Chapter Text
The night's rumblings of thunder heralded trouble. But this time not for the whole world, but only, for the Armed Detective Agency.
While the world was recovering from the unfortunate end of the world, Fukuzawa and the other members of the organization were waiting for the appearance of a man who would disturb their usual order of business.
The agency's office was suspiciously silent. The silence was broken only by the music on his headphones and the humming of Dazai, who was relaxed on the sofa by the window. He waved his arms occasionally, as if dancing to the beat of the tune.
- How can you be so calm? - Kunikida took off Dazai's headphones, but he answered him with a disgruntled look that said without words, "You know how to ruin a vacation. - I don't understand how you can be calm when you know that Mori Ogai is going to show up here any minute now and take one of us into the Mafia," Kunikida grumbled again. He was understandable, though, as it was unlikely that anyone from the Bureau of Investigation would want to go over to the enemy's side.
- He'll take it and give it back, – Dazai joked.
But looking at him, it was only now becoming clear that he was just as worried as the others. After all, Mori could have taken him back so that the brown-haired man could take the place of Mafia boss that he had originally been groomed for. After all, he had once been Mori-san's right-hand man.
There was some noise from the back of the door, followed by a steady but not insistent knock. The door opened, the black handmade cane the first to pass the threshold. The knock was not to allow entry, but rather to announce that the long-awaited guest was already there. Heavy footsteps mingled with the almost frantic tapping of the cane.
Everyone was distracted from their business, directing their gaze to the man in the black coat who entered. The only one looking at the Mafia boss in surprise was Sigma; this was their first meeting.
- I see you've been expecting me, – Mori broke the silence first, taking a chair near the table where Fukuzawa was sitting.
- Actually, we were hoping you'd change your mind and not come... – Dazai didn't get a chance to finish because he was interrupted by Fukuzawa.
- Dazai! Mori, let's get right down to business, we're listening to you, – Yukichi obviously wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible, because he knew he shouldn't drag out unpleasant conversations, just as he knew that he had to take responsibility for his choices and actions. After all, the Director of the Bureau of Investigation was a man of his word.
Many assumed that Mori's choice would fall on either Dazai or Tiger. But Ogai was well aware that if he took Osama against his will, there would only be two outcomes: he would either run away again, or he would run away again, destroying everything Mori had spent years building, sacrificing his men, his desires, and more. Atsushi might have been a good option; it's a privilege for the Mafia, considering that Atsushi's cooperation with Akutagawa was a good bargaining chip in the hands of the Mafia Boss.
But here again, there was one not big, but huge nuance. Taking someone who had been with the Bureau for a long time could be compared to taking someone under your wing who could... or rather, one clever guy could have talked the Agency into keeping the Mafia in the loop. It was easier to take someone who hadn't yet gotten into the atmosphere of the Detective Bureau. Someone who's new to them.
- You're right. I don't think we should drag this out. Still, I'll need to bring my new subordinate up to speed with the organization, – Ogai seemed completely calm. He pointed his hand at Sigma and then continued: - I choose him.
Everyone present was extremely surprised, but Sigma was the most surprised, yes so much so that he jumped up from his seat and directly asked: - Why me?
The situation was causing a sense of deja vu not only for the new former Bureau employee, but also for Dazai, bringing him back to the events in the prison.
Sigma wondered if this time he would be given an immediate answer as to why he had been chosen over the others, or if he would have to drown in speculation and mystery once again. After all, Mori is the man who had a hand in Dazai's development as a person.
And, most likely, the brown-haired man had adopted some of Ogai's traits. Yukichi was as curious about the answer as anyone else, so all eyes went from Mori to Shigma and back again.
- I don't think there's any need to explain my choices to you, – Mori replied with a sigh. - We're leaving, Sigma.
Ogai got up from his chair, adjusted his coat and walked to the door, waiting for Sigma. However, the boy didn't realize what he should do. He looked questioningly at Fukuzawa, but the latter only nodded approvingly in response. Allowing him to leave with the Mafia boss.
Now everyone was already looking questioningly at the Director of the Detective Bureau. But no one dared to object or comment on the situation. So the gray-haired man simply repeated, this time in his voice: -Sigma, you can go.
At first he wanted to look at the newly joined but already former employee of the Armed Detective Agency, but he didn't have the conscience, so he pretended to look at the documents.
Sigma, on the other hand, stepped back from his desk, sadness enveloping him.
"Is it again...am I stepping on the same rake again...Dazai is smart, so he definitely knew about the arrangement. And that's why he might have specifically offered me a job in the Agency..." - Sigma pondered.
- Can I at least pack my things? - he asked, feeling once again like a used puppet in someone else's hands.
- You won't need them, – Ogai replied calmly, glancing at his wristwatch, indicating that he wasn't eager to linger. Perhaps under other circumstances he would have stayed to chat with Yukichi or Dazai, but not now. After all, there really was a lot to do. Yokohama was not going to get better on its own.
Shigma looked at everyone with a sad look. Wouldn't anyone say a word? Indeed, no one said anything, at least in the presence of Mori and Sigma.
The former manager of the Celestial Casino approached the head of the Mafia, to which the latter first nodded approvingly, and then turning to Funikida, bowed his head in respect.
When they left the Detective Bureau building, the silence was broken first by Sigma, repeating the question he had asked earlier.
- Why did you choose me and not someone else? - The kid still could not understand why they had chosen him. Was he really just an easy target?
- In fact, it's simple, – Mori replied to his new subordinate. But Sigma only froze in place, looking at Ogai with incomprehension. - Don't worry, once we arrive at the Port Mafia headquarters, I'll explain everything to you," the man replied calmly, looking over his shoulder at Sigma. He seemed to be in a good mood. They continued on their way to their destination.
The answer Sigma had received earlier gave him time to think things over before all the cards were revealed. But he also wondered, "Why did I even go with him in the first place? Of course, if I had refused, it would have brought trouble to the Agency, but I could have left them just as well, but not to the Mafia... Once again I feel like a puppet that keeps getting pulled by the strings, telling me exactly how to dance... Except that the puppeteers keep changing, and I keep being a rag doll in everyone's hands.