Christmas break was rearing its head soon. A few more days now actually, the entire school is decorated in Christmas themed things. People were getting more and more excited at the nearing break. It was rather over the top if you were to ask Dazai. But then to be fair, everything is over the top to him. It's Dazai.

But he had a point, everything is just so- bright? How do they even find the time to decorate each corner with Christmas lights? Or put wreaths on each door? Even some of the pictures were dressed up. If anything, Dazai felt bad for people who didn't celebrate Christmas or had other beliefs- like himself.

But he digresses.

Since their little break, most people have lost interest in Dazai and Chuuya turning their attention to the 'Christmas spirit' instead. That includes a handful of teachers. Dazai knew that if Chuuya and himself avoided contact, they would assume it really was nothing. A coincidence. Besides, what would be the point of chasing two people who didn't even talk anymore? It made this all a little easier.

But not to mention another two victims surfaced just five days ago, the newer two days. When Dazai and him were in no contact. So really, now was the safest time.

That is actually why Dazai sits alone in the library, not even the librarian could be spotted. He sits on a table, calmly reading and humming to himself. "Oi. Asshole." Dazai didn't need to look up to know who that was, a twisted smile wanting to rear its ugly appearance but Dazai pushes it down to look up to Chuuya.

"Long time no see!" He teases.

"Yeah? And whose fault is that?" Chuuya grumbles, walking right up to him before stopping, even now Dazai manages to tower over him as he sat down, though to be fair it was on a table. Dazai's eyes fall on the slip of paper that was resting in Chuuya's hand, well before he promptly slapps it down next to Dazai. A snarl on his face. "You basically sent me on a wild goose chase, a waste of time."

That makes Dazai's eyebrows furrow, grabbing the paper that Chuuya has let go of, scanning it. On the paper it holds all the names of the teachers in a list, beside each their job and their knowledge in casting spells. Skimming, Dazai concluded that out of all the staff, only two teachers had enough background knowledge and experience to cast a spell like the silencing curse... Oda and Kouyou.

"No. This is wrong." Dazai assures, holding a snippy tone. "Are you kidding? You spent two weeks collecting garbage? Shit that isn't even right?" Now becoming condescending as he waves the paper around.

Chuuya immeditly glares, "I'm not fucking wrong here.'' Jerking forward a bit as he defends himself. " You are probably wrong about it being a staff then!

"I'm not." He snaps, "I am never wrong. You clearly are just as useless as I claimed. Not able to collect simple information- the easiest possible job I could have given." Scoffing under his breath.

Next thing he knew, he was yanked down, "Listen. What you gave me was anything but fucking easy. First of all this information could be fucked over so long as one of the teachers lie, so I had to try and figure out who might be lying and not. But that's not it. Because if you remember, I actually have someone who cares about me-" ouch. "-So Kouyou was pissed at me for being ridiculous! You know what she did? She basically took away all of my sources and free time. She told every teacher to give me twice as much homework in order to keep me busy and as a punishment. A lecture from her every damn day. And what did you have to deal with? Nothing!"

Dazai bites his tongue, of course Chuuya would think he had dealt with nothing. What a joke. "That's not my problem. Last I checked, it was you who wanted to do this- to get involved. Don't tell me you're getting cold feet over a little scolding. How pathetic." Before wrenching Chuuya's grip off his collar, "so since you seemed to not be able to do anything. I now only have five days to figure out who else in this school knows charms. Thanks. Very helpful. Maybe if you're lucky I clue you into who got to lie to your face." Jumping off the table and shoving his shoulder as he walks past.

Chuuya scoffs, "Make way! The demon prodigy has to do his job in cleaning up after everyone. No wonder everyone fucking hates you."

"If I remember right, I believe you used that insult when we got in a fist fight. You are so creative, truly! I'm impressed!" Clearly mocking him.

Chuuya takes a step back towards him. "You know, maybe if you stopped acting like a conceited asshole twenty-four-seven. You would actually make friends."

"I don't need friends."

Chuuya laughs, "god- you are so fucking pathtic. Maybe that's why you are the way you are. What? Never got held as a child? Neglected piece of shit, acting like the whole world is against you just so you can excuse yourself for being an asshole!"

