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Chapter Text

It was 1:36PM on a Tuesday afternoon, and Asano Gakushuu flatly observed his father’s expression as the entirety of Class 3-A bowed deeply.

“Well, Principal? You have your answer.”

He barely got the last word out of his mouth before he slammed into the classroom wall, the stinging of his cheek eclipsed by the bruises undoubtedly forming on his back.

As the classroom erupted into noise, all Gakushuu could feel was the way his bones ached as someone (Ren? Araki?) helped him to his feet, and the laugh bubbling in his chest.

“Your face looks it’s glitching out,” he giggled, steadying himself on someone nearby, “is this it? Am I finally seeing your fatherly side?”

“Asano?” someone asked, alarmed, as Gakushuu continued to laugh. “Asano, are you okay?”

“He’s finally being a proper father,” he cackled, almost falling over himself as he staggered out of the classroom, clinging onto the arms of his classmates, “is this what having a father is like? Is this what involved parenting looks like?”

“Asano, please,” someone begged, and Gakushuu reluctantly fell quiet, swallowing his giggles. He couldn’t see why everyone seemed so concerned. This was probably the funniest thing that’s happened in his whole life. And he didn’t even need to do anything! The Principal did it entirely to himself! He snickered a little at the thought, ignoring the worried looks everyone aimed his way. What was their problem, anyway? He knew they already had doubts about his home life, and wasn’t this just confirmation of their suspicions? That they were in the right?

“Asano,” someone said, and Gakushuu looked over, swaying a little in his seat, and when had he sat down, anyways? Silly him. He smothered another laugh.

“Hm?” He blinked slowly. “Ren?”

“Are you okay?” he asked tremulously, clutching onto Gakushuu’s hands. “The nurse is getting ice. Do you need some painkillers?”

He shook his head, and then clapped his hands over his mouth as he burst into renewed giggles. “Ren,” he whispered conspiratorially, “Ren, did you see him? Did you see his face?”

For some reason, Ren’s face crumpled even further. “I did,” he said, “I saw.”

“I can’t believe he— that he—” Gakushuu snickered into his palms, almost swaying in his seat from the force of it.

And after what felt like anywhere between minutes or hours later, he let Ren pry his hands away from his face.

“Asano,” he said gently. “Gakushuu, you’re crying.”

Gakushuu hiccuped a breath, suddenly feeling a little light headed. He also realized that he and Ren were the only ones left in the room. “Oh. Am I?”

“You are,” Ren said quietly, pulling the nurse’s standard-issue blanket over his shoulders.

And at that, Gakushuu finally fell silent, his breath hitching on every other inhale. He tipped his head onto Ren’s shoulder, and let himself rest.

And by the beginning of the next day, everyone in the school knew that Student Council President Asano Gakushuu had lost his mind.

Chapter Text

Asano Gakushuu did not come to school the next day. Nor the day after that, or the day after that.

But on the fourth day, he returned.

(Wasn’t there something in the Bible along those lines?)

(Nevermind, thinking of Asano and Jesus in the same context made Hazama’s head hurt.)

“I heard he’s back today,” Takebayashi murmured. “I hope he’s feeling better.”

“As long as he wasn’t at his dad’s the whole time,” Yoshida snapped, uncharacteristically angry, before burying his face in his hands. “Sorry. This situation just. Has me on edge.”

“It’s understandable to be worried,” Hazama said, putting down her book. “It was a pretty worrisome situation.”

“It fucking sucks,” Terasaka muttered. “I don’t like him at all, but he doesn’t deserve that shit from the Principal.”

“From his dad,” Muramatsu corrected.

“Ugh. Yeah.”

Looking over a few desks away, Hazama caught sight of Akabane’s thoughtful expression, and held back a sigh. She was going to have to play mediator, wasn’t she.

A minute into lunch break, Hazama saw Akabane turn to head down the mountain. This time, she sighed out loud.

“Oi, Akabane,” she called, barely catching up to him.

Akabane raised his eyebrows, and obligingly slowed down. “You need something?”

“No.” She looked at him. “Are you going to say something insensitive to Asano?” she asked bluntly.

“What makes you think I’m on my way to see him?”

“What else would you be doing?” she retorted. “And will you please answer the question?”

Akabane sighed deeply, like she was the one who was being troublesome. “No, I’m not going to be insensitive.”

Hazama nodded, mostly to herself. “Good.”

Hazama poked her head into Class 3-A’s room. “Hey, Asano. Me ’n Akabane wanna talk to you.”

“About what,” he asked flatly.

“About your piece of shit dad,” Akabane said loudly from behind her.

Asano rolled his eyes. “Fine.”

“Look,” Akabane started off, “don’t take this the wrong way, but if you need somewhere to stay for a while my parents are literally never around, and I’ve got a bunch of guest rooms. You dad is super fucked in the not fun way, so if you need to be far, far, away from him my house’s security is pretty good.”

Asano looked at him incredulously. Akabane stared back at him. “Do you think I’m joking. I’m not joking right now.”

“Akabane’s right,” Hazama said. “You shouldn’t be with your dad right now. Unless you’re already with someone else, in which case good for you.”

Asano broke off his impromptu staring contest with Akabane. “I’m staying with Ren right now, but thank you,” he said.

“Good,” Hazama said. “Which means I’m free to lay a curse upon the foundations of your dad’s house that will cause him to have miserable, anguishing nightmares of his in—”

“Was there anything else you wanted to say?” he interrupted politely, resuming his gay ass staring contest with Akabane.

“Not really,” Akabane said. “Just wanted to remind you that your dad’s an actual maniac and most of the shit he says reflects that.” Then he shuffled his feet, suddenly shy. “And that you shouldn’t hold yourself to whatever crazy standards he’s trying to fit you in, because you don’t need him to push yourself to be good. You’re—” and then Akabane Karma blushed, “you’re already pretty good.”

“You’re not letting anyone down when your dad’s pissed at you,” Hazama said. “Try to remember that.”

Asano ducked his head down a little, and snuck a peek at Akabane’s reddening face. “Ok.”