VULTURES. (FyoShibu / ShibuFyo AU)

CHAPTER V.

"It... It's Fyodor-sama."

Dazai's eyes widened in surprise, a smirk playing on his lips. "Fyodor, huh? So he's the one who's been on your mind. I have to say, I never thought you'd have feelings for him." "I... I don't have feelings for him," Shibusawa protested, his cheeks flushing a darker shade of red. "It's just... there's something about him that's... captivating. I can't explain it."
Dazai chuckled, leaning back against the desk. "Captivating, eh? That's an interesting way to describe him. But you can't deny that there's more to it than that. You're attracted to him, aren't you? And not just physically." Shibusawa's jaw clenched, and he looked away, unable to meet Dazai's gaze.
"I... I don't know what I'm feeling," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
"But... I can't stop thinking about him. It's like he's invaded my mind, and I can't shake him off."
"You're struggling with this, aren't you?" he asked gently. "You want to deny your feelings, but they keep pulling you back."

Dazai watched Shibusawa carefully, studying his expression. He could sense the conflicted emotions on Shibusawa's face, the turmoil in his heart. Shibusawa nodded, looking down at his hands. "It's... it's like a constant battle in my head. I keep telling myself to stay away from him, that he's dangerous. But... but I can't resist the way he makes me feel."
Dazai hummed thoughtfully. "You know, Shibusawa, sometimes our hearts can lead us down unexpected paths. Maybe you shouldn't fight these feelings so hard. Maybe you should just let yourself feel what you're feeling, and see where it takes you." Shibusawa lifted his head to glare at Dazai. "Are you out of your mind? Do you even know who Fyodor is? He's dangerous. He's cunning. He's a master manipulator. And you're telling me to just let myself fall for him? That's a recipe for disaster!" Dazai chuckled, not at all fazed by Shibusawa's anger. "I'm not saying it's going to be easy. It's probably going to be messy and complicated. But that's life, isn't it? Love isn't always the neat fairytale we expect it to be. Sometimes, it's messy and unpredictable. But that doesn't make it any less real."
Shibusawa ran a hand through his hair, frustrated by Dazai's infuriatingly calm demeanor. "But... but it's Fyodor we're talking about here. He's not exactly the type to return feelings. He's a monster. A monster who takes pleasure in others' pain."
Dazai shrugged, not denying the truth in Shibusawa's words. "Perhaps. But people can change, Shibusawa. Maybe there's more to him than what we see on the surface. Maybe there's a side to him that you haven't seen yet."

Shibusawa snorted derisively, crossing his arms. "You're delusional, Dazai. Do you think there's a good side to someone like him? You think he's capable of love and compassion?" Dazai shrugged again, seemingly unbothered by Shibusawa's skepticism. "I don't know," he said honestly. "But I do know that people often surprise us. They can be full of contradictions and complexities. Maybe Fyodor is a mix of good and bad, light and darkness. Maybe there's more to him than just his dangerous side." Shibusawa groaned, feeling a headache coming on. "You're insufferable, you know that? You always have to play devil's advocate, don't you? Can't you just support me for once?" Dazai giggled, enjoying the way he could rile Shibusawa up. "Where's the fun in that? I like seeing you get all worked up. It's cute." Shibusawa's cheeks burned furiously, and he clenched his fists. "Cute?! I'm not cute. I'm a grown man, not a child." Dazai's smirk widened, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh, I know you're a grown man. But that doesn't mean I can't find certain aspects of you endearing. Your reactions are always amusing, Shibusawa."
Shibusawa's glare intensified. "I hate you, you know that? I hate how you always get under my skin and how you always manage to pull me into these ridiculous discussions." Dazai feigned hurt, placing a hand on his chest. "Oh, Shibusawa, you wound me. I thought we were friends. And now you're telling me you hate me? How cruel!" Shibusawa rolled his eyes, not falling for Dazai's act. "You're impossible, Dazai. You always have been. I should've known better than to share my thoughts with you." Dazai chuckled, enjoying the back-and-forth banter. "Oh, come on, Shibusawa. You know you secretly love it. You love our little arguments. Admit it." Shibusawa huffed, not wanting to admit that Dazai was somewhat right. "Fine. Maybe I do enjoy these little arguments. But that doesn't change the fact that you're infuriating!" Dazai's smirk widened, clearly entertained by Shibusawa's reluctance. "See, was that so hard to admit? And I'll take being infuriating over being boring any day."
Shibusawa rolled his eyes again, but he couldn't suppress the hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "You're the epitome of infuriating, Dazai. But I suppose I wouldn't have it any other way." Dazai's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Aw, Shibusawa, that was almost... almost nice. Did you just admit you kind of like me?" Shibusawa's cheeks tinged a light shade of pink, and he looked away, not wanting to give Dazai the satisfaction of an answer. "Don't flatter yourself. I tolerate you, that's all."
Shibusawa's heart skipped a beat as Dazai moved closer, but he tried to maintain his composure. "Honestly? You drive me mad most of the time. But there are times when I do find our conversations... entertaining, I suppose."
"Now, can you help me... y'know, confess to Fyodor?"
Dazai raises an eyebrow, a sly grin playing on his lips. "You want my help confessing to Fyodor, eh? That's unexpected. But sure, I'll lend a hand. What do you need from me?" Shibusawa exhales, a mixture of nerves and anticipation in his voice. "Well, I need... I need some guidance, I guess. I've never really... confessed my feelings to someone before, especially not someone like Fyodor. And I don't even know if he feels the same way..." Dazai nods, understanding the pressure Shibusawa is under. "Ah, I see. So, you need some tips on how to express your feelings and figure out if Fyodor reciprocates them. No worries, I've got you covered."
Shibusawa lets out a sigh of relief, appreciating Dazai's support. "Thank you, Dazai. I know you're usually chaotic as hell, but I can always count on you when it really matters, huh?"
Dazai gives a nonchalant shrug but smiles genuinely. "What can I say? I can be serious when I need to be. And I do care about you, Shibusawa, as much as I tease you. Plus, helping people confess their love can be quite fun."
Shibusawa rolls his eyes, amused by Dazai's comment. "Right, because you just can't pass up the opportunity to be a meddlesome matchmaker."