Dazai simply looks at him with a blank look, dark and cold eyes. A look that Chuuya meets head on, staring him down with a snarl.

It was a quiet chuckle, that terrifying smile appearing slowly onto Dazai's face. One that doesn't reach his eyes apart from him squinting. "My Chuuya. You sure do talk an awful lot for someone so average. From your grades to frankly your looks. You are just... you. Nothing remarkable without me. I am what makes you, you. Don't tell me you thought you were anything before me, did you? Get over yourself. Without me you would still be hanging around those other nobodies like the sheep. Without me, you are nothing. Just a stray dog, running around without a collar. Don't forget your place as my soon-to-be collared dog, Chuuya!"

The speech genuinely makes Chuuya recoil, eyes widening slightly. "Now, how about you go make yourself actually useful for once and go fetch me a pen, doggy. "

Next, Chuuya flushes in rage. Moving to build up and punch him in the chest. Something Dazai easily avoids with a step backwards. "Ah, ah-" He tuts, "Someone with no use has no right to fight those above them. So go on, shoo while I pick up after your failures."

Chuuya just stands there mouth agapes for a second. "What- the hell is wrong with you?"

"Actually, nevermind. I don't think I need a pen." And with that, Dazai turns away and walks off. Savouring the silence behind him seemingly from Chuuya being too shocked to answer- or even insult him.

Part of him wonders if this was Chuuya starting to realise the kind of person he was, in a way he hopes it was.

Stepping out of the library he took a deep breath. The halls are just as empty as the library had been. Giving him free rain to walk as he pleased, not like he plans to go to class anyway.

Well- that had been the plan.

Something hits the ground with a clatter, drawing Dazai from his thoughts as he looks down to see what dropped. Eyes falling on that book, the one about the Azure King. In all honesty, after he read it over once he stopped paying any real attention to it. After all. Why would he? It held nothing of importance. Yet, he had held onto it, Dazai never really knew way, he still doesnt.

The book landed face open, so Dazai crouches down and picks it up, scanning the page. Yes, he remembers this one. It was explaining how the Azure king ended up getting caught.. Well, not caught. He blew himself up, taking a few polieve down with him. Truely a dramatic way to go, Dazai mildly looks up to such a gasp-inspiring death. When he had read it he skimmed the page. Mostly because he found it boring. It was mostly just mourning the deaths of the people it killed and that. Nothing important to him.

But just as Dazai flipped the page he stops, eyes narrowing as he looks at the name of the man. Kunikida. His last name.. Was Kunikida. The man who clued in the police to where his base was named Kunikida- Like that kid in his class who sat next to him? The one that was obsessed with ideals and schedules?

Maybe it was a coincidence... But what if it wasn't?

Looking up to the clock he could see it was time for astrology class. However, there was only fifteen-ish minutes left of class if he started walking now. So of course, he quickly stood up and for the first time- Dazai ran to get to a class in time.

He enters the class with ten minutes to spare, all eyes falling to him as his fell onto Kunikida. He might have been panting a little as he makes his way to his seat though he will choose not to acknowledge such a short run winded him so much.

Sitting next to an especially annoyed Kunikida who attempts to ignore him, he continued to just stare. The teacher clears her throat, gaining everyone's attention back. Other than Dazai's. Watching as the man's eyes twitch and twitch with each second that passes by. Right up until his head snaps to look at him, " what?!" He whispers but it was barely a whisper.

Dazai flashes him a smile. "Kunikida, I have a question for you." His tone sickly sweet that just makes Kunikida's eyes narrow in suspicion. "I am a bit curious about your parents?"

"My parents?" He immediately asks, almost baffled.

However, Dazai just nods. "To be specific your name actually. Is it from your father's side?" To which Kunikida doesn't answer, shuffling a little bit away from him actually.

"Why do you need to know such personal details about my family?"

Sensing the tension in the air, Dazai laughs breathly in attempts to clear it. "Sorry, sorry! I'm just a little curious because I read this book that had your name in it."

