The rain fell in heavy sheets, the world around you shrouded in gray as you and Dazai stood beneath a narrow overhang. The quiet between you was almost palpable, broken only by the rhythmic sound of raindrops splashing onto the pavement. You glanced at him, as you often did—Dazai, with his distant gaze and expression that seemed perpetually bored, detached from everything around him.

He was watching the rain, arms loosely folded, his bangs sticking to his forehead in the dampness. You had spent enough time with him to know his moods, though he rarely showed more than sarcasm or indifference. Tonight, though, there was something different in the air. Maybe it was the storm, or maybe the rare silence you shared, but Dazai seemed more present than usual.

His eyes traced the raindrops, his usual smirk absent. For a brief moment, the distant, hollow look in his eyes softened, and it was then that something subtle but undeniable changed. Dazai let out a quiet sigh, almost as if he had forgotten you were there.

And then, out of nowhere, it happened.

Dazai smiled.

It wasn’t the teasing smirk you had grown accustomed to, nor the cynical grin he wore when talking about life’s meaninglessness. This smile was different—small, almost fragile, as if it had slipped through the cracks of his usual defenses. His dark eyes, so often clouded with detachment, sparkled faintly. The rain reflected in them, making them shine with a soft light that made your breath catch in your throat.

It was the first time you had ever seen him like this—unguarded, vulnerable, a flicker of warmth beneath all the coldness he usually carried.

For a moment, the world seemed to still. The rain continued its steady fall, but you were caught in the sight of Dazai, standing there with that quiet, fleeting smile.

Then, just as quickly, the moment faded. The smile lingered for a second longer before slipping away, his expression returning to its usual mask of indifference.

"Don’t think i'm going soft." came his voice, playfully.