Chapter Text
"You're asking me to help you guys celebrate Atsushi's birthday?"
Oda Sakunosuke tilted his head despite being pinned down by the children.
They all crawled away from him, Kousuke's face painted flushed pink as he whispered "We just recently found this out because Sakura asked him.. Which is unfair because he moved in here exactly on his birthday last year!".
Oda could only sit back up and nodded, even he was unaware until he met Atsushi's former caretaker. "Please? Oda-san?" Sakura crawled back to his side and held his hand, using her puppy-doe eyes at full force as she pleaded "This is our only chance to get back all of the things Atsushi-nii gave to us!"
".. Speaking of Atsushi," Oda pointed out, watched the kids flinched even the slightest as he continued "Where is he right now?"
None of the children then met his eyes, as if guilty for what they might've made Atsushi do. Oda was about to ask again when Shinji leaned forward him again and confessed "We made him go to the library to get us some books while he went to buy ingredients for the Old Man downstairs..!"
A chorus of whispered scolds were directed to Shinji after that but what caught Oda's attention was of why Atsushi's doing errands for them. He isn't a local in Yokohama in the first place so he'll definitely get lost navigating around unless.. "Did Atsushi went off with someone?"
"I don't think he did?" Sakura answered while the other kids cornered poor Shinji to reprimand. This would've worried Oda more and to act recklessly again for the kid if it weren't for the Curry Shop owner to appear up to the open door saying "Atsushi-chan will be fine, Oda-san. I gave him a map in case he found himself under a sticky situation.."
But that's not.. "He's 13 Oda-san. I heard from that lad that he's been here in Yokohama for more than a year so the least that he wants to do was to be of use around here." the Owner continued and gave each food and drinks for the kids before handing a cup of tea to Oda's hand, continuing "I know you're just worried for the kid but he seemed more mature than his age tell him to."
Oda wanted to argue more, aware of how deep and delicate the information he got from others and Atsushi himself but one look from the Old Man's smile told him that it's what Atsushi truly wanted. It wasn't forced nor a punishment for Atsushi. The conversation gradually died from there but the very topic itself still swam around Oda's head. It was indeed true that Atsushi gave them so much without asking for return, and it did itch Oda's soft spot for the kid more that he might not return the joy and warm the later gave to not only the people Oda's now protecting but also his friends.
Thus it lead Oda to ask "What do you guys plan to do for Atsushi then?" shortly after the Old Man gathered the utensils used and returned downstairs. All five looked at one another puzzled at first before light began to gleam over their eyes as they practically thrown themselves to Oda again and began to squeal random things in chorus.
"LET'S GIVE HIM A BIG CAKE!"
"LET'S THROW A SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY WHILE HE DOES HIS CHORES!"
"BALLOONS! PARTY POPPERS!!"
"LOTS OF BOOKS FOR HIM TO READ!"
"OUTING! AMUSEMENT PARK! A PICNIC OUTDOORS!!"
"How about I date Atsushi-kun while you guys prepare his surprise birthday party?"
All eyes then turned to new guest in the room that was leaning on top of Oda's head. There was a solid 3 seconds of silence before all kids practically clawed Oda to their side with no luck while Oda turned and greeted, "Dazai? Nice of you to come by."
Despite the children's absolute distaste to having Dazai Osamu, the Youngest Demon Protege Executive of the Port Mafia, around had Oda toned them off in hopes of trying to get a thing or two reasons of why would Dazai decided to come and visit without further notice.
"Wha-?? That's kind of mean of you Odasaku..! I just happened to coincidentally found Atsushi-kun that looked troubled that I just had to help him out of!"
"Stop talking bull and admit that you didn't help at all, Mackerel!" Chuuya suddenly came to view by the door holding few books at one arm while the other free arm pointed accusingly to Dazai.
It was hilarious that while the two most fearsome executives began to argue from there that the grips and pulls that Oda gets from the kids increased even more that Oda's practically trying to keep still now suddenly stopped when the topic of their previous conversation came to view.
"Nakahara-nii! Scary-niisan! What did I say once we get here!?" Atsushi loudly reprimanded that caused the two to practically go all friendly to one another (despite their faces telling a different story).
Oda didn't noticed the pulling and clawing he was struggling to not fall over stopped until Atsushi was practically trying to balance of the tray on his hands while the kids are now forming what seemed to be a circle around the young teen not without looking suspiciously over the two new guest.
"Kousuke, Katsumi, Yu, Shinji, Sakura--" Oda called over before carrying Atsushi up and away from the circle not much minding the flustered shriek Atsushi emitted, "Your big brother has visitors. The least you guys do is help him out."
"A Surprise Birthday party for Atsushi, huh.." Ango pondered while giving his drink a swirl.
Oda could only nod solemnly, too drained for the amount of extra attention he has to give earlier with both the kids and two of his superiors fighting over a clueless Atsushi. It even felt more like he's betrayed when Ango had the gall to laugh at him too.
"Surely taking Atsushi out with the kids could suffice?" Ango then suggested after a few seconds of silence.
"That won't do.." Oda counters and took a sip on his drink, "You know that I can't take a day off with the mafia on my back nor am I going to do my work while tending the kids."
"Odasaku-san," Ango sighed, "Atsushi's turning 14 this year. I'm saying this through experience but I think Atsushi's responsible enough to help you tend them."
"Ango, that's the problem to this." Oda then pointed out, "I made an agreement with the kids not to make Atsushi stressed and felt obliged for that day."
"You've really gone too soft for the kid, Odasaku-san.." Ango heaved a sigh before joining Oda to drink again. Another moment of silence engulfed the two adults before Ango looked almost reluctant to what he's about to say until he did say "Why not take Dazai-kun's offer? Sounds to me that he'll make himself as bait to distract Atsushi while you guys prepare his surprise.."
"Ango.." Oda then stressed, unconsciously pinching the bridge of his nose, "I believe you were present of the times Dazai's been using Atsushi as pranks to stress me out. Just thinking of them alone is already a stress I wouldn't appreciate to have now that the kids would definitely not want Atsushi ever near him.."
It even looked like Ango truly did felt apologetic of those times when he had also became a part of those pranks so he could only look down ashamed to his drink before both of them once again took a sip at the same time. Another prolong of silence, Ango was about to suggest another idea when a familiar and childish shriek caught both of the adults attention. "TRAITORS!!" Dazai whined and ran to his chair that both Odasaku and Ango left out for him, "AND HERE I THOUGHT YOU'D BOTH WAIT FOR ME BEFORE DRINKING..!"
Childish, but Oda only toned away Dazai's whining and Ango's profuse reasoning when someone he recalled Atsushi not minding to be around of could work.