Chapter Text
“You have been working on your computer for quite a while, Atsushi. Maybe you should take a break.” Hirose suggested, trying to make his voice heard amidst the noise coming from the other couch on his right.
“Just one sec, there’s this part I really want to fix. I have to send this to my boss by today, or he's really gonna have my neck,” Tei called out to him on the couch on his left, as he focused on scrolling through different sound bites and dragging each of them to the soundboard. Once he was satisfied, he pressed to play it through his earphones. Finally, this should be it. He sighed and took out his earphones. God, who knows how many bells his ears have heard for the past 3 hours he was sitting on the couch.
[???]: Oh, you’re done? I didn't think you would be done before lunch time Atsushi.
[Tei Atsushi]: Nah, it’s just a short favour my boss asked me to finish. Honestly, it was quite simple, really. Thanks for the drink tho Takeshi.
[Ojima Takeshi]: Not an issue at all, I just noticed you haven’t drank water in a while, and sitting in that position definitely looked uncomfortable.
[Tei Atsushi]: Yeah, no kidding, my back is literally screaming for help right now.
[???]: For a person born a day earlier than me, you act like you are reaching 80.
[Tei Atsushi]: Daiki, seriously. Shut up.
[???]: SHHHHHHH COME ON, I can't even hear what the main character is even saying to her brothers!!
[Ikeda Daiki]: Are you seriously addicted to it? Can’t you even tell this is just slop? Even a no-brainer moron can craft a more coherent story than this.
[???]: And yet you’re still addicted to it, so either you do something else useful, or you shut up and watch this with us.
[Ikeda Daiki]: Geez geez, calm down will you, Mr Yaitabashi “this drama is humanity’s worst creation in my entire 18 years I could see or partially see” Sou
[Yaitabashi Sou]: First of all, I definitely didn’t say that, and don't say it in my voice, that creeps me out. Secondly, Tamba, could you maybe rewind to a few seconds before? I didn't catch it
[Tamba Ruiko]: Yeah sure. Couldn't catch it as well because of some idiot. One more time, and I’m seriously kicking you off the couch Ikeda.
[Ikeda Daiki]: D’aww oh how you wound me. Whatever, I want to see how bad it gets.
[Tei Atsushi]: Pshhh, not into it my foot
[Ikeda Daiki]: Hey, some of these plot points absolutely don't make sense. You have an adopted girl who lives in a family with 3 rich guys who are obviously into her, then boom, when she turns 18, some girl comes in and go into a whole “I am actually your long-lost sister” bullshit. Makes the entire guys into absolute morons while acting like the victim, and placing the blame on our poor, poor main character, which causes the entire family to hate her. Then bullied her on her birthday. Main character goes, “Oh my existence is an abomination, to repay for my crimes, let me just apply and stay at my brother’s cryogenic freezer for the next 30 years”
(As he says this, he stood up and acted as the girl, pitching up his voice to be as insufferable as possible before plopping back down to the sofa)
[Ikeda Daiki]: Then the moron brothers realised that (he deepens his voice) “oh no, the girl whom we thought was adopted, and then sent away was our real sister” and then rushed towards the freezer only to realise that bawomppppp she stuck herself to the freezer for 30 years. And they go all sad and shit. And you lot fucking call this entertainment.
[Yaitabashi Sou]: Yeah, definitely not into it. Sure buddy. Come on the next episode just released.
[Hirose Shingo]: Anyways Atsushi, what have you been working on? I don't think I have ever seen you working with earphones on. Is it music-related?
[Tei Atsushi]: Ahh, actually yeah. My boss suddenly asked me to make a Christmas bell-related jingle before the end of the day. Something about bells ringing and stuff. I finished it, but I felt like something was missing, you know, from the jingle, but I'm really not sure what it was.
[Ojima Takeshi]: Hmm, maybe you can play it for us? I mean, one of us here could help with it.
Tei nodded and unplugged his earphones from his computer, and then increased the volume to the max. At the same time, the drama-watching trio paused their video and went near the couch Hirose was sitting on, fully invested in what music the part-timer was up to.
