Chapter Text
Dazai and Chuuya were known for their constant fighting.
The smallest things could lead to an argument between those two. From slightly bumping into each other when they walk, to accidentally breathing down the other’s neck when they were reading a book together, to an innocent gesture of picking a leaf out of the other’s hair, to accidentally being caught staring at each other. Anything could cause them to start bickering like five-year-olds.
So when they didn’t fight, everyone knew that something was wrong.
One week had passed since they started ignoring each other.
Atsushi didn’t think much of this at first, because sometimes they would do this when they got tired of fighting and decided that not acknowledging the other party was easier. But as time passed, Atsushi realized that this wasn’t the case at all, because Dazai and Chuuya hadn’t spoken one word to each other this past week. They even stopped hanging out together, for god’s sake.
Atsushi watched a little sheepishly as Dazai sat across from him at the table and pointedly ignored the empty seat next to him. Akutagawa was silent next to Atsushi. He was probably itching to take the seat next to Dazai, but was worried that he would get stomped on for trying to take Chuuya’s place.
It was awkward without Dazai and Chuuya’s usual banter.
“So, Atsushi-kun,” Dazai began, “what have you been up to?”
Atsushi blinked. “Me?”
Akutagawa glared daggers at Atsushi, which was pointedly ignored. Dazai smiled at his junior and rested his chin on his palm. “Yes, you. I heard from one of the cafeteria ladies that you’ve gotten yourself two girlfriends! What’s up with that?”
Atsushi choked on his milkshake. “What?!”
“No need to be shy,” Dazai grinned, “I heard that one of them is a really cute junior high school student and the other is a feisty redhead in your year.”
Oh. Atsushi pinched the bridge of his nose. “Kyouka-chan and Montgomery?”
“One of them is a foreigner?” Dazai exclaimed. “Wow, Atsushi-kun, I didn’t you know you were so popular!”
“He’s just a scrawny little kid who wins people’s sympathy with his miserable face,” Akutagawa grumbled.
Atsushi turned to Akutagawa with a frown while trying to suppress his embarrassment at Dazai’s words. “I do not have a miserable face,” he hissed.
Akutagawa snorted as he munched away at his fries. “Keep telling yourself that.”
They glared at each other after that. Dazai stealthily snatched away half of Akutagawa’s fries and drank half of Atsushi’s milkshake while they did this. “You’re getting along pretty well, huh,” he commented.
“We don’t get along,” Atsushi and Akutagawa said at the same time. They glared at each other again.
Dazai laughed. “Oh, really? Where does all this chemistry come from, though?”
“You call this chemistry? Chemistry is the thing between you and Chuuya-san,” Akutagawa said.
The air around Dazai seemed to change at that. Akutagawa’s eyes widened, as if he’d just realized his words. Atsushi facepalmed, because he thought Akutagawa knew how to control his mouth.
But now that the issue had been brought up, it seemed like a good chance to ask what the problem was.
“Dazai-san,” Atsushi began carefully, “what’s with you and Chuuya-san lately? Are you guys fighting?”
“He’s not worthy of my attention, why would I be fighting with him?” Dazai said, a little coldly.
“Isn’t he supposed to be your friend, though?” Atsushi pressed on.
“Friend?” Dazai snorted. “He’s never been my friend, we were only ever seen together because he refused to leave me alone.”
“You’re always taunting him into chasing you around,” Akutagawa supplied helpfully.
Dazai glared at Akutagawa, who just stared back at him, and smiled coldly. “Akutagawa-kun, you were never this talkative. What’s with the sudden change? Not that it’s a bad thing, but I’d prefer it if you would stay quiet right now.”
Akutagawa snorted and continued eating his fries without another word. If he noticed that half of it had disappeared mysteriously, he said nothing.
Cold sweat rolled down the back of Atsushi’s neck as Dazai fixed his gaze on him. “Is there anything else you want to add, Atsushi-kun?”
Atsushi didn’t want to drop the issue just yet, but Dazai’s smile was really scary, so he had no other choice. “No, Dazai-san.”
Dazai’s smile turned satisfied. “Good. Then I shall take my leave now.”
They then watched as Dazai skipped out of the fast-food joint. “He ate half of my fries,” Akutagawa muttered after Dazai was safely out of sight.
