Rivalry...or Something More?

Side Story 1

(A/N: credit for the ideas used here goes to Venti_Vented. First time writing Oda, the Flags, and Soukoku, let's go!)

"Uuuuuggghhhhhh..." Dazai groaned, flopping onto the couch next to Oda.

"What is it, Dazai?" Oda asked, briefly looking up from the papers he was grading.

"I'm confused."

"About?"

"Chuuya."

"Oh, that short ginger kid you seem to love hanging out with?"

"Wha- I don't love hanging out with him! You're crazy, Odasaku!"

Oda laughed a little. "You can't fool me, Dazai."

"Ooodddaaaaaasssaaaakkkkkuuuuuuu..."

Oda gently poked Dazai's arm. "Dazai."

"I definitely absolutely do not enjoy hanging out with the shortie. There's no one worse I could think of spending time with. Period."

"Yeah, ok. Keep telling yourself that, kiddo."

Dazai pouted.

Oda tried not to laugh as he patted Dazai's head.

Dazai just kept pouting more.

Oda went back to grading papers.

After a minute, Dazai glanced at Oda again.

Oda looked back at him. "Something up?"

"Yeah...I know I said I don't like hanging out with the shortie, but that wasn't actually true."

I knew it. "Oh?"

"And...I don't know what to do about it. I'm always messing with him so what if he doesn't want anything to do with me?"

"Hmmm...you could try hanging out with him later."

"No, I can't! He'll hate me!"

"Maybe he won't."

"I guess I could try..."

"Let me know how it goes?"

"Of course."

"Thanks."

"No, thank you for giving me advice, Odasaku."

"I'm glad I could help."

Dazai smiled and leaned against Oda, watching him continue to grade papers.

Later...

Chuuya was happily taking a walk with his five best friends known as the Flags, but then he saw Dazai and his expression immediately changed. He looked somewhere between frustrated and flustered.

Lippmann noticed and grinned as he nudged Chuuya. "Well, well, look who's here."

"Shut up, Lippmann," Chuuya grumbled.

"It's not like he's wrong," Piano Man pointed out.

"You shut up, too." Chuuya scowled.

Lippman and Piano Man both laughed.

Chuuya kept scowling.

Albatross walked up to Chuuya and patted his shoulder. "Chuuya..."

"Yes?" Chuuya asked, hoping that someone would finally take his side.

But alas, it was all in vain, for Albatross grinned teasingly. "They're both very right."

Chuuya glared at him. "What is wrong with you people?"