Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Ranpo has forgotten how long he's been here. He's slowly starting to think that going out today might have been a bad idea. 

'Listen, bud.' he speaks in a stern tone. 'I don't have all day. And I don't have what you need anyway. So just let me go.'

But the familiar in front of him is persistent as it holds a paper with something written on it in front of him. 

'Bud, I already told you, I can't read that stuff!' Ranpo angrily points at it. He's tempted to grab it and throw it away, but he's a bit scared that that might anger the familiar. 'Now move, or I'll...'

The familiar responds with a mocking sound, as if it knows that Ranpo can't do anything to realize that threat. Ranpo growls.

'We can make this short or long. You're the one who chose the long way.'

'Not today!'

A flash descends down on the familiar, killing it in one blow. Judging from the colors, Ranpo immediately knows who it is.

'Atsushi!'

The magical boy doesn't even take the time to get rid of the blood on his claw, knowing it to be a pointless endeavor. Instead, his priorities are elsewhere.

'You okay? You don't look hurt, at the very least...' he scratches his head with his normal hand.

'Mhm. Just need to get out of this place, but the familiars have the exit blocked.' Ranpo points with his thumb behind them. Atsushi casts a glance in that direction and sees Ranpo's statement confirmed.

'Ah. Don't worry, I'll get you out of here.'

Before Ranpo can say anything, Atsushi rushes towards there and slashes through the familiars. They fall swiftly, clearing the way for both of them to get out.

'Thanks.' Ranpo pats Atsushi on the back once they've exited the barrier. 'How'd you know I was there? I mean, I don't have something like a trail...'

Atsushi shrugs once. 'Intuition.'

Ranpo is easily satisfied with that answer. 'Right.'

'So...how to summarize it...I got caught in a barrier. Again.' 

'[...]'

Ranpo tilts his head. 'And y'know. It reminded me of their sad situation. They're doomed to turn into what they're fighting at the end. And I'm not. That sort of makes me feel bad, like...'

He sighs deeply in frustration of not finding the right words and raises his voice. 'You know what I mean!'

'[...]'

'I've even considered turning my contract into a true contract just for the sake of saving us all.' At this point, he holds up his hands in a mix of desperation and annoyance.

'[Think about it. You don't know how that wish will be granted. Even if you get the wording down...]'

A silence falls, and Ranpo nods slowly. 

'Yeah...that's true...but I don't know what else to do...'

'[What about you write this all down? Ideas last forever. Unlike humans. I promise that I will keep investigating.]'

He thinks about that for a bit. Then, he starts to nod slowly. 'It's the best thing we've got.' he says, halfly mumbling.

Then, he sees the white creature on his windowsill and knows that he's going to be in for a tough one.

'Incubator. You don't have to tell me what you're here for.'

Ranpo sits upright in his bed, his gaze fixed at the creature. 

'Let's make this short. I can't turn my faux contract into a real contract. Otherwise a certain someone will be very mad at me. And I know what I'm in for.'

The incubator jumps off the windowsill onto Ranpo's bed. 'Why are you so pessimistic lately?' it asks him. 'It's thanks to the cycle that the universe continues existing, you know.'

Ranpo looks aside, unable to think of a fitting answer to that. So the incubator continues.

'It's your exposure to the Book.'

That makes Ranpo's heart skip a beat. 'Exposure...to the Book?'

'Yes. It's made you aware of the state of your contract. That you aren't a real magical boy. You used to not know that.'

Ranpo moves his hand to his chin, attempting to reminisce the past. He doesn't really remember having an existential crisis. 'Huh...'

He then snaps out of it. 'Even so. None of the normal citizens of Yokohama are even aware of the fact that their existence is being fought for.' 

Ranpo steels himself in the face of his new resolve, gritting his teeth. From what he does remember, he knows that resolve isn't the thing he needs right now.

'I'll write it all down.'

That morning...

The Agency's magical fighters are once again locked into battle with Rumors.

'I thought that Ango had already taken care of this?' Atsushi shouts.

Dazai narrowly avoids an attempt of a minor Rumor to slash his face apart, and manages to get a bullet in its body. It's enough to dissolve it. 'Leave questions for later!'

He looks up to Kenji who swings a traffic sign at the Rumor. 'I'm the one who got y'all into this, so I might as well apologize first!' Dazai tries to get his message through all of the Agency members.

I'm just glad you're okay, Odasaku thinks, since you guys have no idea what kind of enemy we're facing.

'Hah!'

Without even looking at it, Fukuzawa tears apart the last of them with his katana. 

'That should be that.' Tanizaki mumbles. 'But why isn't the barrier...'

The Agency looks up to see that the barrier they're in is still alive as ever. 

'That's not supposed to happen.' Dazai frowns. After realizing he just stated the obvious, he adds something new to it. 'Something's coming still.'

Suddenly, Odasaku shouts.

'Take cover!' 

The others don't hesitate to follow that example, as a few seconds later, something appears.

'The hell...' 

But they don't have a lot of time to assess the situation. The creature immediately strikes, aggravating Kyouka. 

'I wish I wouldn't need to do this, but...'

She whispers a few words and then rushes at it together with Demon Snow. 'Take this!'

Coming down and looking back, she sees that she has hacked off part of it, but that the creature itself behaves like it's unharmed. 'Damn!'

Fukuzawa frowns. 'We'll need more than just a single blow.' He states that as if he were in a calm situation, but the metaphorical gears in his head don't stop turning. We haven't heard of the Rats in a while. So is this their new trick?

He's awakened from his thoughts as he hears Kenji's cry. 

'Kenji...'

