Chapter Text
Chapter 1: School Troubles
"Ah this is tiring."
Atsushi spoke as he rubs the back of his head. Him and Akutagawa kept on getting partnered by their professor and sadly, they couldn't do anything about it. Both despise the each other, though they wouldn't let someone hurt the other. They're the complete opposite of each other, which makes them the most insufferable duo in the school. Atsushi's loud, fun, outgoing and was friends with everyone in their class, while Akutagawa, well— he did had some friends but he found out he was only being used by them because of his intelligence. He was intelligent, quiet, sometimes quite stubborn and always had a grumpy look on his face.
"Why don't you just stop whining and just finish your part?" Akutagawa says while keeping his eyes on the laptop as he types the words for their presentation. "Don't you get tired? Like—do you even eat? No offense but you're getting really skinnier day by day." "I don't see how my weight concerns you, and well, unlike you, I have dreams to achieve." Atsushi raises an eyebrow and slammed the book on the table really hard. "Hey! Just because I get tired doesn't mean I don't have dreams to achieve! Oh! Right! You wouldn't understand that cause you-" The librarian glares at them as she pinches the bridge of her nose. "Out!"
"Great, now we're kicked out. You really don't know how to act like a normal human being do you?" Akutagawa gave him a death glare. "Oh well I'm sorry if I'm not insensitive like you are!" "Hey, hey, that's enough you two." Their professor seperates them and glared at them. "Mr. Dazai!" Atsushi looked at the professor with a smile on his face. "Uh, uh, no fighting in the hallways." "We weren't fighting Mr. Dazai." Akutagawa responded with a hint of annoyance in his tone. "Huh? You were about to though!" Dazai spoke back as if he was talking to his colleagues. "Okay, okay, just try not to argue in the hallway. I don't want Chuuya to see you. If he nags you two again it'll take forever and we'll be late for our date again!" Atsushi lets out a laugh and apologized to their professor. "Well then, I'll be off!" Dazai waved goodbye at the two.
---
Akutagawa lets out a sigh before speaking again. "Where are we supposed to finish this now?" "Relax, we'll figure something out. Hmm.. what about at your place?" "My place?" "No, your dogs." "I don't think thats a good idea." "Why not? What are you hiding there? Or perhaps you're homeless." "I have- a home. Alright fine. Just make sure you won't do anything, stupid." Akutagawa coughs but manages to get his handkerchief from his pocket. "Woah, dude are you alright? Do you eat sand for breakfast or what?" Atsushi said sarcasticly.
Akutagawa took his handkerchief to cover himself. Atsushi then noticed a drop of blood that came from Akutagawa's cough in his palm. "Aku?" Akutagawa immediately wiped away the blood in his mouth and looked on a different direction. "I'm fine." "No you aren't. Lets head to the infima-" "Its useless. Lets just—go and finish this project already." Atsushi knew something was wrong just by hearing the tone of his voice, but he chose to stay silent because he still thinks of him as his rival. Or thats what he'd like to say.
Both were quiet on their way to Akutagawa's home. However, at some point, Atsushi decided to break the awkward silence surrounding them. "Hey?" Akutagawa glances at him then back to the ground. "Hm?" Atsushi felt like this was the right time to confront him about his situation. "Are you—are you okay?" Akutagawa stops and puts his glance back to Atsushi. "If I said no will it change anything?" "No. But, I could help you change it if you'd let me. I've been told I'm a really good comforter y'know?"
"And who told you that? Your cat?" "Oh don't you bring my cat into this, you literally own a damn tarantula." For the first time, Atsushi saw Akutagawa's beautiful smile. This time, it wasn't because he won on their fight. He was enjoying his company. As if he'll ever actually admit it. But Atsushi just, knows it. He's been monitoring everyone's emotion all his life. Every person he lays his eyes on, so it wasn't really hard to know what they feel about him. As the cold breeze hit them, Atsushi smiled.
They finally reached his home and it wasn't what Atsushi imagined it looked. It was huge. Akutagawa introduced him to his maids and they didn't look too happy to meet him. Well, not like he is either. Akutagawa guided him towards his room and just by staring at him—he could tell how amazed Atsushi was. They got inside Akutagawa's room and there was a little girl sitting on the floor playing with her dolls. "Is she your little sister? How cute." Atsushi bended his knees and sat beside the little girl. "What's your name?" Atsushi asked with a joyful tone. "G-Gin." Unlike his brother, she was really shy.
"Leave her be." Akutagawa glares at Atsushi and rolled his eyes. "Oh- uh, sorry." Akutagawa laid his belongings on the floor and so did Atsushi. Gin slowly walked towards Atsushi while holding her dolls and he could tell she wanted to play with him. As Akutagawa prepares their materials for the project, he noticed how fond Gin was to Atsushi. They were talking, playing with her dolls and most importantly she looked—happy.
...
Akutagawa scoffed and got both their attention. "Enough, lets start." Atsushi sat down infront of him. There was an awkward silence surrounding them again. Both of them started working on their parts but Gin kept on bugging Atsushi while he works. He didn't mind her though. He was very close with kids and can take really good care of them while working. That explains why Gin easily got comfortable with him. "Gin, go to your room. You're disturbing him." "Oh- no, I don't mind having her aro-" "I said go." Gin puts up a frown on her face and stood up. She grabbed her toys and left his room leaving the two alone. "Aku you didn't have to do th-" "I did. And stop calling me by that nickname." Atsushi's eyes widen at his sudden change of attitude. "Right. Sorry."
