Saturday, May 15th
"Hey, kid."
Akira had just taken one step outside of Kawakami's classroom, attempting to bask in the happiness of a completed set of exams when…Iwai.
Fuckin' Iwai.
He leaned against the wall, clearly waiting for Akira. Ann stopped, clearly halting for his sake until he reassured her it would be fine to go off.
Akira sighed and gave him his full attention, "What is it now…?"
Iwai threw a hand around his shoulder, detaching from the wall as he directed the both of them towards the stairs, "Don't give me that tired bullshit, you asked for me to give you somethin' to do everyday…you don't get to be a chooser after beggin' like hell."
Akira shoved the hand off his shoulder, "Okay? I didn't think you'd actually give me shit to do no less. I just…I just needed a cover dude."
"A pretty shitty one."
Akira's eyes darkened as Ann manifested in his head.
I am not a good person.
"What do you want, man?"
Iwai stopped in the middle of the hall, stuffing his hand into his bag, ruffling and pillaging through it until he brandished a wrapped red gift. Presenting it to Akira's face, "See this?"
"A gift? I'm so honored…and to think I thought my exam efforts weren't noticed…!"
"Ha. Ha. So damn funny, kid."
Akira gave a shrug of happiness, "Thanks Iwai-senpai, I truly do try. My humor is the peak of my existence, it's the reminder that I'm actually a real human being!"
Iwai gave him a confused look, "Right…but uh…this is for someone. I kinda…kinda need you to uh…you know."
Akira eyed Iwai for a moment until a sneer came onto his face, "Don't tell me Munehisa Iwai is…in lov—"
"SHHHH!" Iwai punched Akira in the gut causing the boy to double over.
Akira struggled not to burst out into laughter while attempting to restrain the pain, "Bro there's no way that you of all people can't drop off a gift to a girl. Say sike, right now!"
Iwai shoved the gift into Akira's chest, restraining his voice into a whisper, "Look you lil snarky piece of shit. I'm not scared. I can't be around that area. Do this fuckin' favor for me before I make you a eunuch."
Akira clutched the gift, he was easily susceptible to Iwai's…persuasive nature, "R-Right…where uh…where do I have to go?"
Iwai straightened Akira out, attempting to remove the wrinkles from his uniform, "Oh my dear boy, I will provide you with that information in due time. Catch a train to Roppongi and…" Iwai scratched his head, "…I'll text you the rest ight?"
"Right…" Iwai departed as Kawakami poked her head out, catching sight of Akira.
"Kurusu-kun?"
"Hm? What's up Kawakami-sensei?"
She yawned a bit, it seemed her escapades were making her more and more exhausted, "That new guy…Maruki-san? He called you again."
Akira breathed out a chuckle, "Right. Tell him I'm sick or something."
She fully stepped out, her voice becoming a whisper, "Akira, trust me I get it. But this is something Kobayakawa wants you to do."
"Kobayakawa wants me to do something? Ain't he the same guy who wanted Kamoshida to not get arrested? The same guy who wanted to expel me, Ryuji, and my brother based on the words of Kamoshida?" Akira cleared his throat, "You know, I don't think, given his recent track record, me not wanting to follow a command of his isn't so bad."
Kawakami spat out a quick chuckle, "Fine. I'll tell him you…" Her eyes briefly lingered on the gift in his hands, "Had a date. But you owe me. And I don't think seeing him would be such a bad thing."
Akira scoffed at the idea, "I'm not going on a date I'm just doing a stupid ass favor. And seeing some half-baked loser who's going to regurgitate the same bullshit about mental health doesn't sound like a good use of my time."
Kawakami sighed as she paced back into her room, "Oh, tell Sakura-san I said hello when you get home, he left early today."
Akira breathed a disgusted groan as he fully took on the daunting task of being Munehisa Iwai's delivery boy.
This is just wonderful ain't it.
Akira was in Shibuya, annoyingly.
Iwai texted him once he boarded the train to Roppongi, telling him to go to Shibuya and enter the underground mall to buy some flowers.
Akira, with anger surging through his veins, moved with such swiftness to exit the train and board the nearest to Shibuya.
Why the hell didn't he just tell me this before I got on the train?!
Why the fuck would he forget flowers?! How are you trying to woo a woman and you forget one of the more important things!
You stupid damn jackass—
AHHHHH FUCK I JUST WANT TO GO HOME
I'M TIRED, I'M EXHAUSTED, MY DEMONS ARE WINN—
While being in the middle of an idiotic anger-filled monologue, Akira collided with a random person on the street, causing both Iwai's gift to fly out of his hands and the person's food to smash into the ground, getting stomped by the footsteps of the residential assholes of Shibuya.
Seeing the red box get destroyed with footsteps sent Akira into a fit of mental anguish as he pitifully crawled over to it, ignoring the filth on the ground and countless footsteps as he silently prayed for his life.
"Please, please, please don't let him castrate me God. I don't use it at all but please let me keep my family jewels. PLEASE."
Behind him, the sound of groans could be heard as the other person started pulling themselves off of the ground, "Aw man…my burger…"
Oh right. I did hit someone.
Akira pulled himself off the ground while holding the remains of Iwai's gift, finally getting a good look at the impactee.
The impactee was a lean man, probably not too much older than Lavenza. His hair was a mess and so was his five o'clock shadow. His tan blazer had all sorts of grease and ketchup stains all over it thanks to Akira. Hell, even his glasses were tilted to the side.
