Chapter Text
Chuuya hates halloween.
Scratch that- Chuuya hates working Halloween at the museum. The one night a year where all of the expensive artwork is carefully tucked away to make space for local artists to display and sell their themed artwork. And while it’s nice to allow smaller artists to be able to advertise their work in person, it just means that the usually calm and professional vibe of his museum is thrown off. Because right now, Chuuya wants to gather all of the children running around like this is a playground and not a respectable art museum and lock them outside.
It’s exhausting. Usually Chuuya just wanders around, offering information to curious guests, or doing full day tours with groups of art students to explain different pieces. But tonight, Chuuya feels like a teenager working a job he hates.
Stop running!
Don’t touch the art!
No yelling in the hall!
Please don’t wipe your hands on the table cloth!
Chuuya loves his job- It was his first real job after graduation. The pay is nice, his degree proved to come in handy, he was respected, and it’s a professional job- But when the museum closes at 7:00 and he’s able to leave, he feels sticky and gross just like he would after leaving his shifts at the fast food chain he worked for in college. All he wanted to do when he got home was open a bottle of champagne, throw ona cheesy slasher film, and spend the night pampering himself with face masks and lotions. That was it !
What he didn’t want was Yuan dressed in all white with a halo attached to her headband showing up with a costume in hand and a shit eating grin on her face.
“Chuuya darling I know you said no parties tonight but if your calendar is correct you don’t have any plans tomorrow either. Soo~ I decided for the both of us that you’re coming out tonight.”
“Like hell I am!” Chuuya snaps, trying to close the door on his best friend, but the sly little thing is quick to read his reactions and slips through the door before it slams shut.
“I thought you might say that.” And her wicked grin is enough to have Chuuya gulping.
“And?” Chuuya asks, crossing his arms.
“And if you don’t go out with me tonight I’m going to stay here and ruin your peaceful evening alone. So you can come out and have a good time because I know you will- Or you can stay locked up in here while I do solo karaoke over your movies the entire night. Completely your choice.”
“None of these options sound like my choice, but picking a lesser evil forced on me by the literal devil.” Chuuya murmurs, taking the spare costume from Yuan’s hands. “You’ve got to be shitting me-” Chuuya groans, scrubbing a hand down his face when he holds the costume up.
“If you had gone shopping with me when I asked instead of insisting to lock yourself in your house for a full 24 hours, you may have gotten to pick your outfit; But as it stands and as far as I’m aware this is your only option.” And Yuan’s shit eating grin is back because Chuuya is holding up a red devil outfit equally as skimpy as Yuan’s, the material a cotton laced pleather that would definitely be clinging to his skin uncomfortably by the end of the night.
“I’m going to be the worst wingman imaginable tonight.” Chuuya informs Yuan, but she seems unbothered, shrugging her shoulders.
“It’s a party at the Akutagawa's. If Gin is there and I’m dressed like this I don’t think it would matter if you come as my wingman or not.”
“I hate you.” Chuuya groans, turning on his heel in the direction of his room to go change.
“Yes, yes. Whatever you want to tell yourself. Just hurry up. That party starts at 10:00 and it’s already past 9:00.”
Chuuya wants to curse any God in existence for Yuan knowing his sizes so well. Because the costume fits so well . Unlike Yuan’s outfit that is basically just underwear with stockings connected by garter belts, Chuuya’s outfit thankfully came with boy style shorts allowing him to cover more of himself. The straps across his torso hug his skin with just enough pressure to keep him from being uncomfortable, and if he adjusts the bra straps well enough he doesn’t need to worry about the extra space where a set of tits would normally fill. Makeup is quick with just red eyeliner, lipstick and highlighter. He quickly french braids his hair in half, the layers in his hair allowing little pieces to fall from the braid and frame his face. He’s ready to go in less than thirty minutes and Yuan doesn’t even bat an eye at his outfit when he emerges, already used to seeing her best friend dressed this way.
“Our ride is ten minutes out.” She says, standing to steal a glass from Chuuya’s kitchen to finish off his open bottle of champagne.
“You know I’m just going to sit in the corner and sulk all night, right?” Chuuya asks, joining her.
