"Have any of you noticed anything... strange, lately?"

Nobody expects to see Asano standing in front of them. His face is troubled.

"Shit," Yoshida breathes. "You too?"

Asano's eyebrows raise up.

"They're acting similar regarding you, also?"

"Fuck," Itona deadpans.

Asano Gakushuu has had multiple peculiar incidents revolving around himself and the school, lately. It had actually started when he'd made an offhand comment about being similar to Akabane (much as he loathed to admit it). The students, however, mistook that for meaning he was as suicidal as Akabane, thanks to the mistaken suicide attempt. He had not been referring to that, although the school thought otherwise. He'd merely been referring to their intellect and relationship with their guardian (not to mention that they've been told they look similar). Although, he will admit, the thought of death did sound appealing, and feeling a little pain was always nice (he was sure Akabane felt the same, even though he was telling the truth that time on the bridge).

The point was the whole school misinterpreted his comment and gave it a completely new meaning. He had not been saying he wanted to die (even though he did). That was not what he'd meant.

So now, his fellow students and the staff of the Kunugigaoka will not let him out of their sights. Someone is almost always with him, Ren and the other Virtuosos (seriously, who had thought of that name? He certainly hadn't) always trail after him (then again, they are his minions), and he is always coddled over (like a child). Which leads him to the present time.

He makes a lie (no, it is not an excuse) and says he has an activity after school. He will be with his father, so there is no need to stay. For some reason, that worries them more, but he assures them he will be fine, and heads back into the building. He knows by now that 3-E stays a little longer after class ends, so he waits until everyone in the main campus leaves before heading up the mountain to the old campus (where Mori and Nakai and Ikeda used to learn no don't think about that-).

He can count on E Class not to act differently- they do not like outsiders, especially those of the main campus (his inner thoughts make them sound like wild animals, yet that is what they are, no?).

Which is why he asks, "Have any of you noticed anything... strange, lately?"

"Shit," one of the students (he thinks his name is... Yoshida Taisei?) breathes out. "You too?" Gakushuu refrains from asking him to watch his language.

But.

Huh.

You too?

That's what he'd asked.

Does this mean they are going through a similar situation?

The main campus is treating them similar to how they are suddenly treating him?

Gakushuu raises an eyebrow.

"They're acting similar regarding you, also?"

"Fuck," one of the students (Horibe Itona? Maybe?) deadpans.

Gakushuu has decided to study with Akabane. It isn't because they are suddenly becoming friends, but rather because they have a mutual understanding of each other, and can find themselves relating to each other in more ways than one. It is also easy to keep up with the other, and they are able to move quickly and at their own pace, due to the mutual increasing intelligence from both parties.

So they are at a park, sitting at a picnic table with books surrounding them, when they hear a gasp. "Oh my gosh!" It's Ren and the other Virtuosos (seriously, Gakushuu despises that name, it makes himself sound so... pretentious). "Akabane is studying?"

"Oh, fuck you, Sakakibara," Akabane smirks. "I can study. Got a problem?"

"No!" Ren beams. "I'm proud of you for actually studying! You're getting better!"

Gakushuu and Akabane share bewildered and confused looks- because what.

Ren? Proud of Akabane?

In fact, anyone from the main campus being proud of anyone in the E Class?

Absolutely unheard of.

"Um," Akabane says dumbly (and Gakushuu can't blame him, I mean, what would Gakushuu even do in this situation either?) and blinks hard, like he's hallucinating.

Ren sits down, and the others follow his lead. Araki pulls out a strawberry milk carton and a plastic tub of strawberries from his bag (seriously, how does that fit in there?). Akabane beams, and Gakushuu think he catches all four of his friends melting (what? Like... what).

Koyama hands him a mug of coffee, and Gakushuu thanks him with a polite smile.

He can practically see the stars and sparkles that appear in his friends' eyes and shimmer around and behind them like a background. Akabane allegedly appears to see the same, because he gives them a weirded out and disgusted look. Gakushuu shares his sentiment.

"We can study with you," Seo says. "Naaaahhh," Akabane drawls. "You can leave."

"You're so funny, Akabane," Ren says pleasantly. "Because there's no way we're leaving."

Gakushuu and Akabane each share a commiserating and suffering look.

