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“I understand now.”
A click as his arm came up.
“I will shoot you, Dazai. I truly will.”
A cocky grin.
“You might at least show a bit of fear.”
The words were spoken confidently, almost disdainfully.
“Please shoot me.”
Another click.
Dazai fell, slowly at first and then collapsing onto his back. Kunikida stood there for a moment longer, staring at the fallen man with a faint look of disgust.
“Cut!”
The lights came back on as the bell rang. Tetsuo released a breath and lowered the prop, giving a grateful smile to the stagehand that came to take it from him. Another was helping Shūji stand back up. His fellow actor stretched its arms above its head and gave him a cheeky grin.
“Great work, you two,” Rokuzou said, walking over to them with a grin. There was bustling around the set as the director led them away, the staff preparing for the next scene.
“You guys did great today. I’ll get this polished up a bit, add the sound effects, and send the rough draft over to you to review,” Rokuzou explained. Tetsuo nodded. “Seriously, that gave me chills just watching. Amazing ragdoll, Shūji.”
“Why, thank you, Mr. Director,” it said with a dramatic bow. “See, Tetsuo? The director thought I did good.”
“Why do you say that as if I don’t?” Tetsuo replied, crossing his arms. Shūji just shrugged.
“Alrighty, you two go take a break, get some water in ya, etcetera. Can you send Yuan and Joji in on your way out? We’re gonna film the scene after the conclusion and then pick up on the conclusion scene tomorrow.”
Shūji gives a thumbs up. “Sure thing, boss. Come on, Tetsuo!” It latches on to Tetsuo’s elbow and drags him out of the studio with way too much energy for someone who just filmed for hours. Tetsuo looked at Rokuzou pleadingly as Shūji led him away, receiving nothing but a shrug and a sympathetic smile.
Yuan and Joji were sitting outside the studio, engaged in a conversation with Chōkōdō. Shūji waved at the three of them as they approached.
“Oi!” it called. “Rokuzou wants Yuan and Joji inside!”
Tetsuo nodded to confirm its claim, bowing his head politely in the direction of Chōkōdō. Tetsuo didn’t know the man as well as he knew his boyfriends, since he didn’t film many scenes with him. Not to mention that Chōkōdō wasn’t exactly the most sociable guy he’d ever met.
“Oh! You guys got that done fast,” Yuan said, nudging Chōkōdō with their elbow. The man nodded in recognition of Tetsuo’s greeting.
“Yes, well, we only had to take it three times,” Tetsuo replied dryly, side-eyeing Shūji. “ Someone tripped during the gun bit.” Shūji gasped and threw an arm over its eyes dramatically.
“So mean! It’s not my fault you look hot holding a gun like that!”
Yuan choked and went red. Joji patted their back sympathetically. Tetsuo sputtered and whacked Shūji over the head.
“Shut up, dumbass! How is that relevant?!”
“Shouldn’t you be heading inside?” Chōkōdō interrupted dryly. Yuan nodded and took Joji’s hand in theirs.
“See you guys later,” Yuan called over their shoulder as they led their boyfriend and fellow actor into the studio. Tetsuo nodded, then turned to glare at Shūji. He raised an eyebrow when it grinned at him.
“Seriously?”
“What?” Shūji said innocently. “I was just telling the truth! Your slim fingers curled around th-”
“Shūji!”
“-it’s only natural I would want to be on my kn-”
“Shūji if you don’t shut the fuck up I will lock you out of the apartment and you can sleep in the street like the wet cat you are.”
“Meanie!”
Chōkōdō looked between them with a baffled expression on his face. “What the fuck is wrong with you two?”
Shūji grinned and looped its arms around Tetsuo’s neck from behind. “Well, I have a lot of things wrong with me, but I think the only thing wrong with Tetsuo is his taste in romantic partners.”
“You flatter me,” Tetsuo replied dryly. “My apologies, Chōkōdō-san.” The other man just shrugged and waved a hand.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m used to its bullshit by now. And drop the honorific, my name’s enough syllables as it is. Do you want a ride back to the complex?”