That was apparently what it needed for Atsushi to take the lead. 'Yosano, Kunikida, Kyouka! We'll need to overwhelm it together!'

And even though the people he just called out to are several meters away from him, they get the message loud and clear. 

It happens in a flash.

But the barrier dissipates.

'Haah...' Atsushi breathes out deeply, trying to prevent hyperventilation. 'That was...'

Kenji looks away. 'Man...I should've fasted for a longer time...'

'It's not your fault.' Kyouka tries to console him. 'All of us are alive. That's what counts.'

Kenji nods shyly, but Kyouka isn't convinced he's fine yet.

'Didn't drop a Grief Seed, huh.' Tanizaki's gaze is fixed at the ground, and as he says that, the other Agency members start to understand why.

'Um...guys...' Atsushi points at his wrist. A light appears on it, then dies down. 

A bracelet is around Atsushi's wrist. It's a silver one with various glyphs. One of them is inlaid with a sapphire gem instead.

'What the hell's that.' Kyouka mumbles. 'Never seen something like that before.'

Dazai squints. 'Try taking it off.'

Wordlessly, Atsushi follows Dazai's suggestion. But just as he thinks he's removed it from his arm, it slips back on, like a slap-on bracelet from the olden days. It makes him frown in confusion and his reaction is just as flat.

'What.' 

Fukuzawa looks at it with suspicion. 'I'll contact the others to see if they know anything about this. I'm not trusting that thing yet.'

Odasaku speaks up in a soft voice. 'Hn...we have the idea it might be wanting you to go somewhere...'

Atsushi looks at Odasaku, his eyes telling that he's expecting to discover where that came from.

'Ah, yeah...just a feeling...nothing more...'

You think the life of a magical fighter is all shiny and cool? Think twice. It's a small layer that fooled me at first. It's a dangerous job, let me tell you. I've seen it. And the results are far from pretty in the end.

'So...something like this?'

'[Yep.]'

'Alright!'

'Ugh...I really strained myself that day...' Atsushi stretches his limbs as he steps out of bed. 'But I need to be on time for work today...'

Reluctantly, he gets ready for the day and arrives at work. 

'So it is...'

But at work, he can't concentrate. And he's eventually sent to Fukuzawa's office.

'I asked you to file the report. All you filled in is 'Two'. What about that?'

Atsushi takes a deep breath that ends in a growl. 'I'm sorry, president. I can't seem to find my focus this day. I've been thinking for way too long last night.'

To his surprise, Fukuzawa shows understanding. 'I know what you mean. I have been wrecking my own mind last night as well. Since the creature used Rumors for its defense, and did not drop a Grief Seed, I am suspecting this of being a new type of yet uncategorized creature. Its magical signature being something I have never felt before supports that.'

Atsushi can't do anything but nod as Fukuzawa continues.

'I'll bring it up later when I'll be talking to Mori and to Taneda.'

'Mhm. I was also thinking about something else...'

'Yes?'

Too shy to look Fukuzawa in the eyes, Atsushi talks as he looks at the floor. 'If instead of transforming into witches, we keep summoning our Doppels...won't that eventually lead to the extinction of witches...thus a lack of Grief Seeds?'

'The issue you are talking about has tormented my mind ever since the field was set up. It is exactly what Fyodor wants. Any magical fighters are bound to die sooner or later without turning into witches. Even though currently, there are still remaining witches, so for now there'd be no issue in expanding it.'

'Yeah...'

Fukuzawa sits up straight. 'It is clear that you cannot work in this state. I will relegate your duties for today to Kyouka.'

'Thank you.' Atsushi bows deeply in front of the president before he exits the office.

'And? Have you come to a conclusion?'

Somewhere else, Dazai is having a meeting with his other two friends in his new apartment.

'Not yet.' Ango answers him without looking at him. 'The state of a Soul Gem depends on its owner's emotional state. It is a mirror, more or less. This also means that the total amount of Grief Seeds one needs is not set in stone.'

'So it's impossible to form an average.' Dazai has his gaze seemingly fixed at the ceiling as he answers, leaning back in a relaxed manner on the wall. Ango had previously told him that he doesn't know anything about any of the Rumors having escaped containment.

Ango nods. 'Yes.'

Odasaku still avoids looking at Dazai and Ango when talking about the past. 'The Rats had been ecstatic when Fyodor rewrote the world by way of the Book and set the Doppel Field in place.'

'They must've been, surely.' Dazai lowers his voice. 'But it's not good to use the Book again. None of us wants to antagonize the Agency.'

Ango sits down in a chair in a tired manner. 'True. I can't think of anything else to possibly expand the field.'

Suddenly, Sakurako Sakaguchi appears in a breeze of sakura petals.

'|There will soon be a meeting of the magical fighters in Yokohama. Fukuzawa, Mori and Taneda will all be attending.|'

Even though she doesn't mention it, Ango knows what she's talking about. 'And you're asking if I want to represent the government alongside Taneda...?'

Dazai and Odasaku's eyes are on Ango as he answers that. 'I'll be busy. So unfortunately, no.'

'We have already relayed everything we know.' Odasaku holds up their hand as if in a classroom. 'So our presence would be quite useless.'

Sakurako seems to be disappointed by that. '|...Ah. What a pity. But if that's your decision, then I'll respect that.|'

'Thank you for respecting that, Sakurako.' Ango appreciates. 'That's enough.'

Fukuzawa taps his papers on the table to sort them neatly. 

'To clarify. From sources I have come to know that the current Field is set up, but it is unclear where the Field ends. Despite it being set up by a force that antagonizes us, the Field might be expanded for other reasons that I have just discussed with you.'

From the three, Dazai is the only one attending.