Great. I just ruined a businessman's outfit.
If I'm going to get cursed out, I should probably at least treat him to some real food instead of that BBB bullshit.
"Oh shit…sir I'm so sorry! I wasn't—"
The man dusted himself off a little, using his free hand to signal Akira's silence, "It's fine, it's fine. I wasn't watching where I was going. I don't even eat Big Bang Burger for god's sake…"
Akira tilted his head.
Perfect.
"I still feel awful…can I treat you to some actual good food?"
The man waved his hands, "N-No, it's fine! Hell, I should be treating you since your gift…" His eyes lingered on Akira's hands.
"Ironically, the best thing you can do right now is just take the food offer. It'll pay for the broken gift."
Please just take the damn food offer.
I'm not trying to explain how you inadvertently breaking a gift is going to lead to my cock getting snipped off.
….
How many times in the last month has my manhood been threatened…
Akira gently shook his head to release him from his thoughts, "Are you in?"
The man paused, "…Only if I can help with your gift."
Akira felt a little odd at his instance, "Uh…sir—"
"Just…let me do it. I feel bad."
The teenager sighed, sticking his hand out to the older man, "Fine. I'm Akira Kurusu, by the way."
There was a faint gleam of satisfaction in his eyes, something that Akira faintly picked on but ignored as he shook his hand, "Ushuro Tamashi. Nice to meet you, Kurusu-kun."
THIS DICKHEAD IS ORDERING SO MUCH FUCKING FOOD.
HE'S EVEN WORSE THAN ANN ON MY GOD!
It had only been twenty minutes since they were seated at Ogikubo and Tamashi had ordered at least five separate items and eaten four of them.
Before Akira could continue on with his mental stander, his phone blew up.
'Thee Delinquent Trio A Highlighter' GC
Ryuji: Yooooo!
Ryuji: Everyone ready for tomorrow?!
Right…I almost forgot…the exam celebration. Plus, it'll serve as an official way to celebrate Kamoshida downfall than Sojiro's apartment.
Akira: I mean, I guess.
Akira: Where are we going again?
Ryuji: Jeez dude, is your memory that bad? Remember it's some place Haru told us about? That hotel buffet.
Akira: Oh…right…right…
Mona: Did…did any of you ask her how much it costs…?
Ann: Did you jackasses really agree to this idea without asking her—
Ryuji: DO NOT SAY YOU JACKASSES
Ryuji: UH UH THIS WAS AKIRA'S GIG
Akira: Okay, okay just wait.
Akira Kurusu has added Elite Milk
I'm so happy they can't see that name…
Elite Milk: Hello?
Akira: Hey Haru. So…everyone had some questions about the price of this little…post-exam get together.
Elite Milk: Price?
Akira: Yeah…your idea of prices might be a little…skewered compared to ours, you know?
Elite Milk: Silly me, I forgot to say! I'm your senpai and I'm happy that you all have struggled through your exams with my help so…I was going to pay for the time slot of us there!
Ryuji: FOR REAL?!
Mona: WHAT
Ann: Excuse me?!
Akira stared blankly at his phone.
Akira: w
Akira: WHAT?! HARU WAIT—
Elite Milk: Oh, it's fine! I'm proud of you all! It's no worries!
Akira: Haru you can't just…that's not…but you just started really hanging out with us…we can't ask you to do that.
Elite Milk: That's why you aren't "asking." I'm doing it of my own free will!
Elite Milk: With everything that's happened with your exams…and the past month, I think you guys deserve a little relaxation. So, don't worry about the costs, okay?
Elite Milk: You can even invite some more of your friends if you wish.
Akira: I…
Akira couldn't help but stare in disbelief at his phone.
Maybe he wasn't wrong about Haru.
Which meant…maybe he wasn't wrong for listening to the drugged version of her.
Maybe I don't corrupt people.
Just…maybe.
A grunt came from Tamashi, "Hey, you okay over there?"
Akira lifted his head, "Hm? What makes you ask that, Tamashi-san?"
"Well," He took a momentary pause as he downed another serving of ramen, "At first you had the scowl of a million suns, then one of utter confusion…and now one of sheer disbelief. You good?"
Well one of those was directed at you and you haven't decided to stop placing orders so…no. I'm not.
Akira flashed a fake smile as he faintly brushed his cheek, "I'm good. Just kinda surprised at the actions of a friend of mine."
Tamashi took another slurp, much to the discomfort of Akira, "Oh. Well uh…what's up with the gift then? Not really the romantic season…kinda missed your chance a few months ago, Kurusu-kun."
Akira surrendered a fake chuckle, "Right. This isn't my gesture of romance though…I'm not so lucky in that department. This is for a friend. A really…really stupid ass friend who couldn't do it himself." Akira breathed a sigh as he mumbled underneath his breath, "Goddamn it, Iwai."
There was a sense of familiarity with that name with the flash that appeared on Tamashi's face, although it was missed by Akira.
The teenager gazed at the broken gift on the table with a deathly sense of humility and finality.
There was no way Akira's penis would come out of this situation unscathed.
Tamashi pointed at the gift with his chopsticks, "You know what it was?"
"I actually respect the boundaries of privacy, so no."
Please take a page from my book.
"Hm." Tamashi grabbed the gift, unleashing it from its broken confines, "Oh. A camera. Looks real expensive…top of the line…"
Akira felt daggers jut into his heart erratically.
