Specks of Light

Part One. Chapter 2: Car Ride

Working with Yoshino and Hatori had become much easier since he started to go out with Ijuuin- sensei. While it was unlikely for Yuu and Hatori to ever become close friends, at least they were not always at each other's throats anymore.

The whole day he had been drawing backgrounds and giving instructions to the assistants, so everything Yuu wanted now was for sensei to arrive so he could go to rest. As he patiently awaited on Yoshino's couch, he noted one of the assistants looking directly at him. As soon as the girl averted Yuu's gaze, she looked away with her cheeks bright red. This innocent looking girl was Nozomi- chan, the youngest and newest assistant of Chiaki's. She was a great dedicated worker and a talented artist, even though she lacked tons of experience.

Yuu had known for a while that Nozomi- chan had a crush on him and while the girl hadn't confessed, she would always turn red and get nervous whenever Yuu approached her. While he did consider those actions to be very flattering, he didn't want to get her hopes up or to somehow encourage her to deepen her feelings. He was just thinking about it when his cellphone vibrated, he quickly opened it and found the text he had been waiting for [I am outside]. Relieved, Yuu grabbed his bag and headed towards the door "Bye Chiaki! See you Hatori" he said as he put his shoes back on. "Wait! Yanase- san, are you going by train? Is it okay if I walk to the station with you?" Nozomi- chan asked looking at the floor with her cheeks completely blushed.

It was past 11:15pm, it was indeed dangerous for a girl to walk by herself, but he was not going by train. "An author is picking me up" he answered honestly as he saw Chiaki turning to look at him with a sarcastic smile  that made Yuu feel embarrassed. "Oh you still have to work, Yanase- san?" The nervous girl asked with her gaze still down "Yea, sort of. Sorry, Nozomi- chan" Yuu answered feeling his own cheeks now turning red...he wasn't exactly gonna work with Ijuuin- sensei.

Yuu opened the door and headed towards the elevator. Exiting the building, he found Ijuuin leaning against the flower wall located next to the street. Yuu looked at him in the dim light feeling his feet turning cold at how incredibly handsome sensei looked as he awaited. "How was work?" Kyo asked approaching Yuu with a smile. "Tiring" Yanase answered trying to hide the fact that his face was really red now. Yuu felt Kyo setting his finger under his chin, clearly intending to land a kiss. After having seen him so irresistable just a minute ago, Yuu certainly wasn't gonna be reluctant to sensei's lips. Their faces got closer when suddenly a soft voice interrupted "Good night, Yanase- san. Take care". They both froze at the sudden words and turned to look at the girl standing nearby. "G- good night, Nozomi- chan" Yuu answered nervously. Had she seen them? The innocent expression of the girl didn't reveal any concern, but he didn't know her well, so he could certainly be wrong. Could she be hiding the shock caused by the image she had just watched? Yuu thought feeling quite anxious.

"Are you walking to the station?" Ijuuin asked sounding rather calm. "Yes, there is one nearby" Nozomi answered shyly. "Come with us then, we are headed that direction anyway" sensei said with a smile.

Yuu really didn't want to take Nozomi with them but it would sound very rude to say so now. "Th- thank you! Only if Yanase- san is okay with it" the girl replied in a low voice. Yuu saw Ijuuin's eyebrow twitch at Nozomi's last comment, but his smile remained as sweet as ever. "Sure, come with us" Yuu told expectant assistant who was now looking at him. "Perfect! This way then" Ijuuin said as he directed them both to his car parked in front of the building.

"Do you mind driving tonight, Yanase- kun?" Kyo asked handing him the car keys. "Not at all" Yuu answered taking the keys and giving sensei his bag so that he could carry it in the passenger's seat. This was not the first time he was going to drive Ijuuin's car, but he was quite unsure why Ijuuin had asked all of a sudden. The previous times, he had driven Kyo home from the editorial or the book shops where he signed autographs. On those occassions, sensei had been too exhausted to drive or take the train, so it would often happen that he would fall asleep in the car while Yuu drove. However, this time Ijuuin was not exhausted and he seemed to be perfectly fine to drive.

Yuu got in the driver's seat and put his glasses on as he saw Nozomi setting herself in the back seat with a nervous expression. "Put on your seatbelt" Ijuuin told him from the side with his unchanged sweet smile. "I will, I am just adjusting the seat. You are too tall!" Yanase answered almost as a protest. "Haha, I really like it that you are shorter than me" sensei quickly replied with a flirty tone that Nozomi caught "You two seem to be close" she noted sending a feeling of anxiety through Yuu's body once again. "Of course! He is my assistant, after all" Ijuuin commented with his eyes locked on Yanase. Yuu didn't know exactly why, but he was starting to feel quite uncomfortable. Thinking that the faster this car ride was over, the better, he quickly started the engine and drove away.