Chapter Text
No matter if you went to Community College or not, in Yokohama, to have a fully successful job; the standard was to go to University.
It didn't make sense, really, that everyone had to go through 4 years of extra school just to listen to bullshit and get a paper that says you're smarter and can have a job that didn't even need the knowledge you had learned, but required it like a bloodline.
None of it made sense, so he tried not to think about it, and be happy with what he was able to get–because he'd be damned if he ever had to go to college just to play into societies social construct. Besides, who doesn't love working at a coffee shop? Always surrounded by sweet aromas, the sound of coffee beans grinding, the soothing atmosphere–
Him.
Chuuya Nakahara, did not want this job, though he didn't see another way to pay rent on the shit show of an apartment he refuses to call home. It has good hours, good pay, that's all that matters. All he needed was something.
As he thought while listening to Atsushi teaching him how to make some of the things on the menu, and how to man the register: he figures it wouldn't be too bad. Akutagawa was there, too. Part of the reason he got the job. They had been friends since middle school, and Atsushi seemed nice. Grant it, he already knew of Atsushi, but never met the boy til now. The silver-ette had been dating Akutagawa for awhile and it was only natural that Akutagawa told him.
Chuuya hadn't even seen Akutagawa in quite awhile. He kept in touch, of course, but he had been in France for almost four years, just now moving back.
The only difference now is that he's practically penny-less.
"And, that, is how you make a Frappuccino." Atsushi finished and turned back to the redhead.
"I think I get it..?" Chuuya pinched his eyebrows in confusion. "I never knew making coffee had so many steps," he groaned.
A small smile caught into Atsushi's lips,
"you're always allowed to ask me for help. You aren't going to get the hang of this the first try. No one expects you to, either, so just try to take it easy."
Chuuya smiled softly back and thanked the other as someone came through the door, making the obnoxious bell jingle.
Atsushi looked over and smiled, and then turned back to the ginger, "I'm going on my break now, 'kay? If you need anything ask Akutagawa.".
"Yeah, of course. Have a nice break."
Atsushi clocked out and made his way over to the small booth in the corner of the Cafe, "Atsushi!" Dazai smiled looking up from his sketchbook.
It wasn't the biggest smile, but it was genuine. Dazai loved his little brother. Even if they weren't blood related, he would do anything to protect him and keep him healthy, happy.
"Hey, Osamu!" he smiled as he sat across from the brunette. "What are you drawing today?"
Dazai smiled a little more and turned it to show the other.
It was a heavily detailed fairy. The wings were beautiful, flowing almost, the eyes had no pupils which made it more enticing to look at. It's body had curves, indicating a feminine presence. But he knew Dazai didn't gender his work almost ever, so he admired it then looked away to find more hidden details. Atsushi always loved to try and see how much detail Dazai would take time to put and try to see everything. He admired his brothers skill, he always took time to appreciate it. The older deserved it, really.
"It's pretty, I like it! What inspired it?", the silver haired boy said, still examining it a little more.
"I saw a butterfly, or a moth... I can't remember, and I also wanted to practice more with anatomy again! I've been drawing a lot of perspective recently, so I figured why not~" A boyish smile spread upon his lips.
"Well, it's really good," he pushed the sketchbook back to the other. "Have you eaten today, or drank anything?" Atsushi asked looking at him.
"I had some green tea earlier, actually," Dazai said taking the book back into his hold.
The silver haired boy nodded, "That's good... Ah, also! We have those chocolate croissants today, the ones you really like, do you want one?"
They had them everyday, they both knew. He has one almost everyday, whether Atsushi knows he knows, doesn't matter. He'll keep it to himself.
Sliding five-hundred yen to the boy, he smiled.
"Get me a black tea, too?"
"Of course," Atsushi said taking the yen.
Chuuya throught it was a bit... weird, seeing Atsushi sit with the brunette, he figured they must've been friends or possible lovers, but the ladder didn't seem plausible. They didn't seem it, so he pushed the thought aside.
The brunette was rather... pretty? In his eyes?
His wavy hair was wavy, fluffy and looked to be almost silky. The dark, baggy sweater complemented it well. Also making the bandages he wore rather eye catching. It looked weird, they went around his neck and down past the sweater, also on his arms, seeming to continue up his arms as well. Pretty, but odd.
Also, slightly, if not majorly, concerning. Who wears that many bandages anyway? He's sure there's a reason, but for someone to have that many injuries at once seems almost inhumane. And his movements didn't indicate he was in any pain at all. Weird, weird, and weirder.
He continued his task in cleaning and tried somewhat to forgot about the thought, it didn't concern him. He didn't have any business trying to analyze the man just because he looked odd.
*
As the brunette walked home, his stomach full of the sweet treat and tea: he observed his surroundings and the weather. It was a dark day, the clouds were covering the sun and it looked as if it were about to rain. The breeze was cool, even through his sweater. He couldn't help but feel nice, secure. There wasn't a lot of people out, the sun wasn't shining overbearingly over the city, he felt calm.
The cigarette burning away between his fingers only made him feel more at-peace.
