Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Strolling down the corridor, the endless pairs of eyes are incredibly intimidating. You know they’re not staring at you – why would they be? They’re staring at the tall, slender man who grips your wrist firmly, dragging you unwillingly towards the student council office. You hate him. All this attention, and how does he respond? Like an arrogant, stuck up, selfish brat, rejecting any girl who asks him out because he has some sort of a… you don’t know… superiority complex?

But as he drags you down the corridor, he doesn’t do it forcefully. Ok, it’s slightly forcefully, considering he’s holding you by the wrist, but he does it almost as if he’s not herding you, but guiding you instead. The soft grip makes your wrist tingle with hatred. What right does he have to guide you to your doom? A harbinger of evil, pulling you to the depths of the unknown… dramatic, but its true. You’ve never been in the student council office; it could be a torture chamber for all you know. In fact, you don’t even really know why you’re heading there now. You were just ambushed as you left class by the ‘esteemed President’, who didn’t even give you a clue as to why he needed you!

As the door to the office swings open, you notice the one whom they all deem a ‘Prince’ finally open his mouth. “About time…” you think.

“You can sit in that chair over there. I have a proposal for you.”

“And why does this proposal include you dragging me against my will to the student council room at the end of the day, without any notice… or any word? That was embarrassing! Everyone was staring!” you say, anger and spite lacing your words. He rolls his eyes as a natural response, but blinks it away, replacing it with a plastered, artificial smile. He thinks you don’t notice the slight lapse in his façade, but you do. You notice every little thing about him. Because it annoys you, of course.

“I know you’re not going to like it, that’s why. But I must ask you anyway. I knew if I didn’t sideline you as you were leaving class you’d just run away – you seem to like to avoid me as much as possible,” he speaks, slowly and succinctly. He speaks with so much… agency, even as the wind from the open window casts its breeze over his face, blowing strands of silver into his eyes. But you don’t like it. You hate how seemingly perfect he is. You hate this wall he puts up, this act you know he puts on. It’s infuriating. If he does it for the attention, why doesn’t he bask in it? Why isn’t he out teasing all his little girlfriends right now, and instead in here with you, giving you what seems to be… a lecture of some sort?!? You just can’t work him out, that’s why you hate him. With anyone else you may have been intrigued by your lack of ability to perceive their thoughts, you do it so easily with most people. But with him, it’s simply infuriating. It’s like he knows the rules of this game you’re all playing but hasn’t shared them with anyone else.

“Hm, I didn’t know I was obligated to talk to you. What’s it matter if I avoid you anyway?” you quip, a frown on your face. You still haven’t sat down in the chair. You really don’t want to do anything he asks of you.

“It…” he sighs, “It doesn’t really matter. I just wish I knew why. You’re not obligated to talk to me, not one little bit. Not other than now, of course. Do you uh… wish to stay standing, Miss?” Ugh the formality makes you want to choke. You’re not used to it. In fact, you hate it. Another addition to the list.

“Yes. I do. If you don’t mind, President.” You smirk, sarcastically, and lean on the doorframe.

“Suit yourself.” Yuki goes and sits in the chair that he had offered up to you a couple of minutes prior.

“Now before you say anything, this wasn’t my idea.” Oh no… what’s he going to say now… “The principal has requested you to be our events coordinator for the Student Council.”

You open your mouth to not-so-kindly decline, but he continues to speak. “Now, I know what your immediate thoughts must be. And since you seem to despise even being in the same room as me, I’m not sure we’d… ahem make a great team. But the Principal has requested you, since you were such an asset to the school festival preparations, and I’m sure it’ll look good on college applications.”

The question lingers in the air for a moment. You really do need something to put on college applications, after all. Good grades may be alright, but they aren’t everything, and you know that you can’t really write that every night you just go home and scroll social media aimlessly. You’re not sure that would make the greatest impression. Whilst you ponder your response, Yuki looks to the window, a tree blossoming just outside. Spring wasn’t his favourite season by any means, but he couldn’t deny it was beautiful. It reminded him of something Tohru once asked him – “What happens when snow melts?” Of course, he answered with, “Well it turns into water.” He’s smart but that almost comes as a toll on his imagination. Although, most people would answer the same as him, he’s almost certain.

