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Kunikuzushi knew it would happen.
He knew he was an unbearable presence, the sort of person nobody liked.
He knew that his behaviour caused people trouble and that many disliked his character.
He knew he was rude, even when he was just being frank.
He knew.
He was used to being ignored, being hated, feeling distant from others. Scoffed at his situation, even. He had nothing to say to those people. Why should he care who sticks around him? Why should he care if he’s all alone all the time? Being alone was more efficient for his work anyway. People only got in the way, annoyed him with their fake kindness.
Who cared if he missed out on every social gathering in his entire school existence? He’s sure they’re delighted that he didn’t come. He’s just doing them all a favour anyway.
His school life was, by his standards, the most happy one he could have. However, if you asked anyone else, they would all say he was a loner that only cared about grades. Piles of revision booklets, straight A test papers and quizzes often adorned his desk in a colourless clutter which was perhaps the only indicator of his presence in the classroom.
He stuck around for the lessons and stayed back late to study everyday, but somehow barely anyone had ever heard his voice, despite his long school hours. It was clear to them that he disliked talking, so they steered clear of any form of communication with him. He was fine with their mindset. It was true that he disliked social interaction to a certain degree, but in the deep crevices of his heart — so deep that it seemed so miniscule compared to all his other problems— he felt sad. Lonely, even.
The straight A student. The one who came to school early and left school the latest. The student that ate homemade lunches everyday. (None from his birth mother though) The one who would never look up from his studies to the people around him.
He had made that mistake once.
He had let someone into his heart.
And after all that was said and done, all that was left of that heart…
Was ashes.
He would never look up again, never be taunted by the cheerful laughter and happy atmosphere his classmates had constructed since the first day.
He knew he wouldn’t fit in.
He knew he would regret it.
And so he could only look away…
Even if it hurt.
“Good morning, Kuni.”
The gentle tone caused him to flinch internally, pausing his never ending motion of writing down answers to his practices. Only for a moment though, as he quickly recomposed himself.
“Kaedehara.” He replied icily to the white haired male. Said male smiled softly, hints of sleep still present on his face, from the tiredness of his soothing tone of voice and his action of rubbing the sleep off his ethereal crimson eyes, which glittered like jewels.
Kaedehara Kazuha. His name was known all around the school, as the school’s number one pretty boy. Girls flocked to him like bees to honey, and who could blame them? His kind disposition and inviting presence, soothing words, gentle and radiant smile, his sweet laugh that warmed the soul? And that’s not even comparable to his looks! His long, snow white locks, tied in a low and messy ponytail, his gleaming crimson orbs like a hearths fire, warming you to the core at his gentle gaze. Oh, and his benevolent smile and kind attitude even to the most rotten and vile people.
Kunikuzushi would consider himself to be one of them, as he eyed the young male from the corner of his eye as he took his seat next to Kunikuzushi. Sighing inwardly at the male’s choice of seat mate again only made him more glum as he thought of the hordes of admirers soon to come and seek his heart.
Yes, Kaedehara Kazuha was pretty. An ethereal being far above the rest, as his fan club would say. A sweet and understanding student who tries to see the best in every situation, the teacher would say.
And an annoying pest who would just not leave him alone, Kunikuzushi would say.
Kaedehara was even prettier than the most beautiful girls in their school. And that was his problem.
“Kuni? Are you alright? I’ve been calling you for a while now, is everything okay?” Stupid Kaedehara and his stupid puppy eyes glanced worriedly at Kunikuzushi.
“… shut up. I heard you loud and clear, idiot.” Kunikuzushi had to look away. Stupid Kaedehara. Stupid! This idiot…
Makes me feel funny.
Kunikuzushi didn’t know when it started. It could have been the first day they met, when he had been walking to school as per normal, glasses framing his face perfectly as he looked down at his book while opening the door to the ‘empty’ classroom.
Only to hear soft snores coming from a corner of the classroom, causing him to look up, to meet the gaze of the now awake boy, sleepily wiping away the drool from the side of his face and staring directly at Kunikuzushi.
At that very moment, Kunikuzushi’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat.
“Oh, pardon me, I must have fallen asleep since I got here so early.” The mysterious boy smiled, causing Kunikuzushi’s heart to launch into frenzied beats, making him dizzy from the new experience.
But, he ignored it all in favour of finding a seat near the middle of the class and setting all his things down. It’s not like the boy was going to acknowledge him after being ignored after all, and Kunikuzushi knew the boy would regret ever talking to him and his terrible personality anyway, so it worked in both their favou- oh, the boys leaning over his shoulder…
The clear skinned boy peaked over his shoulder to gaze at the book that littered the once empty table. “Wow, this is all advanced stuff… you must be quite studious! Oh, excuse my rudeness, my name is Kaedehara Kazuha, but I wouldn’t mind being called Kazuha. I just transferred to the Inazuma department today. What’s your name, oh studious student?”
