Chapter Text
It’s rare for Chika to reach out first. They’ve maintained this weird semi-friendship for years, but it’s been primarily composed of random run-ins with one another or Umemiya occasionally reaching out. So it’s a bit strange that Chika has invited him to lunch, but Ume doesn’t think too much of it.
When he reaches the meeting point, he sees that Endo has tagged along, wearing the usual frown that he reserves for Ume’s arrival. Chika is inexpressive. As always.
Without much of a greeting, Chika ushers them toward a new arcade. Ume spends an hour getting repeatedly crushed at Pac-Man and zombie shooters and air hockey. His ego is fine by the end of it, but he’s starting to feel guilty about the hit Endo’s wallet is taking from repeated rounds of skee ball. He suggests they move on to lunch.
Honestly, Ume is never quite sure how to talk to Endo. There’s always an air of awkwardness, and it gets worse when Chika wanders off abruptly to acquire snacks from a nearby vending machine.
So it’s a relief when they chance upon Sakura. For a moment, at least.
“Yo, Sakura!” Umemiya calls over.
Endo steps forward to enthusiastically greet Sakura, and Ume’s gaze lands on Togame…and Suo? He didn’t think they were so…friendly? Togame wraps his arms around Suo from behind in a hug, looking disgruntled. Well, it’s obvious why he isn’t fond of Endo, given the crush on Sakura, but Ume doesn’t know what he did to be on the receiving end of such an irritated look from Togame. Maybe he’s misunderstood, and it’s not about him at all? Right. Probably.
Suo doesn't look particularly happy about the coincidence either. And Sakura blanches slightly.
“Uh hi?”
“Oh, so it’s you, huh?” Endo says, regarding Suo with a bored expression.
“Do you mind wrapping up the yapping? We have somewhere to be,” Jo drawls.
Ume hears the crackling in the tone, just shy of a command and clearly intended to make Endo uncomfortable. He gets that Endo is a little too friendly with his boyfriend, but that’s uncalled for, isn’t it? To imply that he could command him out of the way if he wanted? Ume catches an ever so slight flinch of discomfort on Endo’s face in response to Togame’s words and decides to intervene on his behalf.
“Hey, Togame-” Umemiya warns.
He wouldn’t expect something like this from Togame who has otherwise been respectful of the people in his vicinity with a submissive alignment.
The steeliness of Togame’s expression doesn't change, nor does the tightness of his smile. Endo doesn’t seem particularly grateful for Ume stepping in. But without Chika around…Ume doesn’t just want to leave him vulnerable.
“I’m just surprised, that's all. Sakura always said he would never date a sub. But I guess he’s making allowances since you got attached to that guy. Isn’t he one that caused you a bunch of trouble a few years ago, Sakura? The one that was involved-”
“Endo,” Sakura snaps.
Umemiya looks between the two of them in confusion. Togame definitely has a dominant alignment and so does Sakura, and he’s pretty sure Suo falls in the neutral category. But Endo seems to be implying…
“Haruka is equally attached to him. So please, watch your mouth,” Togame snaps.
The situation suddenly feels very awkward. And Umemiya isn't entirely certain where this confrontation is going. Which leaves him entirely unable to de-escalate it.
Sakura responds to Umemiya’s imploring look for information with a sigh and briefly explains how the situation came to be.
A late submissive alignment and a sudden imprint. Honestly, Ume is a little taken aback. It’s rare to align late or to imprint on someone. It’s even rarer for two people with dominant alignments to be ok with dating the same sub. They’ve been together for years, sure, but throwing Suo into the mix is…interesting?
Is this what Endo is pissed off about?
“Actually, I was going to tell you on Monday when you came to Furin. If you could watch your fucking command slip-ups that would be great. You’ve already made him sick twice,” he adds, running a hand through his hair and looking irritated.
“Ah…sorry?” Umemiya says, raising his hands in surprised appeasement.
It must be pretty serious if Suo is reacting that violently to anyone else’s commands. He supposes that if any couple is secure enough to pull this off it’s Togame and Sakura? Is this why Ume hasn’t run into Suo at Furin the last few times that he’s dropped by?
