Being approached by a stranger is bad. Being approached by a stranger who routinely looks like she's going to tear you limb from limb is even worse.
"Hey, listen."
Kiyoshi's made a deliberate effort to avoid Fumiko on the way home from school- And she's done the same. They're not exactly social people. So he's kept to himself and she's kept to hers. It's a nice little routine they have.
That's why it's so weird when she approaches him and firmly taps his shoulder.
"E-Eh?"
"Can you get your weird friend to stop bothering me?"
...Ah. So that's what it's about.
"I- uh- ah-" he sputters. "I… Don't think I can really tell him what do do. He doesn't listen to me..."
She gives him a disappointed look and walks ahead. She doesn't dignify him with a response.
"I mean - Shit - We're hardly even friends." Well, now that sounds rude! "Well, we are? Maybe? I don't really know the guy. He just kind of showed up one day," he rambles. Before he knows it, he's following on her heels. "He's nice, really! Scary, too. But it's not like I can get him to go away. He does his own thing. I think I'm just sort of along for the ride? I don't know what happened, really-"
She sends a bewildered glance his way.
Eep!
"But I mean if you really want I can ask him! I just don't think he's going to change his mind! I don't think he means any harm, though! I think he thinks you're cool! But if you want me to try to get him to shut up I can try!" Her red eyes are piercing. "Actually, I should shut up! I'll stop talking. Sorry for bothering you!"
It's his turn to try to get ahead. He speedwalks around her.
"...I'm the one who approached you? Why the hell are you apologizing?"
"Sorry-!"
"...Oh my God."
He doesn't dare turn her way.
"Listen, listen- I'll just be going now. No worries," he reassures.
And believe it or not, she chuckles. "I'm starting to get why you haven't just told this dude to get lost," she says. "You are scared of literallyeverything. I knew this class was for lunatics, but you're something else entirely."
He nervously chuckles along. "Y… Yeah. Scared of everything and a little more than that." He tries to walk faster. He really doesn't need to keep talking with this girl. She puts him on edge. "...But, I mean - That's - Uh, not actually why I'm in this class. My parents know Nagisa-sensei. They go way back."
"Ah," she says. "Your parents made you deal with this, too?"
"Well - I mean, I do wanna be here. I like it here, actually!" he says. "Nagisa-sensei, he's…" He pauses. "He's a very kind person." He feels comfortable around Nagisa. More than he'd be around any other teacher. He's known Nagisa his whole life! His parents would trust Nagisa with their lives. He can't not stand up for him. "...A very good teacher, as well."
"He's okay," Fumiko says. She's sticking close. He's not particularly inclined to make conversation in response, but the silence is deafeningly intimidating.
"My parents - Ah - Actually taught him back in the day. My dad was his PE teacher. And my mom taught him English." Alongside… Other things. "They wer-"
"Wait. Seriously?" Fumiko interjects. She's staring at him intently "Are your parents those government employees who live this way?"
"Those would be the ones."
A moment of quiet. "Wow. I… Didn't expect that," she says.
"Most people don't," Kiyoshi says. It's not like he exactly resembles his parents. Well - He does, at least, physically. He's been told he's a 'good mix of both,' with his blond hair, tired demeanor, and 'an eye from each.' But his personality tends to put people off. When they find out he's their son, they're usually unimpressed at best.
God! Don't let her think about that! She's judgemental enough as is! He tries to change the subject "What do your parents do for a living?"
And she stops in her fucking tracks.
"Hisakawa? Fumiko Hisakawa?" she says
Wait. No way -
"They're managing directors for a massive corporation? We live at the estate down the road? Don't tell me you seriously didn't know-"
"A- Ah! No! I know! I know!" he sputters. He just hadn't managed to piece it together. God! How stupid could he be!? He'd known she was stupidly rich. Of course she was one of those Hisakawas. "That's-!" His voice has managed to jump about ten octaves up. "Super cool!"
...She's more thoroughly unimpressed than ever.
"Yeah. It's something like that."
