Masamune opened his eyes to look at the classroom around him. He scanned back and forth.
'Who wrote it! Who could have possibly written that letter?' He thought to himself. He looked over at a girl reading a textbook on her desk, two of her friends were with her as well. They noticed him glancing at them immediately. "Oh no! I made eye contact with Makabe!" One of them said to the other. "No way, I did too!" She said in response.
Masamune didn't pay attention to them. For he was hyperfocused on just one thing. Who wrote the letter that was in his locker?
'Could it have been Aki Adagaki?' He paused in his thoughts. 'No if she wanted to expose me she would've made it a public production not a secret scheme. She'd wait for the perfect time so as many people as possible would see it.' The image of ShiGayo frantically trying to deny what Aki exposed him for flashed through Masamune's mind.
'Who else would've known about my past? And how did they recognize me?' All of these thoughts weighed heavy on his mind. Paranoia was a dangerous, mind gripping threat and Masamune was firmly in it's hold right now.
Kojuurou, who'd been sitting next to Masamune, looked over at him. "Hey what's up? Whatcha thinkin' about?" He asked. Masamune turned to him and stared curiously. "U-uh nothing." He said.
'Could Kojuurou have done it? No, I've never met him before. He couldn't possibly know that name.'
Just then Futuaba stuck her head in between the two. "What's up with you Makabe? You look super creepy." She said, giving him a curious but also somewhat concerned glance.
At the insult and jab at Masamune's pride, he recovered. He would never admit it to anyone, but his narcissism, though a genuine product of his pride, wasn't entirely true. Masamune had his insecurities alright, but he had vanquished most of them over the last years as he lost weight and became more attractive. Now that he wasn't fat, people couldn't insult him for it anymore. However, he was still ragingly insecure about his remaining faults.
"Oh it's nothing." Masamune said, waving the two of them down.
"Isn't that pig's foot disgusting!" A boy said loudly from a different part of the room.
Masamune felt his heart skip a beat and his entire body flinch violently, almost like he'd been electrocuted. He'd even shook his desk. Flashbacks to the past invaded his mind, the sight of Aki breaking his heart for those two bullies to see just wouldn't stop repeating itself.
"Pig's foot!" Masamune wheezed, slipping and falling out of his chair. He caught himself, and was down on one knee, but it didn't do much for his dignity.
"This guy had an entire pig's foot in his lunch today. Can you believe it?" The same boy from earlier said. Masamune looked over to see three boys at a table. One of them with an open lunch box looking embarrassed while the other two peeked inside. "Like in one piece? That's gross!" The third boy said.
"My mom made my lunch, I didn't request it." The first boy said shamefully. The other two boys just laughed.
'Oh. They're talking about an actual pig's foot.' Masamune was beyond relieved to realize he was safe. But he could still hear the voice of Aki Adagaki in his head. 'I don't want to think about that time in my life ever again, let alone relive it.'
Unfortunately he couldn't help but get lost in his memories.
Six year old Masamune sat with his back against a wall, three bullies surrounding him as he cried in fear. "Hey pig's foot. Oink for me like a little piggy." One of them said. "Say I'm gonna inherit my dad's company oink oink." A second said. Masamune just sat their trembling in fear, tears in his eyes.
Two girls approached Masamune as he rose from his kneeling position and sat back in his seat. He had placed one hand over his heart to feel his pulse and hopefully calm himself from the almost panic attack he just had. "What's wrong?" One asked. "Are you okay?" The other asked.
Masamune narrowed his eyes in anger. 'These girls are only being nice to me now because I'm hot.'
An image came to his mind. It was a magazine with him as a six year old boy next to a picture of him now, revealing what a fatty he'd been. Then the thought of all his classmates berating him, saying they didn't like being deceived, that he was beneath them...that he was a bottom feeder.
'STOP LAUGHING AT ME!'
Masamune sucked in a shaky breath and clenched his fists together tightly.
"What's the matter Makabe? Please read the third paragraph like I asked." The teacher said, holding up a copy of the book they were reading and looking at him.
Kojuurou looked over at him with concern, especially so after a single tear fell down the side of Masamune's cheek, coming to stop on his jaw. Futuba and a couple other students gaped. "I'm sorry about that." Masamune said while wiping his face. "The text made me a bit emotional." He said, trying to play it off.
Thankfully it worked. One of the girls said he was such a sweet sensitive guy. Masamune stood up and began to read the third paragraph aloud as he asked, but as he did, he went back to thinking. 'I have to find out who wrote it. Who is Anonymous X and why would they delight in torturing me?'
Eventually the class ended and Masamune was left drinking from another juice box by himself as he thought. 'If Adagaki finds out my true identity my reputation and my whole revenge plan will crumble. Getting adopted by grandpa and changing my last name will have all been for nothing!' He thought angrily, crushing the juice box in his grip. 'Those nightmarish days I spent drenched in sweat and tears. They will have been lived in vain!'
Masamune remembered his time in the mountains with his grandfather. He was a grandfather he didn't love, but one he'd needed to lose all that weight. He appreciated what little the miserable old man had done for him, but his harsh treatment of the boy had only reminded him of his bullies. So when Masamune had finally been ready to leave, he'd booked it without hesitation or without much thanks.
