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In the depths of their school, in an old classroom that was renewed and rearranged, now called the “Students Council’s office”, sat Teru Minamoto and Akane Aoi, working silently on some papers. The students were long gone, and the sun was setting by far faster than they would like it to, as the never-ending papers were still lying in front of them on the desk. They were the only students still in the school's building, but not on its grounds. As much as he tried to deny it, Teru knew his younger brother, Kou, was in the old building hanging out with Yashiro and their supernatural friends, better said their boyfriends. How did Kou, an exorcist, end up having a ghost boyfriend. As much as he tried to abhor the thought of a Minamoto hanging out with supernaturals, he would be a hypocrite, considering he's now sitting next to a half-human, half-supernatural, the one and only Akane Aoi. He was the only apparition he couldn't exorcise, as much as he threatened him with his sword, his actions towards him were never filled with venom.
Lost in his thoughts, Teru didn't notice Akane already packing his stuff and ready to call it a day. He was brought back to reality by the same guy kicking his ankle with his foot.
“Earth to Minamoto? What kind of school president are you if you keep zoning out while we're working on papers, what do you even think about for so long” while talking, Akane managed to pack up all of his things and took his bag, waiting for Teru
“Thinking of how to exorcise a specific supernatural” he had that porcelain perfect smile that every pair of eyes in their school had seen at least once plastered across his face.
Akane knew by now that he would never actually do that to him, but he still backed away as he didn't want to hang upside down from the ceiling.
“I don't have all day President” Akane yelled at Teru as he left the Students Council office.
Teru was quick to grab his sword and bag and catch up with Akane.
—
By the time Teru arrived home, Kou was already cooking dinner for them, it was no unfamiliar sight, he always did that. He was quickly greeted by his younger siblings and after dinner, he went to sleep to be ready for his night patrol. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was a weird feeling in his gut when he thought about that night's patrol, but he couldn't miss it no matter what.
The patrol went by smoothly, nothing unusual, until he encountered a high-level apparition. He wasn't worried at all, until he scanned his surroundings; he was right next to Akane’s house. For some unexplainable reason that made his heart rate increase by about 30 bmp. He was now afraid of damaging anything surrounding him.
Thanks to his exorcist skills, Teru was able to get rid of the apparition with minor injuries (mind you, those injuries could kill an average person). He'd have to ask Akane the next day to help him stitch them up.
Talking about the devil, he looked to where he knew Akane’s bedroom window was and saw the vice president standing there, looking at him with a smug smirk plastered across his face.
“The president just protected my house and me, I feel honored.“ even in the middle of the night, Akane was still teasing him as usual, and for some unexplainable reason, it made Teru smile to himself.
“Shut your mouth Aoi, can I come in? I need you to stitch some scars up”
At that, Akane simply sighed and nodded his head. He'd be lying if he said this was the first time this happened.
Once Teru got to his front door, Akane quickly dragged him to his room and got the first aid kit, the got to work.
A thought that was supposed to remain unsaid escaped Akane’s lips “What will you do without me after you graduate Minamoto?” He let out a chuckle despite the slightly sad smile on his face.
“I guess you'll have to stick with me forever, it's not like I'd let an apparition, or better said, former apparition by that time, roaming around Japan’s streets without my knowledge” Teru half-joked and his words were accompanied by a slight smile, but it was a genuine one. He wouldn't mind having Akane around for the rest of his life.
Akane would punch him if it weren't for the scar he's currently stitching up “Mr President needs his vice president even after highschool? That's new.” despite his words, he was smiling, not as if he would ever let Teru see it.
“Aoi, I don't consider you a supernatural” and that was the most sincere sentence ever pronounced by Teru.
Akane quickly finished stitching up Teru’s scar before responding with a sigh “Wow, thank you for calling me too weak to even be considered a supernatural”
The words were quickly received by Teru’s brain and he suddenly turned around. He had to look Akane in the eyes for this conversation “That's not what I meant. I wanted to say that I don't consider you a supernatural because I was raised to see all supernaturals as evil, I was told they weren't capable of good, they were the embodiment of evil; but you're not like that. I think highly of you Aoi-”
Akane quickly interrupted him “Akane. Call me Akane, there's no need for formalities anymore”
Teru smiled at his words and continued “Akane. I look forward to seeing you when I walk towards the students council office. I would step on everything I know for you. I would kill people for you, and I don't even have to mention supernaturals. I've never thought of you as a supernatural, despite my threats”
Saying all those words knocked the air out of Teru’s lungs. He was breathless, his heart was rushing and his mind was a mess. He didn't have to make that sound like a love confession, but he did, despite the unsaid specific words you hear in a love confession.
