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Chapter Text

When I was younger I had a teacher or well a mentor one might say, he taught me everything I knew. One day he asked me does anyone truly know what happiness is, he said he hopes he can die before anyone figures it out. I like to think he was being inspiring.

On that day I thought about it, for a while, I even went as far as to talk to my sister about it. She thought the topic was interesting. Was happiness being rich? Hooking up with hot guys or girls? Following your ideals? Getting into the best schools? Climbing up social ladders? That seems like what most people would want in life huh? But that’s not what comes to mind for me, not by a long shot.

A figure with a black hood pulled over it’s head black and white hair peeking out and cold grey eyes skates down the dimly lit path avoiding areas with too much rubble, well areas he could see with the sparse amount of streetlights in the area anyway. Eventually arriving at the car waiting by the side of the road for him. Opening the door harshly, in turn scaring the cat who previously sat in the chair causing it to retreat into the back, Akutagawa dropped himself into the car seat with a thud.

“You’re late Akutagawa,” Fukuzawa stated clipping his seatbelt which he had removed long ago during the wait to get ready to drive.

“I know.” Was the only reply he got as the car started to move down the street.

Pulling up in an area filled with skaters of all different types, a group of girls with matching butterfly masks giggling in a corner, two men on the taller side arguing over who knows what along with onlookers encouraging a beef as they drove past. Beeps blared from the vehicle as Fukuzawa grumbled after two skaters narrowly skated around the car, “One of these days a kids going to get hurt,”

“Well it looks like a typical night to me,” Akutagawa responded poking his head out the window his hood down around his neck.

Jumping out the car and skating down the path Akutagawa was met with the skater Poet, a tall skater (with his fair share of fangirls and guys yet he isn’t quite sure he has realised that yet) with blond hair tied into a loose ponytail a full face mask and a loosely fitted shirt.

“You should have just stayed away brat, you are too prideful for your own good,” Poet grumbled staring Akutagawa down.

“You are going to regret what you said Poet,” the younger boy replied with a venomous sneer. The crowd surrounding the track erupt in cheers and chants mainly consisting of “BEEF BEEF BEEF” as the two state each other down.

The alarm blares as on goers move out the way in preparation for the battle, parting to either side of the track eagerly awaiting the start. Poet sent one last unsure look towards Akutagawa or ‘Diablo’ as he had asked everyone to call him (the name didn’t stick).

“I hope you know what you are doing Akutagawa,” Fukuzawa mumbled from the crowd stroking Sketchy (his cat) who now rested in his arms who gave a meow of agreement.

One by one each of the lights to signal the start of the beef lit up. Akutagawa was ready, he had trained his whole life for this (but his mentor never said he was any good?). The lights all lit up and shon a bright green signaling the time for the two to start. And start they did as they both launched down the track while the crowd roared behind them.

Poet took off ahead as expected, Akutagawa trailing close behind. Around the corner Poet goes Akutagawa following behind at such a speed some could say he was just mimicking the older skater.

“If you really are planning to win this you might want to go a bit faster than that,” he taunted towards Akutagawa doing a few extra tricks on the side rocks of the track to put him off continuing to skate after him; Poet spun back around leaning forward to increase his speed even more than before.

“DAMN IT this guy thinks I’m like some kind of mangy street mut!” Akutagawa yells more to himself out of anger, “Il show him! It will impress him too if I win I’m sure of it.” Leaning forward to gain more speed to once again catch up with the other skater Akutawaga eyes focused solely on the prize. Almost there he thought, just a little bit faster, just a little bit further.

Poet huffed as Akutagawa pulled forward slowing down slightly, though one of his fangirls appeared to view what happened differently and thought to ‘help’ her favourite skater, throwing some small firecrackers on the course, which landed just infront of Akutagawa. Which sent him flying off the side of the track into the crowd, scratch that they all moved aside Akutagawa flew straight into a bush.
“The Poet wins once again!!” Came blaring out of the loudspeakers.

“This kid,” Fukuzawa sighed honestly impressed in a way at how often he manages to pull stunts like this after watching Akutagawa’s epic fall on ones of the screens.

- - - -

A single car drove down the road as a white haired boy looked out the window at the passing foliage.

“Something wrong Atsushi?” the older man with fluffy brown hair and a neck and arms covered in bandages asked while driving the car.

