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Chapter Text

Remi added Blyke, Isen, and others to the chat

John: Dfaq

Blyke: Remi wuts this

Isen: ^^^

Seraphina: Is this for that Yokohama thing???

Kuyo: Ngl, I forgot I agreed to supervise this

Arlo: What Yokohama thing???

John: Wiat, yhea, heat Yokoama tnhig

Arlo: Your spelling causes me physical pain

John: Good

Remi: Did Headmaster Vaughn not tell you guys???

Arlo: I wouldn't ask if I knew

Isen: WWERE GOING TO YOKOHAMA????????????

Remi: Wait, did no one tell you guys??

Arlo: Obviously not

Kuyo: Someone's sassy today, damn

John: Cna Smoenoe plase tlel me hwat hte fcuk thsi trpi is

Seraphina: Headmaster Vaughn arranged a trip for Wellston's top, a College student supervisor and Claire and Adrion to go to Yokohama Japan to like, learn abt their way of life or something

Remi: Yeah!! Yokohama's closed off from the rest of the world because their abilities are said to be stronger than ours but they're a lot more rare. Most of the population there are cripples

Arlo: And a large majority of the more powerful ability users (gifted) work for the Port Mafia or other gifted organizations. Or they're in the slums.

Blyke: Dude, why you know that

Kuyo: Nerddddd

John: Konw it allllllll

Arlo: Shut up

Seraphina: Does Zeke haveeee to come?

John: We dnot wnat him

Arlo: Do I have to go?

Remi: I can understand why you wouldn't want Zeke to go, but Arlo why don't you wanna go?

John: he's elistist

Isen: Bro can't live without the hierarchy

Arlo: Shut up

Blyke: Well why don't you wanna go, then?

Blyke: Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Arlo: It doesn't matter, just answer the question

Kuyo: I talked to Vaughn, this is mandatory unless you're dead

Seraphina: For the record, Arlo, that doesn't mean you should find a way to die

John: Yse it is, Arlo, plase kys

Arlo: Considering it

Isen: Ok but like, am I the only one kinda concerned as to why Arlo is literally debating murdering himself just so he doesn't have to go???

Remi: Yeah, Arlo, are you ok?

Arlo: Fine

John: Bs

Arlo: I didn't ask

Remi: Headmaster Vaughn is gonna talk to us all right before we leave tomorrow, so remember to be at the bus by 9:00 so we can catch the plane.

Kuyo: Y'all use such good grammar wtaf fuck is wrong with u

John: I dnot knwo

Arlo: He wasn't talking to you

John: 😐😐😐

Sera: Lmaooooo

Remi: Everyone should get some sleep now, we've got a long day tomorrow!!

Blyke: Well yes, but half of us just found out abt this and need to pack

Kuyo: L

Sera: Pack for like a month then

Arlo: What.

Sera: We're going for a month Einstein

Remi: Yup!!

Isen: rip Arlo

John: He wnot be msised

Remi: Guys, pack and then go to sleep!!

John: Hlep, hwo do i pcak a siutcsae

Blyke: I can help you, give me like 10 minutes to finish my suitcase first

Seraphina: *Sniff Sniff* Is that what I think it is???????

Isen: R u thinking wut I'm thinking rn

Seraphina: Bromance?

Isen: Bromance.

Remi: Ok, stop using the chat and either pack or go to bed!!

Arlo: Goodnight

Seraphina: Night

John: Nihgt

Isen: Nighty night

Blyke: G'night

Kuyo: Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite

Chapter Text

As everyone got up that morning, they were all filled with both extreme excitement and slight nervousness for the upcoming trip to Yokohama. That and they were all also very tired as it was 5:00 in the morning and they need to be at the airport at 6:15 latest.

Of course, this criteria fit 10 of the 11 (Is it 11? I can't count) going.

Who was the exception? Arlo was (obviously). Instead of excitement, slight nerves, and a side of tiredness, Arlo was dreading the trip, anxious, and downright exhausted.

As they all quickly got ready for the day, their nerve's definitely began to increase as they woke up more.

Arlo's feelings of dread also continued to increase as he thoroughly debated causing an entire airport shutdown just so he did not have to go.

Because if Arlo went on this trip there would be no avoiding facing everything he'd tried so hard to leave behind.

He stared down at his suitcase, heaving an abnormally large sigh before pulling open the drawer of his nightstand. There sat a gun. They were taking a private plane, there wouldn't be security. If he wanted to, he could take it with him.

It'd probably be better if he did.

But what if the others found it? Found out he had a gun in his bag? Then what? How would he explain that?

Against what he thought to be his better judgment, he stuck the gun (and ammo, he's not that stupid) into the very bottom of his suitcase.

Against what was definitely his better judgement, he put his old 'uniform' in the suitcase too.

He suspected he'd regret that later on.

With another remarkably loud sigh, he zipped up his suitcase and made sure his backpack had what it needed as well.

It did. But he checked again. And again. And again.

Anything to delay his return back to Yokohama.

Even as he heaved his suitcase off his bed and headed outside to the magic school bus of doom that would take them to the private plane, he didn't feel anymore ready.

And yet he sat at the very back of the bus, waiting for the others to get on too, as he stared at the window.

"What'd the window do to you? Kill your mother?" John asked, skeptically eyeing Arlo from the seat across from him.

Arlo turned to face him, with his regular angry looking face (bro's got a shitty rbf Fr). "For all I know it could have," He retorted, successfully making the conversation awkward.

The two of them sit in silence at the back of the bus, the other not their yet, before Arlo speaks up.

"About what I did awhile ago, with forcing you to show your ability and stuff. I'm sorry,"

John's eyes widen in surprise, "It's fine...I guess, I shouldn't have went berserk and beat the shit out of everyone,"

"It's not fine. I was wrong. I didn't want to start this trip off without apologizing for my actions," Arlo spoke, still staring out the window.

John frowns slightly, suspiciously eyeing the blond. He did think Arlo was genuinely sorry, but to apologize right before a trip he really didn't wanna go on? That didn't seem like something Arlo would do.

Something was definitely up.

Before John could say anything more, Seraphina, Remi, a very annoyed Blyke, and a very annoying Isen stepped on the bus.

John makes an annoyed face, "Why did Zeke have to come on this trip?" He grumbled loudly, slumping in his seat.

Arlo rolled his eyes, "Because he's oh so special and strong and cool," he replied in a mocking tone.

John shot Arlo an incredulous look. "Did you hit your head or something?"

Before Arlo could respond, Seraphina and Blyke plopped down in the two seats in front of them with their own suitcase.

John shot a skeptical look at Blyke. "The fuck happened to you?"

"Zeke. Zeke happened to me," Blyke grumbled.

"Zeke made some elitist comment on the safe house to Blyke's face and now he's pissed," Sera elaborated. "We also learned that Zeke is gonna be here in 20 because he wants to say bye to his girlfriend. He made sure to flaunt that to Blyke.”

Arlo raised an eyebrow at that but sighed, "On a scale of 1-10 how badly do you not want Zeke to come?" He asked.

"10," said Sera, Blyke, and John unanimously.

Arlo sighed once again (he seemed to be doing that a lot today) and pulled out his phone, "If anyone asks, I didn't do this," he says, shooting one his famous threatening glares at them, before dialing Zeke's mother's phone number.

The phone rung 2 and a half times before she picked up.

Arlo held the phone up to his, "Hello ma'am, is Zeke _____ with you?"

"He's up in his room, can I take a message?" She replied, no questions asked, which was both strange and stupid if you asked Arlo.

"My name is Jack, I'm calling from Planned Parenthood on your son's girlfriend's pregnancy results as well as his std test results," He said, perfectly imitating a voice one would use if this was actually their job, "Please have him give us another call when he's free,"

"...thank you for letting me know." Zeke's mother replied before hanging up.

Arlo couldn't see her face, but he assumed she was both furious and horrified.

He was slightly surprised she'd believed him. He was pretty sure that wasn't how a planned parenthood worker would do their job.

Despite this, he also assumed Zeke would not be coming on this trip any longer.

He slid his phone back into his pocket, turning back to face Blyke, Sera, and John.

The three of them looked absolutely stunned at what Arlo had just pulled.

"Why do you look like you just found out I had sex with your mother?" Arlo asks, raising an eyebrow at them.

"Did you really just- pull a Regina George on Zeke's mom?" Blyke asks.

Arlo nodded slowly. He hadn't originally gotten the idea from Mean Girls. The person he got that idea from was significantly more annoying and debatably scarier. Emphasis on debatably.

"Are you sure you haven't hit your head? That's not something the Arlo we know would ever fucking pull," John says.

Arlo simply shrugged. There was no place for the Arlo they knew anymore. Not in Yokohama.

"Alright, losers, listen up!" Kuyo yelled from the front of the bus.

They all turned to look at Kuyo as he continued to speak.

"Headmaster Vaughn pulled a few favors with an old friend of his and we get to go to Yokohama for a month. You've got to behave yourselves. We're getting toured and houses and stuff by the Armed Detective Agency. John, your dad is apparently running supervision since Headmaster Vaughn can't leave school," He said.

Arlo raised an eyebrow. The agency was touring them?

Arlo thought he might cry.

"Do they know who we are? Have they been given our school files and all?" He asked.

Kuyo thought about it for a moment, "I think the head of the Agency is the only one who's seen them,"

Arlo pursed his lips and nodded, turning back to stare out the window as the bus began to move.

This was going to be a very long trip.

Chapter Text

As the bus began to move, marking the beginning of a 3 hours long bus ride, Arlo stared down at his phone.

He wasn't exactly doing anything on it. Just staring at a specific contact. Arlo knew he needed to reach out.

He typed and retyped the message what felt like 1000 times. It had been 4 years at least. Arlo had been 13 years old then.

May 13 2019
Arlo: I hate you, you stupid bastard

October 3 2023
Arlo: Don't do anything.

???: Literally what

???: Arlo

???: U Fr gonna leave me on read :|||

???: Piss for hair

???: Blondie toupee

???: Shorter than Chibi at one point

???: Late bloomer

???: Emo lover

???: Ayo Shakespeare, thou est king of ass

???: Wowwww

???: Once upon a time at least OnE of these would've gotten you

???: Silky little hotheaded midget

???: Piss for brains

???: Lemon Hair

???: I am gonna keep spamming u until you responddddd

???: Ur so annoying

???: More annoying than Chibi

???: Ur so meannnnnnnnnn

???: I know ur reading this

???: Im gunna kill myselffffff

Arlo rolled his eyes and muted the chat. The longer this car ride went on the more he began to absolutely loathe this trip.

He leaned back in his seat, slipping his phone back into his pocket and closing his eyes.

He should tell them. He knows they'll find out anyway.

Arlo was sure that they wouldn't ever think of him the same way once they knew.

He opened his eyes and turned to look at the people on the bus.

They were the closest thing he had to friends. Not that he was attached. No. Definitely not. Not Arlo. He didn't get attached. He couldn't get attached.

