Chapter Text
Having your ex as your best friend is not usually a good idea; hard feelings can sometimes be left unexpressed. Then one day, when everything's going right, they'd resurface. This isn't the case between Osamu and Chuuya's relationship though or that's what they thought.
"What's up?" Tanizaki greeted cheerfully as he sat on the cafeteria table consisting of Ranpo, Poe, Yosano, and Dazai. "I mean it's the sky but we don't really know," he added awkwardly as he stared at his burger as if he's deep in thought.
"What happened to you? Did Naomi keep you up last night?" Ranpo asked with his eyes closed, sipping on his slurpee.
Tanizaki's face heated up at the question but still managed a reply, "Well, yeah, I mean... Her assignments were really hard. Asymptotes and such," he chortled, scratching the back of his head, Ranpo raised a brow at that.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Yosano smiled knowingly, a hint of mischief in her voice. "Anyway, where's Chuuya, Atsushi, and Akutagawa?"
"I believe the other two have a council meeting to attend to. Chuuya however is currently buried deep inside my heart, thanks for asking," Dazai answered nonchalantly.
"Who is?" They all stole a glance at the newcomer. Speaking of the devil.
"There he is, Mr. fancy hat," Ranpo mumbled with a smirk.
"You are, baby!" Dazai announced gleefully which earned a slap on the head from Chuuya.
"Shut up," he snapped as he glanced at the seats around the table. "Who chose this table? Five seats, really?"
"I did!" Dazai exclaimed and Chuuya almost bursted with anger at that.
"And where do I get to sit, asshole?"
"Chuuya! What's the use of my face if not to sit on?" He said as if the most obvious thing.
"A punching bag," Chuuya said with a sarcastic smile. Dazai earned a couple of good and friendly punches from Chuuya because of the innuendo. Poe stood up silently to burrow a seat from the other table, then dragged it beside Dazai so Chuuya can sit.
"Thank you, Poe," Chuuya said as he offered Poe a smile. Poe, as a person who's not used to kindness, blushed at that.
"How come he gets a sunny smile and I don't?" Dazai protested.
"You know I don't usually complain about Dazai's antics, but he really gets on my nerves this time," Yosano stated as if she's lost in thought while biting her chopsticks.
"Is it because tomorrow's Valentine's Day and you don't have a date?" Ranpo suggested cheekily.
"The accuracy of your guesses is really annoying, Ranpo," Yosano tsked.
As soon as the university bell rang which was the sign that their lunch time has ended, the group separated in 3 pairs. Ranpo with Poe, Yosano with Tanizaki, and Dazai with Chuuya. The 3 pairs have different classes and different dismissal times, and so they already bid farewell to one another for the day.
"Chibi~ do you have a date tomorrow?"
Chuuya silently cursed Dazai for the nickname but then he realized what the question which surprised him. Since their break up, they never talked about each other's romantic relationship with different people.
"No, I don't. Why?"
"Want to spend it together playing video games?" Chuuya was surprised to say the least. Has Dazai lost his mind that he forgot that they're not in a relationship anymore? It's been a year, but it still made his heart ache for how much he missed the valentines they spent together. If it weren't for his stupid mistake, maybe they'd still be happily spending their Valentine's day tomorrow.
Chuuya stopped dead in his tracks while Dazai continued to walk with his eyes closed and both arms behind his neck. Dazai realized the gap that has been created between them, he came to a halt.
"What's wrong, chibi?"
"Nothing... it's just that, don't you have something... I mean.. Don't you have a date tomorrow?" Chuuya asked staring at his feet. Chuuya wouldn't be surprised if Dazai was to say that he indeed has a date for tomorrow. He's shameless flirting with different women they encounter is a reason for that. There was a time that he questioned himself if Dazai really loved him because how could he move on in just a month? How could he push himself to Chuuya and be buddy-buddies with him after just a month? Was their relationship just a reckless teenage choice?
"Some has been asking for a date but I don't want to," Dazai answered as he walked back to Chuuya, wrapped an arm around his neck, and pulled him to continue walking. "I don't like spending money, you know that. Videogames are much better, especially when I'm too good at it that I manage to beat you every game," he boasted with a smug grin.
