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Click.
There it was again.
Atsushi rolled over for the third time and sighed. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw light cascade into his dorm from underneath his bedroom door.
His high fever seemed to be getting worse if he was beginning to hear things but he couldn’t find the strength left in him to walk to the kitchen and investigate.
Instead he went back to sleep, hoping he’d wake up in the morning and find this was a weird dream. Then, Atsushi woke up, almost an hour later.
Crash.
“Ah, shit! Not again…”
At this loud exclamation, Atsushi sat up straight in bed, ignoring the way his head was spinning, and dashed into the kitchen. His body automatically positioned itself in a fighting stance, “Who are yo-“
The mysterious figure hung their hands in defeat and turned around, greeting him was Dazai in the green frog apron Kyoka had bought Atsushi and the scorched remains of what he believed to be rice in a chipped bowl beside him.
Dazai smiled politely, “Hey, Atsushi-kun! How has your evening been?”
“Alright, I guess, but I-“ he began before snapping, “Don’t distract me! What the hell are you doing here!”
Dazai doubled down with hysteric laughter which echoed noisily through the room. Suddenly, Atsushi felt himself grow quite an embarrassing shade of scarlet in his childish starry piyamas with a matching star shaped pillow still clutched in his grasp.
Dazai finally admitted, “I came in to make you something to eat…” As if on cue, Atsushi’s stomach growled and he remembered hadn’t eaten all day, “That’s very thoughtful of you but I’m fine-”
Dazai grabbed his wrist and lead him to a seat by the table. He wore a serious expression, “I can tell you’re sicker than you let on, Atsushi-kun.”
He carefully brushed Atsushi’s hair out of his face, the palm of his hand resting on his warming forehead and sighed. He pulled away and slid a glass of water and a pill across the counter, “For your headache.” Atsushi mumbled a quiet thanks to Dazai before he took the medicine.
“Dazai-san?”
“Atsushi-kun?” Dazai mimicked cheerfully, pouring water into a silver kettle.
“What are you making?”
“I-t’s-a-sec-ret~” he sang, gaining a fond eyeroll from Atsushi resting on the cold counter.
The room filled with a familiar herbal scent. Dazai suddenly spun around, the bow of his apron coming undone, “Ta-da!”
He beamed as he placed a bowl of rice sprinkled with steaming green tea leaves in front of his mentee.
Atsushi lit up like a small child on Christmas Day, “Chazuke!”
“It’s good to see you still have your appetite…” Dazai chuckled softly as he watched Atsushi ravenged the food before him. Within a minute, he was done.
“Thanks for the meal…” Atsushi got up from his seat, “I’ll help with the washing up.”
“You really don’t have to-“
Atsushi’s small frame wrapped around Dazai and held him in place. Dazai almost dropped a plate out of shock, ”Atsushi?”
He only buried his head in Dazai’s neck in response, his voice barely above a whisper, “You spent hours learning how to make chazuke… just for me?”
Dazai remained still, and after deep thought nodded.
“Anything for you…”
Atsushi was secretly relieved the dim lights in his kitchen hid his reddening cheeks.
They stood in a comfortable silence as Dazai cleaned and Atsushi dried plates that were passed to him.
“Atsushi-kun…” he began softly.
“Yes, Dazai-san?”
Dazai dried his wet hands on a towel, “Could you let go of me, please?”
Atsushi was very aware of how intimate their position was and how uncomfortable he may be making his mentor yet he wasn’t prepared to let go of the warmth of Dazai’s body. “I never knew you’d be so clingy when you’re sick.” Dazai sighed as he lifted Atsushi up into his arms and carried him back to his bedroom.
Dazai gently tucked Atsushi into bed and ruffled his hair affectionately, switching off his bedside lamp with a spare hand.
“Goodnight.” Dazai whispered, moving away. Atsushi reached out to stop him.
“Dazai-san…” he mumbled, sounding heartbreakingly close to tears, “Stay…please?” He took of the frog apron and folded it and placed it in Atsushi’s beanbag on the floor. He pulled up the covers and lay beside him, glancing at Atsushi. He could feel how he much his mentee ached from loneliness and longing even in the darkness of the bedroom.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere.” Atsushi shyly offered him his pinkie, “Promise?”
Dazai linked his pinkie finger with Atsushi’s and brought his hand to his lips, “I promise.” Atsushi hummed contentedly and closed his eyes. He lay on Dazai’s chest, fidgeting with his necktie, as Dazai cradled him in his arms and placed soft kisses all over his forehead.
Dazai pulled away and gasped dramatically, “Oh my, what have i done to deserve such a beautiful mentee?”
They locked eyes and both burst into a fit of breathless laughter like two small girls. Atsushi tucked a strand of Dazai’s stray hair behind his ear and kissed him passionately on the lips. Dazai stopped giggling, his expression unreadable.
Atsushi was quickly horrified by his actions. He was so delirious he thought this was all a dream and dared himself to kiss him. “I’m so sorry…oh my god I shouldn’t have done that…I’m so so sorry. I- Dazai-san…” His eyes welled with hot tears.
“Eh? You don’t need to apologise. I was just surprised, that’s all, if anything it should be me apologising to you for not making it more obvious.”
“I-I don’t understand…” he stuttered, his breath catching in his throat.
“Do you want me to explain?” In response, Atsushi nodded. Dazai leaned down and whispered in his left ear, “I love you.” Atsushi looked up at him and noticed the pink blush on tinting Dazai’s cheeks. “I love you too.” he smiled, wrapping his arms around Dazai’s slim waist.
He chirped teasingly, “I can still feel you staring, sweetheart~”, he gave Atsushi a quick but sweet peck on the lips, “But seriously, go to bed!”