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The cold air hit Dazai’s face as she leaned against the fence. She was standing off to the side as she usually was during these events. The agency was holding a Christmas party, and like usual, she was standing off to the side. Normally, she doesn’t really bother going to the small parties the agency holds, but she wanted to see a special someone this time (and because of the fact that Atsushi begged her to come due to it being Christmas).
As usual, Yosano was quite literally begging Kunikida to get drunk with her; for context, Yosano already is. Kunikida politely declined as her eyes scanned the rooftop, looking for a specific bandaged, brunette woman. As soon as Kunikida spotted her in the distance, she looked over at Yosano.
“Sorry, but if you will excuse me,” Kunikida pardoned herself to leave Yosano. In response, Yosano gave her a knowing look as she spotted Dazai in the direction that Kunikida was looking at.
“Go get your girl!” Yosano grinned as she patted Kunikida’s shoulder. That comment caused Kunikida’s face to suddenly redden. Yosano turned to leave, probably to annoy Ranpo, who was eating most of the cupcakes by the food table.
Kunikida chose to forget about that comment as she made her way towards Dazai. She stood next to Dazai, awkwardly.
“Hey. Merry Christmas, by the way,” Kunikida said as she cleared her throat. Her heart was racing, and she could feel her face heating up.
“Merry Christmas to you too, Kunikida. So, why are you here?” Dazai responded. She looked over at Kunikdia, observing the way the artificial lights from Christmas decorations hit the sides of Kunikida’s face. They left a red and green glow on her face, and Dazai found it beautiful.
“Can’t I say hi to you? You seem pretty lonely all by yourself. Plus, I had to get away from Doctor Yosano. She was trying to get me drunk again,” Kunikida shook her head at the last sentence before she sighed and looked back at Dazai.
“Why didn’t you accept, Kunikidaa?? I bet you would’ve had fun!!” Dazai joked before she poked Kunikida’s cheek. “Come onnnn, I know there’s a different reason as to why you are here, just tell me!”
“Well… If you insist, I guess I can,” Kunikida sighed as she started to blush yet again. Kunikida couldn’t believe that she was about to actually do this. She cleared her throat yet again and regained her composure. She looked up at Dazai.
Kunikida pulled out a small bouquet of flowers seemingly out of nowhere, and she held them up to Dazai. This caught her off guard for a second, but then Dazai realized where this was going. She hesitantly took the flowers. They were beautiful red roses with baby breath flowers scattered among the roses. Dazai looked up at Kunikida after examining the flowers, expecting the other to continue.
“I wanted to ask… Osamu Dazai, will you be my girlfriend? You’re the best partner I could’ve ever hoped to have. Yes, you do have your flaws, but I still love you. I want to be with you, Osamu. You don’t have to say yes, but I wanted to get this off my chest,” Kunikida said, staring directly at Dazai as if this was some serious job matter.
Dazai honestly couldn’t think of a reply back. This was one of the only times where she didn’t have a response. Dazai never had anything serious with anyone before, and the thought of that scared her. But in this case, it was Kunikida… Kunikida quickly noticed the blank expression on Dazai’s face.
“Dazai, you can just say no, and we can go on like this never happened. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable or anything,” Kunikida spoke out. Dazai shook her head, she then looked out over the city.
“I have feelings for you too, Kunikida. But I just don’t think I’m the right one for you… I would only ruin you or something,” Dazai sighed. She had a melancholic expression on her face.
“No. You won’t,” Kunikida stated as if it was a fact.
“You don’t know that! I don’t want anything to happen to you!” Dazai raised her voice slightly before it started to tremble a little bit. Kunikida was taken aback. She has never seen Dazai express emotion like this before. As Kunikida opened her mouth to say something, Dazai continued to speak, “Everything I always want is lost the moment I obtain it… I don’t want anything terrible to happen to you, or anyone else. I could be too much… I don’t want you to deal with me, Kunikida. You have so much better things to do than waste your time on me.
