blossoming hearts | mitsuya takashi

10. literature class

somehow,
a stupid school assignment,
helped me better understand who he is

"Mitsuya! You're up!" The teacher said enthusiastically.

Takashi shot a look at Juno, mostly to give him encouragement. Juno smiled and gave him a thumbs up, Takashi smiled sheepishly.

"I decided to name this 'Sewing Kit.'," Takashi said, clearing his throat. "Hardships, one can see it differently. Adults see bills and bills, that's what they can define it as, children can see a hardship as not having the toy they want. Hardship, not having the money to buy them the toy they want. Picking up that sewing kit, small pieces of cloth and a pair of needles. Making them a doddering copy of the toy they want. Seeing their eyes light up, it leaves you with a smile but an empty feeling, knowing you weren't able to buy them the toy they wanted."

The class clapped for Takashi, "Marvelous Mitsuya, nothing less than what I expected." The teacher praised.

He nodded and smiled, he sat back down in his chair, Takashi would look like the timid guy who would panic over being put to talk, but he always remained his cool.

"Mochizuki! Next!" The teacher said, cheerfully.

"You got this." Takashi whispered, as Juno got up from her chair.

She stood up straight, "I'd like to name this piece, 'Shield'," Juno sighed, "Hardship is defined as 'severe suffering or privation', privation. Privation of a childhood, of those silly childhood thoughts, like what ice cream flavor to choose today?"

The class chuckled, Juno blushed, her hand was shaky.

"Giving up that childhood, for them. For the sibling below you, everything you did was for them. You promised them, 'I'll protect you, I'm your older sibling.' You did, you grew up for them, so they could enjoy what you gave up. That also meant, protecting them, forever. Taking those direct bullets for them, being destroyed, but they were intact. Through thick and thin, you would be there for them." Juno continued. She paused, "You had promised them something, why?"

The class stared at Juno, tears pooling in her eyes already. She had written this on a night where her mother had started to yell at Ayumu, she put herself in between them again. Letting those said bullets hurt Juno, while Ayumu stayed intact.

"Because you loved them." Juno's voice cracked.

The class clapped, as she sat down, she avoided looking at Takashi, knowing his face would make those tears roll down her cheeks.

Takashi grabbed a hold of her arm, turning her, "You did great." Takashi praised her, although there wasn't a stupid smile on his face, but worries plastered all over.

"Please don't worry about me." Juno thought to herself.

Those tears dropped down her cheeks, she quickly wiped them away and smiled, "Thank you."

"What are your burdens Mochizuki? Why can't you let them out properly, I'm reaching out for you to take my hand. Just take the help, I'll help you." Takashi thought to himself, facing forward to the blackboard again.

When the class ended, Juno was okay again. She walked out of the class with Takashi as if she hadn't teared.

Takashi pulled her aside, "Mochizuki, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I am." Juno said, looking away from him.

Takashi placed his hand gently on her chin, turning her to face him, directly in his eyes, the sunlight glew on her face. "Tell me that, looking at me at my eyes."

Juno felt tears gather in her brown eyes, she hugged Takashi tightly, laying her head on his chest. She wept quietly, letting a few tears run down her face. Takashi felt those tears damp his white uniform shirt, he pulled her head away to face her again. She refused, "I can't let you see me right now."

Takashi gulped, not at what she said, but at the black bruise that was visible on her neck, he had moved her hair to see better. The bruise sat below her tattoo, Takashi had understood what Ayumu meant.

"She's done everything for me, she would take bullets for me." Ayumu said on that cold December night. "I want to do something for her too."

Takashi sighed, "Bullets, hits, that's the metaphor they both use."

Juno wiped her tears, she looked up to face Takashi, her eyes puffy, but in his eyes, she was the most beautiful girl out there.

"You're different Mitsuya." Juno blurted out.

"In which way?" Takashi asked.

Juno smiled, "You're amazing."

Takashi's eyes widened and a huge red blush crept onto his face, "You're an amazing person yourself Mochizuki." He looked away, attempting to hide his blush.

"You can't hide your blush from anyone Mitsuya!" Juno teased, like always she acted as if she hadn't broken down on his chest, and she ran off with Daiya.

"You're one strong girl Mochizuki, I'm beginning to think I love-" Takashi muttered before he was interrupted.

Ayumu patted him on the shoulder, "What's up man?"

Takashi chuckled, "Nothing much, just got over the stupid talking thing we had to do."

"Great!" Ayumu said.

"Hurry up you two slowpokes!" Daiya yelled out, before her and Juno exited the school.

"We better listen!" Ayumu said, running over to the girls.

Takashi chuckled, "I guess I do have great friends."

authors note: this was so short -.- i hope you guys liked it though 😁😁😁