“Ok, here it is, tell me what you guys think”
Of course, Tei wasn’t a musician after all and had no music experience whatsoever, so no one expected anything from him to be on Isoda's level of music mastery. But whatever this was? The music that escaped from the depths of Tei’s laptop was a new level of bad. The bell ringing was loud and overpowering, and it felt like he smashed multiple bell recordings together to make a cacophony of bell clashes rather than a unified melody. And somehow the backtrack, which was supposed to contain a melodic tune to “Joy to the World”, was equally as loud but kept clashing with the bells. Surprisingly, a gong made an appearance and left quickly after. Once the tune finished playing, Tei looked at them expectantly, not noticing the horror on all their faces.
[Tamba Ruiko]: Wh…Wh…WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK WAS THAT TEI?
[Yaitabashi Sou]: its…its really something you know. You dont see this um…(clicks tongue) interpretation of that often.
[Ikeda Daiki]: Are you sure this was supposed to bring holiday cheer? This sounded like you were trying to do a sacrifice and open up a portal or some shit.
[Tamba Ruiko]: Yes, YES ABSOLUTELY THAT
[Hirose Shingo]: It does give me a sense of foreboding, and I highly dislike it.
[Ikeda Daiki]: I honestly have never seen anyone mess up a bunch of bells ringing in my life. Well theres always a first for everything right, Tei?
[Ojima Takeshi]: Come on Daiki, don’t be mean. While the tune is definitely…something…maybe if you lowered the volume of the bell ringing and removed the gong, it would probably sound better?
Tei sighed at the reception of his “music” and mumbled some curses as he replugged in his earphones and prepared to rework Takeshi’s suggestions when all of a sudden…
[???]: Get down and weep suckers, cuz we're having fast food for lunch babey
[???]: UGHHH you better be lucky I was feeling generous Maekawa, I seriously dont get the appeal of fast food with you lot.
[Maekawa Azusa]: Whatever, Drama Queen, majority wins yknow, thats democracy babey. Anyways, seriously, Snowflake, let me help you with a few bags.
[Denden Misao]: Ah! There's no need for it Maekawa. We are already home anyways.
[???]: Anyways, can someone help to set up the table? I’ll need to put the rest of the groceries in the kitchen.
[Ojima Takeshi]: Yeah sure thing Shigeki. Come on, let's set up the table. The faster we do so, the faster we can finally eat.
Once the entire table was set up, all of them gathered around and got their orders. Granted, it was fastfood, so there wasn’t much to be said with the flavour, but food was food yknow. Ikeda took some bites off his burger. Huh. He didn’t think the same type of burgers from different companies would taste different. Who knew. However, if you asked Ikeda what a burger was and what it tasted like a year or even just 6 months ago, he would look at you as if you asked him the codes for a nuclear missile.
He was getting better at eating. He thinks. Some days, it felt as if he was watching him, silently disapproving of Ikeda’s every step and his defiance. Afterall, the only person who could permit him to eat was his dad. That was a rigid rule he had to follow for 10 years of his life. But Ikeda was no longer at his den. He was at Hiroaki and Ojima’s shared residence, living with the rest of the people at the table. He could technically eat whenever he wanted, and he was doing better at that.
And luckily, today was one of these days where he ate without being asked to. He could definitely feel Tei’s joy radiating from him. Honestly, good for him. God knows how hard Tei tries to even make Ikeda eat a single bite during the killing game.
After lunch, Denden, not being able to hide her own excitement bubbling up within her, launched into a suggestion.
[Denden Misao]: Maekawa and I were just discussing that since all of us will be here during Christmas, why not we hold a Secret Santa? We get gifts, we get to know each other? Wouldn’t that be fun?”
[Hirose Shingo]: That sounds like a great idea, Misao. It's definitely a good bonding experience.
[Ojima Takeshi]: Yeah, I agree with Shingo. I definitely need to get to know some of you more.
As the rest of them agree to whatever Denden planned, suddenly a voice rang out.
[???]: The hell is a secret santa?
[Yaitabashi Sou]: Ikeda, you seriously don't know?
[Ikeda Daiki]: Yeah? The fuck are you all looking at me weird for? Isn’t Santa one person? And isn’t he known?? Then why are we making it secret and why are there multiple of him??