'Who is it! Who is Anonymous X!?' He asked himself desperately. "What am I supposed to do about this." He muttered only to himself.
Once the silence rang out, thunderous footsteps could be heard. Suddenly, dozens of students rushed up the stairs and to Masamune's right, all pushing and shoving each other to try and buy food before everyone else. Then, following after them calmly, was Yoshino. She tried to force her way through the crowd, a small pouch of money in one hand and a note in the other, only to get pushed back and rolled onto her stomach. Thankfully her skirt, though flying up for a second, came back down when she laid flat.
'That's Yoshino Koiwai, no doubt.'
Masamune stood up and walked over to her. "Hey...are you ok?" He asked. She lifted her head. "Well I didn't expect this at all. It turns out Heaven is just like school." She said.
"Uh, this isn't Heaven, you're still alive." He said.
Yoshino just let her head fall back onto the floor. "Now that I'm dead there's no harm in speaking ill of it. Fate continues to assail me even in death with icy blow after icy blow. How sad." She said, her frail voice sounding on the verge of tears.
'What the heck is even going on?' Masamune asked himself.
"Hey, Koiwai-" He started, only to get interrupted.
"But, I can't buy them now. I can't possibly go back." She said pathetically, rasing the hand with the note while her head still stayed on the floor. Masamune took the list at her request. The note listed five explosive croquette buns and four cutlet sandwiches.
"What!? You want me to buy them for you!?" Masamune asked, sounding a little outraged.
"Mhm." Yoshino squeaked out in a whine.
'Why me?' Masamune complained to himself as he forced his way through the crowd and bought the food. He pushed himself out of the crowd. When Yoshino saw, she stared in awe. "This must be some kind of dream." The short girl said. "Like the very last mirage that the little mage girl saw." She said.
"I bought you your stupid sandwiches." Masamune said, genuinely irritated this time. He and Yoshino sat down on the bench Masamune had just been on as she counted the food. Once she was satisfied, she picked up both bags and began to walk away.
"Those sandwiches, they're for Aki Adagaki aren't they, not for you." Masamune asked lowly. The rest of the crowd had dispersed by now, but they were still in public. Yohsino squeaked. "Hang on a second. Mind if I come with you?" He asked. 'I might find some more infromation about whether Aki is Anonymous X or not.' He thought.
"Sneak away!" Yoshino said, making a dash for the stairs. Masamune slammed a hand on the wall in between Yoshino and the stairs. "Wait just a minute!" He said with a clenched jaw.
"I'm so sorry, forgive me, forgive me I beg you!" Yoshino said, squeezing her eyes shut and curling in on herself, a few tears leaked from her eyes. . Masamune for once, felt pity, and let her go. "I'm sorry." He said, raising his hands up. "I was just playing, I won't do anything to hurt you or get you in trouble, I promise." He said, finally getting Yoshino to look up at him. "Believe me I'm harmless, and I'll explain everything to Aki. It's gonna be okay." He said, just wanting her to stop crying.
Yoshino sniffled loudly and looked up at him. "You mean it?" She asked.
Eventually the two of them walked together to the storage closet where Aki was. As they did, Masamune took in her scared demeanor and downtrodden eyes. 'She's such a victim. Like Cinderalla getting bullied by her wicked stepmother or something. I can relate, since I'm the guy formerly known as pig's foot.'
Once they reached the storage closet and opened the door, Aki was already pretty irritated. Yoshino's older brother was no where to be seen. He must have been off somewhere by himself then. Only Yoshino went in, Masamune watching from around the corner so Aki didn't see him. "You're late. Do you want me to pass out from hunger or something?" She asked, disdain in her voice.
"I'm really sorry." Yoshino said.
"A preschooler on their first trip to the grocery store would've been faster than you." Aki jabbed.
"Please forgive me." Yoshino pleaded.
"Yoshino you dummy." Aki said, more malice in her voice than before. It was an amount that was completely unnecessary. "I'm very sorry." Yoshino said in her quiet, timid, and now fearful voice. Aki didn't say anything else, instead she just reached into the bag and grabbed an explosive croquette, practically inhaling the thing. Masamune watched her eat like a starving wolf from the door.
'She doesn't seem like a princess.' He demeaned.
It seemed that Aki had eaten too quickly, as she began to hack and cough violently from some food stuck in her throat. 'Geez, not even I want to watch this display.' Masamune thought. Yoshino ran out the door seconds after, probably to go get tea for her mistress. Masamune just took the opportunity to slip inside.
"Are you okay?" He asked smoothly, really upping the charm and suave factor of his voice. Aki had stopped choking, but gasped when she heard his voice. "Hey! What are you doing here?" She asked accusingly. Masamune just waved. Aki looked around the room. "Yoshino? Yoshiro?" She called out, only to sigh. "She ran away didn't she?" Aki asked.
"She went to buy some tea." Masamune answered, walking further into the room. "She'd do anything for you." He said. Aki just glared and bit into a second croquette. "So tell me what you're up to." Aki asked, the irritation his presence brought her clear in her gaze. But Masamune didn't let it bother him. "Oh you know, just dropping in to say hello and ask how you're doing." He said, his gaze falling to the three empty lunch cases by her right leg.
