Chapter Text
“I could never find the right way to tell you,
Have you noticed I’ve been gone?”
Sitting at his desk, Atsushi watched the clouds pass by. He yawned, eyes glazing over. This report wouldn’t write itself, but Atsushi had abandoned meticulous paperwork in exchange for getting lost in his thoughts. It had nearly been a year, but the pain was always there. Dazai was gone, but he had left bits and pieces of his legacy scattered around the city like stars in the night sky.
“Hey Atsushi,” Kunikida barked, looking up from his work. “Are you done daydreaming? The president expects your report by the end of the day.”
Atsushi showed no signs of having heard him, he was fidgeting with his hands, rubbing a thumb over his gloved index finger.
“Even Dazai would get more work done than you,” Kunikida muttered under his breath.
Atsushi looked up, blinking twice. “Sorry Kunikida-san, did you say something?”
A twang of guilt pierced Kunikida at the sight of the boy’s dazed expression.
“If there ever comes a day where I can’t, I want you to take care of Atsushi-kun for me.”
“Go for a walk,” Kunikida sighed, getting up from his desk.
Atsushi frowned. “Really? But I thought this report--”
“I’ll finish it up for you,” Kunikida clapped Atsushi on the back. “You wouldn’t get it done at the pace you’re working at.”
Atsushi’s eyes widened, and for a second, Kunikida thought the boy would start crying. Instead, Atsushi headed for the door. Before he left, he stopped. “Thanks Kunikida-san,” he smiled.
Kunikida held back a smile of his own. Dazai had left so much behind, Kunikida saw him reflected in Atsushi.