※𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐔 (𝐀𝐭𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢 𝐱 𝐀𝐤𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐰𝐚)※

Chapter 4

Atsushi had been working himself to the bone ever since he'd been dealt with that declaration of war at the beginning of the week. It's all he'd really thought about, Akutagawa's smooth deep voice replaying like a beautiful broken record in his head. We'll destroy you, Atsushi.

He'd like to see them try.

Well, actually he really wouldn't. But he'd been thinking in a cool way, recently. He thought it was cool anyway. His brain was throwing out words you'd probably read in one of Ranpo's cliché murder mystery turned romance novels.

Atsushi had accumulated piles and piles of loose sheets and notebooks full of debate research as if someone had placed a gun to his head and forced him to learn. And he tried to learn, he tried to learn everything from the common topic categories, the best ways to structure an argument, and how to counterattack. What to do if you're backed into a metaphorical corner by the other team, and how to be convincing with your arguments and speak assertively.

He'd quite literally been consuming the topic of debating like he was starved. Like he'd discovered a life source and had years and years of feasting to catch up on. He consumed so much of it, that he himself was at risk of being consumed by it.

All because of that Akutagawa brat.

Atsushi's initial attraction to the man had faded drastically, he'd thought about his stupid face so much that it no longer made him nervous. Which was all fine, all well and good. However, the man had somehow managed to spark a fire inside him. It wasn't a raging inferno or anything like that. It was more of a small spark, that if put under the wrong conditions would explode and burn Atsushi alive.

Akutagawa had awoken competitiveness inside of him.

A desire not necessarily to be the best or to win everything, just to beat Akutagawa no matter what. To put him in his place and wipe that stupid smug smile off his perfectly even skin. To be better than him, at least.

By the time the team scurried onto the minivan, destination Toin University, Atsushi felt...good. Not fully confident in himself necessarily, but confident in the work he'd put into being better, because he knew that was right. He knew his research wouldn't fail him, if he fucked this up then it was all on him. Which was terrible but it offered a sadistic level of comfort.

It was a short 35-minute bus ride to the rival campus, and as they got closer and closer Atsushi's anxious habits started to show. Naturally, he tried his best to contain the way his legs involuntarily bopped up and down, vibrating the whole seat. And he'd try to keep himself from burying his nails into his wrists and scratch at the scarred skin lightly. The only issue was, the more worried he got the harder he'd scratched. That habit in particular became a massive cause for concern after their first-year exams when Atsushi had scratched himself raw to the point of tearing his skin and dropping blood over his test paper.

Naturally, Dazai had been secretly keeping tabs on the behavior ever since that day, and he'd predicted that his first official debate would increase his levels of anxiety; but he couldn't predict Chuuya and Akutagawa literally threatening to destroy Atsushi.

So, Dazai prepared to have to be a makeshift hook line and sinker to keep his friend as grounded and calm as possible. It might sound like a chore for some people, but Dazai really didn't mind it. In fact, he liked helping Atsushi organize the messy rattling in his brain, it was almost...intimate. The way Dazai knew all his little habits, all of his triggers. How he, without a doubt, could bring his friend back from the darkest edges of his mind safely.

It made Dazai feel powerful, but he'd also like for Atsushi to feel that power every once in a while, instead of cowering at loud noises and shrinking away from the subtle meaningless glances of strangers.