“If that’s what you want, I’m not going to stop you.” She shrugs, pouring Chuuya a glass. “But if you’re already going to be out, you might as well live a little.” Chuuya rolls his eyes, slamming his glass back quickly. The drunker he is, the better time he’ll have. Yuan is right, though. And it’s been a while since the last time he went out and had a good time. If anything, he could probably find a cute guy to take home for the night. It’s been even longer since the last time he fucked.
Gin and Ryuunosuke live on the other side of town and considering it’s Halloween night, there’s quite a bit of traffic. It’s well after 10:00 when their car pulls up to the address. All this means is that the party is already well underway when they get there. Most people are already hammered- probably from pre games or party hopping- while others are shouting over drinking games trying to get there. If Chuuya had been worried about being stuck to Yuan’s side all night, the fear is immediately thrown out the window the minute she sees Gin in the kitchen shouting something to their brother over the music.
“That’s my cue to abandon you.” She winks, trying to stalk away before Chuuya’s hand shoots out to find her wrist.
“You can’t leave me alone right from the start!” He complains. “I don’t even know anyone here.”
“That’s what parties are for, babe.” She smiles, placing a kiss on his cheek before stepping away and pulling her hand free. “Mingle a little.” And then she’s gone.
Chuuya groans, letting his feet carry him to the makeshift bar set up in the living room and pouring himself a drink. Sure, Chuuya does know people here. They’re all friends of Gin and Ryuunosuke, however they’re also people Chuuya hasn’t spoken to in months. Across the way, Chuuya sees Tachihara in deep conversation with a very drunk Albatross. He watches them over the rim of his cup, weighing the consequences of walking over there and trying to seduce Tachihara again. They'd fallen into bed quite a few times over the past few years, but Tachihara is a bit more sentimental than Chuuya would like and more often than not, it’s been a pain in the ass to get rid of the other after sleeping together. The last thing Chuuya wants is a hassle.
As he finishes his drinks, he scans the room for literally anyone else he could talk to. He recognizes Kenji and Tanizaki at the beer pong table, Naomi hanging off of her brother's arm while they play an intense game against Kouyu and... Yosano. Chuuya nearly spits his drink back into the cup because Yosano? He hasn’t seen her in years . Not since high school. Not since-
And It’s like the world is out to get him because before he can even finish his train of thought, the last person in the world he wants to see walks in. Loud and boisterous as ever with a grumbling Kunikida and an already drunk Ranpo behind him.
“Sorry we’re late everyone!” Dazai Osamu shouts, holding up a twenty four pack in each hand. “We got lost on the way.”
“No we didn’t!” Kunikida snaps. “We had to spend twenty minutes in a gas station bathroom trying to get your nose to stop bleeding when the girl you were harassing punched you.”
“I was not harassing.” Dazai smiles. “I was just trying to get her to come with us.”
“And separate her from her friend group when she was clearly uncomfortable.” Ranpo adds.
“Well how else am I supposed to pick up girls?” Dazai asks, quirking an eyebrow.
“You don’t need help with that.” Yosano pipes up, abandoning her game to throw her hands around her best friends neck. “You’re enough of a whore already that I’m sure any girl already in your phone would be itching to have you back.” Chuuya watches as Kouyou rolls her eyes at Yosano abandoning her for Dazai fucking Osamu. Chuuya takes that as his chance to slip into her side. They’ve all known each other for a very long time, but besides Yuan, there’s no one here Chuuya likes more than Kouyou.
“Hey stranger!” Chuuya pipes up as he approaches her, earning wide eyes and a small choke when she registers him.
“Oh my goodness, Yuan actually got you to come!” Kouyou smiles, pulling Chuuya in for a hug.
“She gave me no other choice.” He sighs.
“It was karaoke, wasn’t it?” She asks, letting him go.
“How did you know?” Chuuya asks with a smile.
“Because that one does it too.” Kouyou says, tilting her head in Yosano’s direction where she’s already fitting herself into Dazai’s side.
“And then they both abandoned us.” Chuuya rolls his eyes.
“The audacity.” She laughs, tugging Chuuya into her side and leading them into the kitchen.
“How’s work been?” She asks, serving them both pizza.
“It’s been fine.” He shrugs. “Although I think I’m going to start hating holiday’s if they always turn the museum into a public playground.” That earns him a laugh. “What about you, how’s it going at the agency?”
