AN: Hey there, fellow BSD fans! Just finished binging Season 5 of BSD - what a ride, right? I've been working on this story for a while, initially for another fandom. But as I dove deeper into the world of BSD, it dawned on me - this story was always meant for Dazai and Chuuya. Let's clear the air first: this isn't a love story. It's about the fiery, unyielding spirit of Chuuya getting entangled in a turbulent, not-so-conventional friendship with someone like Dazai, our enigmatic sociopath. There's something about their contrasting personalities that I find utterly compelling. So, are you in for the ride? Come along as we follow our beloved duo on a journey filled with twists and turns. It's going to be a wild, possibly toxic adventure, and who knows? Maybe the power of their unlikely friendship will steer them through.
XXX
Inertia is a fundamental concept in physics, referring to the tendency of an object to resist any change in its state of motion. In simpler terms, it's the property that keeps an object at rest to stay at rest and an object in motion to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force.
Chapter 1
The Boy on the Roof
An irritating sensation was crawling under Chuuya's skin, but no amount of scratching could relieve it. The girl next to him, having observed his constant scratching for the last half-hour, suggested getting some fresh air before awkwardly shifting her gaze to the floor, clearly unsettled by his behavior. Chuuya muttered an apology and tucked his hands under his thighs. The small group session had overrun its scheduled time, thanks to the counselor's tangent-filled rant about the power of thought and mental stability. Chuuya rolled his eyes, skeptical about such simplistic solutions. He believed that not dwelling on his problems was precisely why he had fewer issues now. His current battles were with general anxiety and minor depression, which he found manageable. He was looking forward to the day he no longer needed these therapy sessions. A casual remark about the benefits of sunlight made Chuuya bite his cheek. The girl beside him leaned closer, scrutinizing his face.
"Okay, fresh air. On it," he whispered with a forced smile, causing her to retreat and refocus on the counselor.
Once the meeting ended, Chuuya quickly grabbed his bag and escaped to the stairwell leading to the rooftop. Pushing open the door, he was greeted by a strong gust of wind. Shielding his eyes from the bright sunlight, he was awestruck by the view. Rolling hills stretched toward the distant city skyline, a mesmerizing blend of nature and urban landscape. As he approached the ledge, lost in the scenery and the wind's whistle, he barely noticed a shadow nearby. Turning, he froze. A pale teenage boy was precariously balancing on the railing. Panic surged through Chuuya. Missteps could lead to a tragic end, and he didn't want to inadvertently cause an accident. Having previously resided in a psychiatric ward, he was familiar with such precarious mental states.
"Um..." Chuuya began cautiously. The boy snapped his head around, revealing dark, copper-like eyes, then refocused on the railing. One foot, the left, hovered in the air.
Chuuya's heart raced as he witnessed the risky balancing act. "You've got some talent there," he said, trying to keep his voice steady as his bag slid off his shoulder.
The boy straightened up, turned, and smirked smugly at Chuuya.
Realizing the boy wasn't going to step down, Chuuya decided to join him on the railing, a risky move but the only one he could think of. The boy watched Chuuya's clumsy ascent with a mix of amusement and curiosity.
Balancing precariously, Chuuya joked, "This is harder than it looks."
"Maybe for you," the boy retorted.
Their eyes met, creating a palpable, electrifying connection. Chuuya felt a surge within him, a mix of fear and exhilaration.
"Do you feel that?" he asked.
"Yeah," the boy replied, "It's adrenaline."
Chuuya cautiously took steps along the railing, closing the gap between them. Without hesitation, he lunged towards the boy, wrapping his arms around him. They swayed dangerously, and in a swift motion, the boy guided their fall safely onto the roof.
"Ow," Chuuya exclaimed, the impact sending pain up his spine. "That was just dumb," he scolded, sitting up.
"I wasn't trying to kill myself if that's what you're thinking," the boy said with a smirk, brushing a strand of hair behind his ear.
Chuuya, bewildered, questioned the boy's motives. "O...K?"
"I was bored," the boy said nonchalantly, rolling his eyes at Chuuya's further inquiry.
Chuuya, taken aback by the boy's indifference, realized he should report this incident but hesitated, not even sure if the boy attended the same school.
As the boy walked away, Chuuya reached out, only to be sharply warned against touching him again. A moment of silence fell between them, punctuated by a floating milkweed seed.