"What book?" Blunt- Dazai notes Kunkida is rather.. blunt-

Sighing, Dazai digs into his cloak before placing the book into the table, an action that makes Kunikida's eyes widen a little. As if the boy didn't know such a book exists- or the sight of the name put him off.

It had been their first real interaction, Dazai remembered. Kunikida was curious over the book back then as well... Maybe this wasn't a coincidence. "I mean, I just saw that a man with the name of Kunikida was the one to stop the Azure king.. Tell me, Kunikida. Did your father cause the death of the terrorist?" Tilting his head in a way that was anything but endearing. If anything, it causes a chill to violently run up Kunikida's back as he finally starts to clue into why this boy is called the 'Demon Prodigy'.

Kunikida fell completely silent, staring at him. It only lasted a moment though. "He did."

The confirmation hit him like a lightbulb. Stopping for a moment before nodding, closing his eyes and nodding. "Alright. Perfect! Thank you." Leaning back in his chair and tucking his book back away beneath his robe. Now simply waiting in order for the bell to go off.

When it does go off, he stands making his way out as the first one to leave in what felt like forever.

Because maybe this was just some kind of red-hiring. Something useless.. But maybe it wasn't. He was making his way directly to the infirmary. Inviting himself in the moment he stood outside it.

Dazai had a few questions to ask the kids, mostly their connection (if they have any) with the Azure king.

He opened the door and walked in calmly. Yosano, the only one who ever seemed to be in the infirmity, sat at her desk. She looked exhausted, slouched over a mountain of paperwork, assumingly all for the kids who rested behind the four closed curtains along the back.

Either Yosano was too tired to notice him enter, or he was just quiet- both probably had a part to play. Because the moment he leers over her, "what 'cha working on?" She startles. Almost falling off her chair and punching Dazai in the face in the process if he hadn't taken a calm step back in mild surprise.

"FUcK- Kid- god damnit dont sneek up on me like that-" She wheezes out, handover her heart as if Dazai had given her a heart attack. By the reaction, Dazai wouldn't be surprised if he actually did on accident.

"Are you ok?" He asks, a distant feeling of concern for the doctor.

Catching her breath she nods, waving him off. "Yeah- fuck, I'm fine. Just with everything that's been happening I've been on edge." Moving to look back over the paperwork that covered her desk to the point the white that should have been seen with the marble-like material, was replaced fully by the artificial paper covered in text.

Humming in acknowledgement, he looks over her shoulder to see what she was so focused on. There were four sheets, above all the rest even though they clearly were overlapping some. Those papers seemingly were the information on the students. Looking to the one on the far right, it was the one with the kid Dazai had integrated.

He finds himself glancing at all the other pages, looking over to their pictures in the upper corner of each page.

...

Wait a second...

He spins around to look at the closed curtains behind him. Unable to stop his uncovered eye from widening as he slowly walks over to the first curtain. "Dazai?" Yosano speaks up from behind him, something that goes completely ignored as he throws open the curtain to reveal the first boy- the newest victim from two days ago. The boy laid on the bed, fast asleep.

No..

He scrambles a little to get to the next bed, throwing open the curtain to the next boy's bed. Making that boy flinch violently. "Dazai!" Yosano shouts this time with a scolding tone. He could see her standing from the corner of his eyes but he just moves to the next bed instead.

Something.

Again, he throws open the two's last curtains before stepping back. Yosano grabs onto his shoulder, trying desperately to figure out what he was doing. His eye on all four. Three wide awake and staring at him in fear, the third stirring awake and sitting up. They all- looked the same.

Blond, longer-ish hair. Pale skin. Glasses. Ravenclaw.

Now that he thought of it- all their last names started with a K. They all owned a notebook that they brought with them everywhere. Most of them held a passion- were ambitious in their own way...

Kunikida. Kunikida- Kunikida-

They all looked and behaved like Kunikida.

Dazai just shoves Yosano's hand off him and rushes out, ignoring any questions he might have asked the boys when he first walked in and Yosano's concerned calls for him. This had to be the Azure King- it had to. Unless there were any other half important kids as Kunikida who looked the exact same as him. Even with that- the 'K' as their initials. It was too much to ignore.

