Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

(April, 6 months ago)

Yokohama’s night lights dazzled in the ocean’s reflections unaware of the blood-curdling scream that erupted with gunshots in the dark.

Blood splatters had found their way into the side of the duffel bag that Chuuya carried. He fled the scene and dropped the bag huffing when he realized he had lost trail, catching his breath.

It had been a little over an hour since he had fled from the place.

The pavement was clean. The blood smeared on his bag didn’t drip down the clean part of the road.

No blood trials for him to follow.

Shit. That had been close. He was so close.

Chuuya Nakahara. 18. Backliner at Edgar Allens’, Evermore University. Or he was. Not anymore.

Not anymore.

The sound of gunshots resounded in his ears, roaring with the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He checked his pockets and found the wallet that his mother had stuffed in his pockets.

“Chuuya, listen to me. Keep this safe and use it to run away from here. There are two airplane tickets to Helsinki. Use one for yourself. Hide yourself with this hoodie and make sure you’re not recognized”.

His mom was always straight to the point, and monotonous, but for the first time, he saw her speak with a glint of concern in her eyes like she had wanted him to be okay.

For a moment or so, sumptuously, he might have given into the assumption.

He never trusted his gut with people’s reactions. For 18 years he had tried to understand his mother, she was a shield to him, majorly making sure he was never in sight of the Ravens. The goddamn team’s creation that got him and his mother in this puddle of mess in the first place.

He fucking hated it.

He looked at the brown cover that was stained with oil. Yeah, the sandwich that he had robbed from Edgar Allens’ university canteen was getting soggy as fuck, he needs some food in his stomach before he goes to the airport.

Wait, is he going to Helsinki?

Be so serious, right now.

What is he going to do, beg on the streets until he gets money?

What the fuck-

What the fuck is he even going to do?

He looked exactly like his father, a flash of red with a tint of blue and brown in his eyes. First, he needed to fix that. He covered the hood over his head, the ginger tint of course is what makes Chuuya stand out, but his eyes?

They are much more visible and he could be identified with those damn different colored eyes and the freckles. Ugh. There isn’t so much he could really hide.

To be fair, he’s done running. He’s going to Helsinki. Fuck all of the mess his father put him in. The blood spilled on the floor isn’t his to clean.

His duffel bag is smeared, agreed, that’s part of the proportion he needs to clean. Other than that, he doesn’t need to clean anything.

For now, the trail is cold, so he could pretend the Ravens have no means to reach him, for now, he was well outside of their range.

He huffs and leans on the back of the wall, the road leading to the airport, the night lights in the city were always so pretty. What time was it? It was about 11:45 pm when his mother was summoned by Lord Tengan, and shit went down.

It was about 12:30 when his mother told him what to do back near the ocean before he sensed someone at the back and bolted.

Yeah. Bolted.

There was no way one of the brothers smelled the acrid smell of smoke burning away his mother’s body which he lit. The body that shielded his frail body from blood, sure she was harsh but that was just her way of protecting him. Fierce and loyal, blooming with wrath and fury at whatever tricks his father had up his sleeve. Her warmth was not comforting, it was no hug, but it was a…raging barrier from the blood accumulated by Edgar Allens’.

His mother wanted him near the scene of whatever schemes the richest families of Yokohama were plotting. Never once.

The safety blanket was ripped off when she said she has neared the end. She cannot keep running with him.

But Chuuya? He has to go on. Go on even if the soles of his feet were worn off.

He wanted to wipe the slate clean. The booming headache crept again.

He took a bite out of the sandwich, the stale taste leaving a weird aftertaste in his mouth. He looked at the tickets that were sealed in the air-tight bag, he shakily opened it and hired a cab.

“Where to?”

He stared at the driver blankly. His hair was a disarray and he hadn’t slept in weeks. He wore a sluggish green hoodie that covered the ponytail behind his back which was rougher and disheveled than it was usually.

“The airport.”

If the driver saw how small and weak he looked he didn’t comment on it and named the price. It was half of the money he had. The rest could suffice for a cheap hotel he could reside in.

He was hungry as fuck, the half-eaten sandwich was still in the zip-lock cover but he had no heart to reopen it so he dropped it in his bag there and he laid his head back against the leather couch as the van moved forward.

Tears threatened to slip down when he realized how his mother had starved herself to make sure he ate. All these times. He missed the warmth of her arms that pressed on his shoulders, forcibly feeding him.

It could work. He’s going to Helsinki. It could keep him safe. It was a matter of six months to keep the trial cold.

Porvoo, yeah right.

The town was where his mother was born. It was peaceful contradicting to all the cities she dragged him off to. After all life on the run wasn’t easy, his mom’s paranoid eyes when she shielded him but that was the only place that felt like…home..maybe?

Nah, screw that.

That night, for the first time Chuuya screwed his eyes shut, the absence of warmth beside him was jarring. The city lights faded away, he wasn’t in Yokohama anymore.

No more gunshots, no more knives.

It would be okay. He’s fine.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

-October, Present-

Oda Sakunosuke didn't know what to do with the boy who was sprawled on the bench gazing at the ceiling.

Or even how to put him to use, in the first place.

What was he even thinking?

It was even a hassle trying to recruit members for Palmetto University. It was sparse and empty. Often he had to remind himself that an exy team was put forward by the committee so that they could encourage the students to partake in anything other than academics.

Not that they were doing very well in academics.

It was all sorts of messed up here and Oda, obviously didn't know what exactly he was signing up for. He remembers his days as a random street vendor delivering newspapers.

Mundane everyday things, nothing more, nothing less, just assisting humans in starting their day.

Newspapers. Hmm. That was quite a phase.

Oda didn't know how it felt working in a university, that too a university that was well known for its scandals. The boy who was sprawled on the bench slowly stood up and yawned, looking at him.

"Huh, Oh Odasaku..Its morning already"

"Afternoon, Dazai".

Dazai Osamu's messy brown curls fell over him as he rubbed his eyes. The boy's eyes were hanging low with eyebags. Bandages that he wore loosely over his wrist and ones on his neck that he hid with a black shirt, the white remnants peeking out a little bit running over to his head that covered his left eye. That was not what concerned Oda, not even once.

Being an exy coach was exhausting. That too in Yokohama, where the appeal for the sport was non-existent. The Foxes generally didn’t have an outstanding reputation in the university, Palmetto students were not the brightest either. But they were a Class I team and were qualified enough to play tournaments, conduct, and even play overseas.

They could play nationals. Yosano Akiko, the captain-goalkeeper made sure of that.

They were close to a fully formed team, they just needed a sub-striker to finish up.

Yukito Ayatsuji came out of the court, locking it up. It was unbelievable that he was Edgar Allens’ finest striker. It was all over the news that upon the winter holidays, he had broken his thumb.

There was no end to the rivalry that shrouded in Ravens, they were the number one team in Class I Exy Tournaments they took part in.

The truth was Ayatsuji wanted to leave the Ravens. Breaking his thumb was the last straw. The Ravens were at the top of their game every season, with crazy athleticism, and the techniques they used to maneuver to the goalpost. It was ruthless, vigorous, and fast-paced. Oda knew this because of his past ties with Evermore University were a little shrewd and complicated.

Nope.

He’s not going to let that happen, he can’t afford to lose something precious to him yet again. Not after three years of holding the shelter he built.

Dazai looked at Ayatsuji with a morbid glare or a look that he couldn’t quite decipher.

He could never tell Dazai Osamu. As much as he tried to. The gleam in his eyes when he talked about candy bars, fascination for cats and also a peculiar interest in philosophy.

He didn’t particularly seem as interested or passionate in exy, however. Compared to the extremes of Ayatsuji’s.

It had been a few weeks since Ozaki Kouyou, the medical professional of the team, recommended him to the team and Oda isn’t even close to understanding what his motives seemingly must be.

The boy was a prodigy. He was even better than Ayatsuji. His first trial was pitted against the man himself. Fresh out of an injury.

Dazai didn’t have the precision as the ex-Edgar Allens star striker but his ability to construct a plan in the middle of a game?- finding out gaps in the middle of nowhere?

Marvelous.

Simply flawless.

“The boy had rejected the Edgar Allens and wants to join us instead.”, Kouyou mentioned wordlessly in a meeting.

Dazai joining the lower-ranked Foxes was a big deal. This was the man the entire country was behind. Technically, a player who was in high demand.

The Trojans and The Ravens included.

That was just the start of constructing a plausible team. The Foxes were simply broken bits and pieces. When Dazai got two backliners from his town, the Akutagawa siblings and along with his friend who was an orphan, Nakajima Atsushi, the possibility of the team was realized.

Maybe, they could make this work.

Oda Sakunosuke was a former exy champion. The sport was created sixty years ago but it had been only ten years since it was gaining traction around Yokohama, and this season is crucial to their chances to go for Nationals.

The Foxes were always languishing at the bottom until the previous coach was fired over a scandal, which was normal in a university infested with scandals, it was normal.

Palmetto Foxes’ rivalry with the Edgar Allens’ Ravens was well known. Oda couldn’t understand what the topmost team held against the lowest underdogs. So when a scandal broke out, claiming the previous medical professional of the Foxes was involved with the Ravens coach, that shattered the Foxes reputation out of the window, they were suspended from further Exy practices until last May, when the ECCA allowed them eligible to play in the I Exy Tournament Season.

Oda was somehow the one to be chosen as the person to coach them, he didn’t know how.

Okay maybe he did-

First, it started as a simple bet with his friend and now partner, Ango Sakaguchi His occupation was a bit complicated – so he’ll leave the story for later. Anyway Oda made a bet to his dearest friend, that he would take over as a coach for the Foxes.

Provide a future for those hopes that remain dimmed – those were the exact words he uttered.

He didn’t expect Ango to take the words with so much weight that he recommended Oda as the next coach after this term ended.

He just didn’t expect it to occur all of a sudden. The scandal just got him onto this position faster than he thought or even fathomed.

“We need a reserve striker”, Yosano’s voice erupted him out of his thoughts.

Oda nodded, “Adam is looking through the records, we should have a name by any second.”

“Good, I’ll go inform my brother so he can move his ass from Hokkaido and get to here.”

She meant Ranpo and the other seniors who were yet to arrive in Yokohama. It was always a hassle to get them down here, since her older brother didn’t know how to use public transport, it was always hard to get the team on time since the delay. Not that Oda minded but still.

He noticed the hurry in her voice. Yosano Akiko had been the captain of the Foxes from when the team was formed, and she was the designated goalkeeper. It was almost like an obligation that she win this year’s championships.

Yosano was also one of the reasons, the team’s existence was guaranteed, she kept the teammates stuck together, even if it meant forcing the shards of a broken vase and sticking them together irregularly.

 Or haphazardly. Doesn’t matter

She was a force to reckon with and Oda was immediately convinced to retain her as the captain. He wouldn’t have it any other way.

Adam came out of nowhere, but he helped form the backbone of the team- the reserves. A recommendation by Ango’s friends at his shady workplace, who was a robot of her creation.

Programmed with emotions, like a real person.

First of all, it was Ango’s fault that he was a damn exy coach. Now working with a robot?

It was the strangest fucking invitation he found himself in. But working with Adam was easy, he caught on easily and helped find reserve players within a range of whatever radius his focus was on. He managed to pick players from the worst of backgrounds. From the most broken backgrounds ever.

Oda wouldn’t know it was an impulsive decision or a calculated one. Adam Frankenstein was a curious one. But he had enough data stored in his system calculated with instincts of how each these skills would help the Foxes' chances of making it through the season.

Yeah, making it through, that’s the bare minimum they are looking at for now,

Ango came in with a bunch of paperwork, “There’s this boy we’re looking to recruit in this town called… Porvoo. An hour away from Helsinki, Finland. His strokes were a bit sluggish and repetitive, but he has the raw and natural talent to him.”

“Why are we going so damn far for a sub-striker? Don’t we have better things to do?”, Dazai interjected, his expression, bored.

“Oh no, I checked his records, he is of Japanese descent. He’s just living there as a student.”

Ayatsuji spoke up, “His practice videos show that he has promise. Since Ace is already out of the mix, we should go check his match out.”

“We have to travel to Finland, all the way. Who’s gonna do that?”

Oda sighed. It was a hassle and the boy was far away to approach.

“The boy is smooth, coach! He’s worth it. And with Ayatsuji’s thumb healing, its always safe to have a reserve striker”, Adam replied gleefully.

“He makes sense, Oda.”

In the few months, he had known Adam, he had never sounded as elated and excited like that. Crazy that a robot like him was expressing actual excitement. Oda remembered his creator did mention that he has the ability to experience high adrenaline and emotions.

Nope. Adam was particularly invested in hiring the boy from Helsinki. But why there of all places?

It just seemed too far away.

“Adam, are you sure the boy studies in Porvoo? I don’t think there’s a lot of universities there-"

Ango intervened, “The boy’s name is Chuuya Nakahara. 18, studies in Mechanical Physics as far from the management I know, and is the exy captain in the local inter-university matches held in Helsinki University. Here let me pull up a video.”

The video was brief, but it was enough to ease Oda’s nerves. Adam wasn’t playing about when he said the boy could play. Sure the footwork was awry and needed work – a lot of it infact. It was sluggish and the movements were not as effortlessly fluent as Ayatsuji, not as professional and smooth. Not as aware and calculated as Dazai’s. Not as perfectly practiced as Atsushi’s.

Ok, maybe a little similar to Yosano’s raw brute strength but her style was goalkeeping and required just keeping a stead on situations as a captain and her footwork was her own’s, something she developed on her own.

And his movements were fast. Rushed.

That’s a disadvantage the Foxes had to deal with all season. Ace wasn’t fast enough and had derailed their progress multiple times when they were so close to getting a goal. Oda couldn’t fathom if it was something that was intentional or he was just slow.

Nonetheless.

Ango sighed, “I have some commitments with the NCAA this week. So I can’t come. Would it be okay to send you and Adam together then? Dazai can accompany you guys.’

“Why meeeeee? I have a business to tend to, here ask Atsushiii-“

“You’re going and that’s final”, Ayatsuji interrupted. “We both know you don’t do anything except hang out in that old dingy bar with random men.”

Dazai’s face darkened when he smiled, “Oh Ayatsuji, why are you so bothered that I hang out with men huh… Smells like jealousy to me."

Ayatsuji simply waved his hand off and snorted. It was like this, Oda noticed, both of them not working together and getting on each other's nerves.

Oda knew his medication was the reason Dazai had this dazed and crazy look on his face every time he retorted something. It was a side effect of his medication of course. Kouyou took care of it mostly but there were times it would go overboard and sometimes it ended up in….. precarious situations.

Like how he almost always slipped empty threats around Akutagawa siblings and nonchalantly saying things that were obscure and crude. Oda knew he had a rough history with moving houses and foster parents, but nothing specific – just that he had a shitty background.

It wasn’t his business to pry. However, it was his business to coach and bring the team together – half of the job already done with perfection by Yosano. He just has to keep the fort together.

Thank god Yosano was their captain.

He has a set of kids he wants to adopt and move to the countryside, away from the bustle of Yokohama.

Just one season.

He went home to begin his packing to Finland. He had a team player to recruit into the set-up, so he better catch up on some sleep.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

It had been six months since the whole ordeal. Chuuya picked up the takeaway that was handed to him.

He thought Finnish food was a bit bland to his tastes, but anyway, the cuisine wasn’t something he particularly hated, he grown fond of it.

It reminded him of the days his mom used to cook something for him when they had nowhere to run to for the rest of the day. They took shelter in the uncanny of places and she used to feed him.

Food was the only means through which Chuuya remembered his mother more lovingly and tenderly because other than that nothing was tender about her at all.

He sighed when he heard his phone ring. It was Shirase.

It was annoying to say the least. There wasn’t a day he wasn’t hassled by the boy.

Even if it’s something  

“What is it, again, Shirase?”, he sighed. He had to make his one-hour trip back to Porvoo to rest a bit before classes tomorrow. And he needs sleep.

He doesn’t remember the last time he had a full-fledged 8-hour sleep, maybe when he was at Evermore? Or when he was in…..

Nope.

“Tomorrow, apparently there are group of spectators who come from Yokohama”.

Chuuya’s breath stilled, “Fucking Yokohama?-“

“Just listen. They are exy specialists and there is a possibility people can select for national teams. Imagine you get to play for the Edgar Allen Ravens, like that’s so damn cool.”

“EDGAR ALLENS?”

“Dude, calm down, I know it’s a lifetime of an opportunity-“

Bless this oblivious man, holy fucking god.

Chuuya cut him off before he could continue, “I need to go, Shirase. Bye. My train’s here”.

Perfect timing, the train was indeed here.

“Chuuya, wait-“

He cut the call and took a deep breath getting on the metro. He wanted to go to the quiet cabin and crash for the rest of the day. The idea of Evermore recruiting him again? Oh my.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

He knew his exy game was below par but enough to match the skills of the people at the Ravens. His father placed a price on him. He was so close to being sold to the Edgar Allens for eternity and had to endure everything.

God, like heck he wanted to play alongside Fyodor, Nikolai, and Ayatsuji.

Those weren’t teammates. What a monstrosity.

Wait-

Ayatsuji had broken his fingers and was forced out of the Edgar Allens and Evermore. Coach Oda Sakunonsuke had revealed in a press, that Ayatsuji was transferred to the Palmetto Foxes upon “dispute” with the Edgar Allens coach. With that disagreement, he was “disowned” by Edgar Allens and Evermore, let alone welcomed there.

“Disowned”, he smirked, he was marked up by the Morozov brothers who controlled the ins and outs of exy politics. And of course, he gets to escape.

Ayatsuji fucking Yukito gets to have his way every single time.

He dumped his phone breaking it into pieces. Its good he has his burner phone. He needed to break that if he had the possibility of going to Yokohama.

No traces were left behind. His father’s first instinct has been to look all over Yokohama and get him back to….

He swears.

Nope, not thinking of that.

His stop had arrived.

Porvoo was his mother’s hometown, where she grew up. Nakahara Vilja was a force to reackon with. She was a rebel, a social activist, and whatnot. But Porvoo was always where her heart lay, despite the vigil chaos she preferred, the quiet was where she let all of her rage simmer down.

It made sense. Porvoo was serene, the pleasant weather aside, the scenery at his cabin that anybody would kill for. Thankfully, his mother left this in his hands

Not like Yokohama where every breath was tracked, the scent of blood trails kept count of, every breath that felt like a marathon.

He felt his head hit the sheets and he hid his other burner bag and dropped it into his duffel bag.

Everything he owned fit in a single bag.

Yeah that bag, the faint blood-streaked old bag that his mother offered to him when he fled Yokohama. It had been his anchor and comfort that he had survived the worst.

Tomorrow would be what decides to fate, if he gets to stay in…

Chuuya knows he can’t stay in Porvoo forever, the commute to Helsinki took atleast two hours, and he was exhausted after classes practice and subsequent matches.

Lastly, he reached home at like three o'clock.

He looked at his exy racquet and sighed.

Whatever tomorrow holds for him, whatever it may be

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Ok, maybe Helsinki wasn’t bad. It was just annoying, they had to come this far for a boy. For a sub striker.

Odasaku was simply into it because Adam insisted. Well, what does a robot know?

Helsinki was…not as crowded and stifled as Yokohama was. It was neat and spaced out, not cluttered and messy.

In another life, he would have just loved to be here, drenched in such serenity, such calmness that he finds unfathomable in his present life.

Scratch that, he would give anything to be in a place like this. It was so not chaotic.

Dazai might have given anything to stay in the place. It was glorious.

Then Odasaku and Adam dragged him to the exy court before he could even complete his thought.

Ew. Not so glorious anymore.

“Seriously, Odasaku, why are we here? More specifically, why am I here? You know I have stuff to do with Atsushi’s birthday and stuff.”

“Didn’t know you had a thing for special birthday parties, Dazai.” Odasaku smiled.

It always clenched at Dazai’s heart, for some reason the warmth that radiated off Odasaku’s voice. It was almost effortless, the way he took things with a pinch of salt. When Kouyou advocated him to the Foxes, he expected to be thrown back into juvie again. Not that he particularly loved that place, but that was the place where he honed his “striking” skills. It was all a matter of luck that exy had found him.

Odasaku took him in without batting an eye. It was all so natural to him.

Just. Like. That.

He wasn’t used to being accepted. That made it all the more strange.

They entered the stadium, Adam had prepared them sweaters in case the temperature dropped and since they were in a foreign country. Odasaku ushered him and Adam in and they took their positions in the balcony seats.

One advantage as being a recruiter. He still couldn’t fathom why the Board hired him as a reserve selector when at the tournaments he barely contributed. Not that Dazai did notoriously bad at tournaments, he isn’t named “prodigy” for no reason. In reality, he hated the nickname. His ability to think quickly and plot out a map for goals made him incredulously dangerous.

He listened to the broadcaster's yap about him, day in and out on the post-match presentations. It was tiring and to be associated with Ayatsuji. Ugh.

Okay, he might admit that he- might just be some goddamn genius of exy but that doesn’t mean he gets to take over the Foxes just because he’s an exy star.

Yosano is a far better leader than him. Thank god, they had her to control the “im-the-greatest-champion-stick-up-your-ass”. He can’t fathom one of the star strikers of Ravens left Evermore to join Foxes. It annoyed him more than it should. That guy was no better than Akutagawa.

Akutagawa was better than Atsushi and one of their best backliners that the Palmetto Foxes grabbed in one of their deals with the Trojans. Naturally, he was supposed to be with the stronger teams along with his equally talented sister, Gin, but they gave up everything to join the Foxes.

Part of Dazai knows it's an instinctive reaction. The Foxes are a lower-ranked team and there was no way they could attract the press as much as the Ravens, the USC Trojans or even the barely known teams had much of the media presence than the Foxes ever did.

But Foxes had a reputation – a rather scandalous version of it. They were known by the media for all the false reasons. Odasaku was left to suffer because he chose this team out of a drunken stupor. Not that he could blame him, but even when the board gave him a leeway to back out of the position….

He didn’t.

Instead, he decided to come to the press with a signed paper saying there was an agreement that he will build a new team for the Foxes after their line-up brutally fucked up the trials in the eyes of the NCAA board.

With the aid of the old captain, Yosano Akiko.

It wasn’t that surprising. Yosano was the only saving grace that the world adored about the Foxes, although the leader herself didn’t care much about it

Dazai? Dazai Osamu was meant to be in here. Why would a vile person who’s whole exy career was picked because he had basic mapping skills of the court? Let alone a person from juvie.

The whistle blew and the toss was drawn.

It was an interschool competition. The local exy matches didn’t gain much attraction and this was the first time he attended a match outside of Yokohama. There wasn’t much of a crowd because obviously what they are seeing here is just a university match.

Okay, match was between the Sheep versus the Jackals.

The match was smooth. There wasn’t much to look forward to, since the game was leaning towards the Jackals side.

It’s as if the Sheep weren’t even trying.

“Hmm, this game seems to be going too one-sided. Adam is that the boy you wanted in our team?”.

Adam systematically cocked his head in the direction where Odasaku pointed. Dazai saw a boy with slight auburn hair with streaks of ginger burning bright, with the hair he tied down. Black bands that covered his wrists.

His helmet was hiding most of his appearance, but it seemed like he was getting into the court, gripping a racquet that was far bigger than his height.

He looked livid when the player came off the court. He didn’t wait for the coach to signal him to take the other silver-haired player’s position.

He just zoomed to the centre of the court guarding his teammates.

Dazai was just scared he’d drop the exy racquet but his grip, oh it was so strong.

The Sheep was trailing 1-8 in favor of the Jackals.

Then the boy swiped through the gaps. Dazai always found finding gaps to be a hassle to slip through. Technically anyone on Palmetto could effortlessly do that even if it edged on the lines of being sluggish, he grabbed the ball in a second which was all the while controlled by the Jackals, effortlessly leaning away.

The ball was in the boy’s park now.

Dazai had literally just blinked.

How the heck did that happen?

He could see why Ango and Ayatsuji had their eyes set on him. He had raw skills, for a minute that seemed like textbook Ravens’ techniques. It kind of annoyed him, the way he picked up speed to tackle the opponent and swerve it at the goalpost.

Speed like he had never seen before.

The foot movement, yikes. Needed so much work.

Suddenly the team came together. Nope, no wait the team didn’t.

The boy was the one defending, striking, and dealing the ball keeping it from the grasp of the opponent. The sheep…they were practically useless without him, the kind of ferociousness he had only seen in one guy’s play was enormously fascinating.

“You seem involved.”

“Seems to be not as boring.”

“Chuuya is good, we must go talk to him about our recruitment options or we could go and check out other match zones nearby.” Adam chimed excitedly.

Odasaku seemed to think for a while.

“Let’s go talk to him. We’re here to talk to him right? Let’s finalize the deal and get home soon. Chuuya Nakahara, is it?”

Chuuya, oh so that was his name.

“Yeah, lad seems good, how did you find him, Adam?”

“I picked on his history, usually Chuuya-sama seemed to be a mere inter-school competition player. He finished the last of his education in Helsinki and joined the Sheep for local matches and he seemed to score the most points. Statistically, it was impossible to have such a track record and go unnoticed.”

“So what prompted you to check Finland?”, Dazai asked.

Adam simply said, “Mr.Ango told me to check options that have been brushed off since Finland is the lowest ranked when it comes to exy, not many come here, so I thought by luck we’ve found some games, oh look the Raven recruiters are here too!”.

He exclaimed and Odasaku shushed them and shook his head “Adam, calm down. Why are you getting so excited over this?’

“Coach, this might be our chance into getting a player with such speed. I have never seen such a agility in my life!"

Dazai scoffed and wanted to remind him that Ayatsuji's loathsome self was prideful enough about his strength, then his gaze wandered over to the Ravens recruiter along with the number three player that they have gotten alongside. He had heard about the topmost champion team a lot since he was approached to join them.

Nay, he wouldn’t really bother his mind about it.

It was a one-time incident – Forget it.

Yikes, though.

His attention immediately diverted to the fiery auburn redhead. Well, not a redhead but streaks of it found in his loosely tied ponytail.

Weird, maybe it was like those sports players who loved trying on different hairstyles and colors.

Show-offs. Exactly the kind he hated.

Heck, he can accept the boy has undeniable passion already. It was almost gleaming off his eyes, the light, as if this game is what kept him breathing.

It was disgusting, really.

Maybe Dazai is looking too much.

The game ended in a tie and he could see the boy slump down in disappointment. Exy was a harsh sport and it demanded a lot from the body. Practically a lot. Even when he practiced it at juvie, even when they were confined to a smaller space, it took a lot of tax on his body.

He could almost feel the disappointment practically sling off his shoulders.

Woah.

Yup, he’s looking too much.

He should probably stop.

Yes. That’s it. Maybe some caffeine in his system.

No wait. Tea.

He hates coffee, he still doesn’t understand why Odasaku seems to prefer it so much.

The crowd slowly dissipated with the players shaking each other’s hands in congratulating the others. A mere form of obligation, Dazai thought it was a waste of time, or what they called “sportsmanship”. In exy, there was no sportsmanship.

It’s all about who comes out on the top, even if you give it all.

He wasn’t there, he disappeared?

-

Huh?

What the hell?

Where did he go?

“Um is Chuuya Nakahara here?”, Odasaku’s voice rang out, knocking at the open door of the Sheep’s dressing room.

The silver-haired guy shrugged, “He shouted at me and then left the dressing room, he always does this when he needs to blow off some steam, the guy’s a piece of work.”

“But he was just here?”, Dazai asked raising an eyebrow, eyeing the boy intensely.

“Chuuya’s like that. You could go check the main lobby though.”, the boy replied, shrugging.

Odasaku and Adam looked at each other for a moment, “Let’s relook his videos and have lunch and then approach him, recruitments start in only 17 minutes”.

Dazai stayed outside of he dressing room and yawned before something caught his eye. His left bandaged eye usually doesn’t respond to things he picks up at the corner of his eye but-

Dazai caught sight of the ginger flicks of hair popping out in the distance between the locker room and packing his things up.

Looks like the boy is done for the day and is leaving.

Why the hell is he running?

Why is he fleeing away?

Then it hit him. The recruitment process was shortly getting started, which means all players are supposed to be here. Every year the NCAA sent recruiters from well-known teams inducted in the I Exy Tournament Season which was held internationally. They were assigned districts.

That was exactly why this job was given to Adam. He had identified the potential districts and insisted they go to Finland since it was a “golden” opportunity for them to induct a sub-striker.

The Ravens and Foxes were assigned Finland.

So the recruiters must be here, they must be after the Sheep captain, considering the show he had put up.

The Ravens were looking to have him to themselves.

It’s six in the evening meaning classes were over, meaning he was trying to get away.

Clarity ensued when he realized why exactly the boy was running away.

Dazai’s mind lit up with an idea. Odasaku and Adam were still at the lunch hall taking a break and rewatching Chuuya’s stills and videos.

This means the recruitment option would be handed to Ravens since the Foxes were taking their time.

Ravens had their eyes set on Chuuya Nakahara.

Dazai owed nothing particular to the new boy. But he knew being recruited by the Ravens was a nightmarish fate that no one should condone.

He isn’t saving him.

“Dazai, you can’t save people.”

He didn’t even know who that boy even was.

Fuck.

Odasaku would also think that this would be the sensible thing to do.

He’s not doing it for the boy but for the sake of Odasaku. Which means its for the sake of the team.

Yep.

So he followed.

Inducting Chuuya Nakahara into Palmetto Foxes might be the most impulsive decision that chief selector Adam Frankenstein and Foxes Coach Oda Sakunonsuke might have ever pulled off.

But so be it. Whatever it may be.

Whatever may come so.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Close call again.

Chuuya hid in small edges between the locker room cubicles when he felt the footsteps pass by him, luckily his body was small enough to fit in there.

He was simply chugging the water bottle when he felt the footsteps echo across the court room. The familiarity in those footsteps. The tentative breathes, the other person took as they wandered around in confusion. There was no confusing those pink and white braids that were cut off brutally in front of his eyes, the scar on their cheek.

She had grown. Sigma. Backliner of the Edgar Allen Ravens.

Why the fuck is she here? Did his father get out of jail? Do they know he’s here?

Snap out of it. Snap out of it. You have to run.

You have to run, Chuuya. NOW-

He slid the water bottle down the trash quietly and took the corridor which lead to his cubicle where he had kept his things, a direct view to his dressing room and huffed breathlessly. He pulled his armbands which revealed his ugly scars.

Gloves off, and his fingers reddened from how hard he had been holding the racquet, the grip had been slipping away, he made a mental note to change it soon. He took off his sweaty jersey and dumped it in his duffel bag and stepped into the shower, the hot water draining the tension in his shoulders.

Why is he so fucking tensed in the first place? This shouldn’t be the case at all.

Whatever it is, he’ll be able to handle it.

He wouldn’t allow his past to catch up to him when he had strayed away and made a life for himself.

He wouldn’t fucking let it.

Chuuya got out of the shower wearing a long-sleeved black compression shirt and dried his damp hair clasping it with a clap, his curls falling over him as he let out a breath of relief, he was not in the sight of Sigma or any of the Ravens’ recruiters anymore.

Making Shirase the captain was a desperate move on his part. When he knew the Edgar Allens were assigned to the Helsinki region for recruitment to Yokohama teams, he pleaded with the coach to make him captain citing knee pain as a reason.

His coach didn’t buy that, he knew. Chuuya would play even if he had a partially broken limb and the Sheep knew that too, altogether.

It was practically conditioned for a sliver of self-preservation to seep in without warning. He would NOT go back to the Nest at all costs. The nightmare his mother helped him escape, at all costs he is never going back to Evermore, let alone join Edgar Allen Ravens.

Fuck, when will all of these end?

He thought moving to Finland would make his appearances less mainstream. That was what his mom said. The Ravens wouldn’t be able to reach him here.

But Shirase was making things worse on the court while he was busy planning to get away and diminish his existence, he was fucking up the game that could get them to the season finals. It took only a few minutes for Chuuya to secure his helmet, gloves, and pad and step into the court.

And put up on a fucking show, which would of course give himself away on the spot, he was literally in the spotlight, which was all he wanted to avoid in the first place

He didn’t mean to get that involved considering he should’ve kept a low profile and played today. Shirase did warn him about the lurking recruiters that were coming from Yokohama.

He had really given himself away, huh?

Run, Chuuya, run- His mother’s voice echoed.

He zipped his duffel bag, a wave of nausea and familiarity shrouding him when the bag slung over his shoulder, the weight of running away.

“Need assistance?”, a cold whisper reached his ears.

Who. Found. Him?

“There’s no one here”, a voice reached behind his back.

Fuck. No.

“Who the fuck are you?”, Chuuya snarled back before the boy in front of him inched forward and stood in front of him

The recognition immediately flashed across his face.

Ah. He remembered. The recruiters of Palmetto Foxes were also here alongside Ravens. He was too caught up in the fact that the Ravens could potentially take him away that he forgot the Foxes were here for their recruitment process as well;

Chuuya stepped forward and glared at him. “What are you doing here?”

Dazai Osamu. Star-striker of the Palmetto Foxes. So many of the teams tried getting him in their trashy line-ups but he refused all of them and joined the low-ranking Foxes instead.

“I see I’m known”, the guy sniggered.

“Why wouldn’t you not be?”, he challenged him.

Dazai looked amused and held a hand up, his eyes shutting dramatically, giving him a mock salute. “I’m not exactly known for my greatest exy quirks, but it feels good to know I’m being acknowledged by the captain of the Sheep”

Chuuya grumbled, raising an eyebrow – what the fuck did that even mean?   

“Don’t flatter yourself too much, Dazai Osamu”, he spat smirking slightly, “Quit beating around the bus, why did you come to me?”

“De-flatter yourself. It’s not like I’m willfully here to talk with you here it’s just-”, he held his arms out in a defensive gesture as if he was trying to not provoke Chuuya in the process.

“Nobody almost is. Doesn’t surprise me. Now get to the point.”, Chuuya took his duffel bag and held it, the prominent weight of it sending a familiar ache on his shoulder.

“Is that why you were trying to bolt?”, he pointed to his bag.

Chuuya clenched his fists, he swears he hasn’t seen a human so much more punch able than at the moment. He willed his fists to soften as he gave the other boy a smirk.

After all Nakahara Chuuya was known for his charm, this is his turf.

Well, for now.

He tilted his head and brushed a strand of hair pushing it back, in frustration, and took a deep breath and eyed him. The brown curls hung over his bandages that were carelessly wrapped around his arms to his neck, with a familiar-looking orange jersey with the number “3” etched next to the Foxes logo.

Chuuya didn’t think much of the Palmetto Foxes, except for the number of scandals that they carried to their name. Those were just news articles and nothing more.

Besides it was nothing compared to the Morozovs’ threat looming over him.

Technically the rules for the new recruitment process were simple, two professionals along with a team player. And of course, the Foxes brought Dazai over.

“How is that any of your business, anyway?”, he raised an eyebrow propping his elbow against the locker beside him.

Dazai mirrored his expression and crossed his arms, “Just curious, that’s all. You are the talk of the town after all.”

“Now get to the damn point”.

Dazai held a hand up, almost chiding him, “Patience, patience. Don’t you want to hear my deal?”

Chuuya folded his hands, “What the fuck do you mean “Deal?””

“We’re here to recruit you. Adam, Odasaku, get over here. I’ve found your guy, he’s too yappy though.”

Huh?

What just happened?

“Dazai, you had to stay back to evaluate our observations, where did you wander off to, as usual?”, the coach of the Palmetto Foxes spoke up, as Chuuya looks up to the two men approaching them.

Oda Sakunosuke, his identity card read.

Oh.

The whole ploy has been about recruiting him into the Foxes setup, instead of the Ravens, that’s the reason Dazai was distracting him or stalling time.

Why the hell -

Why the hell would they want him?

The robot-like looking man stepped forward, his green eyes widened. His movements were mechanical but they were too whimsical, almost – like a kid at a candy store. But there was a genuine glint of excitement to his face, one that reminded him of his father’s excitement when he-

Chuuya, what the fuck kind of comparison is that? Are you really comparing –

Never mind.

He sighed and sat down wearily when the coach spoke, his thoughts clearing for a moment.

“So Chuuya Nakahara is it? We checked your videos and the performance you put up today was spectacular.”

“I…uh thank you.”

“The speed was marvelous! In fact according to average stats no exy player has been able to clock that speed on field in a number of seconds, after all exy is a hard game, but did you know that –“

The coach sighed, “Meet Adam, he is our designated chief selector for the Foxes and mentor for the players.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Chuuya-sama!”, he lent out a hand in a calculated mechanical move and swiftly shook his head.

“Er…um Chuuya is fine.”

Oda smiled warmly, “So Chuuya, as Dazai had pointed out earlier, we are offering you something, a place for substituite striker is open and we feel you’ll be the perfect fit for it, considering how Adam here earlier was raving about how your speed would be one of the factors to suggest you to our line-up-“

Chuuya interrupted, “Wait, wait, you’re recruiting me?”

Why do they want him? What are they going to get from getting him into the Foxes. Besides it’s still a threat to go in there with Ayatsuji transferred there. The Morozovs would track him down within a millisecond.

Its not a good idea to be apart of the Foxes.

It’s the worst idea.

“Yeah. Besides you’re one of the best on the Sheep, so it’d be a shame to miss the opportunity, don’t you think?”, Dazai chimed in, cradling his cheek with his slender fingers, eyeing Chuuya.

God, he wanted to punch him -

Oda sighed exasperatedly, “I know it’s a big step to move from Finland back to Yokohama. Change must be never easy for anyone”, He bent down to meet his eyes and handed Chuuya a file of documents, that were stapled to the paper loosely”.

Chuuya’s eyes widened. This was a whole damn contract, enlisting him in one of the I Exy Tournaments, meaning he was playing professional exy for the next few years.

He can’t really afford to stay a lot of months.

Being with the Foxes was only a temporary resolve, it’s not like he can’t hide forever, the past would catch up to him to him, sooner or later. It didn’t matter now.

Its either sink or drown. But he can fucking swim.

“I need some time.”

“Of course. You have a week’s time before you can fill this form, a sub-striker is an optional position, and the team altogether group together only next month.”

They weren’t fucking joking.

He would get to play in Spring Championships. Fall Seasons. Travelling with the team.

Holy fuck. This was huge.

 Free of the price the Evermore and Lord Tengan placed on him. Or even free of the shadows.

He slung his grey duffel bag and looked back at the three people and gave Dazai a mocking salute, smirking. It felt good to be a little shit in return, the weight off his shoulders was there, but not too jarring.

 The relief of being given a choice, to slip out of the shadows, he thought as he took the train back to Porvoo.

A choice – A choice to stop hiding.

He clutched the documents when he reached the dim of his cabin, the stream of water pouring next to the house in stark contrast with how his heart almost leapt out reading out the contents.

A lot to think over.

Chuuya made a decision when he picked the pen.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chapter Text

 🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

He was on the flight to Yokohama a few days later.

Chuuya woke up earlier than usual that morning. Usually, the temperature drops down to five degrees, it’s more pleasant in the afternoons than at the beginning of the day, but it was freezing today in particular.

He had learned to keep his sweater, jacket, and bed warmers handy whenever the weather drops. The luggage was ready – well his grey duffel bag, if he were to be specific.

Yet something tugged at his heartstrings, the unavoidable feeling of dread that settled in his lungs. It took him about two days stat to say “yes” to the Foxes' offer and the coach immediately arranged the flight to Yokohama and announced that three team members would come to get him along with the humanoid robot, Adam Frankenstein.

Not that he brimmed with excitement to go there anyway. It was a survival tactic, a decision based purely on instinct.

It had been a fourteen-hour journey from Helsinki to Tokyo and he had slept most of the time or watched the movies that they screened during the time. Too fucking nervous to even have some food in him. Ah no, that’s not it, he was broke and needed money to take the Shibuya Station to Yokohama.

He retrieved his only luggage and waited for the train as he munched on the energy bar in his hand. Chuuya had missed dinner the previous night to travel, so in case he couldn’t stomach the hunger, he kept a chocolate bar handy in his bag.

The flecks of blood marks made months ago were faint, almost just a blur like they were never there in the first place.

To Chuuya? The memories were like a plague that kept coming back in flashes, electrocuting him in the process.

The memory that remains still. Time froze when –

Gunshots, Fire, Smoke, and then lastly the whiff of faint alcohol..

He shook the images off his mind. Now is not the time, he heard the telecom buzzing. He was in Yokohama Central. He slid off the train and checked if all the belongings were safely zipped in his bag.

He checked the broken wristwatch in his bag, it was 8:45 a.m.

All good. All ready.

Until….it wasn’t.

Chuuya hogged his sweater and jacket, pulling it across tightly when the droplets of rain hit his face slowly and began the onslaught, his clothes and his hair a shriveling mess. His black sweater now stuck to his wet shirt underneath.

Great. Just…great.

Where the fuck are they? What’s taking them so long?

It. Was. Too. Fucking. Cold.

The whiplash of the cold pricked his skin, a curling discomfort seeping in, the sensation made him want to rip his skin off. For once, he felt like he would love basking in the blistering hot temperature, anything that would get him out of the sheen of chill that crawled down his spine, the sliver of jacket sticking to his skin, intensifying the cold, you know what they say about the floor being –hot lava- he’d rather prefer diving head first into it.

Then he felt a tug against his freezing jacket.

 “Nakahara-san, is that you?”, it was a boy with silver hair, his hair cut in awkward angles wearing a Foxes’ trainer jacket with an umbrella in hand, his eyes..

They were strange, similar to his, but the colors almost mixed in, a faint hue of purple that mixed in with the yellow flecks in his eyes.

Segmented Heterochromia.

“Well yeah, t-that would be me. What the heck took you so long?”, Chuuya gritted out, his teeth chattering. Fuck this damn weather.

“Oh you’re cold, Nakahara-,”

“Call me Chuuya.”, he cut in, sighing, shoving his hands deep inside of his pocket, with the grey duffel bag slinging off his shoulder.

“Ah, Chuuya. Dazai-san had told me a lot about you! I’m Atsushi, and I’m the Foxes dealer-striker. Well, it depends.”

Chuuya observed the way the boy talked with an air of uncertainty in his voice, he couldn’t not stay closer to him, and with the force of the rain intensifying, he clung to his side seeking warmth. Not that it worked anyway, but it kept the sensation of shivering a little toned down.

“Um, Chuuya-san. You don’t mind me asking, do you? Do you not handle the cold well?”

“S-since you asked, n-no.”, he managed, his words coming out all stuttering and incoherent. God, he hated it.

There was a van waiting for them. He wasn’t surprised looking at the condition of it. Dingy and broken, the windows were barely hanging off to its side, when he caught notice of the two others in the car facing towards the window, faces away from each other, Dazai Osamu and Ryuunonsuke Akutagawa.

Okay, that was totally awkward energy

Akutagawa caught notice of Atsushi and Chuuya walking towards them and nudged forward almost screaming into their faces.

“What took you so damn long?”

“God, you don’t have to be so damn impatient, I was just finding my way!”

“Of course, you got lost. This is why I asked to be sent, would have saved so much more time”, the boy muttered.

“I was taking my time, there is a difference. I didn’t want to find the wrong guy”, Atsushi lashed out gripping the umbrella tighter, facing Akutagawa with a glare.

“We agreed on fifteen minutes, maximum.”

“That doesn’t mean anything! Plus I’m just what ten minutes late”

“Thirteen”

“Seriously?-‘

Chuuya noticed the droplets oozing off the umbrella indicating the rain had stopped and stepped closer to the van, drowning the noises of the boys arguing. Not his business to pry anyway, he’d rather not. He was not here for that anyway.

Adam was nowhere to be found when he gingerly stepped forward to the van. He went to the other side to see a bandaged hand and brown curls against the windshield of the broken dingy van, rusty and on the verge of collapsing anytime soon. He rapped on the window causing the guy to startle awake at the sudden movement.

“Oh its you, er….’, he mumbled still half-dazed, his eyes looked bloodshot and empty.

He waited for Dazai to get out of the car, but he looked zonked out.Not that he expected it a bit, but the back door opened, he dropped his duffel bag and turned on the heater of the car, the rise of temperature, as an immediate relief settled on his shoulders when he felt the heat hit his face. The warmth, a sweet release.

No. More. Cold.

Dazai kept his hands on his forehead as if he was coming down from a high. Was he sick? Chuuya observed him for a moment before nudging him.

He was so out of it, a shallow and empty gaze that streamlined the depths of where he was – meaning he was never really aware of his surroundings or even aware that Chuuya sat behind the car mentally at least. Somehow Chuuya knew that look all too well, clearly the Evermore premises weren’t all standoffish about it they reveled in the use of substances.

Fyodor used a different one as he could remember, not that it molded and kept his dark personality at bay. It was way worse.

It took a while as he observed Dazai take his pills, his fingers shaking his eyes glazed and unfocused as his enthused attitude that he saw at Helsinki returned. The normal façade was simply a mask.

Dazai Osamu. Prodigy. One of Exy’s finest was all a lie.

For a split second Chuuya felt a twinge of empathy before Dazai’s gruff annoying voice rose “You’re on time, midget. Didn’t see you there.”, he smiled lazily.

Chuuya scoffed and rolled his eyes, his gaze turned away, as he rubbed his palm, the coldness slipping away, the overt warmth filling his senses, “Rise and shine, I suppose.”

“Your face being the first thing I see isn’t exactly all pleasant,”

“Sad, unfortunately, I don’t fucking care,”, Chuuya muttered, taking a drag off his cigarette and looking outside.

Dazai chuckled and placed his arm against the windshield of the car, before diverting his gaze to the rearview mirror in the middle meeting Chuuya’s eyes as he sat at the back inhaling the smoke and letting out soft puffs.

He shouldn’t be smoking, the aftereffects of the jetlag were still settling in, but the dingy and cramped car was only a leeway to memories he so wished he could forget. He let a drag the nicotine filling his senses.

Here he is, in the very city where he buried his mother’s ashes, yet again.

 “Chuuya Nakahara I see – you could do so much better than us, such a shame you’re just a Fox right now, WLC? USC? Heck, even the Ravens? Yet here you are. Stuck with us.”

“You seem more miserable about that, more than me. Although I could handle myself just fine, it’s a contract I willingly signed, so cope with dealing with me however you want. By a long shot at least, I’m not leaving”,

Dazai rolled his black sports bands up that lay atop his full bandaged wrists and readjusted the loose strings, “Or I could drive you away the first week.”

“Try me”

“Ooo-,” he mused and peered out the window and sighed exasperately.

Right. Atsushi and Akutagawa.

“Can’t believe you brought chaos to this place the very first day you landed in Yokohama. Look at the boys fighting since you just showed up”, Dazai whispered.

Chuuya clicked his tongue, the frustration settling in raw in his bones, oh he so wanted to strangle him on the spot.

“How is any of this related?”, Chuuya spat out while checking the contents of the duffel bag, counting all of his belongings.

Phew, it was all there.

Dazai glanced at him for a brief moment before stepping out of the car heading towards the boys and placing a hand on both of their shoulders.

“Atsushi, Ryuu over here, we gotta get out of here. It’s getting late. Good job on getting Chuuya just on time!”

Akutagawa glared at Atsushi before they reluctantly parted ways and they took their place beside Chuuya at the back, leaving him in the center seat.

He saw his appearance in the front center mirror and internally cringed and atop of that being stuffed in the middle by the boys beside him.

And fucking Dazai Osamu.

Oddly claustrophobic. But he’ll be fine.

“Where’s Adam?”, Atsushi questioned propping his hand against the window.

“Ah, he’s going on his ‘research about sweet items’, he’ll be in time for the brief practice session before me and Ayatsuji show our newcomer the court.”, Dazai started the car, explaining.

Akutagawa turned his gaze to Chuuya, as if he’s noticing his existence for the first time and nodded, a little awkward.

Huh?

“You can call me Akutagawa, Chuuya-sama. I…pleased to meet you.”

“Chuuya….is…fine.”

What Chuuya would put it as was a major attitude change. It was so fucking awkward to be placed with undertones of such respect. He was a nobody. A runaway for the matter.

Huh. That was so weird.

Adding to that, Chuuya had seen the Palmetto Foxes on the court. He could swear on himself that Akutagawa was one of the decent backliners along with his sister. Their game lacked teamwork. Otherwise, he could count the number of times Ayatsuji and the Akutagawa siblings were enough to lead them to victories.

He pushed the thoughts outside of his head and leaned on his duffel bag, the familiar roughness drawing him into exhaustion, even if his back was hurting after so many hours of travel.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Dazai reached the Palmetto campus and parked the car halting it to the parking lot. He saw Adam following him with his electronic scooter. He didn’t know what was use of bringing that creaky weird vehicle to campus every day. Someone like Adam could come to the campus in a posh rich car with the bungalow he owned.

But he owned this, hideous-looking scooter that lets out a slight whirring sound, not like an average vehicle in Yokohama.

As if it was a spacecraft? Aircraft? He couldn’t tell.

In another world, Adam Frankenstein would have been a scientist, but he was content in being the messed up Foxes' mentor instead.

Dazai realized only a damn robot would be suited for the job. Kouyou Ozaki, his aunt, or rather adoptive aunt, took on the role until a scandal forced her out of the setup a while back. She would have been enough to shape the team into what it is. In some way, she was the backbone of the Foxes.

Atsushi and Akutagawa had gotten out of the car to get some early breakfast since they had to pick up Nakahara Chuuya early in the morning, they excused themselves. It was kind of funny how they hated each other’s guts and yet leaned on each other for financial security.

