Chapter Text
„Gotcha.“ Shinya smirked as he put a spell on Guren’s forehead.
It was already afternoon and everyone had left except these two. Shinya had class representative work to do and kindly asked (or rather blackmailed) Guren for his help, but now that they were finally finished Guren also had to deal with one more of his pranks, oh what a wonderful day!
„Go ahead and let it explode.“ he said monotonously.
„You don‘t even know if it‘s an explosion spell.“ Shinya argued back, shaking his head.
Guren quirked an eyebrow up.
„Why else would you put a spell on my head?“
„How about you actually read the spells I put on you all the time?“ Shinya teased, turning on his heel to leave the classroom, just to look back once more and grin mischievously. That alone made Guren want to rip that spell off his head and throw it away without giving it a second glance. Hiiragi. What should he make of them.
Shinya was gone and if Guren wanted to, he could go home every second now, yet he still sat at his desk, debating if he should read the spell or rip it into pieces.
Surprisingly, he decided to actually give Shinya‘s advice some thought.
He knew Shinya had admirable spellcraft, so maybe he could learn something out of the idiot ‘s spells? With that in mind he carefully reached to remove the paper from his forehead and take a look at what was written on it. Shinya had often pranked him with explosion or illusion spells, but nothing of that sorts had happened just yet, so what in the world would be waiting for him?
He reached for the paper, only to find it completely empty, save for a neatly drawn heart in the middle. There were no words, no letters, nothing. He stared at it for a while, but was still left clueless. Spells had to be written, not drawn. Moreover, he had never heard of a spell that had anything to do with a heart.
The more he looked at it, the more he felt that Shinya was playing some prank on him again. On the other hand, had Shinya maybe just snatched one of Mito’s spell-papers because he used up all of his? Then the heart would actually make sense, Guren had already seen Mito doodle on her spells when classes got a bit too boring for her tastes.
Strange.
He spent another while looking at the spell, searching for any connection to anything . Out of curiosity he turned it around.
An illusion-spell was waiting there for him. A very high ranking one at that, only very advanced spellcrafter were able to use these. Well, what was he expecting of a Hiiragi? It was an activation-illusion, usually used to deliver messages, because only specific people were able to activate the illusion, chosen by the one casting the spell.
By how much he could grasp of the spell it seemed he was the only one able to activate the illusion. Shinya must’ve put quite a lot of effort into making this spell work as he had to mix together the different kinds of spellcraft the Ichinose and the Hiiragi used.
So he tried the only logical thing: to activate it.
The second he did, an illusion of Shinya appeared before him.
„If you get it, come and meet me in the classroom furthest back of the hall.“
Shinya‘s illusion-self smiled at him and disappeared right after.
Huh? What should he get? How the spell worked? That he did. So, did he get it ?
Whatever! He’d just go anyways and ask Shinya if that was what he should have understood, because apparently the other was waiting for him in the other classroom. In a swift motion he took his bag, swung it over his shoulder and left the classroom.
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.
Damn Shinya and his antics, the other really was waiting in that classroom, relaxedly leaning against a table.
„And what would you have done if I had ripped the spell into pieces after you left? Would you have waited the whole night?“ Guren asked as he entered the other classroom.
„Now don‘t be silly, I hung up other spells at the entry of the school that would have activated when you left, successfully telling me that I can go home as well.“ he grinned with an infuriating satisfaction.
„But it seems you didn’t, as you came here. Did you get it?“ he asked, slightly tilting his head in a sad attempt to look cute.
„Yeah... about that... what exactly was I supposed to get?“ Guren mumbled while Shinya let out a loud ‚huh?!‘ .
„Wasn‘t it crystal clear?“ he asked while slowly but surely a blush spread on his cheeks.
Guren put his hands next to his head in a defensive manner. „I did get how the spell worked, if it‘s that.“
Shinya had by then hidden his face behind his hands and only grabbed another spell from his pockets. The spell activated and an illusion-Shinya appeared again.
„I assumed that! We learned that just lately in the spellcraft classes. Seriously, do you ever pay attention?!“ his illusion self ranted as it walked around the room nervously, ending the rant with poking Guren‘s nose.
„Do you ever say something after you thought about it?!“ Guren only bickered back, while Shinya groaned as he let his hands slip down his face.
„So you didn‘t get what I was trying to say with my little drawing, or did you magically pay attention in philosophy?“ he asked sarcastically.
„You drew that? I thought you snatched one of Mito‘s spell-sheets.“
„So you didn’t get it. Hah... you can be so dense sometimes! Honestly, you wouldn’t even need to pay attention to philosophy class to understand what I was tying to say. You would have just needed a tiny bit of common sense.“
Shinya laughed as he put a hand to his head and summoned another illusion-Shinya who now continued to speak.
„I wrote it down so wouldn‘t have to explain it! Not to have to explain it anyway!“
The illusion vanished again.
„...but I guess it can‘t be helped.“ the real Shinya added.
Guren only let out a sound of confusion.
„Please stop using your illusions to explain, I can barely follow your speaking.“
It was admirable how Shinya could use and control his illusions so perfectly, but still.
Shinya only nodded in affirmation.
„Honestly there‘s not much to explain.”, he started, the blush on his face slightly deepening. „Anyways, what does a heart usually symbolise?“
„The weak point of the enemy.“ Guren answered in a serious voice.
„Eh?“ was the only sound Shinya made before breaking into amused laughter. An adorable sound, now that he thought about it.
„Ahaha... are you really so dense or are you playing?“ he asked, trying to hold his laughter.
