Chapter Text
Like every other day, school ends in the afternoon. The students pour out like prisoners, salvaging every piece of their precious free time, and for teachers, it’s the same.
Finally, Ebisu is also done for the day. Hatanaka has already rushed home with his wife and kids; the others don’t matter to the god of luck. He probably should just head back to the dorm to catch up on the latest volume of that action manga.
He should. He really should. But, he doesn’t want to. Where’s his dear companion, Yuuta?~
The man wanders and wanders. Not at the locker, not at the library, not at the basketball court, not even in his dorm room. Great, the day that he feels like randomly visiting his friend, the informer is nowhere to be seen.
Though, fret not, being the god of luck means he’s lucky.
Lucky enough to walk in on that snake confessing to his dear companion.
“I, I like you!” Toubyou shouts. “N-No matter your background and your goal here! I really like you, Yuuta!!”
Ebisu, who acts faster than he could think, had already hidden himself underneath the storage room’s window, unintentionally eavesdropping. With this distance and the whirlwind Yuuta is caught in, it’s almost guaranteed that he didn’t notice the presence of this third person.
Though Ebisu would rather the secret agent spot him outright than stand here feeling both jealous and awkward at the same time.
Ah, he really, really hates that snake. Should have skinned it alive in exchange for a photocard during that charity day.
“A-ah…” Ebisu heard how Yuuta's voice carries a light-hearted tone of surprise. “T-this caught me off guard.” Maybe he’s blushing as well.
“You like me, Yamato? A-as in the romantic sense?” The blonde asks again, not believing the meaning of those words. “Even after what happened at Kitsune-machi, and the circus?”
“Yes!” It’s a loud and clear answer. Obviously, the uwabami has solidified this through and through.
And oh, this four-leaf clover must applaud the snake for its spirit. After all, the 150-year-old god here couldn’t do something like that. Like saying, “I love you”,
To his companion.
In the past 150 years.
Fucking pathetic. Ain’t he?
“I like you not just because you’re strong, Yuuta,” Toubyou explains. “You’ve always been friendly and gentle with me and everyone. Buying the headband, having a separate fridge to consider my diet, and spending time with you is…really fun.”
“Perhaps it’s just all an act to you, but I fall for it.” Maybe the snake is beaming a bright smile right now. “And I’d do it all over again, Yuuta.”
The worst decision Ebisu had ever made in his long life was to drag Yuuta down here to investigate. To let this young, youthful youkai meet his one and only companion was the one thing he regretted.
But, what position is he in to stop this madness? After all, there’s no such thing as a “no dating” rule in Hyakki Academy.
…No, he'd better hear what Yuuta has to say before escalating further. He’s the god of fortune, his decision will always be corre-
“We can try.” Suddenly, Yuuta spills the line. “Maybe one week first? I have no experience in dating so…”
Ah?
“I-If that’s alright with you!!” Toubyou answers in undoubted joy. “M-My boyfriend, Yuuta!”
“Haha.” Ebisu heard a chuckle, something that he himself missed so dearly.
“I hope we get along. My boyfriend, Yamato.” Given away to someone else.
Given away like it’s nothing precious.
Hah…He feels like vomiting. A god shouldn’t harbor love for a human.
Kurahashi is part-human. And he was fine with it.
But how long can he hide now? After hearing this? After knowing that he’s not the winner, only for this one time?
He used to think that if Yuuta agreed, he wouldn’t mind being kicked out of Takama Gahara, or being turned into a youkai. But it appears that those are all meaningless now.
He really should have gone home. He should have noticed the sign.
Should have noticed the four-leaf clover trying to protect him.
Should have noticed long ago…that Yuuta never sees him in that light.
He was delusional and naive. Sano is so wrong about him changing. It feels like Haruaki Abe would handle the situation better. At least that dumb human would have seen the positive of this outcome, and not drowned in bitterness and sorrow, crouching down helplessly like him.
“You’re the worst companion…” Ebisu mutters weakly, lowering his head as if to hide from this world. “Yuuta.”
But really, the god of fortune only has him now. His little brother is…still unconscious since the kistune-machi incident. Even if it’s not the best course of action, he’ll sit here and wait.
Wait to hear an explanation, at least.
.
.
.
But it never came.
The newly made couple left the storage room, hand in hand, never looking back at that lonely figure hiccuping near the window.