Text"Don't be afraid to call me, Kunikida~Kun," Dazai hums, pulling the covers over his exhausted partner. "I'll answer - probably."
Kunikida would have rolled his eyes, had they not already been closed. "Okay." He mutters instead, hearing the sound of tape being pulled and cut and then the swoosh of paper and weight on his bed, he opens his eyes, "What're you doing?"
"I'm leaving a note so you can read it when you wake up." Dazai says simply, stepping back from the bed.
"And what does it say?" Kunikida asks irritably. He's tired, in pain and not in the mood. "I don't want any words of profanity or a horrendous picture on my wall."
"Don't worry," Dazai reassures him "I'll be sure to fulfill your desires next time." He explains the content on the slip of paper, and once he's done, he watches his partner drift off, jealous of how easily he could fall asleep. Only once he's sure Kunikida is asleep and won't be waking up anytime soon does the former brunette leave.
-_—_—___-_-___—_—_-
When Kunikida wakes up in the morning of the second day of their body swap, he is immediately hit with a tsunami of pain so bad his immediate reaction is to call Yosano.
Rolling over onto his side to turn off his alarm and call the doctor, he doesn't even make it that far, curling up into a ball, crumbling from the pain.
When he turns slowly to face his desk beside his bed, Kunikida's blurry eyes land on a piece of paper taped to it. What the..?
Slowly reaching for it, the former blind quickly remembers what it is.
"Here, Kunikida~Kun," A voice condescendingly sweet piqued behind him. It was the day before, Dazai was leaning over his partner who was lying on his well kept futon, to tape a piece of paper onto the wall "this has all the medications, names and times you need to take them. Just to be completely clear! You'll know what to take, and when."
Sucking in a breath through his teeth, the frustration bled deeply into his already pained body and soul. "You damn suicidal idiot."
Painfully, the currently dark haired man sits up to get a better look at the paper in his hands. Why are they shaking? He wonders faintly, trying to get his blurry eyes to focus.
Listing all the medications needed to be taken with their names and times of day are written in neat handwriting in English. "Goddammit, Dazai.." He mutters. Of course the idiot couldn't be nice just once in his life. Good thing he actually knows English. He may not be fluent in it, but he knows enough to understand what it's saying and translate it to what he understands.
Kunikida quickly realized how thorough the list is. It could have just been what meds to take and when but it's surprisingly detailed. Examples being, when and what to take them with, how to take it, if it needs to be dissolved in a cup of water, or swallowed whole, what happens if he forgets to take something and what to do, when to take it, what time is too late to take it and so on. He specifically also stated which ones are okay to skip sometimes and which ones not to skip no matter what.
When did he get the chance to write all of this..?Kunikida wonders. Having spent almost the entirety of yesterday with the other, he doesn't recall Dazai writing something down once. Dazai had managed to get the medications from his house as well, which Kunikida doesn't remember him doing. Odd. The former math teacher has pretty good memory recall, normally.
With more struggle than he'd ever admit to, Kunikida eventually manages to get into a sitting position with his legs out the bed, making some quite embarrassing noises he didn't know Dazai's vocal cords were even able to manage and frankly, doesn't want to hear the man make them. Ever.
Sitting on his bed with medications in one hand and water in the other, Kunikidas' nose wrinkles in disgust at the taste of the pills. He never liked taking them and would avoid swallowing tablets as much as possible, but he'd do anything at the moment to expel the pain - just to make it easier.
There isn't much else to do but wait for them to kick in, so that's what he does.
I need to shower, Kunikida thinks with a sigh, looking off at the far wall of his room. He feels disgusting but in too much pain to even think about moving. .
And food. I need to eat too, and..
It hadn't felt like too long since he'd taken his meds but slowly and surely he could feel the aches and pain decreasing to more manageable (if you could even call these manageable) levels.
Just another ten minutes. I'll see if it improves anymore.
Kunikida's brain slowly drifted off to its mindscape - even bordering the sleeping realm when he snapped back to reality only to see on his phone it was frickin 8:45.
I'm so late!
Jumping up in a sudden rush, the ada member sucks in a breath between his teeth, falling back onto his bed before his legs could give out Goddmanit, Dazai. What the hell have you done with your body?
Kunikida couldn't even fathom how a vessel could be damaged this much.
Picking up his phone, the detective was ready to email work to say that he wouldn't be coming in when a thought strikes dawns on him.
No. I can't take the day off. If I can't prove my worth to the agency and deal with something this bandaged bastard coped with, what does that say about me? It's not dedicating my body and soul to the agency like I swore to do. What good am I if I can't do that?
Kunikida, forgetting Dazai's upbringing and previous occupation, continues to mentally motivate himself by cornering himself into giving up mentally, such a foolish weakness.
Has the medicine started working? Flexing his fist, Kunikida sighs to himself. They're starting to work, so that's good. The pain is still there, but not enough that a single twitch is agony.
Deciding he's spent more than enough time lost in his thoughts, he pulls himself up, testing how steady he is on his legs. Satisfied enough to find they are no longer shaking violently, he takes a step. He continues on somewhat satisfied to move, gathering some things as he goes. Making his way to the bathroom to change, Kunikida finds himself already physically exhausted, needing to sit on the toilet for a few moments before he could start.
It felt weird putting on something other than his normally beige suit, but there isn't much he could do about it - If it's not his size it's not his size.
Since he doesn't have the time to change the bandages, he just gets dressed.
Screw Dazai and his weird ass fashion. Kunikida thinks, tossing the bolo tie off to the side, not having the patience to cope with the ridiculous ritual with this body's shitty wrists.
Why does he wear that thing anyway?!
He puts the ridiculously dramatic beige trench coat on, grabs his work bag and leaves the house, mildly concerned about the step he missed on his morning routine - breakfast.
I'll just get something to eat at the cafe. He decides.
Checking the time, Kunikida could only groan in annoyance. It's now 9am. He is officially an hour and a half late.
Starting his normally five minute walk to the agency since he hadn't been able to drive it home the day before, Kunikida can only do so much to imitate the way Dazai normally walks.
Failing miserably.
It could be worse, but thinking of when to use each walk was too much effort. Sometimes the maniac would be walking in long strides, other times leisurely, seemingly having no care in the world.
Now though, the former blond is beginning to wonder if it wasn't that he didn't have a care in the world, but his mind was just occupied by the pain and used one of his many masks to manipulate the weak appearance of it. The man was constantly playing others for fools yet the mass fabrication of a single persona…
Kunikida couldn't help but question whether it was worth the exertion and utter exhaustion.
