Chapter Text
Kunikida did not sign up for this when he decided to become a math teacher. Routy students? Sure. tragic paycheck? Not ideal, but not shocking. Obnoxious coworkers? Unfortunately anticipated. Talking to the parent of a first year who punched another kid in the face, because the principal was on vacation and couldn't take care of it? Fuck that. He was a math teacher, not a counselor. However, when Principle Fukuzawa asked Kunikida to take over his duties while he was out because he trusted him more than the vice principal, Kunikida was so flattered that he couldn't say no. Two days wouldn't be that bad, right? Wrong. One of Kunikida’s quietest students had punched an upperclassman in the face and given them a nosebleed, and now it's Kunikida's responsibility to talk to her father.
Kunikida sighed as he massaged his temples. His entire schedule for the day had been completely thrown off. He reviewed it, considering what tasks he could eliminate from said schedule to make room for this impromptu parent-teacher conference. Between getting rid of grading papers, laundry, and taking Aya out for ice cream, he supposed laundry could be done another day. He liked to get assignments back to his students in a timely manner so they wouldn't be stressed about grades and could make up for not-so-good marks on tests if they had to. As for the ice cream, any time spent with Aya was treasured in Kunikida’s heart; his daughter was more important to him than anything. Laundry would have to wait. As he was about to scratch "laundry" off of his schedule, he heard a knock at his classroom door.
"Come in," Kunikida said, not unkindly but not as professionally as he would have liked. He was a bit pissed about having to talk to some stranger after a day of dealing with a bunch of teenagers; sue him for not being sociable.
Kunikida looked towards a tall man who stood by the door frame. He wore an open-collar shirt and had his hands in his coat pockets. His brown hair was wavy and almost met his eyes. Kunikida couldn't help but notice how handsome his features were; however, he decided not to dwell on those thoughts too much. His bandaged neck and arms certainly caught most of his attention. Was he injured? The man also appeared to be around the same age as Kunikida. Doppo understood the struggle of being a young father and felt some of the animosity he felt towards the man for disrupting his schedule dwindle a bit.
"Good afternoon," the stranger smiled.
Kunikida felt a chill up his spine. His smooth voice, matched with such a charismatic grin, was intensely alluring but felt so artificial.
"Please take a seat, Mr.Izumi." Kunikida forced out as he shut his notebook and gestured to one of the many seats in the classroom. His eyes followed the man as he approached one of the desks. He couldn't hear his footsteps despite being only a couple feet away.
"It's actually Dazai," Kyouka's guardian grinned as he hopped onto one of the desks and sat.
Kunikida had to force himself not to roll his eyes. He opened his mouth to scold the man for his poor manners, but the words got caught in his throat when his eyes met the man's darker eyes. It felt like they were piercing into his soul. Kunikida gulped. Staring for more than a few seconds was consuming. He wanted to look away; it felt dangerous to get lost in them, but he couldn't find it in himself to avert his gaze. With a cough, Kunikida started, "I am sure you know why you’re here."
"Yes, it seems my Kyouka has been causing some trouble," Dazai responded. Kunikida noticed how carefree he sounded, as if he expected such a thing to happen, but who was Doppo to psychoanalyze this stranger?
"That is correct; she injured another student." Kunikida nodded. "When I asked her why she did it, she just looked down and shrugged. Would you be able to tell me what may have caused her to act out?" Straight to the point. He wanted this to be over as soon as possible. He was lucky that Aya’s school had an afterschool program for students who got picked up late. He called in advance so Aya wouldn't be shocked when he wasn't there to get her at 2:55 exactly, but he didn't want to keep her waiting for too long.
Dazai sighed dramatically and took his hand out of his pockets. "I don't know, maybe it's some teenage rebellion thing." The man gestured with his hands as he spoke. "I'll need to have a talk with her."
"Is there anything the school can do to help Kyouka? I'm worried since she never exhibited this behavior before."
Kunikidas saw the split second where the man's phony smile turned into a genuine one at the mention of concern for his daughter. "I appreciate your concern, but I can handle it." Dazai hopped off the desk as he continued, "How's the kid my daughter hit?"
"Nosebleed," Kunikida stated.
"Shit, hopefully the brat's parents don't press charges; I don't need that on my plate right now," Dazai muttered, "Please excuse my language, Mr.Kunikida; I must've been speaking out loud."
So, he can sit on one of the desks, but he draws the line at cursing? Interesting.
"I spoke on the phone with their parents during a break; they are upset but won't be pushing for legal action." Kunikida informed him.
"Oh, that's good." Dazai began walking towards Kunikida's desk and leaning on it, footsteps remaining unheard. "Well, I'm sure you are a busy man, and I wouldn't want to take up too much more of your time. Is there anything else I should know?" There was a smirk pursed on the bandaged man's lips.
Kunikida glanced down, unable to look the man in the eye, fearful of seeming rude by staring. "No, sir, do you have any questions?"
Dazai scrunched his nose at the word sir. Perhaps too professional for his liking. "Is Kyouka making friends?" Dazai asked, not as animatedly as he spoke before.
Kunikida wasn't expecting that question but felt a smile tug on his lips as he began to answer, "She had some trouble with that in the beginning of the year, but I sat her next to a student who I knew could make a friend of anyone, and they seem to be getting close." Kenji truly was an angel of a boy. "She also appears to be getting along with her senior sibling."
"Senior sibling?" Dazai tilted his head, confused.
"All first years are assigned a third year as a senior sibling to help them navigate the school. Your daughter was assigned to a boy who-"
Dazai squinted his eyes. "A boy?"
Kunikida couldn't help but chuckle. "I understand the protective father thing all too well, but don't worry, Atsushi is one of the kindest boys I've ever had the pleasure of meeting."
"Yeah, that's how they trick ya." Dazai sounded as though he was only half-joking. "But if you say there are no ulterior motives, I'll trust you. Kyouka seems to like you a lot."
Kunikida felt his face grow warm. He knew he wasn't every student's favorite teacher, as he could be a bit strict, so he was glad Kyouka appreciated him as an educator. "I'm happy to hear that. Are there any other questions you have?"
"I'm actually in a bit of a rush." Kunikida hadn't noticed Dazai walk toward the door until he heard his voice get farther away. Seriously, how did this guy walk so quietly? "May I ask to meet with you again tomorrow to discuss things about Kyouka further?"
"Yes, of course." He answered faster than he had meant to. He wanted to see this man again. Even if that meant having to re-order what tomorrow's schedule would look like. What that meant, he didn't know.
"Kay, great; I shall see you, then." Dazai waved before shutting the door behind him, leaving Kunikida alone in the classroom.
What an enigma that man was.