Chapter Text
"Akito Shinonome and Toya Aoyagi."
The professor called out, revealing that the two young men would be paired together for the most prestigious and important event of the school year: fashion week.
Akito was the first to look over at Toya, who was sitting across the room. Leaning back in his chair, Akito narrowed his olive-green eyes, trying to get a good look at Toya's expression, eager to see if he looked either surprised or excited. But unfortunately, Akito couldn't see anything, since Toya had buried his face in his arms, which rested on his desk. That...certainly was not a good sign. Was Toya still mad about last week when Akito ran into him? It was purely an accident, so why couldn't he see that? Akito frowned, matching Toya's energy as he surrendered to the dismay that he felt.
As he was resting on his desk, Akito's mind brought him back to last week. The class was assigned to participate in some sort of mock fashion show. Akito, being the total heartthrob he was, was modeled during this show. Toya, being the dedicated and (according to Akito) nerdy guy he was, designed a majority of the outfits displayed during the show. Toya would also occasionally help with the styling of the models. They had made eye contact several times during the show, and Toya even helped Akito with his hair once when he wore an outfit that Toya had designed. Akito couldn't stop thinking about that focused, unbroken gaze of Toya's, how his silver eyes showed no sign of distrust in himself. He recalled how Toya adjusted his elegant, silver, thin-rimmed glasses as he helped Akito brush up before the show. Akito was almost certain that Toya had forgotten all about it, especially after that show quickly devolved into chaos.
Once the show started, the two boys portrayed their respective talents. Akito embodied the epitome of laid-back elegance as he effortlessly strutted down the makeshift runway. His presence commanded attention, his every movement a testament to his modeling talent. Meanwhile, Toya, consumed by the meticulous details of the styling process, darted from one model to another, ensuring that each garment lay just right and every accessory complemented the overall aesthetic.
As Akito reached the end of the runway, executing a flawless turn, fate intervened in the most unexpected of ways. In a moment of distraction, his path intersected with Toya's, their collision sending fabrics billowing and tempers flaring. Amidst the chaos, apologies were exchanged, though tensions lingered beneath the surface, tensions that Akito was wondering about and slightly afraid of. To Akito, that collision was an experience that he would never forget.
But to Toya, it was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
Akito snapped back to reality when the bell rang. He got up and collected all of his things before walking to the door. However, before he could exit, he was stopped by a familiar voice.
"Akito,"
'Okay, that's fine. Just forget formalities.' Akito thought as he turned around rather quickly, his small ginger ponytail flicking with the sudden movement. He leaned his back against the doorway, looking at whoever was calling him with dreary eyes. But that uninterested gaze was soon replaced with one of curiosity, surprise, and slight discomfort as he saw who had called out to him, walking closer.
Toya's bi-colored blue hair seemed to glide gracefully as he walked closer to Akito to talk to him. He pinched his glasses with his index finger and thumb, looking at the ginger with a stoic, hard-to-read, expression. Akito could not tell in the slightest what this guy was thinking or what his intentions were, but he wanted to keep this interaction brief and light-hearted to erase last week's situation from Toya's mind.
"Hey, partner." Akito said, his lips curving into a witty smile as those words escaped him.
Toya scoffed, and Akito immediately knew that he hadn't forgotten about last week.
"Listen," Toya started. "Let's just get this over with. I don't want to see you unless I have to, and I don't want to listen to anything you have to say. I know I'm going to end up carrying this project, so just stay out of my way so I can get a good grade."
"Uhh...dude, this is just a lame project. Loosen up a little." Akito replied, his smile disappearing.
"Loosen up? Don't tell me to loosen up. Unlike you, I take this school very seriously and don't just party all night long. Some people actually have to work hard to be successful, you know."
"Yeah, yeah." Akito waved his hand in front of him, brushing off and ignoring Toya's little lecture. "Whatever, man. Have fun workin' alone."
And just like that, Akito threw his bag over his shoulder and walked out the door, leaving Toya alone in the classroom.