#also kuni helps set him up with atsushi

[twinksintrees]

kunichuu 'adopting' akutagawa and helping him heal and grow past dazai and just being the caring and supportive mentors he needs

[crazyqueenmoon]

LEADING A TIGER

Atsushi x Fem! Secretary, both mid-20s

Setting: 1960s AU

TW: sexism, mentions of s*xual harassment, CW: Drinking, smoking, implied NSFW stuff

!MINORS DO NOT READ!

So I’ve gotten back to watching the rest of Mad Men after so long. Though I haven’t finished it, it’s definitely a show I’ve found myself loving and find kinda similar to BSD in terms of its themes and workplace setting. Though they’re TOTALLY different as shows. Mad Men has no action, gore, or flashy characters and is 100% grounded in real life, so if you can’t be down with that stuff in a live-action show, expect to be bored AF. I’ve come it with some head-cannons around the 1960s. Also, Joan is one of my favorite female characters ever and I love Atsushi. Their personalities are completely opposite from each other, and this idea of Atsushi being this new employee at the ADA being shown around the office by a tsunderish secretary and them falling in love was just begging to be written, so here it is:

• The ADA would be like the Sterling Cooper office but with far less drama and gossip. The office would still look nice, but not nearly as nice

• You’re the badass, snarky head secretary of the ADA, refusing to settle for anyone’s BS. The Agency would not function without you helping all the higher-ups and you have a multitasking ability which allows secretarial tasks that typically take 8 hours to be completed in 10 seconds

• Unfortunately, most people have a hard time taking you seriously when it comes to your ambitions and underestimate your intelligence.

• BC it is the 1960s we’re talking about, unfortunately some of your male coworkers will be sexist a-holes that believe women aren’t supposed to be in higher positions/ ask for raises and should accept where they’re at and not be so demanding:

-Kunikida would say this to you after he got overhears you saying that you ought to be promoted. (I know you all love Kunikida and talk about how he drinks Respect Women juice, but this is 1960s Kunikida we’re talking about NOT Regular Kunikida. Plus Regular Kuni does kind of conduct himself in an old-fashioned way, so it doesn’t surprise me.

-You can expect Dazai to harass you and hit on you every single day unfortunately. He’ll also joke about how you’ve only gotten the job BC you offered Fukuzawa s*xual favors even though he’s well aware that’s not the case at all. But he will shut his goddamn mouth and behave in front of you once Fukuzawa or Kunikida is in sight. You’ve also learned some good comebacks from Yosano that’ll leave him terrified of you for the rest of the day. Interactions between you two will go something a little like this:

You: ‘I wanna be on top.’

Dazai: ‘Of me, dollface? Come on, now. Don’t be so feisty at work!’

You: ‘Of the company.’

Dazai: *laughs* ‘You’re gonna be a secretary for the rest of your life. That’s you’re fate, as a working woman. I don’t make the rules. But if you don’t like being a secretary, you can be mine instead.’

-Tanizaki also laughs when you mention this to him. He won’t make lewd comments about you or act domineering like Kunikida and Dazai do, but consider him trash as well.

-You tried to seduce Fukuzawa as a way to get promoted, but he noped immediately. He thinks of you as a daughter, and engaging in quid pro quo behavior completely goes against his values. He hires you because you’ve got the right skills and bc of your hard work, but doesn’t think you’re ready for a promotion combined with some sexist biases.

-Kenji respects you as his elder and superior. He wouldn’t really have any opinions on you being a leader, but even if he thought the same as all your male coworkers, it wouldn’t really bother you or frustrate you that much.

-Ranpo’s probably the only man in the office who isn’t dismissive of your ambitious tendencies, though he’s not necessarily a cheerleader about it. He’s more of a ‘Yeah, you’d be good at it, I guess’ kind of guy at most.

• You also smoke cigarettes a lot. You need them the way Ranpo needs his snacks, and it’s the only way you can calm yourself down.

•You’re filling in for Kunikida’s secretary today BC she’s sick. He calls you into his office, introducing you to your new employee, Atsushi Nakajima.

• “He’s the weretiger that he spent all night looking for, and now he’ll be working with us.”

• “Working with us?” you ask coolly. “Who’s idea was it, to employ a shapeshifter of all ability users?”

• “The president’s,” says Kunikida. “Should I report to him you doubted his decisions, Y/N?”

• “No need to,” you answer. “If it’s what president decrees, then I can expect it to be good.”

• Atsushi’s in awe as he looks at you pulling out a cigarette as you’re glaring.

• “Show the new guy around for the next hour,” says Kunikida, impatiently pushing a startled Atsushi from behind. “And cancel my 2 PM appointment! I won’t get it done with all these documents to read.”

• “Yes, Mr. Kunikida,” you scoff rolling your eyes.

• “Um, ma’am?” Atsushi asks. “Are you okay?”

• “Yes, I’m okay,” you say icily. “Now how about you shut up so I can give you the damn tour, tiger man? Could you do that for for me?”

• He nods quickly and walks behind you.

• “This is where you’ll be sitting,” you say, pointing to a small desk with a typewriter and a pen holder. It’s also facing a gray wall with no window. “Not pictureresque, I know. Though a chump like you should consider yourself lucky getting a desk with a typewriter. Now that you’re part of the Agency, you’d better learn to be punctual and not let your emotions get in the way. Don’t, and you’re left for dead. God knows it’s a pain, but it’s how work gets done around here.”

• Atsushi has no goddamn clue how to use a typewriter, so you have to teach him the whole day, in between passing out documents from Kunikida to the president and vice versa. You give Atsushi your worst frown once the day is done bc of all the stress he’s piled on you.

• On your desk the next day, you find a ‘Thank You’ card and a bouquet of flowers.

• It’s from Atsushi himself. He thanks you for helping him learn how to use a typewriter, and apologizes for upsetting you. Some of the ink is smeared, and he asks you to let him know how he can make it up to you.

•You march up to Dazai’s office holding the card and flowers, telling his secretary you’d like to speak to him shortly. She tells you he’s busy but he insists that she let you in over the intercom.

• “Eager, to see me so early, honey, huh?” he teases as you enter his office. “I knew you’d come through one of these days. You’re making me one lucky man.”

