Chapter Text
It was the first day of school, of high school no less. Asano was ready for another year of hard work, and long lessons. This year was going to be the same as the last, and the one before, not that he was upset about keeping the top spot for over ten years, it’s just that it got boring after a while. Not even his friends could keep up with him academically, and no one from any one of his classes either. The only challenge for Asano was his father, though he barely counted. As far as he knew, this year would be the most boring yet.
The strawberry blond washed and freshened up before putting his new school uniform on. He looked exactly the same. It was ironic really, the only thing that changed was the fact that his uniform now said ‘High School,’ instead of ‘Junior High.’
As he walked down the stairs and into the dining room for breakfast with his father, he thought about the things that might change, ever so slightly. For starters, people seemed to be more into the notion of love at his age, fussing about their soulmates and whatnot. He made a mental note to steer clear of that kind of gossip. Secondly, new students from all around the country had been accepted into the school, so there were new faces he needed to remember. Then lastly, he was one of the youngest students in the school again, right after being of of the oldest in junior high, being in third year.
“All set then?” The voice from across the table snapped Gakushu out of his thoughts. A year ago his father would never have asked him anything nearly that personal.
“Yes of course,” he responded after a second or two of hesitation. He then reached for a fork for his pancakes. Their Americanized breakfast was also a change. Who knew Principle Asano had a thing for foreign cuisine?
“Do you need a ride?” He really was serious about the ‘growing as a father’ business.
“If you don’t mind,” he replied politely, grateful that he even asked.
“Of course not, but this means we’re leaving in ten,” the older of the two explained as he excused himself for the table to gather up some more papers he had left in his study, leaving Gakushu alone with his thoughts.
That morning was one of the first times Gakushu ever showed any interest in the whole soulmate situation. He remembered thinking about it, and after that he couldn’t stop. The part of him groaning about nothing changing over the years was masking the part of him that was eternally grateful that nothing had to change and pull him out of his comfort zone. Hopefully none of the soulmate business would interfere with his studies, and hopefully his wouldn’t meet him this year. He couldn’t be distracted with love and affection, he had a reputation to withhold.
The Asanos got to school in their car and went their separate ways without a word once they stepped foot into the parking lot, not that Gakushu was expecting anything more. So the younger of the pair went off into the courtyard to meet with his group.
“Asano-kun,” Ren smiled at the child prodigy he’d learnt to call his friend.
“Hey,” he nodded his head, acknowledging the others. Then they subconsciously got into formation and walked into the tall building. People were staring, but they were used to it; kids their age and even the upset class men. Asano’s reputation was well known throughout the entire campus.
Everyone in the school would move away and make room for the five of them, so Asano allowed himself to walk calmly, he walked confidently actually, knowing that everyone knew their place. He had to admit that in times like these he was a bit like his father, although apparently he wasn’t enough like his father to sense the one boy who didn’t move aside. He bumped right into him.
“Look where you’re going next time,” a sly voice came out of the boy right in front of Asano, “I wouldn’t want to trip you,” there was something threatening about his voice, it was edging him on.
“You should’ve moved,” he retorted, impatiently as the other boy still hadn’t moved.
“You should’ve moved, but here we are,” he smirked, staring Asano down. The younger of the two felt a chill go down his spine as the amber eyes stared him down; he hated the feeling. He stared back just as intensely. The tension between the two could be cut with a knife, and the silence in the hallway made it feel like everyone was holding their breaths.
Everyone was waiting for something to happen, but Asano wouldn’t give this new kid the satisfaction of starting anything, so after a moment he walked away, or at least he tried to.
With a swift movement, Karma managed to slip his foot above Asano’s shin, and the boy came down; though even while he was falling it was done with a certain amount of grace. Karma took a mental note of that, and hoped to crack that facade sooner or later.
“This could’ve been avoided,” Asano scoffed, getting up as quickly as he went down. This time his gaze was even more intense, and everyone really was holding their breaths.
“If you had moved,” Karma nodded, “but hey, now you know,” he tilted his head down, and smiled a bit, showing some teeth.
“That you’re immature, yes,” he frowned, looking unimpressed. He’d perfected that face.
“You gonna do something about that? Your highness?” Karma leaned back onto the wall, he seemed too relaxed for a boy who had basically challenged a classmate to a fight.
“I’m going to be mature about it,” he tilted his head upwards, and looked down on his classmate.
“Your superiority complex is showing,” Akabane teased, standing up again. He was usually taller than everyone, but they were about the same height; no matter though, he would win this game. All he needed to do was to make Asano a player.
“Your delinquent is showing,” there was a tone of irritation in his voice, “we have class,” it’s true that a few minutes had passed since the two had bumped into each other.
“Oh,” his tone changed, and he looked down at his watch, “alright then,” he smiled and put on a cheery facade, “til next time then your Majesty.”
