Chapter Text
“It’s like I’m talking to a wall!” Yosano exclaims as she drags her friend and classmate Kunikida to the door of a cafe.
“As I’ve said– I’m busy!” Kunikida fights back in an attempt to free his arm from his friend’s strong grip.
“As I’ve said, writing your schedule for the whole semester is useless!”
At this point, Yosano’s efforts in dragging her friend into the cafe doors paid off, as Kunikida still resisted, he never could succeed over his friend who literally owns a punching bag in her room. With Kunikida still thrashing in her hold and yelling at each other, he continued clinging to the entrance doors to pull himself back out.
“I’m– busy!!” Kunikida struggles to speak out.
“Come–”
“Ahem.”
Both stopping and looking to the source of the interruption, they looked up to see a tall middle aged man, seemingly trying to enter the store they both are blocking with their bickering.
“My apologies sir!” Kunikida quickly slipped out of Yosano’s hold and moved out of the way while dragging Yosano to the side as well.
The man does not say anything nor looks back at them as he moves to carry on with his day.
“Why the hell are you always so formal? Be a normal teenager,” Yosano teases.
Before Kunikida can begin his usual lectures on how it is good and polite to show respect for his superiors and elders, she grabs a hold of Kunikida’s wrist to sit them down at a table near the window.
Looking over the drink orders on the menu, Yosano hears shuffling of papers to her side. Kunikida, still sitting across from her in a damn cafe, brings out his treasured notebook and begins writing.
Yosano lightly smacks the open notebook back down to the table so as to not anger Kunikida. She was really annoyed by his constant methodically planned days but she knew not to downright disrespect him and his practices. They were still friends after all and she still cared for him.
“I am practically begging you to loosen up. I brought you here to hang out, not work,” Yosano says, her hand still in the middle of the notebook, pushing it down.
“Right. Sorry.” Kunikida strains out as he pockets the notebook, to be used later on.
With that, they begin getting their orders together. Something Yosano never understood was how specific and complicated Kunikida’s coffee order was, no matter where they went he would always find a way to complicate it. When she asked about it, she got another lecture on the perfect balance of sweet and bitter. Oh, how she hated his long rants and analyses on the most simple and mundane things. Everything about him was organised down to the T.
She settled for a simple black coffee.
“My biology class is doing this semester-long project,” Yosano sighs.
“Yes, same with my class.”
“That life-sized model, right?” Yosano asks as she focuses on Kunikida absent-mindedly swishing his drink in his hand.
With a nod, Kunikida confirms, “Though we haven’t gotten explicit instructions on it yet, Sir. Hirotsu only briefly mentioned it.”
Yosano hums in acknowledgement and they both continue talking about random topics as they have their drinks. Somehow though, the conversation loops back to the project.
“What are you going to do about the project?” Yosano asks. She's not particularly interested but would like to continue the conversation.
Kunikida puts down his cup and thinks for a second.
“It’s nothing much, with a perfectly balanced ratio of time management between the current school work and the project I will be able to commit fully to complete it by myself.” Kunikida begins to ramble again.
“Kunikida. Doppo. No way you are planning to do that project solo. Even with your time management skills that can’t be healthy.” Yosano stating that it wasn’t healthy was merely exaggeration, she knows and trusts Kunikida but her worry for her friend was at a constant.
“Yes, solo.” Kunikida doesn’t dwell on the topic, turning it to Yosano. “You?”
“I already study biology and medicine at home. I don’t think I will have any trouble with a life-sized 3D model of detachable organs, though the construction is probably the shittiest part of it.” She takes a sip while Kunikida connects the dots for her.
“So, teamwork?”
Yosano says a noise of agreement into her cup.
Two highschoolers walk into the cafe together and before they could continue on with their casual conversation, Yosano calls out to one of them, seemingly the one with a mess of fluffy brown hair on his head.
“Yosanoooo!~” He beams as he follows towards their table, a shorter silver haired boy following behind him.
“Mind if we join the party?” he asks.
After being granted permission from Yosano, the two pull up chairs from the sides and are seated. The white haired boy is immediately turning back and forth to the menu throughout the conversation seemingly deciding what he wants to order.
“Do you usually come to this cafe, Yosano?” The brunette asks.
“No, the coffee here isn’t up to my tastes,” she jokes. “This one was closest to where we currently were, I just wanted to bring this middle aged man out of his cubicle,” she teases while gesturing towards Kunikida.
