Chapter 3: Yosano Freaks Kunikida Out

Dazai was ruminating over what Kunikida had just told him. Had he gone too far today with how annoying he had been towards both Chuuya and Kunikida? The way Kunikida was talking to Dazai sure made him think so. Maybe, just maybe, he felt a tiny bit bad about it.

Once Kunikida was done lecturing Dazai (shockingly, this lecture wasn't as long as the usual ones), he just sat down at his desk, feeling utterly defeated. He then faceplanted onto the desk.

Dazai glanced over at Kunikida. Forget what he thought earlier, he definitely felt bad, especially since he was usually the reason for Kunikida feeling that way.

"Hey, Kunikida...?" he said timidly.

Kunikida didn't look up. "Yes?"

Dazai hesitated. Would this backfire?

Kunikida finally lifted his head off the desk and looked at Dazai.

Dazai was still hesitating.

"What is it, Dazai?" Kunikida prompted.

It was then that Dazai realized he'd been stalling for awhile, so he decided he'd just say it and get it over with. "I'm...sorry..."

Kunikida looked puzzled.

"Kunikida, why do you look so shocked? It's not completely unheard of for me to apologize," Dazai claimed.

Kunikida gave him a skeptical look. "Maybe, but it's not exactly common either. What are you sorry for?"

"The way I bothered you all day. It's my fault you couldn't get your work done cause I kept distracting you," Dazai explained.

"That's true," Kunikida agreed.

"Wait...you don't sound mad," Dazai commented.

Now it was Kunikida's turn to fall silent. Dazai was right, all day Kunikida had found himself not being nearly as mad at him as he would under normal circumstances. He had no idea how to feel now. It was good that he wasn't as annoyed at Dazai now...right? Or was it bad that he was becoming less mad at Dazai? Kunikida didn't know anymore, and not knowing bothered him.

"Kunikida?" Dazai asked after a good two minutes of watching the puzzled Kunikida.

Kunikida snapped out of it. "Yeah?"

"I'm starting to get worried about you," Dazai announced.

"Why?" Kunikida asked.

"Because you seem a lot calmer than usual," Dazai pointed out.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Kunikida replied, trying to sound normal.

Dazai raised his eyebrows. "You sure about that?"

If even Dazai of all people noticed something, Kunikida knew he couldn't effectively argue it. "Fine, you got me."

"Mhm?" Dazai prompted.

"Believe me, I've noticed what you mentioned..." Kunikida admitted.

"Naturally," Dazai replied.

Kunikida was reluctant to speak further on it.

"I'm starting to wonder if you have amnesia again," Dazai remarked.

"Would I remember you if that were the case?" Kunikida pointed out.

Dazai thought about it. "I guess not, but...can ya blame me for being shocked?"

"I guess not," Kunikida conceded.

"If anyone else sees you like this, they'll be just as shocked," Dazai commented.

Kunikida nodded. He knew that all too well, and he didn't look forward to the inevitable questions that would follow. It was bad enough with just Dazai asking, so it would be so much worse if everyone else was.

Meanwhile, Dazai was becoming genuinely worried about Kunikida, and he hadn't felt that way since the cursed day when Kunikida came down with amnesia. Only now it was worse since Kunikida had been fine up until now. What could've happened to cause Kunikida to not be mad at Dazai? It didn't make sense. Kunikida had always been mad at Dazai for what seemed like every little thing, and now he was a lot more chill? Weird...

As for Kunikida, he felt just as confused as Dazai did, if not more. Since when did he not get annoyed by his colleague? This made no sense whatsoever. Why was he not mad at Dazai after how annoying Dazai had been today? He hadn't even thrown or kicked him at all today. Since when did that happen? Why am I hardly mad at Dazai even after everything he's done today...? Kunikida wondered, though he doubted he'd find out just by asking himself. Why wasn't anything making sense anymore?

Dazai glanced at Kunikida to see that he looked just as confused as Dazai did. Welp, I guess asking Kunikida about this wouldn't do much since he looks pretty confused himself. Maybe I need advice from someone else...

Little did Dazai know that Kunikida was thinking very similar things. I'd ask Dazai if he has any clue as to why I'm like this, but of course he'd be confused too. Maybe I should ask Chuuya about this later...

Just then, the door opened. That startled both Dazai and Kunikida.

Yosano then walked in.

"Oh, it's just you," Dazai sighed in relief.

"Just me?! Excuse you," Yosano retorted.

"That's not what I meant! I just thought an intruder like Chuuya was entering," Dazai explained.

"I'd be surprised if he does come back after today," Kunikida thought aloud.

"Oh boy...do I wanna know?" Yosano asked.