Karma walked away and headed to his first class, leaving Asano staring at the space in the wall he was just leaning on. The silence continued for another minute or so, but once Gakushu began to walk away, the hallways were as loud as ever.
There was something about the new kid that made Asano mad, a hot kind of mad, the kind of mad that left you warm minutes after the initial encounter. A weird kind of mad, he wasn’t even sure it was qualified as mad.
It probably wasn’t, because the feeling he got in the hallway wasn’t even close to how he felt when he saw who was sitting in his first period math class, and when he saw that he was sitting in the very front. Then he sighed as he took the seat right next to him.
“Sitting beside the king himself? What an honour,” Karma smiled innocently at the strawberry blond.
“I appreciate the view from the front of the class,” he explained a bit too quickly and a bit too loudly.
“I’m flattered, but this is strictly a work relationship,” Karma teased, knowing that he misinterpreted Gakushu’s words. He was also glad that people were looking.
“You know what I meant,” Gakushu snapped at the red head, still somehow keeping his poise. It was the day for first impressions.
“Layman’s terms please.”
“The view of the board, oh, I didn’t catch your name,” he stared into the other’s eyes, feeling the hatred and tension between them.
“Akabane,” he replied nonchalantly, returning the glare.
“Asano,” he said, introducing himself formally just in case he was unfamiliar with the name of the student who would crush him academically.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you then Asano-kun,” he extended his arm for the other boy to shake.
“Likewise,” he took his hand, and was pulled forward just slightly. His eyes widened in shock.
“May the best man win then?” Karma whispered into the blond boy’s ear, taunting him with every word. One Asano recovered from the initial shock, he smirked a bit.
“I will,” and they broke apart.
They went through rollcall and started with the course material. Everyone got a package, except Asano who received two. This had Karma raising his hand in the first ten minutes of class.
“Akabane? Is there a problem?” Gakushu was sure Karma was asking for help or something. Maybe this wouldn’t be as much of a challenge as he had hoped.
“Actually, yes,” he glanced at Asano for a brief moment and smiled politely at the teacher, “I only got one package,” Gakushu had to refrain from laughing. His competitiveness was going to get him killed.
“Everyone got one package,” the teacher explained, looking unimpressed at the new student.
“Everyone?” He asked, this time purposely looking at Asano.
“Ah, yes, mister Asano has proved to be too, hm, advanced for just one workbook. I only give out as many packages as I think a student can finish within the period,” she explained; she was challenging him.
“Ah, I see,” he pretended to back down, and this whole exchange got Gakushu in a pretty good mood. He began to work, taking more than a few glances at Akabane. He seemed slow. Akabane worked with his head rested back and with a lazy grip on his pencil. He was somewhat relieved but also disappointed.
Gakushu continued to work in silence, and just as he finished the last question of the first math booklet, he heard a newly familiar voice clear his throat.
“Yes mister Akabane? Do you need help?” The teacher asked, looking unimpressed. He expected Karma to be humbled by this and would be glad to teach him a lesson, but the look on his face told her that that was not the reason who he had gotten her attention.
“Yes miss,” he started off, his voice coated with the right amount of arrogance and sarcasm to make Asano flinch. Karma stood up, “if we’re done the work are we allowed to leave?” It was only a short twenty minutes into the class.
“Excuse me?”
“Well you know, I figured it would be better to leave. I have nothing else to do here,” Karma hummed almost, walking up to the front desk to place his workbook down.
“I see. Just so you know mister Akabane, I will be grading these. But for now please stay in class where you’re needed,” she gestured towards a copy of the package she had given Asano at the beginning, “this should keep you busy.” Gakushu wasn’t laughing anymore, especially not when he realized that he had fallen behind by watching their short interaction, so without further ado he got straight to work. Karma did the same thing a few moments later while the teacher corrected his work.
“Asano-kun,” Karma whispered to his seatmate, “were you supposed to hand that in?” He meant the first booklet that was neatly placed at the top right corner of Asano’s desk. He had forgotten, “I could do it for you,” he offered.
“Thank you,” he said after letting the wave of anger pass, “I’ll do it myself,” with that he went up front, “apologies miss, I was distracted by the second booklet.” Karma smirked.
“No problem Asano, get back to work,” she smiled courteously and opened his book to grade as well.
“You’re welcome,” Karma hummed, flipping his page again.
The two of them raced to finish first, and when they did they stood up and ran up to the front, nearly knocking another student who had just finished her first booklet down.
“We’re sorry miss, just excited for the class is all,” Asano tried to play it off cool.
“Oh yes, very. I’m terribly sorry for Asano-kun’s behaviour. He gets a little worked up,” Karma flashed a smile at the teacher as he dropped his booklet onto her desk. They both sat back down, one with a satisfied smirk on his face and the other with a grimace.
Then after a bit, the first period was finally over.