Fighting your demons (SaneOba)

Part 4

Sanemi went through the motions of settling into his new job as a math teacher, his meeting with the school's new director going surprisingly smoothly. He was accepted on the spot, a clear indication of how desperately the school needed teachers. It was almost comical how disorganized the place felt; papers were strewn across desks, and the walls bore a chaotic array of posters that had long since lost their vibrancy. But Sanemi didn't mind. He was here for one reason, and that was to be close to Genya.

As the school day unfolded, he navigated his new responsibilities with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. He tried to project authority while also allowing a sliver of approachability. However, despite his efforts, the day passed without a glimpse of Genya. Perhaps he was absent; perhaps their paths would cross in time. Sanemi found himself lost in thoughts of what their relationship could be like this time around, imagining a bond that was not marred by the regret of their past.

When the final bell rang, signaling the end of the day, Sanemi felt a strange mixture of relief and disappointment. He made his way to his empty classroom, a space that was set to become his haven for the next year. It was sparsely furnished—just a desk and a few chairs—but he could already envision how he would decorate it to reflect his personality. A few posters on the walls, perhaps some plants to liven up the space. It would be a comfortable environment, a far cry from the chaotic atmosphere of the rest of the school.

After organizing a few things, he decided to head back to his car, his mind buzzing with thoughts of Genya and what their lives might look like now. He felt a longing deep within him, a desire to connect with his brother, even if the connection was currently a faint flicker of hope.

"I could use a coffee right now...-"

Coffee...

Wait. That time-

That one time he went to the coffee shop, the last time he did so... That strange man he encountered. He turned his car on, without even thinking about it.

Obanai.

He drove with urgency.

"How didn't I remember? It was him... Right?"

He was talking to himself, desperate to recall the past moment, the man's appearance.

As he drove toward the café he had visited previously, his thoughts drifted back to that day, specifically to the figure who had left a lasting impression on him. The memory of the short man with the striking heterochromia and that captivating black hair resurfaced, filling him with an uneasy mix of nostalgia and urgency. Sanemi had encountered Obanai before anyone else—had seen those eyes, had been struck by the familiarity of that face. But why hadn't he remembered?

Entering the café, he felt a wave of déjà vu wash over him. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, but his heart raced as he scanned the room for that familiar face. The odds of finding someone who looked like Obanai were slim; surely, it couldn't be mere coincidence. Yet there were countless people with heterochromia and black hair. Still, Sanemi couldn't shake the feeling that it was him—that this was a chance to find him.

Lost in thought, he stood frozen in the doorway, watching the baristas bustle behind the counter. Determination coursed through him, and he resolved to come back to this café every day until he found the man who had stirred something deep within him. Maybe it was a foolish endeavor, but the hope of seeing Obanai again was too powerful to ignore.

Finally, shaking off the paralysis of his thoughts, he approached the cashier, his eyes darting across the employees behind the counter, searching for a hint of that familiar figure. "Hey," he said, catching the attention of a young woman with a bright smile. "I'd like a simple coffee, no milk."