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[savetheweak]

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[proposed]

[ He's deliberately exaggerating, but there's always a reason to Dazai's madness and this is no exception. Dazai had a support system both in the Port Mafia and in the Agency; he's building up a foundation here, too. If it's not the same care he had in the past, there's still fondness and enjoyment in it.

It's not the same for Odasaku. One became two, two became three; then somewhere in all of that came five orphans and a restaurant owner. It had all collapsed in on itself, but he thinks that Odasaku was happier then than he was before.

So, he needs to rebuild his foundation too. So, they loop back around to where they started, ]

Eight.

[savetheweak]

[Dazai isn't wrong at all. And Oda has no idea.]

I can agree to that.

[proposed]

Have you talked to BB-san yet?

What about Akutagawa-kun? He's a handful, but I think you can handle him.

[savetheweak]

Haha. I'm talking to her right now, actually. That text you sent really got the conversation going.

As for Akutagawa-kun, I don't dislike him, but I'm not sure I'd consider us friends. You think he'd event want to be? No offense to him, but he doesn't really seem the type.

[Anyway, that's his son. He's "Ryuu" the six-year-old for the rest of all time.]

[proposed]

I thought it would. You'll get along well. BB-san is an honest person, so you can rely on her. She wants to be close to people.

He's not, but I'm not giving him a choice in the matter. In fact, you're the best possible person to pair him up with.

[ Because Akutagawa needs someone who can handle him, and Odasaku needs people to take care of, to say nothing of what a dangerous combat unit they would be, and because Odasaku is someone who makes people want to be more than they are.

He's thought about this. ]

[savetheweak]

[Oda thinks better than to talk about his time with Akutagawa when he was just a kid. He knows that he and Dazai have a tenuous relationship at best, and furthermore, Akutagawa asked him to forget about it. Still, it's because of that time that he agrees with Dazai. He has no objection to getting closer to someone he's come to care for as much as he does Akutagawa.]

I'm not going to force him into anything, but it sounds like you might. Maybe he won't mind.

[proposed]

Nope, I won't let him refuse. He may not be under my direct command anymore, but I still have to offer him guidance from time to time.

You can trust me on this.

[savetheweak]

Alright, then. Like I said. I don't dislike him. Who am I to argue, really?

[proposed]

Good! It's settled then. I can always count on you, Odasaku.

Have you met Akechi-kun yet? What do you make of him?

[savetheweak]

I did meet Akechi, but he was just a kid at the time. I'm sure that's probably not how he wants me to remember him. Considering you sent him that text the other day, we've been talking. He seems smart. I can tell that much.

dazai really just gossiping with bestie about all his cr

[proposed]

I doubt it, though not much has changed since then. Akechi-kun is almost exactly the same as Akutagawa-kun at his core, but there's a fundamental difference between the two of them.

I love it so much

[savetheweak]

[Huh...?]

Like Akutagawa-kun? How do you figure that? The difference too.

[proposed]

[ He wouldn't be honest about this with anyone else, but... ]

Akechi-kun is fueled by emotion rather than logic. He sees the world in binaries. There's the strong and the weak, and there's winners and losers. In his case, he wants to see life as a game of chess or go, but he's not capable of learning the rules, much less playing it better than anyone else.

He has potential though. If he could develop even a hint of sense and awareness of the world around him, and if he could overcome whatever hurt and anger has possessed him, then he could be dangerous. As it is, his talent is squandered. It's atrophying as we speak.

I'm sure you'll see the difference between the pair of them when you meet him again. It's quite simple, after all.

Akutagawa-kun wants to live. Akechi-kun wants to die. In that regard, I'm sure both will have their wishes granted.

[savetheweak]

[He's certainly not expecting all that...]

You seem to know this kid better than I thought. That's an awfully in depth assessment. You really picked him apart.

I'll have to keep an eye out, I guess. He definitely doesn't appear that way on the surface.

[He was a sweet kid. Possessed by anger and hurt? Oda resents that. He'd like to think Dazai's wrong, but he isn't often, and he clearly has some reason for saying so.]

[proposed]

[ VILLON is typing...

...

VILLON is typing...

VILLON is typing... ]

You're right. I said too much.

He has people to take care of him, so it's none of my business.

[savetheweak]

?

You didn't say too much. I don't feel that way. You can tell me whatever you think. I respect your opinion, so I'd like to know.

It lets me know to be cautious. That's all. I'll give the kid his own chance to make an impression regardless.

[proposed]

I don't know if I'd say he warrants caution. He's too undisciplined for that.

He just reminds me a bit of someone. That's all.

[ Which is probably why Dazai's struggling to speak his thoughts now. ]

[savetheweak]

Someone other than Akutagawa, you mean?

[proposed]

Yes. Just a little bit, though.

It makes me think that there's something I'm missing.

[ Now, who could that be? ]

[savetheweak]

[He wonders...]

You're not going to tell me who it is? Dazai?

[proposed]

That's not fair. You're supposed to tell me.

He reminds me a bit of myself, though we're nothing alike. In fact, I would be offended if anyone else were to suggest it.

[savetheweak]

[Oda had suspected, but to say something like that...It's awfully significant, coming from Dazai, he thinks. It doesn't make him feel less affectionate for Akechi. That's for sure.]

Given what you told me, I can start to understand, I think.

It makes sense you'd be able to spot something like that in someone else, I suppose.

that gagtag is my 13th reason why

[proposed]

The chances of him living much longer are relatively slim. It might be for the best. Even if he were to decide to live now, there's nothing but pain waiting for him.

The kind thing to do would be to give him a painless death, but that's not an option either.

What's the right thing to do here, Odasaku?

LOL

[savetheweak]

[Doomed to either death or a life of pain? Those don't have to be the only options. Dazai and Odasaku have talked about their lives in this place. He'd never suggest asking someone to stay here, but what he can say is...]

Just give him a chance to live while he's here. What else can you do, Dazai?

Painful or not, he has no choice but to live right now. Once he leaves this place, it'll be out of your hands regardless.

You don't know what might come of it. Nothing here is certain. That's what everyone says.

He deserves a chance, I think.

[proposed]

[ It's difficult.

It's difficult because Dazai agreed to become a person who saves the weak and protects the orphans. He promised to be something more. Odasaku is right, too. Akechi will leave, and after that it won't be his problem.

It seems as though he should care about what happens after more than he does, but four years have passed and nothing has changed.

Still, he's taking what's said to heart here. ]

You're right. If I keep acting like a nuisance, I'm sure that something interesting will happen.

I think he might try to kill me at some point. Wouldn't that be fun if he did? It's been awhile since anyone has.

I hope you'll get along with him.