THIS ASSWIPE CAUSED ME TO DESTROY AN EXPENSIVE ASS CAMERA?!
With shaky hands, Akira grabbed his phone and started typing up his farewell message to his little brother.
"Hm…you can probably get a really good deal on one of these somewhere in Akihabara…"
"I beg your pardon?" He quickly erased the message.
Tamashi examined it some more, "Yeah…Akihabara should have a shop where you can get one for a way reduced price…still top quality though…"
Akira placed his phone face down and stared directly into Tamashi's eyes, "Tamashi-san. Please. Please. Please, for the love of everything that is holy, bless me with this place."
He shrugged, "Sure."
Akira cleared his throat, raising his hand high in the air as he felt his life fuse with his body again, "Check please!"
"Not that I'm complaining…" Tamashi rubbed his satisfied belly with ease, "But did you have to interrupt my grub like that?"
"What's more important Tamashi-san, your food or the salvation of a young love that we can be blamed for ruining?"
And the prevention of my balls disappearing.
That is more important than your gut.
He nodded in agreement, "Fine, you got a point. It's the shop at the end of the street by the arcade."
The two walked in silence as they stepped inside, Akira marveling at the sheer size and technical awareness that lay hidden inside.
Tamashi tapped him on the shoulder, "So uh…it's in the back somewhere. Just follow me."
"Right…right." Akira trekked after him while staring at some of the monitors on display.
"Kurusu-kun?"
He took one brief gaze at Akira, soaking in his uniform, "I think I've seen your uniform before…"
Akira groaned, "Yeah…I keep forgetting we were on the news." He tugged in his uniform, "Yup. I go to the thee illustrious Shujin Academy…"
Tamashi winced, "Shit…I heard a lot of crazy shit happened there with that uh…what was his name…"
Akira's voice contorted with disgust, "Suguru Kamoshida…"
The two crossed aisles, "You knew him?"
"Nah, not really. All I could tell was that he was a dickhead though." He brushed his cheek, something that caught the eye of Tamashi.
"You got an itch or something in your cheek? Got something to do with your nose?"
Wow, someone actually being partially aware? Shocker.
"Oh! I see one of the cameras!" Akira scurried off, simultaneously ignoring Tamashi's words, to the wall at the back of the stare, examining Iwai's broken camera to find the most similar, "Hmm…"
Tamashi's hand reached out, grasping the most similar and brandishing it in front of Akira's face, "I'm pretty sure this is the one."
Jesus that shit is expensive…
Dude…reduced price my ass…
A sigh came from Akira as he pulled his wallet out. Well, he attempted as Tamashi pushed his hand down, "Eh, don't worry about it kid. You already paid for food, I might as well, right?"
Akira couldn't help but flash a smile, "You know, I think this might be the start of something memorable."
There was a little P.O box at the very front of the building Akira had painstakingly journeyed towards.
It didn't help that Iwai's instructions were complete dogshit and the building was utterly unremarkable.
There was a chaotic urge of Akira's to throw the shit into the P.O. box, but he didn't wish to actually buy the camera again this time.
A sigh came from him as he popped it inside, "Finally…"
As if on cue, his phone started to ring.
"Hey, you did the shit for me yet?"
"You do know constantly texting me about it doesn't make things any faster right? But yeah, I did."
"Good. Good…"
"So, since I did this favor for you, you wanna do me one?"
"Hell no."
Well, at least he's being honest. I suppose that's a good thing.
"Come on…you don't want some real food, Iwai?"
"What kinda favor involves fuckin' food dude? What type of weird shit are you on?!"
"Hey! Hey! It's nothing weird, it's just a little get together tomorrow. For exams and everything that happened with you know…"
Iwai paused for a moment, "Hm…I gotta pay?"
"Don't worry you broke bastard, you'll get to stuff your little paranoid mouth with no extra expense."
"Nice…I get to eat at your expense. How could I say no?" The obnoxious zeal was apparent in his voice, something that annoyed Akira to no end.
"So, you're coming."
He gave a verbal shrug, "Sure. Can I bring Tora too?"
"Does…does Tora actually eat? Does he even exist outside the confines of Shujin's politics?"
"Do you actually get any bitches, Akira?"
Where—
Where the hell—
"Shut the hell up man. Yes he can come."
"You didn't even fight back against it…damn…I finally shut you the hell up."
"Because I don't view women as objects of conquest. You gotta reevaluate yourself, Iwai…"
"Eat a dick."
"Why are you as another man telling a younger man to go eat a dick? Come on Iwai, you moving a little funny…"
"Y'know it's not too late for me to turn you into a eunuch. I got my uncle on my emergency contacts."
"You—"
The hair on Akira's neck rose.
Something was wrong.
With the speed of Hermes, he pivoted on his foot, whirling around to hopefully catch the source of his discomfort.
There was nothing though, Roppongi's empty streets glared back at him.
Akira could hear Iwai mindlessly mouthing away on the other side of the phone, but it kept turning into white noise as he tried harder and harder to analyze the streets.
I'm not tripping. It felt like…someone was watching me.
"Akira? Yo? You still there? I was fuckin' around about the whole—"
Akira cleared his voice, "Yeah. I'm good." He gave the area one last apprehensive gaze as he trekked towards the train station, "I'm just tired…I think."
Sunday, May 16th
Akira threw on a nice little flannel button-up as he rushed through the bathroom, grasping any and all of their cologne—only to be disappointed by their emptied natures.
