Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

  Len Kagamine was always an overachiever. So much so that he managed to skip a grade, and was in the same grade as his (much more laid back) older sister, Rin.

  It’s a little embarrassing for Rin that her 14 year old brother is in the same class as her, but what’s even worse was the fact that he made much better grades than her. Len was the star student, the top of his class. The only person that could ever compete with him was-

  The bell rang, disrupting his train of thought. You see, Len had finished his work in his English class early, so he just sat at his desk, doodling and thinking to himself. I mean, it’s not like he had any work to make up. Every assignment was done and handed in on time. That’s just how he was. He couldn’t afford failure.

  Mentally exhausted, he gets up, and manages to bring himself to his fourth period class, science.

  With all his other classes, he always managed to find some kind of passion for what he was learning. With science however, that wasn’t possible for him. It eats at him. He had to be perfect. Despite his extreme dislike for the subject, he still managed to make good grades. He couldn’t let his hatred for the subject get to him and make him fail. Failure is not an option for Len Kagamine.

  Something he hated about the class, is it was the one class he had with the only other person that could challenge his intelligence. A red-haired boy, a year older than him. Len always felt drawn to him, but he just assumed it was because of the boy’s intelligence. Unluckily for him though, the boy was incredibly annoying.

  Back in the 7th grade, when Len first skipped a grade, he had his first class with the red-haired menace.

  Len tried to be friendly with him, but the other boy just dished meaningless insults at him. He was way too competitive. Len decided then and there, that he wasn’t worth his time.

  A few years go by, and the boy’s competitiveness caught up with Len, who now felt the need to prove he was smarter.

  Truth be told, Len had a lack of respect for the boy. He thought it was stupid and pointless to taunt people you deem as a threat. And yet, Len was still drawn to him.

  As soon as he reached his science class, he noticed a note on his desk from the teacher. The note read;

  Len Kagamine

Please meet me at my desk before the lesson.

  Goddammit. Begrudgingly, Len made his way to the teachers desk, where he noticed a certain redhead standing, equally as confused and annoyed.

  “Why are we here?!” The red-haired boy slammed his hand on the teachers desk.

  “Enough with the attitude, Fukase!” The teacher scolded him.

  Fukase just rolled his eyes in response… Thats no way to treat a teacher!

  “The two of you are incredible, the top of my class. However, you both have awful people skills. No matter how smart you may be, you still need to learn to get along with your peers.” The teacher paused. “So I’m making you two do the next big project together! It was meant to be a group project anyways, but you two always ask to work alone on those. You have until next month, I’ll discuss the details of the project when I discuss it with the class.

  Defeated, Len slumped back to his desk, dreading doing this damn project. He hated this kid, and now they have to do a project out of school together?

  As he was walking back towards his desk, he swore he saw Fukase shoot him a glare. What was this kid’s problem??

Chapter Text

  Finally, science class was over and Len could go rant about the whole situation to his friends, who are not particularly fond of Fukase for no known reason.

  “Hey, Len.” Oh fuck…

  Len turns around to face the boy that just tapped on his shoulder.

  “What do you need, Fukase?” Len grumbled.

  “I’m not letting you get me an F on this project. You’re coming over tomorrow and we’re gonna work on it, whether you want to or not.”

  “What do you mean you’re not letting me?!?! I make better grades than you!”

  “Not in science you don’t.” Fukase dropped a piece of paper with his number and address into Len’s hand, before walking away.

  That boy is so weird…

  Len’s train of thought was yet again interrupted, as he was being waved at by his friend, Gumi.

  Gumi and Len have been close friends since childhood, though they kind of drifted apart once Gumi started dating Rin. Not that Len was jealous or anything, but it kind of sucks that most of your friends are dating your sister.

  Sure Len wasn’t avoidable or awkward, and he could almost certainly make new friends if he tried, but trying is what scared Len. Interacting with new people wasn’t really Len’s thing, you know?

  He walked over towards his friend, and she immediately recognized the look on his face. Len was frustrated about something. Without thinking, she dragged him into the nearest bathroom.

  “Gumi?? Why are we in the bathroom? You know I only really like using the nurse’s bathroom. It’s too like, open in here.”

  Gumi turned to face Len, with a small smirk on her face.

  “Well something’s obviously up with you today, I can see it on your face.” The girl paused. “So what’s bothering you? Did anyone get on your nerves? If so I’ll kick their ass!”

  Len laughed before realizing he had to explain the whole situation. Maybe he was being dramatic? Maybe he was making a big deal out of nothing…

  “I have to do a project with Fukase, and you know how he is! He’s such a pain in the ass!”

  All of a sudden Len felt a hand grab his and soon enough he was getting into Gumi’s car.

  “Gumi??? Where are we going??”

  “We’re gonna go get your mind off things!”

  Now Len was a little panicky, as he’s never skipped a class before..

  “Len this one time won’t affect anything, you have a perfect record! Colleges already want you! You’re not gonna get in trouble, I swear!”

  “Fine, but only this once…” Len agreed reluctantly, buckling his seatbelt and getting ready for wherever the fuck Gumi was gonna take him.

  The entire car ride Gumi was reassuring Len he was gonna be alright. She ended up having to make a stop at the nearby 7/11 to use their bathroom.

  Len sat, bored in his friends car, with nothing to do, scrolls on his phone.

  What is with this Fukase boy?  As much as Len hated to realize it, every thought he has keeps leading back to him.

  Gumi takes a concerning amount of time in the 7/11, before leaving the store, now with a bag of sour patch kids.

  “Len! I got your favorite!!!” Gumi sat down in her seat before handing Len the unopened bag. This is the best thing that could’ve happened!

  “Where are we going, Gumi?”

   “That’s a secret. Shhhhh.” Gumi replies while pulling out of the parking lot.