Complete summary:

"Alright, hold on a second. Let me take a guess. You just arrived in the big city, completely clueless, and you went from being part of the majority to a mere subpopulation in just a few hours. You said goodbye to your seaside home to end up in the equivalent of a broom closet with not much more to your name than a shipwrecked sailor, am I right?"
Kuroo Tetsuro, 22 years old, like his entire family and every person he has ever met, is a beta. When he arrives in Tokyo, the only place in the country where betas are just a mere subpopulation among others, he naively believes that statistics won't change much in his life. Gross miscalculation on his part, and he quickly realizes it when he is thrust into a completely unfamiliar world governed by an absurd set of rules, where he has to question everything he ever knew, about justice, love, and himself.

Main pairing : Akaashi Keiji/Bokuto Kōtarō/Kozume Kenma/Kuroo Tetsurō

Tags: College AU, Non-traditional omergaverse, Polyamory relationship, Dystopia, Slow burn, Fluff and Angst, Found Family, No smut, Non-explicit Heat/Rut, mention of abuse (TW chap by chap), mental health issue.

If you read this, welcome to CATO.

So, this is the translation of "CAPE : le club des adorables parias emmerdeurs", 'cause I wanted to do it for a while, and why not? English is not my first language (you can maybe guess that based on the 400k story I wrote entirely in French), but I hope you'll still enjoy the ride!

Chapter 1: false start

So began the first day of the rest of his life. At 22 years old, Kuroo Tetsurō finally felt purely and simply free.

As he set foot on the Tokyo ground for the first time, he knew. He knew instantly that every minute, every second of his existence gathered to fulfill one purpose, and one only: to bring him here. He raised his head and took a deep breath, letting his lungs fill with the air that had the sweet scent of promises kept. All the work he had put in over the past few years had finally paid off! He had to stop for a moment to regain his composure, standing in the crowd. He smiled and clasped his hands as if in prayer and closed his eyes. He held back from shouting out of pure joy, but couldn't contain the triumphant smile that formed at the corner of his lips.

He was more than a thousand kilometers away from his hometown, and yet, he felt at home. He had spent more time in the car getting to the airport, sandwiched between his two younger sisters in the back seats while his mother was tirelessly imparting a whole bunch of advice as if they were the Ten Commandments, than in the plane itself. However, he had the strange feeling of having traveled billions of miles, and that sensation alone was priceless.

After he obtained his bachelor's degree in sciences, he finally succeeded in getting into the University of Tokyo. And not just any way, mind you; he had been selected based on his record to join the international master's program in science, specializing in biochemistry and physics. His classes were set to begin in a few days, and he was already bubbling with anticipation!

He took his sunglasses out of his pocket and adjusted them on his nose with as much style and nonchalance as possible. He had promised himself that he would approach this new life with style.

He was cut short in his mental slow motion when he was pushed aside by what appeared to be the illegitimate lovechild of Godzilla and a wardrobe. When he looked up, Kuroo realized that Godzilla Jr. was in the company of all his friends, certainly all worthy descendants of some other legendary monsters or mighty furniture. Although he had had heroic moments in the past, the brunet wisely decided not to confront them.

"Alphas?" he thought fleetingly.

His theory was finally confirmed when Godzilla-kun looked him up and down with disdain and... amusement ? He turned back to his peers, not forgetting to mutter a very polite, "Fucking betas."

Kuroo stopped, surprised by what had just happened. It was probably the first time in his life that his secondary sex had been offensively used against him. He tried not to take it too personally and continued walking.

Kuroo was, like all members of his family, and like ninety percent of the people he had encountered in his life, a "beta." Of course, even on his island, there were a few alphas, and surely one or two omegas had crossed his path at a certain point in his life; he hadn't been raised in the forest either.

He had done his research before going to the capital. He had learned that while betas made up 80% of the population almost everywhere in the provinces, in Tokyo, the numbers were closer to 50% betas, 30% alphas, and 20% omegas. More than in any other place in the country. It didn't particularly impress him; his secondary sex had never been an obstacle for him. He learned some of the basics about secondaries in school or on the internet but figured it wouldn't directly impact his life. In any case, he decided that it wouldn't ruin his day. Kuroo Tetsurō wasn't one to give up so easily! So he readjusted his backpack on his shoulder and continued on his merry way.

