Chapter Text
Bachira didn't wait for an introduction, bouncing toward the bed and nearly landing on the white-haired boy's legs. "Reo-chan! Nagi-chi! You won’t believe what just happened!! Isagi just totally crushed some third-years in the hallway! It was like-!"
"Bachira, please..." Isagi murmured, his face heating up. The adrenaline from the hallway was almost entirely gone, replaced by his usual self-conscious humbleness. He turned to the purple-haired boy. "Sorry for the disturbance, we’re just here to get some ice."
"Isagi..." The boy, Reo, stepped forward, his eyes examining Isagi’s face. "Oh, you're the transfer student everyone's been talking about. I'm Mikage Reo, and you can call this one Nagi." He nudged Nagi - who merely huffed at the action.
Nagi didn't even look up from his phone, "Reo.. can we move to a different room? It’s loud in here.."
"Nagi, be polite. We’re talking to a celebrity right now," Reo teased, though his gaze remained fixed on Isagi. He walked over to the small medical fridge in the corner and tossed a cold pack toward Isagi.
Isagi caught it with one hand - a reflex that made Reo's eyes narrow with interest.
"Thanks, Mikage-kun," Isagi said, turning to press the ice gently against Kurona's swelling arm.
"Just Reo," the purple-haired male corrected. He leaned against the nurse's desk, crossing his arms. "I saw the commotion through the windows. Where does a shy guy like you hide that much killing intent?"
Isagi flinched slightly. The memory of his own hands gripping that collar felt heavy again. "..I don't like bullies."
"Who doesn't like bullies," Kurona whispered, leaning into the ice pack. "Right, right?" Isagi smiled fondly, his other hand reaching out to ruffle Kurona's hair. Really, he needed to stop this habit whenever he found someone cute - but he couldn't help it!! He just couldn't resist Kurona's cuteness..
Reo smiled - except it didn’t reach his eyes, "You should be more careful. Doing something careless like that can result in a 3 day suspension or more- I'm surprised Itoshi let you slide," he said, ruining the cute moment between Isagi and Kurona.
"So?" Isagi retorted, his voice dropping an octave. His expression darkened under the dim lights - and Reo felt his adam’s apple bob up and down, his throat suddenly feeling as dry as sandpaper. "Nobody deserves to be treated like that. Not here, not anywhere."
Nagi finally paused his game. He turned his head slowly, staring at Isagi with blank eyes that made Isagi feel like he was looking at a doll rather than a human being. "..Whoa. Your eyes just changed."
"Huh?" Isagi blinked, the brightness returning to his eyes.
"Just now," Nagi continued, sitting up slightly - a monumental effort for him. "They went from 'boring' to 'scary'. Ah, actually, why do you care so much? It seems.. troublesome."
"Maybe it is- to you," Isagi replied, "But I'd rather be troublesome than do nothing."
Sensing the growing intensity, Bachira quickly intervened. "Isagi, we're gonna be late for class!" He exclaimed, grabbing both Isagi and Kurona's wrist. "Bye-bye, Sloth-chi! See ya, Reo-chan!"
As Bachira dragged Isagi and Kurona out of the room, Isagi glanced back. Reo was watching them with a contemplative expression whilst Nagi had already flopped back onto the bed, though he wasn't looking at his phone anymore. He was staring at the ceiling, as if thinking about something for the first time in his life.
Just as the door was about to fully close, Isagi heard Nagi's voice one last time, the sound faintly drifting through the closing door. "Reo.. that guy. I want to see him do that again."
...
"Slow down, slow down!" Kurona nearly cried out, his braid swinging wildly as Bachira yelled his sixteenth apology to whoever they bumped into.
"Can't slow down- If we're late, we'll be sent to the office!! Maybe they'll make us stand in the hall with buckets of water!" Bachira laughed, though he didn't sound particularly scared of the idea.
"OI! You three- stop right there!!" A voice screeched from the end of the hallway, and Isagi sucked in his breath, it's only his second day and he's already getting in trouble..
Bachira actually listened, and he halted - smiling brightly as if he hadn't dragged Isagi and Kurona across the building. "Oh, Sendou! What's up?" He asked innocently, tilting his head.
A familiar tuft of reddish-salmon hair appeared - "What's up? What's up?!" Sendou practically vibrated with indignation, pointing a finger at the trio. "I just got multiple reports from teachers about seeing a student running down the hallways and causing a ruckus!!"
