#bringallthewisdom

He...loved her? Namine stared at the man she had spent now her free time with. She still knew so little about him. He enjoyed rather listening to her, and watching her with her students than talk about himself. He was still practically a stranger. No...he wasn't a stranger. She watched the way his eyes softened when he was happy. The way the chocolate hues would darken when angry. The way his face relaxed when she allowed him to sleep in her lap. She knew this man, whether she knew about his past or not.

She reached out to touch him. To feel his warmth beneath her fingertips. She stood on her tip toes, barely able to touch his face, knowing he would lean down to accommodate unsure just what she was doing. And even she didn't know, she had never done this sort of thing in her life. But it was a first time for everything, and she trusted him. Trusted him that he would take one step at a time with her.

Her lips brushed his, a simple kiss. But one she hoped told him that she accepted his feelings and that she returned them. One that told him, she could face anything as long as his hand was in her's. She pulled away, her entire head was a mess and she felt like she could collapse at any moment, but there was one one more thing she needed to say.

Namine had been so excited for Norio’s basketball game, in fact it was the very first basketball game she’d ever gone too. She had even spent time fixing a healthy snack, with the help of Kotoha of course, for after the game to give to him when he finished. Kotoha helping her prepare, telling her if she needed her, just come to her part time job.

And now here she was, sitting on the bench cheering for every time Norio made a goal. It was honestly more fun than she would have thought it would be. She didn’t even notice the glares that came from a group of girls sitting closest to the team. Perhaps if she had, she would have known better than go into the bathroom on her own when the game had finished.

”Just who are you, exactly?” Namine glanced up from the mirror and saw three girls standing behind her, not noticing the hostility coming from them, she turned and smiled, “I’m Suzuki Namine, it’s—” ”We weren’t serious. Just who do think you are, cheering for Norio like you’re his girlfriend. He doesn’t need you.” And there they grabbed her bag and dumped everything out, the box of food falling and pouring onto the ground, and their cold laughter filled the air.

Namine’s eyes began to fill with tears at the girls’ cruelty and dropped to the ground to slowly began to pick up her stuff no longer listening the girls as they laughed at her. She forgot that she wasn’t the only one who noticed Norio. He was kind, a basketball player, and very handsome, of course others would have liked them. But she never thought it would be the extent.

❄ -  Favourite season and why?

Namine watched as the poor man who had said hello on his way back to his master’s shop was dragged into playing with her students. The boys climbing all over him while the girls hid behind her, playing some sort of peek-a-boo game when he would turn his attention their way. 

She found herself staring at how his lips formed into a soft smile when one of the girls found shyly made her way to him. Or when a soft chuckled escaped him when one of the boys would jump from his arms. Namine remembered when before he left, it took some time before the children would go near him. Scared of what they thought was a scary giant, and now, they couldn’t get enough of them.

Namine found herself feeling the same. She enjoyed his company, listening to his home, while he listened to her’s. She remembered she found an excuse, saying there was something in his hair, just to run her fingers through the short ebony locks. She even found excuses to order more books just to visit with him. 

"Namine-san. Namine-san?" A warm voice broke through her thoughts and she found herself staring up at him, his face inches from her, a look of concern on his face. “Namine-san, are you alright? I have been calling your name for some time." Her students though continued to climb over him, use to her daydreaming.

Her cheeks turned bright pink, and she laughed, "Oui. I am fine. Forgive me." "Sensei day dreams a lot!" Norio smiled at the young girl and Namine watched as the girl’s face turned as red as her own. He turned and smiled at Namine, “I must return." Namine nodded as her students awe filled the air, telling him to return soon.