Chapter Text
Bonten Timeline
When Atsushi gets the news, he’s in the office.
“And that’s when-” Kyouka’s cut off by the sound of a phone ringing.
Atsushi gives her an apologetic look, pulling out his phone. When he sees who it is he nods at Kyouka and then leaves the room to stand in the hallway. He picks up there, Kazutora only calls him when it’s about something important.
“Hey, Tora, what’s up?” He asks, looking around.
“Fuyu,” his voice is strained, which instantly sets Atsushi into a panic. “Mikey-kun and Takemichi-kun, they’re dead.”
Atsushi’s being freezes. “Hah?” He asks, hand tightening slightly around his phone. “Tora, don’t joke about things like that,” he laughs awkwardly, his free hand grabbing his arm, nails digging into his skin.
“Fuyu,” Atsushi can hear the tears in his eyes, can hear his anguish. “Hina-chan called me, they fell off a building.” Sobs break out of Kazutora’s throat.
Atsushi feels numb. How could- why would Takemichi- what was he doing?
“I’ll be home soon,” he says after a few moments. “I-” he wants to add more, he wants to reassure Kazutora, he wants to help but he just.
He hurts and yet he can’t feel anything .
“Love you, Fuyu.”
“Love you too.”
Atsushi is the one who hangs up. His arms hang limply at his sides, phone slipping from his hand. He needs to move, he needs to tell Kunikida he’s leaving and grab his stuff but he just- he needs a moment. He can’t face his family, not yet. Not when, when….
When two of the most important people in his life are dead .
“Atsushi-kun?” Kenji peaks his head out the door, head tilted. “Ranpo-san and Dazai-san are saying you need to come get your stuff before you leave.”
Atsushi nods, still feeling too much in the moment. He doesn’t even question how they know, it’s them. He leans down to pick up his phone, feeling a pang when the screen turns on. It’s an old Toman picture, one before Mikey formed Bonten and everyone got to be happy besides him. Tears prick his eyes and he stands stock still. He can’t move. He needs to grab his stuff and head home, he needs Tora or Ryuu, but he just-
It hurts .
Kenji frowns as he watches Atsushi. Before the other can notice it though he smiles softly, moving forward to grab his arm. He was four years older than him, sure, but Kenji had always been better with emotions than any of them. He could tell something was wrong and that Atsushi needed some prodding right now.
Atsushi silently follows Kenji. He’s feeling too much right now to do anything of his own violation besides cry and he does not want to cry right now. Not when he’s walking into the office space that he shares with nearly all of his coworkers. Anddd now all eyes are on him. Fuck.
“Here, Atsushi-kun,” Kyouka hands over his bag once he gets to his desk, Kenji still leading him. “Dazai-san said you needed your stuff. Are you heading out? Is it wedding stuff?” Her head is tilted, curious.
Atsushi chokes at the question, hands starting to shake. He drops his bag, hands going to hold his face. Hide, hide, hide , is his only thought. He just- Takemichi’s wedding was in three days. How was Hina? If they knew then she knew. Did she have to be the one to inform everyone? How do you tell the overprotective gang that loved your fiance that your fiance is dead? That he died for one of the most important people in all of their lives? And that that person was dead?
“Atsushi-kun,” there’s a hand on his shoulder, a voice whispering in his ear. “Follow my breathing, okay?” Someone moves his hand to rest against soft skin, their chest. It moves up and down slowly but at a solid pace, helping him follow along. He hadn’t even realized he’d been hyperventilating, honestly.
“Can you tell me your name?” Yosano asks, looking down at him gently.
“Nakijima Atsushi or Matsuno Chifuyu,” he replies.
Yosano nods. “And where are you right now, Atsushi-kun?”
“The Detective Agency in Yokohama,” he replies after a few seconds.
“Good, very good. Now, do you want to tell us what happened? Or do you want to go home instead?” Her question is gentle and where most would sound prying, she doesn’t.
He takes in a deep breath, feeling a new rush of tears at the thought. They fall softly down his cheeks and he holds his breath, trying to calm down but he just- he can’t . His friends are dead and he’ll never see them again. It was like losing Baji all over again and-
The first time hurt so much .
“Is there anyone I can call to bring you home, Atsushi-kun? Or would you prefer Junichiro-kun to?” Yosano changes the question, voice gentle but firm.
