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Dotsuitare Hompo has a very particular dynamic.
It’s a dynamic that took quite a while to settle itself out, and because of that Rei would prefer not to fuck it up. He hasn’t, yet, but keeping the scales from tipping depends on one very specific factor, one that he doesn’t think he can keep out of the equation for very long.
Sasara strides into the door of their favorite bar, suit recently dry-cleaned and crisp on his lanky body as Rosho follows suit in that almost bashful way of theirs, and Rei behind them as the backbone of the team. Just how it’s supposed to be.
“Rei!” Sasara crows, loud and almost fond, in the same tone he’d used to declare that Dotsuitare Hompo were “the god-kings of Osaka, duh!” and Rei raises an eyebrow to show he’s paying attention. “You’re drinking tonight. I can take myself a night off.”
Rei feels his mask slip for just a second-this is exactly the change in dynamic he’d been dreading. He doesn’t drink around them if he can help it, because he knows how he gets when he’s wasted. If he says the wrong thing, it’s over-they’ll leave him, and he’ll be alone again. And no matter how Rei convinces himself he’d be fine with that, that they’re temporary like everybody else was…it’s never the truth. Never will be the truth.
“I’m alright, Sasara. Really.” It comes out more desperate yet serious than intended, making all three do a quick double-take. “Who’s gonna keep you two bastards in line, eh?”
Sasara’s eyebrows knit together, deep in thought in that usual cute way of his. “I can skip out for tonight, promise! We gotta let our boy Rei let loose, eh, Rosho?”
“Whatever you say,” Rosho replies, obviously disinterested. Rei shifts his gaze to the teacher, who’s picking at their nail beds but also side-eyeing him in a way that’s probably supposed to be discreet. Rosho hasn’t trusted him since they first met, and honestly Rei doesn’t blame them at all. But that doesn’t mean he can’t hope that Rosho can look at him the same way they look at Sasara someday.
Rei glances at his glass of beer, a silent prayer for an explanation for this particular train of thought. But, as he expected, it remains untouched and that feeling of warmth he’s been staving off for weeks begins to stir itself in his chest again. Damn it. “Well, if our dear leader insists.” he smirks, taking a swig and praying to whatever the fuck is out there that this doesn’t end badly. “Aye, Sasara. When did I become ‘your boy’?”
This is risky territory-he knows it as soon as Sasara turns that closed-eye gaze on him, letting a single eyelid raise just a hair to show a striking orange. Rei feels a shiver down his spine-whether it’s a thrill or pure fear, he isn’t sure.
“When you joined Dotsuitare Hompo, obv-i-ous-ly!” their leader proclaims, leaning back with his hands folded behind his head. “We gotta support ya, Rei! Isn’t that right, Rosho?”
“You don’t need’a ask me every time.” Rosho groans, their Kansai dialect creeping into their voice which either means they’re drunk or letting their guard down…not like there’s a difference.
“I like includin’ ya! Especially after-“ Sasara gestures vaguely-“all that shit.” Rei knows the split-up of original Dotsuitare Hompo is a sore spot for both of them, so he chugs down the rest of his beer instead of looking at Rosho. The teacher grunts and shrugs, polishing off their own glass.
“That shit was my fault anyway.” they mutter, and when Rei finally glances over they’re staring off into space, glasses discarded and red eyes flashing prettily in the dim lighting of the bar. Have they always looked like rubies or is Rei just a real lightweight?
“Hey! Nope. None of that.” Sasara says, clapping his hands together. “We’re here to have a real good time, yeah? No worries.” Rei nods agreeably, trying not to focus on how pretty Sasara’s voice is.
He’s barely even drunk, so what’s wrong with him tonight? He’s been trying so desperately to hang back, to let Sasara and Rosho work out their issues and live happily ever after. But then Sasara will smile at him, or Rosho will sigh fondly at his antics with their leader, and the hole in his heart that she’d left doesn’t feel so gaping anymore. Not much can scare him, but the prospect of loving again-of risking the loss of another person he cares about-comes pretty damn close.
“Earth to Rei!!!!” Sasara says, snapping in front of Rei’s face. “No overthinkin’ tonight, that goes for the both of ya ‘cause I know how Rosho gets when they’re smashed.”