“No, it’s just weird to be outside like this, like outside of the orphanage I guess Dazai,” Atsushi responded after thinking about it for a few seconds.

“Are you having second thoughts about me adopting you? If you do dislike me thaaat much already Atushi I can send you back!” Dazai teased taking his hands off the car wheel for the millionth time during the short car journey.

“DAZAI CAR WHEEL!” The white haired boy screached as they almost swerved off into a road (really who even gave this guy a license is all Atsushi could be thinking at this moment). “Well no I will always be grateful for you adopting me Dazai! I would be happy with whatever happened while under your care,” he said with a wide toothed smile towards his new carer.

- - - -

Graphite scratched on paper as Akutagawa drew out designs for another board, careful to not get smudges on the bandages of his injured arm (thanks Poet whoever you are he thinks bitterly).

“Yooo Akutagawa did you finally get into a fight? Someone get mad at your unfiltered mouth or what?” Some random student which Akutagawa never bothered to learn the name of said coming over to his desk.

“As if,” he mumbled in response not even bothering to look up at the other students who decided that he looked like a good person to start conversation with.

“Dude I swear you got your but kicked or whatever the other day too!” One of the other meaningless students who honestly just seemed like a hassle to even interact with exclaimed at Akutagawa who promptly ignored him.

A third student decided to look at his notebook uninvited. Great.

 “I swear you are always drawing these weird things all over all your books you are gonna get in trouble one day for that mark my words,” 

“Well no one asked you to look,” Akutagawa muttered cooly sending all the boys a harsh glare. Just to be met with a cocophany of I wouldn’t even want to or seems lame anyway to which he just let out a tch in response.

The bell went off as Professor Kunikida walked into the room and asked all the students to take their seats.

“Everyone I would like to introduce you to our new transfer student,” his teacher announced from the front of the class, not like it would be anyone interesting anyway Akutagawa internally thought continuing with his notebook doodles trying to tune out all the girls whispering about how cute he his how he looks like a little cat blah blah.

Fed up with the stupid muttering Akutagawa sighed and looked up at the front of the class. There stood a guy maybe about his height with choppy white hair that had a single white streak on one side. The boy had pale olive skin large eyes (which did look sort of like a cats) which had a most unique blend of yellow and purple inside as he scanned the classroom awkwardly.

“Ahem, kid tell the rest of the class who you are,” Mr Kunikida said turning towards the new kid his foot tapping on the ground impatiently.

“Oh uhh I’m Nakajima Atsushi,” the boy stated compiling while looking around the class.

“Nothing else?” Inquired the teacher.

“Ah? Like what? Uhh I moved into the area so I joined the school?” Atsushi replied somewhat nervously.

“And is that all?” The teacher questioned yet again now turning to face Atsushi while pushing his glasses further up his nose.

“Is that bad?” The white haired boy asked hesitatantly turning to face his new teacher somewhat internally panicking.

“Well it’s not like I’m going to grade you on it so it doesn’t really matter persay,” Kunikida muttered as the class broke into giggles and snickers. As Akutagawa watched unimpressed from the back.

- - - - 

Inside Dope Sketch, a small skate shop owned by Fukuzawa himself. Akutagawa carefully opened boxes, cutting the tape with a box cutter, and pulling out merchandise, while making small talk with his boss as he usually does.

“The new kid at my school seemed kind of freaked out at the idea of giving an introduction, he was so… weak,” was what he settled with as he thought about how to phrase his thoughts out loud.

“Well everyone gets nervous sometimes Akutagawa, maybe he just isn’t from around here,” Fukuzawa said while stacking some of the shelves, Sketchy napping blissfully in a patch of sun on the countertop.

“I mean obviously why would he transfer schools otherwise,” Akutagawa stated bluntly as if Fukuzawa was the biggest idiot he knew, before accidentally dropping one of the items he was removing from a box curtiosy of his injury.

“Is your arm getting tired? You can take a break you know,” Fukuzawa told him leaning over the counter slightly to try and see Akutagawa better.

“No I can do this.” He grumbles, “I’m fine.”

“You know what is bad about the way you say I’m fine, the fact that you never really are Akutagawa,” Fukuzawa states in a blunt tone matching Akutagawa’s own.

“That’s not true boss.”

