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Alpha, beta, and omega—the three secondary genders. Unlike the primary genders, that can be known since in the womb, one presents as any of the secondary genders during puberty.
According to tradition (if not also stereotype), alphas excel mentally and physically, omegas excel emotionally and spiritually. Thus leaves betas as the normal ones, compared with the alphas and omegas.
Additionally, although all combinations of the three secondary genders are deemed socially acceptable now, for the most part alphas and omegas have natural attraction to each other. They even have the concept of 'fated pairs' or 'soulmate', making betas most likely to be the ones offered up for arranged marriage.
Kunikida Doppo is a beta. Completely, wholly, only a beta. Despite his alpha-like statuesque figure and omega-like fussy character, he is a beta through and through.
So please explain, how come all these alphas and omegas want to court him???
Monday, February 7
"Kunikida-kun, please wait a moment."
Kunikida, on his way through the front gate of the school, pauses instantly. The beta casts a look of confusion at the person speaking.
Sakaguchi Ango, the omega prefect, member of the popular school clique Decadent Trio, is perfectly calm as he takes out—a letter? from his inner pocket. Just as calmly, yet solemnly, Ango proceeds to use both hands to hold the letter and proffer it to Kunikida.
While bowing down at 45°, a saikeirei—literally "the most respectful gesture".
Kunikida—the recipient of that gesture—steps back in horror. All around him near the school gate, other students react in horror too. Many gasp with hands over mouth or clasping their own cheeks à la The Scream, Edward Munch. Not a few screech. One even passes out right into a ditch.
"I..."
Kunikida finds himself at a loss for words. He continues gaping and looking blankly at what might be the rarest sight in his school: One of the 'haughtiest', 'heartless' omegas executing a saikeirei in public!
On top of which, there's that letter in his hand sealed with a cute red heart sticker!!
Meaning, it's a LOVE LETTER!!!
Seconds tick in silence until Kunikida realizes Ango is still bowing, extending the love letter. The blond beta hastily returns the bow, taking the letter with both hands as well.
"Thank you very much, Sakaguchi-senpai!"
More gasps and screams. More students join the first one fainting into the ditch.
Having straightened up, Ango calmly replies,
"Then, I shall await your answer next Monday, Kunikida-kun. Verbal, if you please."
Kunikida nods rapidly. He looks as the omega prefect turns to his duty, then moves his gaze to the letter now in his hands.
Tenderly, carefully, Kunikida thumbs the heart sticker, unaware of the looks of envy and awe directed at him.
A second later, Kunikida whips towards Katai, his fellow beta. 100% seriously, he asks,
"Wait, whom am I supposed to give this letter to? I forgot to ask!"
Katai asks him back, "...Doppo, are you aware of the term himbo?"
Tuesday, February 8
"Yo, Doppo, come with me for a sec!"
Kunikida, rather frazzled after two days being hounded by other students desiring to have a glimpse of The Letter and its recipient (which he is shocked to discover is himself!), squints at Chuuya in exasperation.
"You have karate club practice, Nakahara," he reminds.
Chuuya, the captain of the karate club as well as one of the school's most popular alphas in spite of his small stature, smirks at Kunikida.
"As a matter of fact, no. I've moved afternoon practice today to tomorrow morning."
Kunikida lifts an eyebrow. "An abuse of power as the club captain, I see. I'm sorry, Nakahara, you might have no club today, but I do."
Chuuya tsks. "Just skip for once, can't you do that?"
"Absolutely not!" The beta is scandalized. "It's already February, and Finals are in March! My club is already booked fulltime!"
"Damn. You little nerd." Chuuya opts to ignore the hypocrisy of his chosen word of Kunikida. "...aight, since you insist."
Insist what, Kunikida intends to say. However, he ends up swallowing those words when the alpha unexpectedly steps close to him. Close enough for Kunikida to feel Chuuya's lips near his neck. He blushes.
Just because Kunikida isn't an omega whose neck needs to be protected doesn't mean any alpha gets to stay that close!
Luckily, Chuuya doesn't linger there—just long enough to untie Kunikida's hair with one hand and tug him down by his tie with the other. As Kunikida blinks, feeling golden hair spills over broad shoulders, Chuuya takes out a red rose and tenderly tucks the thornless stem behind Kunikida's ear.
"Heh, it suits you." Chuuya smirks again. "Well then! I don't have to spell it out to a nerd such as you right, Doppo? Just tell me your answer on Monday!"
With a wink Chuuya departs, leaving Kunikida to remain metaphorically frozen by his act.
Later, walking home with Katai, the taller beta hesitantly confides,
"I think I do need it spelled out..."
Looking at the rose, Katai says, "I doubt you'd get it, Doppo."
Wednesday, February 9
The uproar regarding Ango's love letter hasn't wound down, yet it seems that Kunikida must face the cause of a second uproar.
Third, if you count Chuuya. But the alpha was, blessedly, considerate enough to approach at a deserted corridor after class... Not in public like this.
