Work Text:
This was probably your worst year.
You were pretty much perfect in everything—straight A’s, impeccable discipline, a responsible and hardworking attitude, never causing trouble or drawing unwanted attention. Teachers often called you their model student; you were the kind of person who seemed to do everything right without even trying. You followed every rule, helped classmates when they needed it, and always went the extra mile. It was no surprise that you had been elected class president every single year since junior high. Every single year.
Absolutely every single year.
Until this year. Your last year in highschool.
No. This year you were elected vice president.
You couldn’t believe it. Maybe there was some mistake? Perhaps some votes got lost in the shuffle? Maybe someone miscounted or spelled your name wrong on the ballot? It just didn’t seem possible—surely this couldn’t be right.
Your face drained of color as you stood in the front of the class, stunned as you accepted your fate when Kuro Tetsuro looked down at you with a wide grin on his face.
“Looks like you’re gonna be my assistant from now on, miss perfect.”
You hated Kuro. Hated him with every fiber of your being. His presence alone annoyed you. It wasn’t fair—none of it was fair. You had always worked so hard, tried your best in everything you did. You went out of your way to help teachers even when it wasn’t required—staying after school to assist with tasks, volunteering for extra assignments. You studied tirelessly in your free time, always aiming for perfection.
While Kuro— he hardly ever did anything. He was lazy, careless and loud. He often skipped out on responsibilities or made jokes at inappropriate moments. Yet somehow, despite his apparent lack of effort and focus, he still managed to ace every test.
At first, you thought maybe he was cheating. It seemed the only explanation for how he could perform so well without putting in any effort. So you kept a close eye on him during exams and tests—watching his every move. If he was cheating, you decided, you would be the one to rat him out. That way, he’d be disqualified from his position as class president. Just as you wanted.
But to your dismay, he wasn’t cheating at all. His eyes never left his paper; he didn’t check his wrist or sneak glances at anyone else’s work. He actually knew the material. He was actually smart.
And that made your blood boil even more.
How could someone so lazy be so capable? How could he succeed without effort? It wasn’t fair—nothing about this situation was fair—and it pissed you off even more because it challenged everything you believed about hard work and integrity.
“Relax,” he would sometimes say with a sly grin, catching you glaring daggers at him after a teacher praised his work. His tone was casual, almost mocking. “It’s not about how hard you work. Sometimes, it’s just about knowing what you’re doing. Having a charm.”
He’d say this while leaning back comfortably, as if he didn’t have a care in the world. His words were meant to provoke, and they often did. You clenched your fists, feeling your cheeks flush with anger every time he dismissed your efforts so easily.
He was often like this—completely unfazed by your irritation. He would tease you mercilessly, fully aware of how much he got under your skin. He’d smirk when you snapped at him or when you tried to confront him about his laziness. Sometimes he’d even throw in a joke or a sarcastic remark just to see how far he could push you.
His confidence was infuriating; he knew exactly how much his attitude annoyed you. Kuroo knew exactly how to push your buttons and it was almost too easy to get on your nerves. He could sense how pissed off you were and enjoyed every moment of it.
You hated it. Hated how his grin would widen when your eyes met. Hated his stupid hairstyle that made him look like a rooster. Hated his loud cackle you would always hear from the other corner of the room. Hated how he’d narrow his pretty eyes when he was teasing you. And most of all you hated how he made you feel. They way your heart would flutter when he’d mess up your hair to provoke you. You weren't supposed to feel like this.
The warm glow of sunlight streamed softly through the curtains, casting a gentle golden hue across the empty classroom. It was well after school hours, the halls silent except for the faint sound of distant footsteps and the rustling of papers. Yet despite the fact that the sun was setting, you and Kuro remained at your desks, immersed in the tedious task of filling out paperwork for the upcoming school event.
You sat on the row to the right of him, two seats away, but even from this distance, you could still hear the incessant clicking of Kuro’s pen.
Click. Click. Click.
You furrowed your eyebrows, trying to ignore the sound and concentrate on the papers in front of you.
Click. Click…Click.
Your patience was running thin. You clenched your fists, fighting back the urge to take the pen and throw it out the window. Instead, you pressed your pen more firmly against the paper, filling out the forms.
