Chapter Text
“I love you Chuuya!~”
“Don't make this weird.”
Suffice to say, Chuuya and Dazai were not having a good day.
It had all started that morning when Chuuya, senior section leader of the color guard, had been informed he had to write the guard work to go along with Dazai’s trumpet solo. Had it been anyone else, it may have been fine, but Dazai just so happened to be incredibly infuriating and Chuuya’s ex-section leader. It had been a whole year since Dazai walked away from the color guard and popped up in the trumpet section. And now they were stuck working together yet again. The last time that they had truly worked together like this had been when Dazai tried to hide oreos in the ceiling tiles.
That's how the two came to be standing together in the beating sun, Chuuya with a scowl on his face and Dazai beaming at him.
“Shitty bastard! Shut up and play your solo,” Chuuya snapped.
“Oh Chuuya, you're so forward! You want to watch me blow?” Dazai said with a suggestive eyebrow wiggle.
“N-No!” Chuuya definitely did not stutter, and he definitely wasn't blushing either. “But the sooner we get this work written, the sooner I can get away from you!”
“Chuuya's so mean~” Dazai pouted, but he obliged, bringing the trumpet to his lips and beginning his solo.
The first time through, Chuuya just listened. He tried to visualizes what work would go best with the music. Then Dazai stopped and looked at him expectantly.
“So Chuuya? What’ve you got?”
Chuuya frowned at him. “That was the first time I heard the music; I need a bit more time to come up with anything.”
“Ah, but Chuuya, I could write work the first time I heard the music. Perhaps the standards for section leader have gone down?” Dazai asked, an innocently questioning tilt to his head.
“Shut the fuck up asshole! I've been leading this section since you walked away!” Chuuya shouted, his face as red as the tank top he was wearing.
“I bet I could write better work than you right now, on the spot.” Dazai said, a small smirk on his face.
Chuuya narrowed his eyes. “It's a bet. We'll both write work to the music, and I'll show both to the guard and let them pick whose is best.”
“Oh? Are you really so confident you can win?” Dazai asked.
“Yes, I am. I’ve had more time in the guard than you have.” Chuuya said. “I'm more familiar with their strengths and weaknesses. I'm sure I could write better work than you.”
“Okay. Let's set the stakes,” Dazai said.
“Fine. If you lose, I get to draw on your face in sharpie, and you have to keep it on for an entire day,” Chuuya said.
“Okay, and if you lose, you have to wear a dress that I pick for an entire day, and you let Elise style your hair,” Dazai said.
Chuuya's eye twitched as he weighed his options. That was a steep price to pay should he lose. But he couldn't back out without looking weak. He reached out and shook Dazai’s hand firmly. “May the best man win,” Chuuya said.
“Aww, Chuuya, you're wishing me luck?” Dazai asked.
“Go die,” Chuuya snarled.
“Alas, I have yet to find a beautiful woman to commit double suicide with me, so I'll have to postpone that request,” Dazai said with a dramatic sigh.
“Ugh! Just show me your damn work!” Chuuya snapped. Dazai pulled out his phone and pressed a few buttons before handing it to Chuuya. It started playing a recording of the solo.
“Wait!” Chuuya paused the music. “You mean to tell me that this whole time, I could've used a recording instead of working with you?”
Dazai just smiled, taking the flag in his hands and pressing the play button on his phone. The music started again, and Chuuya watched carefully as Dazai spun. He didn't take his eyes off the taller man until he struck a pose with the last note and looked over at Chuuya.
“Oh? Chuuya, is that admiration I see on your face?” Dazai asked, getting closer to Chuuya.
“No!” Chuuya yelled. He wasn't impressed that the asshole had managed to come up with decent work so fast.
“I think it is!~” Dazai cheered. “If even Chuuya is impressed, I've got this in the bag!”
“Not so fast, shit head! I haven't even written my work yet. It'll be a million times better than that!” Chuuya shouted.
“Well you'd better get working then, Chuu-ya,” Dazai said, drawing his name out in an annoying way.
“I need the music,” Chuuya said. Dazai grabbed his phone and Chuuya glared at him.
“What? Why would I play it a million times if I don't have to?” Dazai asked.
“If you're just going to use the recording, then leave. I can play the recording myself.” Chuuya said.
“But Chuuya...it's on my phone,” Dazai said. Chuuya groaned. He was stuck with this shitty bastard until he got the work written then.
“Fine. Just sit there and stay quiet then.” Chuuya said, yanking the flag out of Dazai’s hands.
It took Chuuya far longer to write his work than it had taken Dazai. If asked about it, Chuuya would say it was because Dazai was far more familiar with the music. It didn't help that Dazai kept stopping the music right in the middle to correct Chuuya's form, or tell him his work was a bit too fast or too slow. Every time the music stopped, Chuuya would stumble a little, flailing the flag about in the unexpected silence. And every time Dazai gave his advice, he would do it with that shit-eating grin of his plastered on his face.
But finally, Chuuya had his work perfected. He was sure it would win, as it was on just the right skill level to be both challenging and doable, and it looked pretty good too.
After checking that he could do Dazai’s work up to his standards, the two parted ways, Dazai returning to the trumpets and Chuuya heading to show the guard both sets of work.
The guard crowded around Chuuya as he returned to them.
“Have you got the work, Chuuya?” Akutagawa asked.
“Well, I've got two sets of work for the music. I figured I'd show you all both of them and let you decide.” Chuuya didn't mention the bet. He'd rather die than admit to his section that he'd made a bet with Dazai. Dazai was a traitor in their eyes, and any interaction other than what's mandatory for the activity was frowned upon.
Chuuya performed both sets of work to the best of his ability without music. He presented Dazai’s first and his own second, hoping to get a leg up on Dazai. He counted quietly to himself as he spun. After he finished both sets of work, the guard huddled up to discuss which set of work they liked best. Chuuya stood apart from them awkwardly, holding the flag and trying to remain confident. After what seemed like forever, Tachihara, Chuuya's co-section leader, came over to him.
“We choose…”