Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

If you have told Harumi Kurose that you hate Akihiko Shiraishi there’s no way he would have thought you are a good person, in fact he’d consider you shitty.  If you managed to tell Harumi Kurose that you hate Akihiko Shiraishi, you won’t see the light day again, he would kill you. He’d kill you and lie that you said something about himself, after all how can a corpse protest? That he also told to Akihiko Shiraishi himself.

Despite that, Harumi and Aki did not talk for more than 2 weeks and it started to worry the later teen. Had he finally made Harumi sick of him? No, it can’t be it, everything went smoothly the last time they saw each other. Was it really that he didn’t like the bracelet, maybe he was cringed? But Harumi is very direct, if he were to actually get sick of Aki, he would have told him, right?  He seemed rather distant. Maybe he doesn’t feel well? Akihiko was reminded that Harumi lives alone, his family away, he hates his classmates and he is..isolated, if the two of them don’t talk it is likely that Harumi doesn’t talk with anyone else. He can’t let Harumi suffer alone, he simply can’t. Harumi was kind enough to be his friend, the only one he could truly be himself with, and he knows it’s mutual, that Harumi is himself with Aki. 

Aki grabs his phone, opens his conversation with Harumi aand no response. He can’t let it slip, he just can’t. He gets off his bed, grabs the spare keys that Harumi gave him and decides to set off to Harumi’s apartment; he put his track training to good use now. 

Numerous thoughts hit him at once, Akihiko wasn’t there for 2 weeks, what did Harumi eat in those weeks? Did he even eat?? Aki knows that Harumi is too lazy to cook for himself and is even too lazy to go to the convenience store sometimes. Has Harumi been starving himself?? He also got reminded of that rainy day when Harumi came and grabbed him to his apartment, Harumi refused to leave Aki and there's no way Akihiko will ever leave Harumi. 

He ran as fast as he could until he reached the stairs on which he practically jumped, skipping 2 or 3 steps at a time. He finally reached the apartment he was so familiar with, 305. He didn’t even take time to catch his breath, instead he grabbed the key and opened the door, panicky he shouted 

‘HARUMI, DON’T YOU DARE STARVE YOUR–..  -self’

Two men were now gazing at him, one being his best friend, Harumi Kurose, who was laying on the couch, covered in blankets, eyeing him with a tint of confusion and the other, even more confused, was Mr Kurose. 

Did he forget to lock the door? Why does Akihiko look so panicked and sweaty?  Why did he shout at Haru not to starve himself? Was there something he omitted?

‘..Mr Kurose?’ 

‘Hello to you too, Akihiko’  Mr Kurose greeted, still trying to make sense of the situation 

Soon enough Harumi’s uncontrollable laughter filled in every inch of the apartment. A hue of red started covering Akihiko’s face, he had just embarrassed himself to death. If he could dig a hole for himself right now he would, anything just to disappear. 

‘I-I appologize for intruding!’ 

‘It’s fine, did I leave the door unlocked?’

‘No, uh, I used my spare key..’ The knight admitted, scratching the back of his head

‘I see.’ His eyes drifted to Harumi. ‘I would also want a spare key.’ 

‘Maybe later- ACHOO’ Harumi sneezed

‘So you are not feeling well, I knew it! You could have told me.’

‘It’s fine Aki, you don’t have to worry’

‘Of course I worry, that’s my job, you idiot! Why didn’t you tell me you were sick and chose to act strange instead??’

‘I didn't act strange, dude, you just panic too easily’

‘Oh yeah? Then what about this??’ Akihiko held out his phone to the conversation he had with Harumi over 2 weeks ago and to the unread messages.

‘..What?’ an unimpressed Harumi asked

‘You left me on seen the whole week and the last time we talked you acted like you were trying to avoid me’

‘I was not, I just had to solve some.. stuff’

‘Some stuff?’ Akihiko frowned

‘Yes, me and my son had a few things to do.’ Mr Kurose said while searching for something 

‘O-oh. I see.. I’m an idiot’ 

‘Yup, you kinda are.’ Harumi teased ‘But it’s fine’ He finished his sentence before giving Aki’s brain the time it needed to overthink

Mr Kurose was rushing around the house, grabbing his phone, Haru’s key, a pile of documents, his identity card and finally stopping for a second. He looked at the teen and said

‘Akihiko, you came on good timing, I have some things to do, can you take care of Haru till I get back?’

