Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

WELCOME TO THE HAZE

RED HERO LOGGING IN

APATHETIC GENIUS LOGGING IN

RH: hello! it’s nice to meet you~

AG: Hard to believe someone as cheerful as you would be on a site like this.

RH: www you’d be surprised

RH: so why do you want to die?

RH: oh um im not one of those people thatll try to stop you though ehehe

RH: im just really curious

RH: you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to of course!

AG: No…

AG: It’s fine, guess I don’t really know myself. I’d say it’s because this world is such a bore, but that just sounds flat. What about you?

RH: eh? oh well i don’t know! that’s why i ask people

RH: a wise man once said that the best way to learn is through experience after all

AG: How does that have anything to do with death?

RH: ummmmm…

RH: i don’t know ヾ(´A｀)ノﾟ

RH: it just sounded smart

RH: but do you really find the world boring?

AG: Yes, it's the same thing every day. Get up, go to school, come home, do homework, eat dinner, go to sleep. On the days off from school I find myself mindlessly browsing the internet with nothing better to do.

 Ayano's hands hesitated over the keyboard, mind mulling over the words that appeared on the screen.

"Hey nee-chan, whatcha doing?" Shuuya asked, sneaking up behind her.

With a shriek she hastily closing the web browser and spun the desk chair to face her youngest adopted sibling. "Shuuya, don't sneak up on me like that!"

"Sorry~" The sing song voice showing he wasn't actually. "But kaa-san was calling you for almost five minutes. Dinner's ready and everyone's getting hungry waiting for you~"

"Oh, right! Sorry about that!" Turning off her computer, Ayano all but jumped out of the chair and raced Shuuya downstairs.

 After waiting a few minutes for a reply that didn't come, Shintaro minimized the window and opened up a music synthesizer program only for the chat log to pop up again with a single line.

RED HERO LOGGED OUT

"Guess I shouldn't expect much from other people. They'll only fail you in the end." Going back to the song he was creating, Shintaro placed his headphones over his ears and leaned back.

A knock came at his door over an hour later, barely heard over the nearly completed song. With a call telling the mystery intruder to enter the room he saved his progress and removed his headphones.

"Hey onii-chan, you missed dinner again today, okaa-san put some left over in the fridge for you." Shintaro's little sister, the up and coming idol Momo, said.

"'Kay, thanks."

"That's it? Geez you're really dumb! We're worried about you you know. You need to get out of this room for some reason other than school!"

"I've been busy is all, trying to get a new album written for you."

Sighing, Momo reached out to give her brother a loose hug.

"Besides the more work you get out the more money we can get, meaning okaa-san can work less."

"Thanks onii-chan."

Chapter Text

PRIVATE MESSAGE FROM [RED HERO]

hey! sorry about cutting out on you the other day! my little brother barged into my room and I shut my laptop on reflex! ヾ(´A｀)ノﾟ do you think we could chat again, maybe around 8pm JST?

[RESPOND] [DELETE]

 WELCOME TO THE HAZE

RED HERO LOGGING IN

APATHETIC GENIUS LOGGING IN

RH: hello kanshin!

AG: Kanshin? How did you come up with that?

RH: i'm glad you asked! you see i took the last two characters from 'apathetic' and gto kanshin!

RH: got*

AG: But 'interest'? Really?

RH: more 'concern' actually because you're the only one who's taken me seriously

RH: everyone else just tells me not to joke around or added the topic to their search for laughs

AG: I can guess why. But since you made a nickname for me I'm guessing you want me to return the favor?

RH: only if you want to

AG: How about Lady Red? You are a girl, right?

RH: yep~ but what's the reasoning?

AG: Well the 'red' in your handle for one, and death references are a given for where we are.

RH: hmmm… okay! (*•̀ᴗ•́*)و ̑̑

RH: good job on the kuroshitsuji reference btw

AG: Not that I don't like the nickname you gave me, but could you shorten it to just 'Shin'?

RH: like 'heart' or 'mind' because of the 'genius' part?

AG: Pettier, 'Shin' resembles my actual name. Well the romanji, not the kanji. It's easier to respond that way.

RH: okay~ so i'll just copy the romanji onto a sticky note so i can just copy paste it!

AG: Well I think I'm going to log off, it's getting late.

RH: ehh? but it's only 9! well i'll talk to you tomorrow then! same time?

AG: Sure, why not.

 "Tateyama-san, would you please try to focus on the lesson!" The teacher's reprimand startled Ayano out of her daydream.

"Y-yes sensei!" Looking at the board she tried to figure out where they were but quickly got lost. Math made her feel like tearing all her hair out on a good day, but when she was thinking of something else it was even worst. Maybe she could copy notes from the boy next to her? What was his name again, Kisa something?

