Work Text:
Kyotarou liked work time. Especially if he didn’t have to work in a group. He could just spend that time working quietly. . .
. . .while eavesdropping on his classmates.
Behind him, the boys were goofing off and talking about sports. The topic didn’t really interest him, but it was a welcome change to the usual conversation.
The girls, on the other hand, were talking about a more interesting subject: movies. Specifically, one that they’d all watched that weekend. He snuck a glance at Yamada, who was listening intently to Sekine’s recounting.
“—and then he told her, ‘you are my world’, and they kissed!” She sighed dreamily. “Isn’t that the most romantic thing ever?” Kyotarou rolled his eyes.
Yoshida snorted. “Too romantic for me. Honestly, the movie didn’t really use the ‘sci-fi’ bit too much. It was too focused on the main couple, who weren’t even that cute for me.”
Kobayashi nodded, then leaned back in her chair. “I wish there was more action. The CGI was actually really good. And they had an actual martial artist cast as the villain!” Interesting, he thought.
“Still, it was nice. And the male lead was so my type~” Senkine turned to Yamada. “What did you think, Anna?”
The girl in question hummed in thought. After a couple moments, she said, “The set was really nice. I really liked their take on futuristic outfits, especially–”
“No,” Sekine’s stupid annoying face interrupted. “I mean, what did you think about the male lead? Wasn’t he cute?”
“Oh. He was okay,” she said neutrally, and Kyotarou felt himself relax. She wasn’t frivolous or boy-crazy like Sekine, of course she wouldn’t care about some random actor–"But his best friend was kind of cute.”
He retracted his statement.
Yamada’s friends gave her looks varying from “oh, really?” to “you can’t be serious”.
“You can’t be serious!” Sekine whisper-shouted, aware of their teacher’s warning eye on them. “That guy was kind of a weirdo. And, like, a shrimp.”
“Oh, Anna, do you like short guys?” Yoshida asked curiously.
At that moment, Yamada looked more embarrassed than he’d ever seen her before. Her face was flushed red, and her eyes kept darting around for an escape, one time landing on him then quickly darting away. Usually, Kyotarou would’ve come to her rescue and created a distraction. This time, he was too busy trying to calm himself down.
Yamada likes short guys?!?!
Well, sure, that might just be her friends making assumptions, but he couldn’t help the surge of hope he felt. Maybe. . .maybe there was a chance, a very small chance, that she could like him back. The elation was making him feel a bit light-headed. He kept his head down, hoping that his face wasn’t as red as it felt.
“Hey, everyone!” came a loud boy’s voice from behind him. This exclamation took him out of his thoughts and put a pause on the girls’ teasing.
“It’s 11:11,” the boy continued, “make a wish!”
What a perfect tension breaker. After hearing this, the girls immediately stopped pestering Yamada and began silently making their own wishes.
Personally, Kyotarou didn’t believe in wishing on something as silly as a time of day. So what if the clock read the same number four consecutive times? It even happens twice a day, so how special could it really be? Plus, guys like him were too dark and messed up to have their wishes granted, or even wish for things in the first place.
Yet, as he looked over at Yamada and her friends, he saw her face screwed up in concentration. He even spotted sweat on her forehead. What could possibly be so important for her to wish this hard for it?
“Guys,” she sheepishly whispered, “I don’t know what to wish for.”
Kyotarou almost fell out of his seat. He sweatdropped as he discreetly glanced at her. That’s why she was so concentrated?!
“It’s too late now, Anna,” said Kobayashi flippantly. “It’s 11:12.”
“Oh. . .” She sounded so disappointed that he directly looked at her and immediately regretted doing so. Darn Yamada and her stupidly cute pout, he thought, blushing furiously.
Soon, class picked up again. Kyotarou was only half-paying attention, however. The other half was focused solely on the clock, counting down the minutes till lunch. Luckily, he didn't need to wait long; the bell rang ten minutes later, and everyone was released for lunch.
He packed up quickly and headed for the library. After eating a quick snack outside the doors (he didn’t have the nerve to be like Yamada), he entered the library and waited. He didn’t have to wait long, as Yamada entered the library a mere minute after him.