He's seen her house before. Estate is an understatement. They have three houses, and a wholeass lake , for Pete's sake! This isn't a girl who's going to ask to 'speak to his manager.' This is a girl who's going to sue him for all he's worth if he even looks at her wrong.
She must notice his unease. Namely because he's suddenly walking stiffly as a board. "It's not that impressive," she says, but the smug intonation in her voice seems to suggest otherwise. "...So your parents were involved in the little moon thing, right?"
'The little moon thing'. She says it so nonchalantly. The world they live in was changed forever! The apocalypse just about happened! People died! Of course the rich girl would call it the 'moon thing.'
"Yeah. They helped with the little moon thing." ...It sounds equally as stupid when he says it.
"...That's pretty neat," she admits. "Got any anecdotes?"
"Well - They actually met over it. The government needed a 'real' assassin in that room, and they ended up with my mom. They must have bonded pretty quickly, because - Uh - I exist! Yeah!" God! How bad at this does he have to be!? Is he seriously implying he was procreated because the moon blew up!? He gives a nervous chuckle. "Really weird, thinking about that, actually. Parents had a meet-cute because of an octopus terrorist! Yayyyyy…" He gives apprehensive jazz hands. "Not that he was actually a terrorist-"
Fumiko snorts. "An assassin, huh. Now that's what sounds weird to me." She's keeping up in pace. "...What was he like? K-" she pauses. "The monster."
"He was impossible for them to get a hit on. Wikipedia isn't exaggerating. It's hard for me to even imagine, but my dad says Mach 20 made his head spin. He'd be there one second and in the next he was gone. He'd sooner be giving you a makeover than fleeing from you, though. And if you did manage to get a hit in on him, he could regrow it like it was nothing."
"Not like that, " Fumiko retorts. "Everyone knows that. That's textbook knowledge. What was he like? "
"...Oh, I have no idea. I KINDA do, but I never met the guy, y'know?" A pause. "Obviously! He was - was before my time. But you probably know that. Don't know why I said that-" he sputters. It's hard to decide what to say. Of course he's heard plenty of stories about Korosensei from his parents and the E-Class alike. But that's nothing like getting to meet the larger-than-life man himself. "I… I guess he was loud and obnoxious and weird. He got on my parents' nerves all the time."
"Sounds about right."
"He wasn't a bad person, though. They… Actually liked him a lot." Even if they hadn't admitted it at the time. He knows for a fact both of his parents have a deep respect for Korosensei. "I've been told he was kind… And nurturing… And confident."
"And responsible for your birth?"
Kiyoshi just about chokes. "Yes! That too!"
Fumiko cracks the tiniest smile.
"I - I - I think he had a big impact on just about everyone he met. I think that's why a lot of people still think about him now. Because he's more than just a piece of history. He's a personality. "
Fumiko is quiet.
"...But that probably sounds kind of dumb, huh?" He asks.
"A little," she admits.
"...And yet you still had enough interest to ask me about him," he points out. "I'd say that backs up my point, at least a little."
Fumiko blinks. "I… Suppose it does.
Kiyoshi can't help but smile. He's gotten a victory against her, however small.
"...That's your place, right?" she asks, pointing a finger.
"Ah- It is." He looks towards his house. He'd nearly walked straight past it. "...I guess I should get going, huh?"
"Yeah. Get out of this chill." Quite frankly, it's not even cold outside. Had she mistaken his quivering for shivering?
"...It was nice talking to you."
Fumiko blinks, almost as if she hadn't even realized this had turned into a conversation. "...You as well. I'll see you around."
And before he can respond, she's on her way. He murmurs a quiet "Okay," before turning towards his house.
...He sends one last glance her way. She doesn't do the same.
Somehow she's a lot less intimidating when he knows even she thinks about what happened to the moon.
It happens just about every year. This year, it happens to happen early.
He's attempting to give Hachirou and Chiharu a hand with their science assignment when a loud voice cries out.