He suspected none of them would see him the same way when they did find out.

"Arlo??? Are you dead? I mean finally, but if you are we might have to cancel the trip which would be really shitty of you," Blyke said, waving his hand in front of Arlo's face.

Arlo opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow, "I'm alive, what did you need?"

"We're talking about the trip and I thought you'd have something to say," Blyke replied, scratching the back of his head.

"Yeah sure, what about Yokohama?" Arlo said, not seeing the point in opting out of the conversation.

"The port mafia and the other agencies there," Isen said, from a few seats ahead, turning around.

Arlo internally pounded his head into a wall.

This was going to be a fun conversation.

Chapter Text

Arlo turned his body forward, now much more interested in the conversation after learning of the topic.

"What about the Port Mafia?" Arlo asked, his finger nails beginning to dig into his palms.

"Well, we heard a bunch of rumors and stuff online about the people who work there...Double Black, The Demon Prodigy, The Red Death Assassin,"

Arlo tensed upon hearing those names, feeling the need to vomit as the feeling of panic set in.

But Arlo didn't panic. He didn't vomit. Arlo just closed his eyes and took a deep breath in through his nose.

"What'd you hear?" Arlo asked, maintaining his composure because he was a professional at this, god damnit.

"Well, I heard about the Demon Prodigy...he sounds terrifying. Apparently they had a saying in the mafia that the worst part of being the Demon Prodigy's enemy was that they were his enemies." Remi said, sounding slightly nervous.

"I heard that the Red Death Assassin is one of the deadliest assassins in history. Apparently he went in a rampage that killed over 100 people in less than a week," Sera added.

Arlo dug his nails further into his palms to the point where it began to hurt

"Not gonna lie, they sound a little spooky. Like, scarier than rampage John," Isen commented.

John shot him a vicious glare. "Shut up you rat,"

Isen grinned nervously at John before Blyke continued the conversation.

"I heard Double Black took out an entire enemy organization overnight. They're assumed to be the most dangerous duo in the world. But I think one of them left the port mafia all together..."

Arlo was mildly surprised by the accuracy of these rumors. And the 100 people who'd been killed were killed within 36 hours exactly.

Not that he'd been counting at the time.

Arlo felt the familiar warmth of his blood drip down his left palm in a thin line. His ring finger had cut into his palm.

He sighed softly, before tucking his hand into his pocket.

"Soukoku isn't something you ought to be worried about," Arlo said, firmly, forcing his face to look unbothered.

"Neither is the Red Death Assassin or the Demon prodigy," He added. "Demon prodigy was the half of Soukoku that left the mafia and the Red Death Assassin left the mafia too."

Seraphina shot Arlo a suspicious look. "Why do you know that?"

Arlo pursed his lips. He had to tell them at least an element of the truth or they'd get suspicious. "I used to live in Yokohama," He replied, as if it was obvious.

The entirety of the bus turned to look at him, flabbergasted.

"What?!" Isen yelled out, a completely shocked look on his face.

"So that's where you came from?" Kuyo said, "That makes more sense now, actually."

"Is that why you didn't wanna come on this trip..?" Remi asked, concern dripping from her tone.

Arlo clenched his jaw. He didn't want their concern or their pity. Such trivial feelings were a waste of time. But he didn't say that. He had the sense to keep his mouth shut.

"Sure." Is all he says in response.

Remi frowns at his vague response but Arlo ignored her.

The hours passed by quickly and before Arlo knew it they were on the plane and nearly 20 minutes away.

It was ironic how fast the time went because Arlo was definitely not having fun.

"Anything we should know before we land?" John asked, slightly skeptical.

"Don't challenge anyone with an ability to a fight. These are old abilities. They're stronger than new abilities like the ones we have. Old abilities can affect new abilities but new abilities can't affect old ones," Arlo said.

"And don't go to back alleys at night. And if you want to drink, bring me or someone else from Yokohama with you. Yokohama's been closed off for years, so people here can tell if you're from the outside," He added.

Blyke made a slightly surprised face, "We're allowed to drink here?"

Arlo nodded, "Legal age here is 15. But I don't know how it works for outsiders,"

John frowned slightly at how Arlo referred to the rest of them as outsiders. Did Arlo not consider himself to be like them at all?

Arlo stared out the window as they landed in an airport just outside the Yokohama barrier.

As he walked off the plane he spotted a van. Two armed detective agency members stood in front of it.

One of was blonde with glasses that Arlo doubted photographed well. The man held a notebook titled 'Ideals'. The other man with him was a ginger. He looked maybe around their age.

Remi, Blyke, and Isen led the way to the car, seemingly the most excited (though, one could argue that Isen looked scared shitless).

Kuyo walked just behind them with Seraphina  Arlo was behind them all.

Strangely enough, John had chosen to stick back and walk with Arlo.

"You excited?" John asked, his hands in his pockets as he stared ahead.

No Arlo thought I, quite frankly couldn't be dreading anything more

Arlo looked at John, blankly. He knew he should keep to himself and lie, but part of him wanted to put his faith in John.

That small (though albeit growing) part of Arlo thought John would understand better than the others would.

He pushed away those thoughts. "Last time I was here I was 13. I wasn't in a good place. And I'm not exactly ready to face any of those feelings again," Arlo admitted.

John seemed slightly startled by Arlo's small confession but then nodded. "Yeah, I know the feeling."

"I thought you might," Arlo replied.

After a moment more of walking, they had all made it to the car.

Arlo began to dig his nails into his left palm once again, hoping that neither of them recognized him.

In retrospect, they never would've recognized Arlo. He was 17 now and his manner completely different from the lifeless boy he'd been all those years ago.

However, despite his best efforts, he hadn't been able to shake certain aspects of his life then.

He still kept his perfect posture that was drilled into him. He still drank that ridiculously expensive tea. He still kept most people at a distance. He still took things too far. He still woke in the middle of the night in a wild panic.

He was still able to see the boy he was in himself. Especially the days where he'd take things just a bit too far.

Remi had asked him once why he'd always take things so far. Arlo never did give her an answer. He supposed she'd get the answer sometime during this trip.

"Young man, young man, are you listening?!" The bad glasses blond barked at Arlo.

Arlo's gaze flicked to study the man. He was definitely something.

He was quite good looking aside from his un-photogenic glasses. He was definitely quite fit. His ability definitely had something to do with his notebook. He seemed quite loud, aggressive, bossy, loyal as a damn dog (this trait in specific did remind Arlo of someone, but it seemed rude to say aloud). He was also likely a much better person than Arlo.

The kind who knows how the world works but still works to save who he can.

"No, I wasn't, was anything you said really that important?" Arlo replied. In hindsight, the tone he used was likely rude, but at the time it didn't register to him.

"Of course it was! The youth of today, always so ignorant," The blond grumbled, shaking his head.

The ginger haired boy, made an apologetic face. "Sorry about Kunikida, this whole bringing students in thing got a little...hectic last week," He said, anxiously scratching the back of his neck.

Arlo pursed his lips, knowing exactly what 'hectic' meant. "I can imagine."

The blond who's name Arlo now knew was Kunikida raised an eyebrow at him, "Have you been here before? You don't seem like our average outsider."

Arlo dug his nails further into his left palm once again. It was getting to close to he was for comfort. And he couldn't lie. Not to these people.

"I lived here until I was 13," Arlo said, desperately holding onto his calm manner because to do otherwise just was not proper.

Kunikida frowned slightly at his words but dropped it. "As I was saying. My name is Kunikida Doppo and this is Tanizaki Junichiro. We're from the armed detective agency." Kunikida scanned the group. "I was under the impression there was to be another adult supervisor?"

"Yeah, that's my dad, he'll be here tomorrow morning," John said, the first of the group to speak up besides Arlo.

Arlo was slightly comforted by the fact that John still held onto his regular manner despite what was happening.

Kunikida nodded and quickly scribbled something into his notebook before snapping it shit and tucking it into his jacket, grumbling about something Arlo couldn't hear.

"I apologize. We were supposed to have 3 of our agency members here but my partner, Dazai Osamu failed to show up once again," Kunikida said, sounding quite annoyed but used to Dazai's antics.

Arlo tensed, feeling all the air leave his body. He felt blood drip down his left palm as his nails cut his hand.

Why did he come on this damn trip? He knew it would be a terrible idea.

Arlo felt nauseous, but he returned to his regular composure barely a second later. The closer he came to losing control of his emotions the harsher he reeled them all in.

"So...what now?" Asked Isen, hesitantly, evidently intimidated by Kunikida.

"Now," Kunikida said, pushing his glasses up his nose, "We go past the barrier into Yokohama."

Chapter Text

As the group piled into the Van, Arlo once again sat at the very back.

And once again, John came to sit with Arlo.

This time they shared a seat, Arlo by the window.

"Are you ok?" John muttered to Arlo.

Arlo studied John, trying to find his intentions. John looked like he was trying to be nonchalant but there was something else on his face.

Concern???

Despite John's concern for Arlo making no sense, Arlo still felt the urge to trust him with his secrets.

Arlo looked at John and sighed, deciding to tell him part of the truth.

"If I told you, I don't think you'd ever talk to me again," He admitted, his voice barely loud enough for John to hear.

John looked at Arlo confused before switching to a mildly annoyed and mildly understanding face.

"I used to tell myself that and we both know how that ended," John said.

Arlo raised an eyebrow at him, "That was entirely my fault and you know it. Besides, what I did was significantly worse,"

John arched a surprisingly perfect eyebrow. "You said the last time you were here you were 13. You were just a kid."

"A kid who killed over a hundred people in 36 hours," Arlo muttered, bitterly.

John immediately froze, his gaze glued to flow for multiple moments.

Arlo just sighed. He'd known deep down this was what was going to happen.

He supposed it was a good thing he told John on his own terms.

However, he couldn't help but feel his heart sink at his reaction. John was the only one who had a chance of understanding. If this was his reaction then he was fucked.

"You were a kid. No kid does that of their own volition," John said, firmly, after another few minutes of silence. "It wasn't your fault,"

Arlo raised his eyebrow, hiding his shock at John's response.

Was he out of his damn mind? Arlo knew what he was doing. Just like everyone else in that godforsaken fault. It had to be his fault. Arlo was awful.

"Losing yourself in self-destruction never does help," John added, shooting Arlo another knowing look before punching him somewhat lightly in the shoulder.

Arlo shot him an irritated look before muttering a quiet thank you.

"What was that? I couldn't hear you," John asked, smugly, cupping a finger around his ear, "Say that to my good ear."

Arlo pursed his lips to hold back a (very) small amused smile. Unfortunately he did not succeed.

"Oh my god...is Arlo smiling? Did I get the Arlo to smile?" John proclaimed, loudly, looking incredibly smug.

The entire bus turned to look at the two of them.

Arlo glared at John, the small smile not yet leaving his lips.

In fact, the smile only widened as he shoved John off the seat and place his legs over John's spot.

