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This didn’t happen very often. He would blame himself for letting himself get too busy or two distracted with other things, but it was a good day that time. The sun was shining, he had no errands and it was his day off. When he woke up that morning, the only thing that came into his mind was doing something he hadn’t done in a while.
Before he knew it, he was already dressed, ate breakfast and was already walking through the city as the cool breeze was coming through every now and again. He was wearing a bright pastel green t-shirt, jeans and sneakers with his light bomber jacket that was pastel blue. He had a few in different colors. With his phone and his wallet full of cash, he went to the one place he wanted to go.
The arcade.
Now he wasn’t exactly a gamer by any means. Yes, he has his fancy and admittedly expensive PC set up with monitors, microphone, speakers and headset, not including his chair and foot rest but beyond pc games and some multiplayer games, he wasn’t really into it. It was a part of him though that he couldn’t part, thanks to his long time friendship with Katai.
However, that didn’t mean he didn’t enjoy other kinds of gamed every once in a while.
Immediately after getting into the local arcade which was impressively huge, he went straight to the token machine. He used the pockets of his jacket to hold the coins. When he was satisfied with the amount he had, he looked around. Now, what game to play first, he mused.
While he loved games to an extent, he wasn’t exactly a pro gamer either. He had his wins and losses in whatever game he was interested in playing. Some people looked at him weirdly as he started playing (nothing new there) and some wanted to go up against him in those fighting games (which he didn’t mind). By the afternoon, he got enough tickets to get a small plush cat from the prize section.
Though of course he hadn’t even touched the crane games yet but that was saved for last as he wanted to do something else first.
“Good, it’s empty.” Kunikida walked up to a pair of dancing games. They were very small platform/dancing games that people would dance to get a good score on whatever song was played. He had to wait since a lot of people would go on that one first but now, now was his time.
Placing some tokens into the coin slot and placing his bomber jacket on the floor, Kunikida readied up. Selecting a song, he also chose the difficulty setting and waited.
[ Ready? Start!]
People passing by would stop and see others having a go at the dancing games but that time, some would stop and stare at what they saw.
It wasn’t as if Kunikida was keeping things to himself like he had secrets, he just never thought to bring it up. He can see though how certain aspects of himself would be surprising. Atsushi certainly was when he found out the man can do ballet.
Which was just the tip of the iceberg for what made Doppo Kunikida, like well…Doppo Kunikida.
As he danced and gaining an audience, part of him wondered if in another world or in some other life, he wasn’t this messed up, that he actually had a dream-like childhood that didn’t end up with him making stupid choices that led to terrifying consequences. He certainly had thought about it from time to time.
However, he would always come to the same conclusion: even if he did have that life, it wouldn’t mean he wouldn’t be suffering somewhat.
Did he wished things were different growing up, of course and he had a list of things to change but then if he did, other things wouldn’t have happened and he couldn’t replace them for anything. This is what he was, he was Doppo Kunikida and no one can take any part of him away, not without a fight.
He was happy and for the most part fulfilled.
And he had the agency and his friends to thank for that.
The song ended as he made his final pose. He was panting and a bit out of breath (it has been a while) as he saw his score. He was startled as he got a light applause from behind. He glanced at the screen and he got a near perfect score. Ah, shoot. He let his mind wander and he messed up a bit. No matter though, he had his fun and he was about done with games for the day.
Almost.
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“And here’s one for you, and for you, and this one is for you…~”
Atsushi couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched Kunikida go around the agency the next day. “He must have gone through another shopping spree, huh.” He was holding a small tiger plushie that had a bow tie around its neck.
Dazai, leaning back on his seat, hummed. “Nah, he went to the arcade.”
Blinking twice, Atsushi was somewhat in disbelief. “What makes you say that?”
“Hm? Oh, just a feeling is all~” Dazai had a cat plushie held with one arm around it while he had his phone in his other hand. If there was anything that he and Kunikida had in common, it was the resistance to open up but he knew that unlike him (or so he would think), in time, the man will.
While he hated it, he owed Chuuya one for sending him the video.
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END