Whoever is behind this- their end goal is definitely Kunikida. Unless Kunikida made some enemies that were willing to kill him, that is. Even if he did though, why would they go after people who looked like him but weren't...

Unless- they didn't remember it was directly Kunikida. Maybe different parts of him?

Before he knew it, he found himself inside the men's restroom. Figuring Yosano was still chasing him, he moved to duck into a stall and hide. It was empty thankfully, though it was the start of the third period so it's not that shocking.

Taking long deep breaths he hops up to hide his feet, crouching on the toilet... Not the most comfortable thing to do but he will live.

This person- why would they even be after Kunikida? Even with them forgetting who they were. It didn't make sense.

Unless...

Unless there was someone with him- with the Azure King.

Scrambling a little, he pulled out the same book from his back. Flipping through the pages violently until he stopped on one.

' Here; we have word from a survivor from the conflict:

UNDISCLOSED: "There are lots of rumours about the Azure King. Mostly his Identity since it was never recovered due to the lack of a body found other than ash due to the explosion. But there is one special rumour I despise. The rumour that bastard had a damn wife. It makes me sick to my stomach people think anyone would marry that ******* monster."

T.F: "Well, some records and possible suggestions toward the man behind the mask show that all these people indeed had wives."

UNDISCLOSED: "It's bull**** There is no ******* way! There isnt! No one could love a creature like that!"

T.F: "Do you think that possibly the women shared his idiolagy and poor morals?"

UNDISCLOSED: "Well if she did she must be sick in the ******* head!"

T.F: There are actually rumours one of the women suspected works in Hogwarts-"'

A wife.

There had been.. A wife who worked at Hogwarts.

The door to the washroom creaked open, "Dazai?"

At the use of his name with the familiar voice, he feels his breath catch in his throat. Oda. "Dazai I know you're in here." His voice was right outside his stall. "Yosano saw you run in."

Dazai continues to not utter a word, staring intently as the shadow Oda was making on the floor right outside his stall. Listening as Oda sighs quietly, "Dazai. I know what you're trying to do- what you're planning. Please, stop before you get hurt." His monotone voice holding something that could only be seen as concern.

Yet, Dazai continues to stay dead silent.

There was another quiet sigh before he watched the shadow move away, then heard the click of the bathroom door closing.

Gasping a bit, he takes in the breath he just had been holding in fear of causing a noise. Allowing himself to go back to his once thought pattern before he was interrupted-

Motive: Kunikida's parents kill her husband that she loved (?). She wants revenge but doesn't know the face of their son (?). She finds out the son in turn goes to Hogwarts (?) and she is bitter (?). She only knows vague descriptions (?).

It all felt impossible. This felt ridiculous! Something so complicated- long winded.

But what if...

What was one teacher he knew. A teacher who always looked distant. Who looked to be hiding something under masks. Who always looked so tired?

Dazai knew but didn't want to say it- because if his predictions were right.. If he was right about these things...

He sighs. It's easy. He just checks.

Ok- maybe after re-reading the complete guide to suicide. Taking a deep breath as he sits down properly on the toilet- god why the hell does he have to hide in the bathroom?

The other day had passed quickly- and then another.. And then half of one. Ok, maybe he was putting it off but now at least he is making his way directly to astrology the moment the first class ends- not that he didn't skip it (what are they gonna do? Call his dad? His dad is like- banished). By now he has gained his confidence enough to come up with a half ass-plan that should be good enough. Walking in time when the class was empty. Eye immediately falling on the teacher as he just stares for a moment. He never bothered to learn the name of her. The smile he offered to Chuuya the other day fell right back into place, making the woman's empty eyes narrow.

Even if most of the teachers have learned to ease up on him, she (along with a handful of others) never did.

And hell, maybe he was wasting his time, maybe this was all nothing but a stretch. But if this woman- he takes a few steps to walk up to her desk- knew charms. Then maybe, his predictions could be correct.

"Excuse me miss, I was just wondering if you could help me with some charms work?"

The woman raised an eyebrow, humming. "Sorry, I don't really know charms."