Atsushi raised his paper cup to observe it in the light. “He drank half of my milkshake.”
Akutagawa grumbled under his breath as he finished the remaining of his fries. Right when he was about to leave, someone stomped up toward them and dropped himself onto the recently vacated seat across them. “The two of you,” he said, frustration in his voice, “are Dazai’s friends, right?”
Atsushi jumped slightly and studied the person sitting in front of him. He was wearing their school’s uniform and had his blonde hair tied up in a ponytail. Sharp yellow eyes glared at Atsushi and Akutagawa through the lenses of a pair of glasses.
It was Kunikida Doppo, Dazai’s classmate.
“Kunikida-san, is it…?” Atsushi asked uncertainly. Akutagawa just stared.
“Yes, that’s me. You’re Nakajima Atsushi and Akutagawa Ryuunosuke, the two underclassmen who hang out with Dazai and Nakahara.” It wasn’t a question, it was a statement. Kunikida looked at them both in turn and asked, “What’s up with those two? Are they fighting?”
“Uh,” Atsushi glanced at Akutagawa for help, “I think so.” But why was Kunikida concerned with this?
“Exactly as I thought.” Kunikida nodded to himself. “I need you two to make them sort their issues out.”
“Why should we?” Akutagawa cut in. “We may be their friends, but they’re their own person.”
Kunikida frowned at Akutagawa. “Don’t you care about them ruining their friendship?”
Akutagawa shrugged. “It’s their problem, so they should sort it out themselves.”
“I would like to help,” Atsushi quickly interrupted because it seemed like a fight was about to start, “but I have no idea how to. Kunikida-san, do you have any idea?”
“You’re supposed to be their friends, shouldn’t you know?”
“So you’re telling us to sort out their issues while you just sit back and watch without contributing anything?” Akutagawa glared. “How convenient for you.”
Atsushi elbowed Akutagawa in his side. “That’s no way to talk to a senior,” he hissed.
Kunikida gave Atsushi a look of approval. “At least one of you knows how to respect people.”
Atsushi smiled weakly, trying very hard to ignore Akutagawa’s glare. “But Kunikida-san, why are you so concerned about Dazai-san and Chuuya-san? I didn’t know you were close to them.”
At this, Kunikida made a sour face. “I don’t particularly care about their relationship,” he said begrudgingly, “but Dazai has been going ballistic these days and he wouldn’t leave me alone. I’ve had enough of him messing with me but I don’t know what to do, so I was hoping that you guys would be able to help.”
“So you’re asking for our help.” Akutagawa smirked. “What do we get in return?”
“Akutagawa,” Atsushi hissed.
A pause as Kunikida frowned thoughtfully. “I don’t have anything to offer you, but I’ll be indebted to you if you help me.”
“I don’t need having you owe me,” Akutagawa replied.
Kunikida’s left eye twitched. Atsushi intervened before the blonde senior could respond, “Akutagawa, if we help Dazai-san and Chuuya-san sort their issues, the two of them would be indebted to us too, you know?” Atsushi prayed that Akutagawa would catch on the part with Dazai being indebted to him. Using Dazai to persuade Akutagawa was probably low of him, but Atsushi couldn’t think of any other way.
Akutagawa’s face smoothed over as Atsushi’s words sunk in. Atsushi kept his fingers crossed while Akutagawa made up his mind. “Fine,” he finally said, “I’ll keep them from fighting and worsening the situation, but don’t expect me to do much more than not getting in the way.”
Atsushi sighed. That was probably the best he could get for now. Let’s hope that he could persuade Akutagawa further later. “Okay then.” He turned to Kunikida with a small smile. “We’ll do our best, Kunikida-san. Sorry for the trouble Dazai-san has caused you.”
Kunikida’s stern expression softened into something more apologetic and grateful. “Thank you for your help. And sorry for troubling you guys.”
“No, don’t mention it.”
“Then I shall take my leave now.” Kunikida stood, bowed at both Atsushi and Akutagawa (which made Atsushi sputter and Akutagawa scoff), and strode out of the place.
Akutagawa waited for Kunikida to disappear from their sight before he stood too. “If you expect me to help you in your quest, be ready to be disappointed,” he said and left.
Atsushi remained sitting, hands around his cup of milkshake, mind racing. Now, what should he do to help his stupid seniors?