Atsushi’s hands flap in distress. “Junichiro-kun please,” he says. Tora is in the same state as him, Ryuu’s at work, Hina just lost her fiance , and no one else was close enough. He needs to go home, he needs Tora right now.
“No need!” Dazai chirps from his seat. “Our dear Ryuunosuke is on his way.”
Atsushi feels like crying again. “Dazai-san, he has work .”
“Atsushi-kun, you both were scheduled for a mission today, one you cannot do without each other. Akutagawa-san will take you home,” Kunikida cuts in. “He’ll be here in a few minutes, he was already scheduled to come in soon.”
As soon as he’s done speaking, there’s arms around Atsushi’s torso. He turns to see Kyouka, she’s smiling at him, a comforting smile.
“It’s okay to be taken care of,” she whispers. “You take care of us, especially me, a lot. Let Ryuunosuke-kun take care of you for right now, okay?”
Atsushi’s lips tremble. And then he breaks.
-
When Ryuu drops him off at home (sadly he still has work to do, Mori wasn’t a lenient boss by any means), there’s cars in their driveway. He’s too emotionally exhausted to think about it too hard and just enters his home. He’s quiet as a mouse as he goes through his routine, kicking off his shoes in the genkan, which he vaguely realizes has too many shoes, taking his belt off and putting it on the coat hanger, and then heading into the living area. Usually he goes there to tidy up a bit, Tora forgot a lot to clean up his messes, but what he finds instead makes him teary eyed.
The other half of his family is waiting for him. Tora is sitting in the loveseat alone beside a blanket (his weighted one) and Peke J. Hina is sitting on the couch with Draken and Mitsuya, the latter two talking quietly while she listens. Hakkai, Yuzuha and the twins are sitting around the kotatsu, sipping tea and playing a card game.
“Did Ryuu-kun have to go?” Tora asks when he notices Atsushi, standing up from the loveseat to come over and wrap them both up in his weighted blanket.
Atsushi hums a yes, letting himself melt a little. He’s exhausted , he’s cried a lot today since he got the news. He just wants to rest a little.
“Chifuyu!” Hina stands up from her seat. She makes her way over and Tora just pulls her in under the blanket and into the hug. She hugs them both, she’s still smaller than them so her face is lower than there’s. “Sorry for the intrusion,” she apologizes quietly, her body relaxing.
“It’s okay,” he replies, rubbing her back soothingly. “You guys are always welcome, Hina-chan.”
She pulls back, smiling softly. Her eyes are rimmed with red, and her hands shake. Chifuyu pulls her in for another hug, squeezing her tight but gently. It’s a silent reassurance, one letting her know he’s there for her. She hugs back just the same, burying her head in his chest. Silently and slowly the whole room joins the hug. It’s warm and a bit uncomfortable, but it’s home.
He’s home .
-
Manila Timeline
Kazutora can’t do this.
He stares at the building in front of him. Pain and guilt expand in his chest. He shouldn’t be here, it isn’t right. This isn’t his home, these people weren’t exactly his . But it was Chifuyu’s home, they were Chifuyu’s people. And…
Chifuyu couldn’t tell them himself.
He steals his nerves and enters the cafe. He ignores the curious looks from the people who work at the cafe, heading upstairs to where he knows the Agency’s office is. He’s been here a couple of times before, none has he had to go upstairs before. Chifuyu would usually meet him outside or in the cafe as he got them something to munch on. But he knew that this was the way to the office, Chifuyu had engraved it into his head just in case.
He never thought he would be doing this though.
He knocks on the door without a second thought, needing to get this over with. If he thinks too much about it then he’ll back out. He can’t put this on anyone else, there is no one else . Outside of Takemichi but this one had no idea about the Agency, not with his time travel (as Chifuyu told him).
The door opens to reveal a young woman with blue hair.
“If you have an appointment-” she starts before pausing. She blinks at him a few times. “Kazutora-san?”
“Hi Kyouka-chan,” he gives an awkward wave.
“If you’re looking for Atsushi-kun, he has the whole month off,” she replies, standing aside to let him in.
He winces as he enters, feeling too awkward. He’s Kazutora, he shouldn’t feel like this, but… everything is different now.
“I’m not here-” he starts but someone cuts him off.
“Who’s here?” He turns to see Ranpo is the one who spoke, Poe standing beside him at his desk. He looks over at Kazutora and it takes him a total of five seconds before his eyes open in shock. His sucker slips from his mouth, making a soft clattering sound as it hits the ground.