• “Is this some kind of joke, Dazai?” You demand, holding the card and flowers and opening the card.

• Dazai looks at the card and reads it. Handing it back to you. “Oh no, not my doing at all. The one thing I’d never do in a love note to a woman is let the ink get smeared with my tears. You’ve got an admirer Y/N. Atsushi-kun’s in love with you. You heartbreaker you. You’re makin’ me jealous!”

• You spend the whole day wondering if it’s true. As much of a scheming bastard Dazai is, he is good at solving mysteries

• You spend the next two weeks testing out if Atsushi’s got a crush on you, offering him employee training which he surprisingly manages to catch up on

•At this point, YOU’RE the one whose got a crush on him. He’s sweet, friendly, takes you seriously and doesn’t laugh at your goals. He’ll even bring you a treat from the bakery a couple times a week. But you won’t show those feelings to him. When you ask him if he’d like anything in return, he tells you he doesn’t.

• “Y/N, you never asked me what I can do for you in return,” he says.

• “Take me on a date,” you say. “At the Green Palace. 6 PM sharp.”

• “Date?!” he asks, shocked by your answer and how nonchalantly you said it.

• He takes you out and it goes well, eager to foot the bill despite his lowly salary.

• As you spend more time together, you vent to him about how you’re underestimated when it comes to your abilities because of your gender. He doesn’t know what that’s like, but he confides in you about how he’s felt so useless his whole life growing up in the orphanage and during his time at the church shelter. He also thinks it’s ridiculous that all the men at work belittle you, and believes you have what it takes to be in a higher role at the company.

• You’re one of the few people not to judge him for bringing up his traumatic experiences to him, and if he didn’t already trust you in the first place, he’s now given 1000% of it to you.

• You two keep your relationship a secret, though Dazai and Ranpo know. You’ll hear Dazai ask Atsushi personal questions about you two, but luckily Atsushi knows to be careful around him and scoffs at him, telling him it’s none of his business.

• He’ll come over to your apartment after missions to decompress and he’ll try to comfort you too when you’re stressed with work.

• A year into your relationship, you tell Atsushi it’s time everyone knows. He’s hesitant at first, but then agrees to it, and wants you to announce if this is to happen.

• Before announcing to the ADA, Fukuzawa decides to promote you to junior director. It’s got ‘junior’ in it, but it’s a far cry from being secretary and you get your own office. You’re now the only other female employee along with Yosano to have her own office.

• When you’ve announced to ADA, everyone cheers. Kunikida’s surprised, and angry you didn’t inform him about this, but gets over it. Fukuzawa wishes you told him, but approves of Atsushi as a boyfriend to you.

• Surf rock music plays on a record, and everyone gets drunk and hollers.

• “Happy one year together,” Atsushi says softly, holding a small gift bag. “ I got you this. Hope you like it.”

• “A marble bluebird,” you gasp, looking into the bag.

• “You said they’re your favorite birds once,” he says nervously. “I thought it’d be a great gift to give you.”

• “Atsushi…” you mutter. “Thank you.”

• You walk up him and kiss his cheek. His face turns bright red with everyone looking you two.

• “Don’t forget to give me one, too!” Dazai calls out. “It just took a measly glass bird? I’ll get you all of them, Y/N.”

• Kunikida makes a fist towards Dazai and he gets frightened.

• “ You hated my guts, when you first met me,” says Atsushi. “ The last thing I expected was that you’d fall in love with me.”

• “I never hated you, Atsushi,” you say. “ I just hated how I felt. You’ve helped me to believe in myself, and you’re always good to me. I love you, Atsushi.”

• “I-I love you too, y/n,” he stammers. He’s told you every single day, but he wants to say it again anyways. “You‘ve done really great. You deserve all this. Got any orders for me, director?”

• “Follow me to my office,” you jest, smacking his ass.

JFC this is MUCH longer than I thought it’d be. And writing this has kind of made me hate Dazai. But I had a lot of fun, writing this. If you’ve made it all the way here, thank you, thank you, thank you! Please leave a comment and LMK your thoughts.

[grymmnox]

weekly fic recs #30 + #31

weeee it's just gonna be like if i didn't miss it. all one post. not separating them by week it's just all going together. ok anyways

fandom(s): bungo stray dogs

ship(s): soukoku, kunikidazai, fyozai, fyolai, odango, and ofc some gen fics

Oneshots

let me in if i break, and be quiet if i shatter; lenasgaylaxy - bungo stray dogs

teen and up | 1.7k words | dazai & kunikida, dazai & yosano, ADA & dazai | READ TAGS

summary:

"They say breaking a mirror brings you seven years of bad luck. Dazai must've been born amidst the shards of a hundred shattered mirrors, because terrible luck has been following him around since he was young, and he's sure that it will stick around until his death."

About breaking down and needing help picking up the pieces.

It Would be a Hundred Times Easier; Gigglemite - bungo stray dogs

mature | 4.4k words | chuuya/dazai, chuuya & dazai, atsushi & dazai, dazai & kunikida, ADA & dazai | READ TAGS

summary:

On the worst of the bad days they start out just like the easier ones. They’re deceptive like that, lulling him into a false sense of security before one thing sets him off and he spirals. There is no real trigger for these days unlike the other ones, these days are just bad simply to be bad. His senses are heightened to the point of overwhelming overstimulation; his brain is foggy but coherent enough to send him down a dark and a very deep tunnel if given the chance; his fingers twitch and itch to grab something, anything that could be used to inflict harm on himself; despite his half working mind for everything else, it works 100% just for paranoia to the point he has to keep checking behind himself because the feeling of eyes on his back is achingly uncomfortable. These days also tend to include bouts of an inability to speak that always come out of nowhere. It’s rather disconcerting to be asked a question and yet when you open your mouth to answer absolutely nothing comes out.

Or: Dazai is used to bad days. He’s used to pain, and the weakness, and the anxiety that comes with them. But they’re getting easier to manage.

