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December’s typical cold air wasn’t Gakuhou’s favourite. Despite his hatred towards cold weather, he was up at the E class earlier today.
The octopus, Korosensei, asked him to have a tea party with him. Korosensei wanted to give Gakuhou his sweets. He said those sweets were from Bali. Apparently that yellow octopus also shared the same hate towards cold weather, that’s why he went sunbathing at beaches.
“What the?” Gakuhou frowned.
“Oh, I see you have already come, Principal! Have a seat please!”
“What are you….?”
“Well, it’s only yesterday that I arrived in Japan. No wonder my skin is still tanned.”
The principal poker faced. “What were you doing until you were this dark?”
“You’re so mean, Principal! This is called tan skin! Don’t you know it's a trend now?” Korosensei half shrieked.
“You’re scorched.”
“Can you just leave me alone?”
“Alright. I’m off.”
Korosensei yelped; he blocked the exit way. “Come on, Principal! You know that’s not what I mean!”
Then the octopus started to massage Gakuhou’s shoulder. Gakuhou sighed.
“Principal, you have to taste this!”
“This!”
“And this!”
“Also, this one!”
It wasn't even five minutes since Gakuhou was in the room but his mouth was already filled with all kinds of sweets. His violet eyes squinted at Korosensei. A green knife known as an anti-sensei knife slid into the target's heart.
Korosensei easily dodged the principal’s attacks. He let out a typical laugh. “Nice try, Principal! I bet you can't kill me before March arrives!”
Gakuhou sighed. He slipped the knife back into his coat. His large hands smoothed the wrinkles on the coat. His violet eyes stared intently into the creature's round black eyes.
The man in the dark brown coat cleared his throat. “I’m a busy man, Korosensei. What can I help you with, that you asked me to come here when it’s almost Christmas?”
“Nurufufufufu!” The yellow octopus laughed. Gakuhou refrained from snorting. “Like you said, it’s almost Christmas! Isn’t it nice if I got to have a tea party with my friend?”
“I don’t remember being your friend.” Although his tone was mocking, Gakuhou took a seat.
Korosensei knew the principal wasn’t good at expressing his feelings. They got to know each other more since the last time Gakuhou tried to explode himself in the 3-E class. Since that day, Gakuhou paid Korosensei more visits. Even he bribed gave the octopus some chocolates with the hope that Korosensei will continue teaching at his school.
“Oh, come on, Principal Asano!” The creature quickly took a seat beside his boss. “After all the deep talks we went through, aren’t we now official besties?”
“Get your tentacle off of me.”
After some bickering, they finally could drink their tea in peace.
“What a lovely day!” Korosensei’s grin widened as he chewed a sweet.
Gakuhou took a sip of his tea elegantly. It was clear that the man knew his table manners very well.
He could say that today’s weather is brighter than yesterday. White clouds floating in the blue sky. Sometimes when the wind blew both of them will shiver a little.
“Close the window, will you?”
“Nooo! I wanna see the sky!”
“You could still see the sky even when the window is closed!”
In the end Gakuhou won the argument. He closed the window, and didn't even care about Korosensei’s slumped shoulders.
“That’s better.” Gakuhou gave him a formal smile.
Suddenly Korosensei was tempted to steal Gakuhou’s cake.
He sighed.
“How’s your son, Principal? I haven’t seen him much lately.” Korosensei changed their topic.
Although Gakuhou’s face didn’t show any interest, for a second Korosensei saw his eyes flickered when he mentioned the student council president. Gakuhou has always been like this when he’s excited about something but trying to keep his composure.
He put his tea cup. “Asano-kun is fine. He’s just a bit busier than usual. It’s almost Christmas, the main building will hold a special event for Christmas and New Year. As a student council president, of course it’s his job to lead everyone in order to….”
Once you get Principal Asano talking about his son, he could never stop.
“Though everyone hasn’t realized it yet, I bet he could reign over all Kunugigaoka high school students by the time he is in first year of high school.”
“That’s how I raised him. I know I raised a leader really well.”
Korosensei nodded his round yellow head. Honestly, although it’s a bit annoying hearing Gakuhou bragging about everything, Korosensei could sense the principal’s love towards his son.
It was not just a teacher who was proud of his student. Right now, he is a proud father.
After that day, Asano Gakuhou went home and tried to be a better parent for his son. It wasn’t smooth, of course. He ended up arguing with Gakushuu about a lot of things.
Somehow Gakuhou knew that Korosensei went through the same thing. He began asking Korosensei for advice (Gakuhou insisted he only asked Korosensei’s opinion, not advice) on how to fix his relationship with Gakushuu.
Once Gakuhou had already stopped talking, Korosensei cleared his throat. “That’s really nice, Principal. But you know what’s awesome?”
Gakuhou glanced at him.
“Raising my salary!” The octopus clapped his tentacles. “I mean, it will be my Christmas gift! Friends should give each other presents on Christmas, right?”
