"WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU!?"
Fumiko thinks she hates Makoto more than anything.
She's not even fully aware of what she's doing, but the next thing she knows she's rushing him. She full body tackles him- letting out a scream and sending him tumbling over onto the ground. He smacks the back of his head against a tree, yelping with surprise. She doesn't let go, however; rearing her hand back to throw a punch and shrieking at the top of her lungs.
"You thought I was better than this!? ME!?" She growls, tears budding in her eyes. "I thought you were better than this! God-fucking-dammit!"
She brings her fist down across his face. He lets out another yelp; bringing up a hand to block her second blow.
"Woah! Woah! Woah!" He cries, eyes wild and disoriented. "What are you doing!? There's no need to fight! All you need to do is calm down for a second and listen to m-"
"NO!" Fumiko shrieks, attempting to throw another punch. "I am fucking sick of listening to you! You are an inconsiderate, selfish jerk! You're a fucking moron! And you do not give a shit about how I feel right now!"
"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Makoto shouts, attempting to kick her off of him. "That is not true!"
"Yes! It IS!" Fumiko insists, knocking him back down with her knee. "You think you care sooooo much about people! But you don't care about anyone! The only fucking thing you care about is your damn self!" She throws another punch, this time managing to fling his arm aside. "You think you care about how Kiyoshi feels right now!? What a fucking joke! This isn't about Kiyoshi! This is all about you-you-you!"
"I can't believe I ever looked up to you! Thought you were my fucking friend! I trusted you! SO MUCH! And you never even gave a shit! I would have done anything for you! And this is what you did for me!? THIS!?"
"You chose some fucking shithead over me! The same guy who tortured you! What!? Because I wasn't good enough!? Because I was too high-maintenance!? Or just because he was always your favorite!? We fought through everything together! I DIED FOR YOU! And you left without so much as a 'sorry!?'"
"All I got was 'you're wrong.' 'You're wrong! You're wrong! You're wrong!' 'How YOU feel doesn't matter!' 'Why do you even care anymore!? Who cares if he put your head through drywall for fun!?'"
"You just said you forgave him!"
"NO! I DIDN'T! I NEVER FUCKING SAID I FORGAVE HIM, and even if I DID, I don't think I'd ever forgive you for treating me like this when I didn't!"
She thinks she hears people shouting… feels eyes on the back of her head; but that doesn't stop her, even for a moment. There's a sense of embarrassment- an instinctive fear of getting caught going off like an alarm in the back of her head, but it's drowned out by a wave of overwhelming rage. Her vision goes to red… she thinks about just how hurt she felt hearing of Makoto's betrayal… and she just can't find it in her to care what happens next. ALL SHE WANTS TO DO IS MAKE HIM FEEL SOME SHRED OF WHAT IT IS SHE'S FEELING.
"Of course… I'm not sure what I expected, seeing as how you're a murderer and all! Of course you're okay with shitheads! Misery loves company, right!? And I'm sure you felt way better about yourself having someone like that around to compare yourself to!"
"Stop talking about him that way!" Makoto begs, attempting to give her another push.
It's no use. He's clearly not using his full strength. Why? Why? Because he still sees her as something fragile? Something that needs to be protected? Something that can't make decisions for it's damn self? She'll show him fragile! She'll show him what 'needs to be protected!'
"I'm not talking about him, you fucking idiot! I'm talking about you! This is all you!" She cries, pulling him in by the collar, then smacking his head back against the tree. "Kiyoshi is fine! Ha! Kiyoshi's great, even! At least he has the self-awareness to pull his head out of his ass and apologize when he's wrong! But you!? You've never been wrong! Not once in your damn life!"
"And you know what the worst part of all of this is!?" She demands, rearing her arm back before throwing another punch. "I expected to be hurt by him! I expected Yanagisawa to treat me like shit! Maybe that's why I can deal with it! Because I was used to it! But I did not expect this from you! Never you!"
"I loved you!" She cries. "I trusted you! And what did you do with that trust!? WHAT DID YOU DO, MAKOTO!? You made what could have been the most important decision of my life for me because you thought I couldn't handle it! You deliberately hid things from me, and then lied to me about it! And then, when this all came out, you had the audacity to tell me I was overreacting!? There is something seriously wrong with you!"
"You think I can't decide these things on my own!? You think I'm going to handle it too 'irrationally!?' What!? Do you think I'm being unfair!? Good! Good! I have never once been allowed to be unfair in my entire life, but when you do it it's fine! Because you can do anything you want! And because you don't trust me to exist on my own!"
"But you know what!? I'm not that - I'm not that needy freak anymore! I can fend for myself! And you know what decision I'm making!? The one where I finally realize you are a self-serving, manipulative, monster! You never gave a shit about me! You only ever cared about how I made you feel, and I hate you for that!"
"Did you hear that, Makoto!?" She demands. "I hate you! I fucking hate you! AGURI HATES YOU!"
She shrieks at the top of her lungs, throwing punches indiscriminately. They've long since weakened in strength, and she's hardly even making contact, but she's just so blinded by rage. Tears streaming down her face... she cries and she growls and she screams a thousand things she doesn't mean coupled with a thousand more she really does.
"I wish you'd just stayed dead!"
That's when she feels a pair of hands wrap round her stomach, and she's yanked off of Makoto with a jolt.
"Fumiko! What's going on!?"
Nagisa has no idea what's happening right now.
Things had been fine just a minute ago. The class had been wrapped up in a toe-to-toe game of cops and robbers when Riko had burst forth from the underbrush, shrieking at the top of her lungs.
"Shiota-sensei! SHIOTA-SENSEI!" she'd cried, flailing her hands in the air. "Fumiko is is beating the shit out of Makoto!"
"What!?"
Now Nagisa's not sure he'd believed that even for a moment, but he'd wasted no time. He'd followed after: weaving through the forest only to come across a small clearing in the center. There, over a chorus of shouts... surrounded by her panicked classmates… sits Fumiko, screaming. She brings her fists down upon Makoto's face again and again, before slamming his head against the back of a tree.
Needless to say, Nagisa wastes no time. As she snarls... tears cascading down her face, he rushes over to her side and rips her off of Makoto.
She tenses for a moment... before writhing like an animal. Thrashing back and forth she kicks and screams, begging him to just let go.
"NO! SHIT!" She cusses, her voice run ragged. "Let me at him! I'm not done yet! He hasn't even started to realize th-!"