Akabane takes a bite out of a strawberry. Juices drip down his chin. Araki whips out a napkin and wipes it away.

Gakushuu and Akabane look at each other.

"Come on, Gakushuu, Karma," Ren grins. "Let's start."

Gakushuu is pretty sure his and Akabane's eyes are bulging out of their heads.

"Wh-" Akabane sputters.

"Yeah, Gakushuu, Karma, we're ready when you are," Araki mutters.

Gakushuu chokes. Akabane gasps like he's witnessed a nightmare.

"Okay, Gakushuu, Karma, what do you want to do first?" Seo asks.

Gakushuu gives a horrified look. Akabane tugs at his hair.

"Gakushuu, Karma, what were you working on before we came?" Koyama asks.

Gakushuu bangs his head against the table. Akabane falls off the bench, hands gripping his hair and rolling on the ground as if in pure agony.

"Gakushuu? Karma? Are you okay?" Ren asks, a concerned look on his face.

Gakushuu lets out a half groan, half scream. Akabane yells.

"Call us Asano and Akabane, damn it!"

Gakushuu sits in class, dutifully doing his work, like he is supposed to. He thinks it's going to be a peaceful day, aside from the usual annoyance of class and the students.

He is wrong.

Class ends early, and every one of his classmates crowd around his table.

They spit words and sentences at him, and he tries to hear it, he really does, because he's the perfect student and student council president, he can't afford to not hear what they are saying.

Then, Ren pushes his way through and silences them and scolds them, and Gakushuu silently thanks the universe for gifting him a friend in Ren.

Then Ren goes and ruins that gratefulness.

"I can answer any of your questions for Asano," he says. "As long as they are trivial. Otherwise, if you have gifts or any other, you can hand it to him yourself, personally."

Gakushuu refrains from glaring at Ren. He wants peace! Not this!

He gives a polite smile as the gifts start piling in.

Later, he hears talk of 3-E.

"Do you know Akabane's address? He seems lonely."

"I do know, in fact. We can visit him another time."

"What about Sugino? I heard he was practicing baseball!"

"We can ask the baseball team!"

Endless chatter.

Gakushuu sits there, staring blankly at the wall ahead.

Should he warn the E Class?

Well...

They are in a similar... situation as Gakushuu. He might as well.

Then, he hears his name.

"Asano?"

He looks up to see a female classmate of his- Matsui Maiko, if he remembers correctly (which he does, he remembers everything correctly- he has good memory, after all).

"Yes?" He hums. "What is it you need, Matsui-san?"

"You see, the class was wondering if it was okay to visit your house...?" She murmurs reluctantly. "As a way to study and hang out..."

Gakushuu subtly eyes everyone around him. They're looking at him expectantly, eyes wide and hoping for his agreement.

"I'd have to ask my father," he finally replies. "But there may be a chance that he'll allow it, although it is admittedly a small chance."

His class brightens.

"That's fine!" Matsui chirps brightly. "We'll take that chance!"

His class showers him in affection.

Gakushuu resists the urge to sigh. It seems he cannot intimidate them anymore. They are now immune to it. They seem more likely to treat him as a child as opposed to a classmate or a higher up. He has now become the... what were the words they used?

The class baby.

The precious one.

He is neither of those.

He appreciates the fact that he can maintain the image of the perfect student, but this... is a little too much.

He is Asano Gakushuu, son of the chairman, the student council president, the perfect student, the one with reign over everyone (aside from 3-E).

He is not a baby. He is not precious.

They should dispel those illusions of him immediately.

Why has everyone been acting so unusual, anyway? Towards both him and the E Class?

Ren pats Gakushuu's head.

"Gakushuu," he coos. "So perfect. Amazing. The best."

His class coos and melts as he frowns.

Gakushuu is absolutely mortified.

A new transfer student has moved to the school. Gakushuu remembers that they are in Class C.

Being the perfect student he is, Gakushuu greets them during lunch.

He heads towards the student- brown hair, wide green eyes, a nervous expression- and greets them, holding out a hand.

"Hello," he smiles. "Murakami Keiko, correct? I've heard about you. Welcome to Kunugigaoka. I'm Asano Gakushuu, student council president. If you have any questions, you can come to me, and I'll do my best to answer them or help you in any way I can." Murakami stares at him with awe evident in her eyes. Gakushuu pretends to be oblivious about it. "Uh.. thank you," she stutters. "You seem to be nervous," Gakushuu comments, looking at her in faux concern. "Are you alright?"

