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

[ninjou]

[It's almost a full year before Dazai speaks to Odasaku at any length again. He's about to turn seventeen, and being a new executive, there's a nicely organized party in his honor. Everyone is invited, and anyone who isn't out on some kind of job is expected to be there.

He spots Odasaku toward the start, and promptly settles into a pattern of flirting with female guests and drinking. Of course, he can't resist getting a parting shot at the man who practically jilted him, so eventually... well, he follows the man to the bathroom. He'll wait outside.]

[tenimuho]

[It seems a shame not to speak to Dazai at least once during the party, but he's been busy talking to other guests, and Odasaku has no illusions that he's important enough to have time made for him.

So when he emerges from the bathroom, he just blinks.]

Congratulations on your promotion.

[It's exactly what anyone would say.]

[ninjou]

Thank you.

[He sounds amiable enough, only a little cold. The usual coldness, anyway, the same he'd give any other.]

Why are you here?

[tenimuho]

Everyone's expected to be here.

[So he came, despite the distance between them.]

[ninjou]

Good. I'm glad you felt obligated to come.

[He's feeling this out.]

[tenimuho]

Mm.

[Well, they're in conversation now, so as long as he doesn't bring up anything unfortunate they'll be fine. Probably.]

I hope you've been well.

[ninjou]

I've been busy.

[He smiles. It's... almost genuine.]

I've heard good things.

[tenimuho]

Like?

[Though most of them are probably above his pay grade, actually.]

[ninjou]

You do good work.

[Talking to him like an executive. Dazai isn't a kid. He isn't a teenager. He's a certified monster.]

[tenimuho]

Thank you.

[...At this point, that should have come with a 'sir' attached, maybe. But it's not going to, even if it should.]

[ninjou]

[An eyebrow goes up.]

No respect for me, still? Seriously, Oda... I came to talk to you, and you're going to treat me like this?

[tenimuho]

I'm not trying to be disrespectful. I'm treating you like I always do.

[That hasn't changed, and it won't change even if Dazai becomes the boss. He's still just - Dazai.]

[ninjou]

You haven't talked to me in almost a year.

[So.]

[tenimuho]

I know.

[Hard to forget their last real encounter.]

[ninjou]

So why are you treating me like we're friends?

[He sighs.]

You don't have to worry. I'm not going to do anything stupid. But treat me with the respect I deserve.

[tenimuho]

...I'm treating you like a friend because I think of you that way, even though I know it's onesided.

[Dazai has every right to be angry at him, still. He won't contest that.]

[ninjou]

If you're treating an executive like that, you're asking for trouble.

[Dazai shakes his head.]

[tenimuho]

I wouldn't do it in public.

[Give him some credit.]

[ninjou]

This is public.

[tenimuho]

[No one's really paying attention to the bathroom, but alright.]

Fine. Did you want to say anything else, sir?

[If not, he'd be - well, not content to just hang around for the rest of the party not talking to people, but it would be what he'd do.]

[ninjou]

Yes.

[He steps closer, looking around, up and down the hall, before focusing on Odasaku.]

I miss you.

[tenimuho]

[That gets his eyes to widen, and he's not entirely sure what to say, so he settles on:]

...I'd come back any time you called on me.

[It's always been Dazai's decision as the wounded party.]

[ninjou]

[And Dazai still hurts, he still feels used and wronged, but he was younger and stupid. He's sure he should ignore all of that in favor of the overwhelming shame.]

I tried to pretend like it never happened, but it did. I'm a different person than I was then, but you really hurt me. I was ashamed.

[tenimuho]

I'm sorry. I should never have taken things that far.

[He hangs his head in contrition, not quite able to look directly at Dazai.

Is it even possible to make up for something like that?]

[ninjou]

You're right. You shouldn't have.

[He sighs, though, and extends a hand.]

I shouldn't have asked you to.