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Atsushi watched Akutagawa from across the room. He bit his lip nervously. Working up his courage, he strode with feigned confidence across the room.
“Akutagawa,” Atsushi started. Akutagawa turned to him.
“Jinko,” Akutagawa said, sounding a bit surprised. To be fair, Atsushi rarely initiated contact between them because he was so nervous around him.
“Um…” Atsushi stammered. What was he going to ask? Ah! “Well, the trumpets are having a Christmas party after school, and I was wondering if maybe you'd like to go? With me, that is. To the party.” Atsushi rambled.
“Jinko,” Akutagawa started, and for the first time since Atsushi met the boy, he looked uncomfortable. “I'm not entirely sure that is a good idea.”
“I asked Kunikida, and he said ‘whatever’ but I don't think he was really listening. He was arguing with Dazai at the time, something about spiking the punch or something...Oh! He still technically gave me permission to invite you though!” Atsushi said.
“...”
“Please?”
“He’ll go!” a voice said from behind Atsushi. He turned to see Akutagawa’s sister Gin. She gave him a small smile.
“Gin,” Akutagawa started, but she turned and walked off before he could lecture her.
Akutagawa turned back to Atsushi, who was still staring hopefully at him. He knew he couldn't say no now. Not that Gin would allow him anyways.
Akutagawa sighed. “What time, and where?”
Atsushi’s whole face lit up. “It starts at 6. Dazai’s house. I'll see you then!” Atsushi said, then dashed off to class as the bell rang.
It was going to be a long night.
“What?!” Chuuya shouted. Akutagawa had gone to talk to him after agreeing to go to the party. If he was going down, he wasn't going alone.
“Look, I need you to go to back me up,” Akutagawa explained.
“No. No way. How did you even get roped into attending a party at DAZAI’S HOUSE?” Chuuya asked.
“Jinko. He didn't say where the party was until after I'd agreed.”
“Well, okay. But why do I have to go with you?” Chuuya asked.
“Because you're the only other person I know suited to go up against Dazai and not die,” Akutagawa said.
Chuuya considered it for a moment. It could be his chance to get back at Dazai.“Fine, but only if I can bring Tachihara.”
“Deal,” Akutagawa said.
Later that evening, Chuuya was on his way to pick up Tachihara when his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and saw that it was Akutagawa, so he picked it up.
“Hello?” he said. There was the sound of scuffling from the other end, and some muffled voices arguing.
Then, the phone emitted a loud shrieking sound. Chuuya pulled the phone away from his ear and tossed it into the passenger's seat in surprise. He couldn't reach over to grab it while driving, so he let it sit on the seat. The scream continued for almost a minute more before the line went dead.
Tachihara was waiting when Chuuya got to his house. As soon as he pulled into the driveway, Tachihara hopped into the passenger's seat, grabbing Chuuya’s phone and placing it in a cup holder with a questioning glance.
“Strange calls,” Chuuya said with a shrug. He didn't feel the need to explain. Tachihara still looked confused, but he decided it wasn't important.
The pair was almost to the party when the phone rang again. Chuuya sighed and pulled over, grabbing the phone and answering it.
“What.” Chuuya barked into the phone.
“Chuuya,” a voice said from the other end. A shiver ran down Chuuya’s spine. Dazai. “I'm awfully sorry about how I behaved earlier. In the last call. It was rude and frankly uncalled for.”
“Wait,” Chuuya said. “That was you? I thought my phone malfunctioned!”
“No, it was me. And I thought it was only right that I apologize. I now see the error of my ways. I was young and foolish then, and I hope you'll forgive me,” Dazai ranted. Chuuya didn't trust this.
“Whatever. If you're really sorry, you'll leave me the hell alone.” Chuuya ended the call and slammed the phone down.
“What was that all about?” Tachihara asked warily.
“Dazai being Dazai,” Chuuya sighed, rubbing his eyes. He was about to start driving again when the phone started to ring again.
“UGH!” Chuuya groaned, snatching the phone. “What do you want!?” he yelled into it.
The unearthly screeching noise started again. Chuuya ripped the phone away from his face, careful not to throw it this time. Tachihara looked utterly terrified. Chuuya pressed the button to end the call.
It was going to be a very long night indeed.
Dazai’s house was not what Chuuya had been expecting.
Honestly, he expected the house to be as eccentric as the boy. Maybe something akin to a torture chamber, or at least something that matched his love of suicide.
But the house was relatively normal. It was a small house, decorated nicely for Christmas. One might even describe it as cozy. Seeing the house, one would never guess that Dazai lived there.
