Chapter Text
Early one morning, Kunikida enters the Agency building. He glances at the lift before turning to take the stairs, believing that it’s better exercise. Even though the Agency is on the fourth floor.
Kunikida eventually reaches the floor of the main office, panting softly. He opens the door, expecting the room to be empty and quiet, the best environment to start his work early.
But, to his surprise (and annoyance) he spots his partner Dazai lounging on the sofa lazily, nodding along to the music playing through his headphones.
Kunikida approaches, looming over his partner crossly before pulling the headphones off of his head. “Hey-! Kunikida-kun, give my headphones backkkk.”
“Dazai, what are you doing at the Agency so early? This is strange behaviour for you.” Kunikida observes, his expression confused yet curious.
“Well, you know, I was so bor-”
“Speak slower.” Kunikida cuts him off.
Dazai returns Kunikida’s look with his own confused expression before realising the reason behind his partner’s request. He glances at his ears to confirm. “Oh, Kunikida-kun doesn’t have his hearing aids on yet, huh?” Dazai asks, slowing his speech. “I must say, your lip-reading is quite good.” He adds.
“Correct. I like to work in absolute silence, so I’ll only put them on when everyone else arrives.” Kunikida answers, sitting beside Dazai on the couch. “Anyway, continue. Why are you here at this hour?”
Dazai leans back against the armrest of the couch before continuing, “As I said, I was bored. I couldn’t think of anything else to do so I thought I’d chill here. It was nice without a Kunikida nagging me to work.” Dazai teases, only to be met with his partner’s annoyed glare. It dissipates with a sigh.
“Oh well. I guess I can let you relax for a while.” With that, Kunikida got up and went back over to his desk, beginning his work while Dazai lounges nearby.
“But once the others get here, you have to start work!” He calls over.
“Yeah, yeah.” Dazai agreed unconvincingly.
_________
A little later in the morning, the door creaks open. Neither Kunikida nor Dazai looked up, as the former didn’t hear it and the latter was consumed by his music.
In walked Atsushi, carefully shutting the door behind him. Through the window, he can see Kunikida and Dazai in the office. However, they’re doing something that Atsushi has never seen before, and so he is slightly befuddled and even more so concerned. He stands there in a daze, just watching the two.
Just then, the door creaks open again, revealing Kyouka. Atsushi jumped at the noise and turned around abruptly. “Gah! Oh, h-hello Kyouka-chan.” Atsushi greets her, slightly flushed.
“Hello, Atsushi. What are you doing just standing there?” Kyouka replies. Atsushi turns back to the window, where Dazai and Kunikida are gesturing to each other quickly with their hands. He suddenly has a realisation and quickly rushes over to Kyouka, alarmed.
“Kyouka-chan! Dazai-san and Kunikida-san are…are throwing gang signs at each other! Do you think the Port Mafia had something to do with this?! What if it was Akutagawa trying to get Dazai back…but why would he use Kunikida as well?” Atsushi exclaims frantically, shaking Kyouka back and forth.
Kyouka just stares at Atsushi in bewilderment, before glancing through the window and watching the two partners for a few moments. “They’re using sign language.” Kyouka answers casually, not looking back.
Now Atsushi is the one who looks confused. “Sign language?”
Kyouka nods. “Yeah. Dazai-san told me that Kunikida-san has lost his hearing. Deaf people communicate by sign.”
Eventually, Kunikida notices the presence of Atsushi and Kyouka. He leaves his office to greet them. “Ah, good morning Atsushi and Kyouka.”
“Good morn-”
“GOOD MORNING KUNIKIDA-SAN!” Atsushi butts in loudly, making Kyouka jump and Kunikida cover his ears quickly.
“Atsushi! Why are you yelling?!”
“Uhh, uhm, Kyouka-chan told me you can’t hear! So I was being loud so you could hear me…” Atsushi explained. Kunikida facepalms with a sigh.
“You children are so stupid…yes, I can’t hear. But I have my hearing aids on so I can hear you now. I didn’t have them on earlier, but Dazai understands sign language, so I didn’t need to.”
“Ohhh…but- hey, I’m not a child!”