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Osamu Dazai was 13 when he became a junior in highschool.
He was exceptionally a genius, though you wouldn’t think so at first glance, and to keep him a freshman would be holding him back, along with his classmates… though, despite his intelligence, he was still childish as ever, and so most of his junior classmates avoided him or disliked him.
Most, besides one. Sakunosuke Oda, or as Dazai liked to call him, Odasaku.
Oda was very good with kids, a title which he roped Dazai into. He loved caring for kids, and he volunteered at a daycare, and spent a lot of his time there. At seventeen, he was much more mature for his age, and always had a sort of blank look on his face that scared his classmates off. So, like Dazai, he was avoided too. They naturally became friends quickly. Oda was very interesting to Dazai. He followed Oda everywhere he went.
It was a normal day at school; Dazai and Odasaku were sitting together for lunch, just them two, Dazai talking Oda’s ear off, Oda simply nodding and listening. That’s typically how it always goes, Dazai was a very heavy talker. Oda opened up his lunchbox- his father, Fukuzawa, always packed his and his adopted brother Ranpo’s lunch for them, every morning before school, even at their big age. Oda and Ranpo’s tastes were vastly different. Oda would eat anything given to him if he needed to, but his all time favorite was curry, so Fukuzawa always packed him that for lunch. Dazai always wondered and bugged him about how he could possibly eat the same thing everyday and still love it, and Oda never had an answer for him. He was a simple man. He liked simple things.
Ranpo was much more picky, all he ate was sweets, mostly. Fukuzawa had a much harder time packing for him, always packing him a good amount of sweets, but also packing him things he needed to eat to stay healthy in a way that was appetizing to Ranpo so he’d actually eat it. It was a shock to most when they learned Ranpo was just a year younger than Oda.
Dazai reached over, stealing a good sum of Oda’s food. Oda didn’t complain at all. He knew Dazai’s living situation was much different to his own, and so, he always allowed Dazai some of his delicious lunch. Telling his father this, Fukuzawa had started packing a bit more food into Oda’s lunchbox.
”Same thing again today, huh? Gosh, Odasaku, you’re so boring!”
Dazai whined, yet still dug into the curry.
”If you keep whining, you can eat the schools lunch, instead. It’s not that bad.”
Oda replied bluntly, eating his food much slower than the messy Dazai. At those words, Dazai faked a gag, shaking his head.
”No way, bleugh! That stuff is so icky compared to your dad’s food! You should left me come over again, Odasaku, I miss your dad’s cooking. And your cats!”
Oda smiled, just faintly, a smile so small only Dazai noticed, but shook his head.
”I’ve got a big project to finish tonight. He won’t let you come over until I finish it. Maybe tomorrow, though.”
Dazai whined at that, but Oda ignored him, and soon Dazai went back to talking his head off, and Oda zoned him out just slightly, focusing on the sight a while across from him. He was looking at a new student in his class, a boy who had just moved here… Ango Sakaguchi, was it? He couldn’t remember it much. When he had first seen him introduced to the class, he thought he was mildly cute, however, not enough to remember it or really think about it. Oda was not the type to get quick, small crushes, not ever until he met the person.
Ango Sakaguchi was sitting alone, by himself on a big round table that just made it look lonelier. There was a food tray in front of him, however, it was barely touched- instead the other boy was working on something, schoolwork seemingly, during lunchtime. Ango had just transferred here, how much schoolwork could he even have? The sight, however, made Oda feel some sort of pity, and he felt the need to talk to him. Any need to speak to him was quickly distracted by Dazai, though, and lunch was over before Oda had a chance.
The second time Oda saw Ango alone, they were back in class, and everyone had to choose partners for a new assignment. Ango stood there awkwardly, not knowing a single person, but Oda couldn’t exactly help, he couldn’t just flake on Dazai, who was already at his side. He watched Ango go to the teacher, likely telling her that he didn’t have a partner. The teacher scored the room, randomly picking a student to partner with Ango- Suzuki Takeshi, which sent a wave of pity through Oda. Suzuki was a very rude boy, impatient and quite the bully. He had picked on Dazai before, before Dazai basically poisoned him (a story for another time), and had tried to bully Oda before deciding the other was too scary to continue. He had seen the rude boy pick on several others. Seeing Ango’s shy demeanor and skinny stature, he was sure it wasn’t going to be pleasant for the other boy. But it wasn’t like he could do much. If he saw the other picking on Ango, he’d step in. But for now, he’ll work with Dazai on their project.
