Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Bachira Meguru, despite often talking about God knows what, seemingly with an airhead of a personality, turns out to be the most aware person on this planet.

So apparently, as far as he’s aware, despite his so-called ‘talks’ about his monster, and his friends' constant accusations of being schizophrenic, unfortunately, he has realized they aren’t much better.

As a college student studying art, he never really takes his study seriously unless he finds great interest in the topic (which he doesn’t most of the time.) Usually, he’d sit in the back with a new black pen every few days because he seemed to always explode it, drawing scribbles that were the human embodiment of sleep paralysis demons.

He’d show it to Isagi after, claiming it was generated in the depths of his mind, creative and ripe with dedication as he would look with a great disappointment plastered upon his face, shaking his head. Bachira would then go on to show some of his other friends, namely Rin and Chigiri.

Oftentimes, Rin avoids Bachira at all costs, burying himself away in secluded corners of the college campus library just to avoid him. Somehow, after at most thirty minutes, Bachira would meticulously find his way to Rin, shoving his drawings in his face as he goes on about his creative skills. Rin would irritatingly push away the drawing and despite the rejection, Bachira would eagerly follow him around until he finally acknowledged his art.

Chigiri, on the other hand, would look with the type of disgusted face made when stepping on a dead bird. He majored in fashion, and Bachira would always run into him because all the classes that were more in the creative zone were put together. Chigiri was often seen holding armfuls of colorful fabrics, sketchbooks, and even sometimes mannequins. He’s never once shown up to class without his hair and outfit being perfectly stylish, something he has begun to pick up from Aryu.

Chigiri would narrow his eyes whenever Bachira flipped open his sketchbook to a page of mass, splotched, black scribbled ink that depicted something straight out of analog horror. He’s the one, by far, questioning the most if his friend needs to get checked out.

And then of course, he has to show his artistic masterpiece from hell to the campus’s number one couple, Nagi and Reo. Or…rather, everyone just assumed they were. Despite being asked over a dozen times of what’s really going on between them, they’ve always denied they were in a relationship.

Now Bachira thinks this is suspicious of course, but he’s never stuck his nose further in because so far, he’s had other problems to deal with.

Like how that cotton candy machine that spins mango and pineapple flowers was recently out of service, and to his dismay and frustration, still has not been fixed. He assumes the universe is just simply out to get him, against him even. Isagi says it’s a sign to stop eating such sugary things after classes, but a broken machine does not stop his consistent sugar intake.

Instead, he would go buy little cakes in the cafes nearby instead, and that is where he often bumps into the so-called “campus couple”. Cringe worthy, but Bachira quickly saw the fun in poking at them.

In some unknown way, he became friends with Reo first then Nagi. He still doesn’t know how to this day, but he knew that Reo would often bring Nagi into the little cutesy cafe to buy him lemon tea while studying.

At first, Bachira didn’t understand why everyone called them a couple, they didn’t do a couple things. They sat in the back, on fat, puffy orange chairs that resembled a coconut (according to Bachira) and would quietly go through their work. Before hearing about the rumors, when he visited the cafe, he had always thought they were very studious, and they probably were.

But he knew deep down they were both the most oblivious idiots in the world. One day, while laying on the floor of the campus park and doing nothing but staring at the clouds that seemed to form shapes of food and animals, he heard faint laughter coming from behind him.

Bachira’s monster instincts told him to sit up and investigate what was going and, and he obeyed, slinking back into a few shrubs of overgrown hydrangeas. That’s when he spotted a blob of purple hair pointing up at the sky.

It was Reo! But unfortunately, as soon as he was going to slip back out there, climb on the tree, and then jump him, he heard a second voice. It was slow, tired, nagging, and oddly familiar. Bachira peaked his head over a little more, and laying on Reo’s lap was…Nagi.

So now Bachira has come to understand the rumors. He decided against jumping them during their lovely moment of deciphering clouds, but he quickly took off to inform Chigiri and Isagi.

He found them both together, Isagi standing awkwardly with his hands out as Chigiri circled around him, taking measurements.

After telling them both like he had witnessed a crime, both Isagi and Chigiri shook their heads, exasperated. Chigiri’s hair had become a mess from the frantic scurrying to fix Isagi’s measurements and were barely holding on with a chinese hair pin. Isagi was stripped practically naked except for his boxers and for some reason, his socks.

They all stood there in the designer room, staring at each other with an awkward unspeakable expression. Except for Bachira, whose face twisted in confusion as Isagi tried explaining the history with Nagi and Reo. Bachira could not take it seriously; he agreed with the idea that clothes were a major inconvenience in expressing your true self, but he could not listen to Isagi talk when his socks had banana patterns on them.

It’s not out of humor though, they were just distracting enough that Bachira zoned out in staring at his socks, completely filtering out what Chigiri and Isagi were telling him. He did catch a few phrases here and there, but otherwise, nothing else.

Something about Nagi and Reo being oblivious or whatever. Little did Bachira know, it was just the beginning of this stupidity.

A couple weeks later, after the crazy revelation of Nagi and Reo having a ‘breakup’ or whatever, they were back together again. Bachira wonders if it can actually be even considered a break up if they weren’t even dating in the first place.

Then another rumor pops up. This time, something about two transfer students from Germany having some crazy codependent relationship. Bachira doesn’t know who they are, nor has he seen them yet, but he assumes this was another type of obliviousness: the type where they do not fear social anxiety.

Bachira believes he’s quite on the scale for not fearing social anxiety, but after hearing about the rumors of how one of them got on their knees to bark for the other, he begins to wonder if he’s actually considered weird.

And then he has his own problems. Not that he isn’t aware, oh he’s very aware in fact. He quite literally, in quick, straightforward terms, is in love with his best friend. He doesn’t question it. Just one sunny afternoon, he’s thinking about Isagi and wanting to later go to an ice cream date with him. Kicking his feet in bed, he catches himself as his thoughts organize and spell out ‘I like Isagi Yoichi’.

And after a while of convincing himself, he is sure of it. But however, just like the idiots around him, Isagi has to be a bum and be fucking oblivious.

Bachira was never one to beat around the bush, he was quite straightforward, in metaphoric terms. He could directly tell Isagi that he loves him to his face, and Isagi would light up in joy and hug him, saying “You’re the most precious best friend I could ever have.”

It’s not because he’s afraid to confess, it’s the very opposite. But too many tasks are preventing him from committing to these acts.

One of those reasons is the always last minute work he has to send to his teacher, who is probably his worst enemy. He then gets mad and forces Bachira to stay after school to write reforming letters to never turn in work late again.

That in fact, did not work, and only increased Bachira’s missing assignments. He’s simply too busy and Isagi’s also often preoccupied in doing other tasks. Bachira realized he wouldn’t have time to sit down and have a nice little conversation with him.

Oblivion is radiating from this school. Sure, people often calm him ‘weird’ or ‘creepy’ for talking about his monster so much, but their awareness when it comes to emotions sucked so bad Bachira wants to take their head and ram it against the wall.

And now his friends have begun to be infected with this obliviousness, he has to play hero and find a cure.

—————

Bachira has made no moves to this day on confessing to Isagi. He probably should. It was almost that time of the school year where confessions ran wild and it was also nearing white day.

For white day, he has plans to go out with Isagi to the supermarket to buy a plate of salmon. That, in his opinion, was much better than receiving chocolates. Bachira vividly remembers walking Rin to his locker while talking about a new drawing he made. Just as he opened the locker, a rupture of colorful letters and boxes slipped out. Rin’s expression remained unchanged, then there was a slight twitch of annoyance in his brow.

It was quite the white day for some of his friends. Yukimiya came to class to find a large bouquet of flowers sitting neatly waiting for him at his desk with a couple of little gifts sitting beside it. Kunigami had gotten a lot of letters for some reason, most of them consisting of a soft colored envelope that was stamped shut with a cute sticker Bachira has always wanted to buy impulsively.

Then again, no one this year would go for him or Isagi…right?

And of course, after snoozing around for a few more days and procrastinating on his many art projects; it was white day.

Bachira opens his locker during the middle of the day to find stacks of stickers.

Here and there, notes were littered. Bachira, being the grateful person he is, took his time and honor and read every single letter later that night. Before that, he had successfully accomplished his mission of going shopping for salmon with Isagi.

For dinner, Isagi always cooks. That’s only because Bachira does not cook, and should NOT be cooking in the first place. Last time that happened, he had poured mayo into soy sauce mixed with sriracha to form what he called ‘the monster’s peppermint sauce’. Using this specialty he created, he mixed it in with the rice they were eating that night, and Isagi never showed up to school the next morning.

He has begun to appreciate Isagi more and more everyday. Maybe not completely like Reo and Nagi, who were deprived of social shamelessness that they go around holding hands and still deny relationship allegations.

He had a wonderful meal that night and slept with a big, round tummy. Maybe he had finally come to understand Nagi, maybe not to his degree, but it was still nice to be laid back a little bit.

He also slept peacefully that night, pushing all his unfinished works to the back of his mind.

Maybe he should really reconsider confessing to Isagi. But at the same time, he really wants to.

That thinking has overwhelmed and he passes out again after waking up the second time that night.

He wonders how Reo and Nagi’s ass are doing. Isagi had gone to bed early due to an exam, and Bachira had too…only he kept waking up every so many hours for some unknown circumstances.

Something was itching him at the moment, and his monster wanted to figure it out.

Chapter Text

He keeps waking up at night. God only knows, but his monster was itching for something. But he didn’t know what.

Maybe he had been overthinking too much and his brain had short circuited and burned a gear in the process. Maybe it was because this was God’s way of telling him he needs to get up and finish those thirty missing assignments.

Bachira sits up and glances around in the darkness. Now there is nothing in the dark, and that shadowy figure in the corner of their dorm was probably him seeing things from the lack of sleep.

He took this as the initiative to wave his hand in a friendly manner at the dark fog clogging the corner. He blinked once, then twice, and suddenly he could hear a second breath that was not Isagi’s coming from there.

It was a monster! Or at least he hoped it was. He can barely see in the dark, and usually he is able to recognize its aura, but tonight, it felt different.

“Hello!” Bachira whispered excitedly, keeping his voice low in order to not awaken Isagi who was sleeping across the room.

“Are you here to tell me a revelation of the world which is life altering?”

No reply was made, but Bachira could hear the monster’s breath in the corner grow louder. Maybe his friends were actually right, but they would never experience the thrill of something like this.

“I’ve got to be quiet ‘cuz Isagi’s asleep, and he’ll be mad if I wake him up.” Bachira put a finger to his lips as he pushed his blankets back.

Suddenly, within a blink of an eye, his vision returned normal, and the thick black mass of clouds disappeared. And within that exact time frame, something hit Bachira in the head.

He has to play cupid because everyone is dumb as fuck.

And with that, he crawls back into his bed and with the grace of the mysterious entity in the corner, he falls asleep with a smile pressed on his lips.

—————

He wakes up the next morning, his blanket completely fallen off his bed and a bit of drool running down his mouth. Isagi was already in the kitchen, cooking up breakfast.

As Bachira made his way to the small wooden table, Isagi placed down a dish of tamagoyaki in front of him. It was freshly made, still steaming a little bit. Bachira wonders if Isagi had just woken up feeling the joy and whimsy of living life even if today he had an awful exam.

“Good morning, Bachira!” Isagi smiled happily. Isagi wasn’t wearing his contacts today, surprisingly. That’s nice, Isagi looks good with or without glasses either way. “Did you sleep well last night?”

Bachira shrugged, a few pieces of the tamagoyaki already in his mouth. He didn’t know whether to answer yes or no, considering his interaction with a sleep demon last night.

“Isagi, it seems like you slept well, haha!” Bachira pointed his chopsticks at Isagi, snickering. “Especially when you’re going to be taking that exam you dreaded so much for!”

At that very moment, Isagi’s grip against his chopsticks loosened and a piece of egg he had in between them dropped into his lap.

“Shit!” In a frenzy, Isagi single handedly ate the entirety of his half of his breakfast and scurried back into the bedroom. A split second later, he had a messenger bag flung wildly over his shoulder and was searching for the keys.

Bachira sat, watching amusingly with a wide grin as Isagi worked himself to the bone after the brief mention of the exam. And just like that, Isagi’s grip against them had failed to notice their dorm keys were literally right in front of Bachira, at the table where they ate.

“Bachira, do you know where the keys are??”

Bachira’s cheeks were puffed up like a hamster from stuffing food into his mouth. He directed his gaze to the table and swallowed, a fitful of laughter coming out his throat afterwards.

“I-sagi! You fail to find things when you’re in a hurry.”

Isagi lunged for the keys frantically, surprising Bachira a bit.

“Sorry Bachira, I need to go to the library to study quickly before the test!”

And just with that, Isagi leaned over and gave the other boy a quick kiss on the cheek. A light, soft, peck and before Bachira could react, Isagi had already dashed towards the door and left.

Bachira just sat there frozen, his body unable to move.

And in that moment, after taking approximately two seconds to process what had just happened, he leapt up from his seat at the table, laughing in disbelief and joy.

Bachira, of course, still didn’t understand the intent behind the kiss, but a kiss is still a kiss. What were they? He didn’t know or care, but for now, he knew his feelings were reciprocated.

He jumped his way to their bedroom, and landed flat with his limbs all spread out on his bed.

And that’s when everything went dark.

Bachira awakens.

But this time, into reality.

Goddamnit.

He really thought. He looked back at the clock against his night stand, still partially bitter that the kiss he had recieved from Isagi was all a dream.

Right, Isagi unfortunately was not straightforward when it came to love, therefore it wouldn’t make sense unless they were both in love.

Bachira rolls back over, slapping his cheeks in hopes of re-entering that livid dream. And of course, he could not. So he just sat up and walked right out of bed.

Currently, it is about six in the morning and the sun has barely woken up itself. Isagi wasn’t in bed, which can only mean...

...he’s in the kitchen cooking up tamagoyaki!

Bachira raced into the kitchen, where his prediction was confirmed true: Isagi stood quietly there rolling up the egg rolls. He noticed Bachira and a brief surprise crossed his face.

“Bachira??? Why are you awake right now?”

“I woke up from a very nice dream and I can’t go back to sleep.” Bachira tapped his chin lightly, as if to seem more philosophical.

Isagi let out an honest laugh. “Really? This is the first time I’ve actually seen you wake up this early without my help.”

“Well, the dream was so good,” Bachira paused for a moment to build up unnecessary suspense. “...I actually got mad when I woke up!”

“What could possibly piss you off?” Isagi turned back around and resumed his cooking.

“Classified!!” Bachira launches himself at Isagi, clinging to his back with a hug. Isagi sighed, but made no attempt to remove Bachira.

—————

Everything that Bachira went through was exactly the same as the dream part. All except for the kiss part.

Bachira did not, in fact, get the lovely “goodbye, my wife, I’m off to work!” type kiss from Isagi. Instead, he just grabbed the keys when Bachira pointed out, and sprinted towards the door. Maybe that monster in the corner of his room that night was the problem.

He’ll never know though. Afterwards, he got dressed, still a bit bitter over not receiving a goodbye kiss like he was supposed to have in his dream.

Oh well. He did find it a bit strange how his dream almost quite matched the descriptions of this morning. Their conversation, the food, the ‘characters’. As he leaves his dorm room to attend his class, he hears loud, rough yelling.

Bachira makes a sharp turn before peaking over the corner of where the yelling was coming from. And as he did, he recognized those streaks of dyed, blue hair that clashed the blonde. He had a prominent rose tattoo. Wasn’t he the one studying a psychology major?

Pretty ironic, Bachira must say, because at that very moment, the blondie was screaming at his friend.

In the middle of the hallway.

And Bachira had to pass that hallway to get into his first class.

Even when he pulls out silly moves and tricks, he usually makes sure they are at the right place and right location, which allows the liberty of being his true self.

He could never imagine arguing in the hallway with the volume buttons on max.

And then, with whatever bullshit that was going on, suddenly, the other boy that had been threatened got on his hands and knees.

Bachira doesn’t know what the fuck was going on, but it was sure funny as hell. He actually didn’t mind being a bit late to class.

If he were to choose between this situation instead of going to class, he would’ve never left the corner.

But also, because he’s self aware, he has to attend the art class because otherwise, the teacher will make him copy down art history notes for the sixth time. He slinks back and makes a mad dash for his classroom, whizzing by the two exchange students.

They both looked at him strangely, pausing their argument before quickly returning.

And right after Bachira finishes class, he finds those two in the hallways again, still arguing and causing a large scene. At this point, a crowd was gathering to watch.

Bachira joined in, peaking from behind. The rose tattoo man, Bachira assumes his name is Kaiser and his friend is Ness, were neck to neck.

Usually, they would get along, but then Bachira remembers that there was a rumor going around about how the new exchange students were freaks and were probably into pet play or something like that.

Well, he really couldn’t see that dynamic right now. He was also kind of bored. Isagi was probably taking that exam and stressing the hell out, so unfortunately he couldn’t come to witness this.

Ness, who Bachira had heard was majoring in science, suddenly began to mutter chants under his breath. They faced off against each other, completely either ignoring that everyone was around them, or they have deluded themselves to the point where they believe they are in a completely separate world than the others.

And with that, Ness pulls out something round and flimsy from behind his back. It was a little doll that was shaped similar to Kaiser.

Bachira stared, a grin he tried suppressing on his face began to develop. His friends always said he was weird for talking about his monster, but nobody bats an eye about this?

The little Kaiser-shaped blob had multiple nails and needles sticking out from various places ranging from the head to the neck to the toes.

Was that even allowed? Ness had brought a whole ass voodoo doll to school and is now threatening Kaiser he will do ‘unspeakable’ things to it, which Bachira could assume what they might be, considering the already noticeable abuse the doll has gone through.

It was horrid, ragged, and had stuffing ripping out of it. Bachira wanted to double over laughing, but held it in. The monster inside him was probably laughing too. Clearly, social anxiety is not something that exists in these two, nor do they care enough to recognize the attention they were drawing to themselves.

 What’s worse was Kaiser, in retaliation, pulled out a leash and dangled it in front of Ness. Seeing this, Bachira had to crouch down behind everyone to let out fits of laughter he could no longer suppress.

Studying psychology and science are two dignified courses, yet these two are behaving like this. He couldn’t wait to tell Chigiri and Isagi of this.

This wasn’t love’s obliviousness, it was pure social unawareness. It’s like embarrassment wasn’t a feeling they had.

Bachira stood back up, nearly falling over before he snapped a photo of Kaiser and Ness, who were now practically harassing each other by violently tugging at their opposite’s hair.

And with that, Bachira eccentricity skipped off, securing this moment as a core memory of his university days. He only remembers important things, such as how many elephants were on the person’s underwear that had sat in front of for one of his first year classes. Or the time he found some dragonflies that he had kidnapped and let loose in the art class.

He did NOT want to remember lessons his teacher gave him at all.

As Bachira went back to the park where he usually lays for nap time, his phone rings subtly in his back pocket.

He will not be getting any sleep from now on.

Chapter Text

Goddamnit.

Bachira picks up his phone, eagerly hoping it would either be Isagi or Chigiri texting him.

Instead, in that notification, the profile picture had a little cactus.

The name: Nagichii!! :x

The exclamations Bachira had added for sparkles and enthusiasm. Now what in the world would Reo’s ‘boyfriend’ want from a cutie like him?

Bachira slid open his phone and tapped his messages, expecting something random. What he did not expect was a large block of text sent by none other than Nagi.

Nagi??

Bachira is a bit surprised, his phone nearly slipping out of his grasp.

For one, Nagi was the type to never even hit anyone up in the first place, unless their name started with ‘Reo’ and ended with ‘Mikage’.