When he finally makes it to the agency, it takes every ounce of his being to not lean up against the wall to catch his breath, wanting to respect Dazai's request from earlier the day before, telling him to not make him look weak.
Although he does wonder why Dazai would care so much. After all, he does always have such a care free and laid back attitude, paired with the fact that he does stupid things while out in public all the time.
Who cares if he seems 'weak'? He's in pain.
But immediately after the thought surfaces it is pushed down when Kunikida casts away that train of thought, getting slightly mad at himself for even thinking of such things, only to question himself barely a moment later for acting like that towards his own thoughts. Yet he still only vaguely allows the thought a spot in his mind, as if afraid someone was reading his mind and would shame him for thinking such things.
Yet he still questions.
Entering the building, Kunikida doesn't even considertaking the stairs, pressing the button to call the elevator, trying to catch his breath.
His respiratory system was failing miserably.
He's now beginning to realize a lot about Dazai, like why he chooses more often than not; a slow, casual, low maintained paced lifestyle - well, most of the time.
It also crosses his mind how the hell that idiot manages to, if he does run, beat a good portion of the agency members, without collapsing.
—------
Walking out of the elevator, Kunikida doesn't check the time, genuinely afraid of how late he is and because if he did, he wasn't sure how he'd cope and react to the answer.
Entering the office of the Armed Detective Agency, all eyes turn to him
"Good morning, Daz- er Kunikida~Kun!" Atsushi greets him as he enters the agency later then he ever thought he would be. It went unsaid what went through everyone's head once the detective actually showed up.
"Good morning, everyone." The former blond greets with a stiff nod
"Why're you late, Kunikida?" Ranpo asks casually from his desk, being the menace he is, he has two different flavored lollipops in his mouth that don't even taste remotely good together.
"You're smart, you can figure it out, surely." The man mutters, sitting in his desk heavily, keeping his eyes on his desk, not wanting to meet anyone's curious gaze.
"Thats the thing," Ranpo mutters under his breath "I'm not completely sure what is going on." He bites down on his lolly in irritation, then groaning in annoyance. "That was my last one of that flavor~"
From her place by the printer, waiting for some sheets to be done, Yosano laughs lightly "Aw, are you having trouble figuring something out, Ranpo~?" She sings teasingly, getting another groan in response.
Looking back at Kunikida, Ranpo can only sigh, continuing to chew on the already broken sweets, throwing the sticks out as they no longer serve a purpose, being already thoroughly chewed. What are you two hiding? The detective slumps back into his seat.
It's now an easy win for Ranpo because it's currently Kunikida in Dazai's body. He's not going to be able to unravel everything, but he's already gained a substantial amount of information already. His coworker was never as good at masking as Dazai is and never will be. He can already see the number of Dazai's masks that have fallen by the hands of the unsuspecting blond detective - completely obliviously. He has no idea how incriminating his actions will be. Ranpo almost feels sorry for his friend.
But now,
It's only a matter of time.
"So, Kunikida, why don't you start on your work? Or have you become a slacker like Dazai?" He knew it was wrong to say that, but Ranpo has always been a bit of a sour person when things don't go his way, and right now is one of those times. He hasn't won yet after all.
Flushing red with embarrassment, realizing he had been staring at his keyboard for a solid five minutes, cheeks going a color Dazai's have never gone before, Kunikida immediately gets to work without a reply, making Atsushi, who is sitting across from him, send over a concerned look which isn't seen by the man, but instead by Yosano who returns it with a look of her own.
"Um, Kunikida~Kun?" The weretiger asks, making the man go stiff, immediately thinking his coworkers are going to reprimand him for one thing or another despite the fact that Atsushi would never.
"Yes?" The former blond asks, trying to stay as calm as possible, keeping his eyes on his keyboard as he struggles to edit some documents which he normally can do rather quickly
"It's just- um.. are you okay?" The younger man flashes a look of concern towards his superior who still has yet to look up from his work despite having not done any in some time.now and merely staring at a blank screen since his computer turned off due to inactivity.
"Yes, of course I am." Kunikida replies stiffly
"Oh, well um.. okay." Unsure of what to say next, Atsushi goes back to doing his work, but he can't help but glance up at Kunikida every now and then, concerned that something may be wrong.
Kunikida has never been good at masking, especially now in a new body and with immense pain, he is especially failing at the moment. His meds seemed to have worn off, Dazai having forgotten one important detail.
His body's tolerance.
Kunikida took the prescribed amount of pills which is stated on the label of the bottle since Dazai hadn't given him a number, so the man assumed that was the amount he takes. Kunikida has never seen Dazai take medication and is unaware of the fact that the few times he noticed when Dazai would get hurt on missions, he refuses any type of medication. Due to his high tolerance, he has to take an unhealthy amount of anything, really. The only reason Kunikida was able to make it this far into the day was because his brain had managed to convince itsself he felt slightly better, even if that wasn't the case, but quite the opposite.
He wonders what happened.
Did Dazai give him a placebo?
"Kunikida~Kun?"
The light voice of the weretiger breaks through the man's thoughts, removing him from his thoughts.
Looking up, Kunikida finds the boy standing next to him patiently with a smile, his concern showing through his glass like duo colored eyes despite the pleasant expression "Yes, Atsushi? What is it?" He tries his best to hide the stain in his voice. How well he succeeded though, is another question.
"Well, our lunch break started," The teen explains "and I noticed you weren't doing anything." He decides not to mention how Kunikida had been staring at the same blank screen since 9:30 and it is now closer to 12:40 "Would you like to join us? Kyoka, Kenji, Junichiro and I will be going to the bakery down the street for our lunch break."
Oh. That's a good question. Kunikida would love to go there. He loves the cheese pastries they make and the old woman who owns the bakery is so sweet to the Agency members. But he doesn't want a repeat of what happened the night before. Plus, the physical exertion currently does not seem very appealing at all to the former mathematics teacher.
"I think I'll have to decline today, kid." The older sighs "I have work that I really need to get done. But do tell Mrs. Katz I say hi and apologize for being unable to join you guys."
Atsushi looks disappointed, but nods anyways "Will do,"
Before the group of the younger agency members could leave, Kenji walks over to Kunikida with a smile "Here, you can have my orange." The fourteen year old holds out the fruit "I noticed you didn't have any lunch with you today and I know Dazai doesn't eat very much, so while you are in his body you should eat as much as possible so he can be healthy." He smiles sweetly
Taking the orange with slightly shaky hands, Kunikida nods in appreciation. They are detectives after all. No matter how nieve Kenji may act, he does have a knack for noticing little things like that that. "Thanks, kid."
