Monday, May 10th
"AH-CHOO!" Akira was just barely able to cover his nose with his sleeve, pulling it back while wincing from his broken nose sneezing while looking mournfully at his ruined Shujin jacket, his nasal voice echoing his disappointment, "Aw man…I just washed this…"
"Dude…you should've really stayed home…that's just plain gross."
"Ryuji, don't you pick at your ass hairs? Shut up man I'm perfectly—AH-CHOO!" The recoil from the sneeze forced Akira to fall into Morgana, who was ignoring the hell out of their conversation due to typing away on his phone. The two brothers tumbled onto the ground as Ryuji chuckled at the two of them while the rest of the student body moved around them.
Akira flashed Ryuji an infuriated glare as he lifted his hand, "You gonna help us up or?"
Ryuji examined his hands, a sardonic grin spreading across his face, "Do you really wanna touch the hands of a man diggin' in his ass?"
Akira gave a hearty cough as he continued, "Why the hell are you saying that out loud? And you do know you just admitted to that so I'm gonna use that against you forever—" Akira felt a foot jut against his back, forcing him onto his knees.
Morgana brushed himself off as he stood up, approaching his brother and pulling him up, "Look, I love you two, but for the love of God, I hate your shitty banter so goddamn much."
Akira surrendered a few sniffles of snot as he stood up, "Ha, little ol' Mona is just mad he can't be the only one to banter with me anymore! Ha—" Another fit of violent coughs came as the two of them swiftly backed away from him.
"And yeah, the monkey over here is right. You should've really stayed home, man."
Ryuji snapped his head, "Monkey?!"
"You did just admit to touching your ass man. I just say it how I see it. Well, hear it, I guess."
"You ever gonna come up with somethin' original? This monkey bit is gettin' old."
"You ever gonna come up with a comeback?"
Ryuji paused, "Tuche."
Morgana gave him a perplexed face, Akira would've shared it too if he was struggling to hold back a sneeze, "What?"
"Tuche. Y'know, that like, French thing people say when someone does better than them?"
The younger Kurusu stared at him with disbelief, "Dude…do you mean touché? And it's when someone says something clever or whatever…"
Ryuji gave a brief chuckle, "Right…I knew that. A-Anyway, Akira c'mon man, listen to the both of us. For once, we're in agreement. Just go home." Ryuji cleared his voice as he attempted to give it an aged quality, "Listen to the wise wisdom that Ryudalf is givin' you…"
"Oh my god not this shit again."
Mona flicked his eyes between the two as Ryuji stifled a chuckle, "I feel like I'm missing something."
Akira pushed past his brother, "Besides, me missing school? Not a day in hell. Shujin is a hell hole but I would like my education. And I've weathered worse, this is just the sniffles. Plus," Akira ruffled through his pockets, eventually yanking it out, "I have cough drops. The ultimate illness cock-blocker!"
Ryuji voiced one simple statement, "You're an idiot."
Morgana shrugged, "Agreed."
"You two only put aside your differences to hate me…that's actual insanity." Akira unwrapped one and popped it into his mouth, "See? I'm fine, I haven't coughed nor sniffed in a minute!"
A violent cough almost ripped itself from his mouth but he contained it at the last moment, his voice coming out in a strained whisper, "S-See? The cough drop stopped it…I am delivered from the sickness…" Clearing his throat, he turned toward the stairs, leaving his brother and best friend staring at each other flatly.
"Your brother is an idiot."
"I know." Mona took his departure but not before nipping at Ryuji once more, "Idiots gravitate towards each other after all."
"Hey!"
Akira Kurusu was not in fact delivered from the sickness.
His mucus and respiratory demons were fighting him and dear god they were winning.
In fact, not even a full twenty minutes into Kawakami's class, he had at least coughed ten times much to the annoyance of his peers.
And considering my peers hate my guts already I'm pretty sure I'm one cough away from becoming the next Aimi Yoshikawa…
Wait…
Why…
I haven't watched anything of hers in like…seven years…dude…
It's like this cold got me thinking like Ryuji…
Oh my god this ain't a sickness, this is an intelligence drainer.
Well.
I was already an idiot before.
Why the hell didn't I take the ride?! Because of seats?! SEATS?!
Man FUCK THEM SEATS.
Contrary to romantic films, standing in the rain does not elicit godly luck with the ladies.
