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This was the third time this week Sho had been requested to the disciplinary committee’s office.
Tried to ignore it the first two times, but, apparently, there was such a thing as a “three strike rule” after all. Before he even pitched out, though, they were already calling his caretaker…
“Sho.” Ugh… always knew that tone had him waiting from a shitshow, Adachi’s frustration palpable enough to reach through the phone screen and strangle him out. Ha, that was pretty funny to imagine.
“C’mon, it’s not that serious.” His gaze fell onto the downcast sky as he leaned back on his usual rooftop chair, perfectly balancing himself to avoid tumbling. “They’re just gonna get on my ass ‘bout my hair, again, or somethin’.”
“That doesn’t mean you can keep ditching…” Could hear the shuffling of a couple papers at the pause, and some muttering from the other line. Seemed he could time the call perfectly for when Sho got on lunch, but didn’t get that same privilege… Seriously didn’t envy being a cop. “Both those calls or class.”
“But I know everythin’ already…” He’d centered the front two chair legs on the ground, reaching for the discounted, lukewarm convenience store meals he’d stocked up on a few days ago. Cringed briefly at the wilting greens… maybe he shouldn’t eat that, after all. “What’s the point?”
“To not get expelled.”
“That’s not gonna—”
“Remember when you got your first warning for beating those kids up?” Of course he’d bring that up…
“They deserved it…!” Seriously, they were being complete assholes to some girl who had no interest in them. What was he supposed to do, except give them the best medicine he knew? One prescription of ass kicking, refills dependent on continued symptoms.
“Because that explanation worked so well with the school board.”
“Yeah, ‘cuz I’m bored of their bullshit.”
…No laugh. Seriously? At least it usually got some kind of reaction from Adachi, but, instead, he sat completely silent on the other side. Wow, he was really not humoring him today…
“Didn’t hit, huh?” Was he on a roll, or what? That high was only brief, though, the grumble on the other side telling him that if he didn’t at least pretend to compromise, there was a shitstorm coming his way. “Fine, fine. You spelled it out well enough. I’ll at least hear ‘em out.”
“Don’t try to make your entire argument with puns this time, either.” Come on, at least say his current ones were good… Felt like he was totally getting snubbed from the standing ovation he almost totally deserved.
“I won’t…” Now he was disappointed, both in the food and lame audience. All he could do was lamely toss aside his food, nearly watching it dangle off the edge from his lazy swipe.
…Just to be fully knocked off when he jolted at the opening of the entrance door. No one ever came up here. No one. That’s why he chose this spot to camp out at, so why now was there… Wait. The class president?
“Oh, hey, speak of the devil. Talk to ya later, Adachi!”
“Wh—”
With a flip of his phone, his caretaker’s confused, frustrated voice had finally come to an end.
Now all that emotion was transferred to him, raising an eyebrow at the intruder. The last person he wanted to deal with was goody two-shoes… but guess he basically jinxed himself, already. The world knew he was gonna ignore the meeting, so it chose to spite his persistent avoidance and bring it right to him.
“What’s Miss President doin’ up here?”
“Just checkin’ up on ya.” Yeah, right. That was the only reason. With a scoff, he brought his feet up to the desk and hands behind his head in a small attempt to assert his dominance. To show he wasn’t interested. “Who was that on the phone?”
“None of your business.” Nobody needed to know those sorts of details. “Why do you care?”
“Don’t see ya talk to many people, is all…” Why did she notice that? That was creepy as hell! “Do ya have friends?”
“What do you mean by that?” This was worse than the alternative of being yelled at for his disobedience—he was being actively ridiculed. Because it was so embarrassing, wasn’t it? So weird?
“O-Oh, not tryna imply anythin’!” Uh-huh… sure. The stammering and shaking of her hands didn’t get him all too far in believing her. “...Sorry, I… worded that badly, huh?”
…Why did she look like that?
Wasn’t she the president? Then why was she so anxious? So… scared?
“...Is that all?” No need to keep making a scene. She’d gotten the message well enough.
“I-If ya want anyone to talk to, ‘bout anythin’... I’m here.”
…Well, he thought she did, but even with the way she scurried off, he could already tell he’d get a lot more trouble than he asked for…
—
Felt like Miss President’s gaze hadn’t stopped burning into him for days. Or, fragmented gaze, catching glimpses from her whenever she had turned to talk to the classmates behind her.
…Not that he cared. Any time he caught her staring, he’d dug his nose further into his manga. It was creepy. Why would someone care that much about another person they didn’t know? Couldn’t she get the hint he was fine alone? That he wanted to be alone?
After enough inadvertent meetings of the eye in the following week, he’d turned his diverted glances into prolonged glares. Maybe that would show her… but all she did in return was smile back. A meek, awkwardly toothy one.
What a weirdo…
Again, he thought she would have learned her lesson from their first talk, but, clearly, she was a slower learner than he took her for.
That was only proven all the more when he’d felt a presence lingering over his desk at the beginning of class. At first, he assumed it was some asshole looking for a fight. Just about ready, to tell them off, before—
“Whatcha readin’?” …Really had the confidence to approach him again, huh? This time in front of everyone, too… Felt a couple burning stares searing into his skin. A couple whispers, too.
