What you're name ?

Chapter 10 Walk me home

Made by @cataclysmiceve1 on Twitter!
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This is the end of Part One of this story, but there are several more that will be continued in later chapters! Thank you for following it this far, we've really BARELY made it to one third of the way

Enjoy!

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"Sasaki?"

She smiles softly, tucking her hair behind her ears. "Hi..." Her hair is just the way he remembered it--soft, dark waves falling to the middle of her back. If he reaches out to touch them, they probably feel the same, they probably still smell like that jasmine conditioner she used to love--

"What—" Dazai doesn't know what to feel, what to think, "You're here. Why are you here?"

Sasaki snorts softly, covering her mouth to hide a fond smile. "You used to be a little more articulate, you know."

Dazai missed her laugh, and he resents it. Hating her should be simple, but it isn't. Sasaki was special to him—and the reasons for that didn't magically disappear when she walked away. She's beautiful, intelligent, funny...As well as arrogant and self centered.

A lot like someone else Dazai used to know.

"Well—I heard you were going to Tokyo University." She admits, fiddling with her hair absentmindedly. He's sure the tactic is meant to draw his eye there--because it never failed before, and it certainly isn't now.

"I'm weighing my options," Dazai tilts his head to the side, "Why should that matter?"

Sasaki bows her head. "That's where I'm going next year—and I thought, if we're going to be classmates—we should put things on a better note between us."

"A better note?" Dazai frowns. "Better than when you dumped me over the phone after the first day of school?"

Sasaki winces. "Osamu—"

"I'm just curious—" his tone goes from lighthearted to biting, "and Dazai is fine, by the way." He shouldn't feel /guilty/ when she looks hurt, but he does.

"I know I messed up, alright?" "But O—" She frowns, "—Dazai, you have to understand. We were second years when—when it happened. And I wanted to do it sooner, but I couldn't, and—it's a big burden for anyone, okay?"

Dazai manages to hide the way he feels like he's been punched in the gut remarkably well.

She wanted to do it sooner? Then why didn't she just—

Oh.

"It was starting to impact my studies, my parents wanted me focusing on school—I had to. I know I hurt you, but I...I didn't know what else to do," Sasaki sighs miserably. "But I'm truly, honestly sorry."

Dazai rubs the back of his head. He doesn't really know why Sasaki is doing this—and he isn't dumb enough to miss that she wants something, but...That doesn't make her words any less impactful.

"If you want a clear conscience, then I forgive you," Dazai sighs, "Anything else?"

(He actually doesn't forgive her—he isn't sure he even knows how to begin to do that, but he wants this conversation to be over.)