The 'Composition Book' is a horrible film and I hope everyone apart of that production will suffer the most horrible fates imaginable with their bloodlines ending with the rise of the next eclipse for irrevocably fucking with my generation. I hope their blood boils and their genitalia explode—
That's excessive.
Genitalia explosions should suffice.
Akira felt his body falter. Another was coming.
Oh god.
I need another—
He pat his pockets to find nothing besides his phone and wallet.
Oh my god.
Another cough exploded from his mouth as he partially muffled it.
The reaction from his class was less than welcoming. Even Ann looked at him apprehensively.
"That little shit ruined our band program and now he wants to infect the entire school.."
"You see how smart he is at times? I bet that asshole probably engineered a virus that'll kill the whole school…We got to get out of here."
Oh man.
I'm not gonna lie…
I'm getting cooked…over a cough no less.
It's like every week in some form they one-up themselves with the rumors…baby fight club, I wrestle and mug fat people in back alleys…I blackmailed Kobayakawa with pictures of him at a BDSM pegging love hotel and…now I'm a mad scientist who seemingly infected himself with a virus to murder everyone in Shujin.
This school never gets boring, I can say that at least.
Out of all the voices that were probably perpetually talking shit, Kawakami's hungover them all, "Kurusu-kun?"
"Hm? Yes?"
"It seems like your cold is…putting you against the ropes, do you want to go to the nurse's—"
"Nah."
Ann turned around, "Akira…Kawakami-senpai is right."
He flicked his tired eyes between the two of them, "Look," Pulling himself up from his chair as he threw away his countless cough drop wrappers, "I know this level of sickness is bad for most people but…I'm telling you two, it's misplaced worried because I'm just built differ—"
Oh hey, the room is spinning. Cool.
WAIT WHAT?!
OH SHIT THE ROOM IS SPINNING
I AM NOT BUILT DIFFERENT I AM NOT—
Luckily Akira's dizzy spell didn't completely screw himself over and he was able to grab onto Kawakami's desk before completely falling.
Though that sealed his fate. She stood up, "Oh for the love of—Takamaki-san, Mishima-kun, can you two escort Kurusu-kun to the nurse's office?" Mishima jerked his head as he nervously flicked his eyes between Akira's crumpled form and Ann's exhausted face.
Akira weakly eyed Mishima with some form of disgust, "I'm fine—"
Ann sighed as she pushed herself up from her desk, scooping him up, "Yeah, yeah. Come on, Mishima-san."
Nervousness was slick in each of his movements as he undertook a portion of Akira's weight, the three of them moving out of the classroom with relative struggle.
Getting him down the stairs, Akira attempted to voice resistance, "A-Ann…come on…I'm fine!"
She grunted out a reply of disagreement.
"Well…can you just take me? I can walk by myself…" He gave a look at Mishima, "Don't wanna have this asshole's hands all over me nor do I wanna give him thanks…"
Ann chuckled as Mishima kept quiet, "Wow, for once you actually said something smart today."
Despite their statements, Mishima kept escorting Akira with Ann, eventually getting to the nurse's office and resting him on a bed. He was sweating bullets with a fever coming in.
After doing a brief examination, the elderly nurse ushered the two students out of her office.
Taking a quick moment of rest sitting down, Ann unleashed a flurry of yawns. She was tired.
Really tired.
Visiting Shiho every day was something she didn't mind, it was partially calming, and she enjoyed the fact that Morgana came with her too, but good god it was draining.
And she hated the fact it was just the two of them.
Before she could be completely dropped into her mind, she remembered Mishima still stood by her.
"Why are you still here, Mishima?"
"M-Me? I mean Kurusu-san is sick and I'm—"
"I meant at school. After what happened. After you helped."
His voice was shaking as he stuttered for a bit, "I…um…it's not the right thing just to walk away from mistakes, right? I-I have to atone, right?"
Ann released a sigh.
With a mutter under her breath, she pushed herself up, "Come on, I'm pretty sure Kawakami wants us to get back to class in a timely manner."
"I think it would be in your favor to take a few days off and stay home, Kurusu-kun."
Is it bad I want to yell at this old lady?
That's rude.
Yeah.
That's a dickhead move.
BUT—
Akira struggled to prop himself up, "B-But, exams start on Wednesday…I can't just take a few days off…!"
The older lady sighed as she wheeled her stool to her desk, quickly writing away on a piece of paper, "Seems that I have two idiotic children in my office today."
