Work Text:
The old floorboards creeked under the weight of Chuuya's feet, despite him trying his best to make his way across the floor carefully and quietly. Once he reached a door at the end of a hallway, he reached for the door knob, turning it slowly as too not make much nose
The door creaked open eerily. He took a few small steps into the dark room, the only light being a weak one casted through the blinds covering the window.
Chuuya glanced at the lump on the bed; his little sister, Sayori. She was a bright girl. He loved her, and did everything in his power to make sure she's okay. Sayori was sprawled out on the bed, her hair a mess and her clothes all scrunched up. She was a deep sleeper, they both were. He found that endearing. But it was getting out of hand a lot, since she was constantly late to school because she slept in.
Chuuya crept towards her bed, her sleepy and crazy looking sleeping form was a big contrast to himself. He was already dressed in his usual school uniform. That's how it always was, Chuuya showing up in Sayori's room, all dressed and ready while she slept peacefully, unaware of Chuuya's dilemma.
Chuuya has always been aware of how tired Sayori was under her cheerful personality and it worried him. He always wanted to let her sleep in, but alas, he knew that if she skipped so many days her grade would inevitably drop significantly.
The floorboards creeked some more as he made his way towards his little sister's bed. He extended his arm towards her, shaking her shoulder gently. "...Hey. It's time to wake up."
It took a few shakes and some talking, but eventually Sayori shot up, rubbing her bleary blue eyes. She looked up at her brother, and she already knew the situation; she overslept again.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled, "I'll get up right away!" She pullled the duvet cover back and hung her legs over the edge of the bed.
He smiled, glad she would get ready for school finally. "Great, better get going. I'm sure that—" he swallowed, pausing in the middle of his sentence, "he's waiting for you... Since you guys always walk to school together," he grumbled.
Sayori smirked, knowing exactly what Chuuya was talking about. Sayori's best friend; Osamu Dazai. They were pretty close, having being friends since childhood. Chuuya, however, was not very fond of their relationship. Sure, he and Dazai might have been kind of close themselves, but they had the irrational tendency to argue often.
"He's not that bad," she stood up from her bed, reaching her arms into the air and stretching, "he's just... complicated."
Chuuya rolled his eyes, groaning, "Right, 'just complicated', I totally get it." he ruffled his sister's coralish colored soft hair. Her attempt at dying it a while back was a bit of a fail, but he couldn't deny the pinkish hue looked cute, along with her ginger colored roots.
She swatted his hand away, going to her closet to pick out her usual school atire. Chuuya respectfully left the room, closing the door behind him.
She's all set in her atire, a bright red bow decorated in her hair, a collared shirt and a cardigan. She ruffles her blue skirt, and heads out her bedroom. She figures her brother already left to go to school, considering the fact he usually does that because since he always waits for her hes always late himself.
She wasn't quite sure why he did, since all waiting for her did was waste anybody's time.
Although the freckled face boy would never admit it, he was worried for her. Worried for his little sister. He wanted to make sure she got up every day, it's the least he could do.
Everyday there was the lingering fear within him that Sayori would do something impulsive.
He helped her through her struggles the best he could, but there was no way for him to look into the mind of a 16–year–old girl.
Dazai stands off to the side of the road, waiting for his friend to come outside finally. Then, his gaze quickly shifts from the road to up infront of him when he hears an annoying voice call out to him.
"Heeeeeeeyy!!"
Dazai spots the annoying girl running towards him, flailing her arms around in the air. It's almost as if she's completely oblivious to the attention she draws to herself, or she just doesn't care enough to be bothered by it.
Sayori has been Dazai's good friend since they were children. She was the kind of friend you'd never see yourself making, but it all just ends up working out somehow due to how long you've known each other.
He used to always walk to school with her, but since highschool started, she's started to sleep in more often. He didn't know why—not that it bothered him too much since he had a tendency to sleep in like that himself—but it was definitely an odd change in behavior and albeit the fact he got tired of waiting up for her a while ago, he'd feel worse for ditching her.
"Haaaahhh...haaahhh..." the girl huffed, attempting to catch her breath after the stupid show she just put on by running through the streets to the taller boy. "I'm sorry I overslept! Thank goodness I was able to catch up with you before you went without me!"
