Work Text:
Atsushi woke up to his alarm. He dreaded hearing that, but he had to. The boy barely got an hour of sleep – his alarm rang at least 40 minutes after Atsushi remembered closing his eyes.
“Atsushi. Wake up.” He swatted Kyouka away.
Atsushi grumbled, “Five more minutes.”
“Every time you say that, you end up late.” Kyouka deadpanned. “Surprise your boyfriends for a change.” Atsushi groaned and sat up.
“I’m not late all the time–” Kyouka started blowing raspberries, although she only did it for almost three seconds. It annoyed both of them, more Atsushi than Kyouka at the moment.
Atsushi narrowed his eyes at Kyouka. The girl gave him a small smile. “The only times you were early were the first week of classes and to help Tanizaki for that school pageant…” She tilted her head. “Did you even help him prepare?”
Atsushi grabbed his phone and angrily tapped his fingers on it. “I’ll have you know, I was a huge help!”
Kyouka snatched the phone from her brother. She stuck her tongue out, still expressionless as ever, “Get out of bed then you’ll have your phone back. I’m all dressed, what about you?” Her tone was devoid of emotion, but Atsushi knew she enjoyed poking fun at him. Atsushi begrudgingly got off his bed and folded his blanket.
“My classes aren’t even for an hour…” Atsushi rolled his eyes. “The school is also just a 5-minute walk away.”
“It’s 10 for someone like you.” Kyouka bit into her snack bar.
Atsushi grimaced at Kyouka’s breakfast. “Wait here, I have some leftover pancakes from the weekend you slept at Tanizaki’s place with Naomi and they were all here. Juni made Nutella-stuffed pancakes, it was very nice.” His expressions had more energy as he continued to babble on about his boyfriends, Kyouka ignored him instead and rushed to the refrigerator to look for the pancakes.
“Kyouka! Don’t eat them all at once– I’m eating them too!”
.
.
.
Atsushi took a selfie with Kyouka as they both stepped out of the building they lived in. He sent it to a group chat with his boyfriends before turning off his mobile data.
Their walk on their way to school was silent, with Kyouka and Atsushi occasionally stopping to pet stray cats.
“Are we really not allowed to have one at home?” Atsushi sighed at Kyouka, he pinched the cat’s cheek as it meowed at the siblings.
“I’m pretty sure we won’t be the best caretakers for cats.”
Kyouka shook her head. “You don’t know that! We can ask Kenji for advice! He has a lot of experience with animals.”
“ Farm animals.” Atsushi emphasised.
Kyouka frowned. “Ah, I bet the library has books on taking care of animals! We can–” Her phone rang. Kyouka’s energetic expression immediately vanished. “Hello.” Her voice was monotone. “Ah, Kenji. Yeah, I’m on my way.”
Atsushi stopped petting the cat and stood up. He sprayed alcohol on his hands and on Kyouka’s hands.
.
.
.
Atsushi bid good bye to Kyouka and Kenji. He opened his phone and looked at his unread messages.
atsushi:
hello anyone at school rn
tachihara:
I am! are you here? lmao
atsushi:
yes!:)
akutagawa:
Are you pranking us? Again? This early?
atsushi:
NO to all ofthat
tanizaki:
hiiii jwu 😋
YOURE AT SCHOOL ALREADY?
atsushi:
WHY WON’Y ANY OF YOU ALL BELIEVE ME!!1
tanizaki:
sorry we love you but like. REALLY? YOU? EARLY?
akutagawa:
yeah. it just doesn’t feel you
atsushi:
[atsushi has sent a photo]
IM FUCKIGN HERE LEAVE ME ALONE😭
tachihara:
OKAY I WILL GO TO YOUUU
tanizaki:
[tanizaki has sent a photo]
i am OTW (on the water)
akutagawa:
i feel bad for your phone
atsushi:
real
i hope youre late juni
tachihara:
atsushi look behind you >3<
tanizaki:
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU NEVER SAY THAT
akutagawa:
[akutagawa has sent a photo]
higuchi brought food for gin and coffee for me. they’re eating rn 🤍
Atsushi smiled at his phone. He turned it off then looked around him before he spotted a head of well-known dark orange hair. He dashed towards Tachihara, waving his arms around.
“Atsushi! Good morning!” They kissed Atsushi on the cheek. “You’re really early.” Atsushi shrugged, a smug look on his face.
“I’m extremely sleep deprived.” Atsushi’s tone was braggy.
Tachihara gave Atsushi a look of concern. “Are you… serious?” Atsushi nodded, a proud smile still plastered on his face. They furrowed their eyebrows. “Let’s walk to your room?” Atsushi gave Tachihara a thumbs up.
While walking, Tachihara greeted multiple people, many of whom Atsushi did not recognise. He felt like the partner of famous celebrities accompanying their partner while the partner engaged with every fan they ran into.
There were seniors Atsushi had interacted with on their walk – Dazai and Chuuya, of course, along with Ranpo and Poe. He waved at the four. Chuuya could be seen arguing with Ranpo about… something.
Tachihara and Atsushi stood near the doorway to Atsushi’s classroom. They greeted Higuchi.
“Gin and Akutagawa aren’t with you?”
Higuchi shook her head. “Ah, Gin’s with me! She’s on her way to the library to get something. Akutagawa said he had to take care of urgent matters.”
Atsushi furrowed his eyebrows. He looked at Tachihara, who seemed to know what that meant. Atsushi looked back at Higuchi. “Okay, thank you! We’ll be on our way now.”
