The room was deathly silent as you four simply allowed the sentence to linger in the air. Hideto was the one to break the silence as both his eyebrows shot up towards his hair line.

“I beg your pardon,” he said disbelievingly.

“She and I are together,” Shuichi stated once more.

Chiyo smirked as she stared at Shuichi. She knew he had balls, but damn. Hideto’s eyes landed on your form.

“Is this true,” he inquired; you couldn’t look him in the eyes as you stared at the floor and nodded your head. “How am I supposed to believe this? First Jiro, now Shuichi?”

“Because they’re actually together, Uncle.”

Your head snapped up as you stared at Chiyo. Uncle? What?

“And how do you know, Chiyo?”

“Yesterday I saw them together. And I also heard Jiro hitting on Miss [Last Name] just after our class ended. She told him she was going to report him; he basically said it wouldn’t be a good idea to do that and this was before the rumors started surfacing. Jiro’s just lying.”

Hideto covered his face with his hands. “I don’t know what else to do, [Name], but you are terminated.”

Your mouth dropped open in shock. Tears started pouring out of your eyes as your worst fear came true. You lost your job. You. The all A student in college; the girl who always wanted to be a teacher; you lost everything that you worked so hard to achieve.

“I-I… what?”

“I’m sorry. But a teacher cannot date a student; it’s unethical.”

“And what of me,” Shuichi questioned as he did his best to keep his anger in check.

“I… don’t know yet. You’re such a promising student; I don’t know what to do with you.”

“It wouldn’t be fair to give me such leniency,” Shuichi stated coldly. “I believe the correct thing to do would be to expel me.”

“Shuichi,” you shouted. “What are you doing? Just let it be.”

“No,” he stated as he turned to stare at you. Gently, he cupped your cheek. “I will not stand by and allow you to take the fall by yourself.”

“But I would hate myself if you get expelled. I knew I shouldn’t have allowed this to happen.”

“It’s as much my fault as it is yours. You didn’t force me to do anything.”

His thumb wiped away a tear and you did the only thing you could think of; you wrapped your arms tightly around his taller form, burying your head in the crook of his neck.

“I should have known better,” you mumbled into his neck.

Shuichi’s arms cradled your form as he pressed his lips to your head. “I should have known better too,” he whispered, the two of you forgetting the other occupants of the room.

“Shuichi I,” you began as you pulled away from him. Your eyes locked with his beautiful forest green ones and more tears started pouring out. “Shuichi I…”

“I know,” he whispered. “Me too.”

He descended his lips on to yours as his fingers delved into your [hair color] tresses. How was it that you had fallen for him so quickly? You were in love with him; you were in love with Shuichi Minamino. And he loved you back.

Your arms tightened around him as you stood on your toes to deepen the kiss. Despite all the hardships you knew were to come, this you were sure of. This love that you had for him was what would keep you going on strong.

“Ahem,” Hideto’s voice interrupted your moment and the two of you hesitantly separated.

“You can’t fire her, Uncle. Not when they actually care about each other,” Chiyo declared. “Sure, if it was just sex, I could see why, but they haven’t even done it yet!”

“Chiyo, that’s enough,” he cut in. “You are not in charge of this school and therefore your opinion does not matter. I’m afraid that I cannot allow any room for disregard, [Name]. You are terminated as of today.”

You said nothing as your back straightened. You were trying your best to keep in your tears, but it was so difficult. Your life was disappearing right before you.

“And Shuichi, I’m afraid that I’m going to have to suspend you for a week.”

He curled his fingers into his palms as he fought back a remark. He hated that they were firing you, but letting him off the hook so easily. All just because of what a wonderful student he was. Damn his good reputation. You were more important than some lousy school.

“Just take it,” you whispered to him, your fingers linking with his.

“What about Jiro,” Shuichi inquired, his voice laced with ice.

“I will deal with Jiro in due time. [Name] I’m afraid you need to leave.”

You nodded your head and turned to exit the office. Shuichi began to follow you, but Hideto stopped him.

“Shuichi you stay here.”

The younger male stopped dead in his tracks, but it was clear he was seething on the inside. He tried his best to remain calm and collected, but the way his shoulders squared, his back straightened, his eyes hardened, and his jaw clenched, you knew he was livid on the inside.

“It’s alright,” you announced before leaving the office.

Shuichi stayed as he was told, but his eyes were glued to your form walking away from him. He hated this. He finally found someone worthwhile and it had to be someone that society wouldn’t accept. He snorted in amusement; of course he would pick someone that would complicate his life. It was simply how he was wired.

“Now Shuichi…”

Your plan was to drive to your apartment, but you unconsciously took yourself to your parents’ house. Both your parents were retired and spent most of their days working on the house and garden if they weren’t out walking or shopping.

Both their cars were in the driveway so you confidently walked through the front door. Memories flooded your mind as you made your way towards the living room. You made it to the entry way and saw the back of your father’s head as he watched some random show; you weren’t surprised he was awake this early in the morning. Tears immediately began dropping out of your eyes.

“[Name],” your father questioned as he turned around to stare at you.

“Daddy,” you whispered before rushing forward and embracing him in a tight hug.

No matter how old you got, you could always depend on your father to make everything alright. His warm embrace immediately engulfed you as he moved over to allow you to sit beside him.

“Sweetie, what’s wrong,” he inquired as he gently pat your hair.

“Daddy, I messed up,” you whispered as the tears continued to spill. “You’re going to be disappointed in me.”