Ayano tried to pay attention for a few more minutes before zoning out, her thoughts trailing away from school and back to her mysterious chat partner. They had said that they had 'shin' somewhere in their name, but didn't specify whether it was first of last, or even what placement. For all she knew it one of her classmates.

"I'm home!" Shintaro called, leaving his shoes by the door. He made his way into the dining room only to be assaulting by a ball of white fur. "W-what!?"

"You forgot to clean Tono's cage baka-nii! I had to do it when I got back from rehearsal," Momo moved the fidgeting Tono out of Shintaro's face and placed him on the floor, letting him scamper off somewhere in the apartment.

"Ahh, sorry. I'll remember to do it from now on."

"Not enough, you've have to do something for me in return!"

"Fine, what do you want?"

"I want you to see my next show. You should bring a friend too; I have the tickets right here! Just ask if you need more," Taking the tickets to appease his sister, Shintaro excused himself to do homework and went to his room. Looking through his bag he noticed something missing.

"Huh, could have sworn… Right I lent them to the Tateyama girl."

Chapter Text

WELCOME TO THE HAZE

DECEIVING CAT LOGGING IN

ENERGETIC DEER LOGGING IN

DC: hello mr deer, how are you today?

ED: i got the info you wanted

DC: great! so who is this mysterious person that makes nee-chan so happy?

ED: you know i dont like using [PQ] like this

ED: why dont you just ask her yourself

DC: because that's no fun~

ED: this wont end well shuuya

DC: i just want to protect nee-chan, don’t you?

ED: they go by the name [APATHETIC GENIUS] but onee-chan calls him [shin]

ED: they met using the [MYSTERIOUS LINK] function

ED: [AG] doesnt hide his interested chat topics like onee-chan does so you can do the rest yourself

DC: thanks~

Chapter Text

“Are you sure you’ll be okay on your own?”

“Don’t worry Takahase-san, I just have to pick up some things from school and then I’ll go straight home,” Momo said as she adjusted the strap of her book bag.

“I don’t mind driving you.”

“It’s fine really! I think it’s cause more of a scene if you did!”

“If you’re sure, I’ll see you Thursday Kisaragi-san.” Waving as her manager drove away from the recording studio; Momo pulled her hood to cover her features and started to make her way towards her junior high.

“Man that guy sure does worry a lot.... At least he means well,” swiftly making her way down the busy streets, Momo checked her phone.

[From: Mom]
[To: Momo]
[Subject: Groceries]
[“Hey honey, could you pick up some vegetables for dinner? Make sure it’s nothing too outrageous.”]

[From: Momo]
[To: Mom]
[Subject: Re: Groceries]
[“Will do!”]

“Kisaragi-san!”

Looking up in the direction her name was called she saw she had almost passed the school.

“Oh, hello sensei!” Waving her arm enthusiastically Momo ran to meet her teacher. “How are you?”

“Just need to catch my breath,” the teacher moved to sit on the front steps leading inside.

“Sorry I’m a little late, we were on a roll with recording and lost track of time”

“It’s no problem, I saw you when your turned the corner and ran down to meet you. Luckily I made it in time or you’d have kept walking. Do you want to come into the teachers lounge for a bit, I just made some tea.”

“No, sorry. I’m just here to pick up my homework for the day, maybe next time?”

“Well who am I to keep you, but I’ll be holding you to that promise,” he said reaching a hand into his jacket and pulled  out a stack of paper. “Here you go Kisaragi-san, be careful on your way home.”

“Thank you sensei,” placing the package into her bag, Momo bowed and turned to leave the school.

Deciding to take the bus to the shopping center by her house, she sat at the bus station about a block away from her school. The ride came and went, no one recognizing her thanks to her hood. Soon she had picked up all she needed for dinner and was texting her mom when she bumped into someone.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” Momo winced as she felt hot liquid soak into her shirt.

“It’s fine. I wasn’t watching where I was going.” Momo let out a awkward laugh as she held the damp portion of her hoodie away from her.

“No, it’s not fine! My apartments near here, I’ll wash your shirt before it stains. It’s the least I could do!” Finally looking up Momo’s face gained a light blush at the girl before her. In her stupor Momo failed to notice the girl grabbing her hand and dragging her towards an apartment building, only regaining her senses when the doors of an elevator was closing in her face.

“Ahh…”

“Sorry for dragging you here, please don’t think I’m a weird or anything, it’s just that Mama always said you have to make a good first impression and spilling tea on someone is definitely not!” The elevator doors slid open. “Okay we’re here, that was fast which is great! Now my door’s the fourth on the right.”

“I… Umm, sorry but I don’t think I got your name?” Momo finally spoke having regained her bearings.

