AN: I'm alive! Crazy, right? Sorry for the long wait :) Don't worry, this story isn't dropped, I'm just pacing myself. 

If you hadn't already known, there's an Ask my OC going on (yes, for Nao as well) and you can drop your questions in my other book called QUESTiON (you can find it on my profile). Do go check that out if you're interested!

26. Beside

"How do you say this," Fuwa contemplated, staring a little blatantly at the man, "he's not what I imagined."

Nagisa nodded.

They'd only heard about it a handful of times, but each time mentioned him as something short of a very qualified professor; Someone who sets the international exam papers; A wandering doctor sought out for in many hospitals, even for just a short while.

Sometimes they even wonder why Naomasa hated him so.

"I'd have expected a... more... refined man," Kanzaki admitted, "though I guess I shouldn't judge him by appearances."

"Ah, because Kanzaki-san's true nature exceeded expectations too--"

The children looked up.

-

"What's with that ridiculous bag? Decided to take up clown as a part time job? Did you finally get fired? Lost your medical license? Went to jail?" Nao raised a skeptical eyebrow, arms folded as he didn't even bother to hide the scowl on his face. His glare was low and furious, like a kitten on high alert.

"You sure curse me a lot every time I drop by!" Older Kuma responded brightly, smiling wide on his face. "Thank goodness I've already been stricken with a lifetime's worth of bad luck just having you as my younger brother."

"You piece of--" Nao stopped himself, sitting back down. He took a moment just breathing-- then, "what are you doing here?"

Kazumasa hummed.

His smile drifted a little, and his gaze softened at his younger brother. His gaze was set on the boy in consideration-- but Nao only felt increasingly uncomfortable.

It reminded him of Board Chairman Asano. There was a layer on the man, something that really exuded the air of I know more than you do and you can't change that. Nao hated it. He didn't like to be left in the dark about anything.

Nao set a hand on his elbow nervously, and looked away. It just happened that his students were here today... What a cruel joke.

"I came to see how you were doing."

There's a startled pause when Kazu told him that. His voice was smooth, gentle-- and, even without sensing it, he could feel the love and the care and the worry from that voice.

Like a father talking to his son-- like a brother who just wants his younger sibling to be safe where they can see them.

Him?

Nao stiffened sharply-- and with a sharp hiss, he jerked out of his seat, grabbed the cup of tea on the table-- and swung it forward, emptying its contents right on the man before him.

There's a gasp from the students, and a shocked silence overtook.

Nao stood still, breath sharp and raspy-- but then he took a deeper, slower breath, and set the empty tea cup on the table, on its dish.

He'd just thrown a full cup of tea on his brother.

And he really could care less.

"What a fucking joke," he spat the words out, hateful just thinking of it. If possible, he wanted to forget those words, that tone, that voice, forever.

Just remembering it made him want to throw up.

Kazumasa sits there, soaked and cold, unable to compose a response. Maybe he expected that reaction, among many others. He had a pained look on his face (as if he had any right to it) and his expression was, surprisingly, very hurt.

Nao didn't pay it any mind. He picked up his work bag, and turned to his students.

"Sorry about this, you three. Want to talk outside?"

-

The children decided they'd rather come back tomorrow. Or the day after.

It's for the better.

Ms Sakurai sent them off with a flower each, and Nao took the opportunity to leave for his seminar in school.

He's still officially under the employment of the school, and unlike with Karasuma and Irina, he needed to keep up appearances as a member of the faculty.

There was a meeting each month for every department to catch up and revise on their progress, and having been a core member of the Language Department before his division, Naomasa was entitled to attend.

In fact, Kuma-sensei's presence in the monthly meetings was vital to prevent suspicions from rising regarding the class on the mountain, so Board Chairman Asano made sure to save him a proper seat each time to ensure he made it.

Especially after Ms Yukimura quit last time around, the teachers were rather... curious about the identity of whoever took after that classroom. To the others in Kunugigaoka, and under official registry, Kunomasu Naomsa was written up as the homeroom teacher of 3-E.

(They couldn't exactly write "Unidentified Slimy Octopus, temp name Korosensei" on the papers that would go into records, after all.)

He marched his way to the school building, his nerves willing him to tighten his tie for once. HIs brother was an unkempt person. He didn't want to seem like him.

"Have you been well, Kunomasu-sensei?"

The voice is suddenly just there, beside him. Nao shrieks and shoots away, crashing into the nearest other person.

"Kunomasu--" the other teacher was about to reprimand him, then he spotted the principal too and together, they shrieked at the principal.

"How long have you been there, sir?!"

"Don't pop out of nowhere!"

Board Chairman Asano chuckles at that. He's a demon, ugh.

Waving away the other teacher as he left, Nao found himself escorted toward the meeting room. Actually, Asano called it 'let's walk there together', but yeah, no one can just simply 'walk together' with Board Chairman Asano. You have a death wish?

Nao sighed.

"So..."

Nao flinched when he was suddenly addressed.

"How was your day?"

Nao found himself clutching the strap of his bag. What's with that awkward conversation starter? Is this part of another layered plot of his?

"It... it was fine, I guess," he managed a response, "went to the hospital last night for a check and they set me free about two hours ago... I'm tired, but I guess it's nothing I can't handle."

Yeah. That sounded like a decent answer. Nothing too personal and nothing out of the ordinary. Generic and plain--

"Really? You look more than tired to me," Asano's brows lowered slightly, and this time he looked at Naomasa, there was a hint of curious concern in his expressions.

Screw you anime logic, of course everything that happens to me gets immediately observed! Every adult's humble capabilities are lost to the first named character they meet, for drama purposes! What the heck is this, some dramatic foreshadow for me to join the board chairman b on the dark side?

Naomasa clenched at the fabric around his shirt, and just looked away.

He didn't answer.

"Why do you think so?" he asks instead.

"Because you're wearing your tie properly," Asano didn't miss a beat when he answered. A moment later, he added very necessarily, "it's a first, as far as I know."

Nao paused, considering that.

Then he burst into laughter he didn't know he had in him, doubling over in sheer amusement. When he managed to pause for a breath, he looked at Asano then burst into another round of giggles.

Asano just looked so flabbergasted, eyes wide with surprise.

So something can even take him by surprise?

"What's with that," Nao wiped a tear from his eyes, "heck, you said exactly what I thought you'd say. Is the author getting terrible at planning little foreshadows, because that was so obviously a setup."

Asano blinked, confused.

And if something confuses the Board Chairman, surely it's impressive.

"Why would you of all people notice something like that, anyways?" Nao stifled his laughter into little chuckles, the smile wide on his face. "That makes no sense at all!"

He stepped a little ahead so he stood beside the Board Chairman instead of behind him.

When they continued on their way, they were walking side by side.