'She ate all that before we even got here with the sandwiches. That's insane!' Masamune thought.
"Um, so how have you been since I saw you the other day, with..." Aki asked, now looking suspiciously less irritated and almost...awkward.
"Oh you mean with my hand." Masamune finished her sentence for her. "It hurts when I bathe, stings a little, and makes getting dressed a lot harder." He said. However, there was more to it than that. 'To tell you the truth it hurts like hellfire!'
"I had no intention of ever getting you involved that day." She said defensively. But Masamune just smiled kindly. 'That's it. Feel how much it hurts your fragile ego. It's all part of my plan to break down your mental defenses.'
Aki looked up at him before turning her head with a "Hmph." Effectively snubbing him.
'Since things still seem to be right on track with my plan I can deduce that Adagaki is not Anonymous X and did not write that letter.' Masamune concluded in his head. But the question of who did still remained.
Masamune sighed. "Infuriating." He murmured under his breath.
Aki looked up at him as in insulted. "Well excuse me then. I was being nice!" She said outraged at his audacity. Masamune almost panicked when he realized she'd heard him.
"No no! That's not what I-" He started, only to be interrupted by Yoshino coming in through the door and tripping. She fell over and both Aki and Masamune cringed sympathetically. Though this time Yoshino's skirt did fly up.
Both Masamune and Aki went red at the sight. "Don't look you perv! Avert your gaze immediately!" Aki yelled, reaching a hand out and violently jabbing Masamune right in the eyes with two fingers.
"My eyes! My eyes!" Masamune shouted in agony.
Eventually things calmed down and Yoshino gave Aki the tea she'd bought while Masamune wiped away the tears his eyes had produced and put pressure on them for the pain. Words could not describe the boiling hot anger he felt at Aki in that moment, not only for immediately calling him a pervert, but for having the audacity to think she had the authority to almost blind him just because of Yoshino's clumsiness.
When Masamune opened his eyes he saw Yoshino extend a box of strawberry milk to him as thanks. He looked up at her confused. "What's this? Is that for me?" He asked. Yoshino just nodded. 'Thank you Cinderella'
"Yoshino is always serving everyone like that." Aki said to him, not wanting Masamune to think he was special. "She really can't help it though. It really is a terrible habit." She said, turning her head to look at the girl in question with a pointed stare. "But I wouldn't make too much out of it if I were you." Aki said, demeaning as ever.
Masamune actually let his mask slip for a second and stared at Aki with a deadpan, but slightly irritated look. "What's that look about?" Aki asked. Masamune looked away. "Nothing." He said. This stupid girl's audacity knew no bounds.
"It's okay for her to treat me that way. She's expected to work for me and always will be." Aki said with finality.
"Oh, no. It's just because you have cutlet sauce on your nose." Masamune said with his mask back on. A happy, well meaning smile back in place to hide the sneer in his brain. Aki squeaked lowly and rubbed her nose immediately to preserve her dignity.
"And I can't be nice to everyone all the time like she is." Masamune said, coming to his feet. "It's not in my nature." He finished. His tone almost threatening.
"Huh!? What are you saying?" Aki asked, confused and disdainful.
"Yes, what could I possibly mean by that." Masamune said, putting the box he had in his hand next to Aki's left ear. "I want to serve you." He said romantically. "I want you to need me even more than her." He finished in the same tone, making sure to keep eye contact. "K?" He finished cheekily.
Aki stared at him with wide, confused, but almost captivated eyes. He didn't say anything else and simply left the storage room, sliding the door closed behind him. He walked for a little bit, but then paused.
"Wha- WHAT IS THAT IDIOT'S PROBLEM." He heard Aki yell in shrill, flustered voice. He clenched a fist in victory.
'Victory, I nailed it. Aki's probably blushing like crazy right now.'
In fact, she was.
'Of course she would develop feelings for the guy that rescued her and shed blood for her. And who wants to serve her.' He finished the thought almost mockingly.
He'd gotten the idea from a manga he'd read. One that his sister had caught him reading and called him gross for. But no one other than Chinatsu knew about it, so he was safe.
Back in the storage room, Aki put a hand where Masamune had rested the juice box by her ear. "Idiot." She whispered to herself, the faintest blush still on her cheeks. She wasn't paying attention to Yoshino's analytical stare.
The end of the school day soon approached. Masamune was getting ready to head home. He was just grabbing his things out of his locker and was about to leave when he bumped into someone. Masamune fell to the floor after contact.
"Oh, Sorry about that." The person said.
Masamune looked up to see an older boy standing above him with a calm, reassuring smile on his face. "O-oh, Hey." Masamune said in response.
The boy looked like he was older than him, but considering that Masamune was a freshman, that was three whole grades he'd have to guess from. The boy had brown hair and blue eyes. Well...one blue eye. Masamune could only see his left one. His right eye was covered in a domed eyepatch. His right cheek and temple were covered with very well disguised fake skin. Masamune doubted anyone but the most observant of people would notice, that's how well maintained it was.
