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rising_wing
Today's a big day. It's not very often that Sora's kindergarten classes get to participate in school events, because of their age range and also because they were only there for half the day. But Sora had pushed for letting them join the author meet-and-greet being held in the library today, explaining that it was important to get the kids interested in books as early as possible. The vast majority of his students can't read yet, but someone doesn't have to know how to read to be interested in the stories that books contain. And being interested in those stories usually helps get them on track for reading faster, too.
And this is all true. And Sora cares about his kids a lot, he'd undoubtedly lay his life on the line for them if it came to that, but admittedly he has a second, background motive for wanting to take them to this event. He likes some of these authors. He reads to his kids often, even volunteers at the county library to read to kids not in his class, and he's grown very fond of some of these stories. Getting to meet the authors of them is a very huge draw for him.
Whatever his motives for getting them here, they're here. In the library with plenty of kids from the older classes along with them their teachers, not to mention the different authors at their different tables with nice stacks of books, and Sora's beginning to remember another reason why the kindergartners aren't usually included in school events. They're a bit harder to keep in line when around so many people and so many things. Some of them, anyway, not all of them. There are a few that are instead frightened of the crowd and noise, and who remain clinging to Sora's hands and shirt and pants to be as close to him as possible. Because Sora represents safety. This just makes things even harder though, as being weighed down by the shy ones means it's harder to round up the rowdy ones. This is usually not a problem in his own classroom. Really. He's good at managing them, he swears. But they're in a new environment.
Peter is the worst in this type of situation and Sora should have anticipated this. He's already silently berating himself for not taking him aside earlier and promising him a reward if he behaved and stayed with the group. He has sets of shiny Pokemon stickers specifically for this purpose. Oh well, too late now. He can only groan quietly to himself as the child rushes off, something new obviously catching the youngster's attention.
"Peter," Sora calls, firm but not mean. He gets another teacher to look after the rest of his class for just a second so he can chase after the stray. This requires some soothing words to the kids who are clinging to him, but he promises to be back soon and that they're in good hands.
The stray, Peter, has apparently decided that now is an excellent time to hide under one of the author's tables. Unfortunately for him, Sora saw him dive under there. Without paying any attention to which author's table it is or all of the books that are laid on top of it, determined to catch up with his wandering student, Sora heads under the table too. Peter is faster, and scrams before Sora can snag him. But Sora is definitely larger than a kindergartner, and getting out from the table takes more work for him. He also accidentally smacks his head against the edge of the tabletop as he's attempting it, and yelps in pain. His eyes widen as an avalanche of children's books slide off the table as result of him hitting against it, and notices a pair of feet coming closer. Well, crap.
As he tilts his head up to see the face of the approaching person, still half under the table and on hands and knees, he gives his best apologetic look. "Uh, sorry, that... Was a bad idea. Obviously. I'll help you pick them up!" Which is exactly when he notices the books. And recognizes them, and looks up at Riku with wide eyes and sudden admiration. "You wrote these?"
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Teachers were, usually, much more professional. And the kids were great. Even when they were rowdy. Kids getting rowdy was a natural thing. Too much energy in those little people.
With this in mind he's not all that surprised when a kindergartner dives underneath his table while he's away getting water. What does surprise him is the teacher, or whom he assumes is the boy's teacher, diving in after him. He watches, fascinated as the student dashes away and the teacher smacks his head against his table, causing his carefully stacked books to fall all over the place.
Poor guy, Riku thinks as he threw away his water cup and goes over to clean up.
"It's okay," he said. "Kids will be kids, right?" He's really not paying attention to teacher, about to tell him that he can take care of the books if he wants to go after his student when he's asked if he's the author of these books. Riku turns to him, and sees that wide eyed look of someone who enjoys his work.
His book series, an as of yet incomplete trilogy geared towards middle schoolers, but older elementary kids seemed to like as well, about a girl who goes on a time traveling adventure to save her older sister with the help of a fairy and a boy from the future, was fairly popular. There was rumor of a movie deal, but no one had approached Riku or his agent yet.
"Yeah," Riku answered and placed some of the fallen books back on the table. He felt a little self-conscious underneath the other man's blue eyed gaze. Like he should have done something different with his hair. "Um, not that I wouldn't appreciate the help, but shouldn't you go after your student?"
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He does. In fact he pretty much bolts. From then on out he seems to predict Peter's movements pretty effectively, and after maybe a minute, but not a second longer, he scoops the boy up and carries him on his back. They talk a little, and in the end the kid seems entirely happy to be getting a piggy-back ride, even if it means he can't run around freely anymore. Trade-offs. Though Sora has a feeling this is going to end in him having to give his entire class turns at piggy-back riding tomorrow. Just to be fair. Ah, well. They were tiny, didn't weigh much, and Sora generally always has as much fun as they do.
Sora returns briefly to Riku's table with the kid on his back. "Safe and sound, right, Pete?" The tiny one confirms this with a nod. He doesn't seem much ashamed about having run off, but then Sora wasn't shaming him either.
"Sorry again about the books. I'm gonna get back to the rest of my pipsqueaks now--" Peter gives a happy squeak at this nickname, almost as if on cue. It's apparently a regular thing, a sign of affection between Sora and his class, as the kid looks proud for having remembered to do it, and Sora grins just as proudly. "But uh, I really like your books, and hopefully I can talk to you again later, before you leave?"