Dazai tilted his head, "Not even the silencing curse?" He saw it, the way she tensed. It was easy to miss, but Dazai caught it because that's exactly what he had been looking for. "I'm doing a project on some lesser known spells for extra credit and there is almost no information on it."

She shook her head, "I don't work on charms." She insisted.

"Really? Not even in the past?"

"No."

"Well then, my apologies, I guess I must ask someone else." Bowing, before standing up straight with a wide smile. Just in time for students to start crowding in. So he took his seat.

Soon enough Kunikida walks in, holding a wide smile and looking directly at him- Dazai watches as the boy sits down next to him. It only took a moment for the boy to sigh loudly and look at him. "Can I help you?" Just like he had the other day.

Dazai fakes surprise, "oh, me? No no... I was just a bit curious about what that notebook of yours is." pointing at the notebook the boy carries everywhere.

He could see the moment the boy lit up in order to talk about his passion. Immediately going on a rant about schedules and ideals. It was all so incredibly boring to Dazai but he still shows Kunikida his undivided attention. Nodding along and acting genuinely interested as he bites back snarky comments he knows would get him throttled.

It was only when class started did Kunikida quiet down in order to pay attention.

So far so good.

By the time class came to an end, Dazai looked back to him. "Hey, do you want to eat lunch with me?" He offers, Kunikida turning to look at him for only a second. Next turning to his notebook to seemingly look to see if his schedule allows it. After a second, Kunikida nods in agreement.

Flashing a smile, he moved to leave, Kunikida trailing behind him.

It is only when Dazai walks by her desk does he move his arm slightly, making the book he carries slip and fall on the ground. There, right by the womens feet, looking up at her- mocking her. 'AZURE KING'. It could almost make Dazai laugh, the way she turned pale.

Stopping, he turns to pick up the book, "Oh- my bad- Ah, do you know about the Azure king, Mrs?" Looking at her with a wide grin.

She stares at him, a look that would send chills down his back if he cared for his life. Because she definitely looked like she wanted to kill him. He recognized that gaze; he has seen it quite a few times. "Did you know-" draping an arm over Kunikida's shoulder who shot him a glare. "This guy here is the son of the guy who finally took down this ass?"

Dazai can see it, he knows Kunikida can't. But he sees the hatred dripping off her gaze as she looks over towards Kunikida. "Anyway! We best be off!" He hums, pinching his smile before leading the both of them out, leaving the women behind.

Walking, Dazai continues to talk and talk. Distracting Kunikida enough that he doesn't realise they were just walking around the halls, no destination in mind.

It was when they turned the corner. It happened in a flash- literally. A bright flash that shot Kunikida back, slamming against the wall behind the two. Dazai almost faced the same fate, however, he had been yanked back. Covered by the wall. It was quite the shock, being dragged back. Enough to get a sharp yelp from him as he scrambled to look and see who it was because this was not a part of his prediction.

Blue eyes. God- it was always those sharp blue eyes.

Chuuya stared down at him, "I go to the bathroom and I run right into you getting into shit- of fucking corse!"

Gasping back to realisation, he looked over to Kunikida who laided groaning against the wall. Rearing the corner, the both of them met the sight.

The women. His good old Astronomy teacher of course. Just as guessed. With her- she seemed different. She reflected the emptiness Dazai felt.

"M-Mrs. Nobuko?" Chuuya stumbles out from behind Dazai, shocked. Dazai doesn't even spare the women a moment nor Chuuya before he draws and raises his wand. Pointing it at her.

"Ah, so that was your name." Dazai remarks with a chuckle, watching as Nobuko struggles to keep the wand up which attacked Kunikida who currently struggled to get his bearings on the ground. "See. Mrs. Nobuko, I know why you did this. Would you like for me to tell the story?"

The riddle part of the bet comes first, that was the easy part. Even easier now that Chuuya is actually here to see him explain it head on, helping Kunikida from behind. However, the struggle starts when it comes to stopping her. Especially with these two, but he could do it.

Dazai took the silence as a go ahead clearly. "See, it actually happened the second or third week I was here. Right? Shocker it took this long for me to figure out... almost disappointing- But I had to deal with a certain accusation that you so gratefully started. Right outside the room we were in, clever. Anyway! Your husband- well. Ex- husband." He couldn't hold back the mocking smile that follows in suit of his words. Words that made the women wince.

