I FINALLY finished it! Catboy Banri, dressed up only for <anyone you want>
I like how the hand turned out.
Maybe I’ll make a better background some day..
Themes: High school / Slice of life / Future / Subtle crush
“Yamato Hinata! Your total score is below average! Do something about it!”
“Yes, sir…!”
“Kazaki Kimiko! I think we already discussed how you were in a dangerous zone! Do not make me repeat myself!”
“Very sorry sir!”
“Kudo Shintaro! Get your ass over here and try to explain to me why your score is so low!”
“Oh shit…”
“What was that?!”
Ah, the screams of the English teacher first thing in the morning. Not the first time the students in that classroom had suffered them, but a bad sign to start a Monday nonetheless. Hanasaki Highschool had a pretty standard position regarding grades as the results they had gotten showed. This, however, didn’t seem to interest the old professor, who had resumed to talk about future choices if they couldn’t even pass the exams.
As the bell rang indicating the end of the first period, you headed to the bathrooms groaning internally.
You understood everything. Future, yes. It’s important, yes. But was it really necessary to keep that reminder every day? In every conversation that involved studies? You knew thinking about what you wanted was important. Hell, you had studied so hard for this last exam.
“Y/N! I though you strived for more than this. Make more effort, goodness sake! if you keep these scores you are not cutting it!”
Cutting it for what, exactly? You had been trying to get the best scores of all your high schools years and you didn’t even know what were you aspiring to do -you had yet to fill the universities of choice. What if you decided to start working and not study anymore? Would that be so bad?
You shook your head as you opened the tap, water coming out with strong force. You splashed and washed your face, trying to limit the amount of bad thoughts that were already amounting on the top of your head. It was the start of the morning, you still had a lot to get through.
Closing the tap, you left the restrooms and made your way back to class, noticing a few boys and girls talking to people from other years and classes around the hall.
Once you were arriving at yours you noticed Sakuma Sakuya at the entrance- The red-head was talking to another guy you didn’t recognize, his back turned towards you. Had he failed? You didn’t remember well. As you got closer, you identified the boy Sakuya was talking to as one of the most feared boys in your grade. Was he really okay?
“…So you’re going to have to show up at the make up exam?” you could hear the boy’s voice, his hands slipping inside the pockets of their uniform. “Sucks to be you.”
Your classmate sighed, moving his eyes around the hallway when they felt your gaze. “Ah, sorry Y/N-san! We were blocking the door!”
“Then, I’m leaving.”
“Alright, see you at lunch. Thanks again, Banri-kun!” Sakuya waved goodbye as the famous troublemaker headed to… well, wherever that staircase led, possibly the rooftop.
“Didn’t know you were friends with Settsu Banri.”
“Mhm! I left in a hurry this morning to get to class and Banri-kun brought me the lunch I left at the dorm. He’s a real nice guy!” He showed you a small bag he was holding as you both entered the class. Break was almost over. For some reason, the majority of your classmates were also inside already talking over one another.
“Hey, guys.” Hinata called you both. He was revising a piece of paper. “The English teacher just came in again and left our next assignment.”
“What? We just received our scores.” You frowned.
The boy shrugged. “Agreed. But he came in and went on talking about this project to, and I quote ‘save our asses from failing high school’.”
Oh, come on world. It was ONLY Monday.
“What is the project about?”
Hinata nodded handing the task. “A literature presentation in pairs. Of course, the pairs are already done.” Sakuya and you leaned in to see what more surprises would the day bring you.
“…Oh”
.
.
.
“I’m home…! Mhm, that’s weird. Looks like everyone is out.” Sakuya turned to you, offering a pair of inside shoes as you took out yours. “Maybe some are in their rooms, it’s usually pretty crowded.”
You nodded distractedly. You didn’t know the dorm he lived in was this big. “This place is amazing, Sakuma-kun… Ah, Sakuya. Sorry, habits,” you smiled at the boy, who reciprocated the gesture. He had asked you to call him by his first name on the way here.
As of yesterday, both of you had become partners in crime for the seemingly project so you both decided to get it done as soon as you could.
He laughed and scratched his cheek, which had turned to a slight shade of pink. “Sorry if things look a bit messy. Please come inside! My room is outside in the garden. We have so many beautiful flowers there too thanks to Tsumugi-san. Ah, maybe you want something to drink?”
As you both reached his room, you kept a light conversation going on. Both of you weren’t on bad term with each other (who wouldn’t like someone like Sakuya) but it was true that this year you had kept yourself from interacting with your classmates in general. Hell, you didn’t remember when was the last time you didn’t go straight home.
You looked at Sakuya and he smiled warmly. You quickly directed your eyes to anywhere else, feeling yourself heating up from his gaze.
Of course, that had included going out with anyone.
