Chapter Text
Was…. was that a pile of dead bodies? No, thankfully, they’re all alive, and they are just beaten up and injured. From a closer look, nothing was serious, but one wouldn’t know at first glance. There was a person sitting on top of the pile; they seemed to be a boy based on the uniform, but Sanemi couldn’t tell due to the morning sun. What a way to start the school year. How the hell had he even ended up there?
Sanemi had just begun the first day of his third year in senior high school. Having entered at around 8:20, he changed into his indoor shoes and resumed his daily routine. He had already felt a certain bitterness under his tongue, remembering how he would soon never see the place again. Not that he loved the hellhole that was high school; it was comfortable though, familiar. He had been a member of the student council since his second year, and the anime his younger siblings watch really overstate its importance. However, it did look good on university applications.
College and university. There was no pressure whatsoever, but he needed to start thinking seriously about his future. People looked at him weirdly when he told them he wanted to pursue mathematics, but he was always good at it. He wasn’t particularly passionate about it, or anything for that matter, so he just picked what he didn’t totally hate. Apparently, the average student absolutely despised maths, so he definitely was kind of a black sheep in that regard.
He’d just gotten out of the homeroom at 9:10 or 15. The school days had always passed in a blur, with the only highlights being the culture festival, when he’d get to see Masachika, who unfortunately went to a school a way away from Sanemi’s.
He had gotten finished with his first three or four classes, whatever the hell they were, and was going to the bathroom when he made the life-changing mistake of looking out the window. It could’ve been just another year, but no, life was a bitch.
A…..pile of bodies. Mangled with a mysterious and unrecognisable figure sitting atop as though they owned the place.
What a dick , Sanemi thought as his curiosity got the better of him and he went to take a look. Going outside burnt, he couldn’t even look up without instinctively snapping his eyes shut but he persevered and got to the edge of the pile.
“Just leave us alone; what did we ever do to you?" One of the boys who was splayed on the ground spoke.
“Yeah, why would you care if we were just messing around, can’t take a joke?” Another spat, the impact being dulled by his bruised and battered face.
The unfamiliar figure tilted their head down, and Sanemi finally got a good view of his face.
First Mistake
He was... decent-looking, maybe; who knows? The boy was unfamiliar, but that could be chalked up to how Sanemi didn’t know many people in school personally; he’d met practically everyone but couldn’t for the life of him identify anyone by name. So anyway, the boy's certainly not unattractive, which Sanemi couldn’t deny. He had big, upturned eyes with a dull sheen to them. Azure? Cerulean? Cobalt? Whatever descriptor Saburo-sensei would use on his tangents about famous playwrights, the boy’s pupils were a deep blue, making him think of the night sky. His hair was spiky and all over the place, inky black and tied into a ponytail at the base of his head. Oh shit, he’s speaking — how long had he zoned out for?
“You are all annoying. And prickly. You tried to pick a fight with me. Deal with it.”
All of them? Were they fucking stupid? There were at least like ten of them. Why would they all choose to pick a fight with one gloomy-ass dude? These thoughts weren’t the main things on his mind however, that would be:
Ah fuck, his voice is hot.
Second Mistake
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” The same velvety voice suddenly was directed at him. What the hell does he even say? Well, what he does end up saying is —
“Nothing much just wanted to see the guy that decided to beat up a bunch of thugs like a delinquent.” Sanemi scoffed. He knew he technically couldn’t talk, considering his ‘pastimes’ back in middle school, but that was a whole can of worms he never planned on opening up.
The only response he received was a searing glare from around three metres above him. Those blue eyes thinning with the sunlight made them appear steel grey. A lesser man would have shrivelled into a husk of himself, but he just stood with his hands in his pockets, continuing their talk or conversation, or regardless, he spoke.
“Honestly, I’m surprised a teacher hasn’t given you a nice one yet," followed by a laugh and a slapping gesture with his right hand.
Only to be met with more silence. This was getting on Sanemi’s nerves now, and sure, he was the one who approached him, and the only thing he got was, ‘Who are you?’ but surely the other guy could make an effort to talk. The man looked like the opposite of a socialite. Outcast? Maybe hikkikomori’s a better, more succinct description.
Out of the blue, the mystery guy just jumped down to meet Sanemi face-to-face. Weirdly enough, he looked to be just a bit shorter than him, but the difference wasn’t noticeable. Woah , he was even more handsome up close, with the uniform barely covering the light calluses across his décolletage. His eyes directly looked into his own, with his uneven bangs shadowing them and a rugged aura around him.
“Tomioka Giyuu”
“Huh??”
“My name, and yours?”
“Oh. Uh, give me a warning, you ass!”
A questioning quirk of his brow sent shivers up Sanemi’s spine. Clearly unamused and impatient with the distant sound of a tapping foot barely reaching his ears, it dawned on him just how close they were, Tomioka’s breath fanning his cheeks.
“Um, Shinazugawa….Shinazugawa Sanemi”
Final Mistake
His prayers were answered as, thank the heavens, the man in front of him took a step back with the groans of the student pile accompanying the movement, giving Sanemi room to breathe. Who was this boy, and how hadn’t they met sooner?
