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This is a story of a boy. An awkward boy. The heir to a powerful organization to be in fact. He came from a family of gangsters, yakuza, to be exact. Although, you wouldn’t assume so given that he and his family were fair haired, with light complexions, and light colored eyes. He was a boy of prestige, a far too notorious prestige and along with that he attended the most prestigious school Japan had to offer.
Hope’s Peak Academy.
He had been enrolled due to his ultimate talent of being… well, a yakuza member. The heir to its throne. And he lived up to that expectation as dutifully as he possibly could. He made little friends at his school. His closest friend was his bodyguard, Peko Pekoyama. They grew up together. His family had taken her in as a baby. And the rest grew from there. She’d never say aloud but they both had a bond no one could break. Neither would he. Other than his right hand woman, the closest he had to a friend was his younger sister. But she had a life of her own, her own drama. And he did his best, as a yakuza, to let her live her life and make her own choices with it.
He was never alone but he was lonely all the same. Until one day, a boy his age helped him as he struggled with the work assigned to them in class. He had soft brown hair, eyes of green, and the most tender, comforting voice. But I get ahead of myself, the young yakuza would never describe him that way. He would get flustered, yell obscenities, and scurry away as if he, himself, was the most frightening thing on the earth. The other boy would just smile and continue on with his day.
This happened recurrently. The yakuza, Fuyuhiko, would struggle with an assignment and the other boy, Hajime, would offer assistance. He’d decline most of the time but considering that Peko wasn’t in this class, he’d grumble and angrily ask for help at the last minute. Hajime was always happy to help. They sat by each other at the back of the class anyway. What harm could there be helping out a fellow classmate?
Fast forward one year and Fuyuhiko had grown used to Hajime helping him out. They both advanced into the same class together. Peko, herself, was surprised which angered Fuyuhiko. He wasn’t that incapable, was he? She smiled at this, telling him he’s capable of anything, that that wasn’t what she was surprised about. At the time, she squeezed his shoulder and walked away, intending to attend lunch, to save the table she and Fuyuhiko shared with no one else. Fuyuhiko, flustered, grumbled again and slammed his locker door open, shoving his textbook into it before retreating towards the cafeteria.
The school was bustling full of talent, from pop stars to mechanics, athletes to technological geniuses. That was what made Hope’s Peak Academy special. Each student was incredibly talented in one way or another. But Fuyuhiko just couldn’t figure out Hajime’s. He’d always answer embarrassedly and would say things like, “It’s not worth mentioning.” But Fuyuhiko was determined to know what it was. He wouldn’t dare admit it, but Hajime’s insistence that his talent was not worth knowing only made Fuyuhiko want to know more. But how was he to do that, he asked himself.
There were days, when Peko wasn’t around, most likely due to girls and boys having separate classes at times like physical education or their preferred elective classes, that Fuyuhiko would find himself sat by Hajime, who would most likely be snacking on something or reading a book. Fuyuhiko would divulge personal feelings about school, other students, his sister’s behavior, and other nonsense. Hajime would take it all into account and tell him his own thoughts or simply just be there to listen. Fuyuhiko liked that. He didn’t realize it at the time but one would assume that is the reason why he’d always flock to Hajime when he had no one else to go to. If Hajime wasn’t available, he’d just enjoy the solace until Peko or his sister would show up.
The winter season came and Fuyuhiko found himself, and Peko, at home, granted their own break from school due to their family’s influence as well as their somewhat “Christian” upbringing. They celebrated Christmas where as most of the country did not in the same way. They didn’t need to decorate, they had servants, maids, hired help of all sorts to do that for them. And because of this, the two would find themselves hanging out in the theater room, yes a theater room, watching Christmas themed movies. This was one of the few moments he’d see Peko genuinely laugh and smile outside of her duty-bound relationship to him. And as they watched, Fuyuhiko sunk into his seat.
“Peko?” He asked quietly.
Her eyes never left the screen, bringing popcorn into her mouth as she absentmindedly replied, “Yes, young master?”