'I'm afraid that there might be consideration of usage of the Book. I am intending to oppose that in every way.'

'I am intending to as well.' Mori glances at Dazai. As the latter ignores his statement, the mafia don continues. 'And on the topic of the creature you fought. We have never heard of a combination of a Rumor and a Witch. We might have had a temporary collaboration with the Rats, but they have never mentioned it, at least not to us.' 

He then looks at Atsushi's wrist. 'The bracelet remains when one is untransformed. It is not an illusion or something to be used up.'

Taneda feels the need to speak up. 'And to add on that, my branch of the government has reported the appearance of an unusual magical signature in the city. However, their accounts were separate so we have not been able to pinpoint the exact location. It is something to keep in mind. StillI am afraid I will not be able to attend to later meetings as my presence is needed overseas.' He turns to look at the Agency. 'I have heard that miss Tsujimura is already familiar with the Agency, so she will represent me from then on.'

The day slowly reaches its end as Kyouka and Atsushi go out to get groceries for the Agency.

'...why don't you let Fukuzawa tamper with the bracelet and see what results that has?' Kyouka keeps her voice lower, as she's talking about something magical in a civilian setting.

Atsushi finishes counting the amount of milk bottles they got and then walks on, Kyouka following him. 'I'd avoid that, honestly...I don't feel like that's a good idea.'

But Kyouka seems to skip the last part of that answer as she seems to have her attention elsewhere. 

'What're you looking at?'

'The Lizards. They're just talking. I'll eavesdrop.'

Before Atsushi can prevent her from doing so, she's off.

Getting closer, she sees that it's Hirotsu talking to Higuchi.

'...so he is, huh.'

The older man shifts his stance. 'Moreover, I'm worried about Verlaine. He seems to work himself to the bone. It's not good.'

'He doesn't have any reason to.' Higuchi adds on to it. 'Will you keep an eye on him?'

'We have to know our place. I might be able to ask someone higher than me to do so.'

Deciding she knows enough, Kyouka slips back and relays her information to Atsushi.

'Verlaine?'

'One of the mafia executives.' Kyouka explains. 'We haven't met him yet.'

'Ah...'

'...you should go home.'

Chuuya crosses their arms. 'Sure, keep ignoring everyone around you. You're the one who should rest.'

Verlaine growls in a dangerous manner. 'I've not, because Mori has been nagging at me all day and he'll start when I get home.'

'What's bothering you anyway?' Chuuya tilts his head.

Verlaine leans back in his chair, but he's not relaxed in the slightest. 'You won't understand it.'

That answer makes Chuuya roll their eyes. 'I can't think of an answer that's more emo.' 

'That might be the case, but I mean it, Chuuya.'

'Grr...'

The next day, Mori is paying Fukuzawa's office a visit.

'Do you happen to know an influx of magical fighters entering this city from the outside?'

Not really sure where this question stems from, Fukuzawa answers carefully. '...Not really? Some of the Soul Gems I adjusted had faint memories of magical fighters I hadn't seen before, but I can hardly say it's anything.'

Mori looks away in annoyance. 'It seems like we got a lot of flak with the destruction back with the amusement park Rumor since it was on mafia territory.'

Knowing what Mori suggests, Fukuzawa has to reply. 'If that's so, then I don't know.'

'Um...president...'

Fukuzawa looks at the door to see Dazai and Atsushi at the doorstep and keeps silent to open for whatever they want to say.

Dazai starts. 'I happened to overhear that. There are way more than just one or two new magical fighters in town.'

He hands Fukuzawa a photo - a screencap of a security camera.

'That's too blurry.' Mori criticizes. 

Without any words, Atsushi holds up his wrist with his bracelet, as if he wants to offer something useful still.

'Come here.' Fukuzawa gestures to let him come closer. Despite what Atsushi said before, he's now allowing Fukuzawa to analyze it.

First off, Fukuzawa tries removing it from Atsushi, but the same thing happens.

'Exactly what I suspected.' Mori says as he observes.

Then, Fukuzawa continues and now tries to peer into the gem inside the bracelet. It takes a few seconds, and as he releases Atsushi's arm, he winces and then grabs his head.

'What's the matter, president?' Atsushi asks in confusion and shock.

'That wretched thing. It contains so much magic energy that if I even try to Adjust it, I might as well die.'

The mention of the possible death of the president makes Atsushi look at Dazai with a worried face. 

'But I can try to read the memories in it. That way I won't need to touch the magic in that thing itself. That should be safe.'

With some hesitance, Atsushi gives Fukuzawa his arm again. And in a process that went much the same as then...

Atsushi wakes up in a white void.

'Eh...?'

At first, he can't see anything but white around him. But then, the creature he fought to get the bracelet appears in front of him.

'Ah? What do you want from me?' Atsushi steps back.

But the creature doesn't seem to mean harm. It just remains in place, not making any movement that would hurt Atsushi.

This is just like when I talk to the tiger, Atsushi thinks. So if this is similar...should I start listening to what it wants to say to me even if it can't talk?

Gathering all his courage, Atsushi now walks towards the creature. It feels weird, as it is many times larger than Atsushi himself. However, the closer he gets, the more confident he gets. Eventually, he can touch it. 

'You trust me with your life, don't you?' he asks, having felt what it wants to convey. 'I mean, I trust the president. He just wants to take a better look so we can understand it better...'

'Ah...so I can only give this someone who I trust with my life, huh...'

Atsushi thinks about who exactly he would trust with his life. Only a few people spring to mind, but Atsushi is still hesitant to give it over. As he doesn't seem to get out of that issue, he focuses on another.

