Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Dazai wasn’t particularly picky when it came to food, after all, he didn’t have the luxury to be picky since getting to eat even once after a few days was as best as it could get for him. He also never had a preference even now since everything generally tastes dull to him. That’s why he wonders what was so special about that sweet bread (He thinks it’s called cake) and candies that Elise and the kids he saw always ate.

Dazai watched as Mori spoil Elise with different cakes and sweets every day after he became boss of the port mafia, though that didn’t generally mean he didn’t do it before when he was just a doctor, from what he can tell he just probably gives her more now.

He got more curious as time went by and so he did some research. The brunette had a hard time falling asleep so he used that time to search up online instead of pointlessly tossing and turning.

He continued his research until he finally got curious enough to go out and try some in nearby cafes and bakeries. Dazai may not buy stuff using money often or at all but he was getting paid pretty well from the work he does in the mafia, that’s why he doesn’t have to worry too much about his expenses at this moment.

He went down the streets and roamed around until he finally found his targeted pastry shop, (name of bakery). He went in and was immediately covered in warmth; the small bakery was pretty cozy. It was dimly lit but you could still see very well, there were only 2 tables on each side if you so ever wish to snack inside the bakery.

In the middle was where the display glass was, there were a lot of pastries inside it. Dazai promptly got closer and from then on could he finally smell the scrumptious aroma of the bread and pastries.

He called out to the sweet old lady that probably owned the store and asked for some cake options. He ended up buying a normal one-piece chocolate and strawberry cake. He figured this should be enough and went back to the apartment Mori gave him.

He didn’t really put too much stuff in it other than supplies he might need and necessary appliances. When Dazai got back, he went straight to the table to check out the cake.

He rushed to the table to try the cake after a long time, he ran because he was curious of course, and not because he was excited. Alright fine, there were some aspects of excitement that he felt but it didn’t really matter. He wouldn’t tell anyone but, to be honest, he didn’t even have anyone to tell it to, and hell knows he’d rather die before Mori finds out.

Dazai slowly opened the box that held the first cake; he felt the anticipation bubbling up in him so he’s trying to savor that feeling for as long as he could.

He finally opened the box and took out a plastic fork, his curiosity about to explode. He took the first bite and he has to admit that it actually tastes good.  He can sort of understand what the excitement it was for these types of pastries.

The rich and creamy flavor cake filling was surprisingly good, Dazai wouldn’t mind eating it a few times but the only fault in it was that it was too sweet for him if you ate it too much alone without water.

He took a few more bites out of the chocolate one before he moved on to the next cake, strawberry. He took a sip of water to wash away the previous influences of the chocolate before taking a bite of the strawberry.

The strawberry was alright, just not his cup of tea. He didn’t really hate the cake flavor but neither did he like it, He supposes that the only time he’d actually eat it again was if the situation called for him to eat it or if his tastes for it would change in the future.

He closed up both of the cakes in their mini take-out box and slid them inside his near bare fridge and threw out the plastic fork he used in eating.

Dazai rarely ever had the energy to even wake up in the mornings that’s why he never bothers to actually make an effort in cozying up the apartment he lives in at the moment. If he did, then he’ll get attached and all of it will be taken away from him like it always does.

Dazai shook his head and just spread himself on the couch nearest to him; it didn’t really make more of a difference than he thought it would. Of course, anything was better than sleeping in the cold embrace of the hard concrete floor.

And so he closed his eyes, ready to fall asleep early for once. And yet here he was staring up at the ceiling at probably 1 in the morning, still awake.

He tossed and turned for hours since he did originally plan to go to sleep today at around 10 for once. Dazai sighed before slowly getting up, blinking for a few seconds as his eyes blurred for a while.

He took out a laptop and once again searched through more pastry reviewing videos, which is until he saw a video that caught his eyes: A cooking tutorial video. It showed him a tutorial on how to create a few delicious-looking foods but then he had a thought, ‘Is there tutorial videos made for baking pastries like cake?’

He searched it up and there he saw tons of video recommendations for baking tutorials, he would have been far more embarrassed had people known but right now all he could feel was the disappointment in himself for not searching it up earlier.

So he then pressed the first video and in his honest opinion, he was getting interested in the idea of baking. And so if he woke up with eye bags tomorrow, no one had to know why. Did he regret himself for sleeping so late? No.

After years of feeling empty and dull, Dazai quite liked the bubbling feeling of anticipation when he thinks of trying out baking, a new goal. And so if people saw the uncharacteristic skip in his step, the small upturn on his lip, or the slight light in the normally serious brunette, no one dared to comment on it.

The behavior went on for the whole day; everyone was taken aback by the usually dark and serious kid acting out genuine feelings. No one dared to utter a word because if they did their superior, who has known the kid for a while, would give them a glare promising death.

The Mafioso’s all secretly had a soft spot whether they know it or not, though they didn’t know the kid for too long, all they knew was that Dazai was forced to grow up far too young maybe even younger than they did.

Though everyone has experienced some form of trauma at some point in their life, never did they start off as young as the genius kid that walked with empty eyes. Most of them had a childhood at least, though not all had good ones they still had one moment where they were happy. Unfortunately, Dazai never got to experience that kind of happiness, for all the knowledge he has, he was truly clueless when it came to the subject of feelings and emotions.

They ached for the brunette that stayed by Mori’s side, they wish to help truly but they know of all the masks that the kid uses to hide all the trauma and pain. They know he’s serious when he talks about suicide and yet none of them could do anything to help, all they could do for now was stay behind him and keep an extra eye out.

Sure it might not exactly last but it both ached and warmed up their hearts once they saw the slight light that glowed in the usual empty eyes of the Genius strategist, Dazai Osamu. They ached at how different and happy he might have turned out if he was never dragged into all this darkness at such a young age. And yet they also warmed at the thought that something, no matter how little had managed to squeeze out a drop in the boy.

They know it won’t last but they’ll be a little selfish just this once and imagined it might.

Dazai noticed the weirdly calm aura from the mafia today. Sure it might seem the same from an outsider but he’s been here long enough to notice the calm and sweet atmosphere the moment he stepped into the room.

People would greet him and some would even smile his way, he didn’t know why but all he knows is that he didn’t mind it.

The day continues as it was because as long as it didn’t pull him back from his goal for the time being then he’ll allow them to continue on like this.

Everything ended on a suspiciously good note but for once Dazai could care less, all he could think of was buying the supplies he needed for the little project he’s quite excited to do.

He’s already prepared a note list for all the containers and ingredients he would need, he also prepared a request note for a 3-day leave. All he needs to do now is give it to Mori, persuade him if it comes to it, and then everything will go as he planned.

If all else fails it’s not like he’ll listen anyways. It’s been so long since he felt something nice and he sure as hell isn’t letting Mori of all people take that away from him.

He approached the familiar door of the boss’s office and kept walking straight, the guards stationed outside letting him in without a word.

“Dazai-kun! So good of you to visit me today” Mori said the moment he saw the young brunette, a picture-perfect smile resting on his face. It might fool everyone because of how flawless the expression was but not Dazai, never Dazai. He’s seen the person beneath that smile and he’d be stupid to even let his guard down around the man with that knowledge.

“So what brings you here?” Mori continued, snapping Dazai from his mini-rant, and proceeded to walk to the older man’s desk, his leave permit in hand.

“I want to take a 3-day leave” A short and straightforward answer, nothing more, nothing less it’s better that way.

“Oh~?” Mori hummed and though it might seem like a perfectly innocent response Dazai could see the calculative look in those eyes. The way they picked him apart little by little.

Those same eyes were the reason why Dazai had to learn to cover every trace of him with a masked personality accompanied by fake movements. He put on masks upon masks until he wasn’t sure who he was anymore until even he didn’t know if he originally does certain things.

“Very well” Mori said and with that Dazai left as quickly as he could without bringing too much suspicion. He always did hate being alone with Mori.

And with that Dazai went home with an unusual skip in his step. Everyone who saw simply melted at the sight, especially with the small twinkle in his eyes and a small smile displaying on his lips. He’s acting like a normal child for once.

Dazai went home and crashed down on his bed, tired yet excited for the next 3 days of experimenting.

The first day wasn’t really too eventful considering it was mostly used up to buying and preparing the stuff he needed for the next day. He woke up early, for once going through with a pre-planned day instead of going off course since he’s actually excited about this once.

Instead of asking someone else to go get him the materials as he’d usually do, he opted to go out and get it himself. He can’t risk Mori finding out, or well not so soon at least. He knows Mori would find out eventually but the longer the mafia boss doesn’t the better.

The whole day was reserved for shopping because he knows just how long it would take to actually get everything. He’s experienced hours of delay whenever he was brought Forced along when Mori takes Elise shopping for more clothes and sweets.

As always, the young genius was right as he was still shopping though the sun has long set. The malls and stores were all annoyingly filled to the brim with people; it irked Dazai that of all times, it had to be when he was going to be doing something that made him feel positive.

With a sigh, Dazai tiredly walked back to the huge apartment he lived at for the time being. It was quiet with no people in sight and though Dazai hated it when it was too quiet, the walk home was very calming and relaxing to him.

He rarely got times like those to himself anymore, just walking around with a positive outlook and no dark thoughts plaguing his mind, just pure and utter calmness as he takes a moment to appreciate the little things that he still appreciated in this cursed world.

Opening the front door, Dazai quickly ran to the table to put down the dozen bags he was carrying. Catching his breath as he realized how sore and tired he was, the brunette stretched a little before coming back to put the stuff away properly. Well, most of it.

He put away some stuff but the rest was left on a different counter, hopefully, high enough to not get damaged as he takes a short shower before bed.

Dazai always hated coming here considering how the quiet apartment unnerved him but for once, he couldn’t find it in himself to worry for the time being. He fell asleep with such rare ease as he fell into a dreamless sleep.

An equally as rare smile on his face as the tiredness of his body relaxed on the bed.

The next 2 days were quite memorable making it pass quicker than the people he has ever come to love. Dazai quietly chuckled at the little dark joke he made. Overall, the little experiment was chaotic and ended with flour and sugar stuck in the crevices of his kitchen but it’s all worth it. He hates to admit it but that was the most fun he’s had in a while.

‘I wonder how Elise liked the cookies’ Dazai thought, before shaking his head. Why should he care about her? Although he did give her some sweets anonymously but he only did that as a secret thanks for unconsciously helping him find his new favorite hobby.

Sure he’s known the girl for a long time but it was more so due to the whims of the boss, underlying orders that needn’t be said but understood. It’s very obvious to anyone that could see and hear that Mori loves Elise.

With a huff, Dazai fastened his pace as he walked into Mori’s office with his daily reports. Contrary to what Chuuya or the rest of his subordinates may think but he does in fact do his reports, although his clear despise of them.

He places down the stack of paper into the older male’s desk without a care in the world before turning around and trying to leave as fast as possible without being too suspicious. He’s always hated how suffocating it felt whenever he was near Mori.

The brunette bit his lip slightly as he neared the door but just as he was mere inches away from the knob, a sickeningly sweet voice called out to him.

“Ah and before you go Dazai-kun,” The honey-dipped voice of Mori’s rang around the room that seemed to become bigger than what it originally was.

Dazai gave a slightly bored and disinterested hum as an answer as he straightened his stance, back still facing the boss. The young teen clenched his fists ever so slightly as to seem more confident than what he was actually feeling.

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing bad,” Dazai could almost scoff as Mori said that because of course, the other male would sense his discomfort, he always hated the fact that someone else could read him so easily like an open book.

“I just wanted to mention that I’d rather have actual dishes rather than sweets is all” Mori propped his elbows on the table as he placed his head on them, blood-red eyes staring at the teen's back, a calculative smile perfectly in place.

