Harmony (Konoha School of Arts)

42. A nice surprise; Iruka comes through

It was lunch break in KSA and while everybody else was busy refreshing themselves some teachers decided to stay back at the staff room to get some things done. The substitute teachers were among these few. Deidara for one never imagined that he would be in the staff room for reasons other than being called in there by a teacher for a scolding but here he was.

He wasn't particularly doing anything, just waiting for Sasori to be done grading some classwork.

"Senpaii~" Tobi singsonged, slinging an arm over the blond's shoulder and pulling him close. "Let's have lunch together!"

"What are we- un- five?" Deidara scowled. He had forgotten how annoying Tobi could be sometimes although he was relatively calm compared to how he was back when he was in high school.

"Don't be cold, it's been a while! Hey Itachi, Sasori, join us!" The brunet hollered over to the other two. Itachi raised his head from his phone- he was updating Izumi about his day- and smiled at his cousin (subconsciously because the smile lingered from talking with his girlfriend).

"Alright."

"What about you Sasori?" Tobi asked the redhead.

Sasori finished grading the last quiz and added it to the pile he had been stacking up. "I'm done here so I suppose I can join you."

"Sweet!" Tobi grinned.

They all made their way to the teachers lounge making small talk, Deidara leading the conversation.

"I didn't- fuck you- see your little spitfire cousin today Sasori un. What's up with him un?"

"He got expelled." Sasori answered bluntly.

"Wait-un for real?!" Deidara supposed he should not be surprised, everyone kinda saw it coming one day, but still he was surprised. After all the violent redhead had been doing so well before he left the school, well enough to tolerate taunts and teasing from the blond without immediately breaking his bones.

"You didn't hear about the incident senpai?" Tobi asked, amused.

"Incident?" Deidara echoed.

"Yeah. That's kinda the reason we're acting as substitutes now. To be fair I wouldn't have known about it either if great uncle Madara didn't make such a fuss about it." Deidara was only more confused by Tobi's statement.

"Sasuke was involved in the matter." Itachi provided.

"What? That's crazy un! Tell me about it un."

The rest of their lunch continued with Sasori, Tobi and Itachi filling Deidara in about the details of the incident or at least the things that they know of. It was interesting to say the least.

"What's chibi you now up to Sasori un?" Deidara asked the redhead.

"Mental hospital." Sasori answered brusquely once again.

"Have you visited him there?" It was Tobi asking this time and judging from the halfhearted shrugg Sasori gave in return it was clear he hadn't. "Bro why not?!" Tobi gasped, betrayed.

"We're not that close." Was Sasori's reply.

"Not - not that close un? Have you seen-un how he looks at you un?" Deidara always knew that Sasori was a closed off person but he didn't think he was this bad.

"I seldom agree with Deidara but he's right. Gaara adores you." Itachi added and the other two nodded their agreement.

"Oh." Was all Sasori had to say. Knowing him, that was the end of the conversation for him. Still Tobi gave him a soft shoulder pat and squeeze.