The Little Scarf Boss's Class Is About to Begin! [Mori Ogai]

[The main story is complete. Extra chapters will drop at random. The whole story is free, as a thank-you to fellow fans. Slow-paced, not cathartic, and focused on political intrigue, with a touch of ensemble cast. Be sure to read the author’s note in full: the plot setups and foreshadowing take a long time to unfold. If you’re impatient, I honestly don’t recommend starting this. This is the first book in the Leader series. Books two and three are available to add to your to-read list on my author page. Revised 2024.9.17]

He fell from the clouds, plunging headfirst into the murky filth everyone despised...

Hypocrites urged him to accept his lot and know his place, warning him not to aim too high.

Those with ulterior motives egged him on to grovel and endure, manipulating others and teaching him to scheme and scrape by.

Should he spend a worthless life in a daze, lost in emptiness?

Or follow his heart and risk everything to reclaim the position and glory that should have been his?

“Interested in lessons on leadership acting?”

“No, thanks. My hair’s already thinning. I’m afraid I’ll flunk out.”

“One-on-one lessons, guaranteed to teach you everything from the basics to staging a coup, from your first steps to your final rest. Everyone who takes the course loves it. Young man, are you sure you won’t hear me out?”

√ A Mori Ougai-centered story about self-rescue and growth. The protagonist has no romantic pairing, and the story is serious in tone, though some side characters do have pairings. It has a touch of crossover anime and manga elements. You can enjoy it even if you haven’t read the other series. Volumes one and two have a lot of original, alternate-universe plot and move slowly, with plenty of foreshadowing. The other series become more prominent from volume three onward, but Bungo Stray Dogs remains the focus. If you sense even a hint of romantic tension, that’s just this old man working his charms.

√ There are mountains of alternate-universe details. The story connects to both the original timeline and the IF timeline, but it’s still a new branch, so think of it as a parallel world. Mori and Dazai have a father-son dynamic; Double Black leans toward a gray Dazai and a blue Nakahara; there’s Black Atsushi and military police Akutagawa (Hound Dog); and Rando, Oda, and half of the Flags survive, among other things.

√ As long as Asagiri is around, fanfiction will always have its share of plot holes. This writer’s skills are limited, so out-of-character moments are inevitable.

√ If it’s not for you, please leave. Don’t clutter the comments. It’s free, so all I ask is that you spare me. Thank you.

Theme: Even when your toes are curling from embarrassment, don’t forget to look up at the sky.