Dramatic Irony: A literary technique, originally used in Greek tragedy, by which the full significance of a character's words or actions is clear to the audience or reader although unknown to the character.
To say Nagisa felt like shit was an understatement. It was likely a combination of all the stress from the past few days and his lack of sleep but he'd woken up feeling like he'd been run over by a train. Whenever he was ill, his mother would take the day off work and spend every minute looking after him; It sounded nice, but in truth, Nagisa found it suffocating to be around a woman who got set off by the tiniest thing all day.
Perhaps because of that reason, Nagisa had attempted to ignore how ill he felt and trek into school, only to be sent home before first period had even finished I must be look ill if even the notoriously harsh Ono-Sensei can see it. His body feeling as heavy as lead, Nagisa dragged himself through the school corridors towards the exit, on his way he sent a quick text to Karma.
Just got sent home from school for being too sick. Feel like I've caught the plague!
Nagisa was trying to keep things as normal as possible with Karma since yesterday, but it wasn't easy pretending like nothing was wrong. Nagisa still cringed remembering how he'd sobbed in Karma's arms, how angry Karma had looked and how frustrated he had been when Nagisa had refused his offer of help. Oh Karma, I'd love to go stay with you and escape my problems, but I just can't. Nagisa felt another twinge of guilt... He was making Karma feel responsible for him, it just wasn't fair...
Maybe It'd be better for Karma if I set him free from me. But I'm too selfish.. I don't want to.
Nagisa was dragged out of his thoughts when he suddenly felt himself bump into something or rather, someone. He gasped, surprised and embarrassed.
"S- Sorry!" He said before looking up and seeing exactly who it was that he'd bumped into. Gakushuu Asano looked down at him with unimpressed violet eyes. Of course. Fate hated him.
"Nagisa. You're truanting now?" Gakushuu said with a hint of disdain in his voice. As always, he managed to sound like a kind addressing his lowly subject. A couple of days ago it would of ticked Nagisa off, but now it just made him wonder why Gakushuu felt the need to act so superior all the time.
"No. I've been sent home because I'm ill. What's your excuse for being out of class." Nagisa replied, his voice calm and neutral. Of course, he had no doubt that Asano's reason for being out of class wasn't breaking the rules. Nagisa doubted Asano would ever break the rules (..Well.. maybe except for the 'no sex in school' rule. Actually that was a pretty important one).
"I do hope you aren't contagious. My 'excuse' for being out of class is that I already know today's history lesson so the teacher sent me off for private study." Gakushuu said with a sort of casual confidence, as if that type of thing was normal for him (it probably was). Right now, he looked very different from the Gakushuu who had been haunting Nagisa's dreams last night. There was nothing sad or desperate about those eyes right now.
"I was wondering." Nagisa started to say, the words falling off the tip of his tongue before he could stop himself. "Why me? Four years ago, why did you choose to sleep with me?"
Gakushuu's eyes widened, shocked by the sudden personal question. He quickly regained his composure however. "I'm not talking about this now." He hissed, his eyes darting around to see if anyone was listening, but the corridor was completely empty. Unless someone was hiding around the corner for some reason, they were completely out of earshot of anybody.
"You're a genius, aren't you, Gakushuu? You can answer this simple question for me." Nagisa insisted, his blue eyes meeting Gakushuu's. He was sure his current lack of sleep and sickness was making him slightly less inhibited.
"Ever since Akabane arrived you've become so much more irritating!" Gakushuu snapped, still refusing to answer the question. Nagisa expected him to storm away, but for whatever reason he was staying- maybe he was interested in hearing what Nagisa had to say.
"I think I know why you choose me- It was because I was convenient for you. Because being in control of me makes you feel more powerful, doesn't it? Why is that?" Nagisa accused. Once again, Gakushuu's eyes widened and he had that shocked expression on his face. Nagisa almost felt satisfied for getting Asano to break his composure so quickly. Part of him felt like saying these things was a bad idea and a good way to get punched again, but all his thoughts and questions from last night were just spilling out.