"Woah! What are you doing with them? "
And there Makoto stands, hunched in front of his computer. Kiyoshi stands behind him, tugging desperately at his hand.
"You never told us you knew a bunch of celebrities, Nagisa!"
And in an instant that has the class's attention. Students spring from their chairs and rush over to join him. Gossip explodes in an instant.
Nagisa sighs and gives Chiharu and Hachirou a glance. "Excuse me for a minute," he says, standing up, and hurrying to the growing crowd.
He sees about what he expected.
The gaggle of students are staring agape at his desktop background. He can't exactly blame them, considering it's a photo of him and his spouses posing at the beach.
It's a fond memory from two summers ago. Kayano has Nagisa pulled close and Karma's snatched his favorite sun hat. Gakushuu's grabbed ice cream for the four of them. You can already tell he's getting a bad sunburn. Waves crash in the background. He can practically feel the joy radiating, even now.
"Is that Mase Haruna?"
"Gakushuu Asano!?"
"Who's the third guy!?"
"...He's a politician!"
"Akabane!?"
Karma would be peeved if he learned the kids sooner recognized his husband than him.
Every eye is on Nagisa. The volume in the room is growing louder and louder. Just about every student has rushed over to see what the commotion is about.
"Nice job photoshopping yourself in with your celebrity crushes, Shiota-sensei."
"What are you doing with them?"
"Are you friends!?"
...Well, he supposes there's no avoiding this one. All things considered, the four of them try to keep their relationship on the down low, but sooner or later his students tend to find out. Whether it be through desktop backgrounds or shady paparazzi magazines.
"Spouses, actually," he says with a smile.
And in an instant, his students explode into chatter. He can hardly hear them, with them all trying to shout over each other.
"Oh, what a joke! There's no way they'd date you. "
As if he hadn't been telling himself that from day one. Life sure had a way of surprising him. He still remembers his astonishment when Karma and Gakushuu had asked him to join their relationship in third year, and the whiplash he'd received when he'd learned Kayano had been crushing on him since middle school.
"Yes way," he says, whipping out his phone. "I've got more pictures, if you don't believe me."
"SHOW US." The answer is practically unanimous.
In theory, he hates to disturb class, but there's enough of a commotion as is. He knows they'll be more focused afterward if they get the answers they're looking for. Plus, he could never pass up an opportunity to talk about his spouses.
"Okay, okay," he relents, shuffling his way through to the front of the crowd. He leans down and starts to swipe through his photos.
Kayano ready for the first day of her new shoot. Gakushuu with his nose buried in a book and an adorably focused look on his face. Karma taking a selfie after snatching his phone and Kayano subsequently photobombing him. The time Gakushuu and Karma fell asleep on the couch together. And, of course, the picture Kayano had taken and sent him afterward of himself struggling to haul them off to bed.
The class has reached outright pandemonium by now. Rosey practically snatches his phone trying to get a better look. He yanks it away, but can't help but laugh. He gets their bewilderment. If he learned his teacher had pictures of a multi-millionaire entrepreneur and controversial politician spooning on his couch, he'd be a little baffled, too.
"But- But how!?" Kanon demands.
"We went to Junior High together," he explains. Most everything in his life comes back to the moon incident. "So be on your toes. You never know! You could meet the love of your life or the next big name in this very classroom."
The volume in the room goes up tenfold.
"Like hell the next Asano goes here!"
"Is it true Haruna's working on a sequel to Stray God!?"
"Is Akabane as mean as he looks?"
"How's the sex!?"
Nagisa sputters. "Okay! Okay! One at a time. I'm... going to refrain from answering that one-!" He's just about being mobbed. "Raise your hands. I'll - I'll call on you." For a literal school, he doesn't employ the simple tactics nearly enough.
Rikuto's hand shoots up. "What are they really like!? In person?"
"Obnoxious at best, unbearable at worst," Nagisa says. Gasps ensue. "I'm joking - I'm joking…" he reassures. "They're wonderful people. And not nearly as intimidating as you'd expect them to be. I've had multiple pillow fights with them. They're not nearly as cool as they'd want you to believe." He gives a smug smile.
