Chapter Text
Yokohama's subways were always more busy at 6 AM than they were at 7, that's why today, Atsushi silently thanked the Agency for making him work from 7:30 to 11:55 until his lunch break.
Though it seemed like today wasn't his day either, and he acknowledged it when he noticed that the person standing next to him in the subway was wearing a long black coat, along with black hair. When he finally looked at him after an eternity of just standing here, he was met by a pair of grey piercing eyes that surprised him at first.
"Hi, Akutagawa," was all he decided to say, noticing the way the white jabot didn't look as neat as it was the last time they met. Atsushi looked away first, awkwardly standing next to the man his mentor trained before him.
"Hey, Jinko," was all he got as a greeting.
"So, I think you heard about Dazai, recently?"
"I think I did, in fact." He said, his voice dripping with a specific poison, a misdirected anger. "I'm... sorry. I know he was your mentor."
"He was yours too," Atsushi added, trying to show empathy for his said 'rival'. When his gaze met the other boy's, they both silently comforted each other, not a word was needed, not a sound was disturbing.
"You called me, Boss?" A voice pronounced, entering the cold office of the Port Mafia's leader.
"I did. Take a seat, Nakahara." Mori spoke up as he merely waved to the chair in front of his desk. The moon entering the office through the large window reflected on his face, giving him little space to be seen, whilst being half absorbed by the shadows of the night.
Only the sound of the chair moving around as Chuuya sat down could be heard, until the older man spoke up, "I think you heard about Dazai already?"
He carefully picked his words. Chuuya hated when people cared for him about something so stupid such as death.
"I did. Is there anything to mention about it?" The shorter man bitterly spat, a flash of memory of his former partner and lover crossing his mind full of nostalgia. He had never wished to talk about him again.
"If you want it, you're allowed to claim a two weeks break."
Chuuya stared, confused, as why Mori himself would let him disappear for two weeks for something like grief.
Why did he even need to grief?
Good to know that the fish-like bastard was gone.
It was another pain taken off his shoulders.
"..."
Or maybe a new burden tied to him.
"I'll take it. Thanks, Boss."
The sky was painted of a bright blue this morning in Yokohama. Unusual enough, Atsushi wasn't wearing his iconic white shirt and black pants.
He went for blue jeans and a slightly too big hoodie. Yellow, to match his eyes.
Dazai had said it fit him just fine.
Akutagawa had said ‘I'm too busy for your bullshit, Jinko.’
How can you believe one was the youngest's past mentor?
Kunikida gave him the week off to grief.
"Aren't you gonna just drown under paperworks?" He asked, trying to not disturb his elder's peace at his office.
"I'll be just fine, have fun and hang out with your friends," was what he got as a simple answer.
So he headed to the park, hands in his pockets.
To do what ? He had no idea.
After all, everybody else was either working at the offices, on a mission, or busy outside with friends. Even Kyouka got out earlier with Kenji to get ice creams (while she would usually go with him , but Atsushi already started to think everyone was letting go of him so he could grief in peace.
Which, according to him, was unnecessary–)
On his way he took out his phone and decided to call somebody, blindly letting his fingers fall onto a random number, pressing on the screen without looking before.
But when the white haired boy saw the name on the screen, with the note “calling…”, he almost hung up in annoyance.
Before someone decided it was a good time to pick up in a matter of seconds.
“What?” a sharp voice rang in his ears from the phone.
Atsushi stared at the screen blankly, not replying for a while.
Well, he’s done for. Why not invite him to the park, while he still can?
“I—”
“If you don’t have anything to say, don’t call me, Jinko.”
“Are you free right now?”
Silent. No answer coming from the other side of the phone, as the younger male continued walking through the park.
“Yeah? Why”
The boy settled on a wooden bench, picking out his words for the other to hear, “I’m at the park, around downtown area. Wanna meet up?”
Only a hum could be heard from the other boy, quickly hanging up after Atsushi acknowledged that yes , he would come. So he shut his phone down, looking up to the trees and families surrounding him.
Without noticing it, Atsushi redirected his gaze to a little girl and her mother near the kids’ playground. The girl was laughing happily, tugging at her mom’s sleeve playfully and running around a bit, the older woman watching over her while shaking with small giggles from afar.
The boy let the minutes pass calmly, as if he could fall asleep on his spot, yawning.
“Hey, Jinko, wake up.”
Ah, this voice sounds so… distant.
“Huh?”
“You fell asleep, idiot.”
“Oh, it’s you.” he breathed out, looking up to the familiar pale skin and ink black hair. Though, looking more closely, Akutagawa had white on the tip of his ‘bangs’.
When the other boy straightened himself to invite him to get up, Atsushi did so. And as Akutagawa started walking, he followed. A comforting silent settled between them, none of them bothering to break through. As they walked out of the park and towards the downtown, Atsushi spotted a red kimono and a mess of dark hair tied into two pigtails.
“Hey, Kyouka,” Atsushi waved at her, quickly noticing Kenji next to her and nodding at him.
A small talk was made out of this encounter as Akutagawa silently stayed by Atsushi’s side until he was done to leave them both to head off and keep walking through the big city that was Yokohama. They parted before the clock hit eight p.m.
Well, at least that was a relaxing day.