‘..Sure’

‘Soup is in the fridge, feel free to eat too. I’m heading off, bye boys’

‘Bye dad/Mr Kurose’ the teens replied in unison

And so Mr Kurose left like a storm  and locked the door behind them, hoping that nobody else had a spare key this time. After he left, Akihiko sat down on the couch, to collect his embarrassment.

‘OH. MY. GOD.’ was all Akihiko said while sitting with his palms covering his face, his elbows being supported by his knees

Harumi, however, started grinning, spotting another teasing opportunity. Since he and Aki didn’t talk recently, he missed teasing his favorite bunny. Even if the two are not together, he can at least please his heart by making the other even more embarrassed and so –in Harumi’s eyes– cuter.

‘Soo, you were worried about me, oh bright knight~’ Harumi teased 

‘O-of course I was worried, you idiot!’ Aki protested

‘It’s fine, I would probably panic too if you wouldn’t text me for what, 2 weeks?’

‘I has been 2 weeks and 3 days, if you’re concerned’ Akihiko corrected

‘Pff, you’re impossible’ Harumi laughed at the thought that Aki really counted the days

‘Oh really?’ Akihiko grinned ‘Then good luck with the soup, because it suddenly feels impossible for me to get up’

‘Actually’ Akihiko smiled once again ‘It is impossible for me not to lay down for a bit’ He said as he let himself fall on the couch, tossing the silver, because apparently the couch was not big enough for the both of them

‘What are you doing idiot!?’ Harumi hardly said ‘You’re gonna crush me!’

‘But Harumi, it feels impossible to get upp’ This has started to be funny for Akihiko, Harumi can tell.

‘Oh, sorry, let me help you then’ Harumi yeeted the other teen off the couch, making him fall down on his butt.

‘Oww..’

‘Suit yourself’ Harumi pouted ‘Now go get the soup, for real, I’m hungry’

‘If you had as much strength as to push me off, you should have enough strength to get up and take your soup’

‘Yeaa, don't feel like it’

‘And who is the impossible one now?’ Akihiko muttered

‘What? Whatcha said? Didn’t catch that’ Harumi smirked, making Aki well aware he did, in fact, catch that.

‘Doesn’t matter.’ Akihiko said while getting up and going to take the soup for the both of them.

When Akihiko returned he found Harumi smiling like an idiot. He put the bowls on the table and sat on the couch next to Harumi.

‘You’re getting really comfortable’ Harumi noticed 

‘What is that supposed to mean?’ The oblivious teen asked

‘The soup, you took one for yourself as well’

‘Well.. your father said I could’

‘But you didn’t hesitate, didn’t say you’ll eat at home, that you don’t wanna be a bother’

‘..It’s probably cuz I’m hungry’ Akihiko excused himself

‘What about your carefree attempt to crush me? Ah, come on Aki! Don’t tell me you haven't noticed that you changed a bit’

‘Well..’

‘You become more confident, you even stood up for yourself to your brother’ Harumi explained  ‘..I’m proud of you. Really.’ 

‘Who are you and what did you do to Harumi?’

‘Dude, it’s me, what do you mean? I can be nice!! ..sometimes’

‘I know, I was just joking.’ Akihiko chuckled  ‘Thanks Harumi, I couldn't have done it without you’

‘Anytime.’

One hour and a half later a sound of keys unlocking was heard from the front door. Mr Kurose has seemed to finish his business.

‘Hi kids’

‘Hello, Mr Kurose’ 

‘Hi dad. Have you solved everything?’ Harumi questioned impatiently

‘Yes, everything is good’ Mr Kurose assured

‘Good.’

‘What is good?’ Akihiko asks

‘He had to solve some stuff, that’s why he came to Japan’

‘Yes, and my airplane is leaving in an hour, I gotta go’  That’s what Mr Kurose said yet he did not leave until he gave Haru a big hug

‘I’m gonna miss my son soo much’

The mushroom head turned his eyes away, a slight tint of blush rising on his face, Akihiko smiled fondly at the view. The hug lasted a couple more seconds but eventually the father let go of his son and headed towards the door.

‘Goodbye kids’ Mr Kurose said while putting his hand on the lever

‘Goodbye’ The boys said in unison

Seven minutes later, Akihoko received a text from none other than Akemi, who had asked for his presence.

