Work Text:
“Katai, it's me!”
Katai sneezed and looked back at Kunikida, who was standing in the middle of the doorway.
“Oh, hey Kunikida,” Kaitai replied, adjusting his glasses. “Thanks for stopping by.”
Kunikida picked up on the scratchy voice and went towards the cupboard to get a glass of water.
“How did this even happen? It’s not like you leave your room.” He filled the glass with water and went over to his friend. Katai noticed Kunikida was wearing a light blue mask over his mouth and nose.
Kunikida handed the water over to Katai, who took a sip.
“I don’t know,” Katai murmured. “Maybe my immune system just really sucks.”
Kunikida gave a sigh. “Stay here, I’ll prepare something to eat.” He walked over to the pantry and was met with a stockpile of food. “Would you like some okayu or miso soup?” he asked, rather unfazed by the sight in front of him.
“I’ll take miso soup,” Katai answered before taking another sip of water.
Kunikida grabbed the ingredients and put them on the counter. Before preparing the meal, he washed the pile of dishes accumulating in Katai’s sink.
“You need to take better care of yourself,” Kunikida chided. “This dump is probably how you got sick in the first place. For all you know you could have mold growing in here!”
Katai groaned in response and slunk under his futon.
“I don’t have the energy to clean,” he mumbled.
Kunikida turned to him. “Then let me know when it gets this bad so I can at least help you out.”
Katai didn’t respond.
After some time, the soup was prepared. Kunikida handed it to Katai with a potholder on the bottom.
“You should be careful, it’s still hot,” Kunikida warned.
“Thanks,” Katai grumbled. He took some bites of soft tofu and sipped on the broth.
“You feeling better?”
“A little,” Katai confirmed, his voice still a little scratchy.
Kunikida softly smiled under his mask. “Good.”
As Katai continued to eat, Kunikida picked up the dirty clothes overflowing from the hamper and organized them. Once he collected and sorted all the clothes by color and fabric type, he put the dark medium fabric clothes (the ones Katai wore the most) in a clothes bag.
“I’ll go wash these for you,” Kunikida said, walking towards the door.
“You don’t have to do that…”
“But then who will?” he turned around with resolve.
…
Katai was speechless, but eventually found his voice.
“Why are you doing all this for me?”
“Because I care about you!”
“It’s alright, you can be honest.” Katai sighed, “Nobody could love a miserable failure like me.”
Kunikida pinched the bridge of his nose, his glasses sliding up. “And yet being around you is still far more tolerable than working with Dazai.” Kunikida scoffed. “I swear, if anyone’s a failure of a human being, it’s him…”
“You’re doing this because you want something from me, don’t you?” Katai mumbled.
“Why would you think that?!” Kunikida sounded offended by the question. “We’re friends! I just want to make sure you’re alright.”
Katai looked a little disappointed by the response.
“What’s wrong?” Kunikida worriedly asked.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” Katai sighed in disappointment. “I just didn’t get the answer I was fishing for. But I’ll take it regardless.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I was hoping… forget it, it’s stupid.”
Kunikida was losing his patience. “Katai, out with it!”
Katai flinched. “Alright, alright! Sheesh...” He shifted uncomfortably under his futon. “The truth is… I was hoping you thought that we were more than friends.”
Kunikida paused in realization.
“Katai…”
“There, I said it. Now will you get off my case?” Katai looked away in embarrassment.
Kunikida walked towards him and crouched down.
“Katai… you know I’m very particular about the sort of women I date.” Kunikida held up his “ideals” notebook.
Katai looked down in disappointment. “I know, I just-”
“But,” Kunikida interrupted him, “... I don’t exactly know what I’m looking for with another man.”
Katai lifted his head, his eyes sparkling at the remark.
“Maybe I’ll better understand what I want… if you go on a date with me?”
Katai was astonished by the request. His face, which was already quite flushed, became even more red.
“I- Y-yes! Yes, of course-” Katai suddenly started coughing in a fit.
“Hey! Take it easy now!” Kunikida put his hands up in concern. “I don’t want you to make your throat any worse than it already is!”
Katai laughed and looked at Kunikida again. Although his face was still covered, Katai could tell by his eyes alone that Kunikida was smiling.