-/-

So began the first day of the rest of his life, and perhaps his life would end like this. At 22 years old, Kuroo Tetsurō, all things considered, would like to go back home because the world here was a little too terrifying for his taste. Moreover, Murphy must really, really have a serious grudge against him. He couldn't see how his situation could be explained otherwise. Seriously though, Kuroo was a scientist, so he had considered all possible scenarios before coming to this conclusion. If he had to retrace the course of events, he would say that his misfortune had started the moment his feet touched this cursed land... Or maybe when dear Godzilla-kun bumped into him.

After this quick incident, Kuroo went to collect his suitcase with his most cheerful stride. Ah, how he had waited in front of that conveyor belt, with the same fear gripping his stomach as when a child loses sight of his mother in a supermarket aisle. He had waited for an hour... In vain. He went to the lost and found counter, but there was no sign of his luggage anywhere. He was advised to go to the airline counter with his luggage number. Kuroo rushed through the entire airport, his heart pounding in his chest. In his head, the very famous but nevertheless macabre phrase "all unattended luggage will be destroyed" kept looping.

Destroyed? With the astronomical number of hairspray inside, Kuroo feared that if they were to destroy his suitcase, it would cause a colossal explosion that would certainly obliterate Narita Airport from the face of the Earth. Plus, with the amount of food his mother had packed inside, he was certain that it could become deadly projectiles when launched at high speed.

Out of breath, he finally reached the counter of the Bystraya Malenkaya ptchka airline, where a tall, blond man greeted him with a smile. Kuroo smiled less when the man answered his question in Russian. Very politely, but still in Russian! After several minutes of confusion, two flight attendants, a security guard, a dog, and a grumpy old man, someone who spoke decent Japanese and Russian arrived. He was then told that his luggage had been accidentally placed on a plane for Moscow. Well, that was fairly logical, right?! It was the kind of thing that happened regularly! Especially on a domestic flight of barely an hour and a half! All things considered, Kuroo had to admit that choosing a foreign company for a domestic flight wasn't his greatest idea ever. Well, he now had to wait for his suitcase to be returned to him, hoping that it wouldn't end up exploding into small pieces at Moscow airport after being mistaken for a suspicious package.

What saddened him the most was that this traitorous suitcase held hostage not only his toothbrush and clean underwear but also all of his hair products. Without them, it wasn't just his artistic styling that was in jeopardy, but the very essence of his own identity. "New style for a new life," he had tried to convince himself. After all, he still had his backpack, wallet, and phone, he would definitely manage, right? Plus, facing the Tokyo subway for the first time without his suitcase could only be a blessing, he thought.

Indeed, he didn't miss his suitcase when he found himself sucked into the bustling subway, but it turned out that his own weight was too much as well. He had never been in such close quarters with so many people in his life. Internally, Kuroo thought that this could probably be the closest thing to torture. And he wondered with an unparalleled intensity why so many people could endure such a fate daily.

He had been so focused on maintaining his mental health that he had ended up missing his station, and then the next two while trying to extricate himself from this human entanglement. Once out, he chose to walk, determined to not return to the subway's hellish depths. A little fresh air wouldn't hurt him after all!

This statement had been one of the most absurdly false things his mind had ever formulated. Why? Fresh air? In Tokyo? One of the most densely populated cities in the world? Seriously, Tetsu!

Very, very poor judgment of distances on his end as well: while he had vaguely expected a 30-minute walk to reach his main route, he was completely dumbfounded when Google announced a nearly two-hour walk to reach his destination. Well, what he didn't admit to himself was that while the basic route was indeed 34 minutes, it was no longer the case after the many detours he took while trying to orient himself in the city.

