※𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐔 (𝐀𝐭𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢 𝐱 𝐀𝐤𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐰𝐚)※

Chapter 5

NOTE

Sorry for not writing in a while!

Everyone had something that made them feel better. Whether it was playing a sport, writing down their feelings in a special notebook, or listening to your favorite feel-good songs. There was always something you could do to make you feel just a little bit better.

Atsushi's comfort was to cry. He'd come home after a bad day, prop his pillows up to the headboard of his bed, wrap himself in his favorite fluffy blanket and watch the most outrageously depressing films he could to make himself cry. Was it a little odd? Maybe. But Atsushi wasn't the type to let his emotions build-up, he couldn't imagine it. Even after a single bad day his body felt ready to burst, he really just had too many feelings for his body to comfortably house. He had to let them out. And after the way his first debate went down, he felt like he needed a movie marathon.

He was beyond embarrassed not only of himself for being such an idiot, but for his teammates. They so obviously wanted to counterargue, so clearly could've won and gotten those bragging rights they craved, but no. Atsushi ruined it. Atsushi ruined the first debate of the season, and he wasn't sure if he could ever face them again. He didn't want to see a disappointed scowl on Kunikida's face or have Ranpo roll his eyes at him or have Junichiro to ignore him. He couldn't cope with that.

So, he opted to watch The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas for the hundredth time, and yes, he still cried like it was his first time; and thankfully Dazai let him cry in peace, well he tried to after all this ritual made almost a monthly appearance so he was quite accustomed to the sound of strangled sobs.

But some conversations really couldn't wait, and so there was a soft harmless knock on Atsushi's door to warn him of the impending, opening hinges "Sushi" Dazai whined.

Atsushi knew instantly that Dazai had done something wrong, he only ever called him Sushi when he'd either forgotten something, needed something or broken something. Atsushi turned his stiff body to face the door, and his sheepish roommate, "Whats up, Osamu" He said, rubbing his tear-stained face against the plush fabric of his favorite hoodie.

Dazai wandered into the room, making himself comfy next to Atsushi "Oh, I love this film—" A lie, Dazai hated it. He only lied when he'd...

Atsushi sighed, "What did you break?"

The man was silent for a few minutes, pretending to be as invested in the film as he could be, before he answered "The washing machine" Dazai mumbled, clearly a little ashamed.

The conversation was already starting to hurt Atsushi's dizzy brain, but still, he asked "How?"

Dazai's response was blunt, "I washed my coat and forgot I left my watch in the pocket. The inside of the drum looks like swiss cheese."

The silver-haired boy let a strangled laugh fly out of him at the dramatics, "It's ok, there's a laundrette open pretty late around the corner, I'll take it when I'm done crying."

Next thing he knew, he was smothered in a crushing hug pulled to Dazai's chest cheek pressed against a solid, bandaged chest "You're the best Sushi!"

Little did he know, Atsushi wasn't the only one having a rough day.

Akutagawa had been called last minute to cover a couple of night shifts at his part-time job. Since he was a second-year student, he couldn't utilize the classic timetable being too hectic excuse, in all honesty, he barely felt like a student with how little time he spent on campus for lectures. Plus, he needed the money and it's not like a couple 10 p.m. – 5 a.m. shift was going to kill him, he worked at a laundrette for Christ sakes. He could count on one hand the number of customers he'd seen between those hours.