“Are you helping me or not?” Leon teased, pretending to be impatient.

“Yes!” The boy jumped, grabbed at his elbow “Yes, I will!” And was even able to smile a little bit.

Leaning towards the boy, he let him guide both of them to the far end of the table of choice. Leon did not turn back to see the affront on Nick’s face as he glared at them.

—

The first-year decided to sit on the table instead of on the bench in front of it. It was easier to be on eye level, he disliked having to chat with his head looking up. Being the taller one of his friends, he wondered how inconvenient it was for them or if they didn’t really care about that.

The boy in front of him was even shorter than mark. His shoulders were all tensed up and he had pitch black hair with bangs that slightly covered his eyes. A shy haircut for a shy person. 

They stayed silent for a few moments. Leon was staring at the boy, but he was looking down, avoiding eye contact. He was biting his lip so hard that the redhead wondered if it would bleed. As he was also growing uncomfortable with the situation, Leon decided to say something first.

“So? What is it?” He said and the other boy flinched so hard his eyes shot up.

“I-i-i…I’m sorry, I…” His stuttering was making Leon get nervous as well.

“What are you sorry for?” He sighed “Look… I’m not gonna bite you, ok? How about you start by telling me your name?”

The boy blinked as if he was surprised at the interaction “I’m… Ren. My name’s Ren” He was able to say without trembling now “I’m a first-year like you”

Leon nodded and gave the boy a soft smile “Alright little Ren, why do I have the pleasure of meeting you?” He was hoping that talking silly would help ease out the nerves.

He didn’t know how well it worked, but Ren’s face blushed bright red with the nickname “I’ve… I’ve been meaning to apologize to you” He said after gathering some courage. The redhead was confused at that, but just waited for the other to finish. “I’m the one who…” He shut his eyes very hard “Who stumbled on the table on that day” Ren’s breath was uneven from both anxiety and the want to cry “I’m really, really sorry!” Then his eyes shot up full of tears as he couldn’t stop talking anymore, the words coming out really fast like an uncontained waterfall “I’ve wanting to apologize for a long time, but I-I haven't seen you after that, and then I saw you but so long had passed already, and it would be weird to say something… but I kept feeling so, so bad about it, you even broke your foot, and then I decided to say something, but you were always surrounded and… and… you all look so scary together, I didn’t have the guts to talk in front of everyone… and I just… I just… I’m just so very sorry…I-”

Ren stopped talking, but not of his own volition. Leon had gently placed one of his palms on the boy's lips, effectively shutting him up. Two streaks of tears finally fell down on his cheeks.

And then Leon giggled, not knowing what to do with himself. I mean how could he not? He thought Ren was cute. He looked like a little scared animal and Leon really liked animals. Knowing all this nervousness was just from shyness and guilt somehow made it even cuter.

The taller boy waited a bit to see how the other would react but he was frozen in place. The hand that was on his lips was dragged to the side and used to carefully brush away the tears that had fallen. The boy's eyes went wider and his cheeks redder.

“Hey, it's fine, really” Leon gave him the softest smile he could manage. “It's not like you did on purpose, you don't need to feel so guilty about it” And he let his hand down from the other’s face.

“But–” Ren tried, but the taller one shook his head.

“I'm fine, also my foot it's not broken, I just twisted it” He moved the said foot a bit, as if to show off something “I'm taking this off the day after tomorrow” The smile didn't leave his lips.

“Really?” The boy's face brightened at that “I'm so glad”

“Ah, but…” Leon placed his finger on his own chin, making a playful thinking expression “Maybe you should've apologized over there” He pointed at his table without looking over “Nick was the one who fell from the stairs, not me” He knew it would make the other more nervous, but he couldn't help the teasing.

Ren's face fell, panic rising at it in slow motion, his own hands shot up to his cheeks like The Scream painting “OH MY GOD! You're right! I completely forgot because you were the only one who got hurt! Oh no, what do I do?? Will it be too weird to call senpai over too? Uwah, I should totally apologize to him too, but he's so scary, what do I doo?” He trailed off again.

Leon laughed out loud, his teasing having the exact effect he thought it would. Before he could stop himself, his hand found place on the top of the Ren's head, ruffling his hair “You sure have a lot to say for someone who's so shy”

Realization took over the shorter’s expression “Were you messing with me??”

“Yeah” Leon kept laughing “I'm sorry. See, we're even now” He ruffled his hair some more and then dropped his hand “Don't worry, I'll tell Nick for you if you want”

“...really?” Ren asked sheepishly.

“Yeah” Leon gave him another smile that made the boy a new shade of red.

—

Meanwhile all that happened, Nick did not stop looking at them for even a second. He had intended to ask about why Leon had left the club early yesterday but now… He was fuming with displeasure. He was already indignant enough when Leon had allowed a random boy to help him walk. That damned first-year refused his help but what? Anyone else would do? As if that wasn’t bad enough, Leon wasn't timid with the boy at all.

1. Leon was the first one to speak.

2. He made the boy cry.

3. He shut the boy up with his own hand?

4. He brushed away his tears??

5. He clearly teased him and the ruffled his hair???

Nick’s spoon fell down from his hand directly onto his plate, splashing cereal on Henry's shirt and earning a curse.

