the other side of paradise | bsd x gn!reader

twenty-three.

Inviting Uriel, Katai and Rokuzo to the lunch was a carefully crafted decision, and it went exactly as planned.

While checking up on them one day, you mentioned that you're preparing a reunion for friends that ended off on strange terms. Rokuzo Taguchi volunteered to help immediately. He's been looking for a way to repay you, and this just might be his chance. Even if he didn't feel like he owes you, he would've helped anyway. You've grown on him, although he'd rather bury himself alive than tell you that. Unsurprisingly, the kids love him immediately. He plays along with their imaginations and jokes around. Yuu, Shinji, and Sakura especially adore him – he dotes on every single one of them, making the cheeky hacker look like a big brother.

Uriel asks to tag along on his own when he hears Rokuzo will be there. Kousuke and Katsumi are closest to his age, and they end up getting along swimmingly. They poke fun at Dazai and enthuse about a popular tv show they've been watching, roleplaying as their favourite characters.

Katai was dragged along unwillingly, but he's been the most helpful of all three. You're not sure if he realizes it, to be honest. This antisocial man, wrapped in his futon, blatantly ignores the tense atmosphere between the Buraiha trio and talks to all three at the same time. You're not sure if he's behaving so out of character because he wants to help you, or just because Rokuzo has been forcing him to talk to new people lately. You did warn him in advance it's going to be awkward, so perhaps he has managed to prepare himself mentally for it. Either way, you're grateful for his interference.

The trio is quite uncomfortable, only giving out short answers. Ango can't bring himself to look Dazai or Oda in the eyes, Dazai nervously fiddles with your fingers under the table and Oda just looks incredibly stiff. They spout out a pathetic reply when something is directed at them, but that's about it.

Uriel and Rokuzo burst out laughing at a joke the made, and the kids join along. A smile creeps up on your face. They're all here. Alive and breathing. The trio may be awkward, but they're together. It hits you then. If it wasn't for your interference, most of the people around this table would be dead. Nothing but dust. But they're not dust, not in this universe. In this universe, they're sitting around a table, eating lunch, and joking around. Because of the efforts you and Anastasia put in.

Ango looks constipated, clearly trying to speak up. You give him an obvious look. 'Go on,' it means. 'Say something.'

"Uhm," he coughs out. "(Y/n), I'm glad to see you've been such a good influence on Dazai. I always believed he needed someone to keep him acting out, and you've been nothing but perfect at it. And... I'm sure Dazai's done things for you as well," he awkwardly tries to compliment.

"I'm glad you're getting along," Oda agrees, comfortable talking about this topic.

"The higher-ups of the Special Division have complimented you as well. As far as I heard, there's talk of borrowing you for a longer mission."

"Is the Division that useless to need help from an Agency member?" Dazai mocks with a smile on his face. "Of course, (Y/n) is very capable, but why would they request help from an outsider? What are they planning this time?"

You resist the urge to slam your head into the table. Ango really had to start talking about the Division in front of everybody, and Dazai can't leave him have the last word.

"I never cared about the Division," Katai mumbles out, effectively stopping the argument. Your side of the table is enveloped in awkward silence once again.

"Could you come play with use, pretty please?" The situation is saved by Sakura! With the rest of the kids in tow, she's addressing everyone on your side of the table.