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“How much longer do you want to cover and sulk in that corner, Kaji? It has been ages since I last saw you doing this,” Enomoto states, a small irk of annoyance ringing in his voice.
“Shut up! I'm not sulking!” The teen in question snaps from the corner he was sitting in, curled up like a scared little feline. He felt the slightest bit of regret for lashing out like this, but to his excuse, he had run out of candy to put in his mouth and was amidst the worst crisis of his entire life. Both were enough reasons to get a bit snappy for Kaji. Enomoto and Kusumi would understand.
Crossing his arms in front of his chest, Enomoto merely gives him a stare. “Fine for me. If you're not sulking then you're pouting. I don't care what you want to call it because it really doesn't matter. What matters is that you're the Grade Captain and that we have patrol later. So get your shit together already.”
Inwardly Kaji seethed because he felt like he was being treated like a rebellious little toddler throwing a tantrum from his vice-captain right now. He didn't like this, not at all.
His piercing glare shifted to his other vice-captain who had kept quiet until now. But with his fierce dark grey eyes locked on him, Kusumi shifted on the spot, reaching inside the pocket of his pants and pulling out his phone. His fingers flew across the screen as he typed and Kaji breathed a small breath of relief. At least one of his vice-captains understood him. Or so he thought because when Kusumi presented the message to him, Kaji felt the right side of his corner twitch.
I'm sorry, Kaji-kun but I'm afraid Enomoto is right this time. I don't know what happened with Sakura, but I believe in you. You can do it! ^-^
“Arghhhhhh!” He roared, the little scared feline turning into a ferocious tiger. How was he supposed to deal with the expectations of his friends during his crisis? He has the social skills of a vending machine and thus is simply terrible at dealing with people. On top of that, he's emotionally shaken right now which makes his overall situation even worse.
At his outcry, both vice-captains took a step backwards, leaving their captain a bit more room to get it out of his system, whatever it was that bothered him so much. Enomoto sighed in defeat when the outburst simply continued whilst Kusumi raised his hands in defeat, a useless attempt to calm Kaji down.
After a while, Enomoto had enough and turned around, pulling Kusumi along. “Fine, if you wanna be a brat so be it. Kusumi and I will handle today's patrol. Hopefully, you have worked through your tantrum by tomorrow.”
Kaji didn't like the sharp bite in each word Enomoto spoke gnawing at his skin nor did he like how worried Kusumi looked despite his smile and goodbye wave before the door to the classroom fell shut silently, leaving him alone in the room.
A few minutes of silence that felt like hours to Kaji passed. For some reason, he hoped his vice-captains would open the door any moment and check on him like they always did. Much to his chagrin, it stubbornly remained closed.
Okay, now Kaji is really feeling bad. It's rare for Enomoto to get upset and seeing Kusumi all worried always feels like a knife has been thrust into his chest. Kaji curses under his breath. Dammit!
With a groan he leans against the wall, bashing his head harder than he should against the graffiti-covered wall. A dull pain fills the spot of impact, but the Grade Captain can't muster the energy to care much about it. He deserves it anyway in his eyes.
He wonders how things could end up like this. He doesn't have to think for long before a freshman with bi-coloured hair and eyes jumps into the front of his mind.
Sakura, the first year reminds him way too much of himself one year ago.
He was annoyed when the duty to sort out the new Grade Captains fell upon his class, but since it was a request from Umemiya he was in no position to deny it. Begrudgingly, he trotted after his two vice-captains as they handled the elections. He blasted his music as loud as possible while he went through the stock of candy he always carried around.
Much to his relief, none of the classes made things particularly difficult, each of them already having chosen their Grade Captain. However, like everything else in the world, there was of course one exception, the class 1-1.
They struggled to elect their captain, or rather the chosen captain struggled to accept the vote of his classmates. Kaji's patience was always thin, but when he saw how difficult it was for Sakura to accept the vote he snapped. It didn't help at all that he saw himself in the guy with bi-coloured hair. He had even to blink several times because he swore he saw his younger version briefly the longer he stared at Sakura.
To get this drama over with, Kaji snapped and announced Sakura as the new Grade Captain, not caring whether Sakura could actually live with this decision. He thought it was over with that, but Enomoto had the wonderful idea that Sakura and his two vice-captains would follow them during patrol.
It was only a few hours which ended with him jumping after a cat into a goddam river when he was further convinced that Sakura was him from one year ago. The similarities between them were frightening, to say the least, so Kaji did his best to ignore them and push them into the darkest corner of his mind.
He managed to keep this up for a whole week but when he saw how class 1-1 left during teachings he knew something was off. Without uttering a word, he stood up and followed after them, Enomoto and Kusumi hot on his tails. The whole scene felt familiar, too familiar to something he experienced and wished could be erased from his memory.
His concerns came true when he found the whole class beaten to a pulp in an old warehouse, Sakura frozen and helpless as he could do nothing but watch how his classmates got beaten up.