The boy left without another word, leaving Chuuya alone on the rooftop, bewildered and intrigued by the strange encounter.
...
Chuuya's life had never followed the script of normalcy. Born an orphan, he found himself navigating the turbulent waters of the foster care system at five. By the age of twelve, he was diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder. His childhood, more suited to a tragic novel, was something he constantly struggled to suppress, including the memories that weren't necessarily traumatic. Statistics seemed to have prewritten a bleak, tumultuous future for him. However, life decided to throw Chuuya a lifeline in the guise of Yukichi Fukuzawa, a sensitive and solitary man who had never ventured into marriage or fatherhood. Yukichi's decision to adopt Chuuya was a beacon of hope, rescuing him from a potentially grim fate. Chuuya always referred to Yukichi as his father, though he was acutely aware of their lack of blood relation. Their bond was strong and healthy, yet Chuuya couldn't shake off a nagging sense of incompleteness.
"Hey, you feeling alright?" Yukichi's voice broke through Chuuya's reverie as he gazed blankly out of the car window. It was unlike him to be so withdrawn and pensive.
Taking a deep breath, Chuuya leaned back, his shoes finding their way onto the dashboard. "To be honest, I'm not sure," he replied.
Yukichi glanced at Chuuya, concern etched on his face. "Want to talk about it?"
Chuuya shook his head slightly. "I don't know. It's just... weird."
As they stopped at a traffic light, Yukichi turned to face Chuuya, his eyes falling on the dirty black sneakers. "Feet, Chuuya."
"Oh, right. Sorry," Chuuya apologized, moving his legs to the floor. "I guess I got too comfortable, like in Kouyou's car."
Yukichi chuckled, "Makes sense, given the state of her car. It's barely hanging on."
Chuuya grinned. "Yeah, it's a piece of work, isn't it?"
Ignoring the slip in language, Yukichi pressed, "What's on your mind? What was so weird?"
Chuuya ran a hand through his crimson locks, torn between confiding in Yukichi or keeping the incident to himself. He had stopped someone from a potential suicide on the school rooftop, or so he thought. Such a serious issue wasn't something Yukichi would take lightly. Involving authorities and school administrators could upheave someone's life drastically. Yet, the weight of potential regret for not acting loomed over him.
"Some girl kept staring at me in group today," he deflected, steering the conversation away from the rooftop incident. Maybe he could find a more discreet way to handle the bizarre encounter with the strange boy.
Yukichi smirked, a light chuckle escaping him. "You're a good-looking kid, Chuuya. It's natural for girls to notice you, even in group therapy."
"It's not my goal to attract attention, especially not there," Chuuya sighed, pulling out his phone and browsing through social media. A photo taken inside his house caught his eye, and he quickly sent a message. Where are you?
A reply came swiftly, a selfie of Kouyou lounging on his couch with a bowl of popcorn.
Breaking and entering now are we?
More like breaking and eating. Your pantry is always stocked with the best snacks, Kouyou texted back.
You're ridiculous. We're almost home, Chuuya typed, smirking.
Can't wait! Riverdale binge-watch, here we come! Season 3 just dropped on Netflix! Kouyou's excitement was palpable even through text.
I'm not watching that with you. It's not my thing, Chuuya replied.
Kouyou's playful banter continued, but Chuuya's mind was elsewhere. He closed his phone, looking out at the road. "Hey Yukichi, is it okay if Kouyou comes over?"
"What's the point in asking if she's already there?" Yukichi responded with a hint of amusement.
Chuuya raised his hands in a mock gesture of innocence. "Just trying to be the perfect angel you always wanted."
Yukichi's sarcastic reply filled the car. "Keep it up then. And maybe it's time Kouyou started paying rent."
"Not a bad idea," Chuuya agreed, the corners of his mouth lifting in a half-smile.
The drive from the high school to Chuuya and Yukichi's home took about ten minutes. Their cozy bungalow, nestled just outside the city, was part of a tranquil neighborhood graced with a large man-made pond. The house itself was split into two levels: Chuuya's bedroom suite occupied the upper floor, while the lower level housed the kitchen, living room, Yukichi's bedroom, and a guest bathroom. The backyard, with its patio opening up to the pond, was a favorite spot for Chuuya, especially during summer nights. It was a life Chuuya never expected to have, but he embraced it wholeheartedly, pushing aside any fleeting feelings of being out of place or undeserving. As Yukichi pulled into the driveway, he retrieved the garage door opener from the rearview mirror, pointing it towards the garage. The door creaked open, prompting Chuuya to hop out of the car and slip into the house. "Honey, I'm home!" he called out playfully as he entered the kitchen, dropping his book bag on the counter before making his way to the living room.