All the party goers were seated in the living room on multiple couches. Yosano and Ranpo were on one, Kunikida and Dazai sat on another. Atsushi and Akutagawa were seated on the floor next to the coffee table, and according to Dazai, Kenji, Tanizaki, and Naomi were unable to attend. Chuuya and Tachihara were the last to arrive, and they were received with open hostility from most of the trumpets until Akutagawa announced they were with him and Atsushi. Everyone but Dazai seemed to accept that and became much less hostile.
That did not, however, make the situation less awkward. Chuuya didn't know anyone except Akutagawa and Dazai, and since Akutagawa was preoccupied by the trumpet boy feeding him cookies, he didn't have many options for conversation. Tachihara wasn't much help. He looked mildly terrified, like a mouse in a room full of cats. He answered any attempt at conversation with one or two words and then fell silent.
“So Atsushi,” Dazai started eventually. “What exactly is the nature of your relationship with Akutagawa?”
Atsushi went red. “Um,” Atsushi said.
“We’re friends,” Akutagawa said, wrapping his arm protectively around Atsushi.
“Oh?” Dazai said with a confused frown. “I didn't think you understood the concept of ‘friends’.”
“Shots fired,” Ranpo whispered to Yosano from where they were sitting on the couch.
“Dazai,” Atsushi pleaded.
Dazai shrugged. “I get it, it's none of my business. I'll be nice. I promise.”
He was not nice. But really, no one expected him to be.
Most of the night was filled with Ranpo and Yosano having a caroling battle. Both of them sung very out of key, and no one knew quite how the competition was being judged.
While this was going on, Kunikida chatted with Chuuya and Atsushi and Akutagawa did their own thing.
“He really stole Ronald McDonald’s head?” Kunikida asked Chuuya.
“Yeah, freshman year. Speaking of which,” Chuuya turned to Dazai, who was not so subtly eavesdropping. “Did you ever return it?”
“Of course I did,” he said, but his gaze flickered for just a second to the mantle above the fireplace. Chuuya followed his gaze and saw, nestled in holly and surrounded by Christmas lights, the head of Ronald McDonald.
“Suuuuuuure,” Chuuya said with a frown. Kunikida and Chuuya shared a knowing look of exasperation. Chuuya slipped him a paper with his phone number on it, just in case he ever needed advice on Dazai.
Every time Chuuya wasn't looking , Dazai would take the chance to harass Tachihara. Sometimes it was just a glare,other times Tachihara was pelted with pieces of rock hard fruit cake. Chuuya was too engrossed in his conversation with Kunikida to notice.
Dazai soon got bored harassing Tachihara. Getting a rise out of Chuuya was the goal, after all, and he wasn't get a reaction. He decided to switch it up.
“Hey Atsushi, look up!” Dazai said, pointing. Atsushi and Akutagawa looked up to see a patch of mistletoe that Dazai had just hung above their heads. Dazai wiggled his eyebrows. “You have to kiss! It's tradition.”
“I don't think…” Atsushi said.
“KISS! KISS! KISS!” Dazai started chanting, pounding his hands on the table.
Luckily, the clock chimed 10 as Dazai’s chanting started to get out of hand.
“We should go,” Akutagawa said, getting up and taking Atsushi’s hand. The two left, Atsushi wishing everyone a Merry Christmas over his shoulder. Chuuya and Tachihara followed them out, having no reason to remain. The rest of the guests filed out shortly after, once they had decided that Yosano was the winner of the caroling competition.
Akutagawa took Atsushi home. When Atsushi got out, he was surprised to find that Akutagawa got out too. He walked around the car and stood close to Atsushi, staring at him intently.
“What are you…?” Atsushi questioned helplessly.
“I'm not one to break tradition,” Akutagawa said.
“What?” Atsushi asked in confusion before his eyes widened in realization.
Akutagawa leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Atsushi’s forehead.
“Merry Christmas, Jinko,” Akutagawa said, then he turned and walked back to his car.
“Merry Christmas!” Atsushi called back, a stupid grin splitting his face.
Akutagawa paused at that, door open but not getting in.
“Jinko...I don't celebrate Christmas,” he said quietly. Before Atsushi had the chance to reply, Akutagawa was in his car driving away.
“So that's why he was hesitant to come…” Atsushi mused before the realization fully hit him. His face flushed red with embarrassment.
He quickly got out his phone and sent a text to Akutagawa.
To Akutagawa: I'm so sorry, I didn't even ask if you celebrated Christmas or anything. I must look so insensitive.
He got a reply a few seconds later.
From Akutagawa: It's okay. I had fun.
“He had fun,” Atsushi said to himself with a smile.