Work Text:
Chuuya was starting to hate the smell of libraries.
For the past two weeks, he’s spent all of his free time in the library, studying his ass off for finals. Usually, he feels pretty good about his academics. He was naturally gifted in physics, and calculus just clicked in his brain, which was pretty nice considering he plans to be an engineer.
But for some strange reason, he could not write a decent literature essay to save his life.
“What the fuck does this even mean?”
Chuuya stares down at the book in his hands. The author just went on a long diatribe about the main character’s second cousin twice removed, someone not even relevant to the book’s plot. How the hell was he supposed to write an essay on this when it doesn’t even make sense?
With a groan, he drops the book on the table, scattering a few of the loose papers he left lying around. He tilts back in his chair and stares at the ceiling, wishing finals were over already and he could go out drinking with his friends.
Albatross has been begging him to go with him to a bar that recently opened not too far from their apartment to pick up girls. Chuuya’s been giving him the “studying for finals” excuse, but mostly, he doesn’t want to explain to his best friend that he’s not really looking for a relationship, especially not one with a girl.
Chuuya tries for another ten minutes to power through his essay, but when the words start swimming off the page, he decides he needs a break.
The University library is huge, and despite spending the past two weeks here, Chuuya has yet to explore it all. He studies the giant map next to the staircase, trying to decide where to go. The main floor is too loud, and the second and third floors are flooded with students, so Chuuya heads up to the fourth floor.
It’s quiet, and Chuuya holds in a cough when he picks up a book, a plume of dust enveloping his face. Everything up here looks barely touched, like no one’s been up here for years.
The fourth floor is mostly shelves upon shelves of files, each containing tons of information for both students and staff alike. It’s an archive—and not a very exciting one in Chuuya’s opinion.
The shelves are quite close to one another, and Chuuya enjoys the feeling of being tucked away, far from the responsibilities of his studies. As he’s turning the corner on one of the shelves, he accidentally knocks a file over, spilling yellowing papers all over the floor.
“Fuck.” He swears quietly as he bends over to pick everything up. He manages to shove everything back in the folder, wincing slightly at the bent pages. He’s standing back up to put them away when his gaze catches something on the far wall.
It’s a small, rounded door, tucked away between two towering bookcases. It’s almost invisible, and if Chuuya were a little taller, the door would’ve been totally out of sight.
Curiously, Chuuya approaches the door and cautiously grasps the small knob that’s about knee-height. With a small turn, the door opens, and he crawls into the gap. The door shuts lightly behind him, but he’s not paying attention anymore. Instead, he gapes at the scene before him.
It’s a small nook, lined with bean bags and one low table. Soft fairy lights decorate the low ceiling, and a figure sits with their back to Chuuya, tapping a pen lightly. He’s wearing headphones, so he doesn’t hear Chuuya approach and tap him on the shoulder from behind.
“What is this pla—AH SHIT!”
As soon as Chuuya touches the man, the man spins to face him and flails, grabbing wildly at the air. Somehow, his hand latches onto Chuuya’s wrist, and he falls backward, pulling Chuuya down on top of him.
They land with a muffled “Oof,” and the man beneath Chuuya groans. Chuuya puts his arms on either side of the man’s head and glances down, getting his first good look at him.
He looks to be about the same age as Chuuya, with fluffy brown hair and broad shoulders. Thin, circular glasses sit on his nose, magnifying his deep brown eyes and letting Chuuya see the little gold flecks that line his iris. He’s dressed in a soft, cream sweater and black jeans, and for some strange reason, he has bandages wrapped around his neck and palms.
Chuuya is so lost in the stranger’s appearance that it takes him a moment to register that the man’s mouth is moving.
“Could you please get off of me?” The man asks, and Chuuya scrambles back, taking his weight off the brunet.
“Fuck, sorry, man.” Chuuya’s face flushes with embarrassment as he replays the position they were just in. If anyone had walked in while they were like that, they would’ve thought they were up to no good in this private room.
“Who are you?” The man tilts his head, blinking his stunning, melted-honey eyes.
“Chuuya. Chuuya Nakahara.”
The man frowns, and Chuuya grows a little defensive. “And who are you?” He asks, and the brunet puffs his chest up.
“I am Osamu Dazai.” He smirks. “You’ve probably heard my name before.”
Chuuya’s jaw drops. This is Osamu Dazai, the legendary prodigy he’s heard stories about? Albatross once told Chuuya that Dazai never came to lectures; he just showed up on test days and got hundreds every time. The Dazai Albatross talked about was also anti-social, a social outcast, and a freak of nature in terms of his genius. But the man sitting in front of Chuuya seems…different.
He’s definitely smart—Chuuya can see the intelligence behind those obsidian eyes—but he also seems socially adept, not much like the misanthropic genius Albatross described.
“Is Chuuya so wowed by my brilliance he’s lost his ability to speak?”
Chuuya snaps back to reality to see Dazai flash him a mischievous grin.
“Of course not, idiot. I just can’t believe you’re Dazai.”
“Well, believe it.” Dazai sticks his fist out like that one anime character, and Chuuya rolls his eyes with a smile. “I truly am Dazai, and you’re intruding on my secret study space.”
That’s what this place is? It’s cozy, and Chuuya can feel his body relaxing as he sinks into the beanbag. Chuuya would be a genius too if he got to study here instead of on a cold, hard library table downstairs.