'Odasaku said that you wanted me to go somewhere. Is that right?'

'...yeah.'

It is then that Atsushi's mind snaps back. '...President! I...'

Fukuzawa, Dazai and Mori take in everything that Atsushi has learned. 

'In that case.' Dazai suggests. 'Should we go back to the place where we fought it to look if there's any clues there?'

But as they arrive at the place, they don't find anything.

'I have to admit...it's been a bit since we fought it...' Atsushi tries justifying.

Fukuzawa agrees. 'That is true. But it was worth a try.' 

'What was worth a try?'

The four look up to see two lackeys of the Guild. It takes some time for them to remember, but the memory returns to them soon enough.

'Why are you here?' Fukuzawa immediately asks them.

'We are looking for the source of the abnormal amount of magical energy. You must have picked it up as well, judging from how you are searching here.'

'And we will go to any lengths that no one else finds out except us!'

From the shadows, more Guild lackeys show up, and directly rush towards the four. They don't hesitate and immediately transform, locking them into battle.

But they are a better enemy than the four thought at first.

What's with them protecting their own Soul Gems like that, Dazai notices. They're not even allow me to get close...

Mori doesn't need that. He launches Elise forwards, pushing them back and making an opening for him. Fukuzawa and Atsushi take it full, turning the tide. 

That is...

Suddenly, grape vines surround the group, and they can barely dodge. Two figures show up as the vines settle down on the ground.

'Who are you?'

'The name's John Steinbeck. It's good to meet ya. I didn't think there'd be anyone who could dodge that just now, hah. But let's see if you can get away from this, too!'

The magical boys that had emerged from the shadows are John Steinbeck and Francis, the long lost leader of the Guild. But there is no room for questions as to where they got him from. He tosses money in the air as it dissipates, green lines appearing all over his skin. 

'God damn!' Atsushi curses, as he's forced to fight against two much more formidable enemies. He transforms into the tiger fully and charges recklessly at them.

But the tiger is no match for Fitzgerald. He easily parries its attacks, his body being strengthened by the empowerment from before. Wordlessly, he grins as he forces Atsushi back into his normal form.

'Agh...'

Atsushi lands on the ground with a huge force, and even though he knows he'll heal up, he has to retreat.

Instead, Fukuzawa takes Francis on directly. Even though the latter doesn't have a sword and fights with only his physical body, the two are equally matched. Fukuzawa manages to keep him busy, but he's having visible hardship.

Atsushi sees it all. 'Stop this! Why can't we just talk!' he shouts desperately.

It makes Steinbeck smile. 'I don't want to waste my magic on you either. But we won't stop until we've got everyone who opposes our search for that thing around your wrist down.' He looks at Mori and Dazai, who are still standing around Atsushi to defend him from the vines.

'..What's happening here?'

Yosano speaks up from behind, having shown up together with Tanizaki and Kunikida. At the sight of three more transformed magical fighters, Steinbeck and Fitzgerald turn back.

'I've been asking that, you know?' Atsushi shouts. 'Who are you anyway? If you're from the Guild, why are you opposing us?'

'Unfinished business.' Steinbeck simply states as he walks back. 'We worked together with you earlier. But now...'

Fitzgerald is even more curt about it. 'I need that bracelet.' 

Once they are gone, Tanizaki speaks up.

'...I still don't know what that was.'

Fukuzawa closes his eyes. 'That doesn't matter. You did a good enough job scaring them away for now. I had initially presumed that the creature was the doing of the Rats, so we'd be facing the Rats as our enemy, but...'

'They said they were from the Guild.' Kunikida recalls. 'Even though I never saw that particular member, let alone their leader. Weren't they still looking for their leader when they were still working together with us?'

'That's why I was asking why they were opposing us now.' Atsushi explains his question from before. 'And now I'm not sure what the leader wants my bracelet for.'

Mori slowly nods. 'I have to admit. Even their lackeys had surprised me with their prowess. It's far from refined of course...' he lowers his voice as he smiles creepily. 'But we are all adjusted by you.' He looks at Fukuzawa, who ignores his gaze.

'I have no idea of these guys. I wonder whether they have been adjusted by someone else. I think that must be the case.'

Dazai thinks back. 'A long time ago, I saved a girl who was a member of the Guild. She had no offensive powers, but as that was the focus back then, it never occurred to me that she could be the Guild's Adjuster.'

Fukuzawa shakes his head once. 'I have not heard the details about the other members of the Guild. And I am sure that there is an Adjuster in their midst.'

That surprises Atsushi. 'But...I thought you were the only Adjuster in Yokohama?'

'That isn't true. While I am, up to a certain height, autodidact, I have known someone who is also familiar with Adjusting.'

'Huh...' Curioser and curioser, Atsushi thinks.

That certain someone is now talking to someone of the Guild. And they take a deep sigh.

'Listen, I'm not doing this for free. You have a perfectly fine Adjuster within your own group, and I'm not even a full-time Adjuster.'

Steinbeck rolls his eyes. 'I know, I know. Our leader will make the transaction soon. But you know that our Adjuster is currently holed up in a particularly intense brainstorming session in her room! She's holed up in that room of hers half of the damn time!'

The old man gives Steinbeck his Soul Gem back. 'Just don't lose track of whatever you're doing, okay? You went in against a group of enemies you barely even know!'

'Yeah, yeah. Can I go now?'

A short nod is all Steinbeck needs as he heads back to base.

'I'll assume you lost?' 

'How funny. I was about to say that.' the red-haired girl comments sarcastically.

As Steinbeck returns, they're met with the welcomes of Twain and Lucy, who were apparently locked in a board game. Even though Lucy seems to have lost, judging from the state of the board, she's more focused on what Steinbeck did.

