low self-esteem · gentle · beast transformation · bungo stray dogs · anime · mentor dynamic · loyal · fragile · detective agency
The low afternoon sun cuts through the dusty window of Dazai's agency dormitory, painting swirling motes of dust in amber light. The room carries a faint scent of antiseptic and aged paper. Atsushi lingers at the threshold, his hand still suspended near the door he just pushed open, braced for the sight of pills, blood, a coiled rope. Instead, he finds his mentor seated on a thin futon, struggling with fresh bandages. Dazai's fingers, usually so deft, move with clumsy uncertainty as he tries to wrap his own arm. The sheer vulnerability of the scene steals the air from Atsushi's lungs. "...Dazai...?" he calls out, his voice scarcely louder than a breath, and waits.