"Here you go, Kunikida-kun! A bento, made by yours truly~"
Like two days ago with Ango, Kunikida stares in horror. This time, however, the horror is not caused by any respectful gesture. Instead, it's a cute omega gesture—with head tilted to the side and hands framing a wrapped bento box, held before smiling lips.
Done by no other than the unofficial leader of the Decadent Trio, the scariest omega as well as one of the scariest persons in the school—Dazai Osamu!
The other students in Kunikida's class (as the omega has boldly went up to him there) gape at the scene. Katai, safe and unnoticed on his seat, sends him a sympathetic look.
Yeah, the bento might very well be poisonous, but it is still made by Dazai Osamu. To accept it with anything but sheer enthusiastic delight or worse, to refuse it, is akin to social suicide.
Thus, believing himself a loser, Kunikida asks the omega bluntly, "Are you bullying me?"
The other students gasp. Dazai gasps.
In delight, for some reason.
"Mou, Kunikida-kun! So mean!" He coos. "Isn't it obbbviously a love confession?"
Kunikida pales. He feels himself beginning to sweat. Especially as the other students seem to be holding their breath and phones.
What should he say? What should he do? Can he phone a friend for the answer?
Unapologetically amused, Dazai watches him panic for another minute before finally having a shred of mercy in his dark soul.
"Okay, okay! Kunikida-kun may think over your answer first, just tell me on Monday~"
Kunikida doesn't even bother hiding his relief.
His classmates don't even bother hiding their disappointment.
After Dazai takes his leave, Kunikida gestures to Dazai's miasma-radiating bento. "Want it?" He offers.
Katai winces. "Want to go look for the closest hazardous waste bin?"
Thursday, February 10
"Kunikida-kun, thank you for agreeing to meet me."
Kunikida, who has just opened the door of his toilet cubicle, silently goes to close it again.
Can't a guy change his clothes in peace?? The beta mourns.
Alas, it seems that he truly can't, for a second later there is a steady series of knocks on the door.
Like in the horror movies. Kunikida swears he can hear the screech of a violin, like in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho.
Shutting his eyes, Kunikida briefly indulges in lamenting about his life, before opening them as well as the toilet door.
There, smiling as though he hasn't ambushed Kunikida outside his toilet cubicle, is no other than Fyodor Dostoevsky, one of the few other most sought-after alphas in the school. As to how he is popular, it's a mystery to Kunikida.
"I don't remember ever agreeing to meet you," says Kunikida.
Fyodor smiles. "And yet here you are, meeting me... Kunikida-kun."
Kunikida has heard that words—spoken by an alpha to an omega or vice versa—may feel as a caress. Having felt himself caressed so, the beta can frankly say he doesn't get what's so nice, moreover romantic about it.
"You ambushed me here," he replies flatly.
"Semantics," Fyodor chuckles. "Now, although I also wish to prolong our chat, I fear I have to go to class soon. Excuse my going straight to the point..."
Before the beta can relax hearing that, Fyodor backs him against the toilet door. Violet eyes try to stare soulfully into his own eyes, only to fail as the former has no soul to begin with.
"Kunikida-kun, be my pe—I mean my mate."
"You were going to say pe-"
Kunikida's horrified remark is cut by the alpha stuffing a violet bouquet into his hand.
"Do answer me on Monday, Kunikida-kun."
Kunikida can hear the violin screeching again following those words.
...wait, the violin is still screeching?
Forcing open the door of the next cubicle, the beta finds Katai in there, providing the 'music' with his phone.
"What the hell, Katai."
"He threatened me, sorry."
Friday, February 11
The Decadent Trio, as has been mentioned in two former sections of this story, is a popular school clique. Its three omega-only members consist of:
Sakaguchi Ango, the heartless prefect.
Dazai Osamu, the 'Demon Prodigy'.
And lastly, Oda Sakunosuke.
Compared to Ango's serious, 'icy' attitude and Dazai's manic glee, Oda Sakunosuke appears a perfectly demure, kind omega—making one wonder how he's friends with the other two.
Kunikida doesn't judge Oda. After all, many of his classmates too wonder why his fussy self prefers sticking with Katai.
Still, currently, he cannot help feeling like Oda should have chosen better company. At least, ones that would not inspire him to do this.
"Please accept this, Kunikida."
The entire cafeteria erupts into excited gasps and whispers—louder than the first when they spotted Oda walking up to Kunikida's table.
Food presumably made by him like Dazai has done? Check.
A bow at 45° like Ango has done? Check.
These in public, as both Ango and Dazai have done? Check!
Kunikida resists the impulse to run away. Not only he can't hurt the gentle omega's feelings, he literally can't leave his spot without getting Oda to step aside first. And Oda—gentle, kind, flawless though he be—shows no intention to step aside before Kunikida accepts the pot of curry.
Apparently, he made the (instant) curry in the cooking classroom before lunchtime. The pot is still labelled 'Cooking Class Property'.
It's still much better than Dazai's bento, which is MUCH better than Fyodor's violets.
