Chapter Text
Summer 127 by NCT127
POV: Chuuya
Let go of your body to the handle, Baby
To the sea, to the sea,
Let it go
The waves wake me up
You feel me now, You feel me right,
Let it go
June 20XX – Toronto, Canada
*tap*
The sweltering heat of the hot summer weather blanked all across Southern Ontario. This was not particularly an odd thing to happen because summer has just started; however, was it too much to ask to not have a heatwave on this specific day? The cities by the lakeshore got a little lucky with the cool breeze of the wind coming from Lake Ontario made it a little more bearable for the residents.
Still, Chuuya wished that the venue, at the very least, turn on their air conditioning in the hall for he was sweating profusely under his graduation gown. Did it magically break down on the day of their graduation? They should have rented a better convention with better utilities considering that they are a private school with an enormous amount of money. Around him, several students shuffled in their seats and a handful of others fanned themselves hoping to not melt in the dark wooden box that was their graduation ceremony hall. He would have been a lot more excited and celebratory if it weren’t for the incoming doom of a heat stroke. Chuuya can’t wait for this ceremony to be over and just leave.
He has been looking forward to this day more than his own birthday and Christmas. Goodbye, high school and all of its shitty drama. That said he would rather not be in a place where they are trying to best hell in terms of suffering from the heat. Oh, how he wished to be in the cool waters of the beach. Should he go to the east side beach or the city beach? Maybe go somewhere up north of the province, away from the crowd. Perhaps an obscure no-name beach would be a good one to go to, it would give them some private time with a small group of people.
*tap*
He looked around the sea of students. Some were quite attentive to whatever cheesy and choreographed speech the principal had for them. Chuuya supposed there was some sincerity and merit to whatever the principal was saying, but he could not care less about the words of an adult who ignored student voices throughout the years. All the school scandals and bullying incidents were left untouched and unrecognized. The words of his soon-to-be former principal all blurred together and only heard bits and pieces of it. The time where the unattended words processed in his mind was when the principal boasted of being proud of having a such diverse community with students withholding the values and principles that the school taught us since 9th grade.
He scoffed. How funny. What had he expected from a private school, honestly? It was just another box ticked for brownie points for the school’s reputation.
Appearing on the far left and just behind him, the face of Ango Sakaguchi, the class valedictorian, had a rather droopy look on his face. A faint of a smile appeared on Chuuya's face, the moron probably pulled another all-nighter again. The reason that warranted an all-nighter right before graduation when there was nothing to study for was beyond him. He was not exactly close to Ango, but he knew of him due to a certain menace to society. Perhaps he was trying hard to pay attention. He would be giving out a speech in a few moments after the principal, after all.
*tap*
Just a few seats over sat Oda Sakunosuke – another person who he personally hadn’t known much. He had a rather blank expression on him, not particularly aloof or cold, just neutral. Not in a bad way for it did not give off any ‘don’t talk to me’ vibes. He was an introvert, that's all. Quite the opposite from him and rather an odd person for a certain someone (that irritated him to no end) to gravitate towards. He was rather quiet for somebody who towers over almost everybody. That irritating someone with brown hair and maroonish eyes should really take notes on how to shut their mouths up. It was quite frankly a wonder why he hadn’t learned how to do so after being friends with Oda. But at the same time, it was not exactly surprising, which only left Chuuya feeling more annoyed.
Now, if only the menace to society, Dazai fucking Osamu, would stop throwing paper balls at the back of his head. That would be great and he would love that. A punch to his stupid face was already in line and was one of the few things he planned on doing right after the ceremony. A second punch was also planned right after the first because the bastard’s lazy ass forgot it was their graduation day and failed to set up an alarm to wake up on time.
*Tap*
Or maybe he did not plan to graduate at all... Chuuya thought.
Dazai would have been the class valedictorian, but he never had an interest in awards, titles and merits. He had the means, the talent and intelligence - he knew that. He was the son of a well-known physician after all. His grades were what got him into the private school and it was the only thing that was keeping him from getting kicked out of said school. Dazai was fully aware of his own academic capabilities and everything beyond that. Yet despite his unbothered attitude towards academic achievement, it was not exempted from their long list of odd rivalry between them. A challenge on who can best the other in the most creative and ridiculous ways. Thankfully, it was one of the few things that were normal between them. Both parties never cared about others. It was always Dazai and Chuuya and Chuuya and Dazai.
He blinked. Chuuya must have spaced out because the principal suddenly turned into Ango who was now giving his wonderful speech. He had high hopes of getting valedictorian or maybe even salutatorian, but he was in the top five overall which was perhaps good enough. Damn you, biology exam for giving him a curveball. The teacher totally lied about the exam. Who would want to know things about genetics anyways!?
*Tap*
Oh, for the love of fucking- Chuuya closed his eyes, took a deep breath in and a deep breath out. He repeated this ritual for a few minutes. ‘Conceal, don’t feel’ according to Elsa. Maybe those Disney movies do have something in them that could help him. Maybe I should shove all of my science exams down his throat and see if he likes that, that bastard, Chuuya thought. What better way to deal with problems in your life than clumping them all together and just shoving them away?
Now being in the top five would have sufficed his craving for high achievement if it weren’t for the fact that Dazai was in fourth place. Which was just another dull knife to jab him within the years to come for being better than him. Chuuya thought that his nonchalant attitude about merits and achievements would have refrained him from getting a spot that was higher than him. It would have meant that there was one less competitor to worry about.
Turn up the volume louder
So I can hide the butterflies I got from you
Deep in his thoughts, again (which was a better alternative than throwing chairs at Dazai and ruining graduation for everyone. He should tell his therapist about this great achievement.), something caught his attention. Yuan, who sat beside him, had just nudged him. She raised an eyebrow at him and gestured her hand to look at his side. The seats were empty and the person who had sat beside him was already at the end of the row.
It was time to get his diploma.
Then an idea struck him.
