Thanks for all the reviews. I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue this piece of shit, but I decided to anyway!
"You bruise so easily." The Chairman said scornfully, as he dabbed the concealer onto his son's neck in order to hide the blotchy purple bruise that was quickly forming there from the collar.
Gakushuu didn't reply. He just stared ahead with listless amethyst eyes. He was past being scared, past being angry or even humiliated. Now he just felt exhausted. He had lost track of the amount of times he'd been dunked under the water, almost past the edge of consciousness, only to be pulled back up before he passed out.
A sense of hopelessness overwhelmed him. He was so weak. No matter what he did, he couldn't fight his father off. He hadn't once been able to stop the man from pushing him under the water. He felt like a toy under his strength. At a certain point he had just stopped fighting it. He no longer tried to pull his head up from the water.
He just let it happen.
Right now he was stood in front of his father in the kitchen, dressed in a fresh school uniform as a few rays of of sunlight started to streak in through the kitchen. It had been a long night. The Chairman had only finished tormenting him to leave just enough time to get ready for school the next day. Neither of them had slept. All Gakushuu wanted to do was crawl into bed, but that wouldn't be an option.
"We should leave now. We don't want to be late for school now, do we?" His father said, with that sinister smile of his that was completely false. Once again, Gakushuu didn't respond, he just walked roboticaly towards the door. Anything to be out of that house, away from the Chairman.
Acting normal when you are exhausted was surprisingly easy. Just spew out the usual buzzwords to the class about strength and hard work and Importance of achievement. Gakushuu never realised how simple it could be to seem inspiring. Even when your eyes are itching, are your bodies aching, it's easy to fake a smile and act as if everything it just fine. The class just saw him as their perfect charismatic leader, not as another person with flaws and problems. And that's the way Asano liked it best. They had to believe in the image of him- he wouldn't let his failures destroy that. At least that was the plan.
During lunch time, Asano holed himself up in the student council office under the excuse of 'doing work' to escape spending energy on pretending everything was fine. But to his dismay, he heard a knock on the door.
"Come in." He said, his voice strained as he tried not to sound annoyed. The door creaked open, and a tall lanky boy with a half-shaven head walked in.
"Ren." Asano said, as he tapped on his laptop to emphasise how 'busy' he was. "Can I help you."
Ren was smiling as usual, but after knowing him for three years, Asano could tell that this was his 'uncomfortable' smile. The one he made when he did badly in something, or suffered a particularly humiliating rejection from a girl.
"Asano-kun, I have the printouts for our next meeting.." Ren said, trailing of slightly.
"Leave them on the desk." Asano replied bluntly- really, he interrupted him just for that? Ren put the papers down, but still didn't leave, he stood as if he were waiting for something, playing with his hair sheepishly. Asano sighed. "Was there something else, Ren?"
"Well- It's just- I was wondering.. Are you okay?" Ren blurted out, suddenly, taking Asano by surprise. At first he felt shocked somebody noticed? Then angry Somebody noticed! How could I show my weaknessess like that? How can they believe in a leader who feels helpless and feeble?
"Me? Of course I'm okay?" Asano said, with a sweet smile that was completely false. "Really, Ren, you're worrying too much. I wont let one fluke deter me from leading this class to greatness."
Ren's smile morphed into a frown- a rare expression for him. "You're doing it again." He said, hazel eyes narrowing. "You're pretending."
Shit! Am I being obvious! He must be questioning by leadership abilities. "I'm a little confused about what you're insinuating."
Ren caught Gakushuu's gaze and held it. "You were so worried yesterday after loosing the bet the E class. And today I can tell something's happened. You seem.. I don't know.. deflated, somehow." The brunet said, a worried look in his hazel eyes. He thinks I'm weak! I can't let him know I have any chinks! He'll see it as an oppertunity to take me down!
"Thank you for your concern, Ren, but I assure you, there's nothing wrong." Gakushuu said curtly, not allowing his smile to falter. He kept Ren's gaze for a moment, before looking down at his laptop again. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm very busy."
Much to Gakushuu's annoyance, Ren didn't leave.
"Where did you get those bruises?" The brunet said slowly, as if he had only just noticed them himself. Asano's eyes widened- had the concealer rubbed off a bit? He gritted his teeth, and stood up.
"I suppose you think you're pretty perceptive, searching for any flaws you can use against me like that." Gakushuu said, as he walked the other side of the desk. Ren was taller than him, but their weight of Gakushuu's presence made him seem bigger somehow. "Perhaps you think because I am no longer number one in every subject I'll be an easier target."
"No- Asano, that isn't what I mean! I'm genuinely worried. I'm your friend!" Ren cried, backing up a little. Gakushuu scoffed- Friend? Isn't that just a word to describe someone you use, who you allow to use you?
"Of course we're friends." Gakushuu said, with a wide sinister smile that mirrored his father's. He wouldn't let Ren of all people take him down. "That's why you wont try to bring me down. Because, after all, if you did, it would be far too easy for me to kick you out of the 'chosen circle'. Especially since you are currently third place in your field of expertise."
"Not everything is about dominance and competition, Asano. Everyone else might believe you are just a perfect figure-head with no fears or apprehensions, but I know the truth. I can tell you're hurt." Ren said, his eyes shining with determination. He reached out and touched Asano's neck. The blond flinched away before he had the chance to compose himself. Damn him. "Tell me what's happened. I can help. It's okay to rely on other people."
Gakushuu stared at him for a few moments, for a moment he wondered what would happen if he exposed the truth; My father tortures me in bizarre ways every time I don't meet his expectations, and I'm scared of him, yet I want him to acknowledge me and I'm not sure what feeling is stronger. But of course, that wasn't an option.
Instead, he slapped Ren's hand away, and tutted, turning around to pick up his laptop. "If you insist on disturbing me by yammering on about nonsense, I suppose I have no choice but to do my work in the library." He sighed, briskly walking out of the office, leaving Ren staring after him.
He couldn't let Ren know the truth. He'd already given away too much..
With the sound of the school bell ringing, and children chattering outside in the corridor filling his ears, Gakuhou Asano raised the burning match and pressed it down hard on his ankle. The burning sensation was exquisitely painful, and every instinct in his body was screaming for him to drop the burning stick, and stop pressing it into his skin. But still, he persisted until the stench of burning flesh filled his nostrils, and the agony gave way to white numbness.
This was his punishment for his son's failures. After all, Asano-kun was his pupil, so the mistakes he made where Gakuhou's fault. He had always carried out this ritual after punishing his son. Tiny pinprick burn scars littered his body, more proof of his failures as a teacher. Reminders of his errors.
He smiled slightly despite the pain, and looked at the clock- still fifteen minutes until his next meeting. He struck up another match.
So in this chapter we see Gakushuu is socially inept when it comes tto being actual friends, and he thinks everyone is out to get him, and we see Gakuhou is super fucked up in this fanfiction.
Thank you for the reviews!
Crazzy Rabbit 2, I12b3;
Sorry for making Asano suffer!
Mochiizuki; Well, Ren is trying to help, but Asano is pretty resistant..
Derpy Seahorse Genes; Your right, it probably does count as child neglect.. Ren tried his best to be a savoir in this chapter but no luck!
Emitsu: I'm glad your sadistic side enjoyed this!
Kris Senju: I think this probably crosses over from discipline to abuse.. I will think about writing a chapter based after Asano looses his 1 spot to Karma!
Guest: Sorry about my grammer!
Targaryan; Well, so far Ren has noticed the bruises. E class haven't so far, but I wonder if that will change if I do write about the pole-toppling tormentor like you suggested!
mochiizuki