Specks of Light

Part Seven. Chapter 1: It's You

The remaining two weeks to their anniversary had gone by extremely fast and despite him trying hard, Yuu hadn't really found something good enough to be a present for Ijuuin- sensei. He had been so preoccupied trying to find something for Kyo that he hadn't even realized he needed to start working on the next month's chapters with every author. Naturally, Kirishima- san had called to set up his schedule with Ijuuin- sensei, but he had been quite late so his sessions with Ijuuin had been postponed to the third week of the month.

Today, his schedule had been set to work at Fujino- sensei's all day and as always, working in there had been quite easy. Compared to last month's task of presenting two full chapters for one issue of the magazine, doing only a thirty- page- chapter this time was somehow, relaxing. It also helped that Fujino- sensei himself was a hard and very organized worker who knew exactly what he wanted and how he wanted it done for his manga.

Despite his own busy schedule, Ijuuin- sensei had offered to pick Yuu up at Fujino's when he was done. Yuu had already called so now everything he had to do was wait for his partner to arrive. Since Kyo had stated that he didn't want him to be around Fujino- sensei for too long, he decided it was probably better to wait for him at the lobby. He was about to leave right behind the other assistants when Fujino called for him "Yuu- san, you may wait for Ijuuin- sensei here" he said taking Yuu entirely by surprise. "How do you know I'm waiting for him?" he asked feeling a little bit puzzled. "Isn't it obvious? He comes to pick you up every time you work here" Fujino answered with a smile and an intense gaze that, as always, made Yuu quite uncomfortable. "Plus there's something I want to discuss with you...so please wait here" he finished pulling Yuu by the shoulder back into the living room.

Yuu took a seat on the sofa deeply hoping for Ijuuin not to be late this time, he could text him but he very well knew that Ijuuin- sensei was working with his own assistant crew right now and it would be extremely rude to interrupt. "What do you want to discuss with me, sensei? Is something wrong with the pages I drew today?" Yuu asked taking his glasses out of his bag again. "No, is actually not work what I want to discuss with you" Fujino said taking a seat right in front of him. This reminded Yuu of the occasion when Fujino had told him about his love story, that time he had been extremely nervous and somehow he was starting to get anxious today too.

"Yuu- san, do you remember the story I told you here a while ago?" Fujino started making Yuu feel really uncomfortable. "Yes, I do. Is that what you want to talk about?" Yuu spoke trying to sound serious, but true to be told, the gaze Fujino now had on him was making him quite nervous and the topic itself wasn't something he wanted to discuss. "Has Ijuuin- sensei said something about me?" Fujino asked leaning a bit to the front. "Not at all" Yuu replied remembering that had been the exact same question Ijuuin had asked him after the Winter Festival "However, I would like to know what happened at the winter festival, Fujino- sensei, what did you talk about with Ijuuin- sensei?" he continued turning to look at Fujino with the most serious expression he could form. "What a coincidence! That's exactly what I'm going to tell you right now" Aki answered massaging his hands.

Yuu leaned against the sofa as he saw Fujino taking a deep breath, this had to be something serious. Was Fujino about to reveal the name of the protagonist of his love story? And if so, was he ready to listen to it? He was still thinking of possible answers to those questions when his thoughts were interrupted. "Yuu- san" Fujino started making Yuu turn to listen. "I really don't want to make this more difficult than it already is, and this is possibly the worst scenario for me to say this" he continued. Yuu felt even more anxious as he heard the deep tone of honesty Fujino was now using "Truth is that the guy I told you about, the one I have been in love with for two years...is you, Yuu- san" Fujino finished with an unreadable expression that for sure was hiding every emotion that now crossed his heart. Yuu felt his lower lip dropping at the confession, his mind was completely blank and while he knew Fujino was expecting an answer, somehow neither his mind nor his lips could form a single sentence.

