Jabberwocky ↠ Dazai Osamu

2 | March Hare

The next morning generally brought a cooling sensation stroking against her cheeks. The bleakest time of the year was never a set pattern as she usually woke up feeling the gentle breath of wind. The golden gleam of sunlight through her window would soothingly bathe her skin. The night, needless to say, could only be endured by the heater warming her room. That wasn't the case when she happened to lift her body from the mattress and wiped the back of her clammy neck. She told herself the change was probably due to the unforeseen stay of the eccentric man in the living room.

Indistinctly staring at the silken comforter sheltering her legs made her descend into her own thoughts. Her mind wasn't immersed from thinking about the due date of her next assignment, or the fact she destroyed the purpose of security by taking in someone she hardly knew. No, her mind was still too hazy to think logically when waking up. Instead, she thought of the disheveled state she left him in.

She vividly remembered the light stains on his white-collared shirt. She figured a stranger showing up empty-handed would be in need of new clothing. She was generous enough to consider buying him new clothes since she didn't have extra clothes that would fit him, let alone clothes specifically made for a man. Preparing a brief trip to the store would be an effortless task to start the day. It was more exceptional than focusing on other tasks she would just end up neglecting.

Her blurry vision cleared when she rubbed her eyes. She let out a groan when she had to make the effort to leave her bed. The man in the next room probably heard the humorous sound, but she was too exhausted to even feel an ounce of humiliation. The sight of her own disheveled state didn't bother her, but she knew she had to at least look decent when stepping out in public.

Once she tidied up her appearance by changing into appropriate clothes, she grasped the doorknob in a hesitant manner. Her other hand clutched the handbag secured on her shoulder and silently wondered if the man happened to be awake like her. Well, there was only one way to find out. Telling herself there was nothing to be frightened of would be the only way to get through the situation.

Her eyes traveled to the brown-haired male still lying on the sofa. Her feet guided her to his side, and he was unusually reading one of the textbooks she scattered all over the coffee table. She didn't necessarily know how to approach the strange sight, but she also wasn't surprised since there wasn't much he could do for entertainment.

He placed the textbook on his chest and beamed, "Good morning to my angelic savior."

[Name] stifled a chuckle and greeted him back normally. She knelt down to his side and gently placed her hand onto his forehead. The way his bangs brushed against the back of her hand almost entranced her, feeling the softness of his tresses. She didn't pay attention to the way he stiffened when she asked, "Are you feeling any better?"

Dazai watched her with attentive eyes, studying the way she expressed her concern to a man she quite literally picked up from the street. He became transfixed at the fact a woman this close to him didn't have the intention to simply end up in bed with him. Skin to skin contact wasn't unfamiliar to him, but the way the warmth radiated through the palm of her hand so delicately was peculiar to him. He didn't necessarily mind it, but he also didn't know how to respond to it.

As soon as she determined his body temperature wasn't out of the ordinary, her hand lifted away from his forehead. She watched the long strands of his hair slip back down to his face, quickly forgetting the softness she seemingly admired. The absence of her warmth instantly fogged his thoughts. He continued examining her with subdued fascination because of the way she took care of a stranger.

"I'll be gone to the store to get you some clothes," she stated as she got up. He caught her attention once more before she was able to grasp the doorknob to her front door.