Click. Click. Click. Click.
This was frustrating.
You turned your head to him with an annoyed expression.
“I would appreciate it if you stopped clicking that pen of yours. Is it that difficult for you to fill out some forms?”
Kuro looked up from his paper, a lazy smirk spreading across his face at your sharp tone. He paused his clicking for a moment, then leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms behind his head.
“Whoa, relax,” he drawled, voice smooth and unbothered. “It’s just a pen. Besides, I’m staying focused. You’re the one getting all worked up over a little noise.”
You scoffed and rested your forehead on your palm trying to stop the growing headache. “It’s not just the noise,” you shot back. “It’s the fact that you’re doing this on purpose. You know how annoying it is, and yet you keep doing it. Gosh, you’re so infuriating. If only you put as much effort into being helpful as you do into being an inconsiderate jerk, maybe you'd actually be useful for something!”
“Y’know, it’s your fault you’re stuck with me right now. If you weren’t such a suck-up and didn’t offer to help the teachers with the paperwork, neither of us would be here right now.”
Your cheeks flushed hotter at his words, a mixture of embarrassment and anger rising within you. “I am not a suck-up!” you snapped, voice trembling slightly with frustration, “We’re in the student council; it’s part of our job to help the teachers.”
But this wasn’t petty bickering anymore—it was an argument, and it was escalating. The playful grin on Kuro’s face had faded, replaced by a more serious expression.
“Yeah,” he said slowly, “and I’m the one to decide what we help teachers out with and what we don’t.” His gaze sharpened as he leaned in slightly across the desk. “But you had to go and offer them our help with everything—like the desperate little ass-kisser you are.”
Your fists clenched at his words, cheeks burning hotter. The words stung more than they should have—more than they normally would from someone like him. “I’m not an ass-kisser! I just want to do my part—”
“Sure,” Kuro interrupted smoothly, a mocking smile curling at his lips as he tilted his head slightly. “That’s why you’re so eager to jump into every little thing. Gotta impress everyone with how ‘helpful’ you are.”
“Or maybe I just don’t only think about myself. Maybe I actually try to help others,” you shot back, your head throbbing.
He chuckled softly, “Yeah, right. Well, it seems like your efforts aren’t doing much—no friends, no social life, no hobbies. Guess all that ‘helpfulness’ isn’t getting you anywhere.”
You took a deep breath, trying to steady yourself as tears welled up in your eyes. Your hands clenched into fists so tightly that your nails dug into your palms, but you fought to keep your composure.
“I don’t need your approval,” you said quietly, voice trembling slightly. “I know what I’m doing, and I don’t have to prove anything to you.”
Kuro’s mocking smile widened, “Oh, I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking, nobody wants to be friends with you.” he replied smoothly. His words cut deeper than he probably intended. “But hey, if you want to keep convincing yourself you’re doing fine, that’s your choice.”
That was the last straw.
Your breath hitched as a wave of emotion threatened to overwhelm you. You opened your mouth to argue back—to deny his words or lash out—but no sound came out. Instead, a shaky breath escaped your lips as tears finally spilled over, blurring your vision. Without another word, you swiftly pushed yourself up from the desk, turning your back on him completely. Your steps were quick and unsteady as you hurried out of the classroom.
Kuro didn’t really understand what had just happened until he heard a quiet sniff from down the hallway. The realization hit him like a brick—maybe he had overstepped, gone too far this time. The smug smile faded from his face.
He let out a deep sigh, running his hand through his hair in frustration. For a moment, he just sat there, silent, in the empty classroom.
He knew he needed to fix this mess. He just didn’t know how.
Kuro was never good at apologizing, admitting he was wrong. That was always a struggle for him—embarrassing, even. He was used to being playful, teasing, joking around to keep things light. Talking about feelings or showing vulnerability wasn’t his style; it felt awkward.
And you hadn’t made it any easier for him lately. Over the past week, you had been avoiding him like the plague—completely ignoring his attempts to talk or get your attention. It was honestly impressive, considering you two shared the same class and had the same responsibilities. Every time you saw him approaching, you’d quickly find another task to focus on—discussing something with a teacher, pretending to be busy with your notes, anything to avoid conversation.
