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One thing Atsushi had learned by the time he joined The Armed Detective Agency was that the organization finds itself capable of dealing with tough situations more often than not. It’s gotten pretty hard to shock them truly.
Attacked by some group of ability users? They will take care of it after a short nap.
Need to do a stealth mission? Nothing to be bothered about.
Have to collect important information necessary to beat an enemy? Easy.
Ranpo out of interesting snacks? Well… unpleasant but they already have a large stock for times like this.
Dazai annoying Kunikida? No one even turns their head to look at it.
Dazai being a menace to every living being? Sure, that’s just how he is.
Dazai calling a certain Port Mafia Executive to anger him while giggling like a teenager for most of it? It lost its spark around the fifteenth time he did it.
Dazai asking for a kiss from the mentioned Mafia Executive? That’s a little strange but nothing is a surprise anymore.
But the Port Mafia Executive Nakahara Chuuya, the ability user feared upon everyone accepting to do it?
That’s unbelievable.
It all started when the Armed Detective Agency members and some Port Mafia members were going over the plan for the last time at a joint mission. It's not a “city is under some great danger” level of mission but doing joint missions benefits everyone so they do it once in a while when needed.
Kunikida gives Atsushi and Dazai comms, instructing their job on the mission once more.
For some reason, Port Mafia’s Nakahara Chuuya is also watching them with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Atsushi, stay alerted and don’t leave guarding this entrance until needed,” Kunikida turns to Dazai after Atsushi gives him a confident nod, “And you, Dazai, will not be anywhere near the main thing. Go inside once you get the signal.”
Dazai grins “Kunikida-kun surely likes bossing around!”
“I’m not joking, Dazai. Don’t ditch your job to die at some random corner.”
Dazai waves a hand in the air, adding more to the unbothered image he has almost always, “Not a big deal.”
“I won’t buy it until you verbally tell me that.”
“Understood, Kunikida-kun!” Dazai exclaims.
Kunikida sighs after a moment, “Come on, take your places.”
Chuuya snorts, “Yeah, shitty bastard, go wait at your waiting corner.”
Dazai whines, “But Chuuya is so mean! He should be upset about the fact that I’m missing out on all the fun.”
Atsushi watches their interaction with interest.
Chuuya raises an eyebrow, “And why should I be sad for all things aside?”
Dazai doesn’t answer and just giggles.
When Chuuya moves to take his place, Dazai stops him by suddenly holding him by his wrist.
“But won’t Chuuya give me a kiss?”
Chuuya blinks, “A… what?”
Dazai pouts, “For good luck, of course!”
Of course! He had said.
Like it’s as simple as that. Is it what he expects every time they go on a mission with the mafia?
“Seriously, Dazai?” Chuuya says, his face hidden by his gloved hand.
Dazai nods, grinning widely. Despite calling Chuuya one, he acts like a dog waiting to be rewarded.
Wait– Does that mean he will ask for it again when the mission succeeds?
“Dazai, stop being annoying as hell and come here,” Kunikida says.
Dazai looks so disappointed that Atsushi would believe it if he didn’t know the man.
“Chuuuuuyaaaaaa,” he wails, “Just one! For good luck!”
Chuuya slowly walks up to Dazai. Atsushi expects a smack.
Not for Chuuya to stand at his full height, grabbing Dazai's collar to bring him lower and plant a kiss near his jaw.
Atsushi barely registers it. Is it a prank? Is Chuuya going to stab Dazai now? Is this something that stands for a codename?
What is this?
Chuuya pulls back and Dazai is quick to demand more.
“What? That was it?” he exclaims, stopping Chuuya in his tracks, “That doesn’t even count as one!”
Chuuya, despite being a flushed mess, growls, “I don’t care, Mackerel! Be a good employee for once and do your job,” he grins as an afterthought, “and then you’ll get your reward.”
Atsushi tried to form a response but failed to do so when it clicked what could that mean.
Is Atsushi the one who is dirty-minded for thinking… that or is it what Chuuya just tried to imply?
Kunikida also has his moment of epiphany around the same time as Atsushi.
“Wait, Dazai–“
Chuuya breaks contact with Dazai. Atsushi hears some noise from his comm. Junichiro is telling him it’s almost time to start so Kunikida just drags Dazai with him and leaves his previous confusions for later.
Atsushi knows Dazai is an enigma but witnessing him bringing other people into it is another thing. He sighs and follows Kunikida’s lead.
