Archive of Our Own ^beta

It was Atsushi's first time seeing snow.

It was his first time seeing snow without feeling so cold,frail and hungry.

It was his first time seeing snow without the fear and anxiety of being caught, but of course it still tugs on him, prompting him to look behind him expecting to see a specter standing ominously in white, hands behind appearing civilized.

But all he saw is a dark room, the closet of where he slept in open and slightly visible because of the half opened curtain and window where lights from street lamps seep in a bit. He can faintly make out an outline of Kyouka sleeping peacefully on her futon hugging the bunny stuff toy he bought for her, it was more like a coerce but he felt proud of himself for making her happy.

He smiles from the memory and thought of his promise to himself to make her more happy, she was like his sister afterall and one of the people that makes him feel,somehow, that he has a family.

He turns around to admire the view of snow slowly drifting down the land where everything is almost covered in white. He extends a hand out to catch one on his hand and shivered when he felt it land on his palm.

"Cold, isn't it?"

Atsushi almost jumps, yell and might have slapped himself to quiet down before he can wake up anyone or the whole building.

"Dazai-san!" when he calms down, he looks on Dazai who was sitting on his own window. He forgot that Dazai just lives next door and that he didn't expect to see the older on a white shirt and pajamas.

For someone who wears a sleep attire, Dazai didn't look disheveled or looked like he fell asleep. He seems to be listening to music with his headphones around his neck and his phone on one hand, Atsushi can hear a faint sound from it.

"I think about how snow is like the women I have met," Dazai explains, a bit too dramatically, "cold but beautiful."

Atsushi stares at him, not amused by whatever happened earlier, "Oh,I really can't see as to why." he wonders how the other could have pretended that he just didn't almost gave Atsushi a heart attack and receive a possible scolding from Kunikida who lives a few doors away.

"You could have atleast called my name before you just speak out of nowhere." Atsushi said.

But Dazai didn't listen, as he starts fiddling on his phone and Atsushi thought why is he still standing out on the cold and expect Dazai to say something.

"If you won't say anything...I guess, uh, I'll just go back to sleep."

"No,no,no...Atsushi-kun, I have something to... I have something I want you to listen on." Dazai halts him from moving, not sparing him a glance and seems too preoccupied on typing something on his phone.

"what?" Atsushi asks, a bit wary but watched the other plug off his headphones and walk inside. Atsushi can hear him rummage on a blanket and Dazai came back shortly with an earphone, "tada!" he exclaims, a bit too loud for Atsushi's liking.

When Dazai hands him the other bud, he hesitated but encourages him to take it and he did,putting the bud in his ear.

I don't want a lot for Christmas

There is just one thing I need

I don't care about the presents

Underneath the Christmas tree…

It was an odd song, he didn't understand the song but he knows that the language is in english. He felt skeptical wondering why Dazai made him listen to the song when he doesn't understand, he tries to ask but decides to keep it for now as Dazai bobs his head to the beat of the song, he can see his hands making small motions and Atsushi can't help himself but smile.

The song is beautiful, cheery althought he can't understand it fully, he knows what the song could possibly be about.

And he thinks of christmas, an event that was celebrated by many and for many reasons, it is an occasion commonly celebrated by families.

'families...' he thought for a while, a big imposing gate,color stained glass and a cold cell.

He thought for a second that he disappeared into his own thoughts and he was glad Dazai pulled him out before he slowly drowns himself in bad memories.

"Atsushi-kun, since you don't anything about christmas I will teach you about it."

"Not that I don't know anything..."

"Hush," Dazai looks him on the eye, for a split second Atsushi saw something from his face but he couldn't tell what with how his expression quickly changed to that one of a childish facade, "Lets make your first christmas fun, what do you say?"

There is really nothing else to say against it, afterall Kyouka excitedly talked to him the other day about a christmas party planned by Naomi, apparently with the intention to celebrate a fun christmas with everyone for Atsushi and Kyouka

Atsushi smiles, not knowing what to feel about it and if he can really celebrate christmas, but he can only really murmur his reply to that, "alright."

He expects a stern whisper ghosting near his ear yet all he hear is the cheery song continously singing in his ear and Dazai humming, tapping the melody on the railings of his balcony.

Atsushi, weirdly, doesn't feel so cold.

"That is all for our plan on the christmas party, remember all your roles." Kunikida informs the whole group, all sat around a table either looking at Kunikida or not paying attention at all.

Ranpo was twirling around on his office chair sucking on a lollipop, Yosano was giving her attention though looking a bit bored, Kenji was paying attention for sure but his eyes are just on the potted plant infront of him, Naomi and Tanizaki are listening as well as Kyouka,she sat beside Atsushi who was looking at everyone in wonder while Dazai was reading his usual book on Atsushi's other side.

Of course Kunikida decides to scold the man first.

"Oi Dazai! Pay attention here!"

Atsushi thought to himself, 'why won't you tell the same thing to Yosano-san and Ranpo-san?' only for Atsushi to realize it on the middle of his thoughts, 'oh yeah...'

"Ehh? were you saying something, Kunikida-kun?" Dazai blinks closing the book he was reading, staring back at the fuming Kunikida innocently.

But poor Kunikida didn't want to get himself too mad, especially on the middle of the afternoon where there are more office works to tend to, and managed to calm himself down before he can break another pen of his.

"Are we picking names now?" Naomi asked excitedly shaking a box containing rolled papers with everyone's name written on it. This was the idea for exchanging gifts, a secret santa as what she called it.

Some didn't look so pleased and Atsushi knows why but he still wonder why people agreed on this if they weren't interested, but he didn't want to say that aloud.

"Wait-"

"I'll go first, I'm ready to get the President." Ranpo interrupts Kunikida,  the blonde man wasn't mad but Atsushi felt bad because he looks second away from deflating like a balloon.

"What makes you think you will get him?" Yosano asked, a smirk on her lips and Ranpo gave his own kind of smirk as if challenging her.

"Don't underestimate the great detective!" He exclaims and he stood up proudly from his chair. He motions for Naomi to give the box she was holding in which she slide it across the table right where Ranpo's hand waits.

Ranpo fumbles inside the box without a single thought and pulls out a white small rolled paper. He unrolls it and shows it confidently to everyone.

He really did get the President's name.

Everyone was amazed by this except Yosano, Yosano didn't looked too pleased but Atsushi can tell she was being playful with him, that is how their friendship works he noticed.

"Don't look at me with such jealousy, Yo~sa~no." The two engaged in a bicker and it reminds Atsushi of the siblings that he sees outside arguing on a street but immediately pulls the other back when a car passes by.

The box was passed to everyone and each of them took turns getting the rolled paper, the president told them that he didn't mind getting the last unrolled paper since he had to go meet up with someone else. Atsushi didn't take him for someone who would join in things like this, but again he gave his permission right when Naomi asked if they can throw a christmas party.

After letting Kyouka first, the box was passed to Atsushi and he offers it to Dazai, "Dazai-san should go first."

The older man shook his head and laid back on his chair, both arms resting behind his head, "You can go first Atsushi-kun."

"But..." Atsushi wanted to protest but Naomi who was standing the corner on the back of the room, was giving him...quite a stare that made him flush a little.

Dazai was confused on the sudden reaction but Atsushi waves him off, "fine, I'll go first."

He sticks his hand inside the box and took the first paper he touched, he didn't want take too long, he quickly passes the box to Dazai.

Making sure no one was looking, he backs a bit on his chair and unrolled the paper he got.

Upon seeing the name written on the paper, he felt his head hurt except he realize that it hurts because he slammed it on the table.

When Kyouka told Atsushi to go home without her that she will be hanging out with Naomi for a while and will come home as early as possible, Atsushi already feels like a loser but not because no one wants to go home with him yet, it is just that Dazai was waiting for him outside the office and offered that they walk home together.

"Go get him tiger." Yosano elbows him almost causing him to yelp and drop the papers he was organizing.

"Please don't do that." Atsushi begged but Yosano only walked off to the infirmary and he was left sighing to himself.

"I feel you, Atsushi-kun." Tanizaki said also doing the same thing Atsushi is doing. He sees Yosano turn her head a bit and snickers, to who? Atsushi doesn't know.

"I'm glad I'm not the only one then."

"Yeah, don't think about what she said."

'...Is that suppose to comfort me?' he ignores his odd statement and focused on getting the remaining of his work done.

Once he was already done before Tanizaki can finish, he hesistantly exits the office only to find Dazai gone.

Confused, he shuts the door behind him and jumps when he felt a hand land on his shoulder.

"Atsushi-kun~" Dazai calls him in a happy tone but it was quiet like he was pretending to be serial killer.

He thought halloween was already over.

"I don't think that was necessary."

"I think it have became an everday job for me to surprise Atsushi-kun in different ways."

Dazai leisurely takes his step forward, walking infront of Atsushi with hands on his pockets and Atsushi watches for a second before he follows him downstairs.

Dazai starts to rumble about Kunikida being mad of him the whole time, saying that he doesn't deserve being treated so poorly and Kunikida should stop being so mad twenty four seven. But Atsushi isn't listening too much,he is getting distracted of the long blue scarf flowing behind him.

"I think his anger is actually fair."

Dazai gasps, "Fair?! Atsushi-kun I thought you love me?!"

Atsushi blushes almost as red as the scarf around his own neck, he decides to ignore Dazai and the red raising on his cheek, he calms himself down to gain back a normal color.

When they are finally outside, it was snowing and still fairly light outside, a gush of wind blows by and Atsushi shivers eager to go home already and sink himself to the comfort of his warm blankets.

"Do you want to go eat something hot?" Dazai asked despite having less layers he didn't seem bothered by the cold, he was just wearing a scarf and  he just wore the same thing he wears everyday.

"Uh..I'm not sure, I just kinda want to go home."

WeIl, it is the truth, Atsushi swears to himself.

Gladly Dazai didn't ask any more questions but pouted instead, "alright...you don't want to be with me...I understand."

Damn,Dazai and his little tricks.

