thicker than the mind | dazai o. ✓

fourteen.

"Taiyo-san!"

The member took a look at the back of herself when she heard someone call out her name. Her shoulders tensed when she heard someone shout out, but was sooner relaxed when she found out it was just the usual albino kid who seemed to take a liking to her company.

Atsushi was seen to be wearing a lilac button up with a pair of white slacks and black loafers. He had a two crepes in hand, one already had a huge bite mark on it. Needless to say, he looked adorable in her eyes.

"Good morning, Atsushi. What are you doing here?" His heterochromactic eyes wandered over to her own, staring intently while answering her question, "Decided to shop for some groceries then I saw you walking around!"

The girl smiled at the young adult's enthusiasm at such an early time in the morning. She has never met someone, in her 23 years of living, with such bright eyes at 9 am.

Speaking of mornings, Taiyo had quite the ride. She was supposed to go and visit Taiki today and later go to the bar to catch up with the bartender— which is her lovely grandfather. Although, the morning routine today was a mess. She slipped over a spilt glass of water from last night, she almost burnt the house down with the eggs and toast, and she wore different earrings and socks.

In conclusion, not a good morning.

"Oh! I almost forgot." He handed over the crepe with a pink covering to Taiyo, making her eyes shimmer in the morning sun. Taiyo loved crepes, and the fact that Atsushi remembered her favored toppings and syrups, made her heart melt.

She felt like a proud mother.

She gasped out at the beauty of the crepe, it looked to good to take a bite out of, "Thanks Atsushi-kun!" The said male gave her a closed eye smile as a 'welcome.'

They walked over to a nearby bench, probably to rest and eat their crepes. Since walking while eating those things would be quite the hassle. All the insides and outsides of the crepe would fall off, and Taiyo would feel tremendously guilty if that were to happen.

"So, did you buy your groceries already?" Taiyo didn't glance at her subordinate— she just swayed her feet back and forth while taking a bite out of her crepe.

"Mhm. It's just some easy-cook ramen since I don't have that much money yet." Taiyo's eyes widened at the reveal of Atsushi's financial secret. "Oh, right. You just got in the agency, so they're still paying you a low salary." Atsushi turned his head away from her, embarrassed at admitting his problem.

"I could help you with that." She said as she fumbled around her pocket to take out a brown leather wallet that seemed to be expensive to Atsushi's eyes. Taiyo took out a two 1000 yen (about $17) bills that looked and smelled like it was fresh out of the ATM.

Atsushi sweatdropped, "I-I! I can't take that Taiyo-san! It's yours!" Taiyo chuckled at the kid's kindness, "Take it. I owe it to you since you bought me my favorite crepe."

Atsushi hesitated, but then couldn't resist to deny under Taiyo's warm stare. He reached out and grabbed it smoothly and softly from her hand, feeling like he was on cloud nine when his fingers felt the money's sensation.

Taiyo laughed at Atsushi's reaction, "You're really happy about 2000 yen huh?" Atsushi took a double take, 'I could buy a real healthy meal from this!'

Silence engulfed the atmosphere. Only the sound of cars honking in the distance, people talking, and vendors shouting could be heard. Yokohama was busy as always, but that's what made Taiyo love it even more. Despite it being obnoxious and annoying in the morning, it can be a real beauty at night. Even if it was still loud.

Reminds her of a certain someone.

She snapped out of her thoughts before her mind gave her an idea of who she was thinking of. She stood up, walked to a nearby bin, and jogged back to Atsushi who was finished with his crepe as well.

"Will you be going somewhere?" He asked. Taiyo nodded and fixed her necklace that had a familiar pendant. "I'll be going to the bar to catch up with someone. Wanna come with?"

Atsushi's temperature dropped at the mention of a bar. Those kinds of places brought back old memories, some he certainly did not want to remember. Yet, he wanted to come along, for the sake of getting closer to the girl who recently became his idol and role model.

"S-Sure, if it's not too much of a hassle." He scratched the back of his neck when he saw Taiyo smile big after hearing his answer. "Although, this might end up all night. And hopefully the guard will let you in cause you're still not of drinking age, hahahah." She answered, a sweat forming on her forehead.

"Let's hope they'll let you in." She muttered, still unsure if she should bring the currently frail boy to a rowdy bar.

◎

The time was 11 in the morning. Yet the atmosphere in one of Yokohama's alleyway had a musky and thick feeling to it. Taiyo, having been to this area hundreds of times, was feeling a bit nostalgic and giddy.

For Atsushi, however— he turned more white than his usual skin color. If a child could see him, they would definitely run away and scream that they just saw a ghost. Atsushi, being in an abusive household was familiar with this type of aroma. Thick, musky, and mostly, full of tension.

He looked at his superior, to see her with a small smile instead of a terrifed look. Atsushi hoped that his companion would be familiar with the place and the people, since she is now his only hope for a ticket out of this alleyway.

"Here we are."

Atsushi looked up to see a small door in the middle of a building, a bright neon green sign was held up on the top of the door. The words were a bright white, 'The Verde Bar.'

Atsushi cocked his head to the side, "Verde?" Taiyo chuckled, "You'll be surprised if the inside of the bar isn't green. But for this one, it is completely covered in it." She said as she clasped the door handle, with no cowardice shown in he features and actions.

Atsushi took a deep breath, and followed in his superior.

hola mi amigos! thank u so so much for 3k on this book! it means so much and i cant thank yall enough :((♡♡

lav ya,
vel.