Chapter Text
“You’re rooming with Sawamura-senpai?!”
Asada, who was munching on his food slowly, almost choked at Seto’s loud question. He frantically whipped his head to make sure that no one—especially the first division members—had heard it. Rooming with Sawamura-senpai was already intimidating enough; he really didn’t want to get caught gossiping about him, of all people! But, thankfully, the dining hall was already quite vacant at this hour, since Okumura and Asada took a longer time to finish their food. Still, Asada wouldn’t be Asada if he didn’t get worried over small things.
“A-ah, I think you should tone it down,” he said to Seto apprehensively.
“Yeah, yeah,” Seto grinned, deciding to do a favor for his nervous friend by lowering his voice. “Well? How is it? I must say that you’re really lucky, Asada. I bet Koushuu here would die to switch room with you.”
The blonde-haired boy’s face darkened. “I do not.”
Seto laughed and teasingly nudged Okumura’s arm. “Now, don’t be shy, Koushuu. You basically made up your mind about going to Seidou after seeing Sawamura-senpai’s fight up-close back then—”
“Taku!” Okumura sternly interrupted him and proceeded to shove a spoonful of food into his mouth in irritation. Seto, however, didn’t seem to be concerned by his behavior, as he was already used to it for years, being his childhood friend and all. A silent Yui only smiled at their exchange.
“But Okumura’s roommate is Miyuki-senpai, right?” he asked, trying to lighten up the mood. “He’s also an amazing fighter, aside from Sawamura-senpai. I heard that many professional spirit hunter agencies are already trying to scout him.”
Much to the first-years’ surprise, Okumura growled lowly under his breath, which earned an amused grin from Seto.
“Ah, Koushuu doesn’t really like Miyuki-senpai, for some reason. Don’t ask me why,” Seto explained to the seemingly confused Yui and Asada. “He doesn’t show it, but talking about Sawamura-senpai secretly excites him, so let’s go back to our original topic.”
Okumura, once again, growled warningly. “Stop bringing up my name.”
“Shut up, Koushuu, you know I’m right. Anyway, Asada,” Seto turned his rapt attention to the bespectacled boy, “have you talked to him?”
Asada sighed. “W-well—he’s always the one who approaches me first, and I just don’t know how to act around him…”
“There’s nothing to be afraid of him,” Okumura said after swallowing his food. “Just act normal.”
“Ooh, as expected of the one who got partnered with Sawamura-senpai today in practice,” Seto snickered, to which Okumura gave an icy glare at his longtime friend. “Okay, okay, but maybe Koushuu’s right. Sawamura-senpai seems quite friendly.”
“I think so too,” Yui agreed, before biting into his meat.
“Overfriendly,” Okumura corrected under his breath.
Asada placed his chopsticks down and scratched his cheek with one finger. “Um, I’m not saying that he’s scary,” he corrected and smiled meekly. “I think it’s because I really admire Sawamura-senpai that I’m kind of… nervous being around him.”
Seto and Yui hummed knowingly, while Okumura sent him an understanding gaze, albeit only for a fleeting moment. It was a sign that Asada didn’t need to explain the reason for his admiration to them. Besides, he was sure that by now, almost everyone in Japan would recognize who Sawamura Eijun was.
Asada could hardly forget the days when Sawamura-senpai had been the talk of entire Japan, appearing on every kind of media once everyone had found out the truth of his ‘death’. Seidou had bravely disclosed the fact that he was still alive, and it had drawn mixed responses from everyone. There had been discourses and conspiracy theories about his case, which had successfully induced fear within some part of the society. They were the same people who had demanded the government to do something about Sawamura. Obviously, people who were on Sawamura’s side had rejected that idea, so inevitably, both parties had gotten involved in more heated debates.
It had been a mess, in Asada’s opinion.
In the end, it had been solved by Sawamura presenting himself in front of the camera, reciting an official pledge of him siding with humanity. It had been the first time Asada had seen such a memorable event in his life; after all, it wasn’t every day that one could witness a half-spirit coming out publicly and making a pledge. Probably, that was where Asada’s admiration had stemmed from. Asada might not know him personally, but all he saw inside the TV screen was just a boy, a year older than him, who had to spend his life under everyone’s watch. If he messed just a bit, it’d be hard to cleanse his name again.