Ango was already a very impatient person. He wanted to do as well at school as he could, his father’s expectations weighed heavy on him, and he didn’t have the time for anyone to weigh him down. Especially not the stupid boy in front of him, who didn’t seem to want to do a lick of the work.
”So, Suzuki, I was thinking that I’ll do the research, and you can start our first draft. Just the first few paragraphs.”
Suzuki scoffed at him.
”No way. Look, you seem smart, yeah? Probably a big shot at your old school. So why don’t you just do it all? Trust me, you wouldn’t want me to touch this shit. I’m veryyyy bad at essays.”
He smiled lazily. Ango frowned.
”But that’s not how it’s supposed to work. It’s a big project. The whole point of partners is that we share the work. Why would I do all the work, but let you do all the credit-“
Ango started, but was cut off by Suzuki finally looking him in the eye, a harsh glare on his face. Ango suddenly realized two things; one, how much larger Suzuki was compared to him. He was pretty sure Suzuki was the caption of some sport here. Two, Suzuki seemed to have done this before- intimidate the smarter ones in class to do the work for him, so he wouldn’t be expelled. Such a cliche, but it was working. Ango’s mouth went dry. Curse his anxieties.
”O-or, I suppose… I could start it. But we’ll work out a system of what we both do, after the first draft.”
Ango stuttered out slightly, embarrassed at how quickly he could be scared, but he didn’t want to make an enemy on his first few days here. His words seemed to satisfy Suzuki, who turned away, and Ango knew this meant he’d likely be doing the whole thing himself.
Ango’s hunch wasn’t wrong, as he sits in the library alone, pulling out everything he needs to get started. He felt very tired. These first few days were hard- no one seemed interested to talk to him, and he was too shy to start first. And not to mention he got paired with a lazy asshole. But he’d make it work, and by that, he meant ignoring it all and getting the best grades possible. He worked for a good hour, before hearing footsteps approach. He looked up, and in front of him stood a boy he recognized just enough to think he might be in his class, but he wasn’t too sure. The boy was slightly taller and bigger than him, with reddish brown hair, blue eyes, and a blank look on his face that made Ango nervous slightly, along with a children’s book tucked in his arm. He, at first, just stared at Ango, which made him more nervous.
“D-do I know you?”
Ango spoke nervously, and the boy finally sat.
”Hm.. you’re new, in our class. I’m Sakunosuke Oda. I can’t remember your name… Ango, is it?”
”Yes! Yes, it’s Ango. I didn’t recognize your face, I’m sorry.”
Ango spoke quickly, interrupting Oda slightly. Oda didn’t react much, just nodding.
”You’re working on the project from class. Where’s your partner?”
Oda asked, and Ango looked embarrassed.
”Ah, he, uh… well, he doesn’t seem to like working much. He refused to come.”
“But it’s fine! I like working by myself. But, uhm, why are you here? Are you also working on your project?”
Oda shook his head, setting the children’s book down.
”No. I’m looking for the next book to read for the kids at the daycare I volunteer at.”
”Oh, you volunteer at a daycare? That seems sweet. Hard though. I would never, I’m really bad with kids…”
Ango stumbled over his words, but began to get just slightly more comfortable, now that he saw that the other boy didn’t seem to have ill intent.
”They are… handfuls, but I care for all of them. The daycare could always use more help, but they’ll do a lot of background checks on you before hand, if you ever decide to come help. But… you seem too busy to do that sort of thing. Would you like help on your project?”
Oda stared intently at Ango as he spoke. Ango looked away, blushing slightly at the question.
”I can do it myself… there’s no need…”
But Oda was already moving to sit beside him instead.
”It’s okay. I’m not busy. The teacher won’t notice, either.”
Ango finally had good help on his project. Oda wasn’t as scary as he seemed.