Finishing the orange over a period of time, though still hungry, Kunikida finds the lack of nausea satisfactory and no taste, somewhat comforting at that moment,
But the lack of pain? Not so much.
Their break ends, everyone returning to the office to resume their work, finding Kunikida already at his desk like he normally would be, but this time, his hands are still over the keyboard, no movements being made.
Kenji hands the man a paper bag with a smile "I brought you the pastry you like!" he grins boyishly.
"Thank you," Kunikida accepts the gesture with a soft smile. That boy can make even the most darkest and evil of people smile.
He'll keep it for later.
Everyone returns to their duties as if this was normal.
"Um, Kunikida~Kun," Atsushi calls the man's name, getting no reply. So he tries again, louder "Kunikida~Kun?" The former math teacher is staring at his computer, a doc opened but nothing written, the cursor pulsing patiently, awaiting its first commands which will not be coming anytime soon.
Still, no reply.
"Kunikida~Kun?"
Jumping slightly, the man looks up, hands twitching painfully still poised over the keyboard.
Looking up, trying -and failing- to play it off, Kunikida looks at the weretiger expectantly "What?" His tone came out much harsher than intended, but the man sees it fitting to his sour mood originating from the pain.
Unsure if he should ask why he is in a bad mood, seeing as Dazai isn't there to nag at him, Atsushi smiles kindly to his superior, handing over a stack of papers to the man at the desk across from him "I finished the reports you had me do."
Taking them with a nod and nothing else, Kunikida sighs to himself, feeling his arms creak in a way he wishes never to experience again but surely will. Eyes scanning the papers covered in Atsushi's neat Kanji, the current brunette finds himself struggling to see through blurred vision.
Rubbing his eyes, Kunikida tries again only to find himself at the same fate of being unable to read due to the blurriness of his temporarily chestnut hued/colored eyes.
The accidental groan of irritation that leaves his mouth attracts the attention of his coworkers who have slowly been learning to adapt to Kunikida-looking-like-Dazai-but-acting-like-
neither, but still quite unused to the behaviors being portrayed.
He's been snappy. Sure, Kunikida could be at times when it involves staying on his schedule, but Dazai was never easy to irritate. Neither of the men are, Dazai just knows which buttons are the wrong ones to push on Kunikida and pokes them profusely just out of boredom.
He's been short tempered, and all around a bit rude to his coworkers today.
And so, they were quite concerned for both themselves and their once blond and now temporarily brown, shabby haired coworker.
"Kunikida?" Naomi is the one to speak up, the younger Tanizaki hiding behind a book she has clutched in her grasp "Is everything alright?"
Is everything alright? Of course it isn't!
Everything hurts! He's in pain! And that stupid Dazai isn't here!
But he won't say that. Instead, taking a deep breath, the man nods "Yes, of course I am," he lets out a sigh, his trials really aren't something he wants to discuss right now, especially to the students and part timers. There's no need to stress them out any more than they must already be.
He rubs his eyes after unconsciously trying to lift his glasses out of the way only to remember after the fact that they weren't there, a small blush blooming on his cheeks, momentarily painting them a light pink before it fades back to pale unhealthy white.
Allowing some form of irritation into his voice once again, he grumbles "My eyes won't focus,"
A light laugh tinkles through the air as Yosano enters the conversation. She had been standing in the doorway silently observing. Something she may have picked up from Dazai. "You should take a break, Kunikida." She offers "You're going to wear yourself out,"
"A break?" The gasp that leaves Kunikidas mouth could rival Dazais, some realizing it technically is Dazai. He sounds as though someone said he had to kill another, not take a measly break. "No. I cannot do that. My ideals go directly against unneeded breaks."
"Specifically unneeded though, correct?" He nods, the doctor's hand still on his shoulder from when she placed it moments before. He nods "Well then," she smiles "take a break, Kunikida Doppo. Doctors orders."
During the time of his break, which Yosano insisted he take in her clinic, Kunikida is left with his own thoughts. Something that's never been such an issue for him, Kunikida's mind travels to Dazai.
The self destructive suicidal man he was cursed to be partners with two years ago, and now once again cursed to live inside his body two days ago, Kunikida could only imagine and fear what he is doing.
Has he tried to kill himself again as another one of those stupid pranks? Has he done something else to injure his body like he did with his nails? What will he have inflicted on his precious vessel?
But his mind doesn't get very far before Ranpo is prancing into the room with a gleam in his eyes, like he's on a mission.
"Get up." The elder says sternly with a mischievous grin on his face "You're taking me candy shopping."
—
Watching Kunikida leave the office with a bit of a stiff limp in his step, emerald green eyes shining as bright as the jewel watches him with a careful, calculated gaze.
What is he hiding?
The detective hates the unknown. He hates when he's in the dark. He's meant to be the world's greatest detective man, and yet he can't tell a single thing about his own co-worker who he has learnt stuff about, but not nearly enough. And nothing involving the current predicament the agency seems to have found themselves in.
And then he has an idea.
Hopping up from his chair, the ravenette walks happily to the door to the office, calling out to the others that he and Kunikida will be at the store. He's gone before anyone can protest.
Opening the door to Yosano's clinic without being given verbal permission, ignoring one of the few rules his friend has set up, Ranpo walks in with a jump in his step, quite excited for what may come next in his newly hatched plan.
Kunikida, who had been sitting on one of the plush couches adorned in throw pillows due to Yosano's (unhealthy) obsession with (buying) them for only fifteen minutes, looks up, hundreds of emotions flashing through the dark irises of Dazai's eyes reflected off the lobby from the hallway outside since the lights were turned off.
Pointing his empty glass bottle or Ramune at the man, he smiles widely, eyes glinting mischievously "Get up." He orders "You're taking me candy shopping."
–
"So, Kunikida" Ranpo says with a slight tune to his voice as he walks next to Kunikida, a lollipop in his mouth and not for the first time does the idealist wonder how many cavities the childish man must have. "What's going on?" He isn't going to try beating around the bush. For a genius, Ranpo has never been the most tactical person. Plus, he's too impatient for that at the moment.