“Ranpo-kun?” Poe asks, surprised. He looks up at Kazutora (he assumes, the hair makes it hard to tell) before looking down at Ranpo again. His body tenses as the pieces click and his hand reaches up to clutch at Karl subconsciously.
“Ranpo-san? Poe-san?” Yosano stands up from her seat, she had been sitting on Ranpo’s desk. She’s worried and she can tell she’s missing something . She looks at Kazutora, eyes narrowed. “Why are you here?” She asks a bit harshly.
“Yosano-sensei, Kazutora-san is Atsushi-kun’s boyfriend,” Kyouka speaks up, eyebrows furrowing.
The doctor’s eyes relax slightly but she still looks apprehensive.
And then Dazai walks in.
“Kyouka-cha-” he cuts his call off once he sees Kazutora.
Kazutora turns, looking Dazai dead in the eyes. He can see when the realization dawns on the man, he can see his eyes grow cold, distant.
“No,” is all Dazai can say. His arms fall to his side, face eerily calm. “ No ,” he repeats.
“What is happening?” Kunikida’s voice cuts through the quiet fray that had fallen over the room. Kazutora focuses on him this time, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up.
“I’m so sorry,” Kazutora starts, arms going to hold his chest. “Matsuno Chifuyu, more commonly known as Nakajima Atsushi, was murdered three days ago.”
The silence that follows is thick enough that he feels like he’s suffocating.
“ What? ” Tanizaki is the first one to speak, his hands tightening around the files he’d been going through. The paper crumples and rips in places but he doesn’t care.
The faces that Kenji and Kyouka give Kazutora reminds him, belatedly, that they had met him when they were both fourteen. To him he was their older brother, strong, undefeated, resilient. To them Chifuyu had always gotten through everything that had been thrown at him the past 8 years.
He feels sick.
“Fuyu was working on a case and the suspect murdered him,” he explains. Tears prick his eyes but he refuses to cry. Not now. No one here needed this from him right now.
“The president had felt something with Atsushi-kun’s power shift,” Ranpo speaks up. He’s still in a state of shock, just staring without blinking. “We thought he wasn’t considered a subordinate anymore.”
The shock in the room slowly bleeds into anger as the new settles in.
“Who?” Kyouka asks, hands going for her concealed knife. “Who killed him?”
“Kisaki Tetta,” Kazutora replies, too tired to resist.
If they murdered Kisaki, who would care? He would never see the version of Takemichi that went back again. This was the timeline they had to live in, that he had to live in. If they managed to kill Kisaki? Good for all of them, really. He had caused so much damage to their lives, to his life. They killed one of the most important people in Yokohama. A lot of people wouldn’t be happy.
Kazutora hadn’t even told Ryuunosuke yet.
Hopefully Takemichi makes sure there’s a timeline where Chifuyu gets to be happy with everyone else. Draken, the twins, Mitsuya, Pah-chin, Hakkai, Mikey . His Agency family, Ryuu, everyone in Yokohama that he cared about.
Chifuyu deserves it.
-
Chapter 275/276 Timeline
Atsushi sees Kazutora in Akutagawa.
They were different, sure, but they were oh so similar. The way they got attached to people was similar. Where Baji was the most important person in Kazutora’s life, Dazai was the most important person in Akutagawa’s life. He could see that by how obsessed and jealous the brunette was. The way they reacted to everything with violence as if it was the answer to everything. Kazutora had gotten better about it after jail but it was the same. Their eyes were similar too, they had similar looks in their eyes at times.
In Kyouka he sees Yuzuha. Both were abused, Yuzuha by her older brother and Kyouka by Akutagawa. Both were protective of the people they loved, Yuzuha with Hakkai and Kyouka with Atsushi himself. They held themselves the same way, as if they could hold up the sky and still save the world, all at the same time. As if the weight of the world was solely on their shoulders. Sometimes they’d let others lighten the load (Atsushi, Hakkai, Takemichi, Kenji, Mitsuya, Kunikida), sometimes they’d shoulder it all until they broke.
In Dazai he sees a more experienced Kisaki. He still trusts Dazai, to an extent of course. The man saved him, took him in, and was his mentor. But he knows that he’s not all that he seems, just like Kisaki. He knows the man was the biggest manipulator and used it when needed and when not. He could see the same cold calculations in that man's eyes that he’d seen in Kisaki’s many times before he died. Dazai was just… more aloof, better at hiding it. Kisaki was good at hiding it too, but he was always rigid, cold. They smiled in a similar way though, like they knew everything and you knew nothing.