"Maybe that's because I just decided to wait up for you." he shifted on his feet, sounding exasperated
"You're saying it like you were thinking about ignoring me!" she whined. "Whatever, at least you waited for me, after all..."
Dazai couldn't help but crack a smile at her behavior as they began to walk across the street together to make it to school.
As the minutes go by and they grow increasingly close to the school, the crowd of students multiplies by the minute, the hustle and bustle intensifying.
Sayori perked up, seemingly remembering something she was meaning to say. "By the way, Dazai... Did you finally decide on a club to join?"
As the sea of students got louder, Dazai leaned in to hear her and he paused. "A...club? I already told you I'm not interested in joining a club this year, and I haven't been looking for any to join either."
"W-Wha? That's not true! You promised me you would finally join a club this year!"
"D-did I?"
"Uh-huh!" "I was worried you won't learn how to socialize and you won't have any skills, and you'd be doomed in college!"
Dazai groaned at that, wiping his bandaged hand down his face. "Alright, alright... I'll figure out a club to join," he paused for suspense, "no promises, though."
"Do you promise me you'll at least try a little?"
"Fine, I will."
"That's great!" Sayori perked up again, "Your happiness is really important to me, I wouldn't want you to become a NEET."
Why did he even left himself get lectured by such a carefree girl?
The walk into the school building itself was dreadful, with the reminder of the usual schedule and mishaps. The annoying teachers, the homework, resisting the urge to fall asleep during class or find solitude in the bathroom stalls and the sterile material of the sinks.
Trying to pay attention in class was a bore, and trying to understand the material was much more infuriating.
The school day is as ordinary as ever, and before he knew it it's already over.
He works on packing his things up, and once he finishes up his gaze moves to stare blankly at the bland wall, searching for an ounce of motivation left in his body.
His mind flashes with the memory of Sayori wanting him to join a club. He shrugged and thought to himself. I guess I have no choice but to check out the anime club first.
"Heeellloo?" A familiar cheerful voice rings out, snapping him out of his trance.
"Sayori...?" He mumbles, realizing he was the only one left in the classroom, and thats when it hits him that he must've spaced out.
Standing next to Sayori was a familiar freckled face red head with two toned eyes, crossing his arms over his chest, his eyebrows narrowed. Dazai smirked at the sight.
"You spaced out," she said, "I didn't see you coming out of the classroom so I figured I'd go check up on you."
Chuuya's shoulders tensed up, almost in defense. It was clear he was wary about his naive little sister interacting with the bandaged covered brunet
His gaze shifts back to the coralish-haired girl. The chair he was sitting in creaked as he leaned back on it. "You know, you don't always have to wait up for me. Especially since it makes you late for your club."
The shorter girl scratched the back of her head, speaking in a wary tone. "I figured you would need some encouragement, so I, you know..." Her eyes wandered off to the side."
"Know what?"
"...figured you could come to my club!"
"Sayorriiiii..." He sulked.
"Yeah?" She looked back at him, smiling cheerfully. Chuuya couldn't help but smile himself at his sister's antics, but still exasperated by them.
"There's no way I'm going to your club," Dazai stated in a matter-of-fact way
"Ehh?? You're so mean!" she pouted.
Sayori took an interest in literature, which is something that he could never guess because she didn't in any way possible seem like the type of girl to shove her nose in a book and fixate on the words for hours on end.
Because of her—supposed—taste in literature, that made her the vice president of the Literature Club. He was pretty sure she was in it because she figured it'd be fun to help start up a new club.
"Yeah, no. I'm checking out the anime club," the brunet declared
Sayori leaned up against his desk, her hands gripping the edges of the wood. "Come on, please?"
"Why are you so insistent that I join?"
"Well, I kind of told the club I'd bring in a new member..."
The room went silent, and Dazai didn't respond to her question. Chuuya gave Sayori a nervous look, knowing his sister made yet another stupid choice.
"Don't make promises you can't keep!"
She recognized her mistakes, but refused to admit they were wrong most of the times. She's just like her brother—stubborn. Runs in the family.
He would've been better off joining any other club, but the Literature Club? One could only describe that as nerdy and boring, and Osamu Dazai was not a nerdy or boring person.
The girl moved to grip the front of the desk, staring down at Dazai with that irritable swaying expression. "Natsuki made cupcakes and everything!" she protested.