The principal didn’t react to that. Korosensei sweat dropped.
“Right.” Gakuhou sighed as he finished his cake. “You do deserve a present.”
Korosensei’s permanent grin went wider than before. “Oh, Principal it’s….”
“I’ll treat you to good food later.” After saying that, Gakuhou wiped his mouth with his handkerchief.
Food was one of Korosensei’s favourite things, of course the octopus was happy. “How about my salary?”
“Try again when I’m in a better mood.”
A buzz sound filled the room. Gakuhou fumbled in his jacket pocket, looking for where his phone was.
It was a call from Gakushuu.
“Huh? I thought he blocked my number?” he muttered in an astonished tone. Nevertheless, he still picked up the phone.
“Hello?” An unknown person’s voice spoke from the other end of the line. Gakuhou became alarmed. Why is this person calling him with Gakushuu’s phone?
“Hello? I… uh… do you know someone named Asano… Asano who? Oh, Asano Gakushuu. Yes, that’s the name.” That person spoke again.
The noise of the crowd from a distance made Gakuhou suspicious. He decided to hear out what the man wanted to say.
“Uh… hello? Are you there? This boy collapsed at Kunugigaoka Station and his head hit the platform chair. I found his phone inside his school bag and found your contact on his favourite contact list. Are you… his father? He named you as… uh…. I’m sorry if I wasn’t supposed to know this. You are ‘Sperm Donor Principal’ in his contact. So, I suppose you are his father.”
Gakuhou’s jaw dropped. Three things from what the man said made him lose words.
First, his son collapsed. This one is the worst.
Second, his son put his contact on favourite contact list. He thought that boy blocked his contact since Gakuhou never received texts or calls from Gakushuu.
Third, he is Sperm Donor Principal on that brat boy’s contact. Gakuhou needs to sort this thing out once Gakushuu regains his consciousness.
“Ambulance! Where’s the fucking ambulance?!”
“They said it is on the way!”
“Is he breathing?”
“Oh God, poor boy. He must be not older than 16.”
He could hear all of them. All those words made Gakuhou’s tongue more numb.
“Uh… hello? Am I dialing the wrong number?” The man asked in an uncertain tone.
At the end all Gakuhou could say was, “Yes. I’m his father.”
The man muttered how he was grateful that Mr Sperm Donor Principal is the boy’s father. He then told Gakuhou everything that happened.
Gakushuu was waiting for his train to come. It seemed like he was on the way home after finishing his student council duties. The man said Gakushuu was indeed pale but he never thought the boy would suddenly collapse.
He was standing near a platform chair. Gakushuu sat there for a few minutes before deciding to walk further from the chair. He had only walked two steps from the bench when he passed out. There was a lot of blood near his head as he hit the platform bench. Seeing blood oozing from his head made people at that platform panic.
Gakuhou didn’t have a chance to explain the situation to Korosensei. He bolted out of the room. Gakuhou knew Gakushuu will survive. It wasn’t like the injury was severe.
But what if he got a brain concussion? They said there was a lot of blood.
No, no. I’m just panicking. It will be okay.
He’s my son. He’s strong. Of course, he will be okay.
God damn it. I can’t calm down.
All of a sudden, some yellow tentacles picked Gakuhou up. Now he is… flying along with the octopus.
“What…? What are you…?” Gakuhou was too shocked to process the whole thing.
“You need to arrive at the hospital quickly, Principal. I believe you have your car waiting down the mountain, right? I’ll help you down this mountain.” Korosensei said in a calm tone. “Please let me know if I could be any help for you.”
The trip down the mountain that used to take more than 15 minutes now takes only a few seconds. Gakuhou was grateful for the help. He tried to think of the fastest way down the mountain as he was bolting out the building. Now he could see his black sedan parked in the main building parking park.
Korosensei put Gakuhou down carefully, not wanting to hurt the man at all. Before running to his car, Gakuhou turned to face Korosensei. “Thank you, Korosensei. I really mean it.”
“No problem, Principal! I hope Asano-kun is alright!” When Gakuhou blinked, Korosensei was already wearing his disguise as a man.
The principal nodded. He quickly ran while calling his chauffeur’s name.
Gakushuu was taken to the nearest hospital from the station. The hospital was almost 30 minutes away from Kunugigaoka. That was too far. Under normal circumstances, Gakuhou wouldn’t mind that. But now he really needs to see his son as soon as possible.
"Please drive at full speed." Although Gakuhou tried to maintain his composure, he failed to hide his shaky voice.
The chauffeur, despite not knowing why his master asked him to do something that clearly could cost him a ticket, went at full speed.
Gakushuu wasn't the type of child that could get sick easily. Gakuhou didn't need to worry about him too much since Gakushuu was born.
The worst thing ever happened to Gakushuu was when someone from the martial arts club kicked his chest. But that time Gakushuu was okay. He even managed to beat his opponent up until he was announced as the winner.