“Wel, nice to meet you, Shinazugawa Sanemi. You should probably hurry to class, no?”
“What? Isn’t it— oh shit!” Sanemi glanced at his watch only to realise the break was going to end, and he had to rush to class without even eating.
———
During the first week or so, the school didn’t typically start club activities, including the student council. Everything was still getting sorted with class rosters, especially with the number of new faces, which Sanemi found quite strange at this time, but what was he to say? He came here smack in the middle of his second year of middle school because he got expelled from his old school. Honestly, he doesn’t want to deal with his dad when he has to go home, so he has just been loitering around the school grounds.
“HELLO SHINAZUGAWA!!”
Ugh, for fuck’s sake. Rengoku Kyojuro. He went to the same school as Sanemi but was in a class below; didn’t he have a younger brother to deal with? A little fun fact: he was the type to remind the teacher they had homework, but no one could get mad at him because he’d help with said homework. That does lead him back to square one, however—what the fuck was he doing with Sanemi?
“Oh my god, what do you want, Rengoku? And for the love of everything holy, use your inside voice.”
“My apologies!! I was wondering if you had seen Tomioka by any chance! He mentioned you!"
Does this dude even know what an inside voice is? He barely toned it down by a single decibel; honestly, he wouldn’t be surprised to find out the guy was like half-deaf or something. Unfortunately, aside from his inability to speak at a reasonable volume, he’s an irritatingly likeable person. He still remembers when they met the year prior, as embarrassing as it was. He assumed Rengoku was trying to pick a fight with him after school and lunged towards him. For whatever reason, the other guy barely even defended himself, only to suddenly belly-to-back suplex his ass. Sanemi has yet to feel more humiliated since then.
Wait, he knew Tomioka?
Fuck , he said that out loud.
“Hmm? Oh yes! We met a couple of months ago; he isn’t the most talkative person I know, but I consider us to be friends!"
Of fucking course, Rengoku, of all people, is ‘friends’ with Tomioka. Sanemi had a feeling the latter didn't really feel as chummy with the former as he did. He didn’t really know who to pity between the two, or maybe himself for being so out of the loop. Clearly, he needed to talk to others more, and no, Masachika, Sanemi was not going to admit the guy’s right now—he's got an image to protect.
Oh shit, Tomioka mentioned him to Rengoku.
“He...talked about me? We’ve barely met, though." Curse Sanemi for sounding so in disbelief. He sounded almost insecure and…soft; if he could tear out his voice box at that very moment, he would do so without hesitation.
"Yes, he did, Shinazugawa! He said you intrigued him and that you have quite a striking presence!”
“He said all that about me? You’ve gotta be fucking with me. He probably forgot about me after like five minutes.”
Rengoku suddenly stepped more than a few centimetres closer until he could count his eyelashes as he whispered his following words, as though they were sinners in church. “You haven’t forgotten about him either, have you?”
“I…What?!? I don’t — fuck — what the hell are you trying to imply??” He didn’t want to know how he looked to Rengoku at that moment because he's sure he was sweating all over with his cheeks tinted a quiet pink. The cause of Sanemi’s confusion just guffawed and crossed his arms.
“Calm down, my friend! I merely jest, but I would suggest trying to talk to him; I have a feeling you would like him!"
“God, for fuck’s sake, just go home. Don’t you have, like, a brother to pick up?”
“Ah, of course, Senjuro! See you around, buddy!" Rengoku turns around, waving. He also seems to take out his phone to call someone, presumably family. Sanemi couldn't really care less, for he had more pressing concerns.
What the hell does he do now? Talk about his feelings, that too, a random boy he met a week ago. As if. Whatever, it isn’t like he will ever interact with him again as much as he may or may not want to. All he had to do was pretend that the whole thing didn’t happen, that Rengoku didn’t know him, and that Tomioka’s eyes hadn’t been plaguing him in his sleep. Easy enough.
———
As he went the long route home, his mind was muddled with questions. First of all, what the hell was he thinking when he actually chose to accept a fight with like ten other people? Also, how the fuck had a teacher not gotten him punished? However, His main gripe was whether they would see each other again or if this was just a weird incident Sanemi would think about for a week only to forget about it.
He sighed as he sluggishly opened the doorknob to his parents’ house. It was a small place and unfortunately provided for by his excuse of a father. His siblings were probably already back with homework or just lounging around. Well, except for Genya, he was definitely waiting for Sanemi, being the worrywart he was despite being like thirteen.
His mother was in the kitchen making dinner while the younger ones were running around. Oh, how Sanemi wished he had that sort of energy. Genya was sitting next to the cradle of the youngest one, Koto. Their father was pointedly absent, thank the stars, so the usual tension wasn’t permeating the air. His absence, however, meant he was probably out drinking and would get back home drunk out of his wits, so he had to get all the younger ones into bed by 10:00, or they would be at the receiving end of his boozed-up tangents. It was currently 7:30, so they had time.