More importantly, Togame looks like he wants to get a sucker punch in. He’s guarding Suo rather jealously. Although (surprisingly), Suo doesn’t seem to mind. Umemiya can’t quite picture him with a submissive alignment. Then again, Endo doesn't really fit the stereotype either.
Endo scowls in response to Sakura’s defense of Suo.
Which is, of course, when Chika returns. And escalates the situation even further.
Togame’s posture turns rigid as Chika suddenly steps in front of Suo. Endo’s shoulders rise to his ears, clearly upset that Suo has Chika’s attention. He’s snacking on a candy bar with one hand, but with the other he points a finger at Suo.
What the hell is he doing? Togame already looks like he wants to pick a fight with Umemiya just for being in Suo’s vicinity. Why would Chika approach someone else’s sub like that? Ume knows his alignment is a little screwy, but still.
“You’re the one?”
Suo freezes and goes tense. Chika’s voice is way too close to a command. Ume knows he hasn’t done it on purpose, but…
Jo’s hand clamps down on Chika’s wrist, and in a split second, Sakura is there too, grabbing hold of Chika’s jacket to yank him away.
“Can you not touch what doesn’t belong to you?” Jo says, using the full weight of his command ability.
Ah, this is bad. Chika looks mildly surprised at the force of their reaction.
Umemiya grabs Chika by the shoulders.
“Takishii, you’re hungry, right?! Let’s go to MacDonalds!” he declares, trying to deescalate the situation from turning into a fight.
“Ah, fine,” Chika replies impassively, interest in Suo depleting as quickly as it came.
Jo and Sakura let go of Chika, but Endo snags his jacket, absolutely zoned in on Chika with a somewhat distraught expression.
“What do you want? I’ll buy it.”
Chika ignores him, turning to walk away. Umemiya grimaces, putting a hand on Endo’s shoulder and gets annoyance from Endo in return. He’s nagged Chika about it in the past, but he’s way too careless. Ume always wonders if he’s not periodically sending Endo into a drop, completely unaware that he’s done it.
They make it to MacDonald’s, and Ume slumps into the booth, feeling stressed out. Generally, Ume thinks he’s great with people. Just not these two. They operate on a completely different wavelength from everyone else.
Endo steps out to take a call, while Chika snacks on chicken nuggets.
“What was that about?” Umemiya asks. “With Sakura and Togame?”
Chika’s nose wrinkles. Umemiya wishes he could interpret the emotion, but no dice. Annoyance? Concern? A disappointing chicken nugget? Who knows.
“Yamato did that thing again. Where he gets tired and feverish and sleeps too long. Because of that guy.”
It takes Ume a few moments to piece the errant information together.
“He ended up in sub drop?”
“Yeah.”
“Takishii-” Ume starts to scold.
“It wasn’t me. The black and white haired guy helps Yamato regulate sometimes, but now he’s all out of it. Because of that redhead.”
Umemiya sighs over Chika’s assessment of the situation.
“You know, we’ve talked about this. You can’t just give commands without thinking and then not take responsibility. Even if Endo claims that it’s fine. Then he wouldn’t be worried about Sakura at all.”
Chika’s mouth pulls into a flat line.
“I told you…I’m not any good at it. Isn't it fine the way things are?”
“Obviously not, if he’s in sub drop.”
Ume knows that Chika means well. In his mind, commands are for fighting, not some form of intimacy. But getting only one half of the equation can’t be good for his sub. Honestly, Ume doesn’t know how to describe their relationship. They live together, but they aren’t dating, and he’s fairly certain they’re not sleeping together. But it’s clearly more than platonic friendship. Chika allows Endo way more leeway than he would anyone else, and Endo seems delighted to provide things that make him happy. And Chika seems at least mildly irritated on Endo’s behalf that he ended up in subdrop over Sakura.
Suddenly, Chika acts more focused than before. He leans forward.
“You can do it, right?”
“Do what?”
The next sentence from Chika’s mouth is like a slap of cold water to the face.
“You’re a dom. And nice or whatever. Can’t you just look after Yamato for me?”
Ume chokes on his Pepsi. What is happening?
Aside from Endo’s clear dislike, there are a whole other set of issues here. Before he can respond, Chika gets up.
“I’m ordering more fries.”
