"Ne, Chuuya, can I borrow your notes?"

"Ugh, you could at least try studying for once, bastard."

"Studying is too much work~"

As per the usual, Dazai was trying to cheat his way through the upcoming quiz. He had supposedly "forgotten" to study, and relied on Chuuya for help.

And by help, he meant literally look at the notes Chuuya took and copy them.

And Chuuya knew that there was no point in resistance.

"You could just let me tutor you, you know."

Dazai shrugged. "Yeah, but I don't wanna have to go through all that trouble."

"Neither do I, but I still offered."

Dazai did not respond and continued to copy Chuuya's notes.

"You seriously think you can just cheat your way through school like this?"

Dazai paused and looked up at Chuuya. "I've made it this far without getting caught. I've never failed a class. Wanna bet against me?"

Chuuya replied with a heavy sigh.

Dazai put Chuuya's crinkled paper back on his bag and stood up. "Well, I'm all done. Thanks, Chibi!"

And then he walked away.

~

"Chuuya, I have a problem."

"What do you want this time, asshole?"

"I lost my notes."

"No, Dazai. I'm done helping you."

"Come on, please?"

"No."

"I'll do whatever you want."

Chuuya thought about that for a moment.

"Come over in twenty minutes."

As ordered, Dazai arrived at Chuuya's flat in precisely twenty minutes.

"What notes did you lose, idiot?"

"Hello to you, too."

Chuuya lacklusterly motioned for Dazai to come inside, and Dazai did so, and threw himself on the couch.

Chuuya closed the door. "I'll ask again: What notes did you lose, idiot?"

Dazai stared at the floor. "All of them."

"All of them?!"

"I misplaced my bag."

Chuuya sighed once again and stomped off, returning with a stack of papers.

"Look, this time, I'm not just gonna let you copy all of my notes."

"Then what are we gonna do?"

"I'm going to help you actually learn this shit, and you're going to listen."

Dazai's shoulders sunk. "Ugh, that sounds like so much work."

Chuuya stood up. "Have fun failing the class then."

"Wait!"

Excellent, Chuuya thought, the blackmail had worked.

"Will you let me teach you the material, Dazai?"

"Fine."

~

It had been hours. Dazai was not the fastest learner.

Of course, that made sense, since he spent all of class dreaming and writing about suicide.

Chuuya exhaled in relief and leaned back on the couch. "Finally, I'm done…"

Dazai stared at his exasperated friend. "You know, you didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to."

"Why?"

"Cuz I care about you, you moron."

Dazai did not say anything.

"Which reminds me; it's time for your end of the deal."

Dazai crossed his legs and closed his eyes, waiting for the bomb to drop. "Alright, hatrack, what is it that you want me to do for you?"

Chuuya's back straightened. His tone was a lot more gentle now than it was before.

"Live."

Dazai opened his eyes. "Huh?"

"Don't think I don't notice that book you carry around with you everywhere. And don't think I didn't walk in on you with that noose hanging 'round your arm. I know what goes on in your head, and I want you to stop that."

Dazai stares hard at Chuuya, in shock.

"But...why does that matter so much to you?"

"I fuckin' said it already. I care about you, you bastard."

"...but why?"

Chuuya closed his eyes. "I really, genuinely don't know why. But I know our paths were meant to cross. Look at us. We drifted apart and then reunited. We clearly have an inseparable relationship. And along the way, you dug yourself a spot in my heart, you asshole. So don't you go dying on me and ripping it out."

Dazai found himself putting his arms around the redhead.

"Chuuya, I...I had no idea you felt that way."

"Well, I do."

"I had no idea I mattered that much to you."

"Well, you do."

"You know how much I care about you too, right?"

At that comment, Chuuya found himself reciprocating the hug.

"I do. Thanks."

Dazai pulled back, but lightly held Chuuya's hands.

"I'll stop trying to end my life. For you."

Chuuya flashed Dazai a crooked smirk. "You'd better. I'm fed up with waking up every morning worrying you won't be there."

Dazai's eyes got big. "Aww, you worry about me?"

"No."

"Little Chuuya's worried about me!"

"Shut up."

Dazai simply laughed.

Chuuya avoided eye contact, his face red. "Look, fine. I am worried about you. I don't wanna see you do something stupid. If you die...I'll...I'll kill you!"

Dazai laughed again.

"I'll remember that, Chuuya. And don't worry. I'll make sure to keep up with my studies more. For you."