Chapter Text
"And do you want to tell everyone what you told me?" Kunikida is asking, and Chuuya wants the ground to open up, swallow him whole, spit him out literally anywhere else.
Atsushi shoots him a look before obediently repeating. "Chuuya-nii told me I can punch people if they're mean." Kunikida gives him a pained look that he returns with a tight smile; and he's been very pointedly ignoring the other parent, but the man bursts out laughing and his patience is wearing thin.
"So, what did that kid do to Atsushi then?" Chuuya derails. The five year old relaxes against his side, perhaps relieved Chuuya wasn't mad. Though if he's being honest, he just doesn't like the look on the other parent's face, and he doesn’t want to have to apologise – or make Atsushi apologise.
"Ryuunosuke?" Kunikida prompts, and the sullen-looking kid hesitates before answering.
"I called him stupid,” the boy mutters, pauses to glance at his father, and then continues. “He said fish lived under the sink... so there’s nothing wrong with pouring food down it. That’s stupid, isn’t it?” He’s looking at his father, again, and when the man shrugs, there’s an annoying smile on his sort of pretty face Chuuya kind of wants to punch off.
“It’s not.... conventional.” Kunikida says.
“But Chuuya-nii said—“ Atsushi begins, and Chuuya is quick to bring his hand over his brother’s mouth, pressing the boy’s face into his side.
“I don’t know where he heard that from,” there’s a snort from his left, “but doesn’t that brat have to apologise to Atsushi too?”
Kunikida looks like he’s about to burst a vessel, and objectively, Chuuya supposes he shouldn’t be arguing; but he doesn’t really appreciate being called down in the middle of the day because of a petty fight between children. He’s pretty sure Atsushi’s an angel the rest of the time; and don’t children hit each other all the time anyway?
“Nakahara-san, I’m not sure you understand why I had to call you down – this is about Atsushi resorting to violence. I’ve already spoken to Ryuunosuke and his father.” It’s not an explanation he’s satisfied with and Chuuya has to fight the urge to roll his eyes.
“And I’m asking if the kid has apologised to Atsushi.”
Kunikida sighs, pinching at the bridge of his nose. “Ye— “ he starts, but he’s interrupted.
“Nakahara-kun, is it?” the man pauses, but he doesn’t wait for a response. Chuuya bristles at the familiarity with which he says his name. “I don’t see why Ryuu has to apologise for your brother punching him.”
“Dazai-san, please— “
“Huh? If your kid’s going to be running his mouth, he’s going to get punched some day anyway,” he spits out, interrupting Kunikida again. The smirk on the other man’s face infuriates Chuuya all the more, and he vaguely registers Atsushi grabbing on to the sleeve of his coat.
“Not when he’s only five – or should he already be resigning himself to dealing with... short-tempered children?” The emphasis on ‘short’ doesn’t leave Chuuya second-guessing what he means and his grip on the chair arms tighten.
“Oi, shut the fu—“ Kunikida slams his palms down on his desk then. Chuuya finds himself jerking back, he hadn’t even realised he had shifted forward. The look on Kunikida’s face is far from friendly, and if they hadn’t just been arguing in his office Chuuya thinks he might have thought his smile to a nicety. But it sends a chill down his spine, reminds him of when he was back in school and would get into trouble; he wonders briefly if any of Kunikida’s students ever dare rile him up.
“Ryuunosuke, Atsushi, if you would wait outside,” Kunikida orders; the two boys don’t hesitate in obeying.
“Obviously.” Kunikida starts, eyes flickering dangerously at the other man – Dazai, Chuuya recalls – when he tries to speak. “Obviously, I’ve spoken to Ryuunosuke and Atsushi and they’ve already apologised to one another,” he pauses to shoot Dazai another look.
“But it’s policy to inform the guardians when there’s been a physical altercation.” Kunikida’s hands are clasped in front of him, resting on the desk. He’s presenting the very picture of patience; though his tone is anything but. “Naturally, we expect them to be more...” he unclasps his hands at this, waving it around like it would mean something to Chuuya.