Chuuya huffed at that, then slightly pinched Dazai's arms so that he'd let go of his neck, but Dazai's arms remained in tact. "You haven't answered my question. Are you up for tomorrow?" Dazai brought up again after a few minutes.
"Sure," Chuuya rolled his eyes as Dazai held his pinky finger to him, in which he ignored.
"Hey, my pinky's waiting."
"Dazai, we're adults now. It's not necessary," he retorted, but Dazai just pouted at that. Eventually, he gave in and wrapped his pinky around Dazai's just to wipe the pout off his face. Dazai smiled fondly at the act, Chuuya never changed, always grumpy and dismissive, yet so easy to persuade.
After a few minutes of walk, they finally reached the science building where their classroom was. Chuuya told Dazai to go first because he needed to go to the comfort room in which Dazai complied with no hesitation. As he was on his way out after doing his business, he bumped into a guy, with a quick glance at the lips of the culprit, he could already tell that it's Tachihara, Michizou. Lip piercing really suited him, it made him look like a rugged yet attractive gangster.
"Oh it's you, Chuuya-san. Sorry," Tachihara mumbled while scratching the back of his neck. If its not for the dimly lit comfort room, the blush on his face would definitely not remain unnoticed.
"No, it's fine," he smiled comfortingly at the lad. "Hey isn't your biology class supposed to be done at 12pm?" he asked, trying to make a conversation.
"Well, yeah, but I'm helping a friend of mine in the library. He's planning a surprise for his girlfriend tomorrow. I'm helping him design a tarpaulin," he explained. Panic washed Tachihara, thinking that their conversation might just end their and so he grabbed the opportunity as soon as it made an appearance. "You... you know, Valentine's day things," he awkwardly added, then thought, Valentine's day things? What the fuck is that, Michizou?!
"Oh, how about you though? Who's gonna be your date?" Chuuya and Michizou were varsity team mates in high school and were still varsity team mates in college. They're close in terms of sports and alcohol beverages. Their friendship was developed when they won a volleyball tournament highschool and the couch announced a celebration.
"I was actually planning to ask you..." he slowly said, as if he's second guessing himself. Chuuya looked as if he's deep in thought on the other hand. "If you're free tomorrow? I mean, you're single, right?" Tachihara realized how that must sounded and so he quickly added, "It's not that you're obliged to go out with me just because you're single. I-I'm sorry, that must've sounded forceful. I was just—"
Chuuya cut him off and put a finger on his lips. With a chuckle, he retorted, "It's fine. I'm free tomorrow. Text me the time and place. See you tomorrow." Tachihara was dumbfounded to say the least. He didn't expect that to go very well. He's admired Chuuya since high school, but at that time, he admired him as a senpai instead. His skills in volleyball was beyond what Tachihara can do, he was smart, fast, and cunning. Also, they were both in a happy relationship at that time. Who would've thought that he'd have a date with his greatly admired senpai?
Chuuya on the other hand wasn't sure if he made the right decision. Dazai already made a plan for the both of them tomorrow, but a cancellation wouldn't hurt anyone, right? Besides, it's been a year since he's been in a relationship, he at least deserves to give his romantic life a shot. Michizou is handsome, and gangster like, definitely the original type that Chuuya had in guys even before he got in a relationship with Dazai. However, how's he going to tell his clingy best friend, ex boyfriend that he's going to have a date tomorrow and that they need to cancel their plans? Dazai would surely mope around at Chuuya's dorm room like a kid deprived of candy or maybe he'd get mad? Chuuya cursed himself at the thought, he should've taken his dorm room key the day they broke up. The day after Valentine's, he's sure that he'd be dealing with a whiny Dazai all day.
—
Valentine's day came in like a silent wrecking ball. Everything was silently getting ruined as the day started. Chuuya haven't told Dazai about the cancellation of their videogame session and Tachihara already texted him the time and place for their date. For some reason, he felt like a two-timer.
