Work Text:
“We have an intern coming in today,” Kunikida announces, setting his papers to the side. “Her name is Chizuko Yoshida, and she studies at Yokohama’s National University. I would assign her a mentor, but it seems she’s already requested someone.”
“Oh? Who, Kunikida-kun?” Dazai asks, as if he doesn’t already know. “I bet it’s Yosano— they would get along well, I think.”
“No, surprisingly not. She requested you, Dazai. I have no idea why—”
“It’s because she can’t turn off her ability.” The nullifier grins, head lolling back to rest on his chair. “Yoshida-chan is one of the students I guest lecture. Her ability, Star, Star, Star A , allows her to tell and feel people’s emotions. She’s hoping to get a handle and tamp it down, not wanting to be influenced by them.” A sharp, sardonic smile. “I’m a nullifier— plus, she can learn things from me.”
“She’s a—?”
“God, Kunikida-kun, are you that dense? Of course there are ability users other than us and the Port Mafia. They lay low. My Odasaku is an example.”
“Osamu?” There’s a soft knock on the door, and it opens, revealing both Odasaku and Chizuko Yoshida, the latter hanging slightly behind the redhead, clearly already somewhat overwhelmed. “Your intern got lost. We ran into each other at the cafe—”
“‘Saku!” Dazai grins, rising from his seat and leaping up, wrapping his hands around the older’s neck. Oda stumbles slightly, hands reaching to settle on the nullifer’s waist.
“Hello, ‘samu,” The ability user nuzzles into the younger’s neck, seeking a light reassurance. ‘You alright?”
“Yes. Hey, Odasaku, do you want to come with me and Yoshida-chan? You need a break from painting, and we have a case to check out! I think it’s a murder!”
“You get too excited about murder cases, light of my life.”
“I do not!” Dazai pouts, pulling back from Oda. “Yoshida-chan, you’re one of the forensics students, tell him I don’t—?”
“You do, Dazai-sensei. It’s unnerving, sometimes. But you give good insight on my major and minor, when I can catch those guest lectures.”
“Right! You’re minoring in creative writing!”
“Yes, I am.” Chizuko Yoshida offers a grin as she fishes out a pen and red notebook, scribbling something down. “So many people owe me money, now that we know Oda-san calls you ‘light of my life’.”
“...don’t tell me that’s a notebook for a betting pool, Chizuko Yoshida-chan.”
“I’d be lying, Dazai-sensei!”
Dazai rolls his eyes, ruffling the girl’s hair— and ignoring the surprised noises his co-workers let out. Dazai was not known to like touch all that often, and even if you were rather close to the nullifier you rarely got head pats, or things like that from him. “Yeah, yeah. Let's go do that case, alright?”
“Dazai-sensei? Your ability is comforting. I can…feel my own emotions for once, instead of other people’s. I know you don’t like hearing that, or whatever, but it’s true. You bring a lot of comfort to the ability users at the university.”
Dazai nods slowly as the two head back to the Agency, the streets barely populated. It was dusk, the sun slipping below the horizon.
Solving the case was easy due to the nullifier’s genius and Yoshida’s ability, but the official reason was because of her talent to be able to notice and point things out that others would not or could not. The forensics major liked it that way. “...I see.”
“Do you, Dazai-sensei? Be– Because I can feel your emotions, even though it’s hard, I can—...you are full of doubt and sadness. It— It’s mostly…blank, but those are the main things I feel. When you’re with Oda-san, there’s love too, but those are the main things I feel when you’re around me.”
“...you should get on going back to the university. Isn’t your internship over? It was only for a day, after all. Go on— I don’t want you getting stranded because you missed the last train.”
“Talk to Oda-san about how you’re feeling.” Yoshida mutters, pointing a finger at the nullifier as she walks off, flats stamping against the concrete. “Don’t break his heart, Dazai-sensei.”
“I'll talk to him.”
“Good— I’ll see you around, Dazai-sensei! Can’t wait to read your next book!”
“Good luck catching that train, Yoshida-chan! I’ll see you whenever the university lets me come back!”