“You can leave now, you know.”
“Tch,” Chuuya snuggles deeper into the beanbag, shifting his weight until he almost disappears into it. “I discovered this secret space, so I get to use it too.”
“But it was my space first!” Dazai whines. “I don’t need you being loud and disturbing me while I write this literature essay.”
Chuuya’s head pops up so fast, it almost gives him whiplash. “Is that the essay for Professor Fukuzawa’s class?”
Dazai raises an eyebrow. “It is. Why does that matter to you?”
A grin breaks out on Chuuya’s face as a plan forms in his mind. “You can help me write my essay! I suck at writing, but you’re the best student here! You can give me tips and explain anything I don’t understand!”
Pursing his lips, Dazai’s gaze shifts down to his computer sitting in front of him. “Are you sure about that? Most people might think you’re weird if you’re seen with me.”
“Why does that matter?” Chuuya’s response is instant, and Dazai looks up, confused. “We’re grown-ass adults. If anyone has a problem with me hanging out with you, well, they deserve a swift punch to the gut.”
Dazai stares at Chuuya, and he suddenly worries he went too far. Sometimes, people tell him he comes off too intense, and Chuuya hopes he didn’t drive Dazai away with his impassioned speech. But his worries are assuaged when Dazai lets out a small giggle.
“Fine, I’ll help you. But,” Dazai holds up a finger. “You have to take me out drinking tonight.”
“Sure.” Chuuya accepts the terms easily. “So, where do we start?”
———
The rest of the afternoon passes in a blur, and Chuuya feels so much better about his literature exam when they break in the evening. They crawl out of the study nook, and Dazai stretches out to his full height, towering over Chuuya.
“Ah? Chuuya’s smaller than I thought.” Dazai grins down at him, his eyes sparking with mischief through his glasses.
“Shut up, you lanky bastard.” But Chuuya’s smiling, and butterflies swarm in his gut as Dazai leans down to fix Chuuya’s coat. He straightens it out and stands back up, looking proudly at his handiwork.
“There, now we’re ready to go out drinking!”
They end up at that new bar, and Chuuya is careful about his alcohol intake, not wanting Dazai to know he’s a lightweight. But it’s all ruined when Albatross saunters up to him, slinging an arm around Chuuya’s shoulder.
“Look who it is!” His friend slurs out. “Chuuya Nakahara in the flesh! I thought you were too busy studying to go out for drinks.”
Albatross suddenly notices Dazai leaning against the bar next to Chuuya, and his smile turns roguish as he rubs Chuuya’s head obnoxiously.
“So all that ‘studying’ you were doing was secretly hanging out with this guy?” Albatross looks Dazai up and down and lets out a low whistle. “He’s quite a catch, Chuuya. I see why you like him.”
“I don’t like him! I just met him today.” Chuuya shoves Albatross’s arm off of him, and his friend raises an eyebrow.
“Sure, dude. Listen, I don’t care which way you swing, as long as you keep me updated on your relationship. I want to know all the tea!”
And with that, he leaves them, meandering across the room to flirt with some handsome man with a stylish bob cut.
“Sorry about him,” Chuuya grimaces. “He’s kind of an idiot.”
“No, it’s okay.” Dazai smiles down at him. “It’s cute how supportive he is.”
“Yeah, it is pretty nice,” Chuuya admits. Dazai’s expression shifts slightly, and he clears his throat lightly.
“So…do you swing that way?”
Chuuya stares up at Dazai incredulously. “Is it not obvious?”
Dazai coughs into his fist. “Well, I thought so based on your reaction when you fell on me in the study nook, but I wanted to make sure before I continued to flirt with you.”
Flirt?
“You’ve been flirting with me?”
Widening his eyes, Dazai repeats Chuuya’s earlier question. “Was it not obvious? I thought asking you out for drinks earlier was pretty straightforward.”
Chuuya slaps a hand against his forehead. “I thought that was payment for your help!”
“So,” Dazai wilts a bit. “You didn’t come with me because you wanted to?”
“No, you idiot! I came with you because I made a deal, and I always follow through. But,” Chuuya takes a deep breath, meeting Dazai’s eyes directly. “I also came because…because I think you’re hot, and I wanted to spend more time with you!”
The last words come out in a rushed mess, and Chuuya hides his now cherry-red face behind a glass of beer. Dazai is silent for a moment, but then he bursts out laughing.
“We’re both so stupid.” He gasps out between laughs.
“Hey, speak for yourself.” Chuuya retorts, but a warm grin forms as he watches Dazai subside into giggles.
“From the moment you landed on me in the study nook, I knew I wanted to learn more about you.” Dazai leans down, his glasses glinting in the dim light as he beams down at Chuuya. “So, whaddya say, Chuuya? Do you wanna study again tomorrow?”
Chuuya reaches up and pushes Dazai’s bangs out of his face, letting him see his beautiful brown eyes. “Sounds great. But only if we can go out somewhere afterward.”
“Whatever Chuuya wants,” Dazai says, then raises his voice for the whole bar to hear. “My friend Chuuya here wants you all to know that all drinks are on him tonight!”
A loud cheer rings out, and Chuuya drags Dazai down by his sweater. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Celebrating.”
“Well, you’re paying for half of it.”
They end up stumbling out of the bar sometime after two in the morning, and if they both end up at Chuuya’s apartment later, well, it’s not anyone’s business who Chuuya decides to “study” with.