Crying Stars

--

"I'll be fine, Ichisaki. Don't worry too much."

Kishi's cheeks were tinted with pink just ever-so-slightly by Asuma's ruffles. His hair was all messy and disoriented when Asuma retracted his hand. Kishi grunted and untied his bangs, combing his hair and bangs down again like it used to look.

"Don't ruffle my hair like that, damn it..." Kishi grumbled curses under his breath, the rest going unheard by the khaki-brown-haired teacher. Asuma chuckled the last two words he heard, letting Kishi go with that one.

He braced his hands on his hips and continued his words, "I was going to say, I will be there as well to assist the class and help them while you, young ones, will reseal the beast. However, I won't allow either Ichisaki Kishi or even Ichijou Shizuka to participate in battling the beast-- if it would come to that."