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As one would assume, the current situation was inevitable from the start. It’s amazing that it’s been put off for a few days, but now it’s finally happening.
“This dress would look adorable on Chuuya-san!”
“I have already prepared this sailor outfit.”
“Oh! Look at how cute these onesies are! I just know he’d look so cute.”
Chuuya, who's lounging on Dazai's lap, occasionally swatting at the hands that pinch his cheeks too hard, is asked which one he wants to wear.
The little one inspects each outfit, seriously considering all options with a thoughtful expression on his face. Then, chipper as a beaver, Chuuya pipes up with a smile, declaring, "All of them!"
And thus begins the fashion show.
Well, it's more arguing over who gets to dress Chuuya up than any actual showcasing of said outfits. They get through three ensembles max, before an argument breaks out between the doting stylists that each want a chance to decorate the breathing doll. They're so occupied that they fail to notice the stifled yawns and drooping eyes of their model.
Sluggishly, Chuuya walks up to Dazai, tugging on his coat sleeve to get his attention, but he's brushed off with a hurried explanation of needing to rebuke Kouyou's desire to go again .
"It's not fair!"
"Oh, like you of all people care about being ‘fair’."
Chuuya frowns, journeying over to Atsushi. He, too, favors screaming at Akutagawa than the short redhead that tiredly asks for upsies.
"Why would you want to dress him like that demon?!"
"Rashoumon is beautiful ! Who would want to dress a child up like a tiger?"
Atsushi throws his arms in the air, exasperated.
"Normal people!"
Fukuzawa and Mori are no different.
"Yukichi, listen to me. These dresses would compliment his fair skin wonderfully."
"Yes, but so would this traditional kimono."
Every person that ignores Chuuya also ignores the dewy eyes that only get moister as the seconds tick by. Eventually, when it becomes clear that no one will pay him any attention, he leaves the room just as the tears spill over onto his cheeks, wetting his face with liquefied frustration.
The little one manages to get the Agency door open, about to leave the building altogether, when a calico cat brushes up against his legs, preventing him from taking a step outside.
"Hello, kitty," Chuuya greets, sniffling. Using the cape of the red hood he's wearing, he wipes away some of the tears to get a better look at the purring animal winding around his legs.
His quest to escape changes course as the kitty leads him back inside, allowing the child to hold onto his tail as an extra precaution. The smaller the distance between the duo and raging amateur stylists becomes, the more agitated the cat's ears get, twitching restlessly. Little hands gently cupping his ears startles the cat, but he relaxes at the realization of who those hands belong to.
"Sorry, kitty," Chuuya says softly, trying his absolute best to shield the pointed ears. "Their yelling hurt my ears, too, but I'll protect you."
Considering they can't stay in the hallway the whole day, Chuuya shakes off his cape to drape over the cat, carefully pulling the hood over his head and wrapping the rest loosely around his body. Chuuya apologizes once more before lifting the cat into his arms and ever so slowly taking them to the nearest room, that being Yosano's office.
It's an arduous task, what with the cat being a little heavy for the redhead's twig-like arms and all, but it ends in success. After placing the wrapped cat on the ground, Chuuya dutifully closes the door, greatly muffling the shouting from a few doors down.
Chuuya claps his hands for a job well done.
"There! Now both of our ears will be ok."
A yawn escapes his mouth as he's removing the hooded cape from the cat, forcing him to pause so he can rub at his eyes. This does not go unnoticed by Mr. Kitty, who pads away from Chuuya and towards one of the beds, meowing at the little one to get him to follow.
It takes some effort, though Chuuya does haul himself up where the cat is waiting for him, curled up by one of the pillows in a silent request for him to join his cat nap. A bright smile adorns Chuuya's face then, one that casts a soft glow over his features, like the sun before it sets below the horizon, warm and pleasant. Finally , someone notices his fatigue and wants to nap with him--bonus that it's an adorable kitty.
In his eagerness to cuddle up with the calico cat, he forgets to crawl under the covers, deciding that the natural warmth from the animal's body will suffice, so long as he gets to close his eyes to get the rest he deserves.
~
Souseki waits for the child to fall asleep, dozing off himself until Chuuya's breath evens out completely.
He wiggles out from under the little one's arm, padding down to retrieve the discarded red cape, so that he can blanket his body that starts to shiver without any other form of comfort. Mission completed, the cat reclaims his position next to Chuuya, eyes closing but ears flicking to listen as the chaos in the other room heightens, no doubt because of the realization that the child they were supposed to be caring for is missing.
"Oi, who left the front door open?" is heard in a panic-stricken voice.
No remorse is felt when the entire Agency empties to search for the child that's enjoying a peaceful nap in the infirmary. At least now, they'll have some tranquility fit for an afternoon doze, ridden of the ridiculous fighting from earlier.
Of course, as the search comes to its conclusion, Souseki stares down his pupils and Dazai with a piercing glare, shaming all three of them for disappointing him like this.
No one knows why Fukuzawa and Mori go pale at the sight of the cat, or why Dazai refuses to look directly at it. All they know is that Chuuya is never let out of their sight again, lest they want to experience the wrath of a calico cat that's as enamored with the precious child as everyone else.