This too was a familiar sight Kaji wished he could forget because it brought back bad memories, bad memories that haunted him whenever he allowed his mind to stray too far.
Stepping in, he, Enomoto and Kusumi cleared up the mess class 1-1 got themselves into. Despite the dire circumstances, Kaji still stopped to lecture Sakura in front of everyone before he left to take on the boss of Keel but not before promising to give the guy a few punches from Sakura as well.
The mere thought he has actually agreed so easily to something like this suggested it even in the first place, brings a hot blush to his face. Just what the hell is wrong with him?
It didn't get any better when Sakura searched him out earlier, his whole stance reminding Kaji of a scared little kitten who was lost and desperate for help. But he didn't see Sakura standing in front of him then and there. It was himself from one year ago he saw, the version of himself that was ready to give up because he had messed up greatly, creating demons all by himself even though there was no reason as far as his classmates were concerned.
Something about Sakura made it so easy for Kaji to agree to stuff he normally would avoid, even if it was a heart-to-heart conversation with someone he barely knew. He repeated the words Hiragi had said to him back then when he dragged him to the roof.
Kaji had engraved every letter in his mind, so it was easy to repeat them but not without adding a little bit of his own touch. He was not a people person after all and Sakura's situation was only similar to his back then, not exactly the same. Therefore, a bit of variety shouldn't hurt.
Once he was finished with his prep talk, he was ready to leave, embarrassed about how much he had said in a short while. However, it turned out Sakura and he were not the only ones on the roof. From the sideline, Umemiya suddenly clapped and Hiragi confirmed that they did eavesdrop, not intentionally but that didn't change the fact they heard everything.
To say Kaji felt mortified was an understatement, even more so because, from the corner of his eyes, he saw that Sakura wore basically the same expression as he did. The whole thing was worse enough as it was, but Umemiya started praising how much he had grown him on top of that. Kaji snapped at that and did the first thing coming to his mind; punching Umemiya straight into the face.
It took him a whole five seconds before his brain caught up with his actions. He gasped in shock and then ran away flailing his arms like a chicken with its head cut off, unable to deal with this shit any longer.
That's how he ended up in his corner, wishing this day would finally end so he could forget about it altogether. If Kaji was honest with himself, he knew this wouldn't happen because Sakura would constantly remind him of today's event. However, Kaji didn't want to be honest with himself, so he tried to think about anything that was not related to Sakura and how the guy remembered him of himself.
Lost in thought as he was, Kaji didn't notice how the door to the classroom opened and a familiar figure walked in. Said person addressed him, but he didn't hear them since he was tuning out everything outside of his mind.
After several failed attempts, the person had enough and took a deep breath, preparing themselves for what they were about to do. Drastic times called for drastic actions.
“What are you thinking so hard about, Kaji?!”
“Ahhhh!” Kaji screams, the voice of Hiragi suddenly filtering through his mind catching him off guard.
Bewildered he looks in the direction from where the voice came and finds Hiragi sitting in one of the chairs, observing him with a small glint of amusement in his eyes. Humiliated, Kaji turns away, unable to meet the gaze of his sempai.
“Sorry, 'bout that. Didn't mean to scare ya. It's just Enomoto and Kusumi told me something was bugging ya, so I thought I would look for you. Gotta say I didn't expect to find you sulking in the corner though. Is everything alright, Kaji?”
Kaji could easily tell the genuine concern in Hiragi's voice. Despite the rough exterior, this man had a really soft spot. Also, Hiragi's presence was due to Enomoto's and Kusumi's concerns. Kaji felt like he was stabbed in the chest once again, guilt quickly overtaking him. Yet, he felt a strong urge to correct Hiragi on something.
“I'm not sulking,” he mumbled quietly, still unable to meet the eyes directed at him. The shift in the air a moment later was quite noticeable and Kaji wasn't sure if he liked it.
“Really not?” Hiragi questioned, not believing a single word of Kaji. “If that's the case why are you sitting in that corner? And why can't you look me in the eye either?”
Okay, maybe Kaji was pouting a tiny bit, but only a tiny bit. It was not worth mentioning it at all. That being said, he knew he had to act now otherwise Hiragi would pin him on it. Begrudgingly and groaning, Kaji lifted himself from the ground and marched to the closest chair. Sitting down, he finally met Hiragi's gaze with his own although he tried to concentrate on the bridge of Hiragi's nose instead of his eyes.
He could still see the winning smirk on his sempai's lips about his victory and it irked him, but he kept that little detail to himself. Much to Kaji's relief, Hiragi moved on immediately without using the opportunity to torture him.
“Alright now. Mind telling me what's bothering ya? Maybe I can help you.”
“There's nothing much really. Just the usual. Guess I'm just a bit more exhausted than normal.”