'You're the ones who picked a fight with the Agency.' she grins. 'Mark and me worked with them in the past. This is what I told you about.'

'Shush.' Steinbeck gives her a strict look. 'That tiger didn't stand a chance against Fitzgerald and me.'

At that, Mark stands up. 'But I see that you don't have his bracelet.'

Steinbeck sighs and shakes his head. 'You don't know anything.'

Fitzgerald, meanwhile, is handling his own business.

'Please, spare me, I'll tell you everything I know, and-'

'Stop yapping, will you.'

He holds the poor sap down with an enforced kick of his. 'I already got your base, and like hell I'm letting you go!'

A single stab is all it needs for the Soul Gem to shatter, but Fitzgerald turns around like nothing happened. 

'Dump this somewhere. I don't care. Preferably somewhere in sight.'

An unknown location.

An unknown person.

'Looks like the time nears.'

A movement.

A grin.

'Heh...'

'Never thought I'd be writing this much, huh?' Ranpo looks aside at the one next to him, who's looking over everything he's writing.

'[You're still on the way of self-discovery.]'

'Guess so.'

Ranpo nods once, and then continues writing. He's past the basics, and has started on the more recent occurrences. 

'I think that when I finish this part, it's good to stop here until we know more. Don't you agree?'

For the first time in a few weeks, Tsujimura sets foot on Yokohama's soil.

'Hah...it feels good to be back.' 

'Don't be hasty.' Ayatsuji takes another breath through his pipe. 'We were called here for a reason again.'

Tsujimura squints at the message on her phone. 'Though we don't need to go to the government itself this time, it seems...it's the Agency, but...I've never visited the Agency's place.' Then, she looks up at Ayatsuji in the hope of some help with it. 'Do you have any idea as to where it is?'

Ayatsuji leans in to glance at the message Tsujimura was looking at. 'Shouldn't be hard for me to figure out.'

He leads her to the Agency's building through a short trip through the city. 

'When I first met the members of the Agency, it wasn't even an Agency yet...' Tsujimura reminisces. 'It was just Dazai, Atsushi and Kyouka just joined when I met them.'

Ayatsuji doesn't answer. Instead, he has stopped somewhere, but Tsujimura doesn't think it's the building already.

'Is this the building? Huh, I thought it'd be larger.' she frowns at the sight of the building he has stopped at.

'No, change of plans.' Ayatsuji doesn't even look at her as he answers and turns around. 'Let's go.'

Tsujimura, knowing that it's better not to argue with this man, follows him without a word.

The space around them warps a few meters of walking later, and Tsujimura suddenly knows what Ayatsuji was on about. A huge creature is clearly looking over the giant space.

'This...'

But she knows it's no use dallying around, and jumps into battle.

'You!'

Kyouka looks up to see a familiar face. 'What're you doing here?'

'Helping you, of course!' She transforms and sends her shadows towards it. 'How many of you are here?' We have found the Agency , she knows.

'Ah, most of us actually. Only Atsushi and Kenji aren't here!'

Tsujimura frowns. So the two largest physical powerhouses of the Agency aren't here, she translates. Good that we ran into them like this.

Remembering the Misery Rhyton, Tsujimura uses her shadows to get higher and higher. She then looks down at the Agency members.

I could finish this, but I need a distraction! she communicates via telepathy. At that, Tanizaki activates his illusions, driving it towards him and the group.

Good. One of my shadows will always do the job no matter what...

She builds up momentum in her running and then gathers all her power she can. 

'Haah!'

Diving down, her shadows cleave the being in two. The barrier dissipates and she finds herself on the street, alongside the others.

'Was that your first time fighting such a thing?' Kunikida, apparently not needing any introduction, cuts to the chase.

Tsujimura nods. 'But it was Ayatsuji who felt something and led me here.' She points with her thumb at Ayatsuji, who's standing behind her. 

Kunikida nods slowly as well. 'This is actually our second encounter. Did you feel the magic signature and went there to investigate?'

'Yes. It did not resemble anything that I know of.' He puts his hand to his chin in thought. 'That is why I wanted to know what it is. I have to be honest. I have never seen it before.'

Yosano steps forward and forcefully grabs Tsujimura's wrist. 

'Wha-'

'Look at this.' she says with a stern voice as she holds Tsujimura's wrist up. And the magical girl herself sees it too - a silver bracelet with a ruby gem inside it now decorates her wrist. 'Exactly what I thought?'

'Do you mean that you have received a bracelet during your previous encounter as well?' Ayatsuji deduces.

'Exactly.' Kyouka decides that it's apparently her turn to answer. 'Atsushi has one. But he has a blue one, in a different slot.'

Tsujimura looks at it. 'So it is...'

'No one can remove his, though.' Kyouka continues. 'He's said that the creature told him that he can only give it to someone he trusts his life to.'

'The creature told him?' 

'Long story.' Dazai sighs. 'The most important thing is that you are here. We have already the Guild hunting down Atsushi because they're after his bracelet. It's now important that we protect you too, miss Tsujimura.'

'Oh...' Tsujimura still looks at her bracelet.

'Anyway, you said it's important that we're here, and you would be right at that.' Ayatsuji clears his throat. 'We are not intending to remove the purification system. Instead, the government has issued us to find out how to replicate the mechanics behind it.'

'Replicate it, huh...' Dazai parrots. 'Well, you will have to stick with us either way.'

Back at the Agency, Fukuzawa immediately changes the mood by announcing something new.

'When we raided Fendthope, not everyone was there. I am sure you do remember that.'

