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“Ah Kouyou, thank you for coming.”
“Of course, Boss. It's you who called,” she replied as soon as she walked through the office’s doors which closed right after she entered.
“Still, I'm thankful considering the short notice,” Mori insisted.
“It’s no problem.”
It was unusual for Mori to summon her and much more without being told in advance. She was probably, after Chuuya, his most trustworthy subordinate so usually Mori allowed her to do as she pleased. Still, it’s probably for a mission, she realized concluding there wasn’t much to read into.
“As you probably figured out the reason for your sudden call was because I need you to do something for me,” he said and something inside Kouyou’s head said Bingo. “I need you to deliver a letter for me.”
A letter? Don't they have people for that? Kouyou thought.
“And where should I deliver it?” she said instead.
“To the Armed Detective Agency.”
“Oh.” The sound escaped from her lips before she could do anything about it.
“It's something the matter?” The other inquired.
“Not at all, it's just...I believed you'd rather handle these matters on your own. Like, personally or over the phone.”
“Yes, normally I would, but that's the thing. Right now I'm experiencing some...difficulties communicating. I believe this will pass but in the meantime, may I trouble you with this?”
“It’s no trouble Boss. I'll get into it right now.”
“Thank you. And Kouyou, it doesn't have to be right now, just make sure you deliver it today.”
“Of course.”
“Thank you. And say hi to Kyoka for me, would you?”
“Will do,” she said as she bowed and then exited the room.
Everything added up now. The suddenness, the secrecy, and the request for her specifically. All of it. It had been a while now since she was aware of the very particular relationship her boss and the president of the agency shared. If you can call it that , she thought, pretty sure it was all on Mori’s side or at least that’s the way it was right now. Maybe in the past things had been different. One thing was certain: Mori was persistent when it came to Fukuzawa and the other seemed to put up with it just because of diplomacy and in order to preserve the newfound peace between organizations.
Still, that didn’t mean he was willing to put up with everything. Clearly Mori-san had overstepped and gained the president’s avoidance in return, Kouyou reflected as she made her way through the halls of the mafia quarters. She was on her way out when she heard yelling coming from Chuuyas office, so she halted her pace and got near the door to study the situation. It wasn’t uncommon for Chuuya to have such an outburst but there was always the chance that he may need help with something.
“For the last time, I told you you can’t break in here!” She heard coming from the inside, which eased her. If intruders had broken in Chuuya could deal with them for sure, yet there was a certain familiarity in the way Chuuya spoke that made her stay there until she knew more about the situation.
“But Chuu, no one has to know,” another voice complained. One she is quite acquainted with, one that always brings trouble to Chuuya’s life. She frowned at that thought but remained in her spot near the door.
“I will know! And I can't allow someone from an enemy organization to just barge in our headquarters.”
“Enemy is a strong word. We are on a truce right now,” the other persisted.
“For now.”
“As long as the president keeps banging Mo-”
“I don't wanna hear that and I don't want you barging into my office. Out now!” Chuuya screamed and after a few knocking sounds, probably from the furniture and closing the window, he came out of his office.
“Ane-san,” Chuuya said. He looked disheveled and agitated, clearly didn't expect to meet her there.
“Is everything all right, lad?”
“Yea, um, a stray barged in. I was just chasing him out.” He was a terrible liar and both of them knew that, yet that didn’t stop him from trying. Unfortunately for him Kouyou wasn’t having any.
“Does your stray have brown hair and is wrapped in bandages?” She asked, going straight for the throat.
“...yes,” Chuuya eventually admitted, defeated.
“I thought so, trouble in paradise?” There is no mocking in her tone, only worry. Chuuya knew that.
“You could say that. We're on a break because I caught him trying to convince the waitress to commit double suicide with him and ever since he's been trying to apologize with his attempts to break in.”
“I'm not trying to excuse him but bad habits die hard, you know that.”
“Yes.”
“But I'm sure eventually you'll figure things out.”
“I guess. Thank you Ane-san.”
“No problem. Just let me know if you ever get bored, I'll make sure Dazai understands that as well.”
“Got it.” And after that exchange, Kouyou returned to her quest once more.
She wasn’t even halfway to the Agency’s quarters when she ran into what looked like even more trouble. In plain sight, in the middle of the sidewalk Chuuya’s underling and Kyoka’s friend seemed to be having a heated argument.
Although they were from the same organization Kouyou couldn’t remember having an actual exchange with Akutagawa. Still, because they were on the same team and Chuuya said that deep down he was actually nice, she decided to remain hidden and provide assistance in case her intervention was needed.
“Can we go over this one more time?” she heard the agency’s boy say when she got closer.
“Sure.”
“Okay. I like you so I asked you out and you said no because you can't stand me, right?”
“Correct.”
“Right, and I respect your decision but I still want to date somebody and I'm gonna do it, so I arranged something with someone that is into me and right now I’m going to meet that person. So why in the world are you following me?”
“Dazai-san asked me to look after you,” Akutagawa stated with absolute normalcy.
“And I get that Akutagawa, but this is a date. A date.”
“It may be a trap.”
“It won’t. I did a background check, but fine I'll ask for help if it comes to that,” the younger boy resigned himself, yet Akutagawa insisted.
“You might not get the chance.”
“I'll figure something, but please, can I have a nice lunch with someone?” His defensive attitude was gone. He just wanted to figure this out before his date became tired of waiting.
“I can eat with you,” Akutagawa offered then. The other boy's eyes widened at that.
“You said you don't like me! Why would you wanna go on a date with me?”
“Not a date, just lunch. That would be fine.”
“Can you hold my hand...for safety purposes?” He asked, testing the waters.
“Fine,” Akutagawa said and the other looked even more amazed than before. After coming back from the initial shock he pulled out his phone which Kouyou realized was probably to cancel and apologize to the other person.
She glanced at them one more time and after making peace with the fact she will never understand the relationship the two of them shared, Kouyou figured they would probably be alright and decided to continue heading towards her destination.
When walking she found herself internally praying for no more agency-related-trouble, and before she realized it she was standing in front of the building.
“Pardon the intrusion,” Koyou said after entering.
“Not at all, it’s just me. The others have taken the day off or left already.” A very beautiful woman greeted her with a gesture that told her she was welcomed there.
She probably can tell that I harbor no ill intentions or she is confident enough to take me out on her own , Kouyou thought. Either way the other seemed unbothered by her presence.
“I’m here to deliver a letter from the boss for your president,” Kouyou said “but I can come back another time,” she added, realizing who she is speaking with. From what she had heard the agency’s doctor wanted nothing to do with her boss and she had every reason for that.
“I’ll handle it. It’s not like I’m meeting Mori myself, but I appreciate the consideration.”
“Of course. I appreciate you saving me the trip,” she said as she handed her the envelope “then, I’ll be on my way,” Kouyou gently bowed her head.
“Ozaki-san,” the doctor called and Kouyou’s glance drifted to her once more.
“Yes?”
“I’ll be done here in a minute and there is a really good coffee shop downstairs. You are welcome to join me if you are not in a hurry.”
“I have time,” Kouyou replied. The other smiled at her.
“Perfect.” And having said that she grabbed some folders that were on her desk and exited the room.
Kouyou didn’t even bother taking a seat. She said it wouldn’t take long, so it probably wouldn’t, reasoned. She stood there staring in the direction the other had disappeared till she came back.
“Done,” she said, reappearing without her lab coat. Kouyou smiled at her and after closing they headed towards the lower floor.
While walking down the stairs she stared at the other woman that was a few steps ahead of her.
Maybe meddling with the agency's business isn’t so bad after all, Kouyou thought.