Dazai had brought Atsushi to a bathroom first so he could have time to compose himself before leading him to a small cafe on the first floor of the building. He had been watching the boy closely since the entrance exam, and now he was sure the boy wasn't okay, He ordered food for the boy, some tea on rice, some desserts, and a cup of tea all for Atsushi. He only ordered a coffee for himself. He let Atsushi have time to think over what just happened, along with all the other recent changes in his life. It seemed to have taken a toll on the white-haired boy who slouched in his seat, staring at his hands. Dazai sighed,
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly. He was worried, especially about parts of the boy's "I'm pathetic" act from earlier. "I'm so useless, I managed to get kicked out of an orphanage," "I've been told I'm worthless almost every day of my life since I was a little kid," comments like that broke Dazai's heart, and he was sure it was more than just an act. Atsushi stretched himself out across the table, rolling his shoulders and pushing his hands forward towards Dazai as he sighed,
"That was intense, Dazai-san," the brunette laced his fingers between the younger boy's, holding both of his hands firmly, "I don't know if I'll be able to do something like that again, and you said earlier that that was an easy day at the agency." Dazai laid his chest on the table, stooping down to make eye contact with Atsu,
"Atsushi, no one can force you to take the job if you don't want it. I admit it can be tough sometimes, but you adjust to it and, after the first week or so, you learn to enjoy it," Atsushi chewed his bottom lip, considering this new information,
"Plus, you're kind of trapped at the moment. You have a seven billion yen bounty on your head and both the police and the military want you. The agency is probably the only place you'll be able to get a job, and you'll be more or less exempt from your.. Minor felonies, shall we say, with the government, at least, if you take the job. And, if you take the job, we can be together almost every hour of the day~ We'll be on the same schedule most of the time~" Dazai tempted him, making the weretiger smile a little bit. He nodded,
"I-I'll join the Agency, then. J-Just one question though,"
"Shoot."
"How long is our lunch break?" Dazai smirked,
"You naughty boy~" Atsushi squeaked quietly, blushing deeply, "It's a guaranteed hour, but if there's nothing to do, only Kunikida would complain if we made it a full-day affair." The waitress came over balancing all of the food plus their drinks in both hands; Atsushi and Dazai separated.
"Osamu Dazai," she started with a too-sweet smile,
"Yes? If this is about you finally accepting my offer for a double suicide, I'm sorry, but it's going to have to wai-" she slammed her now empty tray against the table while keeping her composure,
"You have six months worth of debt on your tab. I hope you brought some money today." Dazai sighed, digging out his wallet. He didn't have a chance to take the money out before she grabbed his wallet and disappeared behind the counter. He would get it back later. Maybe.
"Itadakimasu," Atsushi said happily before digging into his food. He felt a little bad about his sugar daddy's lack of money at the moment so he shared a few bites of his tiramisu, matcha cake, jiggly cheesecake, and red bean mochi; but only a few. He did give it to Atsushi, afterall.