Chapter Text
April 28th, 09:38 PM.
Chuuya walked into the bathroom, reluctantly at most, and grabbed his toothbrush. The flashlight from his phone lit up the small bathroom dimly as Chuuya squeezed a bit of toothpaste on his toothbrush and shoved it into his mouth, brushing his teeth lazily.
Chuuya was extremely excited, but also extremely nervous for his soulmate mark. He looked down at his right wrist, and he swore he could see it pulse, but maybe he imagined it. He spat the toothpaste into the sink and ran his fingers across the scars on his arm, a unique habit he had.
Chuuya used to struggle with self-harm after he realized he was gay, and also was diagnosed with depression. He came out a few months after, to get unaccepted by half his school. He expected it, being in a British school meant hearing the f slur at least once a day. Unfortunate.
He then grabbed his phone and stepped out of the bathroom, brushing his hands through his hair. As he stepped into his room, like magic, Dazai texted him. Chuuya read the message, noticing some other unread messages.
15:34
stupid mackerel: hey, are you free rn?? :))
18:57
stupid mackerel: I’m so bored.
stupid mackerel: can we ft??
21:41
stupid mackerel: ARE YOU FREEEE
stupid mackerel: am soooo bored :(((((
slug: infree
slug: i brudhss nu teetfh
stupid mackerel: speak in English pkease
stupid mackerel: FUCK
stupid mackerel: speak in English please (edited 21:42)
slug: HAHAHHSH HUPICRYTEEEE
stupid mackerel: DYSLEXIC SLUG
slug: STUPIDCMACKETAL
stupid mackerel: :((( chuuya (aka my dog) is so mean.
stupid mackerel: but good night!!! be my bitch :DDD happy early birthday btw!!
slug: mkat, ty! night! <3
slug: mkay, ty. night! (edited 21:43)
slug: also, I am NOT being your bitch.
stupid mackerel: :(
stupid mackerel: slug.
slug: stupid mackerel.
Chuuya stared at his phone, sighed, and let a smile creep onto his face. The smile got even wider as Dazai reacted to his last message with a heart. Chuuya collapsed into his bed, burying his warm face into his pillow.
The truth is, Chuuya had a crush on Dazai. For a couple years. Actually, was it only a couple years? Knowing himself, and knowing Dazai, it was probably more. But there was a problem.
Because of Chuuya’s depression, he believed Dazai could never like him back. Ever. He believed that he was unworthy for love, any type. Whether it be romantic or platonic. Sexual? No. If someone actually liked him like that, that would be worse than no one liking him at all.
Being gay, asexual and depressed was a curse he couldn’t get over. It kept him up at night. Speaking of which, Chuuya was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling.
He was so excited and anxious and angry and sad and happy and felt everything about his birthday.
Chuuya looked at his right wrist, running his fingers along the scars on his veins. He sighed, guilt clawing at the bottom of his stomach. He sighed, his mind beginning to run with thoughts. What if his soulmate mark never showed up? What if he was never able to find his soulmate? What if his soulmate died?
Chuuya groaned and shoved his head into his pillow. It seemed to quiet his thoughts enough to fall into a colourful, dreamful sleep
—
06:00
Chuuya woke up to the sound of his alarm, indicating it was six in the morning. He groaned, turning off his alarm and getting out of bed. He immediately felt (or imagined?) a pulse in his right wrist, and slowly lifted his wrist to look at the symbol. It was there. Thank god.
The symbol was a cat paw (he thought, because of the little claws) with a bright red scar through the middle toe bean and a red drop below it. Chuuya tilted his head, confused on what it could possibly mean. Of course, he wasn’t an idiot, the cat paw meant that the person that was his soulmate was like a cat.
He made a mental note to ask Ranpo later, since it was Monday, and then went to get ready. When he took off his t-shirt, his arms tingled uncomfortably. Another thing to ask Ranpo about. He changed into his school uniform, noticing that his thighs and ankles tingled as well, and not in any other areas. Huh.
While he changed, he realized that he actually dreamed while he slept. That was rare. Because of his depression, he barely ever dreamed or remembered the dreams. If he thought too hard, it was about Dazai. A dream about Dazai.
Chuuya had a disgusting thought, and almost audibly gagged at it but pushed it down. He sighed and exited his room. He skipped down the stairs and had almost completely forgotten it was his birthday if his parents and sister hadn’t shouted;
"Happy birthday, Chuuya!"
Chuuya almost walked past them, but then reluctantly went into the kitchen. He was about to wish them a quick goodbye until he saw a plate full of pancakes, with a candle saying ‘17’ stuck in the top pancake of the stack.
Chuuya immediately lit up, and scurried over. "Pancakes?! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Chuuya’s voice was light and excited, blowing out the candle’s without a single thought and shoving at least three pancakes in his mouth at once.
"Birthday pancakes, of course. What else could we do?" His mum said, then pulled him into a hug.
Chuuya grinned, hugging back before then pulling away. His mum pressed a kiss against his cheek, and Chuuya let out a noise of disgust and pulled away. He quickly ate the rest of his breakfast, and then gave a goodbye and another thank you, grabbing his bag and sauntering out the door.
Chuuya noticed Dazai leaning against the wall of his house, and immediately ran over him and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug.
Chuuya and Dazai were best friends. They had been for so long. Like, years. Since… primary? And the trust they had in each other was endless. They were also touchy with each other, not in a romantic way, but would hug and hold hands and do shit like that.
"Chuuya~!" Dazai sing-songed, although his voice was strained from Chuuya’s hug. "Happy birthday."
Somehow Dazai’s ‘happy birthday’ was better than his parents was, alongside pancakes. Dazai was warm against him, somehow. Dazai was usually cold.
"Dazai." Chuuya echoed Dazai’s name, lingering in the hug for a second longer before pulling away.
Dazai looked at Chuuya for a second longer before grabbing Chuuya’s right arm. Out of habit, he quickly pulled his arm back. A moment of shared silence sat between them before Chuuya realized what Dazai was trying to do. He let out a small ‘oh’ before handing his wrist back to Dazai.
Dazai pulled Chuuya’s sleeve up, and Chuuya tried to ignore the twist in his stomach. Dazai raised his eyebrows as he inspected it, then gave it back to Chuuya.
"Interesting," Dazai hummed, "I’m not exactly sure what it means. Symbols are obviously symbolic, and things in the symbols may give hints onto how to find your soulmate."
Chuuya tilted his head slightly. "Well, I was going to ask Ranpo when we get to school. Speaking of which, we’re probably gonna be late. Let’s go."
Dazai groaned and rolled his eyes at the idea of school, then grabbed Chuuya’s hand and began to drag him down the street. Chuuya didn’t complain.
He did complain when they got into school. He hated how filled the hallways were. He did get a couple happy birthday’s from some people he knew as they walked to class, but tried to ignore it. Chuuya collapsed into his seat.
This was going to be a long day. A very, very long day.