Kazuichi & Yasuke
Summary: Souda Kazuichi’s FTEs in the SDR2 Protagonist Matsuda Yasuke AU. It’s also half and half but for more unfortunate reasons.
Rating: PG
Warnings: Language and references to violence.
Notes: For REASONS, I ended up writing Souda’s FTEs when I initially intended to write Sonia’s. I’m disappointed in myself too, but...hm. I enjoyed writing these. I think it’s fun (?) to write social events where the two parties just don’t get along and that doesn’t change by the end. It’s played seriously, and I’m curious how people will take it. But I wrote these close to the heart!
Read this fic among others HERE
Main story is HERE
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“Blue skies! Beautiful beaches! Babes! By all accounts, this should be a dream come true! So, why—why, why, why, why, WHY does a guy like YOU gotta be here?!”
“That’s fucking rude,” Matsuda scoffed. “All I’m doing is reading.”
“You keep staring!” Souda accused, shaking his fist in frustration. “And I can feel ya judging, too!! Are you EVER in a good mood?!”
In reality, Souda had been the one to constantly steal glances instead of looking at his own damn magazine. Matsuda, subsequently, had gotten annoyed by it. He really had thought if he focused on his own manga, it’d be fine even with the dipshit mechanic present, but he was a fool. He was a real fucking fool.
Although not as much an idiot as this guy...
“You’re judging!” Souda screeched. “I know you are! Why do you have it out for me?!”
“I don’t,” Matsuda grumbled. “I barely consider you at all.”
“T-That’s hurtful, man! Real hurtful!” Souda even sniffled, he was so hurt by it. “This is why you don’t have any friends!”
...I could leave. I could just...leave. He’s not going to follow me. I could just leave and go someplace quiet.
But, because there wouldn’t be any events if he just left, he was stuck.
Great...
Souda was still glaring at him. He was glaring pretty hard, but also pretty...desperately.
“Even if your face freezes like that, it won’t make you more intimidating,” Matsuda muttered. “Actually no matter what you do, you can’t change that.”
Souda froze immediately. Matsuda gives him a look, but before he can say anything more, the guy flees the scene.
Had the line being broken?
Guess I hit a nerve.
Souda had even abandoned his magazine. Matsuda doubted the guy had the brain capacity to retrieve it later, although he himself hesitates before plucking it off the ground. Thankfully, while it was a little crumbled, it wasn’t sticky. Or oily.
Hm.
He should probably return it.
--
The first thing Souda did upon opening the door was let out a shriek. The second thing he did was slam it in Matsuda’s face.
This fucking guy...
Matsuda took a deep breath and knocked once more on the door.
“Nobody’s here!” Souda’s voice came through muffled. “A-And even if there were somebody—you’re not welcome!”
“For fuck’s sake—I’m just here to give you back your magazine, not because I...” Matsuda bit his tongue, kneeling down. “You know what, I’ll just shove it under...”
“Wait-wait-wait!”
The door was almost flung open, Souda now looking frantic.
“Don’t do that!” he exclaims. “You’ll wrinkle it! You’ll mess with the illustrations! Hasn’t anyone taught you how to treat a magazine?!”
Matsuda straightened up, handing it over without much more fanfare. Souda does take it, but he continues to grumble.
“Seriously, you’re such a slob. That’s like, super unsexy to women. H-Haven’t you heard?”
Matsuda wordlessly glances past into the mechanic’s cottage. There are some miscellaneous gears and gizmos scattered across the floor. Some bottles of what looked to be motor oil. It certainly stank of motor oil.
“Oh, this old thing?” Souda asked, mistaking his staring for interest. He grins suddenly and it might’ve been the first time he’s smile like that at Matsuda. “It’s a lil vroom-vroom I’m working on! Pretty spiffy, huh?”
...spiffy? That’s...something only elderlies would use... Not to mention that’s not even the correct usage?
“I guess you mean it’s neat,” Matsuda muttered.
“I know right?!” Souda exclaimed excitedly. “It’s real neat! It’s gonna be a real wham bam when I’m finished!”
“Right...”
“Right, right!” Souda agreed, nodding frantically now. “You get it, you get it! I guess even a jackass like you still has a right eye for this kinda thing, Matsuda. Just this once, I’ll let you have a closer look! Come in! Don’t be a priss!”
He worked himself up as usual, but I guess this time he at least did so positively.
Mortifyingly curious as to how far this could go, Matsuda does step inside. Souda eagerly gestures to the lump of metal on the ground. Matsuda looks at it closely and—yet.
It’s a lump...of metal. Incredible.
