Getting Pulled Over and Bundled into the Trunk

Everything is fine

Gakushuu raised an eyebrow at his classmates' enthusiasm, before suppressing an amused smile and quietly leaving the room.

"Oh, Asano!" Koro-sensei called after him as he just walked into the hallway.

Gakushuu sighed. "For the last time, I'm not letting you DJ the party."

Koro-sensei huffed. "My talent deserves a chance to shine!" Then he sighed. "But that's not what I wanted to talk about."

He paused, regarding his warily. "Then what is it?"

"Well, I understand you'll be staying at your father's over the weekend," Koro-sensei said.

Gakushuu tensed. "Yes." Did everyone have to know about it? "Not that it concerns you, but I am."

Koro-sensei nodded. "I only ask because while I think it's wonderful you're both trying to repair your relationship, I'm just a little concerned that your father might be rushing things."

Gakushuu kept his hands behind his back, gripping them tight. "And what would give you that impression?"

"...I did have a morning tea with him a few days ago," Koro-sensei said.

Morning tea?

Gakushuu gave him a strange look. "Since when do you and my father drink morning tea together?"

Koro-sensei's mood perked up a little. "Oh, well, we actually have a lot in common!" Then he looked sheepish. "And I have been trying to get back on his good side since he docked my pay because of the space shuttle incident..." He sighed, shaking his head. "Anyway, I'm just concerned as from what your father's saying, he seems under the impression everything is moving along wonderfully...yet he seems reluctant to confirm if he's spoken to you about whether you've addressed the domestic incident or his past actions."

His stomach lurched, but he tried to ignore it. "Things are moving along fine."

If his father was happy then that meant things were going well.

"I see..." Koro-sensei sounded unsure. "Asano, I know I'm not your teacher anymore but...I do still worry." He sighed. "From what I've observed, you seem to find it difficult to talk about your feelings."

Gakushuu narrowed his gaze. "And since when were you a qualified therapist?"

Koro-sensei sighed again. "Asano..." His tone grew more serious. "I'm just concerned."

He bit back a grimace, shifting his gaze away. "...I and my father don't tend to talk about our feelings." His brow furrowed. "That would just make things uncomfortable."

The octopus hummed. "That may be, but I don't think leaving things to stew would help either." He patted his shoulder. "If you don't feel comfortable talking to your father yet, you can always reach out to your friends – or go somewhere you feel safe."

Feel safe?

"Yes, well, I'll keep that in mind." Gakushuu frowned, regarding him warily. "Is that everything?"

Koro-sensei hesitated before nodding. "Yes, I believe so."

"Good." Gakushuu quickly moved away and continued down the hallway while from the corner of his eye he saw Koro-sensei gently shake his head.

****

Gakushuu folded his clothes neatly into his backpack while sitting on his futon.

Itona was slurping some cherry pop while he watched, the rain drizzling down the window as it got dark. "...You sure you don't want me to come?"