"No!" Nagisa interjects, tightening his grip. Fumiko kicks at his legs… jerks her arm abruptly, but still can't break away. She snarls with frustration… coughs and cries. He's not even sure she realizes it's him holding her.
"What is going on!?" He repeats, voice stern. "Why are you attacking him!?"
"Makoto is a fucking bastard, that's what's going on!" Fumiko shrieks, attempting to reach a hand out towards him. Nagisa draws it back- his grip fucking iron as he turns towards the rest of class.
They're whispering - nay - shouting amongst themselves. Some worried… some already full well in the midst of gossip, they speak over one another… a sense of electricity to the air.
"What'd he do to piss her off so much!?"
"Did she mention that dead chick!?"
"Hisakawa and Himura are out of their minds! Holy hell!"
Kazuki points out a finger towards Makoto, who's lying in a heap on the forest floor.
"Is he dead!?"
"No he's not d-!" Nagisa cuts himself off- a shrieking Fumiko still writhing wildly in his arms. "Can one of you get her!?" He asks. "I need to make sure he's alright. Do not let her go."
He knows it sounds cold, but he's on autopilot. He is the adult here, and it is his responsibility to make sure no-one is hurt... approachable aura be damned. He can worry about feelings later. He hasn't felt this out of his element since the time one of his students tried to cut the snake's head off with a pair of scissors, and that's saying a lot.
It's a moment before any of his students respond. Overcome by the bystander effect, they stand... petrified and besides themselves. Chiharu soon steps forward, however, wrapping an arm around her chest and using the other to restrain her wrist.
"Can I get a hand here!?" he begs, sending a bewildered glance towards his classmates. He's easily twice Fumiko's weight, but even he's struggling. She kicks him in the stomach and he yelps.
"On it," Aina replies, taking Fumiko's other arm. A few of her peers later and they have a grip even someone as unearthly angry as she is right now can't break out of.
Nagisa's head is still swimming with many of the same questions they have. What did he do to piss her off so much? And did he hear her mention Yukimura-sensei? There's no dwelling on it, however. Instead, he hurries to Makoto's level and helps him to his feet.
"Are you okay!?" he asks. "Does anything feel broken!? Do you think you have a concussio-"
"OH! Of course you ask him how he feels! But what about me!? Never me!" Fumiko shrieks.
"There is a time and a place, Fumiko," Nagisa snaps.
"Yeah! A time and place to pamper him! Because I just know you're going to take his side! Right!? Right!? Not even gonna listen to what I have to say!? What he did to deserve it!? He's your precious sensei after all, isn't he!?"
"Oi," Yoshito interjects, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. "You know that's not true. Calm down."
A touching notion, but overall ineffective. Decidedly, Fumiko does not 'calm down.' Instead, still foaming at the mouth, she kicks and screams as Nagisa crouches down to Makoto's level.
"Makoto," he repeats, voice firm. "Are you alright? What happened?"
"I… I… I…-" Makoto can hardly get a word out, sobbing inconsolably. "She hates me," he whimpers, pawing at his eyes. "Fumiko hates me-"
"Damn right I fucking hate you!" Fumiko snaps. "Just listen to yourself!"
"I was trying my best… I didn't wanna hurt anyone-" Makoto gasps, covering his face with his hands. "Believe me. Please believe me, Shiota-sensei."
Nagisa opens his mouth to respond, but doesn't get the chance. Not before Fumiko screams over his shoulder. "Oh! You were trying your best!? Is that what you call rubbing shoulders with wife beaters!?"
"NO!"
Nagisa's head is spinning... but as he hears more shouts from the class he knows what he has to do.
He grabs Makoto's wrist, then Fumiko's. Expression solemn and grip tight he says "Both of you: my office. Now. This is clearly getting out of hand."
Whatever this is it's clearly deeply personal. He is not going to let them keep arguing about it in front of the whole class like a bunch of court jesters. That's only bound to make things worse, and if this does have to do with something truly serious, then they deserve to discuss it in privacy.
Both Fumiko and Makoto pull back, but Nagisa doesn't let go. Both shouting... sobbing, they demand he let go. But it's no use. Nagisa's not listening. Not right now. He turns back to the rest of class, gaze icy.
"Riko. Komoshi. You're in charge," he says, seeing as how the current class reps are a little out of it. "Take everyone inside. We can play Cops and Robbers another day. I'll get a substitute in there as soon as possible. For now you just make sure no-one gets in trouble. Please."
Stern as he may be, there's a clear sense of exhaustion to his voice. Komoshi nods meekly, before giving a salute.
"On it," he says. "Just… take care of everything, okay, Shiota-sensei?"
"...I'll try my best."
He quite literally has to drag Fumiko and Makoto into the building. He feels bad doing it, but he doesn't know what else he could possibly try. 'This is for their own good,' he reminds himself, even as they shriek and wail. 'They don't know what they're getting into.'
"Fumiko," he says as he leads them. "I do not want to see you lay a hand on Makoto. And Makoto: if I see you do a single thing to aggravate her I will be deeply unhappy. You are both going to tell me what is going on, and you are going to do so maturely. This is not like you."
"Yeah. You'd think so, huh?" Fumiko snaps, her eyes piercing. She's long stopped dragging her heels in the dirt, but tears continue to trail down her cheeks as she marches after Nagisa.
He sits them down in the office… makes sure to seat them five chairs apart. Then, frowning, he digs through the cooler… pulling out an ice pack and handing it over to Makoto.
"Tell me if you get a headache or blurry vision," he instructs. "I'll get you to a hospital immediately. But if you don't think you have a concussion, I'd much rather you stay here and talk."
Makoto nods meekly as Nagisa turns to Fumiko, but still doesn't speak. Gaze serious, Nagisa asks "Are you injured as well?"
"No-" Makoto interjects. "I didn't fight back," he sniffles. "I didn't lay a finger on her."
Nagisa doesn't respond. Fumiko only speaks up when it's clear he's waiting on an answer from her.
"No, Shiota-sensei," she says, irritation prickling in her tone. "He didn't hurt me physically."
"Good," Nagisa replies. "Then take a deep breath and calm down. I'd like to know what's going on."
"It's - you wouldn't get any of it!" Makoto cries. "It doesn't matter!"
"Yes it matters!" Fumiko responds. "But of course you'd think-"
"Hey. Hey. No," Nagisa says. "Deep breaths. Both of you. You're never going to get anywhere arguing in circles." He frowns. "Take as long as you need. Makoto… you tell me what happened. And Fumiko- you let him speak."