It’s not like the Foxes were well off. Forcing those two to share an apartment until university started was also a risk. Odasaku wondered when was the moment that Atsushi came running back to campus, pulling at his hair that he didn’t want to live with Akutagawa anymore.

Thankfully, they had lived together in supposed tranquility for all these months.

He locked the car in. Pretty sure he kept the keys in his pocket and then nodded at Adam who hurriedly made his way to his office.

As he picked up his trainer bag, his mind began to wander slightly, as he fiddled with his phone checking the notifications that he had missed.

To his non-surprise, of course, there was none.

“LET– Slam- ME OUT- ”, the voice was muffled slightly, and his gaze wavered back to his car.

At this rate, the hanging Blinken lights that were barely hanging on for dear life, he turned back when he heard the intensity that was shrouded over the voice.

Wait – He- Had- Locked- it.

He was sure that no one was there.

He was careful.

Is someone in danger? Did Evermore University decide to be more petty and send their gang to follow them?

Before he could get back to his crumbling car, Odasaku had appeared in his view, came onto the car parking area breaking his line of thought, and nodded at Dazai, “I assume you have brought Chuuya over without much trouble?”

Then it hit him.

Oh.

He had locked Nakahara Chuuya in his damn car.

The slamming noises make so much more - sense.

“Oh Odasaku, give me a few moments and I would be riiiight back”, he played it off with a smile.

He didn’t realize how rushed he sounded before he fled the scene and towards the car.

“Dazai wait –‘, he heard Odasaku call him out. He almost skidded and stumbled before he reached the car.

He fumbled for the car keys and clicked on the button, seeing the boy look around in confusion, his eyes narrowing when he took in Dazai’s eyes, when the car door clicked open.

Boy, he was pissed. I mean who would want to be locked in a car on their first day?

Then he- Chuuya – threw his dusty duffel bag right on his face.

The car door slammed shut and Dazai stumbled back when he, in reflex caught the bag which was heavy even in contrast to his trainer bag. The dust tickled his nose, when the boy hopped off the car and clutched his jacket wrapping it around him.

Chuuya’s eyes darted to his, his breathing rate returning to normal, he shoved his hands in his pocket and covered his hair with the pale grey hoodie when he moved cautiously before he stood in front of him, his gaze piercing.

Goddamn, he was so damn gone.

So damn gone.

The bag practically hit him on the face, the dust infiltrating his nose as he sneezed a little.

How old was that bag? And why the heck was Chuuya checking it constantly?

Like a vigilant cat, great now he’s comparing Chuuya to a cat? If anything he looked like a scruffy dog with the collar around his neck, which looked an odd addition to his appearance contrast to his pale blue sweater and faded black jeans – or grey?

Dazai’s impending goal was to drive Chuuya away from the Foxes.(Yeah he’s aware his logic is crass- since he insisted his opinion to Odasaku that Chuuya would be perfect for sub-striker position)- 

Yet…

Everything about Chuuya Nakahara screamed bad news, from the moment he saw him hiding in the locker, as the Ravens recruits chased after him at Helsinki, the fiery red and auburn curls in pale contrast to the shaken edgy look in his eyes. The familiar fear, ever so vigilant.

He knew it all too well.

It frustrated him.

If anything Chuuya Nakahara looked like an open book with his fiery auburn hair with flecks of ginger here and there, and freckles that covered the base of his nose, the brown eyes that swirled with rage when he barraged with insult after insult at him.

In reality, he couldn’t figure him out at all.

“I..WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT FOR?-“, his voice was loud, but lacked the usual boldness that he saw in Helsinki.

“Listen, Jeez, you look-“, Dazai started but froze when he saw Chuuya’s hair, the curls of his hair flowing down.

Oh. He had his hair down.

It was longer than he had expected.

He had taken off his clip that made his hair flow cascades.

“I don’t give a damn”

“Look-“

“What?”, Chuuya gave him an annoyed glare, justified in the least, the auburn and streaks messed up and disheveled.

Dazai eyes widened before he cleared his throat. His mind wandered for a while as he chose his words when he willed his heart to calm down.

He didn’t like the boy. He was just too – brute – for his liking.

He thought of Odasaku who lived with the Team Coordinator in his spare apartment  and how they were so fucking sappy with each other, that’s what love is, Dazai witnessed firsthand -  sharing jokes with the person you love, joking carelessly, having wine late at night, getting drunk over conversations that didn’t make sense…

Odasaku and Ango were like that. But those whimsy fantasies don’t come to people like him. Love, as hopelessly he craved was meaningless.

Then again, Dazai was not the person to answer that statement and prove its accuracy when he never felt an ounce of romantic attraction to anyone ever in his life.

It was even more confusing why such a line of thought slipped into his mind while talking to Chuuya of all people. He was the confused new boy, petty and infuriating for some odd reason. The conversation he had woken up to was oddly strange, usually after pills, he would be the one to unsettle the other within seconds, and he prided himself on that ability.

Usually, he had control of the conversation, knowing the words he could carefully pick out, but with the boy, he felt like fisting the car gear and pulling at an invisible string losing an internal war.

He hated losing control.

He is going to win.

Chuuya tied his hair up and snapped his fingers at him, “I asked you a question.”

“Wow, okay, rude, no basic etiquette when you talk to someone? I expected better from the Captain of the Sheep.”, he folded his arms, smirking a little.

There, a semblance of balance. Phew.

“Wow okay R-U-D-E you’re the one who is zoning out and here am I talking to someone who decided to lock me up?  For. Some. Apparent. Reason.”

“Well, um-“, Did he just spell ‘rude’ to emphasize his point?

“Care to explain?”, Chuuya raised an eyebrow.

Dazai had to give in, I mean practically it was his mistake, his pills weren’t helping his horrendous memory, but he felt a strange tinge of satisfaction when he saw the furrowed brows of Chuuya’s.

Bingo.

“Well, I figured your tiny brain could use some rest, must be jetlagged and all, fourteen hours must be exhausting. See, I’m considerate.”

Chuuya yanked the bag from his grasp and slung it over his shoulder like it was so natural, a reflex movement as his gaze scanned Dazai from top to bottom.

“If that’s your level of being considerate - The bar is so fucking low. Locking people inside like leverages isn’t so genius of you to give me ‘rest’”, he held up his fingers in air quotes, for dramatic effect.

“There, there, I’m just being practical here.”

“What part of locking me up is ‘practical? I thought you were supposed to be smart”, Chuuya’s eyes were just filled with exhaustion, the earlier pissed-off look fading away, as he folded his arms.

“I did tell you to preserve your sanity while you’re here, didn’t I? Palmetto isn’t your regular Helsinki University. Things happen. Like this.”, he shrugged, playing it off with a smile.

Still, eyes raised, he inched a little closer, a strand of hair fell on his nose, Chuuya laughed, put off? Annoyed, perhaps? He couldn’t tell.

Then a dawn of realization sprung in his eyes.

“Maybe you forgot, genius. I cannot believe that’s what they are supposed to call you. Let me make this clear for you since you’re so goddamn adamant to make me leave. I’m not leaving. I’m staying. Just to piss you off.”

“Something tells me you won’t be as lucky, midget. I could drive you away, just in a week’s time.”

No worse fate to anyone than ending up at the Edgar Allens’, he told himself that day, which is why they picked up Chuuya Nakahara as their sub-striker, in the first place. He wasn’t being a savior. He was doing what any person would have done.

No, he was doing what Odasaku would have wanted him to.

 “I’ve seen worse,” Chuuya stepped closer jabbing his fist on his chest, his gaze inviting in a challenge, turning away with his bag slung across hanging heavily on his hip.

“God, I need a fucking nap”, he muttered under his breath before meeting with Adam on the other end, his hands still fisting the bag, enough to leave a red mark against his wrists.

Adam was observing his weird vehicle (whatever that was called, he couldn’t pronounce the complicated name anyway) his eyes instantly lighting up when he spotted Chuuya, motioning him to follow him.

He knew that the boy was supposed to move into Adam’s posh bungalow for a few days  before all the Foxes were assigned their dorm rooms and the exy season began, well at most-   the seniors – Yosano, Ranpo and Tachihara would be here by tomorrow. So Odasaku probably would push for practice tomorrow.

Dazai yelled from the other side as he parted ways and joined Odasaku, “Turn up to the Fox Tower at 5 pm, midget, day after tomorrow. I have things to show off.”

Chuuya scowled at him and flipped him off.

Even better, then.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Oh Lorrrrdddddd ,  the migraine was even worse than the last time.

It might as well be because of the size of the court. What he was seeing in front of him was equivalent to being stumbled onto a gold mine. Chuuya let out a gasp of awe as he slipped the key inside the pocket that the coach gave him before he entered.

Treat this as your home.

“Someone made it”.

Aviator glasses, blonde hair, cocky smile. The excitement he felt upon seeing the Foxhole Court immediately faded away when he turned back to be met with the man himself.

Ayatsuji Yukito.

Dazai was simply on the bench munching on an energy bar and looked as disheveled as possible. He smirked at him and thwacked his head, like he was waiting specifically to do that. Yeah, he wouldn’t fault him, the idiot probably would have.

Great. Exactly what he needed on a Monday morning.

A few hours ago he had met with Ayatsuji, Oda, and Ango and felt a spike of irritation in meeting the ex-Raven.

Why are these crows suffocating the area everywhere? Especially wherever he went to.

He was still zonked out and tired but not as – out of it- like two days ago. The constant stomach aches and the sleepy afternoons reminded him of how he and his mother used to move from city to city and how he used to be disoriented and have no time perception.

Well. Part of it to blame was the stupid clock in the Raven’s Nest. In Evermore, the time was always delayed three hours, and normally practices stretched up to 7 hours and only ended when Fyodor saw fit.

Some fucked up schedule all right. Some fucked up way of saying “We are the best in the exy business”.

He had moved in with the android assistant Adam a few days ago. He was far too enthusiastic for him to get into the Foxes setup. He got him settled into his big posh bungalow, which was far too big for his 'liking'. Take liking with a pinch of salt, he had never seen residences that big either, Porvoo was just a small town afterall. His cabin in the woods could suffice for him alone, tranquil and serene, no disturbances whatsoever.

But a rich posh bungalow in Yokohama sure had its differences, to say the least. And the warmth that the bedroom had was so much better than how he was close to developing a frost bite.

Warmth is always welcomed on his part.

Especially when Adam pulled his kit and gave it to him, the Foxes jersey and the subsequent armory, highlighting how it was custom-made to his size, he felt a smile tug on his side, he always had jerseys that clung loose to his body, or they were never his perfect size, they somehow fit haphazardly.

This? This was made for him. It just fit. Perfectly so.

“Nakahara”, the coach began.

Chuuya winced. Yeah, we are so NOT going that path. “Just Chuuya is fine.”

“Chuuya then. Settling in well? I hope Adam isn’t much of a trouble.”, the coach tried to smile slightly.

“He’s fine.”, his reply was curt.

Adam was fine. Just a tad bit overexcited on Mondays for some reason, but he would let that pass, since he had the best coffee machine he had ever come across. It was a life savior really.

He needed to let time pass, afterall he had only just come for two days. 

“Ayatsuji Yukito.”, the man took off his aviator glasses and shook his hands.

Chuuya nodded at him. The greatest “gift” that exy has got to offer, or touted to at least. The defiant and prideful stoic expression didn’t surprise him, that was just who Ayatsuji is.

What surprised him was the fact that he didn’t recognize him. Surely an exy genius like him must not have a memory of a goldfish?

All the memories from the Nest must have messed his mind up or something. Or Chuuya must have looked so different with no shades of auburn curls and blue eyes, the brown contacts he wore were just a cover to avoid the line of Evermore premises.

The man in glasses knitted his hands, and scrutinized him carefully, “Well, we will be starting the drills from today, although the dorm rooms are yet to be assigned, we are keeping a strikers only practice with you, Ayatsuji and Dazai included. We need to establish the striker duo in our team.”

“Combination pairing?” Chuuya questioned.

Oda looked impressed and nodded, “Well yeah. That. Exactly. I  noticed you are far earlier than Dazai, so I’ll hand you these keys, so you can catch some early practice along with Ayatsuji before he turns up at 9 am.”

The weight of the key in his palms was a familiar feeling. It dug underneath his skin, and he checked the time, it was 7 am.

The court was absolutely beautiful, the smooth surface of the court gliding as he put on his shoes. Adam had given him his jersey the next day and a kit bag. He discarded it as soon as he got it. Not that it was bad, but he would love it if for now, he could just fit everything in his pale dusty and grey duffel bag.

“Newbie.Be a little quick now.”, Ayatsuji’s voice called from behind.

Ughhhhhhhhhhhh.

He gripped the racquet in frustration and he saw the cones lined up in an order. He knew that all too well. It was a Raven’s drill, that helped increase efficiency and speed.

Ayatsuji casually cut in his movements and got the ball in his stead. Chuuya might have the speed and agility but his strokes and swipes weren’t exactly perfect.

He was far ahead of him, his movements speeding up as if to taunt him. Of course not, Ayatsuji was naturally competitive, even when he was Fyodor’s pair. It took about one hour to actually find a gap to consider the possibility of getting the ball from his grasp.

He heaved a huge sigh.

One reckless swipe and his feet were sluggish. Ayatsuji scored. The frustration was slowly creeping building as he staggered to the side, the other guy’s swift movements cutting in through his, the small gaps closing in.

Another. Another. And another.

Ayatsuji just kept scoring.

“Focus.” Ayatsuji said, “Strikers need to think on their feet if they are in court. Focus should be on the game, not the fact that you are not scoring.”

Chuuya gritted his teeth as he gripped his racquet tight, and willed his heart to slow down, the adrenaline rushing up to his face, playing at Sheep was risk-free, Helsinki didn’t have a lot of exy expertise, so even a rookie like him was able to outsmart them.

Focus. Focus. Focus.

The view of the court was clear now, the gaps envisioned quickly, he huffed silently, the frustration flaring up tenfold. He charged in and dodged Ayatsuji’s line of attack.

It. Was. On.

‘Focus’, he repeated, a mantra in his head, a fiery obsession flaring, he wanted more and more of it, the taste of adrenaline rush intoxicating.

It was enough to keep the flow of the game going. It was not until two hours later that he found himself catching a break. Things were never as intense with the Sheep. Or as mind-wrecking as this one single session was.

Exhausting, but the adrenaline in his veins was still on a high. Exy was the drug that kept him afloat after all.

It was exhilarating, but on days it was what kept him going, like the raw soles that almost threatened to rip out of his shoes, the days he spent running from one town to another, all the times he ran barefoot.

He needed new clothes, firstly. Oh and better brown contacts, the blue in his eyes should be well hid and shielded.

He went next to the water cooler when he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned back to be met with a lazy smile.

“Not bad”, Ayatsuji clapped his shoulders as a way of encouragement. Ugh, that asshole hasn’t changed, “I expect you to be on time at midnight”.

“Midnight?”

“Let's make a deal, Nakahara-“

‘Chuuya”

Ayatsuji looked at him, momentarily confused.

“Call me Chuuya, I mean.”

“Right, Chuuya. I want your game. If you wanna continue being stubborn, honestly your loss, I’m just lending a helping hand as assistant coach.”

Chuuya frowned at him, yup Ayatsuji was ‘touted’ to be the next best thing in exy, and if Atsushi and Akutagawa hadn’t come to distract him, he would have cracked a punch on his face without hesitation. He rummaged inside his duffel bag to check if everything was kept safe in his bag as he hooked his racquet onto his shoulders.

“No thanks, but I’m so oh so honored to receive assistance from you, but really I’m fine ”.

“As I said, your loss.”

“You think way too highly about yourself for someone who got kicked out.”, Chuuya spat out.

Ayatsuji scoffed, shooting him a glare and muttered something unintelligible as Chuuya left to the side of the court to see how Dazai and the man fared. Was this man that clueless? Did he still not remember?

Combination pairing was the most old-fashioned method in exy especially to try with strikers and how combinations work.

And the fact the strikers who were one of the best, individually did not work well together was truly a wonder.

He watched Ayatsuji and Dazai practice the basic drills, but there was no coordination. I mean in this case both of them are insufferable, which is understandable why they aren’t able to pick on basic drills and practices.

When Dazai found gaps he would let go and change directions to just frustrate Ayatsuji’s line of thought.

As insufferable as he is, he calculates his moves. He calculates the moves of the opponents with effortless ease.

Like he knows what to plan before swiping the ball off the court and to his stead.

Chuuya envies that. Maybe a little .

Atsushi sighed, “It’s always like this. Combination pairs never work with them, because Ayatsuji follows a set procedure, but Dazai – he follows his own set procedure.”

“Dazai-san knows what he is doing.”, Akutagawa grits in.

“Can’t a person breathe an opinion?”, Atsushi sighed.

As in morning, Chuuya tuned out the argument and focused on the drills. Exy was all mattered to him.

But –

Dazai was willingly not cooperating.

Willingly pissing Ayatsuji off.

“Enjoyed my show back there?”

“Show? There was barely any.”

It hit Chuuya, why the Foxes held a record of being the team with the lowest striking efficiency. They were allowed to play Exy only on the basis of the Akutagawa siblings performance which was their only saving grace before they were expelled based on some scandal; not his business, but it showed.

In the way, they were never achieving a semblance of balance in the team. Atsushi was simply struggling as a dealer and no one gave him importance to begin with.

 Wow, this team is all sorts of fucked up.

He shouldn't be saying that.

“Hmmm. Anyway, meet me at the Fox Tower at 5 pm alright?”.

Chuuya raised an eyebrow and then gripped Dazai’s wrist to get his attention, “Wait. Why?”

“Why? To get wasted, of course. You could just tag along, Chuuya. I would make sure to let the bartender know you only prefer ice cream, nothing more.”

“Did you not see how disastrous the drills went? No wonder your striker efficiency is low.”

“None of my concern”, Dazai whispered near his ear, “See ya, midget.”

Chuuya wanted to say something, anything that would get Dazai to stop, his non-seriousness about the sport was jarring in itself, but now he wanted to get drunk.

“Wait.”

Dazai looked back and shoved his hand in his pockets as he picked up his kit bag, his attention wholly back onto Chuuya.

“You offered me a deal, getting me into the setup? I offer you a deal back.”

Dazai stopped, an amused smile creeping into his face as he inched closer, “How interesting, keep at it, you have my attention for once”

“Can’t say I could be bothered. Anyway, I want you practicing in court the same number of hours I spend at the bar with you.”

“You can’t possibly-,” Dazai began laughing.

“With me.”,

He could practically see Dazai’s demeanor slipping away, his shoulders tensing a bit, a sumptuous shock over the words he just uttered.

A silent victory splashed over him. Bingo.

“With you? How so?”, He was quick to recover and slip his charming fake smile.

There. The mask was back on.

“Combination pairs. Leaving Ayatsuji out of the mix, just you and me. Friendly matchup”

“Tempting.”

“I bet I could kick your ass in seconds.”

Dazai’s gaze widened as Chuuya began to leave the court, he heard a low mutter, “Deal accepted, you meet me post 5 pm, you have my game in the mornings.”

“Accepted.”, Chuuya murmured as he headed towards Adam’s vehicle wordlessly.

Tonight was going to be a long one, so he could use a nap and some strawberry milkshake that Adam offered to make anyway.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chapter Text

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Oda heard the pliant sound of the waves crashing the shore when the unsettling feeling crept in again. Yokohama in the nights glistened with life, the reflection of the colored lights melting down the clear sea. Usually seeing the sight used to calm his nerves.

But that was before he became the designated coach for the Foxes.

Since he ever took up the job, it has been a whole wreck, and training the bunch was one spot of bother, but not more than the scattered mess the Foxes were.

Next week was the first game of the season and they haven’t got a single proper practice session in. Ango handed him the glass and sat on the sand next to him.

He sipped on the glass offered to him and let out a sigh.

“You really think listening to Adam was the best idea?”

“You saw the boy play.” Ango pointed out. “You’re thinking too much, which is typically not you Oda.”

Partly true. He was usually the lax one in any situation, which was exactly why Ango had recommended him for the coach position. After all of the controversies he had gotten into, it was he who helped him clear everything and get him a position here at Palmetto University.

“You need to let loose. Besides Yosano does half of the job.”

“The other half also matters, Ango.”, he sipped his wine and chuckled.

“Is it really that bad?”

“Ayatsuji and Dazai weren’t cooperating today as well. The new boy, well he was struggling to catch up to those two, but he managed to keep up and score one goal. Not that he survived against Dazai’s goal-keeping skills but he’ll get there.”

“Then what’s got you frowning?”

“The Yakuza. Do you think they are around?”

Ango pushed his glasses up, peering at the crashing waves that slipped past their feet and then looked at Oda thoughtfully, “Why bring that up now? You know I cleared all of your records since you got out of there?”, he raised an eyebrow and sipped his wine.

“I just have this feeling.”

“You said the same thing when we had recruited Ayatsuji, which was quite risky considering his past. But now? This boy has no such background that we need to be wary of.”

“You did run a check on him.”

“Nothing turned up.”

“Why was he in Finland then?”

“You’re thinking too much on this, Oda. What if the boy was simply poor and simply didn’t have a background. Only thing I knew is the cabin he lived in was rented in his mother’s name. Nothing else.”

Am I the only one who finds this way too shady?

Oda sighed and leaned his weight against the chair. Too much about Chuuya Nakahara wasn’t adding up, it just doesn’t.

He had only observed him once on the Foxhole court, his brown- blue eyes gleaming with passion he had never seen been before, the kind that lights the main stage and brings the game alive. It was fueling.

At most, it was scary.

Signs of what could lit ablaze if he kept going. Seeing the new boy was reminiscent almost. Like seeing the past awaken that he so desperately tried to leave behind. Rusty, reckless and on edge -  that’s how he was when he was young.

What surprised Oda upon talking to Chuuya on the very first day, was his obvious irritation and distaste with Ayatsuji. More than that, the way his game was resembling the Edgar Allens backliner techniques. Akutagawa was good, but he didn’t have the deflect and attack mode of play when it comes to tackling Ayatsuji.

Not to mention, Ayatsuji Yukito is touted to be one of exy’s marvelous genius.

 Because he was Ex-Raven. Well, he was one too. Once.

Why? Why the heck does it bother him so much?

Ango interrupted his thoughts that were going haywire, “. You should leave all of the thinking to me, since I have all the ins and outs with both the Ravens and Foxes combined. If Nakahara means trouble, we have all means and proof to get him out. Just say the word.”

It was true. Ango worked as a double agent in both of the teams.

Edgar Allen Ravens were the top-most team led by Ougai Mori about eleven years or ever since Exy was founded years ago by the head of the Russian mafia, although Mori had strictly accepted his part of the deal as just the coach who leads and guides the team, solely all for the game.

Oda was about Dazai’s age when he rose through the ranks as an ‘now’ ex-Raven, although not as polished and refined as Gide, his then- striker partner was, he was always on the defense while Gide went for the attack.

It was a plausible combination and the rim of satisfaction that rushed through him.

The only time such a destructive pair was created was four years ago, with Ayatsuji and Fyodor’s combination which had won them games and kept them on top of the game. Oda suspected it was because of Mori’s insistence from Natsume that he stay at the helm while he takes care of the business with the Russian mafia.

The Foxes could create one. They desperately need one.

His expression softened when he looked at Ango, the reason that his heart was thudding heavily, a sign of him alive, not slipping through the cracks of Evermore was him.

He had moved in with him two years ago, just after he had joined the Foxes and applied for the coach postion.

In truth, he had met him all these years ago when he wanted to get out of juvie for drug abuse. Evermore was a mess by the time, Katja Yukito was the one who made the existence of exy possible.

However, the birth of the sport was what brought her demise – the demise of the stability, three boys from Yukitos, Dostoevskys adding an unidentified family name traded for one life.

The rest of the Ravens were either forced out, as the killings kept happening. Oda fled the place only to be meet with the FBI.

Ango. He offered to help.

In trade of becoming the assistant coach to the Foxes team, there was an option to quit right after the main coach resigned but his stupid drunken bet with his now partner called everything off. The Palmetto Foxes were his to nurture now.

Oda shook his head at Ango’s words, “Doesn’t matter, lets wait for the team to assemble. Chuuya is now a Fox after all, not a Sheep or a Raven. We need to start developing a striker duo.” Oda affirmed.

Ango hummed in confirmation, “We shall, but now its time to shut your brain off.” He poured more wine wordlessly as his head felt light-headed.

The night dragged on, the glow of the moonlight reflecting on the shimmering clear streams.

‘

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chuuya’s head was pounding when he woke up from the nap and checked the time.

7 pm.

He had two hours before the ‘supposed’ night out. That he promised in deal with Dazai. He checked his bag for his essentials.

Binder. Check. Gun. Check. Knife. Check. Crumpled Clothes. Check.

Everything was in place. Perfect.

He almost jumped when he felt the footsteps as he stuffed his belongings into the bag, it was just Adam.

Goddamn it.

“Oh Chuuya! You’re awake, I just made the milkshake.”

Chuuya blinked for a moment and then a hint of realization came through. He was supposed to try his “experimental” strawberry milkshake before he could go out with Dazai, Atsushi, Akutagawa and Ayatsuji.

He got off bed, shoved his grey bag inside, then he headed towards the kitchen.

God.

The polished kitchen tiles were filled with flour. Or was it? The only time he had time to enter a “familial kitchen” per- se was before he joined the Edgar Allens’ and his father wasn’t committing crimes behind his back and his mother was helping him cover it up. Not like he has any experience but-

The juice mixer, was in shreds almost malfunctioning. Chuuya had known Adam for only fifty hours or so, but he had already had his moments where he considered whether accepting to stay in with him was a good idea.

Like the time, he accidentally stumbled into him ripping the cords that connected the switch to the bathroom light, casually working on it.

Also, the time where he was testing out fitness equipment items in the middle of the night, the drilling sounds awakening him out of nowhere.

He was fucking jetlagged for god’s sake.

But there were other moments – like when he talked Exy.

Like when he made him a console of his own and played games with him.

Those moments – that made him so fucking cool.

 “Oi tinman, you’ve made a mess!”

“Oh nothing that can’t be fixed, Chuuya-sama. Here have this.”, he ran to him at an astounding speed and handed him the milkshake and ran to fix the mixer.

“I can-“ help almost slips out before the blender comes out, detaching from the juice mixer, all of the remaining extracts of the juice practically splashing on Adam’s face.

Chuuya snorted but held it in and rushed over to his side, in a rather alarmed state than he actually intended to, “HEY ARE YOU HURT-“

Adam looked at him, almost innocently with a straight expression, staring into Chuuya with those eyes, “What do you mean, ‘hurt’? Chuuya-sama?”

Chuuya looks at him dumbfounded and he clutches his hair in frustration, “You literally pulled a blender out! Don’t you-,”, he takes his wrist in and sees that it is a prosthetic mechanical hand.

“Oh don’t you worry about that Chuuya-sama, just enjoy the juice!”.

“You didn’t have to you know pull off the entire machine to make me a damn juice.”, he sipped on the straw, the flavor rushing through his mouth. He glanced at the clock when he finished and started cleaning up the glass and broken pieces when Adam stopped him abruptly.

“Chuuya-sama, you’re gonna get late. Let me take care of this and you get ready, besides getting invited to Eden’s Twilight is a big deal.”

“Eden’s….what.?”

“Eden’s Twilight. From the sessions Ms Kouyou and I share with Dazai, he takes Ayatsuji, Akutagawa and Atsushi every weekend there.”

Chuuya looked at him and the pieces clicked.

So that’s what the idiot was rambling about ice cream and drugs. That’s why he wanted him to come along.

It didn’t take long for him to come out in his black sweatshirt and jeans. Basic. Anybody out there would call him out to be a homeless kid on the streets. In actuality, he’s a runaway so it fits, doesn’t it?

The sun set, while he waited outside. Adam trotted outside with a coat that was way too big on him and draped it over him, wordlessly, his eyes lighting up in the process.

“It is loose. Whoever would know if I lose it?”

Adam simply smiled, it almost seemed genuine (What is he talking about? This is an robot he’s talking about)

“Chuuya-sama. The weather here according to my calculations gets very chilly at nights so here is this thick coat belongs to a man operating the bar at Edens’!”

“And you just took it?”

“He’s a good friend of mine. We discuss on-“

“Breaking stuff together?”

“Close! But he’s a part-time recruiter for the USC. I could introduce him to you, his name is Murase!”

 “That. Won’t be needed. I’ll be sure to not get into trouble.”

Adam gave him a dumbfounded look, mirroring his own confused expression from earlier. It wasn’t until a few minutes later that Chuuya realized that he was learning and taking his reactions as a form of data for human emotion.

“I never said you’ll get into trouble, Chuuya-sama. Just someone you would be interested in talking exy with”, he quipped, his earlier expression morphing into the earlier cheerful façade, “Since I had noticed you seemed interested in conversing with me if I talk about sport with you. See I was so right in recommending you to coach Oda, Murase would like you.”

Chuuya’s eyes widened, stumbling almost as he tugged the coat closer the warm sporadically spreading across his shoulders, his features relaxing, maybe a bit. 

“We’ll see about that. Um. Thanks.”

Adam nodded and looked at the watch, “I’ll see you later, then! Oh and keep this phone handy it might be useful”.

“ I don’t-”, Chuuya was cut off, when Adam simply disappeared before he could complete his sentence, “Hey!”

Where the fuck did he go now?

He cursed in annoyance and tugged the coat closer as the night lights flashed, the city’s glory tainted with the stories buried underneath, the tainted blood of thousands of lives spilled, the screams that only he could hear.

Chuuya heaved a huge breath when he saw a car zoom in.

He patted his pockets to check if he had the phone Adam handed it over to him. Still, this was a public party, there was no guarantee the Evermore students would not turn up. They could. 

They very well could.

“Nervous?”, Dazai’s voice broke through his thoughts, like always it has been when he spaced out, his head peeking out of the window.

Chuuya inched closer to see no one was in the car yet. “Huh.”

Dazai arched an eyebrow, “You know I figured a midget wouldn’t know how to navigate the ins and outs of Yokohama, so I offered to give you a lift.”

Chuuya folded his arms and peered closer to the ledge of car’s cracked windshield, “I don’t recall asking, how gracious.”, he went over to the other side getting in the passenger seat and rolled his eyes.

Not one moment of peace ever since he stepped foot in Palmetto. Got to do with being in Yokohama perhaps. Or the fact that he met Dazai Osamu.

“In all due time, you will see how effortlessly gracious I could be.”

“Effortlessly difficult, ya mean. Who knows when you will lock me in this damn car again.” He waved the burnt cigarette, the air of smoke clouding the car, which was jarringly reeking of whiskey already.

“Ah come on the smoke is ruining the ambiance of my car”

Chuuya blew the smoke at his face, rolling his eyes in the process. “Calling it a car in itself seems quite a choice, Mr “Genius.”

Dazai frowned, “Smart jibe. But I managed to loan this car off the streets without Odasaku or Ango’s help and the engine is pretty old, up and running still, don’t you think it's a major feat?”

“You….stole, you mean?”

“It was a good worthwhile steal.”

“I see.”

“And…..?”

Chuuya shrugged feigning nonchalance, “And…? Nothing.”

“No surprise? That I steal?”

He groaned in frustration. The Foxes were a team of delinquents. A fractured mess. Adam did tell him earlier that he would be dealing with other eleven people other than Dazai and Ayatsuji. But that’s for the game that they will be playing in a week.

“I would expect a lot from you, so not that surprising, adding to that you’re a Fox.”, Chuuya quipped and dropped his hands to his pockets checking for the phone. 

“Aw my pride is wounded, midget. Worried I’d steal your phone? Relax. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t want the broken android phone Adam lent. Speaking of which, nice-”

He’s. Had. Enough. 

“Can you shut up for a second or should I make you?”, he turned to him arching an eyebrow, sumptuously tugging at his shirt before letting go, as Dazai’s expression leaned onto borderline amusement.

Why did he say that just now?

Or it was just the medication he was on like that day. He couldn’t tell.

First of all, why is he psychoanalysing Dazai?

This was gonna be a loooooooonggg night. Each day he spends with the Foxes is an alluded mystery in itself. A test to see if he actually made the right decision or not.

So far the signs just prove a recurring stupid pattern with his father’s voice echoing that stung with him ever since he left the Russian syndicate - Notorious Nakahara, known for diving into situations that would get him killed in the process. Very typical indeed.

Edens. They were here. 

He mustered all his energy as he stepped into the place, the gust of coldness drawing them both in, the loud metallic rock music fusing in, that matched the loud thuds of his heart.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Dazai got in slipping in the VIP pass to one of the bouncers standing in front, ushering Chuuya in. 

How does one get “one” to “shut up.”?

What are the implications?

What did he mean by that?

Chuuya folded his arms and smiled uneasily at Atsushi and Akutagawa before sitting beside them. His eyes scanned over to Ayatsuji, who was already busy getting wasted.

“Woah, woah, a little too hurried there are we?”, Dazai sniggered, mildly amused at the sight of the striker almost close to passing out.

“Piss off. I did say I don’t want to associate with you outside the campus.”

Dazai laughed maniacally, it didn’t surprise him honestly, he was used to Ayatsuji’s cold demeanour with him. They never got along, outwitting each other on the court, which made the coach’s life a pain. 

So they played as singular strikers with a backliner duo supporting most of the games. Not like they won games but he couldn’t deny how the Akutagawa siblings have been their saving grace most of the times.

Nope. Not that he cared about exy anymore.

It was all a lost cause. 

He felt the music infiltrate his thoughts once more. He hadn’t invited the rest of the teammates for a reason, despite the fact they would be landing today. Odasaku did advise it would be a wise idea to introduce Chuuya to the rest of the team members especially the captain and the other reserves.

I mean the main boys know him for now. Atleast that’s a form of “introduction” or whatever.

The other reserves in the lineup were the least interesting. 

Or rather indifferent, same as Chuuya. 

Everything about the golden flecks in his face, the auburn strands mixing in bright red with the twilight lights. Conventionally, in another life, he would have found that extremely alluring and captivating. The brown coat he wore atop his shady black shirt and ripped denim pants.

No the ripped denim pant wasn’t a fucking fashion statement.

It was simply what he had.

Uh oh. Why is he psychoanalyzing what Chuuya is wearing now?

Dazai headed and ordered two crackers and a pint to drink as he felt Chuuya come beside him and order a strawberry flavoured icecream.

“Booooo.. Worst combination ever.”, mixing his medication in pint was the worst idea yet here he was. 

Judging Chuuya’s incredulity in his choice to indulge in his lousy strawberry icecream.

Chuuya rolled his eyes as he sat beside him twirling the spoon around the bowl.

Ehhhhhh who cares? Not like anyone can read his thoughts from the facade he seemed to be mask effortlessly, it has never been ripped apart forcefully or shattered in the face of even Lord Tetsuji when he declined the offer Evermore University presented to him.

Chuuya was beside him in no time and sat on the stool facing him and took the icecream offered to him. It creaked with the weight of both of them sitting on the wooden bench.

“You have an interesting taste.”

Chuuya twirled the spoon around, “Do you get oddly judgemental when you’re high?”

“I’m just one shot in, relax,” Dazai smirked. 

“I’m not worried. Pointing out your hypocrisy. You are having pint on rocks or whatever shit that is, you’re shitfaced already with the medication-” 

Dazai cut him off, “Wah, wah, wah, that’s how you’re yapping right now. Usually it never ends well when someone decides to police me, it never ends well.”, he mumbled, the euphoria settling in as he smiled lazily

“Who ever talked about “policing” you, hey, are you even listening to me?”, he snapped.

“Peaceeeeee Outttttt”, he laid his head against his shoulder, the exhaustion catching up to him, it’s not like he has an excellent sleep schedule, sleeping only when he has a chance. 

“This is what y’all do at Edens’ huh? Also get the hell off me. You're high.”. Chuuya hummed, sipping on the orange juice nearby and began talking to the bartender. Chuuya nudged him off and went back to sitting beside Akutagawa who was spacing out as he usually does when he’s at parties. 

Dazai couldn’t feel his surroundings as he began to nap against the counter until he was roused from his drunken state.

By Atsushi.

“Um…Dazai-san. You told me to inform you if anyone came in.”

“Huh..? Yes i did. And who might be this beautiful being disturbing my slumber?”

“The captain of the Edgar Allens. You assured me they won’t be here! We don’t want another fight like last week. We’ll be out of the Spring Tournament Season and we DON’T WANT THAT”

Dazai knew the nasty fight he had with Fyodor last week at the same place. Not like with fists like usually like high schoolers but with words as self-deprecating as they shall come. The fight only got physical when he brought in Odasaku, and he was suspended from campus for a week or so.

“Atsushi-kun, calm down. Nothing we can’t fix”, he slurred and stumbled off the bench to get a closer look.

“Well…Dazai-san. Not to like “lose” hope in you, but technically last time, you got suspended when you got into a fight with him, and you got Ayatsuji suspended too!”

“Well I did get him into our side, didn’t I?”

Atsushi sighed, his bangs falling in front of him, as they usually do when he’s frustrated as he blew a frustrated breath, “ I know I know. But before that, you were the one who outed Ayatsuji to be giving secret practice sessions to Sigma at Evermore without warning, and you know how stringent they are with their hierarchies. Ayatsuji returned to our place with a broken finger.”

“Atsushi-kun..I told you-”

“Yeah, yeah, you told me it was because Fyodor had meddled with Kouyou-sama’s documents and exposed her past endeavours. How did you know about Ayatsuji and Sigma anyway? Whatever. But still, i’m just saying , tread carefully.”

“A calculated guess”, Dazai just shrugged and went over to where Chuuya and Akutagawa were lounging. He stood in front of them and walked over to where the frail mop of raven hair with eyes of purple. Their jersey were painted in red and yellow and he was wearing the jacket over it. 

He had never seen Fyodor outside of those clothes or his jersey even if it’s outside of the camp, he still remembers the feeling of satisfaction on his face that day when he saw the power slip out of Fyodor. 

As annoying and stuck up Ayatsuji was, due to how Fyodor and Ayatsuji were basically celebrities in their field, he was satisfied. It was one up for what happened in the scandal with Kouyou.

He matched Fyodor’s pettiness by taking away the one treasured asset. Ayatsuji Yukito. The Exy Genius.

He headed over to where Chuuya, Ayatsuji and Akutagawa were sitting and took a seat, waiting for the Evermore captain to step into his territory again. 

Although that wasn’t the most important part, he knew Fyodor was here to make his next move. To take back what’s his. 

Yukito Ayatsuji.

“Oh, Fyodor, it’s been a while, to what do we owe the biggest pleasure, to the greatest in the game”

Dazai smirked when he uttered those words, each syllable coated with malice and coldness. 

Fyodor smiled sweetly, “Thought we’d play catch up, Dazai-kun.”

“Oh, how come?”

“I have heard of a new player joining in the ranks, figured Ayatsuji must be thrilled, so just came to have a “little” chat.”

Dazai was about to speak, but Chuuya’s pale look stopped in his tracks, as his fists clenched.

Interesting.

Fyodor stepped over to Ayatsuji to which the man slipped off his aviator glasses to get a close look at his former partner and stumbled a bit.

“It’s been a while, Ayatsuji-san. How unkind of you to leave us like that for this place, but I bet we’re no better, huh?”

Ayatsuji’s gaze darkened, and he stood up, “We’re not doing this here.”

“I heard a certain ‘Nakahara’ had joined your ranks.”

“And.. What about it?”

The illuminating blue lights turned to red for a moment with the song track changing to an upbeat tone, Ayatsuji regarded him when he saw Sigma emerge stoically and nodded at them grimly.

“Oh. Poof. Gone all quiet.” Fyodor smiled gracefully. “Can I meet the newbie now?”

Oh right, Chuuya. Fuck.

Ayatsuji stood firmly, “We’re here for a night out, not to have a damn talk”

“Nakahara Chuuya, sounds way too familiar.’, Fyodor repeated clicking his tongue in thought when Nikolai came by his side, smiling.

“Don't tell me, You really forgot, didn’t you, Ayatsuji?”

“You all are idiots.” Sigma chimed in, whispering so slowly, almost a mumble, but enough to make Ayatsuji’s gaze darken. 

Chuuya paled when Sigma looked at him, his hands clutching the plastic cup that he crumpled it harshly. He dumped it in the bin and walked over to the crowd, Akutagawa looked indifferent as he signaled the keys to Atsushi.

“I have no interest in indulging with the people of your kind.” Chuuya spat out, his curls sticking to his brow, the sweat slick on his forehead, “I’d rather not, now, neither never even.”

Fyodor lowered his eyes, and looked at Chuuya, peering, "Is that so? We’ll see if you’re just all talk and-”, his voice muffled with the sound of music drowning out the rest.

“Talk. That’s all you. Not me. I’m not the one who -”

Crap. He needs to hear what’s going on.

“Hey, hey, hey, Dazai-san.”

Now……Dazai was confused. Atsushi tugged at his shirt, “We should take Ayatsuji and get back soon. Things aren’t getting great. It’s 11:45 pm. I’m going back to Akutagawa, please-

“I got this, Atsushi. Go home.”

He was right but.. Not that he owed anything to bring Ayatsuji back safe. But he had promised Odasaku that there would be no trouble, and he would bring all of them safe, well at least send the four boys on their way home. 

This was his territory, and no one was going astray. Not on his watch. 

Some fucked up sense of morality after spending years in Yokohama juvie huh? If this was you five years ago, you would have just watched and let the fire burn.

He retraced his steps when he saw Chuuya and Fyodor talk.

It was heated. 

This was no good.

This. Was. No. Good. 

Promises matter. So he stepped in. 

And….the last thing he knew before he lost consciousness was the harsh strike to his throat, knocking his breath out, he expected the familiar burn on his neck, searing through, pain that he was ever so used to.

Instead, he felt a hand touch it ever so tenderly, and then.

Screams?  

He felt something wet drop on his face. 

Or was it? He couldn’t tell.

Black. He saw black and bits of red as he slipped through the cracks of consciousness. 

Why didn’t he feel a shot of pain like he always does?

Why?

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chuuya gasped in horror when Dazai came out of nowhere and got hit by the Ravens’ player out of nowhere. 

The target he was aiming for was Chuuya since he called Fyodor a “cripple”.

Fyodor didn’t say anything but let two of his minions rage forward - Ivan and Vladimir, his cousins trudging forward.

Chuuya clenched his fists preparing to dodge before Dazai came in and took the hit instead. 

The entire background blurred, his focus instantly only shifting onto Dazai, and him alone. 

It was a sore spot to be hit at. Just above his collarbone where the bandages covered him, and the blood that seeped through his mouth. 

It was a horrifying sight, nonetheless.

Chuuya’s face was neutral, but that didn’t mean he felt the pain flood through him like it was his. He dragged Dazai to a corner leaving Ayatsuji to talk with Fyodor, Nikolai, and Sigma.

Good thing that Fyodor didn’t know that he was the alias of someone who was pronounced or presumed dead. Nakahara Chuuya wasn’t supposed to exist. 

Nor did they know he was the unknown boy who was also the Raven’s lethal backliner, who had disappeared following the infamous Butcher's killing spree. 

Neither did Nikolai. Neither did Ayatsuji. Sigma maybe. 

He sighed looking down at the sight of Dazai, groaning pulling his weight to the corner where a couch was available and the cameras were hidden. He checked for nearby medical supplies but whats the best one could find in a hidden illegal bar for exy players?

There were only drugs.

And a swab of alcohol. Not much to work with.

He has to use his coat.

Nah. No. It was someone else’s, besides he hadn’t even met him. 

“Trouble?”, a man’s voice rang out, placing a hand on his shoulder, 

“Do i….know ya?”

“Murase. Adam’s protegee, I assume? Nice coat there, looks good on you. Your name, kid?.”

Chuuya hesitated for a little and looked up to him, “Uh my friend here-,” What the heck is he talking about? Dazai wasn’t his friend, he just uh- “needs help, he got hit.”

“Nasty one, that.”, he kneeled down and checked his pulse, when Dazai’s eyes flickered open, at the action. “Use my coat.”

His eyes widened as he wiped away the blood on his mouth, and he propped up Dazai on the sofa and stepped aside, a lingering gaze back at the tired boy. At that moment, he wasn’t the threatening prodigy with the crazed smile.

By the looks of it, no one in the Foxes were not fucked up. And not one thing made him scary, it never fazed him how he casually carries sheaths of knives underneath those compression bands. 

He does too. 

“Nakahara Chuuya. Wasn’t he supposed to be dead a few years ago? Ravens sold him away I heard so.”, the man quipped, his eyebrows raising. 

“You’re confusing me with Tsuguro Kashimuro. He was the backliner that the Ravens sent away and eliminated on personal reasons who Sigma replaced.”

Ran away is more accurate. Or rather his mother grabbed his hand while he was half asleep and fled Yokohama.

“Ah, my bad. I keep forgetting the amount of players reported to have gone disappeared under Evermore. I would have liked to see how Tsuguro was like on court.”

Chuuya looked at him, with melancholy residing behind his eyes, a ‘what could have been’ situation, he wanted to laugh, “He would have liked fitting in USC for sure.”

Murase smiled back, “I bet, the boy had real talent, the three weeks I saw him. The Ravens actually played like they had light in their eyes. Not simply going at it to assert dominance. Love for the game was more important. Before Fyodor took over Poe’s position. Good times.”

“Yeah. I bet.” Chuuya nodded and turned his attention to Dazai.

“Uh…I have a favour to ask-”

The man, as if on cue waved him off, “You did a good thing bringing him over here, had the paparazzi got an inch, Foxes reputation would be shattered. I won’t mention a word to Oda and Adam, you have my word.”

“Why would you-”, he just squeezed his shoulders in response, leaving the room

And that night, Murase left him with another coat, in exchange for the worn off coat he used to wipe off the blood from Dazai’s mouth. 

And this time it was his favourite colour. Olive Green.

He smiled as Murase waved at him that night. It was a conversation that he would love to save in the trenches in his memories pocketed away. 

He felt lighter for a second.

He made his way out with Dazai leaning against him, his eyes shut when he spotted Ayatsuji preparing to leave still conversing with Fyodor and Nikolai in a heated tone while Sigma stared at him with coldness. 

Freaks I tell ya.

Fyodor then waved at Ayatsuji who had a pale look on his face. He left without a word and nodded at Chuuya, his glasses lowered

“Good job, getting him away.”

Chuuya nodded, “So what now you’re going by yourself?”

“Yup, need to catch up on some sleep before practice, be there on time.”, he put on his glasses and his hat, which looked extremely hideous by the way with the casual wear he was wearing, “Good luck getting the lad home.”

Right. Dazai. 

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

It was a struggle loading a half-dazed Dazai into his own crumbling car. The engine let out a weakened noise when he sat on the car seat beside him while it rained. 

It was raining, when the splotches of the rain came down faster, he was half-drenched before he got Dazai and him to the car.

He was so scared the car seat would come off. 

When Dazai’s body was fit nice and snug against the car seat, he sighed in relief.

His voice broke through his exhaustion as his senses became more alert, “Oh I survived, how unfortunate that someone decided to play the hero card on me”

“Fucking shut up, will ya? You got knocked out there. What were you thinking bargin’ in like that? You are a lunatic.” Chuuya gritted out, leaning back on the car seat, the weight creaking upon the action. 

The thunderstorms got louder when he completed the sentence. Chuuya couldn’t complete his sentence, he wanted to go on a rant but he couldn’t help but curl up tugging his new coat closer. 

“Besides, you were fucking playing the martyr card there. What were ya thinking?”

Dazai rolled his eyes, “There you go again wah wah wah, I’m alive and I’m breathing. Big deal.”

“Why don’t you ever take anything seriously then? The Ravens could have-”

“That rat from Evermore keeps squeaking and the Ayatsuji keep barking or growling even, what is he a wolf?  and you keep yapping. I saw from afar, how you willingly went in. Called him names.”

"Hah? What is with these animal metaphors?"

They sat in silence, the sound of rain, the only tune in tandem.

“You have a death wish”, they uttered in a singular motion.

Chuuya’s eyes widened as did Dazai’s and for a moment, none of them spoke, they turned away abruptly and he scowled.

Both of them sputtered, laughing. 

Dazai let his head fall back and laughed, “Chuuya, You’re hilarious alright. Okay, okay, that was fucking funny.”

The thunderstorm struck again and Chuuya leaned back the warmth of the broken car soothing his jitters. Well atleast the car is useful for something.

“We should head back, midget. The car won’t survive.”

“And what made you think this thought right now?” Chuuya groaned. “Yeah, let's. Except I don’t know where your damn house is.”

“Aw, that's too bad. Give me back my car.”

“Hell no way I’m letting you drive your stupid car in your conditions, you’re wasted, like a lot.”

“Too bad we’re gonna be stuck in here all day then”

“Then let’s do that”

Then lightening stuck shaking them to the core, that Dazai was clinging onto Chuuya’s collar for a minute, his hands shaking.

“Get off me.”

“Yeah right. I’m not even scared of lightenings. Pfft.”

“Sure. And you STILL haven’t gotten off me.”

Dazai looked at him in horror which made Chuuya let out a snort. He paused for a moment putting on his seatbelt “J-just drive us home.”

“Turn on the GPS map then, asshole. Wait I have to inform Adam.” He fished out his phone and began typing on Adam’s name on the phone.