“What the hell?” Nick blurted out “Is he freaking flirting??”

The older boy didn’t know why that made him so mad. He assumed it was because he was feeling protective over the first year since he was so oblivious to other people. The whole scene left a sour taste inside his mouth.

After his inquiry, the other three boys stopped to look at what was happening. It seemed like Henry was about to confirm his question when Mark answered first.

“He's not flirting. He just thinks the boy's cute” It was said flatly.

“Isn't that the same thing?” It was Henry who actually asked this.

“Not really. You can think an animal is cute, but you don't necessarily want to be a furry” The shorter boy said as if it was the most normal comment on earth. John snorted at this and Henry choked on his own breath.

“You're kidding. The boy's fifty shades of red, and you're telling me that's not flirting?” Nick knocked his fist lightly on the table, unfazed by the weird comparison.

Mark shrugged “People blush over you all the time, but it's not like you're hitting on them right?”

The second-year was taken aback “I-I mean, yeah, but… that's Leon y'know” He said sheepishly.

The shorter boy raised his eyebrows highly at that. “Nick-senpai, Leon’s plenty attractive on my opinion”

“I know he is!” He blurted before he could stop. The second-year fought the urge to slap his own mouth shut.

“You do?!” Mark was actually surprised at that, gaping visibly.

Nick didn’t know what to do with himself, he felt relentless. His two hands shot up his hair and proceeded to mess it all up in a way to vent frustration. “I know he is attractive, but you're telling me that's just how he acts? Is he like that with the two of you?” He gestured to John and Mark.

“Yes” Both of them said at the same time.

Nick spluttered, not expecting that as an answer. Leon did not act like that towards him at all, how was he supposed to know. I mean, he did playfully say some flirty lines that Nick knew was a thing Leon did, but acting sweet? What. The. Hell.

“I don't believe this…” He commented to no one in particular, completely devoid of the previous energy.

Mark and John exchanged a glance when they saw how bummed out the elder boy looked. John nodded his head ever so slightly to affirm they were on the same page. But it was Henry who actually helped to continue the conversation on the right track.

“If that’s how he normally behaves, how would you know when he’s flirting with someone?” It was purely out of curiosity and of course Nick’s ears perked up at it.

“Ah…” Bless you Henry, Mark thought as he answered “When Leon flirts he’s really not honest about it.” He pointed out “But at times he’s more… aggressive? Direct? I guess”

…“I’m his most beloved enemy”...

…“You're my Senpai, aren't you?” He whispered, still making eye contact…

…“Are you talking about yourself?” The first-year asked, holding one of Nick’s wrist, his voice going lower than normal…

Nick blinked. Why were those memories appearing right now? 

“Eh?” He furrowed his brows. Was his brain trying to tell him that Leon did treat him the same as the others? If not then…?

Of course the first-year and the other boy chose this moment to come back to the table. While Nick was still in a confused state, they said their goodbyes and the other left. When no one said anything, the long haired boy shifted on the seat, eyes darting around. When asked what happened Mark, John and Henry answered “Nothing” all at the same time. 

“Nick?” Leon called out, noticing he was the only one not listening. The second-year was startled out of his body, but he did not let it show on his face as he hummed in response “Ren said he wanted to apologize to you too”

“Ren?” Nick’s eyes sharpened at the name. Now that he was looking directly at the kouhai’s face, an inexplicable resentment was building in his chest “Do you mean that little midget that just left? What could he possibly be sorry for?” The words were laced with distaste.

“Midget??” Leon was offended in the boy’s place “Don’t call him that! He was really nice about apologizing for stumbling on the table that day”.

Well, now the second-year’s face was full of disdain “So that was his fault? And you’re defending him?” His glare was cold “What? Just because you think he’s cute?”

“I’m not defending him, you fucking jackass, I’m saying he came to apologize!” Leon threw his arms up. He did not understand why he seemed so mad.

“Oh, you are so freaking fast at snapping at me but when it is a cute boy that almost killed us, you are all smiles! Have some self respect!”

Leon gapped at the comment, he felt very wronged “What the hell is wrong with you?!”

“Nothing is wrong with me! It’s you who walks around acting like a Casanova!”

“I don’t??” He was fed up, he slammed his hands on the table and got up “And what if I was, huh?!! Aren’t you the fucking same? You give your damn number to everyone and walk around distributing smiles, what right do you have to talk about someone else??”

“What??!” Nick also slammed his hands on the table and got up “At the very least I don’t go around patting stranger’s heads! You’re a lot worse than me!”

“Are you kidding me?? You are a lot worse!”

“No, you are!”

“YOU ARE!”

“YOU ARE!”

Leon gritted his teeth but could not contain the swear “WHORE!”

Nick gapped angrily and retorted “BITCH!” 

They both went on a staring contest before Nick got fed up, snapped away his head, promptly got out of the table and walked out of the canteen, one could almost see smoke coming out of his head. Henry, who was dumbstruck at the exchange, mumbled a dismissal and followed after his friend.

After Leon sat down he heard two loud sounds: a “slap” and a “thump”. Looking over he saw Mark’s hands on his own face and John’s head on the table.

“That was…” John’s voice came out mumbled from the position.

“That was the stupidest and gayest fight I’ve ever seen in my whole life” Mark finished.