Two?
"In any case, your academic record is neither worth your health nor risking the health of this institution. Exams will be having make-ups before summer break, so that can be a solution."
"But—"
She rolled back up to Akira, handing him a slip that would grant him access to leave immediately, "That's final, Kurusu-kun."
Reluctantly he took the slip, attempting to find his footing off the bed as the door opened.
Although he expected the sight of Ann, instead it was Saya. She was clutching her stomach in faint pain, much like Saturday during their brief encounter.
The nurse spoke again, "Speak of the devil." She pushed herself towards Akira's senior, giving her a similar slip, "Now you two can go home and actually put some care into yourselves."
Saya looked at the slip with hesitation, "Suzuki-sensei—"
"I do not care, Nagase-san. Go home. Now."
The two teenagers gave sighs as they both attempted to leave Shujin, even if it mentally challenged them.
Saya kept noticing how Akira was dragging behind her, "Are you okay, Kurusu-kun?"
He quickly perked his head up, "Me? Pftt…I've been through worse."
"So I'm assuming that means I can't help you, huh?"
"N—AH-CHOO!" A flurry of sneezes came from Akira, each one having more recoil than the last, eventually ending with him on the ground. He was rubbing his ass in pain and holding his nose in pain, "Ow…"
"Yeah…let's get you home."
"I…don't need to be babied…and plus, a girl in my apartment is pretty…something."
You know this would be more believable if I wasn't struggling to pick myself up off the damn ground.
Oh for the love of—
"Oh, shush. Don't you want to study before exams start? This would be perfect!"
The offer enticed him. He was slacking on his English studies after all.
I mean…it is just studying…
She spoke up again, her hand extending above Akira to pull him up, "Don't tell me you were going to listen to Suzuki-sensei and actually stay home, were you?"
Grasping her hand, he answered, "Hell no. Please tell me you're good at English, though…"
"All superior marks."
"Nice."
"Nagase-san went home?" Makoto took a moment to actually believe the validity of that statement. It was…unusual.
Shiro continued, waving his phone at her, "Uh-huh. Remember how she was on Saturday? The nurse sent Saya home earlier today after taking a brief look at her."
Tora yawned as he straightened himself in his chair, "Would it be wise to commence a meeting today when she was supposed to bring the updated fundraising reports and paperwork today?"
A sigh drew itself from the leader, "No, it wouldn't. I knew I should've just done them myself…"
Shiro instantly responded, "Don't beat yourself up, Niijima-san! You've been doing so much work lately and you've been doing a wonderful job too…so don't bog yourself down with ideas of whether it should've been your responsibility."
Tora voiced a grunt of agreement, "Besides, what's one day to ourselves right? You, especially, deserve a little 'you' time."
Although reluctantly and with a moment of contemplation, Makoto eventually agreed to the idea. The three of them filled out the room as Makoto attempted to lock the door.
Tora bid them goodbye, mentioning his desire to go catch lunch with Iwai before the sun set and he had to go work at his beef bowl shop gig. Shiro and Makoto waved him goodbye as the former, albeit nervously, started up a conversation, "N-Niijima-san?"
She turned her attention towards him, "Hm?"
That seemed to only make things worse.
"Uh..uh…so…I was wondering…since we don't have anything to do today…would you…"
His voice started to drown out as her vision focused past him, instead locking onto Morgana Kurusu and…Kasumi Yoshizawa.
Oh?
After seemingly a drawn-out conversation, with Mona clearly being nervous, the two left down the stairs together.
"Excuse that thought, Shiro. I'll…I'll be right back."
His disappointment was immeasurable, instantly detectable in his voice as she was whisked away to follow her younger peers, "R-Right. I'll just…be right here! Not moving a spot until you get back!"
Morgana was, admittedly, exceptionally nervous as he walked out of Shujin shoulder-to-shoulder with Kasumi.
Dude, she's taking ME out! On a date!
Well, it's not a date.
Don't be weird.
It's just…
A situation where a young man and a woman will be hanging out together.
Yeah.
Yup.
Just…simple.
RAGGGHHHH WHERE'S MY BROTHER WHEN I NEED HIM.
SCREW THAT WEAK ASS COLD, I NEED HIS HELP, NOW!
Mona: You really went home, huh.
Kurusu 1.0: Is…is that not what you wanted…?
Kurusu 1.0: I feel like you're judging me rn.