They open their mouths to argue… Makoto struggling for breath, and Fumiko's fist-shaking, but when they see the uncharacteristically serious expression on Nagisa's face they seem to think better of it. Makoto falls silent, but makes no real effort to calm himself down… simply bats at his eyes and curls his knees up into his chest. Fumiko shoots him a restless look, but just as soon averts her gaze. Instead, she settles for glaring at the floor.
"I was going to let the two of you solve this on your own," he says. "...Whatever it is you were arguing about. I know how violating it can feel when an adult puts their nose into your business. But this is clearly much more serious than I'd envisioned. And I apologize for not stepping in sooner. It was my duty as the adult in this situation to stop this before it got to this point - intervene and do something. But… I did not. And I'm sorry for that. But with that out of the way, it's that I must say it's time for me to step in now. What on earth is going on, you two? What have you been arguing about, and how is Kiyoshi involved?"
Makoto seems to tense slightly at the mention of Kiyoshi's name, but doesn't speak. Fumiko gnaws on her lip.
"For the record," Nagisa says. "I'm not asking you this because I'm mad at you. And I'm sorry if I sound harsh. I'm just scared. I don't know what's going on, and I'm worried about the three of you."
"You want to know what's going on, Shiota-sensei? You really, really, really want to know?" Fumiko asks, her voice quiet.
"Yes," Nagisa says, trying his best to keep his voice gentle. "I'd like to know."
Fumiko's quiet for a long moment, before sighing.
"I'm Aguri," she says. "I'm… Aguri Yukimura."
There's a sudden ringing in Nagisa's ears. He knows he'd heard that name earlier, but he hadn't expected it to be in this context. That doesn't… that doesn't make any sense-
Fumiko must note the bewildered expression on his face, because she crosses her arms and huffs.
"I've known for months now," she says, voice blank. "And Yukimura-san's known, too. I'm sorry for not telling you about it, but it wasn't important up until this moment. I don't particularly expect you to believe me, but it is an aspect of what we're fighting about, and so if you need proof here it is:"
"You kept your hair in a ponytail and you sat in the back of class. You had failing grades in science and you requested to go by your first name because you hoped your last name could go back to being Takahashi again one day. You were meek, never tried to cause an issue, and I distinctly remember the time an anonymous source left a tack on my seat. You'd apologized for him, but refused to name any names. Said he'd just wanted to 'kill a teacher.'"
She says it so matter of factly… like she's reciting information she's pored over a thousand times before. Uninterested… unimpressed. She's far more focused on whatever statement is coming next.
Nagisa's head, on the other hand, feels foggy. 'M… months?' he thinks, a sudden dryness in his mouth. That would certainly explain the sudden closeness Kayano had developed with his student… and it's not like it's out of the question if Korosensei's been reincarnated. But all the same… it feels wrong. Fumiko's such a wildly different person than the one who'd apologized to him back then.
...Back then.
How else would she know about that? The tack incident? Everything else… the ponytail… the subject he was worst at, and the touchy topic of his parents' divorce… he could chalk that up to someone else… a talk with Makoto, Kayano, or even Karma. But none of them were there at the time, were they?
No-one else heard what he said.
Then that means… that really means-
Some part of him is almost inclined to bow- yelp and apologize to the teacher he hasn't seen in years. At least until he remembers the situation at hand. Even if she is Aguri, what does that have to do with any of this?
And why is she fighting with Korosensei?
"I…" Nagisa drifts off. "I… will believe you on this for now. Admittedly I am still very confused in like… nine-hundred different ways, but... I think that checks out. Which leaves only one question. Why are you… why are you fighting, then? Shouldn't this be something to celebrate?"
Fumiko scoffs, a bitterness to her tone. "...Yeah. You'd think so, wouldn't you?"
Makoto shifts uncomfortably. "You shouldn't tell him."
"I'm not going to keep it a secret from him-"
"He's going to take it out on him-"
"I'm not a liar like you are."
There's a growing tension in each of their tones.
"You don't care about it. You like Kiyoshi-"
"For the last time: I never said I don't care," Fumiko snaps. "And besides… he deserves to make that decision on his own." She turns to Nagisa, a deadly seriousness in her eyes. And it's only then that he realizes the other reason he might be so certain this girl is Aguri.
...The hatred behind her eyes looks almost identical to the rage that had burned in Kayano's all those years ago.
('A family resemblance.' he thinks. 'Ha.')
"Kiyoshi," she says, voice trembling. "He's Ya-"
Makoto lunges; soaring across the chairs and reaching out to cover her mouth. Fumiko writhes, elbowing him away and letting out a shriek.
"Wait! Don't say it!" he begs, desperately trying to place his palm over her mouth.
"Why!?" Fumiko demands, eyes wild. "Because he'll know I'm right!?"
"NO! BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO TELL THE STORY BIASED!"
"Am not!" Fumiko replies. And it's only as Nagisa rushes over there to tear the two of them away from each other that she shouts what she's been trying to say all this time… the set of words that makes even Nagisa freeze.
"Kiyoshi's Yanagisawa!"
Nagisa's jaw drops. Eyes wide… head spinning, he thinks 'that doesn't make any damn sense! ...Does it?'
Quickly, he shakes his head and shakes the thought, throwing that worry aside for now.
...First and foremost:
He yanks Fumiko and Makoto away from each other... shoots Makoto a stern look and says "I told you you two aren't to touch each other. Return to your seat, Makoto. And if I see you try to tackle Fumiko again, you'll be in serious trouble."
"But… but-" Makoto sputters. "She tackled me!"
"And she's in trouble, too! You're both in trouble. The last thing you need to do right now is fight even more."
Makoto hesitates... but caves in. He scowls and scoots back over to his seat, crossing his arms and shooting Fumiko a wholly unimpressed look.
"Now," Nagisa says. "...What was that?"
He's still not sure he'd heard Fumiko right. Yana… Yanagisawa? No. That doesn't… that doesn't make any sense. The two are simply nothing alike! Sure, Kiyoshi has an interest in science… and now that Nagisa thinks about it he's always had this weird irrational fear of Korosensei, but that doesn't mean he's that person.
(Kiyoshi comes into class one day looking like he's hit by a bus and asks to have his seat moved 'far away from his friends.' A week later Nagisa collapses, and soon after Kiyoshi visits the hospital room. He says he would 'never wish harm on' Nagisa in a way that sounds almost defensive. Gakushuu drives him in circles around the hospital and talks to him in the car. When asked, he says the conversation topic was 'troubling.')