“This baby is gonna go places when it’s done,” Souda sighs happily. “I won’t be able to test it—but I’m sure of it. It’s gonna go far, kid!”
Show him how to lie. You’re getting better all the time.
“I’m sure it will,” Matsuda replied, doing his best to give a decent nod of approval. Souda does preen, but just like that—Souda realizes himself. And he realizes Matsuda.
Specifically, he re-realizes that he and Matsuda don’t have the best relationship.
“You’re not just saying that to make fun of me, right?! You almost got me going, too!”
Although he still seems confused about the intricacies of said relationship.
“It’s nothing like that,” Matsuda waved his hand, shaking his head for good measure. Souda seemed unconvinced, much to his annoyance. “I was just curious.”
Except he really wasn’t. He was the kind of guy who had about as much interest in cars as he did in answering surveys. Souda’s eyes narrowed sharply in suspicion and, seriously, where did this guy get off on presuming so much shit about him?
Matsuda sighed.
Whatever. I delivered the magazine back.
“If I’m not welcome here, I’ll leave.”
He’s not sure what he expected when he turned on his heel. He might not have expected anything, and indeed nothing really happened. He walked out of the cottage, shutting the door behind him, and walked the rest of the way back in silence.
Pretty uneventful overall, but it was still something.
--
“H-H-Hey! Matsuda!”
He supposed he wasn’t really expecting to be called out. When he turned, however, he was already prepared.
“What is it? You better clarify because you’re on a different frequency than I am.”
“Eh? Come on, dude, it’s not like we’re speaking different languages here!” Souda huffed, shoving his hands into his jumpsuit pockets. “I’m just...trying to get yer attention. It’s...like...”
He’s slurring his words a bit.
“You made me feel bad, y’know,” Souda grumbled. “With the way you left. I’m just checking because the last thing I need is you having another reason to...”
“You really are convinced I have something against you, huh,” Matsuda droned, unimpressed. “Would you believe me if I told you that I really don’t care?”
Souda groaned, rolling his eyes.
“Of course you don’t care. You’re a jackass.”
He’s not wrong...but he’s also not right. Not caring goes both ways.
“Hm.” They’d just go in circles at this rate, so it was best to change tactics. “You’re...”
Aah, what to say? Not my type? Not really understanding? This guy...
“You’re here because you say you felt bad.”
“I thought you were supposed to be a genius or something,” Souda huffed. “Like...a brain guy, right?”
“Right.” That doesn’t mean I understand every irrational, idiotic choice a person makes. “I understand the physical sciences. Psychology, however, is its own thing.”
“I mean, I know that,” Souda said, sounding completely unconvincing. “It’s like—the difference between fixing and programming. I can fix a computer, but when it comes to all the typing, clicking, and trouble...finding... I don’t get that stuff.”
“Troubleshooting,” Matsuda corrected.
“Computers aren’t my thing anyway,” Souda went on, unbothered. “I’m more of a vehicle guy!” He lit up so easily. “Like! Vroom, vroom! Wham bam!”
He made other engine noises for that matter.
Matsuda would lie if he said he didn’t find it mildly amusing.
Any moment the two could have had was quickly ruined, however.
“Anyway! There! I spoke to ya!” Souda twisted away. “We’re good, then!”
...it’s not like I’m expecting an apology, but what a shitty fucking thing to just say. And to say loudly, at that.
“Argh! Not good?!” Souda flinched, cowering. “You’re giving me that awful judge-y look again! What is your PROBLEM?!”
For once, the glare was intentional and only intensified, making Souda crumble and whimper.
“C-Cut it out, seriously...! You’re going to make me cry!”
“Is that really my problem?” Matsuda asked coolly. “This is just how my face looks a lot of the time. I can’t control that but you could be less of a fucking coward.”
“I’m not...a coward,” Souda muttered, pulling down his beanie. “I-I’m not! You’re just... You’re such an ass! Seriously! Seriously! How the hell is someone like you—?!”
“Someone like me?” he prodded, eyes half-lidded. Souda recoils whenever he makes any attempt at coming closer. Sure, this dipshit is easily spooked and intimidated, but...
Is there more to it?
“Q-Quit it,” Souda squeaked. “S-Stooooop...”
It’s not...my appearance, is it?
Matsuda backed off anyway, playing with his hair to stave off the irritation. Fidgeting could only do so much.
“I really don’t get it,” Souda said, then, and it sounded almost morose. “It pisses me off so much that you’re the kind of guy that’s just...popular with girls.”
Matsuda pinched a lock of hair hard enough to dig his thumbnail into his finger pad. The pinch did little to soothe his nerves.
