Chapter Text
Ash enters the chemistry classroom. It's packed with hoards of students, shuffling around to find seats by their friends.
"I have a seating plan," the teacher coughs which is followed by an uproar of groans. Eiji walks into the classroom timidly, attracting the attention of the room.
The teacher puts everyone to their designated seats. Miraculously, Ash thinks, the Japanese boy is sat next to him scavenging through his pencilcase for a pen. Ash fishes a pen out of his hoodies pocket and tosses it on to the desk. This startles Eiji ever so slightly so Ash makes a mental note to never do that again.
He ponders around the classroom; looking at nothing in particularly. He knows the syllabus well enough and feels no need to concentrate. Ash instead busys himself by looking at Eiji's face, nothing the way his brows furrowed whenever the teacher used difficult terminology. English isn't his first language after all which is why Ash is even more impressed when he manages to answer the teacher's questions correctly.
"Turn to page fourty-two and answer the summary questions," the teacher mumbles in her monotone voice. Ash is suddenly aware that him and Eiji have to share a book and that their proximity is getting closer. How Eiji's shoulder brushes against his as he leans over to read the page closest to Ash. Ash wants talk to him, but he's to afraid he will say something wrong so he keeps his mouth shut.
Suddenly Ash hears the all to familiar sound of a pen flying across the classroom, heading in his direction. It hits the back of Eiji's head and he yelps which earns gasps from everyone around the room. Eiji turns around to see a group of boys snickering.
"What the fuck was that for?" Ash growls at them.
"Detention Aslan. No profanity in my classroom!" the teacher shrieks.
"They just threw a pen Eiji, why are you telling me off?" Ash retorts and Eiji grabs his shoulder.
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't hurt anyways." Eiji smiles at him reassuringly and Ash feels himself slowly melting. "You don't want to get yourself in more trouble."
"Now be quiet. All of you. Do your work," she huffs and Ash can already feel the newfound hatred for the woman growing.
Chemistry finishes uneventfully. Ash checks his timetable to see he has PE next. Great, Ash thinks, something I don't actually despise.
"What do you have next?" Ash asks Eiji automatically.
"P.E" he replies. They walk to the gym together; the unusual pair attracting a lot of unwarranted attention. They stop by their lockers first to get their gym bags. Their lockers are close by but not next to each other.
They walk into the changing room and the smell of sweat and just-used showers is overwhelming.
"It smells disgusting," a familiar voice to Ash announces. The person begins to spray the room with some floral scented perfume which causes the other boys to cough. He turns around to greet Ash but a look of surprise appears on his face.
"My, my, my. Who is this cutie you got here?~" the feminine looking boy taunts. Eiji looks at him, shocked to see a boy wearing so much makeup, not that he is against it or anything he just isn't used to seeing it.
"Back off, Yut-Lung. This is Eiji and he's new so don't creep him out too much." Ash snaps, finding a place to dump his bag and get changed.
"Nice to meet you Eiji. I see the lynx here has taken particular interest in you." Yut-lung says in a suggestive manner which catches Eiji of guard. What's he suggesting?, Eiji thinks.
"Nice to meet you too," Eiji replies friendly, his lips curving upwards into a soft smile.
"Damn it, you need to teach me to smile like that some day. Maybe then Blanca will notice me." The long haired boy cooes.
The changing room door opens and Arthur walks in, alongside his bestfriend Lao.
"Sorry to break it to you, but I don't he's to interested." Lao sniggers as they walk in. Arthur winks at Eiji which doesn't go pass Yut-lung.
"Don't wink at him you little playboy." Yut-Lung hisses at him, the venom in his voice distinct.
"Getting jealous are we?" Arthur says sarcastically, putting his arm on Yut-lung's shoulder.
"Don't fucking touch me!" He screams which frightens Eiji but he feels the need to defend the distressed boy.
"Sorry, but could you leave us alone?" He asks Arthur kindly.
"Y-yeah sorry, it was just a joke." He half-heartingly apologises but leaves none the less.
Eiji begins to get changed as Yut-Lung is beside him tying up his hair into a ponytail for the fourth time.
"Why do you need it to be so neat?" Eiji questions as the boy beside him tweeks his hair do.
"I don't want to getting lose when we have to do any exercise. " he answers.
Ash is sat down on the bench opposite Eiji and Yut-Lung, taking an extra long time to do up his laces. Maybe it's because it's an excuse to look at Eiji's bare back and toned arms for a little longer. Other students begin to leave the changing room so he does too, Eiji following him slowly after. They gather outside on the running track. Ash is relatively good at running since he has good stamina. He never joins the athletics team though since his frequent detentions prevent him for attending practises.
"I know it's the first day back but I'm looking for potential members of our athletics team. So today we will be doing a simple 800m sprint just I can get a general idea of your ability." Blanca, the gym teacher says. Eiji's first thoughts are just of how tall the man stood infront of him is. Eiji had gotten used to feeling small due to his stature but he wasn't expecting to feel like a dwarf.
"Blanca, we've got a new boy. His name is Eiji." Yut-Lung chimes in a sweet tone which makes Ash want to bang his head against the wall. He is well aware of his friends… acquaintances, unhealthy and definitely illegal obsession with their PE teacher but it doesn't make it any less disturbing as he watches him openly flirt with the older man.
"I see that. Please stop calling me Blanca, coach or Mr. Varishikov will do." Blanca scolds lightly. "Anyways, Eiji, did you do any sports back home?"
"Yeah, I'm actually a pole vaulter." He states casually which makes Ash's jaw drop. Eiji. Adorable little Eiji is a pole vaulter? That is a plot twist if I've ever seen one, Ash thinks amusingly.
"Wow, that's impressive. How about you show us what you've got?"