Chapter Text
Part of him knew the next mission he was going on was going to be different. He always had the adept ability to understand a slight shift in basically anything. This shift was a shift in tone, not one he wasn’t used to but one he recognized. Mori was planning something, just based on how he was acting. Another reason he knew this is because Mori let him wander today. Mori doesn’t let him wander unless Dazai was going to have to do something he didn't want to.
Dazai groans he’s undeniably extremely bored. He could push down the boredom when there was nothing to do but be bored or work but now that he could do anything but those two, he needed to do something. That’s what he was doing now, going to find Oda Sakunoske. Dazai liked to go find him whenever he was bored, which as mentioned, was often but it was less often that Mori let him off his short leash. Mori liked to keep him close, for a multitude of reasons, none of which Dazai much cared for. ‘Oh well!’ He thought he'll worry about Mori later.
It wasn’t much longer until he found the place he was looking for, “Sakuno~” Dazai sing-songed into the dark alley. Dazai has been trying to convince the man to let Dazai call him Odasaku, to no avail. So he decided to shorten his last name instead. No one answered his call into the dark, however he knew Sakuno was there. Dazai states as much, “I know you’re here, you can’t hide from everyone, Sakunooooo.”
He hears a sigh and Sakuno appears in front of him a few moments later, “Everyone but you it seems. You always manage to find me no matter where I go.”
“It’s part of my charm!” Dazai exclaims in fake cheer.
“I still can’t figure out how you keep doing it,” Sakuno replies.
“One of my many mysteries!” Dazai smiles.
Sakuno eyes him, “You seem to be being a lot less careful about being spotted than usual.” Sakuno knows how close Mori likes to keep his prodigy, Dazai sneaks out to see him at times.
“Mori-san let me leave! Can you believe that?” Sakuno shakes his head slightly and Dazai ignores him, “You have a job soon don’t you? I wanted to see you before you left anyway!”
“There is no possible way that I know to explain how you could have found that out.”
“Well I did~”
“Should I be worried that others will find out too?” Sakuno knows Dazai is smart and wouldn’t let information like that out on purpose-or at all- but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
“Of course not! I have my ways to find stuff out, non traceable of course.” Dazai smiles, it seems almost real. Most wouldn’t tell that it was fake, Dazai’s eyes are a dead give away if you know what you’re looking for. And Sakuno does, he knows that Dazai’s eyes are a vacant void.
Dazai changes topic, “Ughh, I just know I’m going to have to do a mission I’ll hate. I can feel it! It’s going to be the worst if Mori-san is anything to judge by. He’s acting like I’m going to leave him forever!” Dazai shifted uncomfortably at his last sentence. He hoped Sakuno didn’t see it. Dazai’s not supposed to have emotions others can pick up on but he probably did, that man doesn’t miss much.
Sakuno frowns-he definitely saw it then, Dazai decides-he says, “Sounds like it’s a lot for you.”
They both know he’s not talking about the probable mission. Sakuno does know the bare minimum of what goes on with Dazai and Mori, most he has to figure out on his own. The little he knows-not on assumption-is the few times Dazai slips up in his words or actions, which doesn't happen often. Even with how young Dazai is, he's smart and calculated and damn good at hiding his emotions and reactions.
Most would call it an inhuman amount of control, Dazai would agree, Sakuno would not.
Dazai stares at Sakuno, smile dropped and eyes eating up all the light, he doesn’t answer as he stares off into some unknown place. Sakuno sighs, “Well, I was just about to get some food, would you like to join?”
Dazai seems to snap out of whatever trance he was in and shakes his head, “Sorry Sakuno! I can’t stay any longer or Mori-san might get mad~” That was only partly true, they both know it, Dazai just doesn’t want to eat. Before Sakuno can reply Dazai turns on his heels and raises his arm in a wave as he walks away, “Bye Odasaku~” He disappears a moment later around the corner.
Sakuno doesn’t follow.