Again, the young man didn't let himself be discouraged! He was quite athletic, and a few miles through the urban jungle could be somehow fun! It would surely allow him to explore his new natural habitat. Indeed, the beginning of his journey went rather well, his phone served as his guide, and the bustling streets had something magical and exciting in his eyes. However, his euphoria faded very, very quickly. As fast as poppies withered after being picked. Today, it was Kuroo, the poor poppy, torn from his innocent nature, trampled on and reduced to a pulp. His battery had finally run out, and his phone died with the last light of day. Downtown and its benevolent lights had also abandoned him. He found himself alone in a residential area with houses all more identical than the others, without the slightest idea of where he was or the direction he should take. He had tried to ask for directions, but while seeking information about his geographic location, he had instead learned that human beings could not only grunt but also bark, and that was not pleasant at all.

Note to self: do not approach a lone omega, at risk of being barked at by a territorial and angry alpha. The only problem was that he had absolutely no idea how to identify secondaries, so his resolution was closer to a "do not approach anyone."

He had held on until now, but his mood was seriously beginning to deteriorate. He stopped, disheartened, and gazed vacantly into the distance. It was pitch black, he had no way to orient himself, and he was cold and hungry. And he was so alone. He felt his heart tighten, heavy with a void that seemed to slowly suck him in. Kuroo let out a heavy sigh and started walking again, dragging his feet dreadfully, not even looking where he was going. Lost in his thoughts, he didn't saw the wall coming straight at him, and he ran into it at full speed. When he looked up, he was surprised to discover that it was not a wall, but another Godzilla-kun, much bulkier than the last one. Panic instantly overwhelmed him, and he immediately took off running to escape the potential wrath of Godzilla-sama. Even when he realized that no one was following him, he didn't stop, even when his legs started to hurt, and he felt like his lungs were on the verge of exploding, he kept running.

His run only came to an end when he turned into a small alley and found himself trapped in a dead end. His legs finally gave way, and all his dark thoughts surged violently within him. His brain began to race, spiraling with anxiety, the content of his thoughts worsening with every passing second, becoming darker and more absurd. He tucked his head between his knees, taking deep breaths to calm himself. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, in...

"Are you okay?"

Kuroo opened his eyes again, seized by the electrifying gentleness of that velvety voice. Slowly, he raised his head. His heart skipped a beat, certain that he was facing the most beautiful creature the earth had ever borne. Before him stood a young man dressed in all black, with pearly skin and jet-black hair. His delicate and graceful features were painted with deep serenity. Kuroo struggled to catch his breath as his gaze locked onto the mysterious stranger's, shaken by the mystical intensity of the two onyx eyes facing him. The stranger held eye contact for a moment before slowly blinking, causing his long black eyelashes to flutter.

"Uh... Better?", Kuroo said, still unable to divert his gaze from the young man in front of him.

The stranger smiled, amused by the brunet's response. He extended his hand to help Kuroo stand. Kuroo took it, and once on his feet again, he thanked him with a nod. The young man reciprocated the gesture and spoke again.

"May I ask what brings you here? You seemed a little... distressed."

"Oh... yeah," Kuroo swept his gaze around the alley. "Um, I got lost. It's my first day here, you see, and it didn't really go as I hoped..."

Kuroo laughed nervously.

Mr. Fatal Beauty nodded, and his velvety voice rose once more.

"May I invite you inside? Perhaps a hot drink will do you good? We could figure out together how to get you back on track."

"Inside?"

The mysterious stranger nodded and pointed toward the street before setting off. Kuroo followed him.

He was surprised to discover a small shopping street with brightly lit shop fronts that adorned the night as he exited the alley. Kuroo followed the handsome stranger until he stood in front of a coffee shop. The shop, with ivy-covered cracked walls that seemed to have spanned several decades, was nestled between two ten-story buildings. Its black frontage displayed the words "Fukuro Coffee" in golden letters. When the brunet entered, he was immediately captivated by the soothing atmosphere inside. Large leaves of winding climbing plants contrasted against the black walls. Large golden light fixtures adorned the ceiling, casting a soft orange glow on a few weathered wooden tables scattered throughout the room. At the back stood a long, wooden counter, in front of which were tall pearly white chairs.