...Right?
Fumiko must notice the troubled expression on his face, because she speaks up, a disgruntled tone to her voice.
"Yeah. You heard me right: Yanagisawa," she says, before turning to Makoto. "See? He's scared too."
"He is not!" Makoto shrieks.
"No. No!" Nagisa quickly clarifies. And he's not. He thinks more than anything he's just… confused? This is a lot to dump on him all at once. "I'm not scared. There's no need to worry about that. But I… would like to know about the situation. Is that why you guys have been bickering?"
"Uh - yeah," Fumiko says. "When all of this came out I was understandably pissed. Especially seeing as how Makoto and Kiyoshi apparently knew about this for months and didn't bother to tell me. Makoto thought this was unreasonable, however, and told me I was overreacting. Because apparently memories of years of abuse weren't enough to justify my discomfort. I was just supposed to 'get over it.'"
Makoto squirms, before speaking up with a whimper. "Hey! First of all - I never told you to do that!"
"You implied it!" Fumiko responds. "You told me that I shouldn't care about being abused, and be the bigger person just because he'd 'changed.' Do you even understand how fucking insane that sounds!?"
"I… I-" Makoto grimaces. "All I wanted you to do was give him a chance! You're… you're making it sound a lot worse than it really was!"
"Really!?" Fumiko says. "Because I think I'm being awfully generous!"
Nagisa's head is spinning. He still can't make heads or tails of this, but it's clear the conversation is going nowhere. He's never going to get the full story from either of them while they're stuck in the midst of bickering. Nevertheless, he knows for a fact he can't leave one of them alone. Not when they're having a complete mental break like this. He needs to get things under control. He can sort out how he feels about this situation later.
Before he even realizes what he's doing he's whipped out his phone.
Makoto stiffens.
"What are… what are you doing?"
"I'm getting the others," Nagisa says. "I'm way in over my head here, and I don't know what to do with the two of you. I need help."
He sends a set of texts their way... keeping his gaze focused on the kids even as he types. Then, once he's received a response, he pockets his phone and turns back towards them, expression stern.
"They're on their way," he says.
"All… all three of them?" Fumiko sputters in disbelief.
"Yes. All three. They're well aware this is… an emergency," Nagisa replies. "Until they arrive the two of you will sit in silence. You will not argue with each other, and you will not make any accusations, do you understand me?"
"But-"
"Do you understand me?" Nagisa repeats. "I hate to be this kind of teacher, but I also hate to hear you talk about each other that way. I'm sure both of your hurt is coming from an incredibly valid place, especially if the things you're telling me are true… but senseless arguing is no way to revolve that. You are both going to calm down, and then you are going to tell me the truth. Okay?"
...Fumiko and Makoto both remain silent.
"Now," he says. "It's clear Kiyoshi is involved in this argument. Do you want me to bring him in here for this discussion or not?"
Fumiko and Makoto speak up at once. Practically shrieking, they both declare "NO!"
Makoto's eyes widen, before he turns to Fumiko… head cocked.
"Why don't you want him in here?" he asks, skeptical. "What? Are you afraid Nagisa will realize he's a nice person now?"
"No," Fumiko growls, her voice irritated. "I don't want him in here because unlike you I actually give a shit about how he feels, and if Shiota-sensei brings him into this discussion right now he is going to have a fucking panic attack."
"Hey," Nagisa repeats sternly. "What did I say?"
To tell the truth he doesn't understand the half of what they're talking about. If this… if this really does have something to do with Kiyoshi or Yanagisawa, then why is Fumiko okay with him? It just sounded like she wasn't. Perhaps she has complicated feelings about the situation. That… or it's something to do with how it was handled. It could always simply be a gripe with the lack of communication between-
Okay. No. He can't overthink it too much right now. He'll… get his answers when he gets the chance to speak to one of the kids alone. For now all he has to do is remain calm and make sure they don't tear each other to pieces.
"Not to fight," Makoto grumbles. "I know."
It's difficult to keep them on their best behavior. It's not like Nagisa can threaten them with corporal punishment. He's not a fan of 'punishing' kids in general, and something tells him that if he tells these two abused kids they'll get expelled if they keep it up they'll only spiral further. There's nothing more he can do than beg them not to fight.
"If you'd like," he says. "One of you can wait outside the office. Stay close so I can keep an eye on you, but maybe it would be for the best if you kept your distance. It's clear everything you're saying is only aggravating each other right now-"
Fumiko doesn't wait for him to finish his statement. She stands, making her way towards the doorway.
"Very well then," she says. "I'll leave. Since it's clear you aren't going to resolve this either."
"Fumiko," Nagisa says. "You know I am doing everything in my power to take care of this. I just don't even know what's going on right now, and I can't leave either of you alone. Please try and understand." He frowns. "You can step outside. Take some deep breaths. Think about how you feel and how to word it. I will never undermine that. And if you'd like, when Kayano arrives you can have some privacy with and explain the situation to her. There you won't have anyone to talk over you."
Makoto whimpers from behind.
"Meanwhile," Nagisa continues. "I'll talk with Makoto. I'll put Karma and Gakushuu in charge of class and take as long as I need to sort things out between the two of you. You don't need to apologize... and you don't need to be okay with whatever happened, but I cannot l et you leave this building until I'm certain an accident like this isn't going to happen again. Do you understand?"
Fumiko scowls, but nods.
"...I understand," she says, before stepping outside of the office and into the hallway. She props herself up against a nearby wall… wiping absentmindedly at her eyes. Nagisa feels his heart splinter in two, but as he hears Makoto let out a sniffle from behind him, he knows this is no time to break down or panic.
He needs to be here for the two of them, no matter how confusing or difficult that might be.
[2/20/2031 11:38 PM:] [Nagisa💙] Guys, I have an emergency.
[2/20/2031 11:38 PM:] [Gakushuu ] Emergency!?
[2/20/2031 11:38 PM:] [Gakushuu ] Is one of the kids hurt?
[2/20/2031 11:38 PM:] [Nagisa💙] No.
[2/20/2031 11:39 PM:] [Nagisa💙] Well yes.
[2/20/2031 11:39 PM:] [Nagisa💙] Sort of.
[2/20/2031 11:39 PM:] [Kayano💚] Wait. What happened?
