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"You're going to have to run faster than that to beat me, slowpoke!" Shidou shouted playfully, already halfway down the hallway. He was not going to lose this game, no way!
It was a pleasantly hot afternoon, and Charles had somehow convinced—or rather, challenged—Shidou into a game of hide-and-seek.
Shidou hadn’t needed much convincing; he was always up for a challenge, especially against Charles, who took these silly games far too seriously. A little indoor activity wouldn't hurt, even though Shidou had planned to relax outside and enjoy some well-deserved sunbathing. His muscles ached from playing football so passionately, and the sun's rays always seemed to help (not scientifically proven, but it worked for him, and that's all that mattered).
"You're going down, Char-boy! Prepare to be amazed by my superior hunting skills!" Shidou shouted, his laughter echoing through the apartment as he began his search.
The apartment wasn't huge and Shidou knew every nook and cranny so he was more than confident. He darted into the kitchen, pulling open cupboards and peeking behind the fridge with exaggerated stealth, giggling to himself. Although Charles was much smaller than him, he still wasn’t tiny enough to hide in some of the bigger cabinets like a little kid.
"Where are you~ Give me a hint here, Char-boy!” Shidou called out, already anticipating the triumphant moment he found his friend.
Since the Neo Egoist League ended, Charles had started showing up at Shidou’s apartment uninvited and unannounced whenever he felt bored—which was, well, often. Not that Shidou minded; he didn't get many visitors anyway, and Charles was more fun than annoying. The boy was welcome to visit as much as he wanted until he had to fly back to France.
Charles’ excuse for never notifying Shidou of his arrival was that they “don’t speak the same language!” and he didn’t “want to use Google Translate every time I have to text you about coming over!”, which was total nonsense since he could simply text him in English or… call. Besides, the earbuds the Mikage Corporation had kindly gifted them (okay, they stole them) still worked over phone calls.
Shidou dashed into the living room, his eyes scanning every possible hiding spot with playful intensity. He knew Charles was probably watching him, silently judging his haphazard searching technique. When that room turned out to be empty too Shidou swiftly moved on to the most likely hiding spot: his bedroom.
"Found you!" Shidou exclaimed, throwing open his bedroom door with a flourish. But the room was empty, much to his surprise. He checked under the bed, inside the wardrobe, and behind the floor-length curtains, but Charles was nowhere to be found.
Deciding to take a quick breather, Shidou headed for the balcony. He slid the door open with a flourish – and that's when he felt it. Two hands landed squarely on his back, followed by the sensation of arms wrapping around his abdomen in a tight squeeze.
"Gotcha!" Charles shouted triumphantly in his ear, clinging onto his back with a victorious grin.
Shidou burst out laughing. "Okay, okay, you got me!" he conceded, shaking his head in amusement.
"Ha! Victory is mine!" Charles crowed, puffing out his chest with pride. "You were taking too long, anyway. I was starting to get bored. And I'm HUNGRY!"
Shidou chuckled, turning to ruffle Charles's hair. "Easy there, champ. I'm not your personal chef, you know," he teased, though he was already mentally planning their next meal. Living alone, Shidou had become quite a decent cook, able to whip up a meal or two. However, he usually preferred ordering takeout over having to buy ingredients, cook, and then wash the dishes afterward. Yeah, no thanks.
"Don’t even start with that," Charles retorted, playfully shoving Shidou's hand away. "You say that every time, but we both know you secretly love cooking for me."
Shidou laughed. He couldn't deny that the boy had a point. "Fine, fine. You win. What's a growing assassin gotta eat?" he said, slinging an arm around Charles' shoulder and steering him towards the door.
"Wait, wait!" Charles exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Before we go, there's something you need to know..."
Shidou raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Oh? And what might that be?" he asked, indulging the younger boy's playful dramatics.
Charles grinned, his signature tooth peeking out. With an exaggerated air of importance, he declared, "As the clear victor of our little game, I believe I'm entitled to a small reward, wouldn't you agree?"
"A reward?" Shidou feigned shock, placing a hand over his heart. "But I already shower you with my amazing company and culinary skills! What more could you possibly desire?"
Charles giggled and batted his eyelashes playfully, successfully turning on the charm. "Oh, it's nothing major," he said innocently, leaning closer to Shidou with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Just a teensy, weensy favour..."
Shidou leaned closer, matching Charles's conspiratorial tone. "Go on..." he prompted, intrigued.
"Well," Charles began, "after our little game of hide-and-seek," he paused, "my legs are feeling a tad...weary,". He glanced up at Shidou through his eyelashes. "So, I was wondering...could you possibly, maybe..."
Shidou let the suspense hang in the air for a moment, enjoying the anticipation radiating off of Charles.
"Carry me?" Charles finished, his voice barely a whisper.
Shidou raised an eyebrow, suppressing a smile. "You're unbelievable," he said, shaking his head slightly. Despite his attempt at seriousness, a hint of amusement crept into his voice.
"So, is that a yes?" Charles pressed, his eyes wide and hopeful.
Shidou sighed dramatically, throwing his head back. "You know I can never say no to that face," he relented, extending his hand towards Charles.
Charles beamed, grabbing Shidou's hand with a triumphant grin. "Deal!" he chirped.
"Deal," Shidou agreed, shaking Charles' hand. He could never stay annoyed at the boy for long.
"Ow!" Charles yelped, his smile momentarily faltering.
"What? What is it?" Shidou asked, instantly concerned.
"You squeezed my hand too hard!" Charles accused, though a hint of a smile played on his lips.
Shidou laughed, slinging an arm around Charles' shoulder. "Alright, alright, tough guy. Let's go get some food," he said, shaking his head at the younger boy's antics.
And with that, the two of them headed out the door, their laughter echoing through the hallway as they embarked on their next adventure.