The mission is a success, despite requiring too much work. It was expected for Atsushi and Akutagawa to work together on combat at worst, but it didn’t come to that. No one was hurt badly, either.
And now, though it’s a pretty unusual sight, the Armed Detective Agency and the Port Mafia members are sitting in a bar, as if they do it all the time, sipping their drinks while holding different conversations.
The kids are on a different side, drinking their non-alcoholic beverages. They seem relatively calm and content.
On the other hand, the adults' table is a mess.
After Akutagawa’s third undisguised insult directed at him, Atsushi turns his attention to Chuuya and Yosano who are in a passionate talk about wine.
Until Dazai interrupts them.
“Chuuyaaaaa,” he starts, clinging onto his arm and breaking away from Kunikida who tried to keep him away from bouncing off the walls, “I’m bored! Take me out for dinner.”
Chuuya moves away from Dazai, “Fuck off, Mackerel. Can’t you see I give zero fucks?”
Dazai swings his good arm around Chuuya’s shoulder, smirking.
What he said later, Atsushi wouldn’t be able to hear it if he wasn’t close to them.
“But didn’t Chuuya say I would be rewarded after we complete this mission?”
Chuuya throws a weak punch on Dazai’s uninjured arm since the other one is in a sling.
“Look at you, do you really think you’re up to that?” he gestures to Dazai’s injured arm.
Seriously, how does Dazai even manage to get himself injured in every mission? Is the question that never leaves Atsushi’s mind.
“What’s wrong? I’m perfectly capable,” Dazai says and it sounds like he is actually confused about what is the issue.
Chuuya grumbles, “Seriously? You want me to crush the bones in your other arm, maybe?”
Dazai scowls instead of answering. It’s not like him to get defeated by Chuuya’s threats that easily.
It seems like Chuuya is also bothered by Dazai’s unresponsiveness, “You’re a grown-ass man! Stop pouting like a child!”
Atsushi notices more than one person -himself- is listening to their conversation, now.
That does not stop Dazai from promptly whining at Chuuya, “Nooooooo! Chuuya is so mean!”
“You are impossible.”
Atsushi vaguely sees Kunikida nodding and muttering something similar.
God, save Dazai’s work partners.
“What did I do, now? I remember saving you from near that cliff.”
“I didn’t need saving, dumbass. I would have been fine,” Chuuya scowls, “All you needed to do was to stay back like you were told to and you decided to break your arm for absolutely no fucking reason!”
Unlike Chuuya, who goes full-on yelling and shouting when angry; Dazai gets quiet. Too quiet for it to be comfortable.
So Atsushi knows he needs to step in when Dazai stills, yet he can’t bring himself to do that.
“It would have been you –and arguably, even worse– if it wasn’t me. I did what’s more beneficial,” Dazai says, cold and calculating. His voice has dropped dangerously low before he continues with a much less threatening tone, “Also, it’s not the first time I’ve broken something. Why do you even get pressed about it, now?”
Chuuya gawks at him, “What the hell does that even mean, dumbass? You want me to throw a party because you pulled some self-sacrificing shit, again?” he scoffed, “You’re truly something else.”
“Chuuya was about to get hurt and it’s my fault he is fine?” Dazai knits his eyebrows in a similar fashion.
“You’re the one who got injured, not me. You should’ve known that even though if I did fall, I would’ve come out fine,” Chuuya huffs, “I’m manipulating gravity since forever, you idiot.”
“Even for a dog, you bark so loud,” Dazai mutters.
“You piece of shit– you don’t see me wandering around and throwing myself off cliffs. What gives you the right to do whatever you please every fucking time? As if it’s going to erase every mistake of yours? Hell, had it been that easy– you wouldn’t be the only one doing that shit!” Chuuya blurts out in a haste.
Probably the wrong things to say, because Dazai looks uncharacteristically angry– which makes Atsushi feel downright uneasy. No one is used to seeing him with actual emotions showing on his face.
Chuuya, probably because he was expecting some kind of answer from Dazai, frowns.
He scoffs, “At least take responsibility for your actions. Just for once.”
Atsushi doesn’t know -and probably will never know why- but from his expression; this seems like the thing Dazai would get defensive of, instead of beating around the bush for an explanation.
“You’re going to dig that up every time?” his voice is low.
Chuuya averts his eyes, “You know what I’m talking about.”
It seems like they are the only ones who know what was implied.