“I… Never mind.” He said and sat back up.
“Of course,” was her blank reply. She continued to munch on the popcorn in between them. Fuyuhiko sighed heavily in frustration. Peko dropped the popcorn that was in her hand back into the bowl and turned to him, “Clearly you have something on your mind.”
“What?! No, I just —”
“You just sighed heavily in irritation.”
“That is so not true! I was just —”
“If there is something bothering you, I need to know.”
“It’s nothing!” He blushed furiously, turning away with his arms folded. He turned his attention back to the movie on the screen. His expression betrayed him, he was flustered, irritated, annoyed, he tried his best to sit still as he felt Peko’s eyes on him. He squeezed his arms tighter to his chest. Peko never looked away and he could feel it. “I’m serious, just watch the movie.”
“If that is your wish,” said Peko nonchalantly.
“Of course it’s not — I mean!” Fuyuhiko covered his mouth. He sighed again and rubbed at his forehead, “What I mean is —”
“There’s something on your mind.”
The boy didn’t know how to respond anymore. He didn’t know what to even say. But his thoughts were eating away at him and all he wanted in this moment was something he didn’t understand and it angered him more than he usually was.
“Tell me and I will understand.”
Was Peko reading his mind? Or were they so close that even she could comprehend what he was going through at the moment? Fuyuhiko looked at her with open eyes, mouth hung open, embarrassed. Her face didn’t change, she stared at him seriously, arms folded across her chest as well. She waited, patiently, for him to respond. He couldn’t.
Deadpan she continued, “You wish to see him.”
“What?!” Was all he could say.
“There are three people you only wish to commune with: me, your sister, and Hajime Hinata.” She said matter-of-factly.
“Why would you even consider him?” He asked angrily.
Peko’s face never changed, serious as it usually was, “Because it is my duty to serve and protect you. In everything you do or are involved in.”
“Peko, stay out of my head!”
“I don’t need to be in your head to know this,” was her calm response.
Fuyuhiko was dumbstruck. His arms had unfolded and he stared wide-eyed at the girl before him who stared back with a calm intensity he’d grown accustomed to but not in this moment.
“You don’t need to hide from me,” she finally smiled and let loose her own arms, “I know.”
“Know what?! You — you dumb —”
“And that is exactly how I know, you’ve never demeaned me in such a way and it’s quite alarming, I’d please ask you to refrain, young master.”
“I told you to not call me that but you still do!” He exclaimed.
“I apologize, young — Fuyu — Young… I’m sorry I cannot call you by any other name. It is in my blood.”
He huffed and crossed his arms again, “It is not. And you know this.” He looked back at her, as she refused to let her eyes betray her. He softened and dropped his arms to reach out to her. He apologized. She didn’t smile, didn’t look up, but unfolded her arms and relaxed back into her chair. Her eyes glazed over the movie screen once again. Fuyuhiko relaxed back into his chair as well. The silence overtook them and soon they both had fallen asleep, Fuyuhiko’s head on Peko’s shoulder.
A few days later, Fuyuhiko found himself standing in front of a door. The house was nothing like his. Smaller, simple, cozy, he thought to himself. One would think he’d be holding a bouquet of flowers the way he was dressed up. He had a black, pinstripe suit on, not their school uniform and not something more casual. He even had a tie with a clip edged between his button down and the tie itself. But in his arm was a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken. His face, usually rosy cheeked, was redder than usual. He did his best not to smile nor frown but as I said, this boy was awkward although he’d never admit it. He rang the door bell. A few seconds passed and he already started to panic. Was this a mistake? Should he leave while the going is good? Should he just leave the bucket and run, never looking back? Before he could argue with himself further the door opened revealing none other than Hajime Hinata. Hajime smiled, as he usually did, asking, “Fuyuhiko? What are you —” His eyes landed on the bucket of chicken, “What are you doing with that bucket of chicken?”
