Chapter Text
It was illegal for the new transfer student to be this pretty, Sakamoto Ryuji decided.
Kurusu Akira was turning heads even before he graced Shujin’s school doors.
Rumors swarmed about the new student: how he got there, where he was from, why he was starting as a second-year and not a first-year.
Thanks to the resident gossips, Ryuji was quickly able to gather news through the grapevine. He was Sakura Futaba’s adoptive older brother, adopted from the town of Inaba. Reasons why he was adopted were less clear, but they ranged from abandonment and neglect to him being a delinquent with assault charges on his head.
Why anyone would think that still after they saw him, Ryuji would never know. Well, Ryuji did know - the general student body’s perception could change at the drop of a hat. The school favored him at the present because he was their golden boy (more so for his performance on the track than his standout faux blond hair) but he had a feeling that if that were to change, if he no longer excelled at the one thing that made him noteworthy, the school would turn its back on him.
Which made Kurusu all the more interesting because he could scarcely defend himself against the rumors when he just arrived.
And he somehow took it all in stride, leading his younger sister into the building without as much a look at the fingers being pointed at him and his supposed reputation.
Ryuji didn’t go for guys. He found a few girls from Shujin attractive, yes, and had the usual hot model or celebrity pinup hung up in his room, tits ‘n’ ass ‘n’ all that, but he never really pursued any relationships, even if some girls were totally into the whole track star thing he had.
But he was straight. He had to be. Kurusu was one of those oddities the school would play with for a short while then discarded after they grew bored. The fascination would fade soon enough.
He was just really pretty. Ryuji had gotten a glimpse of him while he was hanging out with Nakaoka and Takeishi and the rest of the team during lunch, Kurusu walking alongside Suzui and Takamaki. They must all be in 2-D together, he figured.
Ryuji even made eye contact with him, as brief as it was. His gray eyes must have caught on his blond hair and the picture the whole team made, them milling around the grass like they owned the place. But then he quickly looked away, and that was that.
“Man, that transfer student sure is gettin’ a head start with all the ladies, am I right? He just got here, too.” Ryuji scoffed. His friends agreed and the chatter evolved from there.
But it wasn’t enough. From the corner of his eye, he saw Kurusu settle with the two girls at a table by the vending machines, with Takamaki and Suzui laughing at something he had said. He wondered what it was and wondered if he was a charismatic kind of new student, the kind who could charm the pants off of anyone.
He wasn’t going to learn just by sitting with his friends and twiddling his thumbs, that’s for sure.
Ryuji made a beeline for the vending machines, cutting through the courtyard. “Don’t mind me, just gettin’ a Dr. Salt NEO.” The blond said, by way of greeting, effectively stopping any and all conversations the trio were having having. He felt several pairs of eyes on him as he tried to choose his drink.
But once he had it [in the painstakingly slow seconds, of course Shujin didn't bother with updating the machines over the vacation]- what was next? Ryuji didn't think that far ahead. Kurusu was already making a commotion, causing a scene on the first day here. He wanted to size the kid up and see if he was all that. The blond opted to lean against the vending machine, crossing his arms and drink in hand. Was he going for cool? Scary? Whatever it was, he hoped it had an impact.
Takamaki was the first to react, “Tch, yeah, you shouldn’t mind Sakamoto, Akira. You’ll learn all about him soon enough.” Trust her to be abrasive.
“It’s nice to see you again, Ryuji,” Suzui greeted. Of the two girls, he knew Shiho to be the kinder one.
Kurusu didn’t say anything to him yet, and he wondered how he must look to the new student, and even better, what rumors were swirling around him that he caught wind of.
Figured he should be the one to speak first and break the ice.
“I heard a lot of things ‘bout you, Kurusu Akira,” he said casually. “Kinda difficult to separate fact from fiction.”
Up close, it was easier to get a good look at Kurusu. Long lashes, big doe gray eyes beneath round black frames, soft curly black hair, pale skin.
It was hard not to look, not to stare, and think that he was anything other than pretty… other than cute . But he swatted that thought away.
“Figured I might as well go to the source for the truth, huh?” He grinned at Kurusu cockily.
“...Way to welcome my brother to the school.” Sakura Futaba had made her way over, orange hair swaying in the air as she walked. She draped her arms around her older brother and glowered at Ryuji. “He bothering you, Akira?”
And it was then that the transfer student responded, a slight shrug where he sat, as if he was unbothered by Ryuji’s questioning. “Nah. Rumors are rumors. You can believe them if you want.” He gave Ryuji an almost defiant look.
It was unnerving, how those piercing gray eyes appraised him. Looked him up and down as he sat on one of the chairs, as if it was Ryuji who was the new student and a specimen to be studied and not the other way around.
Ryuji felt embarrassed then, for the way he was going about things. Certainly they were not getting off on the right foot. “Sheesh, man. Ya got me there. Just wanted to meet ya for myself. I’m Sakamoto Ryuji, but you can just call me Ryuji.” He offered his hand.
Kurusu didn’t take it and instead tilted his head. “I think I’ll just call you Sakamoto,” he responded, a teasing lilt to his voice.
He laughed at that, taking his hand back. “Ouch. That’s cold. Maybe I’ll see you around sometime?” He tried instead.
Again the transfer student paused, considering his options. Why was he suddenly the smug one?! “...Maybe.”
As he walked off, he heard the girls clamor around the transfer student, all in surprise over the exchange. Looking back, it must have been odd for him to be approaching the new guy in school. But he couldn’t help it. He was curious, and even after, he found that his curiosity wasn’t sated.
It was because he was too pretty, too distractingly attractive, Ryuji tried to reason with himself.
He hated how Kurusu made him look like a fool.
He hated even more that he couldn’t stop thinking about him even after their first meeting, him and his too-pretty face.