Dazai could feel exhaustion seep into his body, of course, the other man would have known but he at least expected for it to be brought up a bit later rather than now but he supposes it was more so ‘hoped’ rather than ‘known’.

The brunette turned his head around to meet those same eyes with his own dull ones “They were for Elise anyways, not for you”

“I see” Mori gave off an innocent look as they continued to stare off at each other. “ If so, then cook for me one day too”

They stared off for a few more seconds after the last statement before one of them broke the eye contact.

Dazai gave a small hum before turning around and fully leaving Mori alone in his office.

He never truly did

Chapter Text

If someone were to ask who was the most loyal to the Port Mafia, most people would probably say Hirotsu Ryuuro.  The elder was most likely the oldest of them all, as well as the longest person to have stayed loyal to the organization.

He’s witnessed the end of a generation and witnessed the way it changed as the organization was passed off to a new era. Despite all the changes, despite how they may be and who they were, Hirotsu would still remain loyal to the boss no matter what.

Sure he might follow all the orders the head might command of him but that doesn’t mean he’d trust them with his whole being right away. Hell, he didn’t even trust the previous boss that much despite going along with his whims on his death bed.

The same could be currently said as he continued on serving the new boss, Mori Ougai. The elder knows just how shady the previous doctor was but he knows that the guy would bring the organization to a higher peak and so he chose to ignore the doubts in his mind.

It hasn’t been long since Mori’s reign over the mafia started but the select few times Hirotsu has met the man, there was always something off about his eyes. It always seemed like he was planning something far more sinister behind that sweet smile he puts on like a mask.

He would’ve been worried but as long as the organization wasn’t harmed then he could care less, after all, that was where his loyalties all lied isn’t it? He could care less what the boss did unless he truly started to like them of course.

That’s why here he stood in front of an apartment complex as ordered by the boss. In the room lies a teenage boy barely the age of 14, someone who’s become the new boss’s right-hand man and most useful chess piece despite the young age.

There was a sweet smell coming from the door, something akin to pastries making the executive wonder in slight curiosity. The boy in general acted far older than his age, something he really shouldn’t be surprised by due to the prodigy rumors he’s been hearing, making it seem like he wasn’t the sweet tooth type of teen.

The brown-haired prodigy living in the room before him was someone he’s come to observe due to how much ‘trust’ the boss has in the male. Hirotsu wasn’t too sure if trust was the right word to say but the kid seemed close enough to the boss to make him part of the elder’s “watch out list”.

Anyways, he was getting too out of track as he decided to shake his head to snap out of it. He slowly knocked on the door, something not too loud or too long, just enough to alert the boy because he wasn’t that rude.

Once done, the male took a step back as he placed his hands respectfully behind his back, something that might become more of a requirement in the future. The kid has quite a talent when it comes to their line of work and adding the fact that he’s considered as the current boss’s right-hand man, it wasn’t going to take too long until a promotion was made. Most likely in an executive position like him but with higher authority because once again, right-hand man.

Tons of crashing sounds were made; most likely pans due to sound but Hirotsu chose to keep on a straight face. Whatever may be happening in there was none of his business, all he came here to do was give the kid the boss’s new mission for him and leave.

That was all he came for and so, that was all he would do.

That’s why please explain to him how he ended up sitting at a table with tons of very obvious hand-made pastries. He stared silently at the pastries, then to the abomination called a kitchen, then back to the pastries as he partly listened to the young teen he was only supposed to talk to behind him.

Dazai was muttering something behind him while pacing back and forth, a serious expression on his face. The kid usually wore a cheerful façade like Mori so this should’ve sent off alarms in his brains.

It really, truly should’ve but the messy apron he wore and the slight flour on both his face and hair made it slightly hard for Hirotsu to take this all seriously.

It took a moment before the brunette finally stopped once he nodded in agreement to a conclusion Hirotsu would rather not know. Once the kid’s unknown dilemma was solved, his visible eye stared at him expectantly as his expression silently asked him, ‘Well?’

“So how was it?"

That seemed to slightly confuse the older male because as far as he knew, there was no information told to him that should help him answer that question. They silently stared at each other before Dazai sighed, most likely realizing the elder’s clear confusion.

“And here I thought you at least would’ve understood…” The teen muttered dejectedly to himself before clearing his throat and properly looking at the executive sitting in the chair. “I want to know your opinion on those pastries I’ve placed in front of you”

Dazai’s tone was firm as he left no room for any other comments with the exception of the ones he wanted to hear. It would’ve intimidated him a bit if it weren’t for the barely visible pink hue that seemed to settle on his face.

The look seemed to have rendered Hirotsu’s will to refuse fruitless as he always had a soft spot for children. The male tentatively turned back to the pastries as he sat down properly, a conflicted look on his face as he stared at the food in a barely hidden suspicion.

The executive wasn’t all too knew about the kid’s suicidal tendencies, that’s why Hirotsu silently feared the pastries in front of him. If the kid couldn’t even take care of himself properly, then is it really his fault for wondering the same with food?

Small shifting was heard beside the elder male causing his head to turn towards the sound. There stood beside him now was Dazai with a restless look on his face.

He noticed how the kid bit his lower lip subtly as well as the worried look in his eye. A sigh came out of Hirotsu’s lips as he grabbed the fork placed near him and took a small portion of what smelled like banana bread.

He truly was weak when it came to children.

With all the will Hirotsu had in his body, he quickly shoved the food in his mouth, closing his eyes along the way as he expected a bitter taste to come after.

Sweet

That was the first word that came to mind as the food he ate was surprisingly good. The texture was moist and easy to chew while the flavor was flavorful enough. The top was sprinkled with small dots of melted chocolate completing the flavor.

Hirotsu found himself grabbing another bite as well as a third before coughing awkwardly due to the realization of his actions. He turned to stare at the teenager he momentarily forgot about only to sweatdrop at the look of anticipation directed at him.

Dazai had unknowingly puffed out his cheeks as he squinted at the executive. Hirotsu couldn’t help but chuckle at that, his eyes softening instinctively at the childish expression of the boy who’s seen too much.

Hirotsu could only guess as to what Dazai may have experienced to barely react at all the bloodshed he’s seen, the boy’s eyes looking so dull at a young age. The old man couldn’t help but pity the kid but that didn’t last long considering how Dazai would recent any pity given to him.

The brunette usually wore a permanent resting bitch face as he went on missions or whenever he’s with subordinates, the only exception was when he was wearing his cheerful personality instead. That’s why seeing the childish yet genuine expression on his face warmed the old man’s heart.

A smile bloomed on his face as he monologued Dazai’s development in his head, oblivious to the forming glare on Dazai’s face due to his impatience for an answer.

An obviously irritated cough was soon heard around the room as Hirotsu couldn’t help but silently snort at it.

“Well?” Dazai’s voice was slightly annoyed as an eyebrow rose to complete the look.

“It tastes perfect, no changes are needed” Hirotsu answered, his voice neutral as his face turned serious once more.

A thoughtful look entered Dazai’s face as he quickly ran to get a mini notebook as well as some paper. Hirotsu watched as the brunette muttered a few things as he scribbled down a few words he couldn’t quite distinguish.

“That’s great…” He said after a minute of scribbling, his mind still a bit too preoccupied with thoughts Hirotsu would never be able to understand, “Now you’re going to have to do that with the rest of the pastries I made”

The older of the two slowly turned towards the table once more to assess the number of pastries, only to blanch at the amount. Hirotsu silently wondered if he’d get diabetes after this as he kept his emotions in check and nodded.

He knows that Dazai would accept no other answer than the one he wanted so there really was no use in disagreeing any further. At least the small glint of excitement that shone in the teen’s eyes along with a slight upturn at the corners of his lips made it worth it.

And so, that was what Hirotsu ended up doing for the day. Taste-testing for the port mafia’s supposed prodigy as well as the boss’s most useful chest piece.

As it turned out, the treats weren’t too agonizingly sweet. They were flavored just right to show off its savory taste without irritating one’s throat. Hirotsu is going to have to give it to the kid in being able to do just about anything he put his mind to.

Although he stayed longer than he had to, nothing about this newfound discovery about the boy did he regret. He got free food as well as memories to keep forever in his heart.

As Hirotsu finished tidying up along with Dazai, he wiped his hands before dusting him off for any incriminating evidence of the flour that spread along the room earlier.

After all the surprise treats he didn’t know he’d receive, he decided to help with the clean-up as it is the respectful thing to do.

Dazai walked him to the front door with a softer expression than the ones he’d usually wear during work.

“Don’t you dare mention what happened today with anyone, understood?” Dazai’s voice was firm and commanding, a huge change in his demeanor in a blink of an eye.

“Of course” Hirotsu would never dream of betraying the little trust he received from the boy today.

The air seemed to turn awkward as they stared at each other for a while, Dazai holding the door unknowing of what to do next as Hirotsu waited patiently for the teen’s next move.

“I also want to say thanks for your help…” A small blush seemed to form on Dazai’s face as he embarrassedly admitted his thoughts, his voice growing into nothing but a soft whisper.

Hirotsu couldn’t help himself as his hand instinctively went down to ruffle the teen’s head. A cold chill went down his spine as no longer human spread throughout his body, something that used to unnerve him except for today.

Dazai blinked adorably up at him in confusion, not knowing how to react to such an affectionate touch. The reaction seemed to melt Hirotsu’s heart further as he now declared Dazai as No.1 in the list of the most adorable kids he’s ever met.

That topic was not up for debate despite how many people would disagree.

And with that, Hirotsu went on his way but not before finally reporting the boss’s mission for him in the next few days.

At work, Hirotsu didn’t expect anything to actually change but the small acknowledgment Dazai gives him whenever they pass by each other now was something Hirotsu wouldn’t give away for anything.

He’d nod in respect whenever they pass by or meet, which was a big shock for some members because this was Dazai we’re talking about.

The executive honestly thought the taste testing thing was a one-time thing too but was once again proven wrong as Dazai seems to be giving him a taste of whatever new creation he made.

And again, not like Hirotsu was complaining.

Soon enough, Dazai too began to ask for Hirotsu’s opinion as well as taking it into consideration, something a larger amount of people gaped at, Mori and Hirotsu himself included.

As the years passed by and as Hirotsu watched Dazai grow older, he couldn’t help but come to love the kid as a grandchild he’d probably never have.

 Hirotsu has seen how empty Dazai could be at times, as well as how cruel he becomes on certain days. Although that happens way more than Hirotsu would like, the moments where he’d see Dazai smile or when a glint of childish curiosity appears on his face were the memories he treasured the most.

All in all, he’s come to like Dazai.

Even when the kid he once knew is now all grown up,

Even when the kid he once knew left without a word for 2 years,

Even when the kid he once knew is now his enemy,

The small basket of pastries he’d anonymously still receive on specific dates was enough for even an old man like him to smile.

Chapter Text

Akutagawa was a very stubborn kid. He’d do anything to accomplish a task as long as he’s determined enough to do so.

Who cares if his goal may be somewhat out of his league? As long as he has an important enough reason to do so, then he’ll accomplish it with whatever he can give.

That was why, here did Akutagawa now lie on the floor of his bedroom, his previous attempt of trying to drag himself out of bed backfiring. The kid woke up feeling extremely sick today but the fact that he has a training session with Dazai made him less than willing to stay in bed.

His whole body felt as if it was burning, most likely the reason why his muscles almost feel nonexistent. He carefully grabbed the ledge of his bed and slowly sat properly on the floor, careful to not irritate his dizzy mind any further.

A groan escaped Akutagawa’s lips as he finally managed to haul himself up to a sitting position, his back leaning on the side of his bed. Everything about him was tired to the max but before the temptation to just go back to sleep hooked him; a flash of Dazai’s ever disappointed face directed at him gave him back the will to move.

Yes, the will because although he has the motivation, it, unfortunately, doesn’t mean he’s regained his strength.

