Thank You For Noticing Us

   “Kept this close to you, dear. Since it may be the last of me later in the future.” Kouhai was confused. She wasn’t really sure what her grandmother meant by that. She then slowly turned over her hand to see a key placed in her palm. One that was decorated with a chipped coat of light blue paint.     Kouhai denied the school’s help to remodeling the cafe. Telling herself she would do it on her own much like her grandmother did.    She painted the walls a new coat of color. Smiling brightly to see the cafe without the plastic covers. Used to over the counters and furniture. Cleaning and fixing up the old coffee maker before she moved the tables and chairs around. It took a month to do all the work by herself. There was a high chance that it would have been done in a week or so with help of others. Yet. Kouhai still was proud with the fact it was all done with her hands. Hands that were now covered in a bit of paint, with the scent of Windex.     Now that she was done decorating, all was left was the cooking. Trading her dirty cleaning rags for a cooking apron. Keeping her high hopes for the small cafe. One she can call hers now.   Kouhai played with the collar of her uniform. Her work uniform rather than her school one. The school had finally came in to make her one. Meaning she wouldn’t need her old pink dress and matching apron.   The uniform was made of a white loose collar shirt under a blue shirt. The school logo sewed to the side of it. The classic red tie was wrapped around her neck. A much longer skirt going a bit below the knees. Covered with a tight apron that went down to her lower half.    Her wet hands brushing on the apron as her sneakers hit the floor. Rushing orders out while her shoes squeaked with every harsh turn. It was the last week of school and all the teachers were playing a movie or letting the students do whatever they wanted for the period.    Which consisted of being on their phone or talking to one another. Kouhai took this time to work in the cafe. Also help with the Graduating Ceremony.    But, it didn’t feel right.    The idea of people leaving.    It didn’t sit well with Kouhai, but she ignored it. Like if it wouldn’t come. Yet, she was there. Racing across the hallways to beat the bell. Getting there with 10 minutes left.    Telling herself she had time to walk if she wanted. Sighing just as she pushed the door open. A door that stood under a sign that read,  

