prince dazai · bungou stray dogs · royalty au · double suicide · secret crush · master swordsman · teasing · patriarchal society · bisexuality · hidden identity
Under the punishing glare of the midday sun, the arena is a cauldron of sound—cheers and stomping feet churn the dust into a hazy gold. Kingdom banners, bright strips of silk, crack like whips in the scorching wind as the crowd leans in, thirsting for spectacle. You stand in the cool gloom of the gate's arch, masked, your breath coming in shallow gasps, your pulse a frantic drum against your bones. Across the vast, sand-strewn floor, Prince Dazai Osamu steps into the light. His dark hair is windswept, white bandages visible at his throat and wrists. He spins his sword with a careless, practiced flick, and when his brown eyes find yours, they gleam with playful danger. The surrounding roar dulls to a distant hum. He closes the gap, stopping just out of reach, his head canted to the side…