Mona: *Ahem*
Mona: FUCK YOU AND THAT WEAK ASS COLD.
Mona: WEAK
Mona: PUSSY
Kurusu 1.0: What did you do now and why do you need my help?
Congrats ladies and gentlemen, this is what almost 16 years of brotherly co-existence and love brings you.
It's truly a magnificent sight.
Mona: Kasumi asked me to hangout with her today and I feel like I'm about to shit my pants.
Mona: Like visceral liquid dookie, bro.
Kurusu 1.0: Didn't need the visual but huh.
Kurusu 1.0: The redhead, right?
Mona: Yup.
Kurusu 1.0: Cool.
Mona: Cool?
Mona: COOL?!
Mona: YOU LITTLE DICKHWAD HELP ME
Kurusu 1.0: dickhead*
Kurusu 1.0: Look I'm a lil busy rn fighting demons and more just ask Ryuji
Mona: Asking that bumbling ape for help??
Mona: WHO DO YOU THINK I AM? IS THIS WHAT THE KURUSU BLOODLINE HAS AMOUNTED TO?! OH THE HUMANITY.
Kurusu 1.0: OKAY OKAY FOR FUCKS SAKE JUST TEXT UNCLE OR DAD
Kurusu 1.0: JUST STOP TEXTING BEFORE I COUGH ALL OVER YOUR FUCKIN BED MAN
Mona: You wouldn't dare.
It took a few moments, but Akira sent a picture of him over Morgana's bed with his tongue out.
Kurusu 1.0: You fr rn?
Mona: I concede.
You've bested me this once brother.
Watch yourself for I WILL have my revenge.
Anyway.
Mona: Uncle!
Uncle: yo
Mona: Could I ask for some advice?
Uncle: Ah…my young padawan seeks my help once again…what brings you to me this time, my child?
Mona: Ah, wise uncle…it's about the elusive entities known as women…I'm out and about with one.
Uncle: Oh shit
Uncle: Yeah, good luck bruh
…
My…my disappointment is truly immeasurable and my day is ruined.
Mona: WAIT WHAT
Uncle: I'm single for a reason dude.
Uncle: Oh, the camera's coming today btw
Mona: Unc—
Mona: Thanks.
Pocketing his phone, Morgana was left with the knowledge that truthfully…and genuinely, he was fucked.
Kasumi turned to him, "So…what do you want to do, Mona-chan?"
He started stammering like a dumbass, "Uh…uh…um…that's up to you! You wanted to have fun right? Any and everything you suggest is fair game!"
Jesus man it's like every time I talk to her my nuts just shrink to the size of Ryuji's brain…
'Any and everything you suggest is fair game!' GOD GROW A PAIR MAN WHAT DO YOU WANNA DO?
I don't think Yoshizawa is the type to like games…
"You like games? What a fuckin' nerd! I can't believe I wanted to hangout with you!"
Yeah. Let's not do that.
Seems my fantasy of a beautiful gaming queen will stay as a fantasy.
Food?
Can gymnasts even eat ramen or sushi like that?
…Is that really all I eat…?
Morgana dejectedly rubbed his stomach in worry as Yoshizawa rubbed her chin for a moment, coming up with a place, "Ah! Would you want to work out with me at the gym today? I have a meeting coming up soon, so?"
Oh.
Holy shit that's perfect.
"Sure."
That seems relaxing enough and with enough wiggle room for theoretical progression.
Plus, I get to burn off this damn sushi and ramen weight.
Goddamn it, I blame you Ryuji.
Morgana Kurusu was in fact running for his life on a treadmill.
He wasn't sure how, and even why, he became stuck in this situation.
The whole point, after all, was to just probably burn some weight off and still have fun with Yoshizawa. Not have an entire competition with her on the treadmill because his pride wouldn't allow him to lose.
Plus, there was anger he needed to get out over his brother and uncle being the most useless eligible bachelors in his life.
That and the fact that this remix of Aria of the Soul is complete ass water!
Why would you make such a somber and beautiful tune something akin to a battle tune?!
Come on! Have some grace!
For him to be technically out of shape and her to be a gymnast with a refined physique, he was doing a decent job keeping up with her.
Even if I'm sweating a thousand fucking bullets.
Yoshizawa, of course, was breaking a light sweat with a smile on her face, "Oh! Mona-chan, you're doing such a great job! I see you band types are well-conditioned!"