"Stop being ridiculous- Here is not the right place to talk about this!" Gakushuu said defensively. He had his arms out in front of him and looked as if he were fighting the urge to clamp a hand over Nagisa's mouth. Nagisa let out an almost desperate sounding laugh.
"Then when is the right time? I've had these questions for years now; Was I the first person you slept with? Why do you have such strict rules about touch?.. You're such a headfuck, Gakushuu Asano." Nagisa said. It felt like word vomit, it all just came out as soon as he thought it. 'Headfuck' was definitely a word he'd learned from Karma.
"You clearly aren't in a right state of mind. Just go home, Nagisa, stop embarrassing yourself." Gakushuu said through gritted teeth. Nagisa couldn't tell if he looked more angry, upset or.. nervous? Gakushuu grabbed Nagisa's shoulder's and began forcibly walking him down the corridor. "Just go home."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." Nagisa said, almost tripping over his own feet as he was pushed down the corridor. "I'm not trying to piss you off. I'm trying to help you. I just don't know how."
"I don't need your help. You can't even look after yourself." Gakushuu said harshly, as he continued to walk behind Nagisa, his hands on his shoulders. Nagisa wanted to talk to him face-to-face, so he turned around only to trip over his own feet and fall into Gakushuu. Taken by surprise, Gakushuu only just managed to grab Nagisa by his forearms before he fell.
"I'm sorry." Nagisa repeated, his vision blurring (I really am sick..). Gakushuu opened his mouth to retort (Probably to tell Nagisa off.) But before he could do so, the two were interrupted by the sound of footsteps down the corridor. They both turned to see the Chairman standing before them.
"Well, well boys. What's going on here?" The Chairman said, a wide smile on his face. Nagisa actually gasped out loud. The Chairman was a tall well-built man anyway, but something about his presence made him seem extra massive, like a shadow looming over you. Even though he was smiling, there was still something terrifying about his expression. There was something sinister and unreadable about him. Nagisa felt Asano tense as soon as he saw his father. Suddenly his jaw was tight and his grip on Nagisa's forearms was like a vice. Then a second later, Asano let go of Nagisa and stood up straight.
"Shiota is ill and has been sent home from class. I was assisting him, sir. As student council president I have a duty to look after fellow students." Gakushuu said, his voice almost robotic. Nagisa just nodded, not trusting himself to say too much in his current state. The last thing he wanted was to make trouble in front of the chairman himself.
"How altruistic of you, Asano." The Chairman said, sounding anything but sincere. This was the first time that Nagisa had seen the two actually interact, he realised with a jolt of surprise. The two didn't even seem like father and son, however. There was a tangible coldness between them.
Nagisa jumped when he felt the Chairman suddenly place a large hand on his shoulder. Gakushuu too suddenly tensed and narrowed his eyes at his father as soon as he made contact with Nagisa- Gakushuu looked like he wanted to tear his father's hand off his wrist for touching Nagisa. Nagisa himself could feel the tension, but was also slightly confused.. Gakushuu didn't talk about his father, what sort of relationship did they have?
The Chairman smiled at Asano, looking almost mocking, before picking Nagisa's bag off his shoulder by the strap. "This is heavy for someone who's ill to carry." The Chairman said, before starting walking. "Come along, Shiota, I'll walk you to the gates. You can get the bus from there?"
"Oh- Thank you, sir." Nagisa said bashfully, feeling almost suffocated by this atmosphere. He started walking to catch up to the Chairman This man is terrifying! I don't want to have to walk with him.. But I've got no good reason to refuse. To his surprise, Gakushuu started walking by his side, glaring ahead and refusing to make eye contact.
"There's no need to worry, Asano. I'm escorting Nagisa to the school gate now. You can go back to your lesson." The Chairman said as he continued to walk, Nagisa's bag in his hands.
