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So, the staring has become a problem. And people are starting to notice.
It was fine when it was just Hajime, and maybe Matsukawa had made assumptions, but what else is new? But he thinks he has to officially draw the line at Kindaichi nervously asking what his deal is or if he’s planning on Killing Tobio in his sleep. A very rude assumption, by the way.
“You’re staring again.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.” And even while he’s saying this, Tooru can't bring himself to look away.
"I don't think I've seen you blink in the last five minutes."
And now he does look away, just to roll his eyes at Hajime. "That is not true."
“You're gonna creep the kid out.” He wishes Hajime wouldn't say it like that, like it's something dirty. But to Hajime, it might be, given that he always looks at Tooru like he's some disgusting pervert. Tooru’s intentions, which he doesn't have, are entirely pure! He just has a… fascination (or as Hajime would say, “obsession”) with Tobio.
How embarrassing to be caught staring. He’s only grateful that Tobio could never put the pieces together, even if he does notice Tooru staring. Not…that there are any pieces to put together. Just that if there were, Tobio would be too dense to make any connections to any feelings that Tooru may have. Which he doesn't, no matter what Hajime says.
But how can he not stare? Tobio is a vision. It should be a crime to look the way Tobio does when he's sparring this way. That could be Tooru's first decree when he takes the throne; no more juniors being annoyingly distracting when they hold a blade to the throat of another man. There is no reason Tooru should feel jealous of the man currently inches away from Tobio, and even closer to the sharp edge of his blade.
Tooru takes a deep breath, closing his eyes to clear his thoughts. If he had more privacy, he'd slap both his cheeks and pull at his hair, but he needs to show more decorum than that. He releases a deep sigh and when he opens his eyes, he catches Tobio taking a glance towards him, a mistake on his part, given that his sword is clashing with Kindaichi's at present. Kindaichi may lack the speed and efficacy that Tobio possesses, but only a rookie would miss the opportunity of your opponent losing focus. That split second is really all Kindaichi needs to gain the upper hand, thrusting his sword upwards and knocking Tobio's own sword out of his hands. The weapon clatters on the ground, skidding out towards Tooru's feet. Tooru's eyes follow it the whole way.
Hajime crosses his arms, tsking at the display, but he says nothing. Probably because for Tobio, the shame of being bested so easily is lesson enough. Tobio stares at Hajime straight on (although he has a slightly dejected look on his face), but his left hand is cupping the side of his face. It's so unnatural, the way Tobio's own hand pressing into his jaw pushes up his cheeks, making it look like he's pouting. Or maybe he really is pouting, Tooru thinks. Either way, Tobio looks...cute.
But when Tobio removes his hand, Tooru balks. "Tobio!" he gasps out, just as Kindaichi is saying "Kageyama! You're bleeding!" Tooru starts walking over briskly, muttering "No shit" under his breath, quietly so only Hajime hears it as he walks alongside him.
When he gets close to Tobio, Tooru grabs the younger man's wrist to keep any hands away from the cut. He uses his other hand to grab Tobio's face, tilting his head to the side so Tooru can get a closer look. It's not a deep cut, by any means, or anything serious at all, but Tooru still feels a little agitated looking at it. Strangely enough, he doesn't even feel agitated at Kindaichi (well, not really), but rather towards Tobio for letting it happen at all. Kindaichi is muttering apologies, towards Tobio and Hajime, but Hajime waves him off, ordering him to take a break. Tooru is hardly paying attention to that though, not when he's so focused on Tobio and his injury (if one could call it a proper injury).
All at once Tooru realizes that he's overreacting and causing a scene in front of the cadets. His hand is still on Tobio's face, his thumb under his chin with the rest of his fingers on Tobio's good cheek, and it's probably far too intimate a position for the crown prince to be in. It seems like Tobio may realize this too because his eyes are locked on Tooru, wide and astonished like he can't believe Tooru would ever treat him like this, gently and with care. And how awful that is because Tobio has beautiful eyes and they're practically sparkling right now. How can Tooru or anyone be expected to focus when Tobio can pin you with one look? (Or maybe, and Tooru can't let this thought linger because it makes him far too happy, it's that Tobio only ever looks at Tooru this way. Perhaps only Tooru gets so distracted by Tobio because he is the only one on the receiving end of Tobio's most devastating looks.)
Tooru stares into Tobio's eyes, his hand moving from a grip to a tender caress, sliding up towards his neck and behind his ear. His thumb moves from under his chin to just below his lips, barely brushing against them. Tooru no longer has a hold of Tobio at all, but Tobio doesn't move away. If anything, he seems to lean in further, like a cat seeking out a gentle pet. "Tobio, you..." he trails off. He wants to scold him and coddle him and pinch his cheeks and maybe he wants to kiss him and none of these feelings are new at all.
Before Tooru can figure out what to say, Hajime claps a hand on Tobio's shoulder. "How are you Tobio? It doesn't seem serious." He says this Tobio, but his eyes are telling Tooru to get lost and stop causing a scene. It makes Tooru wonder how obvious he must have been if Hajime felt the need to step in like that. Tooru gets the message though and removes himself from Tobio's space.
"I'm alright. It doesn't hurt," Tobio tells him, but he's still staring at Tooru.
Tooru looks away, unable to meet Tobio's gaze after that without feeling flustered. He instead turns towards Hajime. "He's completely fine. It's barely a scratch," Tooru says.
Hajime raises an eyebrow as if to question why Tooru took so long looking at the wound if it was barely a scratch, but he says nothing. "Well, I'm glad you're fine," he says to Tobio. "As for you," he directs at Tooru, "you need to leave. You're distracting my trainees."
Tooru sputters, caught off guard. "Like this is my fault?"
Hajime raises an eyebrow. "I didn't say anything like that. I meant you're causing a scene here." He looks around the training ground to prove his point. And he does have a point. It's not every day that a random cadet gets so much special attention from the prince. Oh no, Tooru is obvious, isn't he?
Tooru huffs. "I was going to leave anyway," he mutters, clearly pouting (and lying). He walks away, making his way to his study, where he always goes to sulk alone.
It's only when he's halfway there, roaming a hallway alone that he realizes this mess all started because Tobio got a little too distracted. And as unprofessional and dangerous as that is, Tooru is a little giddy that he is not the only one with a staring problem.