool," Hiroki said, his voice steadying as they approached the meeting room. "We've got this."

"Cool? Me?" Miyagi feigned innocence, his eyes gleaming with playful defiance. "I thrive in chaos, Kamijou. But I'll do my best."

Hiroki shook his head, a smile breaking through the tension. Whatever happens next, he felt ready.


AN: Trying to get back into my weekly uploads, but getting back into routine has been difficult. The run up to Christmas, well the whole holiday season has been a lot, but I am always thinking of these boys! Anyway, Hiroki arriving to work, was how I felt arriving to my job after the break. I really didn't want to be there. Aha!

Isn't Professor Sato a hoot? Well I hope that came across. I have missed Nowaki in this chapter, but the dynamics with Hiroki and Miyagi was a nice change, and I couldn't help but add Miyagi's constant teasing. Will their plan work? Fingers crossed.

As always, let me know you stopped by, see you in the next update.

asdfghjklove