“I’ll talk to Atsushi.” Chuuya huffs. He doesn’t really see a point, dwelling on this, and it seems as if the statement appeases Kunikida, just the slightest.
“There are other ways to teach Atsushi to stand up for himself.” Dazai offers. It’s not unkind, but it makes Chuuya cluck his tongue in annoyance. He pretends he doesn’t see the amused look flit across the brunet’s face.
“I’m not paid to mediate fights between parents either.” Kunikida carries on as if Dazai hadn’t spoken. “So, if there’s a next time – and I pray, there isn’t a next time – please keep that in mind.”
And then there’s that smile on Kunikida’s face again, the one he had when they’d first entered the office, all professional, that tells Chuuya they’re dismissed. He’s out of his seat in an instant, a nod at Kunikida and hardly a glance at Dazai.
Outside, Atsushi is chattering away to an indifferent Ryuunosuke, though it’s not as if the other boy looks particularly distressed. Fucking kids – did they really get into a fight? Atsushi perks up when he sees him. “Did Kunikida-sensei scold you?”
“No, you brat. I’m an adult.” Chuuya says, cuffing the boy’s ears.
“But...aren’t adults bigger?” Ryuunosuke speaks up then, and he sounds genuinely curious, not at all mocking, that Chuuya’s stunned into silence for a moment. But only for a moment, since in the next, he’s crouching down to meet the boy eye to eye.
“Kid, you don’t get to say that to anyone bigger than you – got it?” Chuuya bumps the boy’s forehead against his gently and he’s rewarded with a small giggle.
“Chuuya-nii, Chuuya-nii,” Atsushi calls, tugging at Chuuya’s sleeve to get his attention, “Ryuu said I could come over to play with his kitten!”
“Ryuu said what?” Chuuya asks, straightening up from his crouch. He knows he looks confused – didn’t Atsushi literally punch this kid less than 3 hours ago – but the two boys in front of him misinterpret it.
“Chuuya-nii, please!” “Can he please, Chuuya-san?”
And truthfully, Chuuya doesn’t have an issue with it. Ryuunosuke seemed like an alright kid – it has nothing to do with the way he’d bowed when he had said Chuuya-san – and Atsushi, well Atsushi would probably just be miserable for a week if he denied him; Chuuya, despite the hard exterior he attempted to project, couldn’t really bear seeing Atsushi miserable for more than a day. Or at least, he didn’t really have an issue with it, until the pretty-faced bastard from before chirps from behind him: “Oh, why not!”
He spins around, all the more irritated when he realises he has to look up to see the man’s face. “I didn’t say it was okay,” escapes his mouth before he realises, and he feels, rather than sees, the two kids behind him deflate.
“Were you going to say no?” Dazai teases; there’s that knowing smirk on his face again, and Chuuya needs someone to acknowledge this inhuman amount of effort he’s putting into keeping his temper in check.
“Chuuya-nii...” Atsushi pleads behind him. Ah, Chuuya sighs, he really needs to learn how to say no.
“Fine.” And when Atsushi cheers behind him, it’s hard to keep the fond smile off his face.
“Mmm... You’re kind of cute when you smile – less angry looking,” and the smile is off his face in an instant. “Don’t look so annoyed.”
“Tch... I’ll let you know when,” Chuuya says. Dazai suddenly brightens at that, pulling his phone out with one hand, the other outstretched towards Chuuya. But he can’t quite guess what Dazai wants, staring at the outstretched palm in front of him instead, until Dazai sighs. “Hand me your phone.”
I don’t have one he wants to say, though it’s a little too late for petulance of that sort. In what was probably an attempt at rebelliousness, Chuuya, after getting his phone out, refuses to hand it to the brunet and instead, stares him down. Dazai remains unfazed, listing his mobile number with a shrug.
“Dazai Osamu,” he adds at the end. “In case you didn’t catch it before.” Chuuya doesn’t want to admit that he does, in fact, remember his name.
“Nakahara Chuuya,” the redhead offers in return, making sure to bleed as much distaste as he could into his tone.