Gakuhou wondered how his son could have collapsed in a station? He fed his son with high quality food, making sure that it matched his nutrition needs. How could....
Oh.
When was the last time he ate breakfast with Gakushuu?
Usually, Gakushuu went to school with a bento. These days Gakuhou hardly sees Gakushuu putting his bento inside his bag.
When Gakuhou went to the cafeteria to get his lunch, he didn't see Gakushuu either.
Did the boy eat somewhere else?
The reality then hit him until he felt like he wanted to throw up.
Gakushuu rarely eats.
Their relationship was better than before although they were still caught up in some arguments. Thanks to Korosensei’s advice, Gakuhou took Gakushuu to a family therapy to resolve their family issues. It wasn’t easy, of course. Gakushuu tried to kick Gakuhou when he dragged the boy inside the therapist’s office.
After spending some sessions together, Gakushuu slowly began to open up to him. Months ago, Gakushuu complained that he was tired. He complained in a small voice as he was entering the house after school. Gakuhou never took his son's words seriously.
Gakushuu didn’t tell Gakuhou directly about his tiredness. Maybe he was afraid about how his father would react. In fact, Gakushuu often left some hints to Gakuhou. He wasn’t used to expressing his feelings, so this is how Gakushuu tried to express it. Unfortunately, Gakuhou was still the same Gakuhou who didn’t really pay attention to his son.
If his son was still able to function, to go to school and do his duties, then his son is fine.
Today Asano Gakuhou learned that the thought was wrong.
Thirty minutes later Gakuhou found himself running in the emergency room, looking for his son. He was sweating, his suit was crumpled, his hands even trembling.
Gakuhou tossed aside the curtains, saying sorry every time the person behind the curtain was not his son. “I’m sorry. I’m looking for my son.”
Once again, he pulled back the curtains. This time it was the bed curtain in the corner. There was a boy wearing a gray uniform sleeping on the bed. Gakuhou heaved a sigh of relief.
“Gakushuu.” He walked over to Gakushuu and hugged him.
Gakushuu's head was bandaged. There was blood on the collar of his white shirt. The blood will surely stain but that didn’t matter.
Gakuhou checked his son's body, in case there was another wound. Thankfully it was only Gakushuu’s head.
The boy’s chest went up and down slowly, didn’t seem to be bothered by his father’s presence. Gakuhou stroked Gakushuu's cheek with his thumb. A tear escaped from the father’s eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered with a shaky voice.
His son was indeed pale. Even his lips were pale. He was almost as pale as his white sheet. Gakuhou couldn’t stop blaming himself. He promised to be a better father. He tried his best.
But why?
If Gakuhou wasn’t too absorbed in his work. If he paid more attention to his son, he would know that the boy wasn’t feeling well. Having a 15 years old boy doesn’t mean you could completely turn your eyes from him.
The doctor came. She was still young but it was clear that she’s an expert in her field. The doctor knew Gakuhou was scared to death, so she made her explanation simple yet still clear for the man.
There were no severe injuries. Gakushuu’s head needed some stitches and now he’s okay. He might experience dizziness when he wakes up later but that’s totally fine.
“All he needs is a good rest, Sir. Then he’s good to go,” she said with a smile. “Honestly, his blood pressure is high for a boy his age.”
Gakuhou’s face paled. “Don’t worry, Sir. I already gave him some medications. Those will work soon.” The doctor quickly added.
“My diagnosis is that your son is too tired and he is not eating enough. Is your son on a tight schedule?”
Another wave of guilt hit Gakuhou. He slowly nodded.
The doctor gave him a reassuring smile. “He will be okay. Just make sure he still needs to eat despite his tight schedule. It is best for him to be hospitalized for a few days to monitor his recovery.”
Gakuhou let out a heavy sigh. “Alright. Do whatever to make him feel better. Can I take care of the administration now?”
There wasn’t any room available for Gakushuu so he needed to wait at the emergency room for a few hours.
After finishing all of the administration's things, the father went back to his son’s bed. Gakuhou sat beside Gakushuu’s bed, looking guilty. His eyes fell on the IV then shifted to Gakushuu’s right hand which was being infused.
“God damn it.” Gakuhou rubs his face with his big hand. “I almost made you die from malnutrition.”
“If your mother is still alive, she might have smacked my head for neglecting you.”
“You were right. I should start to look for a parenting course. I’m really bad at this.”
Gakushuu hadn’t opened his eyes until the sun had already set. Gakuhou wondered what was taking him so long to wake up?
He walked beside a nurse when they transferred his son to his new room. It was already dark. It would be better if he is the one on that bed, not his son. He didn’t know how to describe his feelings seeing Gakushuu like this. The boy was always healthy and lively before.
