Unravel Me

16: Broken

TW: Mentions of trauma/signs of trauma response, depression/self-loathing, suicide attempt.
This is not a warm and fuzzy chapter, so please read at your own discretion. If you struggle with any of the subjects listed above, then I'd recommend you stop reading at the sound of breaking glass. I love y'all <3
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   4:26 pm
[Dumb Slug]: "Hey, asshole. What time am I coming over?"

4:26 pm
[Sent]: "I'm at my family's place right now. I shouldn't be home later than like 8"

4:27 pm
[Dumb Slug]: "Now? I thought you said the dinner was tomorrow?"

4:29 pm
[Sent]: "It is, but my dad always expects me here the day before to get ready. He needs me to at least pretend to give a shit about this stupid party (for his sake, of course). We go over the guest list so I don't accidentally offend anyone by not knowing who they are, and we make sure everything is all set with the staff."

4:30 pm
[Dumb Slug]: "Wait, staff? Wdym?"

4:30 pm
[Sent]: "Like our cooks and servers and maids"

4:31 pm
[Dumb Slug]: "..."

4:31 pm
[Sent]: "What?"

4:31 pm
[Dumb Slug]: "Nothing"

4:32 pm
[Sent]: "Just say it"

4:33 pm
[Dumb Slug]: "I didn't realize your family was that kind of rich. It makes sense now why you act like such a spoiled brat lol"

Dazai snorted in disbelief at how brazen Chuuya was—truly never afraid to speak his mind.

4:33 pm
[Sent]: "Fuck off. Just because my dad has money doesn't mean I always get what I want"

4:34 pm
[Dumb Slug]: "Whatever you say"

4:34 pm
[Sent]: "Do you really think i'd be here right now if that weren't the case?"

4:35 pm
[Dumb Slug]: "Yeah, I guess you have a point"

4:36 pm
[Sent]: "I haven't even mentioned yet that i'm not staying the night here. I just know he's gonna be pissed about it"

4:36 pm
[Dumb Slug]: "Damn, good luck with that. Keep me updated on how it goes"

"Osamu!"

Dazai jumped at the sudden sound. He'd been in the process of typing out a reply to Chuuya, so he was too distracted to notice his father approaching him.

"Are you going to stand around on your phone all night, or are you actually going to help with the preparations?"

"Sorry," Dazai muttered, slipping his phone into his pocket.

"Don't be sorry, just change your behavior." His eyes flicked down to Dazai's pocket before meeting his gaze again. "What has you so distracted that you can't help your family?"

"Nothing. It won't be an issue again."

Dazai tried to brush past Mori, his head down in an attempt to signal that he was done talking. Of course, it wouldn't work. Mori was the one who decided when they were done. He grabbed Dazai's arm, preventing his escape.

"It'd better not be," he warned.

Dazai pulled his arm out of his father's grasp. "I said it won't be."

He stormed off to find something productive to do. He couldn't tell his father about his plans to leave yet. It wasn't the right time. He was quick enough that he'd connect the dots—that what had pulled Dazai away from his responsibilities would also pull him away from his family—and that wouldn't be good for anyone.