Second, Nagi types in very, very, short spurts. It was usually one word or just Reo’s name. On rare occasions, he would be able to form a half coherent sentence.

Even stranger was the fact that the message had been sent with proper spelling.

From Nagichii!! :x : Bachira, I broke Choki, I don’t know what to do. My hands are bleeding at the moment so I can’t type much. Reo’s mad at me again. Can you come over quickly?

Wow, okay, Bachira really was taking on the role of cupid.

Full grammar, proper spelling, and his hands were bleeding. Nagi’s been knowing how to message someone correctly.

Bachira looks over the message once more and then leaps up, sprinting at full speed towards the west side of the campus.

If Nagi had chosen to send a message to him out of anyone he had in his contact, it must’ve been some huge deal. Bachira isn’t worried at the moment.

He’s just eccentric over the fact Nagi has typed four, full, proper sentences.

This must be how fathers feel when they see their toddler start walking.

Bachira grins as he arrives, wasting no time hunting down Nagi’s dorm. He obnoxiously knocks at every single door down the hall, occasionally peaking through the peephole for anything.

Nagi is a good friend of Bachira’s and if they are friends with Bachira, he and his monster must help each other out at all costs. Even when it comes to homoerotic relationships, Bachira and his monster are willing to lend a helping hand.

That sounded like a failed kids advertisement.

Bachira finally approached the last door down the hallway, it radiated a familiar energy; dark, gloomy, sad, the gist of it. Nagi’s usually depressing aura, and it seemed to be way stronger today.

“Nagichii!!” Bachira called out, knocking rapidly at his door.

Within a split second, the doorknob turned and stood tall, but slouched in front of him was none other than the man himself: Nagi.

Bachira took a moment to just stare at Nagi, a grin spread wide across his face compared to Nagi’s static, unfazed expression. His hands were sloppily wrapped in bandages, splotches of red had begun to soak into them.

“Nagi! What happened? Are you going to tell me?” Bachira jabs at Nagi’s chest playfully before ducking under his arm, slipping into his dorm room.

There, he spots a shattered plant with the cracks and remnants of the former pot Choki used to live in. Bachira blinked, his eyes widening as he rushed over to Choki, flailing his arms before dramatically collapsing onto his knees.

“Ch…Choki…?” Bachira gathers a bit of the dirt, scooping it up into his hands as Choki laid beside it, unmoving as it should.

“Choki…” Bachira wails, now reaching for Choki with his bare hands. “We…we could’ve been something…”

And at that very moment, he could’ve sworn Choki moved. Even a little bit. He looked up, a puzzle expression now forming as he peers up at the cactus.

And then, that’s when he sees it. In the corner of his eye, a dark fog had formed near the foot of Nagi’s bed. The same breathing Bachira clearly remembers from the dream he had. The aura feels different now, strong, and dangerously invasive.

Bachira narrows his eyes, suppressing a smile before turning away to look back at Nagi, who stood motionless by the doorway with his arms crossed, a gaze fixated on Bachira theatrical moment.

“Oh right, I forgot you were here Nagichi!” Bachira smiles and stands up, still holding the cactus by its neck.

“You called?” Nagi didn’t say anything. He simply just nodded.

Meanwhile, Bachira was practically sweating his balls off. Not out of nervousness that Nagi would call him schizophrenic.

Hell, Nagi wouldn’t even notice if he talked to himself. It was in fact the same dark cloud he had seen in his dream that freaked him out.

Was he dreaming again? That couldn’t be possible right?

Nagi’s eyes were still half lidded, and Bachira quickly turned back to face whatever entity was behind him.

Just…it was gone now.

Shat. Bachira gritted his teeth in annoyance.

And just when he turned around, he heard a loud thud. Whipping his head around he found Nagi passed out on the floor, one of his shoes had fallen off in the process.

He looked like one of those cartoon knock-overs, where they pass out and have birds and stars flying over their heads.

Bachira likes stars.

But…what the hell.

Bachira grimaced, his smile faltered and he dropped Choki back into the mess of soil on the floor and dusted his hands off, clapping the excess soil away.

Then, he proceeded to drag Nagi’s one hundred ninety centimeter self back towards the bed.

Bachira considers himself strong, but he’s still more practiced in tactical and precise jobs. Something like sewing, doll making, even lock picking was easier.

After five grueling minutes, he had pushed Nagi up back onto his bed. He brushed his forehead, mentally high-fiving himself for all that art work.

That’s when he noticed the bandages had come undone on Nagi’s hands. He shakes his head, slapping his cheeks before getting up and rummaging through Nagi’s drawers, looking for extra bandage wraps.

He finds it in a disorganized cabinet that looks similar to how Bachira’s art studio looks. It was absolutely disorganized, pens and pencils were stuffed in a corner while random pieces of paper were crumpled in along with a small polaroid of Reo in a soul crushingly beautiful shot by the ocean.

Bachira hesitated, allowing himself to stare at the polaroid for a hot minute before he spotted the wraps and rushed back over to Nagi.

He figures this is why he’ll never work in the medical field. It was way too demanding for him to comprehend.

He doesn’t have scissors, so using the abilities he learned about cavemen back in high school, he rolled it out and tore it with his teeth. Bachira undid his bandages, which were now stained almost completely red.

When he unwrapped all of it, there was a large cut in the center of his palm. And with the precision of a sculptor, he carefully wrapped the bandages up tightly, before using the extra length to tie it into a neat little bow. Nagi better thank him for this later, he basically saved him from death of blood loss.

Bachira sat back, bringing his knees to his chin and stared blankly at Nagi’s sleeping form. Unfortunately, he never got to know what Nagi wanted to say. Too bad he knocked out before he spilled the gossip.

Seriously though, why did Nagi choose to contact him out of all people? And also, that suspicious black fog in the corner of his bed was probably at fault for Choki being shattered and Nagi passing out.

He found a purple gel pen that rolled next to him, probably something he had dropped while looking through Nagi’s belongings. He picks it up and leans back over, drawing a little dolphin on Nagi’s bandages where the blood didn’t reach.

Hmm…if that suspicious monster showed up, it must have a revealing meaning to life.

Something so important that the higher ups had probably sent it as a sacred message.

Bachira rocked back onto his knees and stuck his hand under Nagi’s pillow, fishing for a phone hopefully.

And as he hits the jackpot, he yanks it out and slides it open.

Nagi doesn’t have a password because he probably could not bother with the hassle of protecting his phone and having to open it up every single time.

Which unfortunately made it convenient for Bachira to snoop through.

And so Bachira scoots back into a little gap between Nagi’s bed and desk, makes himself comfortable, and begins his nosy search. He first goes through his telegram, which of course, he finds nothing. Then he snoops through his photos, which really just contained a bunch or accidental shots that he had taken and was too lazy to delete.

Occasionally, there would be a few blurry photos of a purple blob that could be made out to be Reo. The rest of the photos were from victories he had scored in his shooting games.

Now obviously, Bachira had to save the best for last.

He slid out of the photos app, hovering a few excited circles over the green messaging app before clicking onto it.

Nagi’s LINE app.

Oh, he can’t WAIT to see those messages.

Bachira knew for a fact he looked absolutely idiotic smushed in between the desk and bed with his friend’s phone in his hands. He was giggling and stuff scrolling through contacts.

Pinned was (no surprises), Reo Mikage. Bachira swiped down before retracting that movement and slowly inching back up. Reo’s name had caught his eye.

It was Reo’s name, and in parentheses, ‘my love’ was next to it.

Bachira snorted, blinking back tears that spurred from his laughter. At this point, there wasn’t even any hiding the relationship despite their denial. He didn’t understand why they kept denying, there was no point. They can’t possibly beat the relationship allegations when Reo was literally caught spoon feeding Nagi pudding with the most lovesick look on his face.

At that time, the picture that was secretly shot went around and eventually reached Bachira. Isagi showed it to him one afternoon while they were out getting ice cream. That led to a series of chained events, where Bachira began slapping Isagi aggressively on the back, laughing. That somehow knocked his ice cream over, which caused Isagi to sulk for the rest of the day.

Now no way in hell are they beating those allegations.

Bachira lifted his own phone up and took a photo. He’ll save it later for some personal blackmail if needed.

Nagi barely texts anyone. All the group chats he was in, none of the messages were read.

There was quite literally over five thousand unread messages and the only contact that had zero unread messages was Reo.

And then he makes the mistake of tapping onto Nagi’s messages with Reo.

To his horror, Reo was sending long, long paragraphs, detailing how Nagi has to start taking care of himself. The paragraphs then water down to how his father doesn’t accept his son being in a relationship with anyone until after college.

For God’s sake, there’s something called ‘dating in secret’ that Reo might need to know about.

The further he scrolled, the more confuzzled he became.

Apparently…they were actually not dating? Clearly it wasn’t just one-sided, but neither of them had admitted to each other.

Bachira rolled his eyes as he continued reading the messages.

Judging by the messages he’s seen, either Reo has internal homophobia or just flat out deluded himself that this was how friends acted like. And Nagi responds back with actual phrases that make sense, which practically blinds Bachira every second from surprise.

The messages were often sent in large gaps of days, there’s often arguments over petty things and then a few days pass by and they went back to texting like normal.

This couldn’t possibly be healthy. This is exactly like a divorced couple that legally broke apart but are back together.

And everyone else was their lawyer standing on the sidelines, pissed they had wasted their time for nothing.

But, Bachira was Bachira.

He felt a sudden urge to do something mischievous.

Something devious.

It’s as if the entity he probably hallucinated from early began to possess him.

It wouldn’t hurt pretending to text Reo as Nagi now, would it?

Chapter Text

There’s another word for homewrecker, but he’s not exactly a homewrecker, he's a home-helper.

Really though, Bachira Meguru was really only lending a helping hand to a friend in an unfortunate relationship. To him, this is like diving into a pool without knowing how to swim, blindfolded, and tied by the arms. He didn’t know what he was doing, but he’ll figure it out on the fly.

Currently crouched in between Nagi’s bed and desk, he starts typing, hiding the evil smile that threatens to come out.

Bachira had taken about ten minutes studying the way Nagi types with Reo. He’s practically mastered his way of messaging at this point, and Reo shouldn’t suspect a thing. It isn’t hard to catch onto, it consists of using the same emoticons and short, simple phrases.

But Reo was more likely to take Nagi seriously if he typed more than two sentences, which is exactly what Bachira is going to do.

He’s going to type three sentences.

Bachira taps his chin animatedly, deep in thought about this life changing reckless decision he’s going to make. 

He’s going to make sure Nagi and Reo get together (for real) and keep them from separating like divorcees for the fifth time. It’s a miracle that Nagi texted him, and he’s grateful for that, so the least he can do now is fix his half-ass homoerotic relationship with someone who is so deep in delusion and denial it’s nearly next to impossible.

To Reo (my love): Reooo, can we talk pleeasee? I want to say some things ive had on my mindd. You can express ur opinions too if you want :x

Those three sentences were probably enough to freak Reo out. And he was correct.

Right after sending that message, instantly a message reply came back. 

To Nagi: ???

To Nagi: Are u okay??

To Nagi: Wait r u feeling okay??

Message after message began to blow up the phone. Bachira guesses that Reo just wouldn’t be able to resist Nagi even if he was angry.

Bachira had a cat-like grin that began to curve upon his lips, barely containing his fits of laughter. He couldn’t wake Nagi up yet, oh no. Nagi must never find out what he did. 

Or he could. He doubts Nagi would care less. In fact he’s actually doing him a favor! Bachira quickly snaps a zoomed in photo of Choki’s shattered pot on the floor and sends it to Reo.

To Reo (my love): Reoo choki broke come over pls my hands hurt :(

Immediately, a frantic reply comes back from Reo.

To Nagi: Nagi???

To Nagi: Are you hurt??

To Nagi: I’m heading straight to your dorm after my business class, wait for me

Bachira giggled like a teenage girl. But no, this didn’t stir enough dopamine in him. He had learned from Shidou that in order to make life exciting, one has to make bad decisions.

And Bachira obviously knew he hadn’t gone far enough with this. 

To Reo (my love): come quickly pls ily :c

And then that’s when he slumped back against the wall, cackling as he pried Nagi’s hand open and slipped his phone in between his fingers.

The more realistic effect! Reo wouldn’t suspect a thing if he saw Nagi holding the phone instead.

But as if his ideas couldn’t get any worse, they did. Bachira rumages around for that purple gel pen and finds it under Nagi’s bed. Then, he scurries around looking for a sticky note or maybe just a tiny piece of paper, enough for Reo to notice what it was.

And with that, he scribbles in the ugliest handwriting possible to mankind, ‘Nagi, I can’t wait for us to have fun again~’.

He swirls the pen to make a fancy little signature, which consists of the initials ‘I.M’. He had come up with it on the spot by merging his and Isagi’s initials. He also decides to add a little heart so it burns a little more.

Now the only thing Bachira was worried about was if Nagi was going to be a little bitch and snitch on him to Reo. 

Right. 

He dashes over to Nagi’s front door and snatches his shoes before sprinting back over and kicking them under Nagi’s bed. 

He sticks the note on Nagi’s desk in preparation and checks his phone. Reo’s class was about to end.

And for Bachira, he had just skipped class, and now he was about to skip another one. But it’s okay, because this is what he lives for. This is what Shidou had taught. Bad decisions always make good stories.

Sudden pacing footsteps could be heard running down the hall. That was Bachira’s sign to slide under Nagi’s bed to join his shoes. He doesn’t exactly worry about Reo seeing him because Nagi’s mattress blanket was long enough to reach the floor.

There’s slight clacking of keys being pushed and twisted. The door swung wide open and in the little gap between the blanket and the bottom of the bed, Bachira caught sight of Reo’s breathless stance.

Reo did not stop though, he ran by Nagi’s side. Bachira laid on the floor, under Nagi’s bed.

Isagi would NOT be proud of what he was doing in his freetime, but that’s okay. He’s doing it for the sake of a divorced couple who wants to get back with each other so bad.

Now, the only thing he’s hoping for is they don’t do anything weird. Otherwise he might just kill himself there and join the monster's side and haunt Isagi with it.

He obviously can’t see what’s going on, but he can imagine Reo caressing Nagi’s face or something like that. Reo’s breath was still heavy from running, and that was the only noise that filled the room for a while. 

Now, he’s getting impatient. He doesn’t have a long attention span, he admits. When will Reo see the note on Nagi’s desk? How long will he have to stay under this dusty bed that could be a dangerous sneezing hazard?

Bachira decides to text Isagi, not before making sure his volume was completely off.

To Isagi (pooks ❤️❤️): ISAGII ISAGII HELP HELP RHKLP

He leaves it at that. Isagi should get the memo that he pulled off some stupid stunt again.

After waiting for a few minutes, Isagi replies.

From Isagi: what did u do now???

To Isagi (pooks ❤️❤️): IM UNDER NAGIS BED RIGJT NOW WHAT DO I DO

From Isagi: you WHAT 

From Isagi: what the hell do you mean???

To Isagi (pooks ❤️❤️): I WAS AT HIS HOUSE N HE PASSED OUT NE STUFF AND THEN REO CAME IN AND I HAF TO HUDE UNDER HIS BED

Bachira could imagine Isagi physically let out a cry of exasperated agony. He knew he would not get out of this one. But then again, Shidou’s words hung airily around him.

“Bad decisions make good stories.”

He had zoned out on texting Isagi; he had failed to notice Nagi had been woken up by Reo.

What broke his trance with his phone was when Nagi began to speak. 

To Isagi (pooks ❤️❤️): WAIT I GOTTA GET INSIGHT BTBF

And he sets his phone down. Bachira even considers recording their conversation, but in the end, there are still boundaries to respect.

He thinks as he reminisces about the text messages he sent to Reo and the snooping he had done through Nagi’s phone.

“Reo? Why are you here?” Through the sound absorbing mattress, he could still hear the surprise in Nagi’s groggily voice. 

“You texted me, remember?"

“…I did?”

“Yes!” Bachira could hear audible rustling, probably Reo showing Nagi the text message.

“God, you scared me.” 

Then a pause. Bachira wants to giggle, but he knows he’s got to hold it in until he’s with Isagi again.

A genteler tone rises from Reo. “Nagi, I was scared. Look at you, you don’t even know what to do when you shatter something.”

Romantic. Bachira bites his tongue and grins, picking his phone back up. It lit up against his face, practically blinding him since his eyes had adjusted to the dark under Nagi’s bed.

When will he get the chance to be tucked in like this by Isagi? He doesn’t know, but he’s tired of waiting for it. If he makes it out of Nagi’s room alive, he’ll ask Isagi to give him a goodnight kiss or something.

It was quiet, except for the sound of bandages sticking against each other unwrapping. Bachira cringed at the silence, he couldn’t bear it. 

Now maybe staying under his bed was a bad idea, Bachira was beginning to doubt his life choices. Maybe listening to Shidou was a bad idea. 

Long, long pause. And then, he hears Reo barely mutter, “You sent me ‘I love you’.”

Another few seconds passed and Bachira was hating every second of this agonizing quietness. 

Then, he began to worry. What if Nagi outs him for being here? What if he tells Reo that he actually was the one who bandaged him, not Nagi himself?

Man, he’d be in hot water with not only Isagi if that happened. He considers texting Isagi impulsively but resists.

After a few seconds, Nagi replies. 

“…I guess I did.”

Bachira, in his mind, was basically a treaty that could solve world peace. He was glad Nagi didn’t snitch on him, but then it begs the question if Nagi truly did remember Bachira had come into his dorm. 

If only Reo would hurry the fuck up and look at the note. Bachira definitely cannot wait any longer, and he was having trouble breathing under the bed. 

He hears shuffling, quiet, deliberate steps. “Nagi…do you mean…that way?”

An uncomfortable tension rises. But Bachira doesn’t know how to feel. On one hand, he’s enjoying the drama, but on the other, he hates how slow this is and how he’s going to succumb into coughing and sneezing in a matter of seconds from the dust.

“…Yeah.”

With that, a sudden deepening of a person’s weight besides Nagi sinks into the bed. Bachira has no idea what they’re doing, if they're hugging, kissing, making out, what not, he wanted to get out of there at this point and to his dissatisfaction, Reo had failed to notice the note on Nagi’s desk.

Or he did, but knew it was fake. Bachira was getting desperate at this point to leave. It went quiet again, and Bachira was practically shaking in his boots, contemplating his awful decision making and how he should’ve just worried about his own relationship.

But nonetheless, he’s a good friend to all. But it pains him how Goddamn slow they are. It really does. 

Now he’s just begging Nagi and Reo not to do any weird shit that might scare him for life. He lifts a shaky hand and flicks open his phone, anxiously texting Isagi.

To Isagi (pooks ❤️❤️): SIAGI SISGI HELP HELP HEKLO YOICHI ISAGI HELO ME THEHREMGONNA SO SOMETHING WEIRD SND CURSE ME

Isagi had sent a message previously with three dots to express his speechlessness and disappointment through the screen.

From Isagi: Bachira?? Do u need help?? Is there anything i can do?

Bachira sighs like a distressed maiden quietly weeping by her window with a handkerchief. He did, in fact, need help. Bless his ears for what he fears he’s going to hear.

To Isagi (pooks ❤️❤️): YES PLS IM FONNS BE SCARED FOR LIFE IF U DONT CALL REO OR SMMTH

And within a few seconds, Nagi and Reo’s intimate beginnings are thoroughly interrupted by a loud ringing from Reo’s phone.

It was also quite the miracle Isagi’s next class also had Reo in it. 

Through the muddled tone, he could hear Isagi questioning where Reo was for class. Bachira could also hear the nervousness in Reo’s voice, promising he’d be there in a few minutes and that he was preoccupied with something.

Bachira snickered. Despite his help, he would still like to protect his innocence. 

