I snap out of this trance of admiration.
Now is not the time. I have to buckle down and end my final semester on a good note. While eyeing the directions for the assignment on my computer, I lean over the side of my bed to grab my bookbag for some paper to take notes.
"Hey, Hiro? What class are you studying for already? The semester literally just started", Josai questions while still rummaging through my dresser for clothes. He makes a quick dash to the bathroom to change while still listening for my response.
"Well, my art professor wants us to take notes on the artists and painters of the Romantic Period, but I don't have the textbook for this class. I'll have to look them up online".
"Wait? Art professor? I take art, Professor Stevenson? I missed his class today to swing by the bookstore and pick up his textbook! Turns out I got the… last one", mumbles Josai as he enters the room and his words begin the fade.
"Wow, so it WAS you! You really did get the last textbook!"
"...Yeah? I have an idea! How 'bout we share it? It'll be just like our freshman year! Just so much fun, plus, we'll get more time to hang out! I'll be right back. Let me go get it out of my bookbag!"
As Josai sprints happily out of the room, I dreadfully facepalm myself. 'Sharing? More time? This is how I caught feelings for you! Can I really survive another repeat of freshman year? Gosh, how could I ever say no to him? He looked so happy just mentioning the idea.'
"Got it!" Josai exclaims as I hear footsteps racing towards my bedroom. He tosses the book onto my bed with a cheeky smile. In his other hand is his laptop.
" I should probably start on this assignment as well since we'll both be sharing this book, whadduya think?"
I grin and willingly shake my head in agreement as he hops on the other side of my bed and opens his laptop. We both criss-cross our legs and I grab the textbook to prop it up beside us. This gives us both a clear view of each page.
★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★
Ahh, Hiro looks so precious when he concentrates…
I'm so glad I ended up buying the last textbook. Eventually, I was going to start running low on excuses to see him, nor do I want to become annoying by constantly asking to stay over at his place. Even though I suck at confessing, at least I get to spend time with Hiro again…
★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★
*Yawns*
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 11:54 pm ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙
"Hey, It's getting kind of late. We both have school tomorrow and I definitely do not want to fall asleep in class. I think this is a good stopping point for today," I mumble almost incoherently from studying so hard. Josai nods his head in agreement.
"Whew- Agreed. Let's go brush our teeth, wouldn't want to wake up smelling like the noodles we ate tonight," Josai chuckled. We hopped off my bed and headed to the bathroom. As we made it inside, I grabbed my toothbrush out of the divided blue cup that sits beside my sink. Josai sees his toothbrush and picks it up with a twinge of awe in his eyes.
"You… Did you keep my toothbrush? I thought you would've thrown it away by now", stuttered Josai while holding back a grin.
"Of course I did. I knew you'd come back over to spend the night at my place eventually. I bought a casing to go over it so that it wouldn't get dirty while you didn't use it." I begin brushing my teeth. I looked up from the sink and saw Josai staring at me through the mirror. I pause and my cheeks start to burn.
"Hiroki… How thoughtful of you," Josai states in a soothing, yet lower tone than usual. It was a shift in the atmosphere. Subtle, yet noticeable. Silence took over the small space between us in the bathroom as we finished brushing our teeth. I didn't dare look back up from the sink to see if Josai was still watching me.
We made our way back to my room to call it a night. I hesitated before entering the room.
"Umm Josai, Are you- You know-"
"No no, don't worry! I'm sleeping on the couch. Just wondering if you had a blanket I could borrow?"
"Of course! I have one folded in my closet, let me get it for you."
I open my closet door and proceed to hand Josai a huge, fluffy blanket in the shade of rich honey amber. He grazes my hand as he reaches and grabs the blanket from me. Before fully pulling away, Josai leans forward, lips near my ear:
"Get some rest. You'll need it for your new classes tomorrow."
"... I will. You should get some rest, too", I barely force these meek words from my mouth. I step back as we catch each others' gaze before finally parting ways for rest. I shut my door and crawl into bed, my heart still beating out of my chest.
Shit, I wonder if Josai could hear it pumping just a few moments ago…
I brush off my worries and fall into a peaceful slumber.