[Maekawa Azusa]: Pshhh nah, completely off there, Paintbrush. Secret Santa is like you are given a task to get a gift for someone random. And a different someone who was also chosen at random also has to get a gift for you. We will only know who has whose gifts on Christmas, where we gift our allocated person the gift we had made for them. Whatever, this explanation better make sense for you, Paintbrush. I already dumbed it down to like “Dumb Daiki” Levels
[Ikeda Daiki]: (blushes in embarrassment) shut up, god whatever. Let's just start that stupid allocation process or something.
[Denden Misao]: Right on it! (holds up strips of paper containing all the names written). I found a piece of scrap paper on the way back and wrote all the names down, and tore them into strips on the way back in the car! All you have to do is take just one random piece of paper from me, and that would be the person you are gifting the gift to.
[Tei Atsushi]: Sounds simple enough, let's just do it on the couch area since it's more spacious, so that you have more walking room Denden.
Surprisingly, everyone, including Ikeda, was cooperative with the plan and sat in the couch area in a big circle, some sitting on the couches, some finding comfort on the floor. Huh. Today really was a good day. Maybe he should buy a lottery ticket since he’s feeling lucky. Tei mused.
Denden started from Hirose, holding out a bunch of strips of paper, to which Hirose paused for a moment and took a single strand of paper, which he opened and looked at her with an unreadable expression. After confirming that Hirose did not draw his own name, she went to Hiroaki, who was seated right next to him. He repeated the same action, this time with an eyebrow raised when he saw his allocated person.
And the cycle continued in a clockwise direction until it reached Ikeda’s turn, who was, coincidentally, at the tail end of the circle right next to Hirose, so it could only mean that there was only one strip of paper he would have gotten from Denden anyway. Now that Ikeda thought about it, he never really noticed what everyone else would like for Christmas. It was simply a holiday that never mattered or even existed to him anyway. But now, if he wasn't wrong, he has at least 3 weeks before Christmas, which meant 3 weeks to somehow conjure a gift out of thin air to someone he frankly couldn't give two shits about.
[Maekawa Azusa]: Alright, whoever has got my name. I’m making this really easy for you. Just get me some cool mech stuff for my robot kay~
[Ojima Takeshi]: Azusa, I went shopping with you the other day, and it's literally more than half of Atsushi’s current paycheck.
[Yanagi Shigeki]: About that, how about we set a budget so that we don't end up stressing out about money. Would 3200 Yen work (around 20 USD)?
[Tei Atsushi]: Yeah, thanks, thank you. I was definitely not looking forward to burning my pocket for this.
[Maekawa Azusa]: Psh whatever, you are seriously no fun Bubblegum. Anyways my wish from earlier is the same. Get me like robot parts and I’ll love you forever. And I’m pretty sure I’ll give the best gift. Better than you losers.
[Tamba Ruiko]: Now, don’t be cocky Maekawa, you clearly haven’t seen how I give gifts. Pretty sure mine will be better.
[Hiroaki Nakamigawa]: You? Psh Dont make me laugh, Ruiko. Pretty sure I can do it much better than all of you plebeians here. All of you will bow down to me and ask how I do it.
[Ojima Takeshi]: Nakamigawa…seriously
[Ikeda Daiki]: Are we seriously going to hold a competition over something as lame as this?
[Maekawa Azusa]: It's not lame, it's a tradition, my dear Paintbrush. You simply live under multiple rocks. Hey, tell you guys what. Best gift gets to decide what we're getting for dinner.
[Hiroaki Nakamigawa]: OHHHH YOU’RE ON. We are NOT having FUCKING FAST FOOD FOR DINNER AGAIN. IM GONNA SHOW YOU HOW REAL FUCKING FOOD TASTES LIKE.
Seriously, Ikeda didnt know what the entire deal was with everyone here, as he tuned out Hiroaki’s, Tamba’s and Maekawa’s bickering. It was just giving presents. Look, he can literally stuff coal and give it as a present. Easy. He just didn’t know what others would like. Even he himself doesnt even know what he wanted for Christmas so how the hell will he know what the hell to get others?
So coal it is. He thought as he opened his paper, only to reveal…
Great
Just fucking great.