“Oi, Chuuya, that's the messaging app, not the call dial.”

“Huh?”

Dazai facepalmed and motioned him to hand over the phone. Well, Chuuya didn’t know when all he survived was on those slide or button phones. 

The phone rang and Dazai handed it back to him, and he heard Adam’s clear voice on the other end.

And a slight whirring sound. Yeah of course.

“Oh Chuuya-sama! I was getting worried, are you safe at the moment, the forecast doesn’t seem to be that great either.”

“Tinman, I'm alright, I’m probably staying with Dazai for the night.”

“Oh that's okay! Completely! I’m out with Murase so make yourself comfortable. Although I’d like to say that Dazai-sama’s mansion isn’t all that luxurious as mine! See you tomorrow!”

Huh? Okay.

Chuuya ended the call and glanced at Dazai who was fast asleep, his phone already on GPS by the time he finished talking to Adam. He drove along the streets of Yokohama the air of tension, slipping away in the shadows, just like how the lights faded away in complete darkness.

The melancholic shade of loneliness. This time, although it was shaded with a tint of hope that dangerously fluttered. 

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chapter Text

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

10 years ago - (21st January, 1990)

Diary Entry 1

I don’t even know why I am writing here. The hopeless dread of never being enough has been gnawing at me lately.

Not that Poe would ever reconsider transferring to the USC despite being told multiple times. 

But someone wise once told me writing things down would help. 

Oh my coach, yeah. As a reserve striker of the Ravens, there is only so much that could be done.

So I’m starting these entries. Not because it is therapeutic but there is only so much a head can handle, I’m writing this down to lessen the load, perhaps. 

The mind can only hold so much.

The weight of words set on paper could hold it for years to come. Perhaps.

So let me start with what I witnessed in the dressing room. 

Three boys. Three little boys in the room when I entered the room where I was supposed to just slip in the reports and head back to my dorms.

The Ravens dorms always shut by 9:15 pm at the earliest. But I just decided to stick around to understand what was the buzz about Evermore’s post touchdown activities.

Well that’s how Gide described it. One can’t help but be curious,

Well atleast me. 

Scratch that, I have no idea what really happens in that room. 

I kept the documents and files and took a peek inside, there were three names with smudged signatures  - The Butcher, The Scarlet and The Queen.

Interesting code names. Could they be the three boys he had seen inside the room?

Honestly it’s up to contemplation but one can’t help but theorise right? I stayed behind the black veil where the three boys stayed. What is my preposition? They looked like three animals served up for slaughter.

Master Tetsuji’s outside endeavours should not be questioned no matter what. No matter how fishy they might sound.

Its no big secret that Evermore post midnight dealt in with illegal businesses with Russian mafia, but to think it was connected with the exy partnerships. 

“A risky gamble but the Butcher(s) are willing to put their name here”

That’s all I heard before I heard the sound of gunshots and I got the hell out of there. One heck of a call but I made it outta there.

Still, what happened in there gave raise to my elaborate thinking - what really happened behind the scenes.

The screams. The gunshots. It was a common occurrence after late evenings.

Gide did tell me to focus more on practice than about the possibility that our team would be dissolved after what happened with the Foxes.

Yeah that, I need to uncover. 

Gide’s opinion - I should stay away from things that do not involve exy but seeing a glimpse into the dark side of Edgar Allen Ravens seems a lot fun than i thought.

Today was just the start, maybe.

I have to go get my breakfast before the captain is onto me again about punctuality and manners, so until next time, I’ll come with my new observations.

O. S. 

PRESENT

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Oda woke up almost drenched in a cold sweat when he heard a knock on his door, his diary was sprawled on the table with a cup of coffee on the table.

Normal as usual. That’s what Ango always did before keeping up with his schedule. He had to make visits to every university to keep check on the Spring Championships. His job was the one he tried so hard so understand, but to no avail.
Somehow, in some twisted sense he was apart of Evermore setup. Almost like a agency spy, but the first thing he did was join the Foxes as the assistant coach. But he was also among whatever was going on behind the scenes at Evermore University.

How much ever he tried to pester Ango for information, it fell on deaf ears.

“Don’t sweat it.” Kouyou had said.

Oda, however hated being left in the dark. He wanted to know so he confronted Ango on one of their dates and spilled some bullshit about ‘honesty and loyalty’ in relationships. Not that he necessarily cared, but when Ango somehow had information profiles on every single player was unnerving.

He can’t help thinking of the countless possibilities that Ango might do.

Would he betray the Foxes? Right after he made him a coach.

Ango had laughed in his face and drunkenly admitted his first and foremost priority had been protecting the Foxes and the rest of his objectives came later.

Oda, being the skeptic he is didn’t believe him immediately. He was already skeptic from how he managed to clear all his history that he was the former reserve striker from Edgar Allen Ravens.

Until Ango managed to convinced star goalkeeper Akiko Yosano to stay with the Foxes despite how their reputation was shattered after scandal after scandal. And the incubous rivalry with the Edgar Allens’ didn’t help their case.

“This is my team. I’m staying. I’m not sure what’s the need for any debate here.”

Yosano’s voice was resolute when she re-entered the Palmetto Foxes as their rightful captain, her intentions were clear laced with stoic clarity for a twenty-year-old.

Oda’s initial thought if she chose this path, there was every chance she would be ridiculed and mocked.

Being the only woman captain in the Fall Season was just another reason to pile on the dirt on the Foxes, the advantageous situation a boon for the Ravens to spread baseless rumours. 

Yosano hadn’t flinched a bit when the press fired all the accusations at her temparament to get the team across the line post the dreadful game - one that threatened to erase the existence of Foxes all a whole. 

Then the issue of Kouyou’s was enough to dissolve the team as a whole. The scandal that threatened to destroy her exy career completely forever.
Then why had she stayed?

“Coach?”, a firm and resolute voice called out.

Akiko Yosano.

“You’re here.” Oda got out of his bed to meet the Foxes’ captain.

“Hmm, a bit earlier to get the proceedings started, although I regret to inform you my brother will be joining the day before our first game.”

“Which is in like….”, he tilted his head, in question and disappointment.

“Two days. Leave the rest to me, I just need to know if the squad is up and ready.”

“Dazai, the new boy and Ayatsuji tried some combination pairing. Nothing has wworked so far. Atsushi, Akutagawa and Gin were in their own zone as backliners and defence. I had been overseeing but the results haven’t been looking promising.”

Yosano let out a large huff of sigh and nodded, “I need to recover from my jetlag so I’ll oversee the practice from tomorrow, Tachihara, Higuchi and Lucy will be here soon. And Ranpo as I said will be there before game day. Also, would it be possible to meet the new boy today?”

All in a single breath, with no stop gaps. Oda couldn’t help but laugh a little.

Yosano carried the weight of the world on her shoulders, and it wouldn’t take a genuis to point that out. Especially after the scandal, there was a need in her eyes to prove something, although there was simply no need to.

“Alright captain, let’s first sit down shall we?”

Yosano sighed, brushing her hair aside, “You know coach, we need to put a good opening show. The Spring Championships are a gateway to international exy, and I’m not messing up this time.”

“Leave it to me. What were the ground rules I told you when you re-entered Palmetto?”

“It is NOT my responsibility to look after each and everyone in the team.” She sighed, pulling her trolley alongside, and looking at him in the eye, “I trust you, but old habits die hard.”

He sighed, nodding in confirmation. After a brief catching-up session he got ready for another grueling day and particularly today was not going to be easy with all of the teammates grouped in together. 

He sighed, dialling Adam asking him to help the squad regroup in front of the Fox Tower.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chuuya was already practicing the drills, deflecting every defense brought to by Gin as he moved rushedly. 

“Tch”

Dazai scoffed watching from the Fox Tower where he saw the rest of the team members assemble as he chugged the liquor inside, the ecstasy and the drowsiness keeping him afloat.

He had taken an off from the practice session, citing sore throat as the reason. The Ravens’ player had went absolute rough on him that night.

God.

He brushed his fingers against the hollow throat sinking his hands against the bandages and the bruise that had formed beneath it. He flinched, the ugly shape of the scar that he felt under his hands as he felt the anger that poured out from those actions.

He shook his head and continued before he felt a hand placed itself on his shoulder, “Someone’s deep in thought”

“Odasaku. I told you I wasn’t up to practice today.”

“I’m presumably aware of that Dazai. Then why are you watching the practice from afar?” Odasaku tilted his head leaning forward on the balcony.

The exy court was vast and huge. He might not admit it, but he wanted so badly to feel the fresh air as he skidded against, breaking through the defenses and scoring.

It’s just partnering up with Ayatsuji was boring, because his moves were so predictable.

It was practiced and controlled. Professional. It wasn’t bad. But it unnerved Dazai how he could never keep up. There were moments where he had got Ayatsuji off guard but there was no passion when he did that.

Exy was a lousy game anyway, it was a means of survival. After he had gotten away from juvie thanks to Kouyou.

“You’ve gotten quiet again.” Odasaku pointed.

“I’m just feeling funny today. I’ll see you in the team debriefing Odasaku.”

“Your throat doin’ okay?”

Dazai stopped, his hands shoving deep into his pocket and turning back, “Don’t you worry Odasaku, I can speak just fine so you don’t have to worry about that. I have people to piss off.”

“Clearly”,. He scoffed and made his way downstairs.

The Fox Tower was high enough to be considered a balcony from where one could watch exy games,(Well at least the players had exclusive access) with the glistening exy court, downstairs he’d imagine it to be filled it with people, crowded cheering on the Foxes to the end, perhaps.

He watched his teammates as the drills went on.

Yawnnnnnnnnnn.

How does anyone sit and watch this goddamn game?

Boringggggg.

This is why exy is so much better when it's being played. 

Before Dazai knew it, he was searching for his kit bag. He realised it was in his dingy apartment, since he wasn’t planning on coming to optional practice session anyway.

He had vague memories of what happened the night before. The new boy - Chuuya - had made sure to bring him into the apartment. They had slept in separate rooms, or had they?

What had happened, really?

Dazai hadn’t realised when Chuuya had left back to Adam’s bungalow, it was 10am when he woke up, still delirious from the medication he took last night.

“You’re drooling.”

Dazai flinched at the memories that seemed to be a foggy mess. Under his medication, he didn’t seem to remember anything. His therapist had said when he was experiencing intense emotions he cuts himself off from reality in a form of “protection”.

He says bizarre things when he’s under medication. For example, he doesn’t even know how he had gotten Adam’s number - maybe he would have gotten it under the intention that it was Chuuya’s?

He dialed the number, the sound of the ring matching the beats of heart, as the line cline connected, a brief moment of nerves clung onto his mind.

It’s just Chuuya. 

Why does it matter?

He heard a garbled mutter, “I am in the middle of practice.”

“So I see you still have Adam’s phone.”

He could practically hear Chuuya’s teeth clench in frustration, “Well, I don’t have a phone.”

Oh.

“We sure should get you one.”, he observed Chuuya’s shoulders tensing on the court.

“No thank you, I’m continuing practice, unlike someone who decided to drool all over me.”

Dazai’s mouth hung open. “Chuuya, wait, backtrack, what do you mean-?”

The call beeped. That motherfucker.

He slipped out of the campus, his movements slow as he got into the car, the seat creaking underneath his weight. It was moments before he entered his house fishing the keys from his pocket and pushing the door open.

Then he fished out the kit bag secured in the kitchen cupboard, reaching for it. His exy racquet was taped, the strings of it barely holding itself together. 

He slipped his compression black shirt over his jersey, the weight of his arm bandages was an uncomfortable feeling but a comforting weight that grounded him from whatever was trapped and concealed inside. 

It took a few minutes (or rather longer) to make his trip back to Palmetto, with his car’s engine malfunctioning and stopping in the middle.

He had rushed in with his helmet on, strapping his gloves that fitted against his wrists clumsily.

10 minutes left.

Meaning, there was one more drill left to be done. 

The debrief hadn’t started. Which means he can wander around for a little bit more. He got into his broken and wobbly car and aimlessly wandered the streets, buying some sweets along the way. 

He always found the stray cats left on the street. There were a source of serotonin, some semblance of routine that he always thought was normal. 

The only form of routine that he finds interesting. Sure exy served as a means to survival but it was also the only way he could make it through university.

Unfortunately, he sucked at academics. Not actual academics per se, but what they would say as moral ethics that a classroom required. A sheer brilliance that he lacked was sitting still in class. 

Besides it’s so fucking pointless! Who would want to sit still and listen to a person drawling on about something so meaningless?

It's all so meaningless. 

After an hour of wasting time, he pulled out a cigarette, the heat of it warming in his fingertips, before he pulled in front of the campus.

Ugh. Here we go again.

Odasaku’s eyes softened when he met his gaze, “Ah Dazai, welcome back how was outside.”

He scoffed and yawned, but since it was Odasaku and not anyone else, he could answer, “Same as usual, how did practice go, am I in time for the debrief?”

His coach’s eyes widened at his question. Dazai usually liked to pretend he was interested in something to assure his coach everything was fine. It never really worked though, but everytime he tried to cover it up by being nonchalant and cold…

He could see the frown lines leaving his coach’s face. 

It might be relieving to him than it is for Dazai.

The coldness is a shred of honesty he chose to bare, beneath all the drugs and the medication.

When the medication kicks in by the afternoon, he will be back to his carefree self again, holding onto that image just felt safer. 

It wasn’t his cold unfeeling facade but something which gave him leverage to have an actual personality. In reality, he wouldn’t know who he is, perhaps, this was easier to hold onto.

He sluggishly made his way to where the team was seated in a circle, in the middle of the court. The practice had ended, seemingly.

“Dazai, you’re in, get in the court.”, his coach chimed in.

Flabbergasted, he sighed, “What do you mean?”

“Last drill, Tachihara pulled out, go in.”

Then he saw Ayatsuji who was practicing had sped up the movements and was driving Chuuya to the absolute brink. 

The cones were placed in a zigzag manner, meaning they were practicing for simple direct goals.  

What Dazai could see it was too intense for Chuuya. All for his unwavering willingness to revel in the game, he was still a rookie player, and pushing him all sorts of limits by someone as ignorant and callous as Ayatsuji wasn’t an ideal first day anyway.

Dazai had been Yukito Ayatsuji’s partner for a while and took about a day to get used to his reflexes. They were fast, and to keep up with him he had to watch Dostoevsky’s practice videos to keep up with Ayatsuji’s pace of the game.

He was practically a genius in that arena, like he was born and brought up in the court.

At the Raven’s helm, Ayatsuji and Fyodor were the best, and anyone on the Ravens could match the game style of Ayatsuji, or be on his level but that didn’t mean they lived and breathed exy like he did. Maybe Fyodor could, but that was simply because he looked at the game in a more mechanical way than Dazai did.

Ew. Stop thinking about toxic ex situationships maybe.

Operation A - Access the situation at hand. - Ayatsuji is using Chuuya’s habit on speeding to gain on him and score the goal.

“You would give your game to me if you lose.”, Ayatsuji chimed in.

He could practically see Chuuya’s agitation crashing vibrating waves to him, he watched him grip the racquet in frustration and tie his laces. 

“I’m not going to fucking lose.”, his eyes gleamed at him as he flipped a middle finger earning him a glare from Yukito and he skid over to other side preparing for the next set of drills. 

Chuuya fumbled for his position as he panted, his posture awry as his legs gave out. 

Yep he has to act now.

“Oh hello hello, what do we have here?”

“Get the fuck off-”

“Chuuya, you can barely stand.”, Dazai quipped. “If you keep applying speed on those feet of yours, you are never going to win against Ayatsuji.”
Chuuya raised an eyebrow, and got up, his hands shaking with exertion as he placed a hand on Dazai’s shoulder.

It was a split second before Dazai’s hands curled up into fists and and hit Chuuya’s abdomen. 

Oh….

“Ow…..Amazing, what the-”, Chuuya muttered incoherently.

Dazai was never comfortable with physical contact, and it repulsed him, almost an instinct to violently push everyone away, even if it means in a physical means It was a visceral and clear way of telling people around him, - Stay the fuck away. 

Chuuya - although doesn’t seem to take the hint, his fingers grazed his wrist firmly.

It was light and firm - one that made Dazai still and not push him away.

Ok, he’s worn out, so maybe he’ll cut him some slack, maybe thats why his reaction is so controlled.

He clutched his stomach and held Dazai’s wrist for balance as he put on his orange headband around the wavy bangs that dripped of sweat as Atsushi gave a worried look at them. He had long known about Dazai’s weird affination with physical contact and his violent reaction to it.

“I….,” Chuuya pulls his loose band and tightened it, the tiny ponytail hanging off the corner with loose strands of hair by the side, Dazai silently wonders how it must be to have and maintain long hair as he watched him wipe off sweat with the other hand, “don’t wanna ask what was that about, but you owe me lunch tomorrow.”

He expected Chuuya to lash out at him, ask him or demand him why he had straight out punched him in the stomach for barely holding onto him whilst tying shoe laces.

He laughed maniacally, not naturally but he nodded as he watched Chuuya walk towards the changing room looking back at him with a scowl.

Touch that was light, touch that was made aware subtly.

But it was there. 

Dazai wouldn’t have expected it from someone like Chuuya anyway.

Odasaku blew the whistle signaling an end to the drills,snapped him out of his thoughts it is time for the team debrief - maybe after he could find time to gather his bearings

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chuuya was unbelievably frustrated. He had woken up late thanks to the hangover and Ayatsuji was already in the court, the keys jangling in his hand as he smirked at him knowingly.

The scariest part was he doesn’t know if Ayatsuji does know if Chuuya was the lost boy from the Ravens. From their interactions today, he is sure he literally doesn’t. 

For instance, he never reverted to his old dead name. He IS not Kensuke for god’s sake.

He forgot his breakfast firstly. Then he forgot his gloves, he had to ask Atsushi for an extra one. Thankfully, the boy was kind enough to lend him one from his locker. 

Nothing about the fact that he ended up at in Foxes is normal but he nodded awkwardly and sitting beside him looking at the god awful schedule since classes start tomorrow.

Physics. Okayish. Maths. Okayish. English. Awful. Spanish. Even more awful. History. He needs to dig a hole and never see the light of the day.
 
After he had completed the practice, he headed back to Adam’s who gave him the unfortunate news of a team debrief and dorm assignment, he would be sharing a room with the team captain Yosano Akiko, Atsushi, and someone named Tachihara. 

During practice was the worse, and also the fact that he fumbled so hard against Ayatsuji that he crashed against the nets, his legs giving out, the coach had to pull him aside and lecture him on where he went wrong before the next drill.

He couldn’t. He just couldn’t.

Speed was a natural part in him and giving it up meaning giving up a part of himself. He had always played exy like it was part of his soul, merging with it but never the shadows. 

It was what gave him life. The thrill and the tension of it filling him with life in his bones. The thud of the heartbeat when he skid past for a goal seeped life into him.

Then Dazai called and post the drills came up to him, his eyes looking hollow but with a hint of mania. Chuuya attributed to his medication that he takes everyday.

He uttered the same words that Oda repeated earlier, that he’s gonna have to slow down if he wants to win against Ayatsuji.

He will. Just maybe.

And like the idiot he was, he leaned onto the bastard for support earning him a low punch in the stomach. 

As if his stomach wasn’t cramping already. 

He wanted to shout at him, but he noticed the look on the boy’s face, like he felt like diminishing into the void. He knew that all too well, the familiar flinch, the way Dazai stilled.

Yet, it pained. So instead of yelling at him, he asked for lunch as compensation tomorrow since he was running out of the “supposed” cash he could use for eating plus he couldn’t use the money that lay strapped in his duffel bag for emergency purposes.

The last drill was painfully short, but he watched Dazai and Ayatsuji in action, trying to gain on each other - almost a clash of egos before he heard the coach pull a whistle and have a heated discussion with them, physically having to separate them, when Dazai landed a punch to Ayatsuji’s face.

Chuuya couldn’t help but stare at the squabble. He made his way to his dorm where Atsushi was reading his kindle offering a polite smile when he entered and slumped on the bed.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The team debrief was short. An introduction session if you may. The Foxes had about ten players, with him as the tenth addition to the squad. 

Two main strikers - Ayatsuji and Tachihara. Apparently after yesterday’s disaster of a practice session, Dazai and Tachihara’s positions were switched up, leaving Dazai as the offensive dealer backed up by Atsushi.

Backliners - Akutagawa siblings along with Ichiyo Higuchi.

Goalkeepers were Yosano who led the team backed up by Ranpo, her brother. 

The coach simply said that they had to meet Ozaki Kouyou, the designated counsellor after a week.

Worst part? He was paired with Dazai and Ayatsuji for fuck’s sake. And? He hate therapists. 

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dazai knew this session with Kouyou would be his on-field squabble with Ayatsuji. 

Why would she call Chuuya too?

Ozaki Kouyou’s office was neat and placid, yet something alluring and peaceful beckoned visitors whenever they got in. His aunt was the symbol of indignant gracefulness that wrapped everyone in her charm.

Her red hair cascaded down and with the Foxes labelled on her white coat that she wore on top of her suit.

“Ah, welcome boys. Take a seat. Nakahara, would you mind waiting outside until I finish talking with Ayatsuji and Dazai.”

Chuuya nodded stoically and left the room, with his fists clenched obviously a little nervous. 

Dazai may be immune to what the media talk about Kouyou and how her past with a certain Ravens ex-coach. The Foxes didn’t have a huge fanbase but there was a maelstrom of accusations when the rumours were set ablaze.

Kouyou was also the person who recruited him for the Foxes. Not out of pity. He is sure. Her wary eyes watched him when the trials took place even in juvie.

She did everything to get him outta there and adamantly join the Foxes as a goalkeeper at first, since it was the position that was available. But then Dazai switched to striker position on a day when Odasaku had asked him to switch positions.

Striking was just natural. To keep up with the speed, gaining control of the field was much easier.

Thats what had drawn his aunt to him in the first place. His quick reflexes in having the ball in his stead. 

One thing he lacked atleast gamewise was speed. Perhaps that's why he was so fascinated with Chuuya. 

He didn’t have the grace, or the eloquence in clean strikes to the goal posts as Ayatsuji nor he did. 

But he had speed and agility, something the team lacked severely. 

Okay maybe Yosano made it up by pulling the team together, but not always.

It was a hassle, but they had managed with eight players so far. The maximum that according to the Official Exy Handbook was twelve. The Foxes were allowed to compete only because of Yosano and to an extent Akutagawa siblings' prowess. 

Kind of like the face of the team.

“So, Dazai. Ayatsuji. Trouble on the court?”

There was. 

Ayatsuji turned away, his expression solemn as usual. Dazai spoke up, because why the heck would he want a earful from his aunt anyway, who got into this setup in the first place.

Kouyou chided him, “Ayatsuji, we talked about this.”

“And I did say I never wanted to partner up with your nephew in the first place.”

“Yet, you were the one who came to us.”, Kouyou quipped, picking out her reading glasses as she knitted her fingesr together.

Ayatsuji averted his gaze. One of the people who had made his defenses falter was Ozaki Kouyou, of course. He was the star exy player who was used to accolades and praises that shrouded his personality.

Underneath was just a boy isolated with all the fame the game had brought him. Dazai knew how it was. Except the only difference they had was Dazai was numb to the isolation it brought. 

It was just easier to numb the feeling down rather than feel the pressure.

Before ending up at juvie, he had participated in multiple exy competitions, but it wasn’t his entire life as it is now. 

Passion and survival are two completely  two different things. Exy was just a means to an end. Something that kept him afloat. Away from the plaguing loneliness perhaps. From the intoxicating substances he used to numb himself.

That’s what landed him in jail, under the influence he had done something horrible.

He doesn’t remember.

The next thing he knew he woke up in a facility locked away for atleast eight years, before Kouyou came to free him.

Fragments of memory slipped here and there, thats it. He doesn’t want to remember anyway.

“Dazai.”, Kouyou took off her glasses. “You’re doing it again, aren’t you?”

Ayatsuji huffed, “This is the very reason I refuse to work with him.”

Dazai shot him a cold glare before his face softened back and he smirked, “Well, well, well, wasn’t he the one who came to help in the first place. When Fyodor sought you on radio, weren’t you the one who dragged me for help?”

Of course, he stiffened. Dazai and Ayatsuji never got along their strong beliefs over the game, separating their strong ideals. Ayatsuji was more on the spectrum of highly intense about the game, since he was considered a star of it, while Dazai was simply indifferent.

“Boys, you both know the role. Know what the coach has ordered you to do.”

When Ayatsuji was taken in retrospect of ruining Dostoevsky plan’s of intruding Kouyou’s reputation. But he had come of his own volition with a broken thumb, he never talked of it, but there was an underling on who was behind all of these.

So he simply offered Ayatsuji his protection to keep Fyodor off his back.

Yukito Ayatsuji was the Edgar Allen Ravens’ priced possession and Fyodor would do anything and everything to get him back, kinda plays like a cat and mouse play. 

Her voice sent a chill behind his back, but Dazai pretended not to react to it. Kouyou always had that kind of effect on him.

“I’m aware”.

Kouyou slipped her glasses back on sighing, “Look, the coach doesn’t have the time to nitpick and indulge and entertain your quarrels. I’m your mental conditioning coach and let me put this straight, if you can’t get your shit together and work together, then maybe we can scrap the idea of combination pairing altogether.”

Ayatsuji turned away muttering, “Fine by me. I never asked for this anyway.”

“Well, you’re in the team by all means. Suit yourself.”

“Dismissed. Dazai. Stay for a while. Nakahara, come in!”

“Why the heck -”

Chuuya came in, the rubber band barely holding his hair together and his hands in jersey pockets as usual, sweat glistening off his forehead and took a seat beside him.

“How was practice?”, her tone slipped more cordial, just as formal as ever. The coldness completely slipping away at the seams. 

“T’was intense..”, he seemed slightly out of breath.

If Dazai was meeting Chuuya for the first time, he would have pegged him to be a narrowly closed off person, or rather introverted. Thats not just the case, Kouyou could make even the brash and loud mouthed person nervous which was the most normal thing ever.

“I noticed. Your skills are also slightly below par. Do Ayatsuji and Dazai intimidate you?”

Chuuya’s gaze darkened momentarily before he shifted in his seat, “I’m here to play the game. What's this got to do with anything?”

“Nothing.Today’s first few drills were good, but you need the stamina coupled with some foot movement. Dazai, would you be a dear and help him with those at every nights?”

Kouyou doesn’t mince it, there was no point in it.

Oh, so this is exactly why she asked him to stay.

“Ane-san, you know I need to sleep those hours.”

She knitted her fingers, her posture poised, “You and I both know when and when you do not sleep.”

Did she have to point that out?

“Well, now that’s settled. Chuuya, I need to talk to you. Just a few basic introductions.”, her eyes darted towards him “ You may take your leave Dazai. Dismissed.”

He grunted as he longed to hear what his aunt was talking to Chuuya about, instead, he slipped out of the room to go play some card game with Ango and Odasaku, a routine that poured some kind of semblance in his monotonous life. 

And for a fleeting minute, everything was alright. 

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

It had been a few eventful days since Chuuya had been in Yokahama. Once his session with Kouyou was over he made his way to the cafe hall.

It’s just an incredible miracle he hadn’t stumbled into his father here.

Being apart of the Foxes was questionably okay. Game nights with Atsushi too. He had been a reliable person since they took physics and astronomy classes together. Ok not friends friends but it was easier being around Atsushi, Akutagawa and Gin, company that doesn’t drive you crazy.

Dorm rooms were set to be assigned yesterday. He was put in a room with Tachihara, Atsushi and Yosano.

He couldn’t be more relieved that he didn’t have to face Dazai or Ayatsuji since that awful practice session.

And he taught Adam how to make desserts even when there were nights when they had to make midday trips to the nearby convenience store to replace their juice mixer.

Only thing he dreaded was the truth, maybe that would get peeled off, but for now he’s safe.

The feeling of ignorance would protect him for the time being,

He ignored Ayatsuji’s animosity for the time being, he had his own valid reasons anyway, besides he was already a prick back in Evermore, so he hadn’t expected any less. 

Ozaki Kouyou is nice. Similar to Adam but with a more authoritative and commanding.

Genuine too. 

That didn’t mean her words about the casualties in his game hurt any less. Chuuya has never had a mentor to look up to,  People at Helsinki looked up to HIM. He was what the best had to offer, so many, so many kids looked up to him.

It stung to hear that he was not one of the best. Rather too far from it. 

Oda’s bits of advice to his technique helped. He watched videos and kept going to court everyday until the coach himself gave him a key to the court so he can reach the Foxhole Court earlier than others.

Worst part? He had to see Ayatsuji’s face everyday. 

Dazai usually was absent. After the fail CrashLand, he rarely came by. 

But he learned to get along with others : Atsushi, Yosano, the captain and Tachihara who was also apparently a striker.

Being around people was strange for him, for someone isolated of human contact that had no ties attached, no favours asked in return.

It was never enough.

There were nights when he was left gasping for air trying to get a clean strike. It was awry, the way his hands shook with exhaustion and the red marks that stained his skin when he ripped his gloves off.

Yeah he’s losing his head over exy when he should be focusing on hiding from his dad. 

The monster had about 8 months from now to get a fucking bail anyway.

He walked through the corridors bumping intp someone as he whispered an apology.

“I never thought I’d hear those words from you, midget.”

“What the fucking hell are you doing here?”

Dazai pulled his hideous-looking cloak off and posed with his arms shrugged. “You ought to get better at being more pleasant you know. Kouyou wouldn’t like that attitude. Figured you would want some food, wanna check out the stalls?”

“Do you even come here?”, Chuuya stopped shoving his hands deep in his pocket, looking straight ahead.

“Nope. I came here to ask you something.” Dazai smirked and pulled him to the curve of the cafeteria, the touch on him leaving momentarily as he lead him to a secret place. 

Chuuya found himself having lunch with Dazai. Great. 

Dazai waited until the rest of the students left the cafeteria and sat in the farthest corner that they could find. 

The side was quieter compared to the chatter and buzz of excited students, the pores of sunlight filtered and highlighting Dazai’s uncharacterstically good mood. 

In the three days, that Chuuya had been here, he had been in a good mood only once, that was the fateful day at Edens’. 

The eventual sqaubble and encounter with Ayatsuji aside, at least., Dazai seemed to be even more grumpier after Kouyou put him in charge of training Chuuya.

“I owe you lunch, isn’t it? You asked.”

Chuuya raised an eyebrow, “That was a week ago.”

“I’m not that shitty to forget that though, I don’t really back out if someone takes the incentive to come and ask me. Besides I owe you.”

The manic look had left, replaced by a soft smile as he got him a few sandwiches from the cafeteria, placing it in front of him. Starved, Chuuya couldn’t help but eat to his fill.

“Chuuya. What did you mean when you said I drool?”

His eyes snapped up, his movements stopping and spluttering the water he was drinking, at the absolute nonchalant way it was brought up.

“Bastard, you got me food, so you can ask about why you drooled? You are impossible”, there was a smile plastered on his face.

“Well, a deal is a deal after all. So tell me.”

“You’re mumbling some weird shit about wanting sweets and since there was no extra bed, I had to sleep next to you, so there’s that, and when you’re knocked up, you’re a nightmare to deal with.”

“Because I drool?”

“Your medication doesn’t make you aware huh?”, He checked his pockets for the pack of cigarettes.

“Why do you smoke all the time?” Dazai tilted his head, as if he was genuinely curious. 

Chuuya knitted his fingers taking a puff out of the cigar and sighed, “I usually don’t, but I have to deal with you tonight, so might as well use it to my favour.”

He noticed the tension in Dazai’s shoulder waver off as he relaxed, “No that’s not what I asked for. I meant why do you keep it with you, even when you don’t use it?”

“Let’s trade answers then.”

It was Dazai’s turn to raise an eyebrow, “Answer mine first.”

Chuuya sighs, throwing the burnt cigarette onto the bin, “You’re impossible. Firstly, the smell of the cigarette was the first thing crowding my senses when my mother died.”

The blank facade was back on Dazai’s face. “Must have been hard huh?”

The memories opened to when he fled Yokohama to move into his mother’s rented cabin at Helsinki.

Chuuya, of course couldn’t let honesty seep in. He was only going to be here until March. “Not much. Really. My dad is a broker and my mom was a freelance journalist and they dealt in some dangerous business. It was meant to happen.”

A lie that was woven in thin fabric, Chuuya wondered what could it take to tear the blindfold off, the truth that lay buried. 

Dazai’s questioning glare softened, seemingly convinced by the answer, “Your turn.”

“Why do you play exy?”

Dazai sighed tiredly as if he had expected Chuuya to ask something more interesting, “Ehhhhh i guess im good at it? Maybe? Gives me a roof on top of my head? Your pick.”

“My turn to say “Thats not my question”, he thwacked him on the forehead, his odd dark brown eyes focusing on his, “I asked why do you play it if you claim to be so disinterested.”

Dazai began to twirl his spoon over and over before speaking,his lazy smile slipping back in again. “Whenever coach wants me to, yeah. Anyway i’ll see you at eight pm need some energy in me before i have to deal with you all night.”

That. Chuuya didn’t understand. What did the coach hold so precious to Dazai that he was willing to play a game he loathed so much?

“Wh-, Yeah,whatever don’t ghost me, again.”

Dazai smiled, “Well I have a lying problem.”

Chuuya snorted muttering, “Then I’m no better anyway.”

Dazai Osamu was an endless mirage of questions, anyway.

Chuuya got up to go to his room and felt Dazai’s gaze behind him when he trudged along the lonely sidewalks of the campus.

They had a long night ahead anyway. 

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

When Dazai entered the court, Chuuya was already ready with his equipment and helmet on, practicing his run ups.

How annoying. 

“Yo.” 

Chuuya frowned at him, he was very well aware of how he looked, the medication hadn’t slipped in yet, but within ten minutes the energy would start to seep in,

“You look dead.”

Dazai sighed and slumped against the wall throwing his kitbag on the bench observing Chuuya’s movements as he finished his run ups.

Barely. He could feel his eyes close.

Snap. 

“Are you even listening to me? I didn’t come here to waste my time.”

“Hwah, you’re fucking annoying, deadbeat.”

“The fuck is that supposed to mean?”

Dazai rolled his eyes, not bothering to explain. If this was Kouyou’s shtick in making him motivated in exy, this was so not it. 

His annoying headband. His long hair. His voice.

All of it. Gets on his nerves. 

Dazai watched Chuuya gasp for breath as he pushed himself to the absolute brink yet again. It was ten minutes as he huddled his legs closer and watched Chuuya practice striking.

Half an hour to dinner, just half an hour. 

Maybe he’ll entertain Chuuya for a little. Maybe. 

He stood up, walking over to him, it had been half an hour since he watched Chuuya throw himself into practicing goals over and over again. They were awfully incorrect, the ball kept hitting in all of the wrong directions ending up deflecting to his calves instead.

Ouch. That must hurt.

It’s supposed to directly hit the rink.

“I’ll guard the goal for you. Come at me.” Dazai said wordlessly almost at a whisper.

Chuuya took a minute to process those words, the sweat dripping off his hair as he brushed the strands of his hair away from his forehead.

His heart stopped for a bit when he watched him put his helmet on and gather his bearings. Chuuya was beautiful when he was focused on exy, when he was so immersed, his eyes dropping to a pin - the goalpost.

It wasn’t the look of apathy of simply being there on the court because he was good at the sport.

Not like him anyway.

It was an obsession. Life.

Purpose.

Since they promised to meet at eight, he watched Chuuya throw himself into practice, failing with his shots over and over again.

His foot movement was just not there.

“Look, I need you-”

“Agh this shit isn’t working-.” he snarled, aiming a poor shot across the rink. 

The ball simply bounced off the edge of the goal retracting before Chuuya caught it with his hands. 

Dazai sighed when Chuuya leaned his head against the wall, his legs giving out in the exertion and the intensity and walked over to him, yawning. 

This was the most work he had put in a long time anyway.

“What did I tell you this morning, Chuuya?”

Chuuya fell against the wall looking upward at the ceiling, “I….need to focus on lessening my speed.”

Dazai sat next to him keeping his elbows against his shoulder - as neither of them spoke for a moment before he turned to him watching his eyes flutter shut as he watched Chuuya cool down from the intense training they just had.

He would rather sleep but watching Chuuya practice gave him vigor to focus on the game for once.

Not necessarily bad but-

“I wanted to ask..”

Dazai froze when Chuuya leaned on his shoulder, probably the tiredness of the whole day, so he let him, he didn’t feel like moving away.

For a life, where he expertly pushed away people, or even violently flinched at a flicker of touch, he was surprised that he would let Chuuya - a nobody - of all people lean on him for support. 

He had done it two times today. 

Trust was something that was meant to be earned. The flicker of your heart is given to a person, you don’t just give it to someone out of the blue. To guard something that was withering away, was seemingly absurd to him, people, conversations - were all a blur. Meaningless.

“Chuuya, don’t wanna drool on me, now would you?”

Chuuya opened his eyes, the brown hues clear unlike the darkened orbs of his, “Shut up you bastard, consider us even then."

He sat up facing him, motioning him to ask. 

“How long have you been playing exy? And why are you so - insane- about it. It kinda makes me puke you know?”

 “I guess I started when I was eight, trials around schools and all that”

Eight? 

“Eight?, then why are you finding it so difficult to strike?”

“I have only been a striker for a year or two, I played as a backliner all these years before.” Chuuya admitted in a harsh whisper.

Dazai hummed and strapped his gloves on, getting up lending a hand to Chuuya, “Huh…adaptability isn’t for all you know?”

“I would like to try, exy started being more fun to me when i started striking.”

That is absolutely….absurd. Why would you leave a position you’re comfortable with to play something you….enjoy?

He prepared his position putting on his goal-keeping gloves listening to Chuuya on the background ramble on about exy whilst attempting shots. 

Back and forth, and back and forth.

Chuuya’s foot movement got a little steadier when he caught the failed attempts and threw it back to him.

Dazai wasn’t expertly good at goalkeeping but he knew enough to help rookie strikers, whenever Odasaku visited with his kids, he had done exactly that.

Chuuya just needed direction, even though he was sluggish even now.

Dazai kept engaging him in the conversation until he noticed the visible difference.

Chuuya’s strikes were getting cleaner and sharper, his erratic foot movement lessened and his focus was drawn to one spot alone.

“You’re getting there Chuuya, that’s more like it. I almost thought you’ll give up and run away”, he smirked.

Chuuya let out a faint laugh, no real emotion behind it, just weariness “We could’ve done more if you didn’t fucking slack around!”.

“Meh, I couldn’t be bothered.”

“Didn’t expect anything else.”

Dazai knew what has to be done. 

“I think I know how to help you midget, but for that we need Ayatsuji’s assistance too”

Chuuya groaned “Really, can’t he be avoided?”

Now that is something Dazai didn’t understand about Chuuya, he was so guarded and weary around Ayatsuji. Chuuya groaned and leaned against the wall and Dazai couldn’t help but smirk at the visible resentment he held over Ayatsuji, not that he blamed him anyway, it was just very bizarre when he saw those two interact barely three times.

His stardom maybe? But it's not just that, the resentment in him pierced him like knives.

Dazai replied, “I don't bother, but he could help with your game.”

"Ugh."

He’d rather not - but since he’s stuck in for the long haul, he can help Chuuya as much even unwillingly. He’s not crazy about the game as that maniac or the midget is. 

Now, he was starving.

“Dinner?”

Chuuya looked at him, his eyes blank and perplexed, “Huh?”

“It’s 9pm, food?”

“Uh right. Let’s..yeah go.”

Does he forget to eat?

They picked up their equipment and got into the creaky car shoving their belongings in the back seat. Sombre music filled the air when the engine shakily started drowning out the buzz and crowd of the city late night.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chapter Text

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

The Raven’s court was never in a state of disarray. It never let out a breath of sigh, relief was never imprinted in its dictionary.

Edgar Allen Ravens from Evermore University prided themselves on that. No time to heave a sigh of relief.

Sigma took her headband off, the exhaustion creeping onto her bones, the sweat dripping down on the court. She was done for the day, but the crippling sensation that something was wrong never really does leave you, until she settles in her dorms.

Nah.

Master Tetsuji was coming back today, so the training session was much more grueling than usual.

No room for mistakes. None.

Firstly, Sigma never asked for any of this. She would have been happy staying backin France. Exy wasn’t as exhilarating there. Just a form of art, similar to ice skating, played with music in a tantalizing form of dance.

It just so happened in a moment – a replacement for a lost boy named Tsuguro Kashimuro.

A lump of cash.

Finance had always been an issue for Sigma’s foster parents, and they didn’t waste a minute in trading her as a means of profit to the Edgar Allen Ravens.

Atleast she was going to university. That’s what she thought. Away from her “parents” who seemed to despise her so much.

A home. Finally. Or so she thought.

She thought her life in France was relatively better maybe. When she was just a girl performing exy for the little girls who were inspired by her and running a ice-cream truck.

Tranquility and peace were foreign concepts – that depleted in a matter of seconds.

No doubt that the Ravens was a force to reckon with. They came on top every season, accumulate trophies and accolades. Surrounded by adoring fans.

They had everything.

Yet. It was so damn suffocating.

Fyodor came skidding up to her pulling his helmet off, his annoyingly accurate movements eerily unnerving her as usual.

“So ready to go, I hope.”

She nodded, slinging her kit bag to the dorm rooms.

What would the master have to say today?

In the Ravens premises, what Fyodor says is absolute. The power dynamics worked in a grim and confusing way – while the coach, Mori Ougai still had the say in correcting the mistakes, it was Fyodor who held complete authority.

She rummaged her bag and found the tiny can of water and sandwich she had packed in. There was no time, she shoved it in quickly. Food was a bare means of survival. Or of sorts.

If she was late, the consequences would be numerous. Listing torture methods wouldn’t be enough.

Perfection. Sigma had strived to maintain perfection in all corners.

Be it punctuality, being lethal as the backliner even if her position was destined to be a striker, the centre of attraction, thriving in the middle.

In a place like Evermore, where violence was the aftermath response to imperfection, her footing lied in perfecting every move.

Basically flawless.

That changed when Ayatsuji was out of the picture, although the onus to gather the support for Fyodor and Nikolai’s prowess was on her.

In the end, atleast she had a place to stay.

The thought of that was morbidly comforting atleast.

“The master is thinking of a PR strategy.” Nikolai sat next to her.

“What for?”

“You remember Sunday, Sigma?”

Eden’s Night. She saw the Foxes had spent the night there as well, which however ended in a hassle, with one of the Foxes players ending up knocked out unconscious to separate Fyodor escalating the situation with the new boy.

He was incredibly wary of her.

Then it hit her.

Chuuya Nakahara. The lost boy of the Ravens. He belonged here. In place of her.

She remembered it, the same bright auburn curls, the brown blue eyes, the same confused yet haunted look in his eyes.

The numerous times he had changed his name, he is back with a new one – Chuuya Nakahara.

She only knew him as the boy who ran away from a terrible fate.

“Sunday. Is it about the Foxes?”

Nikolai smirked knowingly, “Oh our sworn enemies of course. They are visiting the talk show which our captain is going to attend.”

“Who planned this?”

“Master. Says it can help build rivalry, you know, sportsmanship.”

There were a lot of things Sigma wishes to understand about Edgar Allen Ravens. They were one of the best teams followed by USC , the American team which was a close team. Yet, they held a fierce grudge against the low-ranked Palmetto Foxes of all teams.

Sigma knew it was partly because Ayatsuji had left. The resentment and hatred that their star striker alongside Fyodor had left, for a low life team like the Foxes was humiliating enough.

That wasn’t the first time in the ten years she had been in this campus anyway.

“That’s nonsense.”, she folded her arms, “You and I both know that’s not the case.”

Nikolai squinted, his yellow-red eyes gleaming under the lighting, got a little close than it was deemed necessary, “Would you dare question Dostoy’s authority then? His decisions? You know what could possibly happen..Hm?”

She gulped turning away to catch a breath, feeling a little claustrophobic.

“I’ll see you in a bit.”

“That’s more like it.”

Nikolai’s smile sent chills down her back as she left the clean pristine court.

Talk show, huh? Seemingly there was more blood to be shed than it already had.

She plopped on her dorm room looking at Louisa’s empty side of the bathroom.

There was no space for her in the Ravens team dorm, so she was moved to the students dormitory, along with Louisa who was the goalkeeper of the team.

I bet the master has a rulebook on the time on how one should sleep, or in which posture they should sleep in.

Those were the words of Fyodor when they were young. He was a sullen child, a little weird perhaps. He was brought in by his own cousins, out of nowhere – sold to the Ravens.

It turned out to be true the time Sigma used to sleep in with Nikolai and Shibusawa as her dormmates. But post an incident where she messed up in one of her practice sessions, her motions erratic and unclear – the master had just happened to supervise.

As a Raven, there was no room for mistakes or lethargy.

So close. So close to being free of all this.

But of course, no one could leave Evermore without consequences. Louisa, unexpectedly had came in right on time and offered they could room together away from the other team members– as a leeway that Sigma is isolated from her teammates.

She wasn’t apart of the Ravens, just a girl who happened to go to the same classes as she did, but her stepping in changed a lot of things – Sigma found herself a reliable roommate.

It didn’t bother her, as long as she stayed here, everything was pointless.

Outside training hours, Ravens timing worked in a weird manner – they worked on a sixteen hour work schedule, and hardcore drills upon which the players are allowed into the court.

Somehow Sigma made it through.

Why?

Survived.

Why?

Precise movements and unprecedented focus.

All for what?

She plugged in her music, Louisa’s footsteps fading into the background, from the melancholy and hopelessness she found herself submerged in.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Sleep was fitful as usual, as she thought about the “PR Strategy” that the Master talked with them that day. She took off her bunny suit, Louisa was already rummaging through the shelves, already up and ready with her guidebooks and a bunch of papers stacked up next to her.

“Oh, good morning, early day?”

She blinked and sighed heavily sitting for a while.

Her dormmate was unusually punctual, or rigid in her schedule. Unlike her, who barely ate, skipped meals. Stress levels were already high enough at the Ravens trainings. It is a surprise that she hasn’t passed out of exhaustion yet.

Problem was Sigma believed she was destined for exy, or at least that’s what her old friend Ayatsuji used to say – before the traitor himself transferred to the Palmetto Foxes.

She made her way towards the bathroom and managed to nod weakly. Her legs were starting to feel weary.

“I’ll be right back in ten minutes”

Sigma wasn’t born a female. Never felt like it, she was a man, meant to wear suits and flaunt her exuberance, atleast that’s what her biological father and mother had thought.

She felt pretty when she tried on Louisa’s dresses. Although, they never usually fitted her, post trainings whenever she was let off the hook early, they take turns trying on pretty clothes. Frills, slits or full-length gowns.

Maybe. Just maybe, Sigma felt adjusted. Felt like she belonged somewhere, even if it was roommate’s lousy loose clothes.

She used the hairpins to pin her loose strands and tie her braided hair down as a ponytail and took her kitbag, slowly making her way outside, dressing in the jersey, the kitbag in her hand headed out.

After a few months, she learnt Louisa was infact a former exy player of the Ravens. She dropped out to focus more on academics. Sigma wasn’t sure how she managed to escape their way, but her influential family background was enough to ward off the Russian mafia.

What could be more powerful than the Russian Mafia?

“I keep forgetting the fucked up time schedule you guys work on.” Louisa leaned her head back, the chair creaking with the weight. “Evening and sixteen hours, meaning you will be up all night?”

Sigma couldn’t help but smile a little. There were very few people who showed genuine concern. Louisa and her – she wouldn’t say they had the closest relationship but Louisa was one of the people she trusted.

Be it late night dinners heated up. There were days when Sigma returned to her room at 4am, she would see her bed made and heated up leftovers.

Those were small things. But small things about Evermore she cherished.

“Yeah, unfortunately. Since we have compensate on game days might as well do extra on days we have organization events.”

“Stay safe.” Louisa chastised, “Whenever you meet those Foxes, stay in the background you never know what the Fyodor or Nikolai might pull.”

“You didn’t come to Edens. It couldn’t be worser than that.”

“I heard a boy stepped in and got knocked out by Fyodor’s minions. I avoid Edens’ at all cost because I have sworn off drinking. I don’t trust their bunch just as I don’t trust ours.”

Sigma nodded, gulping a bit. Where the Foxes entered, there was trouble awaiting.

Not necessarily their fault.

The auditorium was decorated with teams from various sides of Japan. It was a whole fest – celebration of the sport perhaps. The sport was created in 1980s, when the underground Russian mafia had brought in a three way deal between the infamous butcher, the scarlet and the queen.

Apparently the queen was the one who created the sport. Although it was just a myth, Sigma suspected that it was just a cover-up for the mafia to rule it out as a myth to hide something sinister.

When she asked Nikolai about it, casually bringing the topic, he threatened to expose how curious she is to Fyodor.

Then he proceeded to brush away and tell her these code names as if he just hadn’t just threatened to put her place in jeopardy in a random switch of moods.

Gosh, Nikolai was scary.

As the official backliner of the team, partnering up with her, he was as good as any internationally.

Only thing – rather the only flaw that she found was the communication gap that stretched. She could never guess what Nikolai was thinking, what kind of tactics he wanted to use.

She saw the bright orange jerseys come into full view and the familiar pair of aviator glasses coming into view.

Ayatsuji Yukito. Not from Edgar Allen Ravens, anymore. From the Palmetto Foxes.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Contrary to the rest of the days, Dazai woke up earlier that day than he would have liked to.