"Nice to meet you." The boy said, sticking a hand to help him out. Masamune took his hand. "Thanks, and it's alright. Nice to meet you too. I'm Makabe." Masamune said.
"It's nice to meet you as well Makabe. My name is Isoroku Nakamura." He said. "But you can call me Isoroku, It gets tiring hearing people call me Nakamura constantly." He said.
'Boy can I ever relate to that.' Masamune thought. Again, he appreciated what his grandfather had done for him, but taking his last name of Makabe was a constant reminder of what he'd suffered through on his land. But he'd decided to keep it because it also reminded him of the rage he felt for Aki Adagaki.
"How come." Masamune asked. "It's your birthname right?" He asked. If it wasn't, he'd understand why it would be frustrating, that was what he dealt with. But to find your own birth name that annoying? It seemed weird.
"Yeah." The boy said. "Still gets old after a while, plus I was never the biggest fan of it. Especially when there are last names like Yammamoto out there." The boy said.
Masamune smiled. "You mean like the famous admiral from world war two?" He asked, catching on.
The boy smiled. "Yes! Exactly!" He said, pointing a finger at Masamune. "No one has gotten that yet. It's such an honor to be named after the greatest strategy in modern Japanese history, but Nakamura just doesn't fit my name!" He said.
"Well I suppose so. But why did you decide to talk to me of all people, you're obviously an upper classmen." Masamune responded.
"I'm a junior, I'm just two years older than you." He said. "But to explain, come on..." The boy's demeanor suddenly shifted, his face growing more serious. It threw Masamune off. "We can't talk here, someone could overhear us and trust me, neither of us want that to happen." He said, grabbing Masamune by the arm and dragging him directly opposite of where he'd been about to go.
'What the heck is this guy's deal?' Masamune thought to himself. Eventually they came to some of the junior classrooms. Almost everyone had left the school by this point, including the teachers so they had the entire class to themselves.
The boy went over to the window and scanned the surrounding area. "We'll have to keep this quick." The boy said. "So, let's skip all the pretenses and jump straight to the point." He said, spinning around and locking eyes with Masamune. The previous happy go lucky demeanor was gone. This was the one eyed gaze of a freaking lion. "I know exactly what you're trying to do by getting close to that stuck up harpy Aki." He said. Masamune's eyes widened at the rapid shift in personality and the sheer intensity of this new one.
His voice held more rage than Masamune thought was possible for a single person. Not even when Otanabe screamed at Aki sounded half as furious as this guy did, and he was just talking! "You're not the only one who wants to see that witch burn. So, I'm gonna help you out. What do you say?" He asked.
Masamune was still in shock. This kid legitimately had him freaked out more than anyone he'd ever run into in his life. But the idea of help sounded appealing. But how did he know he could trust this guy?
"I see you're still indecisive." Isoroku commented. "Well, allow me to put it this way. I am the only one in this entire school who can help you. Everyone else doesn't have the guts nor the determination to do anything, and everyone else cares about Aki too much to betray her." He said.
"I know who you really are Masamune, I know what Aki did to you, and I can help you become a version of yourself that will be irresistible to her." He said devilishly. His smile was that of the Cheshire Cat.
"Who are you?" Masamune asked horrified.
The boy just laughed. "I am Isoroku Nakamura." He said theatrically, splaying both arms out on either side like an actor. But then his face morphed into another sneer. "Aki Adagaki is the reason I have to wear a patch over my right eye. It's her fault that I'm scarred to hideously I have to wear fake skin, and she's the reason I'll never see out of my right eye again." He said.
'Holy crap.' Masamune thought. This guy put even him to shame. Not only was he angrier, but he had an even better reason to want revenge. 'Just what did Adagaki do to this guy to cost him an eye!?'
Masamune swallowed and composed himself. "So you'll help me become a better version of myself?" He asked, not sure why he'd chosen that as his first question, but it was as good as any.
"Oh yes." Isoroku answered. "You must be tired of people walking all over you right? Aki especially?" He asked knowingly. Masamune's blood boiled at the reminder. "Never again." He seethed.
"That's the spirit!" Isoroku said with a sadistic smile. "I can teach you how to make sure no one in this entire school ever dares think they can push you around, even that purple eyed harpy and her lackey's." He said gleefully. "Not to mention everything else I can do for you. You'll be stronger, more confident, fearless even." He said.
'This sounds way too good to pass up.' He though, but this felt like making a deal with the devil. "But there's a catch right?" Masamune asked, preparing for the innevitable.
"Nope!" He said with wide smile, knowing he'd surprised the freshman.
"Wait? Really?" Masamune asked, sounding shocked.
"No catch." Isoroku said, sounding almost like a salesman. "All you have to do is take my advice at your discretion and together, not only will the two of us have this whole school eating out of the palms of our hands but, we'll leave Aki Adagaki in tears just like we so desire." He said, chuckling to himself.
"Well what are you gonna make me do?" Masamune asked suspiciously, this must have been the real catch.
Isoroku perked up at the question. "Well for starters, here's a very important piece of advice. You know Yoshino and Yoshiro? Aki's servants?" Isoroku asked. Masamune nodded.
