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"Chibi, what are you playing?" Dazai asked Chuuya as he sat on the latter's table. Thankfully, their adviser Mr. Kunikida wasn't roaming around or else he would be scolded.
"Call of Duty," Chuuya answered monotonously.
Dazai waited for much more explanation, but when he didn't, he scowled at the little attention that was given to him. He wanted more than an answer. Good thing was that when he hanged out with Ryunosuke and Atsushi (the two other lads that he enjoyed annoying), the two often played the game, or else he wouldn't have any idea on what to say next.
"I bet I could beat you in a 1v1!" Dazai announced smugly.
Chuuya raised a brow at the statement. "You know this game?" he asked in disbelief.
"Chuuya, I'm an expert on it! You should see me play! I always carry my teammates in almost every battle," he boasted with a smug smile. Of course, he grabbed the opportunity to invite Chuuya on a game, "We should play some time." Dazai was surprised at how calmly he suggested that. Internally, he was screaming at himself because his suggestion was open to rejection, and hell, he can't handle that. He never hanged out with Chuuya, it was an opportunity, he couldn't let it go.
There were times that he annoyed Chuuya to the bone just to get his attention. Chuuya always had people around him, wanting to hang out with him or flirt with him, which he was often oblivious to. Dazai needed to stand out, to receive more than just a quick glance or a quick hello. Sure, receiving curse words from Chuuya was never his main goal, but it's better than nothing.
"Sure. How about later? Give me your username. I'll message you when I have a free time."
Oh, thank God.
—
God knows how many times Dazai closed his eyes and prayed all day, so that Chuuya would have a pretty long free time after he went home. The heavens must've heard his prayers because an hour after dismissal, Chuuya has already messaged him so that they could play.
"Why are we here, Dazai?" Akutagawa asked with a poker face, sitting crissrossed on the couch at Dazai's home.
Dazai briskly sent Akutagawa and Atsushi an emergency text message after receiving Chuuya's reply which led them to scurrying at Dazai's. Much to the lads' annoyance, it was all just a bluff.
Dazai glanced up from his phone. "As you can see, Akutagawa, you and Atsushi have the expertise in this game. I need your skills... and also your extra account," he explained with his eyes closed and his chin up.
Akutagawa just stared at Dazai expecting a much clearer explanation while Atsushi on the other hand didn't think it would come sooner or later and so he asked, "What game?"
"Call of Duty," Dazai answered shortly.
"Why do you need my extra account?" Akutagawa looked at Dazai in suspicion.
"To pretend that it's mine. Also, my account has to look like an old and used account."
"But Dazai, how can our expertise help you? Are you going to join a tournament? And why an old account?" Atsushi asked furthermore with curious eyes.
"No, but I need to defeat someone. I told him that I'm an expert in this and to make it believable, I need to at least have many guns already. And for your expertise, I need it to ensure my victory," As Dazai explained, his phone rang. He checked the caller ID and it was Chuuya. Oh God, it was Chuuya.
[Hello, mackerel?]
Ever since before, Chuuya had always called him Mackerel. He always insisted that Dazai looked like a sloppy fish and also smelled like one, it was like a retaliation for Dazai's constant act of mocking and teasing Chuuya. Dazai would never admit it, but he really found it endearing rather than annoying that Chuuya had a personal nickname for him.
"Hello, Chuuya~" the two lads stared at Dazai in bewilderment as they heard Chuuya's name.
[Let's keep the call going during the game! Wait... are you doing something? Is this a good time?]
"Yes, it is, wait let me just open the app," Dazai said as he grabbed his earphones on the coffee table and quickly wore it in his ears. As soon as he opened the application, he passed his phone to Akutagawa in panic.
Atsushi was about to say something when Dazai covered his mouth. 'Shut up,' he mouthed at the boy.
[Are you ready, mackerel?] Chuuya asked after a few seconds of waiting.
"Yeah, just a minute, chibi" Dazai explained, tapping the on hold button on his phone.