Ranpo is vaguely aware of the fact that walking may not have been the best idea. He's not the most fit, after all. Having a genius mind in no which way involves needing to be able bodied but that's not important right now. He has more pressing matters to deal with currently, like, say, figuring out what's going on?!
"What are you referring to, Ranpo? You'll have to be more specific."
"With you and Dazai. Duh." The elder rolls his eyes, speaking as if it were obvious. Which it kind of was for once.
"Nothing is going on."
"Yeah, sure. And I'm not Yokohama's greatest detective." The sarcasm is evident in his voice as he pulls a second candy from his pocket, popping it in his mouth despite still having the first lolly still in it. "I'm being serious, Kunikida. You're acting strange. Both you and Dazai have since day one of this crazy situation."
"We've switched bodies, Ranpo," Kunikida manages to say without growling. He's not in a very good mood, being in too much pain, but he still has respect for the man, so he tries to stay composed. Ranpo doesn't deserve, by any means, to be lashed out at for just being curious.
Looking around at their surroundings, Kunikida quickly realized the direction they're going in isn't towards the stores, but, in fact, the oppositedirection to them. Deciding to voice this fact, Kunikida looks at the detective in slight curiosity and confusion "Ranpo, I don't believe this is the way to the candy shops you like. Or any, for that matter." To be honest, with his coworkers' incredibly poor navigation skills, he is wondering why the talented detective is even in front and leading the way to begin with.
"Shush, Kunikida!" The detective waves his hand, a third sweet already unwrapped and waiting. Kunikida has a strong suspicion that the other doesn't even need any more. Now that he thinks about it, he did see the haul he and Dazai had brought back two days prior, before that dreaded mission even happened to begin with. "We're going where I want." He pushes his concerns away because they are irrelevant to their current situation in every way.
They walk for a bit, Ranpo deliberately ignoring all things Kunikida says to him. He chooses instead to observe the man through the corner of his vision.
His coworker is almost stumbling along but he's committed to appearing composed - no doubt Dazai's doing and the previous blondes own choice as an admirable action to not make others be concerned for him.
It is prideful and unnecessary.
He is evidently using a lot of energy which he doesn't have, to maintain his poor, cracking façade. It's honestly sad to watch.
This body language is stiff and strained, likely due to pain, whether it is caused by an injury or not. There is no way Ranpo is excluding the possibility that it is not an outstanding injury at all due to the stupid brunette's past in the Mafia.
Alongside his restricted movements and tight composure, Kunikida is especially keeping his hands as still as possible, not even naturally swinging at his sides. Any movement he unintentionally makes while talking or just gestures in general is quickly reacted with a deep breath, closure of his eyes and a few seconds of deep contemplation. Even in this deep contemplation, he doesn't even cross his arms like he usually does, instead tucking them into his pockets securely.
Whatever pain he was experiencing, Ranpo knew it had to be severe for Dazai's body.
Possible Torture, self harm and suicide attempts - all things that could've impacted aches, pains etc.
But this level?!
No.
There has to be more to it.
And each time he saw the same signs, over and over and over again, it was frustrating for the detective.
He doesn't have enough evidence for any kind of condition because the horrific body is covered from head to frickin toe in clothes, bandages and other strange concealment methods - almost just there to remind Ranpo of consent and this living vessel he can never touch.
Dazai has a very high pain tolerance, no matter what. Sure, he could still hide being in pain, but for Kunikida to feel… whatever it is he must be experiencing, and to such a degree, is concerning.
Any tampering with the brunette's body was notworth Dazai's long term reactions.
Ranpo knows that. Always has. There are boundaries and there are some you just cannotcross.
-_—_-
"We have a saying in the Port Mafia…
The biggest misfortune for the Demon Prodigy's enemies is that they're the Demon Prodigy's enemies."
-_—_-
The older of the two quickly makes the decision to end their walk soon. They're nearing the boardwalk/promenade/sea front (for all you British peoples *cough* *cough* Riley!), so there will be places to rest up ahead. They have been walking for sometime now, both men are horrifically out of breath - both for different reasons.
-_—_—___-_-___—_—_-
Leaning against the rail of the Port, Ranpo watches Kunikida intently as the man leans heavily against the rail next to him, panting with strained breath, lungs constricting painfully.
His eyes quickly leave his coworker, though, observing their surroundings. Not too far down but far enough boats are docked and being loaded for export. They're by the place Atsushi and Akutagawa fought during the whole Guild fiasco.
The border of territory.
It's afternoon, the sun beginning to turn the sky a beautiful orange and pink, the ocean mirroring the colors but giving it more of a shine. A few clouds are overhead, moving lazily with the wind. Children giggle as they race each other to the vendors a little ways down, adults and teens alike strolling leisurely, enjoying the last moments of summer.
Kunikida watches Ranpo soak in their surroundings as if he were a young child going somewhere for the first time. Even though they're not on a mission, the ravenette is always aware, observing and noticing the tiniest of details - details Kunikida could never even dream to think of or even vaguely begin to comprehend.
On a normal day with normal circumstances, Kunikida would wonder what Ranpo is seeing. Wonder what he is observing and how many thoughts are going through his head. But not today. Today he's too tired; in too much pain.
"Why are we here?" Kunikida asks. And more importantly, why here? Sure, Kunikida has maps of all of Yokohama. Both modern day and outdated ones for cases, convenience and other potential uses, But he wasn't really paying attention to where they were going, but more on not letting his legs give out underneath him. Upon observation he could figure out where they are in a matter of seconds, but his brain is still fuzzy. He knew they were here for a reason, Ranpo bringing him here on his own told him as much. But why?
"Because."
Out of all times for him to be childish, Kunikida wishes now wasn't one of them.
"So why are we not still at the Agency? I'm sure whatever it is you wanted to discuss could have been done there as well, no?" As well as mentioning this, he is also hinting to him at still not knowing what exactly Ranpo wants from him.
"No." Yes. "I didn't want to stay there. I was bored."
He also needed more data and being in the field usually eliminates distraction.
Being on the border of underground territory allows Ranpo to see both sides of Dazai more clearly.
The dark and the light.
Kunikida doesn't say something in fear of being rude, instead choosing to just sigh for the umpteenth time.
Looking at Kunikida expectantly, Ranpo observes the man. His bandages are wonky, nothing like how Dazai has them. Clumsy, unrefined and looser than usual- much thinner, too.
Dazai always has at least two layers on. Ranpo learnt that from Yosano. Kunikida has one, two in some areas at most. Probably not wanting to 'waste the material' or something. His skin is pale and pasty, giving him a sickly look, eyes baggy sunken, making it look like he hasn't slept in an age.
