Uta no Prince-sama: A-Z [ONE-SHOTS]

Teach Me: U for Uxorious

Uxorious: excessively fond of one's own wife.

Words: 1693

*****

It started off alarmingly enough.

"Teach me what love is," the senior demands softly, his gaze commanding but gentle in the moonlight.

Haruka was flattered but she was also flustered out of her mind. The unbelievable pressure was followed by the implications of showing Ai what love was. She could be the one he decides to fall in love with. She argues, it's like a mother imprinting on her children – I'm the first to be a target of affection once he starts realizing that feelings are infectious and plague anyone that touches it. But then again, she might not. Ai could fall in love with someone else. There's a distinct twinge in her chest. She should not get involved. He is trouble.

But the scary part was, she liked the idea of having a future with him. She liked it far too much. Her head throbbed with the overflow of thoughts, possibilities, outcomes, concerns. So all she could do was smile and dismiss it as she bid him goodnight. She knows he watches her leave.

****

It's a long while later when Haruka was being told Ai short-circuited in the rain. She could only assume that meant he passed out or spazzed. The last thing on her mind was that he actually rebooted.

When Ai opened his eyes, the first one he saw was her. The first thing he thought was, "I could get used to this." He relished her concern, reveled in her care though he didn't show it. His face has always been too stoic; it was as if it didn't know how the express the feelings he knew he had.

Haruka seemed undeterred by his lack of reaction, oblivious to the subtle stirrings in Ai. Every time she brushed his hairs back in place, every time she checks his temperature, every time she looks at him like he's any normal person, deserving of love and affection just like anyone else, the itch to smile becomes more and more urgent.

Ai keeps his smile to himself. This is what the beginnings of love feels like.

*

Haruka had just come back from a confrontation with rival group Heavens, having separated herself from the Starish members to mill things through. She was brimming with unsaid words and was barely staying sane. She planned to vent her anger and concerns to Tomochika, but she texted with an apology that she was out at a contract meeting. Haruka understood, she was happy for Tomo with all the offers she was getting, but now what was she to do with the thoughts crashing around in her head?

Concurrently, Ai was coming back from brunch with Camus. Other than his frosty demeanor and occasionally egocentric remarks, the man made for good company. If he remembered correctly, his schedule was rather free today so he expected that the rest of his day would be mundane and slow. He turned for the practice rooms. If he was going to have a boring day, might as well make it a productive, boring day.

The last thing he expected was for a head of bright amber hair to crash into his chest. Looking down, his eyes met the shocked ones of Haruka, who flitted her gaze away as she brought her head down for a bow. Ai wasn't sure whether it was in greeting or apology.

"Sorry senpai, my head's in the clouds today, I can't think straight."

Indeed, she looked conflicted, a worry crease tightening between her brows. Something was bothering her, and that'd be bothering him until he got his curiosity sated.