Tei Atsushi. Tei fucking Atsushi written in Denden’s handwriting on the paper.
He seriously can't escape that moron wherever he goes.
Whatever, at least it's Tei Atsushi. He knows Tei Atsushi. His cuff buddy, roommate, massive moron, doormat. One half of a carefully curated family she had created in her head before he threw it all away.
Tei is familiar. Tei is safe. Ikeda reasoned. It would be easy to find him a gift for Tei and make him happy.
Yeah this was easy. Thanks Denden. This decision was clearly godsent and Denden was his lucky angel to give such an easy task to him. Ikeda thought.
On second thought, fuck you Denden. This was harder than he thought. Curse of 10000 fruit flies or whatever Ogura said, to you Denden.
Ikeda paced around his room, a habit from the den which he couldn’t seem to kick. It served him well when the constant thumping of his feet against the ground grounded him. The monotonous rhythm gave him time to think, to anticipate, to regret.
In the den, it helped distract him from the deep hunger pangs he felt, distracting on how his stomach churned up within him, sloshing nothing but acid that always seems to make its way to his throat. It definitely helped keep his mind active. If a mind keeps running, then you wouldn’t need sleep right? Then that’s fine, but his eyebags and sluggish movements on some days tell a different story. Or how his heart went faster or lurches through his throat on some days out of nowhere. That was what Ikeda deserves. It’s what his father would have permitted, so surely he shouldn’t ask for more right?
In the killing game, pacing around definitely helped with the motive, when his forbidden action of just closing his eyes sent small shock waves through his good arm and his body, keeping him alert, keeping him alive like a scared animal waiting to go rabid. It’s funny how a simple shock band sat snugly on his good arm can undo all those weeks of progress he had made. Progress? In a killing game? Seriously, don’t make him laugh. He could still remember connecting the dots and realising what his forbidden action was, looking at Tei with his eyes full of terror, with Tei mirroring his expression.
At that moment, he felt like his father somehow controlled the game and specially asked for this action, as if to punish him. That he knew Ikeda had eaten and slept behind his back. It reminded him that in some fucked up way, he was always watching him.
But now, in the comfort of Tei and Ikeda’s shared bedroom in Hiroaki and Ojima’s residence, Ikeda paced around because he couldn’t think of a good gift for Tei.
Yes, Tei was a simple man, with simple pleasures. You could give that moron a stick-figure drawing of him and he will look at it as if you gave him the entire universe. He was so infuriatingly mushy at times, it’s as if all that mush added a few centimeters to his height. Huh that’s why he was so tall. Ikeda mused.
But Ikeda thinks Tei deserves more than just a simple drawing, well, it’s more of a “hey this moron actually helped me get to where I am today” kind of appreciation, definitely not because he actually cares or loves him or something. And that is information that will be pried from his dead hands.
But thinking about Tei gives him a swirling feeling in his stomach. A sick, yet addictive feeling of warmth Ikeda’s sure he’s not allowed to enjoy, but yet Tei gives him in abundance anyway. Tei gives, gives and gives, but Ikeda did nothing but to take, take and take. He overfills Ikeda’s cup with love and care, and Ikeda had no idea what to do with it other than to pour it out to make space for more. He’s certain he could count the number of times he’s actually helped Tei over the time he has known him, but yet Tei, nice, caring Tei was always by his side.
So what if Ikeda wants to give Tei the perfect gift? What if he actually wants to outdo himself because that’s the perfect way to repay him back for the help? He’s pretty sure if he gives Tei a middle-finger-shaped coal structure to him, he would be sad. And for some reason, Ikeda never wanted to be the reason he sees a sad expression on Tei’s face.
Another example on how Tei made him infuriatingly soft. But it felt more rewarding.
However, it would be funnier if that middle-finger-shaped coal structure went to Kumada instead. Her reaction would be funnier than all the dramas Tamba and Yaitabashi watched with him.
Huh, Kumada. He actually missed her. Sure they were rough with each other, and Kumada was literally the cause of all his fucking injuries. But after the third motive…
After a certain bumbling individual died
Kumada actually became soft, and less prone to anger. Maybe it was whatever she said to Kumada, but it was clear that Kumada was no longer a person who acted on anger. He himself had that change afterwards as well.