The boy laughs at the joke, turning to said middle aged man as Yosano gestured to him. Opening his mouth to defend himself at the insult, he is interrupted.
“Speaking of, this is Kunikida. I think I’ve told you about him here and there.”
“Right, right! The one you met in middle school yeah?” He turns back to Yosano as she nods.
Clearing his throat and calming down from the previous remark, he speaks up.
“A pleasure to meet you.” He directs a raised hand for a handshake towards the guy Yosano seems to be friends with.
..
“PWAHAHAHA!” He bursts into laughter after a moment of staring at the raised hand.
“You weren’t kidding! He is middle aged!” He doesn’t take Kunikida’s hand.
At that Kunikida’s head explodes with anger and embarrassment.
“I AM NOT MIDDLE-AGED!” He bursts out and slams his head on the table, interrupting the whole cafe. The white haired boy jumped significantly at the explosion.
After a beat of silence he turns and apologises with a bow towards the customers. Grumbling in shame, he snatched his now empty cup to go discard away from the table.
The brunette turns to Yosano with slight shock, she just silently shrugs. The white haired teenager that has been quite silent during the whole conversation mumbles that he's going to go order at the counter. His friend taps him while he turns to leave and tells him his order.
Coming back to his original seat, Kunikida sits down and clears his throat.
“My apologies. That was inappropriate of me.”
The situation now awkward, the brunette decides to tone down his jokes a bit. “Dazai.”
“Dazai?” Kunikida questions.
“Dazai,” He repeats.
Kunikida doesn’t exactly like Dazai now. Jokes with Yosano still get under his skin, but they’re not taken personally to the same degree as if it were instead a stranger insulting him. Kunikida had just met Yosano’s friend, and already he hasn’t gotten a good impression from him. It’s not like my first impression was any better, he thinks.
“...”
“Are you not going to greet me?” Dazai asks lightheartedly, though the question sounds spoiled to Kunikida.
“Hello, Dazai.” He speaks with no respect in his tone.
Yosano cringes while watching her two friends interact. She’s known Kunikida for way longer than Dazai, only meeting him at the beginning of their high school years.
The white haired boy returns with his and Dazai’s drinks.
Receiving the drinks, Dazai moves to stand up.
“We’re off then! Sadly Atsushi and I have other things to do and can't stay long,” he calls to the both of them.
With a silent, casual wave, Yosano turns her attention back to Kunikida who started complaining right when the two left.
“He is such a snob!”
Yosano forces out a puff of air as she snickers at his words.
“He’s not a snob, he's just really fucking annoying,” she laughs out.
“I feel bad for the boy– Atsushi. Having to deal with Dazai for two seconds was enough for me.”
Yosano truly finds Kunikida’s immediate hatred for Dazai hilarious, it was so in character for Dazai to make everyone who hears him speak hate him. Despite Kunikida’s words of pity for Atsushi, she can’t really defend Dazai on that, she knows how much Dazai annoys him.
Atsushi and Dazai are closer than she is with Dazai, while she doesn’t know much about Atsushi, she does hear about the boy sometimes from Dazai. Apparently the two met pretty early on in middle school and stuck together. Atsushi was so shy when it came to socialising, so Dazai often compared it to picking up a lost cat at the river. From the one time Atsushi and her had a small conversation, Atsushi mentions how Dazai was also quiet when he was young. Not in the shy way but in the ‘I don’t want to be here’ way. She had laughed at hearing that.
Yosano says no more words to humour Kunikida’s rambling, so they simply move onto a new topic while Yosano throws out her empty drink and heads out with Kunikida.
After a bit of walking Kunikida speaks up before they enter the school building. “Thanks for taking me out today. Other than Dazai, it was nice to sit and talk.”
Yosano smiles at him admitting to enjoying their time despite her literally having to wrestle him into the building.
“So you’ll go out more?”
“Don’t get your hopes up,” Kunikida replies sharply.
Yosano lets out a small laugh as she affectionately pats his short head of hair. Maybe a ponytail would suit him, she idly thinks.
____
Heading to proceed on with their third day of school, Kunikida and Yosano both wave to each other goodbye as they break apart in the hallways to get to their own separated classrooms.