"Morgana! How the hell do we have no cologne? What the hell do you be doing?!"
Morgana stumbled around in the hallway, having pieced together a nice black dress shirt with fancy designs from their father. He was smacking into the walls while hopping on one foot while the other shoe was being tied. Finally, he hobbled into the doorway, balancing on one foot, "Me?! Akira, those bottles were already practically empty by the time we moved in here! Blame yourself not me you damn scent fiend!"
Oh my god.
This little jackass is probably right.
Will I let him win this?
Hmm…the reasonable side is saying yes…
But the older brother in me…
"I barely even used cologne in Kyoto! I have no need for such a barbaric way of wooing women…I have the natural Kurusu scent on me…something you dearly lack, my touch-deprived sibling."
Akira took a gaze back into the mirror, ruffling his hair and attempting to settle on a style of hair.
Unkempt or…
Akira moved his hair some more.
Unkempt Lite?
He surrendered as sigh as Mona spoke, "Ah yes, the wonderful Kurusu scent of smelling like seven cans of bounce that ass and severe incel stench. You and Ryuji share it."
Wha—
Akira's nose took a quick dive to his armpits, taking a few sniffs to alleviate his self-doubt, "I…I don't—"
"And don't pretend like you didn't shower yourself with cologne everyday when it came to Mika man, you used to fucking stink. God, I can't believe mom used to actually fill your head up with that bullshit." "First off it wasn't everyday, it was sporadic and I didn't stink dude. Mom's advice wasn't bullshit. I got Mika didn't I? More than I say for you, I don't think even Sara Jay would come within five steps of you, little brother."
Morgana finally finished tying his shoe, yawning before continuing on, "You know, don't hate me just because I'm beautiful and don't have a vile stench. Maybe if you got rid of that dumb ass unkepmt yee-yee ass haircut and washed between your asscheeks, you'd get some bitches on your dick. Even Ryuji is outdoing you! Hell, maybe Lavenza might actually text you more and shit and Haru might bust it open for you tonight." Mona paused before turning around, his voice echoing through the hall, "Bitch~"
Akira stood frozen but finally self-realization hit him, "What?!"
I should've left it alone…
Fuck listening to myself.
Akira, subtly, was taking his words to heart as he looked at his hair once again, "Oh for the love of God…I guess the Four-Knuckle Shuffle Officator should look better…"
Akira took a few minutes to freshen up his appearance, grabbing the much neglected styling gel he had locked away underneath the sink.
He took one more gaze at himself, a tired and mildly disappointed Akira Kurusu gazing back at himself, "Well…I guess Igor would like this at least. Maybe Lavenza too…"
Oh who the hell am I kidding.
A rapid knock in the fashion of Last Reverie VII's victory fanfare yanked Akira from his mind, raising his voice for Morgana, "Mona! That's probably Ryuji!"
His voice replied back, "I got it!"
Morgana opened the door to be, expectedly, greeted by Ryuji's uncharacteristic subtle frown. "Ryuji? Dude, you go—"
With a sidestep, Ryuji revealed Ohya waving nonchalantly at him, "Hi, Mona."
"O-Oh, hi…Ohya."
The couple walked in, with Akira walking out to be similarly surprised by Ohya's presence.
Although it was usurped by Akira's slicked-back hair, which promptly caused Ryuji to burst out into laughter, "Dude! Again?!"
Even Morgana started chuckling, "Akira…"
"Shut up. The both of you." He cleared his throat as he turned towards Ohya, "How are you?"
She shrugged, "Tired. You?"
"Just swell." Akira took a look at his phone, "Alright, I guess you two made it perfectly since we gotta go."
Mona piped up, "Hey can I bring my camera—"
"Hell no."
Stepping foot inside of the hotel, Akira and company met with the rest of the group, with Ann gaining a less than stellar expression upon seeing Ohya.
Though Ohya's appearance was quickly pushed to the wayside by Iwai catching a glimpse of Akira's best attempt at cleaning himself up.
"Woah, who the hell is this?"
Akira's face turned flat, "Ha, ha. Real funny Iwa—"
Iwai looked around, genuinely concerned, "Where's Akira? That snarky little annoyin' jackass is nowhere to be seen…what a first…" Iwai stopped right in front of Akira, "But who is this pretentious lookin' dickhead…"
"Alright! We get it man!" Iwai scurried off to meet with Ohya, ignoring the annoyance he injected Akira with.
Though Haru came up to him quickly after, wearing a sunflower dress with a smile on her face, "If it's worth anything, I think your hair looks nice on you, Kurusu-kun."
Akira's surrendered an idiotic chuckle as he rubbed his nape, "Thanks, Haru. I really like your dress, if it's anything to you too."
The two lingered in each other's eyes, nervousness electrifying the air between them and freezing them…
It was awkward.
Shit.
What do I say?!
CPNB save me!
Luckily, Ryuji came strolling up to the duo with a less than stellar energy to him, "Why are the two of you starin' at each other like that? You look like a poor-ass Newgrounds animation from ten years ago."
Akira's face scrunched up as he realized the poking reference, "That's…kinda specific."
Ryuji ignored him and focused on Haru, "Right…Haru I'm sorry about Ohya comin'…she kinda heard about it and just wanted to come."
Haru smiled, "Why are you apologizing? I did say to bring people after all!"
Ryuji, albeit dejected, couldn't help but flash her an earnest smile, "Yeah…you're right."