The Emperor's New Clothes; ScarletRequiem - bungo stray dogs

teen and up | 4.3k words | chuuya & dazai, dazai & oda, ADA & dazai | READ TAGS

summary:

dazai gets hit with a truth-serum ability. ranpo thinks it's fucking hilarious, but ranpo isn't there when he unintentionally tells the whole office the reason he's suicidal.

point of injection; quitepossiblyjanuary - bungo stray dogs

teen and up | 3.1k words | chuuya/dazai | READ NOTES (additional warnings r in there)

summary:

Dazai wouldn’t call himself an honest man – lying used to be half his job, and now that he’s out of the Mafia it feels like lying is half his life.

incandescent (and it's your fault); Colourful_skies - bungo stray dogs

teen and up | 2.2k words | chuuya/dazai

summary:

An ability makes Dazai’s hair glow whenever he feels embarrassing (read: romantic) feelings. It’s temporary, so he thinks he’ll get away with keeping it a secret—but then a certain slug pays the Agency a visit. What could go wrong?

Introspection (of idiots and ideals); gev_ao3 - bungo stray dogs

teen and up | 4.9k words | dazai & kunikida, dazai/kunikida | READ TAGS

summary:

------------------------------------------------------ “Kunikida-kun despises me,” he wails. “No, I don’t.” “Kuni-chan hates me.” “I don’t, Dazai.” “Kunikida--” “Stop.” ------------------------------------------------------

A look at Kunikida and Dazai’s relationship through the years. (can be read as platonic or romantic)

where we're from, there's no sun; codhya - bungo stray dogs

not rated | 15.8k words | dazai & yosano, dazai & fukuzawa | READ TAGS (additional warnings in notes)

summary:

"-I’m not asking you to trust that I’m a good person or whatever. Just trust that I won’t kill you, at least not here. And in return, you have to promise not to kill me. And set my cleaver in between us both, you have a clear advantage. You can keep the gun, though.”

He narrows his eyes, “You’re not really in the place to make demands right now.”

She shrugs, leaning back, “We’re stuck in an elevator and my co-worker is trying to kill me because he’s convinced I’m an assassin. I’m trying to make the best of the situation.”

(On Dazai Osamu, Dahmer, and Yosano Akiko)

spine chilling; kuroissant - bungo stray dogs

teen and up | 3.6k words | fyodor/nikolai

summary:

Fyodor pauses, staring down at the small bird in his hands.

Nikolai folds his arms behind his back. “It’s for you.”

“For me?” Fyodor parrots.

Over the course of a month, Nikolai had graced him with many other small trinkets and gifts. He never provided an explanation as to why—nor did he ever give his gifts in person. He always extended them towards Fyodor by using his ability.

grim's notes: some gore; it's. nikolai and fyodor. there's an organ involved.

the kitty confusion; Deca_Suffrage - bungo stray dogs

teen and up | 3k words | chuuya & atsushi, akutagawa & atsushi, atsushi & kyouka, dazai/kunikida

summary:

Chuuya's cat has gone missing, so in a last bid effort he sends a mafioso down to the ADA to ask around.

When Atsushi is told that the Port Mafia is looking for a "big white and black cat" he assumes that he's being mocked and goes with them.

He is not being mocked.

Complete Fics

bet against the odds; advanced_fanatic - bungo stray dogs

teen and up | 10 chapters, 15k words | ango & dazai & oda, dazai & yosano, ango/oda, ADA & dazai, akutagawa & atsushi, ayatsuji & tsujimura, dazai & kunikida

summary:

At ten years old, Dazai Osamu meets Yosano Akiko. At eleven years old, he starts spying for the Armed Detective Agency in the Port Mafia. At eighteen years old, he thinks there's no way things can go wrong. He's wrong, of course, but why on earth wouldn't he be?

The person that you'd take a bullet for is behind the trigger; Seito - bungo stray dogs

teen and up | 11 chapters, 19.3k words | chuuya/dazai, ADA & dazai

summary:

“Dazai-san doesn’t like the Port Mafia,” Tanizaki explained.

“That’s too nice, Tanizaki-kun,” Dazai said as he tied up the woman with some rope. He looked over his shoulder at Tanizaki.

Atsushi suppressed a shudder at the sparkle of anger in Dazai’s eyes. Despite only knowing Dazai for three days now, there was something deeply wrong about seeing that kind of anger in Dazai. It gleamed so bright, an ill-contained rage that seemed just seconds away from exploding into an inferno that would consume everything.

“To say I hate them would be more accurate,” Dazai said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Masters of Pretense; vividder - bungo stray dogs

teen and up | 9 chapters, 12.7k words | dazai & kunikida & yosano, ranpo & tanizaki, ADA & dazai | READ TAGS

summary:

Dazai is kidnapped and taken to a hospital. The problem is, no one knows he's been kidnapped, except for Dazai himself.

5 Things Dazai Still Does For Port Mafia ...; YunaYamiMouto - bungo stray dogs

teen and up | 6 chapters, 11.8k words | chuuya/dazai, chuuya & dazai, dazai & elise & Q, dazai & hirotsu, akutagawa & dazai & gin, dazai & kouyou, ADA & dazai, atsushi & dazai, dazai & oda

summary:

... that he doesn't do for the Armed Detective Agency, and the 1 thing he won't do for anyone.

Incomplete Fics

tell me we do not live in vain; yuki_MXIVo - bungo stray dogs

teen and up | 8/14 chapters, 32.3k words | dazai/fyodor, dazai & fyodor | READ TAGS (additional warnings in notes)

summary:

Fyodor’s weak heart thuds violently within its cage of flesh and bone, ba-thump. Dazai’s knife kisses cold on the skin of their throat. They swallow, and the bob of their Adam’s apple against it draws blood.

“Alright,” Fyodor decides, “let's find a way to die.”

// In the Decay’s aftermath, Fyodor and Dazai quietly slip through the cracks, and set on a journey

[xxxsoukokuxxx]

Helloo there!! Your writing is so cute and fluffy and your angst also hits just right! please can I request a scenario with Kunikida at a Halloween party at the agency or something? I hope it's not too vague >.< thank you and please keep sharing wonderful fics!!

Halloween Party at the Agency

Character: Kunikida x reader

Warnings: none

Notes: Thanks for requesting. If this is not what you wanted feel free to request again. Thank you so much anon!!! I’m crying internally with happiness rn. I can’t believe you said my fics are wonderful, thank you once again. I apologize with taking so long with this though. Also, it wasn’t clear as to whether you wanted a general fic or a x reader, so I’m just assuming you want a x reader. 