"Young man, keep your damn hands to yourself!" Kunikida yelled from the front of the bus.

Perhaps this trip wouldn't be so bad after all.

Chapter Text

One would expect to feel themself passing through a magical barrier that kept Yokohama completely isolated from the outside world.

However, Arlo didn't. Although, it seemed as if everyone else did, as everyone on the bus (with the exception of the two agency members) looked as if they were about to vomit.

Arlo assumed the barrier was upheld by a gifted, making it so those who've never come into contact with a gifted feel the side effects.

Arlo eyed John, who was once again sitting next to him (Kunikida had forced Arlo to let John sit on the seat quite aggressively just before the bus began to move).

"If you're going to throw up, preferably do so not on me," Arlo said, scooting away from John as much as he could.

John shot him an irritated look, throwing a punch that was weak for John at Arlo's shoulder.

It wouldn't have hurt at all if John packed an ordinary punch. However, John was strong. Maybe not to the extent of certain people he'd known, but that was more because of the lifestyle said person leads.

Arlo gently rubbed his shoulder, shooting John an annoyed glance, "Well, if you're still able to punch me then you're fine."

"I'm going to hit you again."

"No thanks."

"Hey, you two, stop being gay!" Seraphina shouted from her seat up front.

Arlo felt his face heat up. He grabbed a sunscreen and chucked it at Seraphina's head, with a vicious glare.

She caught the can and stuck her tongue out at him, smugly.

Arlo mocked her expression with his right hand, making a face, causing both Seraphina and John to start laughing.

After a few moments, the Yokohama skyline came into view as they drove down the highway.

Arlo felt a mix of too many different emotions. Mostly anxiety, disgust, depression, and longing.

As much as he hated to admit it, Arlo had missed the people he'd grown up with. Even if they were incredibly loud, obnoxious, and annoying at times.

"Before we get to the agency, I'd like to inform you of a few things," Kunikida said, loudly, standing up at the front of the bus to speak. "Firstly, you will be watched over by the agency for the most part of this trip. Second off, you're being provided housing for the month by Mori Ougai, and will be also spending a certain amount of time with certain Port Mafia members due to the Mafia - Agency alliance..."

Kunikida continued to speak but Arlo wasn't listening. He couldn't hear anything. He felt so incredibly nauseous in that moment he was sure he was going to vomit.

His heart beat fast and he could feel it in his throat as all the air seemed to leave his body.

Mori would've never taken an interest in this trip. Wellston students were worthless to him.

Arlo dug his nails deep into his palms once again.

Mori knew he was here.

Arlo wasn't suicidal by any means. At least, he didn't think he was. But at that moment, he wanted nothing more than to just bleed to death.

He couldn't breathe. He couldn't see. Mori knew. He knew.

Arlo felt trapped in a room filled with water.

His breathing was loud and raspy, as he descended into a complete panic, his nails so far into his skin that much more blood seeped from the small cuts now.

"Arlo! ...Arlo!?"

Arlo couldn't hear who was talking. He couldn't see them either. Everything was muffled. He shoved whoever had spoken as far away from him as he could, using a strength he hadn't in years.

He heard a muffled thud half a second later.

He'd gone into complete fight or flight. Anyone who tried to touch him would be thrown back.

Arlo was lost in his own conscious.

"Well, Arlo, you're definitely something special..." He'd said, "In fact, you shouldn't even exist at all! I'm not even sure you're human...I'm sure a little tests would help us figure out what you are, right? You won't mind, you'll be good, won't you, Arlo?"

Arlo felt the scalpel drag across his stomach, the cold sting moving across his skin. He felt the blood drip down his side as it was collected into the tube

Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop.

Arlo just barely felt a pair of arms grip his shoulders.

He tensed up, his eyes wild and horrified.

"Arlo, it's just me, it's just Remi," She said. Her voice was still muffled to Arlo. Muffled against the words he'd said to Arlo all those years ago. Muffled against Arlo's ragged breaths. Muffled against the memories he'd so desperately wanted to forget.

Arlo slowly began to regain his breath, as Remi's hands remained firmly planted on his shoulders. She looked concerned. But even as Arlo's vision cleared, he didn't see any pity on her face. Just concern. Worry.

She wasn't scared either. Not like Isen and Blyke. They were afraid.

John was on the other side of the bus, coughing up a small bit of blood. He'd been the one who Arlo had thrown back.

Arlo felt awful. He didn't mean to hurt John. Who'd understood when Arlo told him what he'd done. He didn't. He didn't.

Seraphina was at John's side, her face almost unreadable. Almost. There was a small hint of concern and anger on her face.

Concern that Arlo had thrown John back like that. Anger that Arlo had down it.

He pulled his nails from his palms, his fingernails given a messy French tip made of blood.

Even as Arlo completely calmed down no one said anything. Except for Remi, you threw her arms around Arlo, tightly.

If Arlo couldn't breathe before, he definitely couldn't now. But this time he didn't mind as much.

Kuyo moved next, crouching down to look at Arlo like he was a child. He didn't pity Arlo. Rei never used to either.

"You alright, kid?" He asked. Not pity. Concern. Arlo appreciated that.

Rei did that too. When Arlo had first met Rei, he'd never pitied him, even after finding out what Arlo had done. Who he'd been.

Rei always thought Arlo could be good. He'd appreciated it. And then Rei had died.

Arlo wasn't sure he could ever be a good person. But Rei was even as he died. So Arlo promised himself he'd look after Remi. Just like Rei had asked.

Because Remi was all he had left of Rei. Because Remi was good and Arlo was not.

And because even if he didn't want to admit it, Remi had always been like a little sister to him. Despite the amount of times they'd argued (which debatably made them more like siblings) he'd still have her back. The same way Rei had his.

Arlo's breathing eventually settled and his vision cleared. And he felt perfectly fine. Which was strange seeing as a moment ago he felt like he was in the verge of death.

Kunikida has also moved to the back of the bus and was carefully (and sternly) studying Arlo.

"Here's a water, it normally helps Atsushi when he panics," Tanizaki said, kindly, passing Arlo an ice cold water bottle.

Arlo took the water, eyeing is suspiciously, before taking a small sniff of it, making sure it was safe to drink.

If Tanizaki thought it was strange, he didn't show it.

Arlo took a small sip of the water, Remi now sitting to his left, Kuyo crouched next to him on his right.

No one else had moved.

"Sorry..." Arlo muttered, bitterly, "It won't happen again."

Tanizaki frowned, "You can't control panic attacks. And you don't need to apologize for having one either," he reassured.

"Watch me," Arlo retorted.

Tanizaki was good. Like Remi and Rei. Arlo wondered how many good people he'd meet in the agency.

"Are we ready to keep moving?" Kunikida asked.

No one asked why Arlo had panicked. Just if he was ok. He was grateful for that.

And with that, everyone moved back into their seats. This time, Remi sat with Arlo and John sat with Seraphina.

A few minutes later the bus pulled up to the Armed Detective Agency building and everyone made their way out.

And at long last, this trip was finally starting.

Chapter Text

As everyone got out of the van, Arlo felt dread form in his stomach.

Something was off.

Even as they all walked up the stairs of the building, Arlo knew something was off.

And he was right, per usual.

The moment they walked in, there was a deranged looking woman with a chainsaw, surrounded by what seemed to be a high level explosive, holding a boy around his age.

"I want everything you scum have!" She shrieked, firing up her chainsaw loudly as she held it towards the boys head. "You gifted scum have taken enough from me!"

She swung her chainsaw barely over the head of the boy and towards the group. "Both of you gifted up on the table, where I can see your hands. I can't have you using your abilities now, can I?"

The woman sounded utterly insane and mildly sadistic as she swung her chainsaw.

The entire group froze, as Kunikida and Tanizaki stood on the desks with their hands above their heads.

The other agency members seemed to be hiding or not present.

Arlo scanned the room, looking at all the items.

He'd moved just slightly in front of the others.

She didn't know him. She didn't know what he could do. However, Arlo highly doubted this was an actual scenario. Staged.

He'd seen this woman years ago. Her name was Yosano Akiko. She was the agency's doctor.

This was a test.

"Remi, I need to zap the light to your left as quietly as you can. John, copy her ability," Arlo ordered, his voice only loud enough for them to here as they crouched behind the desks.

He again doubted that if this was real, Yosano wouldn't have spotted them, but it didn't matter.

Both have him a hesitant glances but obeyed the order.

"Good. Now, when I tell you to, move and zap the bombs. It'll ruin the circuiting," Arlo added.

"Arlo, are you out of your damn mind?!" Seraphina hissed at him.

"Have you got a better idea?" He retorted, with a raised eyebrow, "Besides, if I die that means I don't have to do this trip."

That earned him a glare from the entire group.

"Arlo, I really don't think this is a good idea," Blyke said, worrying seeping into his tone as he looked at Yosano then Arlo then back at Yosano.

Arlo ignored Blyke and narrowly dodged Kuyo's grab for his shirt as he stood up and confidently walked into her view.

She briefly paused, looking at him, somewhat psychotically. The look was mostly fake. She didn't want to hurt anyone here.

Arlo knew what a real psycho looked like.

"Who are you? You're not a gifted scum," She said, her lips curling into a (still fake looking) maniacal smile.

"You're right, I'm not. In fact, I hate them," He said, confidently, completely selling it.

He saw Kuyo face palm out of the corner of his eye (seriously, there was no way Yosano had not seen them), but he ignored it.

"You do?!" She exclaimed. However, to Arlo, there was an underlying tone of confusion in her voice.

"Absolutely. It's...disgusting what they're doing. Waltzing around like they're better than the authorities because they were blessed with something most will never have. It makes me sick."

It had been a long while since Arlo had to genuinely put on an act (or a show, take your pick) for anything at all, and he thought he was quite rusty.

However, it seemed to be working well enough.

"I agree, you're a smart child," She says, her eyes glowing with (still fake) malice.

Arlo felt irritated now. He wasn't a kid. He hadn't been a child for years.

"I've been told," He replied, dryly, "However, is this really worth just getting rid of a few gifted? Especially when you could do so much more, so easily."

Arlo knew he looked insane, sadistic pleasure (also fake, piss off) spreading across his face, as he feigned thinking about killing gifted.

"An explosive of this caliber, well place it in a mafia building well enough and watch chaos unfold. You could start a full on war with just a few of these,"

Arlo picked up the explosive, carelessly. Behind him, Kuyo tensed as did Seraphina and Adrion.

Arlo examined the bomb, like he was thinking out his idea.

He wasn't. He was just making sure the bomb wouldn't actually explode when the timer went off.

"You're...brilliant...a mind like yours would be brilliant to destroy the gifted," Yosano said, sounding ecstatic. However, Arlo could detect the underlying fear in her tone.

Fear that the idea Arlo had come up with on a whim could (and likely would) work. If someone were to pull off such a feat and start a gifted war, it'd kill many. Bloodshed beyond believe. Survival of the fittest.