„What? That‘s a valid answer.“
„No!“
„Why not?“
„Well, in military context, maybe. But not now!“
„Whatever! Keep explaining or leave it be, I still don‘t see your point.“
„Ok ok, then maybe...“ he put a finger to his chin as he thought. „hm... when you feel deep affection towards someone, you would say you are...“ he made a gesture for Guren to finish his sentence.
‚deep affection‘... ‚you are...?‘
Oh.
„...in love?“ Guren finished in a questioning tone.
„Dididig! Correct.“ Shinya let out a deep breath.
So, if a heart stands for love and Shinya drew that heart on the spell and only Guren was able to activate it then...
No. No way!
„You‘re in love with me?“
„Also correct, hah, so finally your denseness vanished? I didn‘t fall in love with an idiot?“ he teased as he grabbed his schoolbag. „Go on, reject me already so we can both go home.“
He seemed about ready to leave right then and there, but Guren wouldn’t let that happen.
„Who said I was gonna reject you?“
Shinya looked at him with wide eyes while the dark red spreading on his face reached up to his ears.
„So you‘re not gonna reject me?“ Shinya asked with a slight tremble in his voice.
„I didn‘t say that.“ Guren answered and grinned teasingly.
„It‘s not nice to play with someone‘s feelings.“
„It‘s also not nice to not say it right out but make me guess your feelings.“
„You-“ Shinya started and looked at him angrily. Adorable, in Guren‘s eyes.
„Ok, ok, how about I answer you properly when you confess properly?“ he suggested and Shinya‘s anger turned into bewilderment for a moment before turning into anger again.
„That‘s unfair!“ he yelled.
„Well, if you don‘t want an answer, fine, I can also go home-“ Guren started while turning on his heel to leave.
Shinya dropped his schoolbag and grabbed his wrist.
„No, no, no! Stop. Fine...“
„Now, say it.“ Guren looked at Shinya again, who was about as red as a tomato by now. A memory Guren would cherish for a long time.
„I hate you.“ Shinya mumbled under his breath before properly starting. „I can‘t believe I‘m doing this... I- I love you, Guren.“
„What do you want to archive with this confession?“ the recipient said while still teasingly smiling down at the blushing mess before him. He knew his answer and he knew Shinya was gonna do anything for him to tell him.
„Would you go out with me?“ Shinya finished, still holding onto the sleeve of Guren‘s uniform he grabbed earlier. „Now give me my answer!“
Guren simply laughed. The fact that he made a Hiiragi obey him with just a few teases was absolutely hilarious to him.
„Stop laughing! I did my part so now do yours!“
„Hah...“ Guren exhaled and pulled Shinya into a kiss in a smooth movement.
He could feel Shinya sucking in his breath and his hand fall from his sleeve in perplexity, even though it was just a simple kiss. And although Guren did not try to get Shinya into a make-out session, Shinya was still so dumbfounded he forgot to return the kiss.
„At least close your eyes.“ Guren complained as they separated and he opened his eyes again. Shinya was still just blinking at him in silence with his hand reaching up to his lips, and Guren watched him helplessly fight with his feelings. If it was that easy to shut him up, he should keep this up.
„W-was that?“ Shinya stuttered.
„That was genuine.“ Guren answered confidently.
„But what about Mahiru?“
Not that again. „Haven’t I said it often enough that I don‘t feel anything for her anymore?“
„So, we... are a thing?“ Shinya asked, suddenly very subdued while fidgeting with his fingers. That seemed very out of character for him, yet Guren wouldn’t deny that that was an incredibly adorable side of Shinya. (And finally he wasn‘t talking Guren‘s head off.)
„If you want us to, I personally would like to try.“ Guren responded, a smile forming on his lips. This smile was seemingly contagious as it also formed on Shinya‘s lips.
„And I thought I‘d get home today and get teased by little Shinoa about failing miserably.“
„Well now you can tell her you have a boyfriend.“
„Sure will.“
Shinya put his hand on his chest and took a deep breath. Was he checking his heartbeat? The perfect opportunity to keep teasing him. He swiftly grabbed the others’ other hand and checked the pulse there. And really, Shinya‘s pulse was still up at 180.
Guren broke into lighthearted laughter. „Physical closeness get‘s you this worked up?“
Shinya pulled his hand away. „Just you wait till I get used to this! Then you‘ll never see an end to me being snuggly!“ he huffed angrily and subconsciously got really close to Guren‘s face again.
Ah, he was playing right into Guren‘s cards.
„Was that a threat or a promise?“ he teased before seizing the opportunity to close the distance again and give him another kiss. Shinya was a quick learner though, he did as he was told and closed his eyes while trying to return the gesture.
Nonetheless, when they separated he was already ranting to himself about being so careless. It only made Guren laugh even more.
„Now, now...“ the older started after a while, a calm smile finding it‘s place on his features as Shinya looked up from his ranting. „It‘s gotten quite late already, how about we go home?“
„Huh? Ah, you‘re right it‘s already getting dark.“ Shinya picked up his bag again, only waiting for Guren to grab his own before they both walked out of the classroom.
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.
.
It surprised Shinya himself that he found the courage to take Guren’s hand, but it was probably the lack of an audience at this hour, that helped him overcome his fear. His heartbeat had calmed again and he felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
They only stopped as they had to go separate ways from there to get home.
Well, time for goodbye.
Shinya sighed as he let go of the others‘ hand.
„Bye Guren! See you tomorrow!“
He gave Guren a last peck to the cheek, which apparently caught him off guard as he let out a confused noise and turned just slightly red. Shinya chuckled as he waved while walking away. Who knew he could be so adorable?
„Bye bye, see you tomorrow.“ he heard Guren say in the distance.
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