“Nagi, I’ll come back to see you after this class, okay?” He could hear Reo’s voice growing smaller as he reached the door.

“I love you, please take care of yourself.” And with that, the door clicked shut softly. 

He hears Nagi let out a heavy sigh and the mattress of the bed dipped suddenly. Bachira could practically see Nagi’s lovesick expression on his face.

Now all he has to do is wait for this sloth to fall asleep and then he could sneak his way out.

So that’s what he did. It didn’t take long for Nagi to pass out again, and Bachira slinked out from under the bed, squinting at the light that hit his eyes.

Choki’s shattered pot was still on the floor, but the cactus had been relocated to Nagi’s desk in a little plastic cup. Bachira crawled out and stretched, wondering just how long that had been. 

That was at most twenty minutes, but it felt like hours. He hears Nagi’s quiet snoring and stares at him wide like a raccoon.

He should learn how to live life like Nagi. Live comfortably in the comfort of another. Bachira takes a glance at the desk, nothing Reo would’ve definitely seen the note if he placed Choki on the desk. Well, now he feels that might’ve been a bit too evil and he tears the sticky note from the desk and crumples it up. 

He sticks his hand under the bed and fishes for his shoes. After sliding them on, he leaves the dorm room.

And as he does, he takes a huge gulp of fresh, delicious, air, and sighs, wondering what Isagi would be making for dinner tonight.

Chapter Text

Bachira is ever so grateful for Isagi basically saving his life from Nagi and Reo’s shenanigans.

But he’s basically solved their denial phase for now. It was quick, but that’s okay, at least they admitted that they loved each other. 

He skipped all his classes and was now seated back at the wooden table where metal dishes were placed, stewing deliciously irresistible scent from it.

Bachira was practically foaming at the mouth as Isagi kept slapping his chopsticks away, saying that there were more dishes to come and that he needed to wait.

Finally, when they were both settled down, they said their thank yous and began eating. Bachira had gobbled half his bowl in a split second as Isagi began to speak.

“So Bachira, can you explain what you were doing under Nagi’s bed when you were supposed to be in class for your lectures.”

Looks like Bachira had fallen into the unfortunate trap of being warmed and pampered before the wrath. When he arrived back into his dorm room, Isagi was sitting at the table, his glasses nearly slipping off him. He was quite focused on whatever he was reading, failing to notice Bachira’s arrival. Isagi finally turned his head to look at him when Bachira clamped a hand down onto his shoulder.

And with that, Isagi greeted Bachira warmly, the same sparkle in his eyes when he saw kintsuba. Isagi made no mention of the text messages he had received earlier in the day. Nor did he even have the slightest reaction at Bachira. Isagi only gently ruffled his hair, collected his textbooks, and began cooking dinner. 

Bachira sat in the living room, ears plugged in, and to everyone’s surprise, actually finished some of his overdue assignments. It was quite peaceful and occasionally, Isagi would walk over and peek over his shoulder, complimenting his work. Bachira found nothing suspicious, until now. He took a nap and eventually woke up to Isagi brushing his shoulder gently.

Now he had realized the true intent behind his extra kindness. Bachira sat there with a guilty look plastered across his face and his chopsticks froze. 

“Uhh…I had to…help..them?” He responded hesitantly with a mouthful of radish. He swallowed and continued, trying to steer the topic away. “I-sagi! I don’t know what dish this is but it’s so yummy!!”

Isagi’s once smiling face dropped into a firm, cold frown. The corner of his eye seemed to twitch. “Bachira. Do not try to change the subject.”

Bachira gulped. Is there anything he could do to get out of a scolding? Isagi was quite serious about his studies, hell, he’s even the top student. Bachira never does his homework, yet manages to score almost perfectly on every exam. He doesn’t know how, luck maybe.

“Isagi please,” Bachira begged, chuckling a bit. “Spare me this once! I came back and did some of my homework!”

“Yeah, homework that was due almost two months ago!” Isagi exclaimed, exasperated.

“Whoopsies!” Bachira stuck out his tongue teasingly. He points his chopsticks at Isagi. “Nagi texted me to come to him, so don’t think I skipped for nothing!”

Isagi narrowed his eyes, but kept silent. Bachira quickly directs the subject elsewhere before anything heated could happen. 

“So…Isagi, how was the test?” Bachira asked cheerfully, tilting his head a bit.

“Awuful, I think I might’ve messed up on one of the problems.” Isagi reached for a chopped pork rib. “I don’t want Rin beating me anytime soon, so that one point is worth a life.”

Bachira sighed. His chopsticks were stuck into his mouth and his fingers drummed against the table. He was a little bit annoyed at something, but he didn’t know what exactly.

“Isagi, you’re still a very hard worker though! You should take a break, don’t overwork yourself that much!”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right, but I’ll become bored if I don’t have anything to do but relax.” He cleans off his bowl by scraping the extra rice into one corner. “What do you suggest then?”

Bachira grinned wide eyed. 

And before he could catch himself, the words slipped out.

“You should pay a little attention to me.”

Okay, now he’s done it.

Isagi looks up, his confused face formed into a gentler, softer expression. “You’re right, after all, I am dating you.”

What.

What??

What is he hearing?

Bachira doesn’t say anything though. It must be another dream. He knows. He catches onto things like this easily. Why was he having these dreams, he doesn’t know. But he doesn’t care because at least Isagi’s in them.

And Isagi actually likes him back here!

So Bachira wants to at least favor these lucid moments before he goes back to reality. He thinks back to when he first met that different monster in the corner of the room that very night.

Isagi sets his bowl down nervously scratching his back. Bachira blinks slowly and nods. “No problem, hehe! Say, do you want to go out after school tomorrow for a date?”

A tiny blush forms on Isagi’s cheeks as he nods frivolously. Bachira claps his hands together in glee. “Yipee! Maybe you’ll finally learn to let loose this once!” Isagi nodded looking at Bachira through tired, loving eyes.

Bachira never noticed his gaze though, but held a piece of meat to his face between his wooden chopsticks. “I-sagi! Eat up! Let me feed you once!” 

Isagi smiled weakly and opened his mouth as Bachira shoved the food in passive-aggressively. Isagi blinked and chewed slowly, as Bachira watched him cutely with his hands on his chin.

Isagi sat across from Bachira, and subtly, he had migrated over to Bachira’s side scoot by scoot. Bachira didn’t notice until Isagi was basically right next to him.

“Isagi, did you fly over here or something?” Bachira laughed, finishing his food. Isagi shrugged and leaned in to rest his head on his shoulder, unexpectedly surprising Bachira, who turned to face him.

“Give me a minute,” Isagi closed his eyes thoroughly. “I’m exhausted.”

Bachira grows a bit more weary. His gaze softens and lingers about Isagi’s slumped over posture against him. 

And they just stay like that for a bit. Silence, no noise, but everything said. 

Eventually, Isagi raises his head back up and sits upright. He mutters something under his breath before turning back to Bachira, who had completely zoned out dreaming about dolphins or something. 

“The clock looks a bit strange, doesn’t it?” Bachira comments. 

“Can I kiss you?”

“Huh?”

Bachira snaps his head, broken from the trance and stares bewildered at Isagi. “What?”

Isagi’s practically centimeters from his face now and Bachira could feel his breath fanning out against his skin.

And then they kiss. 

And that very moment, it’s everything Bachira has wanted. Time slows down and his thoughts become fuzzy. 

He feels Isagi’s hand caress his cheek, firm, but annoyingly gentle. His lips taste like strawberries, and he wasn’t rushing. It was a bit clumsy, Isagi tilted his head too much, but eventually he found the right angle. It’s messy, but Bachira savors the moment as Isagi’s thumb brushes a bit of his hair aside.

Isagi pulls back slightly, his lips parting from breathlessness. He was about to say something when a sharp pain jolted through his head.

Fuck.

FUCK.

His eyes widen back to reality. 

Bachira sits up so quickly he almost hits Isagi in the forehead. Isagi stood watching over him, the bored expression never leaving his face as he held a spatula that Bachira was sure he had used to hit him. 

“Bachira wake up, we have to eat now!” Isagi finally loosens his face and smiles softly. “The food’s gonna get cold if we don’t hurry.”

Bachira stares, still in a daze from what happened. He had forgotten at the very moment it was a dream. Godamnit. His fingers instinctively reach for his lips. Isagi is still standing there, an eyebrow raised in confusion.

“...It was the monster.”

“What?”

“...”

Isagi sighs dramatically. “Whatever you say.”

Bachira’s cat-like smirk returns to his face. “Did you make radishes?”

“How did you know?”

“I could smell it!”

That was a lie. But whatever.

—————

Bachira lay in bed that night, unable to sleep. Damn, now he has done it. 

Nothing out of the ordinary happened during dinner, unlike his dream. The only romantic-ish occurrence was Isagi resting his head against his shoulder, nothing else, to Bachira’s disappointment.

And for once, he blames it on the monster. Not the monster that stirs his imagination and allows him to create the most beautiful of artworks, no. The monster, the entity he had seen in the corner of his room that night. 

Yeah, it was all its fault because he was dreaming of weird things. 

Bachira rolls around aimlessly, unable to sleep. On one hand, he’s upset that the kiss wasn’t real, on the other hand, technically he still kissed Isagi.

He should go to sleep to see if he can experience it again tonight. Hopefully he does. 

But he can’t sleep, so for once, he thinks righteously. 

He sits up and puts on his slippers, leaving his bed for the wooden dining table. There was his sketchbook and his pencil. Bachira tilts his head and blinks, he doesn’t exactly remember leaving it there. 

If he can’t sleep, he might as well draw something. He picks up the sketch book and returns to his dorm, seating himself at the head of Isagi’s bed. Bachira stares at him for a bit, and in the midst of the dark, he starts drawing.

Chapter Text

Bachira doesn’t know how long he’s been sitting in the dark sketching Isagi’s sleeping face out. 

An outsider viewing this would be very weirded out. In fact, Bachira is staring hawk-eyed at Isagi, as if trying to pry open his soul. And then he goes back to looking down at his sketchpad and scratches a few lines out. Isagi’s very pretty.

Bachira subconsciously reaches out to boop the little sprout on Isagi’s head, giggling quietly to himself. He rests his head against Isagi’s mattress, mere centimeters away from his face. He breathed softly, unaware of Bachira’s presence.

Bachira sighed and looked up a bit, scanning down Isagi’s facial features in the dark. Isagi, when he was awake, had big, round eyes that glittered when he saw something he liked. Bachira knew of this of course, often picking up small details or habits Isagi had from time to time.

He does wonder what he would have become if Isagi hadn’t come into his life. He didn’t understand the experience of having friends, he never had as a kid. 

Despite growing older, he still struggled with this. Often, he was subjected to bullying, despite his talent, he was scorned for it. That led to isolation, something he thought he’d never leave. It was a cage that he couldn’t break free from.

But yet, after graduation and entering university, that cage finally began to shatter. He began meeting people that didn’t find distaste in his personality, something he was especially grateful for. 

And then there was Isagi. 

His roommate.

And his first friend. 

He was a kind person, often worrying too much about others than himself. Isagi was focused, yet never missed the opportunity to help someone else. 

And moreover, he was the first to accept the kind of person Bachira was. For once, he wasn’t found strange, or called to be a ‘weirdo’ or ‘monster’, but rather a ‘friend’.

Bachira pokes at Isagi’s cheek gently, causing him to stir a little bit. 

In the end, he’s thankful for Isagi coming into his life and painting his blank canvas with a mess of colorful splats.

Isagi.

“Isagi…” Bachira lets his name roll from his tongue.

“…Yes, Bachira?” 

Bachira’s eyes widened even more than they possibly could. He then lowers his head back to eye level before whispering, “Are you awake?”

Bachira grins as he sees Isagi’s eyes open slightly, heavy from sleep.

“Mm…yeah, do you need anything?”

Bachira blinks, a stupid grin still on his face. “No, but I was watching you sleep.”

Isagi’s face transforms into a horrified expression that Bachira could clearly make out of the dark. Isagi scoots a bit away from the Bachira, clutching onto his blanket tightly.

“Why are you watching me sleep??”

“Uhh…” Bachira pauses to give himself time to think. “Because I can’t sleep and I don’t have anything else to do.”

“Couldn’t you have gone on your phone or something??”

“Nyahaha!” Bachira sticks out his tongue and shakes his head, crossing his arms to form an ‘x’. “I have a splitting headache from using my phone so much, I’ve been on it almost fifteen hours everyday!”

Isagi deadpans, a look that screamed 'seriously?’. He curled up on his bed, collecting the blanket and wrapping himself up with it. “Bachira, you could’ve done ANYTHING but you chose to watch me sleep??”

“Yeah!”

Isagi lets out an audible sigh as his shoulders loosen. He pats down on the seat of the bed next to him, motioning Bachira to sit.

Without hesitation, Bachira leaps onto the bed, practically bouncing as Isagi yanks on his arm to try to pull him back down. 

Alas, Bachira scoots next to Isagi, ripping the blanket off his grip to wrap around his head.

It was still dark, the blue night sky seeped through past their translucent curtains. Bachira briefly glances at Isagi, who was slowly drifting in and out of consciousness. He then impulsively reaches for Isagi’s cheek again, pinching it this time.

“Ouhh…” Isagi murmured grudgingly. “Bachira, now I won’t be able to have a good night’s sleep,” he whined, leaning against Bachira, playfully slapping his knee.

Bachira smiles. Then, “Do you want to hear about what happened with Nagi and Reo?” He drags out each word teasingly.

Isagi perks up a bit from his groggy state. “Sure, why not, you woke up anyways.”

And so Bachira recounts his amazing adventures hiding under Nagi’s bed and enjoying Reo and his loving moment as the invisible third wheeler. The entire time, Isagi’s terrified expression never leaves his face. In fact, his jaw drops wider and wider every time Bachira says something.

At the end, Bachira dramatically spreads his arms out to express the joy of his escape from the devil’s lair (under Nagi’s bed). He flops onto Isagi’s lap, stretching himself.

Isagi lifted a weak finger and his mouth twitched as he spoke. 

“So you’re saying you hid under his bed in hopes of drama and it didn’t go as planned..?”

Bachira rolled back around, still laying on Isagi, shrugged and nodded.”It was scary, I thought they would start doing freaky shit right then and there!”

Isagi slapped Bachira in the stomach lightly, making him recoil. “Do NOT put that image in my head.”

Bachira howled, laughing as he sat back upright next to Isagi. “Isagi, I do wonder why I always seem to look at you.”

At that, Isagi paused and stared at Bachira, who had his head resting on his knees, his arms wrapped protectively around himself.

“Maybe it’s because you’re the only person who’s seen my monster and didn’t run away.” He took a quick glance at Isagi, his heart beating a little quicker. Damn, he must be really tired to say all this stuff.

Isagi opened his mouth agape to say something, but no words came out. There were no words needed to be said at that moment, just their gaze was enough.

Bachira smiles weakly at Isagi. “I’m not good at expressing myself this way.”

Isagi’s glance softens at the sight of Bachira. His heart hangs heavy, as if it were about to come up his throat. He doesn’t want to admit something, but he doesn’t know what.

Bachira continues quietly, voice barely above a whisper. “It’s gotten to the point where I’d give anything to see you're the one smiling at me.”

Bachira slinks a little lower into his arms and knees. He could feel his back pricking up in heat as Isagi continued staring at him with those eyes. 

He found out tonight that he may be more sensitive at night, more susceptible to emotional feelings that do not occur to him during the day. Right now, he was talking about his feelings like a broken dam.

Isagi tilts his head slightly and blinks. And then he reaches for Bachira, wrapping his arms gently around him.

“I know.”

Bachira was taken aback for a few seconds before he finally let his guard down. In this, he lets himself embrace Isagi.

Some things communicate a message of love better than a kiss.

—————

Bachira wakes up with his thumb in his mouth, not on his bed though. He stretches himself into a star position and unexpectedly hits something hard. 

Right, he had fallen asleep on Isagi’s bed the previous night. 

He hears an annoyed groan as a hand shot for his wrist, slapping it away. Bachira rolls his head around to face Isagi’s back.

And then he starts poking him. Again.

“I-sagi! What are we eating for breakfast?” 

Isagi swats Bachira’s hand away from him. “Why don’t you make something for yourself?”

Bachira frowned and jabbed Isagi in the armpit, causing Isagi to curl up. “You know I don’t know how to cook.”

Bachira laughs and jumps out of bed, nearing stepping on Isagi in the process. “But I’ll try for your sake! You better eat everything I make!”

Bachira skips to the kitchen and looks around. The sun had begun to slip through as he began shuffling around looking for ingredients. 

Bachira has no idea what he’s making. He’s adding a bunch of random ingredients and hoping it turns out tasting good. If it doesn’t, he’ll force feed Isagi either way. The containers aren’t labeled either, so he won’t know exactly if he’s poisoning the food or not.

After about ten minutes, he had thrown all the ingredients that looked visually appealing to him into a pot and began to boil it. And then he stirred.

It started bubbling weirdly, and it looked like slop. Bachira continued stirring. 

It bubbles more.

It really does look like he’s trying to poison someone now. 

He found sprinkles in the back of the cabinet and took a handful of it, tossing them into the shit-state soup he was making. It looked like melted chocolate cake.

Another five minutes pass by and he goes to drag Isagi out of bed. Isagi begrudgingly went along, dragging his body slowly across the room to the table.

Bachira poured the shit soup into Isagi and his bowl, adding more sprinkles in the process. It only took Isagi a few seconds to process what just happened.

“Bachira…are you sure you’re not trying to kill me?”

Bachira sat down across from him, his own bowl of shit soup almost spilling over. He scooped a bit of it with his spoon and lifted it up to examine it. “I’m pretty sure I’m not!”

Isagi stared suspiciously at Bachira before picking up his own spoon. He couldn’t deny he was a little bit proud that Bachira had made something of his own, the question is, will it take his life though.

“What did you add in here?”

“I don’t know!” Bachira sticks out his tongue. Isagi leans to the side a bit, looking beyond him at the kitchen counter. There were bags and containers of spilled…substances. It was a complete mess. It looked like Bachira had hurled flour and eggs at the counter. Isagi groans since he knows Bachira will not be cleaning that mess up.

“Then how am I supposed to know it’s safe to eat?”

Bachira shrugs. “I’ll eat it first then.”

He sticks the spoon in his mouth, a blank expression crossing his face. “It’s not that bad, just a bit sugary and the texture’s a bit weird.”

Isagi, still having doubts, slowly slid the spoon in his mouth.

It. 

Was.

Disgusting.

It was not sugary in the slightest bit. It was bitter as fuck, and salty. It had a weird grainy texture, probably from the sprinkles and the rice(?). It was like someone had stuck a finger down Isagi’s throat along with bug repellent. 

He coughed, almost unable to swallow whatever the hell Bachira made. Bachira stared at him innocently with big eyes across from him, not reacting when Isagi became a choking mess.

“So…is it good?”

At this point there were tears springing from Isagi’s eyes. He didn’t know whether to cry or throw up. 

He should’ve never let Bachira make breakfast. He took a quick glance at Bachira, who somehow was consuming the shit soup spoonful after spoonful. Isagi was absolutely horrified.

He can’t possibly finish this soup without throwing it all up. Isagi pushed the bowl in front of him, shaking his head. “Bachira…my throat is burning.”

Bachira tilts his head, questioning. “No? I thought it was too sweet?”

Too sweet?? Too SWEET???

Bachira must have taste buds that are the opposite of an average human. That’s the only possible way he was able to consume so much of that shit soup. Isagi shakes his head again, covering his mouth.

“You can take the rest, I can’t eat this.”

Bachira frowns, the spoon stuck in his mouth. “Rude much!”

“No seriously, if I eat anymore of this, I’m going to throw up on you.”