Kunikida makes it a point to memorise the names of all of his classmates. So why, 5 minutes late, is Dazai walking into his classroom. He had already known Atsushi was in his class, due to seeing him on the first and second day. Maybe Atsushi was running late and Dazai decides to improve on the person he is, seeking change and kindness, walked Atsushi to his class.
No, he was wrong. Dazai sat right behind him. Right beside Atsushi's usual desk.
Before his anger could rise, he quickly takes a deep breath. It was just one bad meeting. It’s no problem, it’s not like he needs to befriend Dazai, just ignore his presence unless necessary.
Focusing his attention back to the front of his class, his biology teacher Hirotsu begins explaining the project that he and Yosano were discussing earlier that morning.
Turning to his diagram on the board, he begins speaking. “As briefly mentioned during the introduction days, this semester you will be working on a project worth 45% of your grade. Treat it like your biology final.” He pauses before continuing, “you will be making a life-sized 3D model of a human, where the front is detachable in order to see the internal organs. The organs should also be removable. For each internal organ, you will write in detail about its functions as well as the main diseases that may affect that area.”
Just as Kunikida planned how the project goes, he has no issue with this. He begins writing down everything that he is saying about the project in his notes and begins formulating a schedule to balance his work time.
It's all going smoothly until Hirotsu continues. “While it is due at the end of the semester, a week before you switch classes, you are welcome to submit it beforehand.”
Kunikida writes that down.
“This will be done with partners.”
Kunikida pauses and immediately there are whispers between classmates, all planning who will be their partners. This slightly caught him off guard, as he had originally planned to do this solo. Though, he could partner with someone. That’s alright, just a slight– major change to his schedule. He now has to take into account his partner's time as well as meeting dates, times and locations. No, that’s alright. Kunikida is never off put from doing his work, he calms down from that.
The class proceeds more in depth on what the project will entail, as well as more introduction to the semester and school, as that is usually how the first week of highschool will go. As Hirotsu continues talking and Kunikida writes down important information he would like to remember, he hears whispering from the two behind him.
Dazai’s tone is more lighthearted while Atsushi sounds like he's straining to keep himself from yelling at Dazai. He once again feels bad for his poor classmate. He pays no more mind to the two.
The bell calls and the class is dismissed for the rest of the day, as their classes are now over. Kunikida packs up his notebook and slings his book bag over his shoulder as he lingers in the room for no longer than he needs to.
____
Dazai usually goes over to Atsushi's house to play on the console he has. For reasons at home, he hasn’t been allowed a new one for years. Being unable to get a new console, he usually isn’t able to play any of the new games. He’s thankful Atsushi usually lets him play.
Settling down at the edge of the couch while playing a game against Atsushi, Dazai begins speaking.
“Wanna partner up for the bio project?”
Despite the casual invitation, Atsushi blows up.
“No! No. I won’t, never. You never do any work! I’m not doing this to myself! You don’t know how to work!”
Dazai was both caught off guard and amused by the sudden outburst of refusal as he curled in clutching himself and laughing. Atsushi was so easy to scare and tease, it’s his personal favourite activity.
“Alright, okay!” He laughs, as Atsushi seemingly settles down. “You just simply don’t care about me, that’s fine. I suppose.” His tone changes to a sarcastic one, making Atsushi perk back up.
“I– No–” He turns to Dazai now trying to defend himself.
Before he could continue, a massive sound booms through the room coming from the TV. Startled, he whips to the TV and sees a massive ‘WIN’ over Dazai’s avatar, signifying his own loss. While in his shock, Dazai starts cheering happily for himself.
“No!! Hey, you tricked me–” Dazai’s cheering drowns Atsushi’s complaints. “HEY!!”
Quieting down from his victory cheer, he slowly turns to show the most smug face to Atsushi. Instead of attempting to fight with his long time friend, he just grumbles angrily.
Forgetting and moving on from the previous event, Atsushi perks back up like a cat as Dazai would describe it and asks if Dazai had any plans for the year.
“Will you finally settle for a partner for longer than 5 months?”
Atsushi’s question held pure intention. He knew despite Dazai actively seeking a partner at times was still very lonely. Ever since his Childhood friend, Chuuya, moved closer to the port, he hasn’t had any other friends aside from Atsushi.
He occasionally talked to Chuuya, seeing him at times when there were breaks from school and Chuuya visiting more towards the centre of the city, where Dazai resides, but it wasn’t often.