“Okay my mistake, so the race with Poet was fine too?” He asked eyeing Akutagawa. 

Leaning his head forward slightly thinking about it Akutagawa grimaced remembering the beef, his board ended up on fire thanks to those damn fire crackers, he supposed it was unfortunately in the name.  He could practically imagine how Poet would have responded if he saw his board like that, probably broken into laughter and taunted him about how weak and useless he is. Just imagining it made Akutagawa’s hands clench involuntarily as he continues to unpack boxes.

“That’s just my fault. Because I’m too weak I need to get better.” Akutagawa mumbled looking downwards.

Fukuzawa let out a displeased sigh opening his mouth to reply to the younger boy, but before he got the bell of the door rung as the door was opened by a potential customer entering the bright store. 

“Good afternoon!” The customer greeted walking inside the door with a grin on his face as he pushed his blond hair out his eyes.

“Could you go put the extra stock in the back Akutagawa?” His boss queried as he turned towards the boy momentarily as he gave a quick nod and left Fukuzawa to do buisness.

- - - - 

“Man I’m sorry I should have added a clause about age in the application requirements to work at my studio,” the short ginger haired man replied to Atsushi with a slight frown on his face, as he leaned forward slightly on his seat.

“Right,” Atsushi mumbled feeling a bit awkward now after entering this job interview with such confidence only to find himself trying to avoid the older man’s gaze by looking at the paintings on the walls instead.

“Say kid what was your name again?” 

“Atsushi, uh my name is Atsushi Nakajima sir,” he stated trying to not let his nervousness seep through into his speech. 

“Ya know I feel really bad about you coming all the way over here, and I know not many people would even consider the type of work environment in my painting studio here but I just can’t hire any minors,” the ginger said looking up at the younger boy with genuine disappointment in his eyes, “Maybe come back when you are older eh? I would love to have you then kid.”

“Thank you, and I understand don’t worry,” he replied with a small smile before getting up and leaving the small art studio which was further on the edge of town than his or well Dazai’s house which was closer to town centre.

Atushi sighs loudly now out of his once potential employers office(? It just looked more like a room which was used to display paintings for people to buy) “Man that sucks, the pay was good there too… I just want some form of small job to help with Dazai’s rent!” he angrily grumbles to himself, not really blaming the employers just annoyed at his lack of luck.

“My feet are asleep from sitting for so long,” Atsushi mutters to himself looking down at his black trainers before spotting a skateboard roll right by his feet his eyes following as it starts rolling down the hill of the road.

“AGH MY SKATEBOARD DAMN IT!” Atsushi jumped slightly as he heard a yell from further up the hill as a boy who appeared about his age with black hair, that faded to white at the tips and a bandaged arm ran after the skateboard which he had just seen roll past.

Atsushi’s feet moving on their own before his brain even caught up led to him running down a few pases to pick up the skateboard to try and help the boy, hell maybe he could make his first friend, since he kind of messed up his introduction at school. 

“A dragon?” The white haired boy found himself saying under his breath as he flipped the board over looking at the design on the bottom of some sort of black dragon-ish creature with red eyes and inner mouth.

“You better not be trying to steal that new guy.” A voice deadpanned right next to his ear causing Atsushi to jump once again and almost drop the skateboard.

“Nonono!! I wasn’t stealing it I was going to stop it and give it back, I promise!” He hesitantly explained to the other boy who was glaring over his shoulder, “Also new guy?” Atsushi questioned turning to face the mystery boy. 

“Uh hello you there??” The dark haired boy exclaimed snarkily tapping the side to Atsushi’s head, “I’m in your class remember? The one you told that you moved schools because you moved?” Atsushi could swear he heard the guy mutter something along the lines of ‘actually looking back on it maybe this guy is an idiot’.

Trying to be diplomatic Atsushi decided to just respond with a small nod of his head and a quiet apology still positive that maybe this could be his first proper friend! 

“Why were you looking at my board like that? You a skater or something?” The other boy interrogated eyeing up Atsushi.

“Oh no I don’t even know your name so of course I wouldn’t steal from you and I’ve never skated before I just thought-“ Atsushi scrambled trying to explain himself to the other boy

“Akutagawa. Now get on the board.” The boy Atsushi now knows is called Akutagawa instructed bluntly pulling his skateboard out of Atsushi’s grip and placing it on the floor infront of him.