I’m more or less hopeless when it comes to tech. A wrench in my hand would only ever be used as a weapon. But, this guy...
“That’s definitely not my problem.”
He’s incredibly basic.
“Maybe you should just take more showers?”
“LIKE YOU’RE ONE TO TALK?!”
A basic bitch for sure.
“Hmm.”
“NO COMEBACK?!”
Matsuda stuck his tongue out, Souda screamed in frustration.
The rest went about as well as anyone could expect.
--
“This really is just the wooooorst,” Souda laments, sounding dangerously close to a sob. “For my first field trip ever, to have it be such a bust is just the woooorst.”
“First time?” Matsuda asked, only feigning curiosity as he flipped the page. He didn’t care, but any conversation was better than listening to more whining. All Matsuda did was sit down to read and he was too spiteful and stubborn to leave when he hadn’t done anything. “Skipped the one in middle school?”
The reason I didn’t go was to study, but for a guy like this...
“Huh? Oh, yeah...” Souda shrugged. “I uh, faked being sick and stayed home instead. Not like I could go with how poor my folks were—not like I wanted to go with how shitty my boring asshole classmates were. My old man was pissed though. Beat the shit out of me.”
“I guess overcompensation ran in the family,” Matsuda muttered, but Souda hadn’t heard him.
“He knew we couldn’t afford it, too,” he just went on. “We had this bike shop but like—not super, uh...”
“Profitable?” Matsuda guessed, to which he nodded along.
“Yeah, people just wanted to fix tires and pump air. We barely sold anything.” Souda sighed loudly before grinning and pointing to himself with a jerk of his thumb. “But! Yours truly still turned out to be a genius mechanic! From bikes to cars! Toys to appliances! You got it, I fix it!”
“You’d make a lot more money as a mechanic than a bike salesman,” Matsuda noted. “It’s a well-paying and sought-after service.”
“I’ve been taking apart and reconstructing things since I could walk,” Souda said proudly. “Even though my old man is just—hopeless!”
“Hopeless,” Matsuda echoed disinterestedly.
“That said, I was still looking forward to this trip,” Souda sighed again. “It sounds nice to go on a trip with friends and stuff, but...you and I are like...the furthest thing from friends.” He does perk up when he remembers, “I guess Hinata’s alright. He’s kinda cool. A real soul bro. Soul pal? Soul friend!”
In that case, why aren’t you seeking his company?
Matsuda’s not quite that petty. Not to mention how childish it’d make him sound while asking that aloud. It’s not like he has a problem with Souda and Hinata getting along.
Although...
Hinata has a thing for Komaeda. That might end up complicating that soul bromance or whatever down the line.
Not that it had anything to do with him.
“I have an unlikeable personality,” he just reminded Souda sardonically. “I didn’t come to Hope’s Peak expecting or wanting to make friends.”
The idea is just...absurd. I haven’t been able to connect with peers in over a decade, why the hell would that change now?
“I know!” Souda groused. “Which is why! A guy like you just shouldn’t be LIKED by girls! Who knows how you’d treat them! If you don’t watch yourself, your alarm clock’s gonna get modified into a ticking time bomb!”
“Try it, coward,” Matsuda snapped, making him falter back. “I fucking dare you.”
“E-Eep...! W-Why do you have to make such a scary face, Matsuda...?!”
“...it’s just how I look.”
Haaaah. This is exhausting. So...exhausting.
“Bad looks and a bad personality, but even you can admit I’m a genius, yeah?” Matsuda turned away. “When you’re smart, people flock to you either as a crutch or a springboard. Especially when you’re young.”
“I mean, I’m a genius too,” Souda grumbled. “I actually could just...modify clocks into bombs if I...really wanted to...”
“I want to change the very scope of neurology,” Matsuda went on, ignoring him this time. “I’m going to make it so that no person will ever be lost to us again.”
“Wait...you’re gonna like...cure death?” Souda asked, gawking. “T-That’s...dude...!”
Matsuda couldn’t help but smirk, all too aware of the growing alarm in the mechanic’s eyes.
“If you could just upload a person’s consciousness to a computer like a program... That’d change more than just our understanding of the brain. It’d challenge our understanding of humanity itself.”
Souda went pale.
“T-That’s, uh...”
“Of course it’s pretty unlikely,” Matsuda said, shaking his head. “And so absurdly sci-fi to the point of fantasy.”
But... It could have been possible at Hope’s Peak. Not on this stupid fucking island though.
“It was a joke. You’re supposed to laugh.”
Souda was left in stunned silence.
“I guess it was a bad joke,” Matsuda admits grumpily.