Deciding it was for the best to divide the information search, you both took out a few books you had collected from the library and a computer to summarize the main points to present. However, not even twenty minutes had passed when the door opened and a man in foreign clothes sticked his head over it. “Welcome back, Sakuya! I have many doubts for this part of the performance. It is very tricky to pronounce indeed!”
“Ah, Citron-san!” the spring troupe leader greeted happily as you bowed your head. You didn’t expect such a character to be in a Japanese dorm. “This is-“
“OH MY!” you and Sakuya couldn’t help but jump at the intensity of his voice, eyes wide open. “I apologize for interrupting your dating time, Sakuya! I will make sure to ask the help for these words to our dear director.”
…What time now?
Sakuya went rigid for a few seconds, processing like you just were, before standing up, his neck and ears fully flushed. “Wait! You’re wrong Citron-san!” he turned to show how you both had disposed all the work on the table. “D-don’t you remember me talking to you about Y/n-san? We were going to-“
The man seemed to recall something, as he cut him again. “Oh, yes, of course! You mentioned the beauty and hard-work of Y/N a few times yesterday! I’m happy she’s here now..”
Uh…?
“I was hoping you presented her to us before entering the bedroom to give the approval for this new relationship but…”
UH?!
“Citron-san please we are just partnering for a literature project!” the poor boy was the definition of a mess, his blush spreading all over his face.
Or at least that was how you pictured him by the sound of his voice. You were staring hard at the floor, hearth thumping hard in your ears “Ah, yes. Literature project.” you heard the foreigner keep talking with a thick accent. “Kazunari told me about those projects too! Don’t worry, I’ll make sure no one knows about this so you can enjoy your youth!”
“Citron-san it’s not-!”
The sound of the door closing made you know the man had already left, leaving you two and the thickest silence you had yet experienced, alone. Beautiful and hardworking. Was that how Sakuma talked about you to others? You didn’t know what to say. It had been a while since you were this flustered.
“I… I am so sorry Y/N-san. I, um, it’s not what- Citron-san sometimes misunderstand and….!”
“It’s fine, uh, let’s…” you pointed to the computer. Yes. Just keep working. Why did you think meeting at his dorm was a good idea?
.
.
.
“So… How was your score last test?” after a while and having digested the early situation, you tried to break the silence.
Sakuya lifted his head surprised, visibly grateful to have something to talk about. “Well, not as good as I wanted. I barely passed… English literature is not my best subject. I’ll have to work hard not to go for a make up exam! Sakyo-san always insist on doing our best.”
You hummed, nodding abstinently.
“Um, do you have something you would like to do, Y/N-san?”
You thought about the question. The very same one that had been directed to you for the past year by teachers, family and other friends. The answer, however, hadn’t change yet. “I… don’t know.”
You began to feel the usual anxiousness, expecting him to wonder how was that possible. You had such good marks most of the time, everyone said. How come you didn’t have a clue? To your surprise, Sakuya just hummed, his expression unchanged. “Same here!”
You stopped looking at your book and turned your head towards him confused. If there was someone you thought had decided his future, that would be him. “I thought you were planning on becoming an actor…?” You weren’t totally sure but you had heard, and now verified after coming, how the boy was living in a theatre-dorm where he performed. You had yet to watch any but it sounded like he had already caved his own path.
“Me? Well, I do love acting! I hope it’s something I could do forever but… except Tasuku-san, almost everyone in the dorm has studied some type of major or are working. I think it’s important to have a plan b just in case, I still don’t know which one though! But I’ve been thinking about what I like to do besides acting. It hasn’t been easy but I’m sure there will be something I’ll see and want to try!”
You blinked. That… made sense.
“Ah, if you have trouble too, we could go take a look at different universities to see their programmes. I was planning of going so it’d be fun if you tagged along. I think it’d help you too!”
Graduation was still months to go. You somehow understood you weren’t alone. There were many people in your and Sakuya’s situation. You… you could still find your call. You finally noticed what felt like mental relief. “If… you don’t mind me,” you looked at his eyes, red pinkish irises reflecting into yours. “I also think it’d be good. Thanks.” They felt cozy. A tender smiled covered your face.
The teen laughed sheepishly. “I’m glad I could help! You have looked down lately in class so…” he blushed, moving his hands to cover his face in an attempt to hide his embarrassment. “W-well that’s what I thought! Not that I…!”
“Sakuya?”
“Yes?” hoping that the heat he felt in his ears wasn’t as visible as it felt.
A small thump bang in your chest. “Before going to select universities… If there are tickets for your next performance I…” you coughed, feeling shy all of a sudden. “I would like to enjoy something new for a bit,” you finally looked at Sakuya’s face.
And while there was still a big amount of red decorating his ears, the dashing smile he sent to your direction made everything else look pale.