Kazuki waves his hand in the air "How'd you manage to pick up so many hotties, Shiota-sensei?"
"I wish I had an answer to that one," Nagisa replies.
Minki jumps up and down. "What's it like being loaded!? I never would have guessed you were a gold digger!"
"Okay- First of all, I'm not a gold digger-" Nagisa sputters, finger raised. "I love my spouses very much." So no, he's not planning to assassinate them, regardless of what Karma would have had you believe back in middle school. "Second of all, we try to live modestly. What doesn't end up going into projects like this school, or purchases like… Those," He motions to Korokohai "Finds its way to helping people in need. Everything you hear about Asano's company's charity work is true."
He and his family had… Rough teen years, to say the least. They have ideals they hold close to their hearts. The least they can do is try to donate to organizations for abused children, disabled students, battered women, transgender youth, and prisoner's rights. Because they like to think they can make an impact on the world.
"Awwwww…" Emiko murmurs.
"I think they should donate a water slide to the school," Matsuya says
Nagia chuckles. "I'll… See what we can do."
Aina's hand shoots up. "So does that mean Asano-san's not really as scary as he looks?"
"I wouldn't quite say not scary," Nagisa says. His husband's resting bitch face doesn't exactly give off the wrong idea. However… "But I'll have you know he has a soft spot. Just don't let him know I said anything." He raises his finger to his lips.
Sometimes he gets choked up thinking about how far Gakushuu's come. In middle school he had legitimately terrified Nagisa. But getting to know him over the course of high school… Realizing their situations were more similar than they'd have liked to admit: They bonded. Quick. He's come a long way in opening up. And even if he's still perfectly capable of giving an intimidatingly pretentious cold-shoulder, he's a lot kinder than he'd ever give himself credit for. He doesn't always know what to say, but he always makes an effort to be there. Nagisa's thankful for that.
A few students giggle. "Well now you've got to tell us embarrassing stories about him!"
"No, no. Those are stories for another day." Lord knows he has too many to share without derailing class entirely.
"What about Haruna?" Ryoka asks, hand up. "You've got to tell us about her latest movie! Is she ever coming back to TV dramas?"
Sometimes he feels like he's being mobbed by the paparazzi. What is he? A gossip magazine on the topic of his own wife? "Kaya- Ak- Blah- Mase's movie is coming along great. She's working hard on the sequel to Stray God. Afraid I can't disclose any details, though." He feels dumb as hell tripping up over her name, but what can he say? Kayano's become a bit of a nickname over the years. For something that started as a blatant lie, it seems to bring Kayano a lot of happiness. It's just stuck. Calling her Akari is alien enough. Having to use her stage name? It's too much for his clumsy ass. "As for her TV dramas, she's taking things day by day. We'll just have to see what interests her, huh?"
"Tell her I think she's a great actress!"
"And that she's very pretty!"
"I like her legs." Rika tacks on.
"Please don't objectify my wife," Nagisa says.
Terumi meekly raises a hand. "...Is that last guy mean? He seems mean." She points knowingly at the photo of Karma stealing Nagisa's hat.
"He's a politician. Of course he's mean," Rin snarks.
"I'll have you know Karma is a kindhearted, brave, and intelligent individual. He's stayed by my side through most everything and has never once hesitated to stand up for me. He's driven, skilled, and handsome. He is single-handedly the meanest person I know."
Karma's mellowed out a lot over the years. He knows which lines not to cross, and tries to use that egotistical heart of his for good. That said, it did take Nagisa twenty minutes to get that "atrocity of a hat" back, so Karma hasn't exactly completely turned over a new leaf. The man runs on malice. By now it's become more a part of his charm than anything else.
The students whisper and gossip.
"Okay - Okay. Don't tell him that, either," he says. "I love Karma. So when he inevitably invites himself into this classroom, tell him that instead."