Akutagawa was observing Dazai thoroughly so he was aware when the lad had already put the call on hold. He saw that as a sign that it was already safe to ask questions because Chuuya was beyond earshot, "Are you perhaps going to pretend that you're good at Call of Duty by letting me play the game instead and then pretend that it's you all along?" Akutagawa asked calmly.
"Took you long enough, Akutagawa," Dazai chuckled.
"But why would Dazai do that?" Atsushi looked at Akutagwa with a confused look on his face.
"To lie to Chuuya about being good at this game," Akutagawa explained to Atsushi, staring deep into his eyes. Well, that wasn't necessary, he just loved staring at his eyes.
"What would he gain from that?" Atsushi raised his brow, seeming to be in distress.
Akutagawa couldn't care less, he was too busy getting a grip of himself while having his eyes flickering between Atsushi's pair of eyes and mouth. Atsushi's naiveness was just too adorable. Before Akutagawa could lose control, Dazai decided to interfere, "I don't believe that's an important matter to discuss, Atsushi. The main reason why you and Ryunosuke are here is to play COD against Chuuya and win. I'm assuring you that as soon as you achieved the goal, a Bubble's limited edition white tiger stuffed toy will be at your doorstep," Dazai explained in a happy manner.
"And what would I gain from that?" Akutagawa asked incredulously.
"A smile that will make your heart jump out of your chest." Akutagawa blushed at the statement while Atsushi remained like a clueless kitten.
"A smi—" Atsushi was cut off before he could even question the statement any further.
"Now, now, let's rather focus on the game, okay? Chibi's waiting."
The game started with Chuuya taking the lead. [What's happening, Dazai? I thought you were good at this?] Chuuya teased him. Dazai smirked at the remark, he knows Ryunosuke's strategies. The latter's strategies involve making his opponents feel contented with themselves that they'd win, then he would show his real skills when the opponent's score is about half of the winning score.
"Just you wait, chibi. I'm just warming up," Dazai retorted.
[Whatever you say,] Chuuya tsked.
During the game, Dazai would sometimes put the call on hold, so that Atsushi can guide Akutagawa without Chuuya hearing their conversation. Dazai enjoyed it sincerely especially when Chuuya rained him with praises like, "What the fuck! You're really good at this!" and "Damn, Dazai, you're one hell of a player!". In the end, Dazai or Akutagawa rather, won the game; Dazai excitedly grabbed his phone from Akutagawa's hands and ran to his room.
"Is he just going to leave us like that?" Atsushi asked, staring at where Dazau ran off to.
"I believe so," Akutagawa shrugged.
—
"What can you say, chibi?" Dazai asked with a giddy smile on his face.
[You should've told me about this a lot sooner! We could've won tournaments!]
"Well, you never asked," Dazai retorted, examining his nails.
[You're pretty annoying eh!] Chuuya scowled.
Dazai once saw a meme on the internet that people often do weird things when they're talking to someone on the phone and Dazai could accurately relate to that at the moment, he was playing with the lamp beside his bed grinning like he won the lottery jackpot.
"At least I'm pretty?"
[Meh. Petty would fit more,] Chuuya chuckled, Dazai started rolling on his bed when he heard that. How could Chuuya even do this to him? It was like he was under a spell just because of a laugh?!
"Dazai," Dazai's eyes widened as he heard his name be called. He glanced at the door only to see Akutagawa and Atsushi as if expecting something.
[Who was that? He sounded like Ryunosuke.] Dazai felt bitter at that. How come Chuuya called Akutagawa by his first name but never called Dazai by his?
'What do you want?' he mouthed at the lads, covering the speaker of his phone.
"We're leaving," Atsushi mumbled. "We just wanna say bye."
Dazai nodded and just shushed them away, then he answered Chuuya's question, "It was my cousin." Lies.
[Oh. Speaking of Ryunosuke, sometimes I see him and Atsushi play, Maybe we could play sometime?] Chuuya suggested, and yeah, Dazai deeply fucked up his plan.
"Eh? Why?" he groaned in annoyance. He needed to fake an act, he couldn't play with Atsusi and Akutagawa, Chuuya would see that Dazai really sucked at the game.
