#maxtoru

Just the Same as Always

"Maximillian, you have to pursue a career in science! It’s the family tradition!" His mother tried to plead with him, but he refused.

"No!" Max cried, "I have a passion for the arts! My world of beauty cannot be inhabited by the coarse machinery of a laboratory!"

His dad sighed in defeat, “Fine. You can pursue your ‘world of beauty’-“

"Yes!"

"-BUT!" Max was interrupted from his celebrating, "you still have to do something scientifically advanced! We still have our reputation to uphold."

Maximillian smiled softly, “I think I have just the idea…”

Fastforward to the present day. Toru had nearly dropped the class notes that he had been delivering to Maximillian upon encountering the largest rose garden he had ever seen. The roses were definitely taller than him and Toru wouldn’t at all be surprised if they turned out to be humans in REALLY good rose costumes.

But no; upon closer inspection, Toru concluded that these were, in fact, actual roses.

Maximillian exited his home with an extravagant flourish, “Suzuki-kun! I’m so pleased to have made your-” he was interrupted by a small cough, “acquaintance today!”

Normally, Toru would have rolled his eyes at his classmate’s extravagant appearance, even when sick, but this was not a normal day. Toru pointed at Max and finally lost it.

"WHAT THE HECK ARE THESE GIANT FLOWERS-"

"They’re red roses."

Toru growled and stalked closer to Max, “THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT! I mean, why are there giant roses in your front yard? They’re bigger than me! How could roses even GET this big?!?”

Max stared down at Toru, who was now panting from the force it took him to yell that much. And then, he burst out laughing. Toru looked up at him in surprise as the taller boy held his stomach from the laughter.

Soon, Max regained his breath, with only a small chuckle here and there. He smiled at his short companion and invited him inside.

Sitting in the Takahashi living room, Toru wasn’t surprised to see that they lived extravagantly. He couldn’t help but look around at everything; it was as if he was in a museum, what with all of the amazing artwork on the walls and the large collection of fossil life and books.

Realising what he was doing, Toru turned his attention back to Maximillian.

"You look like you’re enjoying the atmosphere within my home," Max smiled over his cup of tea. Toru muttered incoherently, looking away from Max’s easygoing expression. Max chuckled, "you’re just the same as always, you know!"

"So, are you going to tell me what’s up with your monster plants?" Toru snapped, furtively trying to lessen the blush that had spread across his face.

Max blinked, before remembering the other boy’s initial shock.

"Oh, right. Well, both of my parents are well-off scientists," Max began.

Toru looked around once more, “I can see that…”

Max continued, “My family itself is critically-acclaimed in the science world as well. For generations, the Takahashi family has been at the pinnacle of all scientific knowledge and reason.”

Toru nodded thoughtfully, sipping his tea.

“However,” Max cried dramatically, “I was born with a passion, neither in science nor in mathematics. I long for the arts. Ever since I was a child, the stage has always called out to me. I was meant to be a performer, not to carry on the legacy of the Takahasi clan.”

Toru stared blankly at Maximillian, before smacking him upside the head.

"THAT STILL DOESN’T TELL ME WHY THOSE DEMON FLOWERS ARE IN YOUR YARD!"

"Oh, that?" Max questioned as he rubbed the now-sore spot on his head, "my parents agreed to let me go towards my goals of being a performer, as long as I still maintain our reputation as a scientifically gifted family. Those are GMO roses that I manufactured myself. As long as I tend to my garden, I’m allowed I continue pursuing a career in the arts."

Toru sighed, finally getting the answer he had been looking for. With that mystery solved, he remembered the real reason that he had come to Max’s house.

He stood suddenly and held out a small stack of papers in Max’s direction.

"Here are the notes from class and from today’s council meeting. I wrote everything that Shirogane-sensei said, and I made a thorough documentation of the club meeting. Make sure you look over everything before tomorrow. I also made an audio recording of today’s lessons, if you would better learn from that. I’ll send those to you via email, if you would like. Thank you for having me over, have a nice night, goodbye."

With that said, Toru turned and began to awkwardly march away. He was stopped by his arm being grabbed and Max turning him around to face him once more.

"What?" Toru asked, crossing his arms in annoyance. Max smirked at the boy’s complete awkwardness in social situations, before bending down to reach Toru’s height.

"You’re welcome over anytime, Suzuki-kun," Max smiled, ruffling Toru’s hair.

A loud smack resounded, twisting Maximillian’s head to the side.

"Don’t flatter yourself," Toru muttered before stalking away, muttering about ‘stupid tall people thinking they’re all that’. Max didn’t miss the bright red flushed face that Toru wore as he left the house.

Touching his stinging cheek softly, Max chuckled affectionately.