Haru gave the both of them a smile as she went off to confirm their table and time slot to which Akira lowered his voice, "You wanted her to say something about Ohya leaving, didn't you?"
"Am I so wrong for wishin'?"
"…a little."
"I promise she's not bad man I just…it's so overbearin'…suffocatin'…she wasn't like this before…"
"It could just be as simple as her missing you dude. Or instead of coming to me…you could go to her?"
Ryuji faltered for a bit as he attempted to think of a witty comeback, but for once, nothing manifested. Akira smacked him on the shoulder, pushing him as he spoke, "Good luck."
Ryuji gave a grunt as he walked to Ohya.
Well.
Guess I momentarily solved Ryuji's bullshit.
Now…what about mine…
Akira pivoted on his foot, following the same path that Haru took, eventually finding her with a sheet of paper in her hand, most likely possessing their table number. Her expression was scrunched with irritation, something that Akira instantly wanted to solve, "Haru? You okay?"
She flinched as she turned around, "Oh! Kurusu-kun! I'm okay! It's just that our time is limited now…seems that someone important is coming soon…I really wanted to let you guys have as much fun as you could."
Haru lowered her head in faint disappointment, to which Akira placed a hand on her shoulder, "Hey, hey…let's just enjoy our time then. Food is food, right?"
Haru surrendered a faint chuckle, "Yeah. Let's go get everyone."
"So, how is everyone?" Haru's bubbly voice and sincere smile filled everyone with renewed energy.
Ryuji went first, "Eh…I'm okay. Just tired."
Morgana chuckled, "I'm not sure why, it's not like you spent hours studying."
He instantly shot back, "Oh come on! Did we literally not all study together?!"
Akira interjected, "Yeah but…did you study outside of that?"
Ryuji stammered, "I..uh…"
Ann snickered, "Of course."
"Hey! Haru's session was all I needed! She was amazin'!"
The heiress nervously rubbed her nape, "I don't think it was that well…"
Tora raised a hand almost as if he was in a debate, his voice being projected easily, "I might have to agree with Sakamoto-kun, I remember last year she gave me incredible tutoring during the summer exams that, quite honestly, without it I might've failed."
Tora failing? What the hell…? Are the summer exams that much worse?
Ryuji pumped a fist, "See! Yoshida-senpai gets it!"
"You know…I can't even lie, a lot of the stuff Haru went over with us really did appear on the exam. Especially the English stuff, lord I needed that." Akira stuck a fist out towards her, prompting her to give him a fist bump.
Haru gave him a shy smile as she pondered a question, "Speaking of which, how do you all think you did?"
Ann and Ryuji both apprehensively rubbed their necks as they avoided Haru's question.
Akira gazed at the two lazily, "Yeah, I guess we can gather what that means. I think I did okay."
Morgana shrugged, "Same."
Tora, Iwai, and Ohya all voiced similar sentiments as they typed away on their phones, seemingly working on another information dump from the depths of Shujin.
"Hm…I think I did okay as well. Although the math section started to throw me for a loop a little. In any case, we all passed and we deserve this break!"
Everyone gave similar voices of agreement as Haru paused for a moment before turning to Akira, "Um…this might not be my place, but…have you talked to Sakura-sensei?"
Akira and Morgana both snickered, "Hell no."
"But why?"
Akira mulled over his words partially, "Well…he…he's just an ass. Plus, I don't wanna be around him in any form or else people might connect dots and…yeah that wouldn't be fun."
"That might be true, but at least the band has a director right? Someone to keep it going."
Akira shrugged, "Yeah. Still an ass though. Like a humongous fat juicy ass."
Ryuji gave a grin, "No matter what you're always going to be a joker, huh?"
"I mean, I am a wild card aren't I?"
The deeper meaning was completely lost on Ryuji, "Huh? Dude, you lost me."
Haru caught the meaning with ease, "Ah…like in cards! You are like a jester with all your jokes but you are unpredictable."
Mona chuckled, "You know what? That might be another name for you."
Akira pondered on it for a moment but he chuckled, "Yeah, right."
Huh.
Joker.
Kinda has a nice ring to it.
A simple yawn came from Ryuji as he plopped himself back onto the fancy couches that sat at their table after venturing off to take a leak.
So far from what he had been able to tell, this place was sincerely an awesome place. The variety of food he saw…it made his mouth water. Hell even the toilets were awesome!
Although, he didn't want to eat until Haru ate, just out of formality.
Even if she's talkin' her ass off with Akira…
Gotta be nice.
Though those formalities didn't exist with Iwai and Tora, as the two came back to the table with massive plates of food.
I guess they're both in the same grade as her…it kinda makes sense…
Seeing the assortment of delicious food combined with the intoxicating scents made Ryuji's mouth roar with anticipation. He could barely hold it back.
Oh c'mon Haru…eat!
Ryuji was yanked straight from his inner dilemma as Ohya graciously sat right next to him, her face twisted with worry, "Ryuji? You okay?"
He gave a little shrug, "Yeah, just a little hungry after all."
Ohya gazed at him, "Then…eat? We're at a buffet after all."
"But ain't that kinda rude? The hostess hasn't even eaten…"
She, in turn, surrendered a shrug, "Still…"
His face went flat as he stared at her,
Yeah, real classy.
"So what are you gonna do?"
He shrugged, "I mean…"
He stared into her eyes, attempting to try and piece together his words.