Kouyou, already engrossed in her TV show, paused and gasped, "Omigosh! You won't believe what just happened. Archie was like—"
"Imma stop you right there," Chuuya interrupted, vaulting over the back of the couch to land with his head in her lap. "Because I don't care," he said, grabbing a fistful of popcorn and shoving it into his mouth.
"Get off!" Kouyou snapped, shoving him to the floor. "And keep your grimy hands off my popcorn."
Yukichi's voice drifted in from the kitchen, mingled with the sounds of the refrigerator. "I hope you're not making a mess in there."
"We're not," the two teens answered in unison.
Chuuya glanced at Kouyou, laughing. "You're rude."
"No, what's rude is you dissing my favorite show."
"Yeah right. You said the same thing about Vampire Diaries two years ago, and that show was doo doo."
Kouyou sighed dramatically. "Remind me why we're friends again?"
"Because we're not lovers?" Chuuya teased.
"Gross, You wish."
Chuuya pondered for a moment, then grinned. "Nah, not really."
A kick to his side followed. "Ow," he winced.
"Stop being cheeky and spill. What happened after group today?"
"Give me a minute," Chuuya complained, sitting up and crossing his legs. "I haven't even had my after-school snack or my after-school shit"
"TMI," Kouyou grimaced, dropping the bowl of popcorn onto his lap. Chuuya caught it just in time, saving the carpet from a popcorn shower.
"Reckless as always," he tsked.
Just then, Yukichi entered the room, armed with a cup of tea and a magazine. "Alright, kids, it's grown-up time. Move along," he said, settling into his recliner and pulling out a pair of reading glasses.
"Can we call you Old Man Jenkins now?" Chuuya asked, watching Yukichi settle into a routine that seemed decades ahead of his actual age.
"Seriously, Yukichi, you're like one step away from handing out mints," Kouyou added.
Yukichi smirked, producing two green peppermints from his shirt pocket. "Now shoo," he commanded, nodding towards the door.
Chuuya and Kouyou exchanged glances, taking the candy and heading upstairs. "He really needs to get out more," Kouyou muttered, unwrapping her mint.
Chuuya's room was predictably chaotic. Kouyou sighed, clearing a path through the clothes strewn on the floor. "Seriously, dude?"
"It's not that bad," Chuuya protested.
Kouyou rolled her eyes and flopped onto the bed. "Come on, let's talk," she invited, patting the space beside her.
Chuuya hesitated before lying down on top of her, resting his head above her chest and wrapping his arms around her waist. He let out a deep sigh, pulling her closer. "I think I almost killed myself today," he whispered, surprising even himself with the admission.
Kouyou's body tensed. "What do you mean?" she asked softly.
Chuuya recounted the rooftop encounter with the mysterious boy, his voice trailing off as he described their near fall.
"Oh my God Chuuya! Why did you get on the railing too? what was the point of you doing that?"
"It was just sort of a reflex. You know?"
"No I dont know. Thats a lousy reason to almost get yourself killed!" Kouyou snapped then sighed, comforting herself by tracing circles on his shirt. "And what about the other guy? did he say anything after you fell?"
"I asked him what his deal was, and all he said was 'I was bored'... What the hell?"
"What did he look like?"
"Tall, pale skin, black hair, and brown eyes."
"Sounds like a vampire."
Chuuya chuckled. "No, I think he was Asian."
"Ah, that makes sense. Asians and vampires, we're basically one and the same."
The room fell into a heavy silence, punctuated only by their shared breathing. Chuuya lay there, wrestling with a question he wasn't sure he wanted to answer.
"Did you tell Yukichi?" Kouyou's voice cut through his thoughts.
"No."
"Are you going to?"
"Maybe. I need to figure some stuff out first." Chuuya paused. "Do you think I'm losing it, Kouyou? Was the guy on the roof even real?"
Kouyou inhaled deeply, pushing Chuuya off her and sitting up. She brushed back his crimson hair, her eyes searching his. "I don't know, Chuuya," she finally said. "I just don't know."