Contrary to how he would go about the day, he changed his bandages, for the first time in years.

It wasn’t a spur of the moment or something when he decided to go to the convenience store and get a new pair of bandage rolls.

Something in him wanted to reorganize his dented flat even if its just a little. A little accustomed to living atleast.

Living. Huh?

It has been a few days at least since his last practice session with Chuuya. Not that he particularly enjoyed the sessions with him.

He can’t deny that he has been going to the court more often than not.

He watched Chuuya get closer and talk to other mates, yet still wary. Only Tachihara kept bothering him in the end, since everyone else took the hint that he was probably closed off.

It wasn’t like Dazai didn’t notice the redhead most avidly avoid Ayatsuji and tread with such painful caution whenever they trained together. His aunt has said putting an amateur and a maestro of the game.

Ayatsuji was usually arrogant as usual – Chuuya didn’t respond directly but almost broke his racquet until Odasaku interrupted them, the redhead walking off with a cramp in his bone which Kouyou stretching his legs mercilessly within moments and got out of practice.

What was their fucking deal?

He had been purposefully avoiding practice even though all he wanted to do was be on court, since he had taken the task of training with Chuuya, although there was so little a dealer can help a striker with.

Odasaku had made it clear that Chuuya atleast need to be half ready before Spring Championships since the Foxes need to be prepared for any kind of situation.

And yet here is – neglecting his responsibilities as usual. Of helping Chuuya.

Dazai couldn’t fathom why he felt so much resentment or rather a feeling of unease towards Chuuya. It was like every move that resounded in his direction gave him a form of distaste. Whenever Chuuya looked his way, he felt a prickling sense of….dishonesty beneath the brave façade he closed himself in.

There was no questioning the obsessive way he put in the hours for exy though. It was something….he couldn’t really point at.

Something he was so familiar with – the ghosts of the past.

Dazai never tried to outrun them, they tainted his soul in reverent powerful rhythms but something about how Chuuya moved with painful caution unnerved him.

Of course, he can’t let Odasaku down. He was one of those kind of people he vowed to at least try.

Try to be better at what he’s doing at least.

The idea he got that day after training was putting Chuuya and Ayatsuji to practice together with him playing as the dealing serve, which would improve his foot movement, he was still sluggish on his feet, so the three of them accompanied each other on twelve in the night to get some practice until daylight.

Usually he indulged them when he felt like it and watched them – argue.

Then after a few days the fatigue hit him – he avoided the court like a plague and stayed at the dorm with Atsushi instead.

Until he got a text from Odasaku asking him to report sharp at 6am to leave to the nearby town to attend the Spring Championships Banquet.

6am? At fucking six?

Its not like he could blame his coach either, the traffic was hell in the weekends and starting early only seemed reasonable.

He made his way to the campus and thankfully his car hadn’t broken down where he saw Ango preparing his notes – a sheet perhaps to make sure every team mate made it in time. He still didn’t know how their team PR supervisor had time to juggle everything.

Ango’s job in the Foxes was to make sure they get enough practice matches to get into Spring Championships. Though that was exactly the only thing that Dazai witnessed. He usually travelled with the team during the season, or on the road.

Dazai simply saw it as an excuse to keep Odasaku company, not that he cared.

He watched his aunt trot out with Yosano right behind. Yeah like he cared.

The person he was waiting for isn’t here at the moment.

Wait. What?

He. Isn’t. Waiting. For. Chuuya.

He didn’t just – admit that aloud.

Lets pretend that thought never happened.

Right.

Oh great, he’s talking to himself now?

He recovered and got back to the present when Kouyou put a hand on his shoulder and motioned him to get into the bus.

Yosano let out a huff and took out her flip phone punching the buttons on it. Presumably, she was waiting for her brother, Ranpo who struggled with a sense of how to use public transport and of course coming from Tokyo to Yokohama was a hassle indeed.

Their backup striker had to make it, atleast to the anxiety of their captain atleast.

Yosano and Ranpo weren’t exactly blood-related siblings. Their parents were addicts and they were respectively

Adding to that, Dazai was somehow envious of the way Ranpo could swoop in and play exy like he breathes it.

On some days, he even finds it hard to breathe. Let alone play on court.

 “Akiko, you sure your brother will make it?”

“We won’t be allowed into the banquet if he didn’t – consider the Foxes out of this season as well”.

“Hooray” Dazai replied with a hint of low enthusiasm, whatever happens isn’t gonna bother him in any way.

Then he saw Chuuya stride in with Tachihara, the other lead striker engaged in a conversation, mostly Tachihara doing the talking and Chuuya cautiously taking in what he said. Whatever it was the redhead wasn’t clearly paying attention, his mind elsewhere.

The jersey looked good on him.

Like he fit in.

Just like that.

Gin, their backup goalkeeper came out with Higuchi, which Atsushi and Akutagawa were exchanging heated conversations as usual.

It took another ten minutes before Ranpo was accompanied with Lucy who was assigned as the team backup backliner.

Odasaku let out a sigh of relief, “Ranpo, welcome. We were thinking you wouldn’t make it.”

“Wouldn’t want to let our opponents go off easy, so coach, you can count on me!”

Yosano smiled in relief and patted her brother’s arm acknowledging his prescense and motioning him to get into the bus.

So the entire team was here. They never fit, Dazai thought, like mismatched fits to create a puzzle that never really existed in the first place.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

The ride to the auditorium where  was a little exhausting, Dazai ended up unwillingly sitting with Ayatsuji for a while, making mindless conversation about how stupid his aviator glasses were in contrast to his jersey.

He felt a nudge from the back, meeting Chuuya’s annoyed gaze.

He almost forgot. Right. He was right behind his seat, he watched Tachihara’s sleeping form on his shoulder.

 “Where were you all these days?”, Chuuya raised an eyebrow.

“Getting a little bit of shut-eye from seeing you, you know it’s kind of hard to be on court with you around, the focus wavers.”

“That’s literally not what I asked.” He huffs.

“Maybe you should make it clear to me then. I am a direct man.”

“Uh huh like heck you are. Atsushi said you were crashing at your room, ignoring practice. Do you do that often or?”

Dazai usually doesn’t get a lot of genuine questions, part of him wanted to believe that Chuuya’s intentions were nothing but just morbid curiosity but part of his distrust and hostility over the redhead gave him an answer that was simply doused by lies but the no bullshit attitude. 

Apart from exy, there was maybe some truth to Chuuya’s words, or atleast that’s what he had meant to profess.

He tried checking out his files when Odasaku and Ango were on their tea breaks, hoping to find some tabs on Chuuya’s past.

Useless, because nothing turned up.

He turned behind, ignoring Ayatsuji who glared at Chuuya at that slight movement.

What is even up with them?

“You would like a – honest- answer wouldn’t you?”

He didn’t miss the way Chuuya’s posture stiffened. Okay maybe he is getting somewhere.

“I’m just curious. Would you simply just ignore Kouyou’s demand and slack off?”

“Why not? Besides I handed you over to Ayatsuji. One headache off the list, and I can make it through the rest of the years without owing you anything. I don’t owe you anything now do I?”

Chuuya sighed, almost the very thought of reasoning with him seemed pointless.

They had known each other for two weeks – yet something seemed to be so off putting about Chuuya from the first.

Maybe he is drawn to such people. Unfortunately.

Chuuya took in a deep breath, and rolled his eyes , “Look, I saw your videos on court, and why waste it when you can do better than this ego maniac here? You’re good. What are you hiding from?

“Hmm… You are hiding too from yourself too, so I don’t owe you an answer do i?.”

“I have no reason to trust you lot.”

“Fairs,”

A looming silence settled between them until Dazai decided to mindlessly comment something about Chuuya’s morbid sense of clothing.

“Don’t you have better clothes to roam than the campus varsity?”

“Uh huh.”, a bored expression creeped in and Chuuya shifted his positon, “Piss off then.”

“Weren’t you the one who called me to speak when we could have had a peaceful bus ride?”

“Weren’t you the one who continued talking?” Chuuya shot back.

“Can you both like shut it?” Ayatsuji yawned taking off his headset.

“Mind your business!”, both of them said at the same time.

Ayatsuji just blinked and he frowned at them, shaking his head lividly.

Dazai flushed and would have burst out laughing, regarding the comicality of the situation, but Chuuya pointed at an empty seat as in a way to continue the conversation.

He followed him (Why? What’s wrong with him?) and plopped on the seat in frustration.

“Why wouldn’t you come to training?”

“Why are you always lying?”

That seemed to get Chuuya. For now atleast.

“Cat got thou tongue?”, he said in a awful British accent.

“The fuck-“ Chuuya cringed in response.

 Amazing. Beautiful. He could frame that image in a museum perhaps.

ItWasn’tThatBad….

“Please never do that again.”

OkayMaybeItWas.

Dazai went back to his thoughts -  which almost always annoyingly returned back to the boy beside him.

The rest of the bus ride was quiet, the cool humid breeze waring against the window sill.

Of all the places the banquet could have been scheduled, it was The Nest.

Dostoevsky’s arena.

His thoughts wondered why Adam was so adamant in recruiting Chuuya in the first place.

He remembered the day he was recruited to the Foxes. It was a well-known fact that Odasaku chose to recruit people from the most broken of backgrounds, he was a convict from the juvie.

Yosano and Ranpo were taken from an abusive foster home. Atsushi was from an orphanage. Kouyou was in a criminal gang where she found Gin and Akutagawa. Higuchi was morbidly normal until she got disowned by her parents. Tachihara was a drug addict. Lucy was in an institution. Ango worked for a supposed illegal organization.

Then what about Chuuya?

Odasaku was a ex-player turned coach, to be modest – he didn’t have a tumultuous past as the rest, but being an ex- Ravens can fuck anyone up.

The Foxes were a bunch of broken messes tied together. Dazai knew there was no way they could work, there was no plausible way they could make it all the way to the finals.

But Odasaku believed.

Someone who had been acquainted with the game.

Someone who believed he could do better.

As woeful as it is, those words were enough to drive him forward.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Dazai almost dozed off before Chuuya nudged him and dodged before he could wake up in a fit and hit him right in the abdomen like last time.

It’s the thing with physical touches that give him a feeling alien and foreign. It makes him recoil and shudder and have not even a flight response.

It’s simply fight. Retaliate with attack.

He sighed and stretched and got down the bus. Chuuya glared at him before making his way with Tachihara and Ayatsuji who were engrossed in a conversation.

Yosano mumbled, “Okay let’s do this.”

Ranpo nodded taking the lollipop stick out, “Now or never, let’s just show him who we are.”

“A bunch of misfits.” Ayatsuji offered.

Tachihara nudged him and said cheerily, his grin flashing too much brightness for the place they were about to enter, clapping Ayatsuji on the shoulder “Aw don’t be so pessimist, Yukito, we have a whole season ahead of us.”

Ayatsuji obviously didn’t answer and went into the court. He wondered how must it feel to enter a place that he has been in since he was a child. The bloodshed of a tormented childhood which could have been normal – in a sense.

Instead he is forced to upheld the exy genius title all because of the arrogance or rather ignorance of his family. He was practically sold away to the Ravens and started playing exy at the age of eight.

Taken away might be a blasphemous term or even inaccurate in this regard. The Yokahama newspaper and tabloids version of the story – famous exy player Yukito Ayatsuji of the Edgar Allen Ravens broke his thumb from skiing accident with his on team striker partner Fyodor Dostovysky, but that wasn’t the case at all.

It was said Ayatsuji broke his arm and thus was declared unfit to be partnered alongside Fyodor, the lethal striker duo of exy was sidelined just like that

Kouyou literally called in Dazai that day to announce that someone from the Ravens was going to join the Foxes.

Oh how the greatest have fallen..

Ayatsuji never told him the specifics of it of course, but the constant letters from Evermore and the threats posited pushed him towards Dazai.

As a juvie convict, he knew how to deal with petty and cruel people, for some reason, Dazai offered his help, in turn of his complete loyalty to the Foxes. Loyalty and honesty were never his forte, but for his coach, they meant something.

A team mate should be treated as one regardless was Odasaku’s command to him. It had only been weeks since he was cleared by his juvie and the requirements from the ERC to be eligible for the Foxes. And he had the misfortune to be acquainted with the most arrogant person imaginable.

So when the Ravens had sent some people to keep Ayatsuji in check, the day of the match a year ago when the Ravens had step foot into Palmetto University and had threatened that Yukito will never grow in his arena if he is stuck with the Foxes of all people.

They would make sure.

The very next day, he saw Odasaku’s face falling when Ayatsuji’s mind as preoccupied with the intense encounter with his ex-mates unable to focus.

It was an impulse decision when he pulled Ayatsuji aside and promised to ward off the Ravens in exchange of his full commitment to the Foxes. In return reluctantly, he accepted Ayatsuji’s offer in helping him gain some sort of passion towards the sport.

So they kind of meant something to him too, right?

Ayatsuji was tolerable alright, he stuck true to his word.

Chuuya though – the question roundabout keeps coming back to it – what is he here for?

Atsushi cautiously entered the court with Akutagawa right behind him. The colours of the court decorated were far too vibrant not if you look at the violent background of it. That’s what Odasaku keeps emphasizing, even though Dazai finds it peculiar to understand half of what he’s talking about, maybe this is why his coach and the team recruiter Adam get along.

The crowd erupted with a cheer when the Edgar Allen Ravens came in – Fyodor, Nikolai, Sigma, Lewis, Ivan, blah blah… He couldn’t bother but look at the way Chuuya’s face visibly paled.

“Oh look, it’s Yukito and gang.’

Ayatsuji nodded in acknowledgement, before Yosano spoke up, “You have anything to say, approach me, instead of picking on my teammates ”

“How gracious, Ms Akiko, but I’m here to talk to an old friend of mine”

“And this is a team banquet Mr Dostoevsky”, she smiled.

Chuuya was uneasily quiet, and Dazai saw Sigma shooting glares at him.

Even at Edens wasn’t that the case?

What the fuck?

“I remember you..” Sigma said, her voice dropping to a lower tone, as if she was speaking only to Chuuya.

“I know you..”

Chuuya’s expression paled when Sigma listed a series of names, Dazai wouldn’t know what made the redhead flip out this bad, the crevices of his tough façade spilling.

Almost like a little boy.

The. Real. Him.

The little time he had known Chuuya, he almost presented him to unbothered, brash and a tad bit reserved probably because of his distrust in his Foxes

That seemed to run a little more deeper now. Not just the Foxes.

Usually, whenever they had encounters with the Evermore franchise, Dazai is able to grasp what’s going on, but right now he was struggling to get a hold of something – anything even.

He felt so out of place at that moment, he turned to Yosano, “We have to-“

She arched an eyebrow and turned to Fyodor, “Let’s cut it now, Fyodor, don’t you have a banquet to run? Wouldn’t want to start a riot now.”

His gaze moved towards Nikolai’s unsettling smile when Fyodor’s gaze shifted to his.

Fyodor’s malice knew no bounds. At least from the little he heard from Ayatsuji, he would go any lengths to show who’s in charge or who was in control, same as Dazai hated not having control of conversations, he understood the need for it, but it came from a darker place, something he couldn’t place.

It could be the fact that he used to date Fyodor in juvie.

Ughhhhhh. Thinking of those times brings a violent disgust that ate away at the core of his heart.

Long story short – Fyodor and Dazai were supposed to join Evermore but Dazai declined and joined his aunt instead.

The Ravens stood for everything Dazai isn’t, even though they might have easily suited his game play. But he declined, his lethargy towards exy would never suit him, and he declined the offer before shortly ending things with Fyodor.

The sport was nothing but a means to survive. So he doesn’t need a rigid practice sessions and no time perception where players were just walking zombies.

“Dazai-kun, maybe you should ask your captain to calm down, me and Ayatsuji want to have a talk, harmless, I wouldn’t wanna take away the one person who makes your team relevant now would I?”

“You’re treading a thin line now aren’t you?” Ayatsuji grit out in frustration, his fists clenching.

Everyone on the team had a stern expression, except for Atsushi who maintained an awkward smile.

“I’m not the one lying to the press about the “potential” of a useless rodent, come on Yukito, you know better than to place your bets on a Nakahara.” Fyodor smiled gazing at Chuuya.

“Let’s just….calm down shall we?” Atsushi came forward next to Chuuya offering him a comforting hand on his shoulder, in an attempt to calm him down.

.Usually, whenever they had encounters with the Evermore franchise, Dazai is able to grasp what’s going on, but right now he was struggling to get a hold of something – anything even.

“Do what?”

Yosano’s voice got him back to reality, “Last time, we met Ravens, I got my throat hurt, we should get Ayatsuji as far away from this rat as possible.”

She sighed, “Coach needs to get here fast, there’s no way I can step in and do something reckless.”

In a swift movement, Chuuya was facing Fyodor now, and oh he looked pissed. His eyes were almost piercing him.

“Rodent, huh, must be easy to have been fed everything on a silver platter”

Uh oh.

Disastrous.

What. Is. He. Doing?

What. Is. Chuuya. Doing?

Thankfully, Tachihara had lunged forward and pulled Chuuya to the side, as the ceremonies continued.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

The rest of the ceremony went peacefully, much to Chuuya’s relief, the moment Sigma started listing all of his names in order, shivers traversed through his body and the imminent rage when he watched Fyodor sprout out those words.

He watched the Ravens coach exchange pleasantries with their coach and waved at Adam, a semblance of stability coursing through him, who smiled at him cheerfully.

“What happened back there?”, Tachihara prodded as they sat in the podium.

“I just…uh lost my cool I guess.”

Tachihara tried to smile, “You know, sometimes it’s easy on the court to lose sight of what’s important. I mean especially if it’s Ravens, they are a completely formidable team, so I get why you got intimidated.”

God bless this man. Ever since Tachihara forcefully decided to talk to him post practice, after Dazai ghosted practice for days and put him to practice with Ayatsuji.

He was kind of grateful he wouldn’t be left to his thoughts , paranoia that his father would get to him, now that he’s in Yokohama.

He misses Porvo at the moment. The quiet stillness, the steady heartbeat when he ran the streets, now replaced by a sense of dread, and intrusive thoughts as if he was ready for someone to kill him right at the moment.

Possibly his dad.

No, no, no and no.

Don’t think that way. We are NOT going down that route.

His gaze relaxed slightly and he sighed, “Guess you’re right…maybe I was just intimidated by them.”

Maestro of Liars. Who’s gonna tell him? Poor Tachihara.

He wishes his head could stop being so loud at the moment.

“Let’s go, there is a special segment offered in the banquet where both Ayatsuji and Fyodor would be engaging in a kind of a talk show, I’m really curious to how this goes.”, he smiled cheerily.

A what.

Talk show?

Oh fuck.

He pursued his lips and followed Tachihara to the podium without a word, there were a bunch of people crowded where Ayatsuji and Fyodor were seated and the former motioned Chuuya to join.

What?

The coach nodded at him, indicating it was necessary thing, He sighed and made his way over to the two.

The host smiled at him warmly and motioned him to take his seat. He timidly sat near Ayatsuji who frowned at him as if he was scolding a sullen child.

Why is he necessary for a talk show? And of two exy maestros? His options are irrelevant.

“So the reunion of two maestros of the game! This sure does feel like a nostalgia of sorts, so Ayatsuji, how does it feel to be part of a new team, new beginnings and oh a new partner to back you up.”

“I’m not-“, Chuuya began but Ayatsuji digged his fingers underneath his arm to stop him from speaking,

“It’s been great, The Ravens have supported me throughout my career and I wanted to experiment and try new opportunities and new players, including Chuuya here, he has been getting better for an amateur and one must also look into building the future.”

Chuuya just watched with a bored placid expression as the exchanges went by. He heard a commotion at the back, but didn’t make much of it.

“Do you miss playing with Fyodor? The familiarity of playing with a partner.”

“It was an honour to play with Fyodor. But that was in the Ravens, now I am a Fox, and I’m looking forward to making most of it.”

Fyodor eyes bore at his and Chuuya wanted to punch him and knock all of his teeth right at that moment.

Disgusting, Debiliating. Triggering. To say the least.

The host turned to Fyodor, her expression neutral, “And how about the captain of Ravens? How has it been accomadating Ayatsuji, is his absence felt?”

“It hasn’t been as challenging, since Ayatsuji left, his space is still empty although, we put in the extra work to cover all the casualities left behind, so it hasn’t been that much of a bother. So if Ayatsuji changes his mind to leave a mediocre team to join the Ravens back, the seat is obviously empty and awaiting him.”

Ayatsuji’s eyes narrowed and he gave a nod, “I can very well affirm you that won’t be happening, since I’m a Fox now.”

The host, unfortunately turned her attention towards Chuuya. “Oh lets talk to the talk of the town, the new reserve striker of the Foxes, how has it been practicing with Ayatsuji? And what are your hopes on what the team could do?”

Ayatsuji nudged him as if knocking out of the daze as he found his bearings.

“Uh, firstly, it’s been good…A sorta experience to play with him, and as far our chances I think we have the team to beat the Edgar Allen Ravens on a given day.”

The crowd gasped, neither did he realise the magnitude of what he just said.

“One can dream.” Fyodor smiled. “Ravens are one of the best there is.”

“Maybe. But you lot are without one of your best now, the advantage clearly leans on our side., because Ayatsuji is better than you, you’re practically living your reputation off because the owner of a team is a great deal around Yokohama. And sad state, that’s not even your merit.”

Silence.

Okay what is he even talking about.

“There’s still time to take back those words.” Fyodor slowly spoke, a warning tone.

“The words stay.” Chuuya stated pointing at him as he felt Ayatsuji tense beside him, “The Foxes could make the semis by beating the Ravens and that’s how it will be.”

Ayatsuji gripped his arm to keep him quiet, but hell no that is gonna work on him now.

“Mediocre you say? A person who is served everything on a silver platter probably doesn’t understand that, to be given a full power team and thrive on it. You will eat on your words and you will choke on it.”

Fyodor smiled, “Oh that’s interesting, but we’ll see what you’ll bring to the table next Friday shall we?”

The host smiled awkwardly, “So, so thank you for your input! We can’t wait to see Ayatsuji and Fyodor back on the field.”

By the time, the whole “segment” ended on the way back to the podium, he heard Ranpo cheer.

“You set off Dostoevsky on National TV! That was a moment to capture indeed.”

Atsushi spoke up, his classic awkward smile plastered, “Chuuya-san…Maybe you shouldn’t have done that.”

Yosano whispered, “New boy, what were you actually thinking?”

Ayatsuji grabbed his collar and shoved him on a locker, “What was that? I told you to speak not egg on Fyodor.”

Oda had come to them and clapped to get the attention of everyone pointing to the billboard that indicated the start.

There was a notice from the ERC that the Spring Championships were scheduled a week later and that schedules were specific teams would be announced.

In the rush of the adrenaline of that moment, Chuuya didn’t realise Dazai was right behind him until he felt a hand on the small of his back, the touch almost like a ghost of a whisper. 

“I didn't expect Chuuya had it in him, feeling generous with the honesty today, are we? .”

“Huh?”, he turned behind, “You know you could talk face to face right like a normal person."

“This is more fun to spook you out.”

“Weird.”

“Maybe this is why you're so fascinating, keep at it for a while and just maybeeee I’ll entertain training.”

"Whatever, i'm tired to deal with you"

"Oh yeah I know, Chuuya must be. You put on a show after all."

Why was Dazai practically squealing with joy? In the sense of the highest form a person could feel joy in a grim atmosphere? He might need a cigarette.

The journey back to the campus was short and he fell asleep, possibly on Dazai’s shoulders until he was nudged awake forcefully. A man with glasses prodded him, whom he thought was the team advisor, Ango.

“Ozaki Kouyou requires you at her office.”

Ah well, he is fucked.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chapter Text

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Three shots to the door.

Gunshots.

Or were they?

Chuuya’s eyes shot open at the sound startling him awake, he instinctively reached for the gun by the bedside table. He pulled the drawer and clutched it, until his knuckles turned white.

He heard the rustle of bedsheets and sprung up when the door opened.

Atsushi’s eyes got alarmed when his eyes met Chuuya’s, to his crumpled sheets and disheveled hair and the way he had startled awake.

Ah.

Chuuya noticed how it may have looked. Dishevelled hair, wild eyes and the state of him even.

Wild, unfocused that too with a gun.

“Chuuya-san, are you alright? you’re sweating.”, the boy’s voice scrounged up in concern which made him cringe.

“Uh…Thanks but I’m fine.”

Atsushi smiled considerately and offered him a water bottle that was near his bed, “You sure? You did look pretty rattled when you woke up. Uh…perhaps you need me to call coach?”

“Huh? No, of course,not. I’m fine, really.”

“Ah okay, will you be okay sleeping?”, he turned around to see their captain Yosano and Tachihara fast asleep on the other side of the dorm.

“I’ll be fine..Thanks for the water.”

He really didn’t intend for it to come off that way, like as if he wanted to fill the silence and his repeated inebriation of “I’m fine”, when he totally wasn’t. He doesn’t usually get visions of the past that washed over like fierce waves.

Atsushi smiled, his hands scratching his hair awkwardly, “You don’t have to thank me. It’s basic courtesy, besides I have to catch up on sleep before our last session. Tonight kickstarts Spring Championships and I want to be the perfect backup dealer as possible.”

Chuuya’s eyes widened. No one has purposefully been kind to him. It was a weird feeling, that someone actually felt the need to be nice to him of all people…

Backtrack that for a second, Atsushi really didn’t know who Chuuya really was.

He didn’t know the various names he had assumed. He didn’t know the towns he had visited, the various identities he had gotten changed.

For now, he was Nakahara Chuuya, 18, reserve striker of the Palmetto Foxes.

He. Belonged.

Well, it certainly doesn’t feel like it does.

It was 3am. Surely he is not going to sleep, Atsushi would already be at the court as he would be practicing. Right now, hitting the rink just felt wrong, there is no way he will be able to focus. The practice with Ayatsuji the other day, he was fidgety, whilst his foot movement was getting better, he was nowhere close to being match ready.

For now, Oda had told him he had to keep practicing.

Day in and day out, that’s what he has been doing, familiarizing himself with the drills – even when they were Ravens drills.

The memory of what he said to Fyodor a few days came crashing down on him. What had even prompted him to say a team like Foxes can defeat a powerhouse like Ravens. It was ridiculous. He saw the appalled look on the host and the horror plastered on Ayatsuji’s face as he dragged him off the stage.

Fyodor had the eeiry smile. So he was plotting something as usual.

He rolled over his bed, sleep eluding him. He sat up, the gloom of the moon spilling onto the floor, the small light finding its way. He stumbled over Yosano’s kitbag which was uncharacteristically heavier.

He picked up his worn off shoes that he had always used when on the run with his mother. Running relieved him, from the load of the past that hung heavily on his shoulder. Whilst running, he could pretend that whatever clouded his history didn’t particularly exist.

Chuuya liked to think he was honest, conveniently so, and how it worked in his specifics, or rather his morals. It is skewed sure, but he can’t go around and a tell a random police that he’s on the run from the mafia that is connected to an exy team that rivals the exy team that he’s currently signed into?

It was all fucked up – he was supposed to be a investment to the Ravens, what made it weirder was Ayatsuji’s memory hindrance, he didn’t recognize him as Kashimuro either.

He slowly scurried outside of the campus, the night air drowning his paranoia.

Yeah, sure. No one is looking for him.

Yeah right, it’s not like one of the mafia goons is one of your father serving a sentence and he has the opportunity to get to him and-

SHUT UP. SHUT UP. SHUT UP.

Chuuya ran a few kilometres the the tall towns fading into the countryside, he drew a huge breath in when he felt his chest cramp, his senses alert, the evidence of his heartbeat painfully loud, the thuds erratic.

He turned back.

There was no one.

A shadow. He saw it move.

He inched forward, gripping the bench he sat in, surely he couldn’t be imagining things right?

The shadow moved.

Yeah, he didn’t imagine that right?

Fuck. No.

He still plucked the pocket knife that he had strapped and inched towards the figure, he hid in the corner and he saw a body slumped down to the ground, with crushed cigarettes on the grounds, the smell of smoke that hindered any other feeling but nausea.

Dazai.

Of fucking course it was him,

He cautiously approached him, his racing heart and its exploding turmoil cooling off a little bit when he saw the boy passed out.

What was he doing in the middle of the night? That too in a random alleyway?

He nudged him awake and moved out of the way when he attempted to land a kick.

“Ah look who it is! It’s our dear Chuuya.”

Chuuya rolled his eyes when he heard the groggy yet infuriating voice cut through the tension of the fog surmounting the atmosphere.

“What the fuck are you doing here at this hour?”

His eyes roved at him, regarding him with a caution that was weary and unsettling. He fell forward and Chuuya was cautious enough to catch him.

Dazai didn’t hit him back – the usual reaction whenever he was receiving end of being touched, like it was repulsive and malignant, deterring his soul. Chuuya was awaiting it by chance but seeing Dazai so out of it, his consciousness a fading blur.

It reminded him of the days he was on the run, and barely had a perception of day and night. When his mom used to drag him from city to city leaving no traces in the slaughterhouse of Yokohama - Evermore University.

“Dazai.”

“Chuuya.”, he said, his voice hazy.

“You’re so out of it.”

“Mhm.”

Usually, there would be a witty comeback, or perhaps Chuuya expected Dazai to ramble something to simply provoke a reaction out of him, like on the banquet day, the way his face scrounged up in glee, after he deliberately ratted out at Fyodor.

Nope. Nothing.

He remembered asking Ayatsuji about the side effects of how long Dazai could go on  without medication, since the conversation came up while practicing last night, a day after the banquet.

He held out his medication to Dazai in a twisted kind of pact, of a promise made a year ago. Ayatsuji promised his pact that he would devote his full loyalty to the Foxes, whilst helping Dazai get back on track with the game, since their playing style was very similar.

Usually when he was mad at Ayatsuji or didn’t want to be around him, he leaned on Atsushi, who merely did out of his own kindness.

Chuuya couldn’t understand the good-naturedness at all. Especially in a place as fucked up as this.

Then it hit him, the empty look on Dazai’s face – wasn’t the result of medication, it was the result of no medication. The energy that was supported by the pills had drained leaving a shallow of nothingness. He sat quietly beside him, as he heard the quietness melt away with the hoarse voice that followed.

“Pill. In. Here.”

It took a whole minute for Chuuya to understand what exactly he was asking of him.

He shifted closer being careful to fish the pills out of his pockets and place it in his palms. It was odd, to see Dazai relapsing in front of him, let alone him helping him through it.

“Don’t ever bring this up, ever”, Dazai replied as he swallowed the pill down.

Chuuya nodded, looking away, his gaze a little taut with tension, as he stood up, he held a hand reluctantly to help Dazai up, in a wordless request.

Silence. 5 minutes passed. A gust of air that sneaked in between them, yet their gazes were transfixed, unwavering.

Once the meds kicked in, Dazai took Chuuya’s hand and leaned heavily on his shoulder. He tapped on his shoulder to ask if he had the right to put a hand on his back to support him better, when Dazai nodded, regarding Chuuya for a bit – his eyes wild as if someone had asked him the most ridiculous thing in the world ever.

“Campus or home?”

Dazai chuckled, seemingly the medicines were working on him already, “Campus, midget. Campus. I thought you should know the specifics by now.”

“There he is. Knowing you, I presume you wouldn’t wanna be in the vicinities of the court anyway.” Chuuya commented drily.

“How observant, perhaps I shouldn’t undermine you any longer”

Chuuya raised an eyebrow stealing a glance at Dazai’s crazed look as he hesitantly turned away from his gaze, the image ingrained in his mind.

It scared him that this was comforting than the deadbeat expression of Dazai’s, the coldness disparaged his soul, almost shook him to the core, as distorting this whole thing was. 

He carefully made sure Dazai was tucked in right. He didn’t question why exactly he found him in such a disarray, Chuuya learnt at a very young age, some things are better be left unanswered. There will be a time when the answers would come right to you when you least expect it.

Like his experience with sexuality, like for instance.

When his mother had reached Kyoto, they stayed at this peaceful residency where Chuuya was merely looking in awe at a girl at the stay and he was dragged away from his mother who began to berate and lash out at him for it.

His skin burnt from the way he dodged the hits. His mother was being extra paranoid of being discovered by the mafia, by his father, and the old life they left behind.

And he understood.

What he understood about attraction was for him, it stays in bounds of aesthetic marvel, whilst he can appreciate human beauty, he never had any time to experience what attraction even was.

All that mattered was staying alive in the midst of turmoil.

And his maybe slight borderline obsession with exy.

That may well be one of the main reasons why he put up with practicing with Ayatsuji, emphasis on put up because he is a total asshole.

Dazai nuzzled his hair against Chuuya’s neck and began to drift off, the weight on him heavier, the physical contact uneasy on him. Chuuya didn’t have a viserical repulsive reaction to the proximity, but it unsettled when people leaned onto him for help.

Why someone like him anyway?

It took about five minutes to get to the campus and by the time there was a burning sensation on his shoulder, as Dazai was leaning heavily on him.

“Nice. I had my broken car, we could have very well used that but-“

“You asshole, if only you had said there was your stupid old car, I wouldn’t have to help you all the way here.”

“But c’mon where’s the fun in that? Besides its nice that you decided to help me without even me asking. Chuuya is honest, now he’s considerate. Full of surprises. I’m already entertained.” Dazai smirked, and oh how Chuuya wished he could knock the fuck out of him right that instant.

Chuuya huffed and dropped him on the bench, not hastily or not too carefully either and glared at him, tying his shoelaces and picking up his kitbag which he was pretty sure was brought by Atsushi, since he wouldn’t have the time to go to the dorms.

Most probably an idea suggested by Ayatsuji.

That annoying blonde.

He did a couple of drills along with Atsushi and Akutagawa and Gin since they were the only people on court at this hour. His foot movement was aligning better than usual, the joints on the court visualized better, but still he couldn’t get past Akutagawa’s defence.

After a while, his movements started getting a little steadier, yet felt the steely gaze of Dazai on his back which promptly made him take off the helmet and stare at the ground,

Maybe. The lies that is Chuuya Nakahara would peel bit by bit.

He brushed off the thought, there is no fucking way Dazai would know. Not even Ayatsuji does. Why would Dazai know that of all things Chuuya is the son of a mafia grunt who supposedly was the reason Foxes had fallen apart?

That’s a story and an issue that he could face another day.

Now his major focus was getting the goal past Akutagawa and Gin.

He trudged forward hitting the gap, only for it to narrowly hit the ridge of the goalpost, it was so close and yet so far.

Dammit.

The whistle blew and Ozaki Kouyou came in followed by their coach and Adam.

He sighed, the exhaustion wearing him down to the bones.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Dazai eyed at Ayatsuji when he came in, his eyes holding a tint of red in them. The talkshow had clearly done more harm than good to his psyche.

Of course, Chuuya had to rat out at Fyodor, no he practically went all guns blazing at him.

Where did that even come from?

Although he felt satisfied to see his ex’s flabbergasted look, when he was called out – not that he was proud of the midget for speaking his mind.

No one in Palmetto even dared to speak against the likes of the Ravens captain.

Its not even about the fact that Fyodor was the Raven’s captain, he controlled the weird shady underground business alongside running an exy franchise, it was how the Russian cousins practically owned the team, the awry schedule in mind too.

Whatever. He didn’t understand shit about it.

And of all people to pull that stunt Dazai didn’t expect it to be Chuuya.

It was entertaining, to say the least.

Ayatsuji huffed and strapped the gloves on when his gaze met Dazai’s.

“You feeling good, queen?” Dazai smirked when the man wearily set down his kitbag and skidded to the court, the usual grumpy face on his face, usually that’s what he called him, since he gets overtly dramatic, usually he does that when he gets shitfaced or the fact that he gets pissed.

“You’re enjoying this way too much aren’t you?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” He crossed his legs and regarded him with a manic smile, “This is absolutely entertaining.”

His aunt entered the court and clapped to get everyone’s attention, breaking the intense stare off between him and Ayatsuji.

“Folks, Mr Sakunosuke is sick for the day, so I’ll be taking over the bearings for now.”

Yosano raised an eyebrow to which Kouyou replied with a smile, “I’m taking over”,  she confirmed, “Just for the game.”

She tied her luscious red hair in a bun, with her usual formal coat and pants, the flowery clip and a team jacket, and Dazai did notice their team captain gape in awe or perhaps he was imagining it.

“Today is the first game of our season, unfortunately we don’t have our coach with us, but Adam will be accompanying us.”

Adam waved at them albeit a little too enthusiastically but mostly at Chuuya who stared at him and waved hesitantly back, very meekly.

What the fuck was that?

Ever since Chuuya had entered Palmetto, all Dazai had noticed was the awfully notorious caution he carried himself with.

Like a deer caught in headlights.

The day Tachihara got him lunch and he outright refused until he was forcefully fed.

That day when he had went into Kouyou’s cabin and refused her iconic cocoa just because he wasn’t being used to being offered something.

Well that’s Dazai’s hunch about Chuuya’s refusal to even remotely anything that was being given to him.

And his strange fixation to turning every conversation about exy.

Chuuya was like an arithmetic equation that wouldn’t go away from his head.

Let’s forget for a moment that Dazai absolutely loathed the system of academics, and everything that had to do with it. So what are you going to do with a bunch of merits to your name.?

In fact there was anything of equal value that seemed to interest him. Relationships scarred him after the disaster with Fyodor.

Exy was the bane of his existence.

Now back to the topic of Nakahara Chuuya. Who was ALSO the bane of his existence.

Everything about Chuuya was contradicting. He had the absolute nerve to go talk to Fyodor with no qualms that the Ravens would obviously target the Foxes back – in a way it’s almost like jeopardizing the team.

Comical how it has only been two weeks since Chuuya had officially become apart of the Foxes and ensued chaos.

In short, everything about Nakahara fucking Chuuya infuriating the hell out of him – that’s the point.

Who cares about the stupid sport anyway? Not to mention his strange obsession with the way he peers at Ayatsuji whenever they are situated in the same room.

Last night he had interrupted Oda and Ango’s conversation just to talk about this. About Nakahara Chuuya.

“Odasaku, something is definitely not right with the new boy.”

Yup, he broke into Odasaku’s apartment when he and Ango were enjoying a night to themselves, and demanded that he had important “business” to talk about.

Ango groaned, “We just got around to talk about the plans we had for the weekend, can this wait, Dazai?”

Dazai yawned, “Well Ango, you must know this is more important to talk about !”

His coach-cum-friend sighed giving Ango an apologetic look, “Give us fifteen minutes, I’ll be back.”

They went into his office room where Odasaku usually works on the player reports with Adam. Dazai had casually tried to peer into the reports but looked away when his friend looked at him and sighed.

Dazai considered Odasaku more as a friend than as a coach. Sure as an ex- Raven and his Fyodor who is technically his ex-boyfriend’ being apart of the very loathed team, he was uncomfortable in engaging with him first, when Kouyou introduced him to their new coach, that soon changed into an unlikely friendship.

It felt safe to tell the things he dreaded telling his therapist aunt to Odasaku who would just take whatever he said without batting an eye.

Unusual. But Dazai perhaps liked that.

His friend sighed when he pulled the reports of Chuuya’s. “I don’t have a clue on why you’re so riled up over Chuuya. The Foxes goal as reiterated by Kouyou was clear that we pick up players from troubled backgrounds – it is a way of giving them a reason to live.”

“Well, I don’t think I’m being unreasonable here Odasaku, you’ll just have to hear me out. Do you even look at the way he looks at the blonde idiot for absolutely no reason?”

“Typically, Chuuya was not really from a place which favours and supports exy players so it’s only natural that he probably looks up to Ayatsuji who is part of one of the iconic striker pairs to exist.”

“That’s just not it, he didn’t accept Kouyou’s cocoa and don’t even begin to call Fyodor iconic, I will actually puke my guts out.”

“I know you hate Fyodor’s-“

“Nuh uh uh uh.”

“Okay, no name mentioned, got it.”, his friend held up his hand in defence and took a sip of his coffee and knitted his fingers together regarding Dazai slowly.

Dazai sighed, “You think I’m whining don’t you? Pull up his reports and I can prove it.”

Chuuya’s player profile was obviously longer since he was half Finnish from his mother’s side whilst his father was Japanese. From the description on the paper, it was written that his mother was a architect whilst his dad was pawn broker. It was almost two pages considering he was recruited outside Yokohama and that happened to be Porvoo.

Interesting career choices – that’s for sure.

Fishy. Absolutely fishy.

Odasaku flipped the next page and pointed at the crisp handwriting of Adam’s “Chuuya was originally from Yokohama and then he and his mom had moved to Finland since his parents divorced, and now he’s back here with the Palmetto.”

“Bullshit.”

His friend sighed, “Sure the boy riled up the Raven’s captain unnecessarily but that doesn’t mean he’s lying. Besides the boy’s passionate about exy, which is clearly an addition to our side. Positive,”

Dazai sighed, “Odasaku. You’re pretty naïve, trust me that boy isn’t good news at all. Positive. I’ll prove it.”

His coach had just peered up at him and raised an eyebrow chuckling softly, “Sure he riled up the Ravens, purposefully provoked Fy-, their captain, but that doesn’t mean that he’s part of a weird mafia cult. And the boy seems to be laser focused on the game. Or is that what’s getting to you hm?”

“He’s just weird. Odasaku.”

His friend sighed, finishing the last of his coffee, “If he’s frustrating you that much, then consider talking to him, but I appreciate that you thought of coming to me regarding Chuuya, now-“

“I just don’t have this good feeling about him. Give me a week and I’ll come up with a convincing evidence”

“There are energy bars on the counter top, Dazai.” Odasaku smiled, evidently guessing what Dazai was here for, besides complaining about Chuuya.

It was actually impressive, if you’d ask Dazai.

“Thanks!”

“You’re still on the lineup, Dazai.”

“Ugh, but I was told I won’t play.” Dazai scoffed. “Can’t Atsushi handle this one match? I really don’t want to see Fyodor’s face.”

His coach sighed, “You come in when I ask you to. Don’t you want more energy bars?”

“Fine. Fine. Odasaku. But be warned you can’t keep bribing with those damn bars.”

“They keep you playing.”

Dazai scoffed, “Yeah whatever, I’m gonna put on that ugly jersey and get on the bus, can’t miss the absolute mockery we’re gonna face. Anyways why are you not coming today?”

“I have to visit the orphanage kids, so I requested Kouyou to take over.”

“Oh! Well tell them I said hi.”

Dazai entered the court and was met unfortunately with the blonde’s scowl.

Ayatsuji passed by, his entire body covered in sweat, and scowled at him, “You’re playing, Kouyou’s orders not mine.”

Dazai pretended not to hear his words and slipped out of the Foxhole Court, marred with misfortune yet shimmering in its glory, a legacy to be created, perhaps in the near future although he could never believe in the possibility of it.

They were the Foxes. They just cannot have nice things, their stories were the ones that were covered up.

Their legacies will probably end up in a snow globe of nothingness, evaporated into thin air.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

“You should try the veggie sandwich, absolute banger in our campus.” Tachihara beamed at him.

Gin scoffed, “Yeah uh huh don’t believe him, he is just saying so because its cheap. Besides the coolers here are way better.”

“You’re saying so because you and your brother run the coolers shop part-time"

Chuuya smiled awkwardly, “Well, I have a energy drink.”

One thing Chuuya loathed about Tachihara was the not the fact that he talked a lot. It’s the fact he felt the need to include Chuuya whenever he went out with Gin.

And its not even like he hates being a third-wheel.

He just wasn’t interested.

If it were the case, he could spend all day at court. Instead he munched on the food that seemed stale to his tongue. There were days where he had to starve so that he and his mom could move from town to town. Bizarre but that made it habitual to not have food on his tongue, it felt weird to satiate hunger when he was attuned to refuse everything.

Speaking of refusal, he has to go to Kouyou’s office before hopping onto the bus.

Today was the Foxes first game, ironically after the Spring Championship debacle, at the banquet and the disastrous talk show, the pioneers or broadcasters decided that the first game being Foxes versus Ravens would bring them a lot more publicity.

Gin and Tachihara kept arguing about which café in Palmetto happened to be the best. Chuuya shoved the sandwich inside (or more like gobbled it up) and excused himself, tightening his headband along with his hair band that held the mess of his hair together. Usually he let it flow down but Kouyou suggested this so that it doesn’t perturb him during gameplay.

Not that he’s starting – but yet.

And there was one more issue – Why was Dazai weirdly staring at him during English class?

Chuuya picked four classes to go, and as a physics major, he decided to go with Maths, Physics, Computer Science and English. Unfortunately Dazai is a law major and they shared one class – English.

Everything about Dazai was unsettling, especially his dark eyes that follow him like he’s deducing his every move.

Adding to the fact that he was extremely annoying.

Perhaps he knows I’m the-?

No way.

He knocked on her door, and her authoritative voice commanded him to come in, to which he automatically entered upon reflex.

“Come in, Chuuya. So I believe you know that we have something pending to discuss before the match, yes.”

Ah. Yes. Fucking Fyodor who landed him under his therapist’s radar in the first place.

Chuuya nodded tersely.

“In no history of Palmetto, no one has dared to speak against the likes of the Raven captain, let alone insult him on live TV. I’m sure you’re aware of that, Chuuya.”

He nodded.

“Have some cocoa, first.”

He shook his head, still not used to the strange sense of hospitality swirling around. Chocolate bars that he stashed from Porvoo were enough, the sessions with Kouyou were just a formality, suggested by his coach after the stunt at the talk show.

“Hmm, well you’ll come around.”

“How can you say that?”

“I’m the Foxes' therapist, so whatever I say comes true, like a prophecy. I’ve survived here for eleven years, and dealt with messed up individuals. So I can just tell.”, she knitted her fingers together, slowly taking her notepad, at which he voluntarily tensed.

And of course Kouyou picked it up quickly, “I’m not recording what you’re saying, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

What Chuuya liked about Kouyou at first, is her frank honesty. She doesn’t sugarcoat things. Or how horrible Palmetto truly is. She embraces it as it is. That’s it.

He wouldn’t trust any person for the life of him.

“I just think this isn’t required.”

Kouyou completely ignored the statement and took a sip of her cocoa, “Let’s start with the basics, where are you from Chuuya?”

“Uh….I’m originally from Yokohama, then dad had some business so mom and I moved to our hometown, Porvoo.”

“Oh so your mom stays at Porvoo?”

“Yeah.” , the lie shouldn’t have slipped off as easily as it did, but it was easy.

And safe.

He just had to spend five more months here before he flees away. There was never a place Chuuya truly belonged and decided to stay in, that’s the course of reality is, he never really got to stay in one place.

He never truly belonged.

Kouyou regarded him carefully, “Hmm, moving towns must have been hard hm? I mean Yokohama is your home.”

“It was hard. The change. You know.”

“I see”, she looked at him expectantly and there was a silence for atleast few minutes or so.

“As for your mom? How did she adjust?”

Chuuya bit his lip as another lie, “It was easier for her since she rented out the cabin for us to stay and she w- uh, is Finnish, so..um I used to move back and forth two hours to Helsinki University since that’s the only place that offered exy.”

“Every conversation we ever had always leads to exy, lad, do you do anything apart from being on court and playing the game? I admire the dedication but I'm curious. Any other hobbies?”

To think of a lie for that at that moment was hard because in truth, apart from his classes and the court, he should perhaps

“The library”, he blurted out.

Now where did that even come from?

“Interesting. Looks like our time is up.”, she looked at the watch and regarded him intently, as if she didn’t buy whatever bullshit he said in this session.

The lies he said today although lay flat, he should get better at concocting them, perhaps.

“Oh and one more thing.”

He froze in his tracks.

“Keep away from Fyodor.  We don’t want more attention. Especially as this is our first game. Personally I love your knack for pissing the Ravens but we can’t afford it today.”

“Understood, mam.”

Kouyou laughed a little amused, “No need to be so formal, Chuuya. Now get going, you have a bus to catch.”

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Dazai didn’t have time to grab food since the match was stated to be at 5pm. The energy bars he stole from Odasaku’s cabin would be enough, nope he hadn’t actually wanted to take it, but his friend insisted so.

And Dazai Osamu could never refuse those addicting sweet bars that kept him going.

Not the best combination with the medicines that were prescribed by his doctor, but who would resist sweets.

He was the last to get on the bus, and saw most of the seats were occupied.

“Took you long enough.” Yosano grumbled as she sat beside Kouyou and Adam.

The only seat that was empty was beside Chuuya, of course.

Amazing.

Fantastic.

Someone’s got to have planned this.

No way.

“Aw, midget no one bothered to sit with you?”

“We had been waiting for an hour. Where the hell were you?”

One look at Chuuya and he could see the boy hadn’t slept at all the entire day. Right because he doubts he even retreats to his dorm room after court hours, if he had practically stayed in the court the entire night.

Practicing, practicing, practicing. Technically that’s what Dazai had said him to do, but he didn’t expect Chuuya to actually take the words quite literally.

Who even does that?

Okay maybe Ayatsuji. But he doesn’t consider him human, since he migrated from the Ravens.

Dazai took out the energy bar he had in his pocket and tapped at the window where Chuuya’s gaze was transfixed.

He still wasn’t sure Chuuya would welcome his touch so he refrained from nudging him to garner his attention.

And he handed out the energy bar.

“H-huh?”