His fatherly side wouldn’t stop making him feel guilty. Sometimes Gakuhou needed to wipe his eyes so his tears wouldn’t show up. He didn’t know it was this painful watching your kid sick without being able to do anything.
The weather was cold but that room felt warm, almost as if it wanted to appease the room’s occupants. Hours ago, the hands of the clock hit midnight. The strawberry blonde boy hadn’t woken up yet.
Finally, Gakuhou couldn't stand his hunger anymore. He decided to go to the convenience store which was on the ground floor of the hospital. Gakuhou bought the most practical food he could find at the convenience store. After paying, Gakuhou quickly went back to Gakushuu’s room.
Instant ramen was always a saviour since he was still in college. Just a mere sushi wouldn't be enough to feed his stomach that was already empty since afternoon.
Gakuhou was eating his instant ramen after finishing his sushi when Gakushuu woke up. The boy’s violet eyes stared blankly at the room’s ceiling. He blinks several times, confused why isn’t he in his room?
Then the memories striked. Gakushuu hasn't been feeling well these past few days. He was really tired but he couldn’t rest since there was a lot of work to do.
Collapsing on the station wasn’t on his to do list today. Embarrassing.
The delicious smell of instant ramen made his stomach growl. Next to him was his father who was busy sipping ramen. Gakushuu smiled a little. Never once did he imagine his father eating instant ramen. The man always acts like he hates instant ramen and all other instant food, claiming that they aren’t good for health.
“Hey, Dad. Give me some. I’m hungry.”
Gakuhou choked on his ramen. He almost dropped his ramen cup while he was coughing violently.
“Gakushuu!” Another cough. “Oh God, you startled me!”
Gakushuu grinned. “Should I go back to sleep?”
His father put the ramen cup on a table. The man shook his head. “No. Of course no, you little brat. I’m gonna kick your ass if you dare to sleep again.”
“Well, I’m sick. Isn’t that the reason why I’m at the hospital in the first place?”
“But you already slept for more than 12 hours!”
“Oh come on, Dad.” Gakushuu rolled his eyes. “I only slept for 2 hours these past 5 days! I deserve a long, nice sleep.”
Gakuhou crossed his arms. “So, you know why are you this sick now?”
Gakushuu shrugged. “You know my schedule. Hey, give me your ramen, will you?”
“I’m also hungry. Why do you want my ramen that much?”
“You know what, Dad? I haven’t eaten since yesterday afternoon. What time is it now? Oh great, it's already past midnight. Now it means I haven’t eaten for two days. Of course, you need to give me your food.”
Sometimes Gakuhou thought it was better for Gakushuu to shut his mouth up. Looking back to a few months ago, this Gakushuu was better. Gakushuu used to talk in spiteful words at his father, making the man more tired than this.
What's wrong with giving up his food to his son? The problem is Gakuhou wasn’t used to giving in to his son. Usually, he would simply give Gakushuu money to buy the same exact food but now the only food they have is only Gakuhou’s instant ramen.
The father sighed. “Alright. Can you sit on your own?”
“Of course. I don’t see why…” An extreme dizziness hit Gakushuu as he tried to sit. He grimaced while one hand was holding his head. Gakuhou quickly caught Gakushuu’s body before his body slumped and made his head fall heavily on the pillow.
“Shit.” Gakushuu cursed under his breath. He gritted his teeth. “Why does my head hurt so much?”
“Watch your languages.” Gakuhou warned his son. Carefully he laid back Gakushuu’s body. The boy was still shutting his eyes in pain.
“I thought you remembered everything?” The father raised an eyebrow.
Gakushuu opened his violet eyes. “No. I just remember feeling tired, that's why I sat down. After sitting for a while I was feeling better, so I walked over to queue for the train as the train was approaching. I fainted, right? I don’t remember anything after that.”
Gakuhou touched Gakushuu's bandaged head. “You hit your head on the platform bench when you fainted. Your head bled and you need some stitches.”
The younger Asano’s eyes widened a little. “Oh.” He looked away. “That explains a lot.”
There was an awkward silence between those two.
“You can let go of my shoulders now, Dad.”
Gakuhou pulled his hands awkwardly. “Yeah, right.”
“Do you…?”
“Can you…?”
They paused in the middle of their sentence, eyes looking at each other. Their gaze shifted somewhere else, neither could stand the awkwardness.
“You first.” Gakuhou finally spoke.
Gakushuu looked annoyed. His brow furrowed as if he was arguing with himself. Finally, he sighed. “Can you help me sit?”
He is used to do everything by himself. Asking other people’s help was an embarrassing thing for Gakushuu, even though other people is his own father.
“Sure.”
His father set the bed so Gakushuu could sit comfortably. Gakushuu looked away as if still insisting that he didn't need help.
It was the first time they'd been in the same room without doing anything to distract them. Usually, Gakuhou would read a newspaper or type something on his phone. Gakushuu would read a book or be busy finishing homework. This time they didn’t have anything to do. The situation was really awkward.