“Oh! I thought, no wait-” The girl’s face flushed red as she realized her mistake. “I’m Kozakura Mary. I hope we get off on the right foot this time?”

“Ahh… Same here?” Momo looked around at the sparsely decorated entrance hall before turning her attention towards Mary. “Do you have something for me to wear? I think my top is soaked now too.”

“Oh yes, of course. Just let me get you a towel and…” Mary had already started running around the abode, ducking into one room and running out almost immediately, only to throw a towel at Momo. “I’ll get you one of Mama’s shirts so just wait in the bathroom!”

“Right…” The pattering of footsteps faded further into the apartment leaving Momo to her own devices.

After removing her shoes and placing her bags by the door, Momo cautiously stepped into the apartment proper. She scanned the spacious room, eyes falling on the door leading to where Mary had gotten the towel from.

The door (thankfully) did lead to the bathroom, though it was almost as empty as the entrance hall; only sporting the bare necessities. Momo quickly removed her damp hoodie and shirt and placed them on the nearby counter. Cautiously poking at the reddened skin on her stomach, she let out a sigh of relief to find it was only slightly irritated and not something worse. A knock at the door caused Momo to hastily cover her chest with the towel before letting Mary in.

“I got one of- one of my Mama’s old shirts so it should- uhh so it’ll hopefully fit.” Mary stuttered out, face going flush. “I’ll just… I’ll just wait outside!” The blushing girl grabbed the clothes Momo had left on the counter and sped out, somehow still managing to close the door softly.

“O…. kay?” Momo said as she put on the borrow shirt. After folding up the slightly used towel she wandering out into the main apartment, following the clinking of glasses to the kitchen.

“Do you need any help?”

“Eek!” Mary let go of the pitcher she was holding and spun around, eyes wide. Realizing who it was she started waving her hands in front of her face. “No, no! I’m fine! I’m just making some tea to drink, don’t worry though because it’s cold so we, uh, don’t have a repeat? I’m fine with doing this so if you just wait in the living room I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Sure.”

Chapter Text

“I’m home!” Momo called out, toeing off her shoes. Her greeting was met by a drawn out groan and soft laughter.

“About time. Do you know how much I suffered for you?” Shintao complained from the dining table. Momo stuck her tongue out at him as she placed her groceries on the counter.

“Here you g-,” Momo turned towards her mother, words stopping as she watched Kisaragi matriarch already cooking dinner.

“Sorry honey, but you were taking so long I sent Shintaro out to get the ingredients.”

“See, suffered .”

“I guess I’ll just put these in the fridge then,” Momo’s shoulders slumped as she properly stored the vegetables. Remembering the packet in her bag, she turned to Shintaro. “Hey, onii-chan, since you’re out of your room could you help me with my homework?”

“One condition. Who’s shirt are you wearing?” Momo looked down, confused.

“My shirt… I forgot to give Mary back her shirt!”

“Hmm? Who’s Mary?” Her mother asked.

“She’s my new friend!”

(“Yuck.” “Shush, you wannabe N.E.E.T.”)

“And also the reason I’m late…”

“Does it explain the shirt?”

“We ran into each other and I ended up getting covered in tea. She took me to her apartment, lent me a shirt and helped get the stain out.”

“While I’m glad you made a friend,” her mother’s expression was somewhere between proud, worried, and angry, “you should know better than to go into a strangers apartment.”

“Sorry, okaa-san…”

“You’re okay so I’ll let it slide. Go change and throw that shirt into the wash, Shintaro, please help me set the table.”

“I’ll help you after dinner, okay?”

“Thanks onii-chan.”

Dinner came and went, the Kisaragi residence enveloped in a comforting aura. Momo's homework was actually complete for once and Shintaro felt more at ease that he had in a long while. Neither sister nor mother looked back as Shintaro excused himself, bidding good night as they continued watching their drama, fully captivated.

——

WELCOME TO THE HAZE

APATHETIC GENIUS LOGGING IN TO [FAREWELL IDEATION]

AG: Sorry I'm late.

AG: My sister needed help on her homework.

RH: …

AG: Seriously?

AG: Fine.

AG: Please Lady Red, forgive my transgressions.

RH: only if you help me with my homework too wwwww

AG: And I find myself repeating, seriously?

RH: p[leaseeeeeeeeeee

RH: my dad found my recent math test and is threatening to take away my computer and that means i cant talk to you!

AG: Do our conversations really matter that much?

RH: well of course! we’re friends, aren’t we?

RH: hey are you still there???

RH: shin!?!?

AG: Sorry, yeah. I’m here.

RH: you scared me!! it was like ten minutes!!!

AG: Again, sorry. I’m glad you think of me as a friend.

AG: Send a picture of your homework, I’ll help you.