"When he invites himself into this classroom!?"
"I'm sure you'll be seeing him around sooner or later." Karma tries to make time to peek out of work early and bother Nagisa's students at least a few times a year. He says it's good for 'getting to know his husband's kids.' For someone who holds himself to such high standards, he sure retains the attitude of a bored, ditching middle schooler. "So be on your best behavior." If they're not, it's practically a guarantee Karma will take that bad behavior and up it to eleven.
"Will we get to meet the rest of them!?"
"Oh! Oh! I want Mase to sign my poster!"
"Please let us meet them, Shiota-sensei!"
"They seem so nice!"
That's… One word for it.
"I'll try my best," Nagisa reassures. "But I think that's enough talking about my spouses for one day. We need to get back to science."
Rosey groans. "But you didn't even tell us how you got together! And how you REALLY met. The details! Was it also at that cool assassin school? Are they cool assassins?"
"That's a story for another day. Get back to your seats."
"Promise us you'll tell us," Rosey says, standing firm. "You can't leave us curious! I'm on the edge of my seat!"
"Okay, okay…" Nagisa says with a reluctant smile. "I promise."
That seems to sate her. She skips back to her chair. Kiyoshi awkwardly follows. Other students follow in suit, gossiping loudly with each other as they sit down.
"You gotta promise to tell us how the foursomes are, too!" Kazuki snickers, slinking back to his seat. His sister shoots him a glare.
"I am… Not doing that." Nagisa says.
Makoto doesn't return to his seat, even as his classmates get back to focusing on their projects. Nagisa gently reaches for his shoulder.
"You've got to get back to work, bu-"
"...Asano, huh?" he asks.
"Excuse me?"
"He just didn't strike me as your type." His brow furrows in thought. Now that he thinks about it, Nagisa realizes Makoto had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout that entire conversation.
He supposes a man like Gakushuu isn't exactly who you'd expect to be married to a meek teacher like himself, but...
"And Karma Akabane, known sociopath, did?"
Makoto blinks, then shrugs it off. "I guess you're right," he says, shaking his head. "Neat, though. You guys seem really happy." He gives a smile, then quickly diverts. "Mind if I use your computer for a second? There was actually something I wanted to look into. That's why I snuck on here in the first place."
"Oh. So you weren't just trying to cause trouble," Nagisa quips.
"N-No!" Makoto sputters, shoulders raised. He genuinely seems a bit hurt. Nagisa can't help but feel bad.
"Alright, alright," he says. "Go wild. I trust you. Five minutes, though. After that, you've gotta get back to work."
Makoto's smile returns in an instant. He swivels the chair around and gets right to work. "Thank you, Nagisa!"
"No problem," Nagisa says, turning back towards the class. He'll leave Makoto be. The least he can do is try to trust him. And it's not exactly like even if he is planning something atrocious it's anything Nagisa can't handle. What's the worst he's going to do? Look up porn?
Oh God. That's actually a pretty terrifying thought. Nagisa bites his lip and parades across the room, praying not to hear anything alarming blare from the speakers.
He finds himself making his way over to where Fumiko sits. He'd noticed she'd been the only one not to invite herself over to his computer during the commotion. She'd simply sat, unamused, with her cheek resting on her palm.
He leans down.
"Sure you don't want to see the pictures?" he asks. "There's some real good ones on here." He feels bad not engaging her. He can't let her feel left out.
"Not particularly," she says. "...I actually already knew."
"Huh?" Nagisa says.
"About your spouses. It's one of the reasons I considered this school prestigious." She never once looks up from her work to meet his eyes.
"Well I'm glad you did your research," Nagisa says. "Though a bit hurt you're only here for my spouses. What about some respect for ol' Shiota-sensei, huh?" he jokes.
She doesn't grace him with a response.
Nagisa sighs. "Well, I'll stop bothering you. Let me know if you need any help with your work," he says, straightening up.
"Mmmm..."
He can't push her too far, either. He knows when he's being more annoying than helpful. Baby steps, he supposes.
