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Every time Dazai would come over, Verlaine got a little more sick of the boy. He had to watch as both he and Chuuya seemed oblivious of each other’s feelings. Cuddling up on the couch while playing video games, or rambling to each other about things that went right over his head.
It was almost painful to watch.
Dazai would compliment Chuuya, and then say it was a joke, or that he’s just messing with him. When really, it was obvious to everyone else, that he was trying to show his affections to the older of the two gingers. Which was impressive, at least for an emotionally constipated teenager.
However, Verlaine didn’t find it impressive that this boy, (one of the youngest mafia executives) was flirting with his son. He wanted them to either get together, or just be friends, the pain of watching two teens in love was getting to him. So, he came up with a plan to get it through their thick skulls.
—
He brought together the people around the two the most, as almost all of them were in the mafia, it made it easier. Gathering all of them in one of the meeting rooms, a place where mission debriefs are commonly held. Adam and Chiharu were the only two people to have not entered one before.
There were many suggestions given during the meeting, such as just telling them to “get a room”, as Albatross so kindly shouted. Verlaine didn’t like that suggestion, and was a few seconds from strangling the blonde. The idea appealed to him, getting a chaotic individual away from his family.
Resisting was hard, but he knew Chuuya would get upset if one of his friends were to be murdered. So, he resisted temptation. Rimbaud gave him a soft smile when he saw the tension relax from his form, no longer thinking of how he should kill the boy in front of him.
“Do any of you have a plan that does not suggest lewd acts?” he asked in the calmest tone he could, despite how he felt the strong desire to punch something, or someone.
“I suggest we subtly make them believe the other is in love with them, therefore, they will acknowledge their feelings,” Pianoman suggested.
That caused Chiharu to sigh, “I’ve been trying to convince Chuuya, he refuses to believe that Dazai is anything but a prankster. He thinks everything is just an act from him to cause confusion or chaos.”
Lippmann piped in, “What if we get proof? Take pictures when Dazai is staring or blushing at Chuuya. It might convince him.”
Humming in thought, Verlaine nodded, “That might work, as long as Dazai doesn’t notice.”
“Any other suggestions before we start trying to get the together?” he asked, wanting to make sure there were no good ideas left unsaid.
“Oda and I could start encouraging Dazai to ask Chuuya out, or even suggest that the crush is mutual. That way Dazai may get a little braver, and a date could be held,” Ango suggested.
Giving a nod, Verlaine decided to finish the meeting, “That works for now. We should try out these ideas, and if they don’t work within a month, come back together for another meeting.”
—
The plan was a go.
Ango and Oda had the easiest job, telling Dazai to go for it, and that Chuuya would reciprocate his feelings. While everyone else was stuck with the struggle of convincing Chuuya, who firmly believed Dazai was a jerk. Someone who wouldn’t fall in love with him.
It took a couple of weeks to gather the photos of Dazai blushing when Chuuya laughed, or just did anything. He was deeply in love, and it was painfully obvious. On the flip side, none of them were particularly good at keeping secrets.
Which was how things went wrong.
Chuuya was hanging out with the flags, and planning to get some more driving lessons from Albatross. They were going to be leaving town to go somewhere more secluded to practice. It was a great opportunity to try and get some romantic thoughts of Dazai in Chuuya’s head.
Getting in the sports car, Albatross hopped into the driver’s seat, and waited for Chuuya to finish saying goodbye to the rest of their friends. He promised to hang out with them all soon, after he had a good understanding of how to drive. Then, he got in beside the blonde, and they were on the road.
“So, how’s things been going?” Albatross asked as they pulled onto the road.
“Same as usual, school is boring, and Dazai comes over to annoy the shit out of me,” Chuuya answered with a sigh.
Humming at the response, he came up with a different question, “Any people you fancy? Boys? Girls? You surely have met someone you like.”
That caused the ginger to go quiet, not wanting to answer, and give away his crush. Romance was a big step, and he wasn’t sure he was ready yet. Even though he loved the idea of cuddling with Dazai, and peppering his face in kisses.
“Not really,” he finally responded, hoping that the conversation would be over.
“Huh, I thought there would be a… certain someone, you like,” Albatross said suggestively, “perhaps even, a certain brunette who annoys you?”
Chuuya felt his face heat up because he thought nobody knew, “Why do you think I like him?”
He tried to remain calm. Thinking that maybe Dazai’s confusing, almost flirting had been overheard, and Albatross didn’t know better. It was the only way he could make himself feel better about it.
“Dazai’s always staring at you, and getting all flustered, I thought maybe something was going on between you two,” Albatross calmly commented, trying to lure the younger teen into the trap of romance.
“Really?” he perked up at the thought, before realizing he was being too obvious, “I can hardly believe that, he’s always such an asshole.”
The blonde chuckled, “I knew you wouldn’t believe me, luckily I caught it on camera.”
Chuuya was baffled, “Let me see.”
“Sure,” he handed over his phone, unlocking it without looking. “It should be one of the most recent photos in my gallery.”
“Cool,” he muttered, finding and clicking on the app.
Opening the most recent photo, he smiled, it was of all the flags laughing together, clearly drunk. Then he went back again, finding a few more of their night out. Before he found a picture that showed Dazai staring, blush on his cheeks, as he watched Chuuya play a game that Albatross had asked them to give a try. Chuuya ended up beating the level that the older boy got stuck on, even though Dazai couldn’t even get past in.
Wanting to see if there were more pictures that showed Dazai with such clear joy and admiration, he kept scrolling. Until he stumbled across a screenshot of a group chat. The messages caught him off guard.
There were several from the flags, mentioning how it was obvious how Dazai was pinning for Chuuya. One from Chiharu, who messaged that Chuuya’s own crush was painful to watch. Even some from his parents.
“Albatross… why do you have a group chat with my family, and some others?” Chuuya asked, tone innocent, but expression sinister.
Panic went through his head because he knew there was no getting out of this one.
“We were all ranting about how you and Dazai have obvious crushes on each other but are oblivious to the other’s attempts at flirting!” he blurted, hoping to save his own skin.
The calm tone remained, “I see. So, you guys were trying to set us up, and were working together on it. Smart, but you should have never saved the evidence to your photos.”
“Please spare me, I was just following along with everyone else,” he pleaded, wishing for mercy.
A soft, yet ominous chuckle was heard before, “I have some business, so take me home. We can do this driving lesson another time.”
Albatross didn’t hesitate, agreeing right away, “Yes sir.”
—
Chuuya managed to not kill anyone when he got home. He just verbally roasted his parents for trying to set him up with Dazai, without telling him anything. Then he went to hide away in his bedroom, where he found Chiharu.
“I’m sorry for helping them, I was just trying to help,” he earnestly apologized.
“It’s fine, but, I do need your help with something,” Chuuya brushed his brother’s words.
Chiharu was willing to do anything to make up for his blunder, “Sure, what is it?”
Sucking in a breath, he asked, “Can you help me figure out how to ask Dazai out?”