“Dazai… I don’t know anything about your past or what goes through your head, and I won’t pretend to know, but you deserve something good in life. Nothing is going to happen to me; I’ll make sure of it. I want to be with you through your good and bad, Osamu. I promise to be good to you, and if you're comfortable, I want to be your girlfriend,” Kunikida tried her best to reassure Dazai, taking her hands into her own. Dazai allowed herself to calm down at Kunikida’s words.
“I guess you’re right… I do want to be your girlfriend… Does this mean we’re dating now?” Dazai asked as she looked up at Kunikida, asking for an answer.
“You’re right, it does. If you’re okay with that,” Kunikida responded as she placed a kiss on Dazai’s cheek.
“I’m more than okay with that,” Dazai grinned. She then kissed Kunikida on the cheek in return. “I can’t believe you’re dating me out of all people; I meet none of your ideals.”
“Well… I can bend my ideals a bit. I already do for you,” Kunikida chuckled as she put her head against Dazai’s. “Do you want to go to the rest of the agency now? I’m pretty sure Atsushi has a gift she wants to give you.”
“Yeah, I do,” Dazai said as she took Kunikida’s hand. She then led Kunikida to everyone else. She then threw her arm around Kunikida’s shoulders.
“Everyone! I have a very important announcement to make, so listen up!” Dazai exclaimed. Most of the detectives turned their heads to Dazai’s direction. “So, something very important just happened. Our dear Kunikida and I are dating! Now roll in the compliments,” Dazai said the last part sarcastically.
“DAZAI!” Kunikida yelled. She was seconds away from choking Dazai out for the billionth time ever. “Don’t go out announcing it, you idiot!”
Ranpo interrupted Kunikida’s rant as she took the lollipop out of her mouth, “Well it took you guys long enough. It was painful watching all that tension going on between you too.”
“Congrats you two, I knew you could do it, Kunikida!” Yosano smiled as she went over to Kunikida and patted her back.
The new couple got multiple other words of congratulations from their fellow coworkers. Then the party went on as normal. Atsushi commented how this somewhat surprised her, but it wasn’t very unexpected.
Once the party was over, Kunikida decided it would be a good idea to go home with Dazai. Kunikida opened the door to the stairwell from the roof for Dazai before going through the door right next to her. But then she heard Ranpo yell out her name. She turned her head to where Ranpo was.
“You have to pay more attention! Look above your heads!” Ranpo said with a smirk.
Kunikida looked above hers and Dazai’s head, and there it was: mistletoe. Kunikida let out a long sigh, realizing it was probably Ranpo’s doing that it was there to begin with. She then turned to Dazai, facing her as she closed the door behind them.
“So… Do you want to follow through with the tradition or no..? You don’t have to at all if you’re not comfortable! I’m just-”
Kunikida’s eyes widened as her words were quite literally taken from her mouth. Dazai’s lips were on hers! Kunikida didn’t know where to put her hands or how to react, but thankfully that confusion only lasted for a few seconds and she melted into the kiss. Kunikida placed her hands on Dazai’s waist as both of Dazai’s hands were on her (face) cheeks.
This kiss lasted only for a few seconds before they both simultaneously pulled back at the same time. Kunikida hugged Dazai tightly, letting her head rest against Dazai’s shoulder.
“I love you… You know?” Kunikida whispered as she placed a small kiss on Dazai’s cheek for the second time that night.
“I do now. And I love you,” Dazai said the confession a little bit quieter. She couldn’t believe that someone like her was capable of love, but here Kunikida was, proving her wrong.
“Merry Christmas, Osamu. Let’s get to my apartment, you’re staying in my place tonight,” Kunikida smiled.
“Alright! I don’t have clothes, so I’m gonna borrow yours, ‘kay?” Dazai said. Kunikida just nodded in response, taking Dazai’s hands into hers.