Goddamn it Akira you've ruined my whole 'effin flow man! I can't express myself and now you've made me even weirder so I know her wannabe detective ass pickin' all the way up on this!
Ryuji picked up a dish from the center of the table, an idiotic smile forming onto his face, "I should eat!"
Ryuji shot from the couch as he went off to the buffet tables. Sure, on one hand he felt guilty going back directly on his word…but expressing himself with Ohya? Probably having an intensely uncomfortable situation with her in the middle of their celebration dinner that Haru organized? For them?
Yeahhh…probably not the best idea.
Ryuji's energy visibly crumbled a bit while he grabbed a few pieces of crab. If he was going to eat, he at least wanted to start with seafood first.
"Going for seafood huh? Typical…" Ann strolled up behind him, her plate—unsurprisingly—filled with crepes and a few slices of cake.
"Typical my ass…look at your plate! It's like lookin' at a six-year old in a teenager's body."
"Kiss my ass, Ryuji."
"What as—never mind."
Her eyes narrowed, "I guess screw me coming over here trying to make sure you were fine…dick."
Ryuji winced as he maneuvered to another table, "Sorry…been around Akira a little too much." He pursed his lips as he reviewed her words, "Wait…ain't no way it's that obvious?"
"Only a monkey as dumb as you couldn't tell something is obviously wrong with you. And I know it isn't just the fact you're hungry."
His stomach roared as he nervously chuckled, "I can tell you've been around Mona a lot."
She mumbled under her breath, "Of course…he's the only one who actually tries to be around me."
Ryuji picked up on it but Ann swayed the conversation before he could attempt to cover his ass, "Anyway, what's up Ryuji? Don't tell me Ohya's draining you dry? Making your brain emptier than it already is?"
"Ann—"
"Right. Sorry." She took a bite out of a crepe, "Seriously, speak up."
Ryuji sighed as he didn't find anything appealing from the table, instead electing to go to a sushi one instead, "I dunno…I guess…I mean, Ann you know I'm not…the best at expression? It takes me a while, you know? I'm just…"
"Not comfortable with a lot of things. With a lot of intimacy and all that. 'Cause of your dad, right?
A euphoric wave of relief washed over him, "Thank you! You get it! It's just that she's like, tryna move so fast and get so…close to me that's it's uncomfortable, y'know? If I can barely do that shit with my best friend…"
"Then it's impossible with her, right? But…why is that?"
Ryuji paused for a moment, thinking on the question, "You know…" He wasn't sure if he could bring it up.
She took another bite, "Hm? C'mon, spit it out, we don't have all day."
Ryuji fished up some sushi as he thought about how to carefully navigate this potentially disastrous mine-field, "Well…the last time I was…ever vulnerable to someone who wasn't my Ma before Akira was…"
Ann aimlessly stared at her plate, instantly understanding where he was getting at, "Me. On my couch the night before…"
"Yeah. Then everythin' with King Dick-head happened and then you just shut me out. None of the shit we used to do existed anymore. I was like a stranger to you, someone who's guts you hated."
She kept her eyes downcast as she sighed, "Ryuji—"
"Shh, lemme finish. I understood though and I get why. But…even with all of that, for some stupid ass reason I feel bitter? Hurt? Which is kinda why I think I'm so against bein' vulnerable." He paused for a moment, throwing a quick glance to Ohya, who was downing her food, "Then her…even though it was mutual, she just…threw me away. Then…she just randomly came back and now I'm just supposed to love and care for her with open arms? I dunno…I think it makes me sound resentful but…eh. Akira's a different story. From everythin' that asshole's told me, we're basically two cheeks of the same ass, so it's easier there."
Ann aimlessly fiddled with the last crepe on her plate, surrendering a grunt of agreement, "Yeah. I hear you." It seemed there was something else on her tongue but she swallowed it, "Ryuji…your feelings are valid. Don't get it twisted. Although…technically you were just vulnerable with me…so why can't you do it with Ohya now?"
He paused, letting the question soak in his gut before attempting to come to a conclusion, "Even when we dated before, we weren't that close, y'know? It was just typical shit we did. But me and you? That's somethin' different, I think. Plus even with all the bullshit, you've always been annoyingly easy to talk to."
Ann gave him a faint smirk, "It's a skill."
"Right…right…you gonna eat that cake or—"
She protectively pulled her plate away from his general direction, "We are literally in a Five-Star top-of-the-bill hotel with an amazing buffet! Get your own!"
"You just forced me to spill my guts! Lemme get a reward!"
"Forced my ass! You decided to bust prematurely like a midget porn-star, I'm not giving you a damn thing! Get your own!"
The two started to bicker, much to the annoyance of the other patrons, but that didn't matter.
For the first time since the weeks preceding Kamoshida's attempted assault, the two of them felt normal again.
Neither of them felt that it was right…it felt as if they weren't supposed to be this easy-going with each other, especially with so much regret and resentment between them, but…god it felt good.
They missed this.
They missed each other.
She missed him.
Haru and Akira had been talking for what felt like hours.
The two had been bouncing off each other quite well, getting adjusted and used to each other's kinks and blemishes.
Hell, the chemistry between them almost circumvented their want to eat.
Almost.
Haru started to double over, clutching her stomach while she descended into a fit of laughter—Akira did the same until their stomachs roared in hunger simultaneously.
Akira surrendered a nervous chuckle, "H-Ha, I guess our stomachs can't wait anymore, huh?"