Bachira points his spoon accusingly at Isagi. “You’re the one who told me to make breakfast, I think I did pretty well!”

Isagi turns away, barely muttering, “Yeah, pretty well if you’re trying to poison someone to death.”

Chapter Text

Isagi had always thought that squirrels were quite similar to Bachira. Their cheeks are chubby when eating, they are quite pesky, and oftentimes, are a nuisance. 

But it’s okay, they were cute though. But Bachira thought otherwise.

Not that he didn’t think they were cute or anything, they sometimes pissed him off, and it was fun chasing them around everywhere. He used to catch them as a kid and for some reason, his mother didn’t care that her son kidnaps squirrels on a daily basis as friends.

Yep. He was that lonely. He had his monster, but his only other friends were the animals he kidnapped. Bachira is still quite surprised that he hasn’t caught rabies yet. It’s actually a miracle, considering he hasn’t been bit even once by these animals. When he would catch squirrels, he would fill his kiddie pool up in his garage or out on the sidewalk and hop into it, clutching a squirrel by the neck or stomach.

Then he would sit down and try to teach the squirrel to swim. He hasn’t killed any, thankfully, but squirrels weren’t his only victim. Rabbits included. He somehow managed to outrun rabbits, only God knows how. He would catch them, put them in a little transparent container that would be slung around his shoulder, and he would wave a dragonfly net wildly in the air. 

When he managed to catch a few dragonflies, he would trap them in his hands and slink back home. For the rabbit however, he would show his mother, who would really just comment how he did such a good job catching wildlife and he should take care of it. Not that his mother was uncaring, she really just didn’t mind her son taking in animals from wildlife. 

Now Bachira wonders if he is still able to catch squirrels. He’s gotten multiple ticks from climbing on trees and had to get them disinfected and removed so many times. Yet somehow, he hasn’t contracted any diseases yet, only colds once in a while from trying to jump frogs and birds out in the rain. 

Since it was a weekend, and outside was foggy with dark clouds that pursued inevitable rain, nobody was out on campus. Bachira didn’t even think squirrels would be outside for him to catch. Maybe a few earthworms here and there on the streets, and maybe if he was lucky, a frog. But really, that was just all hope. 

He’s lying on the couch he often daydreamed on with a pen sticking out his mouth, upside down. He finished breakfast with Isagi a few hours ago, still a bit bitter that his precious roommate had refused his cooking.

Bachira didn’t think it tasted like shit at all. He thinks it tasted like grocery bought cupcakes.

Isagi was off to God knows where in this awful weather. It raged wildly outside, the trees severed from side to side, and he could barely see ten meters ahead. Bachira could hear the wind bash loudly against his window as the lights inside flickered a few times. 

He didn’t feel like completing his work at all. He was bored. There was practically a typhoon outside and he wanted to go catch an animal or something.

But in the end, nobody was stopping him right? Shidou told him ‘I listen to no one! Not even the sky can stop me!’, and Bachira began applauding with sparkling eyes after that inspirational speech.

That’s right. Nothing was stopping him. No typhoon was going to stop him from catching one of those munchkins outside. Of course, it will be harder trying to find them, since they won’t be running around in the storm, but with his years of experience, he knows where to find one.

Bachira leaps off the couch, spitting out his pen on the table and racing into the bedroom, rummaging through his closet for a raincoat of some sort. He found one in the very back, a long, yellow one with a hood and black rain boots.

Excitedly, he quickly slipped it on and shoved the dorm key and his phone in his pocket, bolting for the door and spriting for the exit of the building. 

Between the glass door and outside, he could see branches had fallen over from swaying trees nearby, and it had grown even foggier, but Bachira knew his way around so it was okay. He zipped up his raincoat and pushed the door open.

Well, he tried to.

It didn’t budge. Bachira frowned.

Why the hell was the door locked?

He pushed again, and this time, it cracked a little bit, letting in a huge gush of wind. 

Oh. 

That was why. 

The pressure of the wind outside was so strong he couldn’t open the door. This would not falter his determination though, as he persisted, pushing against the door.

And it worked. It opened up and Bachira managed to slip through. When he did, it immediately shut behind him, hard. 

He might’ve underestimated how terrible it was outside. The wind trashed wildly against his face like pins and needles that he could barely see. His eyes were tearing up and he could hardly move. But Shidou’s words echoed through his mind; ‘I listen to no one.’, and he was obviously right.

Bachira somehow had enough energy to happily sprint to the campus park like a mental asylum patient that had just escaped their ward. He walked in a drunken state next to a tree where he started examining them. At this point, he was used to the wind and rain basically pouring down on him. His boots were starting to fill with water but whatever, he needed to catch a squirrel or animal of some sort.

Why?

He doesn’t know either. For the fun of it obviously. 

Bachira caught sight of a little hole in the bottom of the tree’s roots. He ducked down, using the tree’s trunk as a shield against the wind and began poking into it. As he leaned closer, he saw a tiny white, semi-dirt covered paw stick out. And that very moment, in two seconds, his hand shot for the paw and caught it.

And then he pulled it out, lifting it up by its arms. 

It was a tiny white rabbit. 

Damnit. 

He wanted a squirrel. 

Bachira grinned. Nonetheless, he had still caught a rabbit, and that was okay. It kind of reminded him of Chigiri; red eyes, clean, coated fur, amazingly quick with work. Maybe he should keep it and give it to Chigiri, he would probably fall in love with it right away.

Bachira unzipped his rain coat a little bit, still crouching, and stuffed the rabbit inside his sweater’s pocket. Then he zipped it back up and continued his adventure of finding a squirrel.

But turns out, it was much harder than he thought it would be. The storm hadn’t calmed down even a little bit, and Bachira was losing patience. Would he have to end up climbing trees for this? He wasn’t in the mood to, but he didn’t mind. 

After running a few circles around the campus park, he latched onto a nearby tree next to a bench and began climbing. A few days ago, at this exact tree, he had spotted a little hole near the top. 

And he had seen squirrels climb up there.

Into that hole.

Bachira’s smile widened in sparkling amusement as he made his way up, gripping onto each branch for weary support as the tree rocked violently. Sure, if he was lucky, he’d be able to make it home with a scratch or two. Worst case, he’d break his spine. 

In somewhat of a miracle, he had climbed all the way to the top and spotted the hole. And he was right. Inside the circular dug ditch, there was a family of squirrels. Bachira cackled maniacally, hoisting himself up to the leveling branch and sticking his hand inside to kidnap one. 

Only, he didn’t expect them to fucking bite him.

Bachira jolted back, giving an angry glare at them. He looked at his fingers, and there were two tiny, red teeth marks that had cut open his skin and were now bleeding. Bachira hissed at them and with his other hand, snatched one of the squirrels with lighting speed by the neck and began his way down the tree as fast as possible. 

That’s what that little shit deserves for biting him. 

He’s going to separate that son of a bitch from his family in the rain. 

Now to make things clear, Bachira was not an animal abuser of any sorts. No, he loved animals. The thing is if anything attacked him, he would return revenge twicefold, no matter if it was an object or a person.

So now he’s out here terrorizing and endangering wildlife for revenge. He didn’t catch a squirrel, but he probably caught rabies. 

Near his climb to the bottom, he jumped off and with unnatural speed, ran towards the direction of the dorm's building. He then huddles near a corner, the squirrel still held tightly between his non-bitten hand. 

There were net fences to prevent animals from getting into the shrubs that decorated the exterior of the outside. Bachira was going to change that. He dropped the fuckass squirrel in there. It would take a while for it to figure out how to climb out unless it knew how to climb buildings vertically to escape.

Bachira laughed and waved his other hand, the stinging increasing a bit. He narrowed his eyes at the struggling squirrel in the net fence being rained on and smiled. 

That’s what that hoe gets for transferring me to rabies.

As he struggles his way back inside the dorm room and unlocks the door, Bachira is quietly humming to himself. He didn’t catch a squirrel, but he definitely caught something way cuter that he was going to give Chigiri as a present. 

He unlocks the door and is met face to face with Isagi’s pissed off expression shadowing over him. 

Bachira backs away a little bit in shock and surprise, but he quickly recovers.

“Hi Isagi!” Bachira grins, hiding his hands behind his back. He was still dripping wet at this point, and the entire hallway was moist because he was too lazy to empty out his water-filled boots when coming inside the building. So now all the carpeting was soaked.

“Bachira…” Bachira could practically feel the fury emanating from Isagi. Man, he was cooked for sure.

Bachira glances down to see Isagi’s clenched fists and then pokes him. “Are you going to let me in? I’m literally soaked in water right now.”

In which Isagi pointed an angry finger at Bachira. “Take off those boots and empty the water and then we’ll start talking.” His voice was stern, unlike the usual, kind-spirited Isagi.

Bachira laughs and pushes Isagi aside, ripping off his boots and entering the bathroom to dump out the water in the bathtub, where he also tossed his rain coat in. He’ll wash them later after Isagi’s wrath.

Bachira exits with a towel slung around his neck to avoid his hair from dripping more water onto his back. 

And then he pulls out the rabbit.

“Isagi! Isagi! Look what I caught!!” Bachira calls, leaping out of the bathroom joyfully with the rabbit cupped between his hands, holding it up like a holy grail. 

Isagi, who was sitting on the couch, glanced over, and a shocked horrification began to form, his whole body freezing. 

“Bachira. Where the HELL did you find a rabbit from?”

“I’m gonna give it to Chigiri!”

“No. WHERE did you get a whole rabbit from??”

“You don’t need to know.”

“I DO need to know in fact!”

Isagi slumped back into the couch, absolutely defeated. 

“Don’t just dry your hair, wash up and clean up the mess you made at the door and then we’ll continue our conversation.”

Bachira turned around, feigning dramatic sadness as he slowly trotted back to the bathroom.

Chapter Text

Bachira, after being severely scolded by Isagi, went into the bathtub in a depressive mood to scrub his boots. Isagi, meanwhile, was playing with the rabbit in the living room.

Bachira sighed and then looked at his fingers again. The wound was still bleeding a little bit, and he should really get that patched up or maybe he could ask Isagi to do it for him.

Yeah, he’ll do that. He should also get that checked up, just in case he really was going to catch rabies and he’d need a few shots. Bachira shivered at the thought of needles, though it was childish, he still hated those things.

He continued on with scrubbing his rain coat and began to wonder what scrubbing was needed if it had just been rained on? If he asked Isagi, he would probably list a billion reasons why rain water contains millions of bacteria that aren’t good if not disinfected or whatever. Bachira did not want to hear about it.

And in the corner of his eye, a dark fog enveloped.

Again.

Bachira sighed and looked up. It was not his monster, again, but the one he has been seeing lately. He should give it a name.

Maybe an English name? Bachira had heard his classmates talk about people they’ve met while studying abroad, and usually their destination was in America.

A while back, he had heard the name ‘dingle hopper’ and thought it was silly to say, just the way it rolled off his tongue was fun.

So he pointed at the dark fog in the corner and cried with glee, “Your name is Dingle Hopper now!!”

The mysterious monster did not move, it just shrunk back a bit in the corner. Bachira rolled up his sleeves to his arms for dramatic work effect and went back to scrubbing.

Mr. Dingle Hopper was very quiet, Bachira noted. He looks back up, staring at it with big, round eyes.

“Do you perhaps like infiltrating people’s dreams? You don’t strike me as the romantic type.”

The black cloud shook a bit. Not exactly a good and comprehensive reply, but that was all Bachira needed to know.

“Thanks for the dreams, Mr. Dingle Hopper, but it’s no fun if it’s not reality.” Bachira said, throwing the now clean, yellow boots beside him, now back to scraping his raincoat with a brush.

“Y’know, you should really help me like how you did with Nagi and Reo’s relationship, don’t think I didn’t know you were part of it!” Bachira slyly whispered. “I know what’s up! You’re going to be behind this every single time a relationship issue occurs, won’t you?”

Mr. Dingle Hopper didn’t move at all. Bachira shook his head vigorously. “Yep! That’s what I thought!”

He let out a little ‘hmph’ and then threw his rain coat aside too.

“I’m gonna shower now, you’re welcome to watch Mr. Dingle Hopper! I do believe that clothes aren’t necessary for the human body and that it’s just a cover up for our true potential.” He tapped his chin lightly. “You should try it sometime, it makes me feel so free and airy!”

And with that, he pulled down his pants.

Mr. Dingle Hopper vanished in an instant.

Bachira blinked a few times before a disappointed look cast across his face. Guess Mr. Dingle Hopper didn’t want to feel the freedom of human nakedness.

—————

After almost half an hour, Bachira comes out of the bathroom, naked. Isagi was reading on the couch, his glasses were still on him since morning. His hand ran through the rabbit’s now clean, coated, white fur. It was curled on his lap asleep.

As soon as Isagi sensed Bachira’s presence, he looked up and disgust crossed his face.

“Bachira. How many times do I need to tell you, you need to wear clothes after you come out of the shower??”

Bachira shrugged, the towel slung across his shoulder, no shame, and absolutely no loss of dignity. He grinned at Isagi, striking a pose and holding out the peace sign. “I listen to no one!!”

Isagi sighed, his hand dragging across his forehead. “Bachira, at LEAST put on underwear.”

“No! That’s the most restrictive form of clothing!”

Isagi, at this point, didn’t know how to feel anymore. The weather was like his mood today: he was happy that he was able to spend time with Bachira, and then when it started pouring, he became quite sour. Disastrous, Bachira was basically the typhoon physically, if it were humanized.

Isagi pointed back into their bedroom. “Put on the clothes I laid out for you on the bed and come back out.”

Bachira shuffled into their bedroom, water droplets that had trickled down him left small puddles in the living room. Isagi stared at them, taking note he would need to mop that up before one of them ends up slipping a getting a concussion.

Isagi sank softly into the couch, as if wanting to melt within it. He didn’t know exactly what was going on.

He had gone out to buy groceries after cleaning Bachira’s kitchen explosion and mid drive on the way back, it rained profusely and it was so difficult to see he had to pull over and wait it out.

However, the rain didn’t get any better. In fact, it may have gotten worse. Isagi couldn’t see the road ahead of him and he was afraid he would be the next victim of a car accident on the news. But he wasn’t going to let that slide.

The weather overall ruined his mood, he was that type of person. One minute, the sun was all out, shining and warm, and the next second, it was as if God had taken a huge bucket and dumped it onto this specific part of the Earth.

He was pissed, but eventually made his way back to the dormitory, where immediately he took a shower and began sorting the groceries into their places. When he had entered his home and called out to Bachira, no reply came back.

Isagi was confused. Now where in hell would Bachira be during this type of weather?

He was wondering until he entered his bedroom and found Bachira’s wide open closet with clothes all over the floor.

Then it dawned on him.

That idiot went out during a literal typhoon.

Great. Now Bachira was probably dead off somewhere on campus and the next day someone’s going to find his corpse. But then he backtracked. This is Bachira he was talking about, he would likely survive somehow, maybe out of just pure luck.

God knows what he was doing out there though. Sure, of course, Isagi was pissed that Bachira had gone out without telling him and would probably catch a cold the following morning. But in the end, there really wasn’t anything he could do about it.

So he bottled up his anger for later and began to pick up Bachira’s mess of clothes. Is this how it felt like to be Reo?

That’s what he thought at one point. There’s no possible way Reo enjoyed picking up another person’s slack, even if he was madly in love with him. Isagi sighed as he folded the last piece of clothing back into his closet and headed back out into the living room.

So far, he had cleaned two of Bachira’s messes. He should take his sweet time coming back, Isagi was going to give him a beating for the trouble he caused today.

And just by coincidence, there were sloshy footsteps by the door. Immediately Isagi rushed to it, resisting his grip against the doorknob.

And he was mad to see Bachira’s guilty face at the door, his boots filled with rain. He managed to get a glimpse of the hallway and there were tons of dark, wet splotches on the carpet.

So that was the recap so far. Currently, he is seated on the couch, still petting the rabbit that Bachira was going to give Chigiri.

Bachira came back out, with clothes this time thankfully. He sneezed once and Isagi glared at him.

“Wow, Isagi, you're so studious! Even reading on weekends!” Bachira comments, flopping down on the opposite side besides him. Isagi says nothing and flips one of the pages.

“What did you think you were doing out there?”

“Oh!” Bachira exclaims. “Catching squirrels, that's all. Instead, I caught a rabbit!” He added, as if that was going to save his case.

Isagi shut the book and pinched the bridge of his nose in unadulterated disappointment. “Bachira. What goes on in your mind that makes you think you can go out in the middle of a typhoon to catch animals???”

“Uhh, me, duh!” He lifts up a finger, pointing it upwards. “Actually, according to Shidou, ‘you listen to no one’, weather included!”

Isagi squinted at his hand and aggressively yanked it down. That finger Bachira had held up was where the squirrel bit him.

“Bachira, what is this?”

“That? Oh, a squirrel bit me!”

“A what???”

Isagi just sat there stunned, his whole body growing cold.

“Bachira, get in my car right now. We are going to the hospital.”

“What?? It’s okay! I don’t think that squirrel had rabies.”

“Shut up, you can never be so sure.”

Isagi was already at the door with his keys, still in a lazy shirt, not wanting to waste any time. Bachira hopped up and joined him and they walked back down the hall to Isagi’s car.

When they were inside, Bachira commented, “Isagi, your car smells like blueberries.” To this, Isagi does not respond but only gripped the steering wheel tighter.

The rain had lightened up a bit and it was much easier to see. To hell with accidents, as long as they’re able to make it to the hospital without any major casualties, then they should be fine.

Bachira was not the slightest bit worried however. Isagi had quickly bandaged up the wound before they went to his car. Now, Bachira was poking at the radio station buttons in his car without a care in the world.

Isagi pulled into the driveway of the nearby hospital that had taken about a five minute drive. He yanked Bachira out of the car and sprinted towards the entrance, dodging rain.

They made it to the front desk and Isagi frantically informed the receptionist about their query. Bachira was just looking at the colors of the hospital. It was very green, he noted. Green and white. Reminds him of that school campus hommie hopper, he doesn’t remember his name so he just refers to that womanizer as ‘onion’.

They had to wait about ten minutes before the receptionist led them to one of the rooms. Isagi originally wasn’t going to go, but Bachira had begged with hands and knees for him, so really, he had no choice.

They arrive and a nurse comes in, informing that a doctor would be there soon to inform them. Isagi nodded and sat down in the little bench chair inside the room. Bachira sat next to him, refusing to sit on the hospital bed while he waited.

He fell asleep for a while. All that running, chasing, and hunting actually took out so much more energy than he had expected. Bachira originally was sure he had enough energy to last him a long time, but he guessed he was really wrong.

He wakes up leaning on Isagi’s shoulder for support. It was only ten minutes, and he had awoken in the middle of Isagi’s and the doctor’s conversation. Bachira just quietly continued resting his shoulder on Isagi, trying to fall back asleep again.

In the end, they had to run a few tests or something on the lines. Bachira doesn’t remember anything, since he was barely awake throughout the checkup. Isagi and to poke Bachira awake to leave the hospital, which he reluctantly followed behind.

Chapter Text

It was still raining outside, a humidity that was unbearable and a moist clung to their skin. Bachira yawned as they stood under the roof of the building, shielded away from the rain.

It was beginning to flood at this point. It had been raining so much and so hard the government might issue a weather warning for it. 

Bachira stood under their pouting a bit. They basically had rushed all the way here, and for what? Nothing. There wasn’t anything wrong with him of course, he didn’t care that much. Isagi stood beside him, scrolling through his phone. 

“Isagi?” Bachira peaked over his shoulder. “What are we waiting for?”

