Grading Chemistry (GenMui)

Teacher's Lounge

The next day, the school session was well underway when Genya found himself in the teacher’s lounge, rummaging through his bag. He had grabbed the wrong lunch in his haste that morning and was now staring at a neatly packed meal that was definitely not his usual sandwich and apple. It was a colorful bento box filled with rice balls, pickled vegetables, and even a slice of tamagoyaki.

As he debated whether to just go buy something instead, the door opened, and in walked Muichiro, holding a thermos and a small bag of snacks. His calm demeanor had a way of instantly drawing Genya's attention, and he felt a familiar flutter in his stomach as Muichiro approached.

“Did your daily sandwich evolve into something more gourmet?” Muichiro asked with a hint of amusement, his voice smooth and easy.

Genya chuckled awkwardly, lifting the lid of the container to reveal the array of food inside. “Uh… it’s my brother’s, actually,” he admitted, scratching the back of his neck. “I guess I mixed ours up this morning. He’s a way better cook than I am.”

Muichiro’s eyes sparkled with quiet amusement as he sat down across from him, pouring himself some tea. “Well, looks like you got lucky today. He put some effort into that.”

Genya fiddled with his chopsticks, glancing up to catch Muichiro's gaze. “Yeah… not sure what I did to deserve this, but I’ll take it.” He couldn’t help but think how nice it was to share a moment with Muichiro, even if they were just having lunch.

They ate in comfortable silence for a while, the only sounds being the soft clinks of their utensils and the gentle rustling of the bag Muichiro had brought. Genya couldn’t resist stealing glances at Muichiro, who was effortlessly composed, sipping his tea and occasionally nibbling on a rice ball.

“So, any big plans for the weekend?” Genya asked, trying to keep the conversation flowing. He knew Muichiro was often reserved, but he loved when he could draw him out just a bit.

Muichiro looked up, his expression thoughtful. “Not really. Maybe just relaxing, catching up on some reading.” He paused, as if considering something more. “And you?”

Genya shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “Not much either. Might check out that new café down the street. They say it has the best pastries in town.”

Muichiro’s lips curved up slightly at the mention of the café. “I’ve heard about that place. Maybe I’ll go too… if I have company.” The invitation hung subtly between them, Muichiro’s calm demeanor unbroken as he looked at Genya with just a hint of expectation.

Genya swallowed, realizing what Muichiro was suggesting. “I mean… sure! If you’re up for it, I wouldn’t mind, uh, being your company. You know, for pastries.” He inwardly cursed his awkwardness but pushed on, meeting Muichiro’s gaze with a mixture of hope and excitement.

A faint blush dusted Muichiro’s cheeks, and he took a slow sip of his tea to mask it. “Sounds like a plan, then.”

Just as their moment of connection lingered, the door creaked open, and their colleague, Mrs. Kocho, walked in, spotting them at the table. Her eyes lit up with delight. “Oh! Mr. Shinazugawa, Mr. Tokito—look at you two, sharing a cozy lunch together. How cute!”

Both teachers stiffened slightly, and Mitsuri let out a soft laugh. “Oh, don’t mind me. It’s just nice to see you two getting along so well.”

Genya stammered, “It’s just—just lunch.”

Muichiro kept his cool, nodding to Mitsuri with a polite smile. “I mean, do we usually not get along?” He remarked, his expression serene, but Genya noticed the faintest hint of color in his cheeks.

Mitsuri raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile tugging at her lips as she grabbed her coffee. “You know, I see the vision.”

As she exited, Genya felt the heat rise in his face, glancing at Muichiro, who seemed equally flustered. The moment hung heavy in the air, a mix of excitement and embarrassment.

The rest of their lunch passed in a mixture of nervous chatter and stolen glances. Genya found himself feeling more and more at ease as they talked about their students, sharing funny stories of the antics that unfolded in their classrooms. The way Muichiro’s laughter rang softly in the air made Genya feel lighter, as if they were the only two people in the world.

“So, did you hear about when Miwa brought her pet hamster to show-and-tell?” Genya asked, leaning in with interest.

Muichiro shook his head, a curious glint in his eye. “No, but I can only imagine how that went.”

“Yeah... she let it escape,” Genya laughed, his eyes widening at the memory. “The entire class erupted into chaos while I was trying to catch it. You would’ve loved it.”

Muichiro chuckled, a soft sound that warmed Genya’s heart. “Sounds like a typical day for you.”

They shared more stories until the lunch break was almost over. With their meals finished, they both stood up to clear their trays. As they wrapped up, Genya couldn’t shake the feeling of excitement bubbling inside him.

He caught a glimpse of Muichiro's smile as they cleaned up, and for a moment, time felt suspended. He felt a longing to lean closer, to say something more, but the bell rang, jolting him back to reality.

“Back to work, I guess,” Genya said, his voice slightly wistful.

“Yeah,” Muichiro replied, though he lingered a moment longer, as if he wanted to say something. Then he turned, heading toward the door with a casual grace that made Genya’s heart race again.

“See you at the café?” Genya called after him, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

Muichiro paused, turning back with a gentle smile. “Definitely. I’ll look forward to it.”

As the door closed behind him, Genya took a deep breath, a smile breaking across his face. He had never been one to get caught up in the idea of romance, but with Muichiro, everything felt different. Exciting. The possibilities stretched before him like a bright, open sky, and for the first time, he found himself eager to embrace the feeling.