He makes his way back over to Chiharu and Hachirou. He'd nearly forgotten he was giving them a hand until he noticed Chiharu looking over at him with pleading eyes. "Okay, okay. Sorry about that. Where were we?"
The classroom returns to the normal routine. In time, Makoto returns to his seat. And as Nagisa walks Chiharu and Hachirou through the basics of chemistry he tries not to worry about Fumiko and how stubbornly she keeps to herself.
Fumiko's routine is a simple one.
She wakes every morning at 6:45. She slides out of bed and she gets dressed. She readies herself any further, then makes her way down the spiral staircase, and walks through the lounge into the dining room.
Oftentimes, the others are there before her. This morning is no different. Her mother and father are seated at the end of the table, with her sisters seated across the side.
She sits down next to Tsuna and carefully pulls her chair in.
"Fumiko."
"Mother," she greets.
Her father gives her a curt nod. They don't exchange any further formalities.
Quite frankly, she's much happier without the show made of it. What purpose does it serve? They may not be a sentimental family, but they get by.
Breakfast is already made. Her plate has been waiting for her. She reaches for her meal and begins to pick through her salad.
She's aware she needs to be on her way by 7:30. The walk to school is a long trek from her family's estate. More often than not she prefers to head out earlier. It gives her leisure time when she arrives at the building. She keeps a close eye on the grandfather clock.
Milk, salad, toast, yogurt, eggs, and cantaloupe. It's an underwhelming meal. She doesn't voice that.
Mother's fork clinks. Meiko coughs. Father shuffles ever so slightly. No-one speaks up.
...They don't remember.
"School's been well," she says.
Father nods. "I'd hope so."
"...I'm doing well in my History classes."
He doesn't respond.
"You should try to apply that same drive to your mathematics classes," Mother chimes.
"I will," she says.
"Sayuri aced her college applications. She's going to be a scholar, you know." Oh, she knows. "If you ever need… Further help, you know your sister is always an option."
She hates the way she says it. She hates being looked down on. She doesn't let it show. "Of course. I will keep that in mind."
Her parents stare at her.
"Forgetting something?"
Her shoulders lower. "...Thank you, Sayuri."
Sayuri gives an apathetic shrug. She knows she won't help her. She won't even come to her. That's okay. They don't do family time.
"You know this is just about your last chance, Fumiko. You've exhausted our every last effort." Father says.
She sighs. "...I know."
"We just want what's best for you. You'll make us proud, won't you?" Mother asks.
"Of course."
"Good girl."
She doesn't make any further effort to speak. She's not sure why she'd tried in the first place. It's as she said: She much prefers the silence.
She halfway finishes her meal and stands. She leaves her plate on the table. "I should head out soon," she says, walking across the room. "I don't want to be late to class."
Father nods. "Behave yourself."
"I will," she says. She's done her very best to make them proud. Although her grades remain rather lackluster, she wishes to believe that an institute like Constellate will give her an edge.
"Remember not to participate in the 'assassination,'" Mother reminds her.
"I'm aware." She has no interest. Nor would she ever.
As deeply as the historical impact of the moon incident fascinates her, the concept of recreating it feels trite at best and insensitive at worst. Shiota-sensei will never truly capture what made that period of history so interesting. Nor would it ever have been a piece of history meant for someone of her standing to partake in in the first place.
While she must admit she'd be deeply interested in learning the further intricacies of what occurred at that very school, going about such violent affairs is no way to accomplish that. She doesn't see why her teacher can't simply crack open a textbook or share stories from his own experience.
How is it she's already learned more from the Karasuma son than she has from her own teacher?
She slides on her coat and retrieves her bookbag, then pulls it on over her shoulders.
7:10. She supposes it's not a bad time to head out.
No goodbyes are exchanged as she makes her way out the door.
It's a chilly day out. Although she's been told she's oversensitive in regards to those matters. So perhaps not objectively.