It’s not like he could blame you, either. He shouldn’t have been that harsh. But even with that awareness, he still wished you would at least give him a chance to make things right. To let him prove that he didn’t mean to hurt you, that he was sorry in his own way.
So, after a month of silent treatment and unsaid words, the two of you were assigned to clean the classroom after school. Together. All alone. In the same empty classroom.
Kuro mentally thanked the teachers— this was his chance to get you alone. It’s not like you could avoid him if he was the only one in the room.
So, when the last lesson of the day ended, Kuro grabbed the cleaning supplies and headed toward the classroom. As he pushed open the door, he saw you already there, diligently scrubbing a desk with a wet cloth. You didn’t even glance his way when he entered—like he didn’t even exist anymore. The room settled into a quiet rhythm, and that’s how the hour slipped by—just cleaning in complete silence, the tension thick in the air.
Kuro opened his mouth to start a conversation at least ten times but nothing came out of his mouth. He didn’t know what to say, or how to say it. His mind raced through apologies, excuses, maybe even a joke to lighten the mood—but nothing felt right. The words seemed stuck in his throat.
Every few minutes, he found himself stealing glances at you, trying to summon the courage to speak up. But his pride, his stubbornness, held him back. Instead, he watched you work, guilt weighing heavily on his chest as he saw the tension in your shoulders.
Time seemed to stretch endlessly until the classroom was finally spotless. You grabbed your bag silently and headed for the door, your footsteps echoing softly on the floor. Kuro’s eyes lingered on your figure as you left. He hesitated for a moment, then slowly gathered his things to leave as well.
But just as he turned to go, something caught his eye—a small object lying abandoned on the floor near where your bag had been. It was your keychain, the cute one he’d always notice—dangled from your bag but now left behind. Without thinking, Kuro crouched down and picked it up, turning it over in his hands as a faint smile touched his lips.
For a moment, he just examined it carefully, feeling the weight of it in his palm. Then, without hesitation, he sprinted after you—his heart pounding—determined to catch up before you disappeared completely.
As you approached the school gates, the familiar sound of Kuro’s voice called out your name. You hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to turn or keep walking, but something in his tone made you stop. Slowly, you turned your head to look at him.
He was standing there, slightly out of breath, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. His hand was extended toward you, holding out your keychain—the small, cute charm that had always been attached to your bag.
“You… uh, you left it in the classroom,” he said softly, eyes searching yours for a reaction.
You looked into his eyes and hesitated before reaching out. Your hand brushed against his as you took the keychain from him, feeling the warmth of his touch linger for a moment longer than expected.
You just stared at each other for a few moments before you gave a quiet ‘thank you’ and turned around to leave.
But just as you took a step forward, a gentle grip on your wrist stopped you. You looked back, surprised, as Kuro’s hand stayed firm but careful.
“Hey,” he said softly, voice tentative. “I… I know I messed up. I was out of line. And I’m sorry for what I said—really. I didn’t mean it.” His eyes searched yours desperately, trying to find some sign that you understood or forgave him. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just… I was being an idiot.”
There was a heavy pause before you finally spoke up, voice quiet but sincere. “I’m sorry too… for always being so rude. I guess I was just blaming you for my imperfections—even though it wasn’t your fault. I was jealous of how easy things were for you, how everybody liked you, how you could do anything without trying.” Your words hung in the air between you, fragile.
“Still, I shouldn’t have been so mean. What I said wasn’t true. Plenty of people like you. You’re so nice and smart and an amazing person, why wouldn’t they? I’ve always admired how responsible and helpful you are. I’ve just been scared to admit how much I care, and I guess I messed everything up because of it.”
“...You really think so?” you asked in a meek, uncertain voice.
He gently took both of your hands in his, holding them softly but firmly. His eyes searched yours with sincerity.
“I wouldn’t be so in love with you if I didn’t believe it,” he said quietly, a small, warm grin forming on his lips.
Your lips parted in surprise, heart pounding. Kuro leaned in slightly, as if seeking your permission. You hesitated for a moment before leaning in as well, closing the distance to capture his lips in a tender, sweet kiss.
When he broke the kiss, a soft chuckle escaped him. He looked at you with a playful glint in his eyes.
“Little miss perfect is all mine now,” he murmured with a teasing smile.