"Well—I mean…this comes—mainly from—Akira and I—getting conditioned and working out with—with our uncle!" It was pathetic but he needed every breath he could get.
"You have an uncle?"
"Y-Yeah! My uncle Hotaru! H-He's a good dude! Even—if he's a dick sometimes!"
Hearing him curse for the first time made Kasumi elicit a chuckle, which made Morgana feel a little tingly on the inside.
"Sounds like he's interesting to be around!"
"Yeah—I guess you could say—my whole family is! You got my dad—my mom—Akira…"
Morgana had kinda noticed it earlier, but it was more apparent this time with this mention of his brother, Kasumi's mood dampened a bit, "Oh! I've…I've heard how interesting your brother is! I…I've been hoping that doesn't extend to you too…"
Morgana couldn't help but look at her, trying to find the right words to say. Though those words didn't come as his focus on running failed and he dragged his foot against the treadmill, causing him to trip and fall. Within a second, Morgana's view became flipped as his lower body was flung upwards with his head careening to the belt.
Oh for the love—
Before he knew it he was slung into the wall.
"Mona-chan!" Kasumi hopped off of her treadmill and immediately came to his aid, along with a few patrons of the gym.
It took a few seconds, mostly spent on Morgana wincing and grabbing his back in light pain, but she was able to get him back on his feet.
"Ah…ow…I'm fine, everyone…" Morgana waved the randoms off as he attempted to stretch to get any kinks out.
Kasumi, on the other hand, started frantically panicking as she saw a crimson color, "You're bleeding! Mona-chan, I'm so sorry!"
It was a light scratch on his temple, nothing harmful or life-threatening, but you wouldn't get that vibe from the sheer guilt that was paramount on her face.
He quickly took his phone out, examining his face before seeing the scratch. He couldn't help but laugh in her face afterward.
She's really adorable.
"Yoshizawa-san, it's fine, I promise. Besides, it was my fault for losing focus."
"I shouldn't have said that in the first place…"
"Probably. But eh. Besides, those are misplaced worries, both on me and my brother."
She tilted her head, "What do you—"
"Akira's a jackass, sure, but…he's a good person. He's kind and helpful. Kinda." He lingered in her eyes for a bit before hopping back on his treadmill, "That's a story for another time though…" Gazing at the speed setting, Morgana presented Kasumi with a question, "Yoshizawa-san, how fast do you think you can go?"
Morgana was on the floor, completely out of breath as Kasumi stood hunched over him. He couldn't figure out how he did it…but he did. Fourteen miles per hour…
Didn't really amount to shit now since his legs felt like jelly and he could barely move.
The morning was not going to be a pleasant time, whatsoever.
But, at least he got to show off to Kasumi.
That has to be a win, right?
After some struggle, Morgana was able to get himself off the floor and go wash, getting his Shujin uniform back on as he finished paying the gym's fee for a set of workout pants and a band-aid since Kasumi kept pestering him about one.
3.994 for some gym shorts, a white tee, this children's band-aid, and some bum ass shoes…come on man.
I'll just bother Akira for money.
Mona met up with Kasumi outside of the gym as the robust congregation of Shibuya seemed to only get bigger and more lively while they were inside.
"So, what now?"
"Hm…I'm going home to study, you?"
A yawn came from his mouth, "Probably the same. Plus, I have to check up on Akira too."
"Right…listen, Mona-chan, about your brother…I'm sorry. I suppose…I should get to know him and give him the benefit of the doubt as I do with you."
He gave a brief chuckle, "Not sure if you want to give yourself a headache doing that. But it's fine, I get it. Just…don't listen to everything you hear. About him. About me." His eyes darkened as his mind harshly brought up Shiho.
She stepped directly in front of him, re-engaging him to her with her ruby eyes, "But…why do you two just take it? Why don't you try to fix your social perceptions?"
"I've thought about it. But there's no real point. People will think what they think. It is what it is and it's ultimately harmless at the end of the day. Akira knows about this more than me since he's used to it, so I tend to take his lead."
She paused for a bit, "So, you always follow your brother? What about standing on your own? And it's not harmless because it creates scenarios just like this one. Imagine if I didn't give you the benefit of the doubt, we wouldn't have this friendship."
Cool. We're friends.
"I don't always follow Akira. Hell, I barely do. It's just that in this situation…he knows what he's doing. And for that last bit, that's just more telling on the type of person you are."
