#itswhatimreallythinking

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Akashi stares at the quivering mess in front of their room; he could even see the tremble of the man's body four rows away from him.

It might be a mistake to put this substitute teacher under the cream section's mercy, because even their pregnant homeroom teacher could instill more order than this man (especially their pregnant HR teacher, never underestimate a pregnant woman's mood swings).

He's introduced as one Furihata Kouki, their substitute teacher for the rest of the year. Even the principal looks a bit doubtful on the homeroom adviser part, but he seems confident when he said that Kouki is the best substitute Algebra teacher he could find. Second to none, he said. To be praised by the principal like that, this Furihata might be some genius for all he knew. However, Furihata never seemed to register the praise, for he is busy trembling next to his superior.

As a responsible class representative, Akashi initiates the welcome, though he almost snorted when the man squeak.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Furihata could feel the crowd's expectant and judging stares. It’s not his fault that his default expression is 'I am constantly distressed and in need of immediate help'. It also doesn't help that most of his students look smarter than him. Granted, Mathematics and Biology are his strong subjects, and maybe a bit of English, but the way they carry themselves -how they stand with shoulders back and chin up- made it look like they are above him. It made Furihata feel lesser than he already is.

He's the embodiment of nerves and disposition on his first few days. The class is generally clever, they are easy to teach and they do advance reading. They are also responsible, but they do make fun of him. Like they imitate how he stutters while talking and trips over nothing and his sheepish laugh. It bothers him, but he understands that they are just kids.

Though, it was a relief that Akashi Seijuro, the class representative, is a fine young man. He scolds his peers when their teasing goes too far or when it disrupts the class. He also never joins them, and instead sincerely apologizes on their behalf.

It’s refreshing, Furihata noticed, having a responsible kid by his side. Akashi is by far the most mature high schooler that he had met. It’s not a surprise that Akashi had been chosen to be the school's president of student council at such a young age, he is very charismatic. He does his job well, and makes Furihata's job easier. It’s a bit embarrassing to depend on a kid to reprimand his students, but he read somewhere that calling an unwanted attention to a person could be a part of negative emotion baggage so he doesn't want to lecture them. He wouldn't want these kids to be like him.

So Furihata would just do his best at teaching and supporting them.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Furihata amazed Akashi. He got the patience to handle a bunch of think-skulled high schoolers without getting angry. If it were other professors, they might have made his classmates stand on the hallway and then scold them. But Furihata continued to write in the board as if his classmates aren't throwing balls of paper on his back.

Akashi shouldn't bother, as long as the class is quietly taking notes and the teacher isn't complaining. However, when he saw his classmate put a gum in the ball of paper, he knew he should have talked earlier. Before he could warn them, the guy already threw the paper at Furihata.

And missed.

"Hey!" The girl in front row shouted when the paper with gum landed on her. Unfortunately, the gum that is meant for Furihata is stuck in her hair.

Furihata, who had just finished writing when the girl exclaimed, saw the situation and schooled his most disappointed expression yet.

"Who did this?"

Of course, the class is silent until someone raised their hand.

"Are you also the one who's been throwing paper balls on my back?"

The boy nodded.

Furihata sighed and asked for a volunteer to accompany the girl to the nurse office or a janitor. He turned his attention to the offender.

"Look, it’s not okay. When Fujimaka-san comes back, I want you to apologize to her. Alright? I'll only be your teacher for a short while, but you all will be together for another two years. Please don't do something that would drift you apart. As much as possible, I'd like to see you all happy when this year ends, so bear with me. Okay?" He addressed the whole class. The children nodded, and Akashi is amazed.

Furihata Kouki is more than what meets the eye.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

After the gum incident, the class treated Furihata better. The teasing got friendlier, the girls offers him food, the boys talk about anime and other nonsense with him and Furihata is happier. Teaching became better when the whole class feels light and enjoyable.

However, the student who had changed his attitude towards him the most is Akashi. Akashi seems everywhere, he's there when Furihata is on the way to Akashi's class, helps him with materials when he goes to his next one, on the morning before the flag ceremony, and on the night when it’s time to go home; more than once he had walked with Akashi to the park where Akashi's butler is waiting to pick up Akashi. Then he started giving Furihata some sweets, and when he catches Furihata's eyes, his smile is a fraction brighter than before.

Furihata blushes, he wished he's not developing a crush on a sixteen year old boy.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

It seems working, Akashi noticed. Furihata's blush is an occurrence that's been happening lately. But he's courting won't be official until he do the thing.

Pick-up lines.

Now, Akashi is surrounded with idiots so should really have careful with his friends' suggestions, but if even Kuroko agreed, it must be the right choice.

So he searched all Math related pick-up lines he could see and picked the bests.

Though he can’t see what’s heart-thumping with these phrases, as they are mostly vulgar and with hidden sexual innuendos, he would still give it a go if it means that Furihata would finally noticed the blooming romance between them. Akashi would just tell the right pick-up line on the right place and during the right time.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Akashi is being weird. He’s been talking Math on the context of being romantic, Furihata had notice. Though some of them had managed to make his heart skipped a beat, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t find it strange. Though it was a relief that he’s only doing it when they are alone and no one is on the immediate hearing area.

“Hey, Akashi-kun. Are you free? Could you help me a bit with this textbooks? They are quite heavy.” Furihata said one morning before his class with Akashi when he saw the said person walk towards him.

“Sure, Furihata-sensei.” Akashi took half of the textbooks on his hands and started walking.

The walk towards the class is a long one, so they spent the majority of it in silence, however, when it was just before the room, Akashi stopped and called his attention.

