“Nnn…please, no more, you’re embarrassing me.” Ayumu was flustered, his glasses slipping down his nose. His customer rubbed a hand up his thigh. “Please, Danna…” The man smirked.
“Oh? You’re calling me ‘Danna’ now?” He asked. Ayumu rubbed his nose, closing an eye.
“Anything for you to stop…not here, please…” He pleaded. He saw the merriment in the older man’s eyes and knew the man would tip well. Ayumu looked away. “I don’t want to be exploited…” The man laughed, pulling his hand away.
“You’re not into one-nighters, are you?” He asked in a hushed voice. Ayumu looked over.
“What did you have in mind?” He muttered in return. The man reached into his pocket, and showed him the money. Ayumu’s eyes widened a little. “Wha-”
“Mmm…I’ll pay extra for a cute little jani like you.” The man smirked. “The glasses are adorable.” Ayumu looked tempted, but shook his head.
“I’m sorry…” He muttered. “But I...”
“When?” The customer looked taken aback. Ayumu smiled in return.
“Yes…I’m sorry, but I can’t accept your offer...not now, anyways.” Ayumu bowed his head. “If you return, however...”
“I…I will!” He promised. Ayumu folded his hands.
“Thank you!” He gave him a childlike grin.
“Hey, you only offer services to recurring customers?” Another man said across the table. Ayumu looked over, and his partner jumped in.
“Ah, Ayumu’s always like that.” He waved his hand, throwing an arm around said man. “He’s too shy for his own good.” Ayumu scratched his cheek.
“Ah haha!” He laughed. “Takashi-san, please! You know better than anyone I’m not shy…” He leaned in closer to his partner. “Or do you need to be reminded?” The customers fell for it, and offered them another round of drinks to coax them into drunkenness, which the partners accepted gratefully.
--
“Alright, own up, Ayumu!” Takashi glared over to Ayumu as they left. Ayumu blinked.
“What?” he asked, looking down to his watch. “Ah, it’s getting late…”
“Forget that, since when have you turned down an offer for extra cash?” Takashi demanded. “Any other time you would have left that room and your pants in a flash for that amount!”
“I…” Ayumu wrung his hands nervously.
“You what?”
“I met someone…and he’s kind of…”
“Ah.” Takashi stopped. “Your boyfriend?”
“N-no! Not exactly…it’s complicated…” Ayumu turned a deeper shade of red. “Can you keep a secret?” Takashi nodded. Ayumu leaned in, and muttered into Takashi’s ear, “He’s a student of mine.” Takashi looked stunned. Ayumu pulled back.
“You mean you’ve…” Ayumu looked down to his feet.
“Don’t tell anyone…”
“Ah hahahahaha! That’s great!” Takashi laughed. “Suckered in, huh? Is he cute?” Ayumu looked up.
“Ah, yes! Very cute!” Ayumu said with a grin. “He’s got sandy blonde hair and dark eyes, and he’s so cute when he blushes…” Ayumu wiggled a little. “Ahh…you should see him…you’d understand….” Takashi wiped a tear.
“That’s too great. Never thought you had it in you!” Takashi thumped his friend on the back. “Good work, I think.” Ayumu laughed as well.
“Come on, let’s get home. I have school in the morning.” Ayumu led Takashi in the direction of their shared apartment. “Gotta get up early.”
--
Itsuki drew little circles on the ground with his finger, leaning on the wall next to the door to Ayumu’s classroom. ‘Sensei’s late…’ He jumped a little when he heard footsteps. “Sensei!” He jumped up as the man came around the corner. “Sensei, you’re finally here!” Ayumu laughed a little.
“Yeah, I’m here. Takashi-san didn’t wake me on time.” He unlocked the door, pushing it open and turning on the light. Itsuki looked confused. “Oh, Takashi-san’s my roommate. He helps with the rent.” Itsuki frowned.
“You can’t afford it on your own?” He asked, shutting the door after him. Ayumu sighed.
“It’s complicated…my sister’s in need of money and I promised to help her-she’s got a toddler and another baby on the way- and I’ve been working at a part-time job for her.” Itsuki blinked.
“Huh? ‘Part-time job’? While being a teacher?” Ayumu sighed.
“It’s not much, but it helps.” He replied.
“What could you possibly do?” Ayumu sighed again.
“It’s….a secret.” He looked up to him. “You’d be disappointed that I sunk so low…” Itsuki blinked again, looking down.
“Well, alright, if you say so…” Itsuki sighed. “Oh, do you have any plans?”
“When?”
“Well…I don’t go to cram school, so later?” He asked. Ayumu looked up to the ceiling.
“Ah…well, Takashi’s working tonight, so I can take off...no, I guess not.” Ayumu looked back to Itsuki. “Why?”
“I-I wanted to go on a date with Ayumu-sensei…” He wrung his hands nervously, licking his lips. “Because I was sick for our last one…” Ayumu grinned.
“Of course, Ikkun. Anything for you.” Itsuki smiled at the pet name.
“Thank you, sensei.” Itsuki leaned forward on the desk. “Will you kiss me?” He muttered. Ayumu laughed a little.
“Possibly. Have you been kissed before?” He asked. Itsuki frowned.
“Well…” he started. “If you count that time at Aya-chan’s house where I kissed that boy…” Itsuki blushed, straightening up. Ayumu raised an eyebrow.
