The long afternoons in the student committee were like his daily bread. As well as spending time together. Not that he suffered less.
Minamoto Teru wasn’t a person who showed what he thought, he was reserved in his own way, and Aoi Akane knew it. On the other hand, there were times when he was expressive. Like that moment.
“Minamoto-senpai, could you stay still for five minutes?” Akane said, exasperated.
“I’m still,” he murmured in response, freezing his legs that two seconds ago were trembling with anxiety.
He kept his word for exactly ten seconds, before shifting uncomfortably again. Akane took off his glasses and ran a hand over his face.
“What do you mean?” He smiled, playing distracted.
“You’re not doing your job, and since you don’t sit still, you won’t let me focus on doing mine.”
“Oh?” He smiled barely, “are you worried about me?”
“Do you even hear what I say?”
Teru was silent and pretended to focus, so Akane did the same. They worked for a while, until Teru closed the notebook he was using.
“Let’s make a bet, Aoi-kun.”
“Do you want to play cards?”
“What does it cost you to ask for things like a normal person?” He interrupted, irritated.
“Excuse me?” He asked smiling, as if he didn’t know what he meant.
“You want me to do you a favor, right? Just say it.”
Teru scratched the back of his neck and sighed.
“Aoi-kun, may I ask you for a favor?”
Akane laughed, surprised that he fell for it. Teru frowned at him, annoyed.
“What if I told you that I’m going to ask out Ao-chan?” He smiled confidently, but Akane smiled back.
“First, a threat so overused and never fulfilled loses the effect of a threat. Second, if that makes Ao-chan ha-happy, then I am happy.”
Akane resumed his work, but Teru kept his eyes on him. He pursed is mouth, shifted his legs, scratched the back of his neck, and ended up sighing, defeated this time.
“Alright, I really need a favor, okay? I’ll pay you back with, uh, ten favors.”
“Fifteen,” he frowned, “do we have a deal?”
“Not yet, I won’t go in without knowing what the favor is.”
“Well…” Teru hesitated a moment, which made Akane’s curiosity itch, “Well, okay. My brother is dating a boy, okay?”
He paused, and Akane noticed he was evaluating his reaction.
“So we’re having dinner, okay? My parents, my siblings and me. We are silent, and out of nowhere Kou says ‘I’m dating someone.’ My parents are happy, and my mother asks what her name is. Then, Kou says in a low voice ’… Sousuke’.”
“Sounds like this will get good,” Teru frowned, “sorry, sorry, continue.”
“As I was saying- then, my mom covers my little sister’s ears and they look at Kou badly and she says 'I can’t believe this’, and my dad says 'we are very disappointed, Kou’-”
“Wow, really? That sounds harsh.
"It was. So, I look at Kou, and he’s looking at his plate, almost about to cry and- it was horrible. So, I say 'I’m also dating someone, and it’s called-’”
“You’re fucking kidding me!” He got up from his chair, indignant, “Minamoto-senpai, there’s no deal-”
“Please! It is an exceptional situation!” He turned in his chair, his gaze following him, but Akane kept denying.
“You’re asking me to pretend to be your boyfriend- do you hear how ridiculous it is?”
“Come on, it’s not a big deal, you would only have to come to my house once for my parents to see it’s true.”
“No,” he said firmly. “Ask someone else.”
Teru got up. Akane had his arms crossed, his back to him. Teru stood behind him and spoke.
“You are the only person I trust, you are, like, my only friend. Only, uh, without being friends.“
Akane laughed ironic, "I can’t be your only friend, come on…”
“Aoi-kun,” Teru bowed half his body, “please help me.”
Akane turned slightly, looking over his shoulder at him. He would have to lie if he said it didn’t make him feel guilty to see him swallow his pride like that. Akane could be cruel and mean most of the time, but he was truly empathetic to a very select group of people, which, unfortunately, Minamoto Teru entered.
He bit his lip lightly, before answering quietly, “fine.”
“For real?!” Teru straightened up quickly, smiling and his eyes shining with gratitude. His face looked sweet and innocent, and Akane couldn’t help but want to take advantage of it.
“Sure, you just have to ask it… correctly.“
Teru stared at him for a moment without understanding, in genuine confusion, until Akane folded his arms and lowered her eyebrows in a mocking gesture. Then, he understood, and his brow furrowed, but his smile did not disappear.
"Aoi- Akane-kun,” he corrected himself, but Akane made a displeased face, “would you go out with me?”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/23804632
[Normal!au fake dating ftw]