[2/20/2031 11:39 PM:] [Nagisa💙] Fumiko and Makoto got into a huge fight.
[2/20/2031 11:39 PM:] [Nagisa💙] I'm talking like 'I'm genuinely scared she gave him a concussion' huge.
[2/20/2031 11:40 PM:] [Kayano💚] She WHAT?
[2/20/2031 11:40 PM:] [Nagisa💙] You heard me.
[2/20/2031 11:40 PM:] [Nagisa💙] I had to drag them out of the classroom kicking and screaming.
[2/20/2031 11:40 PM:] [Karma❤️] Hoooooly shit.
[2/20/2031 11:40 PM:] [Nagisa💙] I'm trying to deal with the problem, but I am WAY in over my head.
[2/20/2031 11:41 PM:] [Nagisa💙] They keep shouting over each other, and that's not even mentioning that the rest of the class is left unsupervised.
[2/20/2031 11:41 PM:] [Nagisa💙] Usually I'd be fine trusting them with that, but this feels like it could be an issue that could take hours to work out.
[2/20/2031 11:41 PM:] [Gakushuu ] HOURS?
[2/20/2031 11:41 PM:] [Nagisa💙] I don't want to leave them alone that long.
[2/20/2031 11:41 PM:] [Nagisa💙] Yeah. Hours.
[2/20/2031 11:42 PM:] [Nagisa💙] Listen. Can I ask you guys for a serious favor?
[2/20/2031 11:42 PM:] [Karma❤️] I'm listening.
[2/20/2031 11:42 PM:] [Nagisa💙] Can at least one of you get your ass over here?
[2/20/2031 11:42 PM:] [Nagisa💙] I know it's a lot to ask, and I don't know if any of you can get out of work, but
[2/20/2031 11:42 PM:] [Nagisa💙] I NEED to separate Fumiko and Makoto. And if possible I'd prefer to have someone watching the classroom, too.
[2/20/2031 11:42 PM:] [Nagisa💙] I don't want to ask too much of you guys, but I am SO stressed. I don't know what I'm going to do alone.
[2/20/2031 11:42 PM:] [Nagisa💙] ...Please.
[2/20/2031 11:43 PM:] [Gakushuu ] On it.
[2/20/2031 11:43 PM:] [Nagisa💙] Wait. Seriously!? That was quick.
[2/20/2031 11:43 PM:] [Gakushuu ] I'm CEO. I decide when I'm off.
[2/20/2031 11:43 PM:] [Gakushuu ] If it's serious as you say it is, then I'm on my way.
[2/20/2031 11:43 PM:] [Karma❤️] As am I.
[2/20/2031 11:43 PM:] [Karma❤️] The government can wait. Besides, I'm owed a vacation day, anyways.
[2/20/2031 11:43 PM:] [Nagisa💙] Kayano?
[2/20/2031 11:44 PM:] [Kayano💚] You know my answer. If worst comes to worst I can return later today for the rest of the shoot.
[2/20/2031 11:44 PM:] [Nagisa💙] ...I seriously can't thank you guys enough.
[2/20/2031 11:44 PM:] [Nagisa💙] I'll repay you, I swear.
[2/20/2031 11:44 PM:] [Karma❤️] No need.
[2/20/2031 11:44 PM:] [Karma❤️] Those are our kiddos, too.
[2/20/2031 11:44 PM:] [Kayano💚] No joke. I'm… seriously worried.
[2/20/2031 11:44 PM:] [Nagisa💙] Gotta go now, but thank you again.
[2/20/2031 11:44 PM:] [Nagisa💙] Call me when you arrive.
[2/20/2031 11:45 PM:] [Gakushuu ] Will do.
[DMs]
[2/20/2031 11:42 PM:] [Nagisa💙] You, especially, Kayano.
[2/20/2031 11:42 PM:] [Nagisa💙] If anyone can make it here, I need it to be you.
[2/20/2031 11:42 PM:] [Nagisa💙] I know about the kids' past lives, Kayano.
[2/20/2031 11:43 PM:] [Nagisa💙] And Fumiko is NOT going to listen to me.
[2/20/2031 11:43 PM:] [Nagisa💙] But she might just listen to you.
[2/20/2031 11:43 PM:] [Nagisa💙] She trusts you. You're her sister.
[2/20/2031 11:43 PM:] [Nagisa💙] You'll know what to do.
[2/20/2031 11:46 PM:] [Kayano💚] Responding to this late, but you saw my answer in the GC. On it.
[2/20/2031 11:46 PM:] [Kayano💚] Wait. Past lives?
[2/20/2031 11:46 PM:] [Kayano💚] ...What are you talking about?
[2/20/2031 11:46 PM:] [Kayano💚] Nagisa?
[2/20/2031 11:47 PM:] [Kayano💚] Nagisa?
[2/20/2031 11:49 PM:] [Kayano💚] What's going on?
Kayano's mind is racing, even as she slips away from the movie set and steps into the car.
The director seems peeved, but that's the least of her worries. She told them it's a family emergency, and it's not exactly like they can go about replacing Haurana Mase now can they? They'll have to suck it up and deal with it. Especially when there are much more important things on her mind.
'Past lives,' Nagisa texts, and she loses her goddamn mind.
She wrenches the key, slams her foot on the pedal, and starts up the car.
It's not a long drive to Constellate. She'll be there before she knows it. Nevertheless, she finds her hands trembling as she clenches the steering wheel. Fumiko and Makoto fighting is bad news enough in and of itself, but it's the way that Nagisa worded it that really troubles her.
...Lives, plural.
It's more than clear he knows the truth about Fumiko by now. And that's fine. But why would he word it like that? He's not talking about Makoto, is he? They… already all knew about that. It would just be redundant to say. But if not that, what is he… what is he…-?
No. There's no time to think about it. Focus on the road. She makes a sharp turn and steadies her gaze. She can get all of that worked out when she arrives. Right now she just has to… just has to...-
Drive. All she has to do is drive.
She wonders if she'll get there before or after the others. Karma's office is further than the current movie set, but he might have gotten out of there with less of an issue. She wonders if he'll be put in charge of the rest of the class. Somehow that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.
Does that mean she'll be put in charge of mediating? She doesn't… she doesn't mind one bit, of course, but it's still a scary concept. She's been watching Fumiko degrade for two weeks now. Surely whatever this is has to do with that all blowing up.
('I'm genuinely scared she gave him a concussion,' Nagisa says, and her knuckles go white.)
