The three most persistent words

***

Akane couldn't sit, sleep, eat, and drink without thinking that his long-standing, unrequited, yet familiar and familiar feelings for Aoi had recently cooled down because of this white-haired bastard who was mocking him as a loser. Though that was basically what it was. He should have fallen for that damn constantly smiling exorcist with sadistic tendencies. No, Aoi didn't argue, the exorcist's job wasn't easy, but who said that in a stressful situation, it was the vice president, who wasn't guilty of anything, who should be hanging above the floor? "How infuriating," Akane thought every time something like this happened. But that smile of his... adorable, yes. Akane was very wrong in thinking that only the stupid would fall for it. Or was he not wrong after all? Either way, he was in big trouble, humiliating himself by falling for him, only him, only Teru, the student council president. "Thinking about him again..." — thought Aoi, sighing heavily. — He's in my head... damn it." The word "damn" in his head now sounded with a double meaning. Thinking about his feelings for the president in class wasn't the best idea, but it was impossible for Akane to focus on what the teacher was saying when he was the only thing you were thinking about. Aoi closed his eyes. The image of a smiling Minamoto kept popping up in his mind. Slightly drooping eyelids, tired blue eyes, and a mocking look directed right at him, right at Akane. A faint blush appeared on his cheeks. "Faggot crush," — the boy thought, blinking tiredly. Two feelings again. — Aoi-kun? Are you not feeling well? — A familiar girl's voice suddenly sounded from somewhere to his right. The boy turned his head toward the source of the sound and met the concerned gaze of Yashiro, who was watching his every move intently. — Do you have a headache or are you stuffy? — The girl asked, blinking puzzled. — I... — The vice president started to say, but was interrupted by the teacher's stern voice: — Akane-kun, don't you know that in class you should only speak when asked? — I'm sorry, I don't feel well... — The boy tried to lie with a pained look. The teacher sighed understandingly. Apparently, such sunny and hot weather (which is surprising for the end of September) did not affect many people in the best way. — Okay, go to the infirmary, — the teacher said. Aoi nodded and walked out from behind his desk, leaving the classroom in a flash. It was very stuffy in there. The boy closed the classroom door behind him and stopped. — Akane, Akane... skipping class? It's not nice, — the familiar voice of the very man the vice president had been thinking so much about today sounded right above his ear. Aoi flinched in surprise and turned his head toward the source of those words. Teru. "I love you." Again, that phrase that had been twirling on Akane's lips for a long time now that he had seen Teru... how he wished he could say it out loud..... "This is clearly not a good time..." — I... — he looked away. Damn, this was awkward. The words weren't coming, and it was hard to think. That white-haired idiot was too close. — I... I just felt sick, I needed some fresh air, I don't miss anything. Apparently you're the only one missing out. The vice president turned wryly serious and shifted his gaze to Minamoto again. — I'm just going to the student council office, nothing personal. Minamoto admitted honestly, stepping away from Akane. The latter mentally breathed a sigh of relief. On reflection. — By the way, Teru began abruptly, I expect to see you there after this class. As far as I know, it's the last one you have. And, covering his eyes, the president began to walk away. Akane was now able to quietly exhale aloud. "What a relief." But Aoi had only one question at this moment: did Minamoto really walk here on purpose? The student council office is in the other direction, he didn't need to go this way. "I should stop by the office, or they'll think I'm skipping class." Aoi thought as he opened the door and walked into the office, making his way to his seat.