All Kunikuzushi could focus on was the alluring sound of his voice, as gentle as a warm summer breeze, the way his breath lightly fanned Kunikuzushi’s neck, and, oh archons, his silky soft hair even swept onto Kunikuzushi’s shoulder, causing him to shiver from the touch of the foreign object.
But he snapped back into reality, and just as rudely snapped back to the boy by the name of Kaedehara Kazuha. “Raiden Kunikuzushi. Please get out of my way, I’m trying to read.” With that he shut down all his other senses, ignoring Kaedehara’s presence entirely, thinking it was the end of things between him and the boy. But oh, how wrong he was.
For after that fateful encounter, Kaedehara stuck to him like glue. He never strayed too far from the top scorer, chatting with the social recluse animatedly even with the severe lack of response besides the whispered hums and barely noticeable nods, which made the crimson eyed boy shine with happiness.
Kunikuzushi didn’t get it.
Didn’t get why the boy always tagged along with him.
Didn’t get why he would be so elated with his minimal responses.
Didn’t get why he rejected every confession he got.
Didn’t get why he loved sharing about his life with Kunikuzushi.
And most of all, he didn’t get why he loved it.
All those little moments, when he would snap at Kaedehara and his poetic tongue with snarky insults, yet only receive joyful laughter in return, and a warm smile. He was never berated or scolded for his words, and was even agreed with for the most part.
The freedom he had… felt so undeserving of the rude boy he was.
“You should just leave me alone. There’s nothing in for you to stick around me.” Ah, Kunikuzushi had let his tongue slip again. The only difference between this time and all the other times, was that Kaedehara seemed… upset.
Those crimson, flaming orbs looked glassier than ever, cracking voice betraying the hurt he felt. “Is this how you view our relationship? As a contractual one between business partners? Am I really that distant from you? Why must there be a benefit for me to stick around you?” His mouth was in a cute and feisty pout, but Kunikuzushi could tell from his serious tone that he meant what he was asking. And wanted an answer.
One that Kunikuzushi didn’t know how to give.
“… isn’t that how every relationship works in this world? Either party must gain something for it to be successful, but you have nothing to gain here, so you should just leave me alone.”
Kaedehara looked at him with emotions he could not describe etched on his beautiful face. Then he sighed, confusing Kunikuzushi. Wasn’t he going to leave now? Wasn’t he tired of Kunikuzushi and his horrible personality?
Instead, Kaedehara carefully reached out a hand to Kunikuzushi’s own, watching out for any signs of rejection. Kunikuzushi flinched, wanting to fling his hand off and push him away, far, far away from him, but found himself helpless to resist.
Why? Why couldn’t he let go?
“Raiden Kunikuzushi. Should I let go?”
What sort of a question was that? “…Yes.” Kunikuzushi affirmed, waiting for the warmth in his palm to leave.
It didn’t.
“Let me rephrase this. Do you want me to let go?” Kaedehara stared deep into his violet eyes, reminiscent of flashes of lightning as the dim lights of the empty classroom hit him at all the right angles. Gosh, how Kaedehara hated those glasses. The thick lenses stopping him from gazing into Kunikuzushi’s purple eyes directly, dulling the otherwise ethereal view those orbs held, a story of lightning and thunder, of love and loss.
And Kunikuzushi, true to his selfish nature, could only tell the truth.
“…No.”
Why? Why didn’t he want to let go? The smooth and soft skin felt heavenly against his thin and ink stained fingertips, enticing him to take the next step and squeeze Kaedehara’s hand Luke his life depended on it. But he couldn’t. He would never allow himself to. So, why?
Kaedehara gently squeezed his hand, before smiling softly.
“Stop me if you don’t like it.”
Then, he kissed him.’
Kaedehara. Kazuha. The prettiest, gentlest, astoundingly beautiful boy, just kissed him. Him. Raiden Kunikuzushi.
What. The.
His lips were soft and knew just what they were doing as his free hand cupped Kunikuzushi’s face tenderly, smiling into the kiss at Kunikuzushi’s shocked expression.
Then he pulled away, making Kunikuzushi miss the warm and intimate feeling, like sunshine was being shone into the ray of darkness that was his life.
“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. You just looked so cute, Kuni.” Kaedehara nervously looked away.
“Kazuha.”
The boy perked up at his given name, eyes shining as if he had just been gifted it for the first time.
“Yes?” And Kunikuzushi just couldn’t help himself either.
He lost the battle.
But he won the war.
“I like you, dummy Kazuha.”
“As the light dims dark
It is cold but I feel warm
I am at your side.”
“Shut your poetic tongue up and kiss me.”
Kunikuzushi knew he was a terrible person.
He knew nobody liked him.
He knew they never would.
But the a ray of light as warm as the sun descended upon him.
Its name was Kazuha. Kaedehara, Kazuha.
And he was never alone again.