Wow, I take forever to update and my chapters are so short it's just sad. I am very sorry everyone.

Anyway, I actually wrote this a while ago but didn't upload it, I think I had a reason but I can't remember it now so I'll just apologise again.

The plot for this story is pretty non-existent so oops.

Well, I hope you all like this chapter anyway.

I don't own Angel Beats.

Chapter Four: When Green Joins Blue And Red

"Homework sucks," Hinata complained, Otonashi simply sighed, shaking his head in a bemused manner, "well, it's necessary," he replied after a pause (he couldn't really deny that homework was boring, he didn't really like it either, after all).

"I can't believe they gave it us on the first day of school though, we're only ten, what do they want from us?"

"They trying to kill off the weak ones early," Otonashi said seriously, "only the strong will survive."

Hinata looked horrified, glancing towards the teacher who was currently talking to someone standing at the classroom door.

"We need to get out of here Oto," Hinata hissed, terror in his eyes, "they're going to eat us!" Otonashi wondered how he came to that conclusion, before he could reply however the teacher got the classes attention.

"Everyone, we've got a new classmate, he's a bit late today but that's okay, I'm sure we'll all be very nice to him," she said. Hinata stared at her, Otonashi's words still playing in his mind as he tried to find a way to get him and his friend out of the classroom alive. They weren't going to be eaten if he had anything to do with it!

Otonashi didn't really pay any attention to the new student either, instead choosing to do some of the homework they had gotten so that he wouldn't have to do it at home.

The teacher looked around the classroom before making a decision, "Otonashi, put your hand up please."

Startled, Otonashi did so, quickly putting his pen down and trying to pretend he had been listening the whole time. "Naoi, you go sit next to Otonashi, he'll take care of you, okay?"

The green haired boy looked up at her with wide eyes, nodding and giving an angelic smile, "yes, Miss."

He walked over and took the desk to the right of Otonashi, placing all his books in the tray underneath before sitting.

Trying to be friendly to the newcomer (despite the fact that Otonashi wasn't the social one between him and Hinata) he gave the boy a smile, "hello, I'm Yuzuru Otonashi."

Naoi gave him a calculating look, "since the teacher told you to look after me, it must mean that you're her favourite, or she considers you the most reliable in the class," Otonashi's smile faltered, he looked at the boy with confusion, "uh…"

"Well, those days are ending for you now; I'm going to be top of the grade, so I suggest you step down now," Otonashi was completely lost by now. Hinata – who had been listening in – didn't really understand what the boy was getting at either. All he knew was that this new student was picking some kind of fight with his friend.

"No way, Oto is way smarter than you'll ever be, all the teachers like him," he hissed at the boy, shooting him a venomous glare. Naoi smirked, "clearly you're a dumb idiot who doesn't know anything, because I'm definitely smarter than him and soon all the teachers will know and like me the best."

Hinata shook his head vehemently, "no they won't."

"Yes, they will."

"No, they won't."

"They will."

"They won't."

Otonashi sighed as the two continued to argue across his desk, he hoped they'd learn to get along better soon. With Hinata on his left and now Naoi on his right he just knew that this year at school was going to be catastrophic.

Naoi had been part of the group for about a week.

A whole week of arguments, and arrogant proclamations, and bossiness, and just general torture for Otonashi.

The green haired boy had just stormed off once again after declaring current company not fit for his presence and Otonashi – must against his or Hinata's will – had gone looking for him.

When Otonashi found him, he was surprised at the situation the boy had managed to get himself into and yet, he couldn't help but not be surprised at all because it was so very like him.

Naoi had picked a fight with a group of the meanest, most arrogant, most terrible bullies that Year Five had to offer. Who, admittedly, weren't too bad, but to the others in the year level, they were the children of the devil himself.

The boy probably didn't even realise that he was provoking them by 'innocently' questioning their intelligence. It got to the point where one of them pushed him, knocking him over and Otonashi ran over there to help, Hinata close behind.

The blue haired boy yelled at them to 'back off' while Otonashi helped Naoi up. Said boy simply rolled his eyes, "I'm fine," he stated, shaking the red head off and causing Hinata to turn around angrily at the boy's lack of gratitude.

Before he could say anything though, Naoi reached into his pocket and pulled out a medallion, turning to the boys who had pushed him and were showing no signs of leaving, he began to swing the medallion back and forth.

To Otonashi's astonishment, it almost looked as though his green eyes had taken on a reddish hue before the boy began to speak, "you will go back to your lunch and not try to start another fight again," he ordered, and to Otonashi's amazement, the boys did just that, walking away with dazed expressions.

Hinata and Otonashi stared at him in amazement, "how did you do that?" Hinata asked, never one for subtlety. He turned away and chased after the boys, calling after him to Otonashi excitedly, "I'm going to see if they really do go have lunch and behave themselves."

Naoi rolled his eyes, "of course they will," he muttered insolently. Otonashi glanced at him, "that was hypnotism, wasn't it?" he asked and Naoi started, looking at him in surprise before turning, "so you're not a complete idiot."

