please read: this is a sequel to an old oneshot of mine, blemishes (you can find it in my profile). please do read that first before reading this! dw, it's short. and yes, this will be a series.

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The drink changed colour the moment he nudged the raspberry teabag with a spoon, eyes glued on the swirl of red mixed with clear hot water, but his mind was elsewhere. It'd only been a day since his last visit to Shinra's. He couldn't get what Shizuo said out of his mind. It was only a joke he made on a whim; words he didn't expect Shizuo to take seriously. The expression on Shizuo's face at that time was unreadable, but it didn't look as though he was brushing off Izaya's challenge, either. Did that brute really think he could make Izaya focus on him long enough to leave other people alone? All so that Ikebukuro would be peaceful, merry, or Shizuo so claimed.

Nonetheless, within the span of twelve hours, nothing had happened since then. There were no flowers at his door (even though he highly doubted Shizuo would spend money on him), no love letters— nothing. It did cross his mind that he probably shouldn't be expecting anything, yet this feeling deep inside his heart was bothering him. As if something unknown was going to happen. He didn't like it.

Who was Shizuo to stir him up like this?

The clang from the spoon hitting the ceramic cup brought him out of his stupor, making him feel rather enraged from the fact that he was even letting Shizuo occupy his mind this much. Was he that desperate just to have someone by his side? And to think it was Shizuo, of all people! There was no way that a relationship with Shizuo, in any form that is not built on hatred, would work smoothly. It was laughable, how he was even considering that perhaps something good would come out of this.

"Ha, he'd throw the park bench at me the moment we meet," Izaya shook his head, stirring his tea before bringing the rim of the cup closer to his lips, taking a sip.

"I guess I'll just stay for the ride. If Shizu-chan really falls for me, that'd be even better! There's no one easier to manipulate than a love-struck fool. He'd be wrapped around my finger in no time. Wouldn't that be fun?"

At the very least, he didn't feel too bothered now, if this was to be compared to a few seconds ago, where he, Orihara Izaya, contemplated the possibilities of him and Shizuo actually ending up together. No— it was true that this entire thing wasn't completely unavoidable. He could just tell Shizuo he didn't want to go through with such a ridiculous proposal, but wouldn't he be the coward if he took back his words? As much as Izaya knew this could go wrong at some point, the excitement from a newfound entertainment was too good of an opportunity to pass on.

Of course, if he didn't want to be defeated at this love game, he'd have to pay Shizuo a visit. It would be unlike him if he wasn't a step ahead of Shizuo at all times.

"Is it too much of an acknowledgement to say he might be scheming something? He's not that bright to think of such complex plan," tipping his head to the side, he let the thought linger for a moment, this time taking a big gulp of his drink.

"Hey, paycheck."

There were still a few files of work he had to finish by this evening, so after that, maybe he'll go to Ikebukuro.

"Paycheck."

It was only then that he noticed Namie calling him, and the fact that he'd finished all of this tea. There wasn't a single drop visible when he placed the cup onto the counter, taking a few steps closer to his secretary that'd been standing by the door. In her hands was a box, a rather plain one; those used for delivery services, which raised his curiosity even more. It'd be too obvious if it was wrapped with a flower or heart pattern wrappers with a big bow on top.

"What did you call me?"

"You write my paychecks, so you're paycheck. What? Don't tell me you don't like that? I'm only giving you appropriate nicknames," her expression was as nonchalant as he'd remembered it every day, never a genuine smile directed towards him since that was only reserved for her beloved Seiji. She shoved the box into him as soon as he was close enough.

"I think if I would've melted if you called me sweetie instead, Namie-san!"

"It'd be nice if you'd melt to your death. Here's a package for you."

"Who is it from?"

"You have eyes, you can see it for yourself."

The package felt rather light in his clutch. Izaya couldn't hide that his heart started to beat faster the moment his fingers first touched it; his fingers trembling at the edges of the box. Was a smile enough to beat Namie's curious stare? He was eager to know who the sender was, too, considering that there was only a single name circling his mind as the possible sender of this package. Could this be counted as a win for his side?

Tilting the top of the box to face him, his gaze immediately fell on the sender's name, and needless to say, he was quite disappointed to find out that it was only the jacket that he'd ordered online a week ago. It couldn't have arrived at a better time. Truth to be told, he didn't even know what he was expecting— the bouquet of flowers, perhaps? And for what? So he could laugh knowing he got Shizuo all figured out? That he knew Shizuo would probably make his moves from the book on 'How To Woo Someone' he'd purchased from the bookstore (he was willing to bet that it was exactly what Shizuo was up to the moment he thought of this).

"What's gotten into me?" letting out a sigh, he dropped the box onto the floor, no longer interested in it.

Namie didn't miss the chance to prod at his wounds, accompanied with her half-suppressed chuckle which was intended to sound mean— that much he was sure of.

"What were you expecting? A gift from someone? You don't even have friends."