Fumiko had talked about Korosensei so harshly over lunch. Hatred in her eyes she'd noted that he hadn't changed very much at all... or at the very least hadn't changed for her. Kayano had reassured her that that wasn't true, but it hadn't seemed to shift Fumiko's opinion very much. Instead… closed-off, she'd still seemed to hold an ire in her eye at the end of the day.
(What could he possibly have done to hurt her so badly!?)
(What could he possibly have done to make her want to hurt him!?)
There's a name she'd murmured once or twice during that talk. Quieter than she'd said 'Korosensei.' Less wounded - vulnerable… but angry all the same.
Saying she hated Korosensei… saying she wished no wellness for him, she'd whispered bitterly "I'm sure Yanagisawa mourned when I died, too."
Kayano had felt her heart stop in her chest.
The mention of his name alone was enough to make bile rise in her throat.
Now that she thinks about it… there's another name she kept mentioning, too, isn't there?
'They.' 'Them.' 'They've both turned against me.' She kept saying that… implying it. Then, staring at Kayano with cold eyes, asked her not only "Even if your sensei will hate you?", but "Even if you've known Kiyoshi for thirteen years?" as well.
There's this sudden weird feeling in Kayano's stomach.
No. No. She's sure… Kiyoshi has nothing to do with this. Nagisa hadn't mentioned him in the fight, had he? No. He's… fine. He's fine. She's sure whatever happened… Makoto had just said something terrible, and Kiyoshi had taken his side. He… didn't instigate this. He would never.
(One eye blue, the other black. Adorably mismatched. As a kid Kiyoshi had hated her. Cried every damn time she held him. She'd wondered if it was something she was doing wrong, but…-)
Nagisa made a typo. Succumbed to autocorrect. That's all.
(Kiyoshi's been degrading over the past two months. Cut himself off from his friends, and cut himself off from the quartet, too, now that she thinks about it. She pulls Aguri's scrapbook out of the armoire months before they had any of this to worry about and he shoots her the strangest look when he sees what she's covered up with sticky notes.)
(He knows better than to inquire too deep when she talks about the bad in Aguri's life.)
She starts cycling through a list of deceased people they know in her mind. She doesn't know why. She's just being paranoid. But nevertheless, she taps her index finger against the wheel and tries to ignore the ringing in her mind.
Korosensei and Aguri are accounted for. Damien Jean Auclair, then? But the thought doesn't sit right in her mind. Rikuto Ikeda. Taiyo Yada. Kohana Karasuma. No. No. No. None of them feel right. Her personal connections with them grow further and further the more she prattles off. She wasn't particularly close to Yada's brother. Karasuma's sister died long before she was born.
...Then again, it's not like she was close with-
No. No. That's not it, okay!?
She's overthinking this!
She doesn't even realize how heavily she's breathing until she arrives at the school.
She glances around, but doesn't see any other cars. Ah... so she must have made it ahead of everyone else. Wasting no time, she begins her trek up the mountain.
She manages to squeeze what would usually be a long climb into ten minutes. Sprinting for dear life, she arrives at the top of the mountain and bursts her way in through the door.
She enters the office to the stare of Fumiko and Makoto. Faces red… eyes puffy, they seem to shout at the exact same time.
"Kayano!"
"Akari!"
Fumiko stares up at her with wide, relieved eyes. But before she can rush over to hug her, Makoto speaks up, panic in his voice.
"You're here. You're really here," He whimpers, hurrying to his feet. "Please, Kayano. Whatever happens next… whatever Fumiko says about me… you gotta believe me- it's not true."
"Like hell it's not!" Fumiko snaps, quickly blinking away any tears. She reaches out a hand to block Makoto's path, gaze deadly serious. "I'm going to tell her everything you did."
"No!"
Nagisa's quick to react. He steps between them in an effort to prevent them from getting any closer.
"Hey," he says. "Don't. You don't want to behave this way in front of Kayano, do you?" He glances towards her, a sense of relief in his expression. "You're here early," he admits. "I thought I told you to text me."
"A… ah. Sorry," Kayano says, scratching at the back of her neck. "I must have forgotten."
"It's fine," Nagisa says. "Listen. Can you just take Fumiko somewhere private? Talk to her? I-"
"It's not very nice to talk about someone who's listening," Fumiko interjects.
"I know," Nagisa says. "...But you don't want to talk here with him, do you? I'm trying to help."
"'With him!?'" Makoto repeats, disbelief in his voice. "What!? Do you hate me now, too!?"
Nagisa stares. "Of course not!"
"Then why… then why-?" Makoto freezes up. "Listen! You can't let her go with Fumiko, okay!? She's going to make me out to…- she's going to make me out to be a bad guy! I don't want Kayano to think of me that way!"
"Hey. Hey. Hey," Kayano murmurs, holding up a hand. "I won't let her do that. I just want to make sure both of you are okay." She tries her best to maintain a steady voice, shaking off whatever apprehension she'd felt earlier upon reading Nagisa's comment. Seeing the kids bicker it's clear now she has much bigger things to worry about.
She turns to Fumiko. "...Are you okay with that? Nagisa's right. We should talk alone. Where no-one will interrupt you. I'll listen, I promise. But you just have to give me a chance."
Fumiko seems to hesitate, but sending a glance towards Makoto… eyes narrowing, her shoulders lower.
"Okay. Fine. Whatever," she says, irritation to her voice. "But if… but if you don't care how I feel about this either, then I'll really never forgive you."
Kayano pauses, but places a careful hand on Fumiko's back as she stands to follow anyways. She sends Nagisa a worried glance.
"And you're sure the other kids will be fine unsupervised?"
"Mmm," Nagisa says. "They're responsible. Besides…" he glances at his phone. "The others are on their way now. Just get this taken care of, alright?" His brow furrows as he scrolls through his texts. He looks back towards Kayano. "...Fumiko will explain the whole story to you. If you think you get her calmed down enough to talk we can regroup, and if not..." he pauses. "Well, we'll get that figured out when we come to it."
"Alright," Kayano says, giving a stiff nod. "...Come on, Fumiko. I think I have a place we can chat."
Fumiko doesn't talk as she follows after Kayano. Instead, staring blankly at the floor she walks with a stiffness to her step. It's not until they arrive at the shed and Kayano pulls her in close, placing a firm hand on each of her shoulders, that Fumiko finally seems to react some.
Blinking back tears, she stares up at Kayano with helpless, watery eyes.
"What on earth happened?" Kayano demands.