“Wha- huh??” The white headed boy looked between the skateboard and Akutagawa confused on what the point of this was.

“My name is Akutagawa, now get on the skateboard it would be funny to see someone as pathetic as you fall off,” Akutagawa repeated with more detail a cruel grin spread across his face.

Looking at him unsurely but deciding to comply just to proove that he was wrong about him; Atsushi looked down at the skateboard on the floor infront of him preparing to step onto it. Putting one foot on the unsteady surface and rocking the board back and forth slightly a bit of doubt returning to Atsushi’s mind on whether this was actually a safe and wise thing to do. But a quick glance at Akutagawa’s smirk immediately erased all doubt he had. He quickly jumped onto the board both feet makinf contact as the skateboard started rocking backwards and forth Atsushi’s arms flailing around like a chicken as he tried to stabalise his balance. Before predictably getting flung off the thing landing on his back on the road with a loud thud as Akutagawa of course broke into loud laughter at his failed attempt.

“Oh my god there is no way anyone can be that incompetent!!” Akutagawa taunted between a handful of sniggers, “You must have done that on purpose!” Atsushi opened his eyes from his vantage point of the floor and promptly glared at the black haired boy a barely audible growl coming out of his mouth due to his mild anger at the other schoolboy.

“You barely moved an inch!!” He exclaimed once again between laughs pointing at the board that was in the same spot he placed it down moments before.

“Yeah so?” Atsushi challenged with a slight furrowed brow, “Maybe we shouldn’t be standing on those wooden death traps!” He snapped back sitting up slightly.

“Ha just let me show you!” Akutagawa commanded in a boastful tone not even waiting for the other boy to respond before picking up his board walking backwards and starting to skate towards Atsushi who still laid on the floor.

“AGH STOP!” The white haired boy yelled in surprise while making some form of strangled noise due to the shock, leaning down towards the ground and covering his head to protect himself from being smacked in the face by the wooden death trap itself. But when that didn’t immediately happen Atsushi looked up to see Akutagawa easily jumping the board over Atsushi and landing turning back with a cocky smile and his eyebrows (or well where his eyebrows would be) raised in a you see sort of guesture.

Atsushi was impressed. Not that he would let the other boy know as he attempted to remove his shocked impression from his face sitting up to look at Akutawaga better just letting out a lame sounding uhh in response.

In the end Akutagawa just continued showing him tricks and he couldn’t stop himself from showing how much the other boy captivated his interest and how he was perhaps wrong about the wooden death trap thing. While this occurred a certain redhead watched the two younger boys from the top floor of his studio with a small smirk on his face.

“You know I work at the skate shop up the road part time,” Akutagawa stated vaguely pointing up the road, “Maybe if my tricks impress you so much you could I don’t know but a board?” 

“What’s the pay?” Atsushi demanded shooting up to a standing position and staring into the other boys eyes.

“Hah?” Akutagawa responded with confusion.

“What’s your pay? I need a good part time job and none of those around here hire minors,” Atushi continued interrogating leaning forward towards the black haired boy.

“So you don’t want a skateboard?” He grumbled his trademark scowl returning, he knew being nice was overrated especially to people he has already labelled as idiots in his head.

Atsushi sighed already deciding that meant that he wouldn’t be getting a job before he felt a hand on his shoulder causing him to jump slightly.

“Oh we are hiring,” an older man wearing traditional Japanese clothing said looking at Atsushi with interest and a ghost of a grin on his face.

“Boss? What the heck??” Akutagawa spoke gritting his teeth slightly as he looked between the two infront of him.

“Look I’ve got to make a skateboard delivery to some guy this week and none of us are free so clearly this makes the most logical sense,” Fukuzawa responded coolly circling around the boys to stand behind Akutagawa as he lifted up his injured arm and made sure to point at it in Atsushi’s eyeline.

“What?! Yes I can!! I can make the delivery boss!” The black haired boy barked pulling his arm out of his grip and turning away slightly.

Ignoring him completely Fukuzawa just turned back to the other boy, “Do you have a licence yet?”

“Oh I have a standard one if that’s alright sir,” Atushi answered casting glances between Fukuzawa and Akutagawa in an unsure manner. 