***

The time that had passed since their meeting today had gone by quickly. But because of all the paperwork, which turned out to be a lot, it was eerily slow and dragging, just the opposite of what it had been recently. — You know, Akane... — began Teru, shifting his gaze to the boy. He waited for him to pay attention to him. At first Aoi wanted to pretend he hadn't heard, but his instincts wouldn't let him, and as if on cue, he pulled his head away from the papers and looked at the slyly smiling Minamoto. He was smiling wickedly. "Something that devil is up to.... is that what?" — Tell me, do you really think your behavior is unnoticeable? — Standing up from his seat and walking over to the vice president, Teru spoke. Aoi didn't understand what the vice president was talking about at first. He raised an eyebrow questioningly and looked expectantly at Minamoto who was crouched down next to him. "What the hell are you up to, you bloody sadist?" Akane wanted to shout it out, but the three annoying words started swirling on her tongue again: "I love you." How many times do you have to say that? — What are you talking about? — The vice president asked, genuinely not understanding what the conversation was about. Teru grinned and put his hand on Aoi's head, stroking it lightly. And then he realized. Realized that the president knew. Though... why be surprised? Minamoto isn't stupid, he really does understand everything, probably from the beginning. He prepared himself to groan doomedly, accepting his defeat and pity. He felt disgusted with himself. But Teru seemed to be amused by it all: both the reaction and the awkward position Aoi found herself in. — Akane, you're smart. Don't be stupid, — the president sang cheerfully. — You underst and everything. And so do I. The vice president didn't want to agree, but he had to. Minamoto was right: Aoi understood everything. But he didn't want to understand this particular situation. — Yes, — he replied simply to Teru's words. There was nothing more worthwhile Akane could say. Minamoto, continuing to smile, hummed. — Then why do you ask? — the blond man asked, burning Akane with an icy stare. — Ashamed? Ashamed. Terribly ashamed. The Vice President thought for a moment, but said nothing aloud. It was obviously a rhetorical question, because the president didn't need an answer. He understood, too. — Come on, tell me. — No, — Akane replied almost instantly, catching Teru's unreadable stare. — Why not? — Minamoto asked, but there was no answer. Aoi only covered his eyes. — You're not going to tell me? — No. "I don't have the strength. It's too hard." — Come on, Akane, don't be silent. Say it, — Minamoto begged again, removing his hand from the boy's hair. — Just three words. Aoi had already opened his mouth, but stopped in time. "I love you." The inner voice repeated again. Akane closed his mouth again, covering it with his hand. This was too risky. The three words she hadn't been able to say out loud in a long time were chiseling unpleasantly in her ears along with the beating of her heart. — I can't, — Aoi said seriously, opening his eyes and looking at the president. — I can't say it. The president tilted his head to the side and covered his eyelids. For the first time, he did not react in any way. Apparently, he was thinking about what he had said. Only then came a slight chuckle. — So you won't tell me? — Teru asked, opening his eyes and looking at the boy affectionately. — Have it your way. Akane looked at the boy perplexed, raising one eyebrow. Minamoto gingerly grasped the temples of Aoi's glasses, slowly removing them. The president suddenly brought his face closer to Akane's face and gently (something he definitely wasn't expecting) touched his lips to his lips. Aoi forgot that he wanted to be offended by the silent removal of his glasses, because this kiss was more unexpected and perhaps more pleasurable (something the Vice President didn't want to admit) than anything else he had done that day. Teru's lips were dry but soft, gently touching Akane's warm lips in what turned out to be a fleeting kiss, because a few seconds later Minamoto had already pulled away from the boy, embarrassed by the unexpected act, and placed the glasses on the table next to Aoi under his confused gaze. — You still can't tell? — Smiling again, Teru asked. Akane swallowed loudly. "I love you." — I... I'll try, — he replied, coming to his senses. — Then say it, then. Just three words, Akane. "Three of the most insistent words, — Aoi thought, closing his eyes. — I'll be sure to say them. Now." — I love you. Three such simple but insistent words, which I had long wanted to hear, instantly rolled off my tongue. They sounded so childish that the smile on the president's face grew even wider. To be honest, after the vice president finally said them, he felt better. The headache that had been going on since Akane had entered the student council office had finally gone away, leaving behind only an unpleasant residue in the form of a slight dizziness. Minamoto hummed, smiling slightly with the corners of his lips. — I love you too, Akane.