“Energy bar. Zero sweet. Keeps you awake.” He looked away, not making eye-contact right after cradling his cheek nonchalantly

“Am I supposed to thank you?”, Chuuya scoffed, the puzzled expression clear on his face.

“Chuuya. Chuuya. Chuuya. Stop that. It's annoying. 

That earned him a confused frown, "What's annoying? I should be saying that to you." 

He looked away for a moment and then turned to him again, the brown eyes transfixed onto his. 

“Um, well. Thanks. Dazai.”, the heavy Finnish accent in Chuuya’s voice caught him so off guard off with the way his name was spoken.

“You’re welcome, your majesty. Need anything else to help your sleep-deprived self?”

No response. Nope.

Instead, Chuuya’s head fell against Dazai’s, the movement swift and sudden, yet when it hit his body, the visceral shudder he always felt upon physical contact was missing, the urge to pull away and react violently.

All gone.

Chuuya’s auburn curls fell upon his shoulder, his head secured against the crook of his neck.

Shit.

Thank god they were in the back seat.

No one could see.

It was about a painful three hours before they reached the stadium and got their training kits and got down as if nothing happened. 

Yeah as if Chuuya didn’t just fall asleep on his shoulder.

He feel like he’d faint. He feels like a school boy having a crush.

Yeah. JUST because Chuuya fell asleep on his shoulder.

Not even Jesus can help with this situation.

Dazai sighed and got down wearily, Yosano raised an eyebrow to which he shook his head and got into the court.

Here they are.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chuuya unwrapped the energy bar that Dazai had offered him and bit into it. Surprisingly, it wasn’t stale and creamy as the sandwiches he had eaten in the cafeteria.

The considerate gesture out of nowhere kind of put him off there for a second.

He speaks eloquent Japanese but the heavy Finnish accent that came out around Dazai of all people – just no. He’d like to forget the whole thing actually happened, thank you very much.

He strapped his gloves on, and put on his helmet and saw Adam come and sit beside him.

“Hello, Chuuya-kun, so you were hanging out with Tachihara right? Have you seen him anywhere?”

He blinked in confusion, last he saw Tachihara was enter the court to go to the locker room, Chuuya didn’t follow him since he wasn’t part of the main six that were to enter the court for the game.

Yosano, Ayatsuji, Akutagawa, Gin, Atsushi and Tachihara were slated to start.

Chuuya to come in if Tachihara couldn’t play.

He was the loudest and most cheerful person in the room, it just didn’t make sense for him to disappear before a game.

It. Just. Didn’t. Make. Sense.

“Oi Dazai. Where is-“

No point. Dazai was knocked off his medicines fast asleeep and he sighed.

“I thought he was in the locker room?”

Kouyou sighed, putting a hand over her forehead, “Of course we have something messed up, Chuuya strap up. Now.”

Chuuya’s mouth hung open, “Mam, but-“

“No buts, we need six on the line. Now.”, her eyes were wide and agitated that got Chuuya got moving.

The court was glistening with placards cheering “The Ravens! The Ravens!”, and his gaze moved towards the most vile sight on earth.

Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Followed by Nikolai, Sigma, Louisa, Jouno and Tsujimura.

Their starting line up, although in Chuuya’s opinion were one of the solid ones, albeit without Ayatsuji it felt meagre, after all the Ravens striker duo was what kept the team together.

Ayatsuji was impatient on his toes as he rapped his taped fingers on his racquet. Their captain and Fyodor came up the centre to start the game.

The Ravens were to serve.

Where the fuck is Tachihara anyway?

Yosano stamped the stick on the ground as she positioned herself as the goal guard, “Lets go, guys, lets go!”

Ayatsuji stopped Chuuya in his tracks, “You move when I tell you to.”

Chuuya felt rage consume his senses before he tugged at Ayatsuji’s shirt, “And you stop when I tell you to.”

“You can’t order me around, you gave your game-“

“I can.” Chuuya moved forward and felt the smooth surface suit the sharp edge of his shoes as he balanced his feet movement and eyed Atsushi who was their defender at the moment.

This is what he loved, the adrenaline, the danger, breaking the barriers and the final satisfaction of getting across the finish line and striking the goal,

The line was straight, Atsushi has to get through Nikolai and Sigma’s defences.

Chuuya has to get the ball in his stead.

From Tsujimura, who was steering it towards Akutagawa and Gin.

Gin eyed Chuuya; which was a sign.

He needed to act.

Now.

However clumsy it is.

He timed the momentum and sent it to Atsushi instead, the force the puck was sent was magnanimous that Jouno caught it instead and sent it to Fyodor.

The devil himself charging forward.

Chuuya eyed at him and changed directions, with Ayatsuji exchanging positions with himself.

The ball was back in the Foxes’ stead now.

He charged it towards Atsushi who was ready to hold it with his netted racquet, until…..

Louisa, their defender got it in her hands and pushed Atsushi out of the court line sending his leg sprawled in an awkward angle.

“FUCK”

“Nakajima!”, he heard Akutagawa scream from behind.

Blood streamed from his leg as he clutched it, screaming in agony and pain, before Adam smiled encouragingly at Chuuya as he picked up Atsushi off the court.

There was a last resort.

Chuuya huffed and panted as he used his body to topple Tsujimura’s balance and send the ball to Ayatsuji again.

Fyodor huffed and smirked, “This isn’t going to work for long you know.”

Chuuya seethed, “ you will fucking choke on your words, Dostoevsky, who are yoou to speak on us?”

“Keep dreaming, Chuu-ya”. Fyodor replied mockingly and smirked.

“Fuck you.” , he sneered.

Ayatsuji glared at him and gripped his arm pulling him away for a time-out, that their captain had summoned them to,

Yosano sighed, “We need a game-plan. We can’t keep going like this, we need to win.”

Chuuya adjusted his headband and wiped the sweat off the brow and sighed.

So far, their two goals were intercepted by Jouno’s defences or by Sigma’s saves. Five goals by Fyodor alone and another two by their defender. The only thing that was working was Gin and Akutagawa’s defences alongside Ayatsuji’s advances.

Foxes 0- 7 Ravens – Half-time.

“Dazai is coming in place of Atsushi who got injured, so lets redevise our game plan wait where is he-?” Yosano sighed when she saw the brunette approach Fyodor.

“What the ever-loving fuck is he doing?” , Akutagawa scoffed.

“Seeing his ex-boyfriend I presume.”

Chuuya’s curiousity got the better of him, anyway.

He went closer to both of the menaces that make his life a living hell and before he attempted to drag Dazai away from there, he froze at the brunette’s icy words aimed at Fyodor.

“Miss me too much, dear Fyodor-kun? Well I’m here now.I assume someone’s missed my talks at juvie so much that they had the gall to harass my team” Dazai’s medicine hazed voice spoke which stopped Chuuya from intruding.

“The Perfect Court welcomes the prodigal defender genius, welcome Dazai-kun, what a pleasure.” Fyodor’s smile was sickeningly sweet.

Getting Atsushi injured was a ploy in getting this bastard on the court

Fucking hell.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chapter Text

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Dazai put his hand on Chuuya’s shoulder catching his eye, while the team was catching itself from whatever shit show the first half of the game was.

Shit-show was a humble term if one has to say.

The scoreboard read 0-7

“I see the protein bar has worked wonders on you.”

Chuuya’s eyes widened a little bit when he met Dazai’s eyes and it took him a while to gain a little bit of composure before he shrugged his hands off his shoulders, “Ayatsuji wasn’t wrong when  he said you’re itching to get kicked in the ass.”:

Dazai’s eyebrows arched a bit “Since when did you and that blonde talk to each other?”

“Since you started to ghost me about our training. You promised.”, the redhead gritted out, pushing him out of the way, with a slight push.

He wasn’t sure whether he felt it at first or Chuuya had already picked up on the fact that he was touch repulsed from the visceral reactions he had to it. In front of him, already.

“I don’t remember.”

Chuuya had his hands on his hips before his searing brown eyes met his, Dazai knew clear as day those weren’t his natural eye colour anyway and they were contact lens, even if the rest of the team were completely oblivious to the fact, perhaps and he didn’t know where their main striker was.

So many little choices.

This was the only choice.

“I’m ready to play, but lets make a deal this time, shall we?.”

“First of all, stop calling me that. Second of all, what makes you think you’ll keep this up. Let me list off the things, first you lock me up in a car , then you “promise” me to train me and then give-‘

“Ah, ah, ah, if I don’t stop you there, this conversation will be of no use.”

Chuuya sighed, the sweat on his forehead dripping down as he sagged against the locker door.

“What do you profess we do then? We are going to face an embarrassing defeat, we are not even trying?”

“Did that blonde say anything in particular to you?”

“You obsessed with him or something?” Chuuya raised an eyebrow.

Dazai’s hands slammed against the locker, the sound backing the redhead into a corner, he shot Chuuya a non-verbal cue, picking up a pocket knife, the blade slowly pressed against the side of his neck, Chuuya’s breath static, in that swift movement.

“Hmm… we need to have a talk about that, but let’s address the real question here is….are you?

Chuuya’s expression didn’t change, not the widened expression, not the confused look, not the awkward look he’d give Tachihara and Gin when they included him in their shenanigans it was just…..bored.

“Cut the crap, those threats don’t work against me. I’m here for the game. Not any other directions or distractions. That’s the reason Coach and Adam recruited me for, right?”

“I don’t trust you.”

“Didn’t say you have to”, Chuuya shrugged. “And I don’t trust you to keep your side of the deal either.”

“Prick.”

“Bastard”

No one other than Odasaku and his aunt knew how much his trust issues ran deep. It cut through like a valley, or seemingly a void that no one seemed to fill. When the trade-off with Ayatsuji happened, it was nothing short of a surprise.

Yukito stood apart from the rest of the Foxes, of course, he was Odasaku’s sister’s son. So the trade-off was immediately approved.

Then the incident with the Ravens where they threatened to take him off was when Kouyou’s past relationship with the ex-Raven’s coach was revealed, and the intensity at which Ayatsuji fend them off and the shortened breaths and the terror in his eyes made Dazai decide on a deal.

Odasaku wanted Ayatsuji, ex-Raven and international exy star, and also his nephew, unbeknownst to the latter to stay.

He didn’t give a fuck about politics anyway.

That’s all it took – Dazai offered Ayatsuji protection from the Ravens in exchange for his loyalty to the Foxes.

A warm feeling that spread through him when he saw Odasaku build what he wanted – a team that could win against whatever troubled past the Ravens have given him.

Personally, he didn’t have any vengeance against the Edgar Allen Ravens, but he would love to see his ex’s ego crushed.

He was the devil after all.

He turned to Chuuya who tied his hair up and was getting ready for the second half which was about fifteen minutes away.

How preposterous.

“Let’s make a deal.”

Chuuya rolled his eyes. “And what’s the guarantee that you’ll keep your word, last time you left me with Tachihara and ghosted me on all of our training sessions and-‘

Too loud. He was too……damn loud.

He pulled Chuuya into a known hiding spot that he knew existed in the Raven’s court room right next to the bathrooms. A random tip-off from Odasaku told him that there was a storage room if ever he felt the need to use it.

Now was the time.

Without explanation, he dragged Chuuya to the storage room without warning, with the auburn letting out a meek yelp at the unexpected tug.

Odasaku thinks Dazai always thinks his actions through and thoroughly.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case when it comes to this midget. Chuuya made him do impulsive things – first he interrupted a Raven’s fight at the Edens’, second he promised  to train Chuuya. The problem is right now, he can’t back out of it because in actuality, he’s making a deal.

“Listen I need you to moral boost your roommate.”

“Huh….Atsushi?”

“He thinks he’s inferior to me. So I may have a plan on how we can get back to shape by helping him score a goal first, I think your playing style and Atsushi’s are similar so it might work.”

“A striker-defender combination? Have you seen the Ravens?”

“They slack us rough, we hit back harder.” Dazai yawned, and turned away. “That’s the plan.”

A flicker of recognition crept into Chuuya’s eyes as he met Dazai’s gaze and the plan that he had built up in the form of a puzzle. Riddle perhaps.

He only hoped he understood.

“I can find the gaps and I’ll tell Atsushi what needs to be done. And distract Kouyou I guess” Chuuya declared.

“I didn’t know someone who can’t catch onto cues could get it! I’m impressed, midget.”

“I’ll kill you.”

“You will have to ward off the medic to get time with Atsushi. I’ll talk with Fyodor so I can keep the rest of the team occupied, while you go into the room where your roommate is kept.”

“We are winning right?”

Chuuya bent down to tie his shoes but Dazai held him with a firm stare -  a hand held to stop him and bent down to tie his laces instead.

Hatred wasn’t what consumed him but a rare twinge of trust when he looked at the boy, he was too easy to trust, with those brown eyes and the ends of auburn streaks that hung loose.

He tied Chuuya’s laces, “We could try, who knows, we just might.”

“Then we will.”

Chuuya’s confidence baffled him to say the least.

Trust was a fragile thing and Dazai knew about this during his time at juvie. He was forced to partnered up with Fyodor when he played exy for the first time. An odd sense of peace when he guided the ball to the goalpost even if it was the co-dependency with his ex, that gave him some semblance of purpose.

Nah, he wouldn’t go as far to call that a sense of purpose.

It was a ploy to survive being jailed at the age of fourteen. Now exy simply bored him, despite being hailed for his ability to switch between striker and backliner, it required a lot of focus narrowed down because of how they play their games in closed stadiums.

It reminded him of prison a lot.

Not that he ever regretted his actions ever.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

That motherfucker deserved it.

That motherfucker absolutely deserved it.

That was one of his noblest acts yet. A service to society, even.

The worst ones were although breaking his ex out of jail, only for Fyodor to leave him behind playing exy with criminals who couldn’t even hold the damn racquet properly, and seeing him on the other side rallying his troops and Ougai Mori was quick to take him in after Paul Verlaine got fired from Evermore University.

He would love to rub it in his face that he’s doing better in the Foxes.

He is trying. He is thriving. With his friend and his aunt.

He survived. He is breathing.

But the memories never stopped recurring, do they?

One…two….three…. the safety pin that the raven-haired boy held dropped.

And of course he had to be cellmates with Fyodor Dostoevsky.

He didn’t imagine how that actually happened  but the only thing he knew was he committed arson that somehow put the Raven’s mafia underground existence and so they put him in juvie for training of sorts.

It was merely a precaution to keep Fyodor under control while his cousins gain control and keep the rumors down.

Dazai knew that. Yet he talked to him.

And God was it the worst decision ever.

“Free-will was always an illusion wasn’t it, Dazai-kun?”

They never had a conversation. He was informed cell-mates wasn’t supposed to talk to each other.

Yet he bit the bullet, “How do you know my name?”

He wished he had went back to reading those dusty books in the corner before he was applicable for parole.

Yet he talked. Conversations that somehow morbidly intrigued him.

Dazai didn’t really know life outside of juvie. Just the foster care which lead him to HER and he landed up in here, the outside world was a mystic.

Memories haunt. The beautiful and the ugly.

But for Osamu Dazai, it was always the latter. The ugly always seemed to persist, the labyrinth of humanity’s evils listed and sealed in his fate.

Yet the worst one would be the conversations that seared into his brain. The eventual kiss, Fyodor’s weight that grounded his thoughts, helped take his mind in oblivion.

Intoxicating. Liberating.

Free.

For a while at least.

“You seem to read a lot. Have you ever thought about getting out of here for good?”

“Plenty, I mean do you plan on spending the rest of your life here? That sounds dreadful”

“If I could.. yes. But I have responsibilities to fulfill”

How skeptical.

His laughter was chilling, “What I certainly know is the ones who hold the highest power have the tendency to be served everything on a silver platter. Be it politics, sports, even during our exy sessions, do you think the prison was providing us charity?”

Dazai dropped the book down and began to intently listen and raised an eye with a bored expression.

“Not that I know of. But you know I’d rather have something even if its exy to survive than rot here all my life.”

But, What. Did. He. Want?

A low murmur in his voice said it wasn’t exy.

Exy was a mere means of escape to him.

The memories that shrouded his life before he was ten were no less than obnoxious cruelty.

A family. He had read stories of families being separated, the terrible anguish that one has to go through.

Stories where they reunite, tears of relief, tender love and care. Something he came so close to achieving. Until it was ripped away from him brutally.

Memories that are buried in the soiled debris, never for the poison to kill.

The venom in Fyodor’s voice when he said those words still haunted him.

“Pitiful, that arsonists and murderers like us won’t go anywhere, a fate that has been painted, sealed even. Tools like us, are a vague means of entertainment, why do they think the juvies train us? Because as a form of redemption? Or a solace to find meaning?”

Dazai felt his breath knock off like a pile of bricks just crush him; but this conversation didn’t seem like the ones they had in the past.

Part of the reason Dazai and Fyodor attached themselves to each other was the reality checks they gave each other from time to time.

“We are tools. Mere tools for them to use, maybe it’s time you accept that, Dazai-kun. That’s the only way we can be free.”

He realized Fyodor’s reality was disillusioned at that moment, those words that made him freeze up, because he wanted him to join his stupid pointless tirade.

Dazai laughed manically and closed his book. “Are you inviting me to Evermore? Then?”

“Open offer, from the practice sessions where we were paired up, I can tell you are a good defender, par to my levels.”

The ghastly fingers that threaded through Dazai’s hair, brushing off the unruly brunette knots while he lay on his lap, the slight softness in Fyodor’s eyes was unmissable.

It was more foreboding as Dazai pushed off Fyodor and returned back to his book, then the cold realization in Fyodor’s eyes gave him an odd sense of satisfaction.

Fyodor sighed and leaned forward, and laughed, the sound filled with so much mirth and skepticism, “I’m the Morozov’s cousin. So I’m the silver platter aren’t i?”

Of course.

Of-fucking-course. Why wouldn’t the Ravens want their star striker back? Who thinks it’s his own damn responsibility to keep their legacy going.

It was deception. What he had seen from Fyodor. A mere sort of fascination because he always knew they were inevitably closer to each other’s hearts.

Somehow.

Close.

Just close, but the distance between them felt very vast.

They weren’t opposites nor were they similar. It was simply loneliness as teenage boys that had drawn them to each other.

Love is too strong of a word to describe what they had.

Fyodor would leave and captain the Edgar Allen Ravens.

A mere attachment that was borne out of a need for understanding.

“So I’m assuming the underground activities in Evermore and the rumors had quietened down.”

He still had his hands running through the unruly brown hair of his, cold yet comforting. Just the way Dazai remembered his mom’s.

Before the scarlet ruined her hands

And then…

Whose blood tainted his own hands.

“Well yes. I could give you time to make a decision” Fyodor’s voice bounced off the walls, almost echoing, screeching, like it was the only thing that kept his rage in place.

“Don’t bother. I’d rather read my books then come to Evermore.”, he swatted his hands off with a bored expression and looked at him with a huff, a twinge of sad smile that radiated off Fyodor.

Dazai rarely felt rage except when the day Fyodor left - he clutched the bars when Paul Verlaine, the then coach of the Ravens led Fyodor away, rattling at the bars, the prison guards gripping him in place as he swatted the pocket knife at him as the bile rose up in his throat, he sneered at him and laughed.

“You know Fyodor, this little tirade isn’t gonna last long. The Ravens will be crushed to the dirt.”

Slumped against the cold cell, he didn’t mind it - he felt the coldness that he had felt from Fyodor’s embraces looping around his neck threatening to break apart.

The footsteps echoed away, the small bits of his heart breaking as he laughed maniacally.

What he didn’t expect was to be met with his long distant aunt with an exy contract, a week later.

His aunt…?

He did have a family, huh?

 🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

He’d rather think of the consquences of how it all came together later.

It happened in sequences. His aunt breaking him out of juvie. The Ravens and The Foxes fallout.

What he didn’t expect the least, the Raven’s star player joining the lower ranked Foxes, a trade-off that left the exy universe in shambles or so.

Then came the Edgar Allen Raven’s devious plan in getting their star-striker.

Control. Control came to Dazai like he never relished, and that too in the form of Yukito Ayatsuji who was known as one of prominent striker duos along with Fyodor in Evermore.

The match was lit, the fire had only just begun, but…

Chuuya was a puzzle he intends to solve soon.

Not now.

Now. The match.

“Dazai-kun, it looks like we are going to crush you under the dirt.”, he would recognize the haunting voice anywhere. “So what picking up the dust in the first match? and a certain someone said this team would make semis.”

Before Dazai could talk as he was tying the redhead’s shoes, Chuuya responded, clearly ticked off, “This isn’t even your dressing room.”

“It’s the Raven’s court, though.”

“That doesn’t give you the right to just barge in, does it?”

“You’re nothing like your coward mother are you?” Fyodor sneered.

“Tch, privileged assholes like you –“, the blonde’s entry silenced Chuuya as he glared at Fyodor, as he got dragged away from the captain.

The tension in the room was palpable that could be cut with a knife.

Fyodor looked at Chuuya with contempt and a wave if nonchalant satisfaction as if he had achieved something.

Chuuya roughly nudged past him, a glare filled with contempt and rage.

Did they know each other before?

Huh? Weird.

Chuuya didn’t seem to reply, although his hands were clenched around the exy racquet that he held, his knuckles white as Ayatsuji led him away to the court.

“Did you pick him up?”

Dazai blinked for a moment and tilted his head, “Purely based on skill, Adam wanted him as a reserve, Tachihara is nowhere to be seen, so we had no choice but to put him on the field. Unless you have something to do with that Dostoevsky.”

He didn’t miss the darkening of his eyes when he was addressed by his last name and the cynical laughter that followed.

“You really don’t know who he is, do you?”

“Who?”

“That’s not Chuuya.”

He folded his hands and smiled, turning his back and fitting his helmet on “See you after the second half, Fyodor-kun. I got a team to tend to. And a team to crush. ”

Chuuya watched as Kouyou rolled her eyes as the play got interrupted at half time.

The scoreboard read 0-7

A fucking seven-point gap and Tachihara was still missing.

Where did he go that he was pushed into the first match against the Ravens? And with Sigma shooting daggers at him with her glares, he is sure he can’t get to the goalpost.

All his attempts were blocked by Jouno and Tsujimura who were their lead backliners.

Chuuya found it fascinating that Fyodor found the most effective players on his side, of course when their head coaches were referred to by the Morozovs who were the very reason all of this started in the first place.

And his father.

“My idiot nephew again.” Kouyou sighed, frowning a bit “Akiko, come here.”

Chuuya winced and this was the perfect moment to change his line of thinking.

Yosano sighed tiredly taking her gloves off immediately gesturing the rest of the team to follow her.

“You are not focusing on the actual problem. If Tsujimura keeps switching between her striker and backliner role effortlessly. And Atsushi is not doing that. We have to put up a fight atleast. Obviously we need to get a few goals across the damn defenders. And Ayatsuji alone cannot score all of them.”

Chuuya was gazing at the scene where Dazai was talking to Fyodor and how the team practically didn’t care that he was on their side or not.

Weird….

Time to switch directions. As Dazai said.

Chuuya didn’t even know why he was going through with what that bastard did. He didn’t trust that maniac one instance but he understood intentions.

And underneath those clouded medication and mania, he saw something genuine.

And a liar with various different identities can tell the truth better than anyone else.

Even if he isn’t used to the feeling.

Give Atsushi as many chances as possible. What’s that really matter to his roommate is he gets a chance to prove his worth before Dazai comes back from the high of his medication when he is knocked off.

20 minutes approximately. That’s when he’ll be able to have vigilance on the court atleast.

Each game is of atleast 40 minutes. 20 minutes to each half. The first half

Chuuya tuned her voice out and turned to Atsushi in the dressing room who was still writhing in pain and went to his side instead, picking at his scrapes, as the medical professional came to their side.

“Leave it to me”.

Atsushi and the medic looked at him in shocked surprise, “But-“, the boy started. “It’s just a small scrape”

“Do you trust me?” Chuuya raised an eyebrow.

Atsushi was practically his roommate and to avoid a disastrous moment to occur, and with Tachihara gone, and Gin sticking to her brother’s side, he needed the boy to listen to him, atleast to avoid the impending disaster that was looming to occur.

Which could be fatal – The Ravens and Fyodor were never a good idea to begin with.

“Maybe?”, Atsushi winced in pain, when Chuuya swiped the cotton with the antiseptic on his

“You keep telling that it’s a scrape. So be it. You’ll still play.”

“Kouyou won’t be happy with this. Neither will Ayatsuji.”

Chuuya was about to speak when Akutagawa came into the medic room and stood stoically by the medic’s side.

“So Nakajima’s going to play? Kouyou said we have no plan but to bring Dazai in, but-‘

Yosano came in and folded her arms, “Kouyou just informed that Dazai is under medication so we have to go ahead and finish the game. Put up a fight atleast. I’m aware you guys saw the scoreboard.”

Atsushi sighed, “I promise im trying. I’m just not as good as him.”

Yosano shrugged and When everyone left the room, Atsushi blew the strand of hair that fell before him and looked at Akutagawa who sneered and left the room, a look Chuuya couldn’t really get a read on.

“You both live together.” Chuuya stated, a matter-of-factly, folding his arms together.

“I’m living on rent or sort of. Akutagawa lets me stay because well….I sort of suggested so that we could get some time off the exy court.”

“Why would you need time off the exy court anyway? Isn’t what you need already here?”

“Is that Dazai-san warned me about?”

“Huh?”

“That you are too fixated on the sport. Unhealthily. It is kind of like how Ayatsuji is when he joined the team. The world knows that he is a genius- ”

Chuuya kneeled down to Atsushi cutting him off, “And? What did he say?”

“He says I’m not qualified yet to be playing on the field yet. He and Dazai-san have some weird kind of deal so of course he is gonna be the lead defender.”

“And you listen to him…because?”

“He’s an exy star. The whole world knows and Dazai-san did some weird stuff to get him on our side.”

“And does he have anywhere to go?” Chuuya raised an eyebrow, flicking Atsushi’s forehead in process, “He’s from Evermore.”

“Ow! You didn’t have to do that you know?”

“Anyway, looks like you are up and ready to be on the court.”,

Chuuya bent down tying Atsushi’s shoes, which he learnt from mother. A very vague memory before he took her away from Evermore secret area where his exy skills were to be polished and become the permanent backliner at Edgar Allens’.

It was a mundane thing, painful even, memories of his mother’s voice instructing him to tie his dirty laces. At first, his clumsy hands couldn’t get the crosses in between before he learnt to tie them quickly, when they were tracked by Tetsuji’s little minions, he sent after him and his mom when they fled from town to town until their pursuit stopped.

Chuuya learnt to slip through the shadows, run through Yokohama’s dirty lanes along with 24 other towns and cities he didn’t keep track of.

“How do you even know I’m going to play?”, Atsushi asked, tilting his head slightly.

Chuuya swiftly turned to him, before Yosano came in, “Are you boys going to get into positions or not?

Atsushi’s eyes lit up, “I’m continuing?”

“Dazai’s high as a kite and there is no way we’re putting him in the defender position, so yes you are the best shot we have. Don’t. Mess. Up. Although I know you won’t.”, Yosano put her helmet up and motioned both Chuuya and Atsushi to return back to the court.

Before Atsushi put on his helmet, he stopped and looked at Chuuya, “Uh, I have a plan.”

Chuuya looked at him and his eyes widened. “What sort of?”

“We don’t need to tell anyone but as a defender, I have a full view of the court, so in this case I’m a striker. You get me, don’t you?”

He smirked. He knew exactly Atsushi was talking about.

“Breaking the pattern are we? I’m so in.”, he flicked Atsushi’s forehead again and this time the boy just smiled softly and followed him.

Yosano, gestured all of the teammates to come closer,  “At this rate, we all know we are going to lose, so the best we are going to do is bring it into a tie even if it’s against the Ravens.”. She stopped to eye Ayatsuji, raising an eyebrow at him, “What do you think, vicey?”

Ayatsuji blinked in surprise and his gaze narrowed to Chuuya’s, “I may have a plan. Switch up the positions, Chuuya can be in my position and act only when I tell you to. The Ravens won’t expect that in the slightest. Backliners remain same, I will be at the backside and maybe bring in Dazai in the middle, substitute Atsushi when it’s convenient because I don’t think according to the Raven’s plan they would expect that.”

“Dazai isn’t sober enough, the medicine would take a while to kick in.”, Higuchi pointed out, he’s been out after that weird conversation with the opposition captain and crossed her legs.

Fyodor – which meant nothing good anyway.

“Dazai will be ready in ten minutes and we can sub Atsushi with him at that moment of time.” Chuuya quipped in.

Everyone’s gazes turned to him and Chuuya raised an eyebrow “I’m just saying what’s practical, what’s with the looks?”

Ayatsuji sighed, “Are you playing along or are you actually dumb? Dazai never really involves himself in strategizing, 10 minutes with Atsushi simply wouldn’t work. Have you seen the way he plays-”

“So you want a half medicated maniac to come on field and play?” Yosano snapped at Ayatsuji. “Look, you may be the star player but we can’t compromise on Dazai’s health. There. Loud and Clear. Just as Ms. Kouyou said.”

The blonde sighed and glared at Chuuya, who just shrugged and looked at Dazai who was knocked off by his medicines.

What was he supposed to do? As if this is his mess. He just joined the team so he could hide from the Morozovs, he didn’t ask for the lead striker place.

It just fell into place.

Atleast the man isn’t here. The Morozovs don’t know he is…alive.

Ayatsuji doesn’t know he is him.

He is not him anymore.

He is Nakahara Chuuya.

“He will be up, besides it would work if he has some kind of game time. Sounds good. Let Kouyou know, the game restarts in 5. Atsushi, Chuuya, Yukito, to your positions ” Yosano snapped her fingers.

Chuuya kept a hand on Atsushi’s shoulder and nodded and the boy immediately relaxed and gave him a soft smile.

Which perplexed him more – because why was he smiling at him? It’s not like their plan worked or they scored a goal yet?

Everyone in the Foxes were weird. In some way or the other. Especially his roommates and that included Tachihara who went missing.

Whatever.

The whistle blew.

Game on, baby.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

The ball was firstly served by the Ravens. Ayatsuji shot him a warning look as Jouno took control pushing the ball to the Foxes goalpost.

Before he aimed for the goalpost, Atsushi threw himself in front of Akutagawa and Gin, a speed he didn’t expect and sent it to Ayatsuji who scored their goal after a while straight through Sigma’s defences.

Fyodor changed up the dynamics of the court line-up, his eyes transfixed on Ayatsuji as the points kept coming.

Ayatsuji was attempting to equal the goals rather than win.

That’s not the Ayatsuji he grew up watching,or rather the one he watched to play when they were handpicked by the Ravens.

Chuuya called for Atsushi and whispered to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

A striker and striker combination is dangerous. Safest and most powerful bet is a striker and backliner combination and Gin and Ryuunosuke have been perfect in providing the backup in avoiding the goals to pile up and the score gap to grow.

“Can we try it out?”

“I’m not good at striking.”

“Neither am I.” Chuuya sighed.

“We should perhaps discuss this with Yosano-san and go ahead with it.”, Atsushi sighed.

Chuuya went to Yosano and the captain signaled a time-out as she gathered everyone in a huddle, “What is it, newboy?”

“Now is the time we switch up the positions of me and Atsushi.”

“You can’t defend.” Ayatsuji pointed out.

“But Atsushi can strike.”

“His striking skills are close to nil. We can’t afford to loose points when we are so close to equalizing. Ravens have a clear cut-out plan that is to bring Atsushi out because they believe he is the weak link in the team.”

“Weak people don’t deserve to exist in the Foxes and Nakajima is just a little sluggish in the areas of striking, but he can get through.”

Yosano scratched her chin and snapped her fingers, “Listen losers, Yukito I remember you mentioning that the girl Tsujimura was weak on her right zone. Chuuya, you have speed, so give the captain a distraction to focus, since he seems oddly fixated on you. Yukito stay behind until then. They will expect Ayatsuji to attack but Chuuya will send the ball to Atsushi and he will hit the green light.”

“So I’m in the defender positon now?”

“Yup. Switch with Atsushi.”

“We have a five- point difference. Atsushi is gonna-“

“We have trained, haven’t we, Yukito?”

For a moment. For a brief moment, it seemed he did recognize Chuuya, and it was like those days at Evermore, when he and Ayatsuji had each other as striker and backliner, before Fyodor pulled some kind of stunt and landed in jail.

And Chuuya’s mother fled away from him.

They weren’t partners yet they had each other’s back during his tenure at Evermore.

Chuuya had learnt to be loyal. Be perfect. When he picked the exy racquet.

That’s all he was ever though he would be until the end.

A product to the Ravens. Living under the shadows of the stardom of Fyodor and Ayatsuji- the star striker duo recognized by the constellation of crazed exy fandom that he never thought he would see.

At least that’s the life he thought he would have had.

When he was eight, he was ripped off a deathly chance to be recruited by the Edgar Allen Ravens.

Though not as Nakahara Chuuya.

But as the-

The whistle blew and his eyes narrowed back to Dazai, who was passed out on the side alongside Lucy, Higuchi and the rest of the reserves he didn’t recognize along with Kouyou.

The ball raced towards Gin before she dodged it again and sent it flying again back to the Raven’s line of defense.

Now.

Atsushi should be here by now.

He saw the silver-haired man run past him and Ayatsuji standing at the position, now as the striker and nodded at Chuuya to try with the plan that they had discussed earlier.

Plan- A : Chuuya fends off the backliners and sends the ball to Atsushi and he strikes, or he atleast tries to get past Sigma.

Plan- B: The backliners fend him off and Ayatsuji gets hold of the ball, external factors such as Ravens strikers. Nothing a star striker like him will be unable to slip out of (These were Dazai’s words anyway not his)

Plan-C: The backliners fend Atsushi off the ball lands anywhere near Chuuya’s arena, he serves the ball back to Atsushi and he scores

Plan-D : Chuuya scores (Dazai’s words, and he had no idea what he meant by that)

Irritably, whatever Dazai had told Chuuya would happened, all that is needed to happen is for Atsushi to start scoring.

Plan-A should suffice by now.

Chuuya gained some speed as the plan suggested by his captain and caught the attention of Fyodor immediately, whose eyes were trained on him, speculating and calculating as usual and he gestured the rest of the Ravens to target him instead of focusing where Atsushi was positioning himself.

Gaps were easy to spot. In a court, there are blind spots each player is attuned to. Spaces which are completely ignored, spaces which can be easily spotted and that way advantage can be gained.

That much he had known from the Sheep’s way of playing.

Ravens are much more fiercer than the teams that had taken part in the Winter Selections, they always knew these kind of gaps exist.

Until a distraction persists.

The ball was in Ravens ‘arena now.

They need to shorten the gap.

There is only ten minutes Atsushi can be on court and Dazai to come in. Before that, they need to utilize him to an extent. To an extent that would at least dumb down Ayatsuji’s ego for now.

Chuuya nodded and fixed his eyes on the price -  the goalpost.

Not now.

Not now.

He was surrounded by Nikolai and dodged him by slipping through the gaps, then came Tsujimura and Jouno, his toughest targets yet.

He trudged past them sending the ball flying past Louisa who was their main defender.

Atsushi caught it right on time and sent the goal and the light was lit up with green.

Goal.

It was a fucking goal.

He heard his captain scream at them throwing her helmet off and screaming those words from a far-away land but he could feel the adrenaline that rushed through him at that exact moment.

“TAKE THAT SUCKERS”

The energy. The atmosphere. The crowd went silent.

This is where he truly belonged.

Today, it wasn’t like those first few weeks he joined the Foxes, it was the game Chuuya was mostly indulgent in, the game that made Chuuya forget all the lies he was made up of, the game that he was truly honest to.

The Exy Court.

Maybe the Foxhole Court.

Ayatsuji came up to him and patted his back “Keep it up, we might have a chance.”, and went up to Atsushi ruffling his hair.

Yosano put a hand on his shoulder, “You were not all words after all huh, newbie?”

Chuuya nodded at her, “Never said I just was, captain.”

It was just a goal. To the foxes, no it was not. It was a symbol of respite. According to the coach, whatever it is, the team never got along because of their very similar backgrounds, at least off the court.

On the court, their desire is to win.

And Chuuya would do whatever it takes.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

10 minutes in. And Dazai really didn’t want to go in and replace Atsushi, when the pace was going so well.

The Foxes weren’t letting the Ravens score, there were a few slip-ups that led to the Ravens still in the lead but his aunt definitely hadn’t expected the team to fight back so fiercely that the gap was just a point.

The scoreboard read 7-9 in the favour of Ravens. 

There was no use in him substituiting Atsushi when the team was going strong.

“Do I really have to go?”, he murmured against Kouyou’s side.

“Yup your time-out of five minutes is over and you could really make an impact in the last five minutes we have.” Kouyou said, “And I just called Odasaku, he’s fine now. Ango’s with him.”

Dazai’s face lit up a fraction and Kouyou smiled, “Now go in.”

Kouyou was obviously being more warmer and laidback today, after the fightback, Dazai thought, as he placed a hand on Atsushi’s hand who had scored two goals out of the seven goals scored, the sweat dripped as he smiled brightly at him.

Dazai stopped at his tracks and whispered smirking, “Looks like someone proved the blondie wrong, knew I could always count on you-“

“Hope you feel better, Dazai-san. ” Atsushi replied politely.

Dazai’s hands paused and remained quiet as he skid to the main court and eyed Chuuya, the bright-auburn curls so natural yet the placid brown hues in his eyes seemed artificial. Dazai long-knew those eyes weren’t his natural eye color.

It seemed unnatural and way out of place – just like how Chuuya was upon entering Palmetto.

It didn’t take a while before the game restarted and the point deficit was equalized with Chuuya and Ayatsuji’s goals combined with Gin and Akutagawa’s defence, all Dazai needed to do was stay as backup and watch in the middle.

Time froze.

Louisa stepped in the middle passing the ball to Fyodor.

“Oh shit!”, he heard Ayatsuji who sped up to his level.

Fyodor smirked at the disappointed look that was pasted on Ayatsuji’s face and the visible frustration as he chased after him, he broke through Yosano’s defences and the light turned green.

“The Ravens score a goal”, the announcer declared, the fate of the game sealed.

Dazai’s focus was lost and his gaze was fixated on Chuuya’s.

He saw something distraught and a disappointed look in his eyes, and the iron grip the redhead had in his hands slackened, and the exy racquet dropped with a thud.

Dazai didn’t understand why he stayed back– the thud was so alarmingly loud than all the sounds that had made him flinch.

Be it the lock of the door, or the people he trusted over the years, or the simple act of his mother’s hands that interlocked with the ragged curls of his hair.

Blood. Crimson Red.

The knife he held.

The distraught expression on Chuuya’s face spoke volumes than ever

He didn’t have the capacity to detect emotions but he saw his teammates squeeze Chuuya’s shoulder, even Ayatsuji had a sympathetic look while filtering outside of the stadium who had zero emotion whatsoever when all he thought about was exy.

Both of the captains shook hands and it was like any other normal match to an outsider.

Not filled with animosity, glares, bloodshed histories that tied them together.

Professional. Simple.

Dazai would have accepted if this was a reaction that came from Ayatsuji. A suffocation of sorts, the memories that are a cluster that come together in the form of rage, outbursts and bout of disappointed.

Not from Chuuya. Not from the man he would have expected it from.

“The boy seems upset, Dazai. I know, not a great time-“

He cut Yosano off and waved her off “Tell Atsushi that his roommate will come to his room much later, make sure the team gets to the dorms safe and sound.”

“I mean I don’t know why he’s beating himself up over it.” Akutagawa deadpanned. “A team like us coming close to equaling a team like Ravens’ is a big deal.”

Dazai watched from afar as Fyodor spurred Chuuya’s slumped form and the exchange ending with Chuuya flipping him off and speaking in a cold tone that echoed throughout the room

“Next time, we will crush you in our dirt,  Fyodor. You. Will. Fucking. Pay”

Fyodor picked up his training kit and headed outside, “There is still time to take those words back, Nakahara.”

“And my sentence stays. We will fucking crush you to the dirt. Evermore ain’t shit.”

He laughed maniacally, “You will keep proving yourself wrong with a team like this.”

“Fyodor.” Mori called out, and the raven-haired man gave a sad look towards Dazai leaving the court in a hurried manner.

Weird.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

It has been an hour since the sentence hung, the court paled in dreadful silence and Chuuya sat in the centre of the court, his legs spread, his head hung between them as Dazai watched. The encounter with Fyodor was so hinged with antagonism and hatred that he could visibly see the effect long after the match was done and dusted.

“How long are you gonna keep sulking over that man.”

“Yeah “That man”, must have been easy to be handed everything on a silver platter.”

Those words.

Those words that were a distant echo of his past.

Dazai decided to test the waters. He put a hand on Chuuya’s head, when there was no flinch or tensing he decided to just keep it there, the smooth fiery curls that sunk through his fingers.

“You shouldn’t keep arguing with the Ravens you know?”

“Why did I hear from coach the other day that Ayatsuji was harassed by the Ravens even after the transfer?”

The question stopped Dazai from telling anything witty. Over the last two weeks, he was used to seeing Chuuya’s moods from extremely excited to broody,but never this side. Upset, the boy was genuinely upset.

“Well if it makes you feel any better I’m still keeping the deal I promised.”

“You are the pathological liar.”

“Aren’t you the same?”

“Makes it easier to recognize that there isn’t just one.” Chuuya shrugged, getting off the ground

“Tell Atsushi that-“

Dazai yanked him towards his cranky car, “Nuh-uh, not in this state. Tonight you’re coming with me.”

“Hah?”

“That’s right.”

“Your bed sucks. Your TV is broken. That’s not even an apartment and the bed has bugs.”

“Ok. Fair. We’re going to the coach’s place and talk.”

“Talk?”

“I need to know. A lot about you, Chuuya, and I can’t do it on a damn court. Not in The Ravens’ nest anyway. A lot of the pieces just don't seem to fit in"

The rage and resentment returned to his brown hued eyes, “I'm not a damn math problem"

"I would still solve you"

Chuuya shook his head, his hands still clutching his head, the distraught expression dissipating "Now is not the time, I-"

Dazai sighed sitting next to him "Then I'll stay here, as long as you want me to. I need to know you".

Chuuya shook his head, "You don't want to"

The expression in Chuuya's eyes widened and froze, and for the first time, Dazai noticed something that he hadn't before in the edge of the brown hues. 

Fear.

For a second he contemplated leaving, but the familiarity in the single look that the redhead gave him made him want to stay and take him home. 

Safe and sound. Not that he particularly wanted to, which is what confused him the most. 

Chapter Text

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

It took a whole while to drag Chuuya off the exy court, sitting there in the acrid smell of the Raven’s court.

Dazai did promise he would sit and wait until the boy would stop brooding over something he had no control over.

And take him to his place.

It wasn’t as bad as last time. He picked up the shattered glasses and actually put his clothes to wash and cleaned up the place.

All because Odasaku had offered him another protein bar to survive the day.

One hour.

Two hours.

Three-

“That’s enough.”

He heard snores and at the corner of his eyes, a hint of auburn streaks splayed against his shoulder, unnaturally soft and pliant.

Dazai turned to face Chuuya when he saw the boy slumped against his shoulder – which ached – so much after being on the court and wearing all the countless straps and protection gears, and the scars that were healing especially with the scruffy bandages that he had covered with black compression sleeves.

On some days, it burned a lot.

Some days, it was blank and numb, just like his mind was.

Today, though, his head wouldn’t shut up.

That day at Edens’, Chuuya gave him a ride home, and tucked him in when this place he had rented out has been shabby enough. Thinking back to the day gave him a whiplash or rather it sent him in a dream-like state that made him wonder, if the whole ordeal that happened was real or not.

He’s simply returning the favor.

Of that day.

Nothing else.

Even though his throat ached still from the bruise, the blood that dripped even through those bandages.

He picked Chuuya up.

For someone with such fierce determination and speed that he had seen on the field, he was pretty light-weighted, which was also an added factor that won’t make his already damaged car break down.

With a soft chuckle that he was unaware that escaped him, he tucked Chuuya in his bed, which was much better than the day they reached his place after he publically provoked Fyodor.

Whether it was on purpose or not was a different matter altogether.

A though stuck him immediately.

He found Ayatsuji’s number on the speed dial and checked the time.

12:25 a.m.

There was no way that motherfucker would have fallen asleep by this time. Ayatsuji always went back to the court regardless of the time, the court was his air to breathe, it doesn’t matter who was with him.

He lived and breathed exy.

That’s just how it was.

It was infuritating and extremely annoying, but more now that Chuuya was the same case.

“I told you not to bother me off campus hours. What’s the matter?”

“Do you recognize Chuuya?”

“Bleak question. I don’t. I have better things to do. Of all things, he is a shrimpy bastard with no impulse control whatsoever-“

“I’m not asking this for shits and giggles. Do you recognize Chuuya somewhere like at your time at the Ravens?” Dazai’s face turned serious as he looked at the softened features and the loose strings of Chuuya’s curls fall over his eyes covering his right eye.

However high he was, Dazai always noticed way too many things about Chuuya to keep count.

Like the scars he had all over his body. Scattered all over, when his shirt rode above exposing the burned scars that were turning to faint pink blemishes from the healing perhaps.

He’d try to hide it. Every day he would turn up to practice and watch, slating a bruised arm as a reason to keep away from court.

Oda knew that was bullshit either way. He had to go to Kouyou’s cabin everyday as his usual sessions and skipped those as an excuse to “observe” the game.

Bleh. Exy.

Dazai knew Chuuya was trouble to be dealt with from the moment he set foot into the Palmetto State University. From the moment Adam insisted that Chuuya would be the perfect fit to the team.

Adam.

Right.

First, he will finish talking to this tyrant.

“Can I know why are you still on the damn line, I need to go back to the court and-“

“I have some questions.”

He heard Yukito’s harsh sigh and knew it was at the point that he was going to give in.

“This better be worth my time.”

Dazai smirked, knowing that he would try to get some answers. He didn’t know why he needed those answers

“A trip to the Evermore. We talk to the you know who and get answers from your childhood.”

“Why the fuck would we want to visit the place?”

“Can you get your ass out of the goddamn court so we can go to there?”

“This isn’t a good idea. And No. I can’t. Plus Yosano has asked for me to take up the damn press meet tomorrow.”

“Oh right.”

“Yeah, only if you knew what it takes to get on court.”

“No worries. I’ll just pay my good friend, Fyodor, a visit.”

“Wait. What?”

He could practically picture the confusion and surprise in Yukito’s face.

“Are you fucking high or what?”

“I’m always high. Anyhow I have several duties to tend to. See you at the court Ayatsuji, as you said tomorrow.”

“You’re…coming tomorrow night you mean?”

“You heard me right! I have a promise to fulfill, alas! So I will have to bring my very heavy equipment.”

“You’re actually going to practice. Midnight. With me and Chuuya. Don’t you bullshit me.”

His hands roved over the buttons and he eventually clicked the decline button on his phone and smiled to himself.

Tomorrow awaits.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chuuya had this numb sensation when his eyes opened to a blank ceiling and the cracks in the walls that reminded him of something.

For what was worth, his head hurt, the numbing sensation giving way to the pain that kept searing in his head.

The empty meaningless memories that torment him every moment he wakes up began to echo through his head

Blood.

Someone getting beheaded.

Bullet Shots.

Firm rough hands grabbing him from behind.

The blood that was still splattered on his cheek.

Sigma staring at him back in horror as he was taken away.

Ayatsuji and Fyodor’s face out of eyeshot.

But all he saw was red.

Red of his mom’s firm arms as she carried him in his arms, blood all over her as she ran.

To be held so tightly? Ever so close in a fleeting moment when she could have been killed at any moment of time.

To be protected?

But all he ever saw was red.

Why…when the first moment he was saved was the moment he felt that he should have been left to drown?

“Hey! Midget! Whatever is going on?”

He felt the calloused brown hair fall upon his forehead and for a moment, he startled, before the light press of fingers against his cheek bringing him back from the memory, he was at Dazai’s place.

He had got him back here?

From the court?

Did he stay with him after all the sulking?

Whatever-the-ever-loving-fuck- was-going-on?.

“Dazai.” He scoffed.

“Great. You’re back to reality, wasn’t as hard I guess. You were way out of it last night, so I thought it’s best you spend the night at my place.”

Either it was Chuuya’s morning grumpiness when he wakes up in an unfamiliar place, or the irritation of being helped by Dazai of all people.

He just felt pissed.

But wasn’t he used to waking up in random places, the cities from Arizona to Finland to Japan, there were so many corners of the world he had woken up in. So why does getting adjusted to living anywhere next to the Foxes make him so uncomfortable?

“Nightmare?” Dazai blurted out bluntly.

He wishes it was. He wishes he didn’t see a person get beheaded, the blood splatters that he felt on his cheek before he was taken away.

Was it a dream? Or was it reality.

It wasn’t until Dazai thwacked his forehead, that he felt the rage coming back up, but he gritted his teeth to throw punches knowing the violent reaction he got a few months ago at his first practice session.

“Don’t. Ever. Do. That.”

Dazai sniggered, “Well it worked, didn’t it? Now I need you to-“

Chuuya raised an eyebrow and looked at him, his hands feeling the white walls which were previously green enough to show how much of a dumpster it was. The fresh fragrance and the feeling of home.

“You could have just left me at my dorm room at Atsushi’s” Chuuya grumbled, pulling his hair swerving through the curls to pull it into a bun, leaving a few of his strawberry auburn curls falling down at his sides as he looked at Dazai’s frozen glare before he laughed and turned his attention to the sound of his creaky door opening.