He was not exactly at the far end of the row, but he had time to do what he wanted. As the students in the front slowly walked in anticipation, Chuuya swiftly got down and picked up all the tiny paper balls on the ground. He looked up to see Dazai’s cheeky grin who looked a little too proud.
Chuuya chuckled. He gathered all the paper balls and threw everything at once. In the corner of his eye, he could see a teacher facepalming himself because of course, some kind of altercation between the two had to happen. A few students snickered around them, and others simply rolled their eyes with some fondness in their faint smile. Chuuya’s face, too, grew a smile. It was not exactly triumphant, that would be saved for later. Maybe they would miss their antics, but that would mean Chuuya would be always be remembered together with Dazai.
The smile quickly turned into a scowl. He can never be separated from him, can he? But the scowl turned into a frown just as quick as it appeared as soon as he sees Dazai’s face. His heart fluttered.
That beautiful yet disgusting face of his. That condescending face was burned in his mind.
Yuan tugged him to follow the line. Something stirred in his chest and his heart thumped between his ribcage. He was worried about him, not that he would tell him or admit it, but he was not exactly heartless to see someone whose face looked like it was made out of glass, reinforced with steel. Ready to crack. Easy to break.
It was almost his turn to walk up the platform. They announce one by one different names of students to receive their diplomas. Chuuya shook his head, now was not the time to worry about a mummy. They are now adults. They can take care of themselves.
“Nakahara Chuuya!”
There was applause. He walked on the stage.
Kouyou readied herself just in front of the crowd, kneeling so she won’t block anyone’s view. His chest continued to stir. Anxiety was a complicated feeling, and depending on what is paired with, it could either be a good thing or a bad thing. Unfortunately, this particular anxiety was a bad one because he knew that something was about to happen that he utterly despised. There are things that should not be done, yet people still do.
He was never one to judge people, but some things that they do make him tick.
He put on his best bright smile. Trying not to strain it, not too wide and not too small. It must be big enough to convey proudness and a sense of accomplishment. Wait, Why was he overthinking this?
There was another applause. Several whispers among the students erupted and several more from the parents and family. He had known about his looks; he was quite proud of it and it took him a long time to accept it. He worked hard to know what was good for him that enhanced his already unconventional features. It was quite an anomaly amongst the class, but it was not that weird. At least that was he thought. After all, there was a kid in the first year going into the second year who has silver-white hair. Hell, there were even two other gingers in this school.
*Click*
*Click*
*Click*
He clicked his tongue. That was three too many clicks. Unwarranted camera clicks. If they wanted to invade someone’s privacy so badly, they should learn how to do it discretely. As he descended from the platform, the shifted energy radiating from his older sister could be felt by Chuuya. He landed his step with a lot more aggression and force when he walked away. He passed by Dazai who was already in line to get his diploma. Chuuya did a double-take at him. He was taken aback at how dark his eyes were (not the eyebags) like someone just took the last serving of his favourite food. Like he was ready to murder someone in cold blood. There some sense of anger and possessiveness in his face as both boys made eye contact for a brief time.
What the hell is his problem?
But somehow, someway, Chuuya smiled as his face flushed. And his chest stirred once again.
Anxiety was a complicated emotion.
You don’t have to say anything
We don’t have to be apart
Let’s be together day & night
“We did it, Chuuya!” Yuan shouted in excitement, she had a bounce on her feet as she skipped away from the gymnasium. The ceremony was over and Chuuya never felt such happiness to feel the cool breeze outside.
“Okay, children, get in position, let’s take a picture!” Kouyou told them, the camera-ready on her hand before going to the parking lot to go out and eat at a restaurant.
Chuuya chuckled. “Ane-san, we are not children anymore.” He was in fact, 18 years old, which was legally an adult of course. Both graduates posed for the picture, hands on each other’s backs and bringing up the peace sign. A grin then grew on his face as he looked at Yuan. “Maybe not little Yuan here, who has her birthday in the fall – HEY!”
Yuan just punched him in the arm, then, hovered her hand over him. “Last time I checked, chibi, little Yuan is the one who is at least three inches taller than you!”
“Whatever! I will get my growth spurt!” he placed his hand on his chest like the worse insult was just thrown at him. “I am still growing!”
Yuan positioned her hand behind her ear and bent over. “Sorry, what was that? I thought I heard the voice and attitude of 14-year-old Chuuya who coincidentally said the same thing.” She brought her hand to her mouth. “Funny how time works.”
He groaned. Quite loudly actually. It does not help that his own sister is laughing at the entire situation.
“Chuuya, sweetheart.” She said. “When are you going to realize that men typically have their adult height at the age of 18.”
Chuuya, frankly, has nothing to say except groan. Or perhaps he does. “I will not be 5 feet forever, god, you guys sound like Dazai.”
Yuan hummed and wrapped her arm around his neck because, well, she simply can. “Dazai, Dazai, Dazai. It will always and forever be about him or indirectly related to him in whatever conversation you have with other people.”
He rolled his eyes. He absolutely does not relate to every conversation with Dazai. That would be mathematically impossible.
Yuan poked him in the cheek. “You in love with him or something?”
Chuuya whipped his head so quickly that he thought he got whiplash. “Oh dear Yuan, please, do not insult me like that, you know I have standards.” Both she and Kouyou laughed. She finally let him go from her grip and started talking to Kouyou about whatever topic girls talk to older sisters about. Chuuya looked around the parking lot. Friends and Family of graduates flocked around in clusters – smiling, laughing and generally having a great time. There are few who were crying, tears of joy, he hoped. He only had his older sister that looked after him, but after this graduation, he felt like it was his turn to take care of her.
Just over the distance, by a couple of trees under the shade, he saw Dazai with Ango and Oda. His chest tightened, he looked happy. Smiling even, a genuine one. Not like the one that he saw at the ceremony where it did not meet his eyes. He would be lying that he felt quite saddened that he did not wear that smile often when he is around Chuuya. But that is a can of worms that he would like to deal with another time. Everyone’s relationships drift apart naturally, it is simply apart of life. Dazai had found his people and he was happy about it. He does not need him, and he understood that people change over time.