The handsome stranger made his way to the bar. The brunet watched him pass behind the counter and didn't take his eyes off him when, with his back to him, he took off his long black woolen cardigan. He let it slide down his arms with a natural sensuality, something Kuroo had rarely, if ever, witnessed. He shook his head to dispel the strange fantasies that were weaving in his mind and joined the handsome stranger. Not without difficulty, because despite his deep concentration, he almost fell off the chair when his left buttock slipped off the edge. Nevertheless, he managed to regain his composure, fervently hoping the incident had gone unnoticed. When he was finally seated properly, he looked up to find that the handsome stranger was looking at him. His gaze held no mockery or judgment. Kuroo smiled at him, almost unconsciously, and saw the features of his counterpart soften.

"You seem to be in better shape than earlier."

"Uh, yes... Thank you," the brunet absentmindedly replied, taking off his jacket and scanning the room.

"Would you like something to drink perhaps? Hmmm..."

"Kuroo... Kuroo Tetsurō."

Then Kuroo realized he hadn't actually answered the question at all.

"Uh, yes... A coffee, please."

The young man in front of him nodded and turned to the coffee machine. He returned to Kuroo shortly after, placing a lovely porcelain cup adorned with roses in front of him. Kuroo thanked him and took the cup in both hands. The gentle aroma of roasting and the soothing warmth of the rising steam enveloped him completely, and he felt instantly comforted. He brought the cup to his lips and let the hot liquid roll down his throat. He was immediately captivated by the flavor and delicacy of the beverage, which seemed to be the most exquisite thing that had ever tickled his taste buds. He noticed that his pleasure must have been evident when he saw the handsome stranger smile, with a touch of pride.

"This is... Exquisite... Hmm?"

"Akaashi. Akaashi Keiji."

In his mind, Kuroo dropped the "stranger" but kept the "handsome" out of his nickname.

"It's delicious, Akaashi-san. Probably the best thing that's happened to me today..."

"I'm flattered, but I can not help but notice that your day has not been very pleasant in that case."

"No... Not really. Seriously, I think if you hadn't rescued me, I would have spent the night in that alley," confessed Kuroo before letting out a nervous laugh.

"That sounds quite extreme."

"Not really... I swear, ever since I set foot in Tokyo, everything's been going haywire. My suitcase went to visit Moscow without me, I discovered that I have a terrible sense of direction, I had to trade my socks for an umbrella, I don't know where I am, my phone is dead, and I've been barked at about ten times now."

"Barked, you say?" replied Akaashi, amused.

"Yes, Barked! I didn't think it was possible, and it's pretty creepy, too. Oh, and on top of that, I've been chased by an angry barker too!"

He wasn't entirely sure about that last part, but it brightened up his story.

Akaashi blinked several times, not entirely sure how to respond to that. He started by refilling Kuroo's cup, and finally said:

"I am sorry to hear that your first few hours in the capital have gone so poorly, Kuroo-san. However, if you have a charger, I can plug it in behind the counter. I can assure you that finding your way back will not be so complicated. I am however afraid there is nothing I can do about your socks..."

"Ah, thank you, that's already more than enough," assured Kuroo, handing over his phone and charger.

He was on the verge of letting out tears of joy when Akaashi plugged in his phone, and he heard it come back to life.

"As for the barking," continued the handsome-not so much of a stranger now- man , "I can assure you that not all alphas are capable of it, and some can also behave properly in public."

The remark surprised Kuroo, who let out a laugh.

"Thank you for that information, Akaashi-san. That's good to know!"

Akaashi nodded. He excused himself as he saw new customers enter the shop. Once their order was taken and fulfilled, he returned to Kuroo.

"Kuroo-san, if I may ask, where are you from?"

"Oh, I'm from Shakotan."

Seeing that his interlocutor seemed deeply troubled, he clarified.

"It's a small town south of Sapporo, on Hokkaido island. So, I'm not used to big cities..." Kuroo added, with a smile. "Even at the university I was going to, I think there were fewer students than there are in two blocks here."

"Hokkaido you say... Sounds charming," said Akaashi with a touch of tenderness.

Kuroo took it as an invitation. He spoke of boundless horizons, tranquil seashores, the smell of iodine, the wind, and the seaweed. He talked about the polite familiarity among all the residents of his hometown. The more words rolled off his tongue, the more he felt his throat constrict with nostalgia. He eventually fell silent, trying to maintain his composure, disturbed by the fact that he had laid it all out like this to a complete stranger.