Akutagawa swore he almost threw up on the floor but he thankfully held it in because he was not about to have his room smelling like vomit the whole day. He was all alone today because Gin was away on a training mission with Hirotsu so no one would be able to take care of him.

The ravenette’s vision seemed to become obscure for a moment due to standing up too fast causing him to fall back down, thankfully he was practically backed up to the bed making the fall much less painful.

Another groan escaped his lips as the sudden movement caused his head to pound, he carefully picked up his hand to gently cup his forehead only to slightly get burned by his own temperature. Carefully, he laid back down on the bed before closing his eyes, silently waiting until he could finally move again.

Unfortunately, going back to bed and closing your eyes while being very tired will always be a bad idea but it seems that Akutagawa was too out of it to consider the risks he was taking and obviously fell asleep.

Groggily, the small teen opened his eyes as he once again felt the pain of being conscious. His whole body still ached as well did his head pound, every part of his body burning along the many pains he’s currently experiencing.

A groan left his mouth as he realized how dry it felt, most likely because he hasn’t had any water since… he fell… back asleep.

‘OH SHIT’

Alarm bells seemed to immediately go off within his head as he hastily took off the blanket on top of him, something he must have draped over himself while asleep.

He stood up on shaky feet, wincing as he did so due to his body barely keeping up. His still dazed mind frantically searched his room for any place to check for the time before remembering the small clock he had near his bed.

Akutagawa quite literally jumped onto the small bedside table as he frantically grabbed the clock. His mind stared at the object in confusion for a while before he decided to calm himself first.

A few deep breaths were made before he squinted back at the clock, every brain cell he had that was still alive is now working on overdrive to decode what time is displayed.

7:50

That was the time his mind deduced as he stared at the arms of the clock, glaring at it in hopes it might magically change.

His eyes were slightly shocked as his mind remained blank at the realization.

HE MISSED DAZAI-SAN’S TRAINING!!!

His mind literally screamed at him as his heart started to pound in his chest. He was a bit scared for missing it but the guilt within his heart overcame the tinge of fear.

He honestly felt like crying because, how much more pathetic could he get?

He frustratedly wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt before gently placing down the clock back to the mini bed table.

Cold

His hand brushed onto something cold on the table which he has come to realize was a glass of water. Akutagawa was quite sure Gin wouldn’t be back until tomorrow, plus no one has access to this house but them.

The ravenette’s blood suddenly went cold as panic washed over him. He took a second to regain his composure before confidently marching out the door.

He quietly sneaked out and made his way towards the living room connected to the kitchen. He strained his ears a bit to listen in on anyone that might be inside, all the while careful as to not make any noise.

A small clang of metal was heard and Akutagawa couldn’t help but freeze in alert. He sneaked onto the corner to peak as far as he could only to confirm the presence of an unfamiliar man.

Anger seemed to bubble up within him as he swiftly left from his hiding spot, ready to run and attack where he assumed the man was, Rashomon also being activated instinctively.

As he barely even took a single step, all his movements stopped in an instant as he finally recognized the man before him. There stood Dazai Osamu in all his glory, cooking something that made Akutagawa water to the mouth, his stomach grumbling along embarrassingly.

The sound seemed to have been loud enough for Dazai’s eyes to flitter over to him, a small glint of recognition passing through them as he was quickly deemed not a threat.

“It seems like you’re awake…good” Dazai stated, his voice stern as he continued on with whatever he was previously doing.

“D-Dazai-san?” Akutagawa called out in mild surprise, his voice stuttering a bit due to dehydration. He really should’ve drunk that water in his room but forgive him for thinking it was drugged or something.

Dazai seemed to have noticed the dehydration as well due to the small sigh he let out.

“There’s some water over there, make sure to drink lots” The brunette ordered and so, Akutagawa followed diligently as he neared the direction his mentor pointed at.

The younger teen sat down on the small table he and Gin usually eat at when having dinner together, his small hands on a cup filled with water, sipping on it every now and then as he continued on observing his mentor.

Dazai was wearing his usual uniform, his long, dark coat being disregarded on the coach a few ways away from him, and instead replaced by a frilly apron.

There was a small glint in his eyes whenever Akutagawa catches a glimpse of the older teen’s face. He was humming a small tune as moved around the mini kitchen, a ghost of a smile settling on his usual cold face.

The black-haired teen couldn’t help but feel his heart flutter a bit at the soft display his usually strict mentor was displaying, his mind longingly imagining how it would feel like to have that soft smile directed at him instead.

Akutagawa gently placed his cup down as he propped his arms on the table, his face settling in them in a comfortable position to rest.

As he got lost in thought, a small smile started to bloom on his face as he thought of the ‘what ifs’. Soon enough, Akutagawa felt himself drifting off to sleep as he let the sounds in the kitchen lull him to sleep.

After what seemed like only a few seconds to him, a few calls of his name managed to shake him awake.

Akutagawa rubbed his eyes tiredly as a small yawn escaped his lips before stretching lightly. His head tiredly turned towards the call of his name only to notice Dazai approaching him all the while holding on to bowls and utensils.

Realization seemed to wake him up as he immediately sprinted out of his seat, eager to please and help Dazai with whatever he may need.

Gently, he grabbed the things in Dazai’s hands before quickly setting them down on the table. He was about to go back to help Dazai some more but a stern gaze from the male made him settle back on his seat instead.

It didn’t take too long for Dazai to bring a pot of hot miso soup to the table, the smell becoming even more appetizing than it already was when it neared. Akutagawa was more than ready to dig in and get his own portion but refrained from doing so as he waited for Dazai first.

He intently kept his gaze on Dazai as the man took a sip of his water, eyes purposely avoiding the food in hopes of not succumbing to his hunger.

Dazai let out a sigh as he turned towards Akutagawa, the kid flinching a bit in shock from the action.

“Give me your bowl”

Akutagawa took a moment to process the command before handing the bowl to his mentor, eyes never losing their intensity as he watched Dazai’s every move.

He watched as Dazai carefully scooped some of the miso soup in his own bowl as well as gave him a refill of his water. Once done, the older of the 2 placed the soup and water before the younger teen.

Akutagawa stared in confusion at the food because shouldn’t Dazai eat first? Why was he giving him food before eating his own?

Dazai let a frustrated groan as Akutagawa turned to stare at him in pure and utter confusion, the latter’s patience slowly thinning but still managing to hold on.

“Well? Go ahead and eat.” The phrase seemed more like a command than a suggestion than anything but Akutagawa was more than happy to follow once he was given the chance to do so.

The soup was just the right temperature by this point; it was hot enough to still be good but not too much that it burned his tongue. The heat was just right as he had no problem eating it continuously.

The food was flavorful as well as the vegetables with it, something that even Akutagawa would willingly eat despite hating any sort of vegetables.

The food filled him with so much warmth that when added with his currently weak mental state was enough to make him almost cry.

He ate the food up whole-heartedly, not leaving a single thing in the bowl, although it wasn’t like he’d leave anything in there anyways considering it was Dazai who made it. (The fact that it was delicious was just a plus)

Once he gulped down the last of his soup, he took a swig of water to wash down his throat, a satisfied sigh escaped his lips once he finished.

He closed his eyes and was ready to lean back on the chair to fall asleep until a small chuckle resonated within the room.

Akutagawa’s eyes immediately went wide as he stared at Dazai who was still smiling.

The kid’s heart seemed to stop before doing cartwheels and backflips within his chest, his mind having a bit more trouble in processing what exactly happened.

It took him a while for things to load within his brain but once he did, he swore he was near to crying again. You might say he was being a bit overdramatic at this point but the way Dazai looked at him so fondly with the added smile was enough to kill him.

Akutagawa held himself together as much as he could so he doesn’t make a fool out of himself in front of Dazai but the sudden hand on his head made him short circuit.

Everything was already too much for his weak mentality today so having a pat to the head by none other than Dazai was just overkill at this point.

A fond sigh escaped Dazai’s lips as he carefully carried the smaller boy to his designated room, careful as to not wake up the sleeping boy.

Once settled in, the executive couldn’t help but caress the smaller one's face for a bit. It wasn’t as though Dazai hated him, it was just that he didn’t know how to exactly deal with him because he himself has only been taught with violence and manipulation.

Another sigh escaped his lips as he stood up to leave the room, eyes staring at the sleeping form of the kid a little bit longer before actually leaving.

Dazai doesn’t know how else to train and interact with his mentee other than violence since that was how he was also treated. He couldn’t exactly distinguish what was right or wrong nor did he feel bad for anything bad he might have done.

That’s why even though it was selfish of him to wish,

He just hoped that Akutagawa wouldn’t hate him so much in the future.

It’s already morning once again before Akutagawa finally stirred awake from his slumber. A few yawns and stretches were made before he got up to get himself ready for the day.

Once he went out of his room to start on his daily routine, a folded piece of paper made him halt.

He slowly neared the table before carefully approaching the said paper.

Akutagawa’s eyes suddenly widened as memories from the night before suddenly came back to him. He would’ve been embarrassed for passing out on Dazai last night but the warmth of the nice memories instead made his heart soar.

The small teen carefully picked up the paper to see what it said.

There’s some leftover Miso soup in the fridge. Just reheat it when you wake up.

I’ll give you 2 more days off for rest but that’s it.

P.S. Don’t forget to leave some for Gin

- D.O.

The note was terribly written but Akutagawa wasted no time in deciphering the words written on the paper. A small smile reached him as he giddily read the note over and over again.

Once he’s had enough of reading the note, he carefully folded the paper as well as putting it away to somewhere safe. Once the paper was secured, he then proceeded to call on Gin for breakfast.

As he called out to his younger sister, Akutagawa proceeded to heat up the miso soup just in time before Gin arrives at the table.

Once the girl was ready, she helped prepare the table with her brother while waiting for the soup to reheat. As the table was prepared, Gin sat down patiently to wait for Akutagawa who was carrying a now steaming pot of Miso soup.

The older of the 2 filled up their bowls, careful of the pot as it was currently burning hot.

The siblings then proceeded to say their prayers before digging in, eyes both lighting up at the still delicious taste of their food. Gin immediately turned her head towards her brother in delight, the action clearly signifying her surprise and appreciation for the food.

Akutagawa couldn’t help but chuckle at his sister’s reaction for he too was surprised when he first tasted it. A fond sigh escaped his lips as he watched Gin determinedly blow on her soup, careful to not burn herself while eating.

The siblings then proceeded to chat their way through breakfast, half of the talk being about Gin’s mission while the other was about appreciating the food before them.

Akutagawa couldn’t help but laugh a little at the reaction Gin made when he told her just who made the food. The girl was quite shocked at the revelation but thankful nonetheless.

As they finished up their food, with Gin helping along with the cleaning, here did Akutagawa now lay on his bed.

He was bored out of his mind but he needed to stay put and rest, he needs to get better quickly so he can resume his training with Dazai after all.

A groan left his lips as he turned to his side, head facing his bedside table, the same one that he put the note Dazai gave him. A strong temptation was felt as he wanted to reach out and read it for the umpteenth time.

And so, he did.

As days passed by, the note easily became his most treasured item. Even when he reached 20, no matter how long it may have been or how worn out the paper’s become, it’s still his go-to object for comfort.

The memories in his mind were still fresh despite the years that passed by, one of the many things that’s kept his hopes up.

It may sound foolish and nothing but a childish dream but once again, Akutagawa was a very stubborn person.

That’s why Akutagawa now laid down on his bed, 6 years later, staring wistfully at the paper.

His whole body and soul was determined to bring Dazai back and make the male finally acknowledge him, but despite that, he can’t keep ignoring how his heart was finally starting to give up.

Sullenly, he thought, eyes filled with longing,

‘I miss you’

Chapter Text

Kouyou Ozaki had always been a woman of grace.

