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Ranpo stood in front of Dazai, hands on his hips, pouting. "Oh man, you need a hug so bad."
Dazai, who has been watching Kenji and Kyouka hanging off of Atsushi, jumped, head turning around to shot Ranpo a look. He raised an eyebrow, then let out a chuckle. "What makes you think like that, Ranpo-san?"
Ranpo also raised an eyebrow, challenging. To him, Dazai's body language was obvious, the way his hands twitched on his sides ever so slightly, the way his eyes dug holes on the trio unintentionally. He was, very obviously, craving a hug from someone, anyone, but wouldn't admit that in years. He let out a snicker. "You know you can't fool me."
Dazai blinked, mask faltering, leaving him dangerously open in the way of Ranpo's piercing gaze. He huffed, averting his eyes. He didn't dare to mutter a word, knowing it would be meaningless since Ranpo would see right through him.
"Why not just ask for one, though? I know no one's gonna outright reject you." he asked, sounding genuinely confused. Dazai chuckled nervously as he refused to make eye contact. "It's... Not that easy." he mumbled.
Ranpo blinked, trying to dig up Dazai's facade so he could see what the man meant.
And, there it was.
The nervous fluttering of lashes, the ever so slight trembling of lips, the stiff position.
As touch starved as he was, Dazai was also afraid of initiating physical touch, which dragged him into his current position. Yearning for a hug, but afraid of receiving it.
Ranpo huffed.
Dazai was in need of a lot of guiding emotionally, and it was ridiculous how Ranpo was the one trying to give him that.
He moved to stand behind Dazai, and the man tried to look at what he was doing over his shoulder.
"Turn your head to keep watching the kids, brat."
"Brat...?" Dazai muttered under his breath, confused and offended, but did as Ranpo said anyways.
If he was too afraid to ask for what he wanted, fine. Ranpo was going to give him that.
He wrapped his arms around the man's waist from behind, feeling his body go stiff under his arms. He grinned to himself satisfiedly.
"Ranpo-san...? What..." Dazai tried to ask, though his words came out slurred, almost as if he found it hard to breathe.
Ha! Bingo.
"There you go." Ranpo said, and watched as Dazai tried to decide between pulling back and giving in as he stood frozen.
He hummed after a while, half-relaxing in Ranpo's hold. "Thank you." he mumbled.
Ranpo smiled. "Whatever."