If it were Dazai, Ranpo would understand. But Kunikida always sleeps at least six hours nightly, no matter the case.
More evidence?
The current brunette seems to be struggling to hide the pain flashing through his chestnut eyes which is as knowledge he craves and knowledge he hates. The ada is his severely traumatized bloody family, but they're still his, so when they're struggling, he helps as much as he can and when he can't, he has failed.
In his eyes anyway.
Ranpo's worth is entirely dictated on his ability to help his family. If he's not good at that?
What the hell is he good for?!
So, when he first saw Dazai as an Ada member, although still wary, considering where he came from (Fukuzawa did consult him about it, asking the man his opinion on the nature of accepting him), he was mildly concerned for the more obviously underweight, slightly frail bandaged man. His case was one he wanted to prove he was able to care again- give someone a second chance and study the psychology of an apparently 'former demon'. Ranpo was able to see through some lines easily enough through using things common knowledge even if it isn't common to anyone other than himself.
There was a lot hidden from the naked eye, so much mass that he almost worried the skinny adult would crush under the weight of his own damn mind.
That was until Ranpo saw his unfaltering mask upfront. Watching the brunette's interactions was so bizarre but he was able to pin quite a bit of backstory.
Dead friends, obvious abuse (how severe he could never tell, but the signs were obvious), malnourishment, starvation, sexual assault and some other experiences he'd rather forget.
Yet with all that knowledge, he knew it was just the tip of the ice berg.
He almost desperately wants to know what's going on. He isn't sure he can deal with the unknown for much longer.
It might drive him insane, or worse, emotional.
"We can go back soon," Ranpo starts, "but only once you tell me."
"Tell you what?"
Looking directly into Kunikida's eyes with his own sharp gaze, Ranpo repeats himself once again "What's going on?"
"Nothing, Ranpo," Kunikida sighs, "nothing is going on."
"Oh really?" The man then goes to point out all of his earlier detailed observations made on the other, watching him closely for his physical reaction.
Kunikida swallows sparsely when he's done, averting his gaze to stare out at the ocean only to return it a moment later, the glare of the sun hitting the water hurting the still slightly unfocused eyes. Ranpo's gaze was like fire.
"There's nothing to say Ranpo, that's all I have to say."
There's silence for a few minutes, that wasn't good enough.
"Would you like me to spell it out for you and you keep hiding behind lies, Kunikida or you can just tell me yourself.
"Because the more you hide from me?! the more of a liar you become.
"And you know how I feel about Liars."
Kunikida looks up to meet Ranpo's cold gaze, breaking under the pressure of having to deceive someone so dear.
It goes against his ideals.
Kunikida barely opens his mouth before the other is speaking again.
"You don't need to hide this," His voice becomes softer as he realizes how harsh he is being. He's going against this man's ideals, all. "I could tell it to your face and you have to deal with the shame of hiding it in the first place, the dishonesty and ridiculous lies or you can just tell me now. It saves your feelings and saves me having to watch your pitiful face when I throw it at you."
This was entirely a bluff.
Ranpo had no answers.
But what he had shown Kunikida was proof of whatever it was that he's hiding and hopefully that's enough to flip the switch of: I've already lost but I can be redeemed.
The detective in truth, does feel bad for once about this manipulation, this is one of his closest people. It is wrong.
But Kunikida needs help and Yosano can give it to him.
Hopefully.
In truth, he isn't sure.
Kunikida grits his teeth then grabs the back of his head with his hands before yelling out towards the vast body of water.
The detective is briefly shaken.
Okay. What is going on.
Emotions are not his strong suit.
"What will you do Ranpo? What will you do?! If you know as you claim to how can you stop this madness"
To that the detective has no response.
He freezes.
What? What's happening? What madness?
He doesn't need to reply though because...
His coworker just…
carries on.
"There's pain- Everywhere"
Ranpo pauses for a minute before quietly and calmly saying,
"What do you mean, Kunikida?"
He lets a strained sob break free, muffled by his fist. Such emotion Kunikida detested to display in front of others.
He looks distressed. While Kunikida sort of wants to just tell Ranpo everything, he can't. His mind is at war with itself, Dazai's explicit instructions to not allow anyone to know as well as his own ideals fighting against his want.
If it were a side effect of the serum, both he and Dazai would be experiencing it. But there isn't a question about the fact that Dazai isn't experiencing it as well. This is purely contained to Dazai's body alone. What is causing it though?
There is no objection to the fact that Dazai has done many many things to inflict pain on his body, throughout his entire life no doubt. But, nothing has lasted for so long and nothing that would be so impactful and severe. If the pain is actually everywhere as Kunikida claims it to be, there is a problem. A big problem. So many things could be happening right now, and Ranpo doesn't know. Since Dazai never told anyone. He never let it slip if something was going on, so no one would realize a bigger, much bigger issue the man has obviously been dealing with. Since he never says anything or lets anyone even marginally close enough to even know. Even on Ranpo's standards.
Ranpo still doesn't know if this is a more recent development or a long standing one. The time scale is too vast. He still doesn't have nearly enough information to even tell Kunikida why this is happening in the first place.
But either way, it should have been dealt with.
A long time ago.
Me and Dazai need words
Kunikida is shaking. Whether from exhaustion, emotion or pain is unknown, but he seems like he's on the verge of collapsing.
Not even a moment later, he does exactly that, legs giving way, the man crumbling to the floor.
Immediately moving to help Kunikida straighten out and lie on his back, Ranpo lets out a sigh
Walking was definitely not a good idea.
-_—_—___-_-___—_—_-
Sighing, Kunikida stares at himself in the mirror through blurry vision. He had passed out at the Port causing Ranpo to call Yosano. The woman had picked them up in a car, giving Kunikida a vague, brief check up just by Ranpo describing what happened before declaring the issue probably being over exertion. He gave him some pain meds (but unfortunately, not nearly enough to actually work) sent him home with the order to rest and recuperate. If Dazai can't do that when in his own body, Kunikida sure as hell will.
So now here he is, in the bathroom of his apartment, absolutely drained, and ready to shower then pass out.
While undressing, Kunikida turns the tap on for a bath, unsure if he'll be able to stand for much longer. He doesn't want to risk falling for a second time that day.
Now staring at himself- Or, well, Dazai, he can't help but allow his eyes to roam (though not going lower than his stomach). Without the bandages on, having been removed and discarded so he can shower, all marks are clear for Kunikida to see in the mirror.