Kyotarou quickly turned to one of the bookshelves and pretended to be browsing the books. He listened closely as she walked to the table and sat in her usual spot. She pulled out a small bag of M&Ms and started munching.
Alright, now I’ll just turn to her and say, “hi Yamada”. Yes, I can do it, let’s go! After hyping himself up for another minute, he turned around, ready to greet her—
Only to have the words die in his throat. His brow furrowed with concern and confusion as he took in her despondent expression. Why was she so sad? Did something happen in the five minutes since the bell rang?
“Yamada?” he said hesitantly. She turned and gave him a half-hearted smile and a small wave, then went back to staring up at the wall. He followed her gaze and was met with a clock.
A clock? Why’s she so fixated on a— Oh. Realization hit Kyotarou like a baseball bat, and he sighed with a mix of relief and incredulousness. She’s still upset about not getting to make a wish.
Despite himself, he smiled. The way she felt things so wholeheartedly, whether for something big or small, was very endearing. His brows furrowed as he thought of something to cheer her up. His eyes trailed over to her, then the window beside her. He paused, then smiled as an idea came to him.
Looking back at Yamada, he cleared his throat and took a couple steps closer. After lightly tapping her shoulder, he said, “Yamada?”
When she turned to look at him, he continued, “I have something I wanna show you.”
Outside, Kyotarou led her away from the students and to a more isolated section of the grass field. He glanced back at Yamada, who seemed in a lighter mood. She’d perked up when he told her he had something to show her, but right now she actually looked a bit excited, which made him somewhat nervous. He hoped she wouldn't think this was lame.
As they walked, he scanned the ground for what he was looking for. He prayed that they were here. It was still spring, so they should be.
“So, what’re you looking for?”
Kyotarou almost jumped out of his skin at the sound of her voice. This was the first time she’d spoken since they went out. She had also sidled next to him while he wasn’t paying attention.
“Uh, it’s a surprise.” He glanced around once more and his eye caught a couple of them. “There!” he said excitedly. He had to take a couple steps and they were there. He crouched, and Yamada copied him.
“Dandelions?” she asked curiously.
“Dandelions.” He plucked one of them, an imperfect one with half its thistles blown off. He twirled it between his fingers. Yamada’s eyes studiously followed his every action and word. “They say if you make a wish and blow away all the thistles, it’ll come true.” To illustrate, he turned to his right and blew away the remaining thistles.
Her eyes widened in what he presumed was surprise, and her mouth formed a little “o”. A light blush coated her cheeks, but he could have been imagining it. He was focused on her eyes. After the initial surprise, they had softened like butter to a hot knife’s touch, now with a fondness that could liquify his heart. Her lips pulled into a knowing smile. “Really?”
Kyotarou barely heard her over the sound of his own heart. He could feel himself getting tongue-tied, but he forced a shaky “really” in reply. He waited for her to pick up a dandelion, but she kept staring at him. He lightly coughed and gestured to the dandelions.
She seemed to catch herself, looking a tad embarrassed as she lowered her gaze to the dandelions. A surge of relief– accompanied with disappointment –settled in his chest. He really would have melted if she kept looking at him like that.
Yamada studied each of the flowers, looking for the perfect one, no doubt. When she found it, she plucked it out and held it up to her mouth. He waited for her to blow on it and make her wish, but she didn't make any move to do so. She looked back at him, her cheeks a light pink.
“Ichikawa. . .let’s make this wish together. I want to share this wish with you,” she added earnestly, effectively cutting any argument Kyotarou was about to make short.
She held up the dandelion, slightly to her right (or his left). He leaned towards it, and she lowered her hand so his breath would reach it. She glanced at him once through her long lashes before fixing her eyes on the dandelion.
He still thought wishes were silly, especially ones based on time or flowers. But. . .He looked at Yamada, with her cheeks puffed up and her eyes closed. A rush of emotions passed through him, culminating in a gentle smile. He inhaled deeply and mimicked her expression. They expelled their breaths in sync, and Kyotarou made his wish.
I wish. . .I wish that Yamada’s wish comes true.