[ABO BL Anthology] Time Cross Academy

Snake x Fox (4)

Classes in Time Cross Academy were interesting and Soubi looked forward to it. However, his mind and heart were still in turmoil with matters regarding his childhood friend. Ever since they stopped seeing each other three years ago, the black snake demon had become almost a stranger to the snow fox demon.

Soubi couldn't sleep well at night with how frequent Sei visited his dreams. His childhood friend had become more flirtatious ever since they entered the academy together. While there were other alphas and omegas in the school, Sei didn't seem to be interested in anyone else apart from him which made the fox demon confused. It has been a week now and Sei still followed him around like a kicked puppy. Soubi hasn't made any attempts to talk to Sei and the fox demon felt slightly bad for ignoring Sei on purpose but he was still angry about how casually Sei kissed him and proposed to marry.

"Are you really never going to forgive him?" Ringo asked. "It's been a week and the poor alpha looks like he might commit suicide if you won't speak to him again."

Soubi flinched and his ears twitched. "Why should I care about him? It's his fault for kissing people randomly!"

Ringo put his book down and looked at his roommate. "But did you dislike it?"

Soubi paused. Ringo's question caught him by surprise. Did he dislike it?

"I-I don't know. I've never kissed anyone before," the fox demon admitted and Ringo smiled.

It was obvious as day that Soubi liked Sei romantically and Sei's feelings for his dense roommate were sincere. The exorcist wasn't sure how these two didn't become a couple before they entered the academy but he was very sure that they wouldn't graduate without becoming an official couple. Ringo was slightly envious but he decided to help Soubi who had been nothing but kind towards a human like him.

Without another word, Ringo climbed down his bunk and walked over to Soubi. In one swift movement, Ringo bent down and planted a kiss on Soubi's lips. The reaction was instant. Soubi's ears perked and the fur of his tail fluffed up in disgust while the fox demon wiped his lips and spluttered repeatedly.

"Ew! Why did you do that?"

Ringo smirked. "To help you decide if you liked Sei's kisses. Judging from your response, you definitely preferred his to mine. I'm sure you didn't do this when he kissed you so the answer should be obvious now. Stop deluding yourself and embrace your true feelings before it's too late!"

The fox demon looked lost. "What do you mean by that?"

Seeing how concerned Soubi was, Ringo decided to give his roommate a little push to help him out with his relationship. He sighed dramatically and casually stated that Sei was a very popular alpha who has many admirers.

"I even heard that the bunny boy intends to confess his feelings to Sei soon. Nobody can resist the charms of a bunny demon. They're literally baby producing machines and the best of its kind for omegas. Bunny boy is also the top-ranking omega in the category polling for omegas that alphas want to mate."

Soubi choked on his saliva. "Ranking? There's a ranking?"

The exorcist blinked. "You didn't know? The dorm manager came by on the night of the first day and told us to fill in a form after looking through the profiles to vote for who we think is the most eligible alpha. The alphas did the same but voted for the omegas. You told me to vote for you because you were too busy stuffing your face with the inari sushi that Sei saved for you."

"I-I didn't know..." Soubi paled. Now that Ringo mentioned it, he seemed to recall something like that happening.

Seeing that his roommate had been startled enough, Ringo innocently announced that he was leaving to shower. Right now, Soubi needed some time alone to think about it himself and decide what he wanted to do. Although Ringo wasn't an expert in the affairs of the heart, he wasn't totally dumb about it. He was slightly envious of the romance his kind roommate had but kept his chin up. Sei was a great alpha for  Soubi and he wished them both happiness.

In the room alone, Soubi wondered if he should start texting Sei again and accept his apology. It had been a week and Ringo was right. Sei was a great alpha who was easily likeable. Unlike Soubi who was an omega with a bad attitude, Sei could easily find someone better. The thought stung a little and Soubi felt something ugly bubbling within him.

"Humph! How dare he go after someone else after stealing my first kiss. I won't allow it! He has to take responsibility for me. Besides, it wasn't me who said it, he was the one who offered to do so. I'm not in the wrong... I'm definitely not doing this because I'm jealous of bunny boy!"

Finally convinced that he was doing the right thing, Soubi picked up the phone and gave Sei a text. He hit the send button and waited for a grand total of two seconds before he received a reply. The swiftness of Sei's reply took Soubi by surprise. Was the snake demon really waiting for him to forgive him? The long string of apologies that followed with emojis showing tears of gratitude and kneeling ensued. Eventually, Soubi was forced to admit that the alpha was rather cute.

Soubi: Stop it, I'm not mad at you anymore.

Sei: B-But you were so angry at me for a week. I'm very sorry I stole your first kiss, I didn't know!

Sei: I was wrong, I should have asked. I shouldn't have taken it for granted but I just couldn't help it. It's been so long since I last saw you, I thought that you would've been claimed by someone else by now... when I saw you I was just so happy I couldn't help myself.