‘Yeahh, no.’ The brunet muttered

He texted Akemi that, if there's no emergency, he would rather stay to take care of Harumi and have a sleepover so he assures that Harumi gets enough rest. Naturally, Akemi agreed, the matter will be discussed later, Haru’s health was more important.

‘Oh, so you’re gonna stay. Till when?’ 

‘Until your cold passes down, so if you want to get rid of me, you better take care of yourself’

‘It’s not that, just I thought you’d be like ‘’I need to study cuz school’s starting soon’’ and all’

‘We still have more than 3 weeks until then, plus, I can always tell Akemi to bring me my books and we can study here’

‘Nu-uh. I’m sick. I don’t study.’

‘Ok then’ Aki smiled

‘Wanna watch something?’

‘Sure, what?’

‘An anime I recently heard of, it’s called ‘’Skate the infinity’’, whatcha think?’

‘Sounds interesting!’

‘Let me just find it on one of my sources :) ‘

‘..Sounds illegal’

‘Don’t worry, it is.’ Harumi grinned

Chapter Text

The summer break passed, so it was time for all students, teachers and school employees to come back to the gates they so desperately left 2 months ago. This was no exception for the two most well-known academies in the city, Higasa and Suisha. The air was filled with gloom and complaints and the top-scorer, Shiraishi Akihiko, felt no different, almost as if the academy is more desolate than before, or was it just him?

No one dared ask Shiraishi what his deal is, well, no one except the most curious girl on the planet, the queen of gossip, Ueno Mari, and her boyfriend, Yamamoto Ryouhei, who apparently sensed him from afar. The two kept asking if Shiraishi was ok, but he kept on reassuring them it was nothing.

Eventually, the room’s loud conversations faded as the teacher walked in, his face visibly uncomfortable. He cleared his throat and announced: ‘Everyone, we have a new student joining us as from today, please be nice’

The murmurs and rumors kept getting louder and louder for no visible reason, except, when the new student entered the room.. everyone was SHOCKED, including the top student

*HARUMI!?* Aki thought to himself *No, this can’t be good. What is he doing here??*

The teacher mentioned a new student.. could it really be? What has gotten into him!?

The students were looking at Harumi, who was looking back at them with his Ice Prince persona. He expected people to react like that, after all, the two academies were rivals, but he was disgusted by it nonetheless. All those people were low, so low, they were already murmuring and talking about him, yet no one there knew him at all, none of them even interacted with him at all. Yet they assumed they knew him, they didn’t even know their top student at all and were taking Aki for granted. How could he not hate them? 

When people got quieted down by the teacher, who was just as displeased with the situation as Harumi was, the class was left in awkward silence. *Finally, some peace*  Harumi thought to himself. He looked at Aki for a second *Ah, shit*. Aki was visibly torn down, and Harumi hoped Akihiko would be able to keep his cool until they got the chance to talk. Will they even get that chance to talk? 

After the bell rang, everyone went to their friend group and were gossiping about the new student. Harumi tried to search for Aki, who disappeared as soon as the bell rang. Was he mad at him? He was walking out of the class when he received a message from his best friend

[Aki]: Meet me in the drama club room. 

*I see, so that's why he ran as soon as the bell rang, cautious as ever* The silver was glad, but there was one problem: He didn’t know how to get there.

It would be useless to try to find the room by himself, so he has to ask for help. He quickly scans the room and sees a tall guy, looking uninterested in all the gossips that were spreading around, that must be one of the few cool guys, he tells himself as he walks towards him.

 Harumi taps the guy on the shoulder, to which the guy turns to face him

‘Can I help you?’ the tall guy says with no malice

‘Uh, yeah, I’m kinda lost’

‘Where are you heading?’

‘The drama club, do you know where that is?’

‘Yeah, but that room is unused’

‘It’s fine, I’m searching for a less crowded space’

‘Ah, I get you.’ He looks around  ‘Come, I’ll show you the way’

Harumi quietly followed the guy. On the way, a blonde girl ran to him. They must be friends, Harumi thinks. The girl seems more.. hostile towards him, it can’t be helped, that's everywhere he goes anyway.

The guy refers to her by her first name, they must be close, then. They talk for a while, the guy tells her where they’re heading.

‘What are you doing in the drama club?’ The girl asks

‘I need some peace, it’s kinda loud here..’ Kurose said, no harshness detected in his voice.