Dazai on the other hand didn't attend his classes, it wasn't surprising really. His friends were already used to his lazy ass, not attending classes for redundant reasons. This time though, he found his reason far from redundant. As soon as he checked the time and confirmed that the class he shared with Chuuya has already started, he headed towards the red head's dorm room with popcorn and different bags of chips. After fixing the bed by changing the sheet and putting up a blanket on the ceiling to make it extra cozy, he went shopping for crabs and booze. Everything was going fine, that was until Dazai received Chuuya's text message:
From: Chibikko ಠ益ಠ
Osamu , I don't think I can make it this afternoon. Kouyou -nee-san has an emergency and she needs me. Sorry! See you later though!
—
It was Dazai's first Valentine's day that he didn't celebrate with Chuuya ever since high school. He wanted to be open-minded because an emergency is inevitable, yet he felt so disappointed with himself, he felt so pathetic and hopeless. After receiving the text from Chuuya, he glanced around the room and started putting everything back to how they were before. He even packed the foods he brought and cooked just so no trace of entrance or Dazai would be spotted in the dorm room. It was better that way, he didn't want to look like a trying hard ex boyfriend even though he was.
He spent the occasion alone in his room cuddling the yellow larva stuffed toy that Chuuya gave him on his 17th birthday. He could still remember when Chuuya asked him what he wanted, and when he said that he wanted a stuffed slug because that's what Chuuya was to him and he always wanted him on his side. Chuuya acted like he was mad at the chosen living thing he was compared to, but still gave Dazai the gift he asked for. It was the only thing he managed to keep as a commemoration of their relationship because everything was hidden by Chuuya, given that he's more careful and sentimental.
Somehow, he felt like calling Kouyou yesterday to confirm the emergency that Chuuya used as an excuse for cancelling their video games session, but he went against his gut feeling, he's scared that he may be right and that Chuuya lied to him. It's not really a good thing that Dazai somehow was like Ranpo in terms of having accurate hypothesis.
He went to fetch Chuuya from his dorm the next morning and together they went to uni. They were both quiet on their way and it felt like they were trapped in a ball of awkwardness, that was until the train they were riding in halted and Chuuya accidentally bumped his head on Dazai's chest.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
"It's fine, it was an emergency," Dazai retorted. They were both standing face to face with Dazai's hand wrapped around the train's grab handle, while Chuuya on the other hand had his hand on the train's pole. Somehow, because of the population of the passengers they were pushed to face one another.
"What?" Chuuya was skeptical, what was Dazai talking about?
"I forgive you, for yesterday. You're my darling dog after all." Dazai explained, an innocent smile on his face. Chuuya groaned at the teasing, then he realized what Dazai was talking about.
"You ass! I'm not your darling dog, shitty Dazai," Chuuya tsked, a scowl on his face. "And... yesterday I really-" before Chuuya could finish his sentence, he was abruptly stopped by the train operator's voice on the train's speakers, announcing their arrival at their designated station. The conversation was soon forgotten as they stepped off the station and was replaced by Dazai's rants about how stupid the ice and salt challenge was.
Dazai's definitely not a morning person, but he managed to wake up every morning just to have breakfast with Chuuya, it was a habit they had since high school that he couldn't just shake off. After they broke up, they stopped having breakfasts together and Dazai was replaced by Yosano and the two lads who were now freshmen: Nakajima, Atsushi and Akutagawa, Ryunosuke, in order to help Chuuya move on.
Atsushi and Akutagawa were introduced to their group because Chuuya often tutored them in algebra back in high school and now statistics in college.
However, being an insensitive ex-boyfreind Dazai was, just after a month, he pushed himself into the group with claims that Chuuya and him already moved on and they were now good friends. The three didn't believe that somehow and so they still joined the two in their breakfast session. Since then, the habit was extended to Yosano, Atsushi, and Aku, and the five of them couldn't shake it off anymore.
Both freshmen were already on their usual table with untouched food in front of them as the pair arrived. After a few greetings, Dazai and Chuuya decided to order and at the same time Yosano just arrived. Relieving herself from having to suffer in the long line, she just gave her money to Chuuya so that he can order for her.