What Tohru said at the time surprised him – “No silly, spring comes!” At first, he didn’t really understand where she was coming from. Does spring come directly after snow melts? Probably not. But in time he came to understand the meaning behind her words. Yuki doesn’t hate winter much; in fact, he almost embraces it – despite the horrendous effect it has on his health. But his name means snow. Was she trying to tell him that if he melted down this hard exterior he had created for himself, there would be something even more beautiful underneath? Maybe she’s right… he doesn’t know. He doesn’t really understand Tohru half of the time anyway. But when he turns back around to face you, the smile he wears is genuine. Not the flashy, artificial one that he usually wears, but real. It’s almost endearing.

“What the hell am I thinking?!?”

“I hope we can put our differences aside, Miss.”

“You don’t have to keep calling me miss… it makes me feel like I’m a teacher.” You chuckle slightly, any trace of spite gone. For now, anyways. “Ok, I’ll be events coordinator. I need something to do anyway.” His smile widens, as if he’s almost… happy at the response.

“I’m glad you said yes, y/n. I’m looking forward to working with you.” He pauses for a moment. “And for the record, that’s Yuki who’s saying that, not ‘The Prince’ or the president.”

His insistence almost makes you blush. Almost. In fact, you didn’t actually agree to join the student council because you needed something for college applications. You joined because as you watched him stare out of the window, so peaceful, so deep in thought, you thought maybe… maybe he’s not as bad as you think he is. And you plan on sticking around a little longer to find out. Though, you don’t plan on letting him know that.

“Thank you then Yuki,” you almost scorn, as you leave the room with a small wave. You stop as you’re one foot out of the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I guess I can’t avoid you at all costs anymore…” you say, before walking off down the corridor. Yuki just laughs quietly, a small, new warmth in his heart. “Is that really what she wants?”

Chapter Text

You traipse to school the next day with your feet practically dragging behind you. Despite all your intrigue, you’re starting to regret taking on the student council position. It’s so much effort, and for what? Finding out the secrets of the ‘Prince’ of Kaibara High School?

Ok, now that you think about it, it does sound pretty much worth it. But it’s going to take a lot of effort and a lot of energy that you don’t have.

You head to the student council office when you get there, as you received a very unwelcome text message last night when you got home, from the student council President himself.

“How did he even get my number!?!” you thought. “The Prince has his ways I guess…”

You realised it was probably one of his loyal fan-club members that had given your personal details away. After all, you were, albeit begrudgingly, friends with a couple of them.

The message read – “Hello. It’s Yuki Sohma, I just wanted to say thank you for agreeing to be events coordinator for the student council. We’re looking forward to welcoming you and so if you could please come to the office at 8:30 tomorrow morning, that would be much obliged. See you then!”

He texts like he’s planning a business meeting. Honestly, you’re not surprised.

And now he wants you to go to school 30 minutes early to meet the other idiots who are signing their lives away for unpaid work. “30 minutes less sleep, and it’s only my first day on the job!” you thought. You collapsed onto your bed, groaning angrily into your pillow before deciding to go to sleep.

“Ugh, I guess I’ll just have to go to bed 30 minutes earlier.”

It didn’t make much of a difference. When you woke this morning it was like the whole world was telling you it’s too early to get up, telling you to go back to sleep. You could hardly even open your eyes, which is why you ended up having to practically drag yourself into school.

When you get to the office, you manage to arrive at exactly the same time as Yuki. Shit. You were hoping for at least a couple of moments of peace. He waves at you as you walk down the corridor, and you wave back, mustering up all the friendliness that you have in you. If you want to learn his secrets, you have to at least try to be his friend.

“Did you get home okay last night?” Yuki speaks, his words eloquent but with a trace of genuine concern.

