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]

Odasaku....

[Each syllable is separate, deliberate.

This up and coming mafioso bears fewer bandages than he will in a few years time, but he maintains that air of maturity and wisdom hidden behind flagrant self-interest that will be there until the day he departs the mafia.

He is holding the controller gingerly, looking at his companion.]

You're so bad at this... you really suck.

[tenimuho]

I don't get as much time to practice as you do.

[It's not said defensively: it's the truth. As the bottom-ranking mafia member, Odasaku's hours are long.

He might suck, but he's never intentionally thrown a game to Dazai.]

[ninjou]

I'm not a slacker, if that's what you're trying to say.

[Sigh. Dazai shakes his head and clucks his tongue.]

I'm not surprised... if you don't practice, you don't get better, but at the same time, I'm just good at it naturally.

[tenimuho]

The more I play with you, the better I'll get. But you'll get better at the same time, so it'll be hard to beat you.

[A true dilemma.]

[ninjou]

I might plateau. Hard to say. But, Odasaku, do you really like games?

[He's fishing for something.]

[tenimuho]

They're not my favorite thing ever, but I like playing with you.

[Honest.]

[ninjou]

So you like spending time with me?

[He sounds so flippant.]

[tenimuho]

Yes. I wouldn't do it if I didn't.

[Why is this a question.]

[ninjou]

[Because Dazai is Dazai.]

Do you like any kind of games at all?

[tenimuho]

[So he is.]

Nothing really comes to mind.

[ninjou]

[Dazai swallows a frown, turns it into a look of annoyance.]

You've been lying to me about having fun.

[tenimuho]

I have not. Just because I don't really care about games doesn't mean I don't have fun.

[ninjou]

Well.... is it just fun because it's me?

[tenimuho]

That's part of it.

[ninjou]

Ahhh... it's amazing....... I didn't think you cared so much.

[tenimuho]

[???]

I thought we got along alright.

[ninjou]

That you're going to tolerate something you don't completely like.... is it because of my status?

[tenimuho]

No. I don't really think about that when we're playing games.

[It's hard to think of a person you're losing to at video games as a deadly future executive, for some reason.]

[ninjou]

Good. I don't want you to care that I'll probably be your boss someday. I want you to have fun.

[That much is sincere.]

Is there something else you'd rather do?

[tenimuho]

Not really. None of my hobbies are very fun in a group, but I like spending time with you however.

[He doesn't think Dazai wants a book club.]

[ninjou]

What are your hobbies?

[He's super curious, actually...]

[tenimuho]

Reading. And I like the beach.

[ninjou]

Reading? What kind of books?

[tenimuho]

Novels. Anything I can get my hands on.

[ninjou]

[Maybe if he buys books for Odasaku he will think Dazai is mature and cool...]

Who's your favorite author?