How many times is he going to make me climb these god forsaken stairs?
Heaving, stepping heavily on the top step, Kaoru collapsed onto one of the dusty, sheet-covered chairs arranged on the landing. His weight pulled the sheet down over the sleeping face of Sentaro, who didn't even move.
He wouldn’t have been listening to the radio this morning, would he? It was pure coincidence that Kaoru himself had heard about the contest. Even so, he grinned to himself as he thought about it. Sen would completely freak when he heard. And putting both their heads together, they were guaranteed to win. Hell, they could get Ritsuko's father to help if they really needed it.
Once he got his breath back, he dropped his books on the floor with a thud and ripped the sheet away.
This doofus could sleep through anything. Kaoru contemplated going down to music room and bringing back a pair of cymbals, but he doubted even that would work. He couldn't help the smile spreading over his face as he gazed down at the sleeping face, lips slightly apart, faint scar standing out against his cheek. When Sen was asleep, he was tolerable. When he was asleep, he almost seemed like the young boy that Ritsuko remembered so fondly. When he was asleep, Kaoru nearly understood why she loved him.
He shook himself suddenly, pushing his glasses up.
Leaning down carefully, as quietly as he could, he blew gently in Sentaro's ear; Sen merely murmured in his sleep and rolled over. Well, fine then. Straightening back up, Kaoru gently cleared his throat, thinking for a moment. He hummed the first few bars of My Favorite Things, absentmindedly tapping out the melody on an imaginary piano.
Sentaro mumbled and turned over again. Though still appearing deeply asleep, he slowly reached out a hand and grasped Kaoru's, hanging limply at his side. Just like the first time, Kaoru colored and instinctively tried to pull away.
"Don't,"
Kaoru paused.
"Sentaro? are you awake?"
"Don't leave,"
"Sentaro, wake up," Kaoru tried to sound more commanding.
Sentaro's eyes fluttered open and he blinked up at Kaoru.
"I've been waiting for you," he said, a slow smile spreading over him face.
Kaoru returned the smile.
"Sorry to keep you. I've got something to tell you,"
Sentaro sat up, the sheet slipping off of him, and rubbed at his eyes.
"What's that?"
"I heard something on the radio this morning about a contest,"
"So?"
"Well, it's about that concert in Tokyo next month. You know, Coltrane?"
Sentaro blinked again, and sat up straighter.
"What about it?"
"They're giving away tickets to one of the shows. I heard them mention trivia, but the details weren't very clear. I don't think it's starting until next week, so we have some time. Anyway, what do you think?"
Sentaro was still rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"You wanna run that by me again? What are we winning?"
Kaoru swept the bangs out his eyes and sighed.
"Nothing, at the moment. But we have a chance to win tickets to see Coltrane's show next month. What do you think? You want to see him, don't you?"
Sentaro leveled his gaze at him. Kaoru could never hold his gaze for very long. Something about it made him flush in an embarrassing manner.
"Trane? In Tokyo?" he muttered. He rubbed at his scar, thinking about it. Then, suddenly, he lurched forward and grabbed Kaoru by the shirt.
"Trane! In Tokyo!"
Kaoru winced.
"Is that a yes?"
Sentaro leapt to his feet, knocking over his chairs, pumping his fist in the air.
"Hell yes! We're going to see Coltrane! In the flesh! What do we have to do again?" he flashed his infectious grin over his shoulder.
"Well, we don't really know yet. I'll make sure to listen every morning so we don't miss anything,"
"Hell yeah!" Sentaro repeated. "Me too! Two heads are better than one, right?"
"I suppose," Kaoru smiled a small smile of his own and pushed his glasses up. "I was listening at seven this morning, though,"
Sentaro's face fell.
"Guess I'll have to wake up early, then,"
Kaoru laughed.
"You don't have to push yourself, Sen. I know how much those kids put you through,"
"What are you talking about? I'm usually in the middle of trying to get everyone to eat breakfast at seven. Guess I can try to do five or six things at once," he grinned.
"Really. Leave this to me, ok?"
The bell rang and Sentaro stood with one final stretch.
"We should get to class. Wouldn't want the model student to be late, would we?"
And just like that, just like always, Kaoru was pulled along in Sentaro's wake.
'Trane. In Tokyo.
As if Kaoru would be able to concentrate in class, especially with Sentaro drumming quietly on the desk behind him, but his infectious excitement made it that much more difficult.
'Trane. In Tokyo.
July felt like ages away.