It saddened Asada that Sawamura-senpai had to carry those burdens on his back just because of his identity as a half-spirit. He couldn’t imagine himself in Sawamura’s shoes, for he’d no doubt feel restless and depressed. That was why, after rooming with him for a while, Sawamura’s bubbly and cheerful personality had left Asada feeling so astonished that he didn’t know how to act. How could someone have such a tough heart? Was it possible for a sunflower to keep on standing upright even under the raging storm?
Asada then shook his head to snap himself out of his thoughts. In any case, the news about Sawamura-senpai had greatly dimmed down, thus he had no reason to act weird around him, else Sawamura would get the wrong idea. Asada was in no way a part of the society who hated Sawamura for no reason! Moreover, he was blessed enough to have new friends who shared the same view with him; surely, it shouldn’t be so hard for Asada to get a grip of himself?
“Asada~! Are you having trouble eating again?”
At the unexpected voice, not only Asada, but also Okumura, Seto, and Yui choked on their food. Sawamura seemed both surprised and puzzled by the abrupt turn of event.
Kuramochi suddenly came from behind and whacked the back of Sawamura’s head. “Stop scaring off the first-years, dumbass! Look what you’ve done!”
Sawamura glared at the axeman half-heartedly. “But!! It was not in my slightest intention to do that, Kuramochi-senpai!! Besides, the one who they’re really scared of is you—AH, STOP, I GIVE!! I GIVE!!”
Miyuki, who had just entered the dining hall not long after Kuramochi had locked Sawamura’s neck under his arms, sighed tiredly. “What is this? I left you for several minutes, and you’re already making trouble?”
“I didn’t!” Sawamura struggled to free himself, displaying cat-like slits on his eyes. “Miyuki Kazuya, don’t just stand there and help me! This Sawamura Eijun shall be in one complete piece to attend his class tomorrow—ACK!!”
“Kyahaha! Would you even understand anything in class? You skipped school for a long time before winter, don’t act so mighty!” Kuramochi grinned and tightened his grip, making Asada wince internally. Not wanting to lose, Sawamura made himself transparent without warning and flew towards Miyuki’s side, who was watching the scene with an amused smirk. It morphed into a fond smile when Sawamura wound his arms around his neck from behind, still floating as he did so.
“Wh—Don’t be rude! I’ll have you know that I spent my entire break with the aid of Takashima-sensei’s private lessons!” he protested with a pout.
Kuramochi deadpanned. “I can’t believe you easily got an exception just like that…” he mumbled. “On a second thought, I think the fact that you’re still alive is more unbelievable than that.”
Sawamura huffed with a smug, playful smile. “Why, Kuramochi-senpai! I came back so that you won’t have to suffer from missing me—your dearest underclassman and roommate! Do you now acknowledge how thoughtful and considerate I am? Dahahaha!”
“Well,” Kuramochi sighed, rubbing his nape. “I guess it’d be inconvenient for me to search for another punching bag if you’re gone for real,” he said a bit abashedly. For a split second, Asada could see Sawamura sending Kuramochi an appreciative smile, as he clearly caught the axeman’s real feelings about the matter. But then, he covered it with another dramatic wail.
“Gah! Is that why you immediately wrestled me when I first showed up in front of the others?! Such cruelty!” Sawamura pointed an accusing finger at Kuramochi, who in turn rolled his eyes. “Even Harucchi and Furuya hugged me back then, you know!”
“Psh, I bet you got enough affection already from that bastard when he found you first. Gross,” Kuramochi snorted, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he gestured at Miyuki with his chin. At that, a smirk found its way back to Miyuki’s lips.
“Hmm? Affection? You mean, like this?” feigning innocence, Miyuki grasped Sawamura’s chin, turning his face to Miyuki’s. Before Asada could prepare himself, Miyuki surged forward and planted a sweet, chaste kiss to Sawamura’s mouth.
Instantly, the first-years dropped their jaws.
What—what in the world—? No one had told them that Seidou’s strongest swordsman and Japan’s legendary half-spirit were in a relationship! Asada couldn’t help but gulp in fear and awe—truly, what a terrifying pair they made!
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Kuramochi groaned tiredly. “You’re gonna traumatize the first-years.”
“In that case,” Miyuki’s lenses flashed briefly, “let’s continue somewhere else, Sawamura.”
“Wait, wait, wait?!” Sawamura yelped, “But I came here to motivate Asada—!”
“D-don’t worry, Sawamura-senpai,” mustering up his courage, Asada suddenly joined in the conversation, receiving startled gazes from everyone around him. “You’ve done that enough for me this week, and I really appreciate that. I—I’ll do my best to finish my food, s-so… you can have your p-p-private time now!”
