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You’d felt rather down today. As for why, you weren’t sure. It simply seemed sadness had decided today was a good day to take ahold of your heart.
Trying to escape said feeling, you decided to go for a quiet stroll around a less busy part of the city. The river stayed your companion as you passed trees, benches, and the occasional person – all tinted with the soft orange of the sky. You stopped by a railing, looking out upon the water. It felt lonely, yet strangely fulfilling, spending time to take in what you normally took for granted.
“What’s a lovely something like you doing out here all by your lonesome?”
You smile, not even bothering to look in his direction. “Admiring the things I’ve been given in life.”
Dazai shifts, letting his thumbs rest in his pockets. “Hn, then perhaps I should leave you be?” he ponders. “The sin a man like me carries would surely be enough to taint your view of the world.” You can hear the humor he attempts to paint his words in, yet it doesn’t reach them fully. If he didn’t believe what he said, would he not be leaning on the railing beside you?
Your eyes meet his frame, and despite his words, you see nothing that could taint your vision. The wind gently plays with his wavy dark hair, and the sky – now bright with color – outlines his body so elegantly that you’d sooner say you were in the presence of a man carrying God’s blessing than a sinner. There is nothing ugly in your view, though there is sadness in those eyes. A deep pool of melancholy trying to hide behind the quirk of a lip.
"Quite the opposite. I believe you enhance it.”
He blinks at you before an airy laugh leaves him. “While I know my outside can be rather appealing, I believe my inside... fails to match it.” An almost unreadable look crosses his eyes. “You of all people should know that.”
A sigh leaves your nose. He’d bore his truth to you before, revealing a dark past riddled with iniquity. He worked hard to build up a persona free of it all, yet in quiet moments like this, he showed you his thoughts – the threads in his head that tied him down. You know that if he didn’t want you to, you wouldn’t see a thing. And yet here he was, uncovering them in this moment so you could. It was a sign of trust. And so, you figured it would only be right for you to give him your honesty in return.
You take a step toward him, gently letting one hand cradle his. The other goes to one side of his face, barely touching it. «If you believe there is something wrong with people seeing the beauty in you, then I suppose there must be something wrong with me.” There was a sense of vulnerability in sharing something like that, making your cheeks flush a shade of red. Still, you continue, voice firm. “Because I see it plain as day.”
He takes a moment to processes what he's just heard. While you wish to give him time, there's only so much silence you can handle before your embarrassment swallows you. Just as you begin to pull your hand away from his cheek, he gently grabs ahold of it. There’s a small smile on his lips as he sighs, thumb stroking the back of your hand. “You truly are good, [Name].”
You smile, an amused huff leaving you. “Good is about perspective. And from mine, I’d say there’s some in you too. Seeing as you happened to show up here when I was sad and lonely.”
A laugh escapes him. “My, aren’t you perceptive?” He gets closer, face inches from yours. “And what if it truly was coincidence, hm? Can you prove it wasn’t?”
You grab both his hands, grinning. “Either way I’m happy you’re here, so it’s a win for me!”
Your words seem to catch him off guard, face turning thoughtful for a second as he studies yours. Then his expression changes, and you’re graced with something beyond valuable.
A genuine smile.
“Come, I'll escort you home."
You’d seen his truth. You’d seen his thoughts. Yet now, with that smile of his, you felt you were seeing a glimpse of something even more precious.
You were seeing his heart.