Hello, my dear readers :) The new chapter's up and I thank you all for favoriting, following and reviewing this story.

I just wanted to remind you that this story isn't going to strictly follow the canon storyline since it focuses on the family stuff XD

That being said, have fun!


'I.'

Gakushuu stares at the single letter displayed at the top of the history of calls. Of course Karma would be a shady little shit and save phone numbers under codes or initials instead of actually writing out their names. Why make things easy when he can make them confusing?

Duration - 2 minutes, 18 seconds. That's not very long. And yet his brother seemed more irked than a mere 2-minute conversation should have made him.

He scans the rest. Under it are older calls, none of them with an actual name either but at least providing some clues - he's pretty sure that 'Gender-kun' refers to Shiota and 'Trouble 2.0' to Nakamura - however, 'I.' tells him close to nothing. Could it be the Roman number one? Or the capital letter i?

Then, one name pops up that starts with an I.

Before he has time to look up the contact or search Karma's phone for any previous conversations or messages to confirm his suspicion, the devil himself walks into the dining room. Gakushuu stashes the phone into his sleeve, face perfectly even.

"Did you see my phone somewhere?" Karma glances around, puzzled.

"Didn't you leave it in the kitchen?" Gakushuu stands up and heads straight to the counter where he picked up the phone earlier. Gently, he puts it back behind one of the used pots while pretending to look for it.

Karma follows his lead, moving things around until they both find it.

It barely takes any effort for Gakushuu to gaslight his brother into believing he merely misplaced it and didn't notice. If he were any other person, he'd probably be worried about how easily and unapologetically it came to him. But then again, he's Asano Gakushuu and this is Akabane Karma he has to deal with. This little asshole literally drugged him last time.

All's fair in this hell called siblingship.


The initial paranoia about being watched that Gakushuu felt in the presence (and absence) of his father slowly fizzles away, only to be replaced by a different observation:

While Gakuho has always utilized his time to the fullest, working and doing his reading no matter where he was, he recently took that focus to a whole new level. Gakushuu doesn't see as much as he senses the shift, the seriousness with which his father approaches whatever goal or project he has taken on filling the air around them. It unsettles him, especially because the chairman seems more on edge than ever, pressuring not only Gakushuu but also the rest of the school. Yet no matter how much the boy tries to catch a glimpse of the papers or manipulate some information out of his father, it's all to no avail.

Meanwhile, finals slowly approach them. The stakes are higher than ever, the last exams before graduation looming over them like a heavy cloud.

Gakushuu returns to hosting study sessions again and while his classmates and virtuosos join him, motivated to defend their title of being class A students, it's not hard to tell something's weighing on their minds. After thinking it through and consulting the issue with Ren, they come to the same conclusion and decide to bring it up with the rest.

"It's difficult to keep working with the mindset of being extraordinary when class E is closing on us, isn't it?" he asks them at the end of one such session.

The vulnerable admission renders the entire room silent. Which is alright - Gakushuu didn't expect to be met with much apart from denial or indifference in the first place. After all, he himself only came to the realisation barely a week ago, through a series of (traumatic) life-changing experiences.

However, much to his surprise, they meekly nod in agreement. One after another, the students and virtuosos confess their true feelings: That they feel threatened, that their status of being at the top no longer means much to them and that all the sneering and talking down on class E stems from an underlying feeling of insecurity.

The truth is - they all feel intimidated by the rapid growth of the E-class and at the same time respect it. They want to improve that way, not stay stuck in the same ignorant mindset reinforced by the school. After all, this whole year has shown them plenty of times that sticking to such fixed, narrow methods results in stagnation, all while class E keeps growing.

Gakushuu bringing this subject up gives them the courage to acknowledge that. Until then, each student felt alone in their confusion. They were still clueless teenagers after all, merely searching for their way in life. Having their leader stand by their side took away from that desolation.

Ever since that conversation, the morale improves significantly. His classmates slowly let go of the hatred and focus on themselves more, on honing their skills and extending a helping hand to fellow students instead of indulging in the cutthroat competitions. They look at each other and the E-class students with less jealousy and rather ask themselves what they can learn from those they used to scorn.