"We weren't running, we were accelerating!" Bachira unhelpfully corrected, his hands still firmly planted on Isagi and Kurona's wrists.
Sendou's gaze shifted to scold whoever Bachira's accomplices were, his eyes narrowing before going full-blown wide. "I-I-Isagi?!!?"
Isagi felt the familiar heat of embarrassment. He bowed his head with defeat plastered all over his face, "I... I'm sorry, Sendou-senpai. We were just trying to get to class on time."
A red hue appeared on his face, "W-well! Since it's still your first week, I guess I'll let this pass-" Sendou (fake) coughed. Seeing the smile on Bachira's face, his lips pulled into a scowl, "Don't think you're off the hook, you annoying brat. We'll be discussing your punishment later."
"What?! What about Kurona?!" Bachira whined - and Kurona almost looked offended by the fact that the bi-coloured haired male was trying to drag him into trouble.
Sendou rubbed his nose bridge and sighed like he was a stressed mother, "Because I was informed of the situation. Now get your arses to class before I write you up for being late too!"
Isagi was forced to drag the (also fake) crying male, making sure to send an apologetic smile to Sendou. "Sorry about this.. and thank you for excusing me, I promise it won't happen it again!" he declared - making Sendou's face burst into flames.
"I'll hold you onto that then," he tried to smirk, only to miserably fail when Isagi flashed him a bright smile.
As the three of them hurried away, Isagi could hear Sendou muttering something about "pure-hearted.." and "..corrupting influences."
After dropping Kurona off, Isagi and Bachira managed to reach their first-period classroom just as the warning bell rang. Thankfully, the teacher wasn't there yet, giving the students a few minutes of precious, loud freedom.
"Sendou-chan is so easy to read," Bachira giggled, his fake tears vanishing as if they had never existed. "He's a total sucker for a polite smile! You've got a dangerous weapon there, Sagi."
"Huh? I was just being sincere," Isagi sighed, though he felt a small sense of relief. At least he wasn't spending his second day in detention.
Their freedom is short-lived as their teacher walks in. Suprisingly, a young woman with a chestnut coloured hair also enters the classroom - the large tablet in her hands instantly catching the attention of many students.
Bachira gasped, "It's Ms. Anri!"
Isagi tilted his head, "Ms. Anri? Is she a teacher or the vice principle?"
"Nope! She's the counsellor for our school, the only one too! Everyone loves her - she's like the best counsellor you could ask for," Bachira happily explained.
Anri Teieri stood at the front of the room, her presence immediately shifting the atmosphere from rowdy morning energy to a focused, high-stakes curiosity. She adjusted her glasses, her amber eyes scanning the sea of students before settling on the teacher with a brief, professional nod.
"Good morning, everyone," Anri began, "I apologize for the interruption, but as we are nearing the official start of the Spring Sports Season, we've finalized the registration requirements for this year's clubs."
A ripple of excitement and groans went through the room. "As you know," Anri continued, her fingers tapping rhythmically against her tablet, "Due to the high volume of interest in the Soccer Club this year, we are implementing a new screening process."
Bachira leaned over to Isagi, whispering frantically. "She means the 'Selection,'! Usually, they let everyone in, but Ms. Anri and the head coach have been getting really picky lately about who gets to play!"
Anri's gaze flickered toward their corner, landing briefly on Isagi. She lingered there for a second longer than necessary, her expression turning contemplative. She had clearly read his transfer file - and likely the report Sendou had just been frantically typing up about a certain hallway altercation.
"Isagi-kun," she said, calling him out specifically. The room went silent. "Since you are a transfer student, you'll need to report to my office during the lunch break. We need to discuss your placement and ensure your 'transition' is going smoothly before you sign up for any clubs."
Isagi felt a dozens of eyes prickling his skin. "Y-yes, ma'am!"
"Good." Anri offered an encouraging smile, "The rest of you, the sign-up sheets are available on modules. Remember, your physical health is just as important as your mental well-being. Don't overexert yourselves trying to impress the scouts."
As she turned to leave, her heels clicking sharply against the floor, she paused at the door. "Oh, and Bachira-kun? Please try to keep your antics on the low, Sendou-kun's blood pressure can only take so much."
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving the classroom in a stunned silence before it erupted into chatter about the spring season.
"I guess Sendou-chan wasn’t lying!" Bachira laughed, not sounding worried at all. "But hey, a private meeting with Ms. Anri? You're moving up in the world, Sagi!"
Isagi slumped back in his chair, his mind racing. First he gets involved in a bullying situation, almost gets into an argument, and now a formal meeting with the school counselor about sports?!
