Notes: This takes place in the same Island-Mode-AU-with-overly-specific-caveats that I used on day 10. Basically, it's Island Mode, but the five survivors know it's a simulation, and also kuzuhina is just... happening. Because.

Day 23: Arguing

Souda didn't really mind that his two best bros were dating each other. It had been a little weird to think about when he first found out, but they were definitely good for each other. They had both survived through the killing game together, and that meant they understood each other in ways that no other two guys possibly could (except for Souda, but he wasn't gay).

Also, if they were screwing each other, that meant he had less competition for Sonia. So that was a nice bonus.

But for real, they were happy together, and Souda was thrilled for them. Even when they argued, that wasn't really cause for concern, because, like... wasn't that supposed to be healthy, or something? He was pretty sure that was true from what he had overheard of his mom's daytime dramas as a kid. That after working out an argument their bond would be stronger than ever, with a greater appreciation for each other, or something. So yeah, it had to be a good thing every once in a while!

But sometimes their arguments were just really, really stupid.

"Like I said, why the fuck did you just drink a glass a milk?!"

"I just felt like having milk with breakfast," Hinata said, shrugging nonchalantly. "I don't see what the big deal is."

"You know that I can't stand milk, Hinata!"

"So? I'm the one that drank it, not you." Hinata sighed as he returned to cleaning up his breakfast plate, and from his seat the next table over Souda could see irritated wrinkles forming in the center of his brow. "I didn't do anything wrong, so I'm not apologizing."

"Hey, come on now." Koizumi stepped between them, holding her hands up in a placating gesture. "I think you're both being a little ridiculous unreasonable here. You're literally arguing over a bit of milk."

"It's not just a bit of milk!"

"Well then, explain." Koizumi placed her hands on her hips, looking down on Kuzuryu crossly. "Why is it such a big deal that Hinata drank milk?"

Kuzuryu's cheeks grew red, and he glanced away, clearly embarrassed. "I just... can't stand it. Not the taste, or even the smell."

"But I'm the one that drank it," Hinata pointed out again, exasperated. "It shouldn't be a problem as long as no one is making you drink it."

"Oh yeah?!" Kuzuryu glared around Koizumi at to his boyfriend. "Then how the fuck am I supposed to kiss you without gagging now?!"

The dining room fell silent, and Kuzuryu's face turned even redder as his own words began to sink in. Besieged with secondhand embarrassment, Souda tugged his beanie low over his forehead, but he couldn't help peeking one eye over, just to make sure his bros were gonna be okay.

"Oh," Hinata said plainly, his own face growing pink. "I... okay. So you mean..."

"Yeah, oh!" Kuzuryu huffed, turning away. "If you drink milk, you smell like milk, and then I can't stand to get anywhere near you for the rest of the day!"

"That's... come on, Kuzuryu, the whole day? You're still being unreasonable here..."

"Oh, I'm unreasonable, huh?! It's not like I'm choosing to be this way, dumbass!"

"You can't keep me from drinking milk for the rest of my life just because you personally don't like it!"

"Then find a way for you to drink that shit without it affecting me!"

Sighing, Souda stood up from his breakfast and sidled over to Hinata. "Hey," he hissed, tapping Hinata's shoulder and leaning in to whisper in his ear. "Can't you, like, log out and reset your avatar for so that it doesn't smell like milk or something like that?"

"That's a pain in the middle of the day," Hinata whispered back. "And even if I did, that's only a short-term solution. I can't do that every time, and it's never even going to be an option in the real world."

"That's not even the problem, shit!" Kuzuryu threw his hands into the air, apparently having overheard the conversation. "The way things are right now, if Hinata drinks a glass of milk, that's like a declaration of war on me, got it?!"

"War?!" Hinata repeated, perplexed anew. "Now you're just exaggerating way too— wait, Kuzuryu?!"

"Forget it!" the yakuza shouted as he stomped his way to the dining room exit. "I can't even deal with you right now, bastard! Don't even think of finding me until you understand what you've done!"

His footfalls down the stairs were like retreating bombs, leaving the entire dining room in stunned post-nuclear silence.

"A declaration of war?" Hinata muttered, placing a hand on his chin in thought. "What the hell—?"

"You still don't get it?" Koizumi gave an exasperated sigh, planting her hands on her hips again. "You really are hopeless. He's saying that since he can't be near you after you drink milk, then you drinking milk is the same as you intentionally pushing him away. Jeez!" She paused, tilting her head ponderingly. "Though... he's pretty much being a baby about this, too. You should just hurry up and make up with him already."

"Exactly." Souda clapped a hand on Hinata's shoulder and shot him a supportive grin. "And if you need any help figuring out what to say to get him back into your arms, you can always count on me!"

"I think Hinata-san would be better off doing that on his own," Sonia suddenly piped up, without even missing a beat.

Souda grimaced. She had to mean that to simply say she had confidence in Hinata's negotiation skills, surely, but that phrasing kind of hurt!

"It's fine." Hinata shrugged Souda's hand off with a hollow laugh. "I'll come up with something, but let's get to work on our morning tasks first."

Notes: To be continued!