Fuyuhiko grew even redder, “I — I came to — Peko said — I have — Kentucky Fried Chicken — Merry Christmas!” He lowered his head and shoved it out to Hajime whose smile didn’t widen but his heart did.
“Why?”
Fuyuhiko didn’t dare look up. He kept his head bowed and the bucket of chicken shoved out in front of him, “Merry Christmas.”
Hajime laughed, he placed his hands tenderly on the bucket of chicken, “No, I mean, why the chicken?”
“I read that was your custom,” Fuyuhiko replied, head bowed, arms stretched out, bucket of chicken in hands.
“What?”
If Hajime could see Fuyuhiko’s face, he’d see a tomato. Suddenly, the bucket of chicken started to tremble. Hajime held on to it tighter with one hand and softly placed another on Fuyuhiko’s arm, “Thank you, my family loves fried chicken.” He didn’t move his hand from Fuyuhiko’s arm as he grabbed the bucket into his free arm, “You can, you know, stand up straight now?”
Fuyuhiko trembled tremendously. He sighed, the breath shaky, before standing upright. His face angry and looking away, “Well, Merry Christmas, bastard.”
Hajime let out the loudest laugh he’d ever done in a while. He hugged onto the bucket of chicken and continued laughing, much to Fuyuhiko’s dismay and embarrassment. Fuyuhiko grew angrier with each passing second and grit his teeth. Hajime opened one eye, wiping the other with his free hand finally noticing Fuyuhiko’s anger. He slowly came to a stop and hugged the bucket of chicken. They both became silent. Hajime stared curiously at the other boy, eyes slowly moving from his face to his body, which at the moment was shaking slightly, with anger or embarrassment he didn’t know. Hajime’s expression became serious at that moment, “You’re serious?’
If Fuyuhiko’s face could grow any redder it would explode, “Dumbass, I came to bring good tidings or whatever!”
“With KFC?”
Fuyuhiko held back a scream and just clenched his fists at the other boy. The other boy, Hajime, was confused and a little scared to be honest, “Fuyuhiko…”
“If you don’t want it — I’ll take it back, it’s not a big deal!” He screamed as he stole back the bucket of chicken. Hajime just allowed him to, his arms beginning to feel like gelatin as he watched the blond boy grip the chicken bucket tightly. Fuyuhiko turned to leave but Hajime stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. Fuyuhiko flinched. But... He stopped dead in his tracks, feeling the warmth of the hand on his shoulder, “What.” He started, “Asshole.” He ended.
He couldn’t see it but Hajime was smiling at him, “If you’re going to go all out about Christmas traditions, then you can’t skip out on the biggest one.”
Fuyuhiko, against all his will, turned around to face Hajime, eyes angry and cast at the floor. They both stood in silence until Fuyuhiko broke it, “What are you getting at?”
Hajime lifted Fuyuhiko's chin, so they’d be eye to eye, and pointed upward with his free hand. Above both of them was a green plant, tied with a bow. Fuyuhiko gazed at it with eyes wide open. He knew what this was, at least. His eyes fell from the mistletoe to Hajime’s, arms still hugging the bucket of chicken. Hajime’s smile faded and he just stared. Stared straight into the shorter boy’s eyes. Fuyuhiko didn’t know what to do. So Hajime did it for them. He leaned down, pulled Fuyuhiko, bucket of chicken and all, and placed a chaste kiss upon his lips. Fuyuhiko made a noise — how it escaped his lips is a wonder. Fuyuhiko froze. Hajime did not. He aimed to warm up the smaller boy and his kiss deepened, prolonging their lips’s connection. Fuyuhiko gripped the bucket tight not knowing what else to do then finally… His eyes closed and he leaned upwards and forwards into the kiss. Hajime’s hands found its way to the side of Fuyuhiko’s cheeks and pulled him closer.
A distance away, in a black limousine, were Peko and his younger sister, Natsumi. The window ahead of them was slightly scrolled down, “I told you the bucket of chicken would work,” Natsumi explained.
Peko smiled and rolled the window back up, “I think I have an afternoon off.”