Dazai doesn’t seem to notice or care about his surroundings as he eyes Chuuya with a narrowed gaze and deepens his frown.
He doesn’t say anything and goes to a different corner of the bar with his drink.
It gets quiet around the table. Everyone realized this was more than Dazai and Chuuya’s usual bickering; even if most of them didn’t follow the whole argument, it was kind of obvious they had a disagreement.
Atsushi is kind of shocked about the turn of events. It happened so fast– one minute they were joking and then they both hurt each other's feelings suddenly.
Atsushi opens his mouth to say something but closes it abruptly when he is met with Chuuya’s fierce glare. He was not one to mess with– especially when angry. It showed.
Atsushi feels a hand on his shoulder and finds Kunikida’s stern face. He points to Dazai with his head.
Atsushi really doesn’t think he should disturb Dazai with his presence– he wouldn’t even know what to say! He would most definitely make him angrier. Someone more experienced with dealing with Dazai -like Kunikida– must go talk with him, right?
Kunikida gives him an encouraging pat on the shoulder. Atsushi opens his mouth but doesn’t know what to say so he slides off his seat and goes to Dazai.
There is Dazai, swirling the ice cube in his glass and watching it like it’s the most interesting thing he has seen in his life. His mentor really does not look like himself and Atsushi doubts he will be much help but it couldn’t hurt to try, right?
Atsushi silently sits next to Dazai, who spares him a look and probably weighs the idea of fleeing away.
Atsushi relaxes visibly when Dazai decides Atsushi’s presence is not a bother.
He clears his throat, “Dazai-san?”
Dazai doesn’t look at him but replies with his carefree voice, though it is lingered with a numb undertone, “Yes, Atsushi-kun?”
Atsushi knows Dazai’s ability to run off from anything he doesn’t want to deal with, so he makes it quick, “You shouldn’t have left... Everyone’s worried,” he added as an afterthought, “Especially Chuuya-san,” he waits for a second to let his words reach to Dazai before continuing, “Uh– let’s get back?”
Dazai doesn’t move, his eyes staring at something Atsushi can’t see.
Atsushi wants to say more, to help, to do better but he just doesn’t know how to do it. After everything Dazai has done for him, he feels so bad to be caught speechless.
Dazai hums,” You should return, Atsushi-kun. Is that Akutagawa-kun staring?”
Atsushi almost turns back. Almost.
“I want you to feel better, Dazai-san. I won’t leave until you’re coming, too,” he says, confidently.
“Then you will be here for the whole night,” he takes a sip from his drink.
“Chuuya-san is also upset. You two should make up,” Atsushi tries again, feeling much older than he is.
Dazai just shakes his head.
What the hell has happened? Atsushi thought They were fine a minute ago.
“Why did you have a fight?” Atsushi asks, abruptly.
Dazai raises an eyebrow, not expecting the boldness from Atsushi.
“S-sorry, you don’t have to answer,” Atsushi tries to clear out, “I just want to see if I can be any help.”
Dazai laughs, though it’s forced and not filled with humor.
“I appreciate, Atsushi-kun but I don’t think anyone could be much of help,” he says, his gaze fixed on some point that’s probably too far away for Atsushi to see, “It’s just...” he thinks for a moment, probably choosing his words carefully so that he could send off Atsushi without revealing much, “Chuuya and I know each other for a long time. He knows my worst. And he just has to bring it up every time.”
Atsushi is pretty confused, “But... Isn’t that great, also? Since you guys know each other that well, you can fix whatever issue you have.”
Atsushi has seen them as Double Black, how in sync and in tune they are and no one can deny their harmony together. Someone with their level of compatibleness would not let small issues get in their way.
“Things are hardly ever as easy as that, Atsushi-kun. You might think otherwise but Chuuya wouldn’t think I’m worthy of his apologies. Not that I care.”
Atsushi wants to interject, tell him that no, he is not as bad as he paints himself out to be.
But something in Dazai’s expression tells him that if he were to make a small mistake, he would lose this moment with Dazai. So he waits until Dazai continues.
“Chuuya was right,” he hums, “For once…”
Atsushi asks in a gentle tone, “About what, Dazai-san?”
Dazai eyes him for a moment, probably trying to see if he can trust Atsushi with whatever he is going to say.
“Look, Atsushi-kun,” he starts, his voice making Atsushi stay glued to his seat, “I’m… I’m not a good person. In fact, I’m probably on the bad side. Chuuya is an annoying slug, but even he deserves better.”