"I know this may be shocking, so don't push yourself. But if you're now wondering if this is what I discussed with Ijuuin- sensei two weeks ago at the winter festival, yes it is" Aki said with a calm tone. While it had been indeed shocking to learn of Fujino's feelings, everything Yuu could think of right now was that this definitely explain Ijuuin's strange behaviour after the festival, not to mention that now his warning made total sense. However, he could not help but to wonder why Ijuuin had kept silent when he already knew about this. "Fu- Fujino- sensei, I- I" he started without a clue on what he should say. Yuu had received many love confessions from girls that he had had no problem turning down back in high school. However, this was completely different, not only was he not longer a high schooler, he was also talking with someone he hadn't known for long and with whom he had thought he only shared a professional relationship.

"Don't push yourself, Yuu- san" Aki said standing up and slowly approaching Yuu. "Let me explain something...Ijuuin- sensei has known about my feelings towards you for these past two weeks and he has also been well aware of the fact that I intend to fight for your heart" Fujino told him as he sat down next Yuu. He immediately felt his hands turning colder at the realization, had Ijuuin- sensei really been fine with Fujino stating that he would put up a fight for his heart? "Yuu- san, I know that you are dating someone right now and while I don't want to compare myself to Ijuuin- sensei...all I want to say is that if you choose me, I'll make you experience happiness like you never have before" Fujino said with a very tender voice. "I'll make sure nothing ever hurts you...you'll never have to be worried about me leaving you behind for month and a half or about me getting related to people you don't like". As soon as Yuu heard those words, he turned to look at Fujino feeling quite puzzled. The author had stated that he wouldn't be comparing himself to Ijuuin- sensei, and while this was not really comparison, it was definitely playing dirty.

"Please don't judge Ijuuin- sensei while I'm listening" Yuu said instinctively. "I'm sorry Yuu- san, but I know about your concerns with him and all I want to say is that if you choose me...I'll never make you worry" Fujino replied as Yuu turned his gaze to the floor. "I won't say much more, but please consider this...don't you think that the reason why Ijuuin- sensei was unable to cut ties with the Usami family means that he is still hoping for a chance to win Takahashi- kun's affections?" Yuu completely froze at the declaration "How do you know about that?" he asked clenching his hands in fists. "Does it matter? The thing is that I know about Ijuuin- sensei's crush on Usami- san's lover and Yuu- san, I know he started dating you after he was told to leave Takahashi- kun alone...but just think for a little, if he had really given up on him, would he still be around them like he does? He was hanging out with Usami- san's cousin in Paris, wasn't he? That is why you were always so troubled when you came to work" Yuu felt his anxiety skyrocketing as Fujino went on. The fact that he knew all this was both uncomfortable and surprising. "Yuu- san, I promised I wouldn't say a word about your relationship with Ijuuin- sensei and I still intend to keep that promise...but just think about it, please! That's all I ask for now" Fujino said slowly standing up and setting his hand on Yuu's hair.

Yuu was about to remove himself from the spot when his phone started ringing. He took the device out of his pocket to find an incoming call from Ijuuin- sensei. "I'm on my way" he said picking up the call and immediately hanging up, he could not allow Ijuuin- sensei to notice just how flustered he was now. "I- I better get going" he said turning to look at Fujino- sensei. "Yes, of course. I'll see you out" Aki replied grabbing his apartment keys.

The elevator ride had lasted a few seconds, but Yuu felt it had been eternal. "Thank you for everything, Fujino- sensei" He said as he rushed towards the entrance. "Don't be so nervous, Yuu- san and please, just think about it" Fujino replied opening the main door for him. Yuu was always glad to see Ijuuin- sensei waiting for him, but today he was beyond exhilarated. He approached his partner as fast as he could unaware of whether Fujino was following him or not. He passed by Ijuuin- sensei turning to look at him with a gaze that he knew Kyo would understand and walked directly into the car. He turned to look at the side in hopes of seeing Ijuuin approaching the car, but instead, he saw him still standing at the main entrance talking to Fujino- sensei. As his anxiety began to rise again, he realized he had just made a huge mistake.