She lowered her head, getting a bit lost in thought, "Hm. Interesting."
Mona had one little question in his mind, though, "Why did you give me the benefit of the doubt, Yoshizawa-san?"
His words broke her from her thoughts as she giggled, "That's a secret."
He couldn't help but give a grin, "Guess I'll be sleuthing around then."
She smiled at him as she started walking off, "See you tomorrow, Mona."
It was a spur of the moment but, "Right. Bye, Kasumi."
He waited for a few minutes until she was out of eyeshot, but Morgana let out the most gleeful yell ever. For a few minutes, he continued fist-bumping the air, not giving a shit about everyone passing by.
Except for one person.
"You know, you can come out now, Niijima-senpai." His tone was direct and cold. He knew she had been following them ever since he saw her reflection on the train to Shibuya. Honestly, ever since Akira told him about everything with her sister, he had been waiting for a situation like this to present itself.
He just got lucky.
It took a few seconds but she came from the opposite side of the alleyway, "I'm surprised you knew. I thought I did well…"
Morgana spun around on his heel, meeting her eye, "If good counts as reading a book upside down then I wonder what counts as great…"
Makoto obviously didn't catch his snark, "Great would probably happen if—"
"Oh, for the love of—why were you following me and Kasumi?"
"First name basis? Interesting."
Morgana's frustrations voiced themselves, "Can you stop being weird and explain why you were intruding on our privacy?"
"A notorious delinquent with one of the prized jewels of Shujin? Can you not see why I would be a little concerned?"
Morgana groaned, "Oh for f—" He sighed, "After the last month you seriously think I'm capable of, what, hurting Yoshizawa? Doing weird shit to her?"
Her eyes narrowed with venom in her voice, "I don't know what you're capable of anymore. I don't know what any of you're capable of anymore. I'm just being cautious."
He grit his teeth, attempting to restrain himself as he tried to exit the alley, but he paused.
"Niijima-senpai."
"I'm not going to—"
"I don't care if you don't trust us. I sincerely and truthfully don't. But stay away from my brother. And stay away from me. Go actually do your job now since you can't use Kamoshida as an excuse to sneak around and force yourself in people's business."
Finishing his piece, he left. He didn't know if she had a reaction to it or even if she would adhere to it, but it didn't matter. He got it off his chest at the very least.
For once he protected his brother.
It was a comforting thought that kept him at peace on the train ride back home.
Well, it did before he heard Ryuji's voice.
"Morgana?"
"Oh for the love of God. Why are you here…"
"I can't use the subway like any normal person?"
"I didn't know ape—" He sighed, "My bad. I'm just a little tired. What's up?"
Ryuji took a seat next to Mona, "Nothin' much I just…you think I could stay the night?"
Confusion littered itself onto his face, "Huh? Why? I mean I'm going to say no either way—"
"Morgana."
"I kid, I kid."
"It's just…Ohya. I dunno man, she's tryin' to force this little date between me and her, I have no money, I can't use my mom as an excuse since Ohya already called her…"
Mona shrugged, "Why don't you just…go on it? Is that such a hard concept that your girlfriend would want to spend time with you?"
Ryuji gave Morgana a double take with a brief huff of humor.
Then he throddled him by the collar, his voice barely above a whisper, "Listen here you little piece of shit, I have been with that girl every day since Thursday. Every wakin' moment I'm either with her physically, gettin' kisses in the hall, hugs in the hall, FaceTime calls, takin' her somewhere to buy some damn clothes, food, books, anythin'! She calls me in my sleep! You know how 'effin important my sleep is? It'll be in the shower! It'll be for the most mundane shit and I'm TIRED." Ryuji released him as Mona struggled to straighten himself out, "So is it such a bad idea that I wanna hangout with my best friend and his little shitty brother?!"
"Fine! Fine! Okay! You can stay over but you have to explain this whole thing to Akira. And you better hope to god he doesn't get you sick."
Ryuji hastily opened his bag, "I bought masks. I've been plannin' this."
Mona felt odd admiration towards the teen, "Huh. Good job."
He zipped his bag back up, "Oh screw off, I don't have time for your sarcasm."
"I'm being sincere though. Disgustingly."
Their train came to a stop, with Ryuji being caught off guard, "Huh. T-Thanks?"
Mona tapped him on the shoulder to alert him to get up, with ease the two of them navigated back to the apartment. Morgana couldn't help but think about how Akira was probably having the most peaceful sleep. Usually when he was sick, he would be completely knocked out.