Dazai let out a long sigh.
"You know what? Fine. I'll stop by for a cupcake."
Did he really just give in to her that easily? He swore the girl has reduced him to a loser ever since he met her.
Well, today marks the day he would sell his soul for a cupcake.
Sayori's face lit up, and she pushed herself away from the desk. "Yay! Let's go," she reached over, grabbing Dazai's hand and yanking him out of his chair.
Chuuya followed behind them, not very pleased with how close his sister was getting to that piece of shit.
He had his own things to do, but he decided it was best to stick with his sister to see how everything with the club goes. He stops by often, anyway.
The part of the school Sayori eagerly dragged Dazai into was a fairly secluded area he doesn't visit often. It was generally used for the third-year classes and miscellaneous activities.
Sayori—ever so energetic—swings open the classroom door. That was sure to leave a dent in the wall.
She waved her arm around in the air, pushing Dazai forward with the other one like he was a sight to behold.
"Everyone! The new member is here!" she announces.
Dazai glares at her, stumbling backwards, "I told you this already, don't call me a new member..."
Suddenly, a girl with long flowy purple hair appears infront of him. She presented herself in a way more modest way than the outgoing girl he was used to.
"Welcome to the Literature Club." She extended her arm out towards him, a bit hesitant, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
She tilted her head, smiling softly, "Sayori always says such nice things about you."
Oh, so Sayori talks about him all the time. Who would've guessed?
A different girl, with vibrant pink hair and matching pink eyes pushes past the previous girl. She seemed like Sayori, probably just a little more annoying, though.
"Seriously? You brought a boy?! Way to kill the atmosphere."
"He's my friend," Sayori spoke up, "I'd like him to be around more often! Plus, I bring Chuuya here all the time." She gestures to the ginger, who was standing off to her side.
The sulking girl narrows her eyebrows, crossing her arms like a child who didn't get their way, "That's different! He's not a member of the club!"
A different girl spoke, and all Dazai could think when he saw her was gorgeous. She had ginger hair (seems like he has a type), and it was tied up with a white bow. He's seen it all before, he knows this girl, Monika. They rarely talk, but they were in the same class last year. He wasn't sure if it was just his stupid teenage hormones forcing him to think she was attractive, or if it was just admiration. But she is attractive.
"Ah, Dazai! What a nice surprise! Welcome to our club!"
All words escape Dazai in that moment.
This club...
...is full of incredibly cute girls!
He's taken out of his thoughts by yet another annoying voice nagging him.
"What are you looking at?!" The pink-haired girl with pigtails snapped.
Right, he's not supposed to be oggling them, especially not this girl.
"If you have something to say than say it!"
"S-Sorry—"
"Natsuki..." The purple-haired girl sounded exasperated.
The girl with a sour attitude, whose name is apparently Natsuki, is one he doesn't recognize. Judging by her height, he could only guess she's a first-year. She's also the one who made the cupcakes, according to Sayori. (Those damned cupcakes)
Speaking of the devil, Sayori jumped right into the conversation, "You can just ignore her when she gets moody like this~" Sayori says that quietly into Dazai's ear and then spins on her heel to look back at the other girls.
The tension between these girls was baffling, and he couldn't quite put his finger on how they were even able to tolerate each other in this club. The contrast in their personalities was unsettling, on one hand you have two relatively calm girls, one being noticeably more outgoing than the other, and then you have two annoying ones, one out of the pair being incredibly headache-inducing.
"Moving on! This is Natsuki, always full of energy, as you've probably already guessed~" She turns towards the purple-haired girl, "This is Yuri, the smartest of the club!"
"D-Don't say things like that..." Yuri, who seems remarkably more mature and timid, definitely has a hard time keeping up with people like Natsuki and Sayori, which he couldn't blame her for. He could barely keep up with Sayori himself—no idea how Chuuya does it—and to have a new girl to put up with in this group was a bother.
Dazai makes an attempt at lightening the mood, sensing the tension between Natsuki and basically everyone, and the unease practically radiating off of Yuri. "Well, It's good to meet all of you."
That same cheery voice—sounding much more pleasant to his ears now that he's heard what Natsuki sounds like—directs it's attention right back at him. "Seems like you already know Monika, right?"
"Yep, that's right!" Monika confirmed, "It's good to see you again, Dazai."