Her posture was straight, her steps were elegant, and her kind smile was just the cherry on top. Not once could you have caught her looking anything less than regal.

All in all, Kouyou Ozaki had been a respectable woman between her peers; it was just too bad she threw it all away for a single man.

It had been the ripe age of 16 when the scarlet-haired female first felt love, and like the greedy woman she was, the girl wanted more of it. That was why she planned and planned for days upon end, all to memorize and create the perfect route she and her beloved could escape from.

Her mind was hazy from the thought of a peaceful and bright future, her heart pounding within her chest as the person of her dreams held her own forever stained ones.

The sky had never been brighter as she—no—both of them ran with all they had.

‘We can do this!’ her naive mind cheered on.

The bright-filled future she’s dreamed of had never been closer, so close that the girl could almost cry.

And cry she did.

Honestly, how foolish had she been to actually think that they could possibly escape the grasp of the port mafia.

Her mind was hazy as she stared numbly at the now dead body of the man she used to dream with. Her heart ached as well did her eyes sting with tears but she was still too numb to properly process what had happened.

Carefully, Kouyou gave a small kiss to the now blood-stained hair of her once beloved. The guards that were sent to retrieve her grabbed her arm and helped her stand up, their movements were gentle but the scarlet haired woman paid no heed as she has yet to process what was happening at the moment

 Her eyes stayed on the dead man’s body despite her being tugged away from the alleyway.

Everything seemed to slow down as a single tear fell down her face, her head finally moving up and away from her past.

As she looked up, light began to burn her eyes as the sky glowed brighter than ever.

Ever since then, Kouyou swore to never love again. Her heart started to turn bitter as the sun shone ever so brightly.

Despite how long may have passed ever since that day, Kouyou has never hated someone more than she did the current port mafia boss.

Her blood begins boiling at the mere mention of his name and so once again, she planned. The female has a pretty strong ability making it a pretty useful one, something that the boss probably realized and didn’t want to lose.

Kouyou was never one for violence but if it was needed to fulfill her plan in getting revenge then she’d gladly massacre everyone in her way.

It didn’t take that long for the boss to notice her strength due to the stories people tell. Word began to spread like wildfire so it was obvious that her plan was working.

The boss seemed to send her on higher grade missions, most likely to access her skill and usefulness. A satisfied hum left her lips as golden demon sliced another thief in the chest.

The last of their group fell with a bloodied scream causing a smile to form within her lips.

It’s all going according to plan.

Kouyou was a simple woman; she used to want a peaceful and bright life along with her dearly beloved. Despite the now loss of her beloved and everything she’s dreamed of, she was still a straightforward woman.

It just so happens that her new nature involved a little bit more blood and tons of hatred and revenge.

Her plan was simple enough, Make the boss notice her skill, have him deem her as a worthy executive, gain his trust, and kill him in his sleep.

See? Pretty simple.

The girl didn’t like having more blood on her hands than needed but she’s learned to live with it, she does work in the mafia after all. I mean what kind of Mafioso hates killing?

And so she was still halfway through her plan of gaining the boss’s trust before he inevitably went sick due to old age.

That seemed to irk her a little due to all her plan going down the drain for naught but the fact that the boss will most likely die without her staining her hands made up for it.

True enough, the boss did die but not before giving all the executives, including her, a hard time due to those ridiculous demands of his.

Apparently, the boss assigned the underground doctor, Mori she thinks, as the boss before his passing. The whole situation all in all was suspicious but considering how unfazed his assistant after that made her mind clear up a bit

The new boss was alright she supposes, he was shady but everyone was due to their line of work. It really shouldn’t faze her that much but there was just something about those eyes of his that made Kouyou want to gouge them up or something.

A sigh escaped her red lips as she cleared up her thoughts from such dark thoughts, it might give her wrinkles.

It’s been almost a year yet there was still something off about the man that didn’t sit right with her. She gave a small knock towards the Dazai’s own room before walking in.

The kid had been promoted as an executive not too long ago and if it weren’t for the fact that she’s seen his skills beforehand, she might’ve called bullshit due to how close the kid was to the boss.

The room was fairly big, papers and boards were scattered everywhere, a sign of his intense research in creating plans. She honestly felt bad for the kid but the way his eyes always seemed dull signified that he’s most likely been through worse.

The scarlet-haired lady gracefully made her way towards the mini working table he had in the back of the room. The female sat down on one of the waiting couches near the said table as she waited for the brown-haired teen’s arrival.

The whole place was a mess but due to how many missions Mori was giving Dazai nowadays made it quite hard for her to blame the poor boy.

Her eyes scanned around the room, the various books on the wall like shelves catching her eye. Kouyou herself hasn’t been here that much but she supposes that tons of books weren’t too much of a surprise for Dazai to have.

After checking out the shelves, her eyes trailed off down below to the various boards with pictures, papers, and tons of sticky notes were attached to them.

Other boards, she realized, had pictures of people they previously encountered on some of the already finished missions. It looked like they had yet to be taken down as Dazai was too busy planning for the newest one Mori has him working on.

Soon, her eyes trailed down to the ground where multiple papers were scattered on. Her porcelain hand reached down to the ground only to pick one near her feet.

The handwriting was terrible as did it have tons of crossed-out sentences and ideas. She presumed that was also the same fate every single paper on the floor suffered based on the blobs of black they all similarly sustained.

Lastly, her eyes moved on to the desk of the boy who she was waiting for. The desk had tons of more neat and properly stacked papers. It held tons of dividers and holders for papers as well as multiple pens and supplies like rulers and erasers.

It all seemed fairly normal if you consider what Dazai does but the most eye-catching thing that easily attracted her most had been the basket of sweets on the table.

It held brownies based on what she can see and sure it wasn’t that suspicious but this was Dazai we were talking about.

The kid didn’t look like the type to even eat sweets, let alone candy.

He always had this bored look plastered on his face so it was quite hard for her to imagine the boy having a sweet tooth. Her mind racked up an answer before it all clicked.

‘It must be for Elise’

That was the only reasoning that made sense to her as she eyed the sweet treat once more. Mori must’ve also asked Dazai to bring more snacks for Elise.

Her face seemed to scrunch at the disgusting interests Mori has before shaking her head. No matter how horrible his likes may be, the man was good to the organization and that was good enough for her.

Kouyou’s mind seemed to drift back onto the brownies placed on the table; its scent invading her nose as well as spreading throughout the room.

It was just a normal pastry, something she usually does not care for, and yet, it seems like it’s purposely inviting her to grab one.

The female herself wasn’t too interested in sweets yet she just can’t seem to will herself away.

Her hands seemed to move on its own as she grabbed a piece; her mind contemplated for a while before just generally hoping no one would mind. Temptation swallowed her as she took a bite, all her doubts also washing away as she tasted the treat.

It was honestly amazing, dare she even say the best one she’s ever tasted before.

Kouyou was never too big on sweets but it seems brownies have now made their way on to a permanent spot in her top 3.

The girl wasted no time in finishing the brownie; it was more savory than it was sweet for a sugary treat. She might not like Mori but damn, his taste in sweets was something she now has to respect.

A knock seemed to startle Kouyou as she quickly swallowed her treat. In finally came a very tired-looking Dazai, his whole appearance was way more disheveled than usual causing her to worry.

“Oh dear, are you okay lad?” Kouyou carefully made a motion to stand up but Dazai ushered her back to her seat as he slightly chuckled.

His eyes seemed frantic as he looked like he didn’t expect her to even be in here.

“Yes, don’t worry Ane-san, just tired is all” the word tired was a heavy understatement but Kouyou made no further move to interrogate as she settled on watching Dazai instead.

The kid quickly fixed himself up before rushing towards his desk and opening up a drawer. His hands searched through tons of papers before pulling out a familiar folder she needed.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, the boss was quite… harsh today” His voice seemed to grow quiet at the last part as Kouyou could only stare in pity. Her hand reached out to grab the folder Dazai set out for her as she skimmed its contents quickly.

A satisfied hum left her lips as she took note of the straightforward and easy-to-read documents. She already has what she came for but the female just couldn’t bring herself to leave the male just yet.

“So Dazai-kun, where’d you get those brownies from?” She started, hoping to at least start a conversation of sorts.

Dazai’s searching seemed to have stopped yet he made no motion to look up.

“Forgive me for not asking earlier but I just couldn’t help myself. What I can tell you right now though is the fact that they were just simply marvelous”

Kouyou noticed how the tip of Dazai’s ears grew slightly red at that, for what reason, she does not know.

“Oh” was the simple response he let out as his hands began skimming the papers once again, albeit a tad bit slower and less frantic now.

Kouyou seemed to take that as an initiative to continue talking and so she did.

The room was filled with one-sided talking but neither minded. The small responses Dazai let out to indicate he was still listening were enough.

Time seemed to pass as the earlier afternoon sky began to turn shades of black.

Kouyou waited for Dazai in picking up his things before brushing herself off and grabbing her parasol now folded on the couch.

“Ah, by the way, Dazai-kun, mind telling me where you bought those brownies from?” Kouyou asked as they now walked quietly on the building halls to the elevator. “I might just have to buy some more for myself”

Dazai who was currently carrying those said brownies hummed in thought, thinking whether he should tell her or not.

Once the ding of the elevators reached their ears, the pair walked out and waited a bit outside. They needed to walk in separate directions after this but Kouyou still needed her answer.

“Here,” Dazai said as he gently handed Kouyou the basket of brownies.

The female was obviously confused because weren’t these for Elise?

“I actually started baking so these were made by me” His voice was clearly embarrassed, something new and unusual to Kouyou. His head was kept low as he avoided eye contact with her. “You can have them if you want”

The scarlet-haired lady nodded absently as she still processed the sudden revelation.

“If you want, I’ll gladly make more for you whenever you ask” The kid was quite obviously trying not to fidget causing Kouyou to let out a small snort.

Her hand slowly made its way onto Dazai’s head as she patted it fondly. The shorter boy leaned into the touch causing the older female to chuckle.

“Thanks, dear”

That seemed to be a bit too much for the touch-starved child as he quickly said his thanks and ran away. Kouyou didn’t actually leave as quickly as Dazai did, instead of settling on to stare at the latter’s furthering figure.

A fond smile seemed to take over her features before swiftly turning around to walk back to her brothel.

Never had she imagined that someone as empty looking as Dazai would still have that hidden, childish charm to him. The new knowledge seemed to bring a newfound goal to her mind as she began planning once more.

It might seem quite impossible due to the environment they lived in but Kouyou had always been a selfish woman.

Chapter Text

Christmas season was something that Oda Sakunosuke didn’t particularly care about. It’s not like he had any bad memories about the occasion, he just didn’t have any particular reasons to celebrate it and so he didn’t.

The auburn-haired man lived a very simple life, well simple for him considering how working in the mafia is basically a norm for him.

He wasn’t particularly sociable, nor was he interesting enough to catch the eye of other people. He was nothing but another blank face out of the sea of low profiles working in the mafia.

That was what he always believed, he was nothing but a background character in this show called life. There was nothing interesting about him other than the small fact that he started to refuse to kill ever again.

So imagine his surprise when Dazai Osamu, genius prodigy, right-hand man of the boss, Demon prodigy, and one-half of soukoku had taken great interest in him. (He could go on about every single title he’s heard about the man but those were the main ones that first popped up in his mind)

Oda was someone who never outwardly judged someone without any reason and so, despite all the rumors and confirmed stories he’s heard about the man, he just continued on drinking his cup of alcohol.

After all, it didn’t seem like Dazai was here to kill him and that was good enough for him.

Day by day, as he started to visit Lupin, he always seemed to meet up with the brunette. Oda would’ve felt suspicious, any normal person would have but he wasn’t normal, was he? Plus, the auburn-haired man has really started to enjoy the younger’s company.

