Intersection of Pranks 2

Half an hour later

Yuuta: (Hmm... I read through the proposal, and it’s true: it looks like I really can do whatever I want to prank someone else.)

(The budget’s massive, so as long as I don’t get too crazy there shouldn’t be a problem.)

(This is super generous just for some practical jokes. I guess you have all the money in the world when you’re on at prime time.)

Yuuta: (Well, I won’t worry about that for now... The important thing is that I’m doing this on my own.)

(Out go-to prank has always been doing the twin switcheroo, since I’m usually doing this with Aniki.)

(But now, I’m the only one who got the job. So I get to make “Aoi Yuuta” sparkle and shine.)

Hehe. Whatever shall I do~? ♪

Well, since I’m all about spicy food, I could dig a trap and put habanero powder in it—

Rinne: —What about habanero powder? Are you eating that super spicy shit again, Yuta?

Yuuta: (Eugh, Rinne-senpai?! Why is he always showing up when I’m in the middle of important things?!)

Rinne: I’m telling you, you gotta chillax on all that spicy crap. It’s got tons of salt in it, right? And if you eat too much salt, you’ll prolly end up with high blood pressure.

You’re already pissy enough as it is. If you’re not careful, you’re totally gonna pop a blood vessel or two! Gyahaha!

Yuuta: (Okay, I’m a hundred percent ignoring him. I can’t let him win by getting a rise out of me.)

Rinne: Well hey now, why’re you giving me the cold shoulder? I’m just concerned about your health, yanno?

I hear the reason people eat spicy food is ‘cause they’re under a lotta stress. If you went and collapsed on me, your dependable senpai’d get real sad.

Yuuta: (Like you can talk! If I collapsed from stress right now, you’d be the reason for it!)

(—Okay, it’s decided: I’m gonna prank the shit out of Amagi Rinne!)

(I’ll put every ounce of resentment I’ve built up toward him into this. I hope he’s ready for it!)

Rinne: So anyway, you’ve been pretty absorbed in that paper for a while. Whatcha reading? Looks like a proposal...

Yuuta: Hey! You’re not supposed to look at that! You’re leaking information!

Rinne: Don’t sweat it. Everyone knows I can keep a secret.

Yuuta: I don’t think there’s a single person alive as untrustworthy as you!

Rinne: Hm? Isn’t this a proposal for that prank challenge our four-eyes VP gave me?

Yuuta: Wait, you knew about it?!

So much for my foolproof plan to see you crying and snotting all over the place...

Rinne: What, were you gonna try and prank me?

Well that would’ve been just too bad, so sad for you, huh. You’re about ten years too young to pull one over on me. Gyahahaha ♪

Yuuta: Actually, you just said it was the prank challenge the VP gave you, right?

Rinne: Well obviously, I’m the first one that comes to mind when you think about pranks. Like, I’m basically the poster boy, right? ♪ If there are pranks going down, it only makes sense to call me in.

Yuuta: Nuh-uh. The VP gave me this job. Why would he send it your way, too?

...You’re trying to steal it from me, aren’t you?

Rinne: What do I look like in that head of yours, Yuta? You think I’m the sorta guy who pulls dirty tricks like that?

Yuuta: Well, let’s take some time to reflect on all the things you’ve done up to now.

Rinne: No faith in me at all, huh. Well, I’m not tryna steal the gig from you. But I might be stealing your screen time.

Yuuta: ...What do you mean by that?

Rinne: The most important part of a prank is making sure you get a good shot, right? So the quickest way to make that happen is by getting as many shots as you can.

So you give ‘em a ton of plans, and they’ll structure the whole program around the ones that have the best chance at getting usable footage.

Obviously, they don’t wanna waste time on boring tricks; they cut all that shit out. At best it’ll be featured in the blooper reel or something, and at worst it’s shelved for good.

So when you think about it that way, there’s a real possibility I might steal away all your screen time.

Yuuta: ...So you’re telling me we’re working the same job?!

Rinne: Gyahaha! You shakin’ in your boots over the idea of me overshadowing you, Yuta?

If you’re that scared, why don’t we just team up and work together? Then there’s no chance at all for me to get in your way.

Yuuta: Obviously I’m going to say no.

Rinne: You break my damn heart. Poor Rinne-kun’s so hurt. You must be joking, right?

Yuuta: I thought you were the poster boy for that.^[1]

Like I said before, if I take your hand too easily, I don’t know what you’ll make me do.^[2]

Besides, I just don’t see a future where we can actually work together well.

Considering all the risks, I’d rather just go at it alone.

Rinne: That so? Well, if you ever change your mind, just gimme a call.

Yuuta: That’s never going to happen, so I’ll just say good luck instead. So yeah.

Rinne: Hey, where’re you going, Yuta?

Yuuta: If I stay here, you’ll just keep annoying me. So I’m going someplace else to put some real thought into this prank.

Well anyway, nice seeing you. And I’d rather you not follow me, by the way.

Rinne: If you tell me that, it just makes me wanna follow you even more—wait, where’d you go?!

Damn, you’re fast. Makes a guy feel unwanted, yanno...

Ah, whatevs. Now he’s gone and made me all sortsa curious about what he’ll cook up by his lonesome.