The creaky door opened and Chuuya barfed at the sight of Ayatsuji in a black suit and ties, sleekly slipping inside, the cufflinks with the combination of aviator glasses which was crude and ridiculous.

Chuuya admired Ayatsuji’s exy skills and have observed his skills on the radio when he was on the run with his mother and often got smacked for still holding onto the stupid dream that he could play the Spring Championship season.

Hope. A fleeting feeling. Time can’t tell when it gets crushed but well words can.

So like the stupid fan he is, he collected magazines and scraps of newspaper where he found in random shops where he and his mom had breakfast in, cheap motels which had articles of Yukito Ayatsuji and Fyodor Dostoevsky gained popularity in the exy ground.

And that was when he began to keep collecting bits of newspapers, the only thing he dreaded was playing with any one of those two.

Dazai’s expression turned to Chuuya’s, his smile as usual and manic when Ayatsuji walked in, looking like the most basic rich man in the world.

“We are going for a little outing today, so get ready soon, Chuuya.”

“Where are we going today?”

“A little trip back to my ex-campus.” Ayatsuji shrugged nonchalantly. “You have ten minutes to get ready.”

Typical.

Chuuya groaned and got himself to the bathroom, the small spots of water on his skin, the burn from the scars he got over the years, a numbing ache.

Why do they have to go to the place first thing in the morning?

This has to be a damn set-up.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

It was barely four minutes when Chuuya came out of the shower and put on his Foxes jersey. Dazai grabbed his arm before Ayatsuji could even look his way and pushed him into his room- which didn’t smell that bad if he were to be honest.

It was reeking of old clothes of an odor he couldn’t stand for a minute or so, the first time he had gotten Dazai here after the drunken brawl disaster at Edens’. Stranded black armbands that he found peculiar and sheaths of knives organized in a proper odd, it was really odd those were the only pair of things that were worthy of noticing in his room.

This time around though…there was a fragrance that was sweet yet faint, the adrenaline in him that always pushed for him to run, the feeling of wanting to bolt stopped- even if it was for just a moment.

It was comforting to some level – it almost felt like home.

But that was the thing about it, it was just an “almost”, a “what-if”, there was nothing more or nothing less to it.

A possibility is useless to think about.

“I don’t need you to come to that place with the Foxes varsity jacket of all things, so you can use my wardrobe.” Dazai came in, breaking the bubble of thoughts that he was about to zone into

Chuuya blinked at the brunette, dumbfounded. Did he just suggest…he wear his clothes?

“I won’t fit in. Your clothes. They are too big.”

Dazai sighed flopping on his bed, with his clothes entirely black except with piercing on his ears and his lips which were a stark contrast to his black clothes and the bandages on his hands and neck.

“Chuuya…do you really want to be eyed at by Evermore, in the Foxes varsity jacket, waddling around…well the image is really funny though.”

Chuuya put the long sweater on which extended over his arms and the pants were baggy. Dazai was rummaging the cupboard and brought a pair of coolers and placed it over Chuuya’s eyes.

“Perfect, you look like a foreigner, you will stay out of trouble which is what I promised Ayatsuji.”

Chuuya looked at himself at the mirror and his shoulders slumped, “This is just stupid.”

“Why do you think we are dressed like this, so that we don’t get recognized. After the stunt you pulled at Edens’ its plausible we turn up like this.”

Chuuya clenched his fists before he even realized he pushed Dazai down on the bed, his hands fisting on his shirt, “What’s the purpose of even going there is what I fucking want to know.”

Dazai blinked at the sudden movement before he smirked, not surprised, to his relief there was no disgust. Chuuya mentally slapped himself even though he had noticed how disgusted Dazai was at the slightest form of touch could evoke a violent reaction out of him.

It didn’t.

Why the heck was he thinking so hard about it? Why does he care what Dazai wants or prefers?

Dazai nodded and centered his eyes at his, not pushing him away, even though he should have punched him in the stomach right now.

“I promised. To train you.”

Chuuya’s eyes widened as the words sunk in.

“So I wouldn’t mind you letting your frustration on me, just a little bit, because obviously I ignored you when I suggested a plan, if that wasn’t the case - otherwise I will have to start charging.”

Chuuya rolled his eyes as Dazai adjusted the glasses that were hanging by the seams and adjusted his coat.

Ayatsuji walked sighing tapping at his watch.

“You two should get-“ he stopped at his tracks and his eyes lowered to the both of them, Chuuya on top of Dazai.

“Of course, what did I even expect?”, he sighed. “Now get going, the Evermore clock doesn’t work like Palmetto”

Chuuya pushed Dazai away and got on his feet and mumbled something intelligibly “As if I don’t know that”

Dazai traced his arm behind Ayatsuji’s back and laughed “You look more tensed if you are that uptight and eager to get there.”

Ayatsuji swatted his hand away, “Don’t mess this up.”

This was gonna be a long day.

He was running into the ember that he has been trying to avoid all these years.

Would he throw the only choice at running away?

Better to go along with the act.

He followed Dazai and Ayatsuji in those stupid outfits they were wearing to the small van that was arranged for them.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Oda checked his phone with thousands of text messages from Dazai and slumped on the desk thinking about the match he just missed.

The Foxes had been so close to winning against the Ravens.

The top ranked team in every Spring Championship Season ever.

Kouyou said they lost by one single point.

It had been Ozaki’s idea to put the plan in motion to form a team after she brought Dazai from juvie, but the time she brought the plan, she had Akiko and Ranpo.

It had just been Dazai, Akiko and Ranpo.

And Adam.

The thing that Oda really didn’t get is how he was qualified to be the Foxes coach, after all the previous Foxes coach was Mori. Transfers in Exy happens in a second, there was really no money transactions and such politics to deal with.

Except the random disappearances of children and homicides.

Mori and Paul Verlaine were on bad terms supposedly. When Verlaine decided to part ways with the Ravens over the rumours over him and Kouyou supposedly.

It was the supposedly that confused him the most.

He saw a paper near his with Ango’s handwriting that gave him a kind of relief.

And, supposedly, Ango was at the Evermore, and had made some porridge and medicines so that he get better.

Oda knows Ango’s life as a double role was hellish as it is. And working as a spy with the police for something over exy was extra risky.

It was because of the looming threat of Morozovs. They were keen on taking Dazai away to their team because they were lacking of a extra striker but he adamantly refused and that was the same day Ayatsuji joined the Foxes.

A Raven joining the Foxes set up was a tale of old man’s times. It was easy. But a star duo separated? Ayatsuji was the face of the Ravens so him joining the underdogs of the last season didn’t make one sense.

Adam reported to him yesterday that Tachihara had went missing so that they had put Chuuya in the forefront so that he could get match practice before the actual Spring Championship starts.

It was supposed to start against another team, Oda wouldn’t have dreamed that a warm up match would be taken so seriously and his or rather Ozaki’s team would have come close to beating the Ravens of all teams.

As a person who knew the practicing styles of the Ravens, it was apparent what kind of ploys they will plot against each player.

But of course Kouyou’s plan was simple. Take out Tachihara at the last moment and push Chuuya in to see how he would reciprocate.

It was because the Ravens have never faced against Chuuya.

“I’m off to run errands at Evermore, and meet with Fukuzawa. Akiko will be attending the press conference” Ango’s sticky note on the fridge read.

Right, he had coach duties to tend to, he could check Dazai’s messages later. He got off the bed to take his medicines and the coffee that was waiting on the table.

He sighed and scrolled the news on the phone nonchalantly before he heard the ring on the bread toast off and changed his mind to check Dazai’s messages.

Dazai had no ill intentions but it was getting repetitive.

The constant need for Chuuya’s files when they have already been paired up to solve the problem. Then the boy had disappeared and stopped attending practice sessions when that had happened.

Oda always tries to treat Dazai at his level to get through to him when he was always isolated from the rest of the group except for Atsushi.

Yesterday, in Ango’s words, he had come into his cabin asking for a unknown identity of a Ravens player whose contract had been terminated since he was 11. Besides the missing cases in the Evermore cases were only limited to the Ravens players.

Oda knew exactly how being a ex-Ravens himself.

The Ravens is monitored and controlled by the mafia underground ring, and the three symbols that they operate on, from his diaries and journals from years ago when he himself was a player at there and his notes from when he was still partners with Gide.

The Butcher, The Scarlet and the Queen.

He still remembered the three kids that stood there, he could remember young Ayatsuji but the other two were out of his sight and in the blind spot so he couldn’t recognize those two.

A blood curling scream.

It was driving him crazy that he didn’t know what was really happening in the room, that night

He went into his attic where he had stored his old books, it must be somewhere here.

He coughed when he dusted off the dirt off the journal, and sighed.

Finally.

He was about to turn his page to the latest entry before a phone call from Ango distracted him from the contents he had written in his crude handwriting.

“Ango?”

“I’m sorry for disturbing you right now, but I really might use your help right now, Oda. It’s a huge mess.”

“A huge mess? I thought Adam was with you?”

“He’s helping the students outside the campus and there’s a huge fire at Evermore University”

“A fire?! Are you safe? Give me a few minutes.”

Ango sighed,”I’m fine, I don’t want YOU to come here. I have the situation here handled, just check if all of our players are safe and not anywhere near the site.”

Oda was in the middle of wearing his coat and tripping with his phone on one hand but his steps came to a stop when he heard Ango’s cautionary voice to check for their wards. He immediately texted Ozaki who he knew was at the press conference of Akiko’s.

“Check Dazai’s apartment. I don’t think your nephew is at home.”

And Oda was pretty damn sure Dazai wasn’t at home because Atsushi, Lucy, Gin, Akutagawa and Tachihara were together. Higuchi was with Yosano, Kouyou and Ranpo at the press conferences.

Ayatsuji and Chuuya were nowhere to be found.

Chuuya was nowhere to be found.

And Ayatsuji.

That was enough of a clue.

Two hours before the Evermore Fire Incident,  3pm

To think that the travel would take two hours was an understatement when the reached Evermore at point black 2:00 pm.

They had started at 10am and stopped midway for lunch.

If Dazai hadn’t asked for plates of desserts over and over again at the place they had stopped at this place, they could have reached atleast two hours ago.

And again he didn’t know why they are going to Evermore.

Why?

Chuuya was filled with nerves to get back to the place of nightmares and he saw it was more evident at Ayatsuji who was fiddling with his coat buttons, almost to the point that he could peel the skin on the tip of his fingers while Chuuya kept a neutral expression throughout the ride.

“Tip-off, thanks for the ride!”

“Why the fuck are you so excited? Tone it down a little.” Ayatsuji gritted at him or rather hissed.

The building had changed, back when he was in Evermore it was in the process of building, Chuuya didn’t realise it was well furnished into a university. The bell rang and the students came out indicating it was lunch time.

“So Yukito, you should know someone by the name of Tsuguro Kashimuro?”

Chuuya froze.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

He promised himself it was just for a single season, to lay low, but he couldn’t do so when the Ravens were their first match. It wasn’t until Atsushi told him over text yesterday night that the match was just a warm up and the altercations he had with Fyodor doesn’t help either.

The campus was wide.

It was empty right now which means most of the students had left the campus and while the layout of the map should be somewhere.

“Now we have to find Mori, he should be here somewhere..”

“Seriously we have to talk to that scumbag again?” Ayatsuji mumbled.

“Scared? Its just Mori, its not like we are going to see Fyodor since their practice sessions ended hours ago.”

He remembered the layout.

He followed Dazai and Ayatsuji along as they went to Ougai Mori’s office. There was a main office in the corner which belonged to the Morozovs, the Russian Mafia and the bane of his existence.

Thankfully, his father was jailed a few years back and there were only a few months before his bail is finalized and he comes back to Evermore University, his eyes trained on the exy ground that was shut as the timings and rules for the Ravens were much more stricter.

All of them were damn business majors.

There was one choice for star players to deviate though – so of course Fyodor chose philosophy while Ayatsuji chose history.

It was when he was 15 when he realized there was a daily blog for the Ravens made by a fangirl that updates on their daily lives. Fyodor got into a scandal shortly before Ayatsuji defected from the team and was jailed for a few months.

Technically, Chuuya knew all the details. It’s just easier to appear clueless to what Dazai had in mind.

In fact, Dazai had come here for his personal gain.

So did he.

Burn all the records of Tsuguro Kashimuro.

He doesn’t exist.

Nakahara Chuuya though, does. In all possibilities.

3:30pm

Dazai looked behind and saw Chuuya had his usual stoic face on as they went into the cabin of Ougai Mori.

The man as sleek and conning as always sat on his desk, his fingers knit together as he gazed over at Ayatsuji from top to bottom and then looked at Chuuya and Dazai as they were inconveniences.

Dazai smiled to himself, knowing this was all part of the larger plan that he was gonna execute to bring down the Ravens.

“You have the files ready, Mori?” Ayatsuji whispered in a low tone.

“I have sent a digital copy to Kouyou already, but here are what I found this week. Pretty sure you know the working of a Ravens campus. Get your information and get out of here.”

Ayatsuji nodded and motioned both Dazai and Chuuya to over the storage room.

“That’s where the Yakuza meetings take place.” He stated plainly and his eyes

“That’s the court-“

Dazai pushed his finger away, “Yeah since that’s where your mind is always at.”

Chuuya sighed.

“You too.”, he smiled.

“Why are we here, dammit?”

“Oh right, we are here to collect the documents and explore a little bit of the surroundings. Exciting since I’ve never been here.”

“You were the one who joined the lower ranking Foxes instead of coming here despite an offer from I’d rather stay away from the Yakuza section.  The files there are of dead children or missing ones. Evermore seems to be notorious for that.” Ayatsuji said.

“We have no records of Tsuguro Kashimuro though. He failed the test to be No.4”

Dazai noticed Chuuya freeze in his tracks and take a step back, his eyes downcast and his brown eyes glaring directly at Ayatsuji, “So a number system huh?”

“Yeah, Fyodor had the control, I was the second since I kept it stable, then came Sigma with her goalkeeping skills, and then Kashimuro. We never know what happened with the boy, the Morozovs have a certain standard of skills to pass the test to become frontline.”

“According to what Mori said, a Tsuguro Kashimuro never existed to begin with. I don’t know what we are wasting our time with?”

“His records must be somewhere since he was a registered student here.”

Chuuya grazed against Dazai’s arm, his eyes quietly searching for consent when Dazai nodded and he pulled him over, “I need a favour.”

“I take charges.” Dazai smirked folding his hands, eyeing the redhead for a moment longer than usual.

“Fuck your charges. I’m talking serious here. ”

“And your proposition?”

“Distract the blonde.”

“You mean Yukito, he already is. Dazed looking at the court, yikes, as usual.” Dazai looked at Ayatsuji looking at the empty court, and eyed at his dominant left hand that he was injured with.

Chuuya sighed, tapping his feet repeatedly and pacing around, his fingers picking at his lips.

“That isn’t the matter, I don’t know the way to the bathroom yet.”

“Oh, so that’s the issue, go take a left and it should be there, kinda creepy of them to keep the bathroom near the Yakuza meeting room.”

Dazai, however could smell a lie. The way Chuuya’s pupils moved, the shaking of his legs, there were signs of… he couldn’t point what but he had a feeling the redhead was up to something.

Chuuya was definitely lying.

Dazai interlinked his fingers with Chuuya and before he could move towards the bathroom pinned him to the wall, his hands trailing to his chest, when he felt his heartbeat thudding loudly, their eyes interlocked.

“What are you upto?”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“Nakahara Chuuya, I can spot your eyes lying, they are pretty expressive, not to mention these are brown eye contacts so they aren’t your natural colour either way.”

Chuuya stepped back and touched the bandages, his eyes locked at Dazai’s darkened eyes which lit with a hint of mania when he heard Chuuya whisper “Nice observation.”

“I don’t tolerate liars.”

“Yeah, okay hypocrite.”

“I stand on my promises though and I have another promise to fulfill.”

Chuuya gave him a questioning look and breathed in closer, his hands carefully grazing his bandages as a silent question of consent.

It annoyed him. There was never really anyone who non-verbally conveyed their intentions. His body was a tool to be used and disposed. The brothels he visited and the bar encounters he had over the years.

Used and thrown away.

A means to an end.

Maybe he could a “means” to someone’s ends in that case.

Of all people, as infuriating it is, he decided to place an alliance with Chuuya.

Kouyou is going to laugh at him along with Yosano.

Let them.

“You’re a murder magnet already because of the way you went on and on about how we will crush the Ravens and I’m pretty sure there’s something in there Chuuya wants to look in that room, don’t you? After the way you antagonized Fyodor I’m surprised-”

Chuuya then clamped his mouth before he could complete his sentence in a swift movement and pulled him to the side and the brunette gave him a puzzled look.

Then he realized, it was one of the Yakuza members.

“And the things you told me about your parents were a lie.”

Chuuya sighed, “Both of them are dead.”

“Another lie.”

“That’s what I want to find out.”

“Oh? That seems like a half-truth. Guess you can be reliable after all.”

“You should be happy you get one half-truth right now”, and stepped closer caressing his bandages, a message of trust.

Chuuya kept his stoic face and did something unexpected, perhaps one of the reasons Dazai was drawn to the boy despite wanting to feel unattached.

And Nakahara Chuuya was dangerous. He literally wants to willingly go into the Yakuza room and that didn’t feel right.

Heck, a skeptic junkie trusting a manic emo?

Sure.

“Your preposition?”

“Give your back to me and I’ll guard it”

“Hah? What are you on about?”

To say Chuuya was flabbergasted would be an understatement. He blinked for three times and then his hands slightly touched Dazai’s black armbands and then spoke after a moment.

“My life in exchange of?”

“Staying.”

“Huh?”

“Stay with the Palmetto. Stay with Oda, Kouyou-“

Chuuya rolled his eyes, “You think I’d willingly come here?”

“Let’s decide on another deal, but the consequences would be higher. Betray the foxes and get killed. Stay, I can keep whatever you’re trying to run away from, away. Be it a half-truth.”, Dazai pointed at Chuuya’s forehead brushing his bangs away, “As long as you stay with the Foxes, your safety is guaranteed.”

“I’ll be gone by March.”

Dazai’s heart dropped a bit upon the revelation but under the haze of medication he smirked “Another half-truth, should I call that a win?”

Chuuya chuckled and stretched against the bathroom tile, “Whatever you like to keep it as.”

“Waaaah, whatever, you’ve got fifteen minutes before we get out of here and be reminded that the Yakuza has people coming in at anytime, knock the door, worst case scenario pull the fire extinguisher. Its 3:45 pm, so approximately 15 minutes before they start their everyday meeting.”

Chuuya nodded with a stoic expression but the tension in his face faded away and was much less apparent now, when Dazai released him, his shoulders relaxed, the brown contacts much more focused.

“I’ll be right back and…. thanks.”

Dazai picked up his cigarette and lit it, one of the embers crushing into ashes falling down and becoming ashes, dissolving into nothingness.

Thanks.. huh?

Yakuza meeting room, 3:45 pm.

Chuuya entered the room and began to get to work. He hastily threw the files before he saw a section “Missing”.

He couldn’t believe Dazai would gurantee him protection like he did with Ayatsuji.

Not the time. Not the point.

Probably he has an idea of who Chuuya was but what he had given him were simply half truths, but he couldn’t peg down Dazai’s sense of intuition because he was fixated on Kashimuro and that was one of the reasons they had come to Evermore.

Meaning Dazai knew something about how the Morozovs operate. Or he simply chose to stay with the Foxes because it would mean he would live with his aunt.

He didn’t expect Dazai to guess that he did need something from the Yakuza meeting room.

Atleast he isn’t associated with Tsuguro clan anymore and his dad wouldn’t be out for three fucking months.

Time was running out.

He pulled the file of “Tsuguro Kashimuro” and flipped the contents of it, the first one reading as “Son of the Butcher”. So of course he was on the hitlist the moment the Morozovs scams were exposed to the public, since his father was the one who was connected to various other mafia connections, had a huge debt to pay the Morozovs.

That could be done only by

Name : Tsuguro Kashimuro

Age : 8

Affiliation : Exy player (Backliner)

Property : Son of the Butcher alias Tsuguro Kuroi

Status : Shot on spot (Dead)

Debt : The Butcher was sent to jail. Yet to.

He flipped the contents and there was detailed information about his mother and details of his lavish cabin in Porvoo, until the trail was lost and his mother lost her life and urged Chuuya to live and do what he does best – run.

The Morozovs really thought he had died.

He barely looked at the details of his father before he checked the clock.

5 minutes.

Chuuya smirked a little before flicking the flame on and letting the papers of his existence die, or rather Kashimuro die.

Kashimuro never existed. All the kids who participated next were not close to the speed he possessed.

He was a weapon to used and thrown away, failure wasn’t a word in the Ravens dictionary.

And he was the Butcher’s means of profit.

He never existed.

Kashimuro never existed.

Chuuya did.

Chuuya ran even when he stubbed his toe, blood leaking. Gunshots ringing and on the trials of nowhere. The last day with his mother after travelling 24 cities wouldn’t amount to nothing, he was the one who reduced her bones into mere ashes after all still the Morozovs behind their trail.

If he didn’t do this…atleast.

Yet he survived.

Chuuya survived.

And the Ravens will never find him.

And he will mark the death day of Tsuguro Kashimuro by burning the evidence that he even existed in the first place.

The Son of the Butcher is dead.

Then a peculiar sound of the clock ticking got his attention.

When he knocked at the door, and Dazai tapped it two times back, he was relieved to know he was at the other side.

Before he knew it, the fire finished consuming his records, his existence to the Ravens completely vanished away.

The clock was still ticking.

Why could he hear it so clearly?

The Yakuza could enter any second.

2 minutes.

Then.

The moment Chuuya quietly knocked on the door hoping that Dazai was still on the other side, there was fire all around the room, all of the files of the missing children burnt in shambles.

Not not just something catching fire, but an explosion which threw him to the side where the files were burning.

Uh-oh. He hadn’t really meant to destruct the room in itself, but the Morozovs were smart but also stupid to place a fire into this room when his exact intention was to burn his records.

Chuuya froze the blood dripping off of his head, the heat too uncomfortable that the impact of the bomb blast threw him to the other side of the room near the missing case files, which had caught fire along with his lighter.

Well. It was a damn bomb that was implanted. The Morozovs knew someone would enter today somehow.

How the actual fuck?

All of the case files were on fire, the evidence of the kids who had escaped, gone forever, details erased since he knew Ravens don’t use computers conventionally as a mafia unit.

Good riddance.

He started to laugh, perhaps they would never be able to find the children who were used as pawns in their game in creating the perfect court.

It wasn’t before he heard the soft voice of Dazai’s almost agitated, “Nakahara, dammit, can you fucking hear me? the uncomfortable fire that engulfed his side of tears slipping down before he was met with the brunette’s eyes lifting his chin before he slipped out of consciousness, the sight of Dazai’s shocked expression imprinted in his mind.

Strange…but

Mission accomplished.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

A feeling of dread enveloped him when Chuuya went into the room, something about the room gave him jitters, much worser than the juvie he was put in alongside Fyodor.

There was nothing good about that.

It had been ten minutes since Chuuya had entered the Yakuza meeting room.

The campus officially shuts down by 4pm completely, so the suspicious meetings can happen without interruption. Dazai isn’t one to listen really but when Odasaku who was a former Raven’s player knew the layout about the building and had a glimpse about how the shady group associated with the Ravens worked.

This wasn’t an official meeting but rather the weekly meeting with Mori that Dazai and Ayatsuji had, but taking Chuuya meant he had confirmed something major with the conversation they had before.

Chuuya wasn’t related to the Ravens, rather had a major antagonism with them.

But to the level

The Yakuza might have entered.

He tapped his feet. Dazai usually never felt anxious, not when he was on the exy court, or when he had his daily sessions with Odasaku and his assigned ones with Kouyou or even when he dreaded the possibility that he pushed

He got a message from Ango

“Did you go to Evermore with Chuuya and Ayatsuji?”

Then the door exploded, the impact echoing as he dropped the phone forgetting his surroundings.

Chuuya. Chuuya. Chuuya was inside.

5 minutes to countdown.

There was fire everywhere until he noticed a laughing Chuuya in the corner of the pile of papers that were getting burnt. The sight was gruesome as he coughed

“Nakahara…dammit tell me you can hear me, are you here?”

He kept his face neutral, but he felt himself getting agitated before Chuuya softly caressed his bandages, an indication that he was aware that Dazai had come in.

A sign.

Dazai felt himself soften against the touch, his relief apparant that he had grown so accustomed to in the past 24 hours.

He had promised he would guard Chuuya’s back after all to keep him here and he would do whatever it takes and he had worded it to

His phone rang and he knew it was Odasaku, but that was not important right now. He could call him after he had ensured Ayatsuji and Chuuya’s safety.

“It’s all gone….” Chuuya’s voice was feeble before he passed out in Dazai’s arms, the blood on his hands before he picked the boy up.

“What is gone?”

“Evidence”, Chuuya sighed and passed out against his shoulder.

Dazai looked around before he heard those words, knowing they had to go out in a second, knowing the entire room was destructed before he saw Chuuya flip someone off in his hazy weak state.

There was no time to look back and see who it was, but now he had to get to the alternate exit. He ran down the secret doorway that was locked in the bathroom hoping Ayatsuji was waiting at the exit.

3:59 pm.

The police had already cordoned the destructed area getting the students in the library and alerting them.

The chaos has begun to unleash. The authorities had took attention of the situation, it wouldn’t be long before they come to the spot.

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

What the hell just happened back there in the room?

Dazai shook the thoughts and picked his flip phone and dialed Ayatsuji, which went ringing. He very well knew the bastard won’t answer, but he very well damn hoped he was waiting at the end.

He had been here enough times to navigate the alternate exit and he only hoped Ayatsuji would be able to place the cues.

Chuuya had already passed out and Dazai wondered what triggered him so much that he had to burn the whole building down to the ground.

The manic smile, laughter that sent shivers down his spine, reminded so much of him, of who he was underneath all the medications.

Chuuya reminded him of the past that he’d rather run away from.

Ayatsuji was at the room with Mori gathering all the information and he is pretty sure,  he’s standing outside-

“That’s quick.” Dazai smiled when he saw the blonde at the underground entrance that leads to the exit.

“What the fuck happened to him?”

Dazai sighed, his unamused expression back “No time to explain, I need you to call the cab as soon as possible, we have to be at the campus before an hour.”

Ayatsuji nodded as they ran away from the scene towards the exit. “Why one hour?”

“Because it takes Odasaku at least an hour and a half to get from his apartment to mine. I have already informed Atsushi and he promised to take care of Chuuya at the dorm.”

“Wait, you knew the fire would happen?”

“I knew the Yakuza was up to something but not the fire, atleast if Chuuya wasn’t in the equation I didn’t know this would happen.”

Ayatsuji sighed, “Is the training plan still on?”

Dazai rolled his eyes, “Book a damn cab already.”

Ayatsuji nodded and when the cab arrived, they left the area in about 5 minutes before the police could even spot them, Dazai saw Adam run and hid Chuuya away, he knew Adam could spot Chuuya in an instant since he stores memories of people he spent time with.

Here they were – The Palmetto Foxes dorms.

Warm-up match press conference, after the Evermore Fire Incident. 4pm.

Odasaku was on time but he was even more worried that Dazai or Ayatsuji wasn’t responding to his texts, but he made it in time for the press conference and Yosano went to answer the questions.

He went to Kouyou and motioned her, “Are the rest here?”

“Everyone. I checked. Oh look I got a text from Atsushi that Chuuya spent the day at his apartment with Akutagawa, Gin and Tachihara.”

“Oh…and Dazai?”

His phone pinged at the right moment

“Me and Ayatsuji are at the court today J ”

It was sent right after he had sent the message about his whereabouts. So everyone was safe.

“Yosano, how do you feel about the upcoming season as you are the only female captain in the season?”

Her eyes narrowed down to the journalist and she raised an eyebrow, “It’s the same thing, I’m a goalkeeper and I know how to set field positions, it adds as an advantage as I come across as someone who could keep her team’s skills in mind and execute each move accordingly.”

“There was a report which said Fyodor and Chuuya had an altercation after the warm up. Is that true?”

“I have no comment on the record or off the record. Rivalries are for everyone to see, make what your peace with that. And reports huh? I wonder which report you’re referring to, The Ravens Gate, perhaps?”

The journalist stood stunned and adjusted the mic better before responding, her eyes narrowing in nervousness “What do you make of the Foxes’ chances in the upcoming Spring Championship?”

Yosano smiled and then took a sip of her water, “We are termed to be the ‘underdogs’ aren’t we? Failing every season, ending up in the bottom of the table, maybe that’s because we didn’t have a reliable striker-defender pair and we are trying a new combination against the Sheep team from Finland.”

“New combination?”

“If your reports about Fyodor and Chuuya’s conflict were true, then you might show more focus on the game instead.”

After a couple of generic questions, Oda let a sigh of relief when he got a message from Adam.

“Confirmed with Akutagawa and Atsushi, Chuuya just seemed to have an off day it seems and was sick the entire day and spent the day in bed!!”

Kouyou put a hand on Yosano’s shoulders and squeezed it as a form of affirmation before turning to Oda.

“What’s that plan about striker-defender duo. That has never worked and we have seen with Ayatsuji and Dazai itself.”

Kouyou shrugged, taking a drink that Adam had poured for her, “How would I know? It’s Akiko’s strategy and she seems firm on what she needs to do to win.”

“Wasn’t it your plan about removing Tachihara last minute and bringing in Chuuya?”

“Again, not mine you should be giving more agency to the captain of the Foxes.”

Oda knew Yosano was capable. She had been managing the Foxes ever since the probation ban on them had been left on her shoulders and when she became the first female exy captain to exist ever.

He thought back to how disastrous striker-defender combinations are.

Gide and him were quite a pair.

Ango squeezed Oda’s fingers and whispered, “it seems like everyone is safe, and Dazai returned back to the court.”

12am, Palmetto Foxes Court.

Chuuya had woken up in his dorm room, and looked at the time, it was 11:50 and he had about ten minutes to get to practice.

Atsushi sighed looking at the bandaid plastered against his cheek, “Um, Chuuya-san, isn’t it too late for practice?”

“I start now. Catch you later.”

The boy went closer and put a hand on his shoulders, a worried look on his face, as Chuuya padded up, “Take it easy. You just got out of a major incident.”

That wasn’t what was on Chuuya’s mind at all.

When he came to the court, it was magical, he could hear the cheers for the Foxes. The past was a cry of booing and underwhelming performances, a string of low scores and a captain’s burden to bear.

The steps he took back meant also the steps that he had taken forward. The leaps he had taken were also the trust that he had impended on his teammates.

He is Chuuya Nakahara after all.

Still, a voice couldn’t help but whisper “Yet the son of a murderer” and will merely the past of being the advocate in the devil’s shadows was what it is.

He strapped his helmet on and Dazai sat next to him out of his exy attire back to his full black clothes.

“Yukito, I won the bet.” He smiled, sitting next to Chuuya.

Ayatsuji sighed, “I thought you would be knocked out considering what transpired today.”

Dazai had a gleeful expression on his face, “Well promises will never not stay unfulfilled, doesn’t it?”

Ayatsuji glared at the brunette and sighed, “Lets start with the warmups. You, go strap up.”

Dazai groaned, “Fine, but only because I owe the midget something.”

The blonde turned to him, “You remembered the practice session, unlike a few days ago.” He tilted his head, “I can’t comprehend how you started the fire, but I have a feeling you need to end this antagonism with Fyodor before it ends in worser consequences.”

Chuuya’s voice turned quiet, unlike the boisterous thoughts that had overtaken his mind, “Ayatsuji…Do you still not remember?”

The exy genius stood frozen and looked at Chuuya with a look of confusion.

It was nothing but good, yet it gave the redhead a sort of satisfaction that he didn’t know yet, but one cannot keep running from the past. And yet here he is, turning to the only symbol and sign that he should be running from.

It was exy, he couldn’t help it.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chapter Text

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Ayatsuji took off his aviator glasses and peered down at Chuuya.

“This was the same question Fyodor asked me last week.”

“Yeah, and I’m asking you the same question.”

“Why?”

He should refrain from answering the question, shrug and take his racquet, do his drills and just pretend he had never said that aloud.

Chuuya instead shrugged, knowing he was stepping into dangerous territory, the one place he had avidly ignored, but he was too into deep waters after destroying the Yakuza’s meeting room. At first it had morbidly been a desire to set only his own file on fire.

But……

“Genuine curiosity. That’s all.”, Chuuya said, tying his hair up.

Ayatsuji sat down at the bench, “I really don’t remember or care to remember all of Raven’s scandals but yesterday seemed…I don’t care to remember any of it except Tsujimura.”

“Huh?”

“Sigma took the position of the number three and was an exchange the other boys except that of Tsuguro Kashimuro and his failure to be our number four backliner supporting Sigma. This wasn’t Sigma’s burden to bear since I taught her the ropes. He had gone missing minutes ago before the trial.”

Chuuya leaned back, a faint smile appearing, “Minutes ago. Maybe he had run away, didn’t you consider the possibility?”

“Maybe. Good for him, if that was the possibility. Being in the Ravens is not for the weak since their work ethic is pretty about perfection and the position is fixed for every time, there is a fixed strategy for their games to manipulate their opponents. Being an insider myself I have no idea, but I knew I had to get outta there even if it meant betraying Tsujimura’s trust.”

“I thought you broke your finger.”

“That was media stunt pulled off by the Ravens. They didn’t want to know a thing about my escape, Sigma helped me out.”

“And you chose the Foxes.”

“Technically as I’m from a reputed team from an exy point of view, it should be a morale boost for the Foxes.”

Chuuya fit his helmet and gripped his racquet, “Come on.”, to which the blonde merely nodded.

It took a while for Chuuya to navigate the routes to the goalpost.

Shifting from a backliner to a striker was a hard process but back at Finland he was the designated defender so he had to do everything, but the Foxes positioning was pretty much fixed.

Dazai came and dressed up in their jersey that he hadn’t seen in a long time except the match, but he was beating himself over losing a warm up match against the Ravens, since the Spring Championship start was delayed.

He should have felt stupid for almost physically attacking Fyodor and lashing out at him, but his time to be crushed should be planned meticulously jumping at him because his emotions were all over his place.

There would be a time.

“I’m gonna stay knocked up while y’all play”, Dazai’s eyes were medicated clearly, the clock struck 12 while the training continued.

“You’re gripping your racquet too tightly.”, Ayatsuji pointed out, uncurling his fingers in a way it was more or so relaxing, “Is it heavy?”

Chuuya had deliberately worn gloves to hide the burn marks on his knuckles, before Dazai got him out of the burning room, all the files of the missing children…

“Yeah, we used lighter ones at the Sheep, more like Finland lacked it, the racquets weren’t this heavy.”

His fingers were almost reddened around the edges from how he hard he had clutched.

“Slow down your movements and give the racquet to me”, Ayatsuji demanded and forced him to sit as he inspected his fingers, which were damaged from the death grip he had on it, and he helped him uncurl the fingers from how it was fisted.

It was never easy with him, his mother had repeatedly reiterated the fact.

Dazai came up to him, bustling under the effect of medication and leaned against the bench and glared at Ayatsuji almost as if asking to leave them alone, his eyebrows arched, a sign for him to leave them alone, with a first aid box in his hand.

How did he?-

Ayatsuji shrugged, “I thought the feud involved only me and you, Dazai. Well if that’s the case…”

“Take your damn stupid stick and leave us alone will you?” Dazai smiled, as if they were having the most civil conversation at the moment.

Yup.

Totally.

Ayatsuji frowned, “I didn’t know you two became an ‘us’”

Chuuya sighed, Dazai almost took the knives that he had hid under his bandages and pointed them at Ayatsuji’s neck and walked slowly towards him, “You know what happened last time, didn’t you, Yukito?”

Ayatsuji took a step back, his eyes growing wary, “You always get like this when the medication kicks in, so I am not surprised, I’m trying to just help-“

Dazai yawned stepping forward with the knife still pointed at his neck, “Go play with yourself for a while will you? You have “helped” enough.”

The blonde gave Dazai a glare while Chuuya sat in the bench confused over what was happening, and simply placed a hand over his cheek as Ayatsuji held his hand up and whispered something intelligible as he picked up his equipment and left the court.

What the hell just happened?

“What the fuck was that for?”

Dazai blew the rusty knives and kept them under his bandages as if he didn’t just threaten the Ayatsuji with a knife and drove him away from the court with immediate effect, just like that.

“Chuuya, I told you, I keep my promises.”

“Promises? What the fuck-“

Give your back to me and I’ll guard it

My life in exchange of?

Stay with Palmetto

“From the way you were trying to run away, and also from the way you willingly went into the Yakuza room and willingly destroyed the documents, I must think you have a thick skin after all. I can’t let Ayatsuji too close to you, unless he wants to find who you really are.”

What he gave Dazai was mere half-truths, amd when he was on the verge of giving away who he was, he had stepped in.

That was his way of promise.

“Yukito is pretty dumb when he’s on the exy field. So it’s best he knows you’re not involved with the Yakuza Ravens side, so I stopped him from inspecting you further. Now open those gloves.”

Chuuya ripped the gloves off, the burn marks evident from the incident that had transpired, it was nasty but Dazai sat down and began to brush those marks with gentleness he never knew the maniac was capable of. He poured the antiseptic on the cotton and began cleaning the burn wound before it got disinfected.

Chuuya gasped and winced at the impact when Dazai cleaned up and the burn scars remained, the pain so fresh and raw, the brunette brushed his hands over Chuuya’s, the touch grounding him even for a moment of pure adrenaline high that he was coming down from.

“I could predict the Ravens would come after us, after the incident, since we are the number one target.” Dazai whispered and began wrapping his hands with bandages.

“So you know?”

“As you said Chuuya, I only know what you wanted me to know, I didn’t know you were gonna bust the whole meeting room.”

“I didn’t expect that either.” Chuuya spoke, taking in the truth in the words and the gentle gaze of Dazai spilling each word casually, an indication that he trusted him completely.

His gaze spoke the truth even under the haze of medication.

Chuuya’s whole life was built on the husk of lies. His whole name was a lie. He was supposed to be the backliner of the Ravens and he had ran, more so his mother pulled him away from a fate that he was written under.

And the cost?

Her life.

Now a made-up name. He destroyed the evidence of his original name.

He wasn’t real.

He wasn’t-

Dazai thwacked his forehead to bring him back to reality perchance.

“You’re reliving the entire scene wondering why you did all that; It’s for the other kids to live without the burden of the Ravens finding them.”, he said and laid his back against the bench.

“You were so close to outing yourself to Ayatsuji who you were.”, the brunette got closer, his hands twiddling with the knife in his hand, before Chuuya swatted it away without batting an eye at him.

“It was never your agency to interrupt that. I needed that damn blonde to know what exactly he’s dealing with.”

“Even if it means revealing who you are to him? You’re walking on thin ice midget.”

“And what if he knows? Am I going to die? Y’all place him on a perch of a throne that dosen’t even exist.

“Maybe our teammates do, but most of us here hate him, perhaps you got the wrong idea.”

Dazai rummaged his bag and took a racquet and a helmet holding out a hand, handing over the racquet which was much more lighter in contrast to the one that he was using before.

“That speed of yours is too much for the others to handle. Not only in our team, Fyodor struggles against it.”

Chuuya fiddled with the racquet which was much more light but there was a certain firmness to it, when he applied pressure to it, he could navigate the areas where he could pitch the goal at.

The line to the goalpost was much more clearer and the lines to where it led to were endless it was like a hazzle to which direction he could choose on.

Dazai moved to him, “This racquet was given to me by my mother because she believed I would make it big, truth is, while she was on her deathbed, I promised her even if I don’t make it big, I would help someone to make it big.”

Odd.

“Now why would you just tell me that out of nowhere?” Chuuya arched an eyebrow, knowing he wouldn’t expect an answer to the question anyway.

Dazai shrugged playing it off as usual, “Shall we start?”

The brunette had already explained how will they be training, it was to make Chuuya’s strengths a priority instead of focusing on how balanced his foot should be, which helped him a lot more than he would care to admit.

Chuuya drove the ball in his racquet towards the goalpost, keeping his stead, in a pattern that Dazai had suggested.

The goal mattered.

The cones were the makeshift distractions, he should keep the ball in his stead using a racquet since his burnt hands can’t do much with the racquet that the Foxes had given him, Dazai’s spare racquet brought back his efficiency a lot better

To put it in simpler terms, to use his speed and court-field awareness to pinpoint the goal- post.

Dazai stood near the goalpost, “Now that’s more like the midget on court I saw the other day.”

“Would you shut up?”, part of his heart was grateful for the change in tactic which brought back his balance and how he moved about in the court.

“I can’t hear your meek voice beyond those grills! Damn those helmets.”

Chuuya huffed and flurried past the cones and sent the shot flying to Dazai’s end knowing that was the plan all along, as the brunette flung the ball to the goalpost.

“Hmm…this is how most striker-defender combinations work, like the day you did with Atsushi, but it doesn’t work all the time, if we don’t have the communication for it. And I mean if we don’t have it then-“

“I’ve never seen you think this hard for a game. I thought you hated it?”

“Well with the pure idiotic authority I have taken upon myself to coach you so that you don’t lose your path and-“

Chuuya’s hand trailed onto Dazai’s bandages before he stopped, his brown eyes peering into his for consent, the brunette looked at him for a moment hesitantly, didn’t notice that he had dropped the racquet in that process, his emotions unravelling everywhere as much as Chuuya’s, his heartbeat racing one mile a minute.

It was in a way no one has touched him before, with pure gentleness, when all the fingers that grazed his neck was to suffocate the air out of him, not in a way like this, it made his breath hitch, even when the lies Chuuya had said to him with a straight-face have never really worked, touch always had an effect.

A violent effect.

Or at least it used to be like that, the urge to punch and push away, the repulsive face appearing over and over again.

The hands that touched him, even a small brush triggered the violent jerks and especially when he was woken up by any teammates while he was napping, not that no one was aware of the reaction – except Yosano, and Oda – and now Chuuya.

While he had to specify it to his captain, and the others…

Chuuya was his exception.

Thinking back, he always was, wasn’t he?

His eyes narrowed to Chuuya’s hands, on his bandages the gesture almost as tender as unravelling them, laying his soul bare, so easily, so effortlessly, in a way never before.

“Thanks, the session was killer today, coach ” the redhead smirked, typically jabbing his chest with his fist in affirmation which sent flutters down his stomach, if that were even possible, even when he forced himself to decline whatever that was.

Chuuya’s words muffled in the corner while they reached his creaky car and Ayatsuji was sitting in the back of the car flipping the books that he had brought.

“You….brought books?” Dazai looked at him, and yawned, the effects of medication wearing off.

“Seems like you guys had fun there.”, His eyes moved, settling on Chuuya, who shot him a glare in return.

Yikes, Dazai had successfully contributed to the brewing tension that has been going around those two.

“If you had the common sense to give the midget here a lighter racquet instead of the regular ones, then you could have had “fun” too.”

Chuuya just gave them a bored expression as he got into the backseat avoiding Ayatsuji’s gaze like he was about to reveal that he was selling drugs or part of some Yakuza group.

Is that why-

Oda did tell him not to immediately jump to conclusions especially when it comes to Chuuya, and after the incident at the Evermore University, it was better to keep quiet.

Questions, questions, questions – they still lingered. Not particularly there was anything noticible to trust in the redhead, the only truth about Chuuya he was sure of was his hatred for the Ravens and his overwhelming or rather borderline obsession with exy.

Similar to Ayatsuji

He’ll let the lies build up, let the consequences unfold for now.

He just hopes he isn’t too late when the time comes.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Oda got a call from the Edgar Allen Raven’s coach that day as he sat looking through the practice match results.

The paper’s were all over the place as he drank the coffee while Ango was making a makeshift dinner. That’s usually how he works to keep his mind in place, but not today.

His mind was all over the place and Kouyou was not returning his calls.

Well at least Adam was on the way – the mess will be 50 % solved.

If only Kouyou was here.

Ango sighed, “From what we know, Mori is making serious claims against us.”

“Like what?”

“Like the fact that the Morozovs headquarters were practically blown up?”

“What?”

“Right, i… may have forgot to slip in the valuable information.”

Adam was on the way after making sure the place or the lane he was coming in was a safe route to their secret meeting since he knew there was a chance the Morozovs were on high alert after their headquarters were basically destroyed.

Not to mention Oda had come to know the information right now.

“How? Don’t they have a system-“

“They have a bomb installed whenever someone enters their meeting rooms, but it seems like someone was smart enough to get out of there.”

Oda got up while taking the cup of coffee and taking a sip, which was enough to calm the inner turmoil that resided in his mind, something which wouldn’t quell away. The only person who could be capable of such hatred and messing up things would be Dazai but he had no idea how the system in the mafia part of Evermore worked – except the fact that their captain was Dazai’s ex-partner.

But apart from that Dazai was practically clueless on how Evermore worked.

Ayatsuji was part of the ring but merely as a player. Everything outside exy was practically white noise to him.

So who?

Adam looked at his database, “Nope. Nothing.”

Kouyou came in with a new person in tow, a person with black glasses and blonde braids, and a green jacket crumpled came in with a smile, nodding, with a bike keychain

“If the captain hadn’t alerted me about the situation I would be happily away on a vacation recruiting players, oh by the way I picked him up on a visit to Tokyo, so tell me whats the matter.”

The blonde haired boy had a certain spirited energy to him and he sat in the corner taking off his black coolers.

Oda sighed, “Another striker?”

The information was quickly transferred from Adam’s data collection, to Oda’s computer.

The boy’s name was Albatross. 20 years old, a year elder to Dazai, and two to Chuuya.

“Adam. Check the CCTV Camera of the dorm rooms.”, Kouyou suggested while the boy just scrolled his phone with an unamused look. “I’ll ask Mori for access.”

The group worked in silence while Oda paced around the room.

“You have to relax Oda, how are you sure one of our boys might have been involved in this?” Ango sighed.

Oda stopped in his tracks and looked at Ango with a crude expression, his stoic tensed expression softening a little, “That’s the thing, didn’t you send Dazai and Ayatsuji to Mori to get some files that will get us some insight on the Yakuza?”

“The yakuza? No, you’re mistaken. Ayatsuji went to talk to Mori to make amends for what Chuuya pulled at the talk show with Fyodor, you know sweet talking.”

“Why did no one ever tell me this?”, Oda scratched his beard and sighed, “We are stepping into unknown territory and-“,

Ango pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed, “Oda, I need you to calm down, it was just some paperwork, there is no proof  that any of the boys Ayatsuji, Chuuya or Dazai were near any of the documents.”

Kouyou placed a hand on him, the tensed shoulders easing up a little at the coldness in her palms seeping into his.

She smiled, and whispered to his ears, “Coach, don’t get too worked up, you forget where I get my players from. Number one rule in the Foxes household is to never forget the roots you are from. And we mustn’t forget where Akiko was from either.”

Their captain was from the slums, from a dangerous gang, even more notorious than the Ravens yakuza could ever be.

Exy’s first woman captain. Ever. Also meticulously well-trained with knives.

Which also unnerved with how calm Yosano seemed on the outside.

“So where’s this boy from?”

Albatross stood up cheerful, “How may I have be of assistance?”

Kouyou coughed and went up to the computer in which Adam was initializing all the stats and data of Albatross into the Foxes. Half of them had no idea of how Adam managed to  input all of the information including the background history everything remained filled except for Chuuya.

He had to talk to the redhead before its too late and it was the repeat of the Foxes and Ravens scandal and he couldn’t afford that at this rate.

He ran out of the meeting room before he found Chuuya staring right at him, with his duffel bag in front of him, his eyes piercing his.

And for a moment, he saw the younger version of him, the same hatred, the same paranoia, the feeling to bolt. He got closer to Chuuya and when the boy flinched back, he placed his shoulders gently on the boy’s.

“Chuuya, let’s have a chat at my office. I need some answers.”

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chuuya followed the coach into his office without question. He had practiced enough for the day to kickstart the Spring Championship, but he had only three months before his father was out of jail.

The sound of the chair scraping was familiar, hm.

“Sit.”

“Uh…I heard you were sick, coach.”

The coach looked at him as if he had spoke French to him, Chuuya blinked at him, “I heard..from Dazai.”, he managed at which the coach nodded, remembering how he might have gotten the information.

“Oh right, I do feel a lot better, thank you. There is something else I do need to ask you, although.”

Chuuya’s eyes perked up, his gears shifted to high alert, he braced himself to be exposed as Tsuguro Kashimuro, the son of the Butcher who had infamously escaped the Nest himself and the Evermore campus, a barrage of claims lined up against him.

“Help me understand the yakuza.”

“Huh?”

“How does the Raven yakuza work?”

Chuuya decided to act like he doesn’t know, but the intense expression on his coach’s face knew he couldn’t lie his way out of this one.

“Say there are three cards – The Queen, the Scarlet and the Butcher, who would pay the highest price?”

Chuuya’s eyes widened, the memories flooding back in. The slash to Yukito’s mother’s neck and the blood that tainted his face, if he could draw the blood splatters that left their mark in the yakuza room and how the Morozov king Ivan Karamazov, Fyodor’s uncle who was responsible for the smooth running of the Morozov clan who held the righteous position to enact the execution.

“The Queen. Obviously.” Chuuya replied, stoically. He checked his duffel bag which remained untouched.

“Why so?”