Arlo slowly waltzed up to her, not forgetting to keep up his confident demeanor, because he was a fucking professional, dammit.

"Of course, you could always set off the bombs now and get rid of the agency once for all," Arlo said.

They next moment, Remi and John both jump out of their hiding spot and grab a bomb, as the timer neared zero.

"Seraphina, stop the time on the bombs they're not zapping," Arlo said calmly, jumping back as Yosano swung her Chainsaw at him. It barely graze his chest, drawing some blood, but Arlo ignored it.

"The timers won't stop even as we zap them!" Remi called out, worry seeping into her voice very evidently.

Arlo sighed. He hated fake-out bombs. They always caused unnecessary worry.

"Oh well, just leave them, they aren't going to actually explode. They're fake outs," He said, tossing the bomb in his hand to the side, casually, dropping his fake confidence.

"How do you know that?!" Isen cried out, definitely scared.

"Because I have half a damn brain."

Blyke snickered, despite also being scared himself.

"Aight, I trust your judgement, Rei always said you weren't ever wrong. Psychic powers or something," Kuyo said, with a shrug, still eyeing the bombs just in case as the timer hit zero.

Arlo glared at Kuyo. "Piss off."

"Someone's grumpy today. Wake up on the wrong side of the bed?" He said, mockingly.

"I'm going to hit you in the face."

A moment later, Yosano swung her chainsaw again, yelling something about lying scum.

She swung it at Remi.

Arlo was sloppy, he'll admit. He should've known the explosives wouldn't be the end. He also knew that Remi wouldn't have even been seriously hurt.

However, he still quickly moved in front of Remi, getting grazed once again with the chainsaw in the stomach, as he grabbed the moving blade.

Admittedly not his best move, but in his defense, Arlo had gotten far to used to Wellston's way of living.

He yanked the chainsaw by the moving blade out of her hands, and Remi quickly zapped it to turn it off.

Arlo's hands were bleeding all over the floor and it hurt like hell.

John had moved up closer to Arlo, evidently concerned. Everyone was, but John's was more evident. "Sera, can you-"

She cut him off, grabbing Arlo's hands roughly, which earned her a very annoyed look from him, as she reminded his injuries.

Arlo muttered a small thank you.

"Are you ok?" Asked John, trying to remain nonchalant but failing miserably.

Arlo opened his mouth to respond before hearing an annoying voice that he knew all too well.

"Am I right to assume you're still into emo's then?" Said Dazai fucking Osamu as he leaned against the doorframe.

Arlo's face immediately turned irritated as he felt his face heat up. "Am I right to assume that you're still hopelessly pining over Chuuya and thinking no one else noticed?" He shot back.

"My, my, we're so sassy, I barely even did anything," Dazai retorted, dramatically.

"Do you two know eachother?" Tanizaki asked, as he hopped off the desk.

"You could say that," Dazai said with a shrug.

"What are you? A fucking enigma?" Arlo said, evidently judging him, "And why is it that you can't wear a jacket properly? I know you're fatherless but you really don't need to display it so openly."

Dazai made a very dramatically shocked face. "I breathed?!" He cried out, "Atsushi, do you see what I have to deal with?" He complained, placing a hand on his head like a stereotypical damsel in distress.

Atsushi, who Arlo now knew was the fake hostage, made a slightly confused face as he looked between Dazai and Arlo.

"Dazai, you've never mentioned knowing anyone from outside Yokohama before." He opted to say.

Arlo raised an eyebrow, "Is he your mentor now? I pity you. He's absolutely useless."

Dazai made another hopelessly dramatic comment as he draped his lanky body over Arlo as annoyingly as possible.

"So mean to me. Meaner than Chibi, and he's always mean to me,"

Arlo shot him another irritated look.

"So...how do you know eachother?" Isen asked, hesitantly.

"Doesn't matter!" Arlo quickly said, completely cutting Dazai off.

Dazai gave him a very sly grin. Arlo shot him another vicious glare.

"Dazai, leave the boy alone." Kunikida ordered.

"You're no fun, Kunikida~," He said, but got off of Arlo.

"Y'know, you did pretty good on that entrance exam," Yosano commented, leaning against the doorway behind Arlo.

"I knew you were acting," Is all Arlo said in response.

The agency members (except Dazai's) eyes widen in surprise.

"That's enough chatter," Said a firm and commanding voice from another doorway.

The entire room turned to look at the man.

Arlo assumed it was President Fukuzawa. The only one, besides Dazai (and kind of John) who knew who he was and what he'd done.

Fukuzawa's eyes lingered on Arlo longer than they did on the others. But it didn't seem malicious nor contemptuous. More curiosity that anything else.

Arlo held his gaze, stubbornly, until Fukuzawa looked away and continued to speak.

"Welcome to the Armed Detective Agency. Let's get you all settled in."

Chapter Text

If he was entirely honest, Arlo did not listen to a single thing President Fukuzawa had said during the tour.

And it was also completely Osamu's fault. The entire time he was harassing him, pulling on Arlo's hair, critiquing his outfit, rambling on about some suicidal nonsense.

Arlo had hit him a considerable number of times, telling him to 'Shut the fuck up' and 'This is why Chuuya hates you' along with some absolutely out of pocket remarks of childhood trauma.

Dazai, in turn, had called Arlo 'A fat poopoo head', 'A really big mean', 'Emo Lover', 'Dick sucker', 'kiss ass' and also made some very out of pocket remarks about childhood trauma.

Arlo wasn't sure if the rest of the group had heard anything they had said to eachother but in all honesty, he hoped they didn't.

If they did, Arlo would have a very difficult time trying to explain some of the jabs they'd made at eachother.

Especially the ones involving torture, abuse, and suicide.

"So...how do you two know eachother, again?" Blyke asks, as they all sat at a group of picnic tables.

Arlo glanced at Dazai, his shoulders tensing again.

"Oh! Arlo's my baby brother!" Dazai said, his eccentricity really shining through.

Arlo mentally hit himself in the face, as he saw everyone's jaws drop.

"Brothers?!" Isen said, flabbergasted, "You two don't look anything alike!"

Arlo rolled his eyes, "We're not biologically related. We were just raised together and whatever."

"And whatever. You never told me or Rei," Kuyo said, eyeing Arlo suspiciously.

Arlo saw Remi bite her lip out of the corner of his eye.

Arlo had been hit harder than he'd ever admit by Rei's death. He couldn't imagine (nor did he want to) what effect it had on Remi.

"Rei knew," Arlo said, "He was the only one I told about any part of my life here."

The made people even more shocked. And Arlo was pretty sure he saw a few looks of hurt from Remi, Kuyo, and weirdly enough John.

Seriously, Arlo had told John he was a killer. Which, in retrospect,does seem like a big detail but it was going to get out anyway and Arlo had completely given up trying to hide his past.

He wasn't going to tell them, but if they asked he also would lie. He was generous like that.

Back to the point Arlo was trying to make. He'd told John a detail he wasn't hiding anymore. He was not going to spill his guts and tell John his life story.

John wasn't like Rei at all. And he was never going to be what Rei was for Arlo either.

No one would ever be like what Rei was for Arlo.

Arlo highly doubted he'd care about anyone as much as he did Rei, quite frankly.

Rei was his closest friend and his family. Nothing would change that.

He cared about Remi and Kuyo. But they weren't like Rei was.

They weren't convinced of Arlo's ability to be a good person like Rei was.

Arlo cared about Dazai. But Dazai was Dazai and all the feelings that came when Arlo thought about Dazai were complicated and thoroughly depressing.

Dazai was Arlo's family. However, Arlo's family (including Dazai) was evidently, very toxic.

Arlo hoped things would get better between them (only a little bit though) now that both of them were trying to be good.

But none of them were Rei.

Rei who saw Arlo's scars and never judged or pitied.

Rei who never pushed when Arlo didn't want to talk.

Rei who stuck by Arlo's side even after Arlo had told him everything about his time in Yokohama.

Who never was afraid of Arlo. Or angry at him.

Rei who was so utterly convinced that Arlo was good. That he could be good, even when Arlo (and the rest of the world) didn't believe it.

Rei who never hurt Arlo.

He helped heal him.

And then he died. And he left Arlo alone.

Arlo wouldn't ever get over Rei's death. How could he ever get over the death of the one person he cared most about?

But because he cared so much he knew he'd always protect Remi.

Because he cared he knew he'd never ever go back to being who he was.

He'd work to be good. Just like Rei thought he could be.

Arlo wasn't sure he was good yet. He'd still hurt so many people. Maybe not as bad as before but he did.

He'd failed Rei for much too long. But he was helping now.

He'd helped with the Safe House.

And even if Arlo didn't agree with Rei on a lot of things, he always did agree with one thing he'd said.

That life was always more beautiful when you help people.

Of course, when Arlo had spiraled after leaving Yokohama as well as after Rei's death, even when he did help people, his life felt anything but beautiful.

However, that was because at those times in his life, Arlo wanted nothing more than to be dead.

Being good only makes your life more beautiful when your goal is to keep living. He knew that better than most.

The others around him were talking to Dazai about their childhood together.

Arlo wasn't really listening. Although, in hindsight, he should've been.

Dazai has always had a knack for embarrassing Arlo. Especially in front of those Arlo did not want to be embarrassed in front of.

"Arlo always was a late bloomer. And a slow learner. When he was 12, he was 4'10 and took so long to pick up any school subjects. Our...guardian...definitely struggled."

Arlo glared at Dazai. Arlo never was a slow learner. Dazai just told people that. Arlo just never learned as fast as Dazai did. Which is part of the reason he took to Chuuya so much.

"Just because I didn't learn as crazy fast as you did, does not make me a slow learner," Arlo grumbled.

"I guess, but you were still really short. I guess you did grow, unlike some other people I could mention..."

"You are so annoying. I'm gonna find him and tell him you said this."

"Don't you dare, you piss for brains midget."

"Oh yeah? Watch me you suicidal fish fuck."

Dazai proceeded to yank Arlo's hair, and Arlo hit him hard in the head. Both of them fell over, and began doing what is commonly known as sibling wrestling.

Arlo vividly remembers kicking Dazai in the face, and having his hair very harshly ruffled.

He also remembers snapping at Isen and Seraphina for filming, before throwing pebbles at them.

Dazai really did bring out the worst in people.

Chapter Text

After Arlo absolutely wrecked Dazai in a makeshift wrestling match (Arlo was always better at combat than Dazai) they toured around the city.

They went to the famous museums and such and saw stuff that would be interesting if Arlo had not only already seen the whole city but also despise the city with almost every fiber of his being.

As they continued to walk, Arlo noticed something strange.

Arlo prided himself on many things. And one of those many things was his ability to observe Dazai.

So when he observed Dazai studying Remi with his eyes narrowed he knew he had to be concerned.

Because Dazai didn't narrow his eyes anymore. He kept them wide as shit, actually.

He only widened them when he sensed something was off.

