It hadn't been long since Shinoku left early as they ate, a minute, maybe two. It was something that wasn't unusual for him to do, he had done it once or twice when he really needed time to think or be alone so his friends didn't pay much mind to it.
"So, what are the odds he's still stuck on the right way to say hi?" Vega asked with a slight smirk.
"I'd say pretty high, either that or he's trying to find the right time, it is Shinoku after all." Hassan answered as he chewed his food, "What I'm more interested in is who's going to be the one to talk to Anya if he doesn't man up."
"I'll do it." Sebastian stated after swallowing some food, "It was my plan, I gave the deadline."
Jax arched a brow as he looked at the lion, "Well if you were going to do it all then why say it'd be any of us?"
"Because, making him think it'd be either you or Vega would make him sweat and give him even more motivation to do it himself. You're both not really the type to not at least crack a joke at his expense in a situation like this, no offense."
"But we wouldn't, at least not when talking to her." Vega argued.
"You know that, I know that, but does HE know that." the lion said with a sly grin.
Jax just looked at Sebastian, clearly impressed. "…You clever bastard."
Sebastian smirked. "Thanks."
"It just kind of sucks that Shin's been able to at least find a girl he likes, meanwhile we're still just seeing which girls we'd think we'd like to ask," Vega mumbled.
"We should be happy for him, we have the time and confidence, meanwhile the only thing he's got confidence in is his ability to stop confrontations and the sports he's in. He needs this far more than we do." Sebastian lectured.
"Sebastian's right, we got the time and we're not ones to really hesitate when we find a girl we like...Well, as much as he would. We'd ask them out, Shin, he needs the push." Hassan contributed, "We'll find ours, it's only a matter of time."
"Yeah, you're right." Vega agreed. "Say….you think if he were to get into the drama club he'd be able to possibly introduce us to a girl or two?"
Hassan arched his brow. "Why, there some in there you might be interested in?"
"Possibly…." Vega said.
Hassan shook his head. "If you want to try and get a girl from there you're better off trying yourself than relying on Shin, if he gets in….Herbivore or carnivore?"
"Carnivore, and you know I prefer felines." Vega replied.
"Well that certainly narrows it down, the only female that fits that in the Drama club is Sheila." Hassan stated.
"That's her." Vega confirmed. "Though I'm still kind of leaving the possibility open that there's someone else. Still, she's quite the girl."
"Nice too, gotta say, figured you'd be more into girls who were more punky or like us Vega." Jax commented.
"Well, a fellow smart ass and fun lover would be nice, but there's something about a really nice girl ya know?" Vega remarked.
"She's also a year older than you, gonna be a little tricky to keep in touch with her after she graduates before you. Though I will say, I can appreciate you aiming high." Jax grinned.
"What can I say, I've got a daring personality." Vega chuckled. "What about you guys, any potentials for you yet?"
"Nope, but I'm sure I'll find one." Jax replied as he laid back in his seat. "Just gotta keep the possibilities there ya know?"
"Didn't I catch you taking a glimpse of that one snake girl though?" Hassan asked.
"As I said, keeping things open. But enough about me.." Jax said as he looked to Hassan. "What about you oh cool one with the relaxed attitude?"
Hassan rolled his eyes. "Not a single possibility. But I'm in no rush, I'm sure the right one will come along."
Jax then looked at Sebastian. "How about you Seb, surely you must at least have a few lioness' that got your eye." He grinned.
Sebastian fixed his glasses as he closed his eyes. "None, sorry,"
"But you'd tell us if there were right?" Jax asked. "I know you and Shinoku tend to be similar in a few ways."
"Trust me, if there was I'd let you know." Sebastian remarked.
Jax grinned wider. "Unless it was taboo to like her." He suuggested.
Sebastian went wide eyed. "What?!"
"I'm just saying man, the way you keep us in line and act, you're like an adult. Wouldn't surprise me if you had some hot older woman you're keeping a secret from us..." Jax said as Sebastian started to hold back nervously sweating, "Oh relax Seb, I'm only kidding. Besides, not like you'd be able to find an available older woman here." He laughed.
Sebastian sighed slightly, relieved that Jax was only joking. It didn't take long though for them as well to finish their meals and the group deciding to leave and get ready for their next class. Hassan and Sebastian waved farewell to the other two as they went their own way to be ready for history. As they made their way to the building Sebastian overheard that there was going to be a substitute for the class, the usual one for when a teacher wasn't available, which caused a smile to form on his lips and his tail to sway happily.
"Geez Sebastian, you almost blew it back there." Hassan commented as he looked to his friend, "I don't even know why you insisted on us keeping it a secret that you have a thing for Ms. Satomi. By the way, your tail..."
"Oh...right." Sebastian said as he stopped it's swaying with a blush. "I am going to tell them, just not yet. The last thing I need is for those two to possibly spill the beans. Besides, I can easily enough tell them that YOU had an interest in her." He shot back as he glanced to Hassan.
"...Touche." Hassan remarked. "I mean we both know they wouldn't give us too much hell, they are our friends after all."