“That’s a bit rude, Atsushi..” Dazai plays.
“No– no, I mean. You’re lonely sometimes.”
Atsushi didn’t mean to say it like that. After noticing Dazai’s blank pause, he immediately tries to save the situation, but fails.
“Ohh~ is Atsushi worried about meeee~” He tilts his head while looking at him.
“I don’t really know,” he continues on answering the question. “I don’t have any interest in anyone right now, but the year just started sooo...” He trails off, letting Atsushi connect on his own.
Atsushi hums and nods at that. They go back to play some more games. Despite this being Atsushi’s console, meaning he had more time to practice and play, he still lost a lot to Dazai. It’s not like he's naturally bad at games, he just doesn’t play on the console too often. Oh, and also because he’s naturally bad at games.
While he does hate losing, seeing Dazai’s genuine happiness and cheers when he wins at a fair game, lifts his own spirits. He didn’t know too much about Dazai, he knew it wasn’t like he was keeping everything hidden from specifically Atsushi, he just did that for everyone, which is also why he didn’t try asking why Dazai preferred to hang out at his house rather than his own. He mostly assumed it was for the console, due to them playing it almost every time Dazai comes over.
It’s getting late and the tiredness of the two is signified by Atsushi’s constant yawns. Dazai notices this and instead of making him play another game, he offers to call it a night. Atsushi doesn’t decide against it.
Dazai grabs his school bag. Puts on his shoes and heads home with a grim expression.
___
Once again as per their routine, Kunikida and Yosano both wave to each other as they head to their last class before lunch break, specifically biology for Kunikida. The way their class schedules are constructed is that every few days, their core classes alternate between the morning half and afternoon half of the day.
Moving to prepare for his notes to be written down, Hirotsu begins the summary of the class for today. While talking, yet again Dazai walks in late and takes a seat by his friend who is already seated. The seats were never assigned but it seems like everyone is settled in their own preferred seats, not moving.
Hirotsu doesn’t pay full attention to Dazai’s late attendance, simply telling him to come in on time, but Dazai jokingly plays it off with a wave of his hand.
In his summary Hirotsu begins setting the semester-long project into motion and starts naming the pairs himself. Grumbles and sighs of disappointment are spread across the room as they all realise they can’t pick the partners themselves.
While calling the names, something he said next begins ringing and echoing in Kunikida’s ears.
“Group five, Kunikida Doppo, Dazai Osamu. Group six…” Kunikida knows that name. It’s a name he doesn’t like.
At the realisation, he whips his head around to glare in shock at the bandaged wrapped teenager. There were no words exchanged between the two, Dazai only adding fuel to the fire as he sends a sinister smile towards Kunikida. Atsushi is relieved he isn’t paired with Dazai, but is worried about this pair instead. He hopes Dazai won’t make Kunikida lose every drop of his sanity by the end of the semester. He also prays Dazai will do the work, however that is no longer his problem as he’s paired with Tanizaki Junichiro.
Atsushi knows Tanizaki, not as much as he knows Dazai, but they talk sometimes. He’s relieved at that. Though he still is very worried about the duo beside him.
Kunikida refused to pay any mind as Hirotsu continued the summary–
“You may now meet with your partner and discuss your plans.”
Everything in this project is working to ruin anything Kunikida has going for him, he begins crumbling in defeat. Before he could turn his chair to connect to the front of his now partner’s desk, he felt a hard smack and the hand stayed on his shoulder.
Kunikida immediately jumped and turned to the owner of that wrapped hand, the dreaded wrapped person.
“Hii~ partner..” Dazai teases with a wide smile.
By now Atsushi had already moved to Tanizaki’s desk near the back of the class, they seem to be having a better and easier time discussing the project than Dazai and Kunikida are having.
Clearing his throat and regaining his composure, not wanting to delay any longer, he gets right to the point.
“What is your schedule of free time? I would like to setup a plan to meet multiple times a week and work–”
“No good!” Dazai deflates, exasperated.
Kunikida is confused by what Dazai means. Instead of continuing himself, he raises an eyebrow towards his partner.
Dazai perks up. “A little birdie told me you’re very smart and hard-working! You will have no problem doing this!” He smiles innocently.
“I was fine working on my own but this is now a group project! Carry your own weight!” he scolded.
Dazai frowns and sighs, looking away and contributes nothing more to the conversation. Kunikida truly dreads this guy.
