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6 am. Headquarters (Dormitory)
Sometimes you just don't feel like getting up in the morning. It can be a transient laziness, excessive sadness or simply exhaustion, both physicals and psychological. That's the way it is.
You must awake though. So Chuuya doesn't grumble or hide his face with a blanket (that is far too comfortable for the arduous task he has to complete); he gets up at the same pace as usual.
After that he cleans his face, brushes his teeth and carries on with the morning routine as if nothing bothered him. Once changed, he gazes into the mirror and readjusts his appearance one last time. Taking a final inspiration to provide himself some courage, he sets out on his journey. His face's dark.
He gets a message once out of his room, it's a coded one. Informing him on the different species of endangered animals. In link there is a picture of him, laughing. A little personal joke that never fails to make him smile, but not this time. The secrecy of their exchanges strikes him even more instead.
Passing his hand through his hair, now in a mess of curls, Chuuya decides to answer with a photo of a middle finger. "I can smile dickhead" he says through his teeth. As if the person concerned had heard it, he received immediately a reply.
"To subscribe to the animal feed, type 'slug'. To win a date with your lover at the zoo this weekend, type 'I love you'. To receive more photos of this endangered species, type' Cofee tonight'. To stop receiving boring messages at 6:00 a. m., type"Ok"."
This time, he hesitates less to answer. "Ok...but snacks at your house is fine."
There is of course no answer this time. Chuuya immediately cancels the conversation. They'll have to start another one again if he doesn't want to get noticed.
Just installed in his office, immediately after he's called for a mission.
He must ensure the transfer of goods to one of their allies. They were increasingly reluctant to participate with them because of all these clan wars that had broken out in recent months. So they refused to participate in the exchange without the explicit presence of one of the executives.
A very presumptuous request, but they could grant it for a time, until they regained confidence in the protection and importance accorded to them. However, if they were to submit such nonsense again, their pay will be erroneously reduced. Or worse.
6:30 am. Headquarters (Underground Parking)
He's bringing henchmen and Gin with him. He has a huge need of silence today and it's something she always offers by herself. The procedure prevents him from taking his own car and he finds himself in the back seat of a black service car.
Behind them a truck to transport the future goods. Chuuya flips through the report as they sail through the traffic. Gin take care of her blades meanwhile. Not that they will need it, at least he hopes so, but it is a precaution that he could never afford to reproach her for.
The beginning of their journey goes without too many problems, they arrive easily to the highway and advance slowly but surely. Chuuya feels himself relaxe in his chair.
No need to ask for everyone's moral, no one appreciates having to execute a mission so early, especially one that can be passed to the grunts of the organisation.
Chuuya barely thought of putting on his hat today, and he knows he doesn't look good. If they wanted to have the best of him, they should have thought about it before calling him for this.
The driver brakes abruptly, which compels him to lift his eyes from his papers. His temperature rises as his gaze follows the extensive line of cars.
They try considering another path, but it is the same on all sides. In front of the situation, they are all caught up in a collective sigh. Chuuya opens the window to calm his nerves and takes a cigarette on his pocket.
"May I sir?" Gin talking is always a bit weird, but the lighter is not. So he nods and let her do. Then he moves his head to the side to inhale the toxic object. With all the smoke from the cars around, it couldn't hurt him more than that.
8:20 am. Meeting point
The adults headed for their jobs, the children went to school, the gangs gathered to make gloomy deals... All together in a grim mood.
In fact, it wasn't such a bad idea, coming so early. Many times, he had utilized it himself. It was easier to get in touch at the beginning of the day. There were fewer people in the vicinity affected by the city's lowlands, and this also offered the advantage of brightness in the early morning. It was also spring; it wasn't too cold yet and people would linger in the parks at the end of the day.
Except it took them a lot longer than expected to get there. Chuuya had emptied nearly 4 cigarettes since then, Gin had started braiding her hair and the driver had passed the idea of asking before turning on the radio to listen to old classic rocks. You couldn't even imagine the condition of the men trapped in the truck.
When they came out of the car, Gin opened the door for him. "Nice plaits Gin." he offered.
Chuuya wasn't sure with her mask but he could swear he saw her smile.
They didn't apologise when they saw the gang, the leader took a look at their state and intelligently made no comment. He approached them and was obviously looking for someone to turn to. Chuuya was unpleased, his pride hurt, but explained neverthless the formalities. Summoning him to see the goods first if he wanted to obtain his money. Gin moved closer to him at his right.
"We asked for one of your bosses here." the leader cut him, crossing his arms and pushing his chin up, to make himself look taller. He was around Ryunosuke's size, way more muscular and wider on the shoulders though, but not that impressive. The distance between the limbs and Chuuya should have been a great indication in itself, but the man was decidedly not very smart.
Chuuya pursued as if he didn't hear.
"Show us what we asked you." He wasn't mad, not really, but he had been taught to always overplay his anger with recalcitrant people. Especially kids. Chuuya had both in front of him; some members had to be only 15 years old at best.
The man sneered, wich caused all members around Chuuya to grabs their weapons in prevention. Chuuya didn't budge an inch. That, he understood. The leader made a sign to one of the kids to come here.
An instant after, there was a suitcase full of gun bullets in his hands. "Ah? See...that's quality!" Chuuya only saw rarely this kind of look. That crazy look full of pride worthy of the Mafia scientist during one of his experiments.
