For ninjou.

[tenimuho]

[Tonight, Dazai is really drunk.

This is not different from most other nights in their favorite bar, save for a few things.

1. Ango isn't here.

2. Dazai is really drunk. The kind of drunk that has Odasaku concerned that he might be trying to die through liver failure. That drunk.

And so, it's with hesitation that he speaks up.]

Maybe you should stop drinking for tonight.

Comments

[tenimuho]

[It was a hypothetical 'if'.]

I was going to do that anyway.

[ninjou]

Have you thought about it before? Not just while I'm here...

[tenimuho]

...I've thought about it some.

[Wow that spot on the wall is really interesting.]

[ninjou]

You're looking forward to it, right?

[tenimuho]

Of course I am.

[ninjou]

[He sets his spoon down and reaches for Odasaku's hand.]

I've slept with a few people, but I didn't really care about any of them.

[tenimuho]

[Dazai's hand gets a squeeze.]

It's the same with me.

[ninjou]

I've never been in love with any of them.

[tenimuho]

I've never been in love with anyone but you. So it'll be new for both of us.

[ninjou]

I didn't have time to be in love with anyone else.

[A little smile.]

You stole me away.

[tenimuho]

I guess I have to take responsibility now.

[With kisses, and things like that.

Later.]

[ninjou]

If you don't, I'll cry.

[tenimuho]

[...says the person who claimed never to cry.]

I don't want you to cry.

[ninjou]

Do you think it's fine for us to be together, anyway? Your honest opinion. Does it ever make you worried?

[tenimuho]

Honestly? ...Sometimes. I worry about someone trying to use me against you.

[ninjou]

[Dazai goes quiet, smiling despite being a little grim. He has to choose the Mafia interests over Odasaku, if something happens.]

That's impossible.

[tenimuho]

[He's aware.]

I'm glad.

[ninjou]

I won't let it happen, you know that.

[tenimuho]

I trust you. I don't worry about it too much.

[ninjou]

I trust you, too.

[Which is, by far, more important and significant than any measure of affection.]

[tenimuho]

[It really is, and Odasaku pauses.]

I'd kiss you a lot for saying that if you weren't sick.

[ninjou]

Your own fault.

[He smiles. It's almost shy.]

You started all of this while I'm sick. All I want to do is kiss you and hold you in my arms. Instead... I get really, really good soup.

[tenimuho]

I did work hard on the soup.

[Chicken soup takes a surprising amount of effort.]

But you're right. It's my fault.

[ninjou]

It's really good.

[He nods.]

No one's ever cooked something like this for me before.

[tenimuho]

Never?

[He can't exactly picture Mori putting together a home-cooked meal, but maybe one of the women Dazai spent a night with...]