“Shuddup.” Rosho grumbles, starting in on what has to be their fourth (???) beer. “But you are real spacey tonight, Rei. What’s goin’ on with ya?”
“Nothin’ sensei oughta worry their pretty head about.” Rei laughs, surprising even himself. It’s not a lie, really, because Rosho is pretty, but if he’s not lying then that means the alcohol is getting to him.
“Pretty, huh? Y’ain’t wrong.” The comedian grins, tossing an arm over Rei’s shoulder. “Ya finally learnin’ to appreciate yer handsome-as-fuck teammates?”
Yes, he thinks, eyes darting between Rosho and Sasara. I absolutely am and I wish I wasn’t.
“Sure,” he says, staring down into his mug. “Whatever helps ya sleep at night.”
“Charmer.” Sasara teases. “I’m swoonin’, Rei.”
“What are ya, one’a his women? Get outta here.” Rosho laughs, a rare sound that Rei really wishes he could hear more. “Flirtin’ and seducin’ ass…”
“Oi, Rosho. Lay off him, jeez!” Sasara cries dramatically, flopping against Rosho’s side and making them shout. They’re both cute like this, bickering and fighting as they’re wont to do. And at this point, Rei’s so drunk that he doesn’t even stop himself from wishing he could be a part of that back-and-forth.
“They ain’t wrong.” Rei concedes, throwing his hands up in mock surrender before chugging down the rest of his beer. He’s… really drunk, now. “But I’d give up those women in a heartbeat for my two favorite people.”
“Aw, look, he’s tryna be sweet.” Sasara stage-whispers to Rosho as if Rei isn’t even there. “Maybe the big ol’ softie does care.”
“Y’all made me care.” Rei slurs in his drunken haze. “Shouldn’t’a fuckin’ happened, but here I am, like a fuckin’ schoolgirl in love again.”
Sasara snorts, grin hidden behind his hand as Rosho turns beet red. “Yeah?” the former giggles. Rei slumps forward onto the table.
“I wasn’t s’posed to get attached…but you two made it so damn hard…..fallin’ never did anybody any good.” Sasara’s smiling fondly at him, and Rei’s startled by how honest they both are now. “Bosslady’s gonna be pissed…”
“Who?” Rosho asks, still flushed but at least a little more composed. Rei stares up from where his head is resting in his crossed arms on the table.
“Nothin’ I want y’all worryin’ about…” he mumbles, soft and almost sweet. Sasara reaches out to grab Rei’s hand, gently rubbing his fingers across the back of it while Rosho still stands at his side. “Wait, where ya goin’…” their third grumbles sleepily, turning his hand to lock his fingers with Sasara’s. But it’s not him who responds but Rosho, quiet and gentle in a way that used to be reserved for Sasara.
“Nowhere. We’re not going anywhere, promise.” they say, breathed like a silent vow. It’s a little bit too serious for how shitfaced they all are, which is usually a sign that they need to start heading home.
Once they’re in Rosho’s car Sasara turns to his partner, mischievous smirk planted on his face. “He’s cute, don’tcha think?”
Rosho turns to look at the sleeping Rei in the backseat, then stares down at their lap. “No.”
“Liar.” Sasara fires back, before sighing. “I wish we didn’t have to be drunk for him to be more honest with us. All that shit he was prattlin’ on about, about us bein’ his favorites…” The comedian has his rare lovestruck look, even sighing a bit as if he’d been serious about swooning over Rei earlier.
“Aw, hell,” Rosho groans, “don’t tell me you’re actually in love with him. ”
“You’re a hypocrite.” Sasara replies instead of actually answering. Rosho’s silence speaks volumes, and they definitely do not think about Rei even as they help Sasara drop him on their couch later.
Rei’s sleeping soundly, and as he grunts a little in his sleep Rosho starts to think that Sasara might have been right.
Not that they’re going to tell him that, of course. Nobody wants Sasara telling them “I told you so.” Though, as Rosho throws Rei’s coat over his sleeping form, they think with an annoyed sigh that they might have to hear it anyway.