Grading Chemistry (GenMui)

Pajama Day

The day was unusually cozy. Pajama Day at the kindergarten was something Muichiro had quietly looked forward to, though not for the typical reasons. He hadn’t expected to get so much attention for his baggy Stitch onesie, but the children were absolutely enchanted. It was incredibly soft, and the pouch made him look like a giant stuffed bear. He kept feeling little hands tugging at his sleeves or poking at the fabric in awe.

"Mr. Tokito, you're so fluffy!" one of the kids giggled as they tried to hug him from behind.

He smiled softly, but his expression was mostly serene. "Alright, alright," he said gently, lightly patting the kid on the head. "You all have to sit down, though. We’re going to watch a movie."

The kids pouted for a second, but as soon as they heard about the movie, they scrambled over to the carpet, giggling and settling down in their spots, eager for the show to begin. Muichiro set up a projector at the front of the room, the warm glow of the screen slowly filling the space. In the back, the hot chocolate he’d prepared earlier was heating up, and he had marshmallows and popcorn ready to serve.

"Alright, everyone, settle down," Muichiro called over the playful chatter. "Time for Toy Story."

There was a chorus of excited "Yay!"s, and soon enough, the children were all comfortably on the carpet, wrapped in blankets or sitting cross-legged, their eyes glued to the screen as the movie started. Muichiro moved quietly around the room, making sure everyone had something to snack on, and occasionally, he found himself caught in a quick hug or two as the children nuzzled against his soft onesie once again.

Not long into the movie, there was a knock at the door, and Muichiro looked up to see Genya standing in the doorway, looking just as comfortable in his red plaid pajama set, top and bottom. His hair was a little more disheveled than usual, a sign that he was at ease today as well.

"Hey, Mr. Tokito, " Genya said with a small grin, stepping into the room. "The kids are outside playing, being watched by staff, so I figured I’d check on your tiny little class."

Muichiro raised an eyebrow, his lips curling upward as he nodded. "It’s been pretty quiet, actually. But I think they might be a little too cozy now."

Genya chuckled and glanced at the children, who were all looking at him with curious eyes. A few waved excitedly.

"Mr. Shinazugawa!" one of the little ones piped up, bouncing on the carpet. "You look so cozy!"

Muichiro gently shushed the children, smiling at their enthusiasm. "Alright, alright, everyone. Give Mr. Shinazugawa some space, please. He’s here to relax, too."

Genya walked toward the back of the room, where Muichiro decided to run off to stir the hot chocolate. Muichiro poured two cups, handing one over to Genya, who accepted it with a soft, contented sigh.

"Thanks," Genya murmured, taking a slow sip. "I didn’t think I’d get to sit down today. Been running around all morning."

"No problem," Muichiro replied, his tone as calm as ever. "You’re welcome to sit here." He gestured toward the big beanbag in the corner.

Genya raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "Is that your official invitation?"

Muichiro glanced at him, not flustered, just quietly serious. "If you want to. I don’t mind."

Genya hesitated for just a moment and then, with a small chuckle, moved toward the beanbag. "Alright, alright. I’ll take you up on that."

The children’s attention had turned back to the movie, and a few of them were still sending occasional glances toward the two teachers, their faces lit with curiosity and smiles. Genya settled into the beanbag, stretching his legs out comfortably, and Muichiro joined him after a second, sitting close but not touching—yet.

"How’s your class going?" Muichiro asked, looking up at him, his voice still calm and measured.

"It’s good," Genya replied, taking another sip of his hot chocolate. "They’re just outside playing, so I thought I’d come by and make sure everything was okay with you and your class."

"I’m fine," Muichiro replied. "It’s just them," he motioned to the kids, "and me. We’re good."

Genya smiled softly, watching Muichiro as he carefully placed his cup on the small table beside them. "You’re good with them. I don’t know how you do it. I’d be exhausted by the end of the day."

Muichiro smiled faintly. "It’s not so bad. Once you get used to it, it’s... calming."

Genya glanced at the children, now sitting cross-legged, eyes still glued to the screen, popcorn in hand. The peaceful atmosphere of the room was almost tangible. He turned back to Muichiro, who had leaned back into the beanbag a little, his eyes fixed on the movie.

There was a soft tension in the air, a growing closeness that neither of them had acknowledged, but both could feel. Genya shifted, moving a little closer. Muichiro didn’t pull away, instead leaning slightly toward him, his warmth against Genya’s side a comforting presence. They settled into a quiet rhythm, one of casual closeness, the soft sound of the movie, and the kids' laughter filling the air around them.

"You’re not bad at this," Genya murmured after a few moments in response to the cuddling, his voice softer than usual.

Muichiro glanced up at him, and for once, there was a spark in his eyes that wasn’t just calm or collected—it was something else, something a little warmer.

"You’re not so bad yourself," Muichiro said quietly, his voice almost a whisper.

The words hung in the air between them, unspoken feelings threading through the space. They stayed like that for a while, leaning against each other, letting the world around them fade away.

Eventually, Muichiro’s head tilted slightly to rest against Genya’s shoulder. He didn’t move away. Instead, he allowed himself to relax, the soft weight of his presence against Genya's calming him in a way he hadn’t expected. Neither of them spoke as they both watched the movie, the laughter of the children echoing around them. Just the warmth of each other’s company was all they needed.

And, for just that moment, everything felt perfectly peacefully right.