"How tragic! The Azure King, wasn't it? That was your late husband. How did it feel? For years the school you worked at housed the son of the man who killed your lover: Kunikida, It must have been awful." He was mocking her bluntly now, shrugging off Chuuya's warning hand that had tried to grab his shoulder. Instead, he took a step forward.

"A man killed- sacrificed only because his ideals didn't line up with the schools, no?" He muses.

The women still held that blank face. "You're correct."

Dazai ignored the confirmation, he didn't need it. "But there was one problem, wasn't there? You didn't know the face- you couldn't remember the face of the son, the name of the man who killed your husband. Only blurry memories to cloud that traumatic day-"

"Dazai." Chuuya tried again, clearly completely over his shock and now threatening Dazai with just his name.

However, Dazai just takes another step forward. Lowing his wand even, "You searched and searched through each kid you thought might be Kunikida. Trying to remember the brats face. Any child that remotely looked like him, you would attack and question. Using the lovely silencing curse to make sure they couldn't even reveal it was you, if they dared write anything down you assured them of never speaking again. It was rather smart, unable to talk until ingesting some of the rarest fungi in the world, impossible to artificially grow. Fungi that you stole prior. That is why there was none in stock. Correct? "

With her plan out in the open, her wand drops, head tilting back to look up at the ceiling. "I was hoping I would get something from it. From killing him. But even now, I just feel nothing. I'm just so tired." Her head lulls back forward to look at Dazai. "Dazai. Would you kill me?"

Dazai didn't seem bothered whereas both other boys from behind shouted for him, not wanting to make moves to grab him because the situation was still too unstable. "I can't. I don't know the killing charm."

That didn't seem to deter Nobuko though, who moved to grab something tucked away on her back, pulling it back to reveal a gun of all things. Barrel pointing at her as she offered it to him. "Dazai!" The shout of his name merely fed the buzzing all throughout him. Calmly reaching out and grabbing the gun from her.

It wasn't the first time he was wielding a gun despite his young age. If he didn't see the look in her eyes alone saying it was, he could have told this gun was fully loaded by the weight. "This was his gun, wasn't it?"

It felt like it was only the two of them, the other boys somewhere behind whose panic went ignored as if they weren't even there.

Not when she nodded.

Not when he drew the gun up to point at her chest.

Not when his finger trailed to the trigger.

Not even when he mumbled something under his breath only for her to hear.

Not when an invisible hand guided him to start pressing on the trigger.

Not when a sound rang ou-

Well, actually yeah. They were there for that.

There was a loud clattering, a sudden pain in his hand, the gun kicked out of his hand as well as a clear spell being yelled. Dazai's eyes widen as the time that had almost felt to be slowed down sped right back up, watching as Nobuko flew back because of a spell before he was yanked down to meet bright blue eyes. Eyes that held so many emotions at once there was no way to clearly read them. "What the hell were you thinking?" Chuuya hisses out, shaking him by his collar.

Dazai stares down at him, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. "Well, I was thinking about how I was about to win the bet- did you want to win that badly that you had to try and stop me? That counts as a default win for-"

He didn't get to finish. It happened rather suddenly, a sharp stinging pain all across his cheek as his head snapped to the side, eyes widening again but he didn't even get a chance to process. Chuuya drew him closer with his collar again, forcing Dazai to look him in the eyes by grabbing his jaw with a painful grasp. Their eyes inches away entailing Dazai had to lean over a considerable amount. "I don't give two shits about the bet." He spits through his teeth, "you nearly killed a woman."

An overwhelming urge to defend himself sprouted in his chest, shove Chuuya and shout about how dumb and annoying he was being. That god forsaken emotion that would follow with Chuuya. Always, so many emotions caused by Chuuya. It was always him-

wait...

Dazai pauses for a moment. No... surely not.. His breath caught in his throat. Uttering a curse under his breath as he felt his cheeks unintentionally heat up. The emotions, from the very beginning.. Were they caused by Chuuya ?