She returned his chuckle with one of her own, "I guess they're twins?"
He grabbed two plates, holding one out for Haru to take, "A match made in heaven I must say."
She gracefully took the plate, a smile beaming on her face as she made her way to a plate decorated with different sorts of poultry with Akira in tow.
After a few seconds, Haru spoke up, "So…Kurusu-kun—"
He corrected her, "—Akira."
She nervously chuckled, "Right…I um…I just wanted to ask if you were okay.
He held his head in confusion, "Huh? That's kinda…random. I'm fine?"
She gave a smile, "That's not what I meant…I mean…when it comes to me."
Oh shit.
Akira placed some chicken teriyaki on his plate, nervously chuckling, "What do you mean?"
She grasped another piece of chicken, taking a few bites before gathering the will to push forward, "I mean…are you actually comfortable being around me?"
Akira gave a brief chuckle with a grin beaming, "I'm here aren't I?"
She wiped her mouth with a free napkin, "That's not what I mean, Akira…"
"Then enlighten me, o wise Haru Okumura to what you wish to learn."
She snickered before her face became serious once more, "Don't avoid the question, you know what I mean…"
His mood darkened, feeling as if he actually might've hurt her feelings, "Like I said at the park,I'm managing. But I don't have an issue being around you at all, I want you to sincerely believe that. It's just…" He paused, pondering on how to word his next line of speech.
Although they were both on opposite sides of the room, Akira and Ryuji were two idiotic peas in a pod.
It seemed as if they were best friends for a reason after all.
"Like I said, if you're around me too long you might change your assessment of me being a good person."
Haru's face darkened with visible pity towards his words, "Akira—"
He raised his free hand in order to quell her words, "But…I can't just decide to push you away. You want to be my friend, and I want to be yours. Life isn't nothing without risks, right?" He took a brief respite before giving Haru a toothy grin, "Besides, pretty women are my weaknesses, remember? I can't refuse you even if I wanted to."
Once again Haru's face became beet red, but this time she jabbed back with a smile on her face, "Can't refuse me huh? Good to know. And you're so corny Akira…that isn't always going to work on me."
He gave a gleeful shrug with a sly grin, "Worked this time didn't it?"
She jabbed him in the shoulder playfully, "Oh, hush!"
The two went back and forth as Morgana, with a face rife with disgust, stared at both them and Ryuji and Ann.
He gave a groan of annoyance as he tapped away at his phone, mindlessly drifting to tables and grabbing a small amount of food.
Lady Kasumi: Sooooo
Lady Kasumi: How's the thing?
Mona: It is
Mona: boring
Lady Kasumi: Why??
Mona: Besides the fact I couldn't bring my camera to make my mockumentary on Ryuji today?
Mona: Kinda just
Mona: Everybody here got someone to talk to or joke around with alot, you know?
Lady Kasumi: Just kinda feel lonely, right?
Mona: Ehhh I would've said I feel like a stoic action hero from the 80s butttt that works just as well.
Lady Kasumi: Haha
Lady Kasumi: next time you won't be
Mona: Maybe
Lady Kasumi: Wow so even if I'm there, you'll still be lonely?
Mona: What
Mona: Wait huh
Lady Kasumi: If I was there, would you be lonely?
Mona: What does this hypothetical even mean? You aren't here so…
Lady Kasumi: Morgana…I'm saying IF there was another event where you had a group of people, I would be there. Now I just don't know if you'd still be alone or not.
Mona: OH
Mona: Oh no I definitely wouldn't be alone anymore lmao
Lady Kasumi: Good to know :)
Morgana couldn't help but smile gleefully at his phone.
Well, until a boy with blue hair collided with his shoulder and sent him to the ground, his plate of miscellaneous food spilling all over his clothes.
A grunt of pain came from Morgana as he rubbed his stinging ass as the tile left a nasty impression upon his backside.
Well that and the steamy and hot food that was slightly burning him.
Mona looked up, at least expecting to find the perpetrator kindly sticking a hand out for him to grab.
But nope, that wasn't there nor did he see the person at least standing in front of him.
Oh come on! At least take credit for this jackass!
For some reason, all the other patrons of the hotel simply passed Morgana by. Nobody batted an eye or even cared.
He gritted his teeth and launched himself off the ground, whirling his head around to look for mop of blue hair.
Got him.
Morgana's angry stomps projected his presence throughout the hall, something that—even though they were both equally across the room—Akira and Ryuji both easily picked up on.
Akira groaned, Mona's anger was surging throughout his face, "Oh no…"
"Akira?" Haru's face was rife with confusion.
He gently placed his plate down, "Just give me a minute, I'll be back."
He started to scurry off, something that Haru joined him in quickly.
Morgana eventually halted right at the boy, "Dude, what the hell?! Are you not gonna say sorry?" His voice fell on deaf ears, "Hello?!"
For the first time, the boy spoke, "Hmm…this selection of food doesn't seem to quell my appetite…how can someone's selection of edible materials be so monotonous and uninspired both mentally and nutritionally…"
Wha—
What the hell is this guy going on about?
Morgana for a moment stood stiff in his tracks but quickly regained his flare, "Hey! What are you going to do about my shirt? This is expensive!"
For once, the boy gave a brief side-eye to Morgana, only remarking, "Hm. It's rather lacking to be expensive," before going back to the trays of food.
That, as expected, sent Morgana over the edge.
"Okay, dissing me is one thing, but my dad's shirt?!"