And yet even with that in mind, his chest tightened even more and his thoughts weighed his mind.
Wanna go somewhere far away without telling anyone
To the hot sea, sea sea
Arriving at the car, Yuan excused herself to pick up a phone call and Kouyou turned on the vehicle to start the air conditioning system. In weather like this, cars are literal ovens, so plenty of people turn it before sitting down. There was scratchiness in his throat, feeling slightly dehydrated with his lightheadedness and uncomfortable from all the sweating. He asked her to open the van’s trunk to get a water bottle in the cooler. Just as he took off his graduation gown and cap to relieve his body from the heat, something grabbed a hold of him from behind.
“Chibi~” Dazai clung unto Chuuya like a weighted blanket as they walked out of the gymnasium with the ceremony already over. “I told you we did not need to go to the ceremony.”
Oh great, it’s the menace. “Shut up, shitzai, we needed to graduate, I cannot stand to deal with people in this school anymore!” He cursed. “Also get off me, your body heat is making me feel hot and bothered!”
“Ane-san~!” he called for her. “Chuuya’s not being really nice! First, he was all loud and noisy, disturbing my beauty sleep, and now he won’t carry out the reparations of me being tired.”
Kouyou simply giggled. “Congratulations on graduating, Dazai. You can put your stuff at the back of the trunk as well.” She was frankly used to their antics, and though it could be quite a nuisance at first, she’s rather fond of it.
“Stop, whining, you damn baby!” he shoved his hand right against Dazai’s face as he continued to whine. “It is not my fault your lazy ass did not get up in time for the ceremony.”
“I told you, I did not want to go!” he said, though it came out more like a muffle. Finally, his grip on Chuuya loosened and let go. The three-piece black suit that he wore was too thick to wear under the heat. The black suit jacket was off right after he drank the second bottle of water, then the red tie and the dark gray vest. Little love and care were shown to these suits despite how expensive they were, his parents bought them for him and yet they did not bother to come for their own son’s graduation. Business meeting says his father. A very important fashion show is coming up, says his mother.
Excuses.
He loosened his black dress shirt, unbuttoning some of the buttons. This earned a few boring stares around him from people. They were not exactly slick in hiding their interest and attraction, but Chuuya would appreciate to at least not stare at him. Then, another wave of whispers came in, but this time, they were all looking away. At first, it confused him, but then he saw Dazai practically giving them the death glare of the century who shifted his position from the left side to the right side of Chuuya.
“You did not have to do that.” He spoke.
“They should know that staring at a person is an example of bad manners. It’s like they have never seen ginger before, it’s annoying.”
Chuuya gestured Dazai to hand over his suit jacket. “Just leave them be, Dazai, you know it will not stop. I don’t need you to keep people away like I am your own possession.” Just like his own jacket, he simply shoved it into the car.
Dazai plopped his head on top of his head. “But, chibi, you do belong to me. You are my dog and dogs simply belong to their owner.”
“Oh, for the love of God, I am not a dog!” He handed over a water bottle to Dazai to which he accepted.
He smirked. God, he hated that mischievous smirk. “Really? I could have sworn you were barking at me like a dog when we first met.”
Chuuya cringe at the memory of their first meet. “Whatever, jackass.” He squirmed underneath Dazai’s chinrest. “That was years ago.”
“Hey, Yuan!” Dazai waved at Yuan who was still on the phone under a tree. She waved in response before placing all her attention on the phone call. “Who is she talking to?”
“No idea.” He admitted, closing the back door. “Probably Shirase. Those two were always together, it’s a shame that he moved schools.”
Dazai hummed, leaving the top of Chuuya’s head.
“Chuuya, darling,” Kouyou called for him. “We have dinner at 8 o'clock with mother and father to celebrate your graduation.”
He ignored it, but internally, he was groaning quite loudly. He then asked her for a hairband to tie his hair up in a ponytail. He had been trying to grow out his hair for a while and it only took a little under three years to get it at the right length and style whilst taking care of it. This heat was really getting to him. It was a mistake to not check the temperature this morning. If anything, it was quite chilly but Canadian weather has never been straightforward.
Nothing about his life was really straightforward.
“Ah, the beach sounds so nice right now.” He said airily, particularly only to himself.
Still, the weather has been a buzzkill lately, just a few weeks ago there was an ice storm that came out of nowhere and now a heatwave? If that does not make people believe in climate change, then he does not know what will. The waters right now would be cold like arctic snow because nothing ever comes easy to Canadians for whatever reason. It was either melt in the heat of the sun or freeze in the waters of your own lake.
“Chuuya.”
“Hm?” he raised an eyebrow at Dazai who wore his bag at his back. What was he plotting this time?
Both boys locked eyes. There was some glint in Dazai’s eyes and a small smile was on his face. “Wanna ditch?”
This made Chuuya wore a wolfish grin. “Thought you would never ask.” Frankly, Chuuya was there for a piece of paper, not for sentimentality.
Dazai mirrors his grin. “Last one to the TTC Bus Stop to Don Mills gets to pay for the food!” and bolted.
Chuuya scoffed as if anyone can beat him in speed. He did a quick goodbye and an ‘I’ll explain later, have fun with Yuan and maybe Shirase!’ scream to Kouyou.
He felt his blood pumping from excitement and sprinted across the field.
This exciting feeling,
I’m lucky to have found you
Together with you
In the brief moment that he was behind him, it was hilarious to see the waste of bandages try to outrun Chuuya in his lanky legs. Running like his ass was on fire or had a stick up his ass. If he were truly a dog, then Dazai was just a fish out of the water. Completely out of his element. A very stupid mackerel.