Atsushi huffs, "Its not like that...Its not that I don't want to be...with you..." Atsushi ignores the awkwardness crawling on his arms right now, continuing his sentence, "...I, its cold you know."

He gave up with the whole reasoning realizing he doesn't need to, since Dazai is probably joking around again.

The older man just blinks, staring him down for a few moments almost making Atsushi want to squirm. He looks up to the sky nonchalantly, "I guess it is cold."

Atsushi wonders why with this man.

They continued to walk home almost in silence with small talks that Atsushi doesn't mind as much, until Dazai perks up and ask, "Atsushi-kun...tell me~ who did you get?"

Atsushi backs away as Dazai approached him close, face a little too close for his liking, "I am not telling you, what is the point of secret santa if i tell you?"

"Just between us! No one else has to know."

Atsushi can feel a headache coming and he thinks of warm tea and chazuke. He doesn't want to tell Dazai because he can get himself in trouble, he doesn't want to get Naomi mad who arranged the idea.

But knowing Dazai he might as well do almost everything just to get Atsushi to admit.

Atsushi chose silence and continues his pace of walking ahead of Dazai. He hears the older hum questioningly behind him while Atsushi plays with his own breath, it was almost getting dark and the street lights are starting to lit up.

Everything was quiet, the sound of the busy streets far, the sound of snow falling and their footsteps surround them.

Well it would have stayed quiet if Atsushi didn't yelp when he felt something cold thrown on his nape, he shivers and shakes his scarf to get rid of,what he assumes to be, snow.

"What is wrong with you?" Atsushi was never really great in getting mad.

No, that is a misconception, rather he really never gets mad of Dazai for some kind of reason.

Annoyance? he admits to feeling it but mad? he never felt angry of the older man who is now forming a ball of snow with his hands, dangerously gloveless, and grinning like a mad man.

(Not mad but annoyed, does that even make sense?)

The streetlight behind Dazai lits up and Atsushi gets to see the light reflect on brown eyes, mischievous, and he already knows what is going to happen.

"If you're not gonna tell me..."

Atsushi have read about snow fights.

He can almost vividly remember reading from the torn up pages of a colorful book, dirty from the accumalation of dusts and other more things , but it didn't stop him from taking it under the bookshelves out of wonder of why it seems to look shiny compared to dull looking books in their little library that no one cares about.

There was more detail to the story but he never really remember the story except he remembers about the snow fight.What made the snow fight really memorable for Atsushi were the illustrations. The bright illustrations.

Atsushi have thought about the illustrations.He remembers scrumbling to hide the book when the headmaster came looking for him and how he kept thinking about it, distracting him from the pain of being locked in the prison again and for one paticular night he thought only of the book.

While he was caught up in a memory buried deep in his mind, Dazai kept throwing snowballs at him and even as Atsushi keeps dodging and trying to land a hit.

Dazai ducks down, ready to make fun of him for missing but Atsushi got the best of him and manage to land a snowball right on his face.

His face looked ridiculous as he stays crouching with snow falling off his face. Atsushi gigles and made more snowballs before Dazai retaliates.

Like in the story, the main characters were laughing along with the other characters, a monster he remembers, as they had a snowfight and seeing them having fun together in such bright colors gave Atsushi a feeling of warmth and comfort upon seeing it.

A snow hits on his arms in attempt to block it away from his face but the second he lets his arms down a snow have already hit him on the face.

He hears a laughter, softly echoing throughout the empty streets as they somehow manage to move closer to home.

Atsushi forgot that he was feeling cold.

"Can we stop already?" He huffs out, trying to appear serious and control his shoulders from shaking, he knew this fueled the grin that made its way on Dazai's face.

"Not until you tell me." The snow almost landed inside his jacket and he makes a run for it.

Atsushi forgot what happened to the book, if he forgot about it or if someone took it away. He never really thought about the book until now that he is havimg a snow fight with Dazai. He thought of how silly they look on the eyes of any bystanders and the mere thought of it almost made him blush in embarassment. Atleast the streets are well lit or they might have completely fell down onto the snow from all the stumblings they make from dodging and attacking each other with snowballs.

"Ooh~ you're so fast kitten." Dazai whistles when Atsushi dodge his snowballs for almost the fifth time.

"Don't call me that."

They exchange banters. Dazai taunting him and Atsushi telling him to stop like as if that does anything.

Not like Atsushi hates this whole snow fight.

"Let's just settle this," Dazai said dropping the snow he was rolling on his hands, Atsushi stops warily and steps out of the lampost he attempted to use as a shield, Dazai chuckles, "okay, whoever falls down first to the snow...wins."

"So if you lose?...you will tell me who you got."  Dazai continues, raising his arms up on the air when Atsushi gave him a questioning look, "I won't tell anyone, of course."

"But if I win?" Atsushi asked.

"You will tell me who you got."

"Alright- no, wait! you think you can fool me?!" Atsushi throws the snow ball he was holding, landing right on top of Dazai's head with a splat. He watches as Dazai shakes his head and laugh.

"Hmm, you can do whatever you want with me."

"I get to give a condition?"

"Fair is fair."

Not like there was really something that Atsushi wants from Dazai, yet he can't help but flush while he was thinking of something when the other looks at him an odd kind of smile and all.

He remembers that he wanted to go home.

"Okay...then mine is that you will stop asking me about it."

"Good!"

Before Atsushi can process anything, Dazai comes marching his way and his hands outstretched, he sees his brown eyes sparkle with mirth coming closer and closer, "w-wait!"

Without thinking he held both of Dazai's wrist  from it making contact to his shoulders, holding his weight presistently on his legs to prevent himself from stumblimg back and inevitably fall to his bottom.

"I thought we were gonna snowfight?!" Atsushi yells, he forgot that they are still in public and anyone can come turning from a corner and see two men having some kind of fight. But his mind takes in how close they are right now and-

(oh, it is not that time to be thinking about that.)

"Oh, did I said that? I don't think so~"

"Atleast warn me first?!" that only earned him a laugh.

He knees were almost buckling considering Dazai is taller and can push him down, and his arms struggle to hold onto Dazai's wrist with such awkward angle. Most of his strenght came from the tiger, he realized, although he have to transform to be as strong as Kenji, he still retains a bit of his ability's strenght even as human and with Dazai's nullifying ability it becomes a bit harder to overpower Dazai, but the other wasn't really overpowering him either.

And so he took a step forward in an attempt to turn it around, it worked as Dazai took a step back and he made a mistake of looking up as it distracted him when Dazai leaned forward with force.

Atsushi stumbles and he was almost back to earlier except he decides to do the same and it caught the other off guard. He couldn't contain a smile to himself as he took the opportunity of Dazai taking a step back to forcibly push the other down.

It worked and Dazai was sent falling to the snow, only that Atsushi forgot to let go and was almost brought down but he was able to catch his balance,its just that he was awkwardly standing though his bends down with Dazai situated between his legs, his arms outstretched still holding on his wrists.

Dazai fell down on his back and he lifted his head to prevent it from hitting snow, it wasn't even a deep layer yet so he could have hit his head on the concrete if Atsushi wasn't preventing that by pulling him up.

"Are you okay?" Atsushi asked but he only got a laugh from the other, "stop laughing! you could have hit your head." He stands up upright to help pull Dazai to a sitting position, that wasn't needed ,but with how he keeps laughing like a maniac he might need a bit of a help.

Atsushi realized that he might be gripping too hard and lets go once Dazai sat, he wanted to check on Dazai if bandages aren't covering his wrist, "I'm sorry if I held too roughly, atleast tell me if you're feeling fine?" he sighs, crouching beside Dazai who was getting his bearings and shaking off the snow clinging to his coat, he saw a small shiver on his shoulder but it was probably the movement from shaking his arms.

"I'm fine, don't worry too much Atsushi-kun." Dazai laughs, patting Atsushi on the head and Atsushi shivers from how cold Dazai's hands feel and he remembers that he wasn't even wearing gloves.

"You weren't even wearing gloves this whole time..."

He looked on his hands, it looked concerningly light, "Ah, yeah...I forgot to take any with me."

He said that as if it wasn't a big deal.

"You didn't dressed warmly... aaand you forgot your gloves?"

"I don't know about you, but I am feeling cozy."

"You don't look cozy at all." Atsushi sighs, brushing off the white bits on Dazai's hair, "Atleast wear gloves or wear another coat other than...that."

"...What is wrong with my coat?" Dazai asks, his head lowering a bit as Atsushi brushes off the bits behind his head.

"Don't you have any other coats?"

"Hmm...I guess."

"What do you mean by that?" Atsushi stopped to look him on the eye and finds himself wondering why he really looks like he was thinking to remember.

Dazai pauses, and smiled, "Let me borrow your coat."

"...huh? wha..why do you want to borrow?"

"I just want to borrow, is that wrong?"

"Yes! I mean, no! but still, I think you're the type to have many coats so why-..."

It was useless to ask the same question, when Dazai is anything but serious right now. The snow was falling again, he forgot it stopped a moment earlier while they are busy dodging and throwing snowballs.

The sky looks dark and it doesn't feel safe being outside for too long, especially in a lonely narrow road.

He stands up while looking up to the sky then looking back down at Dazai, "I think we should, ah, go back home. It's starting to snow again."

Dazai stands up not long after, a pout on his face, "I just wanted to know who your giftee is..."

Atsushi stays silent, walking up head wishing to just go home as fast as possible. He felt really cold and Dazai probably does too but he really won't give up with the whole thing.

"Fine, I will tell you."

"Oh? Giving up to me? I know you couldn't resist me."

Atsushi blushes, "This is just to make sure that you stop asking me...and I might need your help in getting their gift." kicking a pebble off the road and he felt Dazai catching up on his side, "Because I don't know them that much."

"Don't worry as your senior I will help you, yeah?" Dazai wraps an arm around his shoulder and it was cold, really cold.

But Atsushi feels warm from the close contact.

(Is this how its suppose to work?)

"I just really want you to help me."