As he made it closer and closer to his apartment, he wanted nothing more than another cup of warm tea, to further fill his belly and warm his bones from the fall breeze.
Tonight was game night, so he felt enlightened he'd get to see his father. The day felt good, and he let it embrace him in a warm hug. It wasn't often he'd get the embrace, so he'd cherish it.
*
"Okay, that was so unbelievably uncalled for-" Dazai said with a face of faux terror at the 'Plus 4', wild Uno card.
"There's only one way to win this game, and if I have to play dirty? So be it." Atsushi stated, fully serious.
As Dazai reluctantly picked up the four cards he stared daggers at the younger, and prayed he wouldn't do it again–he would– he had only had three cards left! He was so close to winning. He felt betrayed, utterly degraded in the worst way possible.
"You guys are ridiculous," Oda sighed as he pulled a card, not having any to play.
"I'M ridiculous?! No. This little shit just pulled the lowest of lows on me! I feel so betrayed right now. Brotherly love is supposed to be forever, but I feel like my love is slowly decreasing as we continue. How am I supposed to not feel hurt by this?!" The brunette exclaimed trying not to giggle as he did so.
"Osamu. It's Uno." Oda replied, looking at him pointedly.
Atsushi snickered as he layed down, yet another, 'Plus 4'.
Dazai took one look at it, then looked at Atsushi, then slowly layed down two 'Plus 2' cards (because the only right way to play Uno is by using stacks), and looked at Oda.
"You've got to be kidding me," he looked at Dazai.
"Dad, it's Uno." He mocked.
The red head looked like he was questioning every life decision he'd ever made, while Atsushi couldn't stop laughing. Dazai felt overly proud of himself for rendering his dad speechless, it was a rare occurrence and he drank up every bit. Oda drawed the eight cards (much to his demise), and the rest of the game went just the same.
(Atsushi won, much to everyone's demise besides his own.)
Once the older man left, it was after eight o'clock, sun long gone and time for the siblings to fulfill their game-night ritual.
The shorter turned to Dazai with expecting eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, geez. Not even five minutes after he keaves." The brunette nags as he moves to the the kitchen to dig in the cabinet.
"As if you weren't thinking the same thing." the silver-ette rolled his eyes, and when the brunette didn't reply, he knows he was right.
When Dazai returns to him, he nudges the younger to the balcony.
Once outside, the older closes the door and sits down on the floor, younger following suit close by as he took the small blunt out.
He lit it quickly and brought it to his lips, declaring himself worthy of taking the first hit of the night sense he lost at Uno–it was Atsushi's fault, anyways, he swears up and down he doesn't cheat, but Dazai knows he's too good to be true– he inhaled the smoke as he took the roll away from his lips, passing it to the younger, who happily took it, taking a large hit.
"Anything new happening?" Dazai asked as he exhaled, watching the smoke drifting away, then dissipate into the air. Atsushi breathed the weed out and passed the roll back, "no, not really. There's a new co-worker at work, that's all, though."
They didn't get new workers often, so that was interesting. Dazai had practically begged Kunikida to hire Atsushi. Which, almost didn't even happen. For some reason, the man doesn't want anyone under the age of 20 working there. That, and the shit ton of requirements he has set up. Dazai made a sound of intrigue.
"What's their name?" He asked going to take a hit.
"His names Chuuya Nakahara. You might have seen him earlier, he's the ginger."
"Can't say I did, but I'll look for him tomorrow." he shrugged as he took another hit, this one being longer.
"Yeah, he seems cool. He knows Akutagawa, so that's nice." The younger smiled slightly at the thought of the ravenette.
"Speaking of a certain someone," he wiggled his brows and passed the roll, "how are you two doing?"
Dazai liked hearing about Atsushi's life.
They hang out a lot, sure, literally everyday almost, but that doesn't mean there isn't more happening. He likes asking the younger about his social life, and it seemed the other liked talking about it just as much.
Atsushi took the roll and smiled, "We're good, very good. We have a date sometime next week, actually." he says and takes another large hit.
At that moment, the brunette felt the drug settling into his bones and smiled softly, feeling everything lag behind ever so slightly.
"That's good, I'm glad to hear I don't have to beat someone up that has asthma. Still heavily offended you ended up getting a boyfriend before me, it's honest scrutiny." he said with faux exasperation.
The younger giggled after exhaling, "That's no one's fault but your own, and, yeah. Please don't.." he rolled his eyes and passed the roll back. "I'm done with that for the night. Anymore and I'll be puking all over your balcony... again–"
The brunette was happy to cut him off, shivering slightly at the memory.
"Yeah, please... don't." he repeated the younger, but with more fear than the fake annoyance the other showed.
They both laughed, and couldn't seem to stop so Dazai also opted to cutting himself off after one last big drag. After he put it back in the tin, they both went inside. Atsushi stayed the night, because no way in hell was Dazai letting him drive high. Which was best, because it seemed like the second the younger hit the couch he was out.
Dazai smiled softly, and made his way to his own room for the night. Wondering how long it'd take for Lady sleep to grace him this time.