“Eat this. You can finish this ramen.” Gakuhou offered Gakushuu his ramen cup.
Gakushuu received the cup and then he bowed slowly, not wanting his head to hurt again. “Thanks, Dad.”
Gakuhou left Gakushuu for like 2 minutes to go to the bathroom. When he got back, the boy had already finished his ramen.
“What? You already finished it?”
Again, Gakushuu shrugged. “I can’t help it, Dad. I’m starving.”
The man's footsteps stopped, causing them to stare at each other at a distance. Gakuhou turned his head towards the door awkwardly. “I’ll go buy some food. I saw a restaurant still open when I went to the convenience store. You should eat proper food beside the ramen.”
“I believe I can leave you alone for a while?”
“Of course. I’m not a 5 years old kid.”
Gakuhou didn’t move from his place. Gakushuu stared at his father in disbelief. “Are you afraid that I’m gonna die when you aren’t here?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Jesus Christ! Dad!”
“Alright, alright. Take care.”
“Fuck off. You're just going to go buy food. Don’t exaggerate!”
Half an hour later, just before dawn, Gakushuu's father returned. He brought five kinds of food. Gakuhou even bought some cakes and bread for Gakushuu.
“I think this is too much?” Gakushuu gawked at the foods that his father put on the table.
“You said you haven’t eaten for two days. You are making me look like a bad father. Now, eat.”
“But you are indeed a bad father.”
“Shut up, you brat.”
Gakuhou walked towards Gakushuu's window. He pulled the curtains so that the window revealed a view of the Tokyo office building against the background of the sky starting to turn red.
Gakushuu watched his father's movements as his hand opened the food wrapper. The man looked tired. Gakushuu wasn’t sure if his father already slept or even had a proper meal.
“Dad,” he called. Gakuhou turned his back. “You bought too much food. I can’t finish it all by myself. You have to eat some.”
“I bought them all for you.”
“You know what? I could get a stomach ache if you force me to eat this much.”
“Great. Now I better help you eat or else your hospital bill will make me go bankrupt.”
The Asanos ate in silence as they watched the sunrise. The sky was so pretty. Gakushuu subconsciously smiled. His violet eyes reflected the sight he saw.
There were times when Gakushuu reminded Gakuhou with his late wife. Especially when he was smiling sincerely like this.
“Hey, Gakushuu.” Until now Gakushuu was still not used to hearing his father called his name, not his surname. It had been too long since someone had called him by that name. Now Gakushuu had to try not to wince every time he heard his own name.
His only response was to turn his head. The boy's mouth was still busy chewing.
“I…,” Gakuhou paused. His therapist said he needs to throw his ego away and apologize if he should. He let out a deep sigh. “I’m sorry.”
Gakushuu didn't answer right away. He stared at his father for a moment. “What for?”
“For neglecting you. I know I promised that I will do better as your father. After that day,” Gakuhou gulped. Until now, he still regrets slapping Gakushuu that hard.
Gakushuu on the other hand also winced. He obviously knew what his father meant by that day.
“I realize my mistakes. That’s why I try to fix our family, our relationship. After all, you are my only family. But I ended up neglecting you again until you are this sick. I’m sorry. Sorry, Son. I should have known when you skip meals, when your eyebags are heavier than before, that you aren’t doing well. I should release you from some of your schedules but I was too busy with my own work.”
“You know what?” There was sadness in Gakuhou's eyes when he looked at Gakushuu. “I made a promise with your mother. A long time ago, before she passed away. She was worried about you. I've always been busy with work since you were little, your mother worried what if you don’t have anyone beside you to listen to you? What if you grew up lacking in love because your mother died when you were young?”
“I told her not to worry. I said I will take care of you. I will become a father and also a mother figure for you. That was… what I promised her. But I broke that promise a million times.”
Gakushuu's hands stopped feeding food into his mouth. His father's confession made him feel like he had been drenched in cold water.
Mom always wanted the best for him. Even though she was sick, she still had Gakushuu in her mind.
The memory of his mother made Gakushuu's heart ache. He still remembered his mother's voice, her sweet smile, and the woman's soft touch on Gakushuu's cheek.
His father gave him a small smile. “I’ll start looking for a parenting course. I think I really need that.”
The boy sitting next to him was at a loss for words. His mouth opened but closed again, as if unsure of what to say. Gakushuu knew his father was telling the truth. From his voice tone, even from the expression on his face it was obvious.
“Dad.” Finally, a word slipped from his lips. “Why do you make it so hard for me to hate you?”
Gakuhou stiffened. He was ready if Gakushuu is mad at him from hearing his words. But when he looked back into Gakushuu's eyes, the two violet eyes were filled with tears.
Gakushuu tried his best to keep his tears from flowing down his cheeks. “You abused me for years. You manipulated me. You are the reason why I don’t have a happy childhood. Why should I try so hard to impress you when all you think about is a child long dead?” His choked voice gave emphasis as he implicitly mentioned Ikeda.
