Work Text:
“Oi. Dazai. Do your work.” Kunikida snaps out as he fills out paperwork and types up reports, quickly sparing a glance to the nullifier on the couch. “Seriously, it’s only 10 AM, and you’re already this lazy? Though I shouldn’t be shocked, seeing as yesterday you left to avoid putting Oda-san down as your emergency contact.”
Oh, that hurt. That really hurt, but he was not putting Oda down as his emergency contact.
“Wait— What time did you say it was?”
“10 AM.”
“I’m going to be late.” The nullifier curses sharply, springing from the couch and waving to Kunikida, dodging around his mentee who had just come in with a quick: “Sorry, Atsushi-kun!”
“D— Dazai-san?”
“I’m going to be late for something very important!” Dazai has to get on the train at Fujizuka Station, get off at Tokiwadai Station and rush to Lecture Hall 7 of Yokohama National University in 30 minutes, and depending on train delays…
It’s fine. It’s fine. He’ll make it.
Distantly, he hears Kunikida shout at him, but it’s clear the blond gives up and decides it’s not worth it.
The nullifier combs a hand through his messy hair, trying to get it at least manageable from the run he’d just done halfway across campus; leaning against the door to the lecture hall for a brief moment.
Dazai rubs a thumb along his engagement ring, pressing a kiss to it for luck as he opens the door with a soft creak.
5 minutes to spare. And, of course, his creative writing lecture students perk up as he enters the room, one shouting out: “Dazai-sensei, did you forget you were guest lecturing again?”
Another shouts out, voice full of glee and surprise. “Dazai-sensei, is that an engagement ring? Did Oda-san finally propose?”
The lecture hall breaks out into chaos, half of the group shouting congratulations, and half— okay, the entire lecture hall exchanges money. — and Dazai wouldn’t have it any other way as he laughs, quickly setting up his presentation. “To answer your questions, yes, yes, and yes. I didn’t know he was going to—...he surprised me,” Often, if the students ask him the right question, Dazai will often talk about Odasaku until it’s time for his lecture to start. "And proposed during his public debut a week ago.” Dazai makes a quiet, embarrassed noise, face going red as more money is exchanged. “See, this is why I don’t guest lecture you all. You ask a question about Oda and I get embarrassed as you all exchange money. Stop betting on my love life.”
“Dazai-sensei, your love life is one of the most highly debated topics in the university. You’re also one of the most beloved people here, despite not being a staff member.”
“Besides, we’re your favorites to guest lecture.”
“No! The forensics and criminal justice students are! They don’t ask questions like this— they just listen as I talk, scribbling down notes! They're very good at letting me guest lecture them, and ask questions that are on task!”
“But you love talking about Oda-san, and we ask about him, and so therefore, we’re your favorite class.”
“...fuck. You’re right. You are my favorite class to guest lecture— not just because of that, though. This class asks truly insightful questions.” A quick glance at the clock and he laughs. “Alright. You’re the class I get to guest present to today, so let’s talk about my new book and the way the writing is inspired by other writers, as well as your thoughts on it.”
“Right,” He claps his hands, smiling slightly. “Thanks for letting me guest lecture again, I know you all must be sick of me by now. Alas, I have to get back to my actual job and do detective work. Oh! That’s right, the ADA is opening up internships, and I’d like to see some of you there! I know for a fact some of you would benefit from this, especially the folks who minor in forensics. Also,” Dazai tilts his head and leans forwards, bracing himself on his forearms. “For those of you who have abilities, I’d particularly advise you to come along.”
It was pretty much an open secret within the classes he guest lectures that Dazai was an ability user, and that some of the students were also ability users.
There’s been many times that Dazai has had to nullify an ability because it was activated unconsciously, usually through emotion.
“Dazai-sensei! Are you in charge of internship selection?”
“Nope! That’s my co-worker, Kunikida-kun, because according to him, I don’t work.”
“That’s…literally wrong.”
“He doesn’t know that, does he? Alright, shoo, shoo, you’ll be late to your next class.” Dazai laughs as they all scramble out, falling over each other in a haste to get to the door.
He wouldn’t change a thing about his favorite class to guest lecture.