Chapter Text
The next two days are full of pain, petals, and blood. Lucy spends the days laying on Yosano’s couch watching stupid television shows and trying to ignore the screaming pain in her throat. Yosano tries to convince her to confess her feelings, but Lucy won’t allow it. She can’t bring him pain; she’ll carry all the pain that she has to if that means sparing him some pain.
He probably wouldn’t care if you died.
No, Atsushi’s kind, he would care if, or when, I die.
Yosano told her, the day after she went to the agency, that Ranpo said that he had another solution, but it would take a few days, so Lucy waits. Two days of waiting seem to go by like a second and an eon at once. The pain overwhelms her, but it’s bearable when she’s distracted. However, when she’s reminded of, or someone mentions Atsushi, her throat seems to fill with flowers faster and at the same time, she feels like she can finally breathe again.
Why did I have to fall in love?
“Lucy!” Yosano snaps Lucy from her thoughts, walking into the apartment for her lunch break, which she has been spending with the girl, “I got you some tea from the cafe, I thought you would like it.” She places the hot tea in front of her, as Lucy smiles and nods.
“Also,” Yosano continues, “I finally have some good news.” That gets Lucy’s attention, her head snaps in the direction of Yosano, waiting for her to continue. “Ranpo says he finally has his solution ready, he promises that by sunset all the pain will be gone.” Yosano smiles warmly at Lucy, clearly relieved that this will all be over soon.
The good news gives Lucy hope that she might be able to live, but part of Lucy, the part that knows never to get her hopes up, doubts it.
“Thank you, Yosano,” Lucy smiles, trying to hide the doubt and worries deep within her.
“C’mon Lucy,” Yosano smiles, “eat up fast.”
~~~
What the actual fuck, was Lucy’s first thought as she stepped out of the car. She expected to be driven to the agency, not to be driven to a park with a look into Yokahoma’s harbor.
“What the fuck,” she says outloud this time, looking over to Yosano and Dazai.
“Don’t worry Lucy,” Yosano comforts the girl, putting a hand on her shoulder, “I trust Ranpo and he said to go here so just put your trust in him for a second.”
None of Lucy’s worries are calmed by this, but the gesture is kind nonetheless.
The older two start walking ahead, seemingly leading Lucy to wherever the fuck they need to go. Slightly reluctant, Lucy followed, though she couldn’t seem to catch up to the pair, the disease sucking all the energy out of her. The pair disappeared behind a corner and Lucy ran to not lose them, but by the time she turned the corner they were nowhere to be found.
Lucy panics, looking around the area, she realizes that she’s surrounded by flowers dying from the cold. How ironic, she thinks. She walks up towards one flower bed filled with purple flowers. Even though they’re dying, they’re still somehow beautiful.
Suddenly the petals fill her throat and she starts coughing up petal after petal, flower after flower, blood after blood until she feels like she’s drowning in petals and blood.
This wouldn’t be too bad a place to die…
“Lucy!”
A familiar voice pierces through the petals and blood. Through blurred eyes she sees a white haired boy run up to her, kneeling down next to her and placing her head on his lap.
Why…., Lucy thinks, why is he here?
“Lucy!,” she can hear pain in his voice.
Why is there pain? He doesn’t care about you.
“Lucy no! Don’t go! I-I don’t want to lose you! Please..” Lucy feels wet drops on her face, “I-I won’t lose you! Please I don’t want someone I love to die.”
What? Love?
Suddenly Lucy shoots up, off of Atsushi’s lap, curling over to cough out the flowers still in her throat. Lucy feels as if she’s coughing forever, the blood and petals seem to keep coming, but as the last full bloom falls out of her mouth, she breathes a breath without flowers for the first time in days.
Tears still falling down her cheeks, Lucy looks over to Atsushi, who looks just as surprised as she feels and twice the amount of tears. The reality finally sets in for Lucy, the flowers are gone… her love must have been returned, but… does Atsushi really love her?
“You-you love me..?” Lucy whispers, looking down, not able to look him in the eyes any longer.
“Yes,” Atsushi says, “ I love you.”
“How?”
“..how?” Atsushi questions, “there are many reasons.. One: you’re beautiful, two: you’re so caring, three: without you, Yokohama wouldn’t be here right now, four: you’re hard working-”
“I get it!” With each of the reasons, Lucy felt her face get warmer and warmer, “..maybe I’ll believe you…”
Atsushi laughs (oh how Lucy is so glad to be able to hear that laugh again) “I’m so glad you’re okay.. I thought- I- I thought that I had lost you..” Atsushi looks down with a sad look on his face.
“I- I love you too,” Lucy states, somehow being able to speak the words through all her embarrassment.
Atsushi’s eyes widen as a hard blush appears on his face, “I- I-”
After almost dying, Lucy doesn’t have the patience for Atsushi’s stammering and decides to pull him into the kiss she’s wanted so much. Atsushi gasps before returning the kiss. Pulling away, Lucy can tell that the two’s faces are both completely red by now.
“Wou-”
“Would you be my boyfriend?” Lucy inurupts Atsushi.
Atsushi looks surprised despite the fact they just confessed their love for the other before replying: “Yes, of course Lucy”
Overjoyed, Lucy tackles Atsushi with a hug, trying to give him all the love he deserves. Little does she know, Atsushi is trying to give her all the love she deserves.
~~~
Dreaming isn’t all bad, Lucy thinks, some dreams will never come true, but some will and we just gotta make it happen. Taking the risk is the hard part, but, she decides, it’s worth it.