"I… I… I…-" Fumiko struggles to find the words. Shaking her head, she finally decides on "I fucking hate him."
Kayano frowns, but makes no motion to step away. Instead she simply asks "Who? Makoto?"
"Yes, Makoto!" Fumiko replies, her voice hoarse. "He… he… he really-" she lets out a cry and covers her face with her hands. "Oh… what does it matter!?"
"Hey. It's okay," Kayano says. "You can talk to me."
"You're not going to believe me-" Fumiko growls.
"Yes I am."
"Then you're… you're not going to care!"
"What-?"
"You just said you won't hate him! If you're… if you're just going to take his side anyways, then what's the point?"
"Hey," Kayano says. "Now I never said that. Just let me hear you out, Fumiko. I'll do everything in my power to understand. And if Makoto has…" she pauses. "If Makoto really has done something to hurt you, then I'll take care of it. I can't make any opinions without the full story. Or… without any of the story, really."
"How about you just sit down? I'll grab you a glass of water and then you can tell me what happened. You can take your time, and I will not invalidate how you feel. We're sisters, remember? We don't treat each other that way."
Fumiko hesitates, but finally pulls away. "...Okay," she says, voice blank. She retreats to one of the benches set up against the side of the shed.
Carefully, Kayano turns her back to her. She steps outside and towards a water cooler Nagisa has set up outside of the building. She pours Fumiko a small cup of water before returning to the shed.
It's probably the building that's changed the most since their E-Class days. Which is… understandable, quite frankly, seeing as how she pretty much blew the original up. Nagisa'd rebuilt it with seats, extra storage, and air conditioning, too, "just for good measure."
...Not that they need that much in the middle of winter.
She hands Fumiko the cup before sitting down next to her. She lets Fumiko drink… giving her a moment to herself, before saying "You can start whenever you feel ready."
Fumiko curls up into her knees, placing the cup to the side.
"...I hardly know where to," she admits, a bitterness to her tone.
"How about…" she's inclined to say 'what Makoto did.' but somehow that feels ingenious. Like it'll only send Fumiko spiraling again. That's the last thing she wants. Instead, she cocks her head… frowning. "There's… uh… this weird thing Nagisa said to me. And I was wondering if you could clarify for me, actually. I think it would be… a good start to me understanding whatever it is that's going on."
Fumiko frowns, but doesn't respond.
"Exactly… how much of this has to do with Kiyoshi?"
Fumiko tenses, eyes going wild. But as realization seems to dawn in her expression, her shoulders lower. She lets out an unamused laugh.
"...Well… it all started with him," she admits.
Kayano feels a sense of apprehension wash over her. It's back… that strange, gnawing feeling. She quickly shakes it off, however. This is… this is the last time to be worrying about herse-
"It all started with his past life, I mean."
Her heart stops in it's chest.
There it is again… the way she cycles through everyone she knows who's died. But as she racks her mind… tries to think of any name to quell the anxiety growing in her chest, nothing comes. No-one - no-one else on the planet could cause a fight like this.
("Do you… do you think Aguri was stupid?)
...No-one else could cause Fumiko to look at her with such helpless eyes.
"I don't…" She pauses. "...What are you talking about, Fumiko? What's his past life?"
...She doesn't want to say it.
Fumiko turns to the side and shoots Kayano a look… tired. One that seems to say 'what do you think?'
Kayano frowns. "You don't mean… you don't mean," she drifts off. "Oh my God- tell me I'm making the wrong assumption, Fumiko. You don't mean…"
A tension hangs in the air. But try as she might she can't bring herself to say it aloud. She can't - she won't shatter her own world like that.
Fumiko does it for her.
"...Yanagisawa," she says, voice soft. "Yeah," she says. "That's the one."
She hates herself for it, but suddenly Kayano feels sick to her stomach. She can hardly even process it. That just gives her so much to think about! But she can't...- she won't even begin to wrap her head around it. It's too much. Because in an instant she's a little girl again, and she's scared, and her sister is dying. And the next thing she knows, she thinks she's dying, too.
Kiyoshi - Kiyoshi's not - he's nothing like that.
Kiyoshi... the little boy who runs up to her and tackle hugs her leg. Kiyoshi, who buys her an oversized stuffed bunny for her birthday, and Kiyoshi, who she thinks she's prouder and prouder of every day. How can he… how can he possibly be-?
Just what has she been letting into her life?
It's not just fear. Or anger. More than anything she just thinks she feels dissonance. She can't connect those two ideas in her mind. They don't make any sense. It's not that - she doesn't think she hates Kiyoshi, but she-
She's suddenly very confused.
She has very little time to think it over. As she hears Fumiko gently weep she returns to the real world, and is so coldly reminded that she's not that little girl anymore. She's the adult here, and it's her job to take care of this, for both Fumiko and Kiyoshi's sake.
She's not sure what to say. Some part of her is tempted to ask 'How can you be certain?' 'Maybe you're wrong.' But listening to Fumiko sob… she knows that's just about the worst possible thing she could say right now. Now's not the time to rationalize how she feels, and now's not the time to get answers. Before that - before anything else she needs to make sure her sister feels safe. And so... instead of asking - instead of saying 'Why?', Kayano does the most simple, and the most familiar thing she can think to do right now.
...She pulls Fumiko in for a hug.
"I'm sorry," she says. "I'm so fucking sorry you're going through this, Fumiko"
After all… if this hurts her that badly, she can only imagine what her sister is going through right now.
Fumiko tenses at first… but as Kayano cries on her, her shoulders go limp, and she does the only thing she can think to do, too.
Cling to Kayano's back and wail.
If there's one thing Karma and Gakushuu aren't equipped to handle, it's a crying child.
That's why they had been so relieved when Nagisa had put them on class-watching duty. The moment they'd arrived in the office he'd asked them to go supervise the kids.
"I've got Makoto under control," he'd said, motioning towards the blubbering boy. "And I… think Kayano is talking things out with Fumiko. But no-one's checked on class in a solid forty-five minutes. Can you keep an eye on them? I don't want them tearing each other apart, and they might be starting to get worried by now."
Gakushuu had paused, frowning.
"What's even going on?" He'd asked, shooting a glance towards Makoto. "Did you say Fumiko attacked him?"
"I-" Nagisa had paused, flinching at the way Makoto had curled in on himself. "Listen," he'd said, turning his head back towards Gakushuu. "I'll explain it all once this is all over. But for now just watch them. Please."
