Chapter Text
“Shinra… what is that?” The curious teenager pointed the object in his only friend’s lap. The two boys were eating lunch, alone, on the school rooftop.
“I'm surprised you noticed! You know that person I was talking about, who I was friends with in elementary school?”
“The one with superhuman strength?”
“Right! Well that's the one who made this. They said something about experimenting with recipes.” The excitable boy with glasses gestured at the container.
Pudding. Vanilla pudding. On top of which it had swirled designs of whipped cream in the shape of cute animals. It was truly a work of art. Shinra’s friend must be really girly, huh. How unexpected.
“Want it?”
Shinra’s voice snapped Izaya out of his reverie. At the raven’s questioning look, Shinra continued. “I don't want to eat anything that's not made by my lovely Celty~”
Izaya glared, annoyed at his friend’s sing-song confession.
“Even so I'm surprised, I know you don't like sweets.” He stated as Izaya reached for the homemade pudding. “None of my business though!”
“Shut up.” Izaya spooned a bite into his mouth, cautiously.
His eyes widened. T-this is… so good! Unbelievably good! The just-right sweetness, the creamy texture, the perfect amount of vanilla. If it's this then maybe even…
“Shinra, that friend of yours, when can we meet?” Izaya lept up and grasped Shinra’s hands, dramatically.
“T-this afternoon.” Shinra stuttered, shocked by his enthusiasm.
---
Izaya could barely contain his impatience to not glance over at the clock every three seconds. Class had never felt so long before, even though the subject was just as boring.
What kind of girl could ‘Shizu-chan’ be? All I've heard is about some unbelievable strength straight from a manga, and now, that she like sweets and is an amazing cook.
But really, pudding like that is just unfair. Izaya glanced down at his bandaged hands. I wonder how I can manipulate this girl. Maybe, since she likes sweets she'll be good natured? No, unlikely.
Is this class ever going to end?!
--
Finally, the bell rang and it was time. The sun hung on the horizon, casting long shadows along everything. Shinra led him out to the soccer field, which displayed an unbelievable sight.
Muscular judo club members were sprawled out over the field, the ones not unconscious groaning in agony. The goal post was bent at an impossible angle, and in the midst of it all, a blonde stood, chest heaving with exertion.
“That's Heiwajima Shizuo-- he's an interesting guy.” Shinra barely spared a glance for the destruction around them as Izaya followed him over to the other boy.
So it's not a girl huh. Shizu-chan indeed. He thought back to the pudding and giggled.
But how can I manipulate him now?
Izaya barely heard Shinra's ‘introduction’ and as soon as he finished talking, turned to the other, who was glaring at him with undisguised hate.
“Firstly, I’d like to confirm something. Did you really make that pudding by yourself?”
Shizuo was still glaring at him, but the anger slowly melted into confusion.
“Um… yeah?”
Seriously?
“Do you just make pudding or can you make other desserts?” Izaya continued to interview him.
“I-I make desserts for my brother every day. But why the fuck do you care?!” Shizuo got angry again.
Perfect.
Izaya started to respond until he glanced at his watch. “Oh shit, there's no time. Just come on.”
The smaller boy grabbed the other by his wrist and proceeded to drag him away from the school down the street. Shizuo was too surprised to really resist and found himself being tugged along.
Shinra was also taken by surprise. “Um, where are you going?” Shinra appeared forlorn at his abandonment.
By now the pair were too far to answer him.
Shinra chucked. “Glad they're getting along. I was seriously worried.”
--
Shizuo was convinced this was all a dream. That was the only explanation for this bizarre situation. He had just finished his one-sided fight, rage still pounding in his ears, when he finds some boy his age, looking overly thrilled at the violence Shizuo professed to hate. Before he had time to growl out ‘I don't like you’, the boy started asking him weird questions about his food. Just when Shizuo thought the other was making fun of him, like so many others had, he was being dragged down the street.
But even with all these strange events, what stood out most to Shizuo was that the smaller boy wasn't afraid of him. It was the first time anyone has looked so unfazed in the face of so much destruction. Even if it was enjoyment, there was no fear. None.
The black-haired boy --what was his name again?-- pulled to an abrupt stop.
“Wait here. Don't you dare leave.” the stranger commanded before stalking inside some building they ended up in front of.
A daycare? What the fuck is going on?