“That’s fine. Now let’s discuss your pay,” the older man said giving Atsushi a stoic thumbs up.

“Wha?? Wait a second?! Boss!!” Akutagawa retorted trying to step between the two but settling on shaking Fukuzawa’s shoulders slightly. “I can handle this!”

“I accept.”

Fukuzawa’s ghost of a smile morphed into a tiny grin and an expression that just made it seem like he was happy with himself as Akutagawa gawked at Atsushi.

“Now hold on!” Akutagawa said looking between the two hurriedly.

“I can do it!” Atsushi told the two with a small fist bump his eyes sparkling with determination.

Chapter Text

“I would say this job is pretty straightforward, just take the clients board to this adress,” Fukuzawa explained looking towards the two boys standing on the other side of the counter in the shop, pointing at an area on the map he held. “The delivery takes place the day after tomorrow at midnight.”

“Why can’t I deliver it to them during the day?” Atsushi queried tilting his head to the side slightly in confusion.

“Well obviously the gates don’t even open at that time newbie,” the other boy commented rolling his eyes slightly stroking Fukuzawa’s cat who rested on the counter next to where he was leaning.

Atsushi paused looking even more clueless “The.. gates?” 

“Say Atsushi, what do you know about the local skate scene?” The older man asked raising an eyebrow. Once Atsushi slowly shook his head Fukuzawa continued, “Skaters compete in an old abandoned mine, but only the best of the best are allowed to throw down in beefs. The race is called S, but the skaters often refer to themselves as stray dogs all they all flock to the mines like stray dogs flocking towards food.” Atsushi just responded with a quiet hum of thought.

“Ordinarily I would go but unfortunately I’m unavailable that night as a multitude of things have been piling up recently which I need to do,” Fukuzawa continued talking to the two younger boys.

“Let me guess, date night?” Akutagawa interrogated in a somewhat accusing tone looking up from Sketchy to meet his superiors eyes.

“Of course not-“ Fukuzawa started clearing his voice slightly.

Snapping his fingers Akutagawa jumped up slightly a sly grin on his face, “I bet it’s that guy from the dojo huh? That one you knew when you were younger?” He said leaning forward pointing a finger at him.

“That would not occur.” Fukuzawa stated deadpanning slightly, “It’s todo with the debt.”

Pausing slightly to look up at his boss Akutagawa’s eyebrows rose in shock, “The what now?”

“I have big debts, for the shop, it’s bad the store might go under,” the grey haired man resumed after the interruption looking to the side slightly.

“WHAT! You never told me that?!” Akutagawa yelped leaning over the table in mild panic. However, as soon as he saw a ghost of a smile on Fukuzawa’s face he realised what was going on.

“Oh you think you are so funny don’t you old man!!” Akutagawa growled slinking back to his original position leaning on the counter as Fukuzawa looked at him with a crinkle in his eyes.

“Well if you don’t like jokes perhaps you should stop treating me like one,” the older man responded fixing the buttons on his shirt slightly with what Akutagawa knew was the man’s version of a taunting grin but to Atsushi he just appeared to have his regular stoic face.

While those two were conversing Atsushi switched his attention to the cat, Sketchy, who was supposedly the mascot of the shop, (though he suspects that may have just been an excuse for Fukuzawa to bring his cat to work with him). Looking at the fluffy orange and brown cat the white haired boy extended his hand out to stroke its fur which looked super soft! Just to get bitten resulting in him letting out a small yelp of surprise more than pain.

“How can I do that when you always show up to the shop later than me,” Akutagawa smugly spoke picking up the cat, which was retreating from Atsushi, just for it to bite him too in which he let out a similar squeal of shock to the other boy (though Akutagawa would like to think his was quiet enough for no one to notice.)

With ease the older man picked up Sketchy in his arms and affectionately stroked its head between the ears mumbling something along the lines of “who’s my baby,” to the cat though it was actually quiet enough for neither of the younger boys to catch (unlike Akutagawa’s yelp).

- - - -

After that the next day, Akutagawa practically dragged Atsushi onto a train as the sun rose despite his many complaints about it being early as the two sat next to eachother on the mainly empty train car.

“A sticker?” The white haired boy replied confused, “Why do I need a sticker to do this job?”