Atsushi interrupts, “Please don’t say that, Dazai-san. You’ve already done so much for everyone here.”
Dazai gives him a shaky smile, “Things rarely ever work like that. Life is not a math equation where you do one thing and it erases another if you know what I mean.”
“I get what you say,” Atsushi says, suddenly filled with confidence, “but don’t you think this is unfair, Dazai-san? To both yourself and everyone around?”
Dazai, albeit trying to not make his confusion slip into his expression, fiddles with the sleeve of his shirt with glassy eyes.
“You’re… you’re not different than… me, for example,” Dazai’s eyes perk up at this, “I mean, I did lots of bad things too. I was mostly useless in the beginning of keeping the tiger in control. Hell, I didn’t even know I was the tiger and did lots of bad things on the run,” Atsushi is talking fast, not letting Dazai interrupt him in any way, “But… I like to think myself on the good side. Everyone has done terrible things at some point, right? It’s not the same thing as being a bad person.”
Dazai doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t even do anything to make Atsushi acknowledge that he has heard his little speech.
Normally, Atsushi would take this as his cue to leave but he really doesn’t want to leave Dazai there; alone with his thoughts.
“Aren’t you the one who told me not to pity myself, Dazai-san? How can you disregard your own advice?”
Dazai huffs a soft laugh, “Sorry to break it to you but I don’t care much about doing good,” he adds as an afterthought, quietly, “I’ll probably die before I can be good.”
Atsushi is taken aback for a second; he knows of Dazai’s past occupation, about his treatment to Akutagawa -since Akutagawa makes sure to mention it every time– and has seen Dazai work with cases that are morally on the gray side. He has seen Dazai rely on... unusual methods, too. Ones Atsushi himself wouldn’t prefer.
Yet, Dazai himself admitting he does not put an effort into being good made Atsushi angry for some reason.
“You’ve helped a lot of people about lots of things. You helped us with the truce between the mafia and the agency, defeated Dostoyevsky– twice, helped us take down the Guild– maybe those things don’t matter to you but it does, to me.”
Dazai doesn’t say anything.
“You even gave me a place to belong and a partner to work with...” Atsushi smiles, “Don’t tell me all of those things are just coincidence and that you ‘don’t care’ or something.”
From the corner of his eye, Atsushi can see Chuuya looking at Dazai– even though he turns his head to the opposite side when he realizes he is going to get caught staring.
“Uh... I know you don’t want to talk about it and stuff but,” Atsushi clears his throat after a moment of silence, “While you have someone by your side, I think you should appreciate it and be there with them. Maybe I don’t know Chuuya-san like you do but I know for a fact that he pays no mind to what you’ve done,” Atsushi then remembers the look Chuuya got when Dazai left the table, “I think he was just worried. Don't you think you’re letting this go on longer than necessary?”
It’s a long moment before Dazai speaks or even moves. Atsushi starts to consider his options about running away. He has probably gone overboard and crossed just one too many boundaries. Has he made it worse? He hopes not. He hopes not–
Dazai stands up.
“D-dazai-san?”
Dazai grins, “Well, I can’t let my dog wander without his owner,” he says, “Might as well do a quick check-up.”
Atsushi wants to cry tears of relief.
They end up returning to the table together. Dazai and Chuuya leave to talk in a more isolated corner. It's impossible to see what they are talking about or even what their facial expressions are. The various chit-chats and conversations are still going on but Atsushi finds himself watching Dazai and Chuuya, guiltily.
Atsushi feels a hand on his shoulder and jumps out in surprise for a moment.
“R-ranpo-san, you scared me,” he exhales.
“Stop staring, Atsushi. You’ve done your part,” he mumbles and searches for a specific type of chips in the mixed bowl.
Atsushi does as Ranpo advises and minds his business.
It doesn’t take long before Dazai returns, dragging a very annoyed-looking Chuuya from his arm.
“Look who finally decides to return,” Ranpo says.
“You sure took your time,” Atsushi hears Kunikida mutter. There is no way he wasn’t concerned about Dazai’s sudden sulky mood, too.
Dazai nods, shoving Chuuya to a seat. Chuuya doesn’t fight back, probably because Dazai is already injured.
“A dog needs his owner, I had to take my time.”
“I’m not your dog!” Chuuya growls.
Dazai gladly ignores, “Chibi is also too short to deal with the world on his own, so I have to take the initiative for him... Ugh, what a mess, really...”