Around the throat, which he looks at first, Kunikida sees straight paper white scars littered generously around. Kunikida sucks in a breath as he realizes It's from Dazai slitting his neck.
He would try to think it was from someone else trying to kill Dazai, but he knows that's not the truth. Dazai would never allow that to happen to himself. He is far too skilled for that.
Now, all suicide jokes make sense, and Kunikida feels nauseous at the thought. Continuing to examine, a disgusting feeling settles.
There are the wounds which Dazai had pointed out to him the day before, but there are still so so many more. There is a myriad of scars on the man's skin, all shapes, sizes, and colors ranging from long to short, deep to surface, bumpy to smooth, red to white and everything in between. So many of them overlap each other and kunikida could only wonder how many hide underneath. How long he has been doing this for. But honestly, he'd rather not know. Just the thought makes the man sick to his stomach.
Dazai, what the hell have you done to yourself..?
If only Kunikida knew how much of it wasn't him, but someone else who Dazai felt the need to cover up the marks of by ones of his own doing otherwise he would have cut his skin off. (Which he has done. Just completely skinned the surface of his thigh with a knife, but that story's for another time)
After staring at the mirror for ten minutes too long, Kunikida finally gets the strength himself to tear his eyes away from the reflection, turning to the bath where the water has been waiting for him for a while.
After quite a bit of struggling and a few embarrassing noises, Kunikida manages to lower himself into the tub with all the soaps needed already sitting on the edge of it. Relaxing into the warm water, the brunette lets out a sigh, feeling his muscles relax. Everything still hurts, of course. But the heat makes it just a little more bearable.
Beginning his normal routine, which normally takes him around thirty minutes to an hour to complete depending on his mood during that time, Kunikida ignores the ache in his limbs in favor of washing the greasy mop of brown locks he is currently (and unfortunately, if you ask him) able to claim as his own, saving washing the body for after as he is dreading it - even just one reason being purely the number of marks he'll come across.
Yet, as time goes on, Kunikida finds himself unable to complete his normal hair routine, his mind further falling to realize that Dazai is probably not taking care of his own blond hair very well, and anxiety immediately fills him at the idea of how his hair may be when he sees the brunette next. Which then reminds him of Dazai's absence today. What's going on with you, imbecile?
Finishing up, skipping a bunch of things he'd normally do with not relative ease, he then tries to wash his body as quickly as possible. Yet quick is not fast enough. His wrists hurt.
And they've hurt all day.
Looking down at them, trying to figure out what the hell is happening, Kunikida finds that Dazais wrists seem to be the most messed up out of everything, yet completely unlike the rest of his body. They're bent awkwardly, not naturally straight as they should be, multiple scars that appear to be Stab wounds?!cover his lower wrist and near the main vein. The indents and layers of scar tissue run deep into the wrist but yet somehow Kunikida could tell this wasn't the main cause for the pain.
(Somehow, no idea how, the swollen joints, jutting out bones and restricted movement gave it away. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)
Ow.
Rolling his wrist once, twice, Kunikida hisses and lets out a strained breath, frustration bleeding through. Why did I just do that? That was stupid.
After a moment, he continues at a much slower pace, Kunikida washes his body as much as possible, wincing each time he feels his joints move, hearing the crackle they make with every movement. They feel as though they are about to snap at any given moment. They look like it, too, all bones looking deformed and out of place, looking as if it weren't for the thin layer of skin keeping them together, they would all fall off and shatter on the floor into millions of perfect porcelain pieces.
The detective genuinely thought that Dazai just had more boney and structured hands wrapped with thinner skin, but now, he realizes that his work partner likely has arthritis in some joints, especiallyhis wrists and whatever else is causing this ridiculouspain. He is almost afraid to find out.
Kunikida would squirm if he ever watched or even learnt about the amount of times Dazai's wrist had been crushed, dislocated and broken then reattached.
It took over an hour for him to finish in the bath, somehow managing to drag himself out of the tub at some point, he wraps himself in a soft towel before going to find his pajamas which are quite big on Dazai's frame, swallowing him up in the cloth. He could feel the bruises on his spine forming.
Kunikida spent 30 minutes just recuperating and deeply breathing to just attempt to calm down and refocus his mind from all he just witnessed and truly suffered.
After changing, Kunikida sits himself at the couch with a few notebooks to record the events of his day thus far as well as add a few things to the notebooks on Dazai and Ranpo, which he does first.
He adds how Ranpo seems to not have known what was going on at some point. Which, of course, shouldn't be too out of the norm since Ranpo doesn't actually have an ability and instead, an amazing genius brain - but still.
He then adds in Dazai's book about him having arthritis as well as mentioning the different scars and curious stab wounds on his wrists.
And then, with wrists screeching at him, he begins to recount his actions of the day, but quickly put the pen down to clutch his wrists which hurt.
With the realization that he won't be able to write much more, Kunikida opts to make a recording on his phone instead, to be written as soon as he's back in his own body and more capable. The handwriting right now made him want to cut the hand off himself.
Feeling accomplished, the man checks the time. 4:53. Now would be when Ranpo, Atsushi, Kenji, Kyoka, Haruno and the Tanizaki siblings leave the agency.
When there aren't any cases they're normally gone before 5 pm. Though Yosano, Dazai and himself tend to stay later for various reasons, though everyone is gone by 6pm on a normal day, the president stays until 7pm to finish up his own work.
Relaxing into the couch, Kunikida closes his eyes. The serenity is short-lived.
A shooting pain darts through his body causing Kunikida to let out a pained groan. His entire body aches with a pain that cannot be described through any amount of words.
Dammit. Maybe it's time to take more meds..?
With the struggle of a lifetime, Kunikida drags himself up off the couch, hobbling to his room where the bottles of pills lay next to his bed. Picking up the paper, he reads what needs to be taken before grabbing the correct medications to swallow with some water.
Sighing, Kunikida rubs his eyes, fatigued. Why am I so tired? I've never felt this exhausted in my life..
Deciding to eat some type of dinner now so he can maybe go to sleep soon, the former blond makes his way to the kitchen where the paper bag with the lunch Kenji had brought for him is waiting in the fridge, popping it in the microwave for a few seconds just so it's warm. He doesn't often use the microwave, but today will be an exception as he doesn't have nearly enough patience to wait for the toaster oven to heat it up.