He smiled and stepped closer. "Don't let Yoshino's innocent act fool you. Yoshino is the best actor I've ever seen, but underneath that innocent gaze, she's pretty heartless. In fact, they're the ones who wrote you that letter that called you a pig's foot!" He revealed, blowing Masamune's mind.
'WHAT! IT WAS THEM?" Masamune screamed internally.
"Oh yes. She wrote it alright. In fact, she's waiting for you on your way home. You would've ran right into her. And do you wanna guess what she was going to do?" He said.
'This doesn't make any sense, it's all too much. Yoshino was lying to me all along. She really isn't some Cinderella!?'
"W-what?" Masamune asked nervously.
"Why she was going to offer you what I am! She was going to offer to help you get revenge against Aki. But, and I can't emphasize this enough. Do. Not. Trust her. She is a lying little demon and will manipulate you to her wishes. It might not seem like it, but she loves Aki more than almost anything and would do anything for her. Oh also, while I'm talking about her. Yoshino is going to try and scare you, but don't fall for it. As heartless as she will make herself out to be, she won't kill or seriously hurt anyone." Isoroku finished. "She still has a conscious, though she is insanely immature." He spat.
Masamune just tried to take it all in. His image of Yoshino was completely shattered. 'Is all of this true?'
Finally, Isoroku calmed down. "Right. I'm sorry. I got a little over excited. I've just waited such a long time for this and now that you're here I've come to realize how close at hand my revenge is." He said.
Masamune perked up a bit. "No I get it. I've waited eight years to get my revenge on her." He admitted. Isoroku smiled again. "So do we have a deal?" He asked, reaching a hand out.
Masamune smiled. 'You're as good as dead Aki Adagaki' He shook Isoroku's hand eagerly.
"I knew you wouldn't dissapoint." Isoroku said gleefully, smiling like he'd just won the lottery.
"If you don't mind, I can fully explain how our plans can come together tomorrow. Come to this empty gymnasium. It shouldn't be too far from your house right." Isoroku said, telling him the address. "I'd write it down but I don't want anyone other than you possibly seeing it. But meet me there tomorrow after school and we'll talk. We'll also begin the process of making you even stronger." Isoroku said.
"Thank you!" Masamune said, actually going as far as to hug the older boy. Isoroku just chuckled, but this one wasn't a malicious one. The laugh was kind and reassuring one. "You're welcome little brother. I don't know what Yoshino has set up for you, but play along and don't tell anyone of my existence alright?" He asked. Masamune smiled at being called little brother. Something about the way he said it was familiar, reassuring, nostalgic even.
"Yes of course!" Masamune said.
"Good. Now we can use their ignorance to our advantage. When Yoshino and Yoshiro offer to help you get your revenge, accept it, but don't trust a word they say. Play along. We can't let them know you're onto them, because they don't want you to get your revenge." He said.
"Wait!" Masamune said. "How did they know my old nickname Aki gave me-" 'Hold on, wait a second.' The picture Masamune had of him and Aki when they were six flashed in his mind. Yoshino and Yoshiro could be seen in the mansion window behind them. They were always there.
"They were there!? I used to see them at Adagaki's mansion!" He cried, in disbelief that he'd forgotten.
"Yep." Isoroku said. They know who you are and what you want. I don't know why they haven't told Aki, but for some reason they seem to be afraid to reveal who you really are. I've heard their conversations." He said. "They are so confident in their abilites and underestimate the other students so much that they have no clue I'm listening in on them constantly. We'll use it all to our advantage. But remember, you don't know they're lying to you, and none of you know I exist and am also plotting revenge, got it?" He asked one last time.
Masamune nodded eagerly, his blood pumping and his heart singing for revenge.
"Great. Soon enough you'll be the talk of the whole school, and Aki will be head over heels for you. Until we talk tommorrow though, I'd advise to not make anymore moves on her. That last one you did was pretty good, but you and I need to be on the same page before going back into the fight." Isoroku said as he moved to the door. He opened it and checked around the hall. When he was satisfied, he let Masamune go.
"Wait you were there earlier today?" Masamune asked. 'Where was he? I certianly didn't see him.' He thought.
"I was above the storage room. You'd be surprised how thin the back of the roof is and how easy it is to easedrop. Not to mention that the only way up is on the opposite side of the storage room. I don't think anyone but the contractors even remember it exists." Isoroku said. "Feel free to use it, but be careful alright? If that place gets discovered then it is going to be a whole lot harder to know what those two twins are planning." He finished.
"Got it!" Masamune said, his mind racing.
"Go back the way you were going to leave. I'll be going too." He said, leaving the room and beginning to walk down the opposite end of the hall.
Masamune watched as he left. "Thank you!" He shouted after him.
Isoroku turned his head to look over his shoulder. "Don't mention it. Literally!" He said with a laugh. Masamune chuckled too.
Masamune did as Isoroku asked him and headed back down to where he'd met the junior. Then, he left school like it was any normal day and began to head home. Isoroku's warning still lingered in his mind. 'Yoshino will be somewhere waiting for me, and when she shows up, she's gonna try to scare me. But I won't fall for it. And as much as it pains me too, I'll have to pretend to be afraid. I can't let her know I was expecting her.' Masamune reminded himself.