"Well...I just happen to know everyone's interest so tell me." He feels Dazai pressing closer to his side and Dazai's head bumping a bit on his head.

Atsushi breathes out, "thats kind of creepy..."

Dazai joking squawks, "Hey! Its not that creepy!"

(He doesn't mind this though.)

(Thank god only he gets to know what he is thinking.)

"Its..huh..." He fiddles on his gloves, he thought of giving it Dazai earlier but he doesn't think the other would accept it. Even when he was asking to borrow Atsushi's coat.

He finally continues, "It's Yosano-sensei actually..."

"Ooh..."

"I...have an idea but I'm not sure yet." Yosano loves shopping and he wanted to just give her money, let her spend it to what she likes without fearing that he will get something that she doesn't like.

"What do you plan to give her?"

"I haven't thought what i really want to give...I want to make sure i give her something that she does like." Atsushi looks up at Dazai and because of the height he didn't get to see his face that much, "And I thought it wouldn't be bad to tell you, because you know her more...I could go to Ranpo-san but...uhh, I don't think he'll be willing to help."

Dazai finally looks down, just in time to catch Atsushi still looking up at him, "But have you tried asking?" 

He averts his gaze down, feeling like looking up will make him more red that he already is from the cold, "I...He always end up asking for something back, and I don't have that much for the sweet stash he wants."

Dazai hums, "Hmm...so you think I'm not the same?"

"...."

Atsushi, despite any protests, walked off from Dazai's side to walk up ahead.

"No, no please Atsushi-kun! listen to me first."

"Its okay, its alright..Uhh..maybe the president can help me?"

"No! Trust me when I say that its not as heavy like Ranpo's sweets or anything."

Atsushi turns to look at Dazai, a tired look on his face, "Why...should I believe you?"

"Because you actually trust me, right?"

"..."

"..."

"I do...but..."

"...."

"You-"

Dazai whines, "Please don't give me that look, Atsushi-kun..." stomping childishly on the ground.

"Alright fine...I believe you but you better not fool me." They continue walking but Atsushi kept his distance and a fast pace on walking.

"No, I would never! Not to my precious subordinate!"

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, yeah! I mean look," Dazai jogs up and stops infront of Atsushi.

"Just to be fair... I will tell you what I want... you see... I want you to help me." He took out something out of his pocket and gave Atsushi a paper, "I got Kyouka-chan."

"You did?" Atsushi opens the paper and Kyouka's name really was written in it

"I am not sure what to give her, so I thought if I help with whoever you got then you have a reason to help with Kyouka's gift." Dazai explains, "A nice give and take, take and give."

"I...that is fair," Atsushi starts walking again and he starts to see the familiar building of where they live,"You know I will still help you even if you don't help me with Yosano-sensei's but...I guess someone's opinion would be nice."

Dazai huffs, stepping close to Atsushi, "I know that..." he mumbles, leaning his head close to Atsushi's.

"What... does that even mean?" Dazai didn't answer.

He only shrugged but didn't made a move to distance himself Atsushi, not even when they have reached the stairs on the way up to their apartments.

When Dazai does leave his side to fumble in his coat to open his own door, Atsushi felt...a bit clingy.

"Alright, good night then Atsushi-kun!" Dazai unnecessarily shouts once he got in, though not closing the door yet.

"Good evening, you mean?" Atsushi remarks, opening the door to his and Kyouka's shared apartment.

And like he heard nothing,"Good night! see you tomorrow?" Dazai waves looking expectantly at Atsushi.

"Yeah." is all he said.

There was a second before Atsushi heard a click, while he got inside the apartment and closes his door quietly.He hears a hard thump when he almost tripped from the carpet infront of the entrance.

He didn't fell down on the wooden floor thankfully.

Dazai and Atsushi have came to a decision.

They will help each other out to look for the gifts of Kyouka and Yosano.

Its just Atsushi didn't expect that Dazai will ask him out for shopping together.

He almost choked on his hot drink. It was during an afternoon break time and they are sitting together in the usual cafe, no other of their co workers in sight or any other customers.

Its either they are like Dazai and Atsushi helping each other out in gifts, with how odd that everyone seems to have excused themselves out of the cafe once the two have arrived, notably exiting in pairs. Kunikida probably felt awkward with how he kept choking after he almost drop his mug, Lucy came grumbling under her breathe about people who can't calm down and couples, glaring at Kunikida and the two like they are biggest scoundrels in earth before leaving off into the kitchen, the old man coming right after shrugging and mouthing an apology to them and telling them to continue their couple talk. Kunikida left coughing and calmly apologize for interupting them.

(Calmly.)

Nevertheless Atsushi ignored their last comments.

Atleast Kunikida didn't realize the oddity of people being in pairs, he might piece together the possibility of people telling about their giftees, which he sternly remind everyone not to reveal.

It wasn't effective.

Not when Kyouka told Atsushi last nigh that she got Kunikida's name, out of the blue and the middle of dinner. He didn't needed to know but that is alright, it already happened and she wants his opinion about what to give Kunikida.

Not that Atsushi knows anything about his preference or anyone at all.

Which is why part of him is glad that Dazai pestered him about who he got, the other part is not so pleased but not everyday that he gets to avoid being awkward.

( He doesn't have time thinking about it. They still have a job after this break.)

"What do you think I should get her?" Atsushi asked, not minding if the bartender hear them or Lucy, though he will use pronouns instead just in case.

"What are your ideas?" Dazai asked leaning back on the soft cushion of his seat, drinking coffee and he was wearing gloves that he sets aside after getting in and a different coat that looks a lot less thin than his usual, a thick scarf wrapped around his neck.

He looks nice.

"Uhh..." Atsushi took a sip of his tea, too eager that it burned his tongue, "...I..thought of what you said last night."

They were texting about Kyouka's gift. They decided to call each other about Yosano to get rid of Kyouka's suspicions and he didn't have a choice with Kyouka eavesdropping to their conversation. He remembers her raising a brow when Dazai told Atsushi to come to his apartment and talk with him.

That was embarassing.

"Kyouka-chan told me that a box of wagashi sounds nice, that when they hang out, Yosano-sensei always like to treat them and they went to a shop that sell it, her favorite shop apparently." ,Atsushi said, " It comes in a nice box she said. Yosano-sensei also likes flowers right?"

Dazai nods.

"So I thought I'll just buy her two boxes with a flower design."

"I think that is a great idea."

Now that he have gotten the opinion of Dazai, Atsushi relaxes and he settles with it. He thinks it is a nice gift that Yosano can appreaciate or atleast accept.

He heard how expensive the wagashi can be but he didn't mind spending that much, "you know that much about her, huh?" that was a stupid filler question.

Dazai didn't notice, or maybe he chose not to tease Atsushi about it, "Just an observation, in her birthday, Ranpo gave her a box of wagashi and they shared it together, the director gave her a boquet and she looks really happy."

"Oh..."

( That was unecessary.)

He feels himself cringe even more when Dazai bursts out laughing. Atsushi heard a huff coming from someone else, he chooses not to look for who it is.

Dazai really is laughing a lot recently.

"Don't get so jealous, Atsushi-kun!"

Atsush really is blushing a lot recently, he hates to admit to himself.

"I'm not...I'm just commenting on it." he mutters to almost like a grumble half way through.

The urge of kicking Dazai under the table tingles but he controls it and watch the other shamelessly laugh, covering his face with a hand and banging his fist on the table.

Atsushi never felt more embarassed, only made worse when he hears Lucy insult him by calling him dumb under her breathe.

The older slows down in his laughter, calming himself down and leaning his whole face on his hand, looking like he was seriously struggling to catch his breathe, "Oh Atsushi-kun..." he sighs out.

Dazai looks at him straight on the eyes,peeking between his fingers, leaning his head on the side and a relaxed smile stretched on his lips, "...Its only you."

Atsushi felt something in his stomach.

And it is probably the tea. Definitely the tea.

He thought to himself still getting a proper hold on his tea, averting his gaze to look on his reflection on the tea's surface.

A chuckle and he can hear Dazai leaning back on his seat, his peripheral just enough to see that Dazai is looking away which is great.

Atleast he wasn't looking at Atsushi with...whatever that was.

Someone coughed.

Who? Atsushi doesn't know, winter makes a lot of people sick.

(Probably.)

"So what time do we meet?" Dazai asked after a moment of awkward but not so uncomfortable silence.

If anything it helped Atsushi from calmimg down, looking up from his drink to look at Dazai, "Maybe after lunch?" Atsushi replied as Dazai looks away to the window just beside them. No one was really walking on the side walk mostly because it was after lunch time and a busy day for most.

"Alright, lunch sounds good." They were allowed to buy gifts tomorrow, since the christmas party is a day away.

And Atsushi agreed to come shopping with  Dazai.

Because why not.

Ignoring Kyouka's teasing.

Ignoring everyone's blantant teasing.

Why was Ranpo a part of them? snickering like Atsushi was some poor dog.

Why did Kunikida sound like he was also part of them? despite monotonously telling him to finish his report from last mission before going with Dazai for shopping.

Hell, why did Kunikida not say anything about them both buying gifts together? Isn't he suppose to scold them for breaking the secret santa rule?

This is why he was having second thoughts.

But he can't take back what they both decided on, and he knows somehow this is good in some way too.

He doesn't want to get too deep into his thoughts, mentally shaking off the questions in his head.

They sat there again in silence, he didn't realize for how long.

"What is your plan for Kyouka-chan's?" He asked.

"Hmm, she really loves bunnies, so just a stuff stoy, what do you think?"

"Yeah, she really loves anything with rabbits." Atsushi smiles.

He remember how he almsot talked about Kyouka's gift last night while she was listening to them conversing, somehow Dazai convinces Kyouka that he got Kenji despite the high possibility that Naomi, who Kyouka obviously was working with, got Kenji.

Somehow Dazai was right that Naomi got someone else. Earlier Atsushi encountered the president downstairs, on his way to the office, asking if Kenji will enjoy a unlimited amount of food for one day as many to his heart's content. After giving his opinion, the president admits that Atsushi is the only one who knows.

