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“Dazai, why do you smile?”
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It was a question that he had been asked multiple times. After all it was very much unnerving to see a child—once a child—smiling at the carnage displayed in front of their eyes. Dazai had smiled for as long as he could remember. Smiled through happy moments and terrible ones alike. He made no distinction between them. He smiled while talking about the things he liked, he smiled while talking of the people he had killed. If anyone new to his behaviour had interacted with him, they would have deemed the man completely mad.
People were usually horrified by the way he smiled while killing his victims, or how he smiled while setting the world on fire. He had won himself the name Demon Prodigy due to his unnerving smile, one that stirred mixed emotions within the persons who were a victim of it. They’d later tell of a demon who enjoyed killing and destruction.
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So, what was Dazai to answer when Atsushi was the one to ask? Should he answer, I smile because I lack human feelings? For he thought of himself No Longer Human.
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“Dazai-san” Atsushi repeated, “Why is it that you always smile?”
And Dazai’s smile continued unaltered.
“Why do you think I smile, Atsushi-kun?”
The boy frowned. It was very much like Dazai to dodge the question, "I'm asking you because I want to know the reason, Dazai-san.”
Dazai’s eyes slightly widened, just so that no one noticed.
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“You can learn a lot about someone by how they react to a smile.” He finally answered.
Atsushi got the feeling that the suicidal man wasn’t being completely sincere, but didn’t pry any further.
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It was a bad day, and Dazai felt it in the air. He knew something was not right.
He walked down the streets of Yokohama, to find Atsushi sitting on a bench.
“Hey, Atsushi-kun!” He called, “What are you doing here?”
The boy looked up to the man. The look on his face told Dazai everything, and he sat down next to Atsushi, his smile never wavering.
“Is something of the matter?” He asked.
Atsushi didn’t answer. He stared blankly at the scenery in front of him. They sat there for a while.
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Suddenly, Atsushi asked, “How do you smile all the time?”
That was a new one. Dazai had never questioned how he managed to smile all the time. He just did.
For once, the bandaged man answered honestly, “I don’t know. It’s been like this forever.”
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Atsushi turned to look at Dazai, and an emotion that Dazai never thought he would ever get from the boy. Pity. This stirred something in Dazai, but as always, he dismissed it.
“What is a smile to you, Dazai-san?”
Dazai blinked, and started to say something, to be interrupted by Atsushi, “I want you to answer honestly.”
And Dazai’s smile widened, as he got up. He laid his hands on Atsushi’s shoulders.
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"Just because you see a smile doesn't mean you know what's going on underneath. A smile is a valuable tool, Atsushi-kun, it inspires your friends, keeps your enemies guessing, and ensures no matter what comes your way, you are the one in control."
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Atsushi’s eyes widened, and he inspected Dazai’s face. His smile had never faded, but his eyes conveyed a sadness beyond imagination.
The boy shivered unconsciously.
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Dazai-san sure is a scary man. But a small smile came to Atsushi’s lips. Still, I will trust him with my life.