[I've always wanted to play with them, you know, but Shirase always pulled me along with his group, I couldn't find time to hang out with them.] Surely, Dazai would've probably thought of an excuse and used it if it wasn't for Chuuya's sad tone.
Fuck Shirase and his gang for having weird obsession with Chuuya being half French.
"Well," Dazai sighed. "That could be arranged."
—
"I still don't get it, Aku. What would Dazai gain from lying to Chuuya?" Atsushi asked as they walked their way home.
"Dazai likes Chuuya, Atsushi. He thinks that by impressing him, he can get him."
"Can you even get a person by impressing them?" Atsushi asked in doubt.
"I don't know," the black haired boy shrugged. After a few seconds, he looked at Atsushi and said, "I excel in academics and I won in a badminton tournament in elementary."
"Really?! You really are awesome Aku!"
"Have I got you yet?" Akutagawa asked monotonously.
"What?" Atsushi asked but Akutagawa remained silent. "Hey, I don't get it, Aku! Were you joking?" he added as he jogged, trying to follow Aktagawa's walking phase.
"You're so dense, Atsushi."
—
Lying is bad. No good thing happens when a person lies. Lying would just worse things. Blah blah blah is all Dazai understood when he heard these teachings from his Onii-san, Odasaku Sakunosuke. Dazai was an orphan adopted by Odasaku, he was a very quiet kid before, but Oda managed to make him open up a bit more. He was thankful to Oda because he managed to have good acquaintances and even had the courage to talk to his crush, but he can't let Oda break his plans by statements such as lying is bad.
Dazai planned to act all sick during their game night at his home. Even though Oda was completely against the plan, Dazai succeeded to make him agree by pouting all day, which Oda couldn't resist. Akutagawa didn't care about the plant, but Atsushi protested. However, when Dazai handed him the stuffed toy he promised, he eventually agreed to it.
They were now at Dazai's home sitting on Dazai's bed. They were all in their sleeping attires with their phones tucked in hand. Dazai had to act sick, so he wore a sweater and wrapped a blanket around his head and body as a prop together with his striped pyjama. Akutagawa on the other hand had a cat printed pyjama and Atsushi had a tiger printed one. Chuuya was the only one who's different, he was wearing Dazai's clothes instead because he was too lazy to bring ones for himself. It was a pair of oversized white shirt and a black shorts above the knee. Dazai just couldn't take his eyes of the lad.
"Dazai, are you sure you're fine to play?" Akutagawa broke the silence, he was trying to save Dazai's ass.
"It's gonna be fine! We need Dazai to win, plus it's not like he's gonna exert a lot of energy by playing a mobile game," Chuuya reasoned out with an excited smile on his face. How could Dazai even deny his request?
"I'm gonna be fine, Akutagawa. I'm just a bit... a bit cold." Another lie.
Out of nowhere, Chuuya hugged Dazai tightly and if it wasn't for the blanket around him, his blush would be more prominent. "Still cold? How come you feel cold when you originally live underwater, mackerel?" Chuuya asked in a teasing tone.
Instead of saying a funny and wittier remark, Dazau felt like a cat caught his tongue. "I-I'm fine now. Shut up, Chuuya," he managed to somehow say despite wanting to burst into flames.
"Let's play already," Atsushi whined with a pout. Every time he felt sleepy, grumpiness invaded his whole mood. It was out of character, but Akutagawa was used to it so he just pulled the boy's head onto his shoulder and rubbed it.
"He'll fall asleep if you keep doing that," Dazai commented.
Akutagawa just rolled his eyes at that, Atsushi must've noticed because he said in a reassuring manner, "I'm fine. It's just gonna be one game anyway."
HOW COULD HE BE SO SOFT?!
"Let's play now so Atsushi could sleep sooner," Cuuuya suggested.
They all opened the game in unison, then Akutagawa invited the three. They chose Frontline as the mode to play and as the game started, they lost the lead when Dazai was killed by the enemy.
"Shit," Dazai mumbled. Chuuya noticed but didn't say anything.
In the end, they won. The game consisted of Akutagawa being the MVP followed by Atsushi, then Chuuya. Dazai on the other hand only had 4 kills and was at the bottom of the order.