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The car ride to Musutafu was dreadful and so long. Dazai actually slept because he was so bored! Dazai doesn’t really sleep, his sleeping was more or ‘stare into space for an hour’. The only good thing Dazai got out of this ride is that he didn’t have to sit by Mori. The downside is that he still had no idea what was going on or what game Mori was playing. All he knew is that they were going to a city crawling with heroes and that Dazai had a part to play.
They got to their destination, it looked like a hotel. ‘Mori was still keeping secret why they were here then’ Dazai thought. The car they rode in drove away and Mori put a hand on Dazai’s head causing him to stiffen slightly.
“Why don’t you go explore a bit Dazai-kun? I can get our stuff settled into our room.” That’s unnecessary, Dazai knows someone already brought their bags up. However, if Mori was letting him leave and not having to stay in the same room as him… he’ll take it. Dazai nods in thanks and turns on his heels to leave, Mori removes the hand from his brown hair. “Be careful Dazai-kun, the suns already starting to set,” Mori calls after Dazai. Dazai just waves his hand in acknowledgment not wanting to talk to the man any further.
It didn’t take long for night to fall and Dazai’s still not sure why Mori let him leave, he can only assume it's a part of some scheme Mori neglected to tell him about, it usually was. As he walks down the streets he notices a figure perched on the roof, he spares a glance, but making it look natural like he was looking at the area all around so the figure didn't know he knew that they were there. He wasn’t able to get a great look but a flash of yellow, and what looked to be a scarf caught his attention.
Pro-hero Eraserhead, Dazai guessed. How intriguing. He knew all the heroes and underground heroes, Mori made him memorize their names and faces before they left. He wondered what Mori was up to, this cant have been completely accidental. Dazai continued to act like nothing was amiss and continued walking, he could practically feel the waves of curiosity and possible concern towards the bandaged boy from Eraserhead. It wasn’t hard to notice, by how intensely the hero seemed to be looking at him. It was usually the reaction Dazai got so he could guess this hero would be the same.
Not a minute later a voice calls for him, “Tsushima-kun! Come back.” Mori’s voice, Dazai stiffened at his old name. He hasn’t used that name since he met Mori. Only Mori knows him by that name. ‘Why would he use that name?’ Dazai realized he tensed up and quickly schools himself, there is a reason, he just doesn't know yet because Mori doesn’t tell him anything. On top of that Mori let him leave for barely fifteen minutes before retrieving him. He most definitely knew about the hero not too far off. Dazai turns to look at the man.
Mori gave the quickest of glances up towards where Eraser was, telling Dazai that he indeed knew he was there, and that Dazai needs to play a part of some kind. It would have been much easier if Mori had told him beforehand but Mori liked to play games. More like chess, Mori liked to play chess, and Dazai was his favorite pawn. Mori grabbed his wrist rather roughly and started pulling, saying,
“Come on now, you can’t run away like that.” Ah, now Dazai understood what role he was supposed to play and started half-heartedly struggling against the grip. He said a few comments like: “I don’t want to,” they were said in a saddened way with a hint of fear at the edge but Dazai didn’t shout or struggle too much. It was just to the point that Eraser would get concerned and end up following them to make sure Dazai was okay, if he didn’t want to intervene already. Mori gave an approving squeeze of Dazai’s wrist, telling him that he’s playing the role just fine. Dazai suppressed a smile, this was too easy.
When Mori dragged him so Dazai was next to the man, Dazai hissed under his breath, “What the hell is this Mission, Mori?”
Mori only smiled in return, “Information gathering of course!”
That didn’t tell Dazai shit. Before could say as much, Mori's hand loosened its grip and Dazai bolted immediately. Damn Mori and his game of chess, and damn himself for playing the game and running. Dazai signed but continued his sprint away, Mori making a half-hearted attempt to follow. Dazai ran and eventually ran into someone and he nearly tumbled backwards. He looked up at the figure who held concern in his eyes. It was no other than Pro-Hero Eraserhead!