𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐭 [AU] (Being rewritten!!)

𝟐𝟎-𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐚𝐫

(OMG FINALLY 20 CHAPTERS AFTER 3 YEARS OF WRITING THIS FIC)

Atsushi skipped through the formerly dreary halls of the apartment complex. The walls seemed to have shifted from eerie and unfamiliar to an almost welcoming and frivolous scene. These floors once creaked with uncertainty, but the sound now rang like delightful notes of a mellow song through Atsushi's ears. He scaled down the stairs he had previously deemed unbearable to even look at, showing now only a grin on his face like no other. Eventually, he reached the midway of his current route, Ranpo's apartment.                                                                                                                                                                                          

Atsushi ceased coyly tapping on the door like he'd previously offered in past visits. Rather than shy away from his trusted friend, he put brute force into his fist, pelting punches to the door's thin wooded surface. 

"...be there in a minute!" Ranpo shouted from indoors his domain.

Atsushi hummed quietly to himself, looking around to pass the time. "Odd..." He thought, noticing that Poe was not there to answer the door as per the usual routine.

Ranpo burst through the door minutes later in a rush, a burnt piece of toast sandwiched between his teeth. "I'm ready! I'm-" Ranpo took the depressing breakfast out of his mouth and huffed. He began panting, trying to catch his breath desperately.

"Woah...Ranpo? You ugh...you doin' okay?" 

"Sorry for holding you back. Usually, Poe wakes me up so I don't oversleep, but he went on a business trip. He won't be back for a while..." He scratched the back of his neck with an apologetic plea.

"Strange for Ranpo to be this humbled over such a minor inconvenience. I guess he's just been so reliant on Poe that he's struggling to adjust to living alone again." Atsushi silently pondered.

"No, no, it's alright! Really! It's not a problem! How long will Poe be gone for?"

"A few months, I think. He seemed really excited when he left. I'm happy for him!" 

Ranpo seemed particularly off today. Something felt peculiar about the way he was speaking. It was discernible that he was throwing fibs about his emotions around. Living the life of ease with what was almost a house husband, had he taken all this for granted? No, this is Ranpo we are talking about. Why would he, of all souls, fall to such a minuscule obstacle?

Before they began their descent to their classes, Atsushi had but one question left to inquiry.

"Ranpo, are you really, truly, okay? Can you honestly tell me you'll be fine on your own? I'd never turn you down. Even if you think it's shameful, or silly, or whatever the case maybe; You can always turn to me for help."

Ranpo was a tad taken aback by Atsushi's sudden offering. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he ran straight into Atsushi's grip, Atsushi on the other end receiving a hug that felt more a desperate call than an unwarranted act of affection. Ranpo dropped his toast, as well as his act.

Atsushi stumbled back, but quickly, he adapted to the situation. He held Ranpo in his arms, consoling the suffering boy. After Ranpo explained himself, the truth was finally out. He was dealing with a sudden depression, and doing simple tasks became burdens he could no longer trust himself to carry out. He requested Atsushi stay over until he was sure he could take care of himself effectively again. And after some careful consideration, Atsushi obliged. Although he wondered how he would tell Akutagawa, he decided it was irrelevant to the current situation and left it to his future self to handle.