Dazai casts his gaze to the floor, remembering how Fyodor was conspicuously absent. He nods.

'Now, there is a group, we think, that is recruiting those people who used to be part of the Rats. Like, their lackeys who were not stationed at Fendthope.'

Tanizaki looks at him with a worried face. 'That sounds like trouble.'

Fukuzawa simply closes his eyes. 'We will need to keep an eye on it for sure.'

'But in that case...' Atsushi holds up his hand. 'Won't Ango and Odasaku be in danger as well?'

Meanwhile, another group is already on it, without the Agency knowing.

'Looks like this one tried contacting the old Rat people.' 

Steinbeck is hunched over the body, even though he cannot do anything else but observe it. Then, he stands up straight. He had been able to make the other one talk, however.

As he walks away, he wonders just who he's kidding. I hate being in the Guild, he knows, but I have no choice. He's already happy that the Guild had split the tasks, to make things more easier to grasp - with him and Fitzgerald hunting down the big shots, and Twain and Lucy searching for the large source of magic. If they aren't goofing off doing board games, of course.

'So...what did you want us to find out?'

The Buraiha has gathered in their apartment, together with Sakurako. 

'Well, I was just curious...' Atsushi, who is sitting at the opposite side of the table, tugs at his bracelet. 'If you were able to find any kind of similarities with this thing.' He looks and points at Sakurako. 'I mean, you're basically a magical supercomputer, right?'

Sakurako nods. '|They have told you that correctly, yes. Moreover-|'

Her words are interrupted by the sound of breaking glass, coming from the window behind them. The five of them turn around immediately.

'Who the hell...' Atsushi mumbles, but Odasaku and Ango know very well who the intruder who just dropkicked the glass is.

'He wants to take us back.' Odasaku whispers, making Atsushi grit his teeth. He goes with his hand over his bracelet. If only that creature could help me now...

'That's right! Now, if you just go along with us, no one will get hurt!'

But obviously, none of the five is planning to listen to any of it. As he and the rest transform, Dazai sends a telepathic message to the Agency. 

Prepare for a fight. A big one.

It is only now that Atsushi recognizes the person standing before them. 

'Goncharov, isn't it?' Now those stone creatures behind him make a lot more sense.

'Mhm!' He mumbles in a satisfied manner. 'Long time no see! I'll tell you, I had the nicest of teatimes with Anne in her room, but there is a time of coming and going, isn't there? And there is a time we all should return where we came from~'

Odasaku shrugs. 'Even though we know you, it took us so long to even get back with Ango and Dazai, so that'll be a big no, if you please.' 

It elicits a small smile in Dazai. Even in this situation, Odasaku still tries to solve things as diplomatic as he can.

'We'd rather stay here than do that supremacy thing again.'

Goncharov has not stopped grinning. 'Oooh, looks like y'all got me wrong! It seems like my words made it looks like you had a choice in the matter! Let's solve that, now shall we?'

And now, for something completely different...

'I believe it's your turn, Mark!'

The redheaded duo is also locked in battle, but with another large creature instead. 

'Roger! Their highscore won't last any longer if it's on me!'

'So what're the other two doing right now?' Lucy shouts to carry her voice above the noise of battle. Mark can still hear her loud and clear.

'Steinbeck and Fitzgerald? Got no idea!'

But Lucy doesn't have any more time to think about that. 'There! An opening!'

Mark is already on it and takes it full. 'And checkmate!'

If Lucy had thought more than one second about what Fitzgerald and Steinbeck are currently doing, she would have remembered that they had business at a certain apartment.

'Guh...'

'Perfect timing, you two.' Goncharov stays afloat on a huge chunk of earth he presumably just tore out of the asphalt down below, and uses it to hold up the two from the Guild. 'It was so bothersome with these two, you know...'

'Oh, we know.' Fitzgerald gives him a smirk. He then looks at the five in front of him, which they just dealt a good number to. Dazai is still standing, but barely, and Ango is on the ground, unconscious. Atsushi gives Fitzgerald a defiant look, even though both of them know that it's useless.

Another break through the window later, Dazai is really tired of people messing up his new house.

'You guys could all go a little easier on my new house, you see. Look what you did.'

But this time, it's the reinforcements.

'And you could be a little more grateful because if I didn't decide to listen to you, you might very well be somewhere you won't like very much.'

Kunikida lands perfectly on his feet, with the other Agency members following him. While Goncharov's stone creatures fall here and there, the man remains calm. At least, on the outside.

Well, this wasn't in the script, he thinks, and tries his best not to show panic. He looks around, and sees that Steinbeck is holding his own against Atsushi, but the fight between the two doesn't seem to have a winner. Atsushi is strong enough to escape Steinbeck's binds, but the way Steinbeck uses his vines makes it so that they are hard to avoid.

'Yo, what the hell did I just get into?'

'Someone is entering through the door for once. Look, people, that is the correct example.'

Tsujimura runs towards the fighting parties. 'What is happening here? I had an appointment here, so why're you all trashing this place?' 

To Atsushi's surprise, the magical girl's appearance on the scene brings the situation to a standstill. She takes her opportunity full.

'I have no idea who you are, and all I know is that I had an appointment at this address, but magical people shouldn't be wasting magic shooting at eachother.' She crosses her arms and gives both sides a stern look. 'We're made to battle witches, and not each other.'

'That's right, but sometimes you don't have a choice, you know!' Atsushi shrugs, holding up his claws.

Goncharov sighs deeply and looks at Fitzgerald. 'Oh well. We guess that we don't have to take you back right now. There's still time, after all.'

