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Ogata and Tsurumi are at an impasse.
Ogata has been chewing on a pencil and absentmindedly swallowing little chunks of wood. In front of him is his laptop. Two tabs are open, a module on bedside manners that he got a 12 out of 25 right and a open ended question he needs to answer about proper procedure when it comes to dealing with paediatric cases. It’s the single dumbest instance of homework he had ever received.
Kids aren’t hard to deal with, you smile, explain what you do, tell them to close their eyes when the needles come out, explain the sharp tools that he is going to prod them with won’t hurt.
He has to answer the dumb questions since his residency is going to involve at least a few paediatric cases. His professor had needled him about bedside manner anyway. He wishes he went to the dentist more often as a child, or to most doctor visits.
His mother had kept all his baby teeth, when he found them they were cracked in half revealing their brown stained insides, not a cavity in sight.
Tsurumi is sat next to him as he mulls this over, He rudely yanks the pencil out of his mouth and throws it at the trash. It lands with a clank. Ogata gives Tsurumi a look that is appropriately poisonous, Tsurumi doesn't even register it, his eyes are looking at the dog eared novel he had brought with him. Ogata bristles and squeezes his fist. Then he lowers himself to the desk.
Tsurumi stage whispers. “Keep studying.”
Ogata wants to say he is done with actual important studying but all that comes out is a pathetic groan. Tsurumi lowers the book, his lips pressed into a thin line. Ogata can feel the look he is getting.
Tsurumi uncrosses his legs and reaches over, his ribs and armpit envelop him, his cashmere sweater licks up his nape, he can’t smell his cologne because he is still pouting with his nose pressed on the tacky plastic of the desk. He clacks around his computer, there is a long frustrated silence before he manages to switch tabs.
Tsurumi squints at the small font before speaking “Hyakunosuke, this is not hard”
“It’s time for my break” Ogata argues
“The calendar thing says its due today”
“That’s my planner, it shows the current time” Ogata says, he draws a lopsided circle around the word planner with the cursor.
Tsurumi removes his hand and rubs his temples.
“It’s the same planner you use, just a different theme, I made it transparent.” Ogata says opening the settings tab to demonstrate Tsurumi’s ineptitude.
Tsurumi returns to his book, turning the page with a loud snap.
“Are we going to leave soon?” Ogata asks, changing the planners theme to the one Tsurumi uses, the dark grey clashes with the default background so he makes it transparent again.
“When you finish your work we will.” is the reply from Tsurumi and nothing else.
Ogata slides back and down, his forehead leaves behind a snail trail of sebum. Tsurumi makes a frustrated sound.
Under the table the carpet has retained years of dust and pencil shavings. Somehow it is both greasy, dusty and fuzzy in discreet layers. Tsurumi tries dragging him out by yanking on his collar, Ogata plants himself heavily, he doesn't want his shirt to get stretched out but he doesn't want to go back up either. He notes that Tsurumi is wearing stupid socks with cute cats on them, he twists his ankle, heel digging in and tilling the carpet. Tsurumi holds his shirt by the fistful until Ogata’s shirt starts chafing a ring around his neck, before he is abruptly released.
“Here” Tsurumi says. He is waving Ogata’s laptop, held aloft in a spidery grasp. Ogata grabs it from him, lest he accidentally drop it.
The carpet is less gross the deeper he goes. He lays on his stomach, stretches out his legs to intrude. Tsurumi catches his ankles with his calves and squeezes to prevent his listless squirming that will shake the table.
Tsurumi leans back on his chair, eyes squinted with endearment. One hand rubbing the center of his forehead to stave off a migraine. He pushes Ogata’s chair back in, hears Ogata start to type. It seems like he is actually working so he can finally return to his book.
Ogata had pouted the whole way here, especially when Tsurumi was unwilling to fool around in a secluded corner and had actually steered him towards the neat lines of desks for their study date.
When Ogata gets a full score he peaks the computer out so Tsurumi can see he isn’t goofing off. Tsurumi pretends he dropped a pencil, there must be other people around now, the day has moved on. and gives him a peck on the side of his mouth. After that Ogata returns to work. Refusing to give up this time. He manages to waffle on and on about being nice to kids, and what type of issues baby teeth can cause, how to brush teeth even though a hygienist is supposed to explain that, the question is too vague so he hopes its enough, it only needs to pass Tsurumi’s inspection for it to matter anyway, its not like his professor is going to read every single entry, this is just stupid busy work that has ingrained itself into all aspects of society.