Upon hearing that, a small laugh fell past Miyuki’s lips. He then threw an arm around a red-faced Sawamura; probably embarrassed at Asada’s choice of words. “Well, we can’t exactly say no to that offer, can we?” he winked at the younger brunette, before dragging away a protesting Sawamura towards the door. In no time, their light-hearted bickering subdued once they exited the dining hall.
“Sorry about them,” Kuramochi said to the first years with an exhausted tone. “Oh, and Asada, if Bakamura does something that makes you uncomfortable, just tell me, yeah? He’s quite a handful, but that’s just his way to care for someone else.” He released another sigh. “I swear, that idiot…”
Asada pulled a smile, “no, senpai, it’s okay. I-I’m still not used to the dorm life and meeting new different people. Sawamura-senpai is really a good person, though.”
“Huh, that’s good, then,” Kuramochi responded with a small grin, looking a bit relieved. He then gave them a knowing smile, as though they were an opened book, too easy to read. “Don’t tell him that I say this, but I’m kinda worried about him. After the whole official pledge thing, I mean. He tried to not show it, but everyone could tell he was shaken when he found out that some people are actually against him. Despite him sacrificing himself.” He clenched his fists. “He bounced back quite fast, though. Said that he was being naïve for wanting to save the world. Of course, he knows that more than anyone, so we replied nothing.”
Asada unconsciously tightened his grip around his chopsticks, and he could see that other first years were also listening intently, brows furrowed and posture upright.
“We replied nothing, because the next thing he said was that he’s still gonna do what he deems right, regardless of how naïve it sounds. If this was months ago, I bet that dumbass would try to resolve everything on his own again. But shit happened, and we spirit hunters always have to learn things the hardest way, any way,” Kuramochi shrugged his shoulders and arched a brow once he spotted the visible confusion on the first years’ faces. “What? Y’all are wondering why I decide to tell you this, aren’t you?”
The first years blatantly gulped, drawing a laugh from the axeman.
“Kyahaha! You guys aren’t the only ones who look at Bakamura like he’s some kind of god! Do you know how troublesome it is ever since he becomes popular? Just because he’s feared by some part of the society, doesn’t mean that he’s not worshipped by others,” a vein popped on Kuramochi’s forehead before he continued to grumble in a low voice. “Damned brat, I’ve already had enough of Miyuki’s fangirls, and now I have to deal with Bakamura’s fans, too…”
Every first year, save for Okumura, wore sheepish smiles on their faces, unsure how to respond. Thankfully, they were saved by the sound of notification coming from Kuramochi’s phone in his pocket. The axeman pulled it out on instinct and checked the screen briefly.
“Uh, sorry, gotta go,” he then told them, mainly to Asada, looking a bit awkward after making a small speech about Sawamura.
“It’s okay, Kuramochi-senpai,” Asada said. “I’ll… make sure to finish soon.”
Kuramochi gave an encouraging nod, before sauntering away from the dining hall.
“What was that?” Seto asked after a moment of silence, voicing out his friends’ thoughts.
“I don’t know.” Yui sighed with a smile. “But it’s good to see the perspective of someone close to Sawamura-senpai.”
Seto nodded. “Yeah. He’s nice and all, but uh, do we really look at him as some kind of God?” he wondered out loud. “Was Kuramochi-senpai not referring only to Kou—"
“I definitely don’t,” Okumura interjected him.
Asada let out a small laugh. “Sawamura-senpai sure has lots of people who care for him.”
He received hums of agreement from the others. Like what Yui had said, Kuramochi-senpai’s perspective gave them a fresh insight about Sawamura. The haters were more vocal in their opinion against Sawamura that it drowned the positive ones. Seeing Sawamura being loved by others with Asada’s own eyes was a nice experience, indeed. He then understood why Sawamura was still able to wear a wide, megawatt smile despite living such an unconventional way of life.
For the biggest, healthiest sunflower, it should be provided with supplemental water under lengthy periods without rain, for it would experience growth problems if it became water-logged. That being said, it wasn’t that the sunflower couldn’t withstand wet, humid weather. Well-draining soil or containers were essential to help the sunflower’s survivability. So did other factors.
So, it wasn’t a question of whether the sunflower could endure a raging storm or not. The answer to that was pretty obvious. No matter how impossible it sounded, Asada believed with all of his heart that it could. Especially when the sunflower was never alone in the first place.
Asada, too, wouldn’t mind partaking as the sunflower’s support system.