Chapter Text
Two years, two years ago a young boy made a contract with number 1 of the school mysteries of Kamome, the clock keepers.
Two years is also the amount of time Akane Aoi has been struggling with being able to see supernaturals.
He’s now a 3rd year in junior high, with a new goal set in mind, join the student council to impress Ao-chan, his childhood best friend who he is in love with.
“Good morning student council members, both old and new”
Minamoto Teru, ‘the prince of the school’
being a first year high school student and the Student council president.
Akane doesn't see what's so special about this guy besides maybe being better looking than the average high school student, and that seems more like a nuisance more than anything when all he does is turn down every confession anyway.
Who does this remind him of….
“This year we have a new vice president—”
Right, Akane applied for vice because Ao-chan had said she liked hard working guys, so he’d have to aim to be the most hardworking as he can, it's not like he can compete with Minamoto for president so he'll settle for the next best thing.
But that doesn't exclude the possibility that someone else could be more capable and influential than him also running for vice.
“Aoi-san are you there?” Minamoto called out to him again but still standing tall near one of the ends of the table slightly to the right where Akane was sitting.
“My apologies I must’ve been too consumed in my own thoughts” how embarrassing and unbecoming of me
“It's alright, since you probably didn't hear me you’re vice president this year Aoi-san”
Akane can hear clapping from all around him, he remains unbothered while glancing around to see his colleagues, hopefully he'll work well within the already established system.
Although, he sees something in the president’s eyes, like a cat watching and observing its prey, analyzing it.
Akane noticed it all throughout the meeting, in a way, Minamoto looked irritated, almost angry but keeping his composure enough to not seem that way outwardly, despite his efforts Akane manages to see through it though.
No other person seems to have noticed it, probably too engrossed in the meeting or too busy fawning over the president to notice.
“We’ll begin discussion details tomorrow, meeting dismissed everyone.”
Minamoto faced the table full of students after a while of discussing and pointing to a planner of the entire year
“We have a student assembly tomorrow so be prepared with your parts of the event as stated today.”
Akane had to prepare an introductory speech, addressing some small events after Minamoto.
It's nothing big, he's used to public speaking to some extent and has no fear of the vast amount of students, all is possible when Ao-chan is on the line!
One by one the members started leaving the room, all bidding farewell and promptly taking off.
Akane got up to leave, it's not beneficial to linger somewhere when Ao-chan is waiting for him, surely she is right?
“Please stay a second Aoi-san” The president beckoned, Akane saw no meaning to it, maybe some instructions or pointers for tomorrow. Walking closer to him, Akane spots it again, the same cat-like expression plastered on his face, albeit a tad bit more.. free, more expressive.
The moment Akane got within range, ensuring no one else was in the room Teru lunged at him with some rosary beads that were stationed on his wrists just a moment prior. Caught by surprise, Akane let out a hushed screech as his world flipped upside down, literally.
“What are you doing here supernatural.”
His tone dropped, what was once the kind and gentle president prince of the school was reduced to a threatening, menacing demon.
Teru had sensed a supernatural lurking somewhere for quite a while now, but he couldn't see nor pinpoint where, he's sure it's someone within the student council.
Narrowing down the list of candidates as the discussion went on , one stood out, a particularly strong stench of supernatural energy radiated from the vice he had just addressed a few minutes ago.
The boy himself doesn't seem out of the ordinary, not until you account for his supernatural energy being slightly higher than a lowly supernatural.
“Wha—Supernatural? Wait how—”
Akane struggles to get the words out of his throat, he struggles against his restraints.
Teru does not relent, instead he draws his sword and asks again “What are you doing here, supernatural answer me or not I will exorcize you.”
So this is the exorcist Kako always warned him about? He knows that this guy terrifying, yeah he’s terrifying alright. But meeting him face to face is a living nightmare.
“I—I was tricked into a contract with them—”
Akane barely manages out, he tries to explain further but Teru watches in slight suspicion and curiosity, Akane watches his expression shift back to the one it was before.
Tricked would imply him being unwilling.
“I just want to live as a normal human again so if you could just—”
Teru let him down abruptly before Akane could finish, a loud thud sounded from the drop.
“Human, you were human?” Teru stared down at the fallen boy, seeing Akane losing every bit of strength to get up. He lifts his head to meet the president’s gaze,
“I AM human.. At least I would like to remain so, my contract… it lasts 6 years”
What should I do in this situation.
—Teru was at a lost for words, half supernaturals were not a new thing for him but seeing Aoi in the current moment makes him wonder what he should do, from the junior’s explanation he was tricked into forming a contract that allows him to become a supernatural at will in exchange for saving the life of his friend and having him work as a clock keeper. Said contract lasts 6 years until he returns to being a regular human.
Despite his exorcist background telling him to exterminate pests and keep peace, the boy hadn't done anything out of line either, from what he can see he’d been living a reserved life outside of extracurriculars and being top of class despite having an active contract with the 1st of the school mysteries becoming one of them.
What should I do?
Akane doesn't get what the president’s thinking, on one hand he's the prince of the school, the reliable senior and president, and on the other hand he was absolutely ruthless and horrifying for someone like Akane.
Minamoto is a complex guy, too complex he thinks, Akane doesn't get him at all.
Left, right, left, right, step, step, stepping forwards.
Teru can barely keep his eyes open anymore, step by step limping his way back to the house.
It’s been a long night, if someone were to ask him what time it was even with a watch he’d still have no idea.
Passage of time was just a concept, a concept which felt like a cruel joke to him.
His siblings were growing up and he wonders at what point in time will Kou stop depending on him.
Time, time, Aoi ,
the supernatural half supernatural he met earlier that day, he was an interesting character, amusing but headache inducing.
Aoi had a hatred for supernaturals, rivaling Teru’s own meanwhile being one himself, it's a laughable thought.
Teru never thought he’d meet someone as pathetically involved with the supernatural as Akane was but he holds the boy up to high regard in terms of will power.
From what Teru’s heard he had been confessing to his crush everyday up until this point, he’s sacrificed a lot for her, the only reason he took up extra responsibility of becoming a supernatural and by joining the student council was to impress the girl.
Whatever his reasoning is it doesn't matter, Teru doesn't know why he's so inclined to help Akane, he was a supernatural. Akane Aoi was a clock keeper, the keeper of the present.
Despite this he was still human, Aoi was still a human after all, maybe Teru will lend a helping hand.