Chapter Text
There’s a new transfer student, that much is clear from the whispers in his class. A boy, possibly handsome.
Kusuo’s got a bad feeling. The last transfer student Toritsuka, who shall not be named, was bad enough. He can practically feel the headaches he’ll get from this one.
“Alright, sit down everyone.” Their teacher turns to the door, “Please come in.”
The boy who walks in is purple-haired, down-trodden looking. Gloomy, as one classmate puts it.
Kusuo thinks about how cheap a tactic adding a transfer student in the second term is. The author really needs to step up their game.
As soon as he even thinks it, a second boy walks in. This one is brown-haired, conventionally attractive and his thoughts are drowned out by the class’s internal reactions of he’s hot and oh wow’s.
Kusuo mentally situates him as a cross between Teruhashi and Hairo, and he can hear Teruhashi’s thoughts of He’s attractive but he’ll never compare to me, the prettiest girl in the school. He’ll probably say "oh wow" the moment he sees me just like everyone else. mixed in with everyone else’s.
That's fast. They forgot about the first student so quickly.
There’s a moment of silence and the purple-haired student slouches awkwardly while the brown-haired boy stands tall next to him, a greeting smile on his face as he waits. He almost feels bad for the slouching boy.
“Why don’t you introduce yourself?” Their teacher prompts the purple-haired boy. Kusuo mentally adds that the author should hurry up because describing someone as 'the purple-haired boy' gets old quick.
The first boy silently writes his name on the chalkboard before turning around, “My name is Kuboyasu Aren. I moved here from Ibaraki.”
There's a long pause that follows, filled with thoughts of anticipation from around the room. Kuboyasu Aren does not continue.
That’s it? The class is quiet before someone reads aloud, “Kuboyasu Aren…was here?”
“Ah!!! Oh, um, that was just out of habit…no, I mean…It’s nothing!!” Kuboyasu frantically erases the signature.
The class chuckles, joking about the slip-up and Kuboyasu ends his introduction with, “Nice to beat you!”
What a cliche. It’s already clear that Kuboyasu is a former delinquent. No need to rub it in.
Kuboyasu stands awkwardly and Kusuo notes Kaidou’s interest in him in the moment before the class quiets again, anticipating the other student’s introduction.
The second boy takes the cue with ease, a clear contrast to Kuboyasu’s uncomfortable introduction. He bows, a dazzlingly polite smile on his face, “Hello. My name is Light Yagami,” Yagami writes the kanji on the board without looking and it still comes out calligraphic. “I transferred here because my father relocated for work. I like to play tennis in my free time. It’s nice to meet you all!”
A perfectly normal introduction for a social student. The mention of tennis gets a blaze of determination from Hairo and scattered excitement from the crowd.
Kusuo’s more than happy to let him have the attention. His typical nuisances are already gearing up to bother the transfers. Kaidou’s scheming something about Dark Reunion and Kuboyasu. Teruhashi’s plotting to befriend Yagami, as much as her internal monologue refuses to believe anyone could measure up to being her friend. Hairo's in the middle of a daydream where Yagami and he are playing an extremely competitive tennis match. Yumehara, like many of the girls, and a surprising amount of the guys, is staring at Yagami dreamily, concocting scenarios that Kusuo would rather avoid thinking about. Nendo is…picking his nose.
Kusuo is relieved at their planning to bother the new students instead of Kusuo during break time. He’s a bit worried about Kuboyasu, considering how tight his fists clenched as he sat down. He’ll keep an eye on him. Yagami seems pretty tame though, though possibly an attention-magnet like Teruhashi. As long as he keeps his distance, Kusuo’ll be happy to have him around.
Kusuo misses Yagami’s informal introduction to the class during their first break, busy trying to prevent Kuboyasu from making a mess.
Yagami quickly falls into the rhythm of the class. Socializing politely, smiling, and helping others with hard course work during free time. He develops his status at the school and doesn’t interact with Kusuo more than what is courteously necessary. Kusuo’s happy to have him in his class. He can’t think of a better classmate. Other than Satou but with his normalcy, no one can be better than him. Yagami is predictable in a similar way and Kusuo is content to relax in the respite that the transfer has provided him.
Kusuo’s relief is short-lived. Kuboyasu singles him out to befriend and subsequent events lead the former gangster to the conclusion that Kusuo is the shadow leader of the class. What a pain.
Yagami and Kuboyasu often balance each other out, surprisingly. When Yagami distracts one of Kusuo’s nuisances, Kuboyasu often fills in to bother him. When Kuboyasu starts tweaking because some slight against him triggers his dramatic backstory, Yagami often defuses the situation with a polite distraction.
Kuboyasu eventually integrates into the group of Nendo, Kaidou, and himself that Kusuo reluctantly admits he hasn't been able to get out of. Kuboyasu and Kaidou hit it off surprisingly well, Kaidou thinking Kuboyasu matches his chuunibyou tendencies that he refuses to consciously admit are delusions and Kuboyasuu thinking Kaidou shares the dramatic backstory of wanting to leave the scene of violence to pursue an education. Kusou's not sure if that's a good thing or if it'll crash and burn when they realize the miscommunication. After the initial intimidation, Kuboyasu is fine with Nendo as well and Nendo is...Nendo. Kusuo hates the unpredictability.
Yagami's popularity doesn't detain him from making closer friendships with Teruhashi and Hairo. Kusuo's a bit smug in his initial assessment's accuracy. He matches Teruhashi's perfect image with his own, competing with her in a way that appears friendly from what Teruhashi's internal excitement has told him. He plays not just tennis, but every sport imaginable with Hairo. Kusuo doesn't really watch either set of interactions, but his friends' internal satisfaction leaves him with a warmth that has absolutely nothing to do with him wanting his nuisances to be happy. At least, that is what he tells himself.
Yagami is a welcome presence. Kuboyasu, once Kusuo gets used to his antics, is as well. For the next two months, Kusuo relaxes into the (relative) normality of his second loop of the second term of his second year.
Then the heart attacks start.