Akira deserves it.
I hope—
Mona opened the door to Saya throwing a paper ball at Akira, his face already soured. The ball was just an extra shit stain on top of an already bigger one.
"WHAT?!"
"You said the sentence wrong again."
"Saya-senpai, I swear to god if you're screwing with me I'm going to—"
"You're going to what? You wouldn't do anything to lovely old me!"
Akira shot from his couch cushion, "I'll kick you in the shins! The fuckin' shins and I'll cough in your mouth!"
She shrugged in amusement, "Kinky."
"Wha—"
Ryuji and Morgana both simultaneously cleared their throats, "AHEM."
Akira snapped his head at the duo, "Oh. When did you two get here? Morgana what happened to your head?" A faint cough came from him as Morgana waved him off.
"I see you're doin' better to be yellin' at ladies."
"Funny. Very funny. Why are you even—"
Morgana waved a hand, "Don't ask, I don't think you'd get it. Oh and he's staying over today."
Akira nodded, "Oh. Sure."
Saya cleared her throat, "I think I'll take my leave…Akira, please, please work on your reading skills."
She gathered her stuff while Akira waved off her plea, eventually walking her to the door, "Yada yada. Get home safe."
The second he closed the door, all hell broke loose.
Morgana and Ryuji both stood behind Akira, stiff and faces filled with sheer shit-eating grins.
He didn't turn around, but he just knew.
"You two are looking at me, aren't you?" The silence told him all he needed to know, "You gotta be shitting me…"
"AKIRA." Morgana yelled first, "KURUSU." With Ryuji's voice coming in a swift second before they continued, "YOU ARE BRINGING BAD BITCHES INTO THE APARTMENT WITH EASE? HAVIN' STUDY DATES?!"
He miserably turned around, "Guys it's not—"
"AND WITHOUT CONSULTING US?! THIS IS A GRAVE SIN AGAINST THE BROTHERHOOD OF C.P.N.B."
"What the hell is a C.P.N.B?! I never agreed to join?! And when did you two even talk about this, you hate each other!"
Ryuji stopped his booming voice, "We hate each other but the brotherhood of C.P.N.B overtakes mortal hatred."
Confusion was paramount in his voice, "What in the FUCK does that—"
Morgana spoke, "Cursed Perverted Nut-Busters. Name is still pending. Another idea was Cursed Perverted Thieves of Lust. Not sure about that one though."
Ryuji grumbled, "It's a better acronym and flows better."
Mona sighed, "Ryuji—"
"Hey! Both of y'all! Shut the hell up!" Akira took a second to breathe, a sigh coming not soon after, "What does this brotherhood entail?"
Ryuji and Morgana both achieved zen like states of being, their voices becoming eerily similar in how soothing they were, "Ah. You're going to join us, brother Akira?
"Have you two been practicing this?"
Ryuji and Morgana spoke at the same time respectively, "Yeah." "No." They looked at each other but snapped their heads back to Akira, wanting an answer to their question.
"I'm assuming this is just gonna be an inside joke between the three of us and nothing more, so why not?"
"Oh thank god. Oh, and you're the president of this chapter and you have to recite the pledge."
Akira gave a double take, "A pledge—WAIT, PRESIDENT? WHY ME—"
Their voices at least dropped an octave, partly scaring Akira, "As a member of the Cursed Perverted Nut-Busters, we shall promise to uphold the values most important to the creed. To let our nuts hang and don't be bitches no matter the cost. To do what's in our hearts. Don't be a harsh rotten weirdo, too. We live by the creed and die by the creed."
Akira couldn't help but stare at the duo in complete shock.
There's..
There's no way.
Why do I find this oddly charming?
WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?!
Akira sighed as the two stared in his eyes, "Fine. I'll be president."
Ryuji coughed, "C'mon and say the pledge."
"I'm not saying—"
"Akira, it's not that bad."
"Morgana I'm not—"
"SAY THE DAMN PLEDGE!"
Ryuji's outburst jolted Akira with fear, "Okay!" Of course, hesitation filled him but with a groan he opened his mouth, "As the President of the Cursed Perverted Nut-Busters—"
Ryuji snickered, "Your official title is the Four-Knuckle Shuffle Officiator."
"Dude—"
"Stop strugglin' man, it'll make it easier."