Luckily, both Akira and Ryuji broke through the crowd of people staring at the two boys, which mentally he remarked as odd, "Hey, Morgana! Relax!"
After getting a good look at Mona's 'opponent', Akira couldn't help but shake the fact he had seen him somewhere before.
The younger Kurusu snapped his head at his brother, "No! Screw that! This asshat just insulted dad's shirt after ruining it! Look at these damn stains man!"
Ryuji winced at the ruined shirt as Akira pushed him back a little, "Look I get it, but having a little bitch fit right here isn't the move. Remember Haru probably called in a lot of favors for us to be here so—"
The boy spoke up once again, "The shirt was already a travesty before I even graced it with my presence."
This provoked Mona even more as he tried to get closer to the boy but Akira easily held him back, staining his flannel as well.
Ryuji on the other hand pointed a hand at the teenager, "Hey! You are not helpin' dude!"
The boy continued once more, placing some greens on his plate, "Help? One such as I doesn't require help, especially from either of you." He took a brief pause as he pointed at Akira's head, "Especially the one such with such a…ill-considered styling of hair."
Akira instantly paused, little twitches of subdued anger attempting to loosen themselves on this boy.
Akira hung his head, "He…He just had to mention the hair, didn't he." His voice dropped to a whisper for only Mona and Ryuji to hear.
Yeah.
Fuck him up Morgana.
Akira loosened his grip on his younger brother as Akira gave him the biggest shit-eating grin he could muster as Ryuji tiredly shook his head, "Y'know, I don't blame you for wantin' to tear this insufferable little shit apart."
The boy started nibbling on his greens, "Insufferable feces? I don't think I smell horrible. Quite on the contrary, however you three—"
A man attempted to part his way through the crowd, directly addressing the boy as he cleared his throat, "Yusuke? What in God's name are you doing provoking the help?"
The trio's faces each contorted into one of immense confusion and disrespect, with Ryuji being the first to speak, "Help?! The hell? We're just tryna eat here like the rest of y'all and this…this douchebag caused my friend over here to spill his food and ruin his clothes! He—"
Akira clasped his hands over Ryuji's mouth once he got a clear view of the man, but there was no need as Ryuji's muffled rant instantly dissipated as he realized…he was talking to Ichiryusai Madarame.
Yusuke…?
HOLY SHIT THE ONE FROM THE NEWS?!
Ryuji must've connected the dots in the same way since he connected eyes with Akira, both with the same sense of being starstruck and intense regret.
Oh…
Oh shit.
I gotta save this huh?
Akira Kurusu…to the rescue once again.
Akira cleared his throat as he retracted his fingers from Ryuji's mouth. The both of them attempting to clean themselves off while Morgana still, unsurprisingly, was irritated as he started impatiently talking his foot on the ground, "What I think my good friend means is that…my younger brother was trying to gather himself some food, just like anyone else in here, when Kitagawa-san here collided with my brother. While he was unscathed," Akira paused as he pointed from Yusuke to Morgana, "My younger brother was not. This shirt was a parting gift from our father so…"
Haru and Ann finally broke through the crowd themselves, with the former speaking up, "Morgana? Are you okay?"
Madarame's eyes lit up with a sort of inquisitive nature as he saw the heiress to Okumura Records right before his eyes. He cleared his throat as he slapped his hands together, responding to Akira while actually making eye contact with the older Kurusu for the first time, "I see I see…" He tapped Yusuke's shoulder, "Tell you what, me and Yusuke will graciously replace your departed father's shirt while also allowing you and your friends to have a day out with Yusuke, buying and eating anything you'd want."
Yusuke looked at Madarame as if he wanted to object but the latter gave him a gaze that shut him down. Madarame looked at Haru, "That extends to you of course, Okumura-chan."
Haru gave a couple of nervous giggles as she waved her hands, "Oh! There's no need for that Madarame-senpai."
"I insist! It'll make up for all the times your father used to buy things in my stead! Have fun with your friends." He gave a sincere smile that Haru replicated.
Even with all of this, Akira couldn't help but look at Ryuji. It seemed the two of them had a similar thought in their head.
"Doesn't this seem…weird?"
Before they could continue with their mental tangents, Morgana and Ann both piped up, "Thank you, Madarame-senpai!"
The elderly man gave a brief smile before speaking one last time, "How about meeting Yusuke at the Underground Mall at Shibuya after school ends on the 22nd? Then you guys can go wherever afterwards."
Morgana spoke once again, "Great! Sounds like a plan." He turned towards Yusuke, "Uh…sorry about what I said."
"It's fine, your vulgarity passes me by."
The master and pupil left as Ryuji remarked, "I guess we know why we lost our time, huh."
"Yeah."
"Does…does he seriously think our dad is dead? And…do we look like the help? Jesus Christ, do we stink?"
"I don't think you guys stink."
Akira mindlessly replied, "Yeah, thanks Haru."
Eventually, Ohya, Iwai, and Tora came up, "What was all that about?"
Akira sighed, "Nothing."
A/N:
So. After launching another AU fic, making it into my college's marching band program, registering for dorms, finishing my high school marching career, moving, and entering my final quarter of high school…I've finally returned. Sorry for the long wait guys. But my schedule is considerably more freed up so expect some form of semi-consistency!
Anyway we're getting into some pretty exciting stuff now! I wasn't lying before. Here's to Yusuke being the lovable weirdo we all know and love.