Taking the now warm cheese pastry, Kunikida sits himself at the table with a simple glass of water. Taking a bite, the man frowns. He can't taste anything.
Sure, the cheese twist is mainly bland to begin with, but he can't even taste the cheese, which is odd. Taking another bite, Kunikida finds himself wondering why he can't taste anything as he eats the entire thing, the thought of possibly becoming sick again not passing through his mind until he's done.
Seeing as it's too late now, Kunikida can only shrug and sigh. His mind won't stop going back to Dazai and what he might be doing. It's stressing him out.
After a couple minutes of sitting down, trying to gather the strength to stand up, Kunikida tries to ignore the fact that he's going against his schedule by doing that. Getting up, he drinks more water before going to brush his teeth so he can go sit on the couch and read for a bit before making an early night and going to bed. He's exhausted.
The next morning, waking up to his alarm, before allowing a thought into his head Kunikida sits up in bed despite the pain and grabs the pills he had set out next to his bed the night before, taking them before falling back onto his pillow with a deflating sigh.
Getting up after about ten minutes, he gets ready for his day after writing down his dream of last night. Nothing too out of the ordinary. A bunch of random meaningless actions and phrases.
When it's time to leave for work, Kunikida sighs, muttering to himself "I swear, if that idiot Dazai doesn't show up I'm going to drag him out of his apartment no matter what."
That did happen, just not in the way Kunikida had imagined.
With every step he takes, it feels to Kunikida like his hip bone is rubbing against something, making a creaking noise he can more feel then hear, but the thought of what it would hear like makes him shudder.
He's completely out of breath when he makes it to the Agency despite driving and using the elevator to vet to their floor.
Entering the office, the former blond leys out an irritated sigh when he sees Dazai isn't there. Sure, Dazai tends to come late to work, but he has an able body now! That should make it easier for him, right?
Wrong.
Panting and completely out of breath, Kunikida scans his coworkers to see who would be most capable of helping him drag Dazai out of his apartment, but before he could make much of a decision, Fukuzawa enters the room with Haruno right behind him, ever the good secretary.
"Good morning president." Kunikida bows despite the pain it puts him in back collapsing slightly but with his legs steadies himself. This mild weakness was not extremely obvious but to those standing in front of him, that much was obvious. What they saw was a bow, a sudden drop, then a foot moving forward to support the very light weighted body before standing up and looking at them with teary, glistening eyes and mildly pink tinted face.
"Good morning." The silver haired man nods to all, motioning for them to sit down and continue with their tasks, relieved that the attention is no longer on him and he can relax himself even a little. His shoulders are too tense. "Kunikida." Looking directly at him, the silver wolf's coblate eyes zoning in on him.
"Yes, sir?"
"Are you alright?"
Brushing off the question with one of his own, Kunikida makes a request. "I am glad you are here, president. I was going to look for you." Kunikida was not going to look for him. As much as lying is against his ideals, eventually Kunikida was going to seek him out. Maybe not at that exact moment in time. But eventually.
When Fukuzawa motions for him to continue, he says "I would like to request for a small case for Dazai and I to work on as well as a physical on my body. Dazai refused for me to have one on his body, but now I request one for mine."
"Do you know where Dazai is?"
"No, sir. I was going to go and find him." Eventually. "I've called him several times on my way here, but it's gone straight to voicemail."
Eyeing his subordinate, it doesn't take a genius to realize much more physical exertion will end with Kunikida in Yosano's clinic. "Alright. I will be joining you in looking for Dazai. I have something I need to discuss with him anyway."
Kunikida nods, not having the energy to do much else. He feels more fatigued than he did the night before. "Yes, sir."
Setting out immediately, Fukuzawa and Kunikida get into the latter's car, the former math teacher insisting he drive.
Fukuzawa stays silent, but raises an eyebrow. He is being kept updated on Kunikida and Dazai's situation by both Yosano and Ranpo and has been made aware that Kunikida is struggling physically and is sware Dazai must be struggling mentally with this whole situation, which is why he sought out the idealist so he can keep an eye on him and figure out what's going on.
Watching Kunikida as he puts the key into the ignition, Fukuzawa notes the way he winces when he twists the key to start the car, trying to cover it but failing. He doesn't mention it.
"We are going to Dazais apartment, I assume?"
"Yes, sir. Dazai is normally still sleeping right about now." Not for the first time does Kunikida wonder how Dazai is still employed, but he keeps those thoughts to himself.
When they reach Dazai's apartment, Kunikida is filled to the brim with pain and anxiety alike. The meds don't seem to be working.
Sitting in the car parked in the parking lot, Fukuzawa is about to exit the vehicle but Kunikida stops him. "I'd like to try calling him once more. I don't think it's right to invade his privacy without him knowing we're coming."
Fukuzawa nods. It's a cover up, but neither are going to acknowledge that both are well aware of this fact.
That once more turned into twice. Then three. The four. And soon, thirty minutes had passed to the point where both know Dazai's irritating voice mail by heart. Fukuzawa is more than surprised that Dazai even has one, seeing as he has way too many burner phones and fake numbers.
Hello~ Thank you for calling. Unfortunately it seems I am unable to respond to your most likely very important call right now. You are free to leave a voice message, of course! We all have free will, but whether I listen to it or not is something you will have to consider. Okay, hopefully we will never meet again! Buh byeeeee~!
His condescending and annoyingly cheery tone is cut off by the sound of a rubber chicken being squeezed loudly into the receiver and then the beep allowing them to leave their own message. To say Kunikida jumped the first few times ever calling that number would be quite the understatement
"I think we should go up." Fukuzawa says, checking the time. It's closer to 11am now.
Nodding, though hesitantly, Kunikida sighs. The two exit the vehicle and make their way to the entrance to the building. There's stairs.
WHY ARE THERE STAIRS?!
Dazai said it's a longstanding issue so why?!
Seeing no elevator straight from where they are, Kunikida has no choice but to pull himself up the small flight of stairs with stiff legs. He looks like a wooden doll, almost, with no joints or flexible movement.
Fukuzawa once again stays silent. Nodding to the security guard who is already well aware of his existence, Kunikida goes directly to the elevator where they take it to the fourth floor where Dazais apartment resides a little ways down the right of the first corridor. Apartment 413.
Feeling the adrenaline he has been surviving off of since earlier that morning begin to fade, Kunikida decides now's a good time as ever to start knocking.
And knocking he does.