They had a weird alliance with each other, where they gossiped about others, took care of other classmates in their own weird way. They weirdly took care of each other. Ikeda telling her off when she’s off to attempt something dangerous or rash, and Kumada taking care of him when his brain becomes mushy and stupid, or what Tei and Hirose called it “small”.
He was actually opening up to Kumada, even considering her as his equal, when she had to literally die that way. A shame, she was the final death for the game to end.
Fair game, Kumada. You seriously somehow stopped the game yourself, like you always aimed for. Now you leave all of us with hurt, even if you didn't mean to. Ikeda pondered.
Ah fuck it, why was he getting distracted again? It was always this time of the year when he gets weirdly emotional and thinks of stuff that happened. Tei calls it nostalgia, but Ikeda prefers to call it an unwelcome distraction. Now he seriously doesn’t know where he was.
Oh right, Tei’s Secret Santa gift.
Well a portrait would be nice, but the problem was that he already did it for him for his birthday (or rather late birthday). It was a simple self-portrait of Tei sitting on a field of flowers, with a mixture of pinks and reds, and even blues (its not a crime to paint your favourite person with your favourite colours right? Not like anyone is going to catch it). It was a simple painting, but Tei looked at it like Ikeda hung the stars for him. In fact, it was hung up on their shared bedroom.
Ikeda wanted a unique gift, something Tei would actually want. He wants this gift to be perfect. After all, he’s an artist himself. He knows the value of good, quality art pieces and work. But seriously, giving him a portrait again would be so boring. Now how will he even top it?
He stopped pacing for a moment as he saw a certain figurine on the desk shelf in front of him. Tei wanted a desk shelf so that he could put books or other skin care stuff that were shared between him and Ikeda, so that the desk does not get cluttered. However, soon the desk shelf was filled with small trinkets they get from carnivals and fairs, or even birthday gifts.
That figurine in particular was a gift from Maekawa.
“Hey it was pink, just like you Bubblegum, and look its just a Crybaby, also just like you.” Maekawa explained as she held that figurine proudly for him to see.
That figurine was an abomination if Ikeda had to be honest. The figure was of a girl with their cheeks puffed out, lips pouting and rivulets of tears threatening to fall, and she had a pink bunny ears and pink outfit to match. Honestly Maekawa was right tho, Tei really was a big worrywart and a crybaby at times and the figure looked alot like him, but to Ikeda, that somehow looked pretty endearing
“Huh seriously, Maekawa, I seriously don’t think I cry that much. But hey, this figure is pretty cute, I hope it didn’t cost you too much. I’ll find a place to display it.” Tei laughed softly to himself, taking in the figurine with a soft smile. Yeah, sure, not attached, Tei probably already adopted that abomination as his child. Ikeda thought.
“Nah man, it’s your birthday present, you deserve good things yknow Atsushi. Plus, now you have a mini you.” That was one of the rare times Ikeda saw Maekawa gone soft on anyone else in particular, where her roughness somehow smoothened over to care and concern. He was on the receiving end of it a few times when he became “small”, but it was still surprising to say the least. Tei was not that great at hiding his surprise tho, but he responded by hugging that thing tighter while being close to tears.
Yeah, maybe a figurine would be good. Ikeda’s done some figurines and sculptures a few times in the den. Just sculpt, and his dad will do the sending it in the fire thing and then all Ikeda had to do is just paint it. Simple as that. But figurines of what tho?
Thats when an idea popped up in him. What if that figurine is of him, Tei and Ruka together? Tei liked Ruka, and was always together with her when Ikeda was not there to follow him around.
Huh, Ruka. Would it even be appropriate to put her in it? But it feels empty if that figure was of him and Tei only.
They were, in fact, a happy family once. A family made up in Ruka’s mind to show everything was normal. Everything was fine. As long as she had her family here to play house with. Everything would be fine right?
Ruka had always been confusing to Ikeda. How can someone be so bright and cheery when the environment requires them to kill? How was a person like her, so disgustingly naive, able to get through Ikeda’s thorns and walls, which only aimed to hurt and scare people away?
How did she pour love and care into Ikeda, only for Ikeda to hurt her again and again.