____
Meeting up for lunch, Yosano and Kunikida both settle down at the table and chairs outside and begin talking about random topics. Eventually, the topic shifts to Kunikida’s day and he immediately begins complaining, rambling and waving his arms around in complaint. Dazai this and Dazai that, he complains about Dazai’s constant refusal to contribute anything to the conversation nor project.
“Wooow, you really do hate him.” Yosano already knew this, but found it mildly entertaining to find Kunikida complaining so passionately about something. Usually when he complains, it’s about something Yosano has no care for, such as his schedules and conditions not being met no matter what is happening. A little drama is always welcome in her book.
“Hate is a strong word. I need something stronger,” Kunikida grits out.
Kunikida’s ideals defined him. He had anything and everything planned out exactly how he wanted it to go and followed his book exactly. It’s his life to him. In the short span of meeting Dazai, he had already disrupted a public gathering of people. Ever since childhood he’s been taught and had manners drilled into him. Now, he isn’t forced to follow these rules of formality, it’s a habit at this point. Who is Kunikida without his ideals? Without his idea of a perfectly crafted world?
Dazai has caused a disruption in him. It’s not even a big deal to Dazai, that’s just how he acts. To Kunikida, it’s a threat to his entire being and purpose. If he wants to set his schedule back on course, he needs to whip Dazai into shape, his new semester-long partner.
Kunikida sighs to himself.
___
Arriving home, Kunikida is dedicated to making this semester work. Dazai will carry equal weight to what Kunikida will carry, they will have meeting times and regular contact in order to update the other in any delays of a meeting.
Tapping his pen to his lips, his aunt walks into his room.
“Doppo, I've told you to end that habit,” she says sternly.
With a realisation at his absent minded tapping, he apologises and puts his pen down to his book as he continues to think. Despite his desire for a perfect world, he’s not perfect enough for himself and hates it. His visions are too much sometimes, and it causes stress for him. Instead of unwinding he picks up small fidgety habits which his aunt doesn’t like.
“Dinner is in 5 minutes, please come down by then,” she speaks out to him and turns to close his door.
“Yes ma’am,” he calls out to her and resumes writing things down.
He will need Dazai’s contact information first.
Packing up his notebook and bringing it along with him, he brings it down for dinner.
___
“Dazai, I need your contact information.”
The morning of the next day, he turned to Dazai and asked his question with his notebook open, ready to write.
“Contact information?” Dazai laughed at the professional term. “I’ll give you my snap, wait.”
Kunikida halted his writing hand for a second.
“No, not whatever a snap is, I need your contact information.” He raises an eyebrow.
Putting on a calm, and level expression he turns back to Kunikida.
“Right, yes I will tell you my Email.”
Kunikida perks up ready to write down the information given to him, before Dazai bursts into laughter towards Kunikida.
“I’m just playing! No one talks with Emails anymore! You sure you’re in the same year as us!?” Dazai is hysterically laughing at Kunikida, some classmates in their own groups stopping for a second to stare at the two.
Kunikida’s face heats up red with embarrassment and anger. He can’t disrupt another public setting with his shouting because of this idiot. Why was Dazai challenging literally everything about him? Would it kill him to cooperate like a normal human being!
“I am not talking to you through Email.” Dazai calms down with a sighed giggle. “My snap is–”
“As I’ve stated ‘not whatever a snap is’ “ Kunikida grits out.
Dazai pauses for a second. He assumed that Kunikida used Email from that encounter, but does he truly not know what ‘snap’ is? Does he even use social media? Does he use Facebook!?
“What.. do you use..?” Dazai slowly questions.
Leaning his notebook down as it seems like he won’t be writing anything anytime soon with Dazai, he pinches the bridge of his nose and stresses out, “ Email.”
Dazai lets out an exasperated, tired sigh.
“Fine, no snap but no Email. I’ll just give you my number,” Dazai lazily comes up with a compromise.
With a nod, Dazai reaches out his hand out for Kunikida to hand him and he will write down his number, however Kunikida flinches.
“I don’t.. bring my devices to class...” he coughs out.
“OH MY GOD!” Dazai shouts and smacks his head to face palm with both hands.
Once at Kunikida’s locker, he finally hands Dazai his phone and once receiving it back, he glances at the contact name. Kunikida chokes out and immediately shoves his phone back into Dazai’s hands demanding him to change it.