It was hard to fight the paranoia as walked. After all, what sane person walked home knowing that someone awaited him?
But eventually the moment came when a rope suddenly tightened on Masamune's ankle. With a surpised start he was lifted into the air, upside down, hanging by one foot.
"We caught a pig's foot, sister." A male voice said. Masamune froze up. Isoroku really hadn't been lying
"Pig's foot." A familiar voice said. Masamune turned his head to look behind him and saw two hooded figures, each with a tactical knife in one of their hands "Do you want revenge for how Adagaki treated you back in the day?" Yoshino asked, pulling her hood down in sync with Yoshiro.
'Remember...play along, play dumb, and pretend to be scared.' The pretending to be scared part shouldn't be too hard. After all, he was scared. Who wouldn't be? He was immobilized and surrounded by two people holding knives. 'They're not gonna hurt you, they just want to scare you. Let them think you are, but don't let it mess with you.' Masamune told himself. Though when he took a good look at their knives, he gulped.
"How did you two even know my name was pig's foot anyway!?" Masamune asked, his voice strained. Thankfully he didn't have to act too much to come off distressed. Not only was he scared, but blood was rushing to his head as well.
The two didn't answer, Yoshino merely staring at him blankly, and Yoshiro staring at him with a rather mean smirk. It was the exact same kind of smirk Masamune had seen on the face of all of his bullies and it immediately made him hate the male twin. But, in the spirit of acting, Masamune faked the shock he'd genuinely felt back with Isoroku. "I used to see you two at Adagaki's mansion!" He said, pointing to the two. They seemed to buy it, Yoshino going over to the rope she'd knotted and cutting him loose.
He hit the ground with a thud, groaning at the pain. Yoshino and Yoshiro came to stand in front of him. "Our family has served the Adagaki's for generations. That's always been our lot." Yoshino said. Her voice was still high pitched like before, but it had a certain edge to it that screamed of apathy. She came off emotionless, like some kind of psycho.
'She's just trying to scare you! Remember that, she's only human!' Masamune said. But Yoshino was a convincing actor, and it was hard to believe otherwise.
"We have been their servants for over three hundred years." She finished, still staring at him blankly.
'So she really is Adagaki's number one crony, she was born into it.'
Masamune clenched his fists into the dirt. Part of him was terrified that they'd tell Aki, but then the other part of him remembered Isoroku's message about how they were trying to avoid telling Aki. His revenge plan still lived. But he still pretended like his whole world was crumbling around him, and that his plan was in jeapordy.
"Go ahead and laugh. I still have no regrets of trying to give Aki a taste of her own bitter medicine!" Masamune said, his voice sounding low and angry at first before rising to righteous anger.
"I won't laugh. Try it then." Yoshino said robotically, raising her knife as Yoshiro smiled wide. The female twin stabbed her knife into the rope by Masamune's foot. She stared into his eyes with her own wide, lifeless ones. "I'll even help you do it if you want." She said.
On the outside, Masamune was freaked out. He even was on the inside, but seeing her stab into the ground just gave everything Isoroku said more merit.
'They really are just a bunch of fakers, and I've got them completely fooled. Who's the one in control now?' Masamune thought in his head. Though he didn't show it, he was laughing and smiling wide at their ignorance. Because oh how he'd enjoy tearing them down right alongside Aki.
The very next day Masamune stood in one of the suspended overpasses that connected two of the school buildings. Below the overpass was a courtyard, and on one of the courtyard benches was none other than Aki Adagaki herself. Yoshino and Yoshiro stood nearby a couple of feet to the side of either side of the bench like some royal guard.
Though the actual "Guard" was attending to Aki. Mari Mizuno, the smartest and head of Aki's guard, was brushing one of Aki's pigtails. Sonaka Kaneko, the vice president of the student council and avid lover of Aki's misandrist ideology, was fanning her. Then finally, there was Kikune Kiba, the muscle of the group and a big kendo fan, was doing something for Aki's nails. Despite how all of them were rampant and extreme sexists, Kikune seemed to have a soft spot for Yoshiro. Masamune had certainly never seen anyone else be able to get Yoshiro to drop the tough façade.
"I have an idea Miss Aki." Mari said. "Let's have a tea party today. My father brought back some macaroons from his trip to Paris." She said. Aki had been sitting there the entire time with her eyes closed, letting the three pamper her. Though she did lighten her facial expression when she spoke. "Unfortunately, I have school beautification committee duties." She said cooly.
Kikune looked up at her. "You're amazing! You're so passionate about your committee duties." She complimented. Sonaka decided to join in as well. "Yeah it's incredible Miss Aki!" She gushed.
Masamune watched them all talk, unable to hear them, but figured it probably wasn't worth his time anyway. The two he was most interested in currently was Yoshino and Yoshiro. 'What are those two little gremlins up to? I can never trust them, but Isoroku did tell me to play along. Should I accept their offer? Maybe.' Masamune sighed, not paying attention to the two girls staring at him and blushing from down the hall. 'I should probably confirm with Isoroku later today. I'll see what he's got in store to help me out and move from there.' He decided.
