Mm... it sounds like Sano-kun and his friend have similar worries.
[ Hurting others, especially without meaning to, and all the fallout that comes from that...
It's all noted. Tucked away in Haruaki's mind and up against his heart. He won't ever betray Douman's confidence by letting either of the boys know that he knows that this happened, but he can use the information he has now to work toward helping them in his own way.
Haruaki sips his tea too, hums a little in approval. It's been a while since he had good tea. Leave it to their Principal. ]
They might need time to feel hurt first, but I'm sure they'll work through it together. Sano-kun isn't the type to let a friend feel bad, even if he feels bad himself.
[ Another sip, and even if Douman still can't meet his eyes, Haruaki offers him a gentle smile. ]
It's never fun giving tough love, huh? But it's up to them to move forward with it. You don't have to feel bad about it, Principal.
Edited (just fuckin hits comment before i'm actually done i guess) 2026-01-09 03:35 (UTC)
[Douman just nods at that assessment. The tea tastes bland against his tongue, but he is going to blame that on the topic of their conversation rather than his skills.
Having to admit that Haruaki-kun is the way better man to help those boys smarts. But for once this isn't about his ego, and Douman is willing to lower his head for their wellbeing.]
That's what I'm trusting on. But just in case, please look out for them.
[He sighs and sets his cup on the table, meeting Haruaki's eyes. Douman's own look red and exhausted, now that he lets himself relax.]
I support Sano-kun having his love-life and getting to make his own choices, but the situation at hand is too dangerous for him to do it before he graduates.
Eh... I thought it was like that at first too– Sano-kun starting to have a love life, I mean!
[ All that flailing and shouting about the mistletoe kiss that Douman expected? Haruaki definitely did that, but Sano was quick to kill it off, because– ]
I don't think he's interested in stuff like that yet, though... It's more like something this world forced him to do. He wasn't happy about it.
[ And that was even before he got smacked in the face with the Takamagahara rule book... poor Sano. Haruaki will definitely look out for him, for both of them. ]
I guess that's the kind of thing we have to worry about here. We aren't really in control of what happens to us!
Don't go shoving all the blame for the decisions you make on a convenient culprit.
[It's not quite fair since Douman himself got smacked with several of what this place has to offer himself already, but he still has to nip that sort of mindset in the bud.]
I guess that it's my fault for spoiling you, Abe-sensei, but actions have consequences. Whether we like it or not.
You aren't doing Sano-kun any favors by making excuses for him.
It's not how Haruaki sees it at all, but something tells him this isn't a point worth arguing. Not just yet, when he's still feeling out the machinations of this world, and not when Douman is still feeling the stress of having to come down on Sano and his friend.
He tucks it away for later, just hangs his head and nods for now, a diligent employee taking in the words of his superior, focused on his tea until– ]
Say, Principal...
[ The cup is nearly drained. Haruaki sets it back on the low table, cowlick startle to waggle inquisitively. ]
What about you? [ Wait, wait– ] Aah, I don't mean what about your love life, don't tell me thaaaat!!! I just mean...
[ Well, there's no other way to ask it, is there? It may not be why they're here, but Haruaki's really beginning to think it's the most important thing to do while they are. ]
[Good. He can see the wheels turning inside Haruaki's head, but at least for now it seems like he is going to go along with Douman's wishes. Douman will just have to work even harder on regaining his abilities and keep an eye on Seimei's reincarnation too.]
Yes?
[He has raises his cup to take a sip of his own tea again, but the sudden yelling about his love life has Douman do a spit-take instead.]
Wh-Why are you suddenly talking as if you're my mom!?
[ He... sort of believes it. Douman is self-sufficient to an extreme degree, but not everyone adjusts easily to a world like this; if he wasn't doing okay, Haruaki would completely understand.
To that end, he doesn't really expect it to have much of an effect, but he has to offer it up anyway, sunny and genuine: ]
But if you're ever not doing fine, you can always talk to Abe-sensei!
[The truth is, Douman is doing anything but fine. This last incident has driven home in painful detail why it's better if he stays away from making any deep bonds. It only hurts him and anybody who gets close to him. But Haruaki-kun doesn't need to know that.
