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Atsushi hates what he's going to do. But he's got to do it. For his own sake.
Time travel is never supposed to happen, so might as well make the 'best' of it.
Even if that means saving the person who literally tortured him for 18 years.
It was that damn article. He couldn't escape it this time around either.
Atsushi the "hero" who stopped Moby Dick from crashing into Yokohama. His face is plastered all over the front page.
Which means, the Headmaster is coming to Yokohama.
Since Ranpo already knows Atsushi's… particular circumstances… Atsushi's bribed him into figuring out what day he'll get here.
"You really wanna save him? Didn't he torture you for years?" Ranpo says as he chews through the traditional Japanese sweets at an alarming rate.
"Why ask a question when you already know the answer?" Atsushi sighs.
Ranpo just smiles in response.
---
Maybe it's fate. Maybe it's destiny. Maybe it's all bullshit.
Atsushi hides out of sight, but stays close to the road.
The same gust of wind blows and Atsushi watches the Headmaster rush out into the road. After that damn newspaper clipping with his face on it.
A part of him wants to watch him die. To have him feel even a tenth- no. A thousandth of the pain he inflicted on him.
But he doesn't. Atsushi is quick to burst from his hiding spot and tackles him out of the way of the truck.
Byakko's speed yet again, doesn't fail.
The Headmaster is gobsmacked. He stares at Atsushi silently as his limbs transform back to normal.
Atsushi says nothing and grabs the clipping he dropped.
"Here. You dropped this." Atsushi still can't look at him and his voice is quaking, but he hasn't run off.
"Atsushi…" He breathes out and Atsushi can't help the flinch.
Eventually, he looks over at the Headmaster. He still has that stupid bowl cut.
The absurdity of it all is too much.
Atsushi bursts out laughing.
The Headmaster is quiet as he stands up.
"Thank you." Is what the Headmaster says.
Atsushi's sides hurt and it's only when he looks down does he realize how badly he's shaking. How long has he been crying?
There's so much he wants to say to him. He wants to rip the Headmaster's throat out. He wants the Headmaster to hug and praise him. He wants to die. He wants to live.
Instead? His laughter dies and the tears stay. Atsushi stares at the Headmaster and he stares back.
"I saw the article. I…" Headmaster's words start and stop. It seems he's at least aware of his effect on Atsushi.
The Headmaster takes a deep breath and continues.
"I'm… so proud of you Atsushi. You've become a great man. In fact, I wanted to get you some flowers as a gift. But it looks like that plan has gone up in smoke." The Headmaster smiles and chuckles. It makes his stomach lurch.
Finally, Atsushi speaks.
"Monster."
"Huh?" The Headmaster blinks.
"I… Have a lot I'd like to say to you, Headmaster. But really. All I can think of now is that... You're a monster."
"I am." He freely admits.
"I can't comprehend why you've done what you did. Did you think it would make me strong? Did you think it would weaken Byakko? Did you just do it because you could and only covered it up with pretty sounding lies?"
The Headmaster opens his mouth and Atsushi cuts him off.
"Don't answer that. Please."
The Headmaster sighs and nods.
"No matter what your intentions were. You tortured a child. For 18 whole years. It's only now that I've escaped your grasp… That I've found happiness of my own." Atsushi chokes on the lump in his throat, but he continues.
"It doesn't matter that I was- no. Am the tiger. You didn't even have the decency to tell me that... So. I want you to know one thing, Headmaster. I am who I am now because I chose to be this way. I did not become a hero who saved this city because of you. I became one in spite of you and your abuse."
The Headmaster's smile grows bigger and for the first time in Atsushi's life he sees no cruel glint left in his eyes.
"I know that Atsushi. And you've done so well. Hate me. What's done is done. But, I just wanted to tell you how proud of you I am."
"Your pride is worthless." Atsushi hisses. "It means nothing to me. It just tells me that even just subconsciously, you believe you're part of the reason I became a hero. You're just a man who got off on abusing his power."
The Headmaster chuckles again and Atsushi doesn't know if he regrets saving his life or not.
"Maybe I am." He sighs. "But even so, you saved my life today."
"I did." Atsushi is still crying. It's like all the anger and grief is pouring out of him. It won't stop.
"You're a far kinder person than I ever could be. Thank you, once again, Atsushi."
Atsushi takes one final look into the Headmaster's eyes. He's not sure what emotion is there, but there's an abundance of it.
"Thank you, Headmaster." He gives a shallow bow. "And fuck you, you Monster." Atsushi slaps him right across that stupid face of his. He doesn't transform his hand when he does so.
It's a human hand print that stings his face, not the tiger's. That alone speaks more than his words ever could.
"Goodbye." Atsushi whispers as he walks away.
It's so faint that he barely hears over the blood rushing in his ears, but he hears the Headmaster whisper back.
"Goodbye, Atsushi."
...
Later, when he finds a bouquet of daisies on his welcome mat he has no idea what it means until he asks Kyouka.
Kyouka tells him Daisies, in hanakotoba, mean respect
He ends up crying again that night.