"So as you know, Dazai ate another one of those mushrooms earlier, and I guess the effects still hasn't worn off when Chuuya stopped by earlier. Basically, Dazai thought he was a monster and kept freaking out, which started another fight between them," Kunikida explained.

"How shocking," was Yosano's sarcastic comment.

"I know, right?" Kunikida agreed.

"Y'all are really talking about me like I'm not right here," Dazai sulked.

"And you always do that to Chuuya. What's your point?" Yosano shot back

Dazai sighed. "You're my coworker and yet you always take Chuuya's side."

"Because no one deserves the merciless teasing you give," Yosano replied.

"I'm going to have to agree with that," Kunikida added.

"Y'all are ganging up on me," Dazai complained.

"Yeah, and?" Yosano asked.

"Listen, Dazai. Yosano has a point. It's not fun being teased relentlessly the way you have a tendency to do," Kunikida pointed out.

"Yeah...well...uh...Chuuya deserves it!" Dazai announced. Clearly he was uncomfortable having Kunikida disagree with him yet again.

"How?" Yosano pressed.

"Cause he's the annoying one, not me," Dazai replied.

Yosano gave him a skeptical look.

"What?" Dazai asked.

"You're one to talk," Yosano said.

"...you really never do miss a chance to take a jab at me..." Dazai sighed.

"Indeed," Yosano agreed. "I'm just shocked Kunikida's not doing the same."

In that moment, Dazai and Kunikida's expressions could only be described as identical.

Yosano looked at them curiously. "What's up with you guys?"

Since Kunikida was hesitating to answer the question, Dazai jumped in. "Well doc, today's been weird to say the least."

"How so?" Yosano asked.

"Kunikida hasn't been that mad at me today," Dazai revealed.

Yosano's jaw dropped.

"I know, right? I'm shocked too," Dazai agreed.

Yosano rushed over to Kunikida, clearly worried now. "Kunikida!"

"Yes?" Kunikida asked, confused.

"Are you sick or something?" Yosano questioned.

"Not that I know of?" Kunikida answered.

"Well, something's clearly up if you're not mad at Dazai," Yosano announced.

"I know, I'm confused myself," Kunikida confessed.

"Well in that case...checkup time," Yosano declared with an evil grin.

Kunikida went pale. "Er...no thanks. I'm good..." He slowly began to back away.

Yosano inched closer to him. "No way. We need to get to the bottom of this."

"No, we really don't..." Kunikida argued.

"Yes, we do! It's borderline concerning that you're not mad at Dazai! Since when does that happen?" Yosano insisted.

Kunikida kept backing away. "I know, it's a shock. But I'm sure everything will be back to normal soon enough..."

"But what if it isn't?" Yosano asked.

"Then...I'll figure it out myself! I don't need a checkup. Save it for those who really need it!" Kunikida replied.

"But no one else needs one right now!" Yosano protested.

Ahhh, I never get tired of hearing arguments between Kunikida and Yosano. This is almost as good as Kunikida's lovely screaming, Dazai thought.

"I'm sure it'll happen eventually," Kunikida said.

"But if it doesn't, then I'll be bored," Yosano complained.

"Sounds like a you problem," was Kunikida's reply as he hid under his desk.

"I know where you are," Yosano said.

Kunikida sighed. Note to self, find a better hiding place than my desk.

Yosano peeked under the desk, giving Kunikida another evil grin. "Tiiiiiiiimmmeeee fooorrrrrr yoooouuuurrrr chhheeeccckuuuup..."

Kunikida scooted further back.

"Ok doc, don't scare Kunikida. That's not good for his health," Dazai pointed out, heading over.

"Fair enough," she reluctantly agreed. Man, I never thought I'd miss amnesiac Kunikida this much, but I sure do. He actually enjoyed checkups and that never happens with anyone around here...

Thanks, Dazai. I owe you one, Kunikida thought, relieved to not have Yosano staring at him in a very creepy manner.

"Mark my words, Kunikida, I will be back," Yosano announced as she left the room.

"Don't I know it..." he replied.

"Whew, that was scary," Dazai remarked once he was sure Yosano was out of earshot.

"Yeah..." Kunikida agreed.

Dazai glanced over at Kunikida, noticing that he still looked terrified. "Hey...are you gonna be ok?"

Kunikida took a minute to respond.

Dazai waved his hand in front of Kunikida's face. "Kunikida?"

Kunikida then snapped out of it. "Hm?"

"Yosano's not here anymore, so you don't have to worry," Dazai assured him.

Kunikida finally relaxed a bit.

At this point, Dazai was more worried. Sure, he knew that pretty much everyone at the agency feared Yosano (and understandably so), but he'd never seen Kunikida look this scared before, and that in itself was concerning. Would he be ok?

Kunikida was wondering the same thing. Would he be ok after this terrifying thing that just occured?