Chapter Text
Fate was a fickle thing.
It has always been unreliable when it comes to determining the final outcome of your future— not everything falls right into place the way you wanted or assumed it would be. Frankly, it was the reason why you ditched journal planners and merely let yourself be swept away by the everyday flow of your mundane routine.
You supposed it was also fate that brought you into the buzzing and opportunistic city of Tokyo, the summer skies of June hovering just above you.
Terms usually started during April. However, certain circumstances were often inevitable that it delayed your application, and now you were forced to switch high schools in the middle of the year.
"Hey!"
You heard a group of girls call out your name accompanied by a commotion of giggles you knew too well.
Pausing in your tracks, you turned around to greet them, "Hi, what's up um?—" you stopped at that, beating it to yourself that you haven't even bothered remembering any of their names yet. Nothing a polite smile can't cover up though!
One of the girls stepped forward, grinning as she gestured at the rest. "Say, wanna join us for snacks later after school?"
"We're stopping by this cake shop near the district and I'm telling you, they have the best sweets in the city," another one chimed in alongside her.
"Yeah, you should definitely come!"
Suddenly, you were surrounded by an unfamiliar lot, and they all flashed expectant smiles your way.
You were stuck with an unsure reply. Who are these people?
Perhaps this was bound to happen, especially for a transfer student like you who traveled all the way from Osaka, it was probably natural that some of your classmates' attentions were aimed at you during the first week; that's how long you believed it would last.
At least they were on a positive note, unlike...
"Watch where you're going! Loser."
Almost everybody's focus was directed towards the ruckus, before you saw how another student roughly shoved the poor boy away, a series of mocking chuckles following afterwards.
You frowned at the unsavory sight of him tripping on his feet.
Yoshino Junpei.
The first time he caught your eyes was when he came to school with a bunch of bruises littering his arms. Despite trying his best to hide them, in which he ultimately failed, it didn't take a genius to conclude that he was being subjected to harsh treatment by his peers. That was during your first day at Satozakura high and although he was in a different class, you couldn't help but be bothered whenever you two clashed paths for he had a new set of injuries every now and then.
"Who is he?" you asked once, referring to the gloomy-looking guy exiting the room next to yours and your classmate only responded with a shrug.
"I don't know." Her indifferent tone immediately shifted into curiosity. "Never mind that, how's Osaka by the way?"
So on and so fourth.
You did find out who he was later that day from some of the upperclassmen's jeering remarks, add in those typical nasty nicknames too. Unable to ignore the bullying orchestrated towards him, you tried bringing up the matter to an authoritative figure— keyword: tried— but it only earned you a rather dismissive advice from the teacher.
"Ah, Yoshino -kun? It should be fine, I'm sure that's just how he hangs out with his friends..."
Anyone with a working vision could see past the bullshit of an answer. "You mean throwing him against the lockers? That doesn't sound like normal friendship behavior to me. Is that how they did it to you back in your day?"
He let out an awkward chuckle at your condemning statement. "I–I appreciate you for being vocal with situations such as these. We'll see to it that what is happening gets resolved."
And yet, not once did you receive an update nor news whether your concerns actually reached the intended superiors running this place.
At that, your worries continued growing at the lack of sympathy not just from the teachers but from the other students as well.
"Um... Yoshi—"
"Yo!" Someone else from your class— you were not even sure who at this point— slung his arm around your shoulders, cutting you off from confronting the dark-haired teen. "Tanaka's asking if you wanna join the volleyball team!" Unfortunately, you easily got lost at his incessant chattering as he casually pulled you away from the scene.
There were other instances to name after that.
What the hell is wrong with this school?
Slowly but surely, you approached the sullen boy as he eased himself to rise from the floor. Your hand was soon right in front of his face, which somehow startled him.
"Can you stand up?"
Yoshino Junpei stared at you as if your offer was something so foreign to him.
But more students were piling out of their classrooms and he despised being further exposed in the spotlight, whispers began erupting among the onlookers at the unlikely encounter between you and him.
The reaction he settled with was to quickly bypass you then bolt through the other end of the corridor, leaving you with your outstretched hand in the air.
"Wha—" You were dumbfounded at his rejection, looking back at him one last time before he completely disappeared from view.
"Well that was rude." The comment was from one of the girls, whom you forgot were still crowding beside you, waiting for your response to their invitation. "This is why you shouldn't be involving yourself with someone like him." Her dazzling smile was instant in hopes of continuing the earlier topic. "So... what do you think? Are you coming or what?"
In return, you beamed in a more blinding degree. "Sorry, but I'm gonna have to pass. I'm busy today."
"Oh..."
Facing the other way, you resumed walking outside the school premises as your facade of courteousness generally wore off.
The ignorance was appalling.
Currently you were sitting inside this cozy cafe a few blocks from the alleged cake shop where your classmates presumably were— you were totally not hiding— constantly stirring your drink as the staff prepared your remaining order.
An abrupt ring of the bell, and there was the same cheerful welcome from the waitress who assisted you by the entrance awhile ago.
"Greetings! How many seats would you like for today sir?"
"Just one, please."
Tuning out the chain of conversations inside the restaurant, your thoughts wandered into deeper territory, specifically how it would feel like taking matters into your hands. A vindictive urge if you will, to put these tormenters in the exact spot so they could get a taste of their own medicine but times tenfold, for your twisted pretense of justice to be served just as it should be—
"Ah, I'd like to sit here."
The heaviness and thickness in the area felt suffocating that the unexpected change in atmosphere has caused you to look up, unaware that you were glaring down at no one in particular due to you pondering. Not sure of what your senses were searching for, your gaze soon landed at a lone man from across another couch.
It's as if the moment you noticed him, a touch of uneasiness crawled up to your spine, and when his black eyes met yours along with a subtle grin— like he was purposely letting you on— you couldn't help but jump from your seat when the server finally set your food down the table.
"Is... everything okay? Can I do anything else for you in the meantime?"
You shot her a wary smile. "Um, can I actually have this to go instead?"
Wrapping up your order was an easy feat, it didn't take too long to pay for everything and make a dash for it, regardless of whatever odd reason that your seemingly ridiculous actions entailed you to do.
Unbeknownst to you, it was indeed one of the greatest decisions you've made in your life.
Lucky.
Geto Suguru's smirk widened, with his eyes closing in content, as he watched the whole place burn.