“All I'm saying is that the group was never together, and it's all your fucking fault. All because you want to escape reality and play Mommy.”
He would always remember her face after he had said it. Doesn’t matter that he was sleep-deprived. But he’s pretty sure he sealed her fate.
Was he ever justified? Did she deserve her fate? He never knew, and never bothered to ask. He just knew Tei sobbed heavily for days, didn't eat or sleep, and locked himself inside his room, and Ikeda had to be the one who held his hand through the pain, like what Tei used to do.
Whatever, not the point. God, this is getting fucking irritating. Why can’t he stop thinking about everyone and everything? He just needs to think about the gift.
However, Tei liked Ruka as a dear friend, just like how he viewed Ikeda. This was purely just for Tei. He doesn't need to know what happened between her and Ikeda. If Tei wanted to honour her delusion of a happy family.
Then so be it.
Taking his phone, another gift from Tei when Ikeda escaped the den, he unlocked it and tried to find a place where he could make the figurine. After searching up, he found that these places were called ceramic studios, where he can make figurines, ceramics or potteries or that sort of stuff.
Alright then, now he just needed to pray hard that the location was not that far and that he didn’t need to navigate through thousands of train lines himself.
And somehow, fate was on his side that day. The nearest ceramic studio was only a few minutes away from the grocery store Hirose and Tei always dragged him to. Something about “getting more Vitamin D and getting out more, so that he would stop getting sick", according to both Tei and Hirose. God, what a nag. But this was the only time he would be grateful for them dragging him out. Because he’s sworn he's seen that shop a couple of times, in retrospect, when they were passing by to go to the grocery store.
Alright, just find a day to go there, easy, because Tei is always working. Work in the studio until the evening, then go back to the house before Tei even notices he’s gone. Really simple, and he’s sure he can easily do the figurine within a few days. Man, this plan really is coming together huh.
He plops onto the bed, tired from the pacing and satisfied that he finally got a plan to go off.
“Huh, you seem relaxed. You got a breakthrough or something?” Tei asked as he stepped out of their shared bathroom, with his nighttime routine done, his hair down and pyjamas on.
“Yeah, you could say that. I finally found a good way to do this Secret Santa thing.” Ikeda explained. As long as he was as vague as possible, there was no way Tei would know it's for him right?
“Oh, what do you think you will give them then?” Tei asked quizzically. Alright, this is bad. Ikeda needs to divert his attention.
“Ehhh…probably coal or something. Easy to find yknow” Ikeda shrugged his shoulders, hoping that Tei took the bait.
“Co-Psh Seriously Daiki, don’t give people fucking coal. Please tell me you are actually not going to do that”. Tei looked absolutely horrified to hear it. Good, he took the bait as usual. Oh boy, Tei Atsushi, how predictable you are
“Maybe I am…maybe I’m not. You will only know 3 weeks from now.” Ikeda gave Tei his award-winning shit-eating grin.
“Ugh, you seriously are insufferable. Just for my sake and yours, just don’t do it.” Tei grumbled, then he suddenly looked at Ikeda with a contemplative look. “Hey, by the way, can I ask you something?”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Its a serious one tho. I kinda have no idea what to even give someone for Christmas. I mean, that person I got is okay and all, but I feel that I’m kinda at loss on what to give yknow.”
“Yeah, and what the hell made you think I would even give you ideas, or even help you in the first place? Why not ask Yaitabashi or Hirose or even Takeshi?” Ikeda was so confused now. Seriously, what was Tei onto? Ikeda thought.
“I…uh…something just tells me I should ask you instead. I mean, you are straightforward, and you are an artist Daiki, so you might have some creative inspiration and stuff, like i dont know, gifts or handiwork?” Tei rambled on.
Really convincing, Tei. However, Ikeda did not have it in him to pry anymore. Call it because of his pacing or thoughts, but he found himself willing to entertain Tei’s questions.
Now would be a good time to gauge his reaction.
Deepening his voice, Ikeda asked, “Ah, so you have decided to ask the wise man himself for wisdom. I can provide you with boundless of it, only for 50 Yen.”
To the untrained eye, Tei’s expression looked normal, but Ikeda knew Tei enough to see a flash of shock and grief painted on his face before he returned to his neutral expression.
