Chapter Text
Asano Gakushuu was the perfect student of Kunugigaoka Junior High. He was in 3-A and the leader of the top 5 students called the Five Virtuosos. On top of that, he was the Student Council President and his father, Asano Gakuho, was the Board Chairman of the school. Gakushuu was considered rather handsome, with strawberry-blond hair that reached his ears and bright violet eyes that made him resemble his father.
To the main student body, He was the number one, the ‘Ace.’ To Class E, he was an arrogant bastard. Parents wanted him to be their child and children wanted him to be their friends. His abilities and intelligence were considered superhuman and he came first in tournaments, contests, and rankings with ease.
He was a model student, both physically and academically. He was the product of his father’s education system.
But Gakushuu Asano has a little secret. A secret the living cannot know.
He glanced down at the paper on his bed, a note from his superiors.
‘Gakushuu Asano, you are to join Class E- the End Class. Do anything necessary to join them. Further information and instructions will be given by Senior Rilliane later in the day. - Grim Reaper Japanese Branch.’
Gakushuu was a Grim Reaper- someone whose duty it was to collect and review souls, to judge if they go to heaven or hell when they die.
The note crumpled where his fingers held it tight. Exams were coming up in a few days, and though he didn't want to go through with it, he knew what must be done to demote himself to the End Class.
Something strange was going on in the End Class, however. Their sudden improvement in grades was unexplainable through the idea of ‘hard work’ and everyone on the main campus knew it, though it was cute to entertain the idea. There were rumors of steroids, bribery, and even cheating circulated in the student body, and Gakushuu was determined to uncover the secret of the End Class even before his assignment..
He checked his watch. “Only a few minutes until it's time to leave. I should review the list for tonight,” he mused aloud.
—-
“Don’t worry, you can do better next time.”
“I’m proud of you!”
“I know you studied hard for that test! Good job.”
Gakushuu noticed many differences between himself and the students around him as he grew up. His classmate's parents praised them for passing a test, where he was ridiculed for even one point lost.
Children his age hung out with friends with little care while he was stuck in his room studying.
He had to do his best in cram school, volunteer work, council meetings, and classes outside of school. He had to be perfect. He had to get 100%. But no matter how perfect he was, Gakushuu knew he would never be praised by that man, his father.
On his way to school, he spotted a family of three playing in the park. A boy who looked to be around the age of four scraped his knee and started to cry. It was a loud, shrill thing but was gently quieted by his mother and father, who rushed to his side and comforted him.
Gakushuu felt something inside him twist and ache.
Would his father have done such a thing? Or would he instead have criticized him for being weak?
What was it like, to be hugged? Comforted? Loved unconditionally?
Gakushuu tried to shake those silly thoughts from his head as he attended class, but they rattled around in his head all throughout the day and only grew in size.
Why am I not allowed that?
Why do I have to be perfect? Number one? Why do I have to get 100% in everything? Why...?
Why am I the only one that has to do this?
—-
A few months before the holidays, he planned a small camp in the forest alone. He packed everything he needed- food, water, and money for the trip- and set off into the rural side of Tokyo.
On his way to the bus, he made a stop at a pharmacy, and with a forged medical note, he left with a bottle of sleeping pills that the pharmacist believed was for his parents and got on the bus to his chosen forest.
He always did love nature.
Gakushuu walked into the forest, making sure not to trip on the winding roots of the trees surrounding him. The sunlight filtered through the trees and reflected in his eyes a shimmering violet. He walked deeper and deeper into the forest until he found the perfect spot to sit. Clear of roots and shielded from the dirt with a soft blanket of grass, it was ideal for his plan. He set his backpack on the ground and sifted through it to find the bottle of pills.
Gakushuu cupped his hand and dumped the pills into it with his other hand until they spilled onto his jeans. Setting down the bottle and grabbing a thermos of water to drink, he quickly swallowed both the pills and water. Gakushuu then laid down on the grass, looking up at the blue sky turning orange as the sun set.
As his eyes began to feel heavier and heavier, Gakushuu tried to think back to any happy memories he had outside of his achievements or trophies and found none.
At ten years old, Gakushuu Asano committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills, lying in a forest, surrounded by nature.