"I know, but I just don't need that while I'm trying to figure out if these feelings I have for her are true and not just me being, well, in a rush or something else." Sebastian admitted. "Once that is done, if they are true, I'll approach her to talk it out rationally in private and will accept whatever answer she gives. I don't want anything to happen to her because I was careless." He said before letting out a sigh,
"You're a very good guy Sebastian, always thoughtful and considerate, not to mention you come up with a number of our plans and such, you're pretty much the dad friend." Hassan assured the lion. "That, and the fact you're putting so much thought into this is why I'm letting you take your shot, you seem to really have a thing for her."
Thanks, I appreciate that." Sebastian smiled. "Maybe not the dad friend part, but everything else."
"No problem." Hassan said as they neared the class.
As they walked in they were indeed greeted by the sight of a black oriental short hair cat that looked to be in her very early thirties and quite lovely, especially in her black suit. She was as she often had been just typing away at her computer, getting various things ready before class among other things. So far Sebastian and Hassan were the only students to arrive sense it was still fairly early. Hassan went to take his usual seat as Sebastian went to go great the teacher.
"Good afternoon Ms. Nazomi." he said with a slight bow. "You look nice today, I look forward to today's class."
Nazomi looked at Sebastian and offered him a smile. "Good afternoon to you as well lovely.." it was something she often called those younger than her. "thank you, It's always nice to hear that. Is there anything you needed to talk about?" The oriental shorthair asked. "There's still at least ten minutes before class, most students don't start showing up till five or later."
"No, just wanted to say hello as usual." Sebastian replied. "I don't mind being early, helps me better prepare to do well."
"My, you really are quite the studious one, and a fine example for other students to look to."
Sebastian hid a faint blush. "Thank you Ms. Satomi, I'll leave you be so you can finish what your doing." he said as be bowed once more.
Nazomi nodded as she watched him go to his seat before going back to her computer. 'Sebastian's such a nice student.' She thought. 'He does so well from what I've seen when substituting, he even goes out of his way to greet me before class. Then again….I don't think I've heard of him really doing so too much with the other teachers. Maybe he's doing it because he know substitutes aren't often treated quite the same. Then again...' she shook her head. 'No, that's inappropriate, taboo even, surely he's not...'
Her train of thought shifted as she started seeing more students come in, realizing that class was about to start soon. She took a breath and finished getting prepared, When the last minute was up she greeted the class and began the lesson. She glanced about the class, noting each student, including Sebastian. He was highly focused, something he normally was, taking meticulous notes and seemingly paying absolute attention to the lesson. In fact, among all his friends and even a number of the students he was known to have some of the better grades. He worked diligently as he took notes, though during these classes, the ones where Satomi taught, he found himself especially hung on her every word as she taught.
It was something that he didn't didn't let show, knowing full well what the consequences would be. Still, he could not help looking quite happy when she taught nor his tail swaying behind him. Thankfully he was in control of himself enough that he was not only able to not draw any real attention to himself from her, but either stop his swaying tail or subtly stuff it where it'd stop if it was being particularly active. Though if it was one thing he was somewhat thankful for, it was that sense she taught, he had no excuse not to look at her. Though even when they were busy doing work, he found himself trying to catch a glimpse, something he cursed himself for. He was a lion, they showed respect, had pride, they controlled themselves and had dignity damn it!
Though at least he could take solace in knowing that at first, even Hassan was guilty of the same thing. They were the restrained ones of the group, meant to set an example, if the others had ever found out they'd not hear the end of it. Well, at least fro, Vega and Jax, Shinoku would understand. Sebastian was still surprised that as he and Hassan both learned they liked her and talked it over, that his friend was willing to let him be the one to pursue her and keep the whole thing quiet till there was a result from his pursuit. Hassan truly was a great friend. Still, he needed to figure out his feelings, and somewhat soon, if they were as ge felt, then he needed to talk to Satomi and hope for the best. He never did anything on a whim or without careful thought and consideration, and he wasn't going to start now.
As class soon came to a close he waited until he and Hassan were among the last to leave, getting up and heading towards Satomi and the front entrance instead of the back. "Bye Mrs. Satomi, today's class was really good and interesting, I hope you have a good rest of your day." he said as he reached her.
Satomi nodded as she gave him a warm smile. "Thanks, I do try my best it that way, can't really learn when bored right?" she giggled. "I hope you have a good rest of the day too, take care lovely."
Sebastian nodded. "Will do." He said as he made sure not to let her see the blush that was forming as he left with Hassan. Sure he had heard her call other students and those younger that, but it just really got to him when she said it to him, even if it was just a friendly term of endearment.
"She might start getting suspicious Sebastian.." Hassan commented as they walked down the hall. "We're always the first ones there and almost the last ones out whenever she teaches."
"Hopefully she just thinks I'm a very good student like she said. I need at least a few weeks to a month." Sebastian commented.
"Well, hopefully she isn't." Hassan said as he rubbed the back of his head, "Still, don't you find it hypocritical that you're giving Shin only two more days while your giving yourself possibly a month?"