“Y-You know, I, uh... I just wanted to make a rocket ship someday,” Souda says, slowly and stupidly unsure. “But, you, uh... Your ambitions are fucking scary. Count me out.”
Just like that, Souda stood up and left. Without another word.
That was more or less what Matsuda learned to expect.
--
I really do just have a bad personality.
He knows this already, obviously. But it’s a fact that gets hammered in sometimes. Especially right now, when he sees Souda chatting amicably with Hinata. Souda’s wearing a smile that’s only been directed at Matsuda a couple of times. Even when Souda falters, Hinata ends up saying something that makes him perk right back up.
Hinata’s not that social of a guy in the first place.
The two of them banter with ease even when it’s clear that Hinata still gets exasperated by the other’s antics. Then—something is said. Souda’s expression changes into one of frustration and unease. Hinata’s worried, but when Souda excuses himself, Hinata makes no move to follow him. Likely to give the other space. Be respectful. All that.
Matsuda does trail after Souda, however. He’s not a considerate or patient guy. It’s why he doesn’t have any friends.
“Urgh, hate this, hate this, hate this,” Souda’s muttering under his breath through gritted teeth. “Seriously, why did this have to happen? There’s no escape...the ships and planes are useless...no engines... What the hell can I even do...?!”
“Boo.” Matsuda blew into the mechanic’s ear. “Gimme your lunch money.”
Souda screamed loud enough to blow off mountaintops. Matsuda thankfully had the foresight to cover his ears.
“M-M-M-MATSUDA?!” Souda yelped. “What the actual FUCK was that?!”
“A prank,” is his droning response. “You can laugh now.”
“THAT SHIT WASN’T FUNNY!” Souda screeched back. “Y-You, you, you—! Fucking watch it! I’m not in any mood to be messed with!”
Matsuda waved his hands.
“Alright, alright.”
Souda gave him a withering look. After a while, he backed up even more.
“...why are you here? A-Are you here to...?”
Matsuda waved his hands again, shaking his head for good measure.
“If I were, I wouldn’t have gotten your attention.”
“T-That could just be part of the trap!” Souda sputters. “Y-You... You’re not playing with me, are you?!”
...I was, but not because I wanted to murder you. Jeez. I like to think I’d be more pragmatic.
“You’re free to scream, then,” he said simply. “Scream as loud as you can. It can even be my name if you want.”
Souda shuddered.
“U-Urgh...dude, seriously... You’re just messed up,” he groans, burying his face into his hands. “What I’d give for a vehicle to get as far from you as possible. Even if I get sick afterward, it’d be worth it.”
“Haha,” Matsuda droned without a hint of mirth. “Sure.”
“Come to think of it, if anyone would be tempted to be the one to escape at the expense of everyone else...” Souda does raise his head to give him a look.
Matsuda stared back.
“You don’t know me,” he said. “You don’t know shit about me.”
“I-I don’t know,” Souda huffed, feigning assurance. “I think I’ve been around ya long enough to get a good idea of your character. And you’ve got like—scary ambitions.”
I’m not a considerate person, nor am I patient. I know I should be. It would ultimately make my life a lot easier.
“By that logic, I must know you pretty well in return,” he said.
Souda scoffed.
“Yeah, right. You’re just trying to psyche...”
“Dyed hair. Contacts.” Matsuda gestures to the entirety of him. “The way a person chooses to look says a lot about them.”
Souda’s mouth immediately shut, all blood draining from his face. It was easy. Too easy.
“Wonder what happened? Was it just bullying? Or a betrayal?” Matsuda went on. “People who change their natural appearance like that usually have something deeper to throw away.”
“Don’t—talk about shit you have no idea about...!” Souda growled. “It’s none of your damn business!”
He’s so basic.
It’s true I don’t know what I’m talking about, but you’re still falling for it, aren’t you?
“I’m not the traitor,” he says simply. “If I were, I’d manipulate you to like me. You’re about as easy to play as a cheap kazoo.”
Being a little cruel, aren’t you?
His head’s starting to hurt. For some reason—he himself feels sick. And Souda, well...
Souda’s already sniffling. In tears. Whatever he tries to say just comes out as blubbering. It’s pitiful. So much so that Matsuda pulls back with a groan.
His head really, really hurt. He rifles through his pocket, pulling out a handkerchief and a pill bottle. He lays the former on top of Souda’s quivering head before prying open the bottle. As he turns on his heel, he pops a couple into his mouth and swallows them dry with a groan.
He needed a nap after all that, thus he’s on his way.
--
“Hey. You.” Souda jerked his thumb off to the distance. “We’re going. We need to have a talk.”
