thesettingsun | Week 0, Saturday, post-trial: Eichi.

That's a direct attack at the heart.

[He understands, completely. Moving over, he sits at the edge of the bed, patting the spot next to him if Dazai wants to sit, too.]

I scolded him for it, a bit, so perhaps he'll behave next time. If not, then if you do your best to ignore him, he's the one who will look suspicious, you know?

[Dazai takes his seat, lightly bumping Eichi's shoulder with his.]

That's easier said than done, but I can try.

[He's never been good at ignoring people who piss him off... or even not attacking them in public.]

[He coughs a few times into his hand, but it's noticeably less aggressive than it has been. He smiles at the bump of their shoulders.]

Are you going to be alright, Dazai-san? It seems you're close with Sharpay-chan.

I promised her I'd survive. So I have to.

[It's not an answer to the question Eichi asked.]

"Surviving" is very different from being alright, you know, Dazai-san.

Well, maybe it's an easier question to answer than the one you asked.

...To be honest, Dazai-san, I'm not sure what I can do to help, even if I wish to lighten that feeling pressing down on your chest.

[What's going to happen to Sharpay... he may be in denial now, but Eichi thinks he'll probably do better speaking to him now than after the fact.]

I've been surrounded by death. Thanks to this unnamed illness, everyone in my family tends to die at a young age, aside from someone like my grandfather who must have been some sort of a demon to live as long as he did. Because of that, it's difficult to understand that mourning.

I've been told "You won't make it through the year" countless times, and when I was very young, I was introduced to the boy who would be in charge of my funeral. We would play, and spend time talking about what sort of funeral it should be. Fufu, he said I should have a pyramid, at one point.

[He leans a little against Dazai.] But the longer I live, the more I realize how precious life is. I don't want to die, and I'm certain everyone feels the same. I want to live, and be happy, and experience things, and have the normal life of a high school boy at times. I want the same for you, Dazai-san. And I'm sorry about Sharpay-chan.

...Don't you think it's a waste to tell someone who already committed suicide about the value of life?

[Maybe that sounds harsh when Eichi is just trying to help, but right now, Dazai can't help but think that Eichi would have better luck comforting almost anyone else.]

You're right. No one wants to die. But some people don't want to live all that much.

I want you to be happy, and I want to survive because I promised Sharpay, and I want to go home so the stories of my friends and teachers can continue. That's enough to push me forward whether or not I'm alright.

It's precisely because I know how you departed from this life that I'm saying this at all, you know?

[Mm, he's not sure he's handling this right, but he'll try his best all the same.] Sharpay-chan isn't the only one who wishes for you to stay alive. I wanted to express my own concern towards your safety. Regardless of whether or not you can push forward, just the same as me, I hope that I'll be able to make your time alive a little easier on you.

Ah, but the truth is, I'm a little clueless... I have very few friends, after all of the things I've done, and I deserve even fewer.

...Eh? What do you mean, the things you've done?

[Eichi isn't someone he could have just looked up, so he's clueless as to what Eichi's life is like, other than the sickness.]

...The entertainment world is harsh, isn't it? Just like Sharpay-chan must have known, to get to the top, you sometimes have to get your hands dirty.

Ah, it's triple that when you have a weak body like mine, you see? I was a nobody, and now I'm known as Emperor.

That's just how it is, isn't it? I know I've at least threatened to stab people over literature...

[in the same letter as claiming they were secretly in love with him]

If you didn't literally murder someone, I think I'd probably still like you no matter what you did.

Fufu, oh, no, I could never murder anyone. Life is precious, you know? I believe I just told you that. Of course, the rules change in this place, but I'd like to avoid dirtying my hands as much as possible.

[He folds his hands together, in fact, thinking about it.] I was just a high school student. I lost many friends, but it was all to create a better school, and purify the rot from the broken idol industry. There were no real deaths.

Then that's fine. I'm not about to enter the idol industry [he's not a good singer anyway] so you do what you think is necessary and I'll support you.

Thank you, Dazai-san. Likewise, if there's anything that I can do to support you as well, please let me know.

Thank you. ...I really do appreciate it, I know I'm not the easiest person to support.

I don't think that way at all. Dazai-san has a warm heart. Lending me your coat, despite not knowing a thing about me... I can't forget a gesture like that, you know?

Besides that, I enjoy your company. If you'd like, please join me for tea sometimes.

I'd love to.

[Eichi receives the most sincere smile Dazai's given since Friday morning. He has a way of bringing those out in him.]

If you'd like, I could make you a performance outfit. Since there isn't a library here, I've been spending my time in the tailor's.

Ah, really? You could do something like that?

[Eichi's eyes are sparkling.] I'd intended to perform at the beginning of next week, to ease everyone's mind at a better time... That's rather soon. But even if it won't be in time, I do hope to perform in the future.

Of course I would! I'll make you an outfit worthy of your performance! I'll have to take your measurements of course and hear your color preferences, et cetera, et cetera, but when it's done you'll be positively dazzling!

[And Dazai will feel better by having a task to accomplish, something more concrete than 'survive'.]

When can we begin? I can tell you most of the information you'll need, though you're free to take measurements as well. You see, I have this appearance, so to work with it best, having the image of someone angelic or princely suits me best. My favorite color is white, or soft creams, and that works quite well, as well...

[He's literally going to just keep rambling like this about all the details of what he gets his personal outfit designer to do back home.]

I don't think I'm sleeping anytime soon [for obvious reasons, not to mention his insomnia is worse when he's stressed] so we can start right away if you want. How do you feel about pastels as accent colors?

[They will absolutely talk about this forever. Or until one of them gets hungry.]

I don't mind at all. Frequently, various shades of blue do go well to give a pop of color... Gold, as well.

[He's getting up, so they can go over to the tailor and do this now!! Even if he's still coughing. He'd much rather distract himself and calm with this, and the cough seems to be getting better! ~~until all that cold weather, thanks~~]

[They're gonna go to the tailors~~]

Your palette's already pale enough that if I dressed you in too much white, I'd worry people would think of a ghost instead of an angel.

[Especially since... yeah...]

[You'd be surprised how much white he can get away with wearing, Dazai.]

Fufu... Then, I will leave it up to your taste. I'd like something one of a kind from Dazai-san, after all. My appearance is in your hands. ♪

You won't regret putting your trust in me.

[he's gonna look SO GOOD and also wear more red than he usually does]

[He can't wait, and this is a much better feeling than the dread of the weeks to come. He links his arm with Dazai's to hang off of him, urging him to go go go. They'll have a blast, and he'll be stunning!]

Week 0, Saturday, post-trial: Eichi.

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tw: suicide talk

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