He heard the engine sounds of the bus behind them as they ran up the hill. Having lived in this city for over 18 years, he knew the paths, the roads, the rush hours and the quiet hours, the people and the tourists, local residents and dwellers from other cities that weren’t precisely the same. Everything. He watched the transition and growth of the city, the different changes and the ones that stayed the same. Chuuya saw everything that collectively emulates the circadian rhythm of this city. From dusk to dawn. From noon to midnight. The beating heart that makes this city alive.
And he watched it together with him.
So, of course, he knew what the bus sounded like without ever needing to look back to check. And of course, he knew how far back the bus was behind them. Both of them do, which was why both boys ran even faster for the bus stop on the bottom of the hill. Chuuya was just a little faster. Running down the hill like two birds ready to take flight.
It only took a few seconds before zooming past him, mouth wide hungry for air to breathe. And within that moment, within that split of a second, time felt like it slowed down. For the first time today, Chuuya saw life sparked in his face, light in his eyes. Like a fire burning to fuel him to run as fast as he could. Even when he looked like he had a stick up his ass.
The wind blew as always, between the hair strands of his and through the clothes that he wore.
Leaves had grown on the tree’s branches once again.
The CN tower stood tall in the background.
Everything was normal. Nothing particularly special and different had happened.
Yet at that moment that lasted only a fraction of a second.
There was something different about him. The sweat dripping down from his face and how hungry he was to breathe. The image of him. The fire in his eyes.
He burned it in his memories.
Chuuya was definitely, undeniably happy when he saw that change.
I just wanna dance with you
Under the hot sun
As my heart leads me
Let’s fall far away
Into the blue sea
Let’s Jump On (Baby)
Chuuya got to the bus stop first, obviously, which meant that Dazai was going to pay for food. Both boys panted, the taller one more so with his hands on his knees. But he felt an inkling feeling that Dazai would somehow, in his own roundabout, convoluted way, make him pay for the food instead. So, basically, never trust a word he says whenever he proposes a choice and prepare to lose a bet even when you clearly won. That was the type of slimy bastard he was. He was usually right about that feeling 90% of the time. Good thing he still had his wallet in his back pocket.
The TTC bus came to a complete stop momentarily in front of them. Stepping onto the bus, they tapped their PRESTO card to pay for the fare and plopped their asses on either side at the back of the bus. Chuuya felt sadden at the worn-out look on his dress shoes. Bummer, he bought it just for graduation.
“Where are we going?” he asked the breathless Dazai.
“Wherever you want to go, chibi, the city is your oyster.” He flailed his hands around like an actor in a theatre. “We are free from the shackles of the money-hungry mouths of private schools –“
“We are going to university, Osamu, I think that is worse.”
“– It has been a gruesome battle of all-nighters and early risers! Failures and Successes, and most importantly, fighting the lunch lady for food!”
“You mean stealing?” he corrected him.
“They don’t know that, besides your help by hacking into the cameras.”
“You mean you used me as a threat to use Ranpo to hack into the cameras.” A correction for a second time. “And who in the fuck is ‘they’”
“Shut up. Technicalities.” He waved his hand. “I am having a manic moment, just let me have it.”
Boys at the back, please be quiet, you are disrupting the peace in this bus. I would ask you to get off this bus if you do not lower your volume. Thank you.
“Yeah, Chuuya, you gotta be quiet. Wouldn’t want a vicious dog barking at the bus.” He had not realized that Dazai was recording him on his phone. Which meant that he had the driver’s warning on video. Behind the phone, he wore an eat-shitting grin, snickering through his teeth.
“Shut the fuck up, you waste of bandages.”
You feel the same too
Want to go? (Farther)
To another place (An exciting place Oh)
Don Mills. Don Mills Subway Station.
He thanked the driver before getting off the bus and entered the subway station. He looked at the subway map that was plastered on one the concrete pillars. Tracing the subway lines that spanned across the city with his fingers, he was suddenly flashed with a picture of himself taking the subway to go to university. Late nights studying in the library, exploring deeper downtown, eating at different KBBQ restaurants. Maybe even check our up-and-coming bubble tea cafes or go to those fancy patisseries popping up in Toronto lately. He had done all of these things before – minus the new cafés – but doing it alone gives him the sense of personal independence. September of this year, he would be a university student at the acclaimed number one university in Canada – University of Toronto. He had heard both good things and bad things about the institution.
“Don’t think too hard or else you will shrink.” He whispered beside him.
“Don’t test me too much or else you will lose your kneecaps.”
“So violent.”
Dazai was attending UofT as well but in a different program. In the strong interest of his father, he was in the Life Sciences program, which was practically a pre-med program for those who would want to go to Medical School. Chuuya, on the other hand, was in the Astronomy and Astrophysics program. The program was quite competitive, though the sentiment can be said to all other programs in UofT as well as other universities. All the way in London Ontario, Western University program rejected Dazai and McMaster University’s Life Sciences program accepted him yet retracted it back for whatever reason. The University of Waterloo rejected his own application to the Physics and Astronomy program and Queen’s University accepted him but declined it. He figured Kingston was way too far for him.
“An upcoming year, another 10k lost.” Dazai huffed, thought he sounded unconcerned.
Chuuya sighed. “The real challenge begins in September.”
“If I make it.” He shrugged.
“You will.”
“Says who?”
“Says me. You are not going anywhere. Not on my watch. The only person who will take you out is me.”
This earned a slight chuckle. “Is that so?”
“It is so. I die, I will demand god to become your own personal grim reaper and take your soul. Nobody should deal with a menace like you.”
The whistle of the approaching subway train echoed in the tunnel, the tracks screeched as the breaks came in contact with the metal. Noises grew louder and louder as it drew closer. There few passengers going to board the subways positioned themselves, guessing where the door would open.
“I should probably feel honoured to have such a loyal dog.”
It was only met in silence as the subway arrived. It rang a little jingle, signalling to the passengers that the doors were about to open. They entered the car and sat down on the red seats.