---
They worked for 2 hours without a break. Atsushi was either not brave enough to ask him, or gets interrupted by every word he says. He was getting quite annoyed by Akutagawa’s attitude, he was like a cup of coffee that was left on a table that got cold. Earlier he looked like he was having geniune fun with him, but now. Its like the only thing that matters to him is the project. Atsushi knows how much he cares for his grades and scores so he forced himself to just understand his situation. Of course. He's going to be the one who has to understands, again. Its always him understanding and forgiving people even if they took off a limb of him.
...
"Akutagawa..?" "What?" Akutagawa glances up at him while resting his face on his palm. "Wanna catch a break.. maybe..?" Akutagawa frowns and lets out a sigh of dissappointment. "God you're frustrating. Fine, go take a rest. I'm already halfway done anyway." Atsushi felt kind of sad about what he said. "Don't ya think—you work too much? Come on, lets have a rest not just me. We can finish it later— it'll only just be for a few-" "Atsushi can you stop." "Stop what?" "Stop caring about everything and everyone. It gets frustrating you know." Atsushi paused in his spot without blinking or anything. Just, pure annoyance. "Wha-" "Be quiet will you?" Something inside him snapped. "Alright. You wanna do all the work? You want me to shut up? Then fine." He lets out a sigh of anger and stood up from his seat. "Where are you going?" Akutagawa stood up looking confused at his sudden actions. "Why should you care?" Akutagawa immediately got struck by his words. "Goodluck." Atsushi picks up his things and excused himself to leave.
He should be relieved now that hes gone right? No. Something kept on bugging him while doing the work. Was it guilt? Or was it annoyance?
...
Whatever it was, gave him a sleepless night. No matter how hard he tries to fall asleep, he felt like he had to say something but couldn't get the right words for it. His alarm clock rings for the third time and he hits it again. Akutagawa had been awake for the whole night thinking of what he should say to apologize to Atsushi. However, there's still something stopping him from feeling guilt.
They were enemies. Its normal for them to act like that around each other, he thinks. As the sun rises, Akutagawa opened his eyes and slowly rise from his bed.
---
He felt a slight itch in his throat and went to the restroom. He opened the light and the first thing he saw was his self in the mirror. His skin looked pale and his vision was a bit blurry, he suddenly felt like a cough was coming again. Akutagawa leaned onto the sink and grabbed onto the sides of the sink as blood oozes out of his mouth. "Shit." As he was cleaning the mess, a maid knocked on his door. "Sir, someone's here to see you." He locked his bathroom door and didn't answer at all.
Their maids were pretty used to his attitude and just let it go. After a minute, he came out of his bathroom and opened his windows to see Atsushi sitting on the bushes outside. It seemed like he had been waiting for him to come out. Atsushi looked up to his window as Akutagawa closes it again. Akutagawa didn't know if he should check up on him or just leave him be till he leaves. Just then, Gin knocked on his door and opened it. "Aku, the boy last night is here again!"
"Seems like it. Did he tell you any reason why he's back here?" Akutagawa asks calmly. "Not really, he just waved at me and our maids pushed him away." Akutagawa stared at Gin blankly. "They did what?" "I don't think they like him at all." Gin said. Akutagawa puts on his usual outfit which was his hoodie and a pair of pants to fo see him. He had his hand curled up as he walks up to the maids with Gin behind his back holding her doll.
"Open, the damn door." Akutagawa says while glaring at the maids who didn't even bother to look at him. "I said, open the goddamn doors." Akutagawa says at again, louder this time, making the maids flinch in horror. The doors opened and there he saw Atsushi sitting behind a bush while hugging his knees.
"Piece of-.." Gin interupts him by walking towards Atsushi and gently tapped him on his head. Atsushi felt a sudden touch which made him flinch a bit and quickly smiled at Gin to ease himself. His eyes then turned to look at Akutagawa who was behind Gin.
"Aku-..sorry. Akutagawa." "Aku's fine. What brought you here?" Atsushi stood up and cleaned up his messy hair a little. "I wanted to apologize, for what I said last night." Akutagawa's pupils dilated as he began to ask himself in his mind why he's letting him apologize when he knows himself that he was the one who had made a mistake last night.
Atsushi spoke again. "I was really tired and wasn't feeling myself. I really didn't mean what I said—and I hope you accept my apology-" Akutagawa cuts him off. "No, stop. You know I was the one who made a mistake yet you're the one who's apologizing? Stop making a fool out of yourself and making me pity you for it." "Aku- I just didn't want to have an arguement with you again and ruin our bond."
"Oh please, you're already doing it by apologizing. Such an idiotic act." "Ryu!" Gin hits him with her doll on his feet. Akutagawa didn't budge or anything, just stood there staring at her. "Ryu, you're doing it again! Mean!" Akutagawa sighed and ordered the maids to take Gin. "Okay, this is how its supposed to be." Akutagawa breaks the silence between them. "W-what do you mean?" "I apologize for how I acted, last night. Forgive me or not, I don't care." Atsushi's eyes brightens up and smiles at him softly.
"Of course I forgive you."