For some reason he couldn't quite explain, when classes ended, Sigma left without even saying goodbye.

Maybe he had eaten something expired that had given him explosive diarrhea, who knew.

Fyodor felt like he was about to get that explosive diarrhea. He was super nervous! It was going to be his first date, and his first time eating tacos. In fact, it was the first time he was going to eat something that Ivan hadn't prepared for him.

He bit his thumbs while waiting to see Gogol appear around the corner of the hallway, walking with that dazzling smile he always wore as his braid swayed in the wind behind him.

His parents must have been painters because Nikolai was a work of art.

He made an effort to remember the advice Sigma had given him before running away as soon as the bell rang. He shouldn't call Nikolai a rat. He shouldn't mention his fondness for rats, cockroaches, and sewer bugs because it was weird. Nor should he stutter nonsense; if he felt like he was going to, he should just stay quiet and nod or shake his head.

Sigma could be a bit cruel with his comments sometimes.

Nikolai finally arrived. He was accompanied by a couple of his classmates; a guy he remembered was named Ranpo (he had a tiebreaker chess game pending with him) and a beautiful girl with very long blonde hair.

He couldn't help but wonder if that pretty girl might be his girlfriend.

Nikolai said goodbye to his friends and ran happily toward him. As much as he tried, Fyodor couldn't help but blush violently.

"Hello!" he greeted. "Where are we going to eat?"

"Oh, well, I..." he stuttered. "Yes."

Nikolai blinked.

"Oh, okay!" he exclaimed. "Yes. Perfect. One question, what did you say yes to exactly?"

"Remember," Sigma had told him a while ago, "if you get stuck and don't know what to say, start over and greet him. Try to use a little humor to lighten the mood; that also helps with your anxiety."

He took a deep breath.

"Good afternoon first of all," he began, smiling. "Sigma mentioned a taco place on the corner. I thought we could go there."

"The one on the corner? Oh, yes, I had heard of that place, but I never found the opportunity to go. I'm glad you invited me."

Was that a compliment?

"Me too," Fyodor wondered internally if his face was as red as he felt. "Shall we go then?"

"Of course!"

Nikolai's joy was so infectious that on the way, Fyodor couldn't stop smiling.

•

[♤♡◇♧]

•

Meanwhile, Sigma was in a foul mood. As soon as he got home, he threw his backpack to the devil and slammed the door shut. Once inside his room, he allowed himself a little tantrum, kicking his bed, pounding the walls, and screaming into his pillow out of frustration.

Once that had passed, he curled up in his sheets and thought that if there was a god up there, they must be dying of laughter at his situation.

There was a knock on the door.

"Are you still in 'room destroyer' mode, or can I enter without it being a suicide mission?"

"Go ahead, Tatsuhiko."

His older brother, Tatsuhiko Shibusawa, was a year and a half older than him. They hardly ever spoke, and they didn't exactly get along. Their interests went in completely opposite directions. Shibusawa was introverted and withdrawn; he didn't like people. He loved bugs, which he collected. He also loved jewelry, which was pretty much the only thing he had in common with Sigma.

Sigma, on the other hand, was very sociable. He loved hanging out with friends. In fact, he loved having lots of friends. Being at home bored him, and he preferred to go anywhere else, even to a dump if he had nowhere else to go. He hated bugs, even butterflies. Once, in kindergarten, a butterfly landed on his nose during a field trip.

The child's crying must have been heard on the other side of the world.

Even if they didn't talk much, it was comforting to have someone to talk to, especially if that someone didn't care much about what you had to say. If his brother didn't care, he wouldn't judge him because he wouldn't really be listening. He would just nod and say, "yes, uh-huh, I understand," out of politeness, even though he wouldn't have a clue what they were talking about.

Sometimes, more than needing someone to listen to you, you need someone who lets you talk.

"Why do you take it out on the poor furniture? I don't think they're to blame for anything," Shibusawa asked.

"I have a moral dilemma," Sigma replied, disheartened. "Will it count as a moral dilemma, or is it better to call it an emotional dilemma? It doesn't matter."

"Go ahead, let it out."

Then Sigma let out everything he thought about his situation. Complicated, painful words and phrases poured out of his mouth, some as acidic as if they were coated in poison. He talked about Nikolai, about Fyodor, about Chuuya and Dazai's advice, even about the teacher who was queuing up to buy herself a coffee before going to class. After all this, he felt better, although it seemed strange to him that his brother remained so silent for so long.

"Are you okay?" he wanted to know. Maybe Shibusawa had had a stroke, and that's why he was so quiet.

"So... Fyodor is gay?" Sigma furrowed his brow.

"Did you really listen to me at all? Seriously? Wow."

"Is he? Really?"

"Yes. He's gay. Very gay. Super gay. He's gay from here to the farthest star. He's gayer than me. Why do you need to know?"

Tatsuhiko bit his lip.

"And he's really in love with Nikolai?"

Okay, this was getting very suspicious now.

"I'm not sure, it seems like it. Why are you asking me that?"

"Because I have a deal for you."

Sigma raised an eyebrow. Shibusawa looked at him with bright and intelligent eyes. It was a bit intimidating.

"What's it about?"

His brother got up. He was really tall and imposing. And that dangerous look made him even more terrifying.

"Get me a date with Fyodor. I'll take him, and you take Nikolai."

What scared him even more wasn't Shibusawa's voice, but the fact that he actually considered that deal.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

DRAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Thanks for reading!