Soubi: Sei, stop it. Don't apologise anymore, you didn't know. I forgive you. I'm really not mad anymore so don't worry too much over it. Instead, you should think of a way to properly make it up to me.

Sei: How should I make it up to you? I'll do anything you want from buying you inari sushi every day to becoming your footstool. All you have to do is tell me what you want.

Soubi froze at the desperation radiating from that last message. Footstool? Really? Where has that proud and smug alpha gone to? What's this pathetically cute servant-like attitude? The snow fox demon couldn't help but burst into laughter when he read the message once more. This new side of Sei was rather entertaining and for the first time since their childhood, Soubi felt as if he won.

Soubi: Anything?

Sei: Absolutely anything.

Soubi: Really anything?

Sei: I mean it. Even if you want my life, I'm willing to give it. Just don't hate me, Sou... I really can't live if you do.

Unable to withstand the urge, Soubi dialled. Sei wasn't expecting it but he received the call politely sitting in seiza and was both happy and nervous that his crush called.

"What are you doing right now?" Soubi asked and Sei swallowed. This was the first time Soubi had spoken to him in a week ever since he pushed the fox too far.

"I'm in the dormitory right now. Was doing my homework earlier when you texted."

"Good. Are you alone?"

Sei nodded. "Yes, yes I'm alone right now. My roommate has gone out for extracurricular activities."

Soubi felt his heart pounding and felt his ears heat up. "Good. Listen up carefully because I'm only saying it once. If you disappoint me again I won't talk to you for a year!"

"I'm listening! I'm listening!" Sei quickly promised and held onto his phone tightly as if trying to cling onto Soubi's arm.

"If you really want to make it up to me then you should officially ask me out tomorrow. We cannot get married until we know each other better. There is also my father's approval and my sisters to tell if we become an official couple. Not to mention, we need to register it with the school and all... basically, what I'm saying is that you should take care of me for the rest of your life to make up for all the confusion I felt!"

The snake demon couldn't help but proclaim his love loudly over the phone and vowed to ask him out in the grandest way possible, much to Soubi's horror.

"I'm going to shout it from the tallest tower!"

"Don't."

"No, I'm going to kneel down and ask you out in front of the school's courtyard after class."

"No!"

"I'm going to make an inari sushi heart throughout the entire cafeteria and make the announcement!"

"Sei! No! Are you trying to kill me from embarrassment? Just call me out after class and meet me behind the school where you stole my first kiss," Soubi whispered with a blush but Sei caught every single word.

"I understand. See you tomorrow, Sou."

"Don't stay up too late. Also, I'm glad to see you again, Sei. I'll be in your care."

Sei felt his heart explode from pent up adoration. His unrequited love was finally mutual and tomorrow they would officially be a couple. The snake demon couldn't stop grinning. Soubi was the kind who ran away the more they were being chased so this time, Sei changed his technique a little. Instead of chasing, he will play meek and submissive to appeal to the motherly omega instincts that Soubi had.

"It looks like your plan worked out. Congratulations," Michael, Sei's vampire roommate yawned and got out of his coffin.

"Thanks. I wouldn't be able to do this without your help. Are you sure you're alright though? You look paler than usual."

Michael groaned. "The dirt is different and they don't serve nutritious blood. It's disgusting I tell you. The blood is stale and sour... if only there are humans around that I can feed on..."

Sei felt sorry for the vampire who was anaemic and ill from the change in environment. "I'll get you some blood bags from the infirmary. Don't go anywhere. Also, thanks for passing the message to Kenma. I appreciate it."

Michael waved and went back into his coffin. Sei left the room and texted Kenma about the update of his situation. The beta guardian merely sent a thumbs-up emoji and told him to work hard.

Kenma: The young master might be a handful but please take good care of him. Don't force him to mate if he isn't ready. We don't know how bad his mental trauma is ever since that crazy b***h laid her hands on him. The master has ordered Soubi to always wear a protective collar so don't try anything funny like marking him until you're both registered with the school.

Sei: Got it, thanks. I owe you one.

-Omake-

"Kenma-san, who are you texting?" Yang Yang asked.

The snow fox demon smiled. "An accomplice. How did your confession go?"

Yang Yang sighed. "He said that it was no good because I am a beta. Tell me, why can't betas find love too? I'm so lonely. What about you? Do you have anyone you fancy in this academy?"

Kenma smiled. "I have a fiancée waiting for me outside of this academy. Sorry, Yang Yang but I don't swing that way."

The beta three-legged crow gaped. "Traitor!"

That night, the miserable sound of Yang Yang's sobbing could be heard throughout the beta dormitory and since then, another tale was added to the dormitory's tradition of one hundred ghost tales.