A tender smile formed on Akaashi's lips.

"You seem quite attached to that land..."

"Yes..."

Kuroo swallowed a large sip of coffee, trying to dispel the lump in his throat.

"What are you doing here, then?"

"Oh! I'm starting my master's degree at Todaï next week."

He saw his interlocutor's eyes light up with interest.

"What will you be studying?"

"Science. Biochemistry to be specific."

"Oh."

Was that disappointment in his voice?

"I'm sure you'll find good company there," assured Akaashi, "I also study there."

"If you study there, Akaashi-san, I can only be in good company," dared Kuroo.

He quickly regretted his words, fearing to have appeared too forward. His confusion abated when the man in front of him rolled his eyes but still managed to muster a faintly flattered smile.

"Perhaps I spoke too soon; your impudence might attract you some thunder and even some barking."

Kuroo's smile instantly faded, terrified of having to endure the angry barking thing again. Seeing him so distressed, Akaashi let out a slight, almost inaudible laugh, like a summer thunder rumbling over the sea. Kuroo immediately felt invigorated. All in all, this day wasn't so bad after all.

They talked about everything, but mostly about nothing. The brunet wanted this moment to stretch on for as long as possible. He became aware of the passing of time when the door slammed shut. They were now truly alone.

"Kuroo-san, I'm sorry, but I will have to close soon."

"Oh..."

"I can maybe help you find your way. Where do you need to go?"

"Oh, near Nishi-nippori Station."

Akaashi discreetly grimaced upon hearing the name. However, he did not comment and just pointed him in the direction of the station, along with the train line to take, assuring him that at this hour, the crowds would be much more manageable than what he had experienced earlier.

Kuroo warmly thanked him, nodded, and turned to leave. Akaashi watched him walk away, feeling increasingly uneasy. Was it really safe to leave him like this in the middle of the night ? Especially after finding him during a panic attack in a dark alley? No. But what could he do about it? A good part of his instinct took over. He called out to the brunet, grabbed his scarf, and walked towards him, discreetly rubbing his wrists against the fabric.

"Take this, the weather has gotten colder."

Kuroo raised an eyebrow, his eyes still fixed on the scarf, not sure of how to interpret this gesture.

In front of him, Akaashi remained neutral.

"It is really cold outside," Akaashi insisted.

Kuroo politely refused. A scarf at this time of year? He changed his mind when a terribly cold wind swept across his face as he opened the door. An extra scarf wouldn't hurt.

"Aren't you going to get cold?" asked Kuroo.

His counterpart signaled that he wouldn't.

"Uh... How do I return this to you?"

Akaashi smiled:

"You can find me here."

He handed him a card, which Kuroo accepted, still somewhat perplexed.

"Noted."

He quickly bowed to him again and finally crossed the threshold. Akaashi returned the gesture and watched him leave until he disappeared from his field of vision. Finally, he closed the door, turned the sign to "closed," and returned to the counter. He began to vaguely count the cash register but stopped. His tacit and nonchalant facade had just fallen, now that he was alone. He let his face fall into his hands and let out a long sigh. He really needed to learn to control his protective instincts; it was becoming embarrassing. Nevertheless, he had not betrayed his morals. It was a bit gruff maybe, but effective. Plus, he secretly hoped to cross paths with the young man again, admitting to himself that he had in fact, piqued his curiosity.

Kuroo faced the greenish sky of the Tokyo night and a smile slipped on his lips.

All in all, it wasn't such a bad day, isn't it?

-end of the chapter-

Next chapter: "Vocational reorientation"

"It was 11:45 AM on that Sunday when Kuroo found himself in the grip of one of the most terrible existential crises of his life. There, in the middle of the hygiene aisle at the Seven-Eleven, it became perfectly clear to him that life was nothing but a fragmented, sad, and insubstantial entity. What could "Coco Max Alpha Boost musk" possibly mean? Or "Sandalwood, enhanced pheromone"? He didn't want much besides smelling like a clean human being. He put back the shower gel and started examining the next one.

" I wouldn't take that one if I were you," an unfamiliar voice intervened "

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