Chuuya made him lose control of emotions! God- How the hell did he just manage to realise something so obvious?

Oh it made so much sense- Literally after a week of knowing him he got in a fucking fist fight because he lost control of his emotions! Holy shit how could he be so incredibly dense-

Not only that- oh god this is bad. Really, really bad.

He sputters a bit, an action that even managed to surprise Chuuya as the boy seemed to finally take into account the now dark red that covered Dazai's cheeks. His eyes widening as rage flashes behind them. " Are you fucking getting off on this? " He sneers in almost disbelief.

Dazai feels his cheeks heat up further from embarrassment this time. "N-No! Hell no!" He stutters. Something that actually startled him as he gaps, Chuuya in twice as much disbelief.

As quickly as he can he shoves Chuuya away from him, covering his face and looking away in an attempt to get the humiliation to wear off. God- human emotions are horrible. How did it take him this long to notice? "What the hell is going on with you?!" Chuuya shouts.

God this is bad- like really bad. Deep waters type shit. One, its rather pathetic it took Dazai almost killing a women- fuck all knows where she is now- being slapped and grabbed by Chuuya to realize. But also, the bet.

The bet that got them in this mess in the first place has never backfired so violently.

Now he had full control over Chuuya- meaning Chuuya would be around him so much more. Fuck!

Holy shit he is so incredaibly fucked.

"Nothing!" He defends, "I'm just- uh- shock! Yes. I am in shock, my mind is bubbling right now, I don't even know where I am right now. I nearly killed someone! Cut me a break here, Chuuya!"

The use of his real name, not some dumb nickname and the outburst caused Chuuya to look even more surprised. "Holy shit- Dazai are you fucking concussed?"

Perfect! An excuse! "Yes! Yup. Very confus- concussed. Yes, concussed. I can feel my brain, it's like mush up there. Just- gone." Using hand gestures to emphasise his words.

Ok. Maybe he was making a fool of himself and made shit close to no sense, but in his defense he was just hit with the worst crisis of his life after Chuuya yells and grabs him because he nearly killed someone.

So really, not a great day overall.

"Dazai! Nakahara!" Kunikida shouts from down the hall, a few adults trailing behind him as Nobuko lays unconscious on the ground.

Kouyou immediately pulls out her wand as she approaches hesitantly before deciding it was safe and grabbing her. At least Kunikida gave them a briefing so there would be no debreif. Dazai, who would have had to talk for them, could feel his brain short circuiting still. Becoming that much worse as Chuuya grabs his shoulders and starts to push him towards Oda, a full body shiver overtaking him.

Oda is already by his side, crouching down to his level as he clearly notices the uncharacteristic dark blush on his face, looking at Chuuya. "Was he hit with a hex?" Oda immediately asks, just to be safe of course. Though, he had a tinge of an idea of what happened. He was... proud maybe?

"NoPe-" Dazai cut Chuuya off before he could talk, only to immediately regret it as his voice cracks. And it cracked bad. Maybe to make up for all the missed voice-cracks growing up. Quickly he clears his throat. "Nope. All good." Maybe if he was older he could have handled this better... But also maybe not because Chuuya's hand was still on his fucking shoULDER-

"Ah. As I figured. Ok, Dazai. Let's get you some water to cool down." Of course Oda already knew, he was Dazai's father after all.

Gently resting his hand on Dazai's back, Oda starts to lead him away. The more they walked, the quieter it got as they moved away from the comotion. "So. You solved the case." Oda finally broke the silence.

Dazai letting out a shaking breath as he stopped dead in his tracks, still trying to calm down from whatever the hell happened back there. "OdaSaku- I'm sorry ! I know I broke that promise to you-"

Oda cuts him off though with a small but visible smile. "I'm proud of you. You catching her helps a lot of students."

There was silence. Dazai stared at him, eyes wide in shock, breath caught in his throat. He wasn't mad- Oda wasn't.. Mad. He was- proud? Someone was proud of him. "Oh-" He stumbles out, "thank.. You? Thank you. I just- yeah." Nodding and deciding its probably best he doesn't talk further.

Oda just chuckles quietly, ruffling his hair. "Come on, kid. Let's go get that water."