Kamuroposting

–

"You know, you shouldn't use your powers against other people."

Shinji looks up, a boy from another school with tall, tall blond hair standing right across from him. One hand is in his pocket while the other holds his bag behind him, his stance and smirk cocky. Shinji tenses. "L-Listen, I don't know who this 'White T-Poison' guy is—"

The other boy holds up his free hand, a show of peace. Maybe. "Hey, I never said anything about White T-Poison." His voice is calm, even. Shinji hates it. "And I'm not here to beat you up like all those other wannabe thugs."

"Then what do you want?!" It comes out more terrified than he'd like. Shinji swallows, hoping the kid didn't notice how his voice cracked. He takes a careful step back, his legs stiff. "Who are you, anyway?!"

The boy only continues to smile. He doesn't move closer. "Hanazawa Teruki of Black Vinegar. And I told you: you shouldn't use your powers against other people."

"What powers?!" Shinji spits, hoping he seems tougher than he feels. "Like whatever Kageyama-kun did to those delinquents? I don't have anything like that!"

He inhales, bracing himself in case he has to run again. Hanazawa only stands, staring with an expression Shinji isn't sure how to read.

"No, not those kinds of powers," Hanazawa finally answers. "I doubt there are many with powers like his." (Does he know who Kageyama is…?)

Hanazawa adjusts his stance, shifting his weight. "But someone with any kind of powers, psychic or not, shouldn't be using them against other people the way you do. The way I used to." His head tilts ever so slightly, his giant hair threatening to fall over. "The way you use your powers to make yourself feel superior to everyone around you… it reminds me of when I was younger, and just as naive as you."

What on Earth is Hanazawa going on about? He doesn't look older than Shinji— they're both just middle schoolers. In fact, he looks a bit younger than Shinji is.

"Using what powers you have to put everyone else down because in the end, you aren't really anyone special. You may be Salt Middle School's class president, but without your powers, you're a nobody, just like me—"

"Don't act like you're better than me just because your hair is so much bigger!" Shinji finds himself yelling, really not thrilled to be treated like this by an underclassman. From a completely different school, no less. Or maybe it's the lingering pain and bruises from other delinquents beating him up the previous days and he's tired of standing out here, vulnerable and exposed.

He swallows. He forces his hands to keep steady. "And don't lecture me like you're some old sage full of wisdom! Just— Just leave me the hell alone!"

Hanazawa stares.

Shinji heaves, his mouth dry. His grip on his bag tightens. He tries to keep his breathing even.

Then with a shake of his head, Hanazawa sighs. "All right, then. I'll leave you alone." He turns on his heel, walking away. Shinji watches, not letting himself relax.

"Just don't forget…" Hanazawa pauses, turning back one last time. "Ruling the school with fear and threats like you do won't make people actually like you. And it won't make you any more popular. Trust me, you wouldn't want to learn that lesson the way I did."

And with that, he leaves. Only when Hanazawa's tall hair is finally out of sight does Shinji release his breath. He almost collapses right there on the street, that entire interaction leaving him exhausted.

But he can't stay here. Sure, he may have gotten out of that physically unscathed, but he can't say for certain the next kid from another school will just want to lecture him about what's "right" like Hanazawa did. For all he knows, the next one may be an actual delinquent eager to make him their next punching bag. So he quickly makes his way back home, avoiding eye contact with anyone and everyone he passes and doing his best to pretend Hanazawa's words aren't still nagging at him.

Without your powers, you're a nobody.

–

"You know, you shouldn't use your powers against other people."

Shinji looks up, a boy from another school with tall, tall blond hair standing right across from him. One hand is in his pocket while the other holds his bag behind him, his stance and smirk cocky. Shinji tenses. "L-Listen, I don't know who this 'White T-Poison' guy is—"

The other boy holds up his free hand, a show of peace. Maybe. "Hey, I never said anything about White T-Poison." His voice is calm, even. Shinji hates it. "And I'm not here to beat you up like all those other wannabe thugs."

"Then what do you want?!" It comes out more terrified than he'd like. Shinji swallows, hoping the kid didn't notice how his voice cracked. He takes a careful step back, his legs stiff. "Who are you, anyway?!"

The boy only continues to smile. He doesn't move closer. "Hanazawa Teruki of Black Vinegar. And I told you: you shouldn't use your powers against other people."

"What powers?!" Shinji spits, hoping he seems tougher than he feels. "Like whatever Kageyama-kun did to those delinquents? I don't have anything like that!"

He inhales, bracing himself in case he has to run again. Hanazawa only stands, staring with an expression Shinji isn't sure how to read.

"No, not those kinds of powers," Hanazawa finally answers. "I doubt there are many with powers like his." (Does he know who Kageyama is…?)

Hanazawa adjusts his stance, shifting his weight. "But someone with any kind of powers, psychic or not, shouldn't be using them against other people the way you do. The way I used to." His head tilts ever so slightly, his giant hair threatening to fall over. "The way you use your powers to make yourself feel superior to everyone around you… it reminds me of when I was younger, and just as naive as you."

What on Earth is Hanazawa going on about? He doesn't look older than Shinji— they're both just middle schoolers. In fact, he looks a bit younger than Shinji is.

"Using what powers you have to put everyone else down because in the end, you aren't really anyone special. You may be Salt Middle School's class president, but without your powers, you're a nobody, just like me—"

"Don't act like you're better than me just because your hair is so much bigger!" Shinji finds himself yelling, really not thrilled to be treated like this by an underclassman. From a completely different school, no less. Or maybe it's the lingering pain and bruises from other delinquents beating him up the previous days and he's tired of standing out here, vulnerable and exposed.

He swallows. He forces his hands to keep steady. "And don't lecture me like you're some old sage full of wisdom! Just— Just leave me the hell alone!"

Hanazawa stares.

Shinji heaves, his mouth dry. His grip on his bag tightens. He tries to keep his breathing even.

Then with a shake of his head, Hanazawa sighs. "All right, then. I'll leave you alone." He turns on his heel, walking away. Shinji watches, not letting himself relax.

"Just don't forget…" Hanazawa pauses, turning back one last time. "Ruling the school with fear and threats like you do won't make people actually like you. And it won't make you any more popular. Trust me, you wouldn't want to learn that lesson the way I did."

And with that, he leaves. Only when Hanazawa's tall hair is finally out of sight does Shinji release his breath. He almost collapses right there on the street, that entire interaction leaving him exhausted.

But he can't stay here. Sure, he may have gotten out of that physically unscathed, but he can't say for certain the next kid from another school will just want to lecture him about what's "right" like Hanazawa did. For all he knows, the next one may be an actual delinquent eager to make him their next punching bag. So he quickly makes his way back home, avoiding eye contact with anyone and everyone he passes and doing his best to pretend Hanazawa's words aren't still nagging at him.

Without your powers, you're a nobody.