Next Station is Leslie. Leslie Station.
“Chuuya.”
He looked at Dazai. The fire in his eyes had dwindled and he missed it. “Hm?”
“Wanna go to the beach?”
“Scarborough bluffs or Woodbine?”
“The bluffs are too far.”
“Woodbine it is then.”
Chuuya could never tell what this mummy was thinking. It would take up all of his energy to try and figure out what was going on in his head. People had always known him as the goofy, womanizer person who always had too much time on his hands because he was ignoring every single thing he needed to do instead. And while those things are true, it wasn’t exactly just that. But being friends with him for a long time, gave him the skill to just know.
“Woodbine it is.” Dazai echoed. “Food first?”
Chuuya simply nodded.
As if tomorrow doesn’t exist Oh
(Let’s forget everything, forget everything for a bit)
My heart is hotter than the sun
Despite having the means to go to a fancy restaurant, Dazai and Chuuya both agreed that fast foods would be a lot more convenient and easier. Of course, as easy as their level of ease and convenience.
Food fights were on the table. Always on the table. It would not be a day in the life of Dazai and Chuuya if there wasn’t one thing that was being thrown at each other. They ordered almost every single product on the McDonald’s menu; the poor cashier had a hard time reciting back their long order. Both of their actual food to eat were just chicken nuggets and a coke. The fight lasted a lot shorter than they thought for Chuuya thought it was ill-mannered to have a food fight in front of hungry homeless people. Dazai pouted at first, but not because they were being charitable. Chuuya knew that. It was like his mission to get under his skin.
Besides, he was the one who paid for it, but it was not a surprise because it was exactly as he suspected.
Dazai flirted with other women, as per usual, and people complimented Chuuya on the way with the occasional stares. As per usual.
And the same people who stared at Chuuya scurried away in fear because of Dazai being possessive by walking around him like he was some kind of celebrity. Again.
Well, if you stop hovering around me, you nutjob, maybe people will stop staring at you AND me.
Wanna go somewhere far away without telling anyone
To the hot sea, sea sea
“Wait! Let’s buy sparklers!” Dazai exclaimed, despite being halfway to the beach. He grabbed Chuuya by the arm, which startled him and nearly dropped his phone. He was just looking at a picture Yuan sent him; It was a picture of her, Shirase and Kouyou sitting together in
“What!?” Several heads turned towards him on the streetcar. Some rolled their eyes and huffed out because, obviously, teenagers these days are going to be rowdy ones. Chuuya clicked his tongue at them and whispered, “You do realize that we almost there, right?”
He shrugged. “Well obviously, I knew that, but I want some sparklers. We can always turn back.”
“Osamu, it’s 2 o’clock.” He countered. “Why would we light sparklers in the afternoon? That’s stupid.”
Dazai pouted. “Well, I figured I had to do something that matches your intelligence.”
He punched him in the gut for that comment.
“Okay!” he coughed out. “Okay. Still, I want some sparklers. It will be quick.”
Chuuya groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose before reaching out the stop button. Why was he dealing with this child? “Fine, we will stop here and go back to find a dollar store for your bandages wasting ass.”
This exciting feeling,
I’m Lucky to have found you
Together with you
It was a surprise that his eyebrows hadn’t fallen out yet from twitching so much. Patience was a virtue they said, well jokes on them, Chuuya had never said he was a virtuous person. So, they can shove their beatitudes where the sun does not shine, preferably for a really long time. They have walked around the city for quite a while now.
It will be quick, my fucking ass.
“Oi, Dazai. Do you even know where you’re going?”
Without even looking at him, Dazai replied. “Chuuya, please, I am concentrating.”
His eyes shot wide open, veins popping. “Concentrating on doing what!?” People crossed the street to the other side once they heard him yell. Good, he thought, because he was about to punch someone to oblivion. “You have been on your phone since I asked you to search for a dollar store nearby. Why can’t we just go to the mall?”
“Because, loyal dog, people.”
“People?” Chuuya practically exhaled that word because he was quite tired of dealing with his shit. “Dazai, we are in a city. Of course, there will be people!”
“Obviously, I know that! I just rather be in a less populated area with you.”
He furrowed his eyebrows. “Why is that?”
This time, he finally looked at him with a smirk on his face. “Don’t want you to infect everyone with your stupidity.”
He went for a punch, but he managed to dodge his oncoming attack. “Oh, for fuck’s sakes, Dazai, we got accepted into the same university!” Thought both of them knew that meant nothing.
Like the child he was, he stuck out his tongue and ran away, disappearing as he took a right turn at the intersection.
What in god’s name is he up to this time? I thought we were going to the beach? He checked the time on his phone and read 3:30 pm. Are we stalling for sunset? Wait, are we stalling so that I would not attend my family dinner? He could have just said that.
His phone rang a ding. A notification. From…Dazai?
Chibiii, where had my loyal dog gone? Not that I miss you or anything, but a dog is supposed to follow his master :D <3
He could feel his own veins popping. The bastard.
Then another ding came in. I want to spend time with my dog before we go on our separate ways. Together. Just you and me.
Chuuya sighed and followed where Osamu went to.
His stomach stirred like there were insects inside of it. Something he would love to throw up because it was simply annoying.
I just wanna dance with you
Under the hot sun
As my heart leads me
Let’s fall far away
Into the blue sea
Let’s Jump On (Baby)
In the end, they went to the mall. Well, to be more specific, the building across the mall that was connected via subway and underground PATH system that somehow do more harm than good by making everyone confused with its layout. So, technically it was still the mall?
Chuuya checked his phone for the time.
4:14 PM.
For reasons that were unknown to Chuuya and frankly, he does not give two shits about it, Dazai decided to play a little game of cat and mouse and detective. Around the downtown core, leaving behind clues on where to find him via text messages. God, he hated how much he sweated during that time.
And good lord, how many packets of 10 sparklers does a man need?