“I don’t need your useless ass with me!” Chuuya argues back.
“Oh, so you admit you are too short?” Dazai smirks.
“I hope you rot in the darkest pit of hell.”
What should count as an insult makes Dazai grin even wider.
“Awww, you are short!” he says, “That only adds to your slug look.”
“I am not a slug!”
Dazai giggles, “Are you sure? Should we ask your boyfriend?” he teases.
Someone -Higuchi, Atsushi supposes- sputters, “Chuuya-san has a boyfriend?”
“Of course he does!” Dazai says, his thumb pointing at his chest, “You’re talking to him right now.”
Atsushi waits for Chuuya to yell something along the lines of I’m not your boyfriend.
It never comes.
“You... what?”
Chuuya looks up, eyes glistening with something that screams smug.
“The bastard’s right.”
“I’m his–” Dazai starts, enthusiastically.
“Boyfriend, yeah, everyone heard it the first time,” Chuuya cuts in.
There are shocked expressions glued on everyone. It's kind of an amusing look.
Ranpo is the first one to recover– or maybe he wasn’t even surprised, “Congrats on keeping it hidden for this long. It was getting boring not being able to tease you about it.”
Dazai laughs.
“So you’re like... really dating each other?”
“Of course,” Chuuya says, he has a threatening aura within him.
“Dazai in a committed relationship?” Kunikida shakes his head, “This can’t be real.”
Chuuya scoffs, “It is very much real, Glasses.”
The shock doesn’t die but it has calmed significantly, by now.
Yosano directs a different question, “But seriously, we decide to be in a truce and you two become lovers the next second? How long has this been going on behind our backs?”
“We’ve been together for a long time! You just learned about it recently because of the truce.”
This new revelation makes everyone even more confused.
Because
What?
Atsushi blinks a few times before nervously chuckling, “Dazai-san… you– you don’t mean that you and a mafia member were– no, are a thing since…?” he waits for Dazai to understand what he was trying to say.
Dazai nods enthusiastically, “Exactly, Atsushi-kun! Chibi and I are a thing since waaaay back then!”
Dazai then gets closer to Atsushi’s face with a playful smile, “Which is not forbidden, you know? You can definitely work it out with a certain mafia member and then–“
“Alright, Dazai-san! I get it!” Atsushi, much to everyone’s -and even his own- surprise, interrupts his mentor’s words.
Dazai laughs loudly and Atsushi is glad he has everyone’s attention on himself, again and no one can see his flushed face.
“But… since when?” Kunikida looks like he won’t be able to get over it for a long time.
“Seventeen– “
“Last year–“
Dazai and Chuuya look at each other for the longest moment.
They have a silent conversation and settle on the same thing.
“So, seventeen it is,” Chuuya clears out.
“I didn’t realize we were talking about our first time. My bad.”
Dazai, ever the shameless one, drops this fact as if he were talking about the weather or something usual like it. There is no way he doesn’t notice everyone’s baffled looks and yet he doesn’t seem to care. Kunikida looks like he wants to smash his head on the table. Yosano is surely going to ask about details after this ends. The Port Mafia members are a bit more successful with hiding their surprise but it still shows. From the way Akutagawa’s eyes squinted, Atsushi knows he is trying to shake the mental image of his previous mentor doing… that. Even Chuuya has the shame to at least look embarrassed.
“Wait, what?” Atsushi finds himself saying this without realizing it.
Dazai continues to elaborate, “It was March but Chibi thinks it’s May.”
Chuuya loudly objects, “No, fucking idiot. It was May.”
“Chibi must be getting wrinkly from old age! It was definitely March.”
Chuuya’s face is growing red, by now, “Dating someone doesn’t count when the other party is not aware of that, you dumbass! How many times do we have to get over this?”
Yosano stifles a laugh– and from the look of it, Port Mafia’s Kouyou Ozaki is also hiding a smirk. She is sitting at the far end of the table but Atsushi just knows she is also listening to the conversation albeit looking uninterested.
“So... five years?” Ranpo clears, “Impressive.”
“Truly!” Dazai nods, “And Chibi makes sure he always celebrates our anniversary as deserved,” he smiles to himself, probably thinking about what he has just mentioned.
Chuuya seems like he knows very well what Dazai just talked about.
Nakahara Chuuya blushing uncontrollably was never something Atsushi thought he would see– up until today.
“Celebrate what?” Ranpo asks.