Akira gave a lackluster grunt and reluctantly continued, "As the…Four-Knuckle Shuffle Officater, I promise to uphold the values most important to the creed. To let my…nuts hang and don't be a bitch no matter the cost. To do what's in my heart. To not be a harsh rotten weirdo, too. I shall live by the creed…and die by the creed." A shiver of self-disgust reverberated throughout Akira but it was too late.
He was cooked.
He was finished.
And he was apart of this stupid ass club. And the president no less.
But…
It's all in good fun.
"I hate both of you."
"We love you too Aki-chan."
A groan bounced through the apartment as he pushed past them, going to the kitchen to make another cup of tea, "We're not starting this shit again, man."
Whilst Akira was frolicking around the kitchen, the two boys maneuvered around the countertop with Ryuji speaking first, "So…"
With his back turned to them with his water boiling, he already knew where Ryuji was trying to go, "It really isn't like that. I went to the infirmary and she was there. We're both on an 'illness leave' now I guess, but we both know we're not missing exams so we decided to study together. Simple."
Morgana perked up, "You're staying home tomorrow, though."
"But I'm fin—"
"There's two of us and one of you. I think you've watched too many AVs to know how this is going to go."
Turning around with the pot, Akira grabbed his cup, "Mona, that is an absolutely awful analogy."
"It got the point across didn't it? Besides, just use tomorrow to go to Takemi's. You said she wasn't in her clinic after you broke her nose right?"
Akira nodded, "Yeah, something about a personal emergency. Whatever that means…" Although it was completely missed by the two of them, Akira shuttered as he thought about what he would theoretically have to do in order to…gain medicine.
In any other universe I bet my 'favors' to her are more pleasurable for the both of us.
…probably just me. She derives pleasure from my suffering.
Kinky.
"In any case, gettin' close to another member of the student council, one that Miss Prez is close to, is wild as hell but respectable…you see why you're the F.K.S.O?"
I'm pretty sure if you sound that out it sounds like fuckso.
I feel like that is intentional.
"Shut up, Ryuji." He took a sip, "So, how were your days?"
Ryuji instantly gave an answer, "Ass. But the last five minutes? Godly. Goated. Immaculate."
Akira gave a cheeky smirk, "You know the meaning of those words man?"
"Shaddup asshole before I tell Miss Prez you're pining for her friend."
"I'm not—"
Morgana was taking a few moments to contemplate how he wanted to word his day.
Of course the portion of Kasumi was wonderful but…Makoto's little trailing mission…that was worrisome.
But seeing Akira with a smile on his face laughing with Ryuji was more important. At least for now.
"Besides hanging with Kasumi, my day was decent I guess."
Akira gave a devilish sneer, "Decent huh?"
"Shut up. And no thanks to you, especially."
Akira faked being hurt as he clutched his heart, "But that was at least Pulitzer award-winning advice! Do you know how many lives I've saved with that simple word?"
"You and Uncle Hotaru legitimately are a bunch of frauds that I hope never feel the light of happiness."
Ryuji cringed as he went over to the couch, putting the TV on as he sat down, "Sheesh Mona, ain't that a lil harsh?"
"Oh come on, we've all said worse."
Ryuji shrugged in agreement as he flipped from the news, they were talking about the Madarame festival once again. After a few minutes of banter between the brothers, Ryuji had a question dawn upon his brain, "Akira, do you guys have washers and dryers?!"
The two Kurusus looked at him flatly, "Ryuji…"
"Don't look at me like that, just answer the damn question!"
"Yeah. Bottom floor at the very back of the building. You'd have to take either my card or Akira's to get back there though."
"Oh thank god, lemme get your card Mona," Reluctantly he gave him the card as he froze before he went out the door, "Don't we wear about the same size, Akira?"
He shrugged, "I think? My stuff might be a little bit big on you though."
"Eh. Who cares."
Much of the night went the same as before, games, food, sleeping, and yelling. And despite that similarity, Akira enjoyed every second of it.
A/N:
Well, a double upload huh. Sorry guys I got busy with my college applications and my college audition. I got into my dream college and yesterday I turned in my audition for their band so I have a helluva lot more free time. I'm probably going to put up a interlude between this chapter and twenty, just for a little breathing room.
BUT we are about to start the actual meaty shit I've been waiting to write! Hopefully chapter 20 will come next week but I'm not going to put that in stone just yet.
Good to be back everyone!