‘..Oh, I see’ 

The girl seemed surprised? Why? Was it that hard to believe that the ‘Ice Prince’ was not all angry or disgusted to talk to someone? Yeah, that was most likely it.

‘Um..’ The girl pauses, pondering whether or not she should continue her sentence ‘..we haven't introduced ourselves, it’s rude, I guess.’

‘I’m Ueno Mari, and the tall guy over here is Yamamoto Ryouhei. We’re in the same class as you from now on.' The girl seemed uncomfortable, but somewhat less hostile

‘..My name is Kurose Harumi, but I guess you already know that. Anyway, it’s good to meet you.’

The two classmates kept leading Harumi towards the drama club, the halls became less and less crowded until they stopped in front of a door. Harumi assumed that was the drama club, he wanted to thank them, but the girl opened the door and walked in before he could. The tall guy went after her, feeling like he should tell his girlfriend not to disturb Kurose if he wants to stay hidden. Harumi went in right after them, hoping he’ll find a good excuse before it’s too late.

‘Harumi, finally! I thought you got lost around the.. school’

‘Huh, Shiraishi?’ The girl was visibly shocked

A certain brunet’s anxiety kicked in as he covered her mouth. ‘Harumi, the door!’

The silver did as instructed and locked the door behind, hoping the tall is actually as chill as he originally seemed, otherwise he’s screwed

‘Man, what the -!’ the tall guy did not seem as chill

‘Sorry, I’m really sorry, I just panicked!' The brunet said back rapidly

He looked at Ueno, took a deep breath and said as calmly as he could  ‘Ueno-san, I’m sorry. I’m going to put my hand off. Please, don't scream, let me explain everything, ok?’

The girl nodded and he let go, finally Yamamoto’s muscles letting loose, slightly uncomfortable from the tense pose they were in before.

‘S-so uh? How do I even start?’ He panicked again as he looked at Harumi. 'Some help might be useful this time, Harumi.’

‘Oh, right, sorry’

‘You know each other?’ Yamamoto asked, maybe out of curiosity or maybe to make Shiraishi to get to the point

‘It’s a long story’

‘..Wait, is he the friend you were talking about?’ Ueno asked

‘Yeah, he is’ The brunet revealed, his breath slowly getting calmer.

‘..How?’

‘We live pretty close, and take the train home so..’ Harumi intervened

‘I see’ Ueno nodded as he turned to face Shiraishi. 'That's why you asked about the rivalry back then..’

‘Yeah..’

‘He..isn’t like the rumors tell, right? That’s why.’ Ueno’s comment pissed Harumi a bit, but he kept it under control. There was no reason to make this girl an enemy, especially since she knows their secret now

‘No, he’s not like the rumors at all’ Shiraishi responded as he gave Harumi a smile, which made Harumi smile back. This little interaction was seen by Yamamoto who decided to remain silent.

‘I-I’m sorry Kurose, I listened to the first thing I heard about you and judged you for it..’

Aki finally beginning to breathe steadily 

‘It’s fine, you wouldn’t be the first, lol.’ The silver shifted his eyes from Ueno to Aki as he grinned

Aki gave him a mad look ‘You also believed my brother’s from Yakuza’ He scoffed

‘Pf- they weren’t so far off tho’

‘Harumi.’

Ah, right, tough subject

‘..Sorry’

‘Now it’s your time to explain. What are you doing here??’

‘Lol, Aki, I was just passing by, what do you think?’ Harumi said sarcastically 

‘No way, really? Then I’m glad, I must have misheard the teacher saying you’re the “new student”. What a relief.’ Aki said, while imitating Harumi’s tone  ‘You didn’t even bother to tell me..’

‘Ok, I’m sorry, but in my defence, I knew how you’d react. Plus, it wasn’t my idea’

‘Then whose idea was it?’ Disbelief was written all over the brunet’s face

‘My dad’s ‘ Harumi said, waiting for Aki’s reaction

‘O-oh, Mr Kurose’s..of course’  At this response, how could one not grin? Surely Harumi couldn’t help but do it. He knew Aki would be too scared to be mad at his dad, even if he wasn’t there to see it.

Their conversation was interrupted by the bell, as they made their way into the classroom. The bright knight and his Suisha companions left first, Harumi, as instructed by Aki, left after a couple of minutes.