And this change doesn't go unnoticed.

In combination with whatever the chairman's busy with, their non-conformity results in his irritation peaking and the virtuosos getting called into the office. Still, Gakushuu remains confident in the newly established mindsets and bonds when he walks there with them. He relays everything he and his classmates (friends? Was it too early for that? No? Okay.) agreed on to his father. About their opinion of the E-class, of their own class, of the chairman's teaching methods. They stand strong, together.

He doesn't think anything can break that. Not even those three minutes he gets asked for by the chairman, the mere three minutes his father wants to talk with the virtuosos alone.

Yet the universe decides to laugh into his face and pulverize that belief the very moment Gakushuu steps back into his father's office. What he finds there horrifies him.

"W-What did you do?!" he screams, rushing to his friends' side. Their faces are ashen grey all while muttering gibberish and no matter how much Gakushuu tries, he can't break them out of the haze.

The room fills with toxic miasma as Gakuho declares: "I just fanned the flames of their hatred" He smiles to himself, violet eyes colder than ice. "It only takes a whispered word or three for those 'connections' of yours to collapse."

Gakushuu bites his lip, itching to argue with the chairman. What he sees reflected in the virtuosos' eyes isn't hatred - it's fear. The oppressive, paralyzing terror that this monster had brutally etched into their brains.

"The strength I teach is nothing so fragile," Gakuho states, dismissive of the glare his son casts him.

At that, Gakushuu can't help but scoff.

This? This is what he calls strength? This primitive reflex, short nothing of self-preservation? Of course the students' resolution buckled when faced with the chairman's intimidation tactics. Every person, no matter how strong or resilient, has things they dread and this man particularly specializes in bringing those fears up and using them against his opponents.

With a heavy heart, Gakushuu is left with no other option than to let the situation unfold. He remains hopeful though and checks on his classmates later in the afternoon, trying to offer comfort. The words don't come easy to him, the concept of openly caring for others still novel, so it takes at least ten minutes until he finally sends a coherent message.

Unlike the last few days, his father comes home that evening and stays there. However, the two of them don't exchange a single word and eventually end up holing themselves up in their own studies. Gakushuu silently locks the door to his room despite it being an unspoken rule to never lock doors in this house, skin crawling and sticky with the poison from the chairman's office. Not even a long shower later does it go away and neither does the pressure in his chest.

Maybe it's the air. He opens the window but even as the outside wind grazes his face, the temperature drops and Gakushuu's practically shivering, breathing does not get easier. He bitterly realizes then that this kind of stuffiness can't be fixed so easily, so he gives up the effort and returns to his textbooks.

As much progress as Gakushuu's made in rewiring his own thoughts and not letting himself be consumed by the chase for perfection, he still can't get rid of the habit of overanalysing his own academic performance and capacity to lead and inspire others.

Honestly, he's been doing a good job. Objectively and from what the virtuosos told him too, he's been making a positive change and helping their classmates regain their footing. And yet, Gakushuu feels more powerless than ever. He doesn't remember ever being this exposed and vulnerable and unsure of what he's doing. Long gone are the times when victory simply existed as an inseparable part of his being – right now, he feels like he's scrambling to even qualify as a functioning human being.

It's ridiculous. After all this time passing since his first loss and all the hearts-to-hearts with Karma, he shouldn't be struggling to regain a sense of identity anymore. The pathetic craving to confide in and lean on his brother once again twists uncomfortably in his stomach, but the prospect of it fills Gakushuu with deep shame. After all, he should have his things together by now.

And he has been, sort of. Until recently.

Must be the exam stress, he concludes. Resting his head in his arms for a moment, Gakushuu inhales and exhales deeply and allows the tension to slowly untangle from his nerves. He's been studying for over three hours by now and probably deserves a small break, so he reaches for his phone and checks for any new notifications.

Two new messages: One from Ren and the other from Karma.

