Chapter Text
Why didn't anyone expect this? Why had no one foreseen the attack? Yet they should have been able to predict it, it wasn't the first time the agency had been attacked and they had always been prepared. But not this time. Whose fault was it? Poor vigilance? A poorly thought-out plan? No one will ever know. What is certain is that it all started when Yosano disappeared. Everyone had worked together to try to find her, but she had gone missing. Even Ranpo couldn't find her. None of the members of the agency had thought that the kidnapping was really just the beginning of a devious plan devised by enemies. Deprived of their angel, the agency had exposed a weak point, and all it took was a strong blow to keep them from rising again. And that was what had happened now. The agency had been attacked and the building set on fire, erasing any potential trace of the enemies who had now vanished. Only the members of the agency remained, looking down from the street at the fiery brew emanating from the agency, which was slowly beginning to engulf the rest of the building. Still in shock from the attack, they all remained silent, unable to find the words until the boss spoke up:
- Where are Tanizaki and Naomi?
Worried looks were quickly exchanged between the various detectives as they realised they were missing. The tension grew and grew and reached its peak when Dazai said:
- They must still be inside...
Hearing these words, Fukuzawa dashed towards the building, leaving no time for the other people to react. Even the firemen who had now arrived on the scene did not have time to intercept the silver wolf whose silhouette was already sinking into the flames.
Inside, the spectacle seemed even worse: the flames were covering everything and the smoke diminishing the visibility made the progression in the building even more difficult. Despite this, the swordsman managed to reach the offices of the agency, where the fire had started. The heat there was unbearable and the place threatened to collapse at any moment. Nevertheless, he still hoped to find his two employees trapped in the blaze alive. He covered his mouth with a piece of cloth in an attempt to inhale as little smoke as possible and went into the room calling for the missing.
After several unsuccessful calls, a faint response finally came from one of the offices. The swordsman then went towards the latter and discovered the brother and sister in a corner of the room. However, it was not yet time to give way to relief, he still had to get the two youngsters out of here. Young Naomi had ended up with her leg trapped under a beam that was fortunately not yet ignited and her brother had decided to stay with her to protect her using the fire extinguisher he had found nearby. The boss of the agency drew his katana and broke the beam to free her. She stood up, helped by her brother who supported her.
- Naomi, Tanizaki, are you going to be able to walk?
The redhead answered with a cough:
- Yes... No choice....
Both of them were already exhausted by the fumes they had inhaled, the progression towards the exit was going to be difficult. So they found themselves being escorted by the elder who guided them through the burning offices. The latter had ended up helping his employees to walk, seeing that they were beginning to weaken. Fortunately for them the exit of the agency was already in sight. They wouldn't be out yet, but they would already be out of the heart of the fire and thus increase their chances of getting out without too much further damage.
Suddenly a thud was heard coming from the ceiling. This caused the small group to look up and see a piece of ceiling that was about to collapse on them. Without thinking too much, Fukuzawa pushed the two youngsters forward and they had just enough time to turn around to see a part of the ceiling collapsing with a terrible crash.
- Boss!