Chapter Text
Now imagine Chuuya with bandages around his neck. Got it? Let’s continue.
"Chuuuya! You look so much like me!" — Dazai was practically glowing.
"Shut up."
"Come on, Chuuya."
"Just shut up already. You’ve been annoying me since this morning."
Chuuya tried not to yell. Because at school he already stood out enough with the bandages. And if he started shouting, he’d only draw even more attention to himself. And he didn’t like attention. Really, he’d rather be invisible, but… guess that’s not his fate.
"Stop staring at me," the redhead growled under his breath.
In math class Nakahara was sitting at the second-to-last desk, because an old acquaintance had taken the very last one. And now he was grinning and staring at Chuuya.
"Wish you’d always dress like that."
"Wish you’d shut up and get lost."
"You know, I like your sass."
"Congratulations."
"And your tears too," Dazai added even quieter.
Chuuya ignored him.
"Chu-chi?"
Ignored.
"Chuuuuya?"
Ignored.
"Chuuuuyaaaaa?!" — Osamu switched to a loud, commanding whisper.
And when the teacher turned away, Nakahara turned around, slapped a note on the brunette’s forehead, flicked him, and went back to writing. It all happened so fast Dazai didn’t have time to react — and Chuuya managed it before the teacher turned back.
The note simply and clearly read: "GET LOST."
"I love your sass."
***
After class Dazai was looking for Chuuya to walk home together. But the redhead had completely vanished.
***
"You bounced back fast."
And again that wild look from those red eyes.
"What?"
"Hm?"
"What do you want from me?"
"From you? Nothing." — moving closer, the red-eyed boy added, "I want him."
Once again something cold touched his neck. "He really loves doing that."
"I want him to suffer a little."
"Suffer?"
"Exactly." — he answered, pulling back.
"Damn. And what’s that got to do with me?"
"What do you mean? You see, I can’t get to him directly, but through you — that’s easy."
"You want me to hurt him?"
"No. That’s stupid. You wouldn’t agree, right?"
"Right."
"There you go."
"Then I still don’t get it, what do I have to do with this?"
"You’ll find out." — the red-eyed one moved closer again and drawled out a whisper.
And again a blow. But this time they didn’t finish him off. They just left.
***
"Chuuuya! Where were you? I was looking for you."
"Shut up and follow me."
"Chuu-chan, where are you taking me?"
"I told you to shut up."
"Alright, alright, just don’t get mad."
They went up to the roof. Hardly anyone ever came here, and Chuuya loved this place.
"Dazai, answer me honestly and don’t you dare dodge."
"I’m all ears."
"Who was that guy who beat me up?"
Dazai’s face suddenly turned serious.
"You don’t need to know."
"Tell me!"
"Dostoyevsky…"
"Dostoyevsky?"
"Yeah. His parents are Russian."
"And? That’s all you can tell me?"
"I feel like we’re a married couple and you’re jealous."
"Don’t joke around."
"Eh… Dostoyevsky Fyodor — an old acquaintance of mine…"
"And?"
"What more do you want?"
"Why does he hate you?"
"Oh that… wait. Why do you even think he hates me???"
"He said so."
"What? So you even had time to chat?"
Even though Chuuya was shorter than Osamu, he still managed to grab him by the collar.
"I asked you a question. Where’s my answer?"
"It’s an old grudge. You don’t need to know."
"I do! Sorry, but I’m not planning on dying because of your ‘grudge.’"
"What do you mean?"
"You don’t need to know that. Alright, when you figure out what to say — call me."
As quickly as the redhead had come here, he left just as fast.
"Chuuya, Chuuya…"
***
"He wasn’t even there from the start…"
In a dark room on the bed lay Chuuya. Everyone was already asleep, and he was starting to drift off too. Until he started thinking.
Really though, when those guys were beating on him, Dostoyevsky wasn’t there. He only showed up after the redhead recovered. And not right away. He appeared exactly before Nakahara was dragged behind the school.
Why then? They’d been bullying him for a long time already. And why does he think that by beating up Chuuya, he’ll get what he wants?
"What happened between them?"
***
"Maybe I was wrong? I don’t think so."
Dazai had been tossing and turning for hours, unable to sleep.
"Hates me, huh…"