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It was a normal day at the Agency, or at least as normal as a paranormal detective group could be, with members like Dazai, Kunikida, and the Tanizakis mingling on an everyday basis.
Atsushi decided that the fact he was still sitting at his desk, typing up a police report about the vampirism outbreak, was a good sign of future normalcy. At this point, if he had actual work to do that didn’t involve actively fighting, he’d become quite good at tuning out the chaos around him. Ranpo consuming a frightening amount of snacks, Yosano occasionally peeking out of her office with a concerning glint in her eye, Kenji giggling, Kunikida either furiously working or yelling at Dazai, and Dazai either getting yelled at, lazing around, or straight up gone. Junichiro was quiet when he was working and when Naomi wasn’t in the room.
But Atsushi could tune all of it out at this point.
Or so he thought.
He could tune out Dazai making some whining quip about having to take his dog for a walk (this was almost certainly nonsense; thinking about Dazai owning and taking care of a pet was absurd). He could tune out Kunikida’s futile complaints when Dazai strolled out the door, easily dodging a thrown pen.
However, a few moments later, there was a screech of tires outside the building and the sound of a small explosion.
Instantly Atsushi leapt to his feet, rushing over to the window. Everyone in the Agency also looked up at the sound of the noise. Except Ranpo, who was smirking and sucking on a lollipop.
Smoke and dust billowed up from the streets. There was a small crater in the middle of the road and a few skid marks. There were no cars in the area, but Atsushi could’ve sworn he saw a vehicle zipping down the street in the distance. With a frown -- this could be serious, who could have damaged that street? And why? -- he focused his tiger’s sight on the rapidly receding car -- no, it was a motorcycle. A hot pink motorcycle, atop which were…
Atsushi blinked. And blinked again.
No, there was no mistaking it. Driving the motorcycle was Chuuya Nakahara, one of the most powerful executives of the Port Mafia. And clinging to his back was… Dazai-san??
Atsushi quickly tore his gaze away from the sight. Unfortunately, Kyouka noticed this. “Did you see something?” she asked, her tone deadly serious.
“Um…” Well, it was certainly something… “I think… I think that this was from the Port Mafia. One of their executives, Chuuya Nakahara, he can, uh, manipulate gravity right?”
Kunikida frowned. “Chuuya Nakahara? If he caused this, the situation might be more serious than we thought. The Port Mafia is not a morally sound organization by any means, but it is unlike them to cause wanton destruction.”
Ranpo was now clearly trying not to laugh.
“Wellll…” Atsushi hesitated. “It also looked like Dazai-san…” Has his arms tightly wrapped around Chuuya-san's waist at a concerningly low altitude? “He’s also--”
Atsushi never got to finish his sentence because Kunikida instantly paled. “Thank you for informing me,” he said briskly. Turning to the others, the man continued, “This is code double black, you know what to do. I’ll inform the president, who may even have to contact Mori.”
Mori?? The boss of the Port Mafia?? “Um, Kunikida-san?” Atsushi squeaked out, flinching as Kunikida’s critical gaze landed on him. “What’s code double black? What’s going on?”
“Oh, it’s his first time, isn’t it.” Yosano cast Atsushi a sympathetic look. “A miracle, really, that he’s lasted so long.”
Kunikida let out a long sigh. “You’re aware that Chuuya and Dazai used to be partners, correct? Their code name was soukoku, or double black. They were the most dangerous pair in the Mafia for… a multitude of reasons.” He grimaced. “Whenever those two are within 50 feet of each other, the area is considered a safety hazard and the relative peace of Yokohama is gravely threatened.”
“But didn’t Dazai leave the Mafia to join the Agency?” Atsushi had a feeling this wasn’t a subject he should be asking questions about, but for the moment his curiosity got the better of him. “They’re no longer partners, right?”
At this, Ranpo started cackling, nearly choking on his lollipop. Kunikida cast him a disapproving look before turning back to Atsushi. “Unfortunately for us and the world as a whole, they still interact. They are rivals, mortal enemies even, and yet…” He paused, his face contorting into a variety of expressions, none of which were positive.
“...and yet, they’re inexplicably connected,” Yosano finished for Kunikida. “I heard rumors amongst the Mafia that soukoku apparently had a near telepathic understanding during missions. Dazai and Chuuya are and, for better or worse, always will be soukoku.”
The room seemed to grow five degrees chillier at the prospect.
Atsushi could understand the concept of a mortal enemy. Just thinking about Akutagawa made his blood boil, especially the thought of having to work with the mafioso. But that still didn’t explain… “So did Chuuya-san kidnap Dazai-san?”
This only made Ranpo laugh harder, making Atsushi feel like there was something he was really missing here. But it was Kunikida who responded reluctantly, and with much pain, “No. Chuuya came and picked Dazai up.”
Silence, filled only with Ranpo finally getting a hold of himself and opening another package of chips.
Then another distant explosion rattled the windows, and Atsushi could see another plume of smoke rising farther away. None of the agency members seemed surprised, though Kunikida was obviously seconds away from blowing up.
Tentatively, Atsushi tried, “Should… should we do anything about it?”
Junichiro sighed. “It's practically a suicide mission, trying to do anything about the two. Fortunately they shouldn't cause too much destruction, and normally the worst casualty is severe psychological scarring as opposed to physical violence.”
Atsushi forced himself not to ask, because he had the feeling he really didn't want to know based on the expressions of everyone around him. Instead he glanced back outside, the chaos too distant for even his tiger's sight to make out. But there was one lurking question that he figured was safe enough… “Er, Kunikida-san?” He flinched when the man whipped around to face him. “Um, so, are Dazai-san and Chuuya-san, uh, friends?”
It was Ranpo who answered. “They're friends in the same way you and Akutagawa are.” Atsushi bristled at the comment. “And in the way Naomi and Junichiro here are siblings.” Junichiro flushed, and Naomi simply giggled.
Atsushi decided he didn't want to deduce what exactly Ranpo meant.
He didn't regret cutting off that line of questioning, especially when Dazai waltzed back into the Armed Detective Agency that night sporting multiple subtle injuries. For once, Yosano steered clear of him. For once, Kunikida didn't get on Dazai's case for blowing off work and leaving on a whim. For once, Junichiro and Naomi stayed quiet for more than a minute.
Of course, that may have been because Dazai was dragging a certain irritated, drunk redhead behind him to his Agency dorm.
Atsushi decided he was going to find somewhere else to sleep tonight.