Oddly enough, he kind of sees Draken in Kunikida. They were vastly different personality wise, but they were both caretakers. Kunikida wasn't as outspoken but he cared a lot more than people on the outside perceived. He had his ideals he stuck to them but his friends and family were just as important to him. He took care of the others, similar to the president but in his own way. Draken was the same, he was always taking care of everyone, especially Mikey. They were both the type that people would call ‘mother hens’, even though both would hit you over saying that. They were different, but Atsushi sometimes looked at Kunikida and he saw Draken.
He sees the twins in Kenji. Kenji had Nahoya’s placating smile with Souya’s softer personality. He had hidden demons when emotions got too high like Souya but he hid it behind smiles that could rival Nahoya’s. They weren’t really the same personality wise but sometimes when Atsushi was thinking about the twin he’d think about Kenji, think of their similarities and differences, think of how they would get along, think of how they could bond over food. Even if Kenji couldn’t eat as much if he didn’t want to sleep he still loved food and so did the twins.
In Yosano he sometimes sees the Haitani’s. It was weird, he’ll admit, but it was the way they carried themselves. Yosano carried herself with grace and was good at placating people, but she wasn’t scared to be creepy and freaky, especially to assholes. Like when that man when they went shopping got pissed at Atsushi, she placated him until he implied she was a service girl and then she broke his arm. Rindou and Ran were the same in that sense, they would placate you mostly, but they would break your leg if you decided to talk shit. Plus, all three of them could be overall freaky, Yosano with her doctor stuff and Ability and the Haitani’s with how they loved to fight. All three loved to have the thrill of the fight and of your enemy’s pain coursing through their veins.
When he gets to know Gin better (after romancing her brother), he sees Senju in her. Both were badass fighters who hid their gender because it didn’t matter. They were both strong, stronger than anyone would give them credit for if they assumed they were women. They both had siblings who were… a thing and a half and they both were amazing people. Gin was kind and lit up at things she liked, Senju was nice and her eyes would sparkle when she saw something cool. They were their own people but sometimes, when Atsushi was daydreaming, he’d see Gin and he’d just… ache for Senju.
In Chuuya, oddly enough, he sees Mikey. Both were short with weird tempers. Chuuya’s was short, he’d get angry easily. Mikey’s was also short but he’d get more annoyed than angry, unless you hurt something he loved. They both had dark curses over them, Chuuya with his corruption and Mikey with his dark impulses. Of course, Mikey’s dark impulse was under control, and Chuuya couldn’t use corruption without Dazai, but they were very similar in Atsushi’s opinion. They were both leaders as well, Mikey had always been a natural leader and Chuuya was good at protecting what was his. Both were good at teaching lessons to those who didn’t get the memo and they were both some of the strongest people Atsushi knew.
Hinata, whenever she looks at Chifuyu nowadays, she sees Takemichi.
They were two different people, she knew that. But… after going back to the orphanage and then meeting the Agency, something was different with him. He was always more determined and he wouldn’t stop fighting no matter what. Maybe he just learned that from Takemichi, saw how hard he fought for a timeline for all of them to be happy and refused to let it go to waste. Maybe Chifuyu had always been like that but the trauma and PTSD he held made it hard to act like it. Whatever the case, the determination he held at all times nowadays reminded Hina of Takemichi.
-
??? Timeline
“Hina-chan, calm down please.”
Atsushi doesn’t know how he got here. He’d been having a normal workday at the office when Hina had called him. Like the good partner he is, he decided to take a break and answer the call in a more private area. IE the storage closet. When he answered, Hina had been hysterical. She still is, so he has no idea what the problem is yet.
Another sob comes through the speaker. Atsushi exaggerates his breathing, making the sounds loud, trying to get her to follow along. He can slowly hear as it works, her sobs quieting down to sniffles. Her breaths are shaky still but they're in a nice pattern, one that lets him know she’s not just panicking anymore.
“Thank you, Hina-chan,” he says appreciatively. “Can you tell me what’s the matter now?” He asks gently.
She takes in a shaky breath. “Naoto and Takemichi-kun were shot,” she whimpers. “Fuyu, they’re dead .”
…
“Hah?”
-
Bonten Timeline
“Have you ever considered getting high?”
“Atsushi-kun?” Kyouka looks up from her paperwork, surprised at the sudden question.
