Chapter Text
Chuuya sighs as he takes another sip of his coffee and checks the time.
“Almost 4pm already, huh? Sorry guys, but I have to go. I have a first session with a patient in 15 minutes, you know I can’t be late for those,” he tells his two friends -- Yuan and Shirase-- the two are currently sitting on the other side of the table.
Their usual meet-up spot is quiet like usual and the redhead can’t help himself as he closes his eyes and just listens. The quiet sound of coffee machine working in the background along with the workers chatting with each other and their customers. He likes this sound; it’s comforting and peaceful a staring contrast to his usual sessions filled with crying patients and sometimes straight up psychopaths. Not that he can say that to their faces.
His moment of peace gets ruined by Shirase who speaks up, not even trying to conceal the annoyance in his voice, “Already? We’ve barely sat down man!”
Yuan nods in agreement, “Yeah you barely make time for us nowadays. Your schedule is filled with sessions and even when you’re free you rather stay home than come out partying with us.”
“I’m really am sorry, guys. But work has been hard lately, you both know that a co-worker retired and I’ve been chosen to take on the workload. Plus, I’m always tired you two can’t argue with that.”
Chuuya can’t help but roll his eyes as he sees the look on his friends’ faces, “What it’s true.”
“We believe you Chuuya, we really do, but we’re still your friends,” Yuan gives him a pointed look, “you should make some time for us too or do we have to sign up for a session to even see you.”
The redhead can’t help but glance at the clock once again, “Look you can argue with me some other time, but I can’t be late to a session.” He starts to pack up and pointedly ignores Shirise and Yuan’s look.
He knows he might be overworking himself, but what else is he supposed to do. He worked so hard for this damn degree! It can’t go all to waste, damnit!
“Only if you join us tonight, we’re going to a bar to celebrate my promotion.” Shirase demands and screw it, his friends are almost as stubborn as him and he really doesn’t have the time right now.
“Fine, I’ll come but only if the drinks are on you.” If he's going to get drunk on a Thursday night it better at least be on someone else’s tab. Shirase’s gaze is almost as unwavering as Chuuya’s, all the time spent with the shorter has clearly hardened him.
“Fine.” They shake hands as Yuan watches with a smug grin.
“Who even has a session at 4pm, I mean most people still work at this time,” she asks as she hands Chuuya his coffee so the man won’t have to stretch across the whole table for it.
“I don’t know. It’s their first session with me, I already told you that I got them form Fukuzawa. Besides even if I knew anything I wouldn’t tell you. I’m quite literally not allowed.”
“Come on don’t be such a stuck-up old man.” Shirase groans but quickly shuts up as he sees the look the redhead gives him, “Buttt we of course respect the law and your ethical codes just like a normal human being should.”
“Oh shut up before you make everything worse and he doesn’t come tonight,” Yuan groans before looking at the time, “Anyways you should hurry if you don’t wanna be late.”
Chuuya nods and mutters a quick farewell as he rushes out the doors. He still has around 10 minutes before the session starts so he has time to stop by the flower shop.
The familiar bell rings as he opens the door. The smell of flowers is almost overwhelming, but it’s quiet and he seems to like quiet places.
His eyes scan the shop looking for the familiar figure.
“Chuuya, I didn’t think you would come visit today, you said your schedule was packed.” The familiar, melodic voice rings out from behind him almost giving him a heart attack.
He turns over to see Kouyou standing there in all her glory. His sister looks comfortable amongst the flowers as she arranges one of bouquets she has on display. Scratch that, she looks like a goddess. Her red hair, almost identical colour as his own, is put up in an elegant bun that is held together by a fancy flower hair ornament. She is wearing a beautiful blouse and pants to match with it, a contrast to his own plain white uniform.
“Hey Ane-san. I thought I can stop by since I had a break. How are you?” Chuuya flashes her a big smile, it’s always good to see her…even if she is currently glaring daggers at him.
“I’m great even without you checking up on me every single day, boy. You should be focusing on your work and not on me.” She scolds him. If anyone would ask Chuuya where he got his workaholic tendencies from, he would say his older sister, it just rubbed onto him, but that won’t stop her from scolding him.
“I told you I have a break. Either way I’m on my way back towards my office. I just wanted to be a good brother and drop of some pastries, but if you don’t want them…”
“Don’t be stupid and leave them on the counter. I’ll eat the later, idiot,” she grumbles, but the softens in her eyes in undeniable, “but just so you know I’m making it up to you. Dinner this weekend, 7pm, my place, and don’t try to excuse your way out of this.”