Isagi tilted his head back at Bachira. “I want to see if I can find a place to stop by to eat lunch, you know?” He sighed, a bit relieved and exasperated. “Thank goodness you’re okay, I was scared half to death.”

“Where are we going to eat?” Isagi frowned at Bachira’s complete disregard for his last sentence. 

Bachira stared at him eagerly, his eyes flickering from his phone in his hand to Isagi. 

“I was thinking maybe the mall nearby. Do you need to buy art supplies? We can go shopping for stuff there as well.”

Bachira nodded excitedly and clapped his hands together. “Yay! We don’t have to go back home!!”

Isagi turned his head back towards the parking lot. It was still raining, and it has not stopped at all. Living in Japan certainly was nice. 

“Okay Bachira, let’s go now. We have to run to the car.” Isagi motioned with his finger to point at his car at the far end. Bachira cocked his head in a brief confusion. “Isagi, but I have an umbrella?”

A stunned but confused expression formed on Bachira’s face. “Umbrella? Where’d you get that from??”

“Stole it!”

“WHAT??”

“Yeah! Well, not exactly. I saw it on one of the chairs in the hospital and took it. Finders keepers you know!”

“Bachira, put it back this instant!”

“Nah!”

Bachira popped open the umbrella. And then his eyes widened and a devilish grin formed on his face, as if he was plotting for someone’s demise. 

“...Bachira..?”

“Let’s go! It’s okay, I know whose umbrella this is!”

Isagi sighed. He can’t really do anything about that. There was no way Isagi was going to get Bachira to put that umbrella back to where it was. He didn’t exactly trust that this umbrella belonged to someone Bachira knew, but again, he didn’t really have a choice.

The umbrella was hot pink and black on the inside folds. Near one of the flat ends of the umbrella was a signature written in matching hot pink fabric contrasting the black.

The name read ‘Shidou Ryusei’. 

Bachira has stolen Shidou’s umbrella. Who knows why he was at the hospital anyways. Probably because he had stuck a butt plug up Sae or something and it had gotten stuck.

Bachira lifted the umbrella over him and Isagi. Now they didn’t have to make a dash for the car in the rain at least. Bachira played with the string of Shidou’s umbrella while Isagi continued scrolling through his phone, looking for what to eat.

Once they were both in the car, Isagi leaned his head back against his seat and sighed softly. The rain hammered against the windshield and Isagi flicked the wipers on. He then grips onto the wheel and rests his forehead against it, out of exhaustion and a sign to let God know his time was ready.

Bachira sat in the shotgun seat beside him, scrolling through his phone. Wet hair clung to his pink cheeks and his yellow jacket was half zipped up.

Isagi absentmindedly reached over and flicked Bachira’s forehead. Bachira winced and clamped a head down on his head.

“You’re so stupid,” Isagi mutters, peeking out from under his arm resting on the steering wheel. That was followed by a quiet, weak laugh.

Bachira glanced up from his phone. “Nah, I think it was a life changing experience!” 

Then they both go quiet again. All except for the sound of the windshield wipers swiping back and forth like a metronome for something inevitable.

“Isagi-”

His sentence was cut off when he realized Isagi had leaned over to his side and was practically mere centimeters from his face. He could practically feel his breath mingling against the other’s lips as Isagi slowly closed the distance between them.

Isagi’s hand gently curled around his neck, brushing some of his hair aside along the way. The kiss this time wasn’t as clumsy as last time in the dream, it was sudden, and filled with certainty.

How many times have they kissed already? Bachira doesn’t know, nor does he care enough. 

When they finally broke apart, it was as if the rain had grown heavier, louder, filling the silence between them. They didn’t move and Isagi’s hands slowly caressed Bachira’s cheek. Isagi’s breath was hitched and uneven, but his eyes flickered a light of yearning.

“Bachira, tell me when you’ll ever listen to me?” Isagi shakes his head and laughs. “Damn, you never think before you do things.”

Isagi gives him another quick kiss before leaning back to his side.

Bachira just sits there, smiling and staring at Isagi.

“I-sagi! Give me another one!” 

“What.”

Bachira points to his cheek. “I don’t like even numbers, so make it three!”

Isagi sighs but willingly leans back over and cups his face to give him another kiss before pulling his cheeks. “You look like a hamster.”

“Whatt!!” Bachira tries swatting Isagi’s hands that were pinching his cheeks away.

Isagi only laughs. “Bachira, I wanted to tell you that-“

Anddd…you know the drill! 

Wrap it up! Bachira jolts awake and looks around grievously, disappointed but not surprised. At this point he had accepted reality. 

He slumps over, staring down at his reality: still in the hospital, he still hasn’t been checked for rabies yet, and he still hasn’t stolen Shidou’s umbrella.

And of course, he still has not gotten a kiss from Isagi yet.

He cursed slightly, fidgeting with his shoelaces. Isagi was sitting next to him, reading a book on his phone or something like that. How long was he napping for exactly? He doesn’t know, but that dream sure was short.

He taps his foot impatiently, still waiting for the doctor before eventually clinging onto Isagi, complaining and wailing about the doctor not being here yet. Just as he did, a doctor walks him and eyes Bachira weirdly.

Turns out he didn’t need to take tests and his dreams probably formed that part up. He was asked a couple of questions as the doctor examined his wound, which he declared to be "not by chance, unlikely at all to have rabies”. Turns out, the bite wasn’t that deep and they just made him thoroughly clean his finger to the max. Along with that, Bachira agreed the squirrel showed no signs of having rabies.

He was bandaged up and sent out with a prescription for cleaning the wound. He did eventually find Shidou’s umbrella and steal it. 

Like every single one of his dreams, the future followed the same format but without the kiss. 

At this point he wanted to grab Isagi’s stupid face and initiate the kiss instead. This was getting annoying. These dreams from the monster were edging him too much. 

Bachira wasn’t one to get angry. He really wasn’t the type. But just how SLOW is everyone around him? He didn’t know, but he practically was cupid now.

Next thing he knows, he’s going to be under Ness’s bed fixing his toxic ass relationship with Kaiser. He did not want to associate with them. 

He was back in the car as Isagi drove to their destination. Bachira went back to messing with the buttons for the radio and Isagi completely gave up as long as he didn’t touch anything that would affect his driving. 

Later during the ride, Bachira receives a message from Shidou in full caps, screaming at him through the screen about where his umbrella was. The funny thing was how Shidou knew that Bachira was the one that took his umbrella. Bachira snickered at his phone as Isagi gave him a questionable side eye.

They arrive at the mall and Isagi finds a place to park. Finally the rain had settled down a little bit and they decided to just leave the umbrella in the car. 

As they entered the mall, an immediate blow of cold air hit their faces. For some reason, whenever they’re travelling in East Asia, they always have to put the AC on the ceiling so when anyone enters a place, it immediately washes freezing air on them.

Bachira walks in, following Isagi, who was looking around for the restaurant he had probably reserved. The mall was big, five stories and a basement level. Bachira glanced around, noting which shops he should go to later to buy cute figures and other trinkets. 

Isagi led them to a quiet, traditionally decorated restaurant on the fourth floor at the very end of the mall. It was dimly lit, the walls were made from black wood and at the entrance, there was a flat waterfall. Inside, they could hear muffled laughter of a group of people that echoed.

Bachira peaked behind the wall and saw very noticeable red hair. His eyes widened and he let a cat-like grin form on his face. Then, he tiptoed behind the wall, ignoring the protests of Isagi and jumped…

…onto Chigiri.

Chigiri let out a strangled groan as his shoulders tensed up. Bacha looked up, his arms locked around Chigiri’s neck. Sitting across from Chigiri was Reo, and of course, next to him, there was Nagi. Then, a surprising but familiar face was also there.

“Ness??” 

Ness looks up. God, he looks awful. He had dark circles and his eyes were red, his lips were chapped, and his hair was a mess. Bachira looked on the other side and saw another unexpected face.

“Yukimiya??” 

What was this group? Since when did they hang out? 

Chigiri pinched at Bachira’s arms until he yelped and gave out. Isagi eventually came running to the back to see what was going on and his eyes wide at all of them.

“Oh! I didn’t think we would run into each other here!” Isagi lets out a little laugh. “I was going to eat here with Bachira after we went to the hospital.”

Chigiri raised an eyebrow, confused. “Why the hell would you be at the hospital?” 

“Because-” 

“I GOT BIT BY A SQUIRREL!” 

Bachira said that a little bit too loud. Chigiri’s face fell into disgust, Reo’s mouth fell agape a little, Yukimiya looked somewhat horrified, and Nagi’s expression was indifferent.

Isagi’s hand clamped down onto Bachira’s mouth in irritation as he leaned to his ear to whisper.

“Bachira…shut up, we are in a public place, show some decency.”

Chigiri sighed and motioned his hand to his table. “Feel free to join us, we’ll hear about your story then. We were just discussing some of our problems here.”

That was also when Isagi noticed Ness. He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, as he usually was seen with Kaiser.

They took a seat at the table. Turns out, the group had just arrived and was waiting for their orders to arrive. Originally, Isagi had made a reservation, but humbly asked for a refund, which to the great disappointment of the staff, agreed.

“Oh! Chigiri, I got you a little something, I’ll give you it when we get back!” Bachira exclaimed.

Chigiri sighed. “Please, I don’t want another pinecone from your trip to America. I don’t even know how they let that pass in the airport, but maybe something more useful?”

“I kidnapped a rabbit for you.”

“What.”

Chapter Text

Chigiri sat with a somewhat disgusted and puzzled look. Bachira stared right back at him, smiling. 

“Well, do you want it? If you don’t me and Isagi can-”

“I’ll take it thank you,” Chigiri cut him off sternly. “I do not trust you to take care of it. Isagi’s more responsible but he’s too busy to watch over it.”

Bachira grinned, his fingers slithering behind to grab Isagi from behind on the back. “Nope, Isagi’s really responsible, he’ll take care of it no matter what!” Isagi winced at the pain on his shoulder, flicking Bachira’s grip off.

Chigiri sighed, exasperated and waved a waiter over to order more food. Bachira looked around the table again; Yukimiya was quietly chatting with Reo as he pat Nagi’s head on the table. 

Ness…well, he didn’t look like he was in the mood at all of this. He looked awful. Bachira stared curiously at him. Ness was looking at the table, his hair was a mess, drooping a shadow over his red, puffy eyes. His hands were gripped onto the cup tightly. He looked like he was going to pop a vein. 

Bachira should probably be worried, but something inside tells him this was probably just Kaiser’s doing. 

He directed his gaze back at Isagi, who had now joined Reo and Yukimiya’s conversation. 

And Bachira began to tune in.

“Oh, right, Isagi! Do you remember the time I was late to class?” Then, Reo paused for a second, as if hesitating to say the next part. “That was the first time I was ever late to a class.” He sighed, his fingers still gliding through Nagi’s hair. 

“Ah, yeah!” Isagi’s response delayed as his eyes widened before shooting a glare and Bachira who was sitting beside him drawing cats on the outside of the ice water glass. He gritted his teeth to say, “I really wonder what happened, y’know?”

“Oh you do?” Reo chuckled nervously, presumably oblivious to Isagi’s knowledge on the whole situation. “I dunno, it’s not as interesting as you think.”

Not as interesting as my ass. Isagi narrowed his eyes. Nagi’s lying bum probably didn’t tell Reo about Bachira when he had come in before Reo.

“Well, I still want to hear about it!” Isagi’s fingers reached for Bachira’s hand next to his to pinch it. Bachira yelped in response, almost knocking over the glass of water on the table.

“Funny thing, Nagi texts me about being hurt after a fight we had. I thought he was lying to get my attention, I didn’t think he would actually be hurt,” Reo sighs disapprovingly, pushing hair away from his forehead. “When I came over, I couldn’t bear the sight of Nagi suffering, so I stayed the entire passing period. We had to be with him.”

Bachira side eyed him and pouted. Of course he did, so why couldn’t Isagi do that for him? Bachira yanks Isagi by the ear, which this time, causes him to yelp.

Reo seemed to not notice this between them. Chigiri was busy talking with Yukimiya about fashion or what was currently trending while Ness still sat there, head staring at his lap with a look of authentic insanity, as if he was about to combust at any second with whatever was holding him inside.

And out of his impulsive tendencies, Bachira reaches across the table to poke Ness. He doesn’t react, just shivers a little bit when Bachira’s finger meets contact with him. Isagi pulls Bachira back, chiding him for provoking Ness. 

“Hey, Chigiri, what’s he doing here?” Bachira crawls over Isagi across the chair to whisper at Chigiri. “He doesn't look all that in the head!”

Chigiri shakes his head and pinches his nose. “I asked him to tag along since he seemed like he was going to kill himself at any moment. I found him on the rooftop ledge, trying to jump off.”

He huffs and continues. “This is like a daily occurrence, he fights with Kaiser, threatens him, Kaiser leaves, and then he goes to the roof to attempt to jump off.”

Bachira gulps a smile. “Who’s been stopping him?”

“Himself. Halfway before jumping, he realizes that if he kills himself he’ll never see Kaiser again, so he backs off and continues on with life.”

Bachira frowns. Though he and Chigiri may not have that many hobbies in common, at least it was nice to know he wasn’t the only one having to deal with these types of problems. Bachira retreats back to his seat, sitting upright with his hands folded on his lap and a pleasant smile planted on his face.

Isagi eyes him in pure confusion and suspicion. Bachira picks up a napkin on the table and tucks it in between his collar, waves a waiter over, and asks for a fork and spoon.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“I’m eating like how the Europeans do!”

“They don’t eat like that you dumbass! That was back in the fourteenth century!”

“Let me revisit this experience they had!”

“Bachira, where the hell do you even come up with an idea like this?”

Bachira points to his head and grins. “Here of course.”

“You know, you could be using your brain for other things such as, maybe…” Isagi’s voice trails off, the corner of his mouth twitching. “...such as maybe the thirty missing assignments you have!”

This apparently caught Reo’s attention. “Thirty?! Seriously?? Bachira, you should really do your work, at this rate, you won’t be graduating university.”

The waiter returns with two silver utensils; a spoon and a fork. Bachira picks them both up , holding them in his fists against the table. He looks ridiculous, Isagi notes, like those cartoon characters imitating their hunger physically with the jabbing of their forks against the table.

Reo mutters, the tip of his fingers to his mouth. “Even Nagi doesn’t have that many missing assignments!”

Bachira snaps his head towards Isagi and Reo’s direction. “Actually! I’ve finished quite a few of them, thank you very much!” 

Isagi only sighs.

-

After a little more talking, their food arrived. They still continued their conversation together, ranging from gossip, to hobbies, to recent events they’ve witnessed or attended. 

And that one bone tickling experience ran through Bachira’s veins. He wanted to spill the commotion with Kaiser and Ness he saw a few days ago. Unfortunately, Ness just had to be here with them.

Speaking of which, he hadn't spoken at all, not once did he even perk up or reply to a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question. To answer, he just shook his head or nodded. 

Bachira hummed as he leaned back and patted his stomach, which had become a little bit fatter and rounder after trying every dish on the table thrice. The napkin was still around his collar bone, but it was still clean, not a single stain of food was on it. 

Where had all the dirt from the food gone?

Around his mouth, that’s where.

For some reason, Bachira doesn’t even notice this. He just stretches happily as everyone else raises a slight eyebrow at his questionable and messy eating style. All except for Nagi of course. He ate two bites of crab and fell asleep, his head flat against the table.

Reo tried waking him up, but it was already no use. Nagi hadn’t even finished chewing and Reo tried frantically prying his mouth open so he wouldn’t choke on food while sleeping. 

Isagi took one glance at Bachira and tore the napkin right off his collar. 

“Bachira…” How does he say this now? “I don’t think the method of putting a napkin in between your shirts is working.” Hell, his shirt was still sparkling clean.

“What do you mean?” 

Isagi’s hand holding the napkin briefly relaxes as he sighs, exasperated. “Bachira...here.” 

And then he gently brushes his face to the side to wipe his mouth. “You got some stuff on your face.”

But that was interrupted by a hard hand clamping down on Isagi’s shoulder. Isagi didn’t even need to turn around to know who it was.

“Isagi.” The voice was menacingly low for Chigiri. “We already have one cringe ass couple here, I don’t need another one.”

Isagi grimaces and turns around. “Chigiri, God forbid I help my friend out.” 

In which Chigiri rolls his eyes, “Yeah, I don’t need to see that in general.”

Isagi frowns and wipes the rest of the food on Bachira’s face. He takes a glance at the corner at Ness, who hasn’t even touched his plate of food and has remained in the same sitting position for over an hour and a half. 

“Ness, you should eat something.” Isagi murmurs, using his chopstick to push forth the plate of food in front of Ness. “You’ll be too hungry to even function when Kaiser comes back apologizing.”

No response, just a small twitch in his shoulder. Isagi frowns. Of course, saying Kaiser’s name somehow gets him to react. 

But miraculously, a hand slowly reaches for the pair of untouched chopsticks next to the plate. Isagi’s face lightens up; despite greatly disliking Ness and Kaiser, he still cares too much for people around him in the end. 

What he did not expect was the chopstick to be immediately thrown at him, missing him by nearly an inch. Isagi’s eyes widened as Ness began to shake a bit. The table had grown quiet, all eyes laid on Ness now.

“Er…Ness, what did I do?” Isagi awkwardly laughs, running a hand through his hair. He can’t recall anything he’s done to Ness that was coherently evil. The worst he’s probably done to a person was curse them out, that was it.

“How dare you get more attention from Kaiser than me!” 

What.

Isagi rubs his ears. He must be hearing things. “Hey, slow down, what!”

Ness abruptly stood up from the table, his knuckles pale from clenching. “You know exactly what I said.”

With that, he shoved the table a little and stormed out of the restaurant, the staff stealing pesky gazes as he left. 

Isagi sat there, stunned. He blinked a few times, took off his glasses, cleaned them, and then put them back on. 

What he had just witnessed, he doesn’t know. He doesn’t want to know either.

Chigiri was the first to speak, breaking the silence with the air of heaviness. “Er…I didn’t know you had that kind of relationship with Ness…”

Isagi zoned out before snapping back into reality, holding his hands up as if to defend himself. “You think I knew either?? I thought we were on okay terms, I didn’t think it would turn out like this?!”

Bachira was in his own world right now. Unlike Isagi, who can easily break his zoning out, he couldn’t. Right now, at the moment, he was imagining how it was like to ride dolphins into the sunset at the beach. Maybe he’d be holding a coconut while surfing on a dolphin.

He didn’t notice when Ness threw the chopsticks at Isagi, nor did he notice when he stormed out. He was busy off in another world of paradise…dolphins, coconuts, ziplining, Egyptian pyramids…and that fuckass squirrel.

Bachira immediately pops back into reality. His eyes widened in horror upon remembering that stupid squirrel that had bit him and ruined his day. 

He will now forever have a grudge against those things. 

When he comes back down to Earth, he feels the tension and finally realizes Ness’s seat was empty. He looks around, puzzled, and slaps a hand on the table. “I call bills!!”

Reo swats his hand away from the bill plate with a card. “Bachira, it’s okay, I can pay this time.” That politeness was only to keep the Mikage name, God knows what Reo would actually say if he didn’t have to.

Right now, Bachira is shaken up upon the realization they’re becoming like the elderly people. He had witnessed many fights when trying to pay for the food at restaurants, and now it was becoming a reality. 

That meant he was growing older, and that also meant in no time, he would no longer be fit to surf on dolphins. 

He panicked, clutching onto Isagi’s shoulder, biting a nail. “Isagi…this holiday…will you take me out to the Bahamas to fight dolphins…?”

Isagi eyed him weirdly. “What the hell are you talking about??”

Chapter Text

Surprisingly, even after the consistent claims of seeing entities, Bachira has not had an exorcist called onto him.