Apparently, according to Dazai, it was basically half of the entire store’s supplies. Everything on the shelf and at the back of the store. Chuuya had to physically drag Dazai out of the store before he uses all of his money to buy useless sparklers. He was lucky that his bank account could not be accessed by his parents anymore, courtesy of Kouyou’s wonderful input of him being independent enough to hold his own. Though afterwards, he received a warning from his sister herself from spending too much.
Which was why he would like to not blow his money today.
“But Chuuya~” he had whined. “It is only two dollars!”
“Shut up.” He went on and paid for the sparklers that the idiot loved so much. It amounted to less than a hundred dollars, which was a lot lower than he thought. But damn they are just sparklers.
He also needed to get some food for the two of them because it was almost dinner time.
After all, he had no intention to attend dinner with his parents. He mentally apologized to Kouyou, he wanted to go to the beach but someone else just had to stall his time to the beach.
Totally an annoying scheme.
Exiting out of the dollar store, he expected Dazai to be gone because you cannot leave an anomaly by itself and stay still. Lo and behold, he was not there. He checked his phone and there were no text messages yet.
He sighed. But then, an idea came.
Fine, two can play this game.
He had hoped Dazai was not watching him from a distance like a creep to see his little smirk. He opened up his messaging app and text,
I will see you back at King’s Station, by the streetcar stop.
And hit send.
Get it on, get get get it on (dance)
Get it on, get get get it on (dance)
Get it on, get get get it on (dance)
Get it on, get get get get it on
Most days he loved his ginger hair, it would be a shame that he doesn’t because he worked hard on it. But trying to go incognito with bright copper red hair was not the greatest idea that ever popped in his. The time where he pranked Shirase in their younger years of high school was a brilliant one, it would be difficult to top that in his most humble opinion. Yet he was ready to go all out for this little prank of it. Chuuya might get in trouble with the city officials, but fuck them, this was for his sweet, sweet revenge from all the years Dazai tormented him.
A new hat he just bought to cover his hair? Check. And it was a fedora one, quite stylish if you ask him.
New sunglasses? Check.
An extra-large cup of bubble tea with extra boba? Check.
Adrenaline pumping through his veins ready to bolt? Check.
Now all he needed was luck and get the timing right in order to pull this off. Rush hour had passed so the streets were not congested with businessmen in suits and students from the college campus just up ahead. That way, there wouldn’t be any bystanders that would get swept up by this potential disaster.
Chuuya stood beside the entrance to the drugstore which was several feet away from the actual stop. Luckily, he hadn’t given off any suspicious aura to alert the workers and security guard. He tried to be as casual as he could.
Then he saw the familiar stench of mackerel (Not a literal smell, it was more like a sixth sense type of thing. Some of his friends found it weird while Kouyou found it adorable because of reasons?) walking up the staircase that led to the subway station. He looked to his left; the streetcar was coming. Excellent. The traffic light of the intersection was green. Looks like luck on his side.
He uncapped the bubble tea as he approached him.
Why was this the most exhilarating thing he had ever done in life when he had done much worse?
Chuuya kept his head low and peered through the brim of his hat. Dazai was looking at his phone, unaware of his surroundings.
Perfect.
The streetcar stopped in its tracks. Chuuya drew closer.
The lights that signalled the doors to be opening flashed. Dazai was still on the phone. Chuuya took out his and hit 'record'.
The doors opened. Dazai looked up.
“Dazai.”
As soon as he turned around to look at Chuuya. He threw the bubble tea on him, drenching him in tea and sugar with tapioca balls. He heard gasps and the jingle that told him that the doors were closing.
He sprinted towards the doors and got in just in time for them to close fully. He looked behind to see Dazai still shocked by what happened. Bystanders were also shocked, unmoved while some were on the verge of laughing. Others had their phones up.
Chuuya was about to burst as well.
Oh, he was so getting in trouble for this.
Satisfaction. Accomplishment. Exhilaration.
Fucking hell yeah!
Dazai pointed at him with that look of rare irritation, still recording on his phone. Chuuya flipped him off before taking a few steps back, bursting out of laughter, and the streetcar moved.
He stopped the video and rewatched it over and over.
His phone dinged. It was a text message.
You fucking slug.
At the end when we have to turn back
We meet a new journey
The moment I’m together with you
Queen Street East at Kingston Road.
Finally. The beach.
6:20 PM was shown on his phone.
He does not know if Dazai boarded onto the next streetcar that was right behind him, but that did not particularly matter at this point. If he were Dazai, thinking about it was enough to make him want to gag pretending to be in his shoes, he would ask the driver just behind the streetcar to stop and open the doors. But then again, he just raced him to the bus stop earlier, which meant that it was likely he would not ask the driver. With that in mind, he decided to stand right in front of the door, ready to dash to the waters, anyways. He had enough energy to run again.
The traffic light changed its light to red, just in time for the streetcar to reach its stop. As soon as the door opened, he jumped out veering through stopped cars. Periodically glancing behind him, Chuuya saw Dazai running just behind him. Looks like the lanky mummy had some left-over energy. To his surprise, the beach was lacking a good portion of its usual number of visitors. It was definitely hot enough to warrant a good amount of people to the beach. The bluffs perhaps? Wasaga?
Not that it was a bad thing, of course. It only meant that he would not be swerving and avoiding bumping into people. He had a straight shot at the beach. The sun had dimmed the world with mother nature painting the sky with pink and purple clouds and streaks of yellow from the sun’s glow.
He leaped unto the boardwalk of the beach that separated the grass from the sand, leaving behind loud thuds. Chuuya had an amazing head-start, but the effects of it wore off as soon as he stepped unto the sand due to two things.
One: The sand was getting into his shoes.
Two: The sand was hot as fucking balls and it was getting into his shoes.
Mindovermatter. Mindovermatter. MINDOVERMATTER.
“CHUUYA!”
“RUN, YOU SON OF BITCH!”
