Work Text:
Performing solo is something that is technically normal for Madara. Instead, not performing as solo is the rare chance until Double Face formed. For a long time he is used to walking alone, dismissing those worried voices just to be sure that he didn't have to put them in any danger on the thorny path he took. That's why the whole angry rant call from Kohaku today surprised him a lot. It's not like it is unexpected for Kohaku to do so knowing how he actually is. It's just, they only started working together in two months. Surely they went through a lot together but kohaku now should be focusing on the qualifying rounds for Crazy:B and not wasting time worrying about him.
Kohaku already had too many problems on his hands and Madara didn't want to be another burden for him to think about. His main unit just recently got more recognition by the public after their successful variety show. As Madara decided to work with Ibara this time, he'd rather not drag Kohaku into this mess when kohaku needed to focus on his own unit there.
Madara sighed. He can't believe he is about to praise SS management's decision to forbid participants to go outside their qualifying rounds area. At least he didn't have to worry that Kohaku might suddenly appear in shikoku for now. The danger that Ibara brought with his mission is something he'd rather anyone to not get tangled up in.
He was about to go to the small backyard of their room--technically Adam's room and he just invited himself in. While waiting for his hair to dry and drinking some coffee, he was surprised to see someone still in the sitting room. Considering he just passed Nagisa who is sleeping already then it must be Ibara
"work?" He asked after he successfully opened the door to the sitting room without making too many sounds. Quite proud of himself.
Ibara didn't look up and continued working on the unfinished review infront of him. From the voice alone, he knew it was Madara. Who else in this room if it's not him and Madara who are still awake. Nagisa is already long asleep after dinner. "Yeah. I want to finish as much as I can before I sleep. Hell knows what will happen tomorrow"
"Heee, preparing for the worst?" Madara took a seat in front of Ibara. He put the warm can of coffee next to Ibara's laptop then opened his own can of coffee "fufun~ I knew you are the careful type but still it's odd to see it with my own eyes. We already worked together for quite long but only recently we actually talk "
Ibara peeked from behind his laptop for a moment only to focus on typing again. "Not like it is time to talk right? You should get some sleep already Mikejima-shi. Just because you don't have SS main stage to face, that doesn't mean that you can be reckless about sleeping schedule. Unless--" Ibara closed his laptop, he took the can of coffee that Madara left on the table before he made himself comfortable to his seat "--you are wide awake to seduce some classified information from me?"
That tease answered with one clap and the sound of madara dying as he held his laughter. Making the younger smirked proudly ss if he just hit the bullseye even if Madara has yet to admit that.
"As I thought, your morbid jokes really come out of nowhere without the facade. But worry not. I have no interest over your complicated family tree Ibara-san--"
"I can't say anything about Okawa-shi's personal troubles, you see. So I hope that's not the question you are about to ask" Ibara cut Madara before he finished his sentence. A mere assumption but ever since Double Face formed there is no doubt that Madara and Kohaku have gotten much closer than he expected. Not that Ibara minds about it as long as they can still be useful. But he learned a bit about Madara before. His attitude of always wanting to help is pretty much a big problem to face which makes Ibara immediately guarded about that.
The assumption this time seems to be hitting the home run with how madera stunned in his place before he let out a small chuckle and drank his coffee. "It's quite rude assuming someone's intention out loud like that, Ibara-san. But guess I won't deny that truth. I'm curious to know what is the deal you make with him that he is willing to take this whole mess to begin with"
Ibara tried to seek out honesty from those eyes. Simply curious on his own how fast and easy it appears for him watching some people actually attach themself inside someone else's personal life just to (meddle) help them. "If Oukawa-shi himself didn't speak to you, I have no reason to spill the contract. There is no benefit for me and I am no information broker in this whole story. I won't sell it to you even if you want to barter it for something good"
"Really? That famous young entrepreneur, Ibara-san? Refusing a trade?" Madara asked with obvious mockery.
"Trade huh" unbothered, Ibara stood up and walked close to madara. He looked down on the older man with a smirk on his face. "Maybe if you want to trade with a joker card for blackmailing material that can make you submit to me with no question, I might consider it?"
Madara looked up at him, "getting cocky aren't you, Ibara-saan?" He yanked Ibara's yukata down, making the younger's face so close to his. What annoyed him was how that smirk on Ibara's face wasn't wiped even by that sudden act he did. Instead, the younger one put his hand on Madara's fist and grabbed his yukata. Annoying..? Was that the right word when his heart obviously felt challenged.
"... Ibara.."
Madara was so close to giving in that desire to take the challenge but someone's voice broke apart his concentration---seems like Ibara himself was startled that he lost his balance and ended up falling on the top of madara, spilling the coffee that madara held before.
The source of that trouble stared at them in total disbelief and confusion but immediately he rushed to them and picked up the back of Ibara's yukata and pulled him up like a little kitten. "... I was wondering why you weren't in the futon…"
"Your excellency. Please let me go!?" Ibara protested and tried to struggle away from him.
"Haha..haha..ha" Madara who was left confused in front of them can only laugh awkwardly " I thought you were asleep.. Nagisa-san"
Nagisa glared at him "... Un, until someone stepped on my foot and made me realize that he was making a move to my dear partner" Nagisa childishly scoffed off "...Adam will not disband, so don't approach my partner like that"
"It wasn't anything like that" Ibara escaped from the yukata coat and fixed his messed up yukata that already goes here and there because of these two barbarian. "I tripped because you suddenly called my name. There wasn't anything happening and why the Adam disbandment has anything to do with this. I didn't say we will disband? Or is it actually Your Excellency who wanted to disband?" Ibara took his laptop with him and walked away to the sleeping area to pack up his laptop again.
"... No? I didn't mean it like that.. Ibara.."
Those two left Madara staring at them leaving. Surely, that's not how he expected his attempt to end but guess… It would be a lie if Madara says to himself that he doesn't feel a tiny bit of envy watching them getting along that much.
"Well.. maybe a quick shower is needed again" Madara sighed on the spilled coffee on his clothes.