For ninjou.

[tenimuho]

[There are a lot of reasons why a person would want to humor an up-and-coming mafioso, likely to be one of the youngest executives if not the youngest executive in Port Mafia history.

But Odasaku doesn't really think of what he's doing right now, sitting down and playing video games with Dazai, as 'humoring' him. Even if he's not all that great at fighting games compared to Dazai, and even if it might be considered a little weird, a 20-year-old playing games with a 15-year-old...]

Oh, I lost again.

[...it's fun even when he loses, so he's playing.]

Good game. Want another round?

Comments

[tenimuho]

You were lucky. I'm glad you're relatively okay.

[Odasaku has a seat on one end of the couch.]

[ninjou]

Thanks.

[Dazai doesn't sit yet.]

I uh... bullet in the shoulder, sprained wrist, twisted ankle, some bruises... Almost cut my cheek up, but the doctor said it won't scar. Everything else will.

[tenimuho]

You're alive, is the most important thing.

[...? Why's he not sitting down?]

[ninjou]

[Because sitting down hurts.]

Right. I thought that... but you never know. When it's my time, maybe it'll be somebody other than me killing me...

[tenimuho]

I don't think that would be a clean way to go.

[So not what Dazai prefers.]

...Are you going to sit down?

[ninjou]

[Caught.]

Honestly... it kind of hurts to sit. It's hard to get back up.

[tenimuho]

Oh.

[Odasaku stands up again. He's not going to be rude and sit if Dazai can't.]

[ninjou]

[Dazai waves it off.]

You can sit.

[He acts like an executive already. His words are spoken firmly, his motions strong. He may be half beaten up, but he can push through it.]

[tenimuho]

I don't want to if you're standing. It's awkward.

[Even if Dazai gives permission, it's still awkward.]

[ninjou]

[Fine. He crosses to the couch, settles a hand on Odasaku's shoulder, and pushes him back down, before sitting beside him.]

Honestly...

[tenimuho]

Alright, I'm sorry.

[...hopefully it doesn't hurt too much.]

[ninjou]

[It hurts. He doesn't let it show. Just... smile through it.]

How're you?

[tenimuho]

I'm okay. More alright now that I can see you're still alive.

[Not that he'd thought he wasn't, but the proof is nice.]

[ninjou]

Ah. You were worried?

[Interesting...]

[tenimuho]

Of course I was.

[Dazai was seriously hurt, and they're... friends? Maybe?]

[ninjou]

[They're something. It makes Dazai smile and hang his head for a moment.]

To be honest, I was concerned when you didn't come to the hospital.

[tenimuho]

...I didn't think it was my place to.

[What would he have said to the nurses? He's barely even a coworker, if they can be considered that.]

[ninjou]

I wouldn't have minded. Well, I thought you were probably working, so it's fine.

[Now he looks back to Odasaku. He really was wondering where he was...]

What were you doing?

[tenimuho]

Working. And worrying from my apartment.

[...sorry, you have to spell out your relationship to Odasaku.]

[ninjou]

Come see me when you're thinking about me.

[It's somewhere between gently friendly suggestion and strangely serious order.]

[tenimuho]

But then you'd get sick of me.

[He'd show up a lot more often, is the thing.]

[ninjou]

I won't. I like having you around.

[A smile, and he puts a hand on Odasaku's leg.]

[tenimuho]

[That sure is a hand there. Odasaku tries not to tense up, and... mostly succeeds.]

Are you sure? I'd come around a lot more often.

[ninjou]

[It's just a friendly pat, calm down. It's also his injured arm. He's not doing anything. Tch.]

I'm sure.

[tenimuho]

[...So he's not. Odasaku gives a weak smile.]

Alright. I'll call you up when I'm thinking about you.