___________________________

The agency was planning a Halloween party for some time now. However Kunikida didn’t know of such a thing, of course the rest of the Agency would hide it, he doesn’t necessarily like parties. So when he finally finds out about it when Kenji mistakenly blurts it out on the day of Halloween and the day of the party, Kunikida definitely was not happy. 

Apparently, you happened to be there that day, just visiting him and had heard about the party that the Agency had planned behind Kunikida’s back. “There’s no way we’re having a party!” he exclaims. “Kuni, maybe it would be a nice idea though?” you say quietly, but loud enough for him to hear. “A good idea!? They’ll trash the whole place.” “Don’t they do that every other day though?” you say with slight amusement lacing your voice.

“Hey!” Dazai exclaims hearing what you said from his desk. “...well that is true. But nonetheless, they still seem to act as if it’s a party everyday! They slack off all the time, an actual party wouldn’t be a good idea!” Kunikida says trying to prove his point.

 “Please...I kinda want to be at the party too...besides you need a break and let loose a little.” you say trying to persuade him, you were actually looking forward to the party anyway. “...fine.” “Yes! You always know how to persuade him. Frankly, you’re the only person who can.” Dazai smirks. “Shut up.” yells Kunikida.

___________________________

It was dusk now and starting to get dark by the minute. The Agency was decorated from ceiling to floor with Halloween decorations. Spiders, skeletons, fog, disco lights, jacko-lanterns, you name it. 

You had worn you favorite choice of costume while Kunikda had dressed up as a vampire, reluctantly. He wasn’t very fond of the idea of dressing up but once again you managed to persuade him. Once he saw you all dolled up in your costume, he blinked his eyes in awe. He didn’t know what to say, but the red tint on his cheeks spoke for him.

“...you...look very...very beautiful.” he stuttered trying to act cool but failed miserably. “Thank you! You look quite dashing yourself, my vampire.” you say smugly. He clears his throat at your words and soon after you both make your way to the Agency.

Everyone was there, dressed up in Halloween themed costumes. Yosano was a scary doctor with fake blood on her costume, Atsushi dressed up as a tiger with tiger paws on his hands and ears on his head with his tail a part of his costume, Dazai...well he was wrapped up in bandages...everywhere, he claimed to be a mummy, Kenji had a soft but big pumpkin costume around his body with a matching hat and Kyoka dressed up as a witch.

To be honest, you were so excited, but Kunikida didn’t seem to be too happy. “Kuni, you okay?” you ask. “Yeah, I’m fine.” he says not wanting to ruin this for you. This party was not in his schedule but he fitted it in for you, because he loves to see you happy even at the cost of his time (and sanity).

You both make your way over to where the drinks were, of course there was alcohol but also non-alcoholic drinks for the younger ones like Kyoka and Kenji. Kunikida chose to go with the non-alcoholic beverages but you decided to heck with it and took the alcohol choice.

Then there was music so loud that Kunikida thought it would burst his eardrums. He was dreading this... “Come on Kunikida, let’s go dance!” you say just a little tipsy. You grab his hand and he follows reluctantly to the dance floor. You show off your best moves and of course you were tipsy and didn’t really care who else was watching at this point.

“Come on Kuni! Dance with me!” you exclaim to Kunikida who was as stiff as a statue. He nervously looked around the room, almost everyone was drunk out of their minds and Kenji and Kyoka were at the refreshments table. He glances back at you and you flash him a sweet smile.

You looked so happy...why not give it a try? He then starts moving his body very and I mean very awkwardly, but hey, at least he’s trying. You giggle a little and he just blushes a little and didn’t even realize he was actually loosening up, just a little. “Are you having a good time?” you ask him. “...for the most part...yes.” he smiles.

After a while of dancing you both get a bit tired and decide to rest while the rest of the Agency dance the night away. You make your way to the refreshments table and sit on one of the chairs there. You take another alcohol beverage and drink it down. “Hey y/n” out of nowhere Ranpo greets you with a mouthful of sweets. “Oh, Ranpo, I didn’t realize you were here.” says Kunikida surprised.

“I was here all along!” he says gobbling candy in the corner hiding behind a big decoration. “...no wonder why we didn’t see you.” Of course Ranpo chose to sit where all the food was. “Hey y/n, I don’t think you should be drinking that much.” he says with concern as he noticed you had already drank quite a lot.

“I’m fine Kunikida, you need to relax a little more often. Here have some!” he could notice you were clearly drunk by now. “Why don’t we call it a night? It’s already...one in the morning!” he exclaims, checking his watch after suggesting that you both go home. “It’s only one, not that late.” you say slurring a little. “Only one! We have work tomorrow!” “I bet you half the Agency won’t even come tomorrow.”

He sighs knowing what you said might be true but regardless, it was getting late and he was a bit tired, plus you were drunk. “Let’s go now okay? You need to rest.” You sigh in defeat and get up while Kunikida helps you and you both don’t even bother saying bye to the others because they’re too busy partying that won’t even hear you.

After getting home, Kunikida sets you down on the couch, he ended up carrying you half way there because you were too drunk. You giggle as you suddenly pull him close to you for a kiss and quickly pull away. “Thanks Kuni! I really enjoyed myself.” you smile while hugging him. He blushes not expecting you to do that and then looks down at you to find you tiredly smiling at him. “No need to thank me. I’m glad you had fun.” he says before taking your bedroom. 

“Now rest, you’ve had a long night.” he says tucking you in and planted a kiss atop your forehead while brushing some hair out of your face. He smiles as you’re already fast asleep. He watches you in awe just a little longer before leaving. Perhaps having fun once in a while isn’t that bad, especially when it’s with you.

________________________

Oh my god this is so bad, I’m sorry I’m just so tired please forgive me. Also I have no idea what a Halloween party is like I haven’t attended one besides I don’t even celebrate Halloween where I live. I hope this is what you wanted.

[pinkgirl94]

Investigation of Dazai's Dangerous Dating - Part 1

Hi! As you guys can see, this is my second BSD fanfic & I wanna write something laidback or, to be precise, what if the members try to investigate their colleague's shenanigans. Hope you enjoy reading it!

