Now it's time for Atsushi to actually try talking to the hot bookseller. :D
The Student's Union bar isn't an overly pleasant place to meet up. The tables are sticky, the chairs are falling apart – most feel like they're going to collapse under you – and there's always some kind of sport on the television meaning a large, rowdy crowd watching said sport. However it is one of the only places that a large group can hang out in without completely taking over someone's entire flat.
By the time Atsushi arrives their usual table is filled by Ranpo, Yosano, Kenji, Tanizaki, Naomi and Kyoka. Kenji is the first to see him and waves him over.
"Atsushi!" he calls, smiling brightly.
"Hey guys," Atsushi smiles shyly as he slips into the empty seat between Kyoka and Tanizaki.
"Where have you been all day?" Ranpo asks.
"Surely you should know Mr Detective," Yosano says rolling her eyes.
"I, of course, do know," Ranpo says. "I thought I would ask the question before anyone else felt the need to."
"So it didn't look like you'd been keeping tabs on us all again," Yosano says and Ranpo shrugs unapologetically.
Atsushi chuckles. "I went book shopping," he says.
"Oooh did you go to that book store I recommended?" Kenji asks as he hands Atsushi a drink.
"I did yes," Atsushi replies.
"And..." Kenji presses, smirking.
"I like it, it was nice."
"Just nice?"
"I don't get it," Kyoka says. "Is this book store something special? Why are you asking so much?"
"Yeah," Naomi agrees. "Anyone would think it gave out free beer or something."
"No nothing like that," Kenji says, still smirking.
"Then why ask?" Naomi asks.
"Atsushi knows," Kenji replies.
Then the reason why Kenji recommended the book store to him becomes abundantly clear. Atsushi sighs ...the book seller. Of course that's why Kenji would recommend a book store to him: because the seller is good looking and Kenji thinks he needs to get laid.
"Yes, the guy who owned it is very attractive," Atsushi says. As soon as he says it he wishes he hadn't because everyone suddenly jumps down his throat.
"What? A hottie?" Naomi and Yosano ask in unison.
"Atsushi!" Ranpo gasps in mock surprise.
"What?" Atsushi asks.
"You only just decided to tell us this now?" Yosano asks, her eyes blazing. "You've been here a whole three minutes and you haven't said anything!"
"I didn't think it was that important," Atsushi shrugs but that was clearly the wrong thing to say as Naomi rolls her eyes.
"Honestly would you listen to him?" Yosano sighs. "He meets a smoking honey and doesn't think it's important to tell us."
"Boys," Naomi sighs, shaking her head.
Atsushi blinks in confusion, not sure what he's supposed to have done.
"So what does he look like?" Kyoka asks.
"He's tall," Atsushi says, "he's got messy brown hair and these eyes that you can just sort of get lost in. He's got a voice like silk and he's just the hottest guy I've ever seen." Atsushi doesn't realise it but he's gushing, unable to stop himself once he's started, a blush fanning across his cheeks as his head fills with thoughts of the book seller
"Look at how red his face is!" Naomi laughs.
"Atsushi what are you thinking about?" Kenji teases.
Atsushi stiffens and he can feel himself going even redder. "N... nothing!"
"Oh you so are!" Yosano smirks, reaching over the table to pinch one of Atsushi's cheeks.
"Guys come on, don't be mean," Kyoka says.
"Yeah," Tanizaki agrees, "leave him be. If he doesn't want to talk about it then he doesn't have to."
"Thank you," Atsushi says. At least someone is on his side.
"Besides you know what's going to happen," Kyoka says, "regardless of whether he tells you anything Ranpo will just go and stake the place out so he can find out."
"Did someone mention a stake out?" Ranpo asks, suddenly interested again.
"Quiet time Ranpo," Kyoka says patting the back of his hand, smiling kindly.
"Okay," he shrugs, leans back in his chair and falls straight to sleep again.
"So..." Kenji grins leaning back over the table so that he's nearly nose to nose with Atsushi, "are you going to go back?"
"Well yeah," Atsushi replies, "it's a nice book store."
"Sure thing," Kenji grins.
"But that's not the only reason, is it?" Yosano asks, eyes sharp and grin shit-eating.