He doubt it, not when Ranpo was giving him...a glare, he is sure, and Yosano giving Ranpo a look that Atsushi can only describe as a silent, 'really?'

"But are you sure that real bun-"

"No, no,no! please, I don't think that will be ideal."

"Aw, but i feel like she would love it "

"She does..but not yet."

"Hmm alright...stuff toy it is."

Dazai took his mug and drinks, looking out once again as if there really is something inferesting to see outside.

Atsushi takes a bite from the heart shaped cookies that was freely given by Lucy, more like using Atsushi and Dazai to taste the cookies that she have baked.

It tasted good. Maybe a bit too sweet for some.

He took note of it, taking another to try and eat it all when Dazai didn't seem interest in eating another one.

"Hey, Atsushi-kun?"

Atsushi munches down, "yeah?"

Dazai looks at him, his eyes weirdly widening a bit but he smiled cheerfully right after, "Nothing."

Atsushi blinks, wiping away the crumbs from his mouth with a tissue.

"You can tell me."

Dazai shakes his head, "maybe another day." he mumbles.

(What does that mean exactly?)

Before Atsushi can ask, his phone starts vibrating from a call coming from Tanizaki.

He answers, "Hello, Tanizaki-san?"

"Oh...huh, Atsuahi-kun? I...h-hey calm down!"

Atsushi raises a brow upon hearing Naomi suspiciously giggling, he doesn't feel like asking what is going on, but he feels safe after hearing Kunikida's voice commanding someone around and Kyouka talking with someone.

"S..sorry about that!" Tanizaki nervously chuckles, "I need your help in a specific mission, we kinda need your ability for this."

"Oh a..alright, I'll be right there."

"Thank you! oh, and sorry for bothering!" Before he can protest, Tanizaki already hanged up on him.

"I have a mission to go to." Atsushi announces rising up from his seat, "you want to go up to the office with me?"

Dazai stretches lazily, looking up at Atsushi and waves his hand dismissively, "No one asked for me, so I'll just stay until someone comes to fetch me."

He wants to ask why but the mission sounds really urgent, so he sets it aside, "Alright, I'll tell them where you are."

"Okay~ buh bye~"

Atsushi smiles, giving Lucy his feedback before left the cafe. He turns to see Dazai wave his hand at him and mouthing a 'see you later'.

Atsushi turns a corner to get inside the building and make his way up to the office.

The sky looks like it wanted to snow.

It was december 24.

They are given a day to buy their gifts.

Almost everyone went out to buy gifts except for Yosano, Ranpo and Kunikida who have bought their gifts already early on.

Kenji already bought his, but Tanizaki asked him to go with him since Kyouka and Naomi wouldn't allow him to come with them.

For whatever reason.

After lunch time and separating with Kyouka, Atsushi and Dazai have left the building just a hour after the others have left and walk from streets to streets until they have reached the crowded part of the city.

It started snowing after their detour off the silent streets the agency's building was situated on, the bustle on the streets is deafening from the peacefully quiet walk they just had earlier.

(Of course they had a conversation, but it also consist of comfortable silence, surprising to have when Atsushi is with Dazai.)

Atsushi was never really good with crowds and so does Dazai base on the little upturn on his lips, darting his eyes around the people passing by and the cars in line on the roads, it was almost traffic.

They have agreed to get Kyouka's gift first afterall Yosano's gift is food.

So they made through the crowd, carefully not bumping onto anyone while gracefully and not so awkwardly dodge, Dazai sees how rigid Atsushi became after bumping to a businessman who didn't even spare him a glance and highschool girl who glared initially until she laid her eyes on Dazai.

Dazai saves him in a lot of ways.

"Hold on, we're almost out of this, hopefully " Atsushi struggled to hear but he understands anyway, keeping a hold on Dazai's coat as he almost feel like he can lose Dazai any time from the rush.

He accidently let go, tries to get his hold again but got swatted unintentionally from someone's bag. Atsushi didn't want to shout for Dazai's name and so he shoves through to get to the him again, hoping the ones he bumped to are forgiving.

Well the universe has never been forgiving.

"Watch where you going brat." Said a man to Atsushi right after he have passed by him, undoubtedly it was a harsher shove but only because Atsushi got pushed from the force of him shoving through the other ones and trying not to trip.

It has been long hearing someone else snarl at him, yet it feels also just like yesterday. So of course Atsushi will flinch as the man turns red from anger, "I..I'm so sorry!" he didn't meant to squeak, the man still looked annoyed like he was about to punch Atsushi on the face.

The crowd goes on sparing glances on the two figures, one peering and the other almost cowering, no one really bothers to say anything and if anything avoided the spaces around them.

"Atsushi-kun! there you are."

Like an angel Dazai came to save him once again.

Hopefully.

"Is this your friend? brother? fucking whatver," Atsushi flinches from the sudden cursing and hopes Dazia didn't felt it after just putting a hand on his shoulder, "you better tell him to stop shoving onto people,huh?"

"I'm so sorry, sir! i really didn't mean to." Atsushi bowed down and he feels a tug on his shirt behind him, but he keeps himself bowed, looking at the concrete and watching the way the man moves.

He can get easily kicked from this angle.

"I apologize if he bumped onto you, It is crowded though and I think its best we move on now." Dazai said this, sounding so confident that Atsushi envies him for it.

He always envy him for a lot of things.

Dazai whispers to him to get his head up, while man tch'ed but finally turned around to wherever he wanted to go and Atsushi tried stop himself from keeping on low in case the man comes back..

"Are you okay, atsushi-kun?"

Atsushi breathes out, appreaciating the hand laid gently on the middle of his back, guiding him out of the spot, "yeah, i was stupid for shoving through people, I just didn't want to lose sight of you."

"I'm sorry if I went too fast."

"Its okay,I shouldn't have shove through people in the first place." They have reached a less crowded part of a street, subconcously Atsushi leans closer to Dazai's side away from the spaces of so many people.

"Still, I should have thought of looking back for you, but if we stick close like this," he feels Dazai leaning closer to him by his side, it felt more like a comfort than a way to not get lost if Atsushi is gonna be honest on what he thinks, "...I don't think we will ever lose each other."

Atsushi puffs out a laugh, "well, i guess." he shrugs but kept close to Dazai.

( stupidly close but can you blame him? )

They got in the mall where Dazai planned to buy his gift for Kyouka. It didn't took them long to find a store as there is a nice store selling plushies and toys. There is a section that are almost all rabbits of varying sizes and designs.

It didn't took long for them to find a cute plushy, just the right size, not too big nor too small. The bunny was dressed in red adorned with white flowers that reminds Atsushi of her hair accessories, a matching white bow sewn on one of the plush's ears. It also looks the same bunny on her phone strap.

The two have thought about it for a while before Dazai thinks that it is enough, and Atsushi thinks the same.

He was looking around the section, he thought of what gift to buy for her, while Dazai was off to somewhere, he really didn't catch what the other was saying, he only nodded at the moment. He suddenly felt something soft collide on his back, he stumbles a bit forward from the sudden movement.

He was going to turn around to see who bumped onto him with, assuming a plush, as he comes face to face with a tiger, a large plush tiger smiling more like one of those emojis that Dazai would send him through texts, as what he would call a 'cat smile'.

"Atsushi-kun!" the plush squealed high pitch along a wave from its paws.

No, of course knows that is Dazai, if not obvious from the mop of brown hair peeping on top of the plush's head.

Atsushi sighs, "Dazai-san, I don't think you should hold that..."

The plush tilts its head, "Dazai-san? I'm not Dazai-san! My name is Kitty." it introduced itself,and Atsushi can't help but shake his head in laughter as he sees Dazai struggles on moving its hand like a puppet.

He finds it adorable that Dazai looks like he is also mimicking the plush's 'movements'.

"Put that back wherever you got it from." Atsushi scolds him while trying not to laugh to prevent encouragement for Dazai to continue the ridiculous bit.

Dazai lowers the plushie, a pout on his face, "Could you have not played along?" He asked pretending to be hurt.

"I don't want a saleslady to come here and ask if we are taking it when no, we are really not, plus everyone is giving us looks." Atsushi wasn't wrong, no one was staring but people were glancing their way though avoiding it when they see Atsushi looking their way. There is an unreadable look on their faces but he bets a yen that they think of them as weirdos, afterall they are grownmen hanging around the plush section.

"Alright..." Dazai gave up, dejectedly returning the plush to where it was sitting. They went to the cashier to have Dazai pay for the toy rabbit already inside a box, wrapped neatly with a beautiful wrapper and a cute bow, as asked by Dazai.

"I just thought it looks like you, but orange and a silly bowtie."

"...how does it look like me?" he watches Dazai take the gift now in a large plastic bag and nod his head towards the lady who wrapped the gift.

"Because Atsushi-kun is a tiger, a cute tiger." He replied like it was normal thing to say around public. Well, in the hearings of normal citizens they will think that it was some inside joke.

Atsushi didn't say anything as they left the store.

They planned to leave the mall to go to the sweet shop that Kyouka told them about Yosano's favorite wagashi. When they took a bit of a turn and something caught Atsushi's interest.

"Can we stop here for a second?"

Dazai hums questioningly, but quickly replying with a 'sure' after seeing what Atsushi was looking at with wander.

When they have finally left the mall, it stopped snowing and the sun was peeking out a bit from the clouds. It was near 4pm and Atsushi couldn't believe the time they spent inside the mall.

It is much more crowded than earlier and he can see people rushing in and out of the train stations.

They will have to walk through the crowd again to get to the shop Kyouka was talking about, it isn't so far but he thinks of bumping to anyone and get someone mad again.

"I know what you're thinking..." Dazai starts looking onto the people walking by, and looking back at Atsushi, "...but we can like..." he stares down to somewhere and Atsushi finds himself confused and that seems to have elicit a grin. He feels a hand wrap around his own that he almost jumped from surprise of either the coldness, or just Dazai holding his hand out of nowhere.