Gakuhou's hands clenched into fists.
“But why…? Why?” It was more like a question Gakushuu asked to himself. He lowered his head. Gakushuu shook his strawberry blonde head a few times. “Why can't I hate you? I wanna hate you so fucking much. You broke me. If you were broken, why did you have to destroy me too?”
“Deep in my heart,” he said while clutching his left chest. His violet eyes that now gleamed again met his father's eyes. “I was still a child who dreamed of spending time with his father. No matter how much I wanted to hate you, in the end I always realized it wasn't hatred but anger.”
The father stood up to hug his son. Gakushuu had never said this much about how he had been feeling. The wall Gakushuu had built for years seemed to fall. All the emotions he was holding back overflowed as the walls fell.
His father's embrace brought tears to Gakushuu's eyes. “I was only joking when I said you should take a parenting course. It was even my way to mock you! Why the hell now you want to take a fucking parenting course?!”
Even though Gakushuu shouted in an angry tone, the boy still hugged Gakuhou back. He wiped his tears roughly. “All these therapy sessions make me feel like I'm not myself. Damn it. Why am I crying?”
“That’s okay if you wanna cry. I’m sorry for forcing you to bottle up your emotions for years. You had an unhealthy coping mechanism because of me. You can vent everything now.”
“Stop apologizing! This isn't you!”
“I’m trying to change. Just let me say what I want. You can start venting.”
“Why does it sound like you are forcing me to vent?” Gakushuu mumbled. He rested his head on his father's shoulder. “I’m done venting.”
“That’s all?”
“Yeah.” Gakushuu's eyelids felt heavy.
Gakuhou smiled again. He stroked Gakushuu's hair. “It’s my turn now.”
“You wanna vent?”
“No.” Gakuhou chuckled. “So, you didn’t hate me.” Gakushuu nodded at that.
“That’s why you put me on your favourite contact list?”
This time Gakushuu yawned. “Stop being delusional, Old Man.”
Gakuhou shifted Gakushuu into a more comfortable position. “Well, I know it’s true. You can stop lying to me.”
Gakushuu grunted. He was ashamed to admit that what his father said was true.
“Then why my name in your contact is Sperm Donor Principal?”
“Okay, Dad.” The boy yawned for the third time. “First, you are my father. That makes you a sperm donor. Second, you are literally a principal. What’s wrong with that?”
He knew the words of a sleepy child could not be trusted. But somehow Gakushuu's words sounded reassuring as if he was still conscious. After saying the thing that would make his father's veins pop out, Gakushuu fell asleep.
“You brat!” Gakuhou growled.
“Never mind. I still love you though.”
Gakushuu was fast asleep in his father's arms. Gakuhou hugged his son affectionately. “Why are you sleeping? Are you tired after venting or are you already full?” He murmured.
It didn't take long for Gakushuu to fall into a deep sleep. Only five minutes of sleep he was already snoring. Gakuhou was still holding Gakushuu, reluctant to let go of his embrace. He hummed a lullaby he used to sing every time he put Gakushuu to sleep when the boy was younger.
One of Gakuhou's hands gently patted Gakushuu's arm, something he had once again become a habit when he used to hold his sleeping child. Gakushuu moved a little. He tilted his body so that now his forehead was pressed against Gakuhou's body.
“Hey, you… Seriously! You're drooling on my shirt!” Gakuhou complained. His two hands let go of Gakushuu's body. Gakushuu groaned in protest, luckily didn't wake up.
"Never mind. This time I’ll forgive you because you are sick." Gakuhou hugged his son's body again.
After thinking, Gakuhou had a great idea. Stifling a laugh, he took his phone from the table. Gakushuu's face slightly peaked and looked innocent. Gakuhou decided to capture that innocent face secretly.
“Hahaha that one was funny,” he chuckled softly.
Gakuhou's back was looking for a comfortable backrest. He found Gakushuu's pillow and moved it right behind his back so he could lean back.
“There, there.” Gakuhou stroked Gakushuu's hair. “Have a nice sleep, Gakushuu.” Then the father and son were both asleep just as the morning sun was shining on the bustling city of Tokyo.
After spending days in the hospital, Gakushuu was allowed to go home just in time for Christmas. The boy had finished tidying up all his things when his father came and sat down beside him.
“So, you managed to get kicked out from this hospital soon enough, huh? That’s good news. I spend too much money on you these days.”
“I’ll never get tired to say fuck off to you, Dad.”
“Once again you say those words, I’ll put chilis on your mouth.”
“Try it. I’m gonna sue you for child abuse. The last time we went to the court, you lost, Dad. Do you remember? Or are you senile?”
Gakuhou inhaled and exhaled continuously. “God, give me strength.”
Gakushuu laughed loudly. “Treat me to good food today.”
