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1. The “Lunch Incident”
It started innocuously enough. Kunikida Doppo had been rushing through the agency cafeteria, stack of reports clutched in his arms, when Dazai Osamu appeared, floating beside him like a shadow.
“You know,” Dazai murmured, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, “you’d be much happier if you just shared your lunch with someone.”
Kunikida froze, blinking. “I—what?!”
Before he could process, Dazai had plucked a piece of Kunikida’s sandwich and taken a bite, chewing lazily. Kunikida’s eyes went wide. His hand twitched—half in protest, half in disbelief.
“Oh, it’s delicious,” Dazai sighed, “but it’s even better because I’m sharing it with you.”
An innocent comment to Kunikida, but to everyone else in the cafeteria, it looked… intimate. Whispering rose like wildfire. “Did you see them?” whispered Ranpo. “Dazai’s eating Kunikida’s sandwich… and they’re holding hands with it!”
Fukuzawa, from his office window, sighed. “Why do I even bother supervising this group?”
Kunikida spent the rest of lunch flustered, while Dazai hummed, entirely pleased with himself.
2. The “Umbrella in the Rain”
It was pouring outside. Kunikida, ever punctual and orderly, had forgotten his umbrella in the rush to meet a client. As he emerged from the building, drenched, he saw Dazai leaning casually against the doorway, umbrella tilted just enough to shield—him.
“Um, Dazai…” Kunikida began, voice tight with embarrassment.
Dazai tilted the umbrella so that Kunikida could slip under it. The two walked side by side, shoulders almost touching.
“Thanks,” Kunikida muttered. He would have preferred it if no one saw.
But of course, a certain redhead from another agency was passing by. “Oh my God!” exclaimed Tanizaki. “They’re—under the same umbrella. They’re dating!”
By the time they reached the corner, the rumour had already reached the rooftop informant network. Kunikida gritted his teeth, wishing fervently that rainwater could wash away false assumptions. Dazai, on the other hand, grinned. “Shall we get dinner later?” he teased.
3. The “Coffee Order”
The Agency’s new coffee machine had caused a stir. When Kunikida, precise as always, ordered a meticulously measured latte with exact sugar and milk ratios, Dazai leaned over, not touching but hovering, watching with interest.
“And would you like whipped cream on top?” Dazai asked innocently.
“No,” Kunikida snapped.
“Perhaps just a little?” Dazai pressed, voice soft. He nudged his shoulder lightly against Kunikida’s as he spoke.
From across the room, Yosano’s eyes narrowed. “They’re flirting,” she whispered. She wasn’t the only one. The pattern was emerging: lunch sharing, umbrellas, coffee… coincidence? Highly unlikely.
Kunikida glared at Dazai, who simply hummed and sipped his own drink, completely unbothered.
4. The “Book Club”
The Agency had started an informal reading circle, ostensibly to encourage cultural literacy. Kunikida suggested a particularly dry book on administrative law, while Dazai suggested something scandalous and thrilling.
During discussion, Dazai leaned in unusually close to Kunikida, whispering a joke that made Kunikida snort in surprise. The sudden, synchronised laughter made Ranpo nearly choke on his tea.
“You… you’re practically touching,” Ranpo exclaimed. “And laughing like lovers. You’re dating!”
Kunikida’s response was a sharp jab with his book. “Shut up!”
Dazai, meanwhile, chuckled, allowing Kunikida a moment of rare vulnerability—his face warming, his shoulders relaxing. It wasn’t proof of romance, but it looked like it. And everyone watching assumed the worst.
5. The “Office Rescue”
During a particularly chaotic mission, Kunikida had been pinned by debris, struggling to free himself. Dazai arrived dramatically, his coat flaring as he lifted the rubble without a sweat.
“You really need to work on your safety habits,” Dazai teased, helping Kunikida to his feet. His hand brushed Kunikida’s. Just a touch, brief—but it lingered.
Kunikida’s glare could have frozen the sun. “I do not require your concern,” he said stiffly.
“But I insist,” Dazai replied, grinning.
Atsushi, who had been observing from afar, muttered, “Definitely dating. There’s… something.”
Kunikida did not correct him. He simply ignored it—but Dazai’s gaze followed him, warm and unwavering. That was enough to make people wonder.
6. The “One Time They Realised”
It wasn’t a dramatic confession, nor a fireworks-filled declaration. It was subtle.
Kunikida had stayed late at the office, reviewing endless reports. Dazai appeared silently, leaning in the doorway with his usual calm chaos. “You should go home,” he said softly.
“I can’t leave. The reports aren’t done,” Kunikida replied.
Dazai stepped closer. “You’ve done enough. I’ll stay with you.”
There was no teasing, no smirk. Just presence.
Kunikida glanced at him. At the way Dazai’s gaze softened, at the slight touch on the back as he passed him a folder. At the way he waited—patient, calm, unwavering.
And something clicked.
It wasn’t about rumors or whispered assumptions. It wasn’t about lunches, umbrellas, coffee, or laughter. It was this: in the quiet, in the small gestures that went unnoticed by anyone else, Kunikida finally realised—they had been more than colleagues for a long time.
He exhaled, a tiny, almost imperceptible smile forming. Dazai noticed. He smiled back. No words were needed. The realisation settled quietly, firmly.
The world could think whatever it wanted. Kunikida and Dazai already knew.