Otonashi chose to ignore the insult, "so when did you learn how to do that?"

"A few years ago," Otonashi peered at the boy closely, he didn't know Naoi very well, but he felt that the boy was keeping something important from him. After a moment of deliberation, he grabbed Naoi's arm, offering a quick 'come with me' before dragging towards a more secluded area behind the school buildings, shaded by the trees.

He sat down, pulling Naoi with him, "what do you think you're doing?" he pulled his hand from Otonashi's grip; any further scolding was cut short by Otonashi though.

"Why did you decide to learn hypnotism?"

Naoi stared at him in silent shock while Otonashi merely quietly waited for him to answer. Though some may not think he looked it, he was actually rather astute and he could tell that there was a very specific reason why Naoi chose to learn such an odd talent.

The boy scowled, "it's none of your business," he snapped angrily, looking away. Otonashi knew that even if that was the case Naoi would end up wanting to talk about it, so he wrapped his arms around his legs and rested his chin on his knees, staring wordlessly into the distance.

After a moment, Naoi started to speak, "fine," he said reluctantly, "I'll tell you, but only because you won't shut up about it. It's nothing special or anything, I have an older brother who's really talented and amazing, dad really loves him, in fact, he's dad's favourite son. I wanted to do better, to show him that I could be better, so I thought, if I was the smartest, if I could do cool stuff like hypnotism, he might praise me as well," he buried his face in his knees, "no matter what I do though, I feel like I'm just living in my older brother's shadow, I have no life of my own."

Otonashi stared at him, surprised to learn that someone so young was having thoughts so… depressing.

When he had asked, he had had a feeling it was something important, but he had never imagined Naoi's answer to be that. Feeling at a bit of loss, he simply chose to answer truthfully, feeling like once, long ago, he had maybe dealt with a similar situation, though that was surely impossible, wasn't it?

"So who's sitting next to me, then?" he asked, ignoring Naoi's surprised look, "how odd, is it just a shadow? A boy I don't really know? I wonder who I've been talking to all week, someone who isn't real?" He spoke in a confused and slightly irritating manner, watching from the corner of his eye as Naoi got riled up.

"What are you talking about? Boy, you really are stupid; you were talking to me of course, Ayato Naoi!"

He didn't even bother to say anything, simply smirking slightly as Naoi paused before pouting, "You tricked me!" he accused, "I wouldn't have told you anything if I knew you were just going to contradict me."

Otonashi leaned against the classroom wall, "I'm sorry Naoi, I just don't see why you should be upset, that's all. You're you, as you said yourself, Ayato Naoi. And Ayato Naoi is a pretty cool person, he's smart and responsible, he knows how to hypnotise people for crying out loud," Otonashi threw out his hands in exasperation, "I don't know what's cooler than that!"

With every word Otonashi spoke, Naoi turned a slightly deeper shade of red, not used to being praised. When the other boy was done, Naoi looked down at the ground awkwardly, before either of them could say anything however, the bell rang and they had to return to class.

Otonashi didn't answer Hinata's query as to his whereabouts after the blue-haired boy ran off, instead he simply wondered if Naoi would believe his words.

He hoped he would.

"Hey Oto."

"Hey Hina, did you do your homework."

"…"

"Hinata, did you do your homework."

Otonashi watched as his friend's face turned from confusion, to understanding to horror and sighed.

"Oto, I'm not going to survive this school year, am I?" the blue haired boy asked morosely.

Otonashi shook his head gravely, "it doesn't look that way," he said.

The two put down their bags, Otonashi pulled out the homework assigned yesterday while Hinata muttered about being eaten by the teacher.

"Ah, good morning, did you do your homework, Oto?"

Otonashi turned in surprise at the familiar voice to see Naoi standing behind, bag on back and smile on his face. He seemed to be almost sparkling and Otonashi wondered what on earth happened.

"I did my homework as well, though I had a bit of trouble with a few of the questions, though I'm certain that you got every single one right because you're really smart, even smarter than I am," Otonashi still didn't speak, "oh, I hope you don't mind me calling you Oto, I just thought that calling you Otonashi wasn't very friendly and I really do admire you."

"Naoi, are you… okay?" Otonashi ventured, looking at the boy with concern who nodded eagerly, "yes, I just wanted to say thank you for listening to me yesterday, you really are kind."

"He's even crazier than before," Hinata stated simply and Naoi spun around to glare at him, "you're stupid, so I doubt you'd understand," he snarled, "I'm not stupid," Hinata snapped and Otonashi sighed as another fight broke out.

'Well,' he thought to himself, 'at least he seems happy now.'

And he figured if that was the case, he didn't mind if Naoi acted a little bit weird.

Well, look at that. I'll figure out how to write stuff eventually *cries*

Also, Naoi decided to trust Otonashi after only a week of knowing him, it's never going to be explained but let's just say it's because of the whole past life thing, so it's like, the feeling's already there and stuff.

Yeah idk.