“The Queen, is the pawn – the powerful piece on the board. She has the ability to change the outcome of the game. Her moves make the impact. That’s why the other two components are irrelevant.”

His coach’s eyes widened, “Scarlet? Butcher? Do you know them too?”

Chuuya knew he needed to stop before he revealed too much information that would make it easy for the coach to determine his identity, but at the moment, Chuuya threw his reservations out of the window.

“The Scarlet. Irrelevant. They are the ones that hold power but do not essentially have any impact on the game. They have money, fame, results, everything you name it -  but they don’t have anything apart from that. That’s all they can flaunt. Butcher is the one at debt under the Scarlet since they shed blood all over, it doesn’t matter, they are the pawn and the one at disadvantage so they move in tandem – in the mercy of the Queen.”

His coach looked at him, and his gaze softened, searching as he knit his hands together, “You seem to know a lot about this.”

“It was basic philosophy that our previous coach at Porvoo said so. There are always three components in exy. There is backliner and defender who don’t exist without the precise strike points of striker. But that’s all a striker has – specific goal points. But who has the most impact?”

“The captain?”

“Close enough. The goalkeeper. The goalkeeper deflects the goal point, so they are the “Queen” with the most impact.” Chuuya nodded – a theory he made up himself on spot, which he knew was absolute bullshit that his coach wouldn’t buy.

“So the cards are laid down. Without the “Queen”, the “Scarlet” won’t exist, and without the “Scarlet”, the “Butcher” wouldn’t exist.”

“Yeah. That’s the equation.” Chuuya let down his guard for a minute even though he just spewed a last minute story that Oda seemed to buy at the moment.

Yikes.

This situation was plainly simple. Events of the past have been tampered with. Things that should have been one’s fate have been changed.

So nothing’s the same. And it will never be.

“That clears up a few things. Thanks..Chuuya.”

Chuuya nodded putting his hoodie on and checking for the items in his duffle bag before he stopped, the image of Tachihara’s face flashing before his mind and he turned to his coach, “Um, coach, since I answered a question from you, can I ask one back?”

“Sure, what may be this about?”

“Its been a few days since I have seen Tachihara since the practice match, he always tags along with me, Gin and Ryuunosuke.”

“Ah. Kouyou told me it was a little minute ploy to get you into the game, but after that, we weren’t able to find him.”

“He’s….missing?”

“Something like that. I’ve been catching up on stuff, can you inform Dazai to come meet me this night? That boy is always getting into trouble.”

“Huh?”

“The fire at Evermore. It has caused more ruckus than I would like to admit, I assume you were with Atsushi and the rest.”

That was the photo Dazai forced Atsushi to send a picture of him resting so it seemed like he spent the day at the dorms so that it seems that he is not involved in the burn-down of the Yakuza meeting room. Dazai had deliberately covered the CCTV cameras for him, so he could burn down the missing case files and files of children whose family was being tracked.

If Dazai is willing to guard his life, protect his back, with no legitimate reason whatsoever, the least he could do is start with the small truths, that would look after the brunette in return

He can’t pay the price because of his selfish act of erasing his previous identity so his father lost his trail.

 “I don’t think that would be necessary.”

His coach looked up at him and raised an eyebrow, “Just need a talk with the boy, you see we see each other as friends, and sometimes when friends get it into situations like these, it’s important the clear the air.”

“That’s gracious, but I don’t think that would be really necessary, coach.”, He probably sounded like a broken cassette repeating the same words but if Dazai is in trouble for protecting his back when he wanted to go into the yakuza meeting room, when he was the sole reason the room had burnt down in flames…

He isn’t using the safe option out, he’d rather start with truths instead of trying to appease the staff and those at Foxes – although he would hate to disappoint Adam.

“Why are you so insistent?”

“Because I was there with Dazai and Ayatsuji. They had no part in this.”

“Then why did the yakuza meeting room burn down?”

Chuuya shrugged, of course, not resorting to the entire truth and the horror of his own intentions that he would want to immerse his coach in, for now, especially as he is still recovering, “Don’t know. When the fire alarm rang after an explosive burst in the room, Dazai was quick to cover for me, then Mori asked us to leave.”

“That’s the thing, Mori is convinced an outside source might have been involved.”

“I have no clue, coach, maybe someone had a hatred against the Ravens”, Chuuya said, the very “hatred” that ran in his veins as true as his blood did, “I mean considering how they treat their opposition and their reception at the practice match, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

He saw the coach looking almost almost flabbergasted as he left the office room and marched off to his dorm.

There wasn’t a lot of people he was grateful to in his life anyway.

In some twisted way it seemed to be Dazai.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Dazai had very less cash, so he sneaked into Ayatsuji’s dorm room which he shared with Ranpo. He couldn’t be more amazed at the man for tolerating him as the dorm-mate.

Ranpo saw Dazai enter the room and continued to suck on his lollipop while reading a book as he shuffled against the cupboards. Dazai knew Yukito for about a year or so, but he was the predictable nerd who didn’t find a more predictable place to stash his cash in.

Dazai used the makeshift key that fit into Ayatsuji’s cupboard lock and opened the door with ease. The amount of cash Ayatsuji has was insane that he had spent half of it into making sure the exy court Palmetto University used was of top quality. Despite spending so much of that, he still have a reasonable amount to keep going.

He took some dollars out and Ranpo looked up from his book.

“I have a memory of how Yukito keeps his wallet, so I can take care of keeping of it in the proper position.”

Dazai’s eyes shot up in excitement, “Is Ranpo-kun a little bored perhaps?”

“Whatever. I expect my treats as compensation for this, got it? Where are you going anyway?”

“To buy you treats. I’m pretty sure you are aware of two clueless idiots.”

“Ayatsuji and…hm…Chuuya for some reason, since they see no world outside of exy”

“Exactly Ranpo-kun, you see I would like to buy the annoying midget a phone since Adam’s phone is far too technologically advanced for someone like him to use.”

“Something seems a bit too far off about this….How did you know that Nakahara was technologically challenged?”

“Well big story.”

“The only reason you’re buying button phones is so that you can have matching ones with Nakahara.”

Dazai stopped before opening the door and sighed, “You always know, Ranpo-kun, but why couldn’t you tell where Chuuya was from? Or deduce his true intentions? Like you did with Yukito. ”

“I don’t have facts to work with, but the war he spiked with Dostoevsky got him on the main headlines, which makes him out to have a similar background like my sister’s, but I don’t see him to be a serial killer.”

“Right, I completely forgot about your sister almost killing people for a living. Can’t imagine Yosano like that, now.”

“Oh, that’s where you are wrong. She did kill people for a living. Not almost”, Ranpo threw away the stick as he reached up the cabinet and locked Ayatsuji’s cupboard, “Now I sure hope you didn’t forget our deal.”

“Of course, and Chuuya and me ain’t getting a matching pair of phones, because I already have one.”

“Yeah, your dusty flip phone of a low-quality model.”

“Well he doesn’t know how to operate high quality technology, this one will suffice.”

“Okay fair-“

Yosano came in, her hair tied up in her casuals, usually when they had their days off. Her face relaxed when she saw that Ayatsuji wasn’t there, “Dazai, I need a favour.”

“Do you siblings mind work on a telepathic level or something?”

“Hmm, the usual. Some stuff to sharpen the knives perhaps.”

Dazai never understood Yosano’s need to sharpen her knives despite insisting that she had left the past behind. Her tendency to keep an object from her past, when she claimed to do better as the captain of the Foxes. From what his aunt told him about their captain, she had found Yosano and Ranpo together in a secret criminal ring that focused on killing men who turned out to be perverts, it was almost like a cult – started with mostly woman, apart from that, he didn’t know much.

What was more unsettling was that Yosano did join the group to avenge her mother and insisted they have Ranpo’s assistance, and she had killed the entire group while she was 15, when they disbanded for some reason.

It still sent chills down their opponents when they see the intensity

“Kill. Kill when you know you have to survive, kill when you spot them. Just go for the kill.”, she had blurted out – maybe in a metaphorical sense to score a goal to which Ayatsuji nodded warily at the look on Yosano’s face.

Her eyes were darkened, since the burden lay on her shoulders. They were underwhelming in the goalkeeping and slowly it got better when she got her captaincy.

Knowing his aunt, this is all part of her plan. They were just chess pawns to move around to her will.

The intensity and dazed look were still there but were much more simmered down as she took on leadership.

Knowing his aunt, and Akiko Yosano being a serial killer was no secret, since the Ravens’, The USC and the Foxes were closely knit led by Mori Ougai, Yukichi Fukuzawa and Odasaku respectively; it would be no surprise if her crimes were erased and she was brought in.

Yosano laughed, “I genuinely need extra stuff to sharpen my knives so I keep them separately, may come in handy at certain situations, like the talk show”, she cracked her knuckles as if in deep thought

Dazai didn’t try to peer into someone’s past – besides Yosano was one of the people he was okay with keeping in close proximity along with Odasaku, shady as the pasts might be.

Begrudgingly – Chuuya too.

“I’ll bring your stuff and Ranpo’s too, now I’ll be heading off.”

Yosano arched an eyebrow, “Yeah whatever, you’re getting the new boy a phone I heard.”

“How…?”, Dazai held up his hands when Ranpo held up his phone showing the text message he had sent his sister.

“Now get those snacks for me, I’m starving.”

Dazai sighed and watched as Yosano ruffled her hair at Ranpo simply and held him, his eyes darkening when he watched the simple act of affection gnawing at him as he left the dorm.

Touch. He wished he could melt into them. It’s like being at Odasaku’s flat or even interacting with the fraternal twins. Or even talking with Atsushi.

Or bickering with the midget over the smallest things.

It was just a month ago he had seen Chuuya hide in the lockers while the Ravens ran to and the Foxes recruited him – but there was something about the boy that sparked a light in Dazai’s eyes that he didn’t know existed.

Excitement. Reprieve.

Escape.

He checked his phone to see a unread message from Adam’s number whose tone was enthused as usual, “Chuuya-kun is waiting at the Foxhole Court, you can go pick him up, Dazai-kun!”

The most easiest place he could find the midget in, because he knows for now – he won’t leave.

For now. Dazai would make sure.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

When Chuuya left the coach’s cabin, he took his belongings and walked the lonesome corridors, he thought he heard something – but who could even be wandering around the coach’s cabin area except Dazai of course.

He had about five months.

So did Fyodor.

Does the Butcher get away with it? Or does the Scarlet?

Only time could tell.

Five months – only time could tell after all.

He heard the jingling of keys and the screech on the corner to the exit.

He didn’t miss it this time.

Chuuya passed by and heard the annoying whistle and followed the corner that led to the infirmary and stopped in his tracks when he heard the voice.

“Pretty boy, lost your thoughts or just lost your way?”

“Who the fuck are you?” Chuuya raised an eyebrow, at the flashy outfit and the coolers amidst the Foxes jersey.

“Why the new striker, of course, I mean, since the other one seemed to be doing other business.”

“New…striker?”

“Apparently Foxes are the only team with a minimum of three strikers so Ms Kouyou figured she’d pick me up.”

“Oh”

The grey eyes came into view, when he took off his coolers, and Chuuya looked at him, a little taken aback, with his braid coming into view with the mess of his hair, “You sound disappointed. Oh did I scare you?”, he pouted.

Annoyingly familiar.

“Albatross? Who the hell told you to follow me all the way here?” Chuuya sighed, his hands folded. “Wouldn’t you prefer to be in Porvoo than..be in this hell called Yokohama and worst of all you know the Ravens are trailing you too?”

Albatross laid his head back dramatically, as if that one sentence extremely distressed him, “Look, Chuuya, is it one of the days? Besides is it too bad that you’re the only thing that’s left of my past life that I want to cling onto?”

Chuuya sighed, “You haven’t changed, have you?”, a small smirk crept onto him, as he held out a hand, “And you’re fucking high! Of course.”

Albatross sniggered putting his shoulders naturally, “Oh it’s all fun and games, isn’t it?”

Chuuya smiled, a genuine smile, something that he didn’t have to fake around his friend, like he had been doing all these weeks since he joined Palmetto, “Did they assign you a room?”

“Nope, I’m relatively new here so-“

“Not to me, no you aren’t, so come crash at my place. Since Tachihara and Gin are out for the night, there’s extra space.”

“Isn’t our captain there…”

“Shut it and follow my lead.”

Chuuya wouldn’t admit it to himself that the familiarity released the painful sense of leaving the past behind.

“Burn the remnants of the past and move on, burn your trails,”

With Albatross though….

He didn’t have to. He knew he was a runaway. A profit of the Butcher. The blood tainted on his past was something that truly existed not something that he pretended it didn’t happen.

With him, he didn’t have to pretend.

“This is stupid. You shouldn’t have come here.”

“Chuuya, the Sheep think you were a traitor and…”

“You have a couple of questions that need to be answered, how the hell did you know that I’m part of the Palmetto Foxes and how did you get out of Porvoo..”

“I’ve been planning this for a while you know? I actually wished a trade-off was possible and we could get you to Flags…but things happened.”

“Things..?” Chuuya raised an eyebrow, as he adjusted his grip so his friend won’t fall as he placed him on his bed.

“After you left, well, the Ravens ransacked the entire university area, since this was the only university that played Exy, since Flags were the direct opposition to the Sheep, they thought the trade off actually happened. I got our teammates to the place you mentioned before the Ravens burned the university.”

“Wh-what? Shirase..Yuan.”

The boy smiled and put a hand on Chuuya’s tensing shoulders, “They are safe, even if Shirase doesn’t necessarily have survival instincts, Yuan did, and she was instinctive enough to notice you leaving.”

“That…’s”

“Mind-blowing right?”

“I still have questions…How did..I mean Kouyou find you convincing enough to pick you up.”

Albatross thwacked Chuuya’s forehead and laughed maniacally, “I was crazy enough to look up the Foxes, famous for scandals, and they were looking for players who needed a second chance, and I took that chance to look for you.”

“You didn’t have to come back for me, idiot. Its dangerous”

Chuuya could see his friend was going into slumber, “Oh I know. That’s precisely why I came back, Chuuya. OO, this is cozy.”

“Don’t mess shit up, and don’t invite a whole country. Promise me you’re the only one here”

“I’m here for a purpose, Chuuya and I don’t think you need to know all about it…now atleast.”

That didn’t ease Chuuya in the slightest. He climbed the bunker and and laid back against the bed with a thud, the events of the day loading through his mind as he crashed.

How in the world did Albatross managed to find him.

He felt with his heart thudding stop for a moment and his shoulders lay lax, a tension that day he didn’t realise he was holding in.

Whatever Albatross is here for, it wasn’t for good.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

It was 12AM when he got the call, startling Atsushi for a minute. Chuuya smiled softly at him to ease him back to sleep, that it was just his loud ringtone. Or rather Adam’s enthusiastic ringtone.

Who even keeps Christmas Carol as their ringtone? Or……

Stupid Dazai. How the hell had he managed to hack Adam’s phone of all things?

“Its twelve in the morning what the hell do you want?”

“To get you a new phone, silly, be ready in the morning!”

“Ugh.”, Chuuya declined the call, knowing the red button was the one he had to use to end the call with the amount of times he had went to Adam to ask him for the technicities of how this worked.

New phone….there was a chance he might get tracked.

The moment Dazai had swore to protect his back when he broke into the yakuza meeting room and left it in shambles was what confused him the most, Dazai, who was so hell bent on protecting those who only meant some value to him.

He remembered how the brunette had been worried when Ayatsuji was on the verge of collapsing on the rink in one of their night practice sessions.

He remembered how whiney he was – the one practice session Oda didn’t turn up.

Then the fire, the way he was all so willing to bring back him alive. He could have just let him burn as the ashes of embers – a proof that he was indeed going to die. Suffocated by the smoke and all the papers, the impact of the bomb blast sending his hearing senses on an overdrive.

He would’ve died.

If the brunette hadn’t broke in quietly and got them back along with Ayatsuji. He looked at the time and made a mental note to talk to the man in the morning before going shopping with Dazai for the “phone” and looked downwards to see his friend sprawled underneath the blankets.

What is he gonna do with a “phone”?

He already broke the burner phone that his mom gave to him moments before the car crumbled in ashes of fire

He sighed in relief and turned his attention to the matter at hand,

If he were to get a new phone….. His eyes turned to the notifications on Adam’s phone.

“Benefits of getting a phone – Swipe to know more!”

Chuuya sighed, clicking at the notification that Dazai had sent him and he frowned at how absurd it sounded, surely he was medicated.

“It helps you contact – it allows you to track whereabouts – For emergency situations like a fire”

Chuuya pressed his hand against his forehead, his head pounding.

He knew Dazai was deliberately doing all of this, hell, he almost seemed like a advertisement stakeholder for those whose lives are at danger, but now, it’s not just his life which is at stake.

Very well, he could afford some risk at some point if he had to surrender to the Ravens, but for that he had to send Albatross to a safe place since he is not the only target here. He had to get some exy practice done before he goes shopping with Dazai.

He didn’t understand why the brunette was so insistent on getting him a phone, he had survived without a burner for years, not that he necessarily needed them – all these years he hadn’t needed anyone.

He didn’t want that.

“I can get you cute personalized keychains”, Dazai’s message pinged again in the messaging app or whatever that is.

Then he sent a video or something of a pleading golden retriever

“Pweeeeessseeeeeee”

Chuuya scratched his head while trying to come up with a response for that. He wasn’t used to it.

When he met the brunette, he didn’t picture him to be the gifting type or the one to give, but the pull Dazai had towards him, pestering, annoying, but he didn’t want to get closer, knowing that he would leave soon, getting attached to a person does you no good.

He learnt when he saw his mother’s ashes burn to the ground, still the lingering smell of her body crumbling in front of his eyes.

The image seared in his mind wouldn’t go away, etching onto the darkness until he succumbed to sleep.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

His alarm – or rather Albatross woke up, the bright yellow hair and the pink curls he had falling upon

Chuuya woke up with a jerk and pushed him away, “Jerk you fucking scared me, why can’t you-“

Atsushi was putting his laundry in without knowing about any of this.

Gin and Tachihara weren’t back yet. Chuuya checked the time on Adam’s phone which showed it was still 6am – why the hell was Atsushi still awake?

“Geez, you fucking scared me.”

Albatross took off his glasses, seemingly much sober than last night, and smirked knowing he was making Chuuya’s situation harder than how it was prior to all of this.

He shoved him aside and covered him with the bedspread before Atsushi humming obliviously could even notice and got down the bunk bed.

“Oh, Chuuya, you’re up”, the boy smiled cheerfully, and he thanked whichever higher being was there for the oblivious state his roommate was in. He saw him shuffle around the room and prayed to god that Albatross doesn’t make a damn sound while the time he came back.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

“Ah yeah, Dazai told me this is where you should meet him.”

“Huh?”

“For your phone, obviously, since you can’t handle the level of technology that Adam-sama uses, so he figured a button phone would be most useful for you.”

Then it hit him.

Right, Dazai did want to go to the local shops with him to buy a sustainable phone unlike Adam’s phone. He didn’t know how to track whatever GPS was, the only thing he even knew that was taught by Atsushi was how to open the texting app and be able to text Dazai.

Ugh.

He stood opposite to Atsushi so that he was positioned in a way that he could still see Albatross and see if he was moving or not.

Motionless.

Then he saw the guy wink at him and go out of the room.

This asshole. This fucking asshole.

He didn’t realise he was actually muttering those words “Sick asshole”

“Huh?”

Chuuya looked at Atsushi, he got so used to cursing around Dazai that he didn’t realise that it was the boy for a moment.

This is what happens when you’re so damn on controlling the situation that you literally forget everything that is happening around you.

“Woke up on the wrong side of bed huh? I could ask Kouyou-sama for better beds.”

Chuuya raised an eyebrow, “Nah I’m just grumpy I have to go out on a damn Sunday morning.”

And apparently because the asshole just decided to run away.

Atsushi looked at him with those earnest kind eyes and smiled, “Well Dazai-san usually doesn’t talk to or reach out to anyone if its absolutely necessary, like he trained me while I’m just a spare defender when nothing familiar was given to me, you know how Ayatsuji-sama is.”

Chuuya nodded as he found his towel hanging near his kitbag, “He is my personal  trainer, he is a bit uptight, so I very well know what you mean.”

“It didn’t work, the sessions with Ayatsuji-sama, after all he came from the Edgar Allen Ravens, so the rest of us were mediocre-”

It was an impulse action, as Chuuya thwacked the side of Atsushi’s head, his eyes darkening a little when he heard Ravens “We aren’t, and I don’t think he does too. Ayatsuji has issues but that’s because of his personal ego issues, it has nothing with you being bad, or mediocre, we almost kicked their asses in the practice match didn’t we?”

Atsushi sighed, looking at Chuuya with a weary look, “Maybe they chose to go easy on us, Chuuya-san. Perhaps…”

“Nope. If only I had been quick to stop that damn demon.”, his watch let out a dramatic sound.

Chuuya got up from Atsushi’s bed, “Well, see ya later, Atsushi, I have to go. Tend to duties and I’ll keep in mind what you told about Dazai.”

He felt the boy’s gaze soften he uttered those words behind him, years of hypervigilance sensing the ease in Atsushi’s eyes.

Strangely, it calmed him, to have a friend beside him.

Friendship, what’s that?

He didn’t even know what that meant, but whatever.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chuuya wore his coat over his varsity jacket, he has been wearing the same 3 clothes for sustenance and knows at one point he would get questioned by that asshole at one point to start wearing new clothes, so this might have been one of his ways of bringing him out of the court.

He should start by specifying which asshole – Dazai.

He went to the nearby pool table and saw his friend engrossed in his gambling.

Chuuya put his hood on and handed a sweatshirt to his friend, “You know anyone here could potentially recognize you.”

“Yet they didn’t.”

“When the Ravens show up, you’re gonna be fucked, ‘Tross.”

“Fancy coat that. Date?”

Chuuya’s eyes widened, “Whats…a date? Well today’s date is-“. His eyes darted towards where his friend has left his coat.

Easy steal.

“Oh Chuuya, even after all those secret tricks I taught you? Huh that’s so sad I lost the bet I had with Pianoman.”

“Can I know why- i- involve in your- gambling schemes? With your team.”

“Well you were about to move to the Flags back in, so we talk about you often.”

“What was the bet?”

“I said Chuuya might know at least romantic connotations with what a date is and Pianoman said ‘watch the boy search for a calendar’”

“No I’m curious, I was a random nobody who just happened to hang around with you.”

“Well, Chuuya, you also happen to be my first friend, how could I not let the entirety of Finland repositories that how absurd you were – plus the Flags were quite intrigued by how you played against your opponents the day you got kidnapped to Yokohama”

“I wasn’t kidnapped dammit.”

“Why would you come here willingly, especially with the Ravens in close proximity”

Chuuya sighed, “Exy opportunities were tempting. Porvoo was more peaceful I guess but…”

“But?”, Albatross took his glasses off, the green eyes piercing into his.

If there was one person who he can never expertly lie to, it was his best friend.

Chuuya hadn’t meant to make friends in Porvoo or in the Finland University, but Albatross was the first person who had come up to him and helped him shift from the position of a backliner to a striker, and the reckless unbalanced speed was thanks to his friends’ training.

“The past always chases you back to the place you lost everything to.”

‘Tross fell silent for a second, no one knew Chuuya’s link to Ravens, not even his best friend who he had shared his real birthday with, but he moved forward and placed a hand on his shoulders squeezing it, “I don’t really know, but I guess you could use that date now.”

“Yeah, whatever man, it’s just a number. Promise me to keep your head low. I burnt the records that you were on the yakuza hitl ist.”

“The What-“

Before he could notice, Chuuya had gone, bolting as usual.

If only he could save his friend from the terrible fate that the Ravens had decided for him. With everything he would.

“See ya.”

‘Tross gave a bright smile and a salute as Chuuya left the bar, and Adam’s phone buzzed with a notification.

<Dazai-sama>

“Meet me at the Fox Tower.”

“K”

<Dazai-sama>

:(

Chuuya clicked off on Adam’s phone. He was confused why Adam would refer to Dazai with so much respect, maybe it’s just something robots

Huh? It looked like something that’s for sure.

Some code, could it be that he was upset that he had found about the part that he works for Yakuza.

He stole Tross’ coat before he could notice as he was too engrossed in his gambling to even care.

When Chuuya ran up to where Dazai was waiting who was pouting at him. There was nothing at his blank face that could suggest anything was wrong.

“I expected you to be bad at technology but not thaaaattttttt bad you know?”, Dazai rolled his eyes, “Guess you have a lot to be taught, and that won’t happen if we keep staying at the court.”

“I don’t see why I should-“

Before he could complete the sentence, Dazai caught his wrist and led them out.

“I don’t need a phone.”

“You do, you damn desperately do.”

Chuuya’s eyes widened when Dazai practically ran away and hid from Mori and Fukuzawa. He saw the brunette’s eyes darken when he met Fukuzawa’s gaze and tripped over before Chuuya caught him.

“JESUS”

“I wasn’t going to die”

“We could potentially be missing a player ya know.”

“The team can casually function without me you know.”

Chuuya sighed and Dazai hesitantly inched forward, their eyes connected for a minute, his eyes were blank but the other knew exactly what he was asking for and nodded, gesturing to the bench that was outside the court, allowing the brunette’s fingertips to brush against his, he was used to his body being violently handled considering the game they were playing.

Touch was something that he hadn’t reacted to viscerally.

He could fend for himself.

“I heard you when you were talking with Akutagawa at the club at Edens about how you don’t… I just happened to overhear, I know it’s weird….and-“

Chuuya shifted closer to him and faced him, even though he would be miles away from him, “So that’s why you always ask?”

“Something like that. Wait not exactly..”, Dazai’s eyes lowered down as his thoughts seem to trail away

Chuuya didn’t understand why Dazai was stumbling over his words.

Usually the snarky side of him  that would practically  was out for the world to see, but whenever anyone was in close proximity, he would ocassionally notice the brunette flinch, like he didn’t want the world to see who he was.

Scars that he held heavy in his heart, so scarred that it was on the surface of someone you do not wanna associate with.

Dazai made it no secret of the distaste he had for him anyway.

The only thing that tied them together was the practice sessions when Chuuya couldn’t stand Ayatsuji.

It was a simple contract.

Now the problem here was –

Chuuya wanted to know.

Why did he want to know?

Chuuya looked away, the small inch of light that crept into his eyes, unsettling and unfamiliar. Dazai’s eyes weren’t usually expressive but during the training sessions with Ayatsuji.

But ever since, he said, he would give his back for him – there was no need for hesitation.

The redhead smiled faintly, tucked the auburn strands that fell below his eyes.

“I need a reason.” Dazai said, fiddling with the button phones and handing one over to Chuuya.

Chuuya’s eyes widened when he saw the matching pair of phones.

It was thoughtful.

It was extremely thoughtful especially when it’s coming from someone like Dazai.

“I don’t need a phone.”

Dazai’s earlier vulnerability quickly vanished when the panic flooded into Chuuya’s eyes.

Phone means a connection and it does make matters worse that he had involved himself in the animosity with Fyodor at the consequence of his own life.

He can be tracked.

He could be trailed at the very moment.

Heck, there wasn’t a lot of time. Before the Spring Championship ends, he could very well be found and taken away.

Nakahara Chuuya shouldn’t exist. He didn’t rename himself, the only existence of him living on this earth, was the papers that the yakuza had held which he destroyed so they won’t trail him. Ideally, he would leave by March.

“I….can’t”

Dazai arched an eyebrow at him, “Do I look like an idiot to you? I made sure I bought you the lowest quality model so that you don’t have to deal with all those complicated touch screens. Besides what’s so bad about having a phone?-

The brunette’s voice trailed after that. Chuuya couldn’t do it. He couldn’t.

He just couldn’t.

He just…

He needs to run.. without ruining any lives…without a trace.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

“Midget”, Dazai tried for the 5^th time.

Nope. It isn’t working this time.

“Chuuya.”, he called softly, and when he finally got the boy’s attention, he let out a sigh of relief when the siren eyes he was so used to, turned to his.

“You scared me for a moment there. Come here.”, he kept the tone soft, knowing that was what Chuuya needed.

Chuuya sighed, the panic that gripped him so tightly leaving a bit and he reluctantly made his way towards the bench, the tables turned, when Dazai threw the phone at him, which he caught with ease.

“The emergency contacts are just me and Kouyou, and I added Atsushi’s, since he worries too much about you.”

Chuuya shook his head, “There is a chance I could get trailed.”

“We have the Raven’s coach working in cooperation with us, there is no way you can get trailed over a stupid comment made at a talk show, besides it was entertaining to see Fyodor choke on his tea, it was as if he got physically slapped on his face.”

“Its’ just not that…”

“Got a truth to share?”

Chuuya looked at him with suspicion written on his face, Dazai placed a hand on his chest as a sign to keep going, his heart was pounding at the close proximity he was in, that too with the midget of all people.

His heart was running miles per seconds.

It was oddly intimate, something he hadn’t seen before. The rest of the foxes only know him as the therapists’ nephew, unfeeling, cold, when he saw the swirl of emotions written on Chuuya’s face, he could name all of them.

For a moment, he could understand.

Paranoia.

Fear.

Anger.

His hand held Chuuya’s chin, the gaze fixed on him, “I understand”

“You don’t. Dimwit. This would mean the end.

“This means I won’t even stay even until March”

Dazai yanked Chuuya closer, and the boy’s fingers curled in his bandage as a form of reprieve, the storm of emotions consuming him. And for a moment Dazai saw a piece of himself in him. The only difference was….

Dazai stayed – he was a coward

Chuuya ran – every chance he got- Yet…..in some ways

He was a coward too. Just like him.

All the armor and tough demeanors and fronts were not fake.

They were mechanisms to cope. They did what they had to do to survive.

Dazai didn’t know how hugs felt like. He didn’t know the warmth that came from it. All he knew was the one time Kouyou held him like his own and gave him a chance to live.

He did what he did to protect – too bad he ended up in jail for that.

To live like he would.  Even when there were days he would go back to the dark of his apartment and think about filling up the tub.

He looked at Chuuya and placed a hand on his cheek, when the boy didn’t pull away, he tapped on his shoulder for permission and hugged him.

Except this time, he was the one who was giving. It was a strange feeling but Chuuya loosened his hold on his shirt and took the phone and slid it down his pocket that Dazai was offering and returned the embrace back.

“Thank you.”

“There was no need to-“

“I get lost in my thoughts a lot, even if you don’t believe so, I always needed someone to bring me back.”

“Well visual representation”, Dazai shrugged but then as they sat at the bench again, the sun blearing down had set, and the cool of the night air, the thickness setting down, “Midg- Chuuya.”

Chuuya’s gaze followed his, “Well…that’s surprising.”

“You can’t run, even if that seems like the most possible situation.”

He stilled, before shoving his hands and pulling the phone out, “The yakuza isn’t something that is to be underestimated. My parents left behind a mess to clean up and I can’t-“

“Then tell me. Who are your parents?”

Chuuya fidgeted with his hands and sighed, ‘My mom was Finnish, and my dad was Japanese, he owed something to the yakuza and the police found about it but our family wasn’t really cared about as much you know how it is, since it was odd. Me and mom escaped the same day it was my day to get into Ravens-“

“Woah..That was too many truths to take in, midget. Do you trust me that much? I’m flattered”

Chuuya poked his shoulder, “You wanted to know. That’s why. Turn up to practice tomorrow night. I’m too tired to deal with Ayatsuji tonight.”

Dazai smiled after Chuuya left leaning back on the bench, the cool night air huddled around him.

8:30 pm. Perhaps in half an hour when the joint meeting ends he could give Odasaku a visit.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Kouyou laid the cards on the table, with Oda, Ango, Adam, Mori, Fukuzawa all on the other end

“So any of you gentleman here have an objection with whatever I have stated here?"

They collectively shook their head.

“Cool.”, she smiled.

“Let the plan for downfall begin then.”

Chapter Text

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chuuya felt the weight of the phone on his hand. He couldn’t help but stare at the contact numbers that were given to it.

He slipped it down his trousers and went back to the bar where he had seen ‘Tross and let out a sigh of relief when he saw him in normal clothes. It was possible for Ravens’ to traverse the area, especially a gambling space and surely nothing drastic seemed to have happened when he looked at his friend’s drunken form.

Then his phone had a bizarre ringtone which inevitably woke ‘Tross who cackled at him drunkenly.

“Asshole”

He looked at the ID – it was named “therapist”, he had been often skipping out on with Kouyou’s sessions was mostly because he hated attending therapy, the only thing he hated skipping on was practice.

He was used to running away from danger, but running away from the past that had always stubbornly held onto him was also one of his specialties as he would say – but often failed

The night was getting dark as well, the glow of the moon stark in contrast to the sunset he had witnessed.

A familiar sight.

He knew that specific glow of the moon was when he saw his mother smile, minutes before the car blew up, or rather he timed it to blast at the right when the Morozovs arrived at their trail.

The weight of the past was so much – that something that should have held him down and kept him from bolting everytime he wanted to bolt, un-fucking-fortunately, the Foxes found him.

The people at Porvoo called him self-sacrificing, self-sabotaging and what not. Playing for the Sheep along with Shriase and Yuan and the rest of the kids and eventually becoming exy coach where his mom was from.

Cut strings off the yakuza, Yokohama, and forget that we were associated with the Edgar Allen Ravens in the first place.

He watched Albatross passed out on the pool table and cut himself off from the thoughts.

“You can take yourself to your room. Ms Kouyou seems to have assigned to a dorm alone.”

“Alone?”

“Yeah, so go along, it’s getting late. She seemed to ask about you too. To meet her, since you seemed to be missing out on her sessions? Same as always huh? Running away.”

“I don’t need to hear that from you, piss off.”

Albatross blew the smoke on his face when he was met with a unfazed expression on Chuuya’s face and he rapped his fingers on the table to bring back Chuuya’s attention back again.

“When are you going to stop that?”

Chuuya just shrugged as he picked one of the pool sticks and aimed.

“What happened?”

He struck the ball which narrowly missed the goal, and he sighed, his gaze flitting towards his friend, “Did anyone come by?”

“You’re diverting the conversation again, Chuuya.”

It was a curse that ‘Tross knew exactly how he was feeling at the moment. He knew exactly what he was feeling at the moment, as much as he was comforted by the fact that someone was there he could turn to, in a place which used to be his everything.

His life, his future, all lay in that one trial, before the run from the mafia began.

His mother didn’t tell him why exactly, and that nagged the hell out of him.

“Just go to your room.”

Then he felt a hand on his shoulder, “Oh, who gave you this?”

Shit.

“One of my teammates suggested that I had a phone so I don’t get lost all the time.”

“Hah, smart, someone who finally understands how easily you get lost in your head. For someone as chatty as you, I’m surprised that happens quite a lot in your case.”

“That’s when I’m with you dumbass. I can’t help but worry, you shouldn’t have come back for my sake, they are on your trail too, the yakuza won’t stop just because I burnt down the evidences of the children they were aiming to kill”

“Chuuya…isn’t the Ravens what you wanted to avoid all along?”, ‘Tross squeezed his shoulders making him stop in his tracks.

“Maybe this is something I can’t avoid anymore, even if I want to.”

‘Tross took his phone and entered his phone number in before throwing the phone at Chuuya who caught in a reflex.

“Always know you have your fellow pal to contact when you’re in a down mood, although I can sense it from a mile away.”, he smirked, pulling down his glasses to wink at him.

4 emergency contacts. Alongside Dazai.

“I’ll text you once I get back to the dorm, so don’t worry, buddy”, Albatross smirked, ruffling Chuuya’s hair. “Nice hairstyle, that.”

“That’s all you had taught me, ‘Tross, now get back to the dorm soon and don’t fucking make it late or you will have to deal with me.”

“Got it.”, ‘Tross smirked as he sipped the rest of the drink and shot a peace sign at him, his focus wavering.

Chuuya disappeared into the path that led him to the dorm - as he walked the familiar alleys of Yokohama as a small smile crept upon him as he rushed into the dorm.

Then he heard a voice that made him freeze in his tracks.

He quickly pulled himself out of the state and hid in the corner where he could still hear those hushed and familiar voices that haunt him every day as he sleeps.

“Oh look who we have here.”

Chuuya peeked in and looked at the photo the Morozovs were holding onto.

What?

There is no fucking way.

What is going on?

No. Fucking. Way.

He took the narrower route to the dorm and stumbled upon Adam.

“Chuuya-san? What are you doing at this hour, it’s late isn’t it?”

“I was just around the corner to return back to my dorm.”

Adam’s expression remained neutral until it broke into a cheerful smile, “Oh you don’t have to, my mansion is just nearby, I suspect Dazai-sama got you a phone as he promised. You can stay there for the night, Chuuya-san. Although from my scanning, you seem to be troubled. That’s why I’m suggesting this to you.”

Gracious.

Sometimes he wonders why Adam was insistent in giving him the spot in the team, the way his eyes just light up at the sight of him even.

It’s sometimes eerie to even witness how Adam was too or perhaps way too eager to watch him play, even on first sight – the enthusiasm, the eagerness, the endless clapping during their official practice sessions.

That too only when he plays.

Then he saw the stern look appear on the man’s face when he heard the same whispers that Chuuya had run away from.

“Chuuya-san, it’s better if you retreat to your dorm at the moment, I’ll drive you. Just wait for five minutes.”

Then he saw Adam pull out a gun and disappear into the shadows.

Adam put his gun in the holster with a neutral expression and then he smiled, with blood marred on his skin

“So, shall we go? Curfew time is almost up!”, he said with a cheerful expression that was blood splattered on his face, which reminded him of only one person in the world.

Chuuya put the thoughts at bay for now as Adam guided him towards the car as they made their way to his dorm.

There was no fucking way, that man was granted a bail.

He turned his head towards the window, slanting towards the moonlight hoping time wasn’t catching up to him.

Not. Yet.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Dazai was walking back to give Odasaku’s apartment when the butler came in to inform that the coach was out with Ango on a meeting.

In this hour?

He saw Adam’s car disappear and he realized that most probably Chuuya was with Adam and things were exactly going according to his predictions.

Except not finding Odasaku in his apartment.

It must be another meeting with his aunt, now that the plan was going underway.

Joint meetings were something he couldn’t account for.

Associating with the Ravens was something he wouldn’t do for now.

Its best he would go back to his apartment and get knocked up on the new pack of medicines that Kouyou had suggested – he felt a new episode flaring up watching the sunset with Chuuya as he handed over his phone.

Maybe he shouldn’t have stayed in a single place for so long.

Whenever Odasaku trusts that he is sober and not knocked out by medicines and he goes to the press conferences when they throw useless strategic questions at him.

He knows the presence of a certain someone when he thinks of a goddamned sport too long.

He shot Chuuya a text –

<Are you back at the dorm?>

Knowing Chuuya. He is going to come with a lie.

For about a few months at least, at least the version of him, he’s willing to show.

Chuuya was a puzzle.

A puzzle whose pieces were discarded and shrunk into pieces and he’s a boy struggling to pick up which one’s the real him.

He fiddled his pockets for his keys and pushed the door in. The room was relatively cleaner than how it was last week. His laundry bag was empty and his clothes were drying in the hanger.

While he was fiddling with the bedcovers wondering how to fit his bed. He took his phone looking up for tutorials make his bed.

Adulthood was exhausting.

His phone screen lit up.

<Adam s drivin’ me to the dorm>

It was from Chuuya, typical response, which meant his hunch was right. Adam was right there in the scene of the crime.

Right where the yakuza were investigating someone from the Foxes.

There were two people the yakuza of the Ravens atleast seemed to target if his hunches were right as he planned. One was Atsushi, One was Tachihara and Chuuya had made the list after lighting up their entire office.

The brunette didn’t know if this would spike a war between the Ravens and the Foxes again, like the scandal that happened with his aunt and a blonde dude from there and how the Foxes were forced to rebuild from the first.

He cannot let it crumble.

He had seen it all, right from when Odasaku was tasked to be the coach alongside Kouyou being the psychological therapist since he and Tachihara were the first foxes to be recruited to rebuild the team after the Ravens tarnished their reputation.

Even though exy politics was something he wouldn’t care to indulge himself in, his aunt told him to keep the team in one piece with no involvement whatsoever.

Until Chuuya came and messed things up in the talk show.

He called Adam and heard the robotic voice on the other end yet cheerful.

“Oh Dazai-san! We are waiting at the toll gate waiting to pass.”

“Is Chuuya perhaps with you?”

“Oh yes, I picked him up.. uh oh, I fear..”

“Is he with you, Adam-san?”

“I lost him…I just picked him up.. Hold up, let me try to piece my memory.”

He slammed his flip phone shut and rushed down the stairs to get his rusty old coat.

It was fucking 11:45 pm. Concerning, maybe a little.

Chuuya was always a walking disaster ever since he become part of the Foxes and that didn’t really help much with Kouyou’s plan of bringing the Ravens down.

Something is up.

He didn’t know the boy at all.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chuuya knew Adam would be distracted trying to navigate through the toll gate since he had never covered a distance that long with a vehicle.

It was a calculated decision when he accepted the ride.

He slipped down the truck and before the toll gate workers were searching the goods in Adam’s truck, and he found a hammer and a gun.

From his days as a right hand to his father – as a training to work in the mafia.

He would never work for the Morozovs even if he had to spill his blood for it. He wanted to go pro on exy.

But firstly, the moment he saw ‘Tross in hold of the Evermore mafia where the Morozovs had worked and he knew he had to devise a plan to save him – that’s when he saw the tools that Adam dumped in the truck.

Then it become clear.

There would be a 30 minutes toll gate check since a lot of drug peddlers pass by this area.

This was his time.

He knew the place where he had found Dazai passed out with his pills, a few miles away from Palmetto.

Could pull this off.

If he had no interruptions that is Fyodor, for instance.

The lights were red and he looked Adam who was trying out the leftover food and he slipped down the truck with the gun and hammer in hand as sleekly as possible.

Let them lay a hand on his friend, they would have to face a whole goddammit bloodbath.

He ran to the place and in the middle of the road saw Albatross on the ground trying to fend those monsters off with a half-hearted effort since he was literally drunk when he had left him, he knew sooner or later the Ravens would have caught up to him either way.

Trust your gut, his mother had always said.

He heard the sound of the gun cock and the bullet being loaded in and the sight made him freeze for a second.

Not the time. Not the fucking time.

First, he pictured the target, these are the situations that the Butcher’s instructions came into full use.

The target wasn’t a human, nor the executive – it was to deflect the gunshot before it reached ‘Tross or even the other grunts surrounding him.

It was too far-fetched.

“The status that was put in your records Albatross was dead. So I’m afraid we have to get rid of you, but thanks to the records that were saved digitally by the Morozov’s son we were able to find them, you’re not supposed to live.

“Go ahead and try, if you must”, he saw ‘Tross’ sunglasses hanging down and a dazed smile appearing on his face.

Stupid fucking idiot, he knew this will happen – that’s why he was so eager in sending him off.

And Fyodor – that bastard.

If his fate were to end, it wouldn’t end without seeing Fyodor dying in front of him.

When he heard the sound of the gun ricocheting and the sight of the bullet in close range, he pulled out the gun. His father had given it to him along with the rifle that he had stolen from Adam were there and the hammer.

He shot at the exact time, the momentum and ricochet matching and deflecting at the movement the bullet sending elsewhere.

He sighed. using his speed and picking up the rifle and shooting the two grunts on spot as he saw the confusion spread on the Morozovs.

Satisfying.

“Oops, look like you failed. Using me as bait is only going to get you killed.” Tross smiled, shrugging and sticking his tongue out.

Chuuya sighed, he might need a partner in going and shutting ‘Tross the fuck up.

The reason why his shot was so accurate was…he had ironically trained with Ayatsuji much more than he had with Dazai and he had slowed down his rash shots, be it an exy shot or a gunshot, it needed one thing.

Precision and timing.

This was his time, he knew the Morozovs will try to kidnap ‘Tross and interrogate him when all they wanted was the Butcher’s son.

Which was him.

He won’t let that happen.

This wasn’t his time to loom over all the possibilities when his focus was primarily on getting his friend to safety.

He threw his dad’s gun and loaded the heavy rifle and aimed it at the executive. He knew the consequences would be dire.

“Argh”

“Got shot, didn’t you?”

‘Tross, you ought to shut up”, Chuuya snarled, when he stood in front of him and his friend’s eyes widened.

“Chuuya, this-“

“You were writing your own death sentence weren’t ‘ya?”

‘Tross smiled meekly when Chuuya untied him, when he noticed a sliver of movement in the night light he flinched and Chuuya saw a secret grunt worker in hiding coming out with a small knife.

Chuuya moved out of the line of attack and began to lead the guy before wielding the hammer at his back keeping him immobile.

That…. didn’t stop the blood that splattered everywhere.

“Chuuya, where did you learn all that?”

“No time to answer that.” Chuuya replied curtly shielding Albatross to the wall when he noticed no more grunts were available for the executive.

He should still be cautious.

He urged ‘Tross to get away from and threw him his flip phone which he caught to his relief.

“GO AND CALL ADAM.”

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Dazai was running like a madman at the middle of the night.

This was when the Yakuza was the most active – finding out about the children they were supposed to hunt down.

He knew coming from a line of foster families the way children were exploited and he didn’t want the same thing happening to his teammates.

It was mostly the father….

He pushed the brutal imagery out of his mind and focused on what needs to be done.

Chuuya.

He thought the redhead would be much smarter than that but he pegged him wrong.

As usual. Again.

He was calling Adam who was still confused on how to navigate Chuuya – when he saw the robot still malfunctioning because of the various emotions coursing through him when the toll gate workers were cursing at him to move.

A whole traffic jam. It was tough to trudge through the cars and bikes, but he had to find the gaps to get to Adam.

“Adam-san, where did you pick up Chuuya?”

“Oh Dazai-san I was just piecing my memory….” He trailed off.

Dazai saw the back of the truck opened and used a large steel bar to close it and saw the weapons that Adam had carried gone, he didn’t take much of it, police were looming around everywhere, he saw the blood on the robot’s face and wiped it off.

“Who instructed you to kill?”

“Well it was part of the programme that Kouyou had started up, when you see any of the Morozovs near Palmetto, shoot them dead.”

“Jesus.”

He knew his aunt had become much more ruthless after the scandal and started to rebuild the team and knew what she was exactly doing while recruiting the coach, the staff and then the players.

But to the levels of killing the Morozovs?

Then that must be something even than just a minor conflict.

Not. The. Time.

“Move over. I’ll drive us back.”

“Oh so no searching for Chuuya anymore?”

“Searching the memories in your head is only confusing you further, it would be better if I take over.”

Then the phone rang.

Adam’s.

Time seemed to stop still as he took the phone out of Adam’s grasp with ease, as the robot looked at him with a confused gaze. Clearly the overworking had taken to him.

How the hell did Chuuya slip out of Adam’s gaze when he had a whole awareness of the entire field, Adam must have jumped out to have a conversation with the toll gate workers.

Then he took the call.

“Is this who Chuuya mentioned as Adam?”

The stranger sure seemed confused as he took the call.

“This isn’t the robot, and who the fuck are you?” Dazai spoke lying back as they parked the truck in the corner, “You sure as hell aren’t Chuuya.”

“So typical of him to get involved with weird and dangerous people. Who are you?”

The voice on the other end pissed him off.

“I’m his teammate at Palmetto. Well partner even.”

“Huh? Oh you mean as a partner in exy, because I don’t believe Chuuya could have gotten a partner just months after moving away from Porvoo. Not the kind.”

“What do you mean…” Dazai trailed off before he simmered down understanding what the stranger on the other end was implying, he clearly needed to have his meds to clear his mind before it goes haywire and care about Chuuya’s romantic orientation. If Kouyou knows about any of the incidents of tonight – it would be a joint interrogation and he can’t afford his emotions to take over.

He took the pills and spoke, “Listen, Chuuya was recruited by the Palmetto Foxes and he is one of our subs for the main strikers”

“Me too, Kouyou recruited me yesterday.”

He sighed, his aunt just picks up any sewer rat in town and brings them to the Foxes huh?

Palmetto is a place for a second chance, so I assume you must have had your reasons for killing all your foster fathers and your own mother even.

“Where is Chuuya?”

“Oh well, he told me to inform you, just in case, to check your GPS”

“Oh well, you’ve been veryyyy helpful; now bye bye. Get home safe.”

Oh well.

This must be someone so important for the boy if he had went lengths to save this stranger and an apparent member of the Foxes. Oh, he has a lot of things he need to discuss with his aunt.

He’s fucked up if he doesn’t find Chuuya alive before the night ends.

Thankfully the joint meetings have been plentifully helpful. They have been extended long at Mori’s secret lounge so he has until 7am to get Chuuya alive.

If not…he is dead, well technically Chuuya is. But he would rather the auburn-haired moth be alive or he’d be damned.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

(12 :45 am, 5 kilometers away from Palmetto University)

“This is what we call drawing the prey in with ease”, the executive came in, flicking Chuuya’s sticky hair out of the way before leaning closer, “I guess your friend pegged wrong.”

Chuuya shuddered at the touch and shrinked away until he felt the cold surface of the wall.

He had miscalculated.

The executive didn’t have henchmen left.

Misjudged.

Tricked even.

“Don’t come near my team.”, he took the rifle.

“I’ll advise you to lower the gun, young man.”

Chuuya sighed and hit the lower end of the rifle against the man’s throat which he effectively dodged but moved away swiftly and caught the other end of the rifle.