And slowly the other did too

Oda didn’t know whether Dazai only goes to Lupin when he was there or whether he goes there daily now but he didn’t bother trying to figure it out. It might look like Dazai wears his heart on his sleeve but to accurately guess what he was actually feeling is a task only ever done by Mori himself, and probably his partner, Nakahara Chuuya too but who knows.

Oda was never one to pry and so he just went with the flow of conversation they had, answering each question as if hanging out with an old friend. Surprisingly, in Oda’s opinion, Dazai is quite easy to talk to as the days pass by.

Soon enough, they practically meet up almost every day of the week, the exception being whether one was unavailable.

As Oda managed to observe, Dazai was still a kid forced to grow up too early, a fact that most people seem to forget due to his fearsome reputation with the mafia. He’s been here since he was 14 making him be Mori’s perfect disciple for over 2 years now.

Oda would have pitied the teen but he’s known him long enough to realize he’d just resent that even more. And so, he did what he could by staying by Dazai’s side and giving him the company he most likely needs.

Odasaku

It was the little nickname Dazai gave him after a few weeks of meeting up. He didn’t find it bad, more so adorable by how he was given a pretty good nickname in the first place. Somehow, the name stuck and he too found the handful of people he interacted with calling him that. (How they exactly heard that, he didn’t know)

Soon enough, months seemed to pass by and the duo that always met up at Lupin became a trio. They met Ango Sakaguchi, someone who also became a constant and permanent member in their little hangout at the bar.

Their company was nice, Odasaku noted. He may be the type to much more enjoy a nice cup of coffee in peace but the chaos and eventful moments that he experiences in Lupin is something he’d never trade for the world.

With Dazai’s chaotic and cheerful personality along with the exasperated and tired remarks from Ango, Odasaku couldn’t help but let out a fond smile as he laughed along with them.

Moments like these were something so special that they’ve carved themselves forever within both his heart and mind. He considers them as his most cherished things which was saying something considering how much he loved books.

Whether the other 2 felt like him for moments like these, Odasaku didn’t know but he supposes that just him feeling this way might not be too bad.

Time really does fly by fast when you’re having fun considering how it was already Christmas time. Odasaku wasn’t one to actually consider it as important as everyone else but he can’t really ignore it seeing as how the streets he walked on were covered head to toe in lights and Christmas ornaments.

Odasaku silently considered whether to just spend it on Lupin for a change but then he remembered how both Dazai and Ango were technically high ranking and important members of the port mafia so he quickly shook the thought off and went on to work.

The tasks he did daily were things not foreign to him considering how he had to do them daily and so he did them with ease, although that didn’t mean the tasks he did weren’t time-consuming as he always ended up finishing around noon.

The once bright blue sky has turned into a gradient of pink, red, orange, and yellow by the time Odasaku made his way back home. His body naturally ached at the number of things he did but they didn’t hurt as much anymore considering how he does this on a daily.

The apartment he goes back to was quiet and dark but one could not deny the homey and comforting feeling anyone would feel once stepping in. Even after being untouched the whole day, the room still remained warm as Odasaku walked in and went for a clothing change.

His closet consisted of multiple pairs of the same type of clothes, a few exceptions being the difference in color and a few T-shirts he had in there.

A sigh was released from his mouth as he stretched a bit after picking out a shirt and some shorts. He made his way onto the kitchen to make a warm cup of coffee, as he waited for the water to boil Oda grabbed himself a new book to read from his “To be read” corner beside his bookshelf.

A familiar click went off in the apartment as the man got up and made his way to the kitchen. The water was very hot so he made sure to be very mindful of it as he made himself some coffee.

The caffeinated drink immediately warmed him up as he sat down comfortably on a chair to read the night away as he usually does. The book was something he’d been eyeing for some time so he was pretty excited to finally read it.

The only sounds that resonated within the apartment were the ticking of a clock along with the occasional turning of a page. The book Odasaku read was way more anticlimactic than he thought leaving him quite dissatisfied.

The clock showed 9:48 on it as the auburn-haired man finally stood up from his chair to stretch. His body ached in a way that didn’t demand rest; It ached in a way that made him want to do something.

Restlessness seemed to have flowed in his body as the after-effects of the coffee he drank finally kicked in. The male wanted to rest and just sleep but no amount of tossing or turning lulled him to sleep.

An annoyed grunt was heard within the apartment as he got off his bed to dress himself up properly in his usual button-up shirt and jeans. Originally, he had no plans for today but seeing as he couldn’t lie still, he might as well head to Lupin.

The male didn’t particularly care if he was there alone, he’s been going there far before the other 2 so he was used to it.

The cold winter breeze immediately met him face on as he went out the door. He didn’t feel like freezing as he walked by the brightly lit street despite the ungodly time it was by now. His legs led him onto the familiar path to his favorite bar, eyes scanning all around as he watched people pass and go.

The alleyway in which the bar was located was far quieter and darker, something he’s come to appreciate as he went through the door. As he walked in, the atmosphere seemed to change immediately but all his eyes could focus on was Ango sitting on the bar seat alone.

Carefully, Odasaku walked towards his usual seat as he continued to eye Ango who was quite literally mid-sip before he walked in.

“You’re here” The auburn-haired man stated as he watched the black-haired male finally stare back at him after drinking.

“I am,” The latter answered as his eyes stared at deep brown ones. “Honestly, we thought you might not be coming along today”

Odasaku’s eyebrow lifted at that, “We?”

“Yes, we-“

“IM HERE” Suddenly a loud voice echoed in the quiet bar as the door slammed open. Odasaku whipped around at the noise only to see Dazai holding 3 containers.

“Oh! Odasaku!” the newly arrived male greeted as he quickly skipped over to where they sat. “Just in time!”

Both Oda and Ango stared curiously at the younger male in confusion, eyes darting every now and then to the containers he continued to unpack in suspicion. Soon enough, the container was now unwrapped and was passed on to the other 2, all of them having 1 container each.

 “Dazai, what exactly is this?” Ango questioned first, hesitant arms poking the container every now and then.

“Well my dear Ango-“Dazai said dramatically, his answer being purposely said longer for what he would usually call as ‘suspense’. “That is……. Curry!”

Ango deadpanned at the surprisingly normal answer as he continued to accuse Dazai of lying and to tell the truth. Odasaku watched as Dazai claim to not be lying and to check it out for themselves.

A small grunt escaped Ango’s lips as he seemed to have a staring contest with the said object. Oda just shrugged at the declaration and did as told, not even hesitating because Dazai would never purposely hurt them.

As he opened it, a delicious scent immediately filled the room, the now opened container showing as what Dazai had said earlier, curry.

Odasaku was hooked by the sight as he quickly grabbed the utensils partnered with the container and took a big bite. Spice immediately hit his mouth as he savored the delicious food.

Both Ango and Dazai eyed him with different expectations as well as emotions. The male was quiet for a second, face downcast as the other 2 watched his reaction in anticipation.

Oda carefully lifted his hand up before scooping another spoonful for a bite, then another, and a third until the whole curry he had was gone.

Both spectators seemed to watch in amusement and surprise at how easily he ate the food in the small amount of time he used.

“Odasaku-san?” Ango asked worriedly, his hands outstretched in case the male collapsed due to something Dazai might’ve put in the food.

“Hm?” Oda answered as he carefully chewed his last bite of the food he had just eaten.

“How are you feeling? Was it good?”

Oda seemed to glow at the question before proudly lifting his hand up for an approving thumbs-up, Dazai happily glowing at the reaction in the back.

Ango seemed to hesitate for a few more seconds before lifting the lid of his own and taking a bite. His eyes were closed, expecting anything bad or poisonous to kick in only to be surprised as sweetness met his taste buds.

‘It’s…good’, he thought before swallowing, ready to grab another bite. Just like Oda, Ango was also enticed by the taste as he quickly finished the food, albeit not as fast as the Auburn-haired male.

Clapping was heard as Ango finished his last bite, 2 sets of eyes turned to look at a glowing Dazai who was genuinely smiling in happiness.

“Yay!” The brunette cheered as the other 2 stared in confusion, “Did you like it?”

Odasaku was quick to answer as he complimented the food, Dazai’s eyes shining brighter than ever from the moment they’ve met him.

The teen’s eyes then moved onto Ango who turned frozen at the sudden attention. “So? How about you Ango?”

Odasaku seemed to also turn his eyes to the dark-haired male on the other side awaiting his opinion.

“Ah…well,” This whole situation was quite embarrassing and awkward for Ango as his face flustered up a bit. He felt incredibly nervous as curious eyes stared at him; it wasn’t like they were strangers to him but actually being asked for his opinion was still quite new for the male.

 “It was actually pretty good…”

His voice answered in a whisper as he turned away from the smiling duo in front of him.

“Hazah! Mission accomplished!” Dazai raised his hands up high as he celebrated in excitement. “I told ya my cooking was good!”

The new information shocked the 2 adults of the group as they stared at the completely oblivious Dazai who was still cheering in victory. However, that didn’t quite last long as Dazai added a few jabs to Ango who started yelling at him.

Odasaku watched in amusement as Ango yelled in annoyance at a Dazai who was quite clearly not listening. The scene was chaotic and loud and all he could do was eye the bartender in an apologetic way.

Odasaku was not one who normally celebrated Christmas but right now, he was glad to have people to spend it with.

Chapter Text

It’s been a few months or so ever since Chuuya started working for the port mafia and honestly, life couldn’t be better. Well technically it could but you know what he means.

His subordinates were nice, his colleagues were respectable, and his boss was admirable. Everything was going well for him with the exception of his annoying partner.

The small thought of his awfully cheery voice caused the redhead to slightly grit his teeth but no, he can’t ruin his mood this early in the day. Today was special and he couldn’t allow that no good partner of his to ruin things despite him not being present in the first place.

His feet trembled with excitement as he walked with his head held high to Mori’s office. This is the day where he gets assigned his first big solo mission. Despite him being reliable in both ability and physical wise, it took a few more months for Mori to properly trust his skills in completing a mission.

Chuuya didn’t particularly care about the long wait, hell, he even felt honored about the fact that Mori trusted him enough to even assign him something as big as this in only a few months.

Carefully, the redhead opened the giant doors to the boss’s room before taking a respectable bow. His back was straight as he walked confidently towards Mori sitting on his desk, hed slightly bowed as he signed multiple stacks of paper.

“Boss” Chuuya’s voice was stern yet not too loud as it served as a greeting and an indicator that he has arrived.

“Ah! Chuuya-kun!” Mori’s voice was light-hearted as the older male turned up towards him with a smile, the gesture looked innocent enough yet it still sent a shiver down his spine. He never really paid much attention to it but he and Dazai look and act sickeningly alike. “Apologies for the mess, it seems like I’ve lost track of time”

Chuuya could only offer small reassurance to the male as he wasted no time to grab a white folder with papers stuck in them.

“All you need to know about your mission is in this file right here,” Mori said as he offered the folder to Chuuya whose eyes practically sparkled as he held onto the object as if it was a sacred artifact.

The teenager was about to say his thanks but was stopped as Mori’s gaze towards him turned into something way colder, something that promised dark intentions.

“Chuuya-kun” The room seemed to grow a lot colder as he uttered those words, maroon eyes piercing into his soul as even he struggled to maintain eye contact. “You won’t disappoint me will you?”

The words caused Chuuya’s eye to widen as he searched his brain for a proper response, “Of course not, boss” Those were the words he settled upon as he willed himself to keep up a calm and composed exterior.

“Good, I’m putting my trust in you then” Just as quick as it came, the once dark atmosphere turned back to normal as Mori once again smile warmly at him.

Chuuya couldn’t help but feel a little creeped out at the fast change but then his mind flittered to Dazai and somehow things didn’t feel as weird anymore.