Some part of Gakushuu had been inclined to argue, but Karma hadn't let him. Giving Nagisa a salute, he'd said "On it, chief," before whirling around and taking Gakushuu by the hand. Gakushuu had known better than to resist. Troubling as this entire fucking situation was to him, he was sure Nagisa knew what he was doing. He was the teacher here, after all. And he could always enlighten Gakushuu later. Makoto, on the other hand, didn't exactly seem in a place where he was ready to wait.
"C'mon," Karma had said, shutting the door behind him and tugging on Gakushuu's wrist. In hindsight Gakushuu had figured that Nagisa hadn't exactly needed the both of them here, but he'd been thankful to have Karma by his side anyways. Besides... getting a text like that from Nagisa; none of them had had time to coordinate. Making sure everything was alright came before making rational decisions.
It may have seemed rash… the way they all scrambled to leave their jobs in a mad rush to assist Nagisa, but… it comes with caring. It's not like this is a common occurrence. They've been begging Nagisa to rely on them for months. The fact that he'd finally reached out for help is a miracle. If he'd really thought this was so important, then it most certainly was.
Besides… Gakushuu was sure this would be nothing much to deal with... babysit some annoying kids, that's all. What was the worst that could happen?
"Kiyoshi's crying," Karma had said, pressing his face to the glass.
And that's about when everything had come crashing down.
"What do you mean, he's crying!?" Gakushuu had hissed, scrambling to push Karma out of the way.
"I don't know!" Karma had exclaimed, pushing Gakushuu back. "He's got his head down in the back of class! I know a Kiyoshi cry when I see one-"
As Gakushuu said, they weren't exactly prepared for this.
That brings them to here… standing outside of the classroom like a gaggle of morons while the middle schoolers peer through the glass, inevitably wondering 'Wait. Why the hell aren't they just coming in?'
"Well-?" Gakushuu asks, trying to push past Karma. "What are we doing? Let's just go in there-!"
"With what plan!?" Karma asks. "We can't just barge in like a bunch of chucklefucks."
"I don't know-" Gakushuu replies. "But we can't just stand around outside like a bunch of 'chucklefucks,' either. They're staring at us."
"Which means we need to get this figured out. Quick," Karma says. "We're just humiliating ourselves by floundering, but I'm not going to go in there and discuss a gameplan in front of Kiyoshi, either. Now that sounds like a pretty good way to humiliate him."
He steps away from the door, motioning for Gakushuu to follow.
"Let's just talk this over for one sec. And- like - hope one of the rambunctious little assholes doesn't peek their head out to see what the hell we're doing."
Gakushuu bites his tongue, but relents.
"Very well," he says. "I… suppose one of us should pull him to the side while the other supervises the class. Once he's calmed down we can regroup, but we cannot leave him there panicking in the middle of class."
He'd only gotten a brief glimpse in through the window, but true to Karma's word, Kiyoshi had sat with his head down to his desk. Shoulders quivering, he'd trembled like a leaf and weakly wiped his cheek on his arm.
"Admittedly," he continues. "I believe you should deal with it. You're… how do I say this…? More compassionate when it comes to these things? I'm no good with children. Besides, Kiyoshi knows you better than he knows me. He'll open up to you much sooner."
"Are you kidding me?" Karma retorts. "Sure I know Kiyoshi - love the kid - but he is terrified of me. More often than not when he's freaking out I, like- sling him over my back and toss him around like a sack of potatoes. You are way more equipped to deal with an actually emotionally charged situation."
Gakushuu's face flushes at the flattery, but he soon shrugs it off. "I'm still not certain," he admits. "I'm no good with displaying empathy in these sorts of situations. I'm more of the logical type."
"I mean: yeah, sure. But I'm no good with this mushy feely shit, either. I'm more like… the fun uncle! I don't do…" He shifts. "...condolences."
"Which is why I cannot leave you in charge of that classroom," Gakushuu says. "At the very least Kiyoshi is used to your usual brand of nonsense. But seeing as how you are the sort of person who oftentimes needs adult supervision more than you need to be the adult supervision, I am not trusting you with this. Full offense. By the time I got back, you'd have rallied those kids to overthrow the government."
"The government I work for?" Karma asks, a smile perking up at the corners of his lips. "Gee, thanks. I'm not exactly sure how this conversation got from complimenting each other to insulting each other so quickly… I'd much rather prefer hearing 'Oh! Karma! You're so compassionate!?' But I do see your point."
"Listen. We're wasting a lot of time," he continues. "And it's clear we're not going to come to an agreement. We're both too 'deeply insecure' and 'full of hubris' all at once to take charge of this situation. So I'll meet you in the middle. Let's decide with chance. Rock paper scissors: rule of threes." He shoots Gakushuu a sideways peace sign. "Loser has to give the kid a pep talk.
In any other situation Gakushuu would prefer a battle of wits, but something tells him time is of the essence right now.
"Very well," he says, holding his own hand out. "Do you worst, Akabane."
You know! How you address your husband!
Ultimately, Karma wins the first round. But ever driven by spite, Gakushuu wins the latter two. Giving Karma a smirk, he says "Well, then. That's that."
Karma sighs, but gives him an amused smile.
"Okay. Okay," he says, hands falling to his sides. "A win's a win. And while I'd usually challenge you to another two games just to - like - take advantage of your hubris or whatever, we don't have time. I'll take the L here. Babysitting duty for me."
"Glad to see you acting like a fair sport for once in your life," Gakushuu says, ignoring Karma's snide 'Look at the pot calling the kettle black' as he steps towards the door and prepares to enter the classroom. "It's settled, then. I deal with the rest of them - make sure they don't get into any trouble- and you pull him out of class. See if you can get to the bottom of whatever it is that's going on."
Kiyoshi's been troubled for months now. And while Gakushuu thinks his own advice had helped a little, he thinks… Kiyoshi just might need to hear from Karma, too. Who knows? His starkly contrasted- yet… just as no-nonsense attitude may be able to do wonders.
He gives him a smile, a genuine confidence to his tone. "Something tells me you'll be able to."
With that, he steps into the classroom. Karma follows after, before separating from him and making his way towards Kiyoshi's desk. He whispers something… perhaps "You need to talk?" to him, before gently easing him out of his chair and leading him out of the room.
Now completely alone, Gakushuu walks to the head of the classroom and introduces himself: ready to do what it is he does best.
Play leader, even during the most troubling of times.