※𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐔 (𝐀𝐭𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢 𝐱 𝐀𝐤𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐰𝐚)※

Chapter 2

A normal school week for Atsushi was bearable. The weekday lectures dragged on, the workload was intense and the level of brainpower it took to get all his assignments done was severe. But despite all that, his most stressful day was Tuesday. Not because of the multiple lectures, or the waking up early or even the rushing around, which he hated. It was because of the one Seminar he had. And that Seminar meant presenting his work and talking in groups. It required a level of social confidence Atsushi lacked. He dreaded every Tuesday, he'd often sit and stare at the chair in front of him, wondering how those days could possibly be any worse.

Well, apparently the debate club was also held on Tuesdays.

After the predictable and hectic day of work left Atsushi feeling scatter-brained and self-conscious, he was understandably excited to get home and have a nap. However, his solo plans were quickly intercepted by his hyper-observant flatmate, who'd been waiting for him to finish his class.

"Atsushi, it's debate day. Or did you forget?" He said, linking his arm down and dragging Atsushi's much smaller frame toward the student union. Atsushi didn't even consider fighting the taller man, no matter how much his bed was calling to him. Fighting with Dazai was like trying to get a hyperactive rabbit to stay still, impossible, and probably a little dangerous.

"Wha—I didn't forget" Atsushi claimed, almost jogging lopsidedly to prevent Dazai from literally dragging him along the pavement.

Dazai looked down, his chocolate eyes sparkling with a look of arrogance which twisted Atsushi's stomach, he knew what was coming, "Your feet were angled left, more toward home than the union, which as you know is toward the right." He smiled.

Atsushi had always known Dazai to be observant. He seemed to notice everything, especially the little things. It was terrifying, knowing that a person's brain could function that highly. What's worse was Dazai wasn't even trying to be smart, yet he'd say ridiculous things only a genius would notice. Like the change in the angle of his friend's feet.

Nevertheless, he loved being the smartest person in the room, he loved feeling above everyone else. That's also why he liked the debate club so much, he could educate himself while showing off. A lot of people, understandably, hated Dazai for that fact.

And Atsushi would be lying if he said he didn't feel completely inferior to the taller man. Being around Dazai was difficult sometimes. On the days when Atsushi really didn't want to do anything at all, when he didn't want to get out of bed or eat or even roll over into a more comfortable spot. On those days when Atsushi was consumed by his thoughts of self-hatred, being around Dazai served as a reminder for how appalling he was. How stupid and pathetic he was in comparison to his friend. Yet, Dazai was so Intune with Atsushi, he truly cared about him and wanted the best for him.

And because the latter reasoning was so sincere Atsushi came to admire him, no matter how annoying he was sometimes. Dazai was a one in a million type of guy. Besides, Atsushi knew Dazai on a different level to everyone else. He knew his secrets, his biggest fears, his insecurities, motivations, his hopes, and his dreams.

He knew Dazai.

Which is why, despite every cell in his body telling him that going to debate club was a bad idea, he trusted Dazai's motives for getting him to join.
Atsushi felt like he'd blinked once and suddenly the pair was in front of a large wooden door, the silver plaque in the center reading, Debate Society. Atsushi's legs were trembling, his entire body was riddled with Goosebumps and his stomach was bubbling with a lethal dose of straight anxiety.

What if he said something stupid and embarrassed himself? What if these people didn't like him? What if they didn't like him, but also didn't say anything about not liking him? Then he'd be left to walk around thinking he had made friends when in actual fact they hated him. What if they did just hate him?