"Dazai," Arlo said carefully, yanking him back by his tan coat collar.

"Ow! Arlo's so mean to me~," He complained, quietly.

"Why are you staring at Remi like that?"

Dazai nodded at the blue bracelet on her wrist then at the varsity jacket Remi wore.

The bracelet was barely visible but it was enough to make Arlo completely tense.

"She's not, that wouldn't make any sense," Arlo said turning to Dazai with an evident frown.

"Then why is she wearing their symbolic little bracelet? And where'd the jacket come from? Because I very vividly remember the skull embroidered varsity jackets orginial owner," Dazai said, lowly.

Arlo needed to be careful now. Was Remi insane? Wearing something like that around here.

"The hair. It's the same as hers," Arlo said after a long moment. "Don't suppose you could ask Chuuya?"

Dazai looked unamusedly at Arlo, "Maybe you really do have piss for brains. You may have grown but your brain obviously not."

Arlo hit him in the back of the head. It wasn't as hard as it normally would be.

Because it didn't make any sense at all.

He ran through the many reasons Remi would have either of those items.

Or how she even got them in the first place.

Arlo was under the impression that they were all dead. But hey! What did know?

Siblings wouldn't make sense. Because Rei would've said something. Right? Right?

The more Arlo thought about it, the more everything seemed to be so confusing.

Siblings made sense. But it had meant that both of them had kept that from Arlo.

Though, Arlo supposed that he'd kept a lot from Remi. But nothing from Rei.

He never kept anything from Rei. Rei invaded his darkness and solitude.

Rei saved him.

And then he died.

Arlo had warned him. That secrets and lies and violence ruined people. It killed them.

Rei had gotten killed because he got involved in violence.

But could part of the reason he was killed be because he was keeping secrets? Because he lied to everyone around him?

Was this the same fate Remi was going to meet. For indulging in secrets and lies and violence.

Arlo didn't want that. Not for Remi. He didn't want it for Rei either.

But they were too good. Too selfless.

But siblings were the only explanation.

Because why else would Remi be wearing the blue Sheep bracelet along with the varsity jacket that had belonged to Yuan all those years ago?

Chapter Text

Arlo made a point to talk to Remi the moment they got back to the place they were staying.

"Remi, a word," Arlo requested, as they walked in the door.

Remi seemed confused. As she should be, Arlo highly doubted she had any idea about the meaning behind the bracelet.

However, her ignorance was going to get her killed. The Sheep weren't the slum gang they used to be, even after GSS was almost destroyed.

They had proved themselves to be much more dangerous now. They'd gained ability users and weapons.

However, Arlo had learned they still spend quite a lot of time recruiting in the slums.

Evidently no match to the Port Mafia, but that didn't make them not dangerous.

Arlo and Remi move up to a room where Arlo knew they wouldn't be heard.

"Arlo is there something you need you been acting weird-"

Arlo cut her off. "Where'd you get that bracelet?" He asked, sharply.

Remi's face turned confused, before she pursed her lips. "What're you talking about?"

"I'm not playing this game with you, Pinky, where did it come from?"

Remi looked hurt. Arlo didn't mean to hurt her feelings. But he needed to know. Why? Why she had that.

She spoke quietly, "It was my sister's before she left. This and the jacket are the last things I have left of her. Rei was the one who embroidered the jacket."

Arlo felt his heart break ever so slightly for Remi. Remi who's lost both of her siblings.

"Remi, do you know what that bracelet means?" He asked, trying to be gentle.

Remi looked confused again now, traces of sadness still on her face. "No...?"

There was nothing Arlo could say that would explain it. He'd have to show her.

"Remi, put the bracelet where it won't be seen. I wanna show you something."

Remi still seemed confused but she listened.

Because Remi trusted Arlo. Just like Rei did.

Neither of them should have trusted him.

Arlo wasn't good. He was awful. He hurt everyone around him and they still kept forgiving. And forgiving. And forgiving.

They reloaded the gun that Arlo just could not seem to stop shooting.

Over.

And over.

And over again.

So Remi and Arlo left the house. It was dark by now.

It would've been a bad idea if she had gone with anyone else.

But Remi was with Arlo. And lord knows that reputations don't die easy.

So they walked. Remi didn't ask where they were going. But she told Arlo things. He didn't ask, but he listened anyway.

Remi talked about all the museums and music and good they'd had. She was so full of life. So good.

She was his friend. Arguably one of his only.

"Remi, your sister, her name was Yuan right?" Arlo spoke up.

Remi nodded. "Yeah. Our hair color was the same. I always thought she was so cool. And she'd sometimes bring her two friends around. And then Mom got a job in America and we could get out of the place we were in. I was around 6-7."

Arlo nodded. She didn't remember anything. Remi and Rei had lived right outside the Yokohama border for years until their mother could get them out.

Yuan found a way to sneak through the barrier. And she'd go to hang with the sheep.

The two friends she'd bring to the house were undoubtedly Chuuya and Shirase.

Shirase was a shithead. But Arlo didn't think Yuan was bad.

He didn't think she would've wanted to betray Chuuya.

Because she was Remi and Rei's sister. Big sister.

And that just wasn't something they did.

So Arlo led Remi to the slums. Remi saw them and gasped.

"What...what is this place?" She asked, softly.

"The slums," Arlo said, quietly, "Stick close, they won't touch you if they see you're with me."

Remi frowned slightly. "Why?"

Arlo's gaze shifted from the slums in front of him to Remi.

Arlo may have felt the urge to tell John the truth.

But he didn't tell him the full truth. And that was partially because Remi deserved to know first. As did Kuyo, arguably

Because Arlo cared for Remi more than anyone. He care for Kuyo more than almost anyone.

Arlo could care for John. Maybe he did. Arlo wasn't sure how he felt about all the Wellston students.

But he was sure that Remi and Kuyo were the two he cared for. The same way he'd once cared for others. Maybe he still cared for those others.

He wasn't sure. It had been too long for him to tell.

"Remi, look over there. At those people with bracelets like yours," Arlo muttered to her, softly.

Remi turned to look at the people. They looked to be in their twenties by now.

Arlo recognized one to be Shirase. He didn't recognize the other two. They had guns.

You could hear them threatening some poor kid.

"Arlo, we have to do something!" Remi cried out, softly, horrified as she looked at the small child.

She looked filthy and terrified. She couldn't have been more than 13.

"Just watch, the kid'll be fine," Arlo reassured, nodding at the pink haired girl who'd just stepped into view.

"Shirase, cut it out, she's a kid," Yuan demanded, stepping between the Sheep members and the young girl.

Remi's breath hitched, softly, but she didn't move.

She stared at Yuan. Remi wore her heart on her sleeve, but for the first time Arlo had quite a bit of difficulty figuring out what she was feeling.

"Don't be soft, Yuan," Shirase barked, condescendingly. "Your have you forgotten what happened last time?"

Yuan stood firm, frowning slightly, "Chuuya would never do something like that. Not to us," She said, fully believing what she was saying.

"She's a liability, Shirase," Said the other sheep member, with blue hair, casually, "You know what we do to liability's. Especially ones who support that traitor, Nakahara."

Shirase seemed to hesitate for the first time, which surprised Arlo, because he honestly wasn't sure Shirase had a damn braincell left.

Because, anyone who has half a damn brain cell knew Chuuya would never betray anyone.

Because Chuuya was loyal as a dog. He always has been.

It's why his relationship with Osamu is what it is. Because Chuuya is loyal and Osamu is a bastard.

Arlo wasn't sure how Dazai felt about Chuuya.

No one really was. But Arlo knew Chuuya had loved Osamu. Wholeheartedly trusted him as a partner and more.

Back to the point. Shirase is stupid.

And even though he hesitated. He still nodded, as he aimed the gun at Yuan.

This time, Arlo couldn't stop Remi from surging forward.

"Don't touch her," She shouted, electricity dancing across her fingers, as she practically tased Shirase with her hands.

Yuan grabbed Remi by the waist almost immediately (likely by reflex) and shoved her behind her back.

Yuan had always had a new ability. It was why she never used it. Because people with new abilities got experimented on once they fell into the wrong hands.

Arlo knew the experience all too well.

Arlo knew they couldn't find out about Yuan.

She couldn't have that happen to her.

So Arlo stepped in. "That's enough," He said, in a tone he hadn't used in years.

He let himself be who he was before.

The cold energy radiated off of him as the blood spilt on the ground swirled up and hardened into a sharp dagger.

Arlo twirled it in his fingers, his eyes taking on a more icy tint.

Normally they were pools. Today they were ice.

"You're that Port Mafia Assassin. Who left with the Demon Prodigy all those years ago," Shirase stated, trying to act confident and smug, "Did Chuuya get to be too much for you after you took him from us?"

Arlo smiled. But it didn't reach his eyes. It was cold and cruel.

He looked like Mori and it made him feel sick.

He didn't want to be like that man. Anyone but him.

"I've never been fond of people who insult the people I care for, you know? I've been told I'm quite protective. And mildly sadistic. It comes with the job," Arlo said, calmly, his eyes boring into Shirase's.

They were scared and it was obvious.

And no one does better with fear than a Port Mafia Executive, even if it was former.

"I'll give you 10 seconds to get out of my sight before I start painting the slums with your filthy blood," Arlo said.

Not threatened. Because Arlo didn't threaten. He told.

They almost immediately left. Thankfully so. Arlo didn't want to kill people any longer.

He wanted to change. To be good.

The moment Arlo couldn't see them any longer his executive attitude left, and he turned to look at Yuan and Remi.

The slum child was also long gone, as expected.

Remi looked concerned, a little frightened, and slightly worried. Yuan had an unhappy but understanding look on her face.

"Arlo, what was-," Remi began before she was cut off by Yuan.

"What on earth are you two doing here?" She asked, her big sister attitude shining through.

Remi had a stubborn set to her jaw as she crossed her arms, "I could ask you the same thing."

"Don't give me that, Remi, I'm a grown adult, you are barely 16, that is not the same thing."

Arlo raised an eyebrow, "She was walking around with a Sheep bracelet, there wasn't much else I could do to show her why she can't wear it."

Yuan shot Remi an exasperated look before rubbing her face with her hand tiredly.

"Where's Rei?" She asked, after a moment.

Arlo tensed.

She didn't know.

Remi but her lip and looked down.

"Why don't we all go somewhere and talk?" She suggested, softly.

Chapter Text

Arlo typically kept his emotions very very very hidden, but at that moment, he wasn't sure he'd be able to.

Yuan looked terrified as they sat on a random park bench, but Arlo suspected she already knew what they were going to say.

It didn't make it any easier to tell her.

"What happened to him?" She asks, her voice soft as it quivered slightly.

Remi opened her mouth to say something, but unfortunately she started crying before she could say anything.

"O-oh Yuan," She said quietly, through her tears, before trying to wipe her eyes.

Arlo watched as Yuan began to tear up, as she look desperately to Arlo.