“Ah, Sanemi. Go and clean up now; it’s time for dinner.” His mother came out of the kitchen with a gentle smile on her face and patted his cheek. She was a tiny woman; even Genya had grown taller than her when he turned eleven last year, whereas their dad was big & bulky. One would think he would do most of the work around the house, but he was as helpful as a water balloon in a gunfight. All of the kids except for Koto and Shuya, who weren’t even in kindergarten yet, had to do their part around the house while their mother, Shizu, shouldered the burden of raising seven children.
Sanemi went to take a quick bath and got out of his damp uniform. Going outside to everyone chatting carelessly around the dining table, it was almost like they were a typical family when their ‘father’ wasn’t around. The only reason he hasn’t been killed yet by the kids or gotten divorced was that he was their only source of income. Sanemi had vowed that he would make money for the whole family when he grew up so they wouldn’t need that asswipe anymore.
Genya leaned against Sanemi at the table and whispered something into his ear.
“Dad’s coming home early today.”
He could swear up, and down that his heart stopped beating hearing those words, his breath caught in his throat and almost choked on his pickled vegetables.
“What? You’re joking, right? Don’t do that.”
“It’s true. Apparently, the guy went out before we came back from school, and he told mom to ‘keep a plate’ for him; he never says that.”
“...We need to get the others to bed.”
“But why is he coming early? Do you have any idea?”
“No, but that doesn’t matter. Do we tell Mom?”
“She already knows, stupid. Why do you think we’re having dinner early?”
Never did Sanemi think the day would come when he would get called stupid by Genya of all people, but life was chock full of surprises. He had a point; their mother was an intelligent woman, and she knew and trusted that her oldest sons knew what to do without needing to state as such. So, after they finished dinner, they led the little ones to bed. When Sumi asked why they were going to bed so early, Genya responded with, ”We’re all tired today, plus you don’t want to be all groggy tomorrow, right ‘Nemi?”
“Right, I’m frankly exhausted.”
With that, all of them complied save for Teiko, who was throwing a fit because she had homework she forgot to finish but was shushed by their mother.
And so all of them have gone fast to sleep with the exception of Sanemi, Genya and their mother. They still needed to clean up around the house and the dining table, plus if their dad came home with no food, even if he had already eaten, he’d throw a hissy fit, and no one wanted that. So they did, and just as the last of the garbage was being disposed of, the door loudly creaked open with the dreaded appearance of one bulky man, clearly blitzed out of his mind.
“Oi, Shizu”
“Ah, eh, Kyogo-sama”
Ugh, the fact that he made her call him ‘-sama’ was sickening at this point. There was no difference in status between them, and their mother had a good three years over him. He didn’t exactly do anything with his children except for hitting them when he got a ‘bit’ too tipsy. Literally, everyone in their neighbourhood despised him and genuinely considered getting him out of there by any means necessary.
“Wher-the hell….isme food?” He slurred besottedly
“R-right here.” She gestured towards the dining table, “I made your favourite!”
He sat down with his legs spread out across the floor. His crooked eyes scanned the meal as he scratched his scarred cheek with his left hand. He then proceeded to bash the table with the same crazed look in his eyes from when he didn’t get what he wanted.
“Whersmy waterr?”
They all knew immediately what was going to happen. They had regrettably been living with this guy for seventeen years. Genya had already gone to the kitchen when he realised there was no water glass and returned just as the question tumbled out of his mouth.
But before the glass could even be set down on the table, their father collapsed with his head landing on his plate of food. His face looked even redder than on an average day, so they presumed he was trashed to the point of unconsciousness. Genya and Sanemi had to carry him back to his bed, which was thankfully separated from their mother’s bed and plopped him down.
“You two have done enough. Go to bed. I will deal with your father in the morning.”
Both of them stood in place contemplatively. Realistically, they could do nothing, but leaving that barbarian with their sweet mother made Sanemi sick. Suddenly, Genya whispered fiercely to not wake the man in the room.
“But—”
“No buts, go to your beds. Your mission is to take care of your siblings. Do you understand me?”
They both murmured quiet agreements and left to sleep. It was easy to forget, but their mother was the furthest thing from a timid woman. Yes, she had a soft voice and was generally quite agreeable, but she was stern and knew when to hold her ground. She wouldn’t have survived with her maggot of a husband otherwise.
As Sanemi lay in bed with only the snores of his sisters and brothers surrounding him, he tried to think about something other than the shitstain in the other room. But that only led him to believe about Tomioka, the boy he met out of nowhere and who disappeared just as fast. That was the one thing he was trying to avoid, but there he was, in the room without warning, feeling a lot hotter than when he had initially walked in. Well, there was nothing he could do, talk to Rengoku? Definitely not. He was a good person but wasn’t the best with secrets. After all, he ended up telling Sanemi what Tomioka said about him — he had a hunch that he wasn’t exactly supposed to know.
———
The second week of school, extracurriculars have begun. So now he can finally do something instead of loitering on the school grounds after school. He walked into the room designated to the student council — oh right, he was a third year and could run for student council president. He can figure that out in his own time. He just expected the same nameless people he had encountered for the past two years, only for a not-so-nameless face to enter his vision, writing something on the whiteboard.
Tomioka Giyuu