While absently wondering when he began his new role as the protagonist of a harem anime (and a progressive harem anime centred on a genuine beta at that), he stands up and bows back to Oda.
"I accept. Thank you, Oda-senpai."
A pause.
"Just to confirm... This is for me?"
"Yes," Oda replies. With a bland tone, he adds, "Please finish all of it."
When Kunikida has his second portion of that curry that evening, Katai—eating the oden the two were going to eat together—says,
"He's punishing you for doubting him."
Kunikida mumbles incoherently.
Saturday, February 12
Were it not for the looming Finals which send countless students crying to the tutoring club Kunikida is captain of, the beta wouldn't need to schedule an extra session on Saturday.
Kunikida's still human, okay. He still needs to relax. The website he plays sudoku on erases his previous scores if he hasn't played for too long.
("You can be such a beta, I don't get why a lot of people are surprised about your secondary gender," commented Katai one day.
Kunikida shrugged, not getting it either.)
"Kunikidaaa! Wait a sec, won't you?"
"Ranpo-san?" The beta blinks, confused.
He's not mistaken; the one speaking to him is no other than the top alpha (despite his figure being only a tiny-bit taller than Chuuya) of the school, the student council president, and the renowned teen detective, Edogawa Ranpo!
The alpha casually waves—both as a greeting and to motion Kunikida to stay there.
"You must be confused about certain alphas and omegas courting you this week, right?"
Kunikida winces, but nods. "Do you know why they did it?"
Ranpo scoffs. "Of course I know, I'm the great detective! The reason is, first—not because of a bet or anything like that. Second—as Ango's written in his letter:
He, and all the other guys, got crush on you."
Kunikida's eyes widen. He genuinely respects and admires Ranpo. He has no doubt that the alpha is right, but. But—
"But why?!" He's a beta, not some secret high-class alpha or omega using scent blockers to conceal his real gender! He never gets ruts or heats! He can't smell pheromones!
"'Cause you're you, Kunikida: ridiculously kind, beautiful and sweet, with the most refreshing scent," Ranpo grins. He then tucks a note into Kunikida's coat pocket, adding, "Tell me if you got a crush on me on Monday, 'kay? See ya~"
"Wha-? R, Ranpo-san! You too?! Please wait a moment! Ranpo-saaan!"
The moment Kunikida joins Katai, who's been awaiting him by the school gate, he asks, "I'm beautiful?"
Katai turns towards him. Squinting a little, the other beta nods. "You're beautiful."
Sunday, February 13
Kunikida doesn't go to school. He goes to the supermarket, does his laundry, air his futon in the balcony, cleans the bathroom and kitchen thoroughly. Then he contemplates on what to say to... his... suitors on Monday, while sitting under the shower in lieu of a waterfall.
Monday, February 14—Valentine's Day
Kunikida Doppo, 17, beta male that somehow has become some harem anime protagonist, is ready. He has reached enlightenment in his bathroom last night, and now he is ready with an answer for his suitors.
"I appreciate your feeling, but I already have a boyfriend."
Curt and clear, as may be expected of a beta.
An awkward silence descends. The sole beta in the otherwise empty classroom resists the impulse to squirm, with the six (6) alphas and omegas staring blankly at him.
Eventually, and luckily before Kunikida gets to convince himself that it's truly just a sick joke among these 'elites', that silence is broken by the sound of someone clearing his throat.
"I mean—I know that already," remarks Ranpo, which raises the question why he still tried to court Kunikida if so.
Oda emits a quiet, yet unmistakably mournful noise. "I hope you'll always be happy with him then, Kunikida."
Fyodor smiles, a handsome, tender smile that portends doom for Kunikida's boyfriend.
"No way, no way~! Kunikida-kun, you can't toy with my heart like this!" Dazai wails, clutching his heart theatrically. His eyes however, show genuine grief.
"Tch, seriously...?" Chuuya averts his eyes, his left hand rubbing the back of his own head.
Ango shows no reaction whatsoever, his face very well might have been carved from stone. Or he might have turned to stone from shock.
In the face of it all, Kunikida can merely make a saikeirei. "I'm very sorry I cannot return your feelings."
Then he gracefully absconds.
Kunikida Doppo is a beta. Completely, wholly, only a beta. Despite his alpha-like statuesque figure and omega-like fussy character, he is a beta through and through.
So it's only to be expected that he's dating his fellow beta, Tayama Katai.
Beta is love, beta is life. We don't get annoying heats or ruts or pheromone things, but I get to date the most perfect beta in the world—Katai at age 14, upon being Kunikida's boyfriend
Back in the abandoned classroom...
"Sooo, who's gonna give up on Kunikida-kun?" Dazai asks.
Instantly, there are scoffs from all the alphas. Ango too, sends a derisive glance at Dazai as if reprimanding him for his foolish question.
While Oda doesn't react as the others, neither does he voice any intention of 'giving up'. The heart would want what it wants.
And theirs want Kunikida 💖