Murakami's eyes widen, and he thinks he sees hearts in her eyes. She's falling for him already? They've barely talked at all!

"Yes," she says, dazed. "I am."

Out of the corner of his eye, Gakushuu can already see other students staring at them like hawks, sizing up Murakami and hovering around Gakushuu protectively.

"If you have any troubles, please come to me," Gakushuu continues. "I'd like to help in any way I can. If anyone bothers you, don't be hesitant to ask for help. They will be dealt with accordingly."

"Yes, sir," she squeaks.

"No need to call me sir," Gakushuu smiles amusedly. "Just call me Asano. I'm a fellow student of yours, after all."

The students around them start twitching.

"Yes, Asano," Murakami smiles.

"Since it is lunch time, we should get something to eat," Gakushuu suggests. "You are fine with getting your lunch alone, right? I hope you've made friends. If not, I can be your friend for as long as you need."

The hearts in Murakami's eyes grow larger. How are there even hearts in her eyes? Gakushuu doesn't know.

"Yes, I do have friends," Murakami says. "But I don't mind being friends with you either."

"Alright, then," Gakushuu nods. "As I inquired earlier, are you fine with going to order your food alone? If not, I am happy to come with you if it makes you feel better."

Murakami nods quickly, in rapid succession.

"Yes, please!" She beams.

Gakushuu nods and walks with her to the line.

He sighs internally. He hates doing this, but it helps keep up his reputation as the perfect student and the perfect president. Around them, he can hear the admiring and overprotective whispers of the other students in the vicinity.

"Did you see Asano walk up to that new transfer?"

"Our perfect student council president!"

"What if she makes a move on him?"

"Not our precious Asano!"

"He's so kind and caring! That's our class baby!"

Gakushuu fights down the twitch threatening to be seen. If people saw his eye twitch, they'd think something was up. But he was not their precious Asano, nor was he their class baby. He was neither. He was none of them. Although it kept his excellent reputation, he still got called those undesiring names and descriptions. If Gakushuu protested, though, it would either strengthen their determination to refer to him as such, or it would ruin his reputation. Both options seemed to be unsatisfactory. The outcome mainly depended on the way he protested, but at this point it was more likely to result in the school continuing to refer to him as the baby and precious.

Gakushuu is not amused.

Someone comes up. It's Ren.

"Murakami Keiko, right?" He greets, smiling. It isn't a pleasant smile, like Gakushuu's was. Ren's smile is more of a shark staring down its next meal.

Murakami nods, though she seems to be back to her nervous self.

"What do you think about our precious Asano?" Ren asks.

"Well, he's very nice and welcoming," Murakami says shyly. "He's also very... handsome."

"Yeah?" Ren nods. "What do you think about in regards to Gakushuu?"

"Ren," Gakushuu protests, attempting to stop his friend.

"No, Gakushuu, don't interrupt," Ren scolds him sternly, patting him. "Just let us talk. We only have your best interests at heart."

Gakushuu frowns. Murakami shuffles her feet.

"Well, I... I think I'd like to be friends," she begins. "I think I'd like to study together and spend time together and... well... he... I..."

She blushes.

The other students stare at her like a predator hunting its prey.

"Now, now," Gakushuu cuts in again. "We shouldn't pressure her. As fellow students, we should all get along. If she doesn't wish to speak, we shouldn't force her. Also, Murakami-san aside, don't we all have a meal to eat? We should finish before our next class, no?"

The students grumble, going back to eating their food, although they still keep an eye as Gakushuu leads Murakami over to her new friends before heading to his own table with the Virtuosos (ugh, seriously).

"What was that?" He questions Ren. "I don't know what you're talking about, Gakushuu. I was just asking her a few questions. You know, getting to know the new student more," Ren says. "It sounded as if you were interrogating her," Gakushuu says pointedly. "You shouldn't be doing that. It's not very kind. Murakami-san shouldn't be getting interrogated on her first day. Don't bother her."

Ren hums, although he doesn't look convinced. In fact, none of the Virtuosos (seriously, Gakushuu is getting sick) look convinced.

Gakushuu resigns to apologizing to Murakami after school.