Chapter Text
With the sound of the birds chirping and the sound of the rustling leaves with the wind was how Shuichi Saihara had woken up that day. He was so excited for today was his first day on college.
He and his best friend Kaede Akamatsu were going to the same college as freshman, they had finished their studies with perfect scores … well Shuichi did, Kaede fell a little behind but still had great scores to pass, and the two were so excited for being on the same college, Saishu College for Gifted Juveniles.
Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes he got up, grabbed a change of clothes and went into the bathroom for a quick shower. Once done he put on his clothes and went downstairs to eat toast with a cup of coffee. Shuichi was a simple eighteen year old man with simple needs, he didn’t need a fancy breakfast yet he wouldn’t deny one.
It was on mornings like these that he missed his uncle the most. He had to leave on June to England to help on a horrific murder case. The murderer was believed to have escaped from Japan and was now causing issues on that other country. Ken Saihara being one of the best detectives and a person who already had knowledge on how to speak the language of the country was asked to go there to solve the case and he didn’t deny it.
The toast was slowly becoming shorter and shorter as he kept eating it.
Shuichi wished to be somewhat like his uncle. He wished to help fight crimes but he also wished to do some things slightly different from the way his uncle did, for example he wanted to find his own way to investigate, go through the information and for it to be in an effective way. For Shuichi that was essential, he wanted his own style, a style that could scream ‘I am here’ ‘This is how I do things’ ‘This was thanks to Shuichi’
As he finished his toast so did his thoughts as he had no time to waste. He returned to the bathroom, washed his teeth and finished getting ready to leave the house.
He checked the windows and the doors to the exterior twice and after being sure that the one door that was unlocked was the front one he grabbed his backpack, left the house and locked the door.
Once reaching the street he waited for the exact amount of 4 minutes and he could already see Kaede Akamatsu approaching his house. Her bright smile and personality.
“Ah, Shuichi!” she ran towards him and hugged him. A common hello that the two shared. To others it would seem like they were dating and … past Shuichi would have loved that. Yup, Shuichi had had a crush …?? He wasn’t even sure if it could be called a crush on her but it felt something like that, but that crush stopped when she denied his feeling before he could even confess, it had been the best thing to do than to give Shuichi false hope.
In a way, he had hoped for her to be a little more merciful but no she just laid it all out for him ‘Hey Shuichi I think you have feelings for me but … I like girls, sorry’ … for past Shuichi that had been a kick in the balls but for present Shuichi was more like relief.
With this outcome he wouldn’t be chasing someone he wasn’t sure he loved and he also found out that he didn’t really like girls romantically. That was why the two could share something that for bystanders would look intimate, but for them it was just a hug between old friends.
As they made their way to Saishu Kaede began talking to Shuichi about a girl that she had seen going to that college the previous year, a girl that she fell in love with and was determined to stand out and try to win her heart.
“Ah that reminds me” Shuichi didn’t like that tone of voice “You also have to get a boyfriend don’t you Shuichi?”
His cheeks answered for him “K-Kaede! I-Its … isn’t it too soon?”
“You really need to work on your shyness, like, you’re eighteen like me Shuichi and you still haven’t had any romantic interactions … this year we’ll change that!” she said with a fire on her eyes that told Shuichi that she was determined.
Saishu was really as how it was presented. A big preparatory school for the great university of the country, Hopes Peak. If Shuichi managed to get good grades in Saishu it was almost guaranteed for him to be accepted on Hopes Peak, he was going to give his best.
Once the two got their schedules they were saddened to see that they were on different Classes. Shuichi was on class 1-A, the class that held students with prestigious grades, and the fact he made it to 1-A told a lot about him. Shuichi himself didn’t know how much praise he received for getting into that class until he heard from the other students.
Apparently the students saw Shuichi as a super genius. His grades from his previous school already gave him the first spot on the class hierarchy and he had never felt prouder.
Same couldn’t be said for Kaede as she was enlisted on class 1-C. It wasn’t really bad, but it didn’t scream greatness. Only classes 1-A and 1-B held the high graders, sometimes class 1-C did too for lack of spots on those other classes but it was something really rare.
Shuichi, however, wasn’t getting depressed for not being on the same class as Kaede. She was stopping Shuichi from feeling sad or any feeling that would get him to feel depressed.
Eventually they parted ways, not realizing that they went a floor higher then supposed.
Looking at the people that were talking and heading down the hall, Shuichi couldn’t help but to feel nervous and intimidated.