“Sensei, I think the level of your significance is a perfect one.” Akashi said.

“Huh? Why?” Furihata ask, though he vaguely got the meaning of the statistical term, he can’t remember what it means.

“Because I always fail to reject you.” Akashi said smoothly and entered the room.

Furihata wished he could hide his burning face behind his hands but, alas, his hands are occupied at the moment so he chose to just slam his face on the textbooks he is carrying. He could blame the impact for his reddened checks and racing heartbeat.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Three months. For these past three months, Akashi had been skirting around Furihata to shower him with affection and pick-up lines. He is rewarded with blushes and stuttering, but it seems useless when the end of the school year came and they had not even gone to a date. So he made the choice to confront the teacher after class and to finally ask him.

“Sensei?” Akashi knocked on the door and slid it open. Furihata is currently grading their papers with a focus that he didn’t even raised his head to acknowledge Akashi.

“Hey, Akashi-kun. Sorry, I can’t walk with you today, these papers should the graded and encoded by next week so I’m in a pinch here.” Akashi deflated, he wished he could at least help, but as it was the duty only for the teachers and would not want Furihata to be scolded, he chosed to refrain from helping.

“It’s okay, Sensei. But could you talk?” the moment Akashi said it, Furihata glanced at him with worried eyes and put down the pen.

“Why? Is there something wrong?” Furihata said, worried. Akashi almost blush, Furihata had willingly stopped all his important duties just to hear Akashi’s troubles. He felt special.

“It’s not that important, but I would like you to listen.”

“Akashi-kun,” Furihata stood up and places his hands on Akashi’s shoulders. “Anything that bothers you is important. If you want to tell me something, please do so.”

Akashi could feel his cheeks burn, his heartbeat doubles, his pupils dilate, and his palm sweats. So this is what they say about lovesickness. Your body malfunctions because of a single touch and a simple gesture. Akashi could feel that this is the right moment to tell him.

“Sensei, if I m-move my lips half the distance to yours, and then half again,” Akashi said, slowly bringing his face closer to Furihata’s, to the point where he could see the other man’s face redden and his pupils dilate, and stopped when their lips are only a few centimeters apart.

“Would they ever meet?” the whispered against Furihata’s lips. Akashi felt more that heard the whispered no.

“No? Well, I’m here to disprove your assumption.” Akashi said and kissed Furihata.

Akashi could feel the slight tremble on the man’s thin lips, though it was only for a moment because Furihata pushed him away.

“Y-you can’t!” Furihata whispered, one of his hands resting against Akashi’s mouth while the other settled on Akashi’s chest. He could feel the fast heartbeat beneath his palm, and the motion backed up by the reddened cheeks of his student.

Akashi frowned. Furihata’s appearance suggests that he liked Akashi- or at least, liked the kiss. So why would he said that?

“Why? Is it because I’m your student?” Akashi asked, removing Furihata’s hand.

“Yes! And you’re eight years younger than me. And you’re a son of some business tycoon and I’m just an ordinary teacher.” Furihata listed those half-hearted excuses.

“You do know that I don’t care about those, right? Sensei, do you really think those would stop me?” Akashi said, once again pulling Furihata against him.

“Like I said, you can’t!” Furihata reckoned.

“Then, what should I do?” Akashi asked, there got to be something that they could compromise in.

Furihata blushed. It’s good that Akashi wanted to have a common ground, and it’s good that Akashi would do something for his… crush, but Furihata knows that this is just a phase and sooner or later, Akashi would forgot him. He just have to make a long-term challenge.

“T-then, if you became number one at something, maybe I would reconsider.” Furihata said carelessly. The glint in Akashi’s eyes made him cautious, but what’s been said has been said, and he had to stand his ground.

“Is that all, Furihata-sensei?” Akashi said, and Furihata squeaked out a yes. Akashi laughed, because Furihata always exceeded his expectations.

“Then, you’d better be prepared, Kouki.” He said as he bid a good bye.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Ten Years Later

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

There’s an uproar on the school gate, Furihata could see it from the open classroom windows. It had been a few minutes after classes had ended and almost all the leaving students would stop and look at the commotion. The growing crowd made him curious, and Furihata looked at the center of attraction. A bright red dot stood up against the sea of black, white, and teal.

He remembered having a funny student with the same shade of red. Akashi Seijuro of the Akashi Group of Companies that had topped the industrial world for the last five years had once declared his love for Furihata, and until today he can’t believe that it’s not a dream. Sometimes he pretends that Akashi might have done his best for Furihata, but that would be ridiculous especially after seven years and the red haired never once visited him after graduation. Not that Furihata had waited for him, no.

But Akashi always seemed to surprise him. As the crowd on the school gate made way for Akashi once the boy- no, the man saw him, he could still remember the mischievous glint on the boy’s eyes on that day.

“Seven years ago, I had managed to lead Rakuzan towards victory on the Winter Cup. Five years ago, I had become the youngest Shogi Master. And for these last three years I had managed to remain on the top of the corporate ladder and Akashi Group of Companies had stayed on the top under my management. Furihata-sensei, I had managed to be the best on not just one, but three things to prove my feeling for you. You wouldn’t say no for a date now, would you?” Akashi said as he extend a bouquet towards Furihata could just dumbly looked.

“Akashi-kun?” Furihata finally spoke after a few minutes of tense silence.

“Hn?” Akashi said, lowering his aching hand.

“You are one well-defined function.” Furihata said, blushing. There’s an upward turn on his lips, and his sheepish tone suggests that he is embarrassed, but the beautiful blush on his face said otherwise. And Akashi could just laugh as he finally embraced the man he’d been thinking of for years.