"Tell me he's not- he can't be. Please, tell me he isn't-"

Arlo cut her off before she could feed into her hopes any further.

Because Arlo knew better than most nothing hurt worse than hope when it's taken away.

"He's dead. He was killed while out as a vigilante," Arlo spoke, his own voice shaking slightly as he said it.

"Rei's dead," He said, finally saying his name.

And with those words all the memories came back.

"Arlo, I want you to be good. I know you can be, you just gotta know you can be."

"Cmon Arlo, you aren't defined by things you were forced to do, don't be silly. Being silly is my job."

"Yknow, I was listening to Innocent by Taylor Swift earlier and I thought of you. You should give it a listen sometime."

Arlo did end up giving the song a listen. He'd understood almost immediately why it reminded Rei of him.

The gesture was touching. As was everything else that came out of Arlo's old mentor's (and friend) mouth.

Now, Remi wasn't the only one crying.

What people don't tell you is that memories aren't always happy little reminiscent moments.

They're weapons. Arlo will never be able to remember his times with Rei without feeling like he's been shot.

Because memories will always feel like weapons, no matter how happy they were.

Arlo wasn't the crying type. Lord knows tears weren't ever really a good idea in the environment Arlo had grown up in.

But still, he sat there in that bench, and felt tears silently roll down his face.

Much more tame than Remi or Yuan's tears, which he supposed was understandable seeing as Remi and Yuan had lost a brother. That and Remi tended to be more sensitive to things and Yuan had just found out.

"Do they know who did it?" Yuan asked, sniffling ever so softly.

Arlo pursed his lips, while Remi nodded.

"Ember did it. They killed Rei. That's why I'm working to stop them." She said, her voice quiet but fierce.

"Remi, I thought I told you to stop doing that. It isn't safe."

Remi tensed up, "It's easy for you to say that. You have no idea how it was. You just don't care about it. Nothing but your stupid hierarchy," She said, obviously hurt.

Those words felt like a stab to the gut.

Yuan stayed silent. Arlo assumed she knew not to get involved when she didn't have any idea what was happening.

"You think I don't understand how this feels-?" Arlo began.

Remi cut him off, both hurt and upset with Arlo, "How could you know how this feels? You have no family to lose. There wasn't any way you'd know what it was like to lose Rei," She said, her tears now flowing freely down her cheeks once again.

Arlo felt his whole body tense up.

Remi froze. Arlo didn't know what she was thinking at the moment.

But she was right anyway.

And the thought made Arlo feel totally numb.

"Arlo, I didn't mean-" Remi tried to fix her statement.

Because she was Remi. And no matter what she said, she'd always be good. A good person.

Better than Arlo could ever be and he knew it. Maybe that's why he didn't get mad.

Because he knew she was right. He wondered if deep down this was something Rei had thought.

To take pity on the boy with both everything and nothing.

Arlo cut Remi off though. He didn't want her to correct her statement because the statement was true.

Arlo had nobody. He wasn't sure if he ever really did.

Names flashed through his mind. Names of people he hadn't even seen in years.

Did they care? Did they? Arlo didn't know anymore.

"You're right, Remi, I couldn't ever understand, I'm clearly out of my element," Arlo said after a long moment, ignoring Remi's look of horror.

"Arlo, wait I-,"

Arlo ignored her once again, even after he heard her call out to him. Even after he heard Yuan call out too.

He just walked off. Somewhere. Anywhere. He wasn't really sure yet.

Arlo had completely failed. He'd hurt Remi. He didn't even mean to. But he did anyway.

Because that's what Arlo did. He hurt people. It didn't matter who it was.

Arlo doubted he could really do anything but hurt people.

He and Osamu were alike in that sense.

They hurt and they hurt and they hurt, whether it be themselves or someone else.

There was obvious culprit as to why they'd both turned out this way.

With too many scars to count, hidden beneath constantly layered shirts even when it was summer and bandages.

Arlo knew who'd made it so all he could do was hurt.

Who'd made him into a monster.

Who'd cut into his skin with the excuse that Arlo wasn't human and that he'd needed to know why he existed. How he existed.

Because people like Arlo didn't exist. They shouldn't exist.

Having both a new ability and an old ability wasn't supposed to be possible. But Arlo had both.

Why? Because he wasn't human. Or at least that's what he'd been told.

It was why all he did was hurt, no matter how hard he'd tried. Because in truth, he was a fake trying to fit in with the humans.

But he never really would. No matter what anyone said. Not Rei, or the others in his life.

Because even if they thought Arlo could be a good person. Thought he was human. It didn't matter all if Arlo didn't believe a damn word, now did it?

Arlo walked for god knows how long. And then he ran into someone he wasn't sure he'd ever see again.

"...Arlo?"

He turned around, his eyes widening in surprise at the sight of the person before him.

"Gin?!"

Chapter Text

Arlo was shocked. Startled. Surprised beyond measure. Absolutely flabbergasted to see Gin.

She was currently out of uniform, where a nice white dress, her long hair out of its regular spiky ponytail.

Her voice has hardened a little bit over time, but it was still very feminine and soft sounding.

Which, Arlo had always thought was perfect for infiltration because no one would ever suspect Gin when she was dressed like this.

She looked like an innocent and promising young woman.

Nothing like the girl Arlo knew.

No, the girl Arlo knew was either a cold blooded (and very talented) assassin or someone who acted like they'd been smoking way too much weed.

That was the girl Arlo had known. His best friend.

One of few people who'd actually known anything about him at all. She was actually the first person Arlo had ever come out to and vice versa.

"What're you doing here? You left 4 years ago," Said Gin, her eyes hardening to threaten Arlo because her voice wouldn't.

"School trip. I just...went on a walk," Arlo said, closing his eyes for a moment.

"Don't lie to me, Arlo, 4 years or not, I can still read you like a damn book," Gin said, raising an eyebrow at him.

Arlo pursed his lips before sighing.

He knew there was little point in lying to Gin. She just knew him too damn well. Maybe something's just don't change...

"It's a long story, have you got time?"

Gin nodded, slightly suspicious. So the two of them sat down in a random coffee shop (Gin ended up ordering for him because she refused to let him get a plain coffee).

Arlo's explanation went on for over an hour. At the very least.

But Gin listened, nodding along and adding little comments here and there.

And it was nice to get it off his chest.

There were people at Wellston who Arlo cared about. Or at least he thought he cared about them, sometimes he wasn't sure (especially during the Joker incident. No one who cared for them would've done what Arlo had). But he'd never talked to them about anything.

He didn't really trust them either. Though, given Arlo's background it wasn't surprising.

But he knew he cared for Gin. He'd never hurt Gin that he can even remember.

Gin was his closest friend. The only person from Wellston who he'd cared about like that was Rei.

So when Arlo finished his very long explanation (rant) about what happened Gin just stared him down for a long moment before speaking again.

"Did you seriously leave the mafia without a word for that?" She said, slightly astounded and confused.

But not offended that he could see which was good.

He'd assumed Gin had understood why he left. She'd known about his wish to someday do something good and get away from some of the people there.

"Evidently, it was not my best decision. I was just trying to..leave..."

Gin snorted, softly.

Arlo felt lighter now that he'd talked to Gin. "So, how's everything been here? Did I miss anything interesting?" He asked.

Gin's eyes took on a more mischievous glint as she nodded quickly.

"Oh you missed so much."

"...they got worse didn't they?" Arlo said, disappointed in said people's density.

Gin nodded, solemnly, "So much worse. They're so bad even Ryuunosuke noticed."

"That bad??? I thought Osamu leaving would help get his head out of his ass," Arlo said, shaking his head.

"Yeah, so did I, but it got so much worse."

And then Gin launched into a very long explanation of multiple events. The first being when Dazai was caught by the mafia.

Arlo was thoroughly disappointed in Chuuya.

Osamu has always been an idiot, but he'd had at least a bit of faith in Chuuya.

She then went on an even longer explanation about the night Soukoku reunited as a front.

It was honestly depressing to hear. How does one get so unbelievably dense.

After Gin explained the gifted suicide attacks, Arlo thought he might just cry.

"I am convinced that theyve fucked at least once too," Gin said, shaking her head in a mix of irritation and disappointment.

"And now, Ryuu's got some similar nonsense going on with this weretiger boy," Gin added, "He's Dazai's new mentee."

Arlo pursed his lips. He's always looked up to Akutagawa (not that he'd ever tell the man).

Osamu had used to say Arlo had a crush on him. It was not true. Arlo doesn't think he's ever had a crush on anyone in his life.

And he'd like to keep it that way. Love is terrifying.

Arlo raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue explaining. And she did.

By the end of it, Arlo groaned very loudly.

Arlo was completely convinced that there was no one on earth who are denser that those four.

Absolutely ridiculous.

Arlo and Gin did end up shanging out the rest of the day, both wandering and talking (shit).

Arlo felt his phone buzz multiple times. So he put it on do not disturb.

His peers would live. He honestly couldn't care less if he didn't talk to them for the rest of the month at that point.

And besides, it isn't everyday you reunite with your bestfriend who you haven't seen (abandoned) four years ago, now is it?

Chapter Text

Arlo was boycotting Wellston and everyone in the agency for the sole reason being he is sick and tired of them.

So. He stuck with Gin. Not that Gin cared. She'd said they had a lot of missed time to make up on.

And that Chuuya had become even more maternal since he left (which was both surprising and somewhat scary) and that the moment he saw Arlo, he'd kill him and then go all 'mom' on him.

However, Arlo didn't mind much, seeing as he's lacked any sort of parental figures since he left he mafia (ironic huh?).

He was a little scared to meet Kouyou. She was going to absolutely slaughter him.

Gin had been taunting him about it the entire day.

"Hey Arlo, what if you just...don't go back to your group for a bit?" Gin said, after a moment. "I know you were gonna go back like tomorrow morning, but what if you just..."

"Didn't?" Arlo said, finishing her sentence.

Gin nodded. "It's been four years, I think I need at least a week to make up for all our lost time, yeah?"

"If I'm lucky, you'll get two before they track me down," Arlo said, with a shrug, "I don't really wanna go back anyway."

Gin nodded again, a hint of a smile on her face.

A very loud (and mildly obnoxious) cough was made a few feet away.

Arlo looked up and knew he was screwed the moment he saw Chuuya Nakahara standing in front of him with his arms crossed.

"...heyyyy Chuuyaaaa..." Arlo said, a pained expression on his face.

Chuuya glared at him. "4 fucking years I worried about your sorry ass and the first thing you have to say is fuckinf 'HeY cHuUyA?"

Arlo grimaced, "I missed you more than I missed Osamu???"

Chuuya huffed, hitting Arlo in the head with the palm of his hand.

It was a light hit for Chuuya, so it wasn't that bad, but it did still kind of hurt.

"Do you still take your meds? Are you doing well in school? Are you fucking around after abandoning everyone?" Chuuya listed off many more questions, half of them having subtle digs at Arlo (which he probably deserved, but whatever).