She's aware that she'd managed to irritate father. It's nothing new. But she's also well aware she'll need to apologize when she arrives home. That's what she gets for attempting to engage with him: Chewed out.
She typically avoids the effort. But she'd gotten her hopes up about today being different. That was her first mistake.
She readjusts her bookbag. Whatever. It's not worth the effort. She knows she's the problem child, and she knows she's needy, and she knows she's at the prestigious screw-up school for the bragging rights of a turnaround story. This has never been about her sake. But she doesn't have the luxury to complain. They don't like her. And she doesn't like them. She doesn't need them. She's not sure why she'd tried.
She's passing the Karasuma household now, but the boy is nowhere in sight. As much as she hates to admit it, she almost wishes he was. He's far from an engaging person to be around, but the few conversations they've had have been okay. Plus, she knows he doesn't have the guts to call her out for being 'disrespectful.' Not that she'd dare gossip about her parents to him. She has a reputation to keep up.
Doesn't make it any less cathartic to imagine.
She arrives at the foot of the mountain in due time. She bites her lip as she stares up. She hates the dramatization of it all. It's not meaningful to run the school up there, it's just obnoxious.
...She knows that's not true. She's just angry. She knows why Shiota-sensei stays here, and she can even make a couple guesses as for why he runs the school by himself. It's a piece of something important. Something fascinating. Something even she wants to know about. And of something broken. A cog in a machine that was smashed to bits fifteen years ago. And no matter what he does, he can never recreate what it once was.
...She and the school are alike, in that way. With such a heavy heirloom to carry.
Or maybe it's just a school. And the mountain's just a mountain. And she's just a bitter girl overthinking things.
Either way, by the time she reaches the top her feet ache.
She enters the building. It's a tiny, pathetic, thing. She's sure he's done his fair share of tidying up. A 'labor of love.' But that doesn't make her impression of the place any less lukewarm. It would be more interesting left ramshackle. At least then it could be a relic of the Moon Incident. What it is now is a lifeless husk. She can't even bring herself geek out about standing in the shadow of history. Because she knows why she's here. And she doesn't want to be.
She arrives at class and lays her head on the desk.
She hardly notices as the others begin to arrive. In fact, she's half asleep when she hears the stomping of excited feet.
Shit.
This is the last thing she needs to deal with right now.
She'd almost managed to go an entire day without wasting a thought on Makoto Himura. Can't he see she's stressed enough as is right now!? The last thing she needs is some weirdo harassing her!
"Fumiko-"
She sits up, fists clenched. "Can you just leave me alone alrea-"
And that's when she notices the slice of cake.
"...W… What's that?"
He cautiously takes a step back. "I figured out it was your birthday. So I thought I'd do something for you-"
Her heart stops.
He doesn't seem to notice. He gingerly places the cake down on her desk, before beginning to dig through his stuff. "I know it's nothing special, but I figured it was the least I could do for getting on your nerves." He nervously smiles as he pulls something pink out of his bag. "I nabbed you this, too. I know it's nothing like your usual fancy-schmancy taste, but I still hope you'll like it."
She shakily reaches for it and unfolds. A bright pink scarf: With a massive bow on the front.
"Me and Kiyoshi noticed you get cold easily! And I thought you could use a splash of color in your life."
Oh. Yeah. Kiyoshi. Her eyes drift his way. He's anxiously looking on, fingers clasped.
"...He told me about how you two became buddy-buddy! And he… Also told me about how you wanted me to stop bothering you. So after this, if you want me to leave you alone, I'll buzz off. But I figured I'd at least make it up to you first."
Fumiko blinks back tears. Her parents hadn't even remembered-
She runs her hand over the scarf. It's soft. "How…?" she sputters "...How did you even know?"
"Well, I heard you bragging to Rika that you were almost thirteen, so you should be in charge! And I figured that 'almost' implied your birthday was soon. So I snuck onto Nagisa's computer and got the exact date. Turns out it was a lot sooner than I thought!"
"...That's a bit stalkerish." Is all she can find in herself to say.