Akane was frozen in place, he couldn't think of anything to say back, but he knew he couldn't remain silent. He had to say something, and quickly, but what?
“Minamoto-”
“Teru”
Akane cleared his throat “Teru, you're a jerk, and have a terrible personality. You always get badly injured and come to me to take care of you.” He took a deep breath, much-needed air was now filling his lungs, ready for the words he never thought he'd say out loud.
“But I understand why the whole school is at your feet. You truly are handsome and your smile could light up a whole ball room, but not your display perfect smile. I hate that one” Akane slightly chuckled at Teru’s dramatic gasp “Your genuine smile is much better. And maybe spending time with you isn't that bad. Maybe it makes me feel at peace, like I'm home when I'm with you, something I had never felt with Ao-chan”
And there it was, Akane’s confession. It was much cheesier than he intended it to be, but that's the loverboy Teru Minamoto’s presence turned him into.
They both had something in common. Neither of them would pronounce the word “love” to conclude their confessions. That's how they were, brave enough to fight supernaturals and other deadly forces but they couldn't enunciate the four letters long word which some people people believed it's the most natural word one could say.
Others would leave the conversation at that, would consider it to be pure appreciation for a close one, but they were different. They both knew it was a love confession from both sides and couldn't just move on and forget about it. There had to be something done, but what? Teru Minamoto and Akane Aoi, a formidable exorcist and school mystery no.1, sitting in silence, staring into each other’s eyes after a two-sided love confession, not knowing what to do now.
That's the moment when Akane decided to take the lead. Maybe as a vice president, he couldn't take decisions on his own and act on them, but there and then, he could; that's when he quickly moved his head forward, forgetting the rest of his body in an attempt to kiss Teru. He did manage to give Teru’s lips a peek, but only for half a second before he lost balance and fell on top of Minamoto.
If Akane’s face wasn’t completely red during the confession, now it most definitely was, especially after he heard Teru laugh. He hated how happy the sound of his genuine laugh made him, not like he'd ever admit it to his face.
Teru just stood there laying on the floor with Akane on top of him. There wasn't much he could do besides smiling from ear to ear and staring at a face-flushed Akane. “How about you try that again” hell, even then, he was still teasing Akane, but that's what he loved the most about Teru.
Akane quickly repositioned himself and kissed Teru properly that time. “Properly” is a big word, it wasn't in the slightest as he intended. They bumped noses, then foreheads, and the worst of all, teeth; but it was wonderful simply because it was with each other.
After they backed away and got up from the floor they just smiled at each other and hugged tightly, which honestly made them feel even more loved than any kiss could, if that was possible.
Teru slightly chuckled which made Akane ask from where he had his head buried between Teru’s neck and shoulder what's so funny to him, to which he answered “I really have to thank Kou once I get home. You know, one week ago he came to me all nervous and asked if we could talk. I suspected what he was about to tell me and I bet you know what I'm talking about. He then revealed to me that the person he went on a ‘date’ with that night was actually no.3 and said that he might be in love with him. And then he kept apologising to me for two hours straight for breaking our family’s rules.” Teru began to laugh again, but this time it was filled with sorrow which made Akane back away from the hug and look Teru in the eyes.
“What's wrong”
“Minamoto’s aren't supposed to befriend supernaturals, even more to date them. That's what I've been told ever since the day I first held my sword. That's how it's been since the beginning of time, but look at this, both Kou and I are in love with supernaturals.” And with that, his face looked more troubled than it had ever been.
In an attempt to brighten his mood, Akane gave his shoulder a slight punch and joked “You know, if it makes you feel any better, we can date after we graduate, then I'll be fully human again”
His words made Teru laugh. Honestly, Akane could brighten up his day by saying anything; he truly loved him.
“No way! I've waited for so long to kiss you, don't make me wait again”
Teru quickly hugged Akane as tight as he could, as if he would vanish if he let go.
And with that, Teru was at peace with his destiny, maybe dating a supernatural could be the best decision he had ever taken. After all, he deserved to be with the one he truly loved.