“I’m the assistant director now.” She gloats and Chuuya can’t help the smile that stretches from ear to ear. “That’s amazing, Kouyou! You deserve it!” And it’s true, she does. Maybe she had a lot of help from her family to get into her position but she still worked hard to prove to everyone else that she deserved it. Besides Chuuya and Yuan, the majority of the people at this party and in his group of acquaintances grew up with money and had everything handed to them, but Kouyou? She humbled herself and rarely took any handouts from her family. She’s just as self made as Chuuya.
The two continued to speak under the fluorescent lights of the kitchen light for a while until Yosano found her way back to Kouyou, draping herself over the taller girl's shoulders.
“You’re ignoring me.” Yosano complains into Kouyou’s ear.
“I am not. You ditched me to go hang out with that asshole and I wasn't about to follow you.” Kouyou huffs and Chuuya’s snort is cut short when that voice chimes in from behind him.
“Who are you calling an asshole?” Dazai asks, slinking around Chuuya’s side to bump Kouyou with his hip.
“You.” Kouyou insists, shooting daggers at Dazai. His attention only remains on her for a moment before his gaze travels down to Chuuya.
“Long time no see, Chibi.” He smiles, and God if Chuuya were any dumber he would’ve been dropping all of his reservations at just his smile alone. Dazai is handsome. It’s never been something that passed Chuuya by. Unfortunately Dazai had been aware of that in the past and took advantage of it.
Before he left Chuuya with a broken heart and an empty shell of a person. That was over four years ago now, but Chuuya has learned to build his walls up high.
“Not long enough if you ask me.” Chuuya says through gritted teeth, his hands finding purchase on the counter behind him to ground himself. And Dazai, that asshole, has the audacity to laugh.
“You would be so much more intimidating if you had the height to back your bite.”
“Lucky for you I can still pack a fucking punch.” Chuuya seeths, letting go of some of his pride to stand on his toes and grab a fistful of Dazai’s shirt.
“You’re hot when you’re angry.” Dazai grins and God He’s so unbearable. Chuuya hates how the taller man still knows how to push his buttons.
“Drop it, Osamu.” Kunikida speaks up from behind Dazai, where his hand is on the brunette's shoulder trying to pull him away.
“You used to be so much more fun to play with, doll.” Dazai gives in, stepping away.
“Too bad for you, I was never a toy.” Chuuya spits back, storming off to find Yuan. He was over the party before Dazai showed up but now he just wants to go home .
After twenty minutes of trying and failing to find either Yuan or Gin, Chuuya gives up and plops down on the couch with a beer. He’s acutely aware of the fact that Tachihara is sitting on the couch as well, a few people in between them, his eyes fixated on Chuuya. He’s three seconds away from snapping and asking if he needs anything when Dazai plops down next to him. Chuuya rolls his eyes, already prepared for the oncoming argument.
“Go away, Dazai.” he says. It’s short. He’s tired.
“How do you expect me to leave you alone when you look so sinful?” Dazai smirks, his fingers trembling, itching to touch Chuuya. At least he has enough brain to not actually reach out and touch.
“Does everyone here know that you’re partial to fucking guys too or are you just trying to see if I’m enough of a pushover to let you get in my pants again.” Chuuya huffs out over a sip of his beer.
“I’m only partial to fucking pretty guys. And yes, but only if it’s working.” Dazai smirks
“It’s not.” Chuuya states as blandly as possible, hoping that his disinterest lands. “And you can fuck off now.” Chuuya adds.
“Not until you let me get something off my chest.” Dazai replies.
“I don’t want your apologies anymore. It’s too late for that.”
“Yeah, well you’re getting one anyways.” Chuuya turns to face Dazai, all of the anger he’s felt in the past four years ready to bubble over.
“You don’t get to decide when someone is worthy of an apology. If you were really sorry you would have come crawling to me with one four years ago. I’m worth more than a half assed apology at a party on Halloween when it’s too little too late. You’ve had my number, knew where I lived, knew all of my friends and a million other ways to get in contact with me. I’m worth more than your fucking self pity.”
“Well I’m still sorry. Your feelings don’t cancel out mine.” Dazai argues, leaning back on the couch, nonchalant as if he isn’t in the middle of a four year overdue apology.
“Tell me Dazai,” Chuuya is fuming, acutely aware of the fact that everyone on the sectional is silent and staring at the scene they’re causing, “do you even know what you’re apologizing for ?”