"And when was the last time you slept or ate a decent fucking meal? You look like shit," Chuuya chided, aggressively.

Arlo opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by Gin, "He told me he hasn't slept more than 3 hours in over a week and hasn't been eating full meals even though he should," She rattled.

Arlo glared at her, "I told you that in confidence."

Gin just shrugged, as Chuuya hauled Arlo up by his arm. They probably looked quite silly, as Chuuya is 5 foot 3 and Arlo's over 6 foot.

However, he chose not to comment because Chuuya can and will kick his ass.

Gin really was right about Chuuya being like a mother. Except the kind of mom who was a very very aggressive and constantly talked shit about their ex-husband who happened to have split custody.

The ex-husband in question who had split custody over one kid, full custody over another kid, and no custody over the other 4 was Dazai.

The kid Dazai had full custody over was Kyouka. And the 4 he didn't were Gin, Elise, Akutagawa, and Q. Arlo (unfortunately) was the one who Chuuya and Dazai had split custody over.

Arlo had corrected the family dynamic once he heard about Kyouka and her situation. He'd decided that Kenji was the kid Dazai had with his new partner, Kunikida.

Yes, Arlo was very aware that Kunikida had no interest in Osamu. Or anyone for that matter. But Chuuya being Osamu's old partner and Kunikida being the new one it just made sense for the family dynamic Arlo and Gin had come up with.

Chuuya had forcefully dragged both Arlo and Gin to a weirdly fancy restaurant that Arlo had never been to in his life.

As expected, Chuuya did in fact go on quite a long tangent about Osamu.

Arlo and Gin just shared a look of knowing.

"Don't look at eachother like that, don't think I don't fucking know it's about me," Chuuya grumbled.

Arlo snorted into his drink, before hiding his amusement by taking a long sip. It was alcoholic but after these past few days, Arlo deserved it.

And Chuuya honestly didn't care that much seeing as Arlo would be 18 in a few months.

And Arlo had done far worse.

Gin, however, got some weird baby pink cocktail with foam.

Arlo did steal some of it. It tasted like glitter and alcohol and Arlo was a little scared

But she seemed to enjoy it so whatever. If she choked on the sparkles and died that was her own fault.

"So...how's being painstakingly normal going?" Asked Chuuya, his tone slightly mocking.

Arlo made a face at him, "At the rate it's going, I might just stay in Yokohama," he grumbled.

Which, in all honesty, Arlo was considering it. He wouldn't go back to the mafia, no of course not, but he'd stay in Yokohama.

He'd stay near the people he honestly felt he belonged with.

Because even if Remi and the others had connections to Yokohama, they weren't like Arlo, and they didn't understand.

How could they? But Gin and Chuuya and all them understood. Hell, even Osamu understood.

"You didn't tell me that part," Gin said, side eyeing Arlo.

"Why? I thought you left to go frolic in the flower fields of goodness?" Chuuya said, sarcastically.

Arlo made a face at him, "They're mostly assholes anyway. And none of them know about me at all so it's kinda suffocating."

Chuuya nodded, "I can imagine. I would've thought you'd join that detective agency with the shitty bastard."

Arlo pursed his lips, "I didn't even know that was an option."

Chuuya grumbled something under his breath. "Dazai's a fucking shithead, I'd just ignore him. See anyone else yet?"

Arlo shook his head, "No, just you two and the agency."

Chuuya nodded, taking a long sip of wine. "You're not going back to your hotel for the night, are you?" He said, raising an eyebrow.

Arlo looked away, "I am not."

"Right, so you're with me then. I won't tell...him that you're here." Chuuya was careful not to say Mori's name.

Arlo was grateful for that. Chuuya had understood everything Arlo had gone through better than anyone.

Because when it came down to it, Chuuya and Arlo weren't that different.

That night and for multiple continuous days, Arlo led his Wellston group to believe he'd completely disappeared and stayed with Chuuya because he just didn't wanna go back.

Chuuya honestly didn't care at all. Arlo actually thought he enjoyed the company. And Arlo, Chuuya, and Gin always had someone to talk shit about.

It's a hobby and Arlo honestly missed it.

Maybe he would stay in Yokohama now.

Chapter Text

Arlo was honestly doing way better now that he'd pretty much abandoned all the people at Wellston (they'd get used to it) for Chuuya and Gin.

Along the way he'd also met Akutagawa and he'd joined the group. Arlo and Gin had decided that this was 'Moms' side of the family.

Arlo had yet to see Kouyou, Hirotsu, and Tachihara.

He did want to see the three of them. The first two in particular, seeing as they were really the only stable adults he'd ever had in his life (Arlo loved Chuuya, but the man had wayyy to much going on to ever be considered stable. He also wasn't an adult at the time Arlo was in the mafia either). Hirotsu was the most stable adult, as Kouyou did have her moments, but that was completely beside the point.

Point is, he wanted to see the aunt and grandfather of the weird family Gin and him had put together.

Unfortunately, he ran into the deemed 'whore father, stepdad, and stepbrother' along with the rest of the agency and the Wellston students.

The rest of the agency probably fit into the family dynamic somehow but Gin and Arlo has decided that was too tedious to do for people they didn't know at all.

"Arlo! Where have you been, it's been days?!" Remi said, evidently worried about him despite their previous fight.

Gin, who was now in a pair of expensive black pants, a red silky blouse and the black trench coat that she'd stolen from Arlo (it was way to big for her but Gin loved to steal from Arlo and Akutagawa both) glared very viciously at Remi.

Arlo just shrugged, "Visiting my favorite side of the family."

Dazai scoffed, "How am I not part of the favorites? I practically raised you."

"Exactly why you aren't the favorite. Besides, you're the whore father. Gin and I discussed this the other day," Arlo retorted.

Dazai scoffed dramatically again. Chuuya looked like he wanted to throw himself at Dazai. Or a knife. You never really knew with those two.

"You can't just fucking leave the group for days and not say anything. Did you ever consider that we worried about where you were?" John snapped, looking quite ticked off.

Arlo raised an eyebrow, "Well yes, but I did. And if I remember correctly you don't like me and neither does Seraphina, Blyke and Isen don't care much either way, Remi's mad at me, I don't know your dad,  and Osamu would never worry about anything, let alone me. So really the only person who I owe an apology to is Kuyo."

Gin snickered from behind him. That earned her quite a few dirty looks from the Wellston bunch.

"I was upset, that doesn't mean I wasn't worried," Remi replied, looking hurt. As did everyone else. Except for Kuyo and Osamu.

Osamu looked amused (per usual) and Kuyo looked flattered but in a Kuyo way.

"As much as I hate to interrupt this little angst session, I just can't wait to introduce you to these very lovely Port Mafia members~," Dazai said, innocently.

Arlo was going to punch him.

Arlo watched Blyke tense up fully, earning him a questioning look.

Looks like someone else was hiding stuff. This is like a club, at this point.

"This is Chibi or Slug, take your pick I don't care, Gin, and you already know Blondie over here."

"I don't work for the Port Mafia," Arlo says, plainly. The anymore goes unsaid.

"And thank god for that, huh? Can't imagine the damage you'd do if you did," Dazai said, unhelpfully.

"Piss off, you bastard," Chuuya snapped.

"This is why you're the whore father," Gin said, shaking her head at Dazai. "You're also deadbeat for half your kids."

"In other words," Arlo said, "You suck."

"Wowwwwww."

Chapter Text

They go to dinner.

It was the stupidest idea ever I'm existence but Arlo did not want to fight Kunikida (specs) on it.

Besides, who ever willingly talks to their step-mother when they're a mama's boy (Gin's words not him).

Arlo, unfortunately, was forced to carry Gin because she didn't want to.

John kept shooting the two of them weird looks and Arlo had no idea why.

So, they sat at dinner.

And, to make things better, Kouyou, Tachihara, and Akutagawa joined the table.

So, it was Tachi, Aku, Gin, Chuuya, Kouyou, Arlo, Specs, Weretiger, Dazai, John, Johns Dad (who looked weirdly familiar for unknown reasons), Remi, Blyke, Isen, Seraphina, and Kuyo at one table.

It was hell.

There was a lot of chatter from every direction.

Remi tried multiple times to talk to Arlo, to most likely apologize.

Arlo ignored her.

"Hey Arlo, how did you, uh, meet these guys? Since they're in the mafia and all," Blyke asks, seeming somewhat hesitant.

Chuuya raises an eyebrow at Blyke and then Arlo, looking up from his menu.

Gin and Tachihara both just snort, and Kouyou and Akutagawa both audibly sigh.

Everyone stopped talking to look at Arlo.

"Yeah, Arlo, how did you meet them?" Dazai taunted.

Arlo glared at him.

Bastard.

At that moment, Arlo was saved by Hirotsu. "I hope I'm not too late. I would hate to miss this...reunion."

Gin nodded, "It's a family reunion. You're the grandpa. And Arlo is your favorite grandchild."

Arlo made a face, "I thought Dazai was the favorite."

"Not after the divorce."

"Ooooh ok, thanks gramps, I appreciate being the favorite."

Hirotsu nods, "You were always less of a problematic child than Dazai was. Though, the stunt you pulled the day of Dazai's birthday was certainly something."

"Pink is just Mori's color, grandpa, I don't know what you want me to say," Arlo said, with an elegant shrug.

"Oh my god, you didn't lose anything Kouyou taught you, did you?!" Dazai accused, laughing softly.

"You could do with some manners, you fish-faced buffoon, this is why Chuuya has full custody!" Arlo shot back.

"Full custody?! Full custody?! Chibi what is he talking about, we agreed to split custody for Arlo!!!" Dazai said, incredulously.

Chuuya glared at him, "I didn't agree to jackshit, I've got full custody of all our kids miss, you deadbeat mackerel!!"

"Deadbeat??? Me? Never. You're delusional," Dazai retorted.

The waiter walked over, Johns Dad, who's name Arlo learned is William gave her a polite smile, "I think we'll need a few minutes, you know how reunions go," he said.

If he found anything that was being strange, he was awfully good at hiding it.

William.

William Doe.

Arlo's eyes widened in surprise.

He tapped Gin on the shoulder and nodded at William, "That's William fucking Doe. The one in the photo that Mori wouldn't shut up about."

Gin leaned her chair back on its back legs and looked at William. "Holy shit."

"Ryuunosuke. Ryuu. Ryuu, look, you dying Victorian child," Gin hissed at Akutagawa.

Akutagawa turned to look as did Kouyou. Both had more reserved 'Oh shit' reactions.

"Does the boss know?" Kouyou mouthed, which caught Chuuya's attention because she covered her mouth so only half the table (the mafia side) could see.

Chuuya hit Tachihara on the shoulder and nodded at William.

"Holy fucking Shit, you're William Doe!" Tachihara exclaimed, absolutely flabbergasted.

All the Wellston kids stopped talking and looked at Tachihara, who'd clamped a hand over his mouth.