Atsushi looks up from his phone, blinking owlishly. He hadn’t just asked that aloud… had he? He looks around the room, noticing all the eyes on him. Well, fuck , he had then.
“I just mean-” he pauses, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “Not anything hardcore! I just have some friends who get high sometimes and I was wondering what it felt like!” And damn , that was never a sentence he ever thought he’d say out loud.
Kazutora used to get high, he was aware of that. He didn’t do it that much anymore, but sometimes he and the twins would smoke some weed when they were especially stressed. Sometimes even Hakkai would join in, he said it helped him sometimes when he had too many long nights/days thinking about Taiju.
“If you’re being safe, it can be something nice to try,” Yosano speaks up. “But you should do it with someone else there just in case.”
Atsushi chuckles. “I know, I know. My friends usually try to get me to join but I tend not to.”
He’d been thinking too much recently about Bonten, honestly. He was super stressed about it, especially since Takemichi wasn’t taking no for an answer and was still pushing. He understood it, he wanted Mikey to be happy too, but that wasn’t possible for them . Micchi was going to get himself killed. That was stressing him out a lot .
“ At-su-shi-kun ,” Dazai sings, slinking over. “I think our dear Akutagawa-kun would get high with you,” he points out, draping himself over the younger.
Atsushi sighs. “I love Ryuu but I’d rather get high with Tora. He’s more experienced.”
“Your boyfriend used to get high?” Kyouka’s tone is curious as she asks.
“Still does,” he replies, waving it all. “Not a lot, though. Tora, the twins, Hakkai-kun, Inui-kun and Draken-kun get high when they’re stressed. Usually Micchi, Hina-chan and I are the ones who make sure they don’t do any weird shit.”
“Then maybe you should try it next time!” Kenji suggests. “That way you know what it feels like!” He smiles.
Atsushi chuckles. “Yeah, Kenji-kun, maybe I will.”
-
Final Timeline
“Atsushi-kun!”
Chifuyu freezes, groaning internally. He forces a smile, turning to face the voice.
“Hi Lucy-chan!” He greets.
It’s not that Atsushi didn’t like the girl, he did . Even if she was kinda mean to him (because she had a crush on him, apparently), she was still a good person. They had had similar experiences, growing up in orphanages that abused them, so he felt a kinship with her. However that didn’t mean he necessarily wanted to see her all the time. They’d hung out the past few days a lot, Atsushi had the week off and he’d spent most of the first few days in the cafe below the Agency. He wanted to hang out with his friends still, even if they had work.
The rest of his week was reserved for partners and the like. He, Keisuke and Kazutora were out on a date before they would be heading to Mikey’s place. He was loaded now and decided he needed a mansion, in Mikey style. Most of them had their own rooms, he and his partners did, Takemichi and Hina, Hakkai and Mitsuya, Izana and Kakucho, Emma and Yuzuha, etc. And, in Mikey fashion, decided that Takemichi and Hina’s wedding was too long ago (ie, a month) and that they just had to meet up again. Hence the sleepover they were having for the rest of the week. Mikey had coordinated to make sure everyone (and when he said everyone, he meant everyone ) had the time off for it.
“Where are you heading?” The redhead asks, making small talk. She rubs her hands together, breathing into them. It’s cold out today and while she’s wearing a coat she has no gloves. Her fingers are pink and red.
“Oh, we’re on a date right now,” Atsushi explains, feeling a bit awkward. It wasn’t a secret or anything that he had 3 partners but he didn’t exactly bring Tora and Kei around the Agency. They were just two different worlds for him, two different families that didn’t really need to know each other. Yeah, Yosano and Dazai might complain that he never brings them around but he didn’t feel the need to. They knew Ryuu and Ryuu trusts Kei and Tora, what more did they need?
Lucy’s eyes widen and she looks between Tora and Kei. Keisuke is smiling smugly while Tora is smirking, head tilted.
“O-oh! I’m sorry Atsushi-kun!” She rubs the back of her neck awkwardly before excusing herself.
“You don’t have to be mean to her,” Atsushi says with a fond eye roll, elbowing both of them.
“She was interrupting our date,” Kei replies simply.
“He’s done more before, you know that,” Tora points out.
Atsushi sighs. “I know, I know,” he takes their hands again, smiling. “Let’s go to our reservation, Mikey-kun will be sad if we’re late to the sleepover because we were late to our date.”