"I see the irony Hassan, but as I said earlier, Shin needed the push." Sebastian said knowingly. "Anya is a student, not a teacher. This situation is far more delicate and requires a lot more preparation and certainty." He added. "Plus we all pretty much knew he was completely smitten with her, so really the only thing he needed was an excuse to talk to her."
"Fair enough, do you think he'll actually manage to do it though?" Hassan asked as he turned his gaze to Sebastian
"We might have only known Shin a short amount of time, but from what I've seen, he will." Sebastian remarked. "It might be close to the deadline but he will, unless something happens to force that talk sooner than he wants."
"Something good or bad though?" Hassan asked.
"Hard to say. But it is Shin we're talking about, I'm sure that even if it's the bad one it won't be anything he can't handle." Sebastian said confidently.
"Yeah, I mean it's just talking to his crush, I doubt that's going to cause him any real trouble other than maybe a little bit of heartache if she says no." Hassan mused.
Mean while, elsewhere in the city, a car roared through the streets of the city, turning through intersections and alleys as it was driven through ever seeder and gang filled areas. While most areas of the less savory parts of town still looked respectable to a degree, particularly the black market, the areas the car drove through were definitely areas that most wouldn't mention or would even just flat out avoid. Eventually the car came upon a compound heavily guarded by dobermans, a gated and walled off temple for a gang that in terms of ferocity and unpleasantness were on par with the shishigumi, if not worse. But if gangs like the Shishigumi ever heard that a lower gang such as this made themselves to be on their level, well, they would more than take offense. Once the car entered the gate was closed behind it and it eventually came to a stop. Otis stepped out of his vehicle, a very angered and twisted grimace on his face.
None of the dobermans that saw his expression dared to say anything, most cowering as they new what would happen if they were to speak up when he was in one of these moods. Otis angrily stormed into his compound, the expression getting more and more maliciously angry, no, furious at the audacity of that white flea bag that interfered in HIS business. Things were just getting interesting until that mutt showed up, how dare he have the nerve. It was all Otis could think of, he had stewed on it since the moment he decided to leave Cherryton. It didn't matter what Anya had said to him, that he was just a clueless friend that didn't know better. That piece of shit offended him by daring to restrain him and look at him, HIM with those eyes that conveyed contempt for him, looking down on HIM, that would not stand.
As Otis made his way to his room he slammed the door shut, snarling and growling as he punched a wall to let out steam. It wasn't long after he had done so that the door opened and a more diminutive and nowhere near as intimidating as the others albino doberman walked.
"Fuck off Felix, NOW." Otis snarled.
"I take it things went poorly..." Felix said, his voice nowhere near as rough as it should be for being in a gang like this.
"What do you fucking think?!" Otis snapped.
"Perhaps you just caught her at a-" Felix started to suggest.
"I didn't!" Otis snapped again, causing Felix's ears to flatten. "Things were going well, getting fun! But then this fucking mutt of a friend of hers couldn't mind his own damn business and had the gall to not only intervene but restrain me! Anastasia would be here now if he hadn't shown up!" He snarled. "If it wasn't for the fact I didn't have my gun I'd have shot him right fucking there!"
"That…would only cause problems…problems you have said you didn't want." Felix said meekly, making sure to choose his words wisely. "If he was a friend of hers that didn't know about you, then he clearly didn't know the situation."
Otis glared at Felix. "Don't fucking lecture me Felix."
Felix did his best to stay composed as he thought out his words carefully. "All I'm suggesting is that he might not be worth your effort, he is just a student after all. Even if he is close to-"
"Anastasia is mine! She has been ever since we met!" Otis snapped, cutting off Felix for even daring to start to suggest the arctic wolf was close to Anya.
Felix hesitated a moment. "She technically hasn't agreed to be with you..."
Otis' eyes narrowed as he stormed up to the much more submissive doberman. "If you weren't useful I'd kill you for saying that. She belongs to ME! She just doesn't know it yet. She will agree to be with me, she has no other choice! I'm the only one that gets to have her, I'M the one who deserves her, I AM her only option!" He ranted.
Felix looked at Otis before speaking. "But if you don't give her time…"
"I've given her ample time!" Felix interrupted.
"Yes...but you have also visited her frequently…not really given her much time to think." Felix pointed out. "All I'm saying is that maybe if you…gave her some breathing room…Let her feel that you trust her and treat her with just a little respect...it MIGHT go a long way." He suggested.
Otis' face was still twisted in anger as he glared at Felix, eventually getting less angry and just moving away from the albino doberman and to his balcony where he gripped the railing. "FINE, I'll give her a little more time..."
"That's good...she'll appreciate that, might even help her decide to come back with you." Felix said as he breathed a sigh of relief, glad that he hopefully not only diverted Otis' attention away from the poor student that got involved, but hopefully bought Anya a bit more time. "I'll leave you be then Otis." he'd say before leaving, shutting the door gently as he left.
Otis only sneered, looking out at the dread heap of an area he called home. "I WILL have what is MINE, what I DESERVE."