"...uh, do I know you?" Asked William.

Kouyou cleared her throat, "Tachihara here," she glared at Tachihara as she spoke, "Read your book. He's a big fan."

John and William both frowned, "Are you sure you can talk about this here?"

Everyone besides the Wellston crew made a confused face.

Arlo cleared his throat. "UnOrdinary is a banned book in the US due to its themes of promoting rebellion against the system and government'."

Tachihara, Chuuya, Atsushi, and Kunikida all frowned.

"I'm sure Arlo was happy about that," Seraphina said, flatly.

Gin made a face, "What are you talking about? Arlo's the one who bought me my copy of UnOrdinary."

John choked on his water and was hit on the back by Isen harder then necessary

"What?!" Was the very intelligent collective response of all the Wellston students.

Dazai snorted, "Everyone in the mafia's read and enjoyed UnOrdinary. It was very popular, here, actually, especially when Arlo and I were still in the mafia years back."

Arlo nodded.

"Arlo was in the Port Mafia?" Seraphina said, both shocked and confused.

"...you didn't know???" Akutagawa said. "He was one of our top members, despite being so young."

"And people liked me more than they like Dazai, so ha," Arlo added.

Dazai stuck out his tongue, "Just jealous that I was better than you."

"Piss off."

"Why didn't you tell us??" Remi asked at the same time John asked why he was such a dick then.

Hirotsu chuckled softly, "I'm afraid that's just what happens when you grow up in the Port Mafia."

Dazai nodded, "I'm convinced the old boss was his dad or something."

Arlo rolled his eyes, "That makes no sense and you know it."

"Yknow what makes no sense? Why Chibi over there has sole custody of all of our kids!"

Arlo sighed,

"Sorry guys, this is the first family reunion we've had in over 4 years," Gin said, apologetically.

"Can you explain the drama to me? I can't enjoy it if I don't know what's going on," Seraphina said, after a long moment.

"I've been waiting for someone to ask that."

And with that, Gin went on a very long and detailed description of the whole family dynamic and how it got to this point.

Arlo, who by now was an expert at tuning out yelling and any kind of talking, turned to John, who looked like he was feeling a lot of things at once.

"You like Yokohama?" Arlo asked, not really knowing what else to say.

A fork soared in front of Arlo's face and right at Dazai.

Arlo ignored it. John did not. "What the actual fuck-?"

"Hey Arlo, is this where you got your love of forks from?" Asked Blyke, leaning back and anyway from his spot next to Dazai

Arlo raised an eyebrow and twirled his own fork between his fingers, "Wouldn't you like to know, weatherboy,"

"OHMYGODARLODIDYOUJUST-"

Chapter Text

Arlo leaned his chair on its back to legs and watched as Chuuya got ready to throttle Dazai and or fight Kunikida.

"Why're you fighting me?!?!? Shouldn't you be questioning Arlo on is his new boyfriend or something?! You're his mom!" Dazai, the absolute bastard cried out gesturing at Arlo and John.

The whole table erupted in gasps, Kouyou looking at Arlo absolutely horrified.

"Of all the boys you chose this is him? Doe's son, Arlo have you lost your mind!?" Kouyou said, incredulously.

Seeing as William Doe was quite infamous in the underworld, what she was saying wasn't entirely unreasonable but also mildly ironic.

"I thought those two were dating?!" John said, gesturing at Arlo and Gin.

Gin gagged loudly, and the both of them yelled at the same time "I'm gay!!!"

This, apparently, was a very shocking fact, as the entirety of the Wellston group was absolutely flabbergasted.

"He's just like his mother," Dazai said, unhelpfully.

Arlo slammed his hand on the table, jabbing his finger at Dazai, "Oh shut up your piece of shit like you haven't been in love with Chuuya since the moment you first saw him 7 years ago!"

"This is slander!!! I would never love that slug!"

Kouyou scoffed, "I wouldn't have had that conversation with you all those years ago if I didn't think you both held affections for eachother," She said.

Chuuya turned beet red, "Both?! I hate that stupid fish what are you talking about?!!?!"

Kouyou just looked at him, "Denial isn't a good look, lad."

Dazai had also turned bright red.

"You two have literally fucked multiple times and we all know it, how is the fact that you're gay for eachother so surprising?" Asked Tachihara.

"Amen to that," Said Gin, holding up her drink and toasting with Arlo.

Arlo snorted taking along sip of wine before flagging down the waiter (politely, he's not a barbarian).

"Can I get a bottle of your strongest alcohol please? Doesn't matter the kind."

Gin raised an eyebrow, "Drunk?"

"Blackout."

"Fun."

And Arlo, sticking true to his word, was deadset on getting wasted.

Unfortunately the service for a party as big as there was slower.

"OH SHUT YOUR MOUTH YOU GINGER MIDGET, YOURE JUST AS TACKY AS YOUR HATS."

"MY HATS ARE NOT TACKY!!!"

Arlo massaged his temples, draining his drink.

Hirotsu sighed softly, striking up a conversation with some of the Wellston group.

"So I here your school runs quite differently to the schools here. I'm quite curious, please explain them."

Blyke, looking thankful for a change in topic, launches into a very in depth explanation about the hierarchy system.

Arlo did not care.

"This is so fucking boring," John complained under his breath.

Arlo nodded in agreement, a feat he didn't think he'd manage to do any time soon.

"This is just as bad as executive meetings," Arlo groaned.

"I wouldn't know, I didn't even know the port mafia existed until a day ago," John said, making a face at Arlo.

Arlo shrugged, "I would've told you if you asked."

"That is such bullshit."

"Honesty is a virtue," Arlo replied, refilling his glass.

"Well you are far from a saint," Gin interjected.

Arlo snorted, "Sharp as a marble, aren't you?"

"You couldn't pour water out of a boot with instructions on the damn heel."

"How long did it take you to come up with that one?"

"I am going to boil your teeth."

"Well, the wheels definitely spinning. Unfortunately, the hamster is dead."

Arlo and Gin burst into laughter, drawing the attention from the rest of the table.

"Well it's good to see you two getting along after so long," Kouyou commented.

"Gin couldn't hate me if she tried," Arlo said, dismissively, definitely a bit tipsy.

"I did not try," Gin added, before raising her glass.

"A toast to Arlo, maybe he'll actually do what he said he would and stay!"

Arlo very rarely sees Seraphina and John shocked. However, their faces were absolutely caught off guard.

As Arlo glanced at Blyke, Remi, Isen's, Seraphina, and John's faces. And then Kuyo's, Arlo thought they almost looked betrayed.

Arlo frowned and turned away. They were betrayed?

They didn't know the meaning of the word.

Arlo, drained his 5th glass of alcohol. It burned. His face felt hot and he felt a little woozy.

Chuuya hadn't even started his second glass yet.

He looked at Arlo concerned.

Dazai raised an eyebrow.

Arlo wanted to break something.

This did not bode well.

Chapter Text

John's glass shattered after a long moment, glass cutting his palm.

Arlo wasn't sure how it happened, but the Wellston Students were are giving strange looks towards Arlo's friends.

His family.

Arlo frowned. Gin flinched.

'Are you ok?' He mouthed at Gin.

Gin barely nods, playing with her glass.

Arlo pursed his lips and leaned back in his chair.

"So, Arlo, you're staying in...Yokohama huh?" Seraphina comments, twirling her fork in her hand.

Arlo takes a sip of water, seeing as he was out of alcohol. "I was thinking of staying. Why? You wouldn't happen to have a problem with it, would you?"

The question sounded innocent enough, but everyone at the table knew it wasn't. Anyone who knew Arlo well knew that Seraphina's answer would help solidify Arlo's want to stay.

And anyone who knew Arlo knew he wanted to stay in Yokohama. This is where he belonged. He knew that. He wasn't particularly close with any Wellston students. He wasn't really sure they really liked him either.

No effort was made on either part for a good friendship. Arlo didn't think he cared for them the same way he cared about the people he knew here in Yokohama.

After all. He grew up here. He was only at Wellston for highschool.

Chances were after this year he'd never see most of them again.

"Why'd you leave us?! We're you're friends. You're one of us, you're part of Wellston, why would any of us want you to leave?!" Remi exclaimed before Seraphina responded.

Dazai's lips curved into a cruel smirk, "And yet you know so little about Arlo. Tell me, pinky, where was he raised? When's his birthday, his favorite food, his ability, and who is his family?"

Dazai asked questions that seemed simple. Remi and John and all the others think they know the answer.

Arlo was almost sure they didn't.

"He was raised in Yokohama with his parents, his birthdays January 8th, he doesn't have a favorite food, his ability is barriers, and he's got his parents and his aunt Valerie."

Chuuya scoffed loudly, "That's not even his fucking birthday."

Remi opened her mouth to respond and then shut it.

John and Isen  both paled and Kuyo just looked down.

"Well, how would we know them? That's what he told us, and we believed him. How is it our fault?" Blyke retorted.

"Lad, it is an obvious statement of distrust. We all know the correct answers," Kouyou replies elegantly.

Everyone looked at Arlo expectantly. Arlo, personally, had had way too much alcohol to deal with this.

"My Birthdays the same day as Dazai's, which is in June..?" Arlo says, not really sure what they wanted him to say.

"Twinsies!!" Dazai said, with fake cheer, "And you and I grew up together in the slums and then the mafia, and your favorite food is the stir-fry Chuuya used to make, and your actual ability is Masque of the Red Death, but your Aunt made you an experiment and gave you her ability to test out her serums, and I'm his brother and the only family that matters!!"

The whole table was stunned into silence until Gin made a comment, "Chuuya's stir fry is really really good."

Chuuya snorted, "Thank you, Gin."

"Arlo, do you not like us?" Asked Isen, after a long moment.

Arlo but his lip, thinking about the question, "I don't...dislike you, but you never seemed to care for me the same way you did for eachother. You had eachother, I had my family and friends here."

"We didn't do that because we didn't like you the same, Arlo," Remi insisted.

Arlo raised an eyebrow, "Perhaps you didn't, but that can only be said for you. My actions would've never been excused by you all if you didn't realize I had some tragic ass backstory. You would've continued to hate me lest I kept my mouth shut about the shit I've been through. It's pathetic."

Seraphina made a face, "You were a jackass but we forgave you way before you told us anything."

"No, Seraphina," Arlo said with a dry smile, "You didn't."

The rest of the table stayed silent until Chuuya paid the bill and everyone left. Arlo left with Dazai. He didn't say a word to Seraphina, Kuyo, John, William, Isen, Blyke, or Remi.

They didn't say anything to him. They had eachother. Arlo had the mafia.

They were on opposite sides. A friendship between him and them was never to work out.

Arlo should've known that long ago. He was never meant to be good anyway.

So here he'd stay, with his home and people with him. And when he thinks of tomorrow, there they are.

The Wellston students he'd once dared to call friends would return home. And then they'd forget about Arlo and any kind of relationship they may have had together.

This was for the best.