“But it’s exactly who I am, no?” Dazai pouts. “Hot biology partner. Yes, yes that is me.” He scratches his chin while nodding.
“Change it–” Kunikida’s shout drifts off as Dazai interrupts.
“Bye partner!~ Have a good weekend!” He calls out waving.
Kunikida yells at Dazai to come back, to no success.
When arriving home, Kunikida messages Dazai, changing his contact name beforehand.
[Unknown] Hello, this is Kunikida.
[Dazai. O.] hiiii~~~ :D
[Kunikida(middle aged man)] I was simply testing to see that your number was the one you gave me. Goodnight.
[Dazai. O] wahhtt!! no ur leaving already kuniku :(
Kunikida cringes at Dazai’s texting manners and grammar.
[Kunikida(middle aged man)] Do not call me that.
[Dazai. O] kunikuuu :3
Kunikida decides to no longer humour the annoying teenager and shuts his eyes to get his exact preferred hours of sleep.
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
His phone begins vibrating and ringing on the table.
Squinting at the bright screen without his glasses, he answers Dazai’s phone call. Immediately Dazai is first to speak.
“Hello, partner!” Dazai sings happily despite the late hour.
“Do you need something?” Kunikida tiredly groans out.
After a beat of silence and a hum, Dazai responds.
“Entertain me.”
“Dreams can be very entertaining. Goodnight.”
“No, no! Did you hear that dreamers have an increased chance of stress and memory loss!?” Dazai gasps out.
“Wh– really!?”
Dazai can hear the sound of Kunikida scrambling around his bed and flipping through some papers. Dazai snickers through the phone and whispers. “Just messing.”
Kunikida immediately jabs his finger aggressively at the end call button and shuts off his notification vibrator. Dazai is going to make his hair turn grey and fall off.
He then curls into his blanket and tries getting some sleep.
As he looks up at his dark and bland ceiling, Dazai’s expression held the same bland expression. The way Yosano would talk about Kunikida, albeit it was rare, she spoke fondly of him. He knew they’ve known each other for longer than Yosano and Dazai have, but Dazai can’t feel the fondness when talking to Kunikida.
He was very fun to mess around with and from the few times they’ve talked, Kunikida showed so many alternating emotions, it was funny seeing his attempt at keeping his anger at bay. Atsushi was right on what he said a few days ago, Dazai does seem lonely.
Annoying Kunikida might keep him preoccupied.
___
Waking up at his usual planned time of Kunikida’s sleeping schedule, he arose immediately and put his glasses on and made his way to change into a new, fresh pair of clothes and proceeded with his usual morning routine.
This routine included tidying his short hair, sweeping his bangs neatly to the side, brushing his tongue and teeth, moisturising his skin and washing his face, washing any remnants of sleep left.
He steps down the stairs from his room, with both a bookbag and notebook in his hands. He slings his bag over the backrest of the kitchen chair, dropping down onto the seat with his notebook placed safely into his lap.
As his aunt sets the breakfast onto the table she idly speaks,
“Are classes going well? Would you like to inform me of anything?”
While chewing, Kunikida shakes his head. Before speaking, he swallows. It’s disrespectful to speak with a full mouth.
“No ma’am, it’s all going ok.” He reaches for another bite of his toast.
“Good, good.” She thinks. “If there are any issues make sure to tell me. I want you to have consistently high grades.”
“I care about you,” she quickly adds.
Kunikida hums and continues eating his food.
His aunt begins to ramble. “You have been keeping your grades up and consistent, more consistent when your mother used to–”
Kunikida’s head shoots up, wide-eyed at her, going rigid.
She stutters out a small apology at her overstepping her boundaries. She cares for Kunikida, but maybe far too much. To a certain extent she was right. When his mom cared for Kunikida, he didn’t have as many ideals as he did now. He loved his mom, cherished her, appreciated her, he did everything for her. But sometimes it wasn’t enough for her, he couldn’t keep her happy.
And alive.
He could say her absence was the reason why his aunt had disliked her sister’s practices of parenthood, same with his father, who he didn’t know. His aunt now might have unintentionally drilled in proper manners and everything else alongside his own ideals in an attempt to make up for her sister’s negligence. In a way he was her own child. It was nice to have someone to care for him. Kunikida appreciated everything she did and continues to do for her, so he will do his absolute best to please her and show respect towards her.
