Work Text
Kai Chisaki is an interesting person. He's smart, decently attractive, loyal, hardworking, goal oriented, and cares about those he's close to, though they were few. He wasn't known for being particularly caring, or open, or even kind, and he detested germs so finding out he was a medical student surprised many. He wanted to rid the world of illnesses which could affect him. And, he hoped, it would be in a sterile environment.
But he was also oblivious as
hell
to the emotions of the people around him.
Example A; Hari Kurono, Kai's best friend since they were children. He'd never once noticed the longing looks, the flirting, or how he'd chosen his major so he could go to a nearby college instead of a medical school.
Hari was a Horology Student, studying time and how it worked. He'd decided on the major due to not caring about medicine or anything else which their programs allowed. They spent every weekend studying together, and enjoyed one another's company and silence. Kai saved Hari's life, it was the least he could do.
Example B; Touya Todoroki, better known as Dabi. He went to the same college as Hari, dual majoring in Sociology and Psychology. He'd met Kai when Hari and himself were paired for an assignment in their base Biology class, and Hari brought Kai to study with them. He'd seen how Hari doted on Kai, and decided he wanted in. So he'd started finding out what he could, hanging out with Hari to find out more about Kai. Somewhere along the line, it had become a fight for who could capture Kai’s heart first, a battle which Dabi was sure he'd win.
But Hari had the upper hand in such a war, knowing Kai for far more years than Dabi did. He knew things about him he'd never know and took malicious pride in it. What Hari didn't know, however, was that Dabi was good with people. Manipulating them, specifically. He knew just the right words to get people to do exactly what he wanted, regardless of if they wanted to or not. He knew how to make them want to.
To make them want him.
So Hari had devised a plan as a counterattack. Not a very good one, but a plan nonetheless. He'd decided to stay close to Dabi, to the point of even becoming his dorm roommate, so he couldn't corrupt Kai. Hari knew from years with Kai that the man had absolutely no sense of other people around him, making him very blunt and seemingly uncaring, but he knew there was more to him than that. He refused to let him, someone so honest and upfront about everything, be tainted by Dabi's darkness.
Playing Shogi had been their favorite pastime, aside from studying. But no, now everything had to be the three of them. Dabi had taken his plan and flipped it on its head, encroaching on his time with Kai on their free days. The nerve of him! It particularly enraged him since he was insistent on being so informal with his friend.
Like now, for example. He had merely suggested the idea of going for lunch to study, alone with Kai for a few hours where he could maybe get ahead in this silly competition with Dabi. But, Dabi had found out, and actually texted Kai to ask if he could come along too. Of course, being the oblivious person Kai was, he said 'Sure, it'd be weird without you,'
To Hari, it read as a victory for the dark goth, but he refused to give up. He refused to lost Kai to that heathen of a man.
"So, Kai," Hari said, "How's school been going for you?"
Shit, that was not what he meant to say
, and judging by the look from Dabi next to him, he knew it too. It wasn't his fault he was bad at flirting!
"Not bad, but my classmates are annoying," Kai huffed, and Dabi leaned back with a whistle.
"I know the feeling; Mr. Galifrayan over here isn't exactly who I'd classify as exciting company,"
"Excuse me, please." Kai sighed, getting up and leaving towards the bathroom, but not before grabbing his disinfectant spray.
"Not exciting?" Hari glared at Dabi, his face tinted pink, "And just /who/ would you classify as that?"
Dabi to leaned forward with a smirk, his voice dropping to a low purr as he spoke, "Maybe you, if you'd lose the holier than thou attitude. Seriously? How's school? Try again. How about... Hmm...
'Exams are coming up, I've got a nice bed if you want to blow off some steam,'
"
"You sexual deviant of a brute!" Hari growled, "Try saying that to him, he'll drop you as a friend faster than you can light a fire, pyromaniac."
Unfortunately, Dabi was in the same situation as Hari. They could each make their way through life and talk circles around each other, but the second the germophobe came into the room, everything went out the window. All bets were off, especially the traitorous Toga, damn her for betting against Dabi. Their friends thought they didn't know about the betting pool, but they certainly did.
"Maybe I will, and you'll have to wake up to him in my bed tomorrow," He leaned up and over the table, getting in the silverette's face.
"I will not because unlike you, I like Kai for more than his looks; he has this thing called a brain, you know."
"Yeah, and a good one at that. He nearly beat me at Shogi," Dabi shrugged, staring at Hari. "I started this just to tease you, and you know it."
"But you're in too deep now to stop, aren't you?" Hari said, crossing his arms. "Fine, let's each ask him out, and declare whoever he says yes to the winner, deal?"
"Sounds good to me, but let's sweeten the deal. Say he doesn't say yes to either of us, then you have to... Hmmm..." Suddenly, a light bulb lit in Dabi's sadistic mind, and a smile stretched across his lightly tattooed face to match, "Then you have to kiss me."
"What?!" Hari exclaimed, attracting the attention of the other patrons around them, so he settled back down with a badly hidden blush, "No way I'd give my first kiss to you!"
"Oho?" Dabi chuckled, "So you've never kissed anyone?"
"Shut up. It's meant to be special,"
"Too bad; I bet Kai's a really good kisser."
"Shut your mouth."
"I've seen him tie a knot in a cherry stem, for your information."
"Of all the indecent things you could say about someone!"
"Chill out, it's just a joke. We both know he's not going to get it unless we're blunt with him, so it's fine."
"Hari? Dabi?" Kai suddenly interrupted, setting his stuff back down, "What are you two bickering about this time?"
"Kai, perfect timing!" Hari said, before settling himself in a proper manner, "How would you feel about a date with me this weekend?"
"What?" Kai said, looking at Hari with a confused sort of grimace.
"Or me, ya know, just an offer," Dabi said with an air of confidence which made Hari want to punch him desperately. But then, they heard the strangest thing from their companion.
"Aren't we already dating?"
Now, it was their turn to be confused, and even slightly flabbergasted. What? He thought they were already dating?
"Which one of us?" Hari asked, and Kai sat down with a roll of his eyes.
"All three of us. Duh; what did they put in your drinks? Keep it away from me, whatever it is."
Before Hari could ruin the situation further, Dabi cut in with a laugh, "Yeah, sorry Kai, we were just messing with you."
"Well don't do it again." Kai shrugged, taking out his textbooks and spreading them out over the table. Hari looked at Dabi and grabbed his wrist, getting up and dragging him outside the coffee house they were in, and exclaiming,
"What do you mean we're messing with him?! I would never!"
"Shut up, this benefits both of us," Dabi interjected, with a bored tone and expression, "He thinks we're all dating. Which gives us both time with him, and boyfriend privileges. If you wanna sweep him off his feet, this is the best way to do it. We each go on dates with him, and whoever he falls for first is the winner." He shrugged, glancing back at the door as Hari pondered over the thought.
"But wouldn't that mean I'm dating
you
as well?"
"Think of it as a business arrangement, if you want. Whatever helps you sleep at night. So, you in?"
Hari didn't need a second to reply.
"I'm in."
And that is how Kai Chisaki, Hari Kurono, and Dabi entered into a polyamorous relationship without even realizing it. It seemed like a good idea until one day Kai asked,
"Hey, don't you two ever go on dates? Just the two of you?"