"What do you say?" Dazai asks, his grin widening and Atsushi try to stutter out comprehensive words, feeling like he is in a fever dream as he darts his eyes around to anyone looking their way.

Of course there are curious glances, some looked embarassed from getting caught staring and averts their gaze away like they just witnessed something that they weren't suppose to see.

"I...Da-..ahhhh..."

"Alright, seems good to me!"

Before he could really manage words, Dazai have pulled him towards a direction, and Atsushi's mind reels in struggling to say something only to uselessly call his name, "D-Dazai-san!"

He feels embarassed. Oh god, how red does he look right now. Is he as red as the christmas decorations around? or the santa claus mechanically moving with some saxophone on the entrance of some shop?

Either way Dazai ignores his clear embarrassment, keeps on going to wherever, "Off we go, yeah?"

"N-no,no, Dazai-san stop, you-"

Thankfully this time the other listened and turns around to look at Atsushi, again darting his eyes around before deciding to just look Dazai straight on the eyes.

"Its just,uh..." Something passed by on Dazai's expression that Atsushi can't recognize nor read. And like the cogs have turned on his head, the older lets out an 'oh'.

Dazai must have said something that Atsushi couldn't catch on, as mid of his sentence, when the grip around his hand loosen, that Atsushi blacks out for a second and just as fastly take the hand to his, earning a peculiar look from Dazai's face.

"That's...not what i meant..." Atsushi lets out a sigh, feeling more red and warm on the face, almost gripping too much on the hand and feeling a bit of the warmth seeping out from the gloves.Atsushi reminds Dazai to wear gloves as they sometimes catch each other in the morning, either outside of their apartments or on the windows that they have grown to look out at, somehow catching the other out almost every single time.

"I don't mind it..." He said almost like a whisper and he relaxes his hold, still looking down on their hands connected and he thinks about the stares they might get, but he doesn't know why he suddenly doesn't care as much as he did earlier.

"Just...we are going on the wrong direction." Atsushi looks up finally to see the other's reaction. Dazai eyes were remarkably wide and it momentarily stares on their connected hands, before he looks back at Atsushi, "..we were?"

Dazai smiles, his eyes crinkles on the sides, catching a bit of light from the sun rays.

(What could he possibly think about right now is still unknown to Atsushi.)

(A part of him wants to know. A part of him knows not to ask yet.)

"You should have said so from the beginning." Dazai chuckles, stepping a bit close to Atsushi, his hand squeezing on Atsushi's.

"You...just pulled me out of nowhere." Atsushi points out, annoyed of the snicker that came as a reply.

They took the other direction, keeping close to each toher as they impressively pass through the crowd with zero problems, their eyes squint from the sun but they never let go to block the brightness out, their other hands holding onto their bought items.

Even throughout the noises all around, a mixture of chatter, murmurs and the cheerful music, Atsushi still somehow heard Dazai's invitation, "After Yosano's gift...we should go eat somewhere." there was a definite smile from the sound of his voice tone, but there was somethimg else there that made Atsushi feel suddenly warm.

(Probably the sun, definitely.)

He felt excited. He felt nervous. But he felt more happy and surprisingly relaxed.

"We should."

Atsushi squeezes the hand on his, the urge to burrow himself further on Dazai's side tugs on him, but he controls himself though a giddy smile secretly forms on his lips.

He wonders if Dazai was still smiling.

Atsushi was able to buy two nice boxes of wagashi. The boxes are red beautifully decorated with a simple design of flowers, just like how the sweets inside are also flower shaped and some of different shapes , colorful and appetizing, that Atsushi bought another box to bring home with him and maybe share with Kyouka.

Of course it was expensive, but he didn't really mind, he just felt nervous for some awful reasons. It is too late to back up, not when the party is tomorrow and everyone already has their gifts prepared.

A giddy feeling sets itself inside him. A mixture of excitement and nervousness for tomorrow. There really is no reason for him to feel nervous, afterall he is going to spend it with the first few people he have met after he have gotten out of the orphanage. If anything, he should stop thinking and enjoy his time now that he is far away.

Far away.

He suddenly remembers the headmaster.

So much has happened for the whole year that he have forgotten that the headmaster died.

(How could he when he keeps seeing things?)

He was wondering occasionally as to what was missing, it turns out that the shadow of the headmaster's figure no longer stand behind people and haunts him with a silent look. Not like the apparition is totally gone, a part of him feels it still, but it wasn't the same as last time that it felt that he was physically near Atsushi, it doesn't felt too horrible anymore and if anything, its like a normal thing and it became so normal that Atsushi have forgotten its existence.

(He forgot that he died.)

He thinks between sips whether he can manifest the figure now if he thinks about it more.

"Atsushi-kun?"

Perhaps there was an odd look on Atsushi's face that made Dazai call out for him unnecessarily soft, inside a cafe that is booming with the sound of chatter and the repeating music on the sound system, a familiar jolly song plays and echoes throughout the place.

"Yes, Dazai-san?" His hot chocolate just ran out, he probably was drinking straight while he was out thinking things that he should stop thinking about.

He sets his mug down and took a biscuit, not so sweet and actually tastes fine, sparing a glance outside the window pane and from here he can see a tall Christmas tree .They can see it clearly despite the tall buildings from their seats on the second floor of the cafe when first floor's seats were all occupied.

(How long was he drinking blacking out, staring to wherever?)

"Do you wanna see that Christmas tree?" Dazai asked, his tone amused and let his chin motion towards the window, he held a mug of coffee on one hand that looks like it could spill at any moment.

"I..no, not in particular, what makes you think...?" Atsushi questions him, oh how he wants another mug of hot chocolate, "..I mean, I wouldn't mind seeing it if you want."

Dazai lets out a 'pft', a chuckle follows, "I was asking you."

"Uhh... sure, i guess."

"what do you mean by that?" Dazai slumps back to his seat.

"You know what I meant..."

"I wanna hear it fully from Atsushi-kun." Dazai takes a sip of his coffee, a smile peeking out on the side of the mug and he closes his eyes.

Atsushi can feel his eyes twitch, but his slight annoyance to this conversation doesn't amount to how flustered he feels, "...If you are going to come with me."

Dazai opens an eye, unnecessarily put his mug down so loud on the table. His smile morphs to a grin, "Of course."

Atsushi felt the urge to roll his eyes and Dazai looks like he was doing this on purpose for whatever reason.

"I don't know why you are planning to hide your interest from the tree."

"What makes you think I was interested anyway?"

"Well..." Dazai looks on the christmas tree blinking in different effects and colors, Atsushi can almost see it from his eyes before he glances forward to Atsushi, "I saw you looking at it, once we started sitting here."

(Atsushi hates that he is so readable.)

But he wasn't surprised because this is Dazai talking, Dazai can read almost anyone scarily that one can think that his ability is too read minds and not nullify abilities.

He is so incredible in it, Atsushi might start thinking that he has two abilities which is not possible.

As far as anyone knows.

"You can't blame me...it, its just..." He looks out, "the night sky makes it stand out so much."

"And you've never seen one before." Dazai states. Like he knew and he came from the orphanage.

No, it was probably obvious, with the way Atsushi describes the place,of course anyone can tell that christmas is non existent in there.

Nor is any holidays, birthdays.

"Not like I have never known about it...I just haven't seen one physically."

That caught Dazai's attention, "Have you seen one from books?"

Again, Atsushi is not surprised, "...A children's book, I'm sure."

He have talked to Dazai about the snippets of how he spent some of his time in the orphanage. He would read in the library, away from sighting him easily, in free times to make sure no one will look for him, scared that they will take away the books.

"Tell me about it."

Atsushi blinks, "what?"

"Do you still remember the story?"

He thinks of the book and the characters that lives in it with beautiful colors and large eyes and cartoonish bodies, "No...not vividly but the drawings are memorable."

Dazai smiles.

Atsushi somehow got it that he was urging him to tell the story.His brain tries to remember beyond the bright colors to the white letterings of dialogue between two runaway kids. He thinks back like how he thought of the story in the middle of the snow fight they had weeks ago.

He tries to remember, giving up on the story details to describe what the drawings tell. Two children, running through the snow to a clearing where a house stands on the middle, looking warm from the lights coming inside and the smell of delicious food wafting from a window.

He tries to tell all that he can remember.

7pm.

Atsushi didn't know how they have almost spent 40 minutes inside a cafe, telling Dazai the story the best way possible and talking about other more related things, often exchanging banters and laughter from the story to Atsushi trying to remember.

Looking around, he doesn't recognize any of people that he can remember by clothes, he points it out to Dazai, "Don't you think we have been here for too long?"

There was nothing left to eat on their table, every biscuits and the hot chocolate and coffee The drinks that they ordered minutes ago for the second time are all empty.

Dazai doesn't seem too bother about spending so much time, he waves a hand dismissively, "Time flies when you are with someone who you find cute." he said like it was some fact.

Atsushi blushes, "Please I'm serious...we,uh,should like start going home."

It was not like Atsushi didn't enjoyed the way Dazai was actually listening to him talk about the story. He...appreciates that somehow Dazai sat through to listen about a children book's story that Atsushi can barely remember.

"I...Kyouka-chan might be waiting now." Atsushi checks his phone for any messages or missed calls from her. He haven't read the message that he just received 30 minutes ago, he didn't noticed that he got a message.

'Oh gosh, we were so into that whole story...' Atsushi clicks on the message to read it.

From: Kyouka-chan

I am home from planning on the other preparations for the party. What time are you coming back? I plan to cook dinner before you come home,

Reading that made Atsushi happy. For someone to wait for him to come home to eat dinner with him...

He really loves Kyouka. She really made him feel like he had a family.

not that I mind if you eat outside or have ate already, if anything I am supportive, it is normal to eat outside with your date.

Atsushi sputters, quickly ducking his head to hide his face from Dazai, "Are you okay?"

"Y-Y-YEAH, DON'T MIND ME!"

Kyouka really needs to stop watching those dramas she watches with the Tanizaki siblings.

