Chapter Text
Kamuro set a schoolbag onto the table between them, letting it drop onto the fiberboard with a heavy thud. Ritsu glanced up, taking in the faded blue fabric, worn straps, and dull, broken zipper. It was the same bag used by all Salt Mid students, if a little more beaten up than most.
When Ritsu didn’t question him, the Student Council President offered: “Yamazaki Tetsu of Class 2-4.” Ritsu continued to stare at the bag, giving no sign that he’d heard Kamuro speak. The older student cleared his throat awkwardly. “He’s a well-known associate of Onigawara. If we were to look inside his schoolbag…” Kamuro reached out and pulled the bag closer to him. It took a few attempts for him to yank the zipper unstuck.
Ritsu tracked the movement of his hand as Kamuro reached inside the bag and pulled out a large sports bra. “...We’d find a girl’s sports uniform.”
Ritsu let the silence drag on as he stared at the bra, before slowly tearing his gaze away to meet the President’s eyes.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that, Kageyama.” Kamuro laughed, a forced, unpleasant sound like a dog choking on vomit. “We’ll give Yamazaki a chance to escape punishment if he pins it on Onigawara.” His mouth twisted into an ugly, perverted grin.
Ritsu stood abruptly, his chair scraping noisily against the tile. “I’m no longer going to assist you with this ‘cleanup’ plan, President Kamuro.”
Kamuro’s smile dropped off his face. “But, Kageyama—” He lurched forward and grabbed Ritsu’s arm as the younger boy shouldered his own bag and turned to leave. “We’re making so much progress!” Ritsu’s gakuran wrinkled where Kamuro clutched desperately at his upper arm.
“The school is benefitting from this project! Delinquents are improving their behavior, students are acting out less. Everyone is grateful it’s happening, who cares if we’re bending the truth a little? They were all rotten eggs to begin with, anyways. The people—” Kamuro’s eyes shone feverishly. “The people love us. ”
Ritsu stared down at the boy. Because that’s what he is, he thought. A boy who was given a title and a little too much power.
“The admiration’s gotten to your head, Kamuro.” He turned to face him, extracting his arm from Kamuro’s grip. “No one here loves us. It’s no more than surface pleasantry. You’re punishing those who don’t deserve punishment. Girls are paranoid, convinced there are perverts infesting the school, sneaking into locker rooms. The only pervert here is you, getting off on your false sense of superiority.
“I agreed to help you because I wanted to change. I wanted to prove to myself that I could be something other than what people think I am. That I could do something bad. ” Ritsu looked down at his shoes, digging his fingers into his bag strap. “I succeeded. But I can see now this isn’t the change I wanted.” He forced his gaze back up to meet Kamuro’s. “I’m going to go apologize to Onigawara. I suggest you do the same.”
Then he turned on his heel and left him there, standing alone in the empty Student Council room still clutching at air.
.
“Kamuro and I were the ones who planted those mouthpieces in your desk and bag. It was a ploy to get solid evidence so we could get you expelled, or at least made to be an example out of. We knowingly damaged your reputation and Kamuro possibly still plans to go after your associates as well. I knew it was wrong and still assisted the President of my own accord. Please accept my sincere apology.”
Ritsu was bowing so low he could see between his legs. He’d finally managed to track Onigawara down in the Body Improvement Club Room, of all places. He had no clue what the guy was doing there before class, alone, but he figured it was none of his business. He just hoped Onigawara wasn’t there for something sketchy to do with Shigeo, or he’d have to rescind his apology and possibly frame the delinquent for blowing up the chemistry lab.
Blood roared in his ears as the silence stretched on. He couldn’t guess what expression Onigawara was making, but he didn’t dare glance up to check.
Finally, after several long minutes, Onigawara broke the silence. “Well, I already knew all that. Obviously I didn’t take those girls’ recorders. And you’re right to be ashamed, it was wrong of you. But, I mean…” His voice trailed off, and he spoke quieter as he continued, “it’s not too big of a deal, honestly.”
Ritsu’s neck twinged painfully as he looked up in surprise. Onigawara had turned his head away, still leaning back casually in the chair Ritsu had found him in. But he looked uncomfortable, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand and refusing to meet Ritsu’s gaze.
“It’s just, you two made me realize how much everyone hated me.” Onigawara’s eyes flickered to the other side of the room, still avoiding Ritsu, who was now staring at him in shock. His back ached from holding the bow, but he remained frozen in the uncomfortable position as Onigawara went on. “As soon as they were given a reason, my classmates jumped at the chance to get rid of me. You and Pres just provided them with an excuse and the authority, I guess.
“Besides,” Onigawara finally glanced down at Ritsu for a split second, before promptly going back to looking everywhere but. “You’re only a first-year, right? I mean, you’re still responsible for your actions n’ all, but I can’t blame you for going along with your President’s plan. Just, uh…” He drew in a great breath and let it out as he stood, smacking his thighs with his palms. “Stand up straight, won’t ya? It’s making me uncomfortable, a kid bowing to me like this.” He awkwardly patted his legs a few more times. “I think you should be getting to class, soon, anyway.”
Ritsu stared for a few more moments before the words processed. He sucked in a sharp breath and hurriedly straightened out, glancing at the clock behind Onigawara. He was right, Ritsu was nearly late. “Right, uh…” Ritsu blurted dumbly. He didn’t know what to say.
Ritsu settled for bowing again, at a less extreme angle this time, before turning and making a quick escape through the exit.
.
Ritsu took a deep breath, gazing up at the familiar building which loomed in front of him. The dull metal plaque on the wall still read “Fortress Spice”, the rough concrete and glossy windows still just as uninviting as he remembered. Even though he’d seen what was hidden away inside, it was still hard to believe the Awakening Lab wasn’t just an ordinary apartment complex.
The last time Ritsu had been here, he’d thrown a spoon and stormed out in a fit of frustration at his utter lack of psychic powers. Looking back on it, he just felt embarrassed and a bit guilty at leaving Mitsuura like that with no explanation. It seemed all he was feeling lately was embarrassment and guilt.
I’ve accepted it now. I don’t have powers, and I never will. It was a childish dream, anyway, trying to be like my brother. I’ve heard it a million times: I already have brains, popularity, looks. It’d be selfish to take the one thing I don’t have away from Shigeo.
He ignored the tight feeling in his chest that always came with lies.
Ritsu took one more steadying breath, adjusted the strap of his bag on his shoulder before reaching out to grasp the door handle. I’ll just tell Mitsuura the truth and go. I’m going to make up for everyone I wronged chasing my own selfish desires. He pulled open the door and crossed the threshold, and at that moment, all hell broke loose.