“I wouldn’t have responded to your message if I hadn’t, would I?” you respond, with more malice than you were originally intending. The cruel tone and words just fall off your tongue without even trying anymore. Suddenly, you feel a strange pang in your heart at the idea of upsetting the man who stands next to you. You wish you weren’t like this, but you are. There’s nothing you can do about it now.

However, to your surprise, Yuki laughs. Soft and kind, a chuckle that causes your stomach to flip slightly. Because you feel utterly patronised, obviously. Nothing else.

“I guess you’re right.” He smiles. And again, it’s genuine. Not fake. Not flashy. Genuine. You swear you’ve seen his genuine smile more in the last day than you have in the past year of being in the same class as him. You feel your face start to burn up, and so quickly turn away and open the door to the office. You’re convinced he doesn’t notice the pink tinge to your cheeks. Yuki isn’t at all perceptive enough to pick up on such a thing, or so you think.

You’re wrong, of course.

When you open the door you’re met with a tall brunette male, a shorter male with mousey-brown hair, and two females, one brunette with a wide grin - almost smirk - on her face, and a girl with dark grey hair, that falls to her shoulders. She looks nowhere near as cheery.

You know the smirking girl as Kimi. In fact, you’re pretty certain everyone knows Kimi. And not particularly for the right reasons.

You also recognise Kakeru Manabe, a fellow third year, but you don’t really know much about him, other than him being a third year. You don’t often pay much attention to people in the other classes.

“Hi everyone,” Yuki speaks to the small crowd of people. “This is y/n, she’ll be joining us from now on, as events coordinator.”

Kimi, ever the ball of energy, jumps up and pulls you into a hug.

“AAA Kimi is so happy! We’re going to be best friends, I’m sure.”

You hardly even know the girl, but you already find her slightly… well, maybe more than slightly… irritating. Like, seriously, why is she speaking in third person?

The other girl continues to stare down at the table. She doesn’t make any eye contact at all, she just stands there. You conclude that she’s probably just naturally antisocial. That’s one thing you can relate to, at least. You put on your nicest voice possible and address the others:

“Hi everyone, I’m looking forward to working with you!”

“Smile. Just. Smile,” you think. “I can’t afford to let my guard down.”

“Great. Now can we go? I’ve been waiting here for half an hour,” the short, mousey haired boy spat, almost breaking your will, turning your smile to a scowl. But it doesn’t. You’re stronger than that. At least, for now.

“You can go.” Yuki says, frowning a little. “Although I did expect you to be a little more welcoming to our new member.”

“Why should I be?! She’s just another stuck up, mindless idiot like the rest of you. I’m leaving,” he says, storming out of the room and slamming the door behind him.

“He’s sure got a chip on his shoulder…”  you mutter under your breath, so nobody else will hear. Yuki shoots a small smirk your way though, and you know he picked up on it. He must have good hearing.

“On that note you can all leave.” Yuki addresses the rest and then turns to you. “Except you, I need to speak to you about… something.”

The other student council members leave, Manabe giving you a friendly nudge on the arm. He mutters “Good luck” to you, and for some reason, you feel like you’re going to need it. The girl with the short, dark grey hair, whom you now know to be Machi Kuragi, just rushes out of the room, books in hand, looking down at the floor. You’re a little worried about her, but you know its not really any of your business.

Without the presence of the other members, an air of tension falls upon the room, and you see the cherry blossom tree from the night before out of the window. It’s beautiful, but it’s a little barer than it was yesterday. Maybe the time of its’ beauty is coming to an end. It’ll soon be covered by green leaves, still beautiful in their own way but just… the same as all the others. It’ll blend in, fit in, never standing out for its uniquity, not until another year passes, and the cycle will start again and again. It almost makes you feel like your time is running out.

“I guess I’m not the only one who’s a good actor,” Yuki states, matter-of-factly, causing anger to bubble up in your stomach a little. What’s that even meant to mean?!?

“I wasn’t acting,” you retort.