For new students they sure look like they know each other … in a way it’s scary not knowing anyone
That thought was thrown off the window the moment Shuichi reached class A … class 2-A.
He felt so embarrassed and stupid for having gone a floor higher. How could he have been so careless, he was but a Kohai that was walking down a hall filled with Senpais … yup, he had goofed up and it would be best if he went down a floor before someone noticed him and he got to embarrass himself to the older classes.
With stiff body he did a one eighty degree turn just to hit someone smaller than him.
Yup … he fucked up already.
“Ah, I-I’m so s-sorry, are you okay” damn stutter.
The person underneath him, however, made Shuichi feel … not so intimidated.
A young plum haired boy had fallen to the floor on his ass. He was so short and tiny and … childlike … there was no way he was a year above Shuichi, he must have been one of those prodigy kids that had managed to get into class 1-A … probably a mischievous kind of person for coming up to the floor of the second years … wait … Shuichi was being hypocrite as he had done the same thing, just not on purpose but still he couldn’t.
The plum haired male lifted his head and amethyst eyes were locked with gold.
Shuichi gulped. He knew for a fact that this person was childlike but for him to be in this college then he must be of age. He looked … stunning to say the least, each aspect of him was perfect … wait it bad for Shuichi to think that of someone who looked that childlike.
“The fuck are you doing” a voice from a new person came from behind Shuichi.
He turned around to meet a tall and buff guy with a pink-ish jacket and a weird hair style. His glare was intimidating and got Shuichi on edge.
“I-I … I bumped into him b-by accident … I-I’m sorry” he tried his best not to show fear in front of that guy, if he did it would be like his previous school where he was everyone’s punching bag … Shuichi would rather avoid that in this school.
That didn’t seem to be the case as the taller guy grabbed him by his collar on his blazer “Get the fuck out of here” he warned him.
Shuichi didn’t have to be told twice. Once he was release he turned around and made his way to the stairs. Before reaching them, he and the smaller boy shared a look that made Shuichi blush. He blinked to Shuichi and that forced him to double his pace and go down the stairs and into his class before he was late.
Introductions were as expected. Everyone said their name, age, previous school, Talent, what they wished to follow … the basic stuff that was normally said on the first day of class with said class being formed of new students.
Class 1-A had all seats filled … sadly, none of those seats was housing a person that Shuichi knew, and he knew for a fact that he was the number one student on class hierarchy he already didn’t want to speak to them. Shuichi got nervous with new people and he didn’t really want to be that praised for his own hard work. Some praise is good but too much would make him feel bad, it’s not like he’s the only student that is taking good grades to be praised, as long as he knows everyone is.
The teacher was surprisingly kind as she didn’t gave a lesson that day and allowed everyone to have free time while in the class until break.
Some students were on their phones. Others were on groups, either making new friends or on groups that knew it each other. Now a small number of girls had surrounded Shuichi and they were talking about how great he was for all his scores, some of them even saying how cute he looked.
Of all things they had to try and flirt with a guy that had already found out he was gay … oh the irony.
Once class finished they bowed to their teacher and left to eat something before their next class. Shuichi’s fellow classmates didn’t seem that bad and were being really friendly towards him, it even seemed as if some noticed how hard it was for Shuichi to be himself around new people and weren’t forcing him or anything.
What great people … no sarcasm intended.
During his break time he went to find Kaede and the two talked with each other about their classes and how things were going. Shuichi couldn’t help but feel like he was being watched by two gazes, a soft one and a very angry one … probably his mind.
… Yeah, probably his mind, he hadn’t angered anyone today, and he planned on not angering anyone on the future.
Class 1-A had two more classes, then a prolonged lunch and finally they finished with Physical Education, the one class that Shuichi fell from his number one class throne. On all subjects Shuichi exceeded his classmates, except on this one. If he had a better physical build then he could be called the best student that had ever been to Saishu but he didn’t want that title, and besides, just because he wasn’t great at this subject it didn’t meant he would try hard to get a decent score.
When the class was over the sky was painted in orange. Yup, sunset. Shuichi was so tired that he felt that the moment he would arrive to his home his legs would turn into jelly and he would fall on his bed, sweaty and dirty … no, he had to get an effort to at least get clean.
Being the kind student he was, he offered himself to help put things back in the storage room. The teacher thanked him and helped him doing so as the others left the school before him.
