Chapter Text
Ango truly didn’t know where these feelings have come from, it wasn’t as if he had a sudden epiphany about how cute Oda was when watching the sunset or some corny scenario like that.
He just woke up, realized that maybe his feelings for Oda weren’t so platonic after all, and just went with his day as if nothing has happened.
He supposed it was rather… Underwhelming, to say the least. Books – especially the ones that Oda was reading rather intently out of the sudden – usually portrayed the realization of the character’s feelings as if it was some sudden, terrifying thing.
Ango felt exactly the opposite, but it wasn’t that he was ecstatic about his feelings, he knew that there was no reason in denial, so the best next thing was accepting his feelings, even though it was like a bitter pill to swallow, he swallowed it nonetheless.
The only thing he cared about was; his mother, his mother’s reaction, and, though it isn’t exactly a new finding, Oda.
He sighed, there was no use dwelling it in now, it isn’t as if he can extract his feelings and lock them away in a safe, though it could probably be possible -at least figuratively- it was highly unhealthy, and he knew that it wouldn’t work well anyway. Dazai was living proof of that.
Deciding that enough time was wasted running in his thoughts, he brushed a final stray strand in his carefully placed hair, fixed his impeccable uniform, and went out to the door, not without shouting a ‘Bye mom, love you!’ as it was habitual of him.
He easily smiled on his way to school, already feeling his spirits being lifted as he waited on his friends at the school entrance. He already knew that he would not be waiting long for Oda. That’s one of the things he liked about him, along with his caring nature, and his perseveration-
“Are you okay, Ango?”
Color him shocked when out of a sudden Oda was right in front of him, frowning in a concerned manner.
Ango was so grateful that he didn’t get distracted enough to say his thoughts aloud. Unlike some other people, he had met.
“Obviously. It seems we still have to wait for Dazai, though. I wish they could get up earlier so we wouldn’t have to wait so long for them.” Fixing his glasses, he took a deep breath, hoping that Oda took the bait and ignored the embarrassing moment of a few minutes ago.
Oda let out a thoughtful hum as if considering what he said. Though Ango was pretty sure they had this conversation over a thousand times before.
After waiting for a few minutes so Dazai could get there, Ango impatiently pulled out his phone and exhaled in and out trying to calm himself once he saw that there was only a quarter left before the gates closed.
It wouldn’t be a problem if it wasn’t for the fact that his and Oda’s classroom was on the school’s top floor, with the elevator closed down for repair only a few weeks ago, it wasn’t the best situation for them.
It would be a ten minutes trip if they tried to rush it, otherwise, it would take double of time and he truly didn’t want to get another detention for lateness which could easily be fixed with Dazai just going early to bed and waking up at the right time at least once in their life.
All he could do was watch Oda with exasperation, the other young man didn’t even flinch when Ango complained yet again that they would be late, it was a routine at this point, even if Ango refused to accept it.
Dazai rapidly rushed in and stopped before tripping, laughing, and joking it off before the older males became concerned.
Still, that didn’t stop Ango from trying to scold Dazai before noticing the time.
Panicked, he grabbed Oda’s hand without a second thought, only focused on not getting to class late, not caring about the physical contact he initiated, when he normally would shy even from the barest of hugs.
Dazai blinked at them, momentarily surprised at Ango’s boldness before sprinting to their classroom with a smirk, shouting something about a ‘slug’, nevermind, he doesn’t want to associate himself with any of Dazai’s classmates, these underclassmen were certainly something else.
Ango went to check for his watch, before remembering that he had Oda’s hand on his for the moment, widening his eyes, he resumed his pace even faster. Trying to will the embarrassment out of him.
Thankfully, Oda was quiet, almost strangely so, but Ango wasn’t going to push his luck. Simply ignoring the silence that was building up, he easily got to the top floor, thankful that the exercise that those stairs gave him distracted them, even for a moment.
“Ango! Where have you been?! My candies are going to melt if you keep getting late.” Huffed Ranpo, doing grubby hands at Ango knowing that the batch of candy he always kept for Ranpo whenever he got bored of the student council meeting and decided to annoy other people there. At least they satiated his lazy mood for a second.
Ango sighed and separated from Oda, watching him go to his seat.
Getting two candies out of his school bag, he only grabbed two, knowing that if he kept indulging Ranpo by giving him more there would be no candies left when the actual situation did happen.
“Come ooooon! Only two? I know you have more there, don’t even try to lie!”
“Ranpo. You know why I don’t let you have too many sweets in the morning.” Scolded Ango, tired from Ranpo’s dramatics.
Suddenly there was a thunk. The sound of a manilla folder hitting a desk.
“Kids. To your seats, I don’t want to hear a single word out of your mouth unless it is to ask questions.” Said Mr. Verlaine, visibly tired but still having that slight smile on his face as always.
All the class went to their seats, most of them grumbling, displeased from the fact that their conversations had to be cut short, but still listening to what he said.
Ango took out his glasses and rubbed them with a handkerchief he always had with him, knowing that it will be a long day already.
--- -.. .-
Oda wasn’t the best at guessing his friends’ moods, he was only capable to do so with Dazai because they were his brother. Otherwise, he would be just as clueless.
That's why he is in the library, where he could at least hope to find answers to Ango’s behavior.
It wasn’t a very sudden development, but even he held notice when his friend who was so aversed at physical touch suddenly decided to forgo all of that and started to search for excuses to touch him.
Even if he was clueless about that sort of matter, he wasn’t stupid, the excuses Ango gave were flimsy at best, but he wouldn’t deny that it made him happy whenever Ango held his hand or hugged him, another reason why he is in the library, even if normally he would be browsing through the mystery and fantasy section -occasionally the romance section too, but he hoped that no one noticed that- he decided that today was a good day to research in the psychology section, thankful that at least it was divided into smaller segments to make it easier to browse.
Going to the ‘relationships’ section, he took the first book he saw, then clasped it shut as he furiously blushed on the inside, but with his poker face as always procured he didn’t show his embarrassment too obviously.
It seems he got into the wrong section, which would be impossible until he realized that the BL and psychology were very close, for some sort of damned reason.
Going in the actual correct direction and choosing the book he came for, he sat down in one of the available chairs they had in the library.
Well, time to try and guess what Ango had, hopefully, it won’t be any type of mental illness -besides what Ango already had- and just his friend wanting more affection.
With a smile on his face, Oda opened the book.