The male said his gratitude towards the other before respectfully leaving the room. Once he was perfectly safe of anyone’s attention, Chuuya held the folder up in the sky as he marveled at it.

This was it, his first big mission alone and the redhead couldn’t help but let out a triumphant smile at the achievement.

Take that Dazai!

His mind screamed in victory as he walked off to his room to look over and complete the mission later this afternoon. His life may have been pretty shitty but slowly, it was starting to turn his way.

.

.

.

.

Yeah, well fuck.

It seems like life didn’t want to cooperate because things were definitely not going his way.

Chuuya let out a small tsk as he continued to kick and punch away the endless men charging towards him. The teenager didn’t know the exact time but he was pretty darn sure that he’s been punching and kicking for a darn while.

His arms were getting tired as well as his feet as he desperately tried to fend off all attackers coming at him. You may be wondering, why can’t he just use his ability? Well technically he could but with the way his body was quickly deteriorating, to use his ability at this moment would just wear him out faster for death to take him.

After another few rounds of nothing but punching and kicking, the men didn’t seem to lessen even a bit as Chuuya started to wear out first. His heart was pounding in his chest as he feared that this may just be the end for him.

Everything started to feel longer as his mind contemplated using his last resort, corruption. The redhead knows it’s stupid but with the way things were going, he was going to die anyway so why not?

A dry chuckle escaped his lips as he realized just how suicidal that sounded, almost like a certain idiot of his. Well, it’s not like Dazai would find out whether he survived or not.

A small sigh escaped his lips as he let himself grow still, the men he was fighting off grabbing him instantly but he could care less.

“Oh, Granters of dark disgrace—“

“Chuuya, duck!”

The said male’s eyes opened in shock at the voice as his body instinctively moved to follow the sudden command. Soon enough, loud shouts of the men he’s been fighting before were heard as multiple loads of bullets were hauled towards them.

A long minute passed before the barrage of bullets finally stooped. A metallic scent wafted over the clearing as the dozens of men he couldn’t fend off now laid dead on the ground.

Footsteps were suddenly heard after the deafening silence and Chuuya couldn’t help but tense in defense, his body ready to fight despite it being bruised and worn out. His head whipped up towards the sound and, despite him not wanting to admit it, relief washed over him as Dazai’s familiar face came into view.

“I should really get you a collar, huh?” Dazai immediately teased the redhead but instead of blowing up like he used to, something warm started to bloom within his chest as he would probably never be more grateful for Dazai’s appearance than now.

A relieved smile appeared on his face as he began to pass out, the tiredness most likely catching up to him.

The brunette let out a tired sigh as he crouched near the redhead, “Such a dog, always causing trouble huh Chuuya?”

His hand gently brushed through and caressed the passed-out teen’s hair, the strands sticking together as they slowly got wet with all the blood.

“Well? Get moving!” Dazai’s voice rang out towards the men he brought with him, his face turning annoyed as they only now started to move.

“Useless…” He whispered under his breath as he gently picked up Chuuya on his back with the help of an obviously nervous lackey. “You” His voice was dark as he turned towards the same nervous dude that helped him.

“M-me?” The kid was obviously still new and young as he trembled at the young executive’s gaze. “Yes, you” Honestly, if the brunette wasn’t so tired, he would’ve had this idiot shot dead by now.

“Get the car ready” There was no room left for backtalk as his voice ordered with finality, the kid immediately scrambling away to do what he was told.

“You better thank me for this Chuuya”

Chuuya groaned in pain after he turned a bit too far and fell from wherever he was laying on. His body ached from the strain and bruises he received earlier from the fight he was slowly recalling.

His legs limped as he stood up to assess where exactly he was. The lights were closed in the bedroom he woke up in; the only source of light he could see open was from the kitchen outside the room.

His legs begged him to just sit still but his curiosity was stronger as he trudged towards the kitchen instead, his eyes scanning the place only to realize it was Dazai’s.

As he continued to limp down the mini hallway towards the kitchen, a delicious aroma slowly became stronger as he neared. His stomach embarrassingly grumbled in hunger and Chuuya couldn’t help but be thankful that the brunette wasn’t there to hear it.

Slowly, he managed to reach the front of the kitchen and he couldn’t but be shocked at the scene that greeted him. There stood in the kitchen was a casually dressed Dazai expertly moving between the many things he had going on but what surprised him most though was the fact that the brunette wasn’t burning anything at all.

Suddenly their eyes met and Chuuya can’t help but tense at the sudden eye contact. They had a stare off for a while before Dazai let out a small hum, his eyes turning back to the pot he strained of water earlier.

“Glad to see you’re awake, and here I thought you were dead with how deep you were sleeping” Dazai teased like usual, the one-sided awkwardness being lifted as Chuuya let out a snort disguised as a scoff. “Go sit at the table, I’ll be ready in just a second”

And so, the redhead did as told as he slowly made his way towards the said table, his mind still processing the soft display of the usually empty maniac he was used to.

Everything should seem weird to him and yet it didn’t, it couldn’t as he silently enjoyed this less tense and more humane side of his partner. This was new to him, yes, but he couldn’t help but be greedy as he wanted to see more of this side from the brunette.

Time passed by far quicker than Chuuya would have realized as he was snapped out of his daze with a hand placing a steaming plate of pasta in front of him. His head turned towards the other male the just sat down to his right, a plate of pasta also in front of him, albeit a bit less than his.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t poison it or anything” The comment was just so Dazai as the said male continued to mix his plate together. The sentence would’ve seemed suspicious to normal people and would just downright destroy their appetite but they weren’t normal, were they?

A fond smile once again overtook Chuuya’s face as he slowly grabbed a fork to mix the pasta and its sauce together. Once done, Chuuya twirled a bite-size portion on his fork, a small amount of steam emitting along with it.

He blew on the food once or twice before finally taking a bite. He had to admit that it was good, the sauce flavored it perfectly as he easily chewed through the soft yet not too much pasta.

He stared mindlessly at the steaming food before he soon realized he was crying. Tears fell down from his face and onto the table as he now realized just how heavy his heart felt.

Chuuya desperately tried to wipe his face before giving up and just crying shamelessly in front of the food. His eyes widened a bit as he turned towards Dazai who he almost forgot was there, although, to his surprise, the male just continued to eat silently, not commenting or even bothering with the fact that he was crying.

It wasn’t like he didn’t notice him crying, nor was the brunette intentionally ignoring him, no he was just trying to give him some space, and honestly, the redhead couldn’t be more grateful.

Chuuya took in a shaky breath as he downed a cup of water to calm himself down. His tears still flowed freely onto his cheeks no matter what he did and yet Chuuya couldn't care less anymore as he chose to resume eating his food instead, his heart gradually becoming lighter with each bite.

Today wasn’t what he had in mind, the failure of his earlier mission was still engraved in his mind, but honestly, it didn’t end as bad as he thought it would.

And to his surprise, Dazai wasn’t as bad as he originally thought he was too.

Chapter Text

Natsume Soseki was a man of mystery as he moves without traces. Only a select handful of people have truly known him, while those he deems unnecessary are left in the dark of his existence.

His previous students, mostly known as Mori and Fukuzawa, were some people he sought out personally. The 2 were quite the individuals so what more if they were paired together?

The whole planning didn’t take much hardship as the 2 were already acquainted together; a few more string pulling as well as “Coincidences” was enough for them to get moving the way he wanted. Although the way it might be worded sounded quite bad, he means nothing but good intentions as all he wants is the safety of Yokohama.

To permanently protect it from all harms was quite impossible in itself so he set up the second best thing he could, 2 leaders that can protect it in alternating day and night, light and shadows. As they both started working on it themselves, the man settled on hiding within the dark, always there but never appearing unless truly needed.

His ability, I am a cat, allowed him to turn into an ordinary-looking calico cat. The ability didn’t seem that useful if you were to ask for other people’s opinions but Natsume could care less, the worth of an ability all depends on the user. Plus, that same ability was also the thing that kept him hidden for so long after all.

He’s seen how his students deal and solve their way through a tough situation and honestly, despite their often clashing, he couldn’t help but be proud. As he saw them grow, there and then did Natsume swear to himself that he’d keep his distance and only come when he was truly needed. Sure he may have visited their slowly growing organizations every now and then (all in cat form of course), but he kept his word in staying hidden.

That was until he realized how often he’s been strolling near port mafia territories these days. His path always seemed to wander dangerously near a man with a fascination of books these days.

The man who caught his interest wore a maroon button-up along with a beige coat and black pants, his appearance, in general, wasn’t something that would catch lots of people’s eye considering how mundane he was but there was something about his aura that drew Natsume in.

He had this air of peace and tranquility around whenever he sat down to read and before he knew it, Natsume was now in his human form and talking to the man. He knows he shouldn’t be approaching someone in the mafia but to let someone so good be tainted when he could’ve done something was unbearable to think.

Natsume wasn’t expecting his words to be kept in mind nor did he expect it to be kept to heart by the stranger but he could only hope he would. The Auburn-haired male had so much potential to become a better man, to lead a better life, something which caused the cat ability user to mourn at the sudden loss of not meeting him earlier.

Their little conversation was short yet he was sure that the calm stranger took it into consideration by the way his face looked deep in thought. As the man thought over his words, Natsume took this as a sign to leave, his suggestion leaving an indent in the auburn-haired man’s mind, in a good way of course.

A few weeks went by like a leaf being blown along with the strong breeze. Every now and then did Natsume secretly pop up in his cat form to check in on Oda, aka the man who currently holds his interests.

Oda’s schedule was composed of the same exact thing with occasional sidetracks which made it all the more evident how he was slowly changing. The man would usually kill anyone without hesitation but now, he was actually making an effort to cause as little collateral damage as possible. That progress soon turned into a goal of no more killing and Natsume couldn’t help but be proud.

At the moment, the man in his calico cat form was elegantly walking over to a dim alleyway with a bright sign called ‘Lupin’. That specific bar was something he’s observed as a frequent place Oda lingered by in questionable hours of the night.

Today was the first time he’d actually arrive at the bar first since he didn’t want to get too attached but the temptation to figure out just how Oda acts in other situations was too much to bear.

This direction was something that had been engraved in his mind for a long time as this wasn’t the first time he’s taken this route, the only difference being Natsume actually going inside. His currently furry feet continued on walking until he reached a covered hole that lead to the inside of the bar without the use of a door.

As he was about to head inside the little passage, his ears twitched at the sound of footsteps causing him to stop in his tracks. Normally he wouldn’t have minded but his danger senses were always accurate, and right now, they were going haywire.

His eyes adjusted to assess the man only for him to freeze, cold dread seeping into his bones as he came eye to eye with someone who looked like they had glowing red eyes. The image was something not quite uncommon to be described as a monster which made him recoil back a bit in caution.

 “Hm?” The teen’s eyes bored at him with disinterest before slowly squinting at him as if he was trying to process information. Natsume couldn’t help but feel intimidated as he hissed considering he was still in fact in his cat form.

A dry chuckle left the unfamiliar teen before letting out a sigh. “Of course…” His voice was filled with bitter resignation as he said that yet Natsume couldn’t find it in himself to feel guilty.

His brown eyes watched with caution as the kid opened the door of his destination although a bit sluggishly.

As the black-clad teen fully entered the bar, the door closing with a small tick, Natsume still entered after a few minutes of hesitation. The cat ability user wasn’t afraid so to say, he was more intimidated or well, unnerved by his presence.

The sudden light of the bar had him squinting his eyes but that didn’t hinder him as he continued on walking to the seats in front of the bartender, the same exact place where he knows Oda usually sits, and the same exact place where the kid he met earlier now also sits in.

With a few more steps to the seats, Natsume easily jumps onto one of them before jumping again onto the counter. The bartender didn’t seem to mind that much as he continued on with whatever he was doing without batting an eye.

