Prequel: Daring Dog Daichi (OHSHC)

8. The Dreaded Final Exams

Terrified didn't even begin to describe the feeling Daichi had in the pit of his stomach, walking into the classroom where his first exam of the day would take place. Math.

If he failed this exam, all of Kyoya's hard work would have been for nothing. If he got anything less than a 90%, all of Daichi's hard work was for nothing. His father would never look at him again.

At the teacher's instruction, all the students sat at their desks, and the class president passed around the exams.

"All right, class," the teacher said, once all the tests were out. "You have two hours to finish the exam. If you finish early, you cannot leave your seat. You must sit quietly and wait until the time is up. You may begin."

Daichi turned over his exam.

Well, that first one had an easy answer. It was multiple choice.

The next nine were easy multiple choice as well.

And then, true or false?

Daichi didn't even start thinking about the answers he was putting down until question number thirty out of one hundred. Were tests supposed to be this easy?

Daichi finished early.

That wasn't right.

Either way, he had nothing to do now. He got up from his desk, and all eyes were on him.

His classmates knew something wasn't right. He couldn't be done yet, could he? Was this the same Daichi Akiyama that forgot what classes he had most days? The same Daichi that hadn't turned in a completed homework assignment in the past month? Impossible he was done.

But they watched with baited breath as Daichi walked to the front of the class. One Tamaki Suoh took special notice. He had been sitting next to Daichi for the exam, and even he was struggling with a handful of the answers. Only forty minutes had passed since the start of the test, so Tamaki was feeling confident. But if Daichi had finished... Was he serious?

Sure enough, Daichi set the paper down on the teacher's desk. The man looked up at his student with a mixture of happiness and disbelief.

"Are you positive you're finished with the exam, Mr. Akiyama?" he asked.

Daichi nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Very well. Take your seat and remain silent until the end of the period," the teacher said. As Daichi walked back to his desk, he gave the student one last look before allowing himself a discreet smile.

When Daichi sat down, he was at a loss. What was he supposed to do? Then he got a brilliant idea.

Daichi leaned over to a still stunned Tamaki and whispered, "Wake m-me up?"

Tamaki's eyes widened even further, but, seeing the exhausted look on Daichi's face, he nodded.

Daichi smiled and leaned back into his chair. "Thanks," he muttered.

"Mr. Akiyama! I said no talking. One more time, and that's an automatic failure on the exam!"

"Yes, sir," Daichi muttered before shutting his eyes and falling asleep.

The second test  was history. Daichi hated history. When he got anxious, all the big words would meld together into even bigger monster words. On the off-chance he knew the information, he couldn't use it, because he didn't know what the question wanted.

However, that didn't seem the case today. Daichi could read most of the words. Even if he didn't understand what they all meant, he was able to put an answer for every question. Really, who even cared if his essay was mostly short sentences. Compound sentences were overrated.

After the second test, he had a short break before he had to make it to the third test of the day. 

Daichi took the opportunity to let out all the energy that had been building inside him. Since his nap after the first test, he was feeling rejuvenated, like he could fight off a hundred ninjas all by himself and still have excitement to spare. 

Daichi was going through the hall, trying to find something to do when he ran into Honey, the cute one from the host club. Mori, the tall brood, was with him too. 

Honey smiled and waved excitedly. "Chi-chan! I haven't seen you in ages," he whined playfully. "What's up?"

"Nothing," Daichi said with a shrug. "Wanna play a game?"

Honey paused, eyes widening at the obscure question. Realizing what he wanted, he turned to Mori. "Do you have anything, Takashi?"

The boy rummaged in his bag and pulled out a small, squeaky, red bouncy ball. 

Apparently, it was all he had. But, if Daichi was being honest, he liked chasing the toy when Honey through it to the end of the hallway. A bunch of girls seemed to like it too since they were crowded all around. 

When they were done playing, it was time for the last final of the day, Grammar and Literature. Needless to say, Daichi was bad with words, but writing them was a whole other matter. Sometimes he was just as bad as with speaking. Other times, he could write like a normal person. Getting up from his test once the period was over, Daichi had a feeling today was one of the "just as bad" days.

He made it to the doorway to see Kyoya waiting for him. He hadn't seen him all day, since he took all honors classes and was in a different testing room. The taller boy smiled at his shorter companion.

"Honey-senpai told me you two played for a bit," he said as they started walking. The halls were crowded with students chatting, relieving themselves of stress, or lamenting their grades. "So your first day of exams went well?"

Daichi didn't want to tell him about the flop of a literature exam he'd just taken, so he smiled and nodded. "How was yours?"

Thy kept walking, but Kyoya took a moment to respond. It had been a while since he'd heard Daichi manage a sentence without stuttering. He really was in a good mood then. "Good. Math did seem to go dreadfully slowly," he remarked with a small smile.

Daichi smiled, and, without thinking, he grabbed Kyoya's hand. So... they were doing that again. They hadn't talked about what happened that night when Yukio picked Daichi up from Kyoya's house. Neither really felt the need to talk about it. It felt right, and they wanted to do more right just like, even if the kissing could hold off for a while. The school (ahem the host club and Tamaki) wasn't ready for their relationship.

Kyoya walked slower now, trying to delay their parting as long as possible. "I'll be home if you want anything," he said. "You have football practice soon though."

"You could stay," Daichi suggested. When Kyoya didn't respond, he realized it was because he only thought those words. They never left his mouth.

"After my last exam tomorrow, we'll be leaving on a trip. Father hasn't told me when we'll be back," Kyoya revealed quietly. He pretended not to notice the hitch in Daichi's breathing. He hated to do this, but he truly had no choice. "I don't know if I'll get a moment alone with you tomorrow. I got this for you."

They stopped now towards the edge of the hallway. Kyoya let go of Daichi's hand to reach in his bag for a little silver box. Daichi was going to open it, but Kyoya was quick to stop him.

"They're nutrition supplements," he said. "We're using them in our hospitals now, and I was able to get some for you. I wrote the instructions very carefully. They're easier to hide than bento boxes."

Daichi could've cried. As it was, he stowed the box away in his bag, leaned up, and kissed Kyoya on the cheek. "Thank you, Kyoya," he whispered.

And with that gift between them, they separated that day. Daichi didn't see Kyoya after the end of exams, and he went home with disappointment in his stomach. At least, he thought, Kyoya will be back sometime.