Chapter Text
Chuuya Nakahara undeniably held no regard for anyone, but he adapted to fabricating the notion. He encountered his match upon the waltzing entrance of Osamu Dazai. Chuuya was well-liked; the boy garnered a mischievous reputation among his intellectual peers. Female students fluttered their eyelashes at him, yet he paid them no mind. It was divined natural charisma harbored in the miscreant. Nakahara could claim he didn't ache for respect, but it amplified his ego.
Osamu Dazai bestowed nowt to his swains. He committed no feigned attempts of bewildering the room. He participated in no truths or lies. He merely existed in a confounded space; Chuuya pondered his verities. A fascination resided in his self-proclaimed opponent, for Chuuya sought out his every second and thought of the day.
Today was one of those typical situations. "Dazai, is it painful to wake up as irrevocably disgusting as literal crap every day?" Chuuya loathingly said as he strolled to his seat. It wasn't a complete and good morning if he didn't idly pester the brunet.
"I don't know; I think you'd have no problem answering." The other casually remarked. A caustic smile had cast upon his face as the ginger fumed with furrowing eyebrows.
"No, no. It's a question meant for you," Chuuya insisted with a shit-eating grin. "Well then, it's gratifying," Dazai hummed impassively. Chuuya grimaced; he won without achieving the reaction he desired. The rest of their peers were familiar with these typical exchanges— Chuuya laced his words with a crude tone, and Dazai dismissed it with a shrug.
"Did you hear what was going on in the news?" One student murmured while Chuuya grimaced and plopped on his chair. "What kind of loser watches the news?" Dazai interrupted, causing all parties to wince. "But... the military attempted another coup d'état."
"Oh, shut up. Who even cares about politics?" Chuuya yawned and waved the nameless character dismissively.
"I expected that response from you, Chuuya, the three-inched fool, but I'm still disappointed. You should at least make the courtesy of enlightening yourself on our country's situation. A war may break out, and I should remind you we'll be of drafting age." Dazai mockingly smiled, wasting no muscle for mirth.
Chuuya expressed annoyance by rolling his eyes. "You just made fun of that rando for watching the news, so why should I take you seriously?"
"You'd be surprised at my alternatives. I, at least, make an effort to remain knowledgeable," Dazai snidely said, wearing his signature smirk. He didn't stop there. "It's quite apparent you make no effort at all, Chuuya~."
Before the ginger could threaten the other's life, the teacher entered and unintentionally saved the classroom from destruction.
___
"Why does anyone even care for that idiot?" Chuuya griped to Kajii, who looked like he didn't want to be there.
"All the girls just fawn over him," Chuuya began, causing a woeful sigh out of his friend. "Yes, yes," Kajii mumbled as they strolled to the park. "The teachers never see through his insipid schemes," Chuuya grumbled, lifting his hands in frustration. Kajii nodded, and it was becoming apparent he had learned this routine by rote.
"He hates dogs. HOW DOES ANYONE TRUST HIM?"
Uh-oh. Kajii gulped. He prepared for the inevitable five-minute grievances; however, God forbid Chuuya Nakahara even thought of his enemy's dislike for the canine species.
"DOGS ARE SO CUTE. I'D FEED MY DOG STEAK EVERY DAY AND LOVE IT AND CHERISH IT. THAT BASTARD WOULD WALK PAST A STRAY AND GUFFAW AT ITS MISERY. HE'S MORE PATHETIC THAN A HOMELESS DOG, YET HE'D SNEER- HE'S SICK. HE'S FOUL. HE'S HORRID." This creative embellishment of words lasted until they got to the park! Next time, Kajii's lemon bombs would make a mini-explosion.
At the park, Chuuya would let off some steam and attempt to forget about the insufferable brunet in his class. Kajii would inform about useless theoretical physics about lemon-shaped bombs. It was a win-win for both since neither party had ever found someone willing to listen to the other. Today was exceptionally different because Kajii had a new delve into his interest. "Did you hear about the attempted coup d'état? Yokohama's Councilor, Kotone Shibagawa, supposedly placed bombs in the House of Councilor's conference room- Yeah, right in the National Diet Building in Tokyo's Nagatacho District. No bombs went off, thankfully, but it was quite a scare! Just imagine that in Tokyo! Hell's havoc all about the street," Kajii went on and on about. "You see, not that I support terrorism to overthrow a government, BUT if they used lemon-shaped bombs... they could have been successful," he lightheartedly added.
Chuuya winced. He didn't care, but what made that a coup d'état a coup d'etat?
"Okay, so what's the reasoning?" Chuuya mumbled quietly, so he seemed indifferent to this situation.
"Oh, so what the press has recovered is, well, this is ACCORDING TO SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, they believe that the current Japanese Prime Minister and his Cabinet are corrupt- they want to scapegoat Yokohama for the effects of... You know... Emancipation or a new government is being discussed."