“Oh? My first kiss was in grade school. A girl kissed me on a dare, and I didn’t know how to react. She told me I’m cute and that she likes glasses.” Ayumu chuckled. “Ah, it seems like so long ago…last person to kiss me was Takashi-san as a joke…said, ‘You’re such a homo, I bet you loved that, huh?’” Itsuki giggled a little.
“He seems nice.” Itsuki folded his hands behind his back. Ayumu nodded.
“He’s a joker-type, but he means well.” Ayumu insisted. Itsuki nodded. “I’m going to the beach with him and another friend, Chouko-chan…” Itsuki blinked.
“Aya-chan’s aunt, Chouko-san?” Itsuki blinked. Ayumu nodded. “Ah! Aya-chan and I are going with her this summer!” Ayumu grinned.
“Really? Chouko-chan said Aya and a friend are coming…I didn’t know it was you.” Ayumu raised an eyebrow. “Do they know?” Itsuki shrugged.
“Oh, but sensei, it means…we can spend the summer together before you leave!” he smiled. Ayumu grinned.
“I guess you’re right…”
“Mmm…is Sensei the jani-type?” Itsuki asked. Ayumu blinked. “Well, Sensei is so cute, after all…He doesn’t look his age.” Ayumu blushed a little.
“Ah…well, that’s what cus-Takashi-san calls me.” Ayumu covered up his slip-up. Itsuki blinked.
“’Cus?’” He asked. Ayumu shook his head. “No, Sensei…you’re hiding something.”
“I…you wouldn’t…I mean…” Ayumu stuttered. “No, I’ll tell you later. By the end of summer you’ll know, I promise.” He smiled to him as the door opened.
“But Sensei…!”
“I promise, I’ll let you know what it means later.” Ayumu chose his word carefully before realizing that he dug a hole for himself. “I don’t expect you would understand if I told you now.” Itsuki frowned and slumped away to his seat.
‘I’m sorry…It’s better you don’t know.’ Ayumu turned away to write on the board. ‘I can’t let you know what I do…you wouldn’t want me if you knew…You’d hate me.’ Ayumu stopped.
“Please excuse me…” He turned back to the class. “I…I’m feeling a little under the weather.” The students all frowned a little, looking upset. “It’s alright…I’m going to go get you a substitute…I’m sorry.” He ended sheepishly. It was true; he did feel sick, but it wasn’t from drinking the night before or any disease. He opened the door, looking back. “Stay in your seats.” He said. “Someone’ll be right here.” Itsuki lowered his head, frowning deeply.
‘Sensei…’
---
Takashi folded his arms, a towel on his head and a bottle of water in hand. “So you skipped school because you don’t want to lie to the kid?” Takashi asked. Ayumu sighed and nodded.
“Yes.”
“And this kid doesn’t know about….your personal life, at all?” Takashi added. Ayumu nodded, tossing his tie aside.
“I’m afraid to tell him…anyone I’ve told either tries to take advantage of me, or leaves me. Obviously, he can’t take advantage of me, but…I like knowing someone’s there with that passion for me while I’m teaching…It drives me to right my wrongs.” Ayumu smiled up to his friend. “You know?”
“Ah, so he’s to you what Teru was for me?” He asked. Ayumu nodded.
“Yes, but I don’t plan on deciding the sex was too…what did you say it was?” Ayumu looked up.
“…He wanted me to top him. And it was weird, you know? Because you wouldn’t think of him and me that way…well, me on top, anyways.” Takashi admitted. “I never did, anyways…But at least I wasn’t suckered into getting a butterfly tattoo.” Ayumu turned red, covering his shoulder.
“Ah, shut up!” Ayumu snapped. “At least I didn’t consider getting the skin on the back of my neck pierced…” Takashi laughed.
“Can’t help the way I am.” He took a swig of the water before sitting next to his friend. “Come on, Ayu. You look stressed. Just chill out, okay? The kid seems like the type that’ll pursue you even if you, say, joined the yakuza. I’m sure he won’t judge you because you used to sleep with men for money.” Ayumu looked up to his friend before throwing his arms around Takashi.
“Thanks…” He muttered into Takashi’s neck. “You always know what to say…” Takashi laughed.
“I know, I do.” He laughed. “That’s why you keep me around, Ayu. Not just a stress-reliever.” Ayumu pulled back.
“Takashi, I’m not having sex with you. I’m upset.” He frowned. Takashi laughed again, taking a pack of cigarettes and lighting one.
“Come ON, Ayu!” He said, looking down to him. “Cheer up. An upset jani is not a mood lifter.” Ayumu laughed a little.
“I guess you’re right…So, you want me to tell him about everything?” Takashi took a puff of the cigarette.
“Well, we ARE moving at the end of summer, and we ARE going to be out of town with Chouko until then, so yeah. If you want him to know, then tell him.” He replied simply. Ayumu smiled.
“Ah, but he’s spending the summer with us.” Ayumu giggled. “Chouko-chan’s bringing Aya-chan, and Aya-chan is Itsuki’s best friend.”
“Hah, lucky you.” Takashi laughed. “So, are you planning on…”
“Planning on what?” He asked.
“Ah, ‘doing the deed’.” Takashi made air quotes. Ayumu threw a pillow at him.
“You’re a pervert! Takashi-san’s a pervert!” He yelled. Takashi laughed.
“THERE’S the adorable jani I know!” He replied. Ayumu laughed.
“Mmm, and this jani has some explaining to do.” He winked. Takashi’s smile softened.
“Good…”