Masamune turned to head back to class. As he passed the two girls who were gossiping to themselves, Futaba came around the corner with a large stack of papers. "Oh hey Makabe." She said. "Heading back to class?" She asked, seeming unbothered by the weight of the papers.
"Yeah." Masamune said. He saw that she didn't look bothered by the papers, but he took them anyway out of kindess. He may have been a bit of a narcisccist, but he wasn't rude to people like Futaba or Kojuurou. Besides, she worked hard as the class president and he figured it was about time someone helped her out even a little bit.
'Maybe I should ask her for her email to stay in contact. I Should probably do the same with Kojuurou too.' He thought. 'Hopefully I can also exchange emails with Aki as well...eventually.' He thought. "So Futaba." Masamune said, grabbing her attention. "I just thought to ask, could I get..." He started, pulling out his phone with his free hand. But when he saw that he didn't have a single contact in his phone, he froze.
'I really don't talk to anyone do I?' Masamune thought. All of his time was spent working out, watching his diet, and thinking about revenge. It had been his entire life for over eight years now.
"Are you okay?" Futaba asked. "What's gotten into you?" She followed up with.
Masamune snapped out of his thoughts and looked down at her, no longer just staring blankly into his screen. "O-oh. It's nothing, just got sorta...distracted." He said. Not really knowing how to better phrase it without sounding like a liar. 'If she got my email would she see how lonely I am?' Masamune thought to himself. That idea was humiliating.
"Let's just head back to class." Masamune said, hoping to get her off topic. He started walking before Futaba could protest, the auburn haired girl eventually following to make sure she kept up.
Once Masamune made it back to class, had given Futaba her papers back, and was on his own again he found Kojuurou in his usual seat. "Hey Kojuurou, got a pop quiz for you!" He announced amicably, grabbing both of the blonde boy's shoulders. "When you exchange email addresses the number of contacts you have will be visible to the other person. True or False?" He asked, internally sweating and hoping Kojuurou would say false.
Kojuurou relaxed from his suprised posture into his more usual easy going one. "Hah, well. I'm gonna have to go with false." He said.
"Tell me the truth. Are you sure?"." Masamune demanded. "Lying is the first step on a path to a life of crime!" Masamune said melodramatically.
"Why are you so worked up anyway?" Kojuurou asked.
Masamune wanted to slump in defeat. 'Because I've never done it before! Duh! Don't make me say it! It's embarrassing! That's good news at least. Exchaning email addressed won't expose how alone I am.' Masamune thought.
Futuba was exchanging words with another student by the classroom door and Masamune heard something about the school beautification committee loosing a member. He saw an opportunity, so he took it. He joined the committee, just making it seem like he hadn't joined any other committee's and wanted to be nice.
He saw Aki on the courtyard with the rest of the committee. She was holding a bucket for whatever reason while he had been given a spray bottle and cloth to clean the windows. He smiled and waved at Aki. But she just glared at him and walked away when Masamune turned his back for just a second.
'Oh come on! How dare you ignore me!' Masamune thought, clencing his bandaged hand tightly. Eventually he ended up alone in one of the classrooms on the top floor cleaning the windows. While he was alone, he had the opportunity to think and contemplate his situation.
'What am I even doing here?' He thought to himself. Then, he played a fake scenario in his head, using a mocking version of Aki's voice. 'Oh what a coincidence! This must be our destiny!' Makabe dropped the fake voice. 'I didn't expect that but she could have at least reacted a little bit.' Masamune thought, frustrated.
Masamune stopped wiping the window, pausing entirely as he thought about himself. 'I freak out over email addresses, I used to be a pig's foot, and I am deathly afraid of spiders. If anyone could see through me they'd realize how worthless I am.' Masamune thought, demeaning himself. The trauma Aki had left him with tended to do that to him.
'No one would ever want to go out out with the real me. Thinking I could ever make Aki Adagaki fall in love with me was stupid.' Masamune thought. Sitting on the desk he'd been leaning over and letting his head fall.
"Having some doubts?" A smooth voice asked.
Masamune sluggishly raised his head to see who'd spoken only to see Isoroku standing there. "How'd you find me? And how did you know?" He asked.
The older boy didn't look like an apex predator like he had the previous evening, nor did he look care free like he did when in public. He looked melancholic.
"You're not the only one who's dedicated their entire life to getting revenge." He said, sitting down next to Masamune and putting his arm over the younger boy's shoulders. "While you spent eight years agonizingly loosing weight, I spent years learning how to fight and how to best go undetected. If I'm in the area and you or Aki are nearby, chances are I'm listening." He said.
It was ominous, but the flat tone he used made it much less threatening than it could have been. "I'll keep that in mind." Masamune said.
"Good." Isoroku said. "Don't take it as a threat. Use it as a shield, knowing that if trouble comes your way I'll be there to help within moments." He said reassuringly.
"Oh...Thanks." Masamune said.
"So what's bothering you. You're obviously feeling down. Don't try and hide it, I'll know if you're lying." Isoroku said, giving him a friendly squeeze. Masamune went silent at his words. Almost every part of him was screaming not to say it. All the parts of him riddled with paranoia and trauma from what the bullies and Aki had done to him cried out.