"Itadakimasu!" they all said in chorus before starting to dig in. Since then, Yosano has been giving Chuuya a look mischief. Knowing Yosano, she wouldn't spill the tea she has unless someone asked her.
"Why are you giving me a 'Dazai' look?" Chuuya finally asked, not liking the uncomfortable feeling that Yosano's gaze made him feel.
"A 'Dazai' look?" Yosano asked, bemusement in her voice.
"Ehhhhh? What do I have to do with Yosano's look?" Dazai interfered, pouting on Chuuya's face.
Chuuya ignored the pouty comment and pushed Dazai's head away from his face. "I mean a mackerel look,' he explained as if the people around the table should be able to understand his explanation. Hearing no replies, Chuuya tsked, "I mean a fishy look, for fuck's sake." Dazai just whined like a baby, consistently pushing his head on Chuuya's shoulders, the other three made an oh sound realizing what Chuuya meant.
"I was just curious about how it went," Yosano answered wiggling his brows.
"How what went?" Chuuya's eyes widened, he didn't like where things were going.
"Shh. You don't have to hide it, I saw you guys yesterday at the mall," Yosano explained giddily.
Chuuya slapped his forehead and closed his eyes as soon as he realized what Yosano was talking about, he shouldn't have asked so then he wouldn't have to explain. He should've just pretended it was something else. Dazai and the two freshmen stared at Chuuya as if waiting for an explanation, he was about to cover it up with a lie but Yosano beat him to it.
"How was Tachihara? Was he a good date? Did you two make out? Or you know, did you do the gracious thing?" Yosano rambled.
Chuuya watched Dazai's reaction turn to a cold one, the guy never liked being lied to. Atsushi on the other hand blushed really hard, and Akutagawa covered his embarrassment with a cough.
Chuuya felt like a cat caught his tongue. "I-I, well, it was fine. We did not, I mean, we just ate... and watched a film, b-because the film was 20% off?" he tried explaining but failed miserably. Chuuya, 20% off really?
Before Yosano could express her excitement any further, Dazai already stood from his seat to leave the group and his untouched food on the table. Chuuya stared at his plate guiltily, he knew that lying was never a good idea.
"Did you hide it from him, Chuuya-san?" Akutagawa asked emotionlessly. Atsushi felt like it was insensitive and so he slapped Aku's thigh underneath the table.
Yosano's eyes widened in realization. "Shit, sorry, Chuuya. I didn't know," she said hurriedly.
"It's fine, it was my fault."
—
No other type of Dazai was harder to deal with than Sulking Dazai, it was like wooing a cold hearted mafia member. Chuuya hoped that he still knew how to woo Dazai after Sulking Dazai's lack of appearance for a year. What made it harder to deal with was the broken pinky promise. It was their thing when they were still together. Break any kind promise, but not that kind. Chuuya groaned in distress, this was what he was trying to avoid with Dazai, this feeling of still being in relationship despite it ending for a year already. Even before, Chuuya already felt like they became friends too fast after the break up, that the time they had apart were not enough to fully forget the feelings and habits that they embraced when they were still together.
Chuuya walked towards the university's soccer field. After a few glances, he quickly found where Dazai was. He was lying on the grass beside a random tree, holding a book so close to his face that made Chuuya wonder if he could even read it. Chuuya walked towards him and called out his name. However, the latter remained motionless.
"Are you really going to just ignore me?" Chuuya asked with a remote expression on his face. Dazai remained the same so Chuuya crouched down and started poking his tummy.
"Dazaiiii!" Chuuya groaned, trying to get the guy's attention. When he realized that he wasn't going to get a reaction or a reply anytime soon, he decided to slump on Dazai's stomach. Dazai made an "oof" sound, but still remained motionless.
Chuuya didn't budge anymore and decided to just start explaining. "I'm sorry, okay? I never wanted to lie to you-"
"Yet you still did," Dazai retorted.
Chuuya was surprised at first, then he continued with his explanation with a very light voice, "I know, I'm sorry. I just didn't want things to be awkward between us. I didn't want to upset you."
"Why would things be awkward between us, Chuuya? Why would I be upset?" Dazai asked incredulously.
