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Chuuya had been going to the same coffee shop ever since grade 9. It was a tiny one, at the corner of the street. Compared to the large buildings and stores around it, it looked like nothing. The store was overlooked by most and was usually assumed to be closed.
But that was what made it special. It was like tradition. He would leave his house and make his way to the shop before school to grab a coffee and breakfast. Right now, he was once again entering the same shop.
It smelled like ground coffee powder and the incense that the owner insisted on burning at the counter. A few people loitered around at tables while waiting for their orders. Chuuya stepped near the counter and waited for an employee to come.
After about a minute, someone showed up. It was a new face, which was strange considering that Chuuya knew everyone who worked there (which was like 5 people). The man had rich, dark brown hair and bangs that fell in the middle of his forehead.
His eyes were like the color of dark roasted coffee, with impossibly long eyelashes framing them. He wore the store's signature green apron, a black t-shirt underneath, and jeans.
But the most intriguing part about this man had to be the bandages that covered his arms. They tightly covered up his skin, with some parts looking double and triple-wrapped. Banaadges also peeked out from underneath his t-shirt, near his collarbones.
“Hello, may I take your order?” said the man, smiling at him. Chuuya briefly noted how the man looked at him. His eyes twinkled, like Chuuya was something intriguing or interesting. It was then that Chuuya noticed his nametag. It said Dazai. Strange. Chuuya decided that he had to get to know him as well.
“Yeah, could I get a large espresso and a chocolate chip muffin?” answered Chuuya.
“Anything else?”
“Nope.”
Chuuya paid for his food and drink, and then sat at a table for a few minutes while watching Dazai work. He mechanically moved around, like he knew the place. Wow, he must be talented, and he’s also kinda hot? thought Chuuya to himself. Dazai eventually called his order, and Chuuya went up to get it.
“Here’s your order,” said Dazai while waving at him, “Have a nice day!”
“You too,” said Chuuya, while waving back at him.
He took his muffin and coffee and walked out of the shop. As he began to walk to school, he looked at his coffee, and strangely enough, it had what appeared to be someone's phone number on it. Chuuya pulled out his phone and debated whether he should call the number.
It was probably Dazai’s, but strangely, he didn't mind at all. Well, Chuuya had said that he wanted to learn more about him. And he was also really hot. With that in mind, he entered the number and called him. It rang once, twice before he picked up.
“You read my note!, I’m glad.”
“Why’d you give me your number?”
“Why not, I mean, are you dating someone or something?”
“No…”
“So you're single, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, not for long.”
“..”
“..”
“Bye.” Chuuya ended the call and sat down on a nearby bench for a minute to slow down his heartbeat. He felt a warmth in his chest, something akin to happiness. He knew he was being flirted with; that it was Dazai’s attempt at hinting at something, but just by that interaction, Chuuya knew that he was doomed when it came to that man and his beautiful smile.
The next day, Chuuya once again walked to the coffee shop. He opened the door and looked. Sure enough, there was Dazai. Once he saw Chuuya, he smiled in delight and waved at him.
“Hello!”
Chuuya awkwardly waved back at him. He walked up to the counter and began to say his order when Dazai came up behind the counter.
“Oh, I have your order.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” Dazai grabbed a coffee and a bag that was put out to the side. He smiled and stuck out the items to him. Chuuya noticed a faint blush on his cheeks. “I hope it's right.”
Chuuya checked the bag and coffee
“Yeah, it is. Thanks, that was…thoughtful of you.” Chuuya said, while smiling back at him. He looked at the coffee, and it said, “Are you campfire? Because you're hot and I want s’more.”
Chuuya’s mind and heart went into overdrive. His head was blank, and his heart started to beat at a concerning pace. He had never been complimented so blatantly before, let alone like this.
“That was a very cringe line.’
“You don’t look like it was cringe~,” grinned Dazai
“Wow, alright, frick you.” Chuuya flipped him off, then thought for a moment. “Bye, mackerel!”
“HUH,” Dazai gasped, “Where did you get mackerel from?”
“I don’t know, you just look like one.”
Dazai looked astonished, then just laughed and waved to him. Chuuya waved back and walked to school. After he left, Dazai endearingly smiled. Looks like his attempts at flirting were working after all.
This routine continued for the months to come. Every day, Chuuya came and had the same order already made for him. Of course, it wouldn’t be his without a cheesy pick-up line on it. Chuuya, in return, continued to make up nicknames for Dazai, each growing more and more weird. They continued to text over the phone, and the two of them became friends.
On another chilly spring morning, Chuuya walked into the shop and was greeted by the sight of Dazai. He walked up, grabbed his bag from the counter, and said hello to him.
“Hello, asshole,” said Chuuya affectionately
“Hello, hatrack,” replied Dazai, holding out Chuuya's order
“Wow, that one was new, impressive.”
“Really?” Dazai said, while cocking an eyebrow, “Thanks.”
“Yeah, yeah, see you tomorrow,” Chuuya began to leave
“Wait, Chuuya?”
‘“Yeah?”
“So, I was wondering, only if you wanted to, of course, but uhm, would you wanna meet up sometime?” said Dazai, while fidgeting with his hands under the table. He wasn’t usually nervous around people, but Chuuya was amazing at making his heart beat fast.
“Like a date?” asked Chuuya
“No–I mean, only if you want it to?” Dazai mumbled out the last part, but Chuuya understood it all the same.
“Ok, we could go to the arcade that just opened,” offered Chuuya, while subtly noting how Dazai looked nervous. He always looked mostly composed around him, yet asking him out made him look like that.
“Yeah, sure, I’ll text you what time and stuff.” Dazai smiled in relief.
“I have to go. Bye!” yelled Chuuya and walked out of the shop.
Dazai waved back and watched Chuuya leave. When he did, Dazai silently thanked all deities out there for what had just happened. He wasn’t religious, but he supposed he should thank the gods for letting it be a success. Dazai could finally go on a date with the boy he’d been in love with since they’d first met.