Chuuya can’t help but sigh. It’s always like this between them, “Come on, they’re just pastries.”
“No, they aren’t “just pastries”, you drop of something almost every day. It’s about time I return it somehow. I am not the type of woman who is in debt to her own little brother.”
“In debt with me, please.” Chuuya snorts, “If anything it’s the opposite. You practically raised me.”
He carefully puts the pastries on the counter, not letting Kouyou say anything else. He’s not trying to get into another argument about who owes who with her again, “If you want it so badly, I’ll show up, but I can’t promise to be on time, okay?”
His sister can’t help but glare. She practically worships punctuality, and the thought of her own brother being late definitely gets on her nerves. Regardless, she won’t get anything better out of him, “Okay, but you’re staying for at least an hour. Now go, you don’t want to be late to the session.”
Chuuya nods as he practically runs out of the shop when he notices the time, “See ya later.”
Kouyou waves, this boy will be the reason she one day.
_______
The redhead can’t help but curse as another red light hits him. The building is just across the damn street but noooo. Of course, a goddamn red light has to glare brightly in his face. This isn’t the first time he underestimated city traffic and definitely won’t be the last. Still, it doesn’t stop his leg from tapping against the floor.
Finally, the cars stop as the pedestrian light turns green. He practically runs over the street almost bumping, no, full on body-slamming into at least 10 people.
All his efforts are rewarded though as he manages to step into the waiting area just as the clock hits 4. Of course he slows down into a purposeful walk, trying to appear as calm as possible, not like a person who just ran a whole kilometer in a span of 3 minutes.
He nods to the patients and enters his office. That was close. Thankfully he does not know who most of the patients in the waiting area are, all of them are his co-workers’ problem.
He takes a deep breath and looks around. Everything is just as he left it, nice and tidy, which means there was no snooping around done by Ranpo’s side. Thank God, the last thing he needs is for Ranpo to raid his snack drawer again. He needs the snacks for the nervous kids.
He slowly makes his way towards his main desk next to the large window overlooking a park. As he opens the patient’s file, filled with Fukuzawa’s notes which are nicely organized, his thoughts can’t help but drift to the thought of tonight’s evening. Just the fact that he will have to go to a bar makes him annoyed as much as anxious. He used to love going out back in his college days. He and his friend group, which consisted of Yuan, Sherise and a few others, used to go out every single weekend, got drunk and then had to call a taxi back to the dorms. Nowadays he would rather just avoid people all together. And he would be successful if not for his sister and two very persistent friends.
Quite a few minutes later he almost falls of his chair when his thoughts get interrupted by a loud knock.
Oh, fuck it’s already 16:10.
He quickly jumps out of his chair; he’ll read the file later during the session.
He opens the door and is met with an annoyed, middle-aged looking man, who does not look like the man from the picture. His patient is supposed to be 26, almost 27, Young man named Dazai Osamu. This man doesn’t look like he’s in his late 20’s neither does he look like someone with a name Dazai Osamu.
“Can I help you, sir? Maybe you mixed up the offices?” Chuuya asks, maintaining a professional tone and look as he quickly scans the rest of the waiting room if his patient is already here.
The man, who is currently glaring daggers at him responds in an annoyed tone, “I believe I knocked on the right door. Are you dr. Nakahara.”
“Yes, I am, what do you need?” The redhead gives the man a nod, but he listens half-heartedly. He wonders where that Dazai currently is, he’s clearly not here.
“I came on behalf of Dazai Osamu. Since this would be his first session I came instead so that I can…talk with you.”
Ah. Ah.
So this is how it is. It’s not a first time a family member (at least that’s what Chuuya assumes the man is) tries to use a session of another family member.
“And what are your relations to my patient?” He’s already slowly planning a speech about how this is not allowed, especially not without consent, as he holds up the professional tone. But if you look closely anyone would see how his eye is already twitching.
“Yes, of course. I’m Mori Oguai his legal guardian.” The man answers with a more calm tone when he notices the twitching.
“Look sir, I am really sorry but this is not allow-“
“I knew you would say that. I brought a note from your patient, with his signature, stating that he is in fact allowing this.”
Chuuya can’t help but stare as he gets handed a handwritten note. It’s clear this is not the older man’s first time doing this.
He reluctantly takes the note and starts reading.