People just looked at him weirdly, nothing else, nothing more. There wasn’t really anything to say about him?

He and Isagi said their goodbyes to their friends and pretended that the occurrence with Ness never happened. They went on their way through the mall, peeping into shop windows to see if there was anything worth buying. 

The meeting with Ness, it was all just a dream, was what Isagi was trying to get himself to think. Bachira had been too zoned out, so Isagi had to recap it for him.

“Oh! You mean Ness?” Bachira puts a finger in front of his lips, tapping it as if he was in philosophical thought. “You remember when I told you about Kaiser and Ness fighting in the hallway?” 

They both entered a little, cute stationary store. The sign was written in a fat, bubbly, white font with a light pink board background. Little keychains hung on a peg board at the entrance that Bachira couldn’t resist touching when coming in.

“Yes? Well, sort of,” Isagi replied, picking up a metal net basket. “Something about Ness pulling out an abused voodoo doll of Kaiser right?”

Bachira nodded, combing through sets of watercolor paint on display. “Yes! I have a sneaking suspicion that…”

His voice trailed off and Isagi eyed him with confusion. Bachira was concentrated on finding the perfect paint, his eyes practically glued to each set. 

“...that?”

“Oh!” Bachira suddenly shot up, nearly knocking Isagi over with a palette in his hands. “Look, Isagi! I found the perfect one, there’s no dents on the paint here!” He shoves it in Isagi’s face.

“Uh huh, but what were you trying to say?” Isagi dismisses Bachira awkwardly by swatting his hand away from his face. 

“...that Ness has been doing witchcraft!!”

He might’ve said that a bit too loud. Customers in the quiet store began to glare at them angrily. Isagi immediately shushed Bachira, covering his mouth before dragging him into the corner of the store behind a trinket shelf where they crouched down.

“Bachira, you have to be quiet, we’re in public right now!” Isagi hissed, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Bachira’s careless expression.

“What? But you wanted to know!”

“Yes, but you don’t have to scream!”

Bachira rocks back and sits on the floor. “Well, that’s what I think, especially with the voodoo doll and all that.”

Isagi raises an eyebrow. “Seriously? That’s your best thought? I’d actually start crying if this turns out to be somewhat accurate.”

Bachira raises his hand expressively, depicting his story out. “Yes! That voodoo doll is all the proof I need! And also, you don’t have a bad relationship with Ness right? Why would he be suddenly angry?”

“Er…I’ve only talked with Kaiser, never Ness though,” Isagi murmured. 

They looked insanely stupid right now, crouched behind a shelf, pressed against the brightly pink painted wall. Isagi held the basket in his hand, a set of paint, brushes, and some squishies that were most likely overpriced rolled around in there. 

Bachira, on the other hand, with his type of imagination, probably saw this as some super spy agent movie when in reality they just looked like two pathetic teenage boys trying to buy supplies for a project at the last minute. 

“Exactly! So why would Ness dislike you?”

“Also, I don’t think I’ve been rude to Kaiser…yet…” Isagi grit his teeth after that last word. “He’s the one who’s been pissing me off, but I’ve been as polite as possible to him already.”

“Hmm…do you think…he’s possessed?”

“What the fuck are you saying?”

Bachira hops back up to his feet. “My philosophy and truth.”

“Your philosophy is shit.”

Bachira shrugged nonchalantly, turning towards the shelf he had hidden behind. “Isagi! Look at this! We should get these!” 

Isagi reluctantly got up, hovering over Bachira to see what he was looking at. Bachira was fiddling with some sort of jewelry in his hands, one yellow, the other blue and white. He could barely make out what it was.

“It’s Pompompurin Isagi!! Look!!” he exclaimed. Bachira then dangled the two bracelets in front of his face. 

They looked like something little girls would wear, not teenage boys that were currently studying their ass off. One of them was Hello Kitty, which Isagi could recognize at least. The other was a little yellow fat dog with a brown beret. Isagi took the Hello Kitty one and examined it slightly.

The Hello Kitty charm was wearing a light blue and yellow jumpsuit with a red little bow adorning its ear. The rest of the beads were made of some glassy, metallic, stone material. He didn’t say anything and just looked up at Bachira with a soft smile.

“Fine, put them in the basket.”

“Yay!” 

-

They finally made their way out of the store after a believed thirty minutes or so. As they made their way out of the mall, Bachira, in the corner of his eye, spotted someone sitting next to a garbage can with a jacket that could easily be mistaken for being tacky and cheap.

But Bachira knew very well. He had seen that exact jacket the person was wearing when he passed by a luxury store of some sort. He doesn’t understand the need for luxury goods, they all looked like shit anyways.

However, he also clearly remembers a certain person that would wear it.

And that certain person was Ness. 

Bachira snakes his arm down Isagi’s to stop him, leaning close to his ear to whisper about his finding. 

“Isagi…don’t look, but I think that’s Ness next to the garbage can!”

“Huh??” 

Bachira peered back to look at the figure, where he realized what they were doing. 

On the floor, with both fingers pressed down on something, was a dirty, white piece of paper. Bachira could faintly see strokes of messy Japanese letters and a drawing of what looked like a shrine. A doll laid in the middle, the very same doll that looked suspiciously like Kaiser.

“Er…Isagi…why is he trying to summon spirits in the middle of a mall?”

Bachira has seen this. It resembled a poorly drawn Kokkuri-san board (similar to Ouiji board, but it summons a mischievous animal rather than a spirit). He used to play it, alone actually. Nothing ever happened, but he swore it moved his hand when he zoned out. 

Now God knows what the doll was for. At this point, it was pretty obvious that the person hunched on the floor was Ness. 

The doll laid in the middle of the sheet of paper, nails still by its neck and stuffing still falling out. What Ness was pushing against with his fingers was a coin, most likely a ten yen coin if he did it right.

“Why the hell is he trying to talk with spirits in a public place?” Isagi whispered frantically at Bachira. They had been standing in the same position next to a bench for almost five minutes, staring at Ness. 

Ness didn’t seem to notice however. Isagi leaned back over to Bachira. 

“He’s not playing Kokkuri-san right…” 

Bachira grinned. “He’s mixing up his European games with ours, remember, he’s still not fully fluent in our language.”

“Right…” Isagi lets his voice go quiet as his eyes trail back onto Ness. “Should we like…help him?”

Bachira shrugs. “Why are you asking me, I don’t know him that well!”

Isagi shivered, his arms tensed up with a thought. “Bachira, I’m scared your suspicions back at the store were correct.”

“Oh? You finally believe me now?”

“Yes…unfortuently.”

Bachira tugged Isagi to the door. “Let’s just leave him be, it’s Ness! We’ll help him when an actual serious crisis occurs.”

Isagi let himself be pulled to the exit, the plastic bag of materials they had bought hung heavily on his wrist, making a mark. “Ow- wait! Bachira, my wrist!”

Bachira glanced back at Isagi, ripping the bag of his arms and holding it. “Isagi, let’s go now!”

Isagi sighed and followed along.

Little did they know, something very interesting was about to happen tonight.

-

By the time they returned home, the sky had not once ceased the rain. At this point, it was going to start flooding. But that wasn’t much of a worry for them, their dorm was on the third floor. 

They came back home to find the rabbit still sleeping on the couch. Isagi must’ve fed that thing a lot, or it just had been starved. Isagi picks up the rabbit from the couch and puts it into a little plastic container, where there is just the right amount of room for it to move around. 

Bachira should probably bring the rabbit to Chigiri, but he wasn’t sure if he was even at home. Isagi had begun cooking dinner, while Bachira laid unhelpfully in the living room, staring up at the ceiling and imagining how to drop a watermelon from a ten foot story building without it shattering. 

It was quiet, but warm. The scent of spiced pork filled the room as the rice cooker hummed. Bachira was one to also appreciate moments like these. He came here, expecting to be overlooked once more, like he always had been. He expected to be ignored, talked about.

Everyone would run. He reminisced about those high school days where he would sit under the bridge, the sunset shooting warmth against one half of his body, and the other half was met with the frigid ice cold air of loneliness. There, he would quietly draw, sketching out flowers or whatever came to mind. Bachira wouldn’t socialize with anyone, it was suffocating too, especially when no one spoke good of him.

He grew up not understanding what he had done wrong. He couldn’t think of anything. 

All he really hoped for was someone just to talk with. Someone that could be by his side, to share the icy air under the bridge with him that would cast warmth. Someone that would peer over his shoulder and ask what he was drawing. 

Just maybe someone that cares for him, just a little.

Isagi was a grace that he hadn’t expected to welcome with open arms. His first friend, someone who actually cared for him. Bachira had forced himself to work hard throughout high school in hopes of getting into this university, to be with completely new people. People are probably better than him, but at least, he would be able to escape the trenches of being alone, being degraded by others around him.

He doesn’t know when he developed feelings for Isagi, nor does he care. As long as Isagi can remain by his side, he’s happy, and will always be, he’s sure of it.

A loud ringing erupted the silence, popping all the solemn thoughts Bachira was having. 

From…Yukimiya? Strange.

Yukimiya was almost too busy for anyone. His schedule, from the information Isagi told him, was jam packed with model shoots, tutoring, fashion runways, and much more. So what business does Yukimiya have?

Bachira has been getting messages and calls from people he’s least expected to even pick up their phone lately. Weird things have been happening, and he blames it on Mr. Dingle Hopper.

He picks up the phone. “Hello! Yukimiya, what do you want?”

A high pitched scream jolted Bachira as he pulled his phone away from his ear in shock. Static noises are picked up along with what sounded like thrashing. 

Faintly, he could hear the voices of a few people. 

“Bachira…” a whisper hisses through the phone.

“Hmm? What’s happening, did you not invite me?” Bachira pouts a bit, crossing his arms. Isagi had walked over to the living room and Bachira put the call on speaker.

“Bachira…hurry up, come to Chigiri’s dorm as soon as possible!” Reo’s voice? The tone was urgent and frantic, and continuous grunts echoed through the call. In the mist, he could make out a quiet “we fucked up” in the background.

A sharp scream was cut short and the call ended. Bachira and Isagi both looked at each other, eyes wide; one with horror, and one with excitement. 

“Isagi…” A slow grin begins to form on Bachira’s face. “I was one hundred percent correct!”

Chapter Text

The last thing Isagi expected was to exorcize someone on campus with his roommate. At this point, he might just drop out of school due to the pure unadulterated chaos. 

But he couldn’t. He worked too hard to get into this school. He thought everyone would be mature, hardworking, and serious, and he came here with an open mind and an eagerness to learn.

Except this prestigious school he had worked so hard to enter was nothing like what he had imagined. 

He would’ve never imagined sprinting down the school dorm hallways to his friend’s room to exorcize his academic rival’s dog. He was hoping that everything would go normally today, maybe he and Bachira could laugh about what happened today with Ness.

But of course not, God forbid he has some time with Bachira. They wouldn’t be able to eat the barbecue pork he had prepared for tonight. 

Isagi hadn’t even bothered taking off his apron, there weren’t any stains on it either, it was clean because he was quite tidy as a person in the kitchen. Bachira’s hand was wrapped tightly around his wrist as he skipped at rapid speed towards Chigiri’s room. 

The hall’s lights occasionally flickered, the closer they approached the dorm room, the more the lights flickered. As they approached the room, Bachira somehow hadn’t lost any stamina yet Isagi was already out of breath, hunching over. 

Inside, they could hear harsh rustling and furniture being knocked over. Occasional yelps and someone screaming “hold him down”. And then a crash.

Bachira rapped on the door playfully and immediately it opened. A manicured hand shot out and yanked them inside. 

Bachira and Isagi were immediately pushed down into a squat position. Isagi could feel the tickle of long hair poking him. The entire room was empty except the extreme wave of a flashlight shining spontaneously. 

And there was a lot of screeching. A lot.

Isagi’s eyes widened when the flashlight shined down on the floor for a split second.

“Chigiri?? Is that who I think it is…?”

Isagi hears…sparkles? No he’s probably imagining things. Then the hair that was tickling his arm flipped onto his face. 

“No dear, this isn’t Chigiri…my beauty of my roommate is currently in the middle of an existential crisis.” There was a slight strain in the voice, still with its sassiness.

Isagi allowed his eyes to adjust to the figure next to him, who he immediately recognized as Aryu. There was a cucumber practically slipping off his right eye, and his face mask was still on his face.

Bachira was next to Isagi, awestruck at the scene unfolding before them. “Aryu! Is that who I think it is?”

And stood up excitedly and dove head first, his arms wide open, at the person laying on the floor, flattening them. 

All movements in the room stopped in an instant. Bachira’s face was flat on the back of someone, and lifting his head, he noticed four figures around him.

The same four people he ate with at the restaurant earlier today. In the corner, near the couch, stood Yukimiya, equipped with a bat at hand. On the couch, slumped over hair falling all over his face, laid Nagi behind Yukimiya, a flashlight slipping out of his hand. 

On the other side of the room, Chigiri stood with his knees slightly bent, his hair an absolute mess, the bathrobe wrapped around his body falling loose. Reo stood next to him, clutching his shoulder with a flickering flashlight, shining down on Bachira. 

Bachira grinned and looked back on who he toppled over. 

Hmm…magenta brown hair…twinky…Ness??

Bachira yanked a strand of hair out of Ness’s scalp. Immediately, everyone around him took a shaken step back. Nothing happened though. Bachira hunched over Ness, who was also lying on his face. 

“Ness…!” Bachira laughed, forgetting everything about his surroundings. 

With a sudden force, an arm that twisted inhumanly snatched his wrist and twisted him on the floor. Bachira grinned nervously, as now they had reversed positions.

Quickly he took note of Ness’s physical state: sweaty, barely conscious, eyes pale and white. Most importantly, he was beginning to act like an actual dog, baring his teeth. Bachira looked away awkwardly, holding his palm up to signal a ‘stop’.

“Bachira! Move, he’s going to injure you!” Bachira hears Isagi sprint over from the door, but is being restrained by Aryu. 

“Nah, I got this.” Bachira shivers, still smiling. Ness was practically on top of him now, foaming at the mouth. There was no other explanation to this.

He was possessed by a monster!

Maybe he could defeat it by talking with it. 

Bachira had picked up some fighting skills as a kid that he grew up with to protect himself. He’d occasionally practice, just in case anyone had tried to bother him. No one really did after he beat a kid practically to death under a bridge for bullying him. 

Slowly, he snaked his leg around Ness’s thigh and yanked, catching him by  a sudden surprise and knocking him over. Bachira proceeds to sit back on his back in order to prevent him from getting back up. 

He looked back up around, his friends still wide eyed, horrified. Reo was practically shaking next to Chigiri. 

Aryu had covered Isagi’s mouth with his hand to prevent screaming. Bachira leaned in and pressed Ness’s head down on the carpet, preventing him from making any noise.

“Hmm…guys name something Ness would summon a demon for?” 

Silence. 

Then Isagi bit Aryu’s hand, before shoving him away. “Kaiser!”

And with that word, Ness’s whole body began to convolse, growling increasing. Bachira smirked.

So that was it. That was all he needed to know. He shifted to Ness’s ear, lowering his voice to a whisper. “If you leave, I’ll bring your owner his lovely Kaiser.”

‘Ness’ stopped shaking immediately, his breath calmed. Bachira patted his head and he looked over at Yukimiya, who was already dialing Kaiser’s phone number. 

The room was still annoyingly dark, Reo and Nagi both had their flashlights turned off, maybe to not further provoke whatever thing was in Ness. 

Bachira turned his head over to Yukimiya. “Tell Kaiser to bring all Ness’s magical items here too, got it?”

He sits back a bit, still on top of Ness’s back. He claps his hands together before asking his questions.

“So…like…how did this become like this??” 

“Uhh…” Chigiri shrank back. “We saw him at the mall alone next to a garbage can, so we took him back into the group and went back to my dorm.”

“He then collapsed at the door and started foaming at the mouth, so we put him to sleep on the couch, and then he woke up and started beating the shit out of us.”

Isagi rushed over to Bachira when he was out of the grasp of Aryu. Chigiri raised an eyebrow at his questionable apron outfit. “Bachira!”

“Yeah??”

Isagi crouched next to him, looking at Ness. He contemplated smacking him. 

-

After ten minutes, a frantic knock drew from the door. Aryu opened the door to reveal a mess of a Kaiser, his arms full of (spell?) books, magical objects, and a few candles. 

His breath was uneven, his long hair out of place, and his shirt was wrinkled. His eyes widened at the scene, and his once annoyed expression turned to distress. 

His hand was leaned against the doorway, and he staggered inside as if his vision was blurred.

Kaiser took a bit to collect himself before observing what the hell was going on in this room. 

Bachira was sitting on top of Ness, poking at Isagi next to him. Ness, who was laying on his stomach, had eyes red from crying and dilated pupils. Reo, who had travelled across the room to sit by Nagi, was latched onto him, out of fear perhaps.

Yukimiya and Chigiri were standing on opposite sides, flashlight and phone in hand. The living room was an absolute mess, scattered designer paper, pencils knocked over, and various materials for sewing were on the floor.

Kaiser’s gaze fell back to disgust as he saw Ness, who somehow hadn’t taken notice of Kaiser's presence yet. 

He had absolutely no words for this mess. Hell, he wouldn’t even have come until they mentioned Ness was going crazy or some shit like that.

“Yoichi, what the fuck is going on?”

Isagi’s smiling but agitated face shot down to a scowl. “Why’s your first move to blame me??”

“Because everything that goes wrong is your fault??”

“What the hell?”

Isagi huffed and turned back towards Bachira, resuming their conversation. 

“This is human possession, I presume,” Yukimiya muttered, stepping closer to the middle of the room. “I don’t think it is possible for it to be anything else other than that.”

“Well, no shit,” Reo snapped, lifting a finger at Ness. “Who the hell just becomes a savage like this right after they wake up?”

Nagi raises a hand, in an attempt to provide some information to this situation. “Well, I was into the supernatural at one point,” he paused. “I went down some rabbit hole about summonings and things with ghosts and possession and stuff. Apparently if you do a ritual you can bring hell to Earth.”

The thing is Nagi probably found that stuff off 2Chan or some other suspicious anonymous forum website. At one point he was interested in that stuff, listening to it while gaming. 

At this moment, it was safe to assume that Ness had tried to bring a demon for some reason, failed to, was possessed, which led up to this situation.

And all of them don’t know how to exorcise someone. They’d need a priest for this. However, it was night, and where the fuck would a bunch of university students find a exorcist??

“We could just go online and see if we can call one up?” Yukimiya suggested.

“There’s no churches or shrines near us, I think the closest one is like two hours away.” Chigiri flopped back into the couch behind him, exhausted, his flashlight hanging loosely from his fingertips.

“Fuck, this is stupid,” Kaiser dragged a hand down his face in annoyance. “I have better things to do than this.”

“Aw…are you not worried about your friend here?” Bachira pointed a finger at Kaiser accusingly, laughing in the process. “You're a horrible friend.”

In the end, they just opted to call the nearest church possible to them, even though it would take almost three hours for them to send someone over for help. 

Aryu was doing God knows what, probably in his room painting a face mask on himself. Chigiri went to check up on him in his room but never came back out, which probably meant what he was doing inside piqued Chigiri’s interest.

While the rest of them were waiting, Bachira surprisingly hadn't gotten off Ness, considering his frequent fidgeting and inability to sit in one place for a long time. Isagi had left to head back to the dorm room to finish cooking dinner, hesitating to bring Kaiser some food but eventually did.

When he returned and offered Kaiser food, he flat out refused like the bitch he is and sat in a corner of the room, surrounded by Ness’s witchcraft items he brought. So much for Isagi’s grace and kindness. Still, he left it on the floor next to Ness in a plastic tupperware if he ever changed his mind. 