Ume rapidly opens his phone to text Sakura and Hiragi a rapid series of panicked messages. This is not normal, right? Ume has never dated a sub, but he’s pretty sure you can’t just hand them over to another dom. In fact, he’s certain that the instinct traditionally makes you violently opposed to the idea. Won’t Chika want to turn around and bash his head in? Just look at how Togame and Sakura reacted earlier.
Sakura, help
Chika asked me to look after Endo. Which is weird because I think Endo hates me, but also because why would you ask someone else to take care of your sub?
You and Togame are a couple so it makes sense with Suo I guess, but idk what tf is happening
Won’t that make him want to fight me??? Then again Takishii doesn’t even think about things like that
Like he’ll give commands but I thought he didn’t really care if Endo got subdrop
But maybe he does and just wants me to handle it I don’t knowwwww
They’re not actually dating but they live together. I don’t really understand their relationship
Sakura doesn’t answer. Hiragi just sends back an emoji of a laughing dog, finding the situation hilarious. Really?
Sakura, what do I do?? I need you to tell me before Endo comes back
I’ve never dated a sub, let alone someone else’s please help me
Endo definitely doesn’t know that he asked me this
Tbh I’m not even sure what Chika is asking me to do???
I think Endo was using you to regulate a bit and kinda dropped over you dating Suo so really you owe me advice on this please
I thought it was weird that Takishii invited me first that never happens
Endo returns and slips into the booth, raising an eyebrow in Ume’s direction. Ume smiles at him awkwardly. He’s got dark circles and looks a little pale. Ume wonders how bad the sub drop was and how long it went unaddressed.
Endo is back and he’s glaring at me bc he’s annoyed I’m here
Hiragi just sent me an emoji of a laughing dog he’s not being helpful at all
You guys are the only friends I have with a strong dominant alignment plz advise
Even if I feel worried for Endo this is a bit…much???
Chika returns, and Endo brightens. Ume texts Kotoha. Hiragi has already sent her screenshots of his messages. She sends the same laughing dog emoji.
Not helpful.
~
The conversation plagues Ume all night long. He tosses and turns thinking about it.
On one hand, this request is really weird right? And he is concerned that Chika might change his mind and decide to try to beat Ume into the ground. Not that he can’t handle Chika in a fight, but if he shows up to work at Pothos looking like he just came back from a brawl, Kotoha will be pissed. And although he’s not afraid of Chika, he is afraid of Kotoha’s temper.
Also, there’s the fact that Endo doesn't really seem to like him all that much.
But…
Well, it does prick at his conscience. He is a dom. It’s not like he’s unaffected by seeing a sub distressed. If it were someone he cared about or even a stranger, he would probably step in to help them with the drop. Nothing intimate, obviously. But enough to ease the distress. It’s painful to imagine, say Kaji, in that situation with no one to help him.
He could probably…at least ease the aftermath of Chika’s commands?
Endo really did look pale and tired. And he only picked at his food. Chika just…isn’t equipped to deal with this side of things. And for him to be concerned enough to notice and say something means it must have been bad, right? It can’t be good from someone’s instinct to be constantly dysregulated.
The more he thinks about it, the more it feels like the right thing to do.
And well, Ume has always been a little bit irked by his inability to win over Endo. He considers himself a likable person; even Chika enjoys his company, of all people. Ume doesn’t know why Endo never warms up to him no matter what he does.
The logical conclusion here is that Ume is the wrong person for the job, but he knows on some level, Chika chose him because he trusts him with Endo. And isn't that like…a tiny bit heartwarming?
He can envision Kotoha cutting her eyes at him already, telling him to stop twisting himself into a moral quandary. That he doesn’t have to take responsibility for everyone he meets.
But technically…if Chika asked someone else, particularly someone in Noroshi, isn't there a risk that they might take advantage? Even if Endo is physically strong, during a drop, a sub is really vulnerable. Ume wouldn’t want him to get hurt by someone unscrupulous.
Also, there’s the fact that he’s pretty sure Chika just assumed that Ume agreed. Even though they never finished the conversation.
Ume scrubs his hands across his face. Maybe he could just…try?
All his friends make it look easy. It’s instinctual, right? It can’t be that complicated.