Atsushi bites his lip. It's not; he really does want to see that book seller again but there's no way he's telling them that. He'd never live it down if he revealed that so he settles for shrugging and saying nothing in the hopes that they'll leave him alone. Luckily for him Kyoka's phone going off with a text from her boyfriend instantly has the scrutiny on her.
While the rest of them are distracted Atsushi takes the copy of Northern Lights out of his bag and looks at it. It's a very pretty copy, probably the prettiest copy Atsushi has ever seen. He opens up the front cover to look inside and a piece of paper falls out. He picks it up and looks at it, all it has written on it is one single word – Dazai. The blush is instantly back on Atsushi's cheeks. That must be his name... I'll have to find out when I see him...
The next day Atsushi returns to the book store, there's a lot more people inside this time so he doesn't quite have the guts to go up and talk to the man behind the desk. He browses for a bit, pretending to look for more books just in case anyone is paying attention to him before he leaves. He makes the decision to return the next day and try again.
Unfortunately his plan backfires when he returns the next day and the same thing happens again. The day after that is the same and the day after that and the day after that until it's been almost a week since Atsushi first met him. By the time he gets to the shop and finds it empty he's incredibly nervous. What the hell is he supposed to say to him? Um thanks for the book I've been coming in every day this week just to try and talk to you ...No that's stupid. He really hasn't thought this through in the slightest but he's here now so he might as well just go for it.
He takes a deep breath and walks over to the desk where the man is sitting, exactly the same as he was the other day, reading How To Win Friends And Influence People. Atsushi can feel himself trembling as he looks down at him. Holy crap I'm actually doing this. He clears his throat and the man looks up.
"Yeeees," he says, elongating the word and grinning.
Atsushi's heart flutters and he loses all track of what he might have been about to say. "Um..."
"Can I help you?"
"I... um..." Atsushi stammers, clutching the strap of his bag for support. He looks down at the desk and shakes his head. "I'm sorry, I'm not normally like this."
The man suddenly appears in his line of vision, right up close to Atsushi's face. "Like what cutie?"
Atsushi tries to look away but wherever his eyes dart the man moves to so that he has to look at him. He can't get his voice to work and he can't seem to get his heart to stop pounding. "I'm not usually this nervous talking to people."
"Aww do I make you nervous," the man coos, a huge shit-eating grin on his face.
"A little," Atsushi admits.
"Why?"
"Because you're very good looking," Atsushi replies deciding to just take the plunge. What does he have to lose aside from being able to come back to the store ever again?
The man grins and licks his lips, Atsushi's eyes following the movement his breath still in his throat. "Is that why you kept coming in to see me and then running away?"
Atsushi's face turns scarlet and he places his head in his hands, mortified. "Oh my god you saw that?"
The man chuckles and takes hold of Atsushi's wrists so that he can prize his hands away from his face. "Of course I did, you were so obvious it was adorable."
"Oh god!" Atsushi squeaks, trying to hide his face again.
"You're so cute," the man says. He leans forward so that he can bump the tip of his nose against Atsushi's. It's a gross violation of personal space but Atsushi doesn't mind. All he can think about is the way the man's breath hits his lips and he wants nothing more than the distance between them to be closed and for the man to just kiss him.
"Dazai..." he breaths suddenly remembering the note from the book and he lets his eyes flutter closed.
The man chuckles again. "So you got my note then?"
"You left that for me?" Atsushi asks opening his eyes.
"Of course I did," the man... Dazai says.
"But why?"
"Because I wanted to see you again."
"So that is your name then?" Atsushi asks.
"Yes," Dazai smiles. "Allow me to introduce myself properly." He holds out his hand and Atsushi takes it.
"Atsushi... again."
"Well it's very nice to meet you Atsushi... again."
"Would you possibly like to go and get a cup of coffee or something with me sometimes?" Atsushi blurts out. The guy has already said that he's cute so he might as well dive right in and try. There really is no point in not.
"I don't actually drink coffee," Dazai says, "but I know a place that does really good cake," he adds before Atsushi's heart can sink too quickly and he smiles.
"Cake sounds good," he says. Oh my god if he's this weird without caffeine then what the hell would he be like with it...
