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Let it be known that Nirei Akihiko really, really dislikes unnecessary brawls.
Despite his current strength, which is just above average, really, and his reflexes, again, also above average, he's not that good. Sure, he can tank a lot of hits, but that's just really about it. He's just an overall above-average fighter who has had to learn to fight to survive the festival. All of his power came because he needed to survive.
The experience left him scarred in more ways than one, and he's glad he has Kotoha by his side. Yes, the others help. But he's known Kotoha longer than them. He's closer to her. And she certainly helped him when he felt like the string of sanity was about to snap.
He really wished he could have beaten up the moon. That eery, creepy smile that it always had whenever Akihiko would fall asleep and meet up with Per'kele on the top of the tower... Marina described it as a rapist-like smile, didn't she? Well, she might have hit the mark with the description.
Enough about that. What was he talking about?
Ah, right. Unnecessary brawls.
Sakura Haruka is a strong person. Akihiko could tell straight from the beginning. Even from when they first met at Pothos, where he was getting breakfast because he woke up earlier than usual and decided to do some rounds and skip breakfast at home. He'd definitely get scolded for it later, but he believed it was worth it. After all, he ended up stopping that girl from getting taken to god knows where.
And he ended up befriending Sakura? Maybe? Possibly? Hopefully? He'd have to share his contact information so they could begin texting though.
Point is, Sakura is... power-hungry. He strives to become the top dog of Bofurin, the best of the best. That meant taking Umemiya Hajime's spot. And Akihiko... He knows his things about the people of Furin. There are those who idolize him for his strength, for his ideals, for being the one to change Furin, etc. A hard-earned respect that Umemiya deserves. Why? Because he can back up his claims, and he treats everyone well.
Unlike some other... pests, he's had the misfortune of meeting. Fuck you, Caligura.
And said hunger to strive to the top ended up gathering the anger of Sugishita Kyotaro. One of Umemiya's worshippers who had ended up as Sakura and Akihiko's classmates.
Maybe he should rewind.
"It appears that we're on the same class, Sakura-san." the blond pointed out as he looked at the old-fashioned rooster.
"So old-fashioned... Like if I was in a period drama..." Sakura whispered, almost... excited. Akihiko glanced at him for a moment. He looked excited. But the blond did expect it. Sakura did claim he was going for the top of Furin, didn't he? He understood the excitement the boy felt.
"I don't recognize any of these names, though." the heterochromatic teen added, squinting his eyes. Akihiko's gaze settled on the board again.
"Suo-san, Kiryu-san, Tsugeura-san..." he named, taking out his notebook "I have notes on them despite not knowing them personally."
"You have notes on them?" Sakura asked, brows furrowed.
"I've... wanted to join Furin for a while. I'm only a decent fighter at best, but K- a friend of mine told me that I have a talent for analysis. So I poured that talent on analyzing people from Furin and other gangs." the blond explained "If you want me to, I can lend you one of my notebooks later to get more insight on our new classmates." he offered.
"Uh- Maybe later." Sakura stammered, somewhat surprised. Akihiko nodded, keeping the notebook in the green jacket's outer pockets, patting it softly twice with his palm to know it was there. With that, he looked at the list yet again, his gaze settled on one name.
Sugishita Kyotaro
He blinked once.
Twice.
Three times.
Yup. That was real. His eye did not play tricks on him. They were classmates with one of Umemiya's biggest worshippers. And Sakura was aiming for Umemiya's spot. Which meant that if he did not watch his mouth, he'd get on Sugishita's bad side, one of the more dangerous first years. Which was a really bad idea. Akihiko couldn't help but sight, bringing his hand down his face. Really, his luck had become rotten over the years. Ever since he supposedly went missing, it felt like all his luck had just flung itself out the window.
He still remembers the media sources getting in his and Kotoha's faces, desperately seeking for any answers, for any possible scoops to take to their respective companies. Akihiko wanted to crawl into a hole, memories of Termina permanently burned into his memory. He clung to Kotoha's arm the entire time.