So that’s how Bachira and Isagi spent their night. Not in their apartment, not at a dinner table, but in their friend’s dorm room sitting on top of someone. Bachira was happy, at least he was able to eat his food.

Reo had fallen asleep on the couch as Nagi continued to scroll through his phone, inputting more nonsense into his brain. Yukimiya was on the floor, going through his schedule and studies like the productive and good willed person he is. 

It was quiet except for the talking of Bachira and Isagi as they laughed about nonsensical things. Ness had fallen asleep on the floor at this point, still having not noticed Kaiser was in the room. 

There was still an hour left before the exorcist comes.

Chapter Text

At least an hour has passed by. Bachira isn’t keeping track of time, he was never really good at it. He recalls when he would spend hours fixing a color he messed up while painting, the paint tubes for black and white slowly decreasing by the minute. It’s not because he doesn’t want to keep track of his time, he just finds it to be a bother. 

He had eaten his fill of barbeque pork rice, chopsticks being forcefully handed to him because Isagi got mad that he was using his fingers. After that, Bachira leaned back, and laid on top of Ness, who at this point, has not moved an inch, not even a twitch was noticed by Bachira, who’s usually aware of small details and sounds. 

Bachira assumed it was safe to move, so he rolled off Ness and dove over at Isagi with his arms outstretched, toppling over him. Isagi, like Yukimiya, being the smartasses they are, had brought all their textbooks and studying material, and with the dimly lit light of their phone, tried their best to continue working. 

They couldn’t risk turning on the light and scaring whatever the fuck was in Ness, because if this happened one more time, one of them would probably end up dead.

God knows what Kaiser’s doing. His back faced them, he was by the doorway, looking at his phone. It looked as if he was sulking in a way. He hasn’t moved from that position in a while, probably to save his face. After no longer being able to bear his hunger, he snatched the tupperware containing the food Isagi cooked and retreated to the doorway in the dark, where he most likely humbly ate the food (bitterly, for a better word…). Like Ness, he hasn’t come out of that corner in a bit, and Isagi and Bachira both agreed it would be better off if no one talks to him.

Isagi occasionally checks the time, Bachira can tell he’s secretly praying that the exorcist arrives soon. An hour and a half (almost), and things are just becoming more and more tense. 

And then, just as Bachira was about to slump over Isagi’s shoulder to take a little nap, the sound of something metal hit against the door. Something quite large and heavy for a dormitory. 

Kaiser, at the doorway, shoots up and draws open the door slowly. Surprisingly, he’s mindful about not waking the demon up that’s in Ness. 

The door immediately slams shut, Kaiser’s back against the door. Isagi leans over to peer at what’s happening.

Kaiser mouths something and makes a slicing motion to his neck. Isagi can barely see what he was doing. 

Nagi had fallen asleep at this point, his game hanging loosely from his hand as he laid on top of Reo, the other hand wrapped around him. Yukimiya was still up, reading some articles and taking notes. Chigiri had come back out from the bedroom, the lights now turned off. It seems Aryu has fallen asleep and he will miss the series of events that is about to unfold.

Isagi narrows his eyes back at Kaiser and raises an eyebrow. Kaiser’s expression drops into a mixture of anger and frustration as the banging outside grows louder. 

And then, that’s when Isagi hears his voice. 

“Hello??? Someone called me here and for what!? I came here to make some explosions!!”

Isagi didn’t even need to continue listening to know who the hell was at the door. Of course Kaiser wouldn’t let him in.

“Is…is he the exorcist we ordered…?” Isagi whispered uncertainly, his voice shaking a bit. 

“What the fuck do you think Yoichi?? There’s not one of them, but three!” Kaiser whispers back aggressively, his palms and back still against the door. 

Then he hears another noise. A whistle. 

“Damn, I saw this fine ass lady today at the coffee shop I pass by every morning when I go to class. Do you think she’ll accept me if I ask her for her number?”

Fuck. Kaiser was right for once. Deadass, these were NOT priests nor exorcists. They sounded like their age, kids from campus. 

Yukimiya finally breaks free from his trance of school work and looks up, noticing the ruckus outside. He pushes up his glasses slightly, glancing over at Kaiser and Isagi’s whispering fight. 

“Kaiser…whatever the hell you do, do NOT open that door.” 

“Fuck, Yoichi I know! You think I’m going to let those three things come in?? They look like they’re wearing Halloween costumes!”

“Hellooo?? I know you're there??”

“Dude, stop acting like that, you’re scaring them, what the hell.”

A third voice. “That took too long to get here, who the hell is calling for an exorcism at our school?”

Okay, so Isagi’s hypothesis about them being kids from their university was right. 

And then a louder, harder kick hit the door. “Let me innn!!! You losers invited me all the way here and I’m not boutta ditch!”

“Besides, they paid so it would be their loss.”

“Kaiser…” Isagi grit his teeth as he watched Kaiser slowly turn around and grabbed the handle. 

Kaiser snickered. “I’ve changed my mind Yoichi, just to spite you.” And with that, he pulled open the door. 

The hallway lights flooded the dorm room immediately. Isagi shielded his face from the light, and a flash of fear upon Ness waking up quickly crossed his mind. Three figures, as he predicted, stood at the door. 

Bachira jolted awake and peaked over Isagi, and that’s when his eyes widened with a joy nobody could’ve seen coming when inviting an exorcist over at nearly midnight. He pushed Isagi aside and made a mad dash towards the door, arms wide open. He leaped onto one the figures, latching onto them for dear life. 

As the light settled down, Isagi recognized…unfortunetly all three of them. Draped in cheap altar and religious ceremonial clothing that was probably found in a convenience store, was Shidou, Otoya, and Karasu. 

Bachira was spewing lists of questions for Shidou while trying to snatch the plastic magic wand from his hand. Shidou only smirks in response and shoves the magic wand into Bachira’s hand before strutting into the dorm room to make an entrance greater then Aryu would’ve imagined, letting Karasu and Otoya follow behind. 

“Hmm…lets see…” Shidou rubs his chin philosophically, staring down at Ness. Kaiser shuts the door and walks up beside him. The room is once again encapsulated in darkness. 

“You!” He points at Yukimiya. “Gather up all those spell stuff in the corner and place it around this dog!” Shidou then pokes Bachira, who is still latched onto his back as of now. “Uhh, shit, identify the demon in this thing.”

“Okay!” Bachira hops off Shidou and towers over Ness, who is currently being restrained by Karasu and Otoya with letter belts. 

Ness is now fully awake, trashing and shaking, but he can’t move because at this point, they’ve already bound him and taped his mouth. 

In the corner of Otoya’s eye, he spots a glimmer of red hair against the dim light they were working with.

“Karasu, that’s the woman I was talking about!”

“Fuck, you’ve got to be kidding me.” Karasu bites off another piece of duck tape, binding Ness’s hands for further protection. “What are you talking about?”

Otoya nudges Karasu’s shoulder. They were both crouched over Ness, in some uncomfortable ass polyester clothing that Shidou had insisted on wearing. 

“That’s her??” Karasu smirks. “Go ahead, shoot your shot.” He knows the truth. Otoya was a bit too shallow and slow for this, so he can find out by himself.

Chigiri, like the beautiful, gorgeous man he is, has his hair tied up into a ponytail, his face soft against the moonlight, and sat upright, reading a book as this mess was going on. It was easy to tell that he was absolutely done with this bullshit, as he didn’t even have the energy to say anything but just sat quietly with an expression of scrutiny plastered upon his delicate face.

Otoya scoots over to the armchair Chigiri resided on and slowly guided his hand into his. 

This only led to Chigiri snapping the book shut and slapping it against his face. “What the fuck??”

Otoya’s eyes immediately widen, Karasu’s howling laughter echoing in the background. “Oh my God, Otoya, you make me want to cry sometimes.”

Otoya snaps his head back around at Karasu, a red imprint beginning to form on his face. Karasu has not stopped laughing. “Why would you assume a woman would be in a dorm full of dudes??”

Otoya slinks back next to Karasu, keeping his head down. He vowed to not speak for the rest of the night. Karasu thinks that at this point, he might start crying. 

Now back to Bachira, who was currently hyper analyzing a rabid Ness, who was practically squirming in pure anger with the wrath of the devil himself. 

Mr. Dingle Hopper being here would actually be quite useful. This is the first time that maybe Mr. Dingle Hopper was useful besides tormenting him with such lovely scenarios of him and Isagi and then popping it like a balloon back to reality. 

As if their minds were connected, Bachira sees a black cloud envelop right in front of him. 

That’s just wonderful now. 

“Mr. Dingle Hopper,” Bachira whispers. “We need help identifying what’s in that thing!” He points at a twitching Ness with far too much enthusiasm. “Quick! Be useful for once!”

Shidou has begun setting up a ritual circle made of socks, plastic candles, and yarn. Isagi and Kaiser could only watch in horror at the events unfolding right in front of them. Isagi’s urge to mangle and choke Kaiser to death was getting stronger by each passing second, especially after Kaiser chose to let these three hooligans in to spite him.

Now they were both backed against the wall, shaking in their boots at what was going on. 

Shidou stands back up, hands on his hips, staring down as if he was proud of his creation. Bachira, who had been talking to his ‘monster’ all this time, grinned and leaned back over to Shidou, whispering something in his ear.

Shidou snatched the magic star wand out of Bachira’s hand, in which he began to chant.

“Fuck, what were the words,” he mutters. “Damn, all I can think about is that butt plug I bought for my bae!”

The entire room went quiet after he said that. Bachira broke the silence by exclaiming, “That’s perverted!”

They went back to focusing on the spell casting. Shidou began muttering a string of words under his breath, the magic star in one hand, and in the other, a bottle of air freshener. Who knows where he got that from.

This looked fucking ridiculous. Isagi once again observed what was going on to make sure this wasn’t a fever dream. Nagi and Reo sleeping on the couch together…that’s normal. Chigiri sitting in his chair reading…normal too.

Yukimiya holding two three foot metal poles…not normal. Karasu probably gave him that. 

Speaking of Karasu, he was holding hands with Otoya, their polyester hoods drawn over their head, but unfortunately, Karasu’s hair was poking out of it. This is why one shouldn’t abuse the privilege of hair gel.

They were singing some out of tune songs. Isagi doesn’t recognize it, and he doesn’t want to because it probably sounds like shit if Karasu and Otoya likes it. The plastic candles around Ness were all turned on, lighting a little ring. Pages of Ness’s ripped spell book casted around him, Shidou had insisted that it was for the extra ‘flair’. 

And Bachira, oh his sweet Bachira, stood next to them holding a bottle of mysterious pink liquid, too brightly colored to not be poisoned. Through the chaos, Isagi swore he heard Shidou tell Bachira to pour that shit onto Ness as quickly as possible after their chanting. 

All three of them stopped talking at once, and the room was once again in an unmistakable tension. 

Shidou waves his magic star wand down on Ness, lifts three fingers, and counts down eccentrically. 

Apparently this was only the beginning of their process…or something.

And with that, the ritual commences.

Chapter Text

How has the school not contacted security yet? Isagi has no idea. He’s surprised that no one has filed a noise complaint yet.

At this point, this whole situation was becoming more and more ridiculous by the second. He only wanted to spend a little bit of time with Bachira, and due to the burden of his studies, he hasn’t been able to at all. Just when he finds the perfect time to, some crazy shit happens. 

Isagi is curled up in the corner with his knees in his face, his eyes peering up at the ritual in front of them. Next to him sat Kaiser, who was busy trying to pick at his fingernails in the dark. 

Bachira and Shidou should’ve never become friends. He knew from the very beginning that shit would go down if they were ever together. Because of Shidou, Bachira went out during a storm to kidnap a squirrel, and Isagi already had a humongous headache from that. Who knows what else Shidou might influence Bachira to do. 

Isagi doesn’t want to have to deal with that either. 

Isagi looks over at Kaiser. He didn’t seem bothered, though, he still might have been a little disturbed and is really good at hiding it. Isagi’s just given up at this point. At least he’ll have a good story to tell his future coworkers or something. 

Shidou, Karasu, and Otoya locked hands with each other, bowing their heads low as they formed a circle around Ness. That’s when Shidou began chanting, loud and proud. 

Isagi couldn’t even make out the words he was saying; he was speaking too fast. Then out of nowhere, Karasu yelled out something, signalling a shocked Yukimya to clang the two metal poles he was holding together. 

It was utter chaos. Every few seconds, Karasu would lift his head as if telepathically telling Yukimiya to use the poles as cymbals. Bachira stood off on the sidelines, clapping his hands together with unnecessary enthusiasm. 

It’s a huge surprise Nagi and Reo haven’t woken up yet. It’s an even bigger surprise Aryu has not stormed out of his room to complain how ‘un-stylish’ it is to be making such a ruckus this late at night. Isagi figures at this rate, they’re going to have the police called on them. 

Suddenly, Shidou yells, jolting Bachira up to pop open the vial of hot pink liquid. Bachira hovers over them and dumps the entire bottle on Ness, who was squirming, probably screaming behind the tape on his mouth. 

Ness had been restrained so much by Karasu it’s difficult to tell it was him. He looked like he had just been mummified with all the duck tape used. The plastic candles around him began to flicker, and the scrapped balls of paper pages from Ness’s spellbook began to quiver. 

What. 

Was Isagi seeing things? Has he finally become like Bachira? Is this what it is like being Bachira? There’s no actual fucking way these dipshits manage to actually exorcise someone using this garbage. 

Kaiser, still paying absolutely no attention to Ness, yawned and turned towards Isagi, who was now sitting upright, his mouth hanging low. 

“Yoichi, close your mouth, you look stupid.”

“Shut the fuck up, are you seeing what I’m seeing?”

“What the hell are you-”

That’s when Kaiser finally looks at the ritual going on. The pink liquid Bachira had dumped onto Ness began steaming a neon glow, rising upward. Ness’s twitching grew more and more violent as Shidou, Karasu, and Otoya’s chanting became faster. Sparks of fire were shooting out from Ness and the candles lapsed in and out. 

Ness was fucking glowing pink at this point; he was sweating profusely, trying to break free from the restraints. Sudden wind began spiraling in the room around them, the paper crumples began rising from the floor.

Kaiser screamed and latched himself at Isagi, who was equally as terrified. Bachira sat on the couch next to Yukimiya, who was unfazed and continued clamming together the two metal poles as the wind rushed wildly around their faces. Bachira squealed in excitement, calling over to Isagi.

“Isagi, look, look! I’m actually witnessing a ritual live!”

Isagi was far too scared to say anything back. It was to a point he was clutching the Micheal Kaiser, his fuckass rival, for moral support. Kaiser’s hair whipped wildly into Isagi’s face, and he had to try to spit it out while keeping his eyes open. The wind was practically blinding.

“WHAT THE FUCK.”

Kaiser could barely see, the crumpled paper balls were forming a tornado of flying hot pink sparks and dust everywhere. He would’ve never guessed this happening to his evening. He wouldn’t have fucking came if he knew this shit was going to happen.

“YOICHI, I’LL KILL YOU AFTER THIS.”

Through the wind, Isagi managed to lift a hand and give Kaiser a slap in the face. That’d keep him quiet for now.

In the distance, through the noise of wind whipping into his ear, Isagi could hear a scream, something along the lines of “my hair!”, which he was to guess was Chigiri. 

Isagi wonders when this fuckery will die down. He’s holding onto Kaiser so tightly, at this rate he’s going to rip something off him. Kaiser was doing the same. If they did not hold on to each other, they would literally be sucked in.

He shut his eyes tightly, not daring to open. And in the mist of the ravaging wind, he hears an inhumane screech coming from the tornado, and louder chanting. Never in a million years would he have wanted to cling onto Kaiser for support to not be launched into a disaster.

God damnit, if only Kaiser could be replaced with Bachira, that would make things more exciting. 

And just as it started, it ended.

Slowly, the tornado began to die down. The paper crumpled balls began to float, and eventually it fell to the floor. Isagi didn’t open his eyes, out of fear maybe. When all the wind disappeared, he finally cracked open an eyelid, fearing the worst. 

Everything’s pretty much a blur, he sees Shidou, Karasu, and Otoya still around Ness, who is now lying still on the floor. It looks like they’d just killed him. Isagi scans the room. 

It was in complete disarray. He first notes that Nagi and Reo, for some reason, still haven't woken up. Aryu is standing by the doorway, his head peaking out and long, flowing hair draping down with a disgusted expression that Isagi can barely make out through the dark. Chigiri was sitting upright, his hair an absolute mess and his eyes so wide it could fall out. His hands were clasped onto his head in horror, probably realizing the active tornado in his dorm had damaged his hair. Bachira and Yukimiya, who were closest to the tornado(?), somehow hadn’t been dragged into it. Bachira’s hair, similar to Chigiri, was all over the place, except just way worse. Yukimiya was similar, except he still managed to keep his posture upright, the two metal poles still in his hands. 

Isagi swore that during the process, he might’ve eaten some of Kaiser’s hair. He’ll force himself to throw up later because he does not need that shit inside him. Isagi finally turns towards Kaiser, who has had a death grip on his shoulder for the past ten minutes of the tornado, and he wants to laugh. He has never seen Kaiser make such a face before. Funny, if only he had his phone he could take a photo for blackmail.

The room looked like it had been robbed. It was absolutely trashed. Chigiri would definitely blow them up about this later, Isagi didn’t want to imagine how angry he would be. He pushes Kaiser off him and rushes towards Bachira, who is perked up, legs crisscrossed on the couch with wide, sparkling eyes. 

Shidou took off his hood, his hands on his hips and sighed. “Damn, that was wayy too much work, I might need Itoshi to cleanse my tiredness again.”

Whatever the fuck that means.

Otoya and Karasu followed, ripping the robe of the hood off their heads. Karasu stretched, cracking a few ribs in the process. “Damn, hey at least they paid for it.”

Kaiser had managed to stand up unsteadily and stumble over to the center of the room where Ness was lying still on the floor.

“Oh look who finally decides to care,” Bachira snickered, giggling as Isagi poked at his hair, trying to fix the bird nest created on his head. 

Kaiser just stood, glancing down with half lidded eyes. Otoya puts a hand on his shoulder, as if to show comfort. “Yo man, don’t worry, he’s fine. Just make sure he doesn’t work himself too much for the next few days and he should be fine again.”

Kaiser opens his mouth to say something, but immediately shuts it. He doesn’t have any words anymore, he’s just absolutely done. For fuck’s sake, why the hell would Ness ever think of summoning a demon? Only God knows. 

“Yeah thanks,” was all he could muster out. He grabbed Ness by the arm and began dragging him towards the door unwarranted. “This was an absolute waste of time, don’t call me over if this shit happens again.”

Bachira leapt up on his feet and ran towards the doorway, leaning up to Kaiser’s ear to whisper something. Kaiser’s face twitched in annoyance towards Bachira’s smiling-cat grin and then turned away to the door and abruptly left, dragging Ness out.

The door slammed harshly behind and Bachira interlocked his fingers and stretched upwards, puffing. 

“Wowie, that was one of the most adventurous nights I’ve had in a few years!” He made his way back to Isagi, flopping onto the couch. 

Chigiri was nowhere to be seen, probably too shaken up to comprehend anything he retreated back to his dorm room, hoping it was a dream. Nagi and Reo…are still sleeping, so they would have to fill them in tomorrow it seems. 

This was a quick reality check that all this shit happened in one day. Bachira was bitten by a squirrel, checked for rabies, a human possession occurred, and they had to call exorcists to their building. 

All Isagi ever wanted was to just spend a nice, warm little weekend with Bachira, not for shit to go to an absolute catastrophe. 

Karasu looked around for a clock before eventually asking Otoya for the time. Apparently, it’s been almost half an hour, and they would need to drive back to the temple. 