“Either you’re acting for me or acting for them. I’d like to think it’s the former and you’re genuinely nice to other people, but in that case, you must hate me.”

“Maybe you’re right.”

The corner of his mouth turns up a little, a large smirk on his face that you could hardly imagine Yuki would pull before now. It’s alluring. Infuriating. But also kind of… hot, dare you say it.

“Now, we both know that’s a lie.”

“I do hate you, Prince-”

“DON’T call me that. Please. Call me Yuki.”

“Yuki then. But regardless of pleasantries, I don’t like you at all. Why do you even care so much?”

He sighs, the smirk falling off his face. It disappoints you more than you thought it would, and almost makes you want to try anything to bring it back. It’s so stupid. You just asked him why he cares so much, but now you realise that if he’d said the same thing to you, you would’ve lost your mind. What’s wrong with you?? You attempt to say something, to go back on what you just claimed, but he interrupts.

“I want us to be friends, that’s why. We have more in common than you think.”

You perch on the desk in the centre of the room. “Like what?”

“Look, I don’t know much about your life. You don’t know much about mine, so your hatred means nothing to me, at least not for the moment. Not until you get to know me. But I do know that when we talk, there’s something there. A familiarity that… is new to me. I can’t quite work out what that familiarity is just yet, but it must mean we’ve got something in common, right?”

He sits next to you, leaving a distance, but one that’s small enough to make you go a little red.

“And in terms of your life, I’d like to get to know more. If you let me, of course.”

He smiles. Genuine. Again. It’s genuine. It always is now, when it’s just you two. And you find yourself smiling back at him, the natural turn of your lips foreign on your face.

“I want to know more about you too,” you mutter, suddenly much more nervous than usual. “I don’t hate you, I’m just… well… I’m just horrib-”

“Don’t you dare say you’re horrible!” he says, placing the tip of his finger to your chin and turning your head so that you’re looking directly into his eyes, a light grey, the colour of marble. He takes the finger away, slowly, not wanting to cross your boundaries. “You’re not. Never say that. I see how you are with people, you’re sweet, you’re kind.”

“But you’re right, that’s just an act. How I am with you… well maybe it’s a more inflated level of horrible, because until recently I really didn’t like you, but that’s the genuine me. The real, ugly, horrible me.” You avert his gaze, embarrassed of your vulnerability with him, but it just happens without you really even letting it. It’s like he strips away the mask you wear without you noticing at all, and it’s scary. Not to mention, he can see how flustered you get with just a touch of his finger. Credits to him for not pointing it out.

“If you’re right, and this is the genuine you, then I don’t think you’re ugly or horrible. You’re unique. Like that cherry blossom tree, beautiful.” He shuffles a little closer to you, his leg brushing yours. You can’t believe anything he’s saying to you. He hardly knows you, you’re bound to start getting on his nerves at some point. But for now, well, it almost seems like he likes you. “Not to mention funny. I love it when you’re sarcastic, or snarky, it just acts as proof that it is you who’s speaking, and not just some artificial version of yourself.”

The light in his eyes sparkles like the stars on a clear night, shines like he’s looking at something special. But he’s looking at you. Why?

“If it’s worth anything, I prefer it when you’re like this, Prince,” you say, but with less of your usual malice, teasing instead of mocking. Despite his earlier orders, the smirk that makes your stomach flip reappears on his face.

“Is that right, Princess?”

Out of nowhere, you choke on your own saliva, your face as red as a tomato.

“I- we need to get to class, don’t we?” you splutter, turning away from Yuki to hide your practically glowing red face, and hopping off the table. “Are you walking with me or not?” you chide, coming back to your senses.

“Fine, fine, I’m coming!” he says, jumping off the table himself and tailing behind you. “And don’t you dare make the Prince name calling a common occurrence!”

You laugh happily, “I know you’re not really anything like a prince; I’ve known it since day one.” Now it’s your turn to shoot a smirk in his direction. “I just like the way it makes you.”

Huffing in feigned annoyance, he walks beside you, matching your pace. “Hell… I’m in for a wild ride…”