Bright blue sky. The sun shines above the clouds. A ship blew its horn, signaling its presence. Busy streets around the city. These are the signs of the normal and peaceful port city, Yokohama. That is what Atsushi thought.

“Today’s another pleasant day, right Kyoka-chan?”

“Yes,” replied Kyoka in her usual nonchalant way.

Atsushi and Kyoka were on their way to their workplace, the Armed Detective Agency. They reached the building, went inside, and took a lift to the fourth floor. After reaching the floor, they headed towards the detective agency’s door. As Atsushi’s hand reached and turned the doorknob, this was what their usual routine looked like.

“Good morning, every-” 

“Kunikida-kun, look around. We’re finally in the underworld! Isn’t it amazing? A flying pink elephant, waterfalls pouring upward to the sky, strange-looking trees with lollipops grew out… an incredible place, right?” 

“Yeah, sure,” replied Kunikida with his usual stern look while focusing on his work.

What Atsushi saw is his senior Dazai spouting nonsense about the view of the underworld while standing at his table.

“Good morning.”

“Morning.” Both Kyoka and Kunikida greeted each other normally, ignored Dazai’s shenanigans like a ghost.

“Um… what happened to him?”

“You know what it is, Atsushi. The usual.”

“Another suicide attempt?”

Dazai’s suicide attempts never stop. No matter where at or in any situation, he tried them all the entire day nonstop. He sometimes lazy or never coming to work according to his feeling. Kunikida tried to make him a proper working man but failed. In the end, he lets him do whatever he wants as long as his works were done.

“Though you thought that way, this is a bit different. Look at his book.”

Atsushi goes to Dazai’s table and took a book. He reads the content and found out about the types of poisonous mushrooms. There are various kinds of lethal ones that should never eat. The picture of the mushroom he reads right now, however, looks a bit different from the one he bit. 

“A delusional mushroom type?” 

“Yes, though he knew since he did the same two years ago.” 

“Then why did he eat it again?” 

“He said something about confirming whether the vision he saw the other day was real.” 

“What…” 

Dazai turned his head towards Kunikida. His delusional eyes became wider as he found something valuable.

“Would you look at that? A giant golden bug! This will cost an enormous fortune if I sell it. Atsushi-kun, help me catch it.” 

“Wait, Dazai-san! That’s not a bug. It’s Kuni-” Dazai made a sudden jump at Kunikida, who he thought was a golden bug. He was about to get strangled, but his hand quickly grabbed his shirt collar. 

“This giant golden bug wants you to shut up and stay down!!!” 

“UWAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!” 

Kunikida easily threw Dazai up and floating until he pulled him down hard. Dazai was no longer in the underworld as he finally returned to reality. But what Dazai was looking at right now the world is spinning around, finding it difficult whether he is back or transported to another world. Finally, he knocked out. 

After that, the entrance door opened. Three young people are coming in for reporting their duty. They then greeted everyone in the office. Atsushi turned around and found the familiar faces.

“Oh! Tanizaki-san, Naomi-san, Kenji-kun, good morning.” 

Those people are Tanizaki, his sister Naomi and Kenji. Tanizaki found Dazai lied on the floor. So he asked Atsushi. 

“Atsushi-kun, what happened to Dazai-san? Why is he sleeping on the floor?” 

“Well, Kunikida-san threw and knocked him down because of his usual attempt. He’s going to be like that for a while.” 

“I see…” 

“Kenji, go tied Dazai up and put him in the storage room.”

“All right!” said Kenji with a smile as bright as the sun. He then really did what Kunikida ordered as if it is a normal thing to do. Dazai, though unconscious, keeps blabbering about the things he saw from his hallucination. The door slowly closes as the darkness comes, leaving him from the bright world to repent his blunder. 

Soon after that, Yosano comes, followed by Ranpo. All the employees returned to their seats and continue their work. Kunikida and Yosano started looking at today’s works and revising previous requests. Atsushi, Tanizaki, and Kenji looked up their emails and files for any recent case. Ranpo just sat on his chair, takes out his snacks, and eat them. Others like the clerks were ready to receive calls from the clients and make arrangements.

Time passed by in a flash, and lunch break starts. Atsushi and the others go out of their office and took a lift down to the ground floor. When they step out of the building, the sun is already above them. So bright, but also hot at the same time. There was no cloud to be seen. Just the clear blue sky along with the sea breeze. They headed towards a door that has a sign written ‘Uzumaki’ hanging above and swung it. 

As the bell rings, the members entered a familiar venue. The aroma of coffee floating around the entire place along with jazz music. A set of antique coffee makers displayed on the table. The classic-themed interior designs, both the furniture and walls.

The cafe was the agency’s favorite spot to relax. Not just because of its delectable food, but they enjoyed drinking the finest coffee made by the cafe’s manager who has many years of experience in making coffee.

“Welcome! Take any seat you like.” The person who greeted the members was Lucy Montgomery. A former Guild member and currently working as a part-timer.

Everyone chose two tables right beside the window. They then started ordering their food and drinks. Later, they started their lunch after the food was served.

After the members finished eating, Lucy approached them, wanting to ask something.

“I wanna ask you guys. What’s with the ruckus at your office this morning?”

“Oh, that? It’s Dazai-san’s.”

“And he’s…”

“Stayed inside the storeroom for a while. That must have been disturbing you and other staff members working here. Sorry about that.” Tanizaki and Atsushi both bowed down for their apology.

“Well, there’s no need for it since it’s his usual high jinks but…”

Lucy put a bunch of letters on the table. Her hand was holding them for a while. The senders were from various women and they were all for Dazai.

“We usually get those whenever the women came here.”

“We usually get those whenever the women came here. It's fine, by the way, since we can send them to you guys. But there're a few problems.”

Atsushi got curious about what could it be regarding Dazai and his habit. The members knew him a lot, from his approach towards the women, his smooth-talking, to his peculiar relationship with them.

"At one time, one woman came here and waited for Dazai, but then, another one appeared for the same reason as the first. Those two got into a fight after they noticed it."

"That must've been hard on you, Montgomery-chan."

"Oh no. There's more. Remembered that last week a crazy woman made her attempt something crazy and shouted in front of this building?"

"You mean that time..."

The woman carried a knife for threatening Dazai to date her and her only. It was chaotic.