His father stood up and picked up Gakushuu's bags. “What do you want?”
“A kobe steak.”
“What the fuck, Son you already ask for that over and over! Don’t you want something else?”
“What’s your problem? Are you broke or something? It’s just a kobe steak!”
“I’m ordering from my favourite restaurant today. You can get yours next time.” Gakuhou said as he walked towards the door.
His son snorted. “Not that restaurant again. Their food is lame.”
“Shut up or I’ll make you pay for our Christmas dinner.” The father hissed but his eyes were playful. “Are you coming or not?”
Gakushuu grinned. He quickly walked beside his father. The father and son chatted the whole way before starting to fight again as if fighting is just part of their daily basis.
A few days ago, Gakuhou bought a Christmas tree. Their therapist said they should do a bonding activity. Gakuhou told the therapist they already did that kind of activity once.
“We already did that before we came here.” Gakuhou told the therapist with so much confidence.
The therapist leaned forward, seeming interested in Gakuhou's words. “Oh? What were you guys doing?”
Gakuhou crossed his arms and gave a smug smile. “Gakushuu had some complaints then I took him to the court so we could sue each other. That's how we do bonding activities in this household.”
Gakushuu snorted. His arms were crossed like his father’s.
The poor therapist looked like she was ready to flip the table between them.
This time, Gakuhou was sure the bonding activity would go well. For the first time since Gakushuu was still a toddler, he will ask his son to decorate a Christmas tree together.
Gakuhou made sure Gakushuu already ate before handing some decorations in the boy’s hands. At first, they didn’t enjoy the activity. It was boring for them. Over time the two of them became more relaxed, they even laughed together.
After finishing decorating the Christmas tree, the two Asanos sat on the sofa drinking tea. This time they didn’t talk much. The next hour, Gakuhou took Gakushuu to his favourite restaurant to order some food for their Christmas dinner at home.
Gakuhou told Gakushuu to take a shower before having dinner.
“You stink, Son.”
“You think you don’t stink, huh Dad?”
“Stop trying to argue with me. Go inside your room.” The father shoved his son inside the room before closing the door. Even though it was faint, Gakuhou could hear his son grumbling inside his room before his footsteps moved towards the bathroom.
When Gakushuu came down the stairs after taking a shower he saw that the Christmas tree lights had been turned on. His father even decorated the room with Christmas ornaments. The lights of their house were dimmed, the Christmas carol playing in the background making Gakushuu feel the warm atmosphere in their house.
Gakuhou was busy arranging the food on the dining table. Gakushuu secretly smiled. He went down the stairs with lighter steps.
His father looked up when he heard footsteps. He chuckled as Gakushuu approached him. “How do you know I wear a red shirt?”
“It’s Christmas, Old Man.” His tone was light and not mocking. Gakushuu's expression seemed to show that he liked the fact that the colour of his shirt was the same as his father's.
“Why is there a candle? Are you trying to have a candle light dinner with me?”
“What’s so wrong about that?”
Gakushuu didn't answer. He turned and walked towards the Christmas tree. His laughter sounded happy. “I like that idea. It’s been a long time since we ate dinner together.”
He remembered that several years ago he dreamed of having dinner with his parents on his birthday. Gakushuu was heartbroken when he woke up and realized it was all a dream. This time, it’s real, not a dream.
The strawberry blonde haired boy was standing in front of the Christmas tree. His head looked up at the top of the Christmas tree which was taller than him. The twinkling Christmas tree lights look beautiful. Gakushuu's smile widened without him noticing.
Gakuhou hastily washed his hands and headed towards Gakushuu.
“This time,” Gakuhou stopped right next to Gakushuu. “We did the right bonding activity, right?”
Gakushuu laughed. “Right.”
The father glanced at his son who was still staring at the top of the Christmas tree. He smiled warmly; one hand was about to embrace Gakushuu. “Merry Christmas, Ga…”
Gakushuu brushed off his father's hand. “Fuck off, Dad. What are you trying to do? Hugging me? Gross. Go away.”
Gakuhou stared at his son in disbelief. “What the fuck was wrong with you? I’m trying to be nice!”
“Asano Gakushuu, don’t you remember just a few days ago you fell asleep in my arms? You even drooled on my shirt!”
“I wasn’t drooling! I never drool!”
“Let’s say if you still can say that after you see this.” Gakuhou scrolled down his gallery. He showed Gakushuu the picture he took when Gakushuu was sleeping.
Gakushuu's mouth dropped open.
Gakuhou smirked. “It will be nice if I put this photo on the school’s website.”
“DAD! DELETE THAT PHOTO NOW!”
“WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU YELLING TO, BRAT?!”
“FUCK MANNERS, GIVE ME YOUR PHONE!”
They were chasing each other with Gakuhou who held up his phone high so it couldn't be reached by Gakushuu. In the end Gakuhou's efforts were in vain because Gakushuu managed to steal his phone. The photo was successfully deleted by Gakushuu.