He yawns, bats around Tsurumi’s pant leg, the fabric drapes around the shape of his calf nicely when Ogata swooshes around, Tsurumi is so fussy with clothes, at least he is not like the Koito brat that flaunts his unearned wealth, he grimaces recalling when he and Tsurumi had went to get a dress shirt from the fancy store Koito worked at, how that conversation had devolved into exchanging niceties (20 minutes) small talk about life (17 minutes) how he was adjusting to his new workplace (too long)
Ogata had clung to Tsurumi at one point, so Tsurumi had made the strategic decision to start stroking Koitos silk tie and complimenting him on his taste, it had devolved into a fight the moment Tsurumi’s attention strayed from the two of them anyway.
Tsurumi is looking down at him as he has stopped typing. Ogata stares at him until his eyebrows pinch together.
“Are you done?” he asks
“I was done, hours ago.” Ogata huffs out.
Tsurumi shows his palm, A motion that means “give it here”. He awkwardly twists and rolls, there is dried gum underneath his elbow. He hands the laptop over.
Tsurumi balances the laptop on his lap, his fingernails scratch the touch pad before he manages to scroll. The laptop must have gone too hot for his taste so he puts it on the desk, this gives Ogata the opportunity to lay his chin on Tsurumi’s knee.
“Pet me.” he says as he digs his chin into the uncomfortable hollow of the knee joint.
Tsurumi gives his scalp a halfhearted scratch for a few beats. “You have to edit this so it sounds professional.” he says.
“No I dont.” Ogata grits out.
“Hyakunosuke.” Tsurumi croons out, his smile stretched over his canines.
Ogata opens his mouth to retort. Tsurumi twists a over-gelled lock of hair until Ogata’s scalp starts to sting.
Ogata scuttles back, losing a few strands in the process. “I am done.” he declares.
Tsurumi blinks slowly. He glances around to make sure he isn’t about to draw attention to himself before ducking under to join Ogata in the dark den.
Ogata’s back is against the wall, shoulders taut, head scraping the ceiling as he lifts his head to track Tsurumi’s movement. The silence stretches out.
“Would you like to come out?” Tsurumi asks.
Ogata shakes his head. Tsurumi is mulling over what to say to him now. He sways on all fours, before he carefully folds himself in.
“I could finish your homework for you If you’d like, you did all the technical details by yourself anyway.” Tsurumi offers.
Ogata has to squeeze his eyes shut tightly so he doesn't spew acid everywhere.
“First off, It’s not real homework, my class has too many students in it for the Lecturer to actually read every entry one by one.” “Secondly, I am not even being graded on it, attendance has a higher percentage.” “Thirdly, I showed you the notes I took during my lectures and you know I actually went through them. Today, in front of you.”
He looks at Tsurumi before delivering the final blow. “Also, last I checked I was the one who was a student, and not a grown man who bankrupted a whole company, went to prison and emerged as a tech illiterate thug with no social standing.”
Ogata braces himself for the inevitable explosion, he will have to buy a train ticket if he fails to snatch his bag from the desk, he can go without his phone for a few days too he doesn't remember where he put it, his metro card is in his back pocket, he imagines Tsurumi will be banned from the library for causing a scene. He just needs to get a head start.
“Hyakunosuke.” Tsurumi sniffles. “I can’t believe you think so lowly of me.” He shuffles close, head bowed low to hide his expression. Ogata can hear him hold back childish tittering as Tsurumi lays beside him.
Ogata stares ahead, doesnt blink. His head lolls to the side like a doll, unspent energy fizzling out. Tsurumi presses on, his face floats up to his view.
“I was just thinking we were going to have a repeat of the last semester.” He breaths out in between barely contained snorts.
“Its not. Obviously.” Ogata hisses out. He racks his brain to come up with an example of his sparkling mental health. “I am not behind on any assignments.” he says.
Tsurumi shakes himself loose of the giggle fit he is having. “You are doing amazing so far.” he purrs. Kisses him on the jaw.
“I expect you to keep up the good work.” Tsurumi purrs out.
“Yeah,I will.” Ogata replies. Looking at Tsurumi’s mouth with a pout. He doesn’t give Tsurumi a chance to lean in, his teeth scrapes a flake off Tsurumi’s jaw before he can manage to lick into the older mans mouth. He doesn’t release the sighing ah out until Tsurumi kisses him back. Tsurumi breaks the kiss.
“We are in public.” He reprimands.
Ogata rolls his eyes at that, like he doesn't know what Tsurumi gets up to with the rest of his diseased sycophants. At least he will have a job that pays well.
“How about lunch?” Tsurumi offers to placate him. Ogata isn’t hungry but he is not going to say no to free food. Tsurumi knows he will say yes and follow him. “We can get back to studying afterwards.” he adds on with a toothy grin. Ogata violently misses the bullshit study sessions Tsukishima (and sometimes Usami) used to have, now they works too far away and Tsurumi can’t let Usami loose too often and Tsukishima gave up on babysitting him a while ago.
At least he gets to look at Tsurumi on all fours a few moments more. There are people occupying the desks neighbouring them. He grabs on to Tsurumi and marches him out before he decides to waste time saving face.