31_days | [October 2] [Gokusen] Harbinger

Title: Harbinger
Day/Theme: October 2 - Good secrets are hard to keep
Series: Gokusen
Character/Pairing: Sawada Shin, Uesugi Ritsu
Rating: PG

***

The moment he stepped inside, Shin knew something was wrong. Of course, the sudden drop in noise was a dead give away.

He looked up from his phone, took in the wary, suspicious look on his classmates' faces, and focused back on thumbing his reply to Kuma' text. Classes started two days ago, and already the rumors had made their rounds.

It was Shirokin all over again.

When Shin continued texting, the whispers picked up a little. He wondered absently what they had expected him to do: start a brawl? Pull out a knife and start waving it around? Caught himself before he snorted at the last possibility, especially considering the type of people he was involved with these days. He snapped his phone closed and slipped into his back pocket.

“What did you tell them?” Shin ignored how the question quelled even the whispers. The classroom was completely quiet for a moment and then, from the back row, Uesugi didn't look up when he answered.

“I didn't say a word,” Uesugi said, with a tone that matched his bored expression. “It must have been Noya-san up in front.”

The boy in question flinched and tried to stuttered out a denial. Shin rolled his eyes. “Right.”

Uesugi jotted something in his notebook. He put the pen down and finally looked up. “Yes. You see, his cousin was one of my classmates. You might remember him. Hirota-san.”

“I never met your flunkies,” Shin said. Uesugi waved a dismissive hand. “It doesn't matter. Hirota is his cousin. He took the entrance exam with me, but ultimately failed. He couldn't even get on the waiting list, which isn't much of a surprise. Hirota isn't as bright as he think he is.”

Shin raised an eyebrow. He shot a quick look at Noya and found him with his head down, a flush making his way down his neck. Noya's companions looked uncomfortable on their friend's behalf. The rest of the class were paying avid attention as Uesugi continued:

“I personally informed Hirota that you had passed the entrance exam.” Uesugi paused and took a contemplative tone. “Though I have to wonder what he thought he would gain in releasing that type of information.” Uesugi laughed suddenly, sounding downright mocking.

“I mean, that just makes it more embarrassing for him. A Shirokin nobody beating an Aotama graduate.”

Shin huffed. He adjusted the shoulder strap of his book bag and made his way to the back. “Are we still talking about Hirota? Because I seem to remember beating another of Aotama's great.” His classmates looked bemused now, looking back and forth between Uesugi and himself.

Uesugi smiled thinly. “Yes, let's forget about that, ne?”

Shin took a seat beside Uesugi. He took out his things from his bag. The tension broke and conversation picked up again. Shin waited until everyone else was sufficiently distracted before he whispered. “That doesn't make us friends.”

Uesugi didn't look at him when he said. “Of course not.

“Perish the thought.”