Dazai blinks before answering, “Didn’t you hear, Ranpo-san? Our anniversary.”
Ranpo shakes his head, “No, you two have different ideas on what is the first time you’ve had– “
“Don’t say it!”
“–appearently had sex. So what exactly are you celebrating?”
“Geez, at least wait until marriage…”
At this, Dazai has a very suspicious look on him. Both he and Chuuya stay very still.
“Ranpo-san has always been the smart one, yes,” Dazai nods.
“We all know it, yeah. Now, don’t make me use Ultra Deduction, my fellow genius.”
“Ah, I suppose this is the only way to get out of this mess.”
Dazai grabs Chuuya’s hand who is chuckling nervously. It is an unusual look on him.
“Dazai, I will beat your ass if you keep this going,” Chuuya warns and Atsushi thinks he really might do it.
“Well, you see…” Dazai is smirking– which is not unusual for him but he looks so content with all the attention he managed to get on his relationship with Chuuya.
“You attention whore, shut up–“ Chuuya tries to shush him.
“No, Dazai, don’t shut up. Tell us,” Yosano intrudes in their argument, looking too interested in the details.
“If you don’t shut the hell up right now–”
“We’re actually married!” Dazai announces, speaking over Chuuya not-for-the first time.
Everyone has matching shocked faces.
Ranpo snaps his fingers in contentment, “Last year? Yes. That makes sense.”
“But... I’ve never seen you wear a ring?” Kunikida tries to come up with a reason.
Of course, Dazai has an answer for everything, “Well, isn’t that obvious? I wouldn’t want something to happen to it.”
That was... reasonable, considering their line of work.
Still, Atsushi can’t believe how none of them figured this out. They have a lot of work to do as detectives, it seems.
“Chuuya-san, too?”
Chuuya shakes his head, “The same reason. It's dangerous to have obvious connections with certain people.”
“But five years? God...”
Higuchi clasps her hands together, her eyes shining, “Wow, you are dedicated, Chuuya-san!”
“I truly underestimated your capability of dealing with things, Fancy Hat,” Ranpo says. Atsushi guesses it is a way of expressing his validation.
“Really, putting up with Dazai for that long…” Yosano shakes her head in sympathy.
Kunikida shudders, “I can’t even imagine....”
“Wow, no one says anything to me? I’ve been stuck with this slug for years!” Dazai whines.
“Nah, Chuuya got the short-ended stick here. Sorry.”
“Rude!”
Dazai tries to convince everyone that he is the one with the ‘unfortunate fate’ of ‘having to put up with Chuuya’ but no one buys it. It only helps everyone to sympathize with Chuuya more.
The evening slowly slips into night and after a while, Dazai and Chuuya announce they are taking their leaves.
“Bye-bye, Fancy Hat!” Ranpo says.
“See you, detective,” Chuuya replies.
“We should drink wine again, sometime,” Yosano offers.
“I second that,” Chuuya approves.
This goes on for a few minutes.
“Good night, Chuuya-san!”
“Bye!”
“Take care, Chuuya-san.”
After seeing Atsushi wishing farewells to Chuuya, Dazai loses his weakly held composure.
“Come on! Is everyone here secretly fancying Chibi?” he whinges, “I’m an injured person, I deserve more compassion than a Slug.”
Chuuya smirks, “Eat shit, Mackerel. Come on, we’re leaving.”
“Okay!” Dazai watches Chuuya turn his back and then he leans towards Atsushi with a grin that implies he is up to no good, “Just so you know, Atsushi-kun, you can do anything if you try hard enough! And that includes collecting the courage to go and talk with a specific member of the mafia–”
“Dazai-san!” Atsushi lets out a frustrated cry.
Dazai laughs, “Ah, well, I wouldn’t have to be bothered with the task of getting you two together if you’d just–”
Chuuya comes back to Atsushi’s field of vision; taking Dazai from the collar of his coat and dragging him back, letting Dazai’s complaints stay unanswered.
Atsushi feels every pair of eyes on him.
Unfortunately, he is not Dazai and he can’t keep acting unbothered under pressure.
“W-well, I should probably go–”
“No, you’re not,” Ranpo silences him.
“Not until you explain what’s going on with you and that one particular mafia associate,” Yosano fills in.
Atsushi sighs.
This was going to be a long night. He vaguely wonders how long he can keep denying that he knows what Dazai is implying.
He knows it too well, much to his luck.