He knows. Now let’s see if he entertains it.
“Ah wise old man, I’m so honoured to meet you.” Tei played along.
“50 Yen please”
“Seriously, Daiki?” Tei quickly became unimpressed.
“Who is Daiki? I’m the wise old man after all. You either give me that 50 Yen or perish,” Ikeda said in his gruff voice. Man, who knew dabbling in theatrics like this was fun. No wonder Ogura loved it. Maybe in another life, he could get lessons from her just to annoy Tei like this.
“Fine fine, whatever, here’s your 50 Yen now. Happy?” Tei lightly threw a 50 Yen coin he found on the desh at Ikeda, to which Ikeda, without breaking character, slyly smiled and said
“Ah, youngsters these days, way too emotional and volatile. You certainly are a good fit for my advice. What seems to be bothering you, young man?”
“I want to make a present for one of my friends this Secret Santa. Something homemade I think, since they look like they enjoy something more homemade. But I dont know where to start really.” Tei explained. Turns out he was indeed set on crafts, just did not know what type.
“I see now” Ikeda said, stroking his fake beard as he contemplated Tei’s question. “The wise old man has an answer. Have you maybe considered if the person is more practical or more sentimental, like you are?”
Tei thought for a while. “Yeah, that person seems to like more practical stuff. I did notice that they complain about feeling cold often.”
That does not cross off anybody, except maybe Denden and Yanagi. But seriously who was this guy’s Secret Santa? It is definitely not him. Sure Ikeda complains about the cold, but he literally had the entire winter wear stuffed towards him when he first came to the residence since escaping the den. So there’s no way he was talking about him not having enough winter wear? But he still pressed on.
“Ah I see, so this person has not enough winter clothes for the occasion?”
“Yes, exactly. Especially a sc- oh my god. Now I know what I should do. I can simply knit one. Hey, wise old man, do you think there is enough time to learn how to knit a scarf within 3 weeks?” Tei already knew the answer himself; he just wanted to entertain Ikeda’s antics. Not like he would admit that he enjoyed it, but god, the 50 Yen advice shtick Ruka used to say really brings back alot of memories.
He missed her. So. so much.
“The wise old man says that if you are not a moron, you should be able to complete it within a week.” Ikeda drawled
“Wise old man don’t say moron to people.” Tei went on unimpressed.
“Well they do now, sonny. God whatever, I’m tired now. I’m sure you already got what you want. You better be lucky I didnt charge double rates for you.” Ikeda said as he dropped the act and plopped back onto the bed, his head hitting the mattress.
Tei laughed as he asked Ikeda to move over, making space for him on the bed.
“Hey, um, Daiki?”
“Yeah?” Ikeda rolled over to him.
“Thanks for just now. I…uh really appreciated you doing this for me yknow.”
“Yeah whatever. Just do what you need to do. I don’t really care.”
“Right, right. But also, thanks for um using Ruka’s shtick. That, wow, I didn’t know how fun it was.” Tei said. Talking about Ruka had always been a sore topic for both of them. Even though they were better about it now, conversations about her were kept to a minimum even months after the killing game. For the sake of both of them.
“Yeah, it just felt right”
“I miss Ruka, Daiki. I wish she was here right now. You know she would be so proud of you right?” Tei slowly said, holding Ikeda’s hands close to his own chest. The old Ikeda would have immediately swatted his hands away, calling him so handsy.
Did Ikeda even deserve to miss her? Right after he hurt her so badly. After he tore down all of Ruka’s remaining shreds of confidence, all because he was angry at her for one thing? But fuck, he really missed her warmth and her annoyingly bright voice, or her simple voice changes when she plays a character. Or her annoying insistence on butting into people’s business with that annoyingly endearing attitude. That he actually felt safe in her presence?
There was no time to think about it tho. He had a gift to make the next few days, and this interaction solidified his decision. Ikeda smiled and squeezed Tei’s hands tightly. God, Ikeda really became a sap, huh. “Yeah, I really miss her too.”
“Goodnight Daiki,” Tei yawned as he switched off the desk light on their nightstand beside their bed.
“Mm, goodnight Atsushi.”