“Well first timers can’t get in without one,” Akutagawa responded, “Listen S is so top secret you can never talk about it, got it?” He continued with firmness in his voice staring directly into the eyes of the other boy. Atsushi nodded in response a slight smile on his face.

Following the others gaze Atsushi spotted a taller man in a dark hoodie walk by and discreetly pass Akutagawa something as he made a sign with his hand. Once that exchange had happened he just stood up and started walking off silently as Atsushi jumped up following behind as a red and yellow sticker with a large S on it was shoved in his face by a bandaged hand.

“Guard this with your life,” Akutagawa commanded, “I’ve never known a newbie like you to be let in so you are awful lucky” Holding up the sticker to the sky above his head Atsushi squinted at it with a raised eyebrow before simply responding with, “Huh.”

“Wha? Did you just one word me newbie!?” The other boy practically growled at him, “You have no idea what you are getting into! Your pathetic mind will be blown by just seeing someone stand on a skateboard let alone the type of stuff people do there,” he continued trailing behind Atsushi slightly before switching to a light jog to catch up and continue badgering him about S.

- - - -

Sitting in class Atsushi absent mindedly lifted his head from his desk looking at whatever Akutagawa was trying to explain to him with his very passionate rambling.

“Okay so you see imagine this is like a massive hill you would start at the top against your opponent and then you both skate down the hill into the abandoned mine,” he explained moving a small wooden toy skateboard down his trouser leg which he was using to represent the hill and onto the table which he was perched on, “Usually they shoot fire through the mines or use small explosives on rare occasions and even though I know your puny brain can’t comprehend that sort of thing Fukuzawa hired you anyway,” Akutagawa whined slightly eyes narrowing at Atsushi.

“Anyway, I forgot to tell you that people often sabotage their opponents because it is allowed, if I raced against you for example because by some miracle you of all people learnt to skate,” he said with a cruel smirk, “then I could just shove you off your board into a ditch and skate away happily because it is allowed you can do anything to make sure you get to the end first in the race.” Atsushi who was barely listening at his point with his head laying on the desk next to Akutagawa’s just half nodded.

- - - - 

Atsushi, who for some reason thought this was a good idea, had made Akutagawa come up to the roof to eat lunch with him since he didn’t really know anyone. But damn this guy really feels the need to school him on everything to do with this ‘S’ thing huh. 

“Now like I was telling you earlier while you were dozing off like some untrained street mutt the races or beefs in S are usually used to settle scores, and each side puts something on the line, something important, like money, friendship, possessions you know,” Akutagawa rambled using his two chopsticks as mini swords to try and illustrate his point of fighting in the beefs making it seem like some ancient jousting match.

Atsushi looked down from his oddly shaped cheese sandwich (thanks Dazai) to Akutagawa’s pristine and shining bento box and almost drooled a bit, “Is that a real bento box? Did you get it from the store?” Atsushi quiered leaning forward completely ignoring whatever Akutagawa was trying to tell him as payback for the skateboard incident the previous day. 

“How is THAT what you are concerned about??” Akutagawa replied snarkily his eyebrows pushed down.

- - - - 

Sketchy weaved between Atsushi’s legs as he followed Akutagawa through to the back of the shop after they walked there together after school to do their first shift.

“I make my own you know,” Akutagawa commented guesturing towards one of the skateboards on the wall painted with all sorts of patterns and designs.

Atsushi not catching the very obvious gesturing just cocked his head to the side slightly trying to think what he might mean his mind drifting back to the heavenly looking bento box from lunch, “You make your own bento boxes?”

“What?” He responded sounding genuinely confused, “I’m talking about skateboards? Like the ones on the wall, look just come back here,” he said grabbing Atsushi’s hand and pulling him into a small back workshop. 

He pulled out a board which had clearly been made by hand to which Atsushi just quietly replied with, “Oh that’s uh actually very impressive,” along with a small thumbs up as he looked the board up and down.

“I know it’s impressive, try to keep up newbie,” the black haired boy scoffed, “My aim is to make the best skateboard ever seen,” Akutagawa spoke idly sanding the side of the board, “And then use it in a race where I skate better than I ever have and win, and then he-“ Akutagawa paused interrupting himself, “And then you will be fired because Fukuzawa will realise he only needs me as a worker.” Atsushi grumbles slightly in response favouring to continue examining the nearly completed board instead of sparking up another argument.

