Opposites Do Attract (a Dazai x Kunikida fanfic)

Chapter 3: Yosano Freaks Kunikida Out

Dazai was ruminating over what Kunikida had just told him. Had he gone too far today with how annoying he had been towards both Chuuya and Kunikida? The way Kunikida was talking to Dazai sure made him think so. Maybe, just maybe, he felt a tiny bit bad about it.

Once Kunikida was done lecturing Dazai (shockingly, this lecture wasn't as long as the usual ones), he just sat down at his desk, feeling utterly defeated. He then faceplanted onto the desk.

Dazai glanced over at Kunikida. Forget what he thought earlier, he definitely felt bad, especially since he was usually the reason for Kunikida feeling that way.

"Hey, Kunikida...?" he said timidly.

Kunikida didn't look up. "Yes?"

Dazai hesitated. Would this backfire?

Kunikida finally lifted his head off the desk and looked at Dazai.

Dazai was still hesitating.

"What is it, Dazai?" Kunikida prompted.

It was then that Dazai realized he'd been stalling for awhile, so he decided he'd just say it and get it over with. "I'm...sorry..."

Kunikida looked puzzled.

"Kunikida, why do you look so shocked? It's not completely unheard of for me to apologize," Dazai claimed.

Kunikida gave him a skeptical look. "Maybe, but it's not exactly common either. What are you sorry for?"

"The way I bothered you all day. It's my fault you couldn't get your work done cause I kept distracting you," Dazai explained.

"That's true," Kunikida agreed.

"Wait...you don't sound mad," Dazai commented.

Now it was Kunikida's turn to fall silent. Dazai was right, all day Kunikida had found himself not being nearly as mad at him as he would under normal circumstances. He had no idea how to feel now. It was good that he wasn't as annoyed at Dazai now...right? Or was it bad that he was becoming less mad at Dazai? Kunikida didn't know anymore, and not knowing bothered him.

"Kunikida?" Dazai asked after a good two minutes of watching the puzzled Kunikida.

Kunikida snapped out of it. "Yeah?"

"I'm starting to get worried about you," Dazai announced.

"Why?" Kunikida asked.

"Because you seem a lot calmer than usual," Dazai pointed out.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Kunikida replied, trying to sound normal.

Dazai raised his eyebrows. "You sure about that?"

If even Dazai of all people noticed something, Kunikida knew he couldn't effectively argue it. "Fine, you got me."

"Mhm?" Dazai prompted.

"Believe me, I've noticed what you mentioned..." Kunikida admitted.

"Naturally," Dazai replied.

Kunikida was reluctant to speak further on it.

"I'm starting to wonder if you have amnesia again," Dazai remarked.

"Would I remember you if that were the case?" Kunikida pointed out.

Dazai thought about it. "I guess not, but...can ya blame me for being shocked?"

"I guess not," Kunikida conceded.

"If anyone else sees you like this, they'll be just as shocked," Dazai commented.

Kunikida nodded. He knew that all too well, and he didn't look forward to the inevitable questions that would follow. It was bad enough with just Dazai asking, so it would be so much worse if everyone else was.