Among many women he dated so far,  some of them were already broke up and never seen each other again. But there are also some are a possessive type that they brought a great pandemonium.

"That's why I'm requesting you, as your client, to stop him from dating women. Or else, more women will come here and cause commotions and scare our customers."

"Stopping Dazai-san from dating? Easy for you to say but...." Atsushi cannot find any words to reply that Lucy's request is impossible to fulfill and does not want to sound rude.

"Listen, Lucy. I respect your demand of wanting Dazai to stop dating to prevent ruckus done by the women he dated. The problem is that Dazai's a slick man like a snake can crawl through the traps. We previously tried to tie him when he was about to go out but he was gone before we knew. Even if we can put a tracker on him to know where he's going, that guy's smart as if he can read what we're doing to him." Kunikida answered Lucy after he finished his lunch, stood up, and went to her and Atsushi.

"Demand?! I didn't say demand; I request you. Re-qu-est. If you can't do that, then at least investigate why he keeps dating women."

Both Atsushi and Kunikida are in silence for a moment until Atsushi spoke to Lucy.

"Well, we can investigate him but, like what Kunikida-san said, Dazai-san's a very smart person that he will know immediately if we try it."

"You won't know unless you try. You guys are Armed Detective Agency members, right? You're part of an establishment that handles cases that none the police nor military force can handle."

"..."

The jazz music from the LP recorder stopped and fell silent. The scent of coffee almost fades since there is no one else to order it. Thus, begin an investigation of Dazai's date.

[astxlphe-fics]

Snapshot.

Atsushi likes to draw in the park. He doesn’t realize how many times he’s drawn the handsome photographer until the man comes talking to him. 

Kuniatsu / Artist Atsushi, Photographer Kunikida (also ft. bug lover kuni)

Word count : ~3K

Atsushi settles down on the grass, back against the tree, and crosses his legs. He sets his cardboard folder against his knees and opens his sketchbook.

It’s new, and empty, a gift from Kyouka for his birthday, along with the set of pencils he’s brought with him. He puts the metal box on the ground next to him, picks on and looks around.

It’s a sunny day, in April, so the weather is still somewhat cool and the park isn’t as packed as in the summer months. Atsushi takes in the tree line, in the high building behind it, the people walking, the guy sitting on a bench playing a video game, the blond man lying on his stomach, a camera in hand.

He starts to draw.  

Broad strokes shape the trees, from gross shapes first until he moves on to smaller details, leaves and patches of grass and the shape of a man with a camera.

It takes over an hour for Atsushi to get to the point of drawing him, deciding last minute to add him to the scenery, and when he looks up to check if he has moved, he finds the man in the exact same position.

Utterly still, and a look of complete concentration on his face.

Atsushi draws him, smiling to himself, taking great care in the placement of his finger on the camera button, in the way his messy ponytail falls on his back, in the angle the sunlight makes his glasses glint.

About another hour later, about ten minutes after he changes page and takes on drawing a spider that crawled up his leg, the photographer sits and stretches, setting his camera around his neck. Then he walks to the man on the bench, who puts his video games in his trench coat.

They exchange a few words, and leave.

Atsushi tries to imagine what this man could possibly have photographed.

+

Bugs.

What Kunikida absolutely wants to photograph is close-ups of bugs.

It takes longer than he expects, but waiting is something he can do. His roommate is Dazai Osamu, so his patience is forged in fire, iron and exasperation.

The last bug close-up he takes is a caterpillar crawling its way to the nearest leaf, set right in front of his camera, and he has a pretty good shot of it eating.

When he is done, he sits back and stands, joining Dazai, who puts away his video game.

“Are you finished?” he asks, and Kunikida nods.

“I’m done.”

“Show me!” Dazai leans over to see the screen of his camera, almost knocking Kunikida off balance.

“Oi, be careful!” He huffs and turns the camera back on and opens the gallery, flipping through the different pictures he took during the last few hours.

There is, besides the caterpillar, a group of ants carrying bread crumb from where a family had picnicked for lunch. He shows him the ladybug as well, particularly proud of this one, as it's a picture of it as it takes off.

Several grasshoppers, a yellow butterfly and a bee.

Dazai looks over the pictures, and his nose wrinkles as he makes a face. “That’s gross, Kunikida, you could at least try to take pictures of more glamorous subjects.” He grins. “Like me.”

“Bugs are certainly glamorous,” Kunikida shoots back. “Unlike you, they’re an essential part of the ecosystem and are underappreciated. They need to be more recognized for the role they have in preserving our environment!”

Dazai sighs over-dramatically, draping himself on his shoulder. “Am I not an essential part of your ecosystem? Kunikida, you black-hearted man.” When Kunikida rolls his eyes, Dazai pulls himself straight again. “I’m only trying to help you. If the cute boy over there knew you took pictures of bugs—”

“The what now.”

“Don’t turn around,” Dazai orders, and Kunikida almost does as a reflex. Instead, he glances back to where Dazai is looking, to a (admittedly cute) white-haired young man sitting under the tree. “He’s been staring at you for an hour.”

“He’s drawing,” Kunikida hisses, starting to walk away. “This activity usually requires a lot of staring. He just happened to look in my general direction.”

Dazai doesn’t look convinced, but he shrugs. “Suit yourself,” he says. “But you’re wrong. He was looking at your butt.”

“Dazai.”

+

The park is a good source of inspiration, Atsushi decides on the third day of drawing there. He changes his spot every time, looking for new sceneries and people to draw. There are a lot of critters he ends up doodling, from birds to bugs and a few squirrels.

He brings a hot drink with him today. The temperature has dropped during the night, and it’s pretty much cold, so there is no one in the park besides Atsushi himself — and the photographer.

Today he has a tripod and facing away from him, and it’s an angle Atsushi rarely draws anyone in, so he takes the opportunity to put it down on paper.

His friend is with him today too, and Atsushi plans to draw him as well, but he quickly forgets about him. He puts special attention in the angle of the photographer’s shoulders, well defined by the blue coat he’s wearing. It stops under his knees, mid-calf, and then Atsushi makes sure to draw the folds of the pants just right.

Once, the photographer makes a movement to turn away, seemingly in Atsushi’s direction. Atsushi ducks his head, pretending not to be watching.

