The red strings of fate

First Steps

The following days passed in a blur, but one thing remained constant—Dazai. He was always around, always poking and prodding at Chuuya's walls in that irritating, persistent way of his. The distance Chuuya tried to keep between them seemed to shrink with every passing moment. Chuuya wasn't sure if he was getting used to Dazai's presence or if he was simply starting to need it.

That day, they found themselves together in the quiet corner of the orphanage's garden, a place Chuuya usually sought refuge in when he wanted a break from the noise of the main building. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the small patch of grass, the world slowing down as the evening air grew cooler.

Chuuya sat on the edge of a bench, his arms crossed and his back stiff, but Dazai, as usual, was sitting next to him, leaning casually against the armrest.

"You've been really quiet today," Dazai said, glancing over at Chuuya with that same teasing look in his eyes.

"Maybe I just want to be left alone," Chuuya muttered, though his words felt hollow even to himself.

Dazai only smirked. "I doubt that. You look like you're thinking about something... Or maybe someone?"

Chuuya shot him a glare. "Shut up, Dazai."

But even though he said the words, they didn't carry the usual weight of anger behind them. There was something lighter, like the sharp edge of his irritation had dulled over the last few days, worn down by the constant presence of the other boy. Dazai seemed to notice, but he didn't comment on it.

The silence stretched on for a few moments before Dazai spoke again, his voice quieter this time. "You know, Chuuya... You're not as easy to figure out as you think."

Chuuya's brow furrowed, and he glanced at Dazai, meeting his eyes for the first time in a while. Dazai's gaze was steady, softer than usual, and it made Chuuya's heart skip a beat.

"What do you mean?" Chuuya asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Dazai smiled, though it was a more thoughtful smile than the usual mischievous one. "You act tough, but you don't have to be. You don't have to hide everything behind anger. You're allowed to... trust people, you know?"

Chuuya felt something tighten in his chest at the words. Dazai's words weren't like the usual teasing. They were real, and they hit harder than anything else ever had.

"I don't... I don't trust people, Dazai," Chuuya said, his voice trembling slightly despite his attempt to sound nonchalant. "You don't know anything about me."

"I know enough," Dazai replied, his tone gentle but firm. "I know you're stronger than you give yourself credit for. You don't have to push people away to be strong, Chuuya."

The words lingered in the air, and for the first time, Chuuya didn't feel the familiar urge to argue. He didn't know why, but something in Dazai's voice made it feel... safe. Safe to be weak, even just for a moment.

There was a strange stillness between them, a quiet that stretched on longer than either of them was used to. Chuuya's heart pounded in his chest, and his throat felt dry.

And then, without thinking, he found himself leaning just a little closer. It was subtle at first—almost imperceptible—but Dazai noticed immediately. He didn't pull back. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, as though waiting for Chuuya to make the next move.

Chuuya's pulse raced as he stared at Dazai, the air between them electric. He had never been this close to anyone, never allowed anyone to get under his skin like this.

And then, before he could talk himself out of it, before he could retreat into his usual defensive shell, he did it. He leaned forward and gently pressed his lips to Dazai's.

It was brief. The lightest touch, barely more than a whisper of a kiss. But it was enough to make Chuuya's heart race, enough to make him feel something deep and unfamiliar stir in his chest.

When he pulled away, his face was flushed, and he refused to meet Dazai's gaze. He felt exposed, vulnerable, as though he'd just handed over a part of himself he wasn't ready to let go of.

But to his surprise, Dazai didn't tease him. Instead, he simply smiled, a soft, warm smile that made Chuuya's heart skip another beat.

"See?" Dazai said, his voice low, almost a murmur. "Not so hard, is it?"

Chuuya's face was a bright shade of red, and he glared at Dazai, his heart pounding in his ears. "Don't say anything. Just don't say anything."

But Dazai only chuckled, a low, amused sound that made Chuuya's pulse quicken even more. "You're adorable when you're flustered."

Chuuya shoved him lightly, though there was no real force behind it. He was too shaken, his thoughts swirling in a mess he couldn't untangle. "I'm not adorable. You—just—shut up."

Dazai's smile softened, and for the briefest moment, there was a flicker of something unspoken between them, something deeper than the usual teasing.

"Alright," Dazai said, his voice gentle now. "But I think you're starting to realize that you don't have to push everyone away, Chuuya. Not with me."

Chuuya didn't know what to say to that. His heart was still hammering in his chest, his mind racing with a thousand different thoughts he couldn't seem to sort through.

But in that moment, something shifted. He didn't feel so alone. Not with Dazai beside him.

(Awww our little Chuuya is such a cutie ❤️)