Opposites Do Attract (a Dazai x Kunikida fanfic)

Chapter 8: Classic Dazai

In the end, Kunikida finally made up his mind to go into work. The ideals strike again, but not after a long debate. Sometimes it was really hard being an idealist. But no matter. Kunikida would without a doubt brave the teasing from Yosano and annoyances from Dazai...or lack thereof at this point.

Luckily, Kunikida turned out to be the first person there (as always), so at least he didn't have to deal with Yosano yet. He decided he'd definitely get that paperwork done today. After all, it had been delayed by a few days now and that was certainly not ideal. He did have some doubts that he'd actually be able to try and finish the paperwork due to previous distractions that would likely return.

But much to Kunikida's surprise, he was proven wrong. He was actually able to get a decent amount of the paperwork done by the time the rest of the agency members began to show up.

Unfortunately, Yosano was among the first. She noticed Kunikida and smirked at him.

Kunikida avoided her gaze. Why? Just why...?

"Checkup time," she announced.

"No thanks," Kunikida replied.

Yosano looked outraged.

"Really, I'm fine," Kunikida insisted.

"I doubt that," Yosano argued.

"And I think you're overly worried," Kunikida announced.

"Duh. I'm a doctor, that's my job," Yosano pointed out.

"Well...I guess I can't argue that. But I really am doing great right now," Kunikida responded.

Yosano sighed. "Fine. Well in that case, let's take a minute to talk about you-know-who."

Kunikida considered pretending that he had no clue what Yosano was talking about, but then he remembered how bad a liar he was. How to get out of this situation?

"Oh speaking of, where is he?" Atsushi wondered. He had noticed Kunikida's expression and decided to try and distract Yosano from further pursuing the topic.

Thanks a lot, kid, Kunikida thought, relieved.

"Good question," Ranpo spoke up, looking around.

"Guess we'll have to send Kunikida out to look for him," Yosano announced.

"Why me specifically?" Kunikida asked.

"Oh I don't know, maybe cause you guys are partners..." Yosano replied, putting a lot of emphasis on the last word.

Kunikida knew very well what Yosano was implying, but he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of admitting it. "Right. Well, I'll be back...probably a lot later cause knowing Dazai, he's likely wandered off pretty far for any number of reasons."

There she goes again, Ranpo thought.

Yosano's basically the captain of the ship at this point, Atsushi thought.

Kunikida then set out to search for his mischievous and lately less annoying partner. Hopefully he was just skipping work and having fun instead of the other, worse alternative. But one could never quite tell with Dazai.

"Dazai?" Kunikida asked, looking around.

No answer.

"Dazai...?" Kunikida repeated.

Silence.

"Daaaaaaaaazzzzzaaaaaaiiiiiii...come out, come out, wherever you are," Kunikida called.

Still nothing.