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Ryūnosuke Akutagawa | The Child

You couldn't believe your eyes, as you looked down at the feeling of something pulling on your coat.

It was a little kid all alone. He had dark hair and dull eyes.

"Hello! What are you doing out here?" You asked, crouching down to his level.

"Can you give me a reason to live?" You were shocked by his question but could only think. The question burned into your brain and made you think for what felt like forever until you finally had an answer.

"Are you curious about who you could be?"

"No."

"Say yes!"

"...yes."

"Good! Are you all alone? What's your name?" You asked the boy.

"Ryūnosuke Akutagawa."

"I see, let's get you out of this forest. It's not safe for you here!" You gently picked up the small bean and walked away from the dark forest.

It took an hour, but you finally managed to make your way to your apartment.

"You can stay here overnight! Come, I'll get you settled in!" You took Akutagawa by the hand and carefully guided him into the house.

Akutagawa was stoic and cold, even for a little kid you felt intimidated. He looked over his surroundings with dull eyes before sitting on your bed.

You didn't have a clue as to what to do except to sit down next to him.

"Are you sleepy?" He nodded and you tucked him into your bed.

"Rest easy, Akutagawa." You smiled, pushing his hair out of his face.

He was quiet as you got up to leave but quickly pulled at you to stay. You looked into his dull eyes as he spoke. "Don't...leave me." Your heart melted at his words and you nodded, knowing fully what he wanted. You got under the sheets as well and turned off the light.

You shared a hug until he was fast asleep. And you couldn't help but find him adorable.

When the sun rose you as well got up only to find that Akutagawa was lying wide awake looking toward the ceiling. You wondered how long he had been awake as you gently nudged him.

He turned to you and hugged your neck. After a while, you both got up and you carried him to the kitchen.

"Are you hungry, Akutagawa?"

"Yes."

"What would you like?" When he only shrugged you decided to make him a frozen dessert made of fruits. He told you he liked figs and so you added them.

He told you the dish was delicious after shoving bite after bite into his mouth. He must have been starving and your heart went out to this little boy.

He was filthy and you knew you needed to help him.

"Do you know how to bathe yourself?" It was an odd question but you didn't want to be the only one cleaning him. When he didn't respond you sighed and took him into the bathroom.

"It's bath time!"

"No. ♡"

"You drew the water and looked behind you only to see that he was gone.

You pulled him back into the room and locked the door to make sure he didn't leave before he was cleaned up.

"So, you don't like baths but they are important and keep you clean so please do it for me just this once?" You begged him.

Once he nodded you took his coat off along with the rest of his clothes and threw them in the washing machine. When you came back he was already in the tub with a distasteful look on his face.

You found him adorable as he dodged your sponge attempt but after a while of back and forth, he was all clean.

You got his clothes from the dryer and admired him. He felt happy inside but wouldn't show it. And after he thanked you, you took him into the living room to watch cartoons.

It was a happy day for the two of you and the little Ryūnosuke Akutagawa finally felt like he had a reason to live. It was a trivial one but he liked it. He just wanted you to keep looking after him and making him feel safe. After all, that's the only thing a small bean should have to worry about and you gladly took up the opportunity of helping him and being his parent.