lend me your ears | bokuto kotaro

19 ' takane no hana

"Oh, thank you," Bokuto spoke as Kato handed him the bento.

"I hope you like it," she added, smiling.

"Well, I'll eat now so see you around."

"Okay, see you."

"Let's go, Nanao," he said and tapped Hoshino, who was already planning to sneak out of the scene.

"R-Right!" It took Hoshino by surprise and she responded with a nod.

"Who's that?" Kato mumbled, watching the two walk towards the canteen. She noticed Hoshino's shaky hands and how often she hung her head, probably out of shyness.

"What are you having today, Nanao?" he asked and untied the ribbon, curious what his free meal was.

"I made karaage for me and Nanaki," she answered, "I used my grandmother's recipe."

"Oh! You cook? I mean, you're good in home economics, I guess that makes sense."

"Yes, I make all our meals. Nanaki's too young to cook," she confirmed. "And I'm bringing up Nanaki again, sorry," she added.

"No, no, it's fine," he reassured and lifted the lid of the bento.

"Oh. Fish."

"What?"

"She made me fish."

"Do you not like fish, Kotaro-san? She made all that for you."

"It's not that, I like food! But we also ate fish when we went out," he answered and closed the bento.

"Y-You went out?!" She couldn't contain her surprise and quickly covered her mouth.

"Just one date, Nanao."

"Date.. A date," she mumbled as they entered the canteen, color draining for her face.

"Yeah, but, but-" he stammered, feeling the strong urge to correct her, "We're just friends."

"Bokuto-san, over here," Akaashi spoke and slightly waved his hand. He wasn't in their usual spot.

"And. Oh. Hoshino-san, you're back? Bokuto-san made a lot of theories why you were gone," he added.

"Yes, I'm back. And what theories?"

"Oh? Changing tables now?" Bokuto averted her attention. He made a few silly theories where she might have gone. Abducted by aliens, escaping the country, whatever reason he could come up with.

"Someone's in our usual place. I figured here would be fine," Akaashi explained as the two sat down. "Oh? A bento? Did your mother make one for you again?" he asked.

"Ah, no, a girl made me one," the older answered, making Akaashi look quickly at Hoshino. After all, he was well aware of her feelings.

"I see."

Itadakimasu!

"By the way, Bokuto-san, summer vacation is near," Akaashi began a conversation.

"Oh, yeah."

"Which means the exams are coming up too," she mumbled.

"That's right. And summer training camp too."

"Summer training camp?" she wondered.

"We'll train with other schools, stuff like that. It's gonna be fun," Bokuto explained and munched on his food.

"Oh okay."

"Yes, which is why we need to do well in the exams so we won't have any problems before the training camp."

"Don't worry about me, Akaashi. I got it!"

"I hope so. And you too, Hoshino-san, the make-up classes won't be any fun."

"Yeah, okay."

After lunch, the three headed to their classrooms, readying themselves for the next class.

English Class
1PM

"LEND ME YOUR EARS," the teacher wrote.

"Today, we'll be reviewing english idioms. In your other class you covered Japanese proverbs, correct?" he began the lecture. Classes were often like this, countless hours of simply listening.

"As for example, takane no hana. It's literally flowers in a high peak. Meaning, something, or let's say, someone, is too far from reach," he continued.

It reminded her of Bokuto and she slightly turned her head to catch a quick glimpse of him. Just a split second would do. And the moment she does, he instantly noticed, like he had a radar for whenever he's attracting attention.

"Hey," he whispered, his lips curving upwards. She responded with a nervous smile as well and immediately looked forward again.

If a smile from him was already enough to make her heart race, there was no way she could deny her feelings to herself. The only thing stopping her from telling him was that she knew, rather, thought he was her takane no hana. And also, he was completely oblivious to it.

"Now, look at your textbooks and we'll discuss seven idioms, starting from Lend me your ears."

Meanwhile, Bokuto, who sat quite far at the back, took some interest in the topic. He glanced at the board, the teacher holding the book, and then gazed at Hoshino. "Lend me your ears, Nanao," he mumbled and smiled.