"Masamune Hayase." Isoroku said, grabbing his shoulders and turning them both to be face to face. "Know this. From now on, I'm your big brother, and whatever you say to me stays only with me for as long as you wish. If wish for me to keep it forever, than I take it with me to the grave." Isoroku said. The previous intensity in his eye from the day before was back. Though it was different.
Masamune had seen the intensity of a lion salivating at the sight of a gazelle that didn't even realize the lion was there. This was something else entirely, it was an oath between brothers. "Thanks." Masamune said, feeling a sense of family he hadn't felt in a long time. "I just..." Masamune started, but fell short.
"Take your time. I've got a lot of patience." Isoroku said. "It's one of my best qualities actually." He said with a humorous smile. Masamune smiled lightly before sighing. "Just feeling worthless." He said, placing his chin on both of his hands.
"Why's that?" Isoroku asked, watching the doors to the empty classroom carefully.
"I freaked out earlier today over sharing my email because I don't have any contacts. I was terrified at the thought of anyone finding out how lonely I am." Masamune started. "Not only that but I'm deathly afraid of spiders. I made a fool out of myself in front of Adagaki because one snuck up on me." He kept going. "But to finish it all off..." Masamune really paused on this one. "I'm nothing but a pig's foot." He said lowly, bowing his head as the misery and sadness overwhelmed him.
Isoroku was silent for several seconds. He kept his back to the wall and his eye to the doors. "Who called you a pig's foot." He said lowly, almost sounding angry.
Masamune told him the story of how he and Aki met, and how it ended. By the end Isoroku was practically fuming.
"That arrogant, selfish, entitled, stuck up...sexist...harpy!" Isoroku ground out angrily, his fists clenched in anger as he stood up. He almost started pacing, but seeing that Masamune was still in the jaws of despair, calmed himself and put a hand on the freshman's shoulder.
"You are no pig's foot. Just look at how hard you worked to get into shape!" He said, patting Masamune's stomach. "And if it makes you feel better, we can share email addresses, just don't use my real name, have it be big brother or something. " He offered, looking Masamune in the eye to confirm. Masamune nodded.
"Good, now pick yourself up." The junior said. "Don't think for a second that you can't pull this off because you've already made it further than any boy who's ever tried." He reassured. "With my help, you will pull it off." Isoroku said, trying to pump Masamune up. It worked, the two boys standing and gripping the other's hand in a fist in between their chests. "You got this." Isoroku said.
They let go, and Isoroku pulled out his phone and they exhanged emails. Then, as the older boy was about to leave he spoke. "Don't forget to meet me later. I'm gonna help you feel more confident in yourself. Okay?" He reminded.
"I will." Masamune answered, feeling better about himself for now. He shook his shoulders as if shaking a cloak off his back and finished cleaning the windows. It had been only a few minutes since Isoroku left, but Masamune suddenly felt a pair of eyes on his back. He turned around to see none other than Aki herself standing there.
"It must be nice to be so popular." She said immediately, glaring at him.
Masamune was shocked to see her there, especially considering he hadn't heard her come in at all. She was sneakier than he'd thought, almost as good as Isoroku.
But Masamune recovered quickly, never one to pass up an opportunity. 'Oh my. What's this about.' He thought smugly. 'That sounded a bit prickly. Did I detect a hint of jealousy in your voice just now. Well isn't that just adorable.' Masamune thought, gloating to himself.
"I'm flattered you'd consider me popular." Masamune said with a smile, trying to imitate Kojuurou's smiles.
Aki seemed frustrated at his response. "Anyone else would after seeing that class rep giving you so much special attention." She spat back.
Masamune figured out what she meant. "It means nothing to me if a girl I don't like asks me out." He said blankly, not feeling the need to use inflection with that particular sentence.
"Oh? Is the same true for all girls?" Aki asked. Masamune fully turned around to face her.
"Not to the one I like." Masamune said, immensely proud of himself for how good that came out and for coming up with it so quickly. "I certainly would like to go out with you miss Adagaki." He said, leaving the ball in her court.
Aki stared unfazed for two seconds before answering. She tilted her head and closed her eyes, smiling innocently, and with a sweet voice said. "Thanks a lot!"
'Well done? Well done!? Yes! Well done Masamune! Good job kid! This is exactly how it's supposed to go!' Masamune celebrated internally.
"Oh no problem. I mean it." Masamune said, doing his best to appear genuine. "Then would you mind giving me your email address? I'll reach out to you sometime." Masamune offered.
"Happy to!" Aki said in the same innocent, friendly tone.
'Did I just achieve my goal with little to no effort! I'm a god! I'm the hottest guy on earth!' Masamune yelled in victory. It was all in his head of course, but still.
"Oh. Wait I just remembered." Aki said, temporarily stopping his parade. "My phone is unfortunately getting fixed at the moment. It was in need of some major repairs." She said, ending it with the same cutesy voice she used before.
"Huh? Repairs. Well I understand. Then just meet me here same time next week." Masamune said, taking her bucket for her.
"Sure!" Aki said, smiling gently before leaving the room.
Alright Masamune, now it's only a matter of time.