Chapter Text
Takashi Shirogane<[email protected]>
To bcc:<[email protected]>
Dear Mr Kogane,
Earlier this week your guardian, Coran Smythe contacted us over our various support groups. He informed us you were curious over our programmes and mailed us your information. I hope you do not mind the sudden contact, but your guardian was very adamant about us contacting you as he was certain you would not take the initiative to contact us yourself. He spoke to us about your worries over our company. If possible we’d like to set up a meeting. Introduce you to our different free programmes, just to see if this is a place you’d feel comfortable seeking support. Comfortability is our top priority, alongside healing and confidentiality.
Kind regards,
Takashi Shirogane
Atlas Corp CEO
~*~
Keith was hesitant to answer the email, to say the least. He had been interested in the programmes, and he had mentioned it to his current ‘guardian’ (Coran was a friend of a friend, when keith needed a place, Coran welcomed him in with open arms.). He just didn’t know Coran would take the situation into his own hands. If it was anyone else, he might be mad, but it wasn’t anyone else. It was Coran, and Coran always did things with the best intentions. He was a giver, a pusher, someone to help you along the way to reaching your dreams.
>Dear Takashi Shirogane
Backspace.
>Dear Mr Shirogane,
Coran was correct to assume I would have probably never contacted you myself.
Backspace.
>Dear Mr Shirogane,
Thank you for contacting me yourself, I’m afraid I’ve always had some walls up, so
backspace
Keith Kogane<[email protected]>
To bcc:<[email protected]
Dear Mr Shirogane,
Thank you for taking the time to contact me yourself. What Coran told you is correct, I most likely would have never directly contacted you myself. I think some kind of meeting is a fine idea. I am currently attending Garrison University, which I’m positive Coran already told you. Due to this I’m not free much in the daytime, which is why I was interested in your specific programme in the first place, as it is in the late evening. Unfortunately, I assume you’re also busy in my free hours, as I'm free in the evening - when your groups take place... I have no classes wednesday, I normally work all day at Corans’ car garage, but if possible for a meeting then I am free.
Kind regards,
Keith Kogane.
~*~
Keith never had a hard time in school until university. Academics were his thing, he was astute, creative and perceptive. Though, teachers were his kryptonite. Every teacher he’d ever had, hated his guts, and that’s the understatement of the century. Their opinions were usually biased, based on rumours from students and past teachers, they seemed to follow him. None of his teachers actually knew him, because none of them took the time. When he got to uni it was more or less the same. The professors were nicer but the classes were bigger, you got drowned faster, you went unnoticed. It was as if you were faceless and nameless in a crowd. Somehow, keith found this safer than being directly hated, directly targeted.
Keith’s first time feeling actual compassion from a teacher was in his second year of uni. A professor by the name of Adam White stopped him as he was leaving his lesson. Keith assumed to pester him about his recent grade, he was struggling, it was unusual for him. But what he heard made his heart swell.
“Are you alright, Mr Kogane? I’ve noticed the last few lessons you’ve been… Somewhere else. Mentally, I mean.” A pause, “Are you sleeping alright?”
Keith had almost broken down right then and there at the feet of his astrophysics professor. Mr White was the first professor, teacher, whatever to ever even attempt to warm up to Keith. It was strange and foreign and Keith loved it.
Now, in his third year, Keith no longer has Adam as a professor, but that does not stop him from dropping by every once in a while to chat with Adam. Adam always invited Keith to chat, at first Keith thought he pitied him, and sometimes he still does think that, but he’s grown to accept that maybe, just maybe Adam thinks he’s a decent person and holds genuine interest in him. Maybe.
~*~
“So did you email them back? Please don’t tell me you still haven’t replied.” Adam was sat across from Keith. They were in a small cafe located a few minutes away from campus called ‘The Nook’. It was cozy, small and underrated, but that’s why it was their favourite.
“I’m not that incompetent, of course I emailed them back,” Keith scoffs, eyes focused on his caramel macchiato rather than his ex-prof before him. He still didn’t know how he felt about the whole situation, if he was being honest and see through. It was something he HAD wanted, but it was… It was new. Things were different now. Kind of.
“And?”
“And what?”
“Have you gotten a reply? What did you say? Come on Keith.” Adam gave an anxious smile and Keith sighed,
“I told them I was free wednesdays if they wanted a meeting. I haven’t heard back yet,” He pauses, picking his next words carefully, “Truth be told, I don’t know if i want to hear back..”
“What?” Adam’s face falls, “Keith you’ve been looking into this programme since you were fifteen! You’re finally getting somewhere and-”
“I’m terrified.”
“Keith..” Adam frowns, face contorting into an expression of worry once again, “It’s a… difficult situation. But it’s what you want. You’ve clearly said that before. It’s a good chance to work on opening up, it’s a chance to make friends, it’s a chance to meet people in similar situations who understand what you’re going through - what you’ve gone through. It’s good for you. Being scared or nervous is normal, but what is there to be scared of, Keith? No one is going to laugh at you when they’ve got their own thing going on. It’s not gonna be like that.” Adam smiles softly, giving keith a reassuring look, “Just wait for the email and set a date, if you’re not comfortable, forget it, fuck it. This is about you Keith, what you want. Okay?”
“Okay.” Keith nods, leg bouncing restlessly under the table, “Okay, yeah, you’re right.”
“I’ve got a class at 4, but if you need me, drop by anytime after 6, just stop by. I’ll be grading till 10. Okay?” Adam talks as he stands, sliding a long trench coat over his turtleneck. October fever.
“Alright. Thank you again, Adam.”
“Anytime kiddo.”
~*~
Takashi Shirogane<[email protected]>
To bcc:<[email protected]>
Dear Mr Kogane,
Wednesdays work perfectly fine on our part. We’ve put you in for Wednesday 17 October at 10:00. Please contact us if this is possible on your part or not. We hope to hear from you soon.
King regards,
Takashi Shirogane
Atlas Corp CEO
Keith Kogane<[email protected]>
To bcc:<[email protected]>
Dear Mr Shirogane,
17 October works on my part. I look forward to our meeting. Thank you again.
Kind regards,
Keith Kogane.