“Can’t you read yourself?” Not that he wanted to entertain the conversation, but felt like he had no real choice… especially as the annoying girl continued to silently linger over his desk for moments after he spoke. With some hesitation, he’d held up the cover, hoping that would be just enough to satiate her.
“Oh… haven’t read that one.” Clearly… She’d taken a peek at the page he was holding open once he returned the book to its original place, tilting her head at what was on display. Just a basic shonen fight, but, considering the type she was… probably hadn’t even given something like this the time of day. “Is it any good?”
“Would I be readin’ it otherwise?” Maybe the tone he took was a little harsh, but why did she have to look like he kicked her whenever he got snappy?
Dammit… after taking a breath, he at least tried to find an answer to her question. No reason to let himself get all too pissy over nothing.
“...It’s whatever.” His eyes turned back to the page, scanning boredly over the current page. He’d locked out, for the most part, but… “The main protag’s pretty cool, I guess.”
“What’re they like?”
“Real strong, with a temper, but… he’s carin’ for his friends and family.” The first two, he could relate to. The latter two… well, sorta, he guessed. Didn’t have any of the former, and the latter was kinda complicated. But, something he could like: “He has a big sword, sometimes swords, and that’s sick as hell, too.”
Hang on, why was he talking to her?
Shit… He fell into her trap. How could he let himself fold that easily…? And over a damn manga? She didn’t even have interest in that shit!
“Sounds cool!” Okay, that had to be a lie. He even described it in the lamest way possible. “Do you own the tankobon?”
“Do I…?” The words processed for a second, before clicking in his mind, brows furrowing as he glared up at Miss President. “What, ya think I can't afford it?”
“I-I was just wonderin’ if I could borrow one or two…” There she went again, with the meek act… “It’s okay if ya don’t wanna!”
“...Uh…” Dammit, what else was he supposed to do? Was backed into a corner, but her sad, sad eyes… As scarily red as they were, couldn’t find it in himself to say no. “...Guess I’ll bring the first one, if ya promise not to ruin it, or… whatever.”
“Great!” Her mood suddenly shifted, hands clapping together as she smiled down at him. Bastard… Was that all an act to get him to play along? “Lookin’ forward do it!”
With that, she pranced back towards her desk, like the whole class didn’t just have their eyes burrowing into her skull for making the grand mistake of talking to Sho Minazuki.
And all he could do was sit there, realizing he had lost something that day. Ego, reputation, an unnamed game… Something he couldn’t put together, at the moment, but made his face flush red all the same.
…Seriously, what a weirdo.
—
They had started talking, a bit.
Not that it was really by choice. Felt like an unskippable cutscene whenever Labrys-san approached, and he’d just have to play along, even if he wasn’t in the mood.
…Wasn’t too bad, he guessed. She was clumsy with her words, at times, and even worse at trying to tell him what to do. Should have known he’d never listen… Still tried, anyway. It was kinda funny. Enough to keep listening to her, for now.
Occasionally, they’d even eat together on the rooftop. Didn’t get why she was willing to go that far, since it seemed like she had a lot of other friends, but it was kinda fun to talk about the stuff he liked with her. He’d ramble about the games and manga he’d been playing and reading, and she’d nod her head along, with an occasional question here and there which kept him going for most of the period.
Sometimes, though, she’d start the conversation with a prompt of her own.
“How do ya manage it?”
“What the hell are ya talkin’ ‘bout…?” He’d been mid-bite into his cheap leftover sushi, only taking the time to gulp it down after speaking.
“Top of the class.” Was he? Last he checked… Oh, guess he was!
“Uh… studying?” Wasn’t that what everyone did?
“I’ve never seen you study at school…” Oh… fair point, he guessed.
“...The guy takin’ care of me makes me.” Made him do a lot of things… like being here, today, even though he really didn’t feel like it. “Says he won’t feed me unless I get my homework done.”
The way her eyes nearly popped out of her head made him quickly backtrack.
“Think he’s jokin’... mostly.” With a little brush of his hand, he tried to lighten the tone. “Better safe than sorry. Especially since it’s better to get fed than to scroll through my feed.”
…Wow. That one really sucked.
Then why was he hearing a quiet snicker?
Thought he imagined it, initially, but when he focused his attention back towards Labrys-san… that was laughter.
Where was this captive audience when he made an actual good pun? Well, regardless… felt nice, to have someone laugh. Even if it was weak, felt a grin come to his own face.
“My sister’s the same… Even if she’s younger than me.” That didn’t sound similiar… “I still struggle. Honestly, I should prolly get some tutorin’...”
“...I could help.”
Even he froze for a moment, at his offer. What the hell? Where was this sudden kindness coming from? Then again, why was someone asking him to tutor? Everything was already turned upside down…
“I-I mean, y’know, for pay.” Nice save. “I don’t work for free.”
“How much?” Oh, he… didn’t consider that far.
“Hmm… A La-ot, a little, we’ll see where we stand soon.” Couldn’t help the smirk that had slipped onto his face as he got to the punchline. “Gotta give it a Sho-t first!”
…Maybe that laughter would be payment enough.