Tachihara laughed. “We’re here already.”
Atsushi nodded. “Right! Okay, bye, Higuchi!” The girl bowed at the couple before she walked away from them.
Atsushi lowered the strap of his bag to his left forearm. He turned the doorknob with his right.
“It’s locked.”
Tachihara hummed. “Doesn’t your class have some rotation on who has the key? Are they here yet?”
Atsushi sighed. “It’s Juni…”
atsushi:
tanizaki junichirou if you dont get here rn 😭 the room is locked fuck you
tanizaki:
WE ARE LOOKIGN FOR THEKEY
akutagawa:
im helping him. so is naomi
Atsushi showed Tachihara his phone, and the latter laughed. Uproariously, to Atsushi’s dismay. “This is why I don’t like arriving early.”
Tachihara stifled a laugh. “You sure you don’t just sleep in?”
.
.
.
Atsushi frowned. Being dragged to his boyfriend’s classroom was not how he wanted to spend his morning. He tightened his grip on Tachihara’s jacket. The two were sharing one chair. Atsushi positioned his arms and head so he could close his eyes for a few minutes.
Tachihara placed their arm on Atsushi’s head and moved their hand around as they talked. “It’s still shocking that you’re
this
early. It’s just the four of us here.” Tachihara gestured at Gin and Higuchi, who were caught up in their own
romantic
affairs (Higuchi was helping her girlfriend cram information for an upcoming report.)
Atsushi looked at the two, then focused his attention back to Tachihara. “I didn’t know they were dating?” Atsushi had seen the two together, but given Higuchi’s previous liking to his and Tachihara’s other boyfriend – Akutagawa, it had never occurred to him that the blonde liked the other Akutagawa student.
Tachihara nodded. “They’ve been dating for, like, months now? They only made it official the other week.” Atsushi hummed in response.
Other students, unfamiliar faces, started piling in the room. Atsushi noticed from the corner of his eye, Akutagawa Gin and Higuchi stood up and Gin gave Higuchi a kiss on the cheek before they left the room, waving at Atsushi and Tachihara on their way out the door. Atsushi and Tachihara waved back at Gin with smiles.
Atsushi grew nervous at the thought of having to talk to Tachihara’s classmates. Don’t get him wrong, there was nothing bad about them (well, not all of them), it was the interaction that got on his nerves.
Tachihara noticed Atsushi’s face gradually grew in worry. They said his name, snapping Atsushi out of his thoughts.
Atsushi hummed. “Did you need something, Tachihara?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing.” Tachihara answered. They asked their seatmate to watch over their stuff before they walked out of the room with Atsushi following behind them.
.
.
.
“Are you okay?”
Atsushi nodded. It was obvious to Tachihara that that wasn’t the case.
The redhead didn’t know what to say, or do. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Later.” Atsushi replied. He shook his head. “I’m just tired. I’ve been pulling all-nighters more often, and it isn’t fun.”
Tachihara sighed. They knew that feeling all too well. They took off their jacket and handed it to Atsushi. “Here.” Atsushi held it up, a little confused at the action.
“You can use it as a blanket, if you want.”
Atsushi smiled. “This reminds me of when we first met. Except, you’re the one handing me a jacket, instead of the other way around.” He grew embarrassed recalling the memory, he buried his face in Tachihara’s jacket.
“It’s not that bad! Not your fault for mistaking an equally-gorgeous ginger you aren’t dating (yet) for the one you are dating!” Tachihara laughed. “And speaking of gorgeous gingers… Tanizaki! Hey!”
Atsushi waved at the other redhead, their signature red jacket tied around their uniform. They were breathless, with Naomi and Akutagawa behind them. “YOU.” He poked Tanizaki on the side, “Why are you late? Huh? And I was the early one today, well, Tachihara too but they’re always early! The room is still locked, you know?”
Tanizaki took deep breaths before he spoke. “We got lost once we found the key. Had to call Akutagawa. Again.”
Tachihara rolled their eyes. “Don’t tell me Naomi led the way.”
The girl glared at Tachihara. “What is your problem with me?! You sure had no complaints about me when I helped you–!” Tachihara shushed her immediately. All three of their boyfriends looked at them. “It’s nothing.”
“They dropped their jacket in the toilet and called Gin and me.”
Tanizaki, Akutagawa, and Atsushi each had different emotions on display after Naomi’s revelation.
“When was this?” From Atsushi.
“You WHAT?” A bewildered Tanizaki.
“Oh, Gin told me that.” Akutagawa wore a small, but shit-eating smile Tachihara wished they could wipe off the former’s face.
Tachihara, through gritted teeth, smiled at Naomi and said, “I am going to get you next time.”
Naomi reciprocated Tachihara’s energy. “You’re my least favourite boyfriend.” Tanizaki locked eyes with Tachihara and shook his head.
“Juni. The classroom… people have been messaging me non-stop…” Atsushi frowned, eyes closed.
Tanizaki fumbled through their stuff. “Right! Here! Sorry for being late, Atsushi.”
Atsushi smiled. “That’s okay!”
Akutagawa chimed in the conversation, “Tachihara and I are coming with. I’ll just leave my stuff in my seat.”
Tachihara and Tanizaki switched jackets in the background. Tanizaki tiptoed to put the hair clips in Tachihara’s hair. He took out his phone and took a photo of his boyfriend. “Hm… Atsushi, what do you think?”
Atsushi, without taking a second look at Tachihara, answered “I think Juni looks nice.”
“I’m Tachihara.”