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"Imari-senpai?"
"Sorry, continue."
Imari slightly shrunk in his seat.Well, who wouldn't after being caught staring?After all that declaration of him hating to be stared at too...Imari felt his stomach churn.
"Let's take a short break, senpai."
Why is he so distracted?As far as Asahi remembers, he caught Imari staring into space at least thrice before calling him out and that certainly was something to be concerned about.Of course, Imari always had this hard to read expression on his face but today was different.Something was clearly different and so he addressed this strange behavior.
Asahi slowly looked behind him and sure enough, Botan was busy writing something on the board.Sensing someone's gaze on her, Botan turned around and waved at Asahi.
"You guys done talking about the roles?"
"Taking a short break, senpai."
Botan nodded and smiled at Imari who was once again caught staring in her direction.Asahi wondered just when exactly did Imari start being an open book.
"I'm sorry."
"Huh?"
"I don't know what's gotten into me all of a sudden."
"Don't mind it, senpai.You must be tired to be that distracted.There's nothing bad about taking a short break."
"I suppose.I heard your stomach grumbling several times during the conversation as well.It was cute."
Imari teased.He teased?Asahi huffed a breath, too focused on the fact that Imari just teased him to process the whole statement.His cheeks were flushed as he stomped towards his bag, not forgetting to drop a teasing statement as he passed by Imari as well.
"I will reconsider not telling Botan-senpai about your staring, then."
Imari was stunned.Who was staring at Botan?Botan stifled a laugh and approached Imari.The latter had a bad feeling just by looking at the vice president's wriggling eyebrows.Oh, she knew something.She knew something very big.
"I heard what he said and I know damn well it's not me you were staring at.I just arrived!"
Curse it.He sighed in resignation and decided to come clean.He truly cannot hide anything from people, can he?
"Yes...He seems to have misunderstood."
"What are you doing standing around, then?Go clear it up!"
She gave him a slight nudge.Asahi saw the two getting lost in their own world and quietly tip-toed out of the room.The two noticed anyways.
"Do I have to?"
"Then shall I?"
"...I'll go."
It hasn't been that long since he left but Asahi must've walked really fast for he had reached the staircase the moment Imari managed to catch up.
"Asahi."
"Senpai?! Weren't you just-?? Why are you here? Ack! Go back! Botan senpai is-"
Why was he so surprised? Why is he so panicked right now? And why are his eyes so red? Why is his grip on his bag so tight? Why is he out of breath? Imari didn't want to assume anything.He tightly clenched his fists.
"....You cried?"
"No! Absolutely not! I'll make sure no one disturbs you two so...Go for it, senpai!"
Imari likes Asahi's smile.His smile makes him feel safe.But when he smiles like that...When Asahi shows him a smile that's not from him but a smile forced out solely for others, it hurts Imari.It makes him feel like he's holding a broken shield glued together clumsily, piercing even the hands of the person who's holding it.He doesn't like the feeling.
He took one step down.
"Go for it?"
"Well, you like her right?"
He took another step without a word.
"I figured that it must've been hard for the two of you to meet separately these past few weeks."
And one more step.Why is Asahi so far from his reach? It pains him.
"Because of your exams and of course, the club activities."
Two steps.Don't run away, he pleaded internally as Asahi shifted awkwardly upon realizing the space separating the two of them decrease.
Asahi felt afraid.Afraid that if Imari continued to descend those steps, then he would have to suffer again.For his hopes, in this moment, are inversely proportional to those descending steps.
"I felt that atmosphere earlier.That's why I left you two, so why..."
"What atmosphere?"
Step.Curse these stairs.Why are there so many steps?And why is Imari even taking his time? His heart is about to pop out of his chest.It's noisy.Hearing it make music alone brings an unpleasant feeling.It was lonely.
"I felt like a big development was about to happen.."
Why is Imari making Asahi feel that atmosphere right now? Is this what Imari intended? Asahi doesn't know. Is this what Asahi wanted him to do? He was even more confused now.Ashamed of the thoughts slipping because of his delusions, Asahi averted his gaze.
"And why did I have to stay?"
'Don't.Don't hide away from me.You're the one person I don't want to see looking away from me.Keep your eyes on me, Asahi.'
"What?Of-of course, when you like someone and opportunities like that come..."
Imari finally reached him.
"When opportunities like that come...Then what?"
He was so close yet so far.Imari pleaded. Imari yearned.He yearned for Asahi to allow him to break the wall between them.One look.One single look from Asahi and he would risk it all.
And as if Asahi heard all of these, he looked up and stared right into his senpai's eyes.He did not know where this burst of confidence came from but he obeyed his heart.
Imari was shocked.Asahi's eyes held so many emotions at once.Hope, desperation, sadness and... Yearning? Imari gladly reciprocated.
Click.Two mutual emotions aligned, two hearts thumped in unison.It was quiet but loud enough for the two of them to hear.It was music and held in it was every confirmation they needed.
"You must seize them."
"Then seize them, I will."
Two hearts thumped wildly against one another as Asahi was caged into the arms of the man who had tears on his eyes the moment he received his answer.They were crying but it was not horrible.Their hearts were loud but it was not noisy.They felt their own emotions burst out and felt each other's rushing in, as well.Together, they were a complete masterpiece.