Ren's text includes a response from all four virtuosos. Gakushuu reads the lengthy paragraph about how they still believe in him, about their desire to stand with him no matter what. The fact is still, however, that the words the chairman imprinted into their mind won't be leaving any time soon. And that's understandable. Gakushuu would never expect anyone to willingly put themselves into the direct line of fire of someone as merciless as his father.

Karma's text, as always, is coded. Gakushuu almost throws the phone at the wall after deciphering it. No way did he just waste 3 precious minutes of his life on an 'I have an inkling you would look good in a maid dress up'.

Hell yeah, he would look good, he looks good in everything.

Still, this silly little intermission brings a smile to Gakushuu's face.

Don't you dare. He replies.

Karma ends up sending him a series of photos of said maid dress (apparently initially meant for Shiota, but it turned out to be too big), the abomination frying Gakushuu's brain and rendering him useless for the rest of the night.


The next day, his father turns up in their class. Like the calm before the storm, the chatter in class A melts into eerie silence before the chairman himself announces he's personally overseeing their education.

Ten minutes into the lecture it becomes beyond obvious that none of the students can keep up with his speed. Gakushuu sees sweat falling down from their foreheads, the spasms in their hands from writing too much, too fast. It pains his heart to witness them gradually reduced to tremors, their genuine motivation to improve replaced by crushing pressure from the chairman. It's yet another moment when Gakushuu kicks himself internally for never noticing the absurdity of such an approach and even promoting it.

Is this truly the essence of education? Cramming textbooks for short-term achievements and burning out in the process?

Just when he's about to say something, his father stops him in his tracks.

"Asano-kun? You can go home and study on your own. With your skills, you will keep the top spot if you just stay on your guard," the tone sends shivers down his spine, leaving absolutely no room for negotiations.

"I will be the one to lead everyone upward," the man declares and then turns to the blackboard again, shutting any potential complaints down.

Gakushuu gathers his belongings and complies, mind whirling anxiously. What can he, alone, do at this point? His only chance at being heard is to secure the number one spot as always but even then, he'd merely be playing into his father's hands. It becomes painfully clear now that Gakushuu no longer holds any power over the course in which the students at this school go and has little influence over the well-being of his friends.

And so, only one option remains. While it makes the most sense, it also proves to be the hardest decision he's made.

Relying on someone else.

Nevertheless, here he stands, the school's number one, the definition of pride itself, bowing his head to the E-class and asking them for help. He starts on a bad note, the bad habit of putting on a mask of arrogance to hide his discomfort setting some of the E-class students off. But as he explains further, more sincerely, they start to recognize his concern.

"You can only gain so much strength in hating, scorning, misleading your foes," he says and the admission tastes so strange on his tongue.

The E-class drops their initial scepticism and acknowledges his request with a smile.

Karma, on the other hand, is a different case. While the redhead definitely likes seeing his brother unpretentiously asking for help, the fact that he bowed his head and actually asked for help terrifies him.

Not knowing how to approach this disturbing phenomenon, Karma goes for what he always does when uncomfortable: He tries to brighten up the situation. And so, he sticks out his tongue, spites Gakushuu and completely destroys the mood.


"To my defence, I was freaked!" Karma reasons upon being confronted about that incident. The screech in his voice makes Gakushuu squint, them sitting in their private spot in the forest presenting the only reason he's not hitting this obnoxious siren yet.

"It was plain disrespectful." Gakushuu rolls his eyes.

"Disrespectful? Who's that? I don't know her."

"Don't you meme me, brat."

"Oh my god, you know what a meme is," Karma gasps and proceeds to fake wiping away a tear.

This time Gakushuu does not hold back and gives him a smack on the arm. His brother hisses, drama queen that he is, despite there being a wide grin on his face.

The smile finds its way to Gakushuu's lips too. It's nice to be together again, after weeks of them both being held up by their studies. Breathing comes a bit easier too, the stress of preparing for exams and the mess surrounding their father melting away. Yet somehow, the uneasiness stubbornly sticks at the bottom of Gakushuu's stomach.