He prepares to head back, but Dazai makes sure to see the group leave completely. Only when they are entirely out of sight, he turns off his transformation.

Goncharov heads back, passing through the many dark alleys of Yokohama. He knows he is in mafia territory, but he doesn't care about that at all. As he transforms back, he follows the path he knows as the back of his hand. 

A passerby nears him, and Goncharov wasn't planning on taking heed to them at all. However, as they near him, Goncharov realizes this person is talking to themselves about something very interesting.

'...if only Akutagawa hadn't pointed that out, then...'

He doesn't need to hear more. Didn't the mafia take a bribe from us before the entire Chelation Land thing happened?

And just like that, it is decided. Goncharov passes the red-headed person, and grabs something out of his pocket. I had intended this for something else, but...guess I'll have to use it now.

He shoots a small dart, and Goncharov's aiming skills reward him as the person collapses on the street.

'Now...'

But the underworld of Yokohama is small. And its connection to the Armed Detective Agency is short.

'What did that stupid slug get themself into now?' Dazai lazily hangs out on the Agency's couch, pretending not to care about the latest misadventures of the mafia.

'Seems like someone got to them.' Kunikida hands him the file nonetheless. 'Ranpo has already figured out as to where they are.'

Dazai wipes his face. 'Give it to someone else. I'm not responsible for what they're doing or for the trouble they get themself in.'

From Kunikida's throat escapes a small growl. 'Dazai, if Chuuya dies because of that cursed doppel of theirs coming out, it is not my fault for not trying to get you involved.'

Slowly, Dazai gets his hands from his face. 'Okay, okay. Who's doing this with me?'

'Akutagawa, Hirotsu and Kouyou.'

At least I'll be among capable company, Dazai thinks.

'It's about time we'll get out of here, huh?' 

The man finally stands up and grabs his jacket to go out. 'Let's see...I haven't seen that old Adjuster guy in a long while...' 

He walks out, but not towards the Agency.

[It is coming along well.]

Ranpo nods, smiling. 'Yeah, right? I thought so too. I've started with the more recent events.'

[Good choice.]

He looks up as if in a daze.

[What're you doing?]

'Say...do you hear that voice too?'

Fukuzawa's office hasn't had so many people in it all at once, but it's all for the greater good. In the middle of them sits an incubator.

'The Rats were half right. What was released from Ango was indeed a good vessel for the pent up energy.'

The man himself has been looking down all the time, but lets the incubator continue its explanation.

'But, no offense, its lack of emotions kept the 'good' from being 'perfect'. And thus, those emotion scattered.'

Fukuzawa still interrupts it. 'So you did lure everyone to Yokohama to see what it ends up in?'

The incubator doesn't nod, but answers affirmatively anyways. 'Yes. We want to see how much the current system can take. And if it can't take that, I will judge whether the doppel system can keep this world running.'

It adjusts its pose. 'Ultimately, this will be a win-win. We get to maintain the universe, and you guys can stop worrying about accidents because you get to release your doppels instead.'

Fitzgerald growls. 'Again, dancing to the palms of the situation...' As a person who can just buy any shop he wants, this situation isn't doing anything good. 'But it's not like there's any choice.'

'That's out of our league, I'll admit.' Despite trying to take the Buraiha by force just half a day ago, Goncharov has attended the meeting in peace. 'Our group is very small as it is currently, so I doubt we'll do more than just a drop in the ocean.'

Everyone around him knows that he's straight-up lying, but no one wants to tell him so.

Ayatsuji isn't happy with it either. 'For once I'll agree with you there, mister Fitzgerald. We from the government always have higher-ups to listen to, so I was kind of hoping...'

But Tsujimura's reaction is different. She is also the only one who isn't sporting a sad or angry expression on their face within the group. 'Oh well, we can at least serve the universe this time around, don't you think? Not just serve our country.'

Fukuzawa wonders just how much the government is siding with the incubators, but reserves those thoughts for later. 'Will you guys maintain your stance if it means you can complete this faster by working together?' he asks instead.

'No.' Goncharov has his answer ready. 'We just don't...well, vibe with people who don't like us, to put it in the language of this day's youth?' He holds out his hand.

Fitzgerald chinhands before making a decision. 'I have to agree that it is rationally sound, but...'

'He can't handle it emotionally.' Steinbeck finishes his sentence before his boss can, who gives him a poke in the thigh with his elbow.

Tsujimura shares a look with Ayatsuji and looks at Ango as well. Then, she looks back at Fukuzawa. 'I don't believe there are any objections on the side of the government for as far as I can see.'

'Good. We'll have to prepare for a tough war ahead in that case, but let's call it a day for now.' Fukuzawa has had a lot on his plate this day already, and desires nothing more than to take a break and analyze everything.

Ranpo also takes a break. He stretches and yawns, already having written a lot in the past few days. 

'Man, there's so much happening lately. Yokohama seems to be hot these days, huh?'

'[It is certainly remarkable.]'

He turns around on his chair to face the one who has been standing behind him all the time. 'And it's all thanks to you that I can write this all down, isn't it?'

The being nods once. '[Technically, it is thanks to Ango.]'

'Yup. He created you after all, huh. Even though he stopped doing so shortly afterwards...'

He remembers what happened not too long ago. The group had raided Fendthope, and Ango had stopped making Rumors following that. The Rumor of the Wind Evangelist was the last one that escaped from his penstrokes.

'[And he then designated you as my host.]'

Ranpo has to admit that the idea itself is a little strange after having experienced everything with Rumor Tanizaki. 'It's still a bit new to get used to...well, technically I'm plural now, aren't I? Just like Odasaku? Because you exist in my head and you lack a physical body and all.'