Chuuya pulled out his pistol, loaded it and removed the safety. Under the worried gaze of the gang, he aimed at his leader and fired.
He heard frightened cries, but no bodies touched the ground.
No, because he stopped its course just a few millimeters from the heart of the man. Chuuya hummed in appreciation.The man catched his breath with difficulties.
"Next time you insult me, I won't stop it. Good material still."
"You...you are an executive?"
With a smirk, he mimicked the words of the other "Ah? See... " Chuuya started explaining, then he pointed toward himself." That's quality. " His smiled dropped.
"Give him his money. We're done here."
Once the formalities were dealt with, they left the place. Thanks for everyone, the way back to headquarters went far more smoothly in term of timing. Chuuya didn't take any cigarettes during this trip.
00:35 pm. Headquarters (Cafetaria)
He stared at his dish as if it had personally insulted him.
The lunch break is very short, no more than half an hour for the lower end of the ladder, and an hour for the top managers. They never really benefit from it, with the work that awaits them. Chuuya thinks that at this rate, he may finally be able to dispose of it all today.
He slides the chopsticks between his fingers and takes a piece of chicken at random.
Chuuya's not the one who's difficult with food. He's the kind of person who love to taste new things, and if it's well prepared, or if the person tried...He will eat it. Or try to if he has the time.
Chuuya gaves up after three bites. He can't do it, and he doesn't want to get sick just by obstination.
It's frustrating to know that the dish is right in front of him, that he has access to all the food he's never dreamed of having before, and that he's unable to swallow anything.
From afar, he can see Ane-san inviting him to join her. He gently refuses with a wave of the hand and passes his dish to the cafeteria staff.
If he finds himself being hungry later, he will grab an apple or something...
3 pm.
His head is filled with a draft of multiple ideas. All concealed under a larger layer of confusion. With his heavy eyes, he takes a cup of coffee. He is fed up with coffee, but it allows him to break his bad ideas, it's for the best.
This routine is slowly killing him. Chuuya decide to build the plan for his future mission, to busy his mind and hands, as well as a new program that he wanted to introduce for new recruits. So that they can adapt to the rhythm of the Mafia while integrating enough for them to want togive their best.
He quickly found himself with several felt pens and papers flying in his office, wandering around in a vacuum. It had taken him a long time to come up with such thoughts, but he had the advantage of being able to move objects in all directions and use them without the need for supports. It also calmed him down, in some ways, to be in the middle of the room with all his objects floating around him.
But all good things come to an end, and his cards are complete. Even while typing all his files on the computer, he knows that he will still have other less pleasant tasks to perform later. As an end-of-day gift, he has to threaten one of their merchants, for example, who is suspected of selling information to the Rats.
When he leaves work, he still wants to strangle someone. The man had screamed way too much to spare him. As if he cared about soulded out.
The noises doesn't leave his mind for hours.
8 pm. ???
Chuuya gets rid of his jacket, hat and shoe and lies on the chair of the kitchen. He takes a glass of water and contemplates the vacuum for a few moments.
He feels trapped even at home.
He doesn't bother to put the glass back in the sink and tries to redo his hair. When he feels fresher and moves in the house, he notices someone in the bedroom.
They turns to him and gives him a warm smile, even with a suspicious blade in hand. Chuuya stares at them;they drop the object.
"I'm back." Chuuya says with relucency.
"Welcome back." his lover answer.
Dazai approaches him to give him a hug. He lets him do it and wraps his arms around his waist, pressing his head against his chest. The tension still doesn't leave him, and he decides to get away clumsily. Chuuya takes advantage of this freedom to pick up the blade and store it in a floorboard.
"Did you eat well today slug?"
"Isn't me who should ask you that?"
"So it's a no."
Chuuya frowns and took off his shirt and the rest of his clothes in front of him. Dazai doesn't press more the issue and offers him a more comfortable outfit for the evening.
In the middle of changing, he feel a hand going behind his back and caressing him tenderly, lips tickling his neck. "If you don't, you will loose all your muscles. Then you will seems even more small than now."
"Wouldn't you like that? I could fit way better in your arms." "I prefer this version of you."
"What a twisted way to say you worry about me." Chuuya mocks him. To avoid any more questions, he decides to prode one of his own "Did you brought the snacks?"
In the end Dazai ate them all. Chuuya was mostly half asleep on his shoulders.
10:40 pm. Dazai's House (Bedroom)
Chuuya pressed his lips against his. Dazai smirked at him and tried to prolong it, but Chuuya ducked his head to evade it.
Instead, he turned around the bed and settled under the blankets. When they were at his waist, Dazai lay down a hand to his right and leaned over him.
"Chuuya?"
The interested, rolled his eyes and put his hand on Dazai's chest to oblige him to leave. "I'm just..." He drove more deeply into his pillow, leaving his lover's eyes and staring up at the ceiling to find his words."... Tired."
There are really no quick fixes for this kind of fatigue. Dazai knows that better than anyone. Chuuya could cry, scream all the insults of the world, be furious at everyone... but that's not what he needs. He doesn't know what he needs, but he knows what he wants. And right now it's sleeping. Time to forget for a moment the awful idea of the next day ahead.
Chuuya brings himself closer to the tallest man and murmurs a confession of his own, less subtil than his, but more him. "Thank you for being here. I love you too."
He closes his eyes immediately afterwards, and already sleep takes over. Just before he lost consciousness, he felt a kiss on his cheek. And for him, it was a little lightening of his burden.