Chapter Text
POV : Atsushi
It's now my 3rd week at the Academy, and I've grown comfortable in it. I have people that I can talk to, I don't have to worry about people fearing me, and I'm understood.
I also got to learn more about the school, it's a 6-12 grade school. That was probably why I saw younger kids running in the hallways sometimes.
Another thing I learned was that there were additional classes to enhance your ability. Akutagawa and Chuuya-san currently take those classes, and I was thinking on joining it, after I have gotten full control over my own ability, of course. Dazai-san said he used to take the classes, but dropped out since he didn't really need it.
I left my room, expecting to see Akutagawa in the kitchen like always after getting freshened up but he wasn't there. I was going to go see if he was still sleeping in his room, but I didn't try to bother. He's always up late overworking himself, or coughing and it was a bit early too.
Picking up my bag from the island in the kitchen, I left the dorm, silently, closing the door behind me as I started making my way down the hall.
I had started to remember most of the hallways in the academy, being here for two weeks already. I remember the routes Akutagawa takes to bring us to the classrooms, and despite knowing where to go now, he still doesn't let me go by myself like some 'kid'. That's what he tells me.
I made it to the history classroom, and slid the door open to see Dazai-san sitting like he always does on the chair, backwards. He was staring off into nothing with his head resting on the back of his hands, which were on the chair. It wasn't until I stepped into the classroom that I noticed his usual company wasn't with him.
"Good morning, Dazai-san, where's Chuuya-san? Isn't he always with you here, in the morning?" I questioned him, walking up to a chair beside him and seating myself down.
"Ah, good morning Atsushi-kun!! The slug's out being an errand boy for Ranpo-san." He said with a relaxed expression.
"Everyone seems to respect Ranpo a lot, don't they?" I chuckled softly. I did know that Ranpo is the student council president, so maybe that was why he was respected so much.
"Of course they do not only is he the president of the student council and a senior-"
"HE'S A SENIOR!?" I yelled out, cutting the brunette off. I was very surprised to know that he was a 12th grade student. He did not act like one, nor look like one.
"Yes he is! He's going to be graduating this year, but as I was saying, Ranpo-san doesn't actually have an ability."
"What..!? Then what is he doing in a school for abilities when he doesn't even have one!?" I was insanely surprised. This whole place was meant for kids with abilities, and he was just a regular person!
"I don't really know much, but his parents passed in an accident and the Headmaster had taken him in. Why the Headmaster let's him stay in the school? He told Ranpo-san that he had an ability of his own, only working when he puts his glasses on, but in reality he's naturally gifted as extremely knowledgeable. Everyone goes along with the whole thing, making him believe that he actually does have one."
"That makes sense... When I first met him he read my exact thoughts right at that moment, without even saying a word." That was a lot to take in, but it explains why he was always around the Headmaster. They probably had a father-son-like relationship, knowing that the Headmaster had taken him in. It kinda reminded me of how I was taken in by the Headmaster of my old school.
"You should see the boy without his glasses! He's in such a pissy mood when he loses them!" Dazai-san laughed. I gave out a small chuckle as well, going into thought, before speaking to him.
"Hey, Dazai-san... You never told me what your ability was." I was really curious to know what it was. His face lit up, joyfully.
"I'm glad you asked!!" He hopped out of his chair with one of his feet on the seat, one hand placed on his chest while the other supported himself on the back of the chair. The current state he was in made him look extremely stupid.
"My ability, 'No Longer Human' lets me nullify anyone's ability, only through a single touch! Cool right!!" He said proudly, then sitting back down on the chair with an even prouder grin.
"That is cool... and really useful as well..! And if I might add, what's Chuuya-san and Akutagawa's ability..? I mean, I've only seen them use their ability a few times, but I've never really got to know." Since we were on the topic about abilities, it would be nice to know everyone's. Dazai-san hummed, before he spoke.
"Chuuya's ability is to manipulate gravity, also through touch, it's called 'Upon the tainted sorrow'!! Akutagawa on the other hand can manipulate his clothing to turn into what we call 'Rashoumon'!! I'm too tired to go into depth about their abilities so you can ask them yourself." He sighed, swatting his hand slowly.
"Okay! I will ask them!" I told him, smiling warmly. Dazai-san looked at me and smiled himself. After that we started to talk more, the class still empty. Our conversations went from here and there, some things about the Academy, or things like food. I told him how I loved tea over rice and he told me that he would treat me to some later on, that made me beam. Then another question had came to my mind, once I had seen the bandages around his arms and neck.