The ginger wasn't a fool and recognized what his friend inferred. The government blamed Yokohama when America entered the country. Yokohama was infamous for its volatile criminal organizations and potent ability users, leading many to imagine the city as a haven for delinquency and destruction. Therefore, this new blame ushered America to send troops over and had them constantly watching the public. It was apparent that the US was waiting for Yokohama's underground district to say anything illicit that they could pounce on them for with their several European friends.
"There's a guard right over there," Kajii muttered under his breath as the two sat on a bench. Sure enough, Chuuya jerked his head to the left, and he spotted an American soldier battering a group of teenagers.
Chuuya was a short teenage boy, and his temper was alike his height. Kajii was rummaging through his school bag, counting his lemon bombs. Not a single one should be out of place, but when he looked up, something was missing. His ginger friend was stomping over to the tall American soldier who appeared to be lecturing some kids he'd seen at school.
The American cackled at the group. "Your city is going to go down in flames, and your biggest concern is booze? I'll have the lot of you-" A boy with blue hair cut him off by snapping loudly, "We didn't try to steal alcohol from you. It was a common mistake, so let us go!"
"Yeah, right, you just happened to carry craters of booze out of the cart because you weren't stealing- I'm not a half-twit, so follow me or I'll whoop ya-" A loud thud was heard as the man fell to the ground, rubbing the side of his head. "What was that," the blue-eyed American mumbled to himself while getting up.
"Fucking kids," he groaned as he saw a ginger race after the kids he had planned to take to the station. He turned to his right and saw a tall lanky teenage boy juggling some lemons. Maybe the guard would not report this incident. Too much work. He couldn't wait until they did an army recall. Sushi didn't sit right in his stomach.
___
"Chuuya, we are so thankful. Uh, do you want some liquor we managed to swipe?" Shirase meekly grinned as his savior deadpanned at him. Chuuya shook his head, visibly irritated. His lips contorted into a grimace, "That was completely irresponsible! SERIOUSLY? Over booze? The Americans will do anything just to take advantage of the citizens. Think of YUAN, Shirase. You know how they view girls."
The group seemed to shrink, losing their cool factor. Chuuya had heard of them- the Sheep. They were underage delinquents at school that Dazai would scoff at whenever they were brought up. They partied, did drugs, and stole. They were a cliché itself.
"I just think..."
"You thought what, Shirase?" Chuuya groaned, turning back to frown. "We should rebel against those Americans... We shouldn't have to listen to what they say!" Shirase said as he allowed his voice to grow louder with little resolve.
"Yeah- BY STEALING BOOZE?"
Whatever smile Yuan had for her leader quickly faltered.
"When you protest against a government, you don't steal booze. Just because those stupid Americans dumped tea in the sea doesn't mean us Japanese are going to dump tea down our asses, you idiots," Chuuya went on, wishing he hadn't left Kajii at the park. Right now, Chuuya could blow off his fuse since they were in the Sheep's surprisingly secluded hideout. It was something to marvel at if he wasn't incredibly pissed off with the members right now.
"I think we need a better leader," Akira quietly said, playing with her hands.
Shirase turned to the brunette, emoting anger. "What do you mean by that?" he lowly said, followed by Yuan tightly holding onto his waist.
Chuuya rolled his eyes. It was a given they needed a better leader. Shirase was impetuous, rash, solipsistic, and-
"Chuuya isn't a member of the Sheep, yet I'd like to nominate him. The actions he showed were exemplary of quick thinking and strength. If he hadn't interfered, the American soldier would have had us in his custody," Akira demurely smiled. She was a bright girl. Flattery would make an unwilling man willing.
"I mean, I don't even wanna join-" Chuuya muttered, taken aback by how the group of teenagers earnestly mulled over Akira's reference.
"See! Even he said it. He doesn't want to join, so let's leave it be," Shirase yelled, pushing Yuan off as he tried to make his point.
"We need you, Chuuya," the group, apart from Shirase and Yuan, clamored. Surges of emotions ran through the ginger; everything felt like fire. It felt so nice to be needed. The sweet words he never heard, the attention he long sought, and the promise of friendship were daunting and overwhelmingly sweet. Oh, and it would irk Dazai if he joined them, not as a member but as their leader.
"Shirase, I'm not a dickhead," Chuuya hummed, extending a hand to the sweaty, anxious boy. "So, what if we opt for a co-leadership? You know them better than I do after all."
Shirase's troubled state subdued; he trembled at the idea of losing the group. Chuuya wouldn't let that happen, and it became tenfold easier to shake the shorter boy's hand. An olive branch delivered to the land- a famed symbol of peace. Chuuya would teach them how to practice being pragmatic.