“Ah, then Chuuya–“ he scowls at the way Dazai uses his first name, so easily, effortlessly, “–we’ll see you soon then.” Then Dazai is strolling away, Ryuunosuke close by his side, and he’s left with an unpleasant feeling; sort of like he’s been left in the wake of something.
“Nakahara-san, you bastard!” Chuuya yells to his retreating back, after a moment’s hesitation. Dazai doesn’t respond, but the way his shoulders shake lets Chuuya know he definitely heard him.
***
Chuuya decides he still has a lot to learn, when it comes to Atsushi. But Kouyou nee-san had told him it was fine, he was only 24, no one expected him to be perfect at it. If he had been given the choice all over again, he doesn’t see himself choosing any different, he would have still fought to be Atsushi’s guardian; there’s no way in hell he’s letting anyone take the past four years away from him. Except, when it comes down to it, he’s still inexperienced, has no idea what to do, and when he’d gotten the call from Kunikida, his first instinct had been to call up Kouyou; his second to actually get to the school.
She’s waiting inside the apartment when they arrive back home, and Chuuya balks at the way Kouyou is tapping her nails against her arm, an impatient tic of hers he had found out about in an unfortunate manner. He notes how the apartment looked cleaner than it had when he’d left it that morning – how long had she been waiting? Atsushi, who had at first livened up when he saw Kouyou, now stood slightly behind his back, just as apprehensive as Chuuya felt.
“Nee-san! You didn’t have to come all the way!” Chuuya says in way of greeting, hoping he sounded convincingly light-hearted enough. But Kouyou has known him for most of his life, there’s no deceiving her, and she only raises a brow at him.
“Well?” she asks; it’s more of a demand, really, and Chuuya acquiesces. He conveniently leaves out the part about Dazai, opting instead to only mention what had transpired in Kunikida’s office. Atsushi, thankfully, is far too exhausted to offer anything; the kid is too honest for his own good. He’s curled up at Chuuya’s side, head resting on his knee as Chuuya cards his fingers through the silver hair.
“...and since it’s his first... offence or whatever, they’ll overlook it.” Chuuya finishes. The expression on Kouyou’s face hasn’t changed much, but Chuuya sort of wants to back away a little.
“So, you told Atsushi,“ Kouyou pauses to lean forward. Chuuya tries his best not to lean back when she does, but it’s hard to curb the wariness rising within him, “that it was fine to hit anyone that was mean to him?”
At Chuuya’s jerky nod, Kouyou’s gaze shifts to Atsushi, her tone a lot gentler but still as firm. “Atsushi-chan, next time, I want you to let me know what your Chuuya-nii tells you about other people, okay?” Atsushi nods, a lot less harrowed than he had been moments ago when he realises he’s not about to get into trouble. Chuuya, unfortunately, can’t quite share that sentiment. “Ah, and next time you want to punch a friend of yours—“ she flicks the boy on the forehead gently, “—I won’t be this nice.”
“And you,” Kouyou turns to him now, and there’s a dangerous smile on her face that lets him know he’s not quite off the hook, “watch what you say to Atsushi. You aren’t a child; I am not supposed to be stepping in to discipline him.” On his part, Chuuya looks rightfully admonished. But then Atsushi is nudging at him because the hand in his hair had stopped moving, and the corners of Kouyou’s lips quirk up in a smile; it gives Chuuya enough reason to relax.
“Anyway, Atsushi-chan, what’s this I hear about fish living... what was it? Under the sink?” Kouyou asks, a nonchalant air about her.
This time, he’s not fast enough to stop Atsushi when the boy starts to tell her about how he had caught Chuuya, in one of his less thought-out moments, pouring soup down the sink (Oh! It’s the soup you brought us, Kouyou-san!), and how Chuuya had, for some reason (he was drunk), told him about how fishes live under the sink.
“Is that so, Chuuya?” Kouyou asks, rhetorical. She’s still smiling, though it’s probably only for Atsushi’s benefit.
And at the end of it, all Chuuya can do is sit in seiza and apologise a hundred times over.