If you two plan to come home together tonight, please tell me and tell Dazai-san that he will join us for dinner and I wanna get to know him better.

Atsushi felt himself blanked out on that.

'What is she talking about???'

And while you are out, maybe buy something sweet for me? Thank you. Have fun with your date. Be safe.

Atsushi deeply sighs. That was sweet of her but he wished she didn't include such embarassing things.

"Care to tell me who?"

"Its Kyouka-chan. She is asking if we plan to go home early, so she can prepare dinner and ...um, so you can join us."

Dazai looks a bit taken a back, "is she really inviting me over?"

"If you want to."

It was odd of Kyouka to suddenly invite Dazai for dinner, and out of nowhere. He thought of how the two of them are not exactly close, if anything Kyouka seems wary of Dazai after her entrance exam.

But then again they both came from Port Mafia, and Dazai was an important figure. So  to think that Kyouka fears him a bit is possible.

Atsushi didn't know to feel about it.

But he shakes the thought for now, and thought of how it might do good for their interactions if Dazai comes along.

"Are you coming for dinner?" Atsushi asks once again.

This time Dazai replies, "I will." an odd tone on his voice.

Atsushi wrote her a simple short reply, confirming that they will be come home and they might just take a while.

Or maybe not, Atsushi doesn't want to assume.

"Then we should go home now." He stands up, feeling a bit weird from sitting too long that he didn't felt the discomfort until he stood up after minutes.

Dazai lets out a silent 'oh', realization passing by his face, as he stands up almost abruptly and precise, for someone who was also sitting for 40 minutes, "Before we go home..." he took Atsushi's hand and comes marching out to downstairs pulling Atsushi along, who was caught off guard after fixing his coat.

"W-wait, why are you doing this again?" Atsushi tries not to yelp while trying not to stumble on the way to downstairs and prevent himself from accidentally bump onto anyone climbing up. Dazai didn't seem too bothered and kept going.

They passed by the group standing infront of the entrance who spared them glances, but Atsushi didn't have time to feel embarassed as they come outside and the cold air hits them after staying inside the remarkbly warm cafe.

"Slow down please." Atsushi begs, trying to match Dazai's pace. Feeling ridiculous from being pulled by the hand, finally getting the slowdown as they stop along with a crowd of people, waiting for the traffic light to turn red.

"We're not going home until you see the tree, Atsushi-kun~"

Atsushi was just thinking that maybe Dazai forgot it, "You really want to see it."

"I really want to see it with you."

As more people gathers to the pile, Dazai and Atsushi scoots closer together, not like anyone was pushing or pulling or shoving.

"why?" Atsushi doesn't know why he asked, he should have but you never take back the words you have said.

"Do I really need a reason?"

"Yes."

Without thinking Atsushi answers. Way too fast. He might as well have surprised Dazai when the other suddenly stopped beside him, his hands loosen a bit but not enough to let Atsushi's hand slip.

The light turns red, the cars come to a halt, and the people disperse to walk to the wide crosswalk.

Dazai starts walking and Atsushi follows, close side by side.

The chrisrmas tree, just as it looks magnificent from afar, looks more prettier up close. Many people are gathering around the tree situated in the middle of the square, taking pictures and take in the pretty decorations hanging on the tree, they watch the light wrapped around it change from blue to green to yellow to pink and white.

Atsushi have known about the blinking christmas lights from the book he have read and the star on top of the towering tree, it looks like it shines the brightest even if you are to combine each of christmas light's little bulbs.

"Pretty, right?" Dazai asked, standing beside him and also admiring the tree. Atsushi nods dumbfoundedly, too much in awe to turn his eyes to look at the other.

He thought of taking a picture to show to Kyouka, but what are the odds that she have seen it already while out with the others, days prior?

He stares up the tree thinking that he won't ever get sick of seeing it.

Atsushi snaps out of his stupor, he forgot that Dazai was still beside him, he bashfully turns toward the other who was also looking up but he sense quickly that Atsushi was looking at him, "Sorry about that." Atsushi mumbles fiddling with his gloves, but not daring to glance away now that he is looking close at him, "um...I got distracted."

"Its okay." Dazai said looking up again, then back to Atsushi, "you can take your time, this is the first time you see a christmas tree this tall right?"

Atsushi leans in the soft fabric of the scarf wrapped around his neck, "It is..." he chuckles quietly, giving another glance to the dancing lights of the tree.

He noticed a speck of snow flutter on his nose, he looks up on the night sky as snow starts to fall again. They all flutter down to the tree and suddenly it looks a lot more magical now. He hears the sweet delight from a child nearby and the conversations between people, pointing on the snow falling to the ground ready to add more layers of snow.

He hears clicking of cameras and the sound of the distant jolly music, a foreign song starts playing and he thought it sounded familiar.

"Oh, its the song."

Atsushi tilts his head, "what song?"

Dazai laughs, his breathe coming with a white puff, "you remember the night when it first snowed?"

It finally clicks on his head, he did listen to the song Dazai jokingly sang for him. He remembers that it was almost 5am and Atsushi woke up and couldn't sleep back again.

They pretty much stayed on their windows talking until the sun starts peeking out between the buildings, bringing a glow to the snow falling to the ground slowly piling up to turn the land to a soft white.

"I remember now...." Atsushi chuckles. It was a funny dawn.

Dazai nods, humming along the song, a little movement to his head left and right, a tap on one of his foot. Atsushi thought it looks cute, feeling an urge to copy his movements though he does not remember the entirety of the song.

It was just them humming until the song finished and was replaced with another song, this time in Japanese. Dazai seems dismayed, "aww...they should play it again."

Atsushi laughs, patting him on the back of the shoulder, "You have it on your phone, you can always play it."

"Oh...oh yeah."

"No- no wait! Don't play it here."

Dazai pouts, "but i want to hear it again."

Atsushi hates that he is being dramatic, "you can listen to it when you're home."

"...fine." Dazai puts his phone back inside his pocket.

Atsushi shakes his head fondly, checking his phone for time and for any messages, which he didn't got any, "We have to go back now, Kyouka-chan is waiting for sure."

They start walking back now and Atsushi didn't have to worry about bumping onto anyone, since the crowd have lessen and food establishments are noticeably crowded, either to avoid too much cold or are dining in for dinner.

They walked in comfortable silence, occasional points out to anything particularly interesting. They turn a corner and takes a familiar street, empty and lit up from the streetlights.

Although they are away from now, Atsushi didn't realize that they are still walking too close. Their hands would brush and it didn't become much of a deal to Atsushi, not when earlier they were holding hands as to not get lose from the crowd.

But Dazai wants to give Atsushi's heart a lurch, when he leans to closer and lays his head to Atsushi's, Atsushi stumbles a bit to the side but caught their weight with a huff, "why are you doing this again?"

Dazai groans, a pleasant rumble on Atsushi's head and a shiver from the breathe release near his ear, "I'm tired."

"Stand straight." Atsushi chuckles trying to get Dazai to walk straight but he 'deflates' almost like snuggling on Atsushi's side.

(Like a cat.)

"Dazai-san..." he whines. Dazai purposefully makes himself heavier and a lot more closer to Atsushi's side who can't bring himself but to sigh on his antics.

Atsushi decides to just bear with him.

There was a silence as they awkwardly walk through the street, a slow pace towards home and Atsushi wonder why are they moving so slow.

Nevertheless he basks on the feeling of warmth beside him and it didn't feel so cold the rest of this day, and this moment despite the snow.

"I enjoyed it today..." Atsushi doesn't know where he got the steel to say such thing.

(when someone is so comfortable is this what happens?)

Dazai hums pensively, sending a pleasant feeling to Atsushi and he thought he couldn't be anymore warm, as he feels his hand reach beside him and was met halfway by equally warm hands.

"So I guess this is a successful date."

Atsushi huffs, leaning onto Dazai's shoulder hoping that he was a bit more taller, "...didn't know this was date."

"It is now."

How cheeky.

Atsushi doesn't mind it, even a bit.

"We just bought gifts."

"But we held hands."

"This happened because we decide to help each other out."

"And because we decided to help each other out, we get to hold hands."

Dazai laughs, Atsushi scoffs.

"I'm sorry, do you want me to ask you out properly next time, hmm?"

"I mean, how am i suppose to know if its a date or not..." Atsushi trails off.

"...is that why you have been acting a bit weird lately?"

(Of course he noticed, of course he did.)

Atsushi feels ashamed all of the sudden, he wants to let go and put a distance between them because he didn't expect for this to be directly brought up.

"We always go out together, I know, but its hard to know if its,aaaah..." He didn't want to explain because this feels really embarrasing. He feels childish and this feels like a petty thing to feel for the pass few days.

He didn't care if he let go to cover his face with his hands, it didn't help that Dazai was laughing beside him, a little too much that it made him stumble back to get some space.

"Its hard to know...?" Dazai urges him to continue but Atsushi doesn't want to explain and he peeks out between his fingers, seeing the other in front of him trying to pry his hand away, "come on, let me see your face~"

Atsushi didn't fight it and pulls his hand out from Dazai's hold, walking pass in hopes that Dazai doesn't see his flustered face, "Atsushi-kun, hey! Tell me already~"

"No...its..." Atsushi groans, "forget about it."

"I don't want to forget about it."

"It doesn't matter...its embarassing."

"No."

Atsushi stops. He turns around to finally look at Dazai.

He looks serious.

He looks serious but there is still a smile on his lips.

"It matters and I want to know." He approaches stopping a few inches away from Atsushi, his smile widens but his face remains soft.

"Tell me."

Atsushi doesn't say a thing for a few moments of silence, but it didn't seem to have bothered Dazai.

If anything he looks patient.

And Atsushi's heart aches.

"Are we together?"

"I did say that I felt the same."

"...since when did we got together?"

"Last month, you confessed, and I said that I felt the same and we kissed," A giggle, "want a demonstration?"

Atsushi blushes, "we are dating?"

Dazai chuckles, "we are dating."