Isagi really does wonder who the hell decided to hire them. Whoever employed them should be fired. 

Yukimiya had dosed off, a metal pole still in one hand the other on the floor. The three "exorcists" made their way out, Shidou calling out to remind Bachira that “bad decisions make great stories". 

Isagi sighed and patted some dust off Bachira, whose eyes were drooping now. He was wobbling from side to side, most likely from the sudden energy loss of this event. 

“Come on, let’s go back, you need to shower first,” Isagi whispers softly, supporting Bachira as they both make their way out of Chigiri’s dorm room. Bachira promptly rubbed his eyes and whined at needing to do something else before going to bed. 

This was going to be a day in his university years he won’t ever forget.

Chapter Text

Haunting, hushed, rustles of leaves grown cold lifted to the indigo skies. Lanterns flickered and swayed solemnly, echoing the loneliness that fills the streets of the humble village at night. Heavy, it carried the scent of the freshly bloomed plums, pale petals drifting down like snow. 

Occasional whispers behind glowing, warm paper walls families sealed up to prevent the cold from escaping inside their homes. A day's hard work for many just to barely go by, yet they were content. The lingering smell of boiled tea drifts out, the night air dispersing it. The cobblestones were cleaned, cracks that were seen would be filled the next day. Wooden vendors stood empty outside homes made of simple materials and were closed, cleaned, not a single speck of dust to be found. 

Shadows stretched across the stone floor, and a sway of fabric that looked like the ringing of golden bells. Rich, silk, and layered, its golden thread glimmered loosely against the reflection of the moon. Another, simple, yet dignified, was indigo and patterned fruitfully with silver, the loose ends of the fabric moved like a stream of water. Rustling from the silk echoed quietly as it trailed behind them in the enveloping darkness. Shoes made of wood clacked against the cobblestone, disrupting the silence of the village night. Hollow, deliberate, but not in a hurry.  

Two young men, youthful and enlightened, walked side by side, a dream draped with history. Their warm laughter mingling against the frigid air of the night, their breath fogging and their cheeks a rosy pink against skin as pale as the winter snow. The both of them meandered through, in their own world, unsure where they were headed, but as long as they were together, wandering down a path that weaved their fingers closed. 

One of the two sauntered ahead, breaking their linked fingers, the charms against his waist riled and the bells jingled. Cupped in his hands for warmth, was a small manju he had bought while passing by one of the remaining street vendors before they closed up for the night. He waved a finger to the sky, a gold, silken sleeve hung down his arm, exposing a red braided bracelet. 

“Isagi, the stars are out again!”

The man who had trailed behind him paused for a brief moment, following his hand up to the sky. It was true; the sky lit like a thousand fireflies, reflecting memories and stories older than they could possibly be. 

Bachira laughed frivolously, his breath fogging around him as his hand hovered over his mouth. He had been hesitating on eating the manju for himself, but ultimately decided otherwise after noticing the other’s frequent shivering. Neither of them had had anything to eat since they both escaped their homes to avoid their duties. That idea, Bachira had suggested to Isagi one winter afternoon during their studies of political affairs. 

Though ever since they’ve met, they spent most of their time together, not a moment apart, however, it was mainly work. They were far too busy to focus on other things, and the mere thought of being alone with each other for anything other than work was simply next to impossible. They planned in secrecy, and this day, both of them slipped out of their respective offices and dashed out behind a peach tree that had just begun to bloom again. 

Bachira’s hands were dirty with ink, which Isagi tried wiping off but eventually gave up. According to him, as he was running away from Kanji practice, his hand knocked over a dish of calligraphy ink. 

They spent that entire afternoon bathing in the afterglow of the sunset, and the breeze of early spring the season had offered. Fearing for being caught, they evaded anyone that ‘respectively’ looked authoritative (according to Bachira, again), ducking down behind bags of rice and barrels of fruit. Now as the sun has fully set, it was only the two of them. 

“Yes, I see!” Isagi looked back at Bachira, breathless as he ran to catch up with him. Upon reaching him, his mouth was stuffed with a manju. 

His eyes widened in surprise as he took it away from his mouth. “I thought you wanted to eat it?”

Bachira shook his head and grinned. “Well, I just thought I would give it to you first, especially since I begged you to buy it.” His hand clasped against Isagi’s, grasping the manju and guiding it to his mouth. “Eat it, you’ve been starving the entire day!”

Isagi’s expression faded softly and smiled. “I’ll just eat half, how about that? And then I’ll give you the other.”

“If you want to!”

Their hands once again entwined with each other, and Bachira led him further into the village. They chatted quietly, not daring to disrupt those around them more. They reached the end of the path, the stones fading into a grassland, dotted with the glow of the moonlight and flickers of fireflies, the wind rusting against them. Crickets hummed in the distance and in front of them was a cherry blossom tree, fresh from winter. 

Its branches stirred gracefully, clusters of pink, new blossoms hung delicately as it shone against the moonlight, its petals drifting down to a point nearby, making small, gentle, ripples. A beautiful sight behold, however, Isagi cannot help but notice the light the pooled gently against Bachira’s skin, the way he looked back at him with eyes the sparkled with a gaze of tenderness, the imperceptible way his smile spread, and just simply the way he moved animatedly and effortlessly without any worries. 

Of course he would be drawn to him, why wouldn’t he? Isagi caught himself staring, immediately snapping out of this trance and followed Bachira to the trunk of the tree, the manju with only one bite taken out of his hand. He had completely forgotten it was there, only focusing on the moment. 

Bachira patted the ground next to him, motioning for Isagi to sit beside him. Isagi did, and Bachira leaned over to look at the manju. 

“It’s going to get cold, you know? You should eat it faster!”

“Yeah, you’re right. It’s no good eating it if it becomes stale,” Isagi mutters, his voice thick as he takes out a small handkerchief and wraps the bun in it.  

“You know, I’ve always wondered if I would ever find friends.”

“Hm?”

Bachira curls his knees up and Isagi brushes off some dirt from his clothes. “I mean, well…just maybe someone to talk to. Anyone who listens, you know?”

Isagi finishes eating his half and hands over the rest to Bachira. “I think I know what you mean by that.”

Bachira shifts, but says nothing. Only the sound of a nearby waterfall echoed in the background, soothing and at peace, with nothing needed to be said. Bachira is sure that Isagi knows what he means, he won’t try to clarify any further because there just wasn’t any need to. The wind carried pink petals from the tree above the floor. Or to the skies, Bachira doesn’t know, but he wonders what it would feel like to be it. 

He lifts the half eaten bun Isagi gives him and begins to slowly nibble on it. He is completely unaware of Isagi’s lingering gaze on him, a look of contempt and infatuation within those eyes. Isagi has to resist the temptation to brush Bachira’s hair aside and kiss him. 

Bachira turns to look at Isagi, his usual cat-like grin replaced with tenderness, and a smile full of affection. “Well, you are sort of my first friend.”

“Sort of? What do you mean?”

Bachira stuffs the rest of the manju in his mouth, chewing slowly and thinking. He swallows and answers, “I really didn’t have anyone to talk with, so I really just talked to myself.”

“Ah, I see,” Isagi remarked. He could practically hear his heart within his throat, loud and clear. “I’m glad.”

“For what?” Bachira laughs, tilting his head against his knee. “I should be the one glad that you found me.”

He sighs and closes his eyes. “I really do love you, Isagi, I don’t deny it. You treat me like a normal person, despite the mess I am in, I can’t help myself.” He pauses sharply. “But I’m no longer lonely as I used to be.”

Isagi says nothing, his eyes only widen before he blinks back into reality. However, he cannot interpret the difference between Bachira’s platanic love and romantic love. That was the conflicting struggle he had fought for so long. Bachira sits up and begins messing with Isagi’s hair. “I have you, it’s okay now!” Bachira begins poking at his cheek; Isagi diverts his eyes elsewhere, knowing if he didn’t, he’d do something quite impulsive for the moment. 

“I-sagi! Why aren’t you replying back to me after I dropped all my feelings for you?” He smirked teasingly, eyes sharp and glinting under the moonlight as he covered his face with his sleeve. 

“Maybe I’m just a good listener, you know?” Bachira’s smile falters a bit, curiosity spreads across his face before he slowly snuck a finger over to Isagi’s head to flick him.

Isagi dodges, quickly severing forward. “Don’t.”

“You’re so stiff today, must be from work,” Bachira chides, continuing poking him. Isagi catches his arm, though his grip was soft against his. “Stop that.”

And before Bachira could’ve reacted further, Isagi leaned forward and pressed a tentative kiss on his lips. Bachira blinks in surprise as Isagi pulls away, and then he chuckles. “Is that what you’ve been wanting to do all night?”

Isagi turns away from him, redirecting his graze towards where the tree’s branches dipped subtly in the glassy waters lined with lotuses. He couldn’t fathom what he had just abruptly done, yet, he doesn’t regret it. He’s aware his cheeks were stinging and bright red, and he just couldn’t bring himself to look at Bachira again. 

“Isagi…” 

He feels a hand caress his cheek, turning him back towards Bachira. “If you are going to kiss me, at least make it last a little longer.” Both of them, overwhelmed by this, captivated by the presence of each other alone, beneath branches of flowers that decorated a scenery so beautiful, they alone, would wait for the other to move. 

“Don’t make me regret it,” Isagi whispers, a voice so low it was barely audible. He lifts his sleeves up, covering his face, which he doesn’t know if it’s out of embarrassment or excitement. It must be both. 

Bachira moves his sleeves away from his face, slipping his fingers into his almost instinctively. With his other hand, he guides Isagi’s face towards his. 

This time, their kiss was more deliberate; it lingered, warm and affectionate as their surroundings only ceased within their minds. Only the deepening of quiet intimacy was present. Bachira’s arms wrapped around Isagi, pulling him a little closer. 

Bachira could hear his heart beat almost erratically as they broke apart once more. Isagi lets out a soft exhale, their breath mingling. 

“You sly little thing,” Isagi pulls on Bachira’s cheeks. His breath was low, but his hand that was held by Bachira was tight, and he squeezed his fingers. “Why do you have to take so long to admit these things to me?”

A rush of wind that carried a few more petals glided past them and Bachira sneezed. He leaned against Isagi’s shoulder and through half lidded eyes, replied, “Because I was afraid, obviously.”

“Then I guess we both have that in common then.” Isagi presses his head firm against the bark of the tree. “We have to head back soon, you know that?”

“Wow, way to kill off the mood Isagi,” Bachira snickers. Isagi shrugs sheepishly and turns back to Bachira, fixing his hair. 

Isagi brushes his fingers against Bachira’s cheek. “I can promise you this though.”

“Hm?”

Isagi fidgets with the band of his clothes wrapped around his waist, as if looking for something. “Some lady earlier at the street vendors gave me this. She insisted that I would find a pretty young lady here that I would want to court,” he laughs. “Little does she know, of course.”

Isagi pulls out a hairpin. Its stick was a glossy metal, and the charm on the tip was in the shape of a fiery, golden phoenix. A chain that contained a gem hung from it, dangling and reflecting light that bounced readily off it. 

“It shouldn’t be a problem for me to put up with you, even though you have short hair,” Isagi begins knotting at Bachira’s hair, swirling it and sticking it in. 

“Mmhm…” Bachira answers, tilting his head to touch the hairpin now stuck snuggly on the back of his head. “I wish this could last forever.”

“Of course you do, that’s why you enjoy the moment.” Isagi sighs, brushing some petals off his kimono. “If you don’t, you won’t remember it.”

“I see.”

Bachira leaned back against Isagi’s shoulder, his eyelids fell heavy. He could barely make out the scenery in front of him; fields upon fields of flowers and newly grown grass, and a sakura tree that swayed heavily above him, a cradle for him to fall asleep. The echoing rush of water lulled him even more, and eventually he drifted off.

—

He woke up with a startle, his eyes immediately widening. Compressed against his forehead was a cold washcloth. He was laying on his dorm room bed, the room dark. He turns his head towards Isagi’s side, only to be met with his face on his bed. 

Bachira hesitates on waking him up. He had a splitting headache and he can’t move his body out of fatigue. 

Oh well. That was quite a dream though. He’d have to thank Mr. Dingle Hopper for it later.

Chapter Text

Bachira needs a fridge.

Now where does he get one?

Of course, that answer’s pretty obvious.

What he should worry about is the price. 

It’s not that they don't have a fridge in their dorm room, of course they do! But he wanted the mini one where he could put on his desk, ice cream bars and frozen cups of Chinese cheesecake stashed away in it. He knows that he wants it, no; he needs it. 

Isagi eyed him wearily when he brought up that idea. “What do you even need that for? Isn’t that just a waste of electricity?”

But no. Of course it isn’t a waste of electricity, Isagi’s wrong; it is an amazing use of electricity.

Just think about how much he will be able to store in his own little personal freezer? Coming home and not needing to rummage through the mess of a fridge for ice cream or just something cold in general (Isagi has been wanting to clean the fridge out, but alas, due to his overbearing schedule he just doesn’t seem to have the time to).

Bachira, on his stomach with his sockless feet kicking in the air, scrolled with great enthusiasm on his phone for fridges.

What was Isagi going to do? Stop him?

Nah.

His headphones were plugged in at full volume. He isn’t even aware of what song is playing; he never really is paying attention to anything. He just secretly hopes that song would roll back into his playlist. He assumes it to be Anri, just by the voice.

Bachira should be doing his homework. But he’s not. He doesn’t need to be. His future self would have to deal with his professor’s reign of terror later. But right now, he currently needs to focus on finding the right fridge. 

Isagi wasn’t home since earlier that morning, he had gone out to train with some of his other friends. Isagi had tried to wake up Bachira to no avail. Nonetheless, Isagi cooked up some breakfast and left with a note scribbled neatly in the middle with a glittery gel pen. 

Now as he’s looking at all these fridges, he could very well just buy one. However, none of them really suited his taste; none were of his favorite color, nor designed the way he wanted with five cooling racks. 

But he does know one person with that type of mini fridge.

Nagi fucking Seishiro.

Bachira has stolen things before; he’s actually quite good at it. Only, he isn’t subtle after stealing from someone. He should really work on that.

Bachira reconsiders his plans, tapping at his chin. He could steal Nagi’s fridge and he could care less. He wouldn’t even try to get up and stop Bachira just out of pure laziness. 

Yes…but a very certain man would beat him to give it back to Nagi. He did not want to have to deal with Reo

Reo this, Reo that, Bachira rolled over onto his back and huffed. Even he wasn’t this much of a melting mess when it came to the person he liked. 

Also because he’s highly scared of what happened last time.

Yeah…maybe we don’t steal from Nagi Seishiro. 

Yeahh…he doesn’t want to hear Nagi and Reo voice fucking.

Bachira signs and presses the phone to his face. The heat of the screen from his nose radiates throughout his body. He should really consider buying a fan too. Isagi was such a horde for keeping and saving all the money. 

Right…he wasn’t able to give Chigiri the rabbit yet. Bachira shifts his head towards the coffee table next to the couch. There, a white ball of fur was curled up in a corner, its breathing steadied. Next to its body was a few carrots Isagi had tossed in that were half bitten. 

Bachira poked the plastic box, staring at his own reflection through the transparency. His hair was uncombed, tangled and sprawled all over the couch. His body hung limply, his legs kicked out against the couch and his arm stretched above his head.

Last night, he woke up with a splitting headache as if his skull wanted to crack open. He had lifted a hand to his forehead and felt a burning sensation rise throughout him. As Bachira scooted himself back under the covers, Isagi peaked an eye open and ran a hand through Bachira’s hair, pushing it aside from his forehead to put a washcloth back on it. 

Through Isagi’s muffled words, he managed to piece all the information together: he was knocked out after the ritual at Chigiri’s dorm and Isagi had to painstakingly drag him back across the dorm room halls. Isagi’s hand would accidentally brush against his forehead, and that’s when he realized Bachira had a growing fever.

Too much excitement for his body to handle, he guesses. Annoying, but at least he gets to stay home. But being at home is no fun when Isagi isn’t there for him to pester. 

Bachira secretly enjoys his alone time, yes, but he wasn’t in the mood to be alone right now. How long will it take for Isagi to come back? He really does wonder. What would Isagi think if he returned home to find a mini fridge on the kitchen counter? 

But Bachira needs to get his priorities straight. He doesn’t have that much money, since he doesn’t have a proper job. Should he sell some of his paintings online? He should be like that one modern artist and tape a banana on the canvas and charge it for half a million dollars. 

Yeah…that was actually pretty smart.

As if he hadn’t just gotten sick the night before, Bachira leapt to his feet and went into his room. There, he went through dozens of boxes full of junk, and eventually found a pure white canvas. 

He sure does hope someone buys his art. It’s going to look so good.

Bachira spends the next half an hour at his desk, his paintbrushes dipped into a mix of blue and black only. 

What was he painting?

Mr. Dingle Hopper.

He’s sure that Mr. Dingle Hopper would appreciate someone caring enough to give him a self portrait. Bachira, for the first time ever, finds himself to be productive. He brushes the tip against a cup of water, letting the excess paint fall in as he continues to swirl strokes with determination and confidence.

When he paints, he’s also never aware of time. He opens the window and bathes in the sunlight, the bird’s music and the slight rustling of leaves pushing him forward.

At the end, he finally steps back, admiring his painting. What great artistic abilities did he have!

The entire canvas was coated in black; blue occasionally outlining a distorted figure, making the illusion that it was popping out. A visible rendering of the dark figure was evident if a person looked hard enough. Bachira glanced at the clock on his table; it has barely been two hours since he started working.

Bachira sighs and itches the back of his ear. He gets up and cleans the table, wiping it of any droplets of paint he might’ve let fall when he was painting. 

What should he title this picture? Maybe something sophisticated. Something fancy. He can’t just call it Mr. Dingle Hopper even if he wanted to; that wasn’t professional. 

He lifts his phone up to align with the painting and snaps a photo, uploading it online. 

Name? Hmm…

Lens of an Eccentric Man.

Bachira was pretty eccentric himself, right? That would make sense.

Description? 

He wasn’t diagnosed with schizophrenia, even if many of his friends tell him that he probably needs to get checked up. He can’t put that, though it would make a good title.

Through the eyes of an artist, someone who follows.

Pretty fancy sounding too. Bachira scrolls down to the bottom.

Price? 

880,000,08 yen. (Almost 6 million USD)

Crazy price, yes, but if a person actually buys it, he would be able to get all that money at once. Maybe he’ll land lucky and a billionaire would pay for his painting. 

Also because it would be pretty funny if anyone actually paid for his low effort work. He’d be laughing his ass off at the person who wasted their money on a piece of artwork that took him less than two hours to make.

But Mr. Dingle Hopper was a bitch-not-asshole, so he put a little bit more effort in the painting. The only reason being is that even though they are dreams, he’s still able to be romantic with Isagi in them. 

With that money, he’d be able to afford a mini fridge AND a fan. He should put that on his birthday wishlist if he doesn’t get it by then. 

He’s been zoning out a bit, lost in his own thoughts of delusion. Yesterday, he had done a good man’s deed to Kaiser. Bachira leaned in and whispered, “ You should treat him a little more nicely, y’know? Maybe your attitude isn’t the way to show someone you like them.”

That twisted Kaiser’s thoughts for sure. Hopefully. 

That asshole doesn’t listen to anyone until it’s too late. 

He clicks post and tosses the painting beside the couch, being careful not to let the paint stain the couch. He trembles in fear a bit, remembering the way Isagi made him scrub the leather for almost three hours straight after he had gotten a speck of paint stain on it. He didn’t want to go through with that again. 

And now he waits. 

It would be ridiculous if anyone buys that shitty painting right?

He’s cackling at the thought to himself until he sees a notification.