Makoto shrieks under his breath as he covers his face with his hands. "Is- Is that how you see it!? I just wanted to try being sweet and endearing!" He just about makes a 180° turn. "I-I'll be going now! Goodbye forever!"
"Hey- Hey! No!" she snaps, reaching for his shoulder. "It… It actually means a lot." As pathetic as he looks right now, she can't help but be touched.
"It… Does?" he asks.
"...Yeah. It does," she admits. She hadn't expected anyone to go out of their way like that for her. Much less someone she'd treated like shit for the past month. Maybe she'd been too quick to judge him.
He whirls around and wraps her in a bear hug.
"Ack!"
"I told you she'd love it!"
Or not! She can hardly breathe!
She struggles to get away, elbowing and hissing. He releases her, excitedly bouncing on his toes. "Try it! Try it!"
"The cake or the scarf?"
"Yes."
She picks up the fork and takes a bite of the cake. It's a homemade, rudimentary thing. Made of ingredients so cheap she could likely pick up something better-made mass produced at the grocery store. But… It's sweet.
Makoto eagerly watches on. "Do you like it!?"
She reaches for the scarf and fits it snugly around her neck. "It's okay," She says.
"Well, hey! 'Okay' is the best thing I've gotten you to say about anything I've done yet! I'll be counting that one as a victory!" Makoto chuckles.
Fumiko rolls her eyes. "...How did you even think of this?"
"Told you. I wanted to make it up to you."
"But birthday cake?"
"Well, I for one, love sweet things. Nothing would better cheer me up or work as a bribe to make me stand someone than cake. I just crossed my fingers and hoped the same would apply to you!" Makoto grins and points. She freezes, mid-chew. "Looks like I was right on the money! You love it."
"Now I wouldn't go that far-"
"And yet you're eating the cake anyways,"
She stares down at the plate. "...Indeed I am."
"Plus… I think… It's just nice to have someone think about you like that. Someone going out of their way to say 'I care' on your birthday. It's enough to make me weep!"
Well isn't someone dramatic? Fumiko ignores the fact that she's on the brink of tears herself. "...Yeah. I guess so."
She falls silent. Even Makoto shuts up as she finishes up her cake.
"Sorry I couldn't bring the whole thing. I got a hunch Nagisa would yell at me if I brought an entire cake in."
"Like hell you care about how Shiota-sensei would react," Fumiko quips.
"...Okay! Maybe not! Maybe I just wanted to eat the rest of the cake myself. But is that really that blameworthy!? It looked so good!"
Fumiko blinks in disbelief. "You ate the entire cake?"
"Hey! Hey! Not the entire cake!" Makoto argues.
"The entire cake minus a slice."
"...M-Maybe so! And what about it!?" he nervously responds. Somehow he seems far more embarrassed by the most mundane nonsense in comparison to the actual bullshit he pulls every day.
Fumiko can't help but chuckle.
"I'll make you another one sometime-" he sputters. "I mean. If… If you don't mind."
"Eh?"
"If… You don't mind that I keep getting on your nerves. I get it if I've been going too far, but I just think you're really cool."
"...I'll think about it," Fumiko says. "If you keep bribing me with cake."
"Is that all you want from me!?" Makoto sputters.
What can she say? She's an entrepreneur at heart. She smirks. "Is that not a deal you're willing to make?"
Makoto huffs. "Only if you're willing to let me keep eating half the cakes."
"More like seven-eighths of the cakes."
"Hey! Don't spring all this math on me all of a sudden! I get overwhelmed! I'm no good at that stuff, you know!"
Kiyoshi finally perks up. "I can verify he's not."
Makoto squeaks. "Hey-! Don't try to humiliate me in front of Fumiko! Not when we're finally becoming friends!"
She nearly refutes it. But seeing Makoto lean back to elbow Kiyoshi, and that genuine grin spread on his face, she can only think about how drastically it contrasts the numb coldness of her father's eyes.
...What else does she have to lose?
'Friends' can't be too bad.
