Chapter Text
Kanukei doesn't exactly hate a lot of things. In fact, he quite likes how things are in his life. Nice record, nice friends, a very safe and reliable car — no matter how many times Salty says it, his 2012 Nissan Altima is in perfect condition. Who cares if his a/c works only half of the time?? As long as he gets to school its fine! — and amazing grades.
Well.
Almost.
Kanukei's GPA, for a lack of better words, is currently fucked. Well, at least to his standards they are. See, during his sophomore year his grades were completely screwed over, all thanks to this one guy. Saparata. What were once pristine 3.8's and 4.0's during his freshman year were reduced to a 3.0's and even a 2.7 at one point!
Safe to say, he absolutely despises Saparata and wants nothing to do with him for the remainder of his high school career, hopefully for the rest of his life!
Thankfully, he hasn't really seen the other teen since "The Incident" — he may, or may not, had completely begged his guidance counselor to make it impossible for he and Saparata to share zero classes for the rest of high school during the end of his sophomore year. And even though you can't exactly pick what your schedule looks like, much less choose for the next two years, Kanukei's counselor took one long look at his bruised lip and swollen eye and said "I'll see what I can do."
And his prayers were indeed answered the following school year! — In fact, he hasn't even seen a glimpse of Saparata all last semester. Not even during lunch! It's perfect and Kanukei couldn't have asked for a better counselor, his GPA is just on the cuff of being as perfect as it can be and he hasn't even seen a flash of the white-haired teen all of last semester! Life was good and things were finally looking up for Kanukei!
Ah... If only God didn't despise him today.
Kanukei walks not even five footsteps into his last class before he feels his stomach drop.
Because right there, sitting in the far back, was Saparata. Crumbling paper balls and fake throwing them to their teacher, Mr. Silas, who is currently writing Whoever disrupts my class gets ISS and a referral as his seatmate Pili tries to balance two pencils on top of eachother on his fingertips.
Oh God.
Before Kanukei can turn around and make a dash to his counselor, Saparata decides it's the perfect time to turn his head to the right. The moment Kanukei and Saparata eyes meet time seems to slow to a halt. His hair is shorter, a little messier, somehow fluffier and soft looking, while his eyes are the same: void black with a hidden evil lying inside of them. He may look different than how he looked back in sophomore year, but Kanukei knows one thing that definitely didn't change since then.
His stupid grin.
The one that he is using now.
The one he is using as he is currently waving to Kanukei right now as if they don't have history. A bad one at that.
Kanukei clicks his tongue. He can't do this right now. He really, really can't be bothered to even look at Saparata honestly.
But.
If he admits defeat by walking out of this door and heading straight to his counselor, that'll signal to Saparata that he won and Kanueki lost this pseudo fight between them. It'll show that Kanukei ran away, his tail tucked in between his legs like some sort of coward.
Hm.
Well, Kanueki can't let have him take this win from him now, can he?
And so...
"Hey Kanukei!" Saparata exclaims at him as he walks in. The pencil spinning on Pili's fingertips falls to the table as he scrambles to cover Saparata's mouth. Pointing very profusely at the whiteboard as their teacher stares daggers at the two. His bloodshot eyes could qualify as weapons if they so pleased. "Please. If you haven't had a chance to look at the board then do so now. I would not like to repeat myself for your sakes." He said, voice stern like a commander of a military. The two seniors nodded and adjusted themselves accordingly, Saparata still looking at Kanukei even as he fully ignores his eyes and takes a seat in the front next to Thomas.
"Oh," Thomas mumbles, taking out his left ear bud hidden from his hair. "You're in this class Kanukei?"
Kanukei sighs and nods. "Unfortunately. I wouldn't mind if he wasn't in here as well." He grumbles, jerking his head slight back to the left subtly. Right where Saparata sits. Thomas twitches a smirk, trying to hide his amusement to a level of degree. "Damn. Still hate his guts after two years?" Thomas asks, clearly trying to get in on the personal drama even more. Kanukei huffs, pushing his bright orange glasses closer to his face, eyebrows knitted. "It's- It's not like I hate his guts or anything. At least not any more than I did two years ago..." A tsk. "He just pisses me on more often than not now." Thomas hums, placing his arm onto the table and leaning his head into his palm. "I see."
It's true though. If you asked 15 year old Kanukei how he felt about the new transfer, about Saparata, he would truly say he wanted the kid gone. This time around however it's... fine. Just fine. He sighs.
Thomas snickers and opens his mouth to say something but a deep and stern voice interrupts him before he can say anything. "It seems I haven't stated myself clearly enough." Mr. Silas says, arms crossed and expression disappointed if anything else. He sighs, uncrossing a arm just so his fingers can rub into his eyes. "Since it's the first day back after winter break and you're all very enthusiastic. We'll be doing permanent seating charts now." The whole class grumbles in unison. "And put your earbuds away while you're at it. Don't think I can't see them because I can."
Muffled noises of frustration echo around the room as some kids put their heads down while others begrudgingly removing their earbuds. Thomas groans while Kanukei sinks further in his chair in misery. Surely this day can't get worse.
Surely not.
A few minutes go by and Mr. Silas, paper and pen equipped, starts assigning seats. "Jonky you're with Pro, Cynikka you're with Ymi, Pili with Thomas and Kanukei." He stops and Kanukei swears he sees the same glint of mischief that their principal, Mr. Kruger, has whenever he proposes a new event he claims his students would just love. Something tells him the rumors about those two might be more true than false...
"Kanukei, you're with Saparata."
And suddenly it looks like this day — no semester — can get worse.
After everyone gets adjusted to their new seating arrangements Kanukei makes it a point to ignore his seatmate as best as he can. Unfortunately, Saparata just can't seem to take the hint because he whispers: Still got that busted Nissan from last year? Right into his ear! Mix that with their teacher saying how their now permanent seatmates will be their assigned partners for every project unless it's for group work and..... yeah. Kanukei suppresses the urge to bash his head into the table.
This is going to be a very, very long semester...