The duo walked down the halls of Furin, the silence eery, yet comfortable. Akihiko closed his eye, trying to control the goosebumps running down his spine. He needed to calm down, he was too excited. Even if he just forgot how to properly express it with time, he could still feel it. He exhaled, catching up with Sakura as the other was stretching his limbs. Akihiko stared at him with a questioning look. "The hell are you doing?"
"Warming up."
"Why? It's not like you're going to fight our classmates." Akihiko deadpanned. Sakura looked at him. And that was enough for the blond's eye to twitch lightly.
"I dunno what kinda guys are behind that door. I gotta be prepared for anything." Sakura explained, looking at the door again.
"They're not going to hurt you. They're here to protect the town, just like everyone in Bofurin does." the blond sighed, bringing a hand to his face "Why did you decide to make it your mission to become someone's enemy when that clearly won't do you any good..." he murmured under his breath.
"I don't care if people see me as their enemy. I came here to fight my way to the top, after all." with those words, his new comrade grabbed the door and opened it rather harshly, making enough sound to garner the attention of the entire class. Everyone stared at the two, their gazes almost unreadable. Akihiko stared back, brow raised, as if daring them to do something.
"Hmm... Not bad..." Sakura muttered next to him as they both stepped inside. It was then that one decided to approach the two. A boy with reddish brown, curtain-like hair and brown eyes, one covered under an eyepatch. He had a light-coloured chinese robe under the Furin gakuran jacket, and black flats. Lastly, he sported a pair of yellow tassel earrings hanging off a red gem on either side. The blond's gaze narrowed, recognizing the individual.
"Hello there." he greeted "You must be Sakura-kun." he said.
"And what of it? Who the hell are you?" Sakura asked.
"I recognize that look." Akihiko spoke up "Black eyepatch, the tassel earrings. I've heard much about you. You're-"
"Leonardo DiCaprio! Nice to meet you." the boy beamed, much to Akihiko's disbelief. They both stared, before Sakura's face lit up.
"You're from overseas?!" he exclaimed "I am, uh-" the blond sighed at the attempt at speaking in english that his comrade made, bringing a hand to his face again. He's done that a lot today, now that he thought about it.
"You're too easy to fool." he murmured.
"No, I'm japanese." the boy informed.
"WHAT?!" Akihiko ignored Sakura's outburst as he opened his notebook, looking over the notes he had on him. Who would have thought that he'd be such a jokester? The blond had thought he'd be more aloof and cold, but he supposed that this was somewhat better than that. Besides, he seemed friendly enough.
"Suo Hayato-san. Who would have thought that you'd be in our class." Akihiko introduced.
"That's what everyone calls me, yes." Suo nodded "By the way, this eyepatch is a seal to keep an ancient chinese spirit inside." he added, pointing at his eyepatch with a smile. Akihiko sweatdropped. He... didn't exactly doubt that, considering what he went through, but still. It was rumoured that Suo had gotten into an accident when he was younger. He wondered what the truth was, though. What Suo said, or what the rumours said.
'Well, it's better than losing an eye and still having the mark of an old god on your face...' he thought, sweatdropping.
"Ah... Well, enough about me. Let's talk about you first, Sakura-kun. And then you, Nirei-kun." Suo began, walking closer and reaching out his hand. Akihiko's hand twitched, a familiar feeling of danger coursing through his body, breath hitching. But then it melted away the moment that the brown-eyed boy began to aggressively pat Sakura's back.
"I heard all about it, Sakura-kun! Wow, you're amazing!" he complimented "You were the star of that brawl on main street yesterday, right?!" he asked. Akihiko blinked. Brawl? What- What brawl? What-
"I got dragged into a brawl yesterday." Akihiko looked up from his food, all of the gazes in the room switched to Kotoha almost immediately.
"You what." the blonde woman said, tone low, protective.
"Some random dumbass tried to use me as leverage against a newcomer to Makochi." Kotoha continued as she poured water on the glasses placed on the table "Hiragi and people from his squad showed up after someone called Furin. I guess they notified Ume of the fight."
"And- And you tell us this like... Hours after the brawl actually happened?!" the blonde questioned.