He still missed his mother, though.
“It’s okay...” he spoke out quietly as he absent-mindedly shuffled his food around his place.
His aunt usually told him to stop playing with his food, but she let it slide.
“I’m going to the library today to study my classes,” Kunikida says once he finished up his breakfast.
As he slings his bag over his shoulder, he tucks his precious book under his arm. While walking to his library, he remembers that he’d turned off his notification vibration and turns his phone on and fixes that.
When sitting at his favourite seat at the back, he grabs a few textbooks from his bookbag and begins his notes. Kunikida enjoys the back of the library because due to this being a public setting, people will walk in and be loud, despite the clear ‘keep it quiet’ sign when you walk in. It’s more private this way and he could focus all his attention on his studies.
Though it’s a bit hard considering the morning he had. Now, Kunikida couldn’t help but think back on his own childhood with the mother he loved so dearly.
…
“Mama! We were gonna talk about my work today. I have grades!!” A young Kunikida with papers in his hands pitter-pattered his little feet towards his mother. “Why weren’t you there?” His expression drops a bit.
A small shy smile of her slip-up. “Ahh... I’m sorry my little Doppo, I must have forgotten.”
“Again?” He wasn’t angry, just a bit sad.
“Yes again…” She had a guilty face.
“That okay! I can write the day for you. Time too.”
Happy to share something and just talk to his mom, he continues, “I can write ya’know!”
She didn’t know that.
“Yes... thank you for taking care of mommy, darling...”
She ran through her son's hair with a downturned solemn expression.
Ding!
Shuffling for his phone in his pocket, he remembers all the unread texts from Dazai last night, including a few more after muting his phone.
[Dazai. O.] heyy
[Dazai. O.] u there ??
[Dazai. O.] kunnikida
[Dazai. O.] you are leaving ur partner hanging like this:( </3
[Dazai. O.] because of such mistreatment you deserve to do my part of the project!
[Dazai. O.] its only fair ? :3
-12:48 PM-
[Dazai. O.] can i give sushi ur number#?
[Kunikida(middle aged man)] Sushi?
[Dazai. O.] atsushi ( ´ ▽ ` )
[Kunikida(middle aged man)] Oh, yeah I don’t mind.
“Okay, Atsushi! Now beg him to do the project for me. Say I’ve fallen sick or something. Oh! That I have an incurable disease and will be all better once he agrees to do my work!”
Dazai and Atsushi are currently laying on Atsushi’s bed, lying and doing random stuff on their phone and speaking about things that come across their minds. Eventually it turned to Dazai and his plans for the project and Dazai mentions his lack of plan. He then proceeds to beg Atsushi to talk to him.
“But why me... You’re literally partners. I don't get why I’m involved.”
“How rude! You don’t care about me!?” Dazai pouts at him.
“Ugh fine, give me his number.”
After giving it to Atsushi, he no longer pays any mind to the current situation, deciding to play on his phone while Atsushi does the hard work for him.
[Unknown] heyyy..
[Kunikida] Hello?
[Unknown] oh right this is atsushi!!
[Nakajima. A.] dazai wanted me to ask you something
[Kunikida] He has my number, does he not?
Atsushi turns to Dazai.
“He ignores me!”
[Nakajima. A.] he says your ignoring him.?
[Kunikida] Only because he doesn’t use my text messages for anything project related.
[Nakajima. A.] oh yeah this is about the project
Kunikida lets out a sigh of relief, maybe they’re getting somewhere.
[Nakajima. A.] he wants u to do the project for him
Kunikida doesn’t hate Atsushi, just Dazai. But right now he has an urge to mute him too.
“Dazai I don’t wanna tell him that you’re sick, that's just not true. I’m only doing this so you’ll leave me alone. If he says no you’re on your own and I mean it.” Dazai stuffs his head in the blankets with a groan. While waiting for a response from Kunikida, Atsushi’s phone begins to vibrate.
“Oh, hi Kunikida.” Atsushi picked up.
Cutting to the point, Kunikida says with his stern voice, “Is Dazai with you?”
“Uh– yeah he’s–”
“DAZAI!”
Atsushi immediately pulls his phone away from his ear on the outburst and turns on the speaker. This is Dazai’s problem now, not his. He is
not
dealing with his classmates' anger meant for Dazai and Dazai only.