Greetings,
I, Dazai Osamu, born on 19.6.19XX at 5 o’clock, consent to Mori Oguai, my legal guardian, attending my first therapy session with dr. Nakahara instead of me.
Dazai Osamu
The man certainly has a nice loopy writing style, that Chuuya can confirm. But about the content of the note…well it is most definitely not a situation the redhead gets to see every day. One thing is undeniable though: The signature is real. Maybe he can allow this once.
He looks up from the note, “Well this looks real. Step inside please.”
The man, Mori, has a smug, self-confident grin as Chuuya steps aside to let him in.
This will be an interesting hour.
He closes the door after scanning the waiting area once more, just to be sure. When he turns around the older is already sitting down and scanning Chuuya’s office. “Quite a nice office you have, Nakahara-san.”
“Thank you.” The redhead sits down and tries to discreetly open the file, but of course the man notices.
“Ah you haven’t read the file yet?”
Fuck, of course this has to happen. Well, lying time, “I did read it. You must understand that information can get lost in my brain or even worse mixed up, amongst all other patients.”
The man narrows his eyes, “Ah, yes. I’m sorry for assuming. You really don’t have to re-read the file then. I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”
Chuuya slowly closes the file as he looks up. Mori clearly knows that he didn’t read it, but it seems that older decided to play along.
“Please do.”
Mori has a good poker face but there is a hint of amusement in his eyes which probably isn’t good for Chuuya, “Well, I adopted him when he was just a fourteen- “
“Please, I don’t need to hear the whole story. Just tell me what is relevant for my patient.” Chuuya interrupts. In reality he doesn’t need the man to tell him anything. Some things are just more accurate on paper. But the redhead will amuse him, mainly because this whole situation is fishy.
The man looks annoyed at the interruption but nods, “Well okay then. The most important things you need to know about my adoptive son are the following. Fist things first he is the heir to my…company, and that is why I sent him to therapy in first place.”
The way Mori says company is just eerie. The whole situation is weird. If Chuuya wants to find out what is this all about he has to start thinking. The fact that man before him sent Dazai to therapy is definitely important. He just has to listen from now on and hope. Either the pieces will connect or he needs more info.
“He needs to be at least somewhat mentally stable, you get it right? Secondly, he has went through some things when younger. That is the main reason I decided that he needs help. And thirdly… this is the reason I even am here instead of him himself. I want to make you an offer.”
At that Chuuya raises an eyebrow, he has a weird feeling in his gut. He’s had it for the whole time already but now it only increases. He needs to tread carefully now, “Go on.”
The man actually grins when he realises he’s got the therapist’s attention, “You see… I cannot trust the kid. I don’t know what he’ll say. You understand, right?” the man takes a break short enough to breathe and let the information settle into Chuuya’s brain, but not long enough that the redhead can actually answer, “So that is why I want to offer you a large sum of payment for every session, if you tell me what Dazai told you, word for word. I know it’s against the law, but I promise I’ll make sure it won’t get out.”
Chuuya is left speechless. This man, this guardian is asking him to break the goddamn law and ethical codes. It’s clear this is not the man’s first time he’s asked this; he’s way to calm.
Did Fukuzawa-
No, the man is too good for that…right.
Mori patently waits for an answer, expecting to wait at least a few minutes before Chuuya will respond. To his surprise the redhead answers almost immediately, just as if it was automatic.
“No way. I will not do this, and I suggest you get out this very moment if you don’t want me to report you.” The redhead’s answer is confident, his tone firm even though he is still getting over the shock.
There is a fleeting moment where you can see the dissatisfaction and disappointment in the older’s gaze, but it doesn’t escape Chuuya’s sharp eyes.
“Think about it. It’s just a law and I can swear on my life that it will stay a secret.”
“My answer stays the same. This kind of thing isn’t only breaking the law, a very strict one at that, and ethical codes but also my own morals. Now get out.”
The therapist’s unwavering gaze portrays a clear message:
Even if Chuuya was drugged, drunk and at the lowest point of his life he would say no.
The man sighs and stands up but not before sliding a card onto Chuuya’s desk, next to his computer.
“If you change your mind call that number,” Mori has far from given up it seems. Still he walks out without a fight.
Even after the man leaves Chuuya can’t help but stand there in shock.
He sits back down and reads the card
Port Corporation: XXX XXX XXX
Huh. He isn’t living under a rock he knows the company, how big it is and its influence.
Just what did he get involved into.