"But we haven't had...dates."

Dazai took his hand, holding it gently, "What about those times we go to the Uzumaki, to those cafes?"

"It...we did the same thing before, we got together."

"We did, but does it feel the same?"

He suddenly looks a little too close, so close that he can see the details of his face and the strands of hair framing his face.

It feels like the world has stopped, if Atsushi thought he could hear the distant sounds of car and the barks from dogs earlier, all he can hear now is the sound of snow falling, the sound of fluttering.

"It doesn't..." Atsushi said almost like a whisper.

"But it sometimes feel like..." he breathes in, "...just nothing."

"So you feel like we're not together? like we're not dating? is that correct?"

"Yes."

Dazai sighs, his hand comes in contact with Atsushi's cheek.

(It feels warm, it feels right)

It always feel alright around Dazai.

Atsushi can't help but lean on the touch and the soft caress, the feeling of Dazai so close made him forget that they are outside and they are on their way home to join Kyouka for dinner.

This is feels the same when they kissed after he confessed many many days before, when leaves were falling off branches and puts the emphasize on the colors of brown, orange and yellow.

Like the colors reflected on the eyes of Dazai, back then and now, shining with adoration that Atsushi failed to understand many days before.

As he feels a gust of wind, it didn't made him cold. When he feels the warmth coming from his lips spreading inside as a whole, the slow teasing movements that Atsushi catches up on unlike many days before.

And it wasn't enough, he reluctantly bring his hand behind Dazai's head, catching the strands of brown hair between his fingers, another wave of warm passes through him from the pleasant hum he got. It almost feel overwhelming, but it feels good.

Overwhelmingly good.

They separate for air, to Atsushi it didn't feel appropriate to do it outside, while it was snowing. It is easy to get carried away.

He feels embarrased just thinking about it.

Dazai chuckles, "is that enough to tell that we are together?"

Atsushi stares, feeling a little satisfied with the disheveled look on his hair, he couldn't stop himself from smiling,"...yes."

"Lets go home." Atsushi said and Dazai nods. They continued walking, a lot more closer to each other, pressing so much on the side that they might as well combine.

Atsushi didn't feel like pretending to scold Dazai for resting his head on his, contented with the warm up on his head.

The feelings for the pass few days lessens its weight on him.

"Atsushi-kun?"

"Yes?"

"Do you want to go out on a date? Like the day after tomorrow?"

"where to?"

"Somewhere, anywhere."

"That doesn't really help..."

They finally came home to Kyouka who just finished cooking. Dazai drops his gifts for her inside his apartment before they knocked on the door and she welcomes them both inside, telling them to get rid of their coats, gloves and scarves.

"I really thought you guys are not coming back tonight."

Atsushi is still confused to what she meant by that, but he immediately finds out when Dazai bursts out laughing, saying something along the lines of 'that's too fast'.

"KYOUKA-CHAN, WHERE ARE YOU GETTING THESE IDEAS FROM?!"

She really needs to stop watching too much of those dramas with the Tanizaki siblings.

(He needs to find out what she have been watching.)

Dinner wasn't exactly silent, Atsushi kept sputtering on her shameless assumptions and questions, and to Dazai not helping the situation by saying so much worse things.

But he knew that she is being playful, though unnecessarily teasing him too much.

The two pretty much teamed up against him, teasing him to no end.

"T-that's enough you two, and aren't you suppose to go now?!"

"But I thought you wanted me to stay?"

It was time for Atsushi to stop going red so much, to stop getting too noisy when it is almost late.

Dazai said his thank you to Kyouka and compliments her cooking, still saying too many things as if stalling from Atsushi pushing him towards the door.

"Oh, and Kyouka-chan! Did you know that Atsushi-kun k-"

"Yeah,yeah that's enough!"

Dazai was finally out the door, laughing from Atsushi's effort to push him out, "I'm going back now, thank you for dinner." he said particularly to Kyouka who stayed behind a couple distance away with a curious look on her face before leaving to somewhere.

"Oh, and Atsushi-kun?"

"..what is it this time?"

He stopped laughing from the clear annoyance on Atsushi's face and settles with a smile, "Thank you for helping me today, it was really fun."

The annoyance slips out of his face, an easy smile replacing, "me too, thank you also for helping me."

Dazai finally left to go to his own apartment and Atsushi closes the door, going inside the kitchen to Kyouka looking up at him.

"What?" she throws him a towel, a new one, he notices.

"You should take a shower, you don't smell like yourself."

Atsushi blushes, before he can say anything she disappeared to their shared room, presumably to start going to bed.

He just sighs, preparing a warm bath for himself when his phone lets out ding from the dining table.

He reads the message silently.

From: Dazai-san

Next time again <3

He types in a short message.He sends it with a giddy smile.

To: Dazai-san

Yes, next time. Good night Dazai-san.

Before they left the apartment to go to the agency and start the party, Atsushi gave his gift to Kyouka.

A box containing two flower hairpins, similar to the usual flowers attach on her pigtails, except the flowers are blue on the edges and the middle. It also contain hair ties, of different designs, patterns and colors. Two simple head bands that she can alternate from her usual white head band.

He have bought it yesterday when he saw a store for accessories, stopping by and hanging around for far too long, thinking and getting suggestions from a saleslady as to what he should buy for Kyouka.

She loves it. She came running to give him a hug on the verge of crying on how she remembers her parents used to buy her accessories. It almost made Atsushi cry but he hugs her dearly and assure that she is strong and her parents are proud.

She also bought him a gift.

A tiger strap, matching to her rabbit phone strap.

He cried from that.

They came to the agency and everyone was already there even the president and Dazai. All of their gifts are collected on a table near a corner.

And the party started smoothly.

There are some games prepared by Naomi and Kyouka.

It was fun and suddenly chaotic in pictionary. Through picking names wrote in a paper roll, partners were decided.

Ranpo and Kenji came first versus Tanizaki and Kyouka, it quickly finished as Ranpo already guessed the item before Kenji got the opportunity to draw. Everyone are either dismayed, amazed or both.

Next time Ranpo got picked, he was forced to be the one to draw instead but Naomi was able to guess first, winning against Atsushi and Yosano.

Yosano jokingly asks if Atsushi's hand is okay and if it needs to be healed.

The game had to stop when Kunikida was paired with Dazai against Atsushi and Tanizaki. For whatever reason Dazai drew completely different things instead of what the item they got, losing against Atsushi and Tanizaki in all 3 rounds.

A fight almost happened. Thankfully Yosano interfered.

Naomi brings out a card game. The mechanics not known to everyone but some knew what it was.

A popular card game from outside japan called "Uno".

The mechanics are easy to understand and almost everyone joins to play except the president and Ranpo. A little convincing happened to get the president to play in which he accepts for just one round and Ranpo joins the game without a hitch.

Ranpo won the game. Of course he quit the next round, joining the president outside the circle.

It turns to fun and chaotic, as betrayal and screaming starts joining the game. By third round Yosano quits the game and decides to join Ranpo and the president somewhere in the room.

By fourth round Naomi won just because she got Tanizaki, who was about to win, distracted.

By fifth round Kunikida gets close call to winning and somehow Dazai manages to sabotage his plans, and this went for so long until Kunikida got a higher plus card, winning against Dazai's plan of pulling out a plus on him.

(He pretty much got crazy from the round that he quits.)

By sixth round, Dazai won swiftly.

By seventh round, Atsushi came close to having only one card when Dazai pulls out a plus card, dramatically saying 'sorry babe'. Forcing Atsushi to draw four more cards of the same color, it wasn't even the color that they are playing on at that moment. Dazai tries to make it up, changing the color to Atsushi's card with his only color changing card and only got ignored. Kyouka won the game as Dazai gets distracted in getting Atsushi's forgiveness.

(Of course he forgot him already, Dazai was just being dramatic.)

The rounds continued until they all collectively decided to quit the game, because they were playing so long that it was almost 7 pm.

Naomi,with the clap of her hands, calls everyone's attention, "I think it is time for gifts! Everyone take your gifts and give it to your giftees!"

Atsushi watches as everyone get their gifts, Kyouka and Dazai standing beside him.

"I'll go give this to Kunikida-san." Kyouka said, waving her hand and heading towards Kunikida who gave his gift to Naomi, blushing when she suddenly hugs him, thanking him for the cute mugs. And when he was let go as Naomi checks the box of a pair of mugs she was given. Kyouka tugs on his suit gave him a small rectangular shaped box. He blinks and cough on his hand acting cool, taking the box and opens it to reveal a pair of expensive pen.

Kyouka said to Atsushi that she notices that he always get his pen missing and unintentionally break it from gripping it too hard for dealing with Dazai's antics. Base on the smile forming on his lips Kunikida likes it.

Atsushi can't help but agree when Dazai whispers, 'softie'.

Meanwhile on a corner, Yosano seems to be cornering Tanizaki, evidently amused by his scared expression before she takes out a paper bag, smiles sweetly and hands it to him, leaving like nothing happened and going towards Ranpo.

Ranpo is sitting on his chair, eating a lollipop, but he is glancing on the president giving a watering can as another gift to Kenji.

'Where did that watering can came from?'

Well atleast Kenji seems happy with his gift talking about using it to his little garden, and grins more when the president promises to bring him to a restaurant and treat him any food he wants.

Yosano nudges on Ranpo, giving him a knowing look and he scowls.

While they seem to start getting in their quiet banter, Atsushi decides to wait until he finds a chance to give his gift to her.

"Hey, Atsushi-kun...Dazai-san."

"Tanizaki-san!"

Tanizaki sheepishly laughs, lifting his gift, "Oh I came here to give this..."

"For me?" Dazai interrupts, pointing a finger to himself and an excited look on his face. Atsushi shakes his head and laughs.

"H-how," Tanizaki sighs and laughs, "well, of course."

He hands over Dazai's gift who took it enthusiastically,"Thank you for the gift,Tanizaki-kun!"

"Yeah, I didn't know what to give you exactly, so I hope you like it."