“You are carrying your weight in this project. If you are not smart enough for this, STUDY!”
Kunikida waits zero time for a response as he slams the end call button. Dazai and Atsushi both sit on the bed, staring at each other. While Atsushi has no words for Dazai annoying his partner, Dazai puffs out a bit of air, amused.
Dazai turns his own phone back on again, hand about to open the direct messages of him and Kunikida, when he hears Atsushi’s doorbell ring. Thinking nothing of it, he is about to type out his message until Atsushi’s mom knocks and shouts through the door that Dazai’s dad is here to pick him up.
Dazai grimaces and Atsushi knows why. While Atsushi doesn’t know too much about him and the others, Dazai stresses that he’s not his dad nor will he ever call him that. He only adopted him. Nothing more. He was never nor will he ever be a dad to Dazai.
Neither says anything as Dazai drags himself out of the bed, dragging his phone along with him. Before leaving he says with a disappointed sigh.
“Bye.”
“Yeah... See you...” Atsushi says awkwardly.
Walking down the stairs, he has a blank stare at the man standing at the doorway. He always had his hair slicked back and a massive white coat. Dazai thinks he should fix his hair. Doesn’t suit him.
“I always walk home. You know that,” Dazai says sternly.
“But I’ve said, father-son bonding time is today, no? You shouldn’t run off to the Nakajima’s like this! You’re always here, who knows if you’re really causing trouble for them,” the man says joyfully with a smile.
“Don’t kid yourself, Mori. You don’t know the first thing when it comes to bonding.” Dazai pushes past him in the doorway, making his way to the car.
“Neither do you.” He smiles, with a sinister undertone.
The car ride is silent.
Arriving home, Dazai knew that there wasn’t going to be any bonding. There never was, Mori just wanted him to work.
Dazai was never like his son, but his star student. Mori is a doctor, one of the best. The old man could die from a sneeze by now. At least Dazai wishes, he’s still pretty young, unfortunately. But he still needed someone to carry on his legacy and knowledge. Possibly the next in line for his business in the medical industry, Dazai never wanted to own nor work at a hospital. Dazai doesn’t like to work, not for his memory at least.
But sometimes he wasn’t in the position to disobey his adoptive father.
“Now, turn to the 45th page in your book.” He hovers.
Dazai flips his pages.
As Kunikida shut his book, he let out a long yawn, but kept it as quiet as possible. He was getting tired from studying all day, but it was fine now as it’s exactly the time to start heading home. As everything else is written in his book for him to follow, to never forget. Today he was a bit distracted from this morning. It was something he couldn’t help. He shouldn’t let it get in the way of his studies, though.
Another yawn, he slings his bag over his shoulder and places any books borrowed that day back on the shelves, organised exactly how he found them.
Dazai shut his book once Mori finally retired to his room for the night and he went upstairs immediately, phone in hand.
[Dazai :/] suu u awake?
[Sushi (￣▽￣)] yup
[Dazai :/] entertain me!! :3
[Sushi (￣▽￣)] oh okay
[Sushi (￣▽￣)] are you okay from earlier?
Does Atsushi think he will get anywhere with this? He highly doubts it, but he’s still worried for his friend and wants to give him the chance to talk if he wants to.
..
..
While watching the screen, Atsushi watches Dazai type, stop typing, and type again. It was like that for a few seconds. After a bit of not typing, he receives a response and reads it immediately.
[Dazai :/] peachy! :D
[Dazai :/] why lollol
[Sushi (￣▽￣)] oh idk
[Sushi (￣▽￣)] just worried
[Sushi (￣▽￣)] but if ur okay
[Dazai :/] all good :3
Atsushi wanted to say because of earlier , but as suspected he already didn’t expect much of a response from his friend. He moves to get in a more comfortable position while talking to Dazai.
Dazai stares at his phone, buried in pillows and blankets in his bed with a blank face. Talking to his only friend Atsushi never failed to make him laugh sometimes, but he knew this wasn’t Atsushi’s responsibility.
[Dazai :/] im a lil tiredddd
[Dazai :/] gn ;D
[Sushi (￣▽￣)] oh ok gn thanks for talking!
They both turn off their phones and head to sleep. Sometimes Dazai doesn’t go to sleep when he says he will. It’s not on purpose, night is when his brain is the most active, never calming down and quieting down for him to get a peaceful sleep.