Dazai looked so disappointed and pissed after the game. "Hey, it must be because your sick. Maybe next time you can play better," Chuuya said, rubbing his back.
After tucking Atsushi to the added futon on the floor, Akutagawa noticed Dazai's sulking expression. "Chuuya, can you help me get four glasses of water?" he requested.
"Sure."
As soon as the two left the room, Akutagawa blurted out, "Dazai lied."
"What?"
"He didn't know how to play the game. He just wanted to catch your attention."
"Eh?! Why would he want that?"
"You're just as dense as Atsushi, Chuuya."
"What did you just say, you stupid—"
"Why would Dazai fill your locker with chocolate candies on Valentine's Day just because he wanted to prank you? When you were injured during PE class, instead of informing the teacher, he carried you to the nearest bench to clean your wound on his own using his handkerchief. Then he tore it into two to have the clean side wrapped around your knee. You were so pissed off because it was printed with teddy bears, I could still remember it clearly."
"He did all that to piss me off—"
"When your uniform was soaked because it was rainy season, he let you borrow his PE shirt. He even put an effort by writing 'Dazai's Dog' on the front of it. Why would Dazai waste his PE shirt with permanent marker just to let the whole school know that you are HIS dog?" Akutagawa added, emphasising 'his'.
Chuuya just stared at Akutagawa, dumbfounded. Akutagawa didn't bother explaining any further but he added something before heading to the kitchen, "He obviously likes you, Chuuya."
—
Akutagawa and Chuuya returned to the room in silence with both their hands occupied with glasses of water. Dazai still looked like a pouty kid with his arms crossed, but the two paid no mind to him. After putting the glasses of water on the table beside Dazai's bed, Akutagawa tucked himself on the futon beside Atsushi and let himself drift into a deep sleep while Chuuya remained motionless on Dazai's bed and was just staring at his feet.
When he transfered at his current school, Dazai was the first one to catch his eyes. He was so weird with bandages wrapped around his body, but he looked very attractive at the same time. He eventually found out that Dazai always had bandages around him because, he isn't fond with skin to skin contact. Chuuya was so fascinated that he always studied Dazai. Dispite wanting to get to know him, he couldn't. When his classmates found out about him being a foreign student, they were suddenly all into him. Dazai felt so far from him. When the lad introduced himself to Chuuya, Chuuya thought it was a start, but then every time they talk, someone would suddenly interrupt.
From then, Dazai started to shower him with teases which would annoy him and sometimes piss him off. And being Chuuya, he never knows how to control his annoyed mood when he's pissed, so he always ended up running after Dazai to retaliate. So that was Dazai's way of spending time together?
Chuuya laughed at the thought. All these time, the bandage bastard liked him?
"Did the aliens successfully take over your brain?" Dazai asked, puzzled at the sudden laugh.
Chuuya let the remark pass and remained smiling. Then he moved closer to Dazai. With a deep breathe, he removed the blanket from Dazai's head and slowly said, "Dazai, I like you a lot." The latter felt his face heat up and was about to cover his cheeks, but Chuuya beat him to it.
"What... what the fuck are you saying, Chibi?" he snarled, his voice cracking a little.
Chuuya payed no mind to that and pulled Dazai's head to his lips. Dazai would've blushed even harder if it was even possible. At the moment, he felt his mind wander through the deepest depths of the ocean and the highest mountains on the land. What the hell did he do in his past life to be gifted like this?
Dazai remained silent even after a few seconds which made Chuuya's shoulders slump. "Thank you. Good night," Chuuya said disappointedly, letting go of Dazai's cheeks. Dazai didn't even say anything, what if Akutagawa was just messing with him? Chuuya laid on the bed with a blush on his cheeks, embarrassment swallowing him up like a gigantic bear.
His doubts were soon reasurred as Dazai laid beside him and wrapped an arm around him. "I-I like you... a lot more, chibi."
After Chuuya drifted into sleep, Dazai might have or might have not kissed the back of Chuuya's head, but no one has to know that. The most important thing was that the two of them fell asleep with genuine smiles on their faces that night.