It was a grey thick scarf, Dazai wraps it around his neck, looking like it feels warm and comfortable.

Tanizaki opens his gift and got a long coat, he tries it on and it surprisingly fits and looks good on him. He left seconds after to get to Naomi as he didn't look comfortable with the way Yosano is looking at him from across the room.

Kenji came next taking his water can with him and handing Atsushi's gift, although before Atsushi can open his gift Kenji already spoiled him about it, "I decided that I could make you a hand made sweater so I ask a nice lady back in the farm if she could teach me how to make one." He seems really proud about it and prods Atsushi to open the gift.

It is indeed a knitted sweater, a baby blue color. It was definitely big but it looks comfortable.

Kenji excitedly asked him to put it on.

It hugs his body perfectly, wondering how Kenji knew about his size, but he can guess that he might have ask about it to Kyouka, afterall the two are close friends.

"I love it, Kenji-kun! Thank you very much." The sweater reaches down to his waist and a bit longer on the sleeves, though his fingers can peek through it. It doesn't slip to his shoulders and it feels perfect to wear on a cold weather.

"I was a bit worried about the color but I asked almost everyone about what color fits you," Kenji clasp his hands, " I chose a lighter blue since Dazai-san said it looks cute on you and Kyouka agreed."

Atsushi's eyes widen and he can feel the hotness spreading on his cheeks.

(Fast.)

And like Kenji didn't say anything, or is oblivious, he left with a wave of his hand and makes his way towards Kyouka who seems to hang around the Tanizaki siblings.

Atsushi feels awkward standing so still. He only turns around when Dazai chuckles, "well..."

There is redness on his cheeks.

He is blushing.

"...It does look cute."

Atsushi stutters. Glancing towards Yosano and see that she is snickering on Ranpo talking to the president.

"I do think we can fit together in that sweater." That didn't help.

It didn't help that Dazai laughs and Atsushi flushes more.

"I'm going now to Yosano-sensei, goodbye."

As he strides across the room to get to Yosano, he hates hearing Dazai who just kept laughing and Kunikida calls him a maniac.

He gave his gift to Yosano with a calm smile.

She looks inside the paper bag he gave and her face brightens, "aww, is this...?"

She takes a box out and opens it, a wide smile makes it way on her lips, "This is my favorite!"

She takes a piece and puts it in her mouth, Atsushi doesn't think he ever saw her look so delighted, "I'm guessing you found out about my favorite through Dazai and Kyouka-chan, huh?"

"I couldn't really ask Ranpo-san."

She laughs, "Good choice." turning her glance towards Ranpo, a fond look on her face before she turns to Atsushi, "Thank you for your gift, Atsushi-kun."

Atsushi smiles, "I'm glad you liked it." he feels content and all the thoughts that Yosano might not like it leaves his mind.

Atsushi turns to come back to Dazai only to see Kyouka opening her gift and the excited look on her face from seeing the cute rabbit.

He smiles softy looking at them talk to each other, Dazai looks a bit taken a back when Kyouka starts thanking him, and he replaces it with a smile saying something back to her. Before he catches on Atsushi looking their way.

He looks really glad. Atsushi thought of how he kept seeing different expressions on Dazai nowadays other than his playful yet distant facade.

Atsushi is glad to see so much more of him.

They finally ate all the food prepared, a delivery from a restaurant paid by the President.

The rest of the night everyone have gone to share conversations, mainly about the gifts they have bought and stories that came with it.

It was inevitable for Ranpo to ask teasingly about their date, made worse by Dazai saying embarrasing things and jokingly lie about so many things.

"He also asked me to go on a lo-" before Dazai can finish his sentence, Atsushi cuts him off with a panicked shout.

But Atsushi still had fun, playing games and help in fixing things and cleaning as the night approaches, and everyone intends to go home.

He still feels happy as they went home and wave goodbye to the President, Yosano and Ranpo.

He still feels happy to hear everyone talking and he laughs along to their jokes and the excited plan for new year.

He feels warm just being around everyone and feel them close, to feel Kyouka close, and Dazai silently near him but a relaxed smile would stretch to his lips.

He feels warm even as everyone goes their separate ways to their apartments, each holding their gifts and wishing each other good night.

He feels warm when Dazai sneaks a peck on his lips, purposefully while Kyouka got inside their apartment and opened their lights.

He feels warm hearing Dazai say that he is happy for Atsushi, brushing a strand away from his face and saying his own good night.

He feels warm making his way inside the apartment and sees that Kyouka feels happy.

He feels warm as they hug each other, whispering a merry christmas.

He feels warm as they lay down on their own beds, sharing good nights and a small conversation on how they both had fun.

He feels warm even as he closes his eyes, imagining the happenings of today.

He feels warm, whispering his gratitude to whoever brought him to Dazai and to Kyouka and to everyone he have met.

He thinks back to his time in the orphanage, and somehow it didn't took it away from him,the warmth and satisfaction he felt this day.

He feels warm.

Atsushi woke up.

He didn't woke up from a nightmare atleast. It was hard to go back to sleep, to close his eyes because he didn't feel too sleepy.

His phone says it was 4PM.

So he decided to stay up, noticing that it stopped snowing. He opens a window and watches the view, not like there was anything interesting to look at, though he can't help but wonder how beautiful it looks and how it looks like the world stopped.

"Good morning Atsushi-kun." This time Atsushi didn't flinched.

"Good morning Dazai-san."

"Can't go back to sleep?"

"Yeah."

Atsushi hears shuffling behind him, sluggish footsteps approaching and there is Kyouka rubbing her eyes sleepily, she yawns leaning a bit on Atsushi's back.

"Good morning Kyouka-chan." Dazai greets her.

She nods and muffles a 'good morning back'.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you up?" Atsushi asked.

She shakes her head, "not really...I don't plan to go back to sleeping anyway."

"I want to drink something warm."

Atsushi suddenly remembers the wagashi he have brought for Kyouka the other day, he put it in a cupboard and Kyouka doesn't seem to remember about it.

"You remember about the wagashi, I bought? Have you eaten it yet?" Atsushi asked. He made his way to the kitchen and felt glad when she says that she forgot.

"How about tea? I heard its great for green tea."

"Oh, then I'll get the water heater up."

"Can you make three? I'm gonna ask Dazai-san to join us."

"Okay."

While Kyouka prepares tea, Atsushi came back to their room and asks Dazai to come join them in eating the wagashi.

He almost climbed over to their apartment through his balcony.Atsushi yelps and stops him from climbing over, uselessly flailing his arms in an attempt to stop him,"Doors exist for a reason, you know?!"

It didn't need to take long to stop Dazai and yet it did.

"But don't you think its romantic?"

"Do I really have to point out that its not?"

Dazai knocks on their door and greets Atsushi with a smile, "Good morning." like he just didn't tried to climb over.

"Whatever, good morning."

"Do you like my sweater?"

"Oh."

"This is our couple's matching outfit!"

Atsushi ignores him despite his ears going red, he motions him to follow him to the kitchen, ignoring Dazai's intentional teasing.

It is too early for this.

"Its wide enough for the two of us, if you know what I mean~"

(Too early.)

Dazai greets Kyouka, Kyouka greets him back. They wait for the water to finishing heating up and she sparks one sided argument about what happened on the balcony. Dazai just kept bringing up of how 'romantic' it is. Atsushi just feels like screeching.

(Kyouka looks way too amused.)

The wagashi does go well with green tea. It tastes great and surprisingly isn't too sweet.

"We should buy more of this." Kyouka comments. Knowing her loves for sweet, wagashi probably is one of her favorite foods.

And knowing that she is probably demanding Atsushi to buy one.

(His wallet cries.)

"You two look like you have matching sweater." Kyouka points out.

Atsushi sputters and technically she is correct. Atsushi is wearing the knitted sweat Kenji gave, while Dazai was wearing something similar but a bright shade of yellow.

"So when are you guys telling the others that you two are together?"

Atsushi almost spats his tea out, "They don't know yet?!"

Kyouka shrugs, "Some of them are still betting on when you two are getting together? I didn't want to say anything because I don't think think I should."

Why does Atsushi feel like there is another reason?

"They are betting on us?!"

"Its so funny, seeing them scrutinize our every movement." Dazai said. Atsushi isn't shocked that he cares more about finding it amusing rather than wondering on about the betting thing.

Well atleast he now knows why he feels like everyone are looking at him everytime he gets near to Dazai.

"Do we have to tell them?"

"No, no,no! let them notice~"

Kyouka eats another piece of wagashi, "I bet they'll notice it in new year."

"I bet next year." Dazai snickers.

"You two are betting too?"

"Just act normal, Atsushi-kun. We will share on Kyouka-chan's money."

"Kiss him on new year, Atsushi-kun. I can cook you Chazuke for a week as dinner."

"you two...."

(How can he possibly stop loving this two?)

They spend their time talking to each other until the sun came rising, in which Kyouka invites them to watch the sunrise with her, talking about how she loves waking up on dawn just to see the sunrise.

Atsushi can see the reason why. The sunrise feels good on the skin after a cold night.

He talks about how excited he is to celebrate his next christmas again with everyone as they watch the sun rise side by side. The other two didn't say anything but he can tell that Kyouka felt the same and although he still can't read the look on Dazai's face looking far to the distant.

Atsushi hopes that he looks forward to it.

Atsushi hopes that he looks forward to spending it with them.

Atsushi didn't expect to be celebrating his christmas outside the orphanage like this.

(He considers this as his first christmas.)

He can't ask for anything more. He secretly whispers his wishes for everyone that he loves, his gratitude to them. He wishes for another great christmas with them.

And like how the sun rays embrace everything in a warm glow, he remembers the day when he met Dazai and his life changes as the sun sets before then.

He holds both their hands, they didn't say anything but to feel them lean closer and hold his hand back is enough for Atsushi to know that they are also looking forward to more days like this.

It doesn't have to be during a holiday.

Just a peaceful warm day with the people you hold close.

It was a nice morning that welcomes the day of December 26th.