Shit, if he can’t get out of this, the Foxes are going to be in big trouble.

He groaned and got up, clutching his father’s gun and keeping his other hand to his stomach knowing the Raven’s would atleast try to stab him to get him to their headquarters, and he would rather die than give the Foxes any of the trouble.

The executive threw the rifle aside and Chuuya knew he was as good as dead when he inched closer and he had back to the cold ridge of the wall which sent him chills, he predicted the executive’s next move would be to attack him and injure him so he would be taken back to the wretched place.

“Look, I don’t want to mess with the wrong person, but tell me something.”

Then he saw his captain in the edge pushing a sleek knife to his side.

How had Yosano end up here?

“Its quite cold here isn’t it”, the man rubbed his palms and left out a sarcastic huff.

Yosano pointed “five” with her palms indicating to wait for atleast five minutes before launching an attack if there is any imminent, she said she had the rifle with her.

He slipped the small knife in the pocket of his trousers and let a sigh of relief knowing the Foxes were aware of the situation.

“So how do you want to do this? Your father would think it would be a pity to kill you for foolish reasons.”

“Who do you think my father is?”

“Why...? ……..of course.”, the man rubbed his gloves as if contemplating before he took his gun.

He was too focused on running away to hear the name.

Chuuya froze for a minute before he heard a small and picked up the knife and kicked the gun out of the executive’s hands and kept attacking until Yosano got the cue that it was a distraction.

He saw the badge on his coat sleeves printed A.Rimbaud in a way no one could say but he couldn’t fathom it was real until he squinted the very sleek font used.

Wasn’t that his uncle’s..? partner?

Not the time.

Yosano was faster though, she stuck the knife behind his back presumably and nodded at Chuuya as he watched Rimbaud groan in pain

Chuuya took that as cue as he stumbled forward and knocked him unconscious.

He went to the other side as Yosano led him into the dark and sat him down.

“You’re positive you took all of them down, and there is no one needed to kill.”, his captain questioned and sat down letting out a sigh of relief.

“No. He…didn’t have henchmen left.” Chuuya said with a shaken expression in his eyes.

“Good, then that was it, let’s head back to your dorm, Atsushi’s worried that even he made your bed.” Yosano laid her head back until she noticed Chuuya stand up.

“This is a trap.”

“Boy, I know it’s like close to 1am but we really need to get back. Keep my knife since you seem to attract the Ravens like a flock ,holy hell.” She sighed, It’s a wonder you are alive why because Rimbaud is one of their best.”

“Fuck…do you know where’s Tachihara?”

“Thinking of it, I don’t know, maybe we can call Gin, he’s always with them.”

Chuuya knew Ravens were trying to kill two birds with one stone, and there was another spot since it has been a day since he has seen the boy even.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

What Dazai didn’t expect was Gin to turn up in their motorcycle and if Adam hadn’t pointed it out, they would have collided and fuck finding about Chuuya, they would have killed another Fox member.

It looked like a trap but Gin wasn’t the kind of person to break curfew hours, but he wasn’t surprised, he wouldn’t have believed if the other Akutagawa, how didn’t he notice his sister-

All the meds are making him hazy.

Akutagawa was put in a dorm with Lucy, Higuchi and one more guy and he had no chance to know since Kouyou keeps mixing up to her convenience even when there is a minor conflict.

Adam got out of the truck and approached Gin before he got off, the bikes, bus and cars flashing by but it was all a blur.

“Gin-san, what are you doing here.”

They undid their mask, “Tachihara said he was gonna go out, run some errands for a day or two. Since his explanation is vague and the yakuza is in full force he is in danger.”

“Isn’t it curfew time for you?” Dazai frowned.

“It’s curfew time for you as well”, they trudged forward thumping him hard at his chest, “You’re high as a kite and you are in no condition to be driving a truck.”

“That’s why I let Adam recharge. But Chuuya is missing.”

“And so is Tachihara.”

Dazai sat in the corner of the road lanes as he lit a cigarette.

“We need to find him before dawn arrives.” Gin said, as they inserted the key in their bike. “I’m going to the other hotspot where the Yakuza are situated, after the recent bombing, they should be searching for who did it but I’m sure as fuck it wasn’t Michizou. If you want to find the newbie, I’m not one to stop you but weird as fuck things have been happening since he had come here.”

That’s as many words Gin spoke in a single day which meant they were going to save Tachihara. They put their mask on and Dazai stood in front of the bike.

“Give access to your GPS.”

“Why?”

“So that I do not need to worry on two ends, there are four lives at stake including yours.”

Gin bumped his chest and laughed a little muffled, (ouch can they fucking stop doing it right where his bandages were?)

“Watch your back too, head back to the hotspot where Chuuya might be.”

Dazai sighed, then saw his phone lit up with the text their captain had sent.

Captain :

<Chuuya’s with me, he’s running towards the east, the other side, telling some nonsense about how attacking him was a trap>

Dazai:

<He was attacked?>

Captain :

<Really that’s your worry? He’s running frantically. I’m calling Ranpo so he can take me to the other spot where he is heading to. I assume Gin is around searching for Tachihara, he too is>

Dazai snapped his phone shut and turned to Gin and Adam.

What the living hell is happening?

“Gin, you must know the other place where you think Michizou must have gone.”

They nodded and put the helmet on “Follow my lead then. Adam please take over since you know how to follow instructions and I’ll send the location.”

Damn. Truck.

“Dazai-san let’s go back to the truck.

He sighed, “Gin, we don’t want one of the senior staff involved in all of this, so..”

Gin’s eyes widened, “Why? In fact it would be much more safer.”

Dazai turned to Adam, and whispered something intelligible

“I told him to go report it to Kouyou, since my aunt has direct contact with the Ravens coach, I assume it would be safer”

They frowned and motioned him to get on their bike.

“I can walk”

“We don’t have time. Now get on, or we will have to deal with two dead bodies. I assume you don’t want the newbie dying.”

Heck.

Fuck Chuuya for getting him into the mess.

And all he did was get him a new phone!

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Yosano, was plastering the minor scratch on Chuuya’s knee before they navigated the other route and she looked away for a second.

“Look boy, it might be best if we head back”, she put his hand on his shoulder, her christ symbol chain dangling down as they sat in the road lane

“This was a trap.”

“And this is annoying. If only you tell me what the trap is about and what the hell were you doing with Adam’s weapons.”

“Saving a friend. And this was a distraction so that they could get to their real target. Tachihara.”

“Huh. Tachihara said he was leaving for an errand, there’s no way he’s around here.”

Chuuya sighed steadying his speed.

“Can you stop running? I came because Ms Kouyou sent me in this direction to buy groceries and I didn’t expect you to be beaten down with Rimbaud on the verge of killing you?”

“I’m just making sure.” Chuuya said, and began to jog.

Before Yosano even called out to him, he disappeared, she knew she had to disturb her brother’s sleep but she ringed his number, when she heard the familiar whiney tone came in, the voice cracking a bit.

“What is it, Yosano-san, I’m at the candy store.”

“Wait, what the fuck, you aren’t at bed?”

“Well, Ms Kouyou told me to be around the area, but it seemed like all of them are cleared out expect the blood splatters.”

That was the exact place she and Chuuya had come from.

The place they were heading to was….Fyodor’s mansion.

This night was quite the active night indeed.

“Listen, my brother, can you stop at the location I’m sending you? I’m with Chuuya.”

“Interesting..what do I get?”

“I’ll tell you later, now pretty please, come here by 5 minutes, or I’d report to Ms Kouyou that you’re out buying candy.”

“Fine..Fine..”

Yosano started to text Ayatsuji but decided against it, this would only trigger him more and it would lead to scandal number two – although it seems there would be some kind of consequence of what is happening so far.

She ran down the path, pulling Ranpo by the side and saw Chuuya stand next to the corner before turning into the left corner of the street.

This was the other Morozov active spot.

“That was fast.”

“Well, what can I say, I work under my sister’s commands.”

“Why the heck is everyone in the team awake?” Chuuya snarled.

“As Kouyou instructed, be grateful we are here”, Ranpo lowered his glasses, “I could have very well spent my time at the candy store.”

Chuuya shrugged and began to jog to the other lane.

“This is what has been happening the past hour. And I can’t keep up with the fucking speed, take the car.”

“Bet. I loaded the petrol.”, he zoomed over.

“Where the hell did he go?”

“Try the right-side”

“Sis, that’s the dead end.”

“That’s the Morozovs active hotspots and keep their meetings since their headquarters burnt down”

Ranpo took the right end where Chuuya was hiding by the trashcan which was pretty convenient for his height so he couldn’t be spotted.

There was no one there.

It was still and silent, her eyes spotted Gin’s and she shook her head at them motioning for them to wait.

“Oh Dazai is also there. The cost of him buying a phone.”

“Quit it Ranpo, they could be here anytime soon.”

“What did your fucking replacement say?”  ,Yosano shielded their car windows to full black as Kouyou instructed them to when they notice danger in sight.

And the voice screamed Ravens which only meant one thing.

They are definitely not getting out of this unscathed.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Dazai was left stunned when he saw Yosano at the exact same spot.

Then he saw Fyodor appear out of nowhere.

Backtracking, he never understood Chuuya’s hostility with Fyodor, but knowing that his ex was of all things involved in killing the lost children, so hell bent even after destroying the records with the headquarters on fire.

Whenever he saw the fucking team, all he is reminded of is the hand Fyodor held out to him, to join the Ravens.

“Fucking bastard.”

Gin pulled out a knife and placed it near his neck, the touch was uncomfortable and they hissed at him.

“Keep quiet, two lives are at stake here. Your ex drama can wait.”

“Get off me.” He slurred and they backed away looking at the annoyed look at his eyes.

He also never understood why the heck his teammates were so afraid of him when he’s at his medicated state, what are all the horrible things he said, he had done?

Then…

“What did your fucking replacement say?” It was the voice he dreaded, that he stayed away from, that even his aunt who was ruthless yet poised in her own way told her to stay away from was the Morozov’s heir.

It was laughable even that it had to be Fyodor.

Gin’s eyes widened when they heard the sound of the gun pressed against Tachihara’s temple.

This would get messy.

Yosano pressed her fingers to her lips indicating them to be quiet and not act. It was almost as if she was Kouyou’s pet, because the gesture was so typical of his aunt, he made sure to keep his phone silent.

There were a group of grunts who stood beside Fyodor who had Tachihara cornered to the side pointing rifles at him.

“It’s not like you deserve to live, by any means.”

“You don’t get to decide that.”, Tachihara sighed, pointing a gun at him. “I don’t see any wrong in what Chuuya said, you are being served with a silver spoon, with no one to care about you, plus that is why you asked Dazai to join you, right? So that you could be a little less miserable?”

And since when did Tachihara have a loud mouth?

Chuuya. His. Damn. Influence.

 Chuuya’s to blame for all of this.

“The gall a man has working for two organisations is a lot. With you not turning up on time to the Ravens, your work has been a little bit sloppy, I think we find enough reason to kill you.”

Those words were enough to send Gin into a frenzy like he had never seen before.

There was a slight hint of fear on Tachihara’s face before Gin took the huge rifle and shot one of the grunts.

Then Gin broke cover, blasting their rifle everywhere taking them down in an instant.

“What are you doing?”

“Covering Chuuya. Saving Michizou.”

They didn’t answer after the blunt reply and the intense gaze but instead loaded more bullets in and began to shoot without heeding to his words.

Of course, when has someone listened to a medicated maniac?

Yosano got out of the car and threw the heavily loaded rifle on the ground, breaking the rifle into pieces and got to Gin before they killed more people than necessary, that would be trouble in paradise for aunt dearest after all.

Gin was single-handedly taking down the grunts with shot after shot and getting closer to every henchman and Chuuya drew out his gun, then in the haze of the chaos and the fight, he saw that Chuuya and Gin had exchanged weapons and attack before he heard a weak groan from Chuuya.

His focus was wavering with the bloodshed he saw which was making him nauseous.

Fyodor looked back to catch a glimpse of Dazai, he wasn’t even sure he did.

“Is that you..Dazai-kun?”, the heavily-accented Russian in them sickening him to the stomach.

Oh god forbid, he can never catch a break. Why the fuck does Fyodor think he has a damn gun?

“Enjoying the show are we? Or are you interrupting the fun, Dazai-kun, we were merely interrogating Michizou, not that you know anything now do you?”

Dazai was getting infuriated. He wouldn’t let either of his teammates die, not at any stakes.

“Now Dazai-kun, I thought we were on clean terms with the contract we had, or should I pull the strings a bit more?”

Chuuya turned back, his eyes enraged, clutching his gun wound and focused his aim at him or Fyodor? He was confused.

BANG!

The shot hit Fyodor’s shoulder.

His fucking shoulder.

He saw Chuuya smile like a maniac, and keep his gun in his pocket.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU PRICKY BASTARD.” Chuuya snarled as he saw his ex wincing stumbling down a bit which gave him the time to check the detonator.

Seven seconds.

Then he noticed the detonator and motioned Yosano and Ranpo to get to Gin before the blast happened.

Yosano put on her coolers like its every regular Sunday and began to shoot with her knives.

“Mess with my team, I fucking dare you.”, she spit the lollypop stick.

Right…their captain. Five stars. One of a kind.

Six seconds.

Blood. More blood. All the mafia grunts being taken down. Lives lost in a instant. Pop and they were just gone.

It sickened him.

Then he felt a cold hand behind him.

No. No. No.

NOT HIM!!!!!

“Can’t rely on the shrimp to keep running away from me, you resent me, for what? For not reaping the benefits of what you could have been.”

Five seconds.

“You talk too much, Fyodor-kun”

Four seconds.

Chuuya got up, he was filled with scratches on his face and there was a wary tiredness in his eyes, Fyodor could block his view but even from a distance he could see the redhead load the bullets and aim at his ex. 

Why was he focusing on him when Tachihara’s life was on the line?

“Maybe I should deal with him first.”

Three seconds.

He saw the tears streaming in Gin’s eyes as they were pulled away from the scene by Yosano and forced into her car.

Two seconds.

There wasn’t enough time, there wasn’t enough time.

He knew what he needed to do at the moment, when he saw Chuuya heading towards to save Michizou.

Not happening on his watch.

One second.

BANG.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chuuya pushed himself up and headed towards where Tachihara was kept hostage loading his gun once more.

He knew he fucked up when saving Albatross, if Yosano wasn’t there, he would have made headlines the next day,

“Butcher’s son seemingly alive, found dead”

No one should go through the horrible process of interrogation let alone from Evermore.

A huge explosion.

He saw blood splatters everywhere, even on his face and Tachihara on the ground dragged away.

Blood. There were blood splatters on the wall.

Then he felt hands covering his body, before the heat and the smog blocked him of the grotesque images he wished he will never see.

He could never imagine the pain Tachihara went through if they weren’t led astray by Rimbaud’s trap.

Tachihara was fucking good as dead.

The different kind of warmth in contrast to the explosion covering him from the heat clutching him, and holding him even, until it passed.

For a moment, he clutched his shirt, basking in the little comfort he had in the night for a bit.

He looked up and saw Dazai was covering him murmuring a harsh, “Finally got you.”

Chuuya sighed, his voice shaky, the tears in his eyes as he saw what he considered a semblance of a blooming friendship dying, withering even in his hands, not even in his hands, yet he could have, so far out of his reach, in its awful cruelty, second to Ayatsuji’s mother’s death.

The rage in him flared as he screamed.

Dazai held him back tightly as he hurled curses at Fyodor, in Russian so it would stick in his fucking deranged mind.

He held the gunshot wound and made a promise. 

A promise that he would watch Fyodor die before he would taken away, and he would witness it as his victory.

What he couldn’t take off his mind was resentment in Gin’s eyes as Yosano took off

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Oda reached the site when Adam called him, and saw the blood splatters as he saw all of the Foxes drained.

What the heck was going on?

“Ango, call for backup immediately.”

“The police believe we have caused it, and killed our own striker off.”

“That’s because the police are on the mafia’s side obviously, Tachihara can’t be dead.” He kept running and shuffled his pockets called Kouyou.

“Just finished tending to all our players, Gin and Chuuya seemed to have got the most of it. It’s all going according to plan-“

“No, mam. It isn’t. There is a report, one of our students is seemingly missing and believed to be dead?”

“Oda, what is your job?”

He stopped running and Ango placed a hand on his shoulder as he answered, “Teach the players, don’t go looking for answers, it might kill you.”

“Yes, and I believe I very much need you alive at the moment.”

He sighed, as he saw the texts from Dazai last night, while he was out setting the field for their first Spring Championship match tomorrow, now the team is in a complete disarray just a day before the match against the Sheep.

He read the anguish and confusion in those texts, he always had a fond liking to Dazai with his strange liking to his way of thinking and spelling out his thoughts.

He reached the Palmetto University along with Ango and entered to a whole commotion. The discord within the group emanated from the entrance of the court.

“What will we do about tomorrow’s game? We need six players.”

Gin was quick to punch his face, that his aviator glasses fell off.

“Yeah, and someone’s dead. All because someone decided to create ruckus by getting involved with the Ravens, Michizou would be alive if not then.” They gave a pointed look at Chuuya, who looked away instantly, his eyes weary and tired.

Dazai stood up, “And? Weren’t you involved too Gin? You started to shoot aimlessly.”

“Why the fuck are you defending him? Fucking freaks!”, they threw their helmet at their brother who blinked, confused.

Ryuunosuke never involved himself in any of the messes

It is a wonder Atsushi was not involved in this mess.

Dazai held his exy racquet and leaned against it glaring at Ayatsuji.

“You aren’t even going to ask sorry.”

“Well your pet couldn’t stop causing ruckus. This is an inconvenience.”

“Oh so what now? No respect for the dead?”

“For the record, I’m not his pet.” Chuuya sighed and looked away after aiming his shot.

Well atleast not everyone was quarrelling and not blaming each other.

“You started this, and you are practicing as if nothing is happening.” Higuchi snarled.

Yosano came in, “Kids stop fighting, no one’s to blame for any of this. We have a game to focus on. Gang wars can wait.”

Oda sighed in relief as he saw Akiko come in and coughed to get everyone’s attention.

“Get to your positions. Albatross meet me after the practice so we’ll run the test trial.”

The golden haired boy squeezed Chuuya’s shoulders before making his way to the bleachers.

After the intense practice session which was rash without Gin by Ryuunosuke’s side, he watched Dazai pull Chuuya to his side without letting him catch a breath, sweaty gloves off.

🎾♕ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

“What was all of that, last night?” Dazai sighed, sitting in the locker room. “Running off on your own, shooting Fyodor when you were down already? You annoy me. It was reckless-“

Chuuya sighed, taking a sip of his water, “You promised to have my back for that one day when I burnt down the headquarters, you don’t owe me anything in this mess.”

Dazai wanted to shake some sense and clutched his jersey slamming Chuuya’s body against the wall, “It’s not your place to decide? How hard is that to understand now Chuuya or whoever the fuck you are.”

He saw the visible hurt in Chuuya’s eyes that he desperately tried to hide, “Just call me Chuuya.”

Dazai’s hands interlaced with the scars on Chuuya’s fingers, the scars painfully visible as he traced them softly, “Here’s your phone. Let’s compromise.”

Chuuya caught it and snapped it shut, the flip phone identical to his, connected his location to his. It was what he did with Ayatsuji too, but that was to keep Fyodor under control.

This was something different.

Except the promise he made to Chuuya to protect his back, but he wanted to know more.

Whatever today was, he knew the team could resolve it.

“Keep it with you, no matter what.”

“What is with the team giving me ornaments – phones, knives”

“Are you not used to be on the receiving end?”

“Oh plenty, just not on the right terms I guess.” He shrugged.

“Does keeping everyone on arm’s length sound fun? Don’t you wish someone could be there, a hand on the shoulder as a reassurance?”

“Reassurances have nothing but stabbed me in the past, and I don’t afford to face it.” Chuuya sat down, his shoulder in his head, “And killed people, you saw what happened last night.”

“I saw.” He pulled the hands away from the boy’s head, forcibly making him fix his gaze on his “Gang wars can’t be avoided when you’re not involved with the Foxes. This is a 20 year old conflict that started long ago.”

“As if I don’t know that.” Chuuya sighed, almost sad.

“Don’t know what?”, he knit their fingers.

“Not so easily”, Chuuya grinned, a ray of light, since yesterday’s haywire midday they had.

“Right. Secrets. Secrets.” Dazai groaned but glad to see the light that crept into his teammate’s eyes. It was light, but he would take the win.

Chuuya stood up, with his hands on his hips, before Dazai held his arm, the touch not disgusting, and it was him doing it, at the moment, it sent him shivers down but…

It felt right.

“In the months you stay, give your back. To me. I don’t want to know who you are, not until you trust, and you don’t look trustworthy either”

Chuuya sat on the opposite side of his, his eyes infuriatingly bright, as he spoke in an irritable tone “I just need a few months to stay.”

Which was ironic for someone who’s running for their life at every moment, at every juncture.

“Have it your way, then. Good luck.” Dazai yawned and began shuffling around for his pills.

“Looking for this? Your bag was under the rucksack at Adam’s truck, dumbass.”

“Right..and who made that happen? If I may ask?”

“Right..yeah, Gee I wonder”, he pulled away taking his training kit.

But he would make sure he would stay.

He was sure this would what the team would want.

And what he wanted too.

Chapter Text

Kouyou had stepped out of her office when she was reported about the events of the scuffle between the yakuza and her team.

It wasn’t a surprise since it was all pre-determined.

She opened the screen and opened the cabinet to where the gun was kept.

“You’ll be nothing before you know it.”

“Say one more word to Ms Ozaki and I’ll slice you to bits, you mongrel.”

Kouyou still remembered the rage in her face and the slashes that were left in the wake – it was terrifying.

Terrifyingly beautiful. Like a butterfly that sprang out of the cocoon ready to strike and  suck the nectar of the blood thirsty souls.

“Ms Ozaki?” Yosano came into her room breaking her thoughts. Kouyou barely thought of the past when the plan was still underway but on days like these when the wind was barren and Yokohama was still was when the memories come in unwarranted.

Without warning, the tips of her fingers were always tainted with blood.

She put her thoughts at bay and put on her overcoat looking at an expectant Yosano and looking away immediately as she put on her lipstick.

“Yes Akiko, to what do I owe this pleasure? Isn’t your schedule packed as usual?”

“Well, are you gonna turn a blind eye to things like you usually do, Kouyou.”

Kouyou had her sword in an instant which Yosano dodged with her knives she had kept under her sleeve. Of course, when she had taken Yosano and Ranpo as the first members of the reformation of the Foxes but when she had to start over her entire life.

“I assume you aren’t here for that.”

“Well not now, at least.” Yosano sighed, putting her knife in her pocket and pointed it straight to Kouyou’s face. “We could have one of these later at the night, maybe when you have the guts to enter my room perhaps.”

Yosano flipped the knife and put it back into her pocket. It didn’t faze Kouyou one bit that the Foxes carried weapons around the arena, it was something she had herself allowed in the premises, exclusive to Yosano.

 “You can’t fool me with that façade, Dazai can, but I can always see through you.”, Yosano came towards her, the knife out of her pocket in an instant which Kouyou dodged in an instant.

“You’re getting sloppy a bit there, Akiko. Upset?”, Kouyou muttered grabbing the handle of the knife in an instant reading her erratic movements with an ease that no one could do, before pinned her to the wall, with a calm, cold gaze.

“Tachihara. Just. Died last night.”

“Yeah I know.”, she replied with a straight face and raised the woman’s face to her’s, closer and breathed in the scent of anger that reverberated and she could see it, sense it, and wished she could breathe those feelings but was left with an everlasting emptiness.

Well it’s not like Tachihara-

“You said everything would be fine. And a damn teammate was taken away from us. Days after the news that the mafia headquarters were destroyed.”, she picked the knife, her face down, tears flowing down.

“I’m sure, you will know, where he is now.”

“You sure as fuck didn’t know what was about to transpire last night? I refuse to believe that, as if I would.”

Kouyou shook her head with her hand on her forehead, and turned away to her office desk and Yosano flipped her knife back in her pocket as she helped the fallen documents on the floor when she felt a warm hand on her back,

“You and I both knew that was going to be the fate of Tachihara after all.”

She stood up, the imminent rage back on her, “In what sense is this fair at all? A dead teammate, a player transferred from the Ravens, and a new boy who is basically a nobody from Finland? since then weird things have been happening..”

“I don’t think we should underestimate the background of Chuuya Nakahara, and I assume he was involved in the whole incident that transpired yesterday?”

“How could you be so casual about everything?”, Yosano banged on the office table where the black coffee sputtered on her desk a little.

In fact Kouyou didn’t even seem to mind. She was used to Akiko’s outbursts in her office – which pertaining to the fact has been happening a lot since they recruited the boy from Finland or that’s what its been written in the record books that he was from the foster system.

She didn’t believe that Chuuya was from Japan living in Arizona or in Finland. There was a firm gap between these events.

And she needed someone to find the details.

Fortunately, though, she knows the exact person who was obsessed with finding Chuuya’s case files.

She knocked the door to the coach’s door where Oda was having his coffee with the whistle by the side.

Ayatsuji didn’t realise the magnitude of the situation until he was called in by Coach Ougai Mori and the events of last night.

The pavement to the road was cold – of course it was just the beginning of spring, yet the coldness when he turned up to Evermore was cold as usual, so he looked for his pair of gloves that kept his hands warm when he walked on the alleyway leading up to the place where the strings were cut down.

Blood. Ashes. Everything fell to the ground.

Somehow the building was made into a pretty advanced compared to the one that he had seen years ago.

Years before the fire burned down the building he was taken in as an investment and watched his mother die in cold blood.

He hardly remembered any of those things when he looked at the building now.

It felt numb, not even when Fyodor brought a pliar and threatened to knick off his fingers off - the fear wasn't there but the look on Tsujimura's face is what brought it all back.

It wasn't the pain of the fact that he was forced to get his right thumb injured when it was twisted and battered, but that didn't matter when he saw the look on Tsujimura's face paled and dashing through the corners.

That he was trying to leave.

"Why should we keep meeting in secret like this?", she tapped her fingers on the railing, her nails had indeed gotten longer.

Ayatsuji had this habit of biting his fingers when he was really nervous, which was almost every moment with his tenure with the Ravens. Anxiety had been a bitter pill to swallow and the paranoia that welled up in him whenever he had reached opposite the building side to have his regular talk with Tsujimura.

Her hair colour was odd.

"They would get me."

"They have been trying to get you every second since you left, 'Suji,"her fingers trailed up to the top of his hand, squeezing it gently, more ever so gently than the breeze blowing behind them.

"It hasn't changed at all."

She let out a burst of laughter, which made him smile slightly for a bit, "You think that's going to change? Ever?"

"I didn't expect it right away, no.", he smiled, his gaze lingering on her for a minute longer.

Dammit.

"You still didn't answer my question from earlier either."

He sighed, "We barely see each other, except for matches."

She rolled her eyes, "That is not the reason why we meet here every for. Until you give me a more convincing reason, I'm just gonna keep asking the question over and over again."

Ayatsuji gave a huff, as if defeated and in the cold winter of Yokohama and passed over the cigar to Tsujimura who eyed at him with her eyebrows arched.

He hated admitting defeat to anyone, any fucking one in this entire universe, but his defenses always fell down when it came to her.

Always.

"Aya?"

It was a silly nickname that she had gotten used to when they were put in the nest. They were five when they met and to think that his mom recruited her first of all ahead of anybody else, she was firm that they needed a solid defender to back up their main striker.

His mom was all about exy; after all why wouldn't she? She created the sport, when it was cruelly snatched to the start of something vile, it was supposed to start off as a family sport, but it ended up starting in the other way around.

The other way he never wanted it to happen.

"Aya, where is your mind wandering off to again?"

That broke his trance, he was probably imagining his mother's death, and how he couldn't proper funeral that she deserved. She was all devoted to the sport - the creator of all of it.

It's not Ayatsuji was invested in the game, he was devoted and perfected every craft and art of it. Every nook and cranny of it. Perfection in every part of it.

Yet it didn't fulfil any part of his heart.

"My mom."

Dreadful silence. Then a sad huff followed with a hand around his shoulder, oddly warm in contrast to the cold that was surrounding him.

Or was it the fact that he was always met with a cold shoulder that he found the warmth a little bit surprising?

"You were right to leave. I don't blame you, Aya."

"It was fucked up and selfish, how could you of all people be okay with that?"

It wasn't. It truly wasn't, but how could she be okay with that?

"You were too good for the Ravens anyway, and the only person to challenge Fyodor's ego. Who wouldn't go to the place where the root of exy began and where your mother always found refuge in. It is natural."

It was a pained smile. Ayatsuji knew that very well, but he couln't make it out what. It wasn't the same.

"What is going on Tsuji?", he held her face, like he was afraid it was the last time he would ever be able to hold her, before the blood tainted his hands.

He wouldn't let that happen.

"You're spacing out again."

"Don't go back."

"Or what should I do? Come with you? You know the consequences better than anyone else.", she spat back.

"A broken finger.", he whispered, or a mere mumble into the air. There was a list of unsaid words that he wished would come easy to come to him, but looking at her after all these years, the words refused to come out.

She came closer, caressing the scars on his fingers, slowly pressing a soft kiss on his knuckles, and looked at him in the eye.

"I covered for you, said Coach Oda Sakunonsuke asked for you because you were his son."

"No one will believe that lie."

"Our coach negotiated and brought Sigma to the Ravens instead. It was an exchange. Mere exchange"

"Sigma…?"

"Yeah, the famous ice skater, she would have preferred to be in that arena but they were blackmailed of some sort, remember the number four backliner of the team pulled back at the last possible moment?"

"What number four?"

Tsujimura blinked just the moment when Ayatsuji uttered those words as if he had majorly said something utterly wrong, his memory was usually really sharp, especially when the blood of his mother spilled on his hand and splattered on his face.

The blood on his face.

"You really don't know the family that involved themselves with the yakuza? And had a huge debt to pay off to them? Morozovs? Fyodor's cousins?"

"I never indulged in their matters? What's the exchange got to do with them?"

"Just wondering, how that boy is away from all this drama. It is nice to be saved isn't it? Even if it is in the most fucked up way possible."

His eyes widened and he sighed leaning against the railing flicking the cigar away and crushing it, "I guess so."

"Well my curfew time's-"

"Do you remember the family's name?" Ayatsuji asked abruptly, while putting his coat on.

"Hold up a minute. I have the records."

"How do you-"

"The Kashimuro clan."

"Kashimuro…? What details do the Evermore have on the player?"

"Well we have digitised data, but that will be only with Fyodor. And as for your question, Mori asked me to do this, to keep tabs on the data of missing or killed children. It's believed that the boy from the Kashimura clan was found and killed, but Mori doesn't think so. What do I do? I think the boy is living the best lifr away from all of the hell."

"He…had talent. Such a waste."

Tsujimura came closer and huffed a sigh, "Typical Aya, thinking of exy first and foremost. Anyways its Ravens patrolling time, you better get going," she slipped a paper in his pockets, "Curfew time is nearing."

She pushed Ayatsuji in the direction to where the subway station was, and another long night to walk back to the place where he called home for the time being.

It wasn't..or in a strange twisted way it was.

Chuuya woke up at 4am, from a whole damn thud.

It wasn't usual, apart from the night he went on to save Tachihara from being dead, it was been awkward with Gin, although it has been pretty fine with Atsushi.

He saw her throwing darts. Knives as darts.

Yup, just another normal day.

Except he had around 50+ messages from that idiot bandages guy.

He slipped away from his room and closed it hoping it won't creak as he ran to the court and Dazai was standing there with a smug expression.

Such a punchable face, although he was surprised that he was the only one there.

"Its fucking 4am. What do you want?"

"I can't handle your "so-called friend" so I thought I could take some advice from you on how to handle him." Albatross popped out. "Is this who you really wanted to save at the cost of Tachihara?"

Chuuya huffed, it was too early to be handling two idiots at a early time.

"He was part of the Flags, the rival team of the Sheep. That's how we essentially became friends. And it's too early to be dealing with both of you, can't we wait until its morning."

'Tross took off his shades and smiled, "Well, why Chuuya, it is morning indeed."

"Kouyou made the worst mistake of putting me together with him of all people."

"Says who?, you're no better than him." Chuuya muttered.

"To be fair, i'm tired of the sick games, I want to know who you really are."

"It's no good for you nor me. 'Tross don't tell me you're in this fucking bullshit too?"

"Hell yeah! What would I find more interesting than spilling your secrets to someone I don't even know?"

"That makes zero sense."

"Chuuya, is it fair, you know everything about me and I don't even know who you really are?"

He froze a moment, looking dazed.

The least he knows of Dazai's origin is that he killed his step-father in order to save his mother and was sent to juvie. And he met the wretched Fyodor there, and with that misfortune of having been linked to the Edgar Allen Ravens as far as what Atsushi had told him.

Not much.

But he needs to hear it from Dazai's mouth.

"Well, to be fair too, I need to know a lot of things about you too."

"I feel like i'm in the middle of a very heated conversation and thats my cue to-"

"Tross you're fucking staying here."

Albatross sighed, folding his arms, laying on the floor, picking up his glasses and watching the whole scene with a sense of defeat and resignation and muttered , "Well if you really want me to stay then, fine, suit yourselves boys."

"The only source of truth I have about you, is this piece of trash that my aunt had picked up, others are just half truths, why did you burn the yakuza's meeting room in the first place?"

"Well, because I really wanted to."

Dazai smirked and leaned forward, like he's relishing this moment.

"I pride myself upon having the ability to pry open the truth from anyone whoever it may be." Dazai inched closer to Chuuya, his hands grazing his neck holding them in a firm grip.

Chuuya's eyes stayed the same, sharpening a little, not letting Dazai have the satisfaction of getting under his skin. If anything, he'd prefer the opposite or more like he would like getting under the skin of Fyodor.

He placed his hands on the rough edges of Dazai's bandages and yanked him closer,

"Well, try me."

"I really feel I shouldn't be here, in the middle of things, but this is getting fun." Albatross picked up an energy drink from the broken vending machine and picked up the straw.

"I need you to shut up and sit down." Dazai swore under his breath.

Albatross smirked, and whined "But i'm sitting down, dudeeee. I'm enjoying the drink here."

"Jesus."

"So who shall go first?"

"Chuuya knows a bit about me from Atsushi but to know the details you would have to negotiate with me first.", the brunette had the nerve to smirk.

"Not a chance."

Albatross sipped from his juice container and said "Well…I hate to put that against you Chuuya, but he does have a point."

Dazai winked at him and reached out 'Tross for a damn highfive.

This is literally not how he wanted his morning to start.

'Tross was atrociously enabling this act - as if he's seeing through everything, every little flinch Chuuya was going through, and was enjoying every bit of this torture.

"Fine. Chuuya isn't my real name. And my parents aren't what I claimed them to be in the report, Tross is my friend back in Porvoo part of the team, Flags who have disbanded for whatsoever reason."

Albatross dropped the juice can at the words, that was more than he could have mustered at the moment.

"There is no real need to bring me in here, you know."

"Well this is no popcorn show for you either 'Tross!"

"You're no fun"

Weirdly enough, he trusted Dazai to not rat him out to anyone. It was a weird feeling to give away the locked secrets that he had kept in the chambers of his heart, the tortured memories that continued to torment him, from the moment his mom had fled the yakuza, leaving his father to pay off the debt.

Chuuya's weakness was trust, and it had been for a long time.

He hadn't even trusted anyone, let alone his parents, and here he was trusting someone who would probably end his life at the moment when he knew he lied.

He knew that would be the end of him - right at that instant, bullets and knives that would come his way, the sins of his past or the past that his parents had created for him that he regretted at that moment would come back to haunt him.

Not now. But eventually.

His time - or what he would call his dumb luck to run out, the river will eventually run dry, no matter how much you control and keep it all within.

"Chuuya?"

He spaced out - again.

He felt the hold on his neck loosen, and he felt stuck when the memories came rushing back before he held the wall for support and knew Albatross got up and shook him as if that would do anything.

He felt like he was a child again, whisked away from the scene.

Blood. Blood. Blood.

"Chuuya?"

"I…need to-"

Dazai looked at him, the haze of his drugs gone for a moment, a slight furrow in his eyes, and asked Albatross to wait outside before he even realised it.

"This is the second time you're having this kind of breakdown in a week. Similar to what Ayatsuji had when he joined the Foxes. No one else had this kind of reaction. Except-", he leaned down raising Chuuya's chin to his unflinching.

He should have flinched, he should have figured out by now, who he was. In tears, broken down, the memories that continue to torment him, the faceless fingers that point at him and tell him that he made the worst decision of his life.

He didn't know if his father was up and running on the streets with bail.

To kill him.

To. KILL. HIM.

The fear resided in him like a parasite until it pulled his voice away for a moment, rendering him speechless, like the reality washing ashore all the hopes of escaping.

Escaping. For good.

-

Dazai stayed looking at him as if he was looking at a shrinking bug, a creature acting out like putting him on a leaf would even all the chaos running in Chuuya's mind.

Maybe he should just walk away as Chuuya's eyes suggest him to, he didn't know what even triggered the breakdown in the first place, but if Ayatsuji or his aunt comes to know of this, he would be in deep waters for even provoking him to the state.

Chuuya. The most stoic person he had know. The unreasonable exy freak. And the most unreasonably passionate person he had known in his life. Ever.. More so ever than Yukito who focused on precision.

He wanted to walk away, from the scene but the sight of seeing Chuuya cry…?

Thats not something he was very much used to seeing.

"Midge- Chuuya…Look at me..? Please?"

The sight he met was something that he wasn't expecting - distraught, disheveled hair, the ponytail that had come off, even if Nakahara Chuuya had sat in the corner was similar to the one when they had when the Foxes lost to the Ravens in the practice match, not when he was probably carrying the guilt of Tachihara's death.

He ran his hands through his hair which earned him a reaction, a budge.

That was a lot considering what had just transpired at the moment.

"That's not my name."

"That doesn't matter."

"You said…you wanted to know something about me. There ya go."

The medication usually keeps Dazai's vision a bit hazy unable to focus even - yet clearly he could see the distress in Chuuya's eyes. And he couldn't just walk away.

That was what Chuuya wished for.

Unexpectedly, Chuuya leaned onto Dazai's shoulder and a quiet hum of approval was what Dazai needed before he pulled him closer.

"I need to stop. I'm tired.", came the muffled reply, with a smidge of tremble in his body.

"Stop what?"

"Running away. I want to stay. I want to play exy without thinking about anything else. Just that."

Dazai decided not to probe in further when Chuuya was leaning on his shoulder like that, his hands wrapped around him pushing him closer. If Chuuya burnt the room down to stop the Ravens from tracking his whereabouts…?

"I don't know..should I hug back?"

Dazai shrugged and whispered "Whatever you feel like..Chuuya."

Chuuya's hands trembled while encircling Dazai's back, which didn't evoke a violent reaction as he expected it to, that was the exact moment where he was coming down from the high of the drugs and he could easily go around and destruct someone, but holding Chuuya in his arms didn't bother him as much as it did.

In fact, when Chuuya leaned in further, he tightened his hold.

"My real name isn't Chuuya..it can never be."

"Well I don't really give a damn what you think.", he ruffled his hair, an oddly gentle gesture that he didn't know he had it in him.

"I don't know how much I can hold it in either."

"Does this 'Tross guy know?"

"He's probably the only one to know everything about me. It felt safe, none of the other flags know about it either."

"What could possibly be that bad."

"Being chased by the Ravens?"

Dazai laughed maniacally. He knows the feeling all too well, chased by the shadows of Fyodor, staying under, drawn to the darkness he was reaching out for, not knowing he was so close to jaws of death, until the scent of betrayal barely grazed him like a bullet wound.

So close.

"I told you I would guard my back, didn't I?"

Chuuya raised his head from his shoulder and he missed the warmth that had just covered him a moment ago.

Why do you really want to? In this mess. Especially with him involved

"Oh you mean, Fyodor. I could care less."

How did he..?

"I wasn't asking you anything"

"Oh, midget, your face is more expressive than you give credit for."

It was a thin line that they shouldn't cross, yet these sliver of hopes that come in tandem, he can't ignore the rhythm, he wants to hold them before they are long gone and is foreign to even notice.

"I mean he's right for once", 'Tross says while still stuffing his face in food.

"Now what's that supposed to mean?", Dazai turns back eying 'Tross like he just tossed a fork at his eye.

"He means you're making sense for once."

Both of them make their way to the practice ground, Ayatsuji with a million practice kits and cones.

Running practice, huh. This is gonna be super fun.

"What a boreeeeee, Yukito, do you properly know how to set practice sessions or?"

Chuuya notices the bunch of people nearby, the entire squad there along with Coach Oda, so this was his second official practice session excluding the midnight ones he had with Ayatsuji and Dazai.

"Akiko-san thinks we need to build up stamina before the tournament kicks off. Now I know we lost Tachihara—"

He doesn't miss the way Gin's grip on the racquet like she is ready to break, but mostly the grief he knows so far is expressed through anger.

And it makes sense for someone as fucked up as The Foxes.

"We are going to focus on how long you can last on the field."

"I'm out", Dazai picks up his racquet dramatically.

Oda sighs, "Dazai. Stay, it is essential. We can't keep losing, anyone know our next opponent?"

Gin replies grimly, "It's the Jackdaws. They are on a high after two consecutive wins, we need to break their streak somehow."

The captain comes in, as she puts her butterfly clip to the side, "Sorry, had to finish up some things with Kouyou. So where are we in terms of preparation? Yukito?

Why do they never call him by his first name despite knowing him for three years since he transferred?

The hostileness was always ever present whenever anyone wanted to talk to the supposed advisor and the vice captain to the team, it was done through through sheer dismissals like this.

It doesn't seem natural at all. Sure, everyone was eying for what Ayatsujji had — his status and the opportunity as the son of someone who created exy, when power was easily taken away and given away to the Morozovs.

It was not easy like any of them saw it.

"We need to get a replacement for Tachihara because exy cannot function with all ten players, in our case 15.. since we are at a loss five backups", the captain says, "Get into positions."

Dazai seemed the least interested in all of it. He wonders why, when he is the best defender they could get.

"Dazai, I said to get into your position." Yosano eyes him, "and Kouyou gave you the green flag so there's no excuse to be lounging about the practice session".

"Alright, alright, but isn't it unfair that Atsushi-kun loses his chance to play."

Albatross says, "Well didn't Chuuya tell you, Atsushi called in sick"

"You sure are slow on things", he said, sputtering a bit.

"How am I supposed to know, when he's YOUR roommate, I have to deal with playing exy", he yawns, putting his guard with haste.

Ayatsuji rolls his eyes and pulls Dazai to the court although it seemed like a magnamious task.

Practice was seamless as usual. Like a fellow team member didn't die, everything just seemed normal, nothing out of the ordinary happened, until…

"Looks like we butted in the wrong court".

Fucking Fyodor came in.

"Well..well, look who we have here"

Not a moment of piece, not one moment of piece in this place, and today of all days, Odasaku wanted him to practice.

It doesn't matter how bad this looks for him, going with seeing Fyodor all the time. It's gonna look ugly in a matter of minutes if Chuuya decides to act.

Yukito is far too distorted from all the memories in the nest, to be even bothered, even though a tiny inkling from Dazai knows it still does, but from what he learned from Chuuya, he had too much bottled up rage from what seems to be his past.

Fyodor frowned, and backed away, and what he exactly feared, came when he watched Fyodor take a watchful step back and towards Chuuya.

Oh shit. Oh fuck No.

"How are you so confident with one of your teammates gone now, especially one of your best, that you can win."

Chuuya didn't respond, not at first.

Gin does.

"So it was YOU.", her dagger is so close to his neck, that one stale sigh would get him killed.

"Haha, why don't we all calm down.", Dazai smiles, prying apart the knife from Gin and giving Fyodor the warning look to back off right at this moment, like his ex boyfriend will actually understand his cues.

He's too dumb for something that's right under his nose…Or that's what he thinks.

Yukito steps forward, "We'll see you next Friday, prepare to be defeated"

Fyodor walks forward to his former partner, "Great? A challenge, how are you so sure, Ayatsuji? I mean the Foxes haven't even qualified for the Fall Season and you atleast need to secure 2 in 2 tournaments to be capable of going international. And I'm disappointed to see you decide to put yourself in this dumpster of what you call "A team".

Chuuya strides forward, with a deep frown on the lines, and slapped Fyodor.

Odasaku gasps, and Yosano merely just gives a eyeroll like nothing out of the ordinary just happened.

"You'd be dead meat by then. I. Would. Make. Sure. The Foxes will win and make it to the nationals."

The entire crowd went silent and Sigma passed by gawking at the entire scene, pulling her socks and guarding up.

'Tross took off his eyeglasses, "This is entertaining, do you have popcorn?"

"This is..terrifying, especially for your friend.", Dazai whispered, a wave of nausea spreading over him — the side effect of medication kicking in.

"Chuuya defies death, getting into situations like this is a skill he specially owns"

"Some kind of people, you Finnish people are."

"What gave you the idea, that me and Chuuya are Finnish", 'Tross laughs, a tad bit maniacally, "We are Japanese, well Chuuya is half Finnish, but he was born and brought up in Yokahama, and well..things happened."

Things were starting to somehow click in place, about Chuuya’s past — it felt so wrong to be hearing them from his friend, when he needed to be hearing them from Chuuya, himself.

Wait..why?

Why does he even care?

“Dazai, get to practice. NOW”, Yosano practically snarls.

Between running laps, he keeps thinking, why does he care about a random nobody — when there is literally Yukito Ayatsuji, who had his past written over the tabloids and simply didn’t give a shit about what they wrote about him.

Chuuya was although a mirage waiting to break.

He remembers Chuuya’s defeated look, whenever the facade and shields that he had put on were beginning to fade, the signs that were so visible, that if anyone looks closely, they could read him like a open book.

Well, looks like he found his new pass-time.

“Why are you death-staring, Chuuya. Besides he’s just doing his usual drills—”

Dazai’s gaze drifts to Fyodor — there is so much that can go wrong in the one instant. So there is only one option left 

“I got something to do. Cover for me.”

The cones were stacked up and ‘Tross just looked at him with a hint of confusion. “You’re weirder than he is. I’m just a stand-in and a goalkeeper, now that fate has decided me to be a striker —”

“Can’t you just shut up and help me?”, Dazai pouts.

“‘Tross” sighed and sat down, “I literally don’t know what you are doing.”

“Just leave the strikes I pass through since you’re a goal keeper, that kind of thing distracts Fyodor. Since he never expects me to play.”

“And why don’t you?”, he asks back.

Good question. A fresh wave of perhaps sadness evokes within him. He keeps reminding himself that this question was asked a gazzillion, his gaze turns a bit distant, but he looks at him and replies

“Exy is just a means to an and, I don’t know why everyone takes it so seriously”, he struck the ball and..

‘Tross desperately tried to guard the goal but in vain, because it sped past his reach before he could breathe.

Bullseye.

Yosano’s eyes widen and she smiles, “Dazai never shows off unlike a certain someone on the other side of the court.”

Chuuya smirks and fist bumps her. ‘Tross sighs, as if this was a whole ploy to distract Fyodor and his team from their whole practice.

“I’m using my seducing tactics to distract Fyodor. Is it working?”

‘Tross yawned and looked at Fyodor who was beginning to look this way.

“Weirdly yes. I don’t know what kind of kinks pro-exy players . How is this even astronomically possible? And he’s —”

“Attracted to me. Physically. I could easily use that to my advantage.”, Dazai smirks facing Fyodor who is in front of him,

“Hello there.”

“I did tell you this will work. Hello, my parasite”, Dazai replies mockingly, “Shall we settle this once and for all?”

Chuuya watched from the corner after his practice session was over, the sight of Fyodor being frustrated as satisfying as ever.

“Ah we have Chuuya joining us.”

Fyodor smirks, “Ah the pretty boy with all those bravo words. But alas everything shall remain as a dream.”

Chuuya clutched his shirt, like he definitely doesn’t know the conseuqences behind this.

“One more word, and we would shatter your so called “nest” in an instant.”

Bold. Goddamn bold words dripping words from Chuuya like a charm.

Wait…why was he actually enjoying this?

Dazai looks at Yosano as if telling that things are spiralling out of control — Chuuya and Fyodor in the same room and it felt oddly suffocating, with the way Chuuya was glaring at Fyodor as if he had said the most scandalous words of the century.

“Akiko, it’d be best if you’re available right now.”

“I’ve done my practice, I do not associate myself with Fyodor or the crows or “Ravens”, besides Ranpo wants some candy along the way. I’m too exhausted to deal with this.”

That gave him an idea.

Wait.

“Ahahah. What a coincidence, I just remembered Chuuya and I had planned a double date! With Yosano and Kouyou. Tonight. We have got to pick out outfits, it’s a Foxes tradition. We dress up like uh..thats right! Foxes.”

Yosano gave him a mortified look, like the exy media didn’t just scrutinise her for being an open lesbian and the first woman to lead a team.

“Sounds fun..Looks like you have really moved on, Dazai-kun. Good to know.” Fyodor replied politely, bristling with a bit of rage and hostility before he went with the entire team.

Chuuya caught up with him, stomping him on his foot that made him yelp.

“Fox Costumes? Double date. What the fuck do any of these mean?”

Dazai laughed. Bullseye again. Avoiding conflict and changing topics was his forte after all.