There was a calming silence in the air as the only sound that resonated was the quiet classical music being played. There were 5 seats in total; Natsume was sat on the counter in front of the middle one while the teen sat on the seat on his left.

His head turned to the mentioned teen on his left only for his tail flick as they made sudden eye contact. They were stuck in a staring contest for a while and Natsume wonders if this kid could be the infamous Dazai Osamu, aka the demon prodigy everyone fears.

The brunette’s hands were crossed on the counter as his head was near them as if he was going to lay his head on them. His lifeless eyes were staring at him curiously before a smile quickly bloomed on his previously expressionless face.

“My name’s Dazai, Dazai Osamu” The brunette introduced himself as he stuck out a hand for the cat to shake. People would normally think he was crazy because a grown teen talking to a cat was just absurd, but there was this knowing glint in Dazai’s now opened eyes making him realize that he might just know who he was.

Natsume could only continue to stare at the outstretched hand in caution before turning to the teen’s still smiling face, the expression being a comical difference to the one he wore outside.

“Aww~” The fearful executive whined sadly as he lifted that same outstretched hand up to place his face on. They were once again having a staring contest with the only difference being Dazai’s now interest-filled eyes.

The cat ability user couldn’t really make out how to react to this certain behavior considering how the bandaged teen was known for his deceptive acts, yet the way his eyes shone in curiosity at him earlier has Natsume doubting, and just that fact alone made him realize just how fearful this kid truly is.

The sound of the door opening may be quiet but both Dazai and Natsume heard it. Just knowing who entered would have the cat ability user turning but the way pure and genuine excitement seeped into Dazai’s face with no room for doubt had Natsume transfixed.

“Odasaku!” The excited yell from Dazai has Natsume’s previously whirling mind calm down as if that simple name answered all his questions, and in a way, they did.

Today was supposed to be about him watching Oda even more but even when that same exact male sat behind him, all his eyes could do was stare at Dazai who talked so excitedly in interest. The way his hands moved so animatedly as he talked, the way his eyes shone at the older male and the way his mouth curved up in a small genuine smile as Oda talked had Natsume mesmerized.

If anyone were to have seen him that day, with the way his eyes were glued on Dazai, they would have thought he was hypnotized, and in some way, they wouldn’t be wrong.

With the next few visits to Lupin with the idea of observing Oda, it has become clear to Natsume that Dazai would, in fact, be a permanent person in those visits. With the way the teen was already there waiting for Oda, it’s become apparent that he wasn’t the only one captivated by the older man’s aura.

At first, he thought he would’ve been far more annoyed by the kid’s presence, but when he actually gets there; he’s found himself enjoying how excited he looks whenever he explains his day to Oda.

Today was continuing like usual as he sits on the counter with the usual chatterbox Dazai staring quietly at the door. One would have commented on how depressing the kid looks but in reality, he was nothing but tired is all.

Nothing seemed out of place with the exception of the wrapped-up metal box on the last seat to Dazai’s left, and the fact that Odasaku was running later than usual.

Dazai had his hands in a crossed manner on the counter with his head between them, eyes fixated on the door as he most likely wished for Oda’s appearance. Natsume could only stare at the unusually quiet teen that just looked more particularly like a kid he should have been.

A small ding had Dazai sitting up straight and grabbing for his phone faster than a bullet to the head. His eyes moved from left to right before sighing somewhat dejectedly. His hands closed the phone with a snap before pocketing it back in his pants.

“I already expected this much…” he murmured more so to himself as he grabbed his coat and placed it on his shoulders, “I just kinda wished I was wrong…”

The quiet admission had Natsume’s ear twitching before he stared at the male in a questioning way. It seemed like Dazai felt his gaze as their eyes met after he dusted himself off of imaginary dirt.

“It seems like Odasaku isn’t coming today,” The brunette said much louder this time for Natsume to hear, the disappointment still obviously there. “I might as well leave” And you should too the last part was left unsaid yet the cat ability user heard it loud and clear anyway.

He watched as the teen grabbed the wrapped-up box and expected him to leave only to be slightly intrigued as it was placed next to him instead, but before he could even inspect it, Dazai was quickly making his way out which caught his attention back to the male.

“I’ll see you next time,” Dazai said loudly as he waved back without even turning, his feet making their way to the door. “Sensei”

And just like that, the teen was out the door as if he didn’t just drop a huge revelation. The nickname could’ve been for anyone but Natsume knew it was for him, its real meaning hanging loose in the air only for him to recognize.

The cat ability user jumped down to a stool before mentally sighing. A giant cloud of smoke appeared suddenly and there he was back in human form sitting with a leg over the other.

.

.

.

Just what am I going to do with that boy?

Chapter Text

If someone were to have told Dazai he’d be standing in the light, far away from the grasps of the Mafia’s pitch-black grip, he would have shot you in the face for saying something so…ridiculous.

Because seriously, him? Someone who’s hands have been stained by so much blood, someone who’s fallen so far into the dark, someone so unredeemable, was able to become good without eventually burning up?

Unbelievable.

Unfortunately for teen Dazai, his thoughts would have been proven wrong if he were to see where future him stood now. He was part of the Armed Detective Agency, a place filled with so much good, s place filled with people that held so much hope…

A place he knew he’d never truly be apart of no matter how much he tried.

Although he’s been playing his part diligently, trying to make up all he could to fulfill the wishes of a dead man, the sins he carried far surpassed anything he’d done to atone for them. His back ached with the weight of his actions and despite enduring them for so many years now, he wondered how long before it would leave him crawling on the ground.

Before that happens though, he’ll happily continue to play the fool by pretending he will eventually be good enough to be a part of the cozy little family Fukuzawa had built in the agency. He’ll continue to whisper the words expected of him, convincing everyone except for himself.

He’ll dance on this stage willingly and perform like he always did because if there was one thing he did good, it was acting.

(Despite that though, there was something buried deep within him that ached and burned with the delusion that it’ll come true eventually. It was a bit laughable though, because whether he burned from the light first or from his own selfish desires within him, it didn’t matter because he’ll end up scorched either way.)

 A tranquil air surrounded the work office of the Armed Detective Agency as a few people conversed with one another. Today was a slow day for the detectives as they’ve been receiving nothing but mundane and easy-to-solve cases these past weeks, giving them a nice break after all they’ve been through.

As per usual, Kunikida typed diligently on his monitor after giving up on berating Dazai for lounging on the office couch ever since he signed in for work this morning. A small huff left the blonde’s lips as he worked but even so, he couldn’t find it in himself to stay mad for long considering the lighthearted atmosphere.

Dazai lay still on the couch as his headphones' music served as nothing but white noise to him. He wasn’t exactly asleep, but he wasn’t fully awake either. He’s been stuck in this state of consciousness and dreaming for most of the day.

He’s come to learn that being in this state seems to make time flow a lot faster yet still allows him to have just the right amount of awareness. This particular reason was one of the reasons he liked to lie down and try to fall asleep.

It makes the day more bearable considering how he won’t be fully conscious of whatever horrors he’d end up conjuring.

A soft air blew on his hair, allowing the soft curls of his hair to sway along as though it were being played with and in some way, it probably was. Dazai, for a brief moment, seemed to momentarily tip over to the land of dreams.

A hand cascaded through his hair, ruffling the locks tenderly as a murmur of words flowed into his ear and out the other. He seemed to nod along to whatever the guy was saying, despite not entirely understanding what was being said.

After a short while, the glowing figure of the man smiled down at him in satisfaction before pulling away. Dread seemed to curl in on Dazai at the loss of contact as he immediately reached out to try and salvage the remaining warmth.

The glow of the man seemed to burn brighter as he eventually startled awake.

The sight of the office had him reeling for a moment, most especially since it was now late in the afternoon. The one bright glow in the office had subsided into a deep orange as the light of dusk trickled into every crevice of the room.

For such a short moment, a lot of time had already passed in the real world. 

Dazai sat up slowly on the couch, the coat he didn’t remember draping over himself had fallen and bundled up into his lap as he did so. A small sigh left his lips as he carded a hand through his hair, pushing it back slightly as he did so.

A thoughtful look could be seen on his face but at this moment, not a single coherent thought was present in his mind. For someone always thinking, his mind was strangely empty today and he didn’t know whether he could consider it as something good or not.

He didn’t know for how long he had sat there before the sound of the door had him blinking into focus. 

“Oh, Daza-san!” Atsushi called out in surprise at the sight of his mentor sitting all alone inside the quiet office. Most of the members had already left beforehand due to it being past their working hours. “I didn’t know you were still here.” 

“It seems like someone forgot to wake me up.” Dazai managed to let out a faux whine, his lips tugging into a pout as he looked at Atsushi. This statement seemed to cause a frown to form on the weretiger’s face however as he apologetically walked towards where Dazai was.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you would’ve woken up on your own.” Atsushi mumbled as he finally reached the couch. A quiet snort seemed to involuntarily leave Dazai at the sincerity of the words as he ruffled the other’s hair.

“I’m just kidding. It’s not like this hasn’t happened before.” Dazai spoke smoothly to ease the other’s mind. 

“Still…” Atushi frowned for a moment as he stared at Dazai with a bit of guilt. The look the other gave him seemed to be convincing enough as he sighed and let go of the thought. “If you say so, then.”

Atsushi turned away from Dazai eventually as he remembered the main reason he even came back to the office to begin with. He rushed over to his desk and began rummaging through one of his drawers. 

A bright smile appeared on his face once he grabbed what he had been looking for, a note list. As he searched through it, a light bulb seemed to appear on top of his head as he remembered something.

“Since you were asleep most of the day, you probably didn’t hear it but Kunikida-kun suggested that the Agency should have a picnic for the flower viewing!” Atsushi grinned as he recalled the conversation. Not only would this be his first time experiencing a flower viewing, but he’d be doing it with his newfound family too!

The thought had him vibrating from where he stood once more as he was determined to wake up early to snag the Agency a good spot.

At the sight of Atsushi looking so determined, Dazai couldn’t help but give a small smile as he watched him in amusement. “A picnic huh…” He mumbled as he leaned back on the couch, a thoughtful look crossed his features.

A picnic means he’d have to bring his share of food, wouldn’t it?

Something nostalgic seemed to bubble within him at the thought of making something again. Ever since the shit show that happened in the past few years, he hasn’t been able to give time into making anything.

To put it simply, he lost interest once his chapters in the port mafia had ended. 

Now that he was somewhere far more forgiving, he supposed this would be a good time to open up his old hobbies once again, right? A feeling akin to excitement couldn’t help but fill him as he stood up from the couch with his coat draped over his shoulders.

“I should get going now,” Dazai announced as he headed over the door with a wave. “Don’t stay here for too long, you don’t want to meet the spirits that linger in the dark~” He gave teasing grin as Atsushi’s eyes widened in horror.

“DAZAI-SAN!” Atsuhi, one half of the Shin Soukoku pair, a person wielding one of the most powerful abilities in Yokohama, a literal weretiger, screeched in fear at the thought of seeing ghosts in the office. “Don’t leave me here!”

“Kekeke~” Dazai gave a mischievous laugh in response as he closed the door and even the hallway light as he ran away, leaving Atsushi in the dark.

Despite the years that have passed by and all of the things he’s been through, there were still some things will never change. He’s come to terms with this fact, now it was time to move onto the second step of realizing that not all of what remained was bad.

By the time the next dawn appeared, Dazai remained awake as he lay on top of the coffee table in the dorm given to him by the agency. It was one of the few pieces of furniture he ever bothered buying after he was accepted.

In his wake laid multiple scraps of paper, each one holding different ideas and recipes below it. While it was quite unsightly to see all the wasted paper, he supposed it was better than being surrounded by empty beer bottles after a bad day.