“Huh. Kay.”
Once they got to the beach, Souda took several deep breathes. Psyching himself up for what was to come.
There really were only a number of ways things would culminate. A simple exchange of words was not going to be it.
“Y-You—!”
At the same time, when Souda spun on his heel—
“OOF! L-Let go! Let go!”
Matsuda was a bit surprised that Souda had the gall to throw a punch first. Not so surprised that he lacked the reflexes to dodge, to seize the mechanic by the arm. He threw the mechanic down, pinning him down front-first into the sand with Matsuda sitting on his back. Souda yelped when his arm was twisted in Matsuda’s grip.
“L-Let go,” he choked out, slapping the sand. “U-Urgh... Urgh...!”
His eyes were screwed shut, likely to keep the sand out.
“S-Seriously?! You couldn’t let me throw one punch for what an asshole you’ve been?!”
“I mean, if you want to upset the princess, that’s your prerogative,” Matsuda hummed before pulling back. “Unfortunately, I don’t like getting punched if I can avoid it.”
“T-Then what about—?!” Souda ended up coughing. The idiot must have inhaled some sand. Feeling bad for him, Matsuda helped him to his feet. Souda’s still coughing pitifully. “Urgh... You’re suuuuch a piece of wooooork.”
“I carry scalpels around,” Matsuda reminded him, making him freeze. A look of fear and then—that fright melted into exasperation.
“Alright,” Souda sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Alright, I get it. You really like flaunting, don’t ya? You’re the worst.”
Matsuda hummed, but Souda went on.
“Y’know...you’re scarily good at reading people, too. You were right about me. I changed my appearance to throw my old self away,” he admits. “I used to be a cowardly loser who thought highly of anyone who bothered to give me the time of day. Even if they lied to me...even if they betrayed me. I was just too much of a wimp to admit that I was being taken advantage of.”
I was just guessing, Matsuda internally admitted. And I still think you’re a coward and a loser. But for different reasons.
“Accepting vulnerability is the first step,” he ended up saying. “You can’t just say you’ll change even if you’re dramatic about it.”
“W-Well, a lot did change when I...changed...” Souda trails off.
“But not the kind of positive change you were hoping for,” Matsuda guessed again. “Were you uncomfortable?”
Souda blanched.
“God, I hate to admit it, but...you’re too sharp for your own good.”
Matsuda said nothing.
“You’re smart. You’re really fucking smart.” Souda gritted his teeth and met his gaze head-on. “That’s why—I’m gonna keep my guard up around ya.”
“That’s fine,” Matsuda replied, shrugging. “There are people you can relax around, and people you can’t. I don’t blame you at all.”
“You’re fine with it,” Souda reiterated as if he wasn’t sure. “Even if...I never trust you...or believe in you... You’re just...fine with it?”
“I’m fine,” Matsuda repeated. “Are you?”
Souda flinched.
“I... Geez! Playing those sick head games with me again!” He shook his head furiously, covering it with his hands as if that’d be a good defense. “W-Well! I won’t let ya! Better fucking watch yourself, Matsuda! Don’t even THINK of trying anything funny!”
“Got it,” Matsuda droned with disinterest. “Would you like to shake on it?”
“K-Keep away from me,” Souda yelped, nearly tripping over his own feet. “Just—just stay the hell away from me! I’m gonna keep an eye on you, but... I don’t want to have to deal with you if I don’t have to!”
“Alright. Fine.”
Souda gave him a suspicious look. He got flustered and quickly turned away. Without looking at Matsuda, he blindly threw back the handkerchief. It only fluttered to the ground, landing in the sand.
“Save your pity,” Souda muttered darkly. “Goodbye.”
When Souda left, it was with an air of finality. Matsuda decided to just leave things like that between them.
Kneeling down to retrieve his handkerchief, Matsuda did pause for a moment. He shook the sand off the fabric.
“...I don’t plan on betraying anyone, not even you,” he spoke slowly and stupidly. “I do in fact...care about lives and I don’t want to see them lost.”
Would that have really been so hard to say?
He really did have such an awful personality. Even if it wouldn’t have worked out for him, it wouldn’t have hurt to have tried.
There are people you can relax around and people that you can’t. There are people you can be friends with and people you that can’t. People you should trust and people that you shouldn’t. You can’t always control which one you’ll be, because it all depends on how others feel. You can’t control that. Even if that’s technically true...
He feels like he’s making excuses. It feels bad.
His head hurting doesn’t help. As he gripped that handkerchief, he took notice of a crab burying itself in the sand down below.
I should do better. I should be better. Maybe if I tell myself enough times, it’ll happen.
