Red and Black

You and your best guy friend made a pact: if neither of you found a partner by the time you turned thirty, you’d settle for each other.

A few days ago, you celebrated your thirtieth birthdays together. But your best friend is now a heinous Mafia boss,

and yesterday, you became the city’s top prosecutor. - Inspiration

*

Sakaguchi Ango never imagined that Mori Ogai, his close friend back in school, would suddenly become the boss of the Port Mafia a few years later.

Mori Ogai never imagined either that his good friend and part-time confidant Sakaguchi Ango would become a senior official in the Special Division for Unusual Powers, as well as a spy in the Port Mafia.

Then, on the night of their graduation, they made a tipsy promise:

“Hey, An-chan, if you still haven’t found someone to marry by the time you’re thirty, how about considering me?”

“I wouldn’t be against it. But with your charm, Mori-kun, finding someone you like shouldn’t be difficult.”

“Hm? Are you saying I’m handsome, An-chan?”

And so, time passed. After setting a neatly organized stack of documents on Mori Ogai’s desk, Ango was about to leave when Mori grabbed his hand.

“Could it be that An-chan is trying to renege on our deal?”

Sakaguchi Ango was momentarily dazed.

“Do you really think this is appropriate, Mori-kun?”

“Whatever could An-chan mean? I don’t understand a word you’re saying.”

Was this the sort of mess you had to kneel down and clean up because you’d made it yourself?

Ignoring the big black cat rubbing against him and meowing, Sakaguchi Ango fell into thought.

*

In this story, Mori Ogai and Sakaguchi Ango are the same age, and they attended Tokyo University together as classmates and roommates.

Oda Sakunosuke survives, and the Three Crows are still together.

Mori Ogai is more considerate, and also a devoted wife-husband (no, not really).

Sakaguchi Ango x Mori Ogai

Theme: Thanks for asking. I’ve crash-landed in the Arctic Circle. Someone save me.