It wasn't necessarily a lie because it was well known that Kaji could easily get upset which of course drained him of his energy. Considering what had happened in the last few days, it was hardly a surprise if he felt a bit groggy. The bandages and plasters marking his skin were proof of that.
Kaji took the silence from Hiragi as a sign that he was safe and no further questions would be asked. He should have known better but he didn't, so the next question froze him on the spot.
“This is about Sakura, isn't it?”
Kaji's body grew stiff, the boy's helpless image flashing in front of his inner eye. Right next to him, Kaji saw his younger self looking just as lost. The second-year Grade Captain didn't notice he averted his eyes again. Hiragi took it as a sign to continue.
“You know, when I first saw Sakura I thought I saw you for a moment. At first, I thought it was just my mind playing tricks on me, but the longer I observed him, the more I saw the similarities you two share.”
“You... you must be seeing things, Hiragi-san...” Kaji weakly protested albeit he knew better. After all, he considered himself and Sakura to be pretty similar. The older male only chuckled at the meek protest, not allowing himself to be stopped.
“Both of you are socially awkward, have a talent for getting into trouble and feel insecure most of the time. First and foremost though, you step in without hesitation when one of your friends is in trouble....”
Hiragi allows the words to echo for a moment through the otherwise silent room before he continues, not failing to see the rising blush on Kaji's face.
“You know that Umemiya likes to call Furin a big family even when we are not related by blood. Personally, I think this applies the most to you and Sakura. Heck, if I didn't know better I would have thought you two are actually bro-”
Hiragi doesn't get to finish his sentence. He hears the screeching of a chair scratching across the ground before a fist hits him straight into the centre of his face, sending him tumbling to the ground. There's a gasp, Kaji looking shell-shocked at him with eyes as wide as saucers. A moment later he's already storming out of the room flailing his arms like he did earlier this day.
Enomoto and Kusumi standing outside can only watch in confusion as their friend makes a beeline for the classroom of 1-1, the hallway being filled with bellowing laughter coming from inside the classroom.
Meanwhile, Kaji wishes the earth would open and swallow him whole. This has to be the worst day of his entire life. First, he punched Umemiya in the face and now he has done the same to Hiragi, both people he deeply respects from the bottom of his heart. Just what has he done to deserve this? How's he supposed to ever look them in the eyes again after what he has done? He just wants to die from mortification. Before he does that, there's one thing he wants to do beforehand.
It doesn't take long before he reaches the classroom of class 1-1. Pushing it open violently, he ignores the gasps of surprise as his stormy eyes roam every face unto he finds what he is looking for.
It takes him three long strides to close the distance between Sakura and him before he puts the younger in a tight headlock, twisting his fist on top of his head. “This is all your fault!” he seethes.
“What the hell?! Leave me alone you asshole!” Sakura retaliates, doing his best to get out of the grip. It doesn't take long before Kaji and Sakura are in the middle of a brawl, Kaji has the edge due to his experience and taller frame, something he suddenly finds very mortifying because it underlines the words Hiragi had almost said.
Each member of class 1-1 wants to stop them, however, none dares to get in between these two, already knowing they will not make it out unscratched. Even Suo, ever the diplomat, doesn't manage to separate them as the two Grade Captains throw punches and kicks at each other with neither of them landing a decisive blow.
All it takes them to stop in their tracks is a low mumble, one that wasn't meant to be heard by anyone in the first place.
Scribbling in his notebook, Nirei whispers to himself, “Kaji-san and Sakura-san not only have similar personalities and weaknesses, but they also fight pretty similarly. They share as many similarities as brothers do, if not even more. Investigation about potential relation needed...”
Nirei is so absorbed in his scribbling, that he doesn't notice how quiet the room grows nor does he notice the hot flush on both Kaji's and Sakura's faces. Only when Suo nudges him with an elbow does he take notice of his surroundings, two stormy glares locking him in his spot.
Suo takes a respectful step away from Nirei before he addresses his friend. “Nirei, please don't question what I'm about to say. I suggest it is in your best interest if you start running right now.”
Normally, Nirei would have been confused but when Kaji and Sakura take a malicious step forward, he takes three frightened steps backwards.
“Don't you dare,” the found brothers snarl at the same time. The threat causes the opposite effect as Nirei screams in pure fright and runs away as fast as he can, Sakura and Kaji following him immediately.
“I'm sorry! I'm sorry!” He apologizes but his words fall on deaf ears.
“Stop running!” Kaji and Sakura shout simultaneously as they chase after him like two tigers hunting a rabbit. The chase leads them outside to the schoolyard and it doesn't take long before the whole school pays attention to the events outside.
In a true Furin fashion, bets are placed on whether pure Nirei can escape the clutches of certain death that await him the moment he gets caught by Kaji and Sakura. While everyone observes the hunt, they share the same thought. Kaji and Sakura may not be related by blood, yet they are Brothers In Mind without a doubt.