- - - - 

Dazai was out, somewhere, Atsushi knew it wasn’t work because he was a writer but he was gone none the less. Not wanting to eat another barely edible meal created by him for dinner after his first job shift (no offence to Dazai) Atsushi thought he would try making something himself, couldn’t be that hard right?

Cracking two eggs, and maybe a bit of shell, into a heated pan with some oil in it Atsushi watched as the eggs cooked. Alright isn’t looking too bad he thinks proud of himself listening to the slight sizzling sound of the pan.

“Aaaatsushi!!” Dazai calls unlocking the front door and bouncing inside, “Oh are you cooking for me?” He says materialising next to Atsushi and peering over his shoulder to stare at the omlet cooking. 

“Oh yeah! I thought uh it would be nice to say thank you for adopting me again, I know it’s kind of silly,” Atsushi mumbled kind of embarrassed about that and also because it was a half truth, he had a feeling whatever Dazai would have tried to cook tonight might have killed him before his first drop off at his new job. 

“Awwww thanks Atsushi!” Dazai exclaimed pulling out two mats and putting them on the small circular table which held 3 chairs in the corner of the kitchen, “Let’s eat then,” he cheerfully said  sitting down in preparation for his free meal.

Bringing down the two plates of plain omelet which were slightly burned on one side (Atsushi didn’t know you were meant to flip them to cook both sides untill it was too late) he sat down in the chair next to Dazai with a small smile.

“I hope it tastes okay, I’m not sure I made it right haha,” the younger boy nervously laughed inspecting the omelet on his plate.

“Can’t be that bad! Worse case scenario I choke and die or die of food poisoning though not even my own food could do that unfortunately,” Dazai declaired sounding almost proud of the lethal nature of his food? The two dug in to their meals before Dazai perked up slightly remembering something he forgot to tell Atsushi.

“Ah Atsushi by the way my boyfriend is coming around in like a few days by the way,” he stated while chewing his food acting like the fact he even had a boyfriend wasn’t new news to Atsushi. Letting out a slight cough as he almost choked on his food in surprise at the revelation looking away from his food towards Dazai.

“Sorry what? You have a boyfriend Dazai?” Atsushi asked almost immediately before realising what that sounded like, “Well I-I  mean not like that you couldn’t have a boyfriend you know or that like no one would want to date you-“

Dazai cutting Atsushi off with a raise of his hand let out a sly grin, “Well of couurse I have a boyfriend Atsushi who do you think cooked the meal you ate the first day you were here!” Pausing before realising that actually kind of made sense that Dazai didn’t make the amazing chazuke he had on his first night here, infact it was so mouth wateringly yummy he would have eaten 30 bowls of it if it was available. 

“You know he is like seven foot tall obviously and has like bright gold hair and could probably use maths to figure out how many strands of hair are on your head,” Dazai babbled holding his hands on each cheek as if to mimic a flustered school girl, “I know you two will get along!” 

“Oh my god Dazai I forgot to tell you I got a  job and I have an important shift tonight and it’s like super close to that time but I forgot to ask so don’t be mad but can I go and if not it’s fine,” Atsushi blurted out after completely forgetting that the board delivery was meant to be today having also completely forgotten to tell Dazai he had to go tonight or that he even had a job at all. Closing his eyes to brace for the expected no instead he got.

“Sure! Do what you want Atsushi, oh do you want to borrow my moped it would help you get there faster~” the older man offered leaning forward with a smirk, Atsushi thought it over and came to the conclusion that it would actually be really helpful.

“Oh if you don’t mind Dazai,” Atsushi responded fiddling with his shirt fabric slightly.

“Of course not!” He exclaims chucking Atsushi some keys, “Buuuut you have to wear this to keep safe you know~” Dazai teased holding up a white helmet with two cat ears sticking out and black tiger patterns on them. 

Atsushi not figuring out the joke just picked up the helmet and put it on his head with a thumbs up and a, “Yes Dazai!” As he grabbed the keys and ran out to the moped parked in the garage to get to the shop on time to pick up the board and make it to the drop off point of said board. It would be bad if they were late, it was his first proper assignment at this job after all! They would probably fire him if he ruined it, Fukuzawa seemed like a stern sort of guy…