"Because you're my ex Dazai!" Chuuya blurted out. He didn't mean to, but he wanted Dazai to understand him. "I don't know if you're gonna get mad. I don't know why, but I feel like I'm cheating on you. It's weird. Can't you feel it?" he asked incredulously.
"Chuuya, it's been a year. You're allowed to date who you want to date. I have no right to stop you, I'm just your best friend," Dazai mumbled calmly, taking Chuuya's hand in his. "I just want your honesty." It hurt a lot saying those things because he wanted Chuuya back, but he couldn't hold him back, he wanted him to be happy.
Chuuya stared at their hands with sad and guilty eyes, it was a rare look on Chuuya because he was often grumpy. Chuuya looked so cozy and Dazai wanted to hug the him so he moved Chuuya from his stomach down to the grass so he could sit up. He was about to say something, but Chuuya already threw himself on Dazai with his arms around his torso, burying his face on Dazai's stomach.
"No more lies okay, chibi?" he asked while rubbing Chuuya's hair.
"Yes, I'm sorry," Chuuya murmured into his stomach.
"Good dog," Dazai mumbled which earned him a punch on the shoulder and Dazai just chuckled at the reaction. "But really? Tachihara huh?"
"Why? You still don't like him?" Chuuya raised his head from Dazai's stomach and glanced at his face.
"Ehhh? You know how much I hate him for imitating my bandage fashion," Dazai huffed in fake annoyance, his hand on Chuuya's back.
"Bastard! He just has a peace of band aid on his nose and you literally have bandages all over your body, how is that imitating? And you just said I'm allowed to date who I want to date." Chuuya reasoned out with a scowl.
Dazai rolled his eyes playfully, "Fine. Whatever my dog wants." He received a playful punch on his stomach because of the playful taunt, and it was quickly followed by a tight hug from Chuuya.
—
Dazai and Chuuya was fine again. The day went along pretty well, but weirdly with the absence of their constant bickering. Chuuya remained calm and collected all day because he still felt guilty for lying about his date with Tachihara. Dazai noticed the sudden change, but didn't say anything.
Thankfully though, as the night came, Chuuya eventually went back to his normal grumpy self. He was lying on his bed with his phone in his hands as he exchanged pickup lines with Dazai such as,
Aren't you getting tired, Chibi? You've been running in my mind all day
Dazai, what does it feel like, falling from an ass? You know because you're a shit.
However, it was interrupted when someone suddenly called him. It was Tachihara.
"Michizou?
[Chuuya? I'm sorry, were you already sleeping?]
"No, I actually just messaged a friend, it's fine," Chuuya assured.
[Hmm... was it Dazai?] Tachihara asked with as he clicked his tongue.
"How'd—"
[Wow. I actually got that right,] Tachihara chuckled. [You are indeed very close huh?]
"Y-yeah... is that a problem? I mean he's my ex so you might-"
[It's fine, I understand you completely.]
"With Gin, right?" Chuuya mumbled, a sad smile on his face. It wasn't because of Gin, it was because he could relate to Tachihara very well.
The night the two lads went on a date, they talked about a lot. 'A lot' included talking about their exes and how they were somehow in the same situation. Akutagawa Gin was Tachihara's ex and they remained close to one another even after their break up, just like how Dazai and Chuuya were.
Sad, funny, and adventurous experiences were shared and laughed at. And on that same night, a promise was made that they would try having something together because that might save themselves from being stuck on a friendship with their exes.
[Yeah... Hey, hey, about earlier I actually saw the two of you near the soccer field. You okay? You looked like you were crying.]
"Oh, that was nothing. We're fine now," Chuuya explained, raising his feet on the wall.
[That's great... Was the long hug really necessary though?] Tachihara asked in a teasing tone and chuckled.
"Shut up," he huffed with a smile. "It was just a force of habit, you get it." It was one of the reasons why he got along with Tachihara very well, they understand each other deeply.
[Yeah, I do,] Tachihara replied fondly, thinking of how he was with Gin. [Anyway, I actually called you to invite you on a wedding next, next week.]
"A wedding?"
[Yeah, I need a date.]