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There is a wide variety of students in high school.
There are the smart kids, the model students, the popular students, the rich students, the emo students, the jocks, the nerds, the delinquents, the class clowns, etc. It usually isn’t too hard to categorize these people, but there are exceptions.
Dazai Osamu was an example. He was the weird kid who annoyed some people (mainly the class president, Kunikida) and entertained others (mainly the mysterious genius, Ranpo), had a way with words so most of the girls like him (except Yosano, the only girl who had no qualms about smacking Dazai), was surprisingly quick on his feet (because he was always running from a certain midget), and always got the highest scores in exams. He also had the most unlikely group of friends.
First was Atsushi, a timid-looking guy whom was doted on by the cafeteria ladies. Then there was Akutagawa, a scary-looking underclassman who was always competing one-sidedly with Atsushi for Dazai’s attention. Atsushi still didn’t understand what Dazai meant to Akutagawa or why Akutagawa decided to treat Atsushi as a rival.
Last but not least, there was Chuuya, a member of the student council and one of the few people who could keep the delinquents in check. Despite his small size (which Dazai never failed to point out), he was more than capable of beating down ten grown men at a time. That, added with his high rank in the council, was usually enough to keep the students from crossing him.
Except Dazai. He was the only one who dared insult Chuuya and was able to get away with it. People often wondered how these two became friends in the first place, because Chuuya seemed to hate Dazai’s entire being. But if you pay more attention to their interactions, you’ll see how familiar they are with each other: how Dazai was always able to dodge Chuuya’s attacks, how Chuuya was able to predict where Dazai would run to, and how they usually knew each other’s answers to certain questions. It was a mystery, really.
Not that the two people in question were aware of the way people see them. But their friends did and couldn’t help watching their interactions closely.
The four of them were hanging out at a fast-food joint at the moment. Immediately after entering, Dazai separated himself from the group to pick a table. While the two underclassmen wondered what to do (they were still unused to their seniors’ wordless arrangements), Chuuya went ahead to order his and Dazai’s food. After they were all seated, with no words exchanged, Dazai gave Chuuya the exact sum of money needed to pay for his food.
Atsushi didn’t know what to think about their wordless interaction, even after a year of spending time with these people. This level of familiarity should only be possible for people who have known each other for years. But he couldn’t help remembering all their stupid fights. After a moment, he decided to ask, “Dazai-san, Chuuya-san, how long have you known each other?”
Dazai and Chuuya exchanged a look. “I don’t know,” Chuuya began. “Around ten years?” Dazai finished.
Next to Atsushi, Akutagawa choked. Atsushi hesitantly patted his back to help.
“How did we meet again?” Chuuya undid the wrapping of his cheeseburger.
“Hmm,” Dazai popped one of his chicken nuggets into his mouth, “I think I dropped a cake on you and you started chasing me around the park.”
Akutagawa slapped Atsushi’s hand away. Atsushi frowned at him and started eating his own food. The other two didn’t notice.
Chuuya scowled as he recalled the memory. “A cake? It was just a lump of dirt some little girl gave you. It got in my shirt.”
“It wasn’t just a lump of dirt. She made it with love for me.”
“Gross.”
“Ah, the good times.”
“Good times? What good times?”
Atsushi watched silently as the two upperclassmen continued their banter. They were supposed to be hanging out together, but most of the time, Dazai and Chuuya just got lost in their own world. Atsushi didn’t know if it was intentional. He was starting to think that they only brought Atsushi and Akutagawa along so people didn’t think they were dating.
Were they really not dating?
“Akutagawa,” Atsushi whispered, taking care not to let the other two notice, “are they not dating?”
Akutagawa stared. He glanced at the people in question and leaned in to whisper, “They’re not, but I’m pretty sure they’ve got the hots for each other. They’re probably too embarrassed to admit it, though.” A pause. “Don’t let them know I said this.”
So Atsushi wasn’t alone. He turned to the still bickering duo. How many people had noticed Dazai and Chuuya’s strange relationship? He didn’t think there was many, because most people didn’t see this side of them.
Then, out of nowhere, this idea came to him: They should just get together already.
Apparently, Akutagawa saw something on Atsushi’s face because he leaned in to whisper again, “Whatever you’re thinking, stop it. You look creepy.”
Atsushi paid his words no mind. “We should get them together.”
Akutagawa stared again. “You’re spewing nonsense.”
“But don’t you think they’re a good pair?”
“How do we even get them together?”
“Leave it to me! I’ll think of something.” Atsushi paused and noticed that Dazai and Chuuya were staring at them.
Dazai smiled. “Look, Chuuya. The kids are finally getting along.”
Chuuya sipped his drink. “About time.”
Atsushi and Akutagawa stayed silent, because there was no way they could tell these guys that they were talking about them.
“It suddenly feels like I’m looking at my future kids’ growth.”
“Shut up, Dazai. That’s gross.”
As Atsushi saw more of their exchange, he made up his mind: Dazai and Chuuya needed to get together.