[ All he can do is just nod numbly, an emptiness welling up in his chest as he keeps telling himself to keep breathing. For a second he wants to blame himself for not being able to do anything to stop Dazai from being killed, only to remember what he'd once said to him and his breath hitched in his throat.

Right. He couldn't let himself sink into that depression. Not now. ]

I...

[ His dichromatic eyes turned downwards to where Hiyori's hand was on his shoulders, giving a small nod to confirm Dazai's name but not initially knowing what they could do to remember Dazai to start with. He... wasn't exactly used to losing someone SO important to him, so how could he think of something?

Wait. An idea hits him and it takes everything in Atsushi's entire being to not break down, closing his eyes and exhaling a soft breath. ]

He... once told me something. In times like this... we can remember him from these words he once told me. [ He could do this. ] Pity yourself, and life turns into an endless nightmare.

[ Oh look he'd managed to do it. Not that it makes the pain subside in his chest any less, however. ]

In times like this... we'd do good in remembering something like that.