Chuuya threw his dress shoes away and dropped the plastic bag that carried the sparklers. He felt triumph once he arrived at the shore, wetting his dress pants and socks (ew). He hissed at how cold it was, but it was nothing he could not handle. Hands raised up in victory and he screamed,
“Take that, shitzai! I won! You owe me – woah, wait, shit, FUCK, HOLD ON – SLOW DO–” And just like that, Dazai rammed into Chuuya, causing both of them to submerged into the cold waters.
Now it was just a wrestling match between the two boys. Getting more and more drenched each move they make, which was counterintuitive for Chuuya because his goal was exactly the opposite of what they were doing – not to get wetter. After squirming in the waters and dripping wet, they managed to get away from each other and walked onto the shore on dry sand. Mostly to catch their breathes.
“Are you out of your fucking mind?!” Chuuya yelled at him as squeeze water out of his hair, he immediately checked his back pocket. “My phone! And my wallet!”
His wallet was in good shape despite being wet. Luckily, Canadian money was plastic and not paper, so he would not worry about it getting destroyed when taking it out. The phone on the other hand was not doing so well. It would not turn on. Chuuya grumbled on and on about his phone and the cold while Dazai was busy laughing and giggling like a little girl.
Girl, I just wanna dance with you
Come on Double step that’s why
We express chicness with our bodies
It’s similar (like this)
To the Rocking we add the Popping
Krumping (shake that ass)
You’re already shaking, you’re twerking
(yeah yeah yeah) ah bad ass
Whichever god that casted a spell on him to compel Chuuya to deal with this bullshit but did not give him the patience and instead have a fuse of a firecracker had some sick sense of humour. He stomped his way into close proximity to him. “Oi. Oi. Oi. Shitzai, I am not fucking joking!”
He wheezed, hunching over with his arms wrapped around his stomach. “Well, maybe you shouldn’t have thrown that bubble drink at me.”
“It’s bubble tea.”
“Same thing.”
“Whatever!” At this point, Chuuya’s teeth chattered. Hypothermia was definitely not on his summer bucket list, so, he had high hopes that he would not start his summer in bed or even be killed by hypothermia. The bright colours in the sky had faded into its dull gray and black colours already. “God, it’s fucking cold!”
“Hey, Chuuya.” He spoke.
“What?!” He noticed that Dazai was not freezing, or at least not showing he was cold in the slightest. “How are you not cold?”
Dazai reached out to him with his hand and he smiled. A genuine one.
“Can you shut up and dance with me?”
It’s a move that makes you healthy, physical fitness
Hold on a sec, I’m out of breath
Talk to my eye. You and I , don’t stop it
Eyes are locked, how it
starts good, baby
Chuuya looked at him like he just spoken Spanish. “Excuse me!? My phone is dead, I got wet and I am freezing my fucking ass off and you want to dance?! The fuck!?” Anger boiled within him, his face getting more flushed and heated as he continued shaking from the cold.
He lifted his arms with his phone in his hand and started playing a song from Spotify. “Well, then, you better start using those dancing skills you got to increase that body heat of yours!” He grinned. Cheeky bastard. “It was either that or we go into an embrace and intimately share our body–“
“I say eat shit you jerk.” Chuuya retorted. He was honestly at a loss for words. “What are you trying to be, a goddamn manic pixie dream girl?”
The question made the smile on his face fade away. Confusion arose from Chuuya’s chest. “I am trying to enjoy my lasts days of being a teen.”
“Oh.” Silence fell between them. So, it was a sentimental motive behind his actions, which well explains why they were doing a number of different things at once. They both stood there on the shore of woodbine beach, without uttering a single word, and not exchanging a single thrown at each other. It was a rare sight to see such rare silence happening between them.
It was Dazai who broke the silence. “Oh, come on, Chuuya.” The genuine smile on his face was replaced by a sad one. The one that had not reached his ears. At the back of his head, a voice spoke that he would like the soft, genuine smile back. “It is not like you to be all silent like that. That is what I like about you, you are always so loud and expressive. It is honestly really annoying, but it is still quite entertaining!”
“I honestly cannot tell if you are giving me a compliment or an insult, but regardless of your intent, the fact of the matter is that just because you turn eighteen does not mean your brain is going to automatically switch to ‘an adult’.”
“Why, yes, obviously, you have yourself to prove that statement.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sakes–”
“Chuuya, can we dance, now?”
Part of him wanted to continue on screaming at him, to continue raging on at how ridiculous this day had been. All he wanted to do was to visit the beach in this hot weather, but in the end, he might die of hypothermia whilst dancing with the most irritating person he had ever encountered in his entire life. Two boys dancing in the sunset, by the beach, with music, dripping wet in their shirt and dress pants.
Suddenly, he was not so cold anymore.
“Chuuya?”
He couldn’t look at him in the face. It was a good thing golden hour makes your skin look warmer than usual, the redness of his face probably was not as visible.
“Chuuya, you look red.”
His stomach dropped. Shit.
“Do you understand the implications that come with two boys dancing at the beach at sunset?” Several things, actually.
Softness grew on Dazai’s face, something that was particularly rare to see. Seeing the soft smile was…refreshing, to say the least. “Is there anything wrong with it?”
Oh. Chuuya chuckled. He did not know why, but it was probably something to do with his rapid heartbeat, pounding like the beat of the drum. He stood shaking, whether from nervousness or from the cool air, he does not know anymore.
Chuuya looked up at Dazai. “No, not really.”
And so, Dazai played the music on his phone. They took each other’s hands. At first, they were slow, taking little baby steps from side to side. They close together, close enough to feel each other’s body heat. Chuuya then placed his hand on the taller man’s shoulders who mumbled to him that he was surprised he could reach. He only replied with a quiet shut up; Dazai’s hand slid to his waist, grabbing a hold on him. To guide on where to go. To follow him to the beat of the song, stepping to the rhythm, swaying to the mood.