He just smiles and nods his head in a way that makes his hair fall over his eyes.]
I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Abe-sense.
[As if he could ever drag Seimei's reincarnation into his bad times.]
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[ Hurting others, especially without meaning to, and all the fallout that comes from that...
It's all noted. Tucked away in Haruaki's mind and up against his heart. He won't ever betray Douman's confidence by letting either of the boys know that he knows that this happened, but he can use the information he has now to work toward helping them in his own way.
Haruaki sips his tea too, hums a little in approval. It's been a while since he had good tea. Leave it to their Principal. ]
They might need time to feel hurt first, but I'm sure they'll work through it together. Sano-kun isn't the type to let a friend feel bad, even if he feels bad himself.
[ Another sip, and even if Douman still can't meet his eyes, Haruaki offers him a gentle smile. ]
It's never fun giving tough love, huh? But it's up to them to move forward with it. You don't have to feel bad about it, Principal.
no subject
Having to admit that Haruaki-kun is the way better man to help those boys smarts. But for once this isn't about his ego, and Douman is willing to lower his head for their wellbeing.]
That's what I'm trusting on. But just in case, please look out for them.
[He sighs and sets his cup on the table, meeting Haruaki's eyes. Douman's own look red and exhausted, now that he lets himself relax.]
I support Sano-kun having his love-life and getting to make his own choices, but the situation at hand is too dangerous for him to do it before he graduates.
no subject
[ All that flailing and shouting about the mistletoe kiss that Douman expected? Haruaki definitely did that, but Sano was quick to kill it off, because– ]
I don't think he's interested in stuff like that yet, though... It's more like something this world forced him to do. He wasn't happy about it.
[ And that was even before he got smacked in the face with the Takamagahara rule book... poor Sano. Haruaki will definitely look out for him, for both of them. ]
I guess that's the kind of thing we have to worry about here. We aren't really in control of what happens to us!
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[It's not quite fair since Douman himself got smacked with several of what this place has to offer himself already, but he still has to nip that sort of mindset in the bud.]
I guess that it's my fault for spoiling you, Abe-sensei, but actions have consequences. Whether we like it or not.
You aren't doing Sano-kun any favors by making excuses for him.
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It's not how Haruaki sees it at all, but something tells him this isn't a point worth arguing. Not just yet, when he's still feeling out the machinations of this world, and not when Douman is still feeling the stress of having to come down on Sano and his friend.
He tucks it away for later, just hangs his head and nods for now, a diligent employee taking in the words of his superior, focused on his tea until– ]
Say, Principal...
[ The cup is nearly drained. Haruaki sets it back on the low table, cowlick startle to waggle inquisitively. ]
What about you? [ Wait, wait– ] Aah, I don't mean what about your love life, don't tell me thaaaat!!! I just mean...
[ Well, there's no other way to ask it, is there? It may not be why they're here, but Haruaki's really beginning to think it's the most important thing to do while they are. ]
Are you making friends, too?
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Yes?
[He has raises his cup to take a sip of his own tea again, but the sudden yelling about his love life has Douman do a spit-take instead.]
Wh-Why are you suddenly talking as if you're my mom!?
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[ Wait. That's a real person. ]
I mean– I'm not trying to be your mom!! I'm just asking as a friend...
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....I'm doing fine, Haruaki-kun. No need to worry about me.
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[ He... sort of believes it. Douman is self-sufficient to an extreme degree, but not everyone adjusts easily to a world like this; if he wasn't doing okay, Haruaki would completely understand.
To that end, he doesn't really expect it to have much of an effect, but he has to offer it up anyway, sunny and genuine: ]
But if you're ever not doing fine, you can always talk to Abe-sensei!
no subject
[The truth is, Douman is doing anything but fine. This last incident has driven home in painful detail why it's better if he stays away from making any deep bonds. It only hurts him and anybody who gets close to him. But Haruaki-kun doesn't need to know that.
He just smiles and nods his head in a way that makes his hair fall over his eyes.]
I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Abe-sense.
[As if he could ever drag Seimei's reincarnation into his bad times.]