“Oh, you think that’s the only photo I have? I still have it in my laptop.”
“I’ll burn your office, Dad.”
After fighting for almost half an hour, Gakuhou and Gakushuu decided to have dinner. Surprisingly their dinner went well without any arguments. Gakushuu recounted the mess that the student council members made so he had to work overtime. His father chimed in as he took the lobster from the plate.
“I know from the very first day, those kids will make a mess.”
“They always make a mess.”
It was just an ordinary dinner, just like another family will do. But small things like telling each other's day were rare occurrences in the Asano family. Today they learn that talking about trivial things like this can make them happy.
Gakushuu tidied up the plates after they finished eating. His father came to him and took all the plates. Before Gakushuu could protest, Gakuhou told him to go up to his office to pick up the Christmas present that Gakuhou had prepared for him.
Gakuhou's office is dark. It seemed that the man had not been in this room the past few days. Gakushuu's index finger turned on the light switch. When the lights lit up the room, at that moment Gakushuu saw a yellow creature stuck to his father's window.
He didn't scream. It was the creature that screamed.
“Principal! You startled me!” Principal? Did the creature know his father?
“Oh? You aren’t Principal Asano. You are Asano-kun!” Yellow tentacles appeared. It seemed like the tentacles were waving at him.
The yellow octopus had a wide grin on his face. He kept grinning at Gakushuu.
“Finally, I have a chance to properly introduce myself. Uh, should I?” The octopus muttered while scratching its yellow bald head. "Never mind, you've seen me too. Alright! My name is Korosensei, I'm the homeroom teacher of class 3-E. I've heard a lot about you, Asano-kun! I’m happy that we could meet!"
Gakushuu bowed awkwardly. “Nice to meet you. I’m Asano Gakushuu, the student council president.” He spoke flatly like a robot.
“Nice to meet you too! I see that you have recovered. Um… was your face always that pale, Asano-kun? I think you should tell your father if you aren’t feeling well.”
The boy shook his head. “I’m okay.”
Gakushuu still didn't move from his place. There was a wide gap between him and the yellow octopus. Korosensei grimaced, he felt very awkward. Actually, he was surprised the principal's son was not surprised to see him. He thought Gakushuu would scream in surprise when he saw him or run away.
“Hey, Asano-kun, please call your father. I’m looking for him.”
The boy simply nodded. He turned around with a stiff motion.
Korosensei broke out in a cold sweat. It seemed the boy was too shocked to react.
“Asano-kun! Wait! I’m sorry but can you please open the window first? It’s really cold outside!”
Again, Gakushuu nodded. He walked to the window. His shaking hand opened the window. “Please make sure to close the window again after you get in.” With that, Gakushuu turned his back and walked away.
“I’m not shocked. I’ve seen so many weird things. The fact that Dad has an alien friend will not scare the shit out of me.” Korosensei could hear Gakushuu muttering while still walking away.
Gakushuu bumped into Gakuhou just as he was about to go down the stairs. Gakuhou was confused by Gakushuu's pale face. "Son, what took you so long? Did you manage to find the present?"
Gakushuu's index finger pointed at Gakuhou's office which was still wide open. "Dad, there's a yellow octopus looking for you."
“What?! Yellow octopus?”
“Yeah.”
Gakuhou blinked several times. "Are you all right, Son?"
Gakushuu let out a dry laugh. “Of course, I’m fine.” Then he fainted.
The father frantically grabbed his son's body before he hit the floor. “Gakushuu! Gakushuu wake up!” Gakuhou patted Gakushuu's cheek hoping the boy would wake up.
Looks like Gakuhou shouted quite loudly, the proof was that Korosensei immediately darted to his side. “Principal, what’s happening…. OH MY GOD! HE FAINTED?!”
“FUCKING IDIOT WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE?!” Gakuhou yelled. It was clear that he was mad.
Korosensei panicked. “You… you said you will treat me to food! It’s Christmas so I thought you would treat me today!”
“I will treat you, but you have to wait for my call! Did you forget I live with my son? You are supposed to be the world’s secret!!”
“NYUNYA!” Koro sensei jumped. “I’m sorry, Principal! I must be too excited!”
Gakuhou laid Gakushuu who was still unconscious on the floor. “You…” He growled. Gakuhou pulled the anti-sensei green knife from his trouser pocket. Somehow Gakuhou decided to pocket the knife when he was having dinner with his son.
“COME HERE YOU DAMN OCTOPUS! I’LL KILL YOU TONIGHT!”
“NYUNYA! Principal! I’m sorry I didn’t mean it! Principal, today is Christmas! You shouldn't kill people on Christmas!”
That's how Principal Asano decided to spend the rest of his night, trying to stab the yellow octopus on Christmas day with his son laying on the floor unconscious. The Christmas carol playing downstairs became the soundtrack for his assassination attempt.