Slowly, they picked up the pace. Not by much as they found the groove that they were both comfortable. Spinning around in circles as the waves crashed onto the sands. In the first half, Chuuya was only staring at Dazai’s chest, but he could feel his eyes on him. It took every speck of confidence in him to look up and had a good look on his face. The light of the sun glowed his eyes like jasper. Even when his eyes were dark brown through the day, under the light it was gorgeous. There was a permanent smile on his face that reached his eyes. And then, there were not so pretty features, like healed scars on his neck that were covered in bandages as well other cuts on his face. The eye bags under his eyes. But that did not matter to him, this is what made Dazai, Dazai. The good, the bad, and the ugly. As well as the irritation that comes with it.
This was not the first time he had danced with someone and it certainly would not be the last, but it was the first time he had danced with Dazai.
And he liked it.
He liked it a lot.
Chuuya smiled. He would not mind dancing like this for the rest of his life.
A stepping that happens when we’re closests
So that the night continues to tomorrow
I won’t let your hand go, especially when we dance
Put your hands on my neck
We find a balance together close
Hold on Slippery floor
Above it, there’s no one around me but You only
Looking at him with the sunset in the background and the waters in front of them, to say that he looked beautiful was a vast understatement to describe how Dazai looked to him. But all things must come to an end, which included the sun. The sun had just set, and so their little dance ended. Both boys were not looking at each other, probably feeling too embarrassed to say anything.
This day had been a whirlwind of events and emotions.
But to Chuuya, that was really normal when it comes to being with Dazai. It was dynamic, always moving, always thinking. Coming up with ideas and pulling through to do them. Now that they were older and growing fast, the time to do these shenanigans have dwindled and it had started in their last year of high school in order to cramp the effort and work into one year to get the grades you want. The grades you needed to show the university they should be considering on accepting them into the program.
Two years away from their 20s, and they would properly not be a teenager anymore. Not by age and not by legality.
After a few moments of silence, Chuuya decided to grab the bag that held the sparklers and his disguise.
“By the way,” Dazai spoke. “Out of all the hats, you picked freaking fedora?”
Chuuya scrunched up his face. “What’s wrong with a fedora? I think they are stylish.”
“They’re tacky, chibi.”
“No, you just have no sense of style!”
He scoffed at his outburst, but both knew between the two of them, Chuuya had the more stylish fashion sense. His mother was a fashion icon, after all. From the bag, he took out the lighter and a pack of sparklers which made Dazai slightly excited like a kid trying to conceal his excitement for receiving a gift on Christmas.
The wind was not cooperating with Chuuya. They had to hunch and huddle together as close as they can be so that the fire from the lighter does not extinguish immediately. Right after they finally managed to light up the sparklers. Chuuya looked behind him to see an officer stopping in his tracks. Probably thought that they were lighting a blunt or something.
“Chuuya! Light up the others and stick them into the ground!” Dazai shouted, and he skipped back and forth waving the sparkler in his hand around. “Also let’s take some pictures!”
And so, he lit one sparkler after another. He tried to create a pattern, but it was hard to see in the dark with no light. Not when there was someone busying screaming ‘Let there be light!” on top of their lungs. He had to move fast because these sparklers have a short lifetime when lit.
“Osamu, come and help me here!”
Through the eye’s strangers, all they saw were two normal boys making a mess on the beach with their sparklers.
Through the eyes of Dazai and Chuuya, it was a moment of childish wonder and bliss. A moment to forget about the life they were about to embark on and focusing on the daunting task to keep their joy alive by lighting up sparklers that they wished would last a little while longer.
I just wanna dance with you
Under the hot sun
As my heart leads me
Let’s fall far away
Into the blue sea
Let’s Jump On (Baby)
Sitting on the sand, Chuuya would be lying to himself to say that he was not scared about the foreseeable future. It was just a mere two months away, yet it felt like his life would be going through the hellish environment of ‘the real world’ in two weeks. How can anyone be prepared for the ‘real world’ as said by his teachers? It was all they talk about. They warned that they would not be as tolerable as them. How the university professors would not allow anyone to come in late and would be less accommodating to the students because ‘they would be wasting their time’. All these pressures can get to some people, he knew it got to some people.
And Chuuya had to admit it, he felt the pressure. And so had other people, he saw it first hand.
It felt like his childhood was slipping away a lot faster than he thought as the years passed by. The older he had gotten, the wider the scope of his vision of the word. That was a double edge sword in and of itself. All the friends he had throughout the years, relationships and parental figures; several have stayed while some deteriorated into oblivion.
Ah, what was wrong with him? He should not be feeling this sort of sentimentality. He needs to get a grip of himself. Always the hard and tough exterior.
“We should head home,” Chuuya spoke. "It's getting late."
“I think we should.” He agreed.
They remained unmoved for more than a couple of minutes, sitting on the beach with sparklers going off in front and beside them until the last spark. Hands barely touch each other on the sand. Chuuya moved a finger closer, and Dazai mirrored. Going home meant that they are going back to their lives of graduated high school students going to university this fall. Going home meant Chuuya was going to meet with his parents’ disappointments and lectures. The fact that he missed family dinner was going to fuel it even more. Dazai was going to go home alone with his father, or perhaps just an empty box.
They promised to pretend something that they were not. But it was hard to do when it had been drilled inside your head on what to be, what to do, and what should be.
Sometimes Chuuya just wanted to dance. Sometimes Chuuya just wanted to play his guitar.
Sometimes Chuuya just wanted to sing.
Sometimes Chuuya just wished his life to be normal.
And sometimes Chuuya doesn’t want summer to end.
But sometimes things are just the way it was.
“It’s time to go back, Osamu.”
Get it on, get get get it on (dance)
Get it on, get get get it on (dance)
Get it on, get get get it on (dance)
Get it on, get get get get it on
.
.
.
“Chuuya, I lost my shoe.”
“What in the actual fuck do you mean you lost your shoe?!”