"As student council president I am obligated to help students personally." Gakushuu replied. Even with Asano's convincing tone, it still seemed like a lousy excuse. Nagisa was confused; Why was Gakushuu going to such lengths to stick by him now, when a few seconds ago he seemed as if he wanted nothing more than to leave him? The Chairman laughed.
"You're being oddly stubborn about this. One might almost think you didn't want to leave Shiota alone with me." The Chairman said, his tone light and teasing. Gakushuu didn't answer. Taking time out of his busy scheduled to help one sick student to the gate seemed somehow out of character for the Chairman, and Nagisa had a feeling he was only doing it as some sort of way to get under Gakushuu's skin. But that would be absurd, wouldn't it?
The walk from Nagisa's classroom to the school gate had never felt so long and silent in his life. The tense atmosphere from walking with both Asanos was stifling and every second felt like torture. I can't stand this! It's so awful! Just let me get to the gate right now! Nagisa felt he was caught in the crossfires of war he didn't understand. He just kept his eyes trained to the ground to avoid making eye contact with either of them.
Just as they reached the main entrance, Nagisa heard the sound of something hitting the ground. When he looked up, he saw Gakushuu picking himself up of the floor, his father stood over him. Had Gakushuu fell? Or had the Chairman pushed him over when Nagisa wasn't looking?.. But that's crazy, isn't it? He wouldn't do that.
"You need to pay more attention to your surroundings. You can be so clumsy sometimes." The Chairman practically taunted. He offered Gakushuu a hand, but his son ignored it as he stood up. Gakushuu's face burned red and he glared at the floor. Nagisa had never seen him act like this before.. Gakushuu seemed so passive and subdued. Nagisa felt a chill run down his spine when he caught the look of amusement in the Chairman's eyes.
"I'll be more careful." Gakushuu mumbled in reply, turning his head to avoid eye contact with Nagisa, who was now staring at him. If looked as if Gakushuu found this whole situation as unpleasant as Nagisa did, but he was still choosing to stay rather than leave. The three set off walking again as if nothing happened. This time however, Nagisa didn't look at the ground, he kept his eyes fixed on Asano and his father.. he had a feeling that if he looked away for even a second something would happen again.
When they finally reached the gate, the Chairman handed Nagisa his bag back with a large smile. "Please go straight home and straight to bed." He said, sounding almost caring. Nagisa nodded.
"Thank you for your assistance, both of you." Nagisa said. He was taken by surprise once again when the Chairman pressed a hand against his forehead suddenly. Nagisa instinctively backed away so quickly that he hit the gate behind him. Gakushuu, who was hovering nearby too a step forward, looking as if he wanted to rip his father's hand away from Nagisa's face. The look in his eyes was one of restrained rage.
"You really do have a fever." The Chairman said, pretending to be oblivious the reaction of his two students. "You take it easy now. You want to be at your peak for upcoming exams."
"-Right thank you." Nagisa said, practically running out of the gate, feeling a rush of relief to be free from Asano's father. He had been in school for less than an hour and it had been completely wild! He glanced back to see the two Asano's walking back towards the school together. For some reason he wasn't sure of, Nagisa felt oddly guilty for leaving Gakushuu alone with his father.
Nagisa felt his phone buzz. A text from Karma. He checked it;
Come over to my place. I kno how to make chicken soup. I'll look after you ;)
Nagisa read it, feeling a sense of warmth as he thought of Karma. After the awful morning he'd had so far being with Karma sounded like bliss. Plus, that whole weird interaction he'd had with both Asano and his father had left him with a bad taste in his mouth.. he wanted to get someone elses opinion on it. Part of him felt like he shouldn't go to Karma's.. He didn't want to risk his mother's wrath again and he felt wrong for relying on Karma even more. But he also didn't want to spend the rest of the day ill and alone with his thoughts, feeling a little impulsive, Nagisa text back
On my way.
Another chapter out the way. I made Nagisa get fic so Karma can take care of him (JK). This chapter has a lot of dramatic irony since the readers know why Gakushuu acts weird around the chairman, but Nagisa doesn't.
Review for more.