“3-C”     There Yuu laughed as Hinata and Ai threw paper at each other. Quickly turned his attention to the door. Hearing the click of it opening. There, he was the first to notice the cafe girl.    “H-Hey Kouhai,” He greeted. Not noticing that Wakatoshi just threw a crushed paper ball to his head.   Kyouya-sensei looked up from his desk. His purple glasses on the edge of his nose. Pushing them back as his pen fell out of his hand.    “Oh.”    “Good evening, Kouhai.” Kyouya greeted, being a bit confused why she was in his classroom. He didn’t remember any orders that were placed for him. That’s for sure. However he wasn’t complaining on the fact Kouhai was in his classroom.   “Ah, good afternoon Kyouya-sensei.” Kouhai bowed before explaining herself.    “Sorry to come here unannounced. I just had one last order to take care of.”   Kouhai beamed. Turning to the class. Which stood silent the moment Yuu pointed her out.       “Izumi,”    That’s when the classroom seem to die. The taps of feet hitting the floor and the clicks of pens on the desk were deleted out of the picture. The blond staring at the brunette with wide eyes. She said his name, right?       The schoolgirl smiled. Setting a hot takeaway cup on his desk. Next to the book he was reading before she came in. Nearly costing the nerd to lose his page. Kouhai nervously pick at the paper she had in her palm. Crushing the lower-right corner of the letter. Trying her best to rush her words. Wanting to get this over with. Since she felt a tight and deadly aura in the class. Eating her up slowly. “You were the first customer in my cafe and I thought-,” She paused. Feeling the darts being thrown at her direction. Not knowing that they weren’t for her, but their classmate that sat in front of her. Slowly getting redder by the second. “-I thought it would only be right, if I let you be the l-last order as well.”     Then was a moment of silence.     “T-thank you.”    It was the only words he could mustered up at the moment.    Kouhai gave a small smile before quickly turning her heel. Walking to Kyouya. Handing over the letter she picked at the whole time she was talking.    “Touru-kun had me deliver these to all the teachers. My guess is something about the Graduating Ceremony.” She softly whisper, trying not to let her voice crack. Kyouya nodded, taking the letter out of her hands.    The cafe owner quickly left after that. Putting a hand to her face while she rushed out. Closing the door with the other. Clicking when it met the doorlock. Izumi was then the target of the first round of crushed paper balls before Kyouya yelled at his class to cut it out.   Kouhai is the person that thinks change can be good for a person. Yet, she isn’t a person that change quite likes, really.    She can see the bright side of things, yet they always make her cry. They just another reason why she ran out of tears.    The young schoolgirl stayed for the Graduating Ceremony. She helped plan and send out tickets to families. So, why wouldn’t she watch? She worked hard for this moment to perfect for the students. Making it as grand as she could for the families there. Waiting and watching for their son/sons graduate.     The headmaster had handed the last diploma. The symphony of clapping hands boomed. Nearly everyone was cheering. Kouhai was still on the stage with the rest of the teachers and some of the staff members. Getting a clear view of the people she knew for the last two semesters. Seeing them move on to the next chapter of their life.   While she was still struck on her first word in her book.   That’s when her knees buckled. Crossing her hands over her face as tears came. Turning to sobs. Moving on to be an endless waterfall. One she had trouble stopping.    Luckily, Haruka was around. Giving what the doctor prescribed. A pack of tissues and a bear hug to make her feel better. Only to have him tear up a bit. Kouhai’s breathing slowed down. Blowing her nose a few times before her boys rushed over to hug her. Her boys that were now men going into the real world. Taking pictures and meeting parents. It was what she did for the next hour.    She smiled at Jéan and waved good-bye as they walked off. His mother invite her to their summerhouse over the break. Telling Kouhai she would love to talk more with her. As if she fell in love with the idea of the café girl spending time with her family. “You’re eyes are pretty puffy. Have you been crying?” Kouhai turned to see another blond.   “Ha,” she chuckled. Twirling her hair around her finger. “You’re the fourth one to said that exact same thing.”    Kouhai ran the back of her hand to the outer corner of her eye. Wiping the leakage as the day was slowly ending.    “Really?” Izumi questioned. “Damn, and here I thought about making a great entrance.” Izumi pouted. Making Kouhai laugh at his behavior.   “There’s that smile we all know and love.” Izumi cheered.    Smiling to himself while a light blush lighted up on his cheeks.     “Thanks. I needed that.” Kouhai twinkled. Spinning her right heel on the grass while she leaned her head to Izumi’s chest. Izumi wrapped his arms around the schoolgirl, trying to comfort her while the scent of sugar cookies and multiple perfumes surrounded her.      The scent of sugar cookies were from all the treats she made with Takeru’s mother for the party they’re having later in the day. The multiple perfumes had stained her dress with the fact she hugged so many people before the nerd came to talk with the café girl.      “I read what you wrote on my cup.” Izumi cheered, trying to change the subject. Thinking back to yesterday when he was hit with mountains of crushed paper from getting Kouhai’s last order.     It was green tea with a mix of honey, ginger, and lemons. The perfect blend of flavors in his eyes.     The same one he would miss in the summer. Maybe even the rest of his life.    “Oh,” Kouhai paused. Pushing away from Izumi’s chest to hear his words better.  “I thought that you wouldn’t notice it.” She sweetly chuckled.    “I even worried that you would toss the cup away and my writing would go unnoticed.” “Ha. Of course I saw it. I always haved. I live for the moments you write me small letters with my orders,” Izumi smiled. Holding her hands in his.    His smile then dropped a bit. Pulling her hands a little closer. Tighter as everything slowly sunk in.   “l mean, you write the occasional letters to everyone a-and th-” Izumi’s stutter came back. A sour tone in his head yelled at him to pace his words again. He was rushing for a excuse.     Nevertheless, his words were put on an stop. Kouhai apologized for interrupting him, but she just had to say it.     “Izumi,” She scolded.   Her eyes watering with every second passing. Killing Izumi with the thought of her crying in front of him.     “Don’t think that your letter is one out of a million others. It’s special. Much like you.”    She wrapped her arms around his waist. Holding him tighter with every word.    “Please don’t look down on yourself. You always wrote the most interesting, amazing, beautiful, heartfelt and let’s not forget, silly writing I have ever read.” She went on about how he told the best scary stories. Able to get anyone hooked on a story without knowing much about it. The way he always ordered a cup of tea depending on his mood. How he let her borrow his books. Handing them to her in a order of the date they were published.    Kouhai went over everything she could think of. Everything that made Izumi stand out from other bookworms that came in her cafe. Telling him she is so glad that Izumi was not only her first customer, but her first friend in the academy. Kouhai’s sweet words melted the atmosphere. Warming Izumi’s heart. The hug they shared tighten.    They stood like that for a while. Ending the moment when Kouhai was called by another student. They said their goodbyes again before Kouhai rushed off. Being introduced to new family by one of her senpais.     Sneaking a small wave to the nerd before she was introduced to the parents. Later, being questioned. “Kouhai, your eyes are pretty puffy. Have you been crying?”

  I’m going to miss this game so much! I’m just glad that the fandom won’t go down with it. Thank you again to Jakey and the amazing makers of Notice Me, Senpai!

    With love, 

            Lee

You looked around as he downed more coffee and agreed with him with a few absentminded nods. There were a few other boys who were studying while having a snack and their preferred form of caffeine. “I guess the last of the exams are tomorrow. Everyone’s been studying hard, including you.” You turned back to him and sat up, gesturing toward his study books. “You’re doing math and English tomorrow, right?”

“Sure am! I’m surprised you remembered, what with your own schedule being as busy as it is!”

You smiled and averted your eyes, looking down at your hands on the table. “You’re my boyfriend, of course I remembered.”

Hajime moved his free hand to place it on yours, enveloping your hands with his, the warmth seeping through your skin and up your arms. “You’re the best girlfriend in the whole world! Do you have any other exams left?”

“Mmm, I finished my last one today. We won’t be getting our final results until the end of tomorrow, though. I think I did well.”