The Rumor doesn't give a direct answer. '[Whatever you want to call it.]'

'Hah, oh well. It's thanks to you that I can see what's happening all around me. And man, it's difficult to piece all of this together if I didn't have you...'

As the people leave the Agency, someone else seems to make their way in the opposite direction.

'It was a little uncouth to not invite us, was it?'

Atsushi looks at the three people who have just entered the office, and thinks that they must be part of the military. There is a large, old man leading them, and following him are two other younger-looking men. The white-haired one has his eyes closed, and the other has rather strict eyes and black hair.

Fukuzawa, however, is still sitting at the same place. 'There was no reason to.'

'That's just not how manners work, do they?' The older man sits down in front of Fukuzawa. 'And this is also not how the Adjuster's code is supposed to work.' Without any incentive to, he points at Fukuzawa to the point of pushing into his shoulder. The President seems to ignore it.

'Wait, what's happening here?' Atsushi, who's still looking at it, has stopped grasping anything he had previously hoped to grasp. 'Who're you?'

Now, the old man looks up at Atsushi. 'Didn't know that there were still people unaware of who I am...in that case, I am pleased to introduce myself. My name is Fukuchi Ouchi, and I am the leader of the Hunting Dogs, a military group affiliated with the government. And, in contrast to this man, I am also a part-time Adjuster who keeps to the Adjuster's code of neutrality.'

Atsushi doesn't want to show Fukuchi that he now has more questions than answers, so he just keeps watching the situation unfold. But there isn't much that happens - just Fukuchi taunting Fukuzawa, the latter refusing to budge, and the eventual exit of the Hunting Dogs with an invitation that he's ready to assist them anytime.

'For heaven's sake. Pointing those guys here means that this war won't be one-sided.' Fukuzawa only shows some of his frustration once Fukuchi is gone.

Unlike Atsushi, Kyouka shows more knowledge of how the cards are spread now. Similar to Atsushi, she has watched it in silence. 'True. Because of the neutral nature of the Hunting Dogs and the many deeds Fukuchi has done, they do have friends in many places. Harming them will make us the number 1 public enemy...'

Despite everything, Atsushi is sure of one thing. 'It will be a tough battle ahead. That's the only thing I know.'

In the silence that falls, Kyouka's phone starts to ring. 'Yes?' She soon puts it on speaker. 'It's the rescue team for Chuuya.'

On the other side, the group has barged into the place Ranpo had pinpointed. As Dazai scans the room, he sees Chuuya lying unconscious on the ground. As I expected. They likely weren't of much worth to them. Or anyone, he grins.

'Hah, so the plan for fishing for big names did work!' Steinbeck, who was put on duty, is now standing against several Puer Magi, but he remains cheerful. Or at least seems to.

'No time for chatter!' Akutagawa rushes at him using his shadows, and soon, the two fight eachother to a draw - despite Steinbeck being backed by mostly lackeys, they still make for a good enemy to fight.

But Kouyou thinks otherwise. Her Golden Demon cuts off Steinbeck's vines everytime he wants to regrow them, and it doesn't take long for her to break the tie as Golden Demon grabs the Puer Magi tightly in its grip.

'Wha-'

Forcefully, Golden Demon lets Steinbeck go, smashing him into the ground. Slowly, he gets up, knowing that this signals the retreat. 

'Still...!'

He tries running away, but Akutagawa is on that. Steinbeck tries slowing the Puer Magi down with his own vines, but Akutagawa is as skilled with his clothing as Steinbeck is with his vines.

As their senses slowly return to them, Chuuya can't help but wonder what went wrong.

All this just for wondering what Akutagawa and Verlaine were talking about lately. Is this what this damn world has come to?

They tense up their entire body in anger. No one sees it, as Steinbeck's vines have started to cover the floor and poor Chuuya as well.

If that's so, then...

I should burn it all.

They break free from the vines that previously tied their body to the floor. Red lines much familiar to Dazai cover their entire body as Arahabaki bursts forth from Chuuya's body.

'...need not waken me again...!!'

Dazai covers his face to deal with the unstable gravity, but knows that his priority is to get to nullify Chuuya right now. While its mere appearance has knocked back Steinbeck and his lackeys enough for them to retreat permanently, it's also making it hard for Dazai to get to them.

'They won't last long like that!' Kouyou points out. 'Chuuya is already nearly dead!'

Dazai knows that Kouyou and Chuuya have a bond similar to that of siblings, but Kouyou can't do anything in a situation like this. He rushes forwards and grabs their arm tightly. Immediately, everything disappears, and Chuuya flops on the floor like a doll.

'Phew...'

Then, Hirotsu points something out on the floor. 'There.'

'Ah.' Dazai picks up the Grief Seed left on the floor. 'Guess that killing us wasn't worth it for them.'

For now, it seems that we have this:

Armed Detective Agency: The group that Fukuzawa leads. Works together with the Port Mafia. The oldest group of magical people who are just trying to make the best of it.

???: The group that Goncharov leads. His talk about it being tiny seems to be true, and it is on the verge of falling apart in their nascency. It doesn't even have a name!

Guild: The group that Fitzgerald leads. Lucy has passed her bracelet to Fitzgerald, proving the loyalty within the group once again. Is working together with Goncharov's group somehow? Dunno.

'Pretty much it, huh?'

The Rumor nods. '[Yes.]'

'Man, I wonder when Goncharov will get a grip with that clique of his. He's strong but he's too small of a pawn to do something of impact right now so he has to work together to remain afloat, hah.'

'[Who knows if or when that will change.]'

'Yeah...'

As Verlaine wakes up, the bright light of a hospital greets him.