Then he tries something new. He looks up, trying to guess what the man is seeing, what he is taking a picture of, and sketches it as well as he can. It’s not perfect, but it’s a fun game that he finds out he likes to play, for now.

Once he is done, he catches sight of a cat playing in the grass and changes his subject.

Maybe, he thinks, he should bring Byakko to the park with him, next time?  

+

Kunikida comes back to the park often.

It’s not necessarily to take pictures of bugs, though he likes it, but he needs practice in taking pictures of larger sceneries and finding a focal point in it.

A subject, noticeable enough to draw the eye, placed in a way that makes it looks part of the larger picture rather that the focus of it.

He turns on his heels, and catches sight of the young man he has seen two days before — the one who, Dazai insisted, was looking at his butt. He’s sitting just on the line between shadows and sunlight, bent down, focused on his drawing, hair overshadowing his face.

His pen scratches at the paper, and he periodically looks up to the calico cat playing a few meters away.  

When he does, the light hits his face just right.

Kunikida twists the head of his tripod and turns the camera in his direction, making sure to include the cat. The white-haired artist isn’t paying attention to him at all so, the next time he looks up at the animal, Kunikida snaps a quick picture.

He opens the picture folder and stares at it.

It’s perfect.

+

It’s not the only picture Kunikida takes of him.

“You’re turning into a stalker~" Dazai teases, poking his side, and Kunikida flushes.

“I’m not a stalker!”

“S—ure. It’s not your fault he is so photogenic, right?”

On the latest one, he is lying on the ground, legs swinging slowly as he draws a different cat. This one is black and white, and Kunikida saw it arrive with him. It’s probably his cat.

Over the next few days, it seems like every time Kunikida tries to take a good picture, this young artist is just there, in a corner, looking a natural part of the place. He zooms in on one of them as much as he possibly can before it turns blurry.

He is smiling here, wide enough to show some of his teeth, to make his eyes crinkle and shine.

Kunikida spends several second looking at it, at every details of his face he can make out, committing them to memory. Then, he duplicates the pictures and crops it.

That’s a smile he wouldn’t mind seeing up close.

God, he’s starting to sound like Dazai.

Next to him, Dazai’s obnoxious laughter only gets louder, and Kunikida would strangle him with his bare hands if not for the attention it would draw.

“I should apologize to him,” he decides suddenly. Because taking secret pictures of a stranger isn’t simply weird, it can come off as downright creepy, and Kunikida is not a creep. Because he’s started to look for this young artist on shots he’s definitely not on, and to zoom in on his face, and this is getting out of hands.

“You can’t!” Dazai can barely contain his glee. “He’s napping!”

Indeed he is, and Kunikida gives up. He huffs and settles on the ground to take more pictures of bugs, stopping all movement to wait for one to approach him.

A few minutes later, he finds himself nose to nose with the young man’s cat, who bops its face on the camera lens.

Resigned, Kunikida adjusts the settings and presses the button. The cat’s nose looks enormous on the resulting picture, it’s curious eyes wide, its face magnified. One it's taken he sits up and shows it too the cat.

“There,” he says. "Are you happy?”

It stares at the picture of itself, rubs its head on Kunikida’s hand until he gives it a good scratch, and leaves.

+

The cold has passed now, as the end of April nears, and more and more people come to enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather. Atsushi sees families and several dog walkers.

He sets Byakko upon the grass. “Don’t go too far,” he tells the cat, who flicks her black-tipped tail at him before ignoring him.

The photographer is almost facing Atsushi today, so he has to be more discreet while drawing.

He focuses on his face, this time. On the line of his jaw, the curve of his nose, the shape of his eyes, and the way he frowns where he’s focused. He adds in as many details as he finds, and the more he draws the more his eyes are drawn to him.

By the time he is done Atsushi feels like he knows this face by heart.

The photographer’s expression changes as he takes different pictures of crowds while Atsushi records them in his sketchbook as fast as he possibly can, stomach fluttering as he discovers the range of emotions this man expresses.  

It’s wonderful practice, especially when his tall friend annoys him until he turns to him.

“Stop it, Dazai,” Atsushi hears him snap when the friend in question purposely waves in front of the camera to wave at him. He supposes the picture is ruined, because the photographer emits a loud noise of frustration. “Dammit, it’s all blurry now! Stop that, you useless waste of bandages!”

The sound attracts Byakko’s attention, and she wanders away from Atsushi. She curiously paws towards the pair until Dazai notices her and bends down to pet her.

She rubs her head against the man’s hand, before messing around, coming close to knock the tripod over. The sight it almost as Atsushi on his feet, but before he can Dazai looks up. His eyes catch Atsushi and he smiles, wide, like a Cheshire cat.

Atsushi’s face burns. He has been caught staring. To make it worse, Dazai tugs on the photographer’s arm and points to the cat, then to Atsushi. The man picks up Byakko and walks over to Atsushi with decisive steps.

He's mad at him, he thinks as he tries to read his face. He’s going to yell at him for staring or for letting his cat mess around his equipment.

The photographer stops right in front of him, and Atsushi realizes his work is in plain sight. He slams his sketchbook close, hoping he hasn’t noticed it — and the handful of drawings of his face all over the page.

“Is this your cat?”  

“I’m sorry,” Atsushi says, standing up to take her. “I’ll be more careful with her —”

“Please do,” the man answers, handing her to him. “What is she called?”

“Byakko.” He scratches at her ears and sighs. “I’m really sorry, I figured the park would be safer for her than letting her out in the streets.”

“No harm was done.” His face smooths over as he notices Atsushi’s distress, as if trying to reassure him. “She came over to me yesterday as well, and got her picture taken for her troubles.”

“Really? Thank you for not—you know—” He shrugs. “Uh, I’ve seen you around? Several times. I’m Atsushi.”

“Kunikida, it’s a pleasure.” His eyes fall on the discarded sketchbook. “I’ve seen you here as well, you seem to be a prolific artist.”

“I try!” He sends him a weak smile. “That’s how you progress, right?”

“Of course. Practice makes perfect— you must be skilled.”

“I can show you?” Atsushi offers, cheeks fading to a light pink. “If you want?”

Kunikida nods. “I can show you some of my work as well, if you’d like.” He gestures back at where his camera is still set. “I’m a photographer.”