He’d been trying to recall all the recipes he learned during his port mafia days and while he remembered a decent amount, none of them seemed to feel right. A frown formed on his face and he was honestly about to scrap this whole idea until a folded piece of paper seemed to catch his attention.

He reached out for the paper and unfolded it. His eyes were furrowed as he began reading before feeling his eyes widen at the nostalgic feeling that began to fold him.

“Curry Recipe for Odasaku!”

He could still faintly recall the happiness he felt when the chef of the restaurant Odasaku frequented finally gave him the recipe for the infamous spicy curry that his old friend ate every single time.

It’s been a while since he made it, or anything for that matter.

His eyes turned to look up at the clock. It was still pretty early, he still had time to make enough for the agency.

But before that though, his eyes trailed off to his bare kitchen, he’d need to do some heavy grocery shopping.

Everyone in the agency, sans Dazai, was finally in the place where the flower-viewing festival was being held. Pretty pink petals fell like snowflakes as the detectives attempted to enjoy themselves.

Keyword: Attempted.

There seemed to be a heavy tension that everyone was trying to ignore because they were sat right beside the port mafia members of all people. Despite their rivalry, everyone held back because not only was this not a good place to fight, they weren’t even here to fight at all!

Their purpose was to enjoy the flower viewing and relax, not engage in an unnecessary battle.

“Where the hell is Dazai?!” Kunikida grumbled with crossed arms, his patience wearing thin considerably fast considering how antsy he was with having to sit next to mafia members. 

“I’m sure he’ll be here soon…” Atsushi, ever the pacifist, tried to smooth his mentor’s blonde partner. Despite his words though, even he couldn’t help but worry at Dazai’s lack of appearance. 

Had the older man forgotten? It was already pretty late when he mentioned the event so his idea wasn’t too far-fetched…As for any other possibilities, Atsushi didn’t want to dwell on the more severe reasons for Dazai’s lateness.

While the other members didn’t show it much compared to those two, even they couldn’t help but be worried at the absence of one of their members, most especially due to that specific member’s suicidal tendencies.

 The lack of loudness and chaos was unbearably more obvious without Dazai around.

“Ranpo…” Yosano turned to look their best detective, knowing full well that he was the only one who could ease their worries.

“He’s fine,” The genius detective answered easily as he shoved another handful of food into his mouth. “He’ll be here soon, just give him some more time.”

The reassurance from Ranpo seemed to cause the younger members of the agency to ease up a bit. If Ranpo said he was alright, then they’ll take his word for it.

Over on the Port Mafia’s side, a certain ginger couldn’t help but eavesdrop on their conversation. “That shitty Dazai is missing?” He grumbled with narrowed eyes as he laid his head on top of his palm.

Akutagawa seemed to perk up at this information as Rashomon instantly summoned itself and hovered its master’s side. “Is he alright?!” He asked the ginger with much urgency, causing a few people around him to startle.

“Apparently,” Chuuya responded nonchalantly as he took a sip of his wine. “That childish detective of theirs said so. He’s just running late like usual.”

As both groups continued to unknowingly talk about Dazai, the said man was leisurely making his way over with stacks of bento boxes on hand. “Yo!” He greeted with a bright smile as he tilted at his coworkers.

“Dazai-san!” Atsushi stood up in relief at the sight of his mentor. All tenseness from his body seemed to disappear now that he knows Dazai wasn’t possibly floating down a river stream somewhere. “You’re finally here!”

“What took you so long idiot?!” Kunikida was quick on Dazai’s tail as he stood up from his spot. As soon as he did, however, did he finally notice the stacks of bento boxes that the other held. “What is that?”

“Well, I figured since we’re also having a picnic, then I might as well bring my share of food!” Dazai exclaimed with his usual dramatics. Kunikida seemed unconvinced though as he stared at the other in suspicion.

“And you’re sure it isn’t poisoned?” He asked warily.

“Kunikida-kun has little faith in me!~” Dazai cried out as he feigned hurt with a hand over his heart.

Kunikida, having enough of the loudness, simply sighed as he rubbed his temple with his fingers. “As much as we appreciate the food, Kyouka already brought bentos for us.”

“Eh?” Dazai blinked as he snapped out of his dramatics. He turned over to the others and just as Kunikida said, there was a a stack of bento boxes beside the girl with a few already opened and empty beside the other members.

“Sorry, Dazai-san!” Atsushi bowed apologetically since he was already full from the food Kyouka made. “I’m sure we can take your food home though-”

“If you don’t want the food, then we can have them!” Koyou exclaimed immediately the moment she heard ‘food’ and ‘Dazai’ together. It seems like the wine she and Chuuya had been drinking made her a bit tipsy and therefore, a lot bolder. “It’s always a pleasure to have Dazai’s food.”

The other port mafia members, namely those who’ve tasted food made by Dazai before, had instantly perked up. They were quick to support Koyou’s request, which caused a few members to gape.

“Yeah, as much as I hate him, even I can’t deny that the bandaged idiot makes good food,” Chuuya grumbled with crossed arms as he followed Koyou in standing in front of Dazai as though forming a line.

The person after the red-haired ginger was Akutagawa as the ex-mentee simply glowed in excitement at being able to taste something personally made by Dazai again.

Hirotsu and Gin were the fourth and fifth people respectively in the supposed ‘line’ causing the remaining Black Lizard members to gape in shock at their superiors’ unusual behavior.

Dazai stared at the line contemplatively as he chewed the inside of his cheek. He made this food specifically for the Agency members but seeing as how they were full already; he didn’t want his own food to go to waste…

He juggled the options before relenting with a sigh. “Fine.” He grabbed one of the bentos from the stack he had beside him before handing them out one by one to those standing in line.

As he reached the last person, the Agency members couldn’t help but feel their eyes widen. “Ranpo?!”

“What?” The genius detective whined as he turned to look at his coworkers.

“I thought you said you were full?” Yosano asked with a raised eyebrow, clearly remembering the exact words he used when turning down Kyouka’s bento box.

“That was then, this is now!” The detective reasoned before happily turning to Dazai with grabby hands. He didn’t want to explain that he was holding off because his super deduction realized that Dazai was making food, hence his lateness.

Those in the port mafia didn’t seem to waste any time as they quickly dug into the bento boxes they received. The moment they took the first bite, instant looks of ecstasy filled their faces as they happily kept eating.

The agency members who were watching couldn’t help but be curious when none of them started keeling over and dying from poison. Instantly, all their eyes turned to the one detective who received a bento box.

Ranpo, choosing to act ignorant of their stares, simply took off the lid before grabbing a spoon, readying himself to dig in as well. Before he could do so, however, Yosano seemed to grab it as the other members surrounded the food.

“It doesn’t look bad, surprisingly…” Kunikida commented, which was quite an understatement seeing as how the food was boxed quite nicely. The curry was very appealing in not only visuals but also in smell.

“Hey!” Ranpo whined in the background at his food being stolen, only to be ignored as the rest of the members kept observing the food.

“It doesn’t seem like it tastes bad either,” Atsushi added as he turned to look at the port mafia members who were already almost done with their fair share of food.

Everyone stared at one another before nodding in agreement as Yosano handed spoons to each of them. They took a spoonful each before gulping nervously for what was to come.

Much like ripping a band-aid off, they all took the bite at the same time. Their eyes were shut tight, expecting for the worst, only to feel surprised when it tasted like heaven had visited their mouths.

“Holy shit!” Yosano’s eyes were practically glowing as she immediately grabbed another spoonful despite still in the middle of chewing. “This is good!”

Kunikida, on the other hand, was nothing short of stunned as he chewed robotically, a shadow covering his eyes as he stared at the bento box they were surrounding. Multiple thoughts passed by his mind in a flash but there was one thought that overtook everything else.

‘What. The. Fuck.’

“Wow!” Atsushi seemed to have a similar reaction to Yosano as he looked ready to cry for some reason. As someone who’s had an unfortunate upbringing, he wasn’t picky with food and would eat anything without judgment. “It’s so good!”

Out of all the food he’s ever tasted though, this has gotta be the most delicious one he’s ever tasted.

“Aww, you flatter me!” Dazai chided in with a smile as he slid himself beside his current student.

Atsushi grabbed another spoonful from the box before turning to Dazai with a soft smile on his face and chubby cheeks stuffed with food. “Although I’ve only recently felt what it’s like to have one, your cooking feels like home to me.” He admitted with a shy flush on his face.

Dazai couldn’t help but be taken aback at the declaration. His eyes seemed to glow for a split second as he instinctively brought a hand to ruffle Atsushi’s hair. He didn’t know what to say to that but it seemed like he didn’t need to as his student easily accepted the affection.

“Dazai-san!” Akutagawa called out as he kneeled beside the picnic blanket the agency members were sitting on. He had the bento box he was eating from earlier cradled into his hands before offering it in Dazai’s direction.

At that moment, he looked less like a mafioso and more like a child asking his guardian for another serving of food.

The smile on Dazai’s face remained as he pointed a finger towards the last remaining bento box. “It’s the last one, but go ahead and take it-”

“Hold it!” Kunikida screeched as he pointed a finger at Akutagawa who looked like a cat ready to scratch. “You mafioso’s already had your share! That last box is ours!” He yelled.

“It’s not our fault ya idiots decided to pass on it in the first place!” Chuuya argued back with an obvious flush on his face. It seems like he had drunk quite a bit of wine to accompany the food he got from Dazai.

“How were we supposed to know?!” Yosano argued back as she brought out a chainsaw from god knows where. Atsushi couldn’t help but sweat drop at the sight as he leaned back a bit in worry.

“All of you, shut up!” Koyou butted into the yelling with her own as she summoned golden demon behind her. The manifestation of the ability couldn’t help but cause alarms to blare into Atsushi’s head.

He turned to look at Dazai, the only one who could stop the fight if ever one broke out, only to see him smiling calmly at the scene. Atsushi’s mouth couldn’t help but sweat drop at the unfazed reaction of his mentor as he turned back to the scene in front of him.

He didn’t know when it started in a couple of seconds, he turned away, but Chuuya and Yosano were now engaged in combat, along with Kunikida against Akutagawa, Kyouka (?!) against Koyou, and the black lizards against Kenji.

“S-shouldn’t we stop them?” Atsushi offered weakly he turned to look at Dazai once again.

“Eh, let them.” It was Ranpo who replied for him as he continued to sulk in a corner. “They deserve it after taking my rightfully claimed meal away from me.”

As they continued to fight with a lot less damage to the environment than expected, Dazai couldn’t help but let out a hearty laugh as he watched the scene fondly.

His newly found family against his old one, what fun.

If Oda were here, he’d no doubt find amusement in the scene as well. 

“Could you believe that Odasaku?” Dazai murmured to himself seeing as how Atsushi had left him in favor of trying to stop the fight. “They’re fighting over something as stupid as my cooking. Humans are truly stupid, aren’t they?”

Despite the choice of words, the fondness in them could be heard.

Coincidentally, a gush of wind seemed to pass by Dazai in response, its breeze flowing between each strand of his hair as though a hand was carding through it. And in some way, it probably was.

Over on a tree overseeing the chaos that came in the form of the port mafia and the Armed Detective Agency, sat a familiar-looking calico cat. Its tail flicked behind it as its chocolate-colored eyes found itself staring down where Dazai was with a tilted head.

A figure seemed to be standing beside the brunette as a ghost of a hand was placed on his hair. The man smiled down at Dazai as his mouth moved to speak words that would never be heard by the other.

With a final ruffle, his translucent image seemed to fade away from the cat’s eyes as the wind carried him away in the form of cherry blossom leaves being blown away by the breeze.

The cat meowed at the sight as if echoing the words of the ghost of a man that Dazai had unknowingly finally let go of.

‘You did well, kid.’