Chapter Text
Kenji is just minding his own business when Dazai comes up to him in the middle of his work day and asked a question that makes Kenji start sweating.
"So, you're always scratching your wrists. Now I'm curious. What's going on here? I'm just trying to start a conversation and you're getting all nervous already."
He says this with his usual smile, but it seems more accusatory than usual to Kenji as he scrambles for a reasonable excuse to the action he was doing subconsciously.
"W-well, you see, it's this weird itch I've been having, that's all, really! Nothing serious."
The second these words leave his mouth, Kenji regrets even speaking them, be aise it seems like he got Ranpo's attention with his excuse. He tries to maintain his smile that is usually flawless and real looking, but under the gaze of Ranpo and Dazai it starts to falter.
"Now, I'm not trying to accuse you of anything... but just so you know, I've noticed you scratching at your wrists a lot today, as well as over the past few days. And it's making me a little curious about your behavior."
Kenji tries to stay calm as Ranpo voices his curiosity, but he can feel himself starting to sweat under the attention. He knows that Ranpo and Dazai noticed the second it started, and he starts fidgeting with his hands, hoping to bring the attention elsewhere.
Kenji didn't notice his sleeves sliding up just enough to show the start of a scar as he continues to fidget.
Dazai says something first.
"Hmm, so you're scratching at your wrists a lot, and you're sweating and fidgeting with your hands... is there something more going on? Or are you just nervous about something and we're misinterpreting everything?"
Kenji can feel himself paling at the question. When he starts to say something, though, Ranpo talks louder than him.
"Everyone, do you see what we're seeing? Kenji is sweating up a storm and fidgeting with his hands, and he's been scratching at his wrists a lot. That can't be nothing. I'm pretty sure he is trying to hide something!"
Kenji stays silent as everyone starts to look in their direction. Even Kunikida paused what he was doing to look!
Kenji stays quiet for a few seconds, but it still sounds like he was heatitating to answer.
"Please, it's nothing serious. I was just scratching at a... a bug bite or something."
He rubs the back of his neck nervously.
"Kenji, are you really okay? You've been scratching at your wrists so much lately, and your response just now seemed pretty nervous. We're really worried about you. Do you need help?"
Kenji can't help but get even more nervous as his guardian, Kunikida, mentions him scratching at his wrists for the past few days, but he can't answer his guardian because before he can open his mouth, Yosano is already talking.
"Yes, I second Kunikida's concern. Your behavior is concerning a lot of us, and it seems like you are really struggling with something."
"Look, we've been watching you for a while and we know that you're not doing well. Your self-harming behavior is really dangerous, and we're all worried about you. You can't hide from us, and we won't let you. Your life matters. Tell us the truth, please."
Kenji tries to speak, but before he can, everyone else is talking over each other.
"I never expected this from you! I can't believe you would hurt yourself like this!"
"Is it really that bad? I'm so sorry you're going through such a hard time right now!"
"We can't just sit around and let you keep hurting yourself."
"Is there anything we can do to help you right now? You don't have to deal with this alone."
Kenji is trying to stay calm, and he starts scratching at his wrists without realizing it. What he does notice though, is Ranpo and Dazai's eyes boring into him as he stumbles while trying to deny everything.
"Look guys, it's not what you think. I just, I just have this itch, and I just scratch a little... but it's nothing serious, really!"
What he didn't think would happen was Ranpo and Dazai grabbing his sleeve and pulling it down, revealing the amount of scars that he has. Everybody was shocked at the amount, Ranpo and Dazai included. Using their shock to his advantage, he pulls away and stands up, backing into a corner of the office, coming up with an excuse.
"I was patting a cat last night, and she got really excited and started scratching me with her claws. But it's fine now! I'm okay."
He hoped this wasn't too unoriginal, seeing how he knows people like to blame cats on self harm scars fairly often.
When he reaches the corner, he is shaking and breathing heavily, he can feel himself sweating as well with their eyes focused on his arms hidden behind his back.
Yosano is the first to recover from the shock.
"Let's be honest here. These are self-harm scars, and you can't keep denying it. It's okay, we will not blame you for this, but we just want to help you. We won't judge you, but you need to tell us the truth. These scars are very serious, maybe more so than Dazai's." Yosano tries to joke and make light of the situation, but everyone knows Dazai's were the worst case she'd ever seen, so it made them more worried.
Yosano cautiously approaches Kenji, and gives him a hug. Kenji melts into it, and before he can tell what's happening, Yosano gave him a shot to make him fall asleep.
When Kenji falls asleep, the whole room collectively let's out a breath of air.