Atsushi picks his sketchbook up again and flips it to the previous pages, trying to find one he likes enough to show off. He’s never liked showing his drawings to anyone, but Kunikida doesn’t seem the kind of man who would laugh at him, and something like excitation bubbles in Atsushi.

Until he realizes just how many times he has drawn Kunikida in the past few weeks.

“Uh—” The sketchbook snaps shut again, and he lets out a nervous laugh. “Would you look at the time! I should really head home!”  

“What—”

It’s obvious, from Kunikida’s face, that he’s seen them. He glances from the sketchbook to Atsushi, who is currently stuffing his things in his bag as fast as he can.

“I can hear my mom calling me!”

+

It’s only after he offers to show Atsushi his work that Kunikida remembers just how many pictures of him are on his camera roll.

He is almost relieved when Atsushi runs away, because it would have been a lot to explain. He would probably think Kunikida is a creep.

“Or maybe not,” Dazai tells him, thoughtful. “You say you saw that he’s been drawing you? So, I was right, he was looking at your butt.”

“Dazai, I’m sure he didn’t draw my butt.” He sets up his camera and looks around.

“Shame, it's very nice.”

After three days of going back to the usual park, Kunikida finally resigns to the fact that Atsushi isn’t showing up anymore. Since then, all his pictures have been bland — incomplete — so Dazai suggested moving location.

This new park is larger than the previous one and different enough to give him new material. The trees are denser and clear-cut paths run through it. A fountain stands in the center, the water flowing with a soothing noise.

Next to him, Dazai flops down on the grass, staring up at the sky and pulls out his earphones. Kunikida takes a picture, mentally labelling it as “Dazai being a lazy ass, as usual”.

It's only half-hearted, because Dazai doesn’t have to come with him on his photographing endeavors, and some days Kunikida wonders why he comes at all. Besides, saying he doesn’t enjoy Dazai’s company would be a blatant lie, they both know it.  

Suddenly, Dazai rolls on his side and takes one of his earbuds out. “Your favourite subject is here,” he points out. “Looks like someone had the same idea!”

Following his fingers, Kunikida finds Atsushi sitting near the fountain, scribbling in his sketchbook. He almost has his back to him, so he can’t see his face.

“You should—”

Kunikida doesn’t hear the end of Dazai’s sentence. He grabs his camera and walks towards him until Byakko, sitting by him, raises her head in his direction.

She stands and meows, attracting Atsushi’s attention, and he turns around. His eyes go wide as he sees Kunikida, and he stammers out something that sounds like “hello”.

“I would like to take a picture of you, please,” Kunikida declares, and Atsushi’s face turns into a deep, concerning red.

“Uh?”

He raises his camera. “You also don’t have to be embarrassed about drawing me. People watching — and drawing — is a strong hobby that can only lead to great progress in your art.” He pauses. “There are also several pictures of you I took without your knowledge and consent, I’m sorry. In my defence, you are often the only person who doesn’t move around.”

Atsushi looks a lot less panicked now that he knows Kunikida doesn’t hold anything against him, and laughs. “I hope you know how weird this sounds.”

“I’m aware.” His strict composure softens, and he pushes his glasses back up his nose. “So, can I take a picture?”

“Sure.” He sets his sketchbook down. “How would you like it to be?”

“Just a portrait.” He crouches to be on the same level as Atsushi, who is still sitting, and smiles as the camera is pointed to him.  

It’s the first picture he takes where Atsushi is looking right at the camera, smiling at him, and Kunikida’s heart jumps in his chest. He sits on the bench, right next to Atsushi, to show him.  

The young man leans over until their shoulders touch and stares at his own face, not unlike his cat did just a few days ago.

His cheeks are still pink when he pulls on of his uneven strand of hair behind his ear. “Could I see the other ones?” He gulps, and seems to gather the courage to add something else, twisting his hands: “I mean, I could show you mine—” his graphite stained fingers tap his sketchbook as he speaks “—and you can show me yours. Over coffee? Maybe?”

Kunikida blinks in surprise, taken off guard, but he smiles. “I would like that.”

[fy-soukoku]

How do you think each Agency member would celebrate Kunikida's birthday?

Atsushi would greet him first thing in the morning with a smile and a little box wrapped in ribbon. He would stutter over his words, but more or less thank Kunikida for being such a wonderful person to him and for putting up with dazai keeping the ADA on track

Dazai would poke fun at him as soon as he sat down, prodding him with a devilish smile. He would tease him all day, moaning about how since it was his birthday, no one should have to work. Kunikida would grow impatient with him, as he was hoping Dazai would let up for one goddamn day. But no. It gets worse.

But at the end of the day, Dazai turns around and sets a hand on Kuni’s arm, and with a little twitch of his lips, says, “Thank you for all that you do, Kunikida.”

Ranpo leaves a little notebook on his desk. Inside is a handwritten note of thanks, and a promise to work a little harder. (That’s a lie, but it does make Kunikida happy.)

Yosano offers to buy him lunch, and they sit in a cafe for a few hours, sipping coffee and making idle chitchat. It’s surprisingly relaxed, and Kunikida can even catch himself hoping for a repeat of the event. At the end of it, Yosano gives him a new pen, sitting in a wooden box, all glossy and new. (I am salivating just thinking of this pen T^T)

Kenji, this pure lil bean, gives Kunikida a big hug first thing and demands that they all get to sing Happy Birthday. He’s the one who goes out to get Kuni a cake (with Tanizaki’s help, of course) and he spends at least an hour perusing the options for the perfect choice.

Tanizaki goes with Kenji, obviously. But he also pulls Kunikida to the side and gives him a long winded speech about how grateful he is for all the work that Kunikida does. “You’re a good man, Kunikida,” He says, and gives him a soft smile. “I hope you have a good birthday.”

Kyouka makes him a card, with lace all around the edges, and a note written on the inside, thanking him for allowing her to join the ADA. It also comes with a hug.

Naomi would try to do something like buy him a little gift and exchange a few words of thanks. She thanks him for taking care of her family and for just, in general, being a good man. 

–

Bonus: He and Chuuya meet for drinks at the end of the day and they spend the night at Kunikida’s house, playing card games and telling stupid stories.