“I could never.”

“Dad,” you said sternly as you looked him in the eyes.

“What happened?”

“I’m…” you paused as you looked at your father. Could you really do this? It was so difficult. “I’m dating… a student.”

He arched up an eyebrow. “You aren’t serious.”

“I am.”

“Well… damn.”

“I’m so sorry Dad.”

“He’s got to be one special guy to have you ignoring the rules,” your father murmured to himself.

“I got fired from my work. The principal found out.”

“Well what happened?”

“Jiro, a student of mine, lied to Hideto. He said I was forcing him to have sex with me or else I was going to fail him. He only said that because I reported him for harassing me. Well, Shuichi, to clear up the mess, told Hideto the truth; that Shuichi and I were together.”

“I see.”

“Dad,” you whispered as you looked him in the eyes. “I love him.”

Your father took a deep inhale as he looked at you. “You love him? How can you be certain?”

“How were you certain when you loved Mom?”

“I knew your mother two years before I finally told her I loved her.”

“But you always told me you loved her after being with her for two weeks. I don’t see the difference, Dad.”

“And him? How does he feel?”

“The same way.”

“He’s a teenager, sweetie. His feelings are going to change.”

You pulled away from him, tears streaming down your face. “You don’t know him. You don’t know him at all. Shuichi’s not like that.”

“I don’t mean to upset you. I just don’t want my baby to get hurt.”

“Well the world isn’t a nice place, Dad. I just got fired from my job.”

“And that will be hard enough to deal with. I don’t want him to cause you any more harm.”

“Forget it,” you whispered as you got up. “You don’t understand.”

“Where are you going?”

“I need to be alone,” you said softly as you walked towards the front door.

Your father followed after you. “I think that’s a good idea; think this through sweetie and make sure it’s absolutely what you want to do.”

“Why does it matter,” you questioned as you paused at the door. “I lost my job either way, so I ask again why does it matter?”

He said nothing as you silently left the house and walked over to your car. You knew your father was just trying to protect you, but you didn’t want to hear that. You wanted him to say something like he trusted your judgment or that whatever happened he would be there for you. But instead he said to think things through; that Shuichi’s feelings might change simply because he was a teenager. Well your father didn’t know the type of man Shuichi was.

You got into your car and pulled out of the driveway. You weren’t sure what could possibly cheer you up. You had lost your job. How were you going to pay the bills? How were you going to feed yourself? What were you going to do?

You were going to head to your apartment, but you knew sitting inside was only going to drive you crazy. But you felt that no matter what you did, you were going to drive yourself crazy. It seemed that nothing was going to cheer you up. I can’t believe I lost my job.

You pulled into the parking lot of your apartment and simply sat in your car. Your body couldn’t move as you replayed over and over again what Hideto said. “Terminated as of today.” Tears formed in your eyes and you leaned forward to rest your forehead on the steering wheel. What were you going to do?

You looked through your steering wheel and out the window of the car. Due to the tears, your vision was blurry, but you were certain someone was pacing back and forth in front of your apartment that looked like a big blob of pink.

Quickly, you wiped your tears away and squinted as you stared across the street. Red hair, magenta clothes; what was he doing here?

You hastily got out of your car and darted across the street.

“Shuichi, what are you doing here,” you shouted, causing the red head to look over at you.

“[Name],” he breathed a sigh of relief as he rushed over and wrapped his arms around you.

You instantly reveled in his embrace as you buried your face in his chest while wrapping your arms around him.

“Why aren’t you in school,” you questioned softly, your voice mumbled by his chest.

“I’m suspended for two weeks.”

You gasped as you reeled back. “Two weeks?! I thought Hideto was going to suspend you for a week!”

“He was but I told him to expel me. As a happy medium he suspended me for two weeks.”

“Shuichi, what the hell are you doing?!”

His eyes narrowed as he stared at you. “It’s not equal punishment for you to lose your job and for me to stay in school.”

“Who the fuck cares? This is your education Shuichi-”

“And your career, [Name].”

“You have your whole life ahead of you-”

“As well as you do.”

“Why couldn’t you just take the lesser punishment?”

“Because you mean more to me than that,” he answered simply as he regarded you with a heated stare.

You looked away from him, biting on your lower lip. “I went to my father’s today.”

“You did?”

“I told him I lost my job. I told him why I lost my job.”

“So he knows about us?”

You nodded your head. “He’ll tell my mother in a day or two. She’ll call me and bitch me out for ruining my life over a teenager. What were you thinking? He doesn’t care about you. You’ve ruined your life; all your hard work down the drain. I can just imagine it now.”

“We can get through this, [Name]. I won’t leave you; I won’t give up on us. Please, don’t give up on us.”

You brought your gaze to look at him and you gently placed your hand on his cheek. “How can I give up on you,” you questioned with a soft smile. “You’re amazing; I’ve never had anyone care about me the way you do.”

His lips spread into a beautiful smile as his eyes shone with happiness. “Good. And I’ll be sure that you don’t forget it.”

You laughed, your head falling back. Shuichi chuckled himself before tilting your head back up and placing a kiss to your lips. You could never get over how his kisses made you feel. Such an innocent contact, yet it set a fire blazing through your veins. His kisses always displayed his true emotions towards you and they always left you as a puddle of goo.

You were going to make it through this. So long as Shuichi stood by your side, holding your hand unashamed, you would make it through this.