Chapter Text
It was release day. Soukoku’s newest album: double black was finally released to the public. It’s been in production for two years. Dazai’s 18th birthday finally passed. It was perfect timing. In their three years of working together they’ve finally put something together that they could be proud of. In all their time working together they’ve grown closer. Chuuya almost couldn’t believe this was actually happening.
He’s been waiting for this day to come for so long. It was opening night, they’d have to preform live their newest album later tonight on stage. But for now, Dazai and Chuuya decided they should celebrate with a few of their band members. Mori, Dazai’s production manager, Kouyou, Chuuya’s production manager, Gin, Atsushi, Akutagawa, and Tachihara would all be present at the restaurant they were going to. It was also continently nearby the stadium they’d be performing at that night.
He was double checking that he was ready. He was dressed in something a little more flashy- what he considered his stage attire. A black leather jacket with his usual matching black leather fingerless gloves, a red rhinestoned cropped shirt over a black tank top, black skinny jeans, brown docs, a red studded belt and his usual black choker. He had his signature black waterline done, along with a bit of concealer and heavily hair-sprayed hair. His fingernails were painted black and red.
He stuck his eyeliner into his pocket and put his guitar case on his back. He turned around to check the back of his outfit and grinned at his appearance. He looked up at the clock and grabbed his phone and car keys.
It was time to pick up dazai.
His phone rang in his pocket as he walked out the door. It was Kouyou. He placed his guitar in the back seat and started the car. He answered the phone, putting it to his ear as the drove to Dazai’s apartment.
“What’s up?”
“What time do you think you’ll both be there? Your bands will be on stage at eight-thirty on the dot. It’s currently four-twenty five.
“I’m on my way to get him now. We will be at the restaurant in about an hour. So we should arrive around five-thirty or so. Gives up about an hour before we have to go for stage prep.”
“Alright. Let me know when you’re both on your way.”
“Will do.” They hung up and Chuuya turned on Dazai’s street. He pulled into the complex and entered the gate code. The drove to Dazai’s building and parked. He lived on the top floor so he had to take the elevator. When the doors open he was met with a few fangirls who were similar to his age.
“Chuuya Nakahara!” They all shouted.
Chuuya’s been preforming for most of his teen years but he still wasn’t used to fans outside of red carpets. His hands shook slightly so he shoved them in his pockets. He acknowledged them and stood there in uncomfortable silence.
“Are you going to see your boyfriend!?” A girl asked after a while.
“He’s not my-“ he gulped down th rest of his sentence as the doors opening indicating he made it to his floor. “I’ve got to go ladies, I’m sorry. I hope to see you at our show tonight!”
“Bye Chuuya!” They all yelled.
Well that was awkward…
~
He knocked on the door and waited until he heard the lock click. When he entered he saw Dazai in a panicked state.
“Woah!? What the hell is going on with you? Your apartment is a fucking mess.”
“I can’t find my lucky guitar pick anywhere!”
Chuuya sighed. “You can borrow mine. We have to go like…” he pulled his phone out of his pocket to check the time and looked back up at Dazai- who was still frantically searching for the pick. “We have to go like right now. The place is an hour away. We need time to actually be able to eat.”
Dazai groaned in frustration and rubbed his hands across his face in through his bangs.
“Did you check your guiar case? Or near any of your instruments?”
“Yes!” Dazai yelled.
“Okay well then I dunno how to help you.”
Dazai sat down on the couch trying to control his breathing. His leg bounced rapidly. He heard his alarm go off nearby.
“Fuck! Chuuya you turn that off? I’m trying to think!”
Chuuya turned the alarm off and began looking around the apartment for the guitar pick. Unfortunately his efforts didn’t work. He wasn’t able to find it.
“Dazai can’t you go without it for one show?”
Dazai shook his head. “Not this one! It’s the biggest one we’re doing yet! Both our bands will be apart of it- it’s our only shared album! This is the biggest show I might ever do! I-“ his breathing began to quicken again. “I can’t go on without it I just can’t!”
Chuuya sat in front of him and pinched his cheek. “Look at me.”
Dazai stopped in the midst of his panic and looked him in the eyes. Those bright blue eyes surrounded by a thick black eyeliner. It brought them out so well. He loved his eyes.
“You don’t need the pick. Dazai, you don’t need it. You’re an amazing musician. You’re the lead singer for half the songs in this album. No one’s going to care if you don’t play well without that damn pick. Your singing is what’s bringing this together. A fucking guitar pick doesn’t decide that. You’ve got this. Take a deep breath.”
Dazai took a few deep breaths and eventually began to calm down. “That’s it, there you go.” Chuuya said calmly.
Dazai closes his eyes and nodded. He stood up and walks towards the mirror. He wiped his nose and fixed his hair. He was wearing a grey and black striped shirt under a black leather jacket. He was also wearing similar black skinny jeans that chuuya had. He wore his dirty converse that had music note embroidery on them, and of course his usual bandages. He wasn’t the type to go all out with his outfits like Chuuya.