"You could've gotten killed, Kotoha." the curly-haired man said, voice quiet and filled with worry.
"I know... Believe me, I know." the brunette said, letting out a sigh. Akihiko merely remained silent, his stomach churning. He almost wanted to throw up.
Ah. That brawl. Kotoha told him and the others about it when they had gathered at Pothos at night for dinner. So Sakura was the one who saved her? Huh. He'd have to give him something as a thank you. Kotoha was his friend, and he'd rather not lose her. He'd rather not lose anyone.
The other students had crowded all around them, talking about the brawl as well. Akihiko, on the other hand, muted the noise and the conversation as he delved into his memories. He stayed next to Sakura, fidgeting with the sleeves of the green jacket he was wearing over his uniform. He felt more calm around the heterochromatic boy. Maybe it was because Sakura had become his first friend besides the others? Maybe.
And then a desk came flying at them. Like legitimately flying. His instinct took over right at that moment. Akihiko used his reflexes, quickly pushing Sakura to the side. Sadly, the desk actually hit him in the stomach, sending him crashing to the floor as he coughed in pain. "Ow..." he let out quietly. The wooden thing wasn't pinning him to the ground, it had fallen off of him the moment his back made contact with the floor.
"Holy shit!"
"Oh my god is he okay!?"
"He just took that for Sakura!"
"Why the hell did you do that for?!" Sakura exclaimed, glaring at Akihiko in disbelief.
"Ugh... Sorry. Instinct..." he murmured, slowly sitting up with the help of his hand "But you're definitely in more trouble." he added.
"Hah?!"
"After all, the person who just threw that..." he looked at the entrance of the door. There, slightly hunched over from throwing the desk, stood a tall teenager with long blue-black hair and brown eyes. Anger was clear in his expression, teeth clattering against one another from how tight his jaw was.
"is a fanatic of the current leader of Bofurin, Sugishita Kyotaro."
There was a pause as Sakura stared down at Sugishita, as if analyzing him. Then he grinned. "He looks dangerous. I like that in a guy." he said. Akihiko opened his mouth to speak, but then paused. Should he say that the way he worded it sounded different than his actual intentions? Or maybe he should keep quiet. Yeah, that would be better. Especially because Sugishita lunged straight at the two, a fist railed back.
Akihiko fought the urge to help and push Sakura out of the way again, instead merely sidestepping against his mind's wishes as the taller boy charged straight at Sakura. He punched the teacher's podium hard, the boy's sheer strength able to destroy it. The blond gaped. Holy shit. He knew Sugishita was dangerous but to think that he could destroy wood like that... 'H-He might be as strong as Marcoh!' he thought.
"You were fast to dodge, Nirei-kun." Suo smiled.
"Ah. Thanks." the blond awkwardly responded, blinking. When had Suo appeared next to him?
"Whew. That was a good one." Sakura spoke, completely unscathed "I expect no less from Furin High. Now we're talkin'."
"That's because you angered him." Akihiko spoke, hand in his pocket as he dug up his notebook yet again "He's incredibly loyal to the leader of Bofurin, that it borders on worship. By saying you're going to become the strongest of Furin High, you've basically insulted Umemiya-san in Sugishita's eyes." he explained.
"Don't just stand there and stir the pot like that! Either of you! Stop them!" one classmate "That outsider might get pummeled if you don't!" Akihiko looked back at him, a deadpan expression on his face.
"Not my circus, not my monkeys." he said.
"WHAT?!"
"Why don't you stop them?" Suo asked with a smile.
"We can't!!"
"Besides, Sakura-san is strong. He can deal with this himself. He doesn't need my help." he added, looking at his notebook again. That, and he needed to learn to not pick fights with others. Through his lashes, he saw how Sakura bent his body and flipped, kicking Sugishita on the nose. He was skilled. He wondered just what sort of fighting style he had. He didn't get to ask him much when he helped him fight off those runts.
"A fanatic, huh..?" Sakura began as he landed on the floor "So, someone who doesn’t think for himself and can't decide anything on his own, right?" he asked. There was a smirk present on his face.
"As if I'd lose to a guy like that!"