Ignoring the pain and the presence of his boss next to him, Kunikida bangs harshly on the door, "Dazai open this door RIGHT now!" He's basically abusing the poor weakened wood of the door.
The pain becomes more and more intense, but that only seems to fuel his chaotic and erratic door abuse.
He hears shuffling from inside, but doesn't seize until the obstacle that was in his way of seeing his greatest source of information and his dearest partner was no longer there.
His eyes vaguely register the body in front of him before collapsing into his former body's arms, the arms that are holding Osamu Dazai's soul.
The adrenaline completely wears off and his body is overtaken and is possessed with exhaustion and pain like no other.
"Why would make me do that? Why couldn't you just answer your damn phone?"
He felt as though he were about to cry. Everything hurts.
Despite that, it seems as though Dazai is ignoring him as he addresses Fukuzawa while setting Kunikida on the floor, his body goes limp as he finally passes out.
When he comes to, Kunikida hears Dazai speaking with his own voice, "I appreciate this service, president."
Kunikida only heard the end of Dazai and Fukuzawa's conversation as he was drifting in and out of consciousness for a bit, but he is sure he'll be filled in, to some degree soon.
Spinning to look at Kunikida with energy that doesn't match his body, Dazai begins to talk to his partner "So! What brings you here Kunikida!"
"Your body is a battlefield. I don't particularly want a similar story painted on my skin…"
His mind is overwhelmed with the flashes and images of his eyes roaming and breathing in the state and textures of Dazai's body. The scars cover, wrap and imprint on his marred skin, the skin that quite possibly had never experienced being as smooth as a newborn baby's. If it did, it wasn't for very long.
His partner's body told a story of over 2 decades worth of trials, suffering and abuse. A story, one of which Kunikida Doppo wishes was merely a mirage as he had fooled himself to believe these last 2 years. But after experiencing, seeing - living in this story, this life, it wasn't a mirage. Osamu Dazai's story was very very real.
Kunikida looks up and searches his own eyes for any answers, any of which Kunikida can see, but Dazai was hard to read before, when he inhabited his own body, nevermind now in a completely new structured vessel. It was like Dazai wasn't even here.
"Dazai, as part of the health and safety policy of our employees, Kunikida has the right to request a physical."
Kunikida is grateful for Fukuzawa's explanation, it felt as if he was pushing his partner away, but at least if it came from Fukuzawa it wasn't his head on a stick.
"I don't want you to worry Dazai, it's not until this evening. You have the entire afternoon to prepare for this, and you will be together until then. Let me know if there are any changes that need to be made."
Yeah. This entire physical. Dazai thinks sourly. Change that to the fourth of never.
"Dazai we can handle it, it's a small case and I needed to talk to you more about how to cope with this situation! I am suffering! In your body!"
The deadpan look Dazai gives him makes Kunikida want to sock him in the face. He would have, had he not been in pain, and it not been his face.
Kunikida wants to punch Dazai, but at the same time doesn't. He's confused. Dazai is confusing. Why can't he be even the tiniest bit normal? Even the smallest bit easier to read?
"That's for later. We have a case, don't we, Kunikida~Kun?"
Yes. Of course they do.
Kunikida rolls his eyes. Dazai is being annoying just to spite him.
That's what he believes, anyways.
Kunikida believes all Dazai does is only ever to get on his nerves and disrupt his schedule.
–
Soon, the detectives find themselves walking into a cafe, looking for their client who they were told is wearing a nicely sized red bow in her hair so it'll be easier for them to notice her.
After giving Dazai a strict talking about no flirting, they make their way to the booth where they believe their client is sitting.
Despite now being in each other's bodies, Kunikida still takes control of the conversations for the most part while Dazai observes, asks a question or two and devises a plan.
"Mirai?" The petite woman in question who is one of the witnesses and has a close relation to the victim of their mission persons case
"Yes?" The 19 year old is brought to attention and greets the two detectives with a small smile "What can I do for you?
Both men are equally relieved as a small part of them feared she'd question their more than awkward behaviors, but she doesn't
After saying where they're from, Dazai begins to zone out as Kunikida behind the questioning, wanting to get this over with as soon as possible. He regrets asking for a case.
"So Mirai, you mentioned the conflict in your opinion, worsened after the split along with organization judgment and questioning of judgment, yes?"
"That's what I heard, yes." While the girl begins to explain, Kunikida steals a glance at Dazai who seems to be completely out of it, yet taking in everything at once. He's acting weird.
He's always acting weird, but now it seems more than normal. He's twitching randomly, head tilting one way or another, his eyes never leaving a certain spot he is staring at behind and to the right of Mirai, suddenly flickering away randomly only to return not even a moment later.
Irritated, Kunikida tries to bring Dazai's attention back to the case.
And it works.
Though only for a moment.
But despite that, Dazai was easily able to wrap up the case and they were out of the cafe with time to spare.
"Sometimes I truly don't understand how you're such an idiot all the time with a brain as gifted as yours." Kunikida mutters, getting nothing more than an absent hum in reply.
They need to get to the agency. Dazai needs that physical. This thought they both simultaneously had, yet had such opposite emotions from it.
Kunikida is looking forward to it. Though a small part of him is also a little nervous to find out what Dazai has done. Dazai, on the other hand, is dreading it with all of his being. He's had so many options to make a run for it. And he almost has, multiple times. But he can't disobey a direct order from the president. Every plan, every option, always comes down to his morals on that individual personal standing.
Did he care more about preserving himself or preserving the structure?
At that moment his brain unhelpfully decides to remember all the times he'd disobey Mori and the lovely outcomes of those situations before he finally learnt his lesson.
Dazai shudders. Kunikida looks at him weirdly.
This is going to be great.
-_—_—___-_-___—_—_-
Watching Dazai enter Yosano's clinic, Kunikida feels he's unable to breathe, though unsure why.
Everyone is sitting in their chairs which they had bought to line the hallway leading to the door. They're all worried for Dazai. Even Fukuzawa is there, listening as everyone discusses in hushed voices what is going on.
And then, suddenly, they freeze when there is a noise, all unsure of why they froze.
There's a soft clatter from inside the room, which is much louder in then out seeing as the room is soundproof due to the things Yosano has to do when using her ability and the fact that that can be distracting for others who are trying to working that time.
Then there's shuffling, and a scream.
One definitely from Kunikida. The only issue is, there should be no reason for him to be screaming. She isn't using her ability.
So why?
The absolute fear and terror in the high pitched note makes everyone shudder.
What's happening?!