He strapped his guitar case on his back and took another deep breath. He took a sip of whiskey that was sitting on the kitchen counter. He felt like he was missing something while looking in the mirror one last time…
“Oh! Chuuya.”
“Yeah?” He said turning away from the door.
“Can I borrow your eyeliner?”
Chuuya furrowed his brows in confusion. Dazai was unfortunately extremely attractive, not to say Chuuya wasn’t but he’s never seen the egotistical bastard wear makeup in his time of knowing him. Maybe he just wanted to try something new?
“Uh yeah..I guess?” He pulled the eyeliner out of his pocket and threw it towards him.
“Thanks! I won’t be long.” He said with a wide smirk.
“Yeah hurry your ass up before we’re late!” He yelled back.
Chuuya waited patiently, texting Kouyou that they were on their way even though they weren’t.
“What the hell is he doing…” he muttered under his breath. “Dazai hurry up!” He yelled.
“Coming!” Yelled Dazai back in the distance. Chuuya tied his other shoe before standing back up. He heard Dazai walk back into the room and turned around.
“So are you ready to-“
His voice got caught in his throat. How the fuck? That idiot looked….
He hates to admit it but he looked so fucking hot…
His heart was beating out of his chest and he suddenly felt his cheeks heat up.
“What’s wrong chibi?” His eyes were perfectly lined with the liner. He looked.. gorgeous. The eyeliner really suited him. His big brown eyes popped with the tight line he did on his waterline.
Since when did he know how to tight line?
“What’s wrong does it look okay?” He asked with sudden hesitation.
“No you look-“ he was trying to hide the growing blush on his face.
“I look what?”
Chuuya faked coughed and turned his back on Dazai.
“Good. You look good it suits you. Let’s go before we’re late…” He grabbed his coat and headed out the door. Not waiting for Dazai.
Dazai was confused but shrugged nonetheless. He still had Chuuya’s eyeliner. The brand was from the cherry crush makeup line and it looked like he used it often.
Well, looks like he knows what to get him for Christmas this year.
He followed Chuuya after looking in the mirror one last time and grabbing his guitar case. He hoped Chuuya’s words would stick with him later on stage. He felt like he’d need it.
~
On the way there the car ride was mostly quiet. A song from Chuuya’s band was playing on the radio. Dazai didn’t know why but he felt.. uncomfortable.
“Hey Chuuya?”
Chuuya sighed before turning down the music and responding. “What is it?”
“Was there a reason you gave me a pep talk?”
Chuuya shook his head after a moment. “You were panicking. I was the right thing to do.”
Dazai felt his heart ache at that response. “Oh.”
The rest of the ride was quiet until a ringing from Dazai’s phone interrupted the music. Dazai reached over and turned the music down and put his phone to his ear.
“Yes Mori?” He asked with annoyance in his tone.
“Where are you? We’ve already got a table.”
“Sorry. I had a near panic attack earlier so I had to take a second. We’re almost there.”
“Yeah okay. Hurry it up. I need you to eat quickly so I can go over some things with you before your bands go for stage prep.”
Dazai gulped. “Okay. See you soon.”
“Of course.” Mori said before hanging up.
“Was that Mori?” Chuuya sled without looking at Dazai.
“Yeah.”
Chuuya rolled his eyes. He didn’t like Mori. It was.. something about him.
~
They eventually arrived and sat at the table. They all ordered and chatted away.
After they ate, Mori pulled Dazai into an empty part of the restaurant.
“What was it you needed to go over Mori-San?” Dazai asked.
“What’s with the makeup?”
Dazai shrugged. “Thought it would look nice on stage.”
Mori sighed. “Okay then…I just wanted to tell you- sing until you can’t even breathe anymore by the end of the night. If you can’t achieve that you aren’t a worthy musician.”
Dazai scoffed. “You’re my production manager not my sensei. You keep forgetting that.”
“You keep forgetting I had authority over you. Your parents pay me not you. I do everything for you. Don’t forget that. I can expose you in a matter of seconds. Don’t forget that.” He said with a wicked smirk on his face.
Dazai backed down and nodded. “Of course, apologies Mori-San.”
“Good. I wish you luck tonight.” He said while patting his head. Tachihara walked in and stopped in his tracks. Mori’s demeanor immediately shifted.
“Apologies for interrupting. We’re heading for stage prep now. Doors open in an hour.”
“Thanks. We will be there in a moment.” Said Mori.
Tachihara smiled and left the room.
Mori turned back towards Dazai and cleared his throat.
“Don’t disappoint me.” With that he left the room.
Dazai let out a shaky breath and paced the room for a moment. He looked into a nearby mirror. His eyeliner was smudged but it looked…good?
“What a good brand.” He said to himself.
He shook out his nerves and walked out of the room. It was show time.