"If you don't mind me asking, why do you have to many bandages on you? Did you get into some sort of fight? You don't seem like a person who would purposely always pick fights with someone, well at least not first fights..." Dazai-san always is picking fights with Chuuya-san, on purpose, so there isn't a single way that he doesn't. The tall boy had just left his mouth open with a blank expression on his face, and just then we heard a voice come from the door.
"It's cause he's a suicidal maniac." We both looked towards the door, to see Chuuya-san standing there, leaning against the door frame with his hands in his pockets.
"W-what!?" I said, looking back and forth between the two juniors. Dazai-san looked at me with an innocent, warm face, while Chuuya-san looked incredibly annoyed.
"He's always trying to end himself, in the most weirdest ways known to man, but not even heaven nor hell wanna take him." The ginger scoffed and walked towards us. He looked around, trying to find something.
"Where's Akutagawa?" He looked at me, sitting on the desk.
"He was in the dorm, but I had left earlier so he might be coming here in a bit." I knew that he was going to be furious that I had left by myself, since he took me as his responsibility on my first day. We again, then chatted for a bit before Dazai-san's face lit up in glee. Too much glee.
"Hey! Whatcha guys think if we go to get ice cream after school! The three of us!"
"What about Akutagawa?" I asked. Chuuya-san nodded at my question.
"It can be a hang out for me and Chuuya to get to know you better!! We only talk in the morning! We can have another hangout some other time with him!" I nodded, slowly. The shorter, hesitantly nodded.
"Fine. But we're bringing Akutagawa next time we go." Chuuya-san stated. Dazai-san only sighed.
"Okay, slug."
A few minutes later, we heard the door slide open, with a slam. We all twisted our heads to the direction where the sound had just come from.
"Jinko! There you are." I laughed nervously. Akutagawa, had walked in, glaring at me.
"Didn't I tell you to not wander off by yourself." I grunted. This boy was treating me like some little kid, ever since he was told to 'look after me'. I think he was taking his job way too seriously.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't really sleep so I went to class early..." I nervously said. I heard a faint chuckle come from the bandaged boy beside me. Akutagawa looked at Dazai-san, then at Chuuya-san before he toned his voice down, but it was a bit more cold.
"Tch, fine. Do whatever you please." He said walking over to his desk, almost as if instantly his mind was brought to some other thoughts. I could only sigh.
The classroom had started filling up with students at this time, and two minutes before the bell had rung, Kunikida-san had rushed in.
"Dazai. Chuuya. I swear I'm going to beat the hell out of both of you." Chuuya-san ignored him, sliding his hands into his pockets again and walking out. Dazai-san, on the other hand, didn't budge at all.
"Dazai, I don't think I would like to tell you twice." He propped his glasses back up, with his finger, shuffling to us.
"Good morning, Atsushi-kun. Don't bother when this bandage wasting machine picks up with his antics." He said to me. During my days here, I also had gotten the chance to talk to Kunikida-san. He had offered to help me with the work I had missed, one time, after he saw me while making his daily occurrence to drag the two out. He's been very kind to me as well. Kunkida-san had grabbed Dazai-san, who acted like some sort of ragdoll with a sly smile on his face.
The 3 of them had left the classroom right as the bell had rung for first period. I walked over to my desk, peering over at Akutagawa, who seemed a bit pissed. However, I still tried to speak with him.
"Hey, Akutagawa-"
"Shut it, Jinko." I only stayed quiet. I don't know what could've made him pissed in the matter of several minutes, but it was better to not bug him about it. He might end me if I tried questioning it. I just left him alone. Even though he seemed to be pissed, he quietly still took me to each of my classes, and sat down to eat lunch with me.
—
It was now the end of the day, and I was packing my bag to leave the classroom. The bell had rung 5 minutes before, and usually Akutagawa comes running in 2 minutes after. Since he wasn't here, I left by myself. He didn't seem like he was going to come anyways after what's been going on.
Whenever I had asked him a question in class, he shooed me off and silenced me, or during lunch he had barely even acknowledged my existence even though he had brought me with him by his own will. Whatever the hell had happened, he was surely mad at me for some unknown reason. At least, a reason that he won't tell me about.
Hopefully this won't last too long. I'm worried that it will.
I actually enjoy his company a lot.