God, could his second day get any worse..?
“What are you moping about this time?” Slim fingers flicked against Isagi’s forehead, “Sulking isn’t going to help you finish this assignment.”
Isagi pouted, rubbing the tender spot where Rin had flicked. “I’m not moping or sulking..”
Rin raised a brow, “Lukewarm, you haven’t typed anything on the document and it’s due by tonight.” He pointedly tilted his head toward’s the school-issued Chromebook that Isagi was borrowing.
Isagi swallowed down the lump in his throat as he held back a dry protest. It was infuriating how Rin could be so observant while looking like he didn't care at all.
"It’s just that today has been overstimulating, that’s all." He muttered, finally placing his fingers over the keyboard.
Rin looked at his screen, before his gaze flickered back onto Isagi’s screen. He seemed to be having a mental debate with himself - when suddenly, he reached over, his hand briefly brushing Isagi’s as he tapped the 'Enter' key to clear the clutter Isagi had accidentally typed. "I’ll help your dumbass this time, but don’t think i’ll do this again, tsk."
“Aw Rin-! Wait- are you just going to call me by these nicknames the whole year?!” Isagi squawked with ridiculously wide eyes.
"If you stop acting like a lukewarm loser, maybe I'll consider using your name."
“Wow, you’re so cold..”
While Rin typed like his life was on the life, Isagi watched, mesmerized with how the younger completed the whole document with ease. For a few minutes, the only sound between them was the clacking of keys and the distant hum of the school’s air conditioning.
"There," Rin said, sliding the laptop back toward Isagi. "You just have to do the self-reflection. If you can’t finish the rest without crying, you might as well drop out now."
"I wasn't going to cry!" Isagi huffed, though he felt a strange warmth in his chest. "Thanks, Rin. Really."
Rin barely acknowledged his gratitude with a small nod, the flush on his cheeks saying otherwise. “‘S whatever.”
“Ah, crap, we have a minute before the bell rings..” Isagi murmured.
Rin watched him pack urgently, his eyes carefully watching the way Isagi’s hands trembled with anxiety, the way his lashes fluttered under the harsh sun ray’s, the way..
“Rin?” Isagi’s voice snapped him back into reality, “the bell just rung.. or are you staying behind for a bit?”
Rin’s gaze lingered on Isagi’s, before he turned his head away. “..tch.”
“???”
"Don't look at me with that stupid, confused face. It’s disgusting," Rin muttered, though he made no move to stand up. He stared at the empty space on the desk where Isagi’s laptop had just been, his fingers twitching as if he were still processing the heat from their accidental touch earlier.
"Right... well, I'll see you later, Rin!" Isagi called out, offering a final, bright wave before disappearing into the sea of students flooding the hallway.
Rin waited until the blue-haired boy was completely out of sight before letting out a long, shaky breath. He leaned back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling tiles. "Dammit," he whispered to the empty room. "He's so... annoying."
Rin had never been so grateful for his teachers habit of greeting students out the hallway, or he would’ve witnessed a red-faced Rin.
...
”Isagi-kun, are you not eating with us?” Nanase frowned, watching as Isagi walked the opposite way to where the cafeteria was.
Isagi laughed nervously, “Just Isagi is fine, and yeah-”
”Isacchi has a meeting with Ms. Anri!!” Bachira announced for him, earning a glare from Rin and a chuckle from Isagi.
"A meeting with Ms. Anri? Already?" Nanase tilted his head, his eyes widening with worry. "Did something happen? Did you get in trouble??"
"It’s fine, Nanase! I’m sure it’s just transfer student stuff," Isagi reassured him, though his own stomach did a nervous little flip-flop. "I'll catch up with you guys later, okay?"
"You better! We’ll save you a seat!" Bachira chirped, already beginning to bounce on his feet as he watched Isagi walk away. "Good luck, Isacchi, have fun!!"
”Yeah.. I’ll try..” Isagi answered with a weak smile.
As his figure slowly disappeared down the hall, Rin watched him - his gaze narrowing with worry that Rin himself would never admit feeling.
Meanwhile, the walk to the West Wing felt unusually quiet compared to the chaos of the morning. After a while of searching, Isagi finally found the correct door and took a deep breath before knocking.
"Come in!"
When Isagi walked in, he expected to be greeted with the sight of Ms. Anri smiling at him - not for him to immediately lock eyes with four pairs of sharp blue and wide magenta eyes.