“I’m sure you did great! Ikeman didn’t bring you on just because of your grandma! Heaven knows how much you’ve helped me with my own studies this year.”

As he complimented you, you felt the initial blush you wore spread across your cheeks up to the tips of your ears. “You give me too much credit. You’ve helped me plenty this year, too!”

He chuckled and reached up to tuck a loose lock of hair back into his headband. “I never claimed to be the smartest guy in the world, but thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

The two of you fell into a comfortable silence as he eventually turned his gaze from your face to the workbook in front of him, writing out formulas and solving problems that Soujiro had prepped for him. His other hand still rested on yours, stroking his thumb over your knuckles. You took a deep breath and closed your eyes, enjoying the peaceful air that surrounded you both.

The sound of his pencil scratching the paper and the occasional thunk of the mug being set back down on the table was eventually interrupted when the bell over the door jingled, breaking you out of your reverie. You opened your eyes to see that a few of the students had left the cafe, either going on to their next test or back to the library for another study book. You sighed and squeezed Hajime’s hand before slipping away, standing up and shaking out your apron.

“I need to go clean up a bit, do you want me to get you a refill?”

He peered up at you with a grin. “That sounds awesome! Thanks, babe.”

“Of course!”

As you were about to pass him on the way to one of the dirtied tables, you paused. Hajime had gone back to examining his work. A second’s hesitation and you took a sidestep closer to brush a kiss on his cheek, scampering off before he could see your glowing face. He didn’t say anything, but his hum of approval was enough to send you nearly giggling, your heart thumping in your ears and your feet walking on air as you began to pick up dishes. You knew the silly smile on your face wouldn’t go away anytime soon.

—-

You sat as close to the front of the auditorium as you could, your leg bouncing uncontrollably as you anxiously waited for the program to start. You hadn’t seen Hajime all day and you couldn’t wait to see him in his special graduation outfit. You knew he had been nervous about wearing it. It was a long-sleeved jacket with a series of buttons along the front. Everything about it screamed fragile, maybe not to most boys, but definitely for your boyfriend who had a knack to bust buttons and rip sleeves with nothing more than a sharp turn.

Finally, the lights dimmed and the principal stepped up to the mic stand, saying a few words before turning the time to the student body president, Touru. Time dragged on as his speech to the upcoming graduates went on and on. You resisted picking at your fingernails as the words blended together into mush in your brain, wanting to pay attention but wanting it to be over with already.

As soon as Touru was finished, a couple other students gave much shorter speeches and the principal came back to the mic and announced that they would be presenting the students their diplomas in alphabetical order by family name. You gave a relieved sigh. Hajime would be one of the first to walk.

The first few boys crossed the stage and you felt your uneasiness heighten to a climax when you saw Hajime step out, taking careful steps and looking more handsome than ever with his hair slicked back out of his face. You clapped wildly when he was handed his diploma and gave him an ear-splitting smile when he peered out at the audience and met your gaze. He grinned widely in return and held up an arm with his diploma. His face and arm suddenly dropped and you weren’t sure what had happened to cause the change in his demeanour as he quickly made his way to the other side of the stage. A different kind of worry started to trickle through your veins. You wanted the ceremony to finish quickly so you could talk with Hajime and find out what was wrong.

You clapped politely for the rest of the third years and as soon as the principal finished his last statements you were out of your seat and wandering the center field, looking everywhere you could for your boyfriend.

Finally you saw him standing under some trees with his friends, who were laughing loudly and smacking each other with the tubes containing their diplomas. When you got closer, you called out for Hajime and he turned around at the sound of your voice, a hesitant smile spreading across his lips. He held up a hand to say goodbye to his buddies as he met you halfway.

“Hajime, are you okay? What happened onstage?”

He gave a nervous chuckle. “I may have bust a button off of my jacket when I lifted my arm.”

You looked him up and down and finally realized what he was referring to. It wasn’t noticeable until you took a closer look, but there was a button missing from his uniform jacket. “Oh no, I’m sorry about that! If you want, I can find one similar and sew it on for you.”

He shook his head. “That’s okay, babe. I was planning on taking that one off anyway.”

Your eyebrows bunched together in confusion. “What do you mean? Are you sure you don’t want me to fix it?”

A twitch of a smile pulled at the corner of his lips. “It’s my second button that’s missing, babe.”

You tried to figure out what he was saying. Second button? After a minute, you finally realized what he meant, a hot blush rising up your neck and tipping your ears. Hajime let out a genuine laugh at your reaction.

“You…you were going to give me? You mean you wanted me to have? Hajime, you are ridiculous.” You lifted your hands to cover your cheeks but he stopped you with his own, holding your hands in his.

“This may be an all-boys school, but that doesn’t mean I can’t give you my button. It’s a token of how you are always present in my heart!”

“I don’t need a button to know that, you already tell me that every single day!”

His teeth flashed in the sunlight as he grinned brightly at you. He leaned over to press his forehead to yours. “Speaking of, I don’t think I’ve told you today! I love you so much, babe.”

You found yourself caught in his gaze, swimming in his glowing, sea blue eyes. You wouldn’t give this up for the world.

“I love you, too.”

—–