Oh shit
He forgot that he and Kaede combined on going together home. As a policy from the teacher, phones were on of the forbidden items to have during Physical Education and Shuichi was always a guy that follows the rules. By now Kaede must have already gone home by herself.
“Pfew, Thanks Saihara, you’re a great kid offering to help me do this, but don’t expect extra credit for this” he never expected extra credit but it would be nice to have some.
As he grabbed his bag he noticed a mop of purple looking at him from the corner of one of the school buildings. It was that beautiful guy he had bumped earlier in the day.
Shuichi waved at him and saw him blush and run away. What a cute reactions.
“Hey” he heard that familiar voice.
He turned around to meet the owner of said voice and received a punch in the jaw so strong that caused him to fall to the floor.
His scream of pain silenced by a hand of one of the two guys Shuichi didn’t know that followed the buffed purple haired guy.
The second guy helped the first one by restraining Shuichi.
“A kohai … a fucking kohai dares going to the second year’s floor … and you even think of looking at that trash” he was kicked on the ribs and once again, scream muffled.
The taller guy smirked, probably noticing Shuichi’s fearful expression “This’ll be fun” Shuichi’s eyes grew wide. Those words so familiar, the words of a bully, the words of someone that was about to-
Punch. Punch. Punch.
The guy kept attacking Shuichi, hitting his chest, his arms, his legs, his face and even his feet. At each impact Shuichi’s screams turned louder and stronger yet all restrained by the hand of that stranger.
The orange light started to fade away as a darker one took place, night was starting to come, yet the bully had not stopped.
Tears had been running down Shuichi’s face but that didn’t seem to cause the bully to stop. He kept going and hurting more of Shuichi’s body. The visible skin of Shuichi was turning purple after all that beating.
…
Silence.
No pain, no nothing.
He opened his eyes to see the other above him smirking. Once the fear had settled back on Shuichi laughter came from the three. He was released and left on the floor filled with blood and tears.
The trio left, proud with their new punching bag … this year … sadly, was another year where Shuichi would suffer.
A hand rested on his face. Fearing that the bullies had returned he shut his eyes and went into the fetal position.
The hand was soft and cold as it caressed his cheek. An eye was allowed to open. With a swollen eye, only the blurry figure of someone was viewed.
“I’m so sorry for that asshole did to you” a soft voice told him “I know this sounds bad but don’t move I’ll go get something to clean your wounds” that soft hand left his cheek. The sound of footsteps getting further and further away echoed on his ears until the sound vanished.
With the remaining strength he had he got back on his feet and made his way to the school gate. Shuichi was already branded as a bullied kid, he didn’t want anyone to see how he was and neither did he wish for pity, he simply wanted to return to his home and cry himself to sleep.
Walking was hard. That guy had twisted one of Shuichi’s ankles, and the constant pain coming from his legs and chest didn’t help a bit.
The sound of a notification came from his phone.
After removing it from his backpack he saw about twenty-one missed messages from Kaede, four missed calls and … he just received another message.
MelodicaPianist: Shuichi please text me back, you’re worrying me.
He ignored her last message, fully knowing it would be displayed as ‘Read’ on Line. Normally he’d love to speak with her but right now Shuichi didn’t want her to see the mess the he was. He didn’t want his best friend to see how weak he was, not able to defend himself …
He reached his house, opened the door and didn’t bother on locking the door.
As he made his way to his bedroom his bag got discarded midway. After reaching his room he didn’t remove his clothes or take a bath. He dropped on his bed, dirtying the covers with dirt, blood and sweat.
Shuichi hugged his pillow to his face and finally the tears ran down his face once again. He was thankful that the pillow was muffling his screams and sobs. Damn, tomorrow he would have such a mess of a bed.
The thought went ignored as the aching pain on his body acted as a constant reminder to Shuichi, a reminder telling him that he belonged to those bullies and that he would suffer again.
After an hour Shuichi cried himself to sleep, the aching pain finally decreasing just a bit to the point he could finally fall asleep.
. . .
“This won’t do … this won’t do one bit”
There was a voice in his dream.
“Those bastards … I won’t allow this to be like this, I won’t my beloved, I’ve waited so long to meet the one who makes my heart beat faster”
Shuichi looked around the emptiness of his dream.
“Ah … don’t bother my beloved … you won’t remember a thing … promise, Nishishi”
Then, it happened.
In his dream … Shuichi lost consciousness and was eaten alive by the darkness that grew stronger and stronger.
. . .
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“Nishishi … let’s make you happy now”
His hand hovered above the [YES] option.