He can't quite put a finger on it. Apart from the tension between him and his father, the fatigue from being stuck at home studying and the loneliness of having no contact with his friends or brother…

'I.'

I̶o̶r̶i̶.

"I can hear you thinking," Karma states out of nowhere, pulling the strawberry blond from his train of thought.

"Funnily enough, I can never say the same to you." Gakushuu counters on instict.

"I bet you're just scared I'm gonna kick your ass tomorrow in the exams," his brother teases back. Then, he drops the playfulness and raises an eyebrow: "So? What's up? You kinda look shit, no offence."

Gakushuu very much takes offence to that. However, he can't deny Karma's words as he's quite aware of the dark circles around his eyes and the wilted posture he's gradually adopted.

"I guess I've been going overboard with the studying," comes as an answer. It isn't the entire story, but Gakushuu doesn't give Karma the time to question it, instead turning the attention around: "You look tired too. What's going on on your side?"

He intended to ask anyway, since he noticed the little devil seeming a bit down, no matter how much he tried to hide it behind the banter. Gakushuu feels guilty at that moment, realizing just how much he's been focusing on his own problems instead of checking on Karma.

"Still can't fool you, huh," his baby brother sighs, face slacking.

Gakushuu ruffles his hair.

"I watched you grow from day one, idiot."

"Yeah," he sighs, looking into the distance.

"So you going to tell me what's bothering you?"

He watches as Karma shifts nervously, plucking strands of grass out one by one. The redhead still doesn't answer, so Gakushuu tries to encourage him:

"I know I've been a terrible older brother… but I'm here for you. You can tell me."

Karma lifts his gaze from the ground and meets violet, conflicted. He knows that his brother won't judge him or press any further if he decides he doesn't want to talk about it. And frankly, he wants to confide – all his worries, the uncertainties that have been plaguing his mind for a while now. Not just school, but what's awaiting him in the near future.

Koro-sensei's assassination.

March is only a few calendar pages away and soon, he - the whole E class - will stand between two choices. Kill the one who gave them hope, a home, taught them what it means to trust... or let the world be destroyed. It was too easy to make jokes about it with the class, always so light-hearted and so carefree... so easy that they at some point forgot that they will, in fact, have to kill him.

"I, uh,..." he feels tears building up. "It's just... I have never had all this," he starts, careful to not disclose too much sensitive information. "The E-class. Friends. The sense of belonging. I never thought I could feel that anywhere. Until now."

"Okay," Gakushuu patiently nods.

"I don't dread waking up and going to school anymore. I don't feel alone there," his tone softens, "but at the same time, I'm so afraid because I might lose that all soon. And I don't think I can- I don't want to go back to the way it was before."

"This isn't just about graduation, is it?"

"No…" Karma confirms.

"I'm not stupid, Karma. Ever since the incident on the island, I knew there was something big going on in your class," Gakushuu says, breaking the silence about this topic for the first time.

"I won't ask unnecessary questions if that's what you're being so tense about right now. I'll just choose to believe that one day, when you're ready, you will tell me. But from what I have seen," Gakushuu looks up at the clear sky, remembering how tight the E-class students are, "the bonds you share are genuine. It'd need more than the end of the world to take that away. They're your newfound family like you once said, isn't that right?"

A family he will probably never have, a part of Gakushuu bitterly thinks, but he shoves that thought away because right now, Karma matters more than his own intrusive thoughts.

"So I have no doubts that whatever it is that's awaiting you, you will overcome it. It may be hard at first, but eventually, you will. You guys are strong."

Not only class E. Karma especially. Over the last year, he's grown into a person that Gakushuu could only be proud of.

"Thanks, Gakushuu," Karma whispers, leaning on his shoulder.

"Anytime, little brother."


And so, on this beautiful afternoon, the two of them rest their souls, for once shielded away from the cruel world outside. The familiarity of their safe place, this little meadow in the middle of nowhere grants them the very much needed opportunity to let down their guard.

However, that proves to be a mistake, as they don't quite notice one thing.

A bit further behind, a certain unhuman teacher observes them, putting one and one together.

"Brothers... huh?"