And Dazai, the fucker, has the audacity to shrug. “For leaving you, I guess.” That earns a dry laugh from Chuuya, who is standing up to leave after telling the brunette to permanently fuck off. He mimics Dazai’s shrug and in the most condescending tone, mocks him.
“ For leaving I guess! ” Chuuya laughs, tossing his drink in Dazai’s face, earning him a flash of anger before Dazai is also standing, towering over Chuuya and invading his space.
“What the fuck is your problem?” Dazai roars, expecting Chuuya to cower, but he doesn’t. He’s persistent. Four years of anger finally coming out.
“My problem is that next time before you tell someone you love them, try not to have plans to literally fall off the face of the earth then come crawling back to them four years later expecting them to fall on their knees in gratitude.”
“I don’t want your gratitude, all I wanted to say was sorry.”
“And I already told you to fuck off and that I don’t want your apology. All I want is for you to Leave. Me. Alone. ”
Suddenly Kunikida and Yosano are at Dazai’s side, pulling him away from Chuuya. Yuan and Gin also appear at Chuuya’s side out of nowhere. It’s funny how they can be hidden in the most discreet place one minute when Chuuya is actively looking for them, but at his side the moment he’s itching to punch Dazai in the face.
“Let it go, babe.” Yuan mutters into Chuuya’s ear, trying to drag Chuuya away.
“Stay away from me!” Chuuya shouts over his shoulder to Dazai as Yuan leads him out the door.
Yuan is spilling an absurd amount of apologies to Gin as they wait outside for their ride. Honestly, Chuuya hates Halloween. And for someone who really didn’t want to be at this stupid party to begin with, it’s just his luck to have the one person he would have gladly gone the rest of his life without seeing pop up after all these years. Chuuya can feel his heart beating in his ears and his head is killing him.
“I didn’t know he was even going to be here!” Yuan slumps down onto the step next to Chuuya, throwing her arm over his shoulder.
“You knew he was back though, didn’t you?” Chuuya asks quietly, hugging his knees to his chest. It’s so cold outside. It takes a few seconds for Yuan to respond.
“Gin and Ryuu met up with him a few weeks ago. When they told me I made it clear that I didn’t want him close to you. Apparently they didn’t think I was serious about it.” They sit in silence for a long moment before Chuuya speaks up over a quiet sob.
“I hate him.” He says quietly, leaning onto Yuan’s shoulder.
“I know babe.” Yuan replies, resting her head on Chuuya’s and cradling his head with her arm.
7 Years Ago
“Chuuya?”
“Yes Sensei?” Chuuya asks, as he walks into the main office of his school, smiling at the Dean.
“As you know, your class is getting a new transfer student this quarter. I would appreciate that as the President of your class you show him around.”
“Of course.” Chuuya smiles. He fought tooth and nail to win over his grade for the leadership role and he’s loved every moment of it so far. Maybe his desires to be the best leader at the ripe age of fifteen are a bit childish, but he’s always been a bit of a dreamer.
“Amazing!” Fukuzawa smiles, offering a piece of chocolate the same way he always does. “He’s coming from Tokyo. His family own multiple shares of different electronic companies and they have recently relocated to Yokohama with interest in absorbing a few local businesses. I cannot stress enough how important it is for you to make him feel welcome here.” Fukuzawa adds, taking a sip from his mug.
“Of course, Sensei.” Chuuya repeats.
“Perfect!” Fukuzawa smiles, hitting the button that transfers him to the front desk. “Hirotsu-San, would you let the new transfer in?” Fukuzawa asks, getting a quick response of approval from Hirotsu. It only takes a few seconds for the door to Fukuzawa’s office to open and for Chuuya’s head to turn with a smile that quickly falters.
Because in front of him is the most handsome man Chuuya has ever seen.
Long, messy locks of dusky brown hair shape his face, a lean body not much taller than his own covered by his school uniform. He swears he’s never seen someone so beautiful.
“Chuuya, meet Dazai Osamu.” Fukuzawa says from somewhere behind Chuuya, but the man’s words seem so far away as Chuuya stands to greet the stranger.
“The pleasure is mine.” Osamu says, holding his hand out. “People just call me Dazai, though.” he adds as Chuuya’s hand reaches out to grip the other boys. “I look forward to getting to know you.” He adds, his grin growing.
And in that very moment, Chuuya knew he was screwed.