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“It’s too quiet…” Kunikida mutters in his head, his eyes scanning the room once more just to make sure he isn’t imagining things. “What’s going on?”
The silence is one of the strangest things Kunikida has ever experienced in the office. Ranpo hasn’t complained about snacks once and has no demands for more. Yosano’s office, usually filled with screams from unlucky patients that could scare even the bravest person ever alive, is completely quiet. The Tanizaki siblings are out with Chuuya to buy coffee for everyone, leaving him stuck with the one coworker he hates working with the most. But what unsettles him more than anything else is the sight before him: his troublesome partner actually doing paperwork.
Not a single joke, tease, or prank comes from the Dazai at all. It’s too strange, too wrong. Maybe, Kunikida continues thinking with a frown, he’s just dreaming. He stayed up too late at night, and the lack of sleep could be playing tricks on him. Yes, that must be it. The thought of Dazai showing up early to work and actually doing his job, instead of causing trouble, could put anyone in disbelief.
“Kunikida, you’ve been staring at me this whole time,” Dazai comments, turning his attention to the other man. “Is there something on my face?”
“No—”
“Then you should get back to work, no slacking off, you know?” The brunette lets out a smile, one that Kunikida does not take kindly to.
That was it. To hear those words from someone like Dazai—someone who has never once worked like a proper employee since the day he joined—was unbearable. Without realizing it, the blond man snaps the pen in his hand, confirming that the moment is real. If only there were someone to stop him from throwing Dazai across the hall and out of the window. Because if Chuuya doesn’t act on his words to kill this man someday, Kunikida would gladly take over that with pleasure.
Kunikida is only a step away from action, yet he hesitates. He refuses to ruin this quiet, peaceful morning. No matter how irritating Dazai is, sometimes it’s better not to care about his existence; some battles aren’t worth the effort. Ignorance is the key for him to try to make the most of this day.
“CHUUYA GOT KIDNAPPED!”
“WHAT?” Kunikida screams, leaping to his feet due to the loud bang of the door when the woman hits it against the wall before her shocking announcement. “What happened? Are you injured?”
“N-no…I’m fine,” Haruno says quickly, shaking her head as she tries to catch her breath.“I ran into Chuuya and others when I was out. However, we were attacked by the Port Mafia.”
Dazai stops his track, his eyes darkening at the mention of the enemy organization. “What about Tanizaki and Naomi?”
“We're here,” Naomi answers, holding on to her brother by the shoulder. “We tried to stop them, but it was too late.”
“So that slug did get kidnapped. And here I was, messing up with his reports to see his reaction.”
Kunikida knew it. There is no way Dazai would actually do his work properly. He should just kill that bandaged man after.
“Dazai, this isn't the time to play around.”
Just when the blond man thinks his peaceful day might last a little longer, something terrible happens to ruin it. He blames every problem on earth, both his own and everyone else’s, on Dazai.
—
Chuuya’s brow furrows as the clock ticks by, each second dragging in the interrogation room. He is not familiar with a setting like this; usually, he is the one playing the role of interrogator, not the other way around. He is more than capable of escaping on his own, even in dangerous situations, but not this time. Port Mafia has Black Lizard gang and thousands of men guarding outside, their eyes constantly tracking his every movement. He knows it would take a fight to get free, and even he cannot do that alone. He needs backup. The redhead sits still, forcing himself to wait longer for the Agency to come for his rescue.
“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Chuuya.” The gentle, low voice of the older man carries through the room as he settles into the chair across from him, a little girl standing quietly behind. “I hope you didn’t wait too long for me.”
“What honor do I owe to have the Port Mafia boss himself show up here?”
The older man chuckles lightly and lifts his hand. At the gesture, Elise steps forward to place a steaming cup of tea before him, then another in front of Chuuya. “For a small talk, of course. I can’t know how my former employee is doing?”
The redhead feels both curiosity and caution rising within him. What on earth is the Port Mafia boss planning? Could this be another attempt by Mori to lure him back into the Mafia, just like when he was younger? That man had already made a similar offer to Dazai not too long ago, so it is possible Chuuya could be facing the same. Or perhaps he wants information about the Detective Agency. Either way, whatever Mori wants can only benefit himself and his organization.
“Please just get straight to the damn point,” Chuuya crosses his arms. “If you plan to get any information about the Detective Agency from me, you’re out of luck.”
Mori lets out a sigh, “Same as always, I see that you haven’t changed.” The Port Mafia boss rests his chin on his folded hands, his gaze fixed on Chuuya. “This is not about your organization. More of a personal thing, an offer from me.”
“I am not interested in coming back to the Port Mafia.” The redhead denies.
“Oh my? How did you manage to guess my second question before I even asked it? I must say, I’m impressed.”
Elise bursts into laughter, amused at how easily the boss is rejected not once, but twice. “You’re just too easy to read,” she says before turning on her heel, “I’ll go ahead and wait outside for you. Don’t be late, I still need my sweets.”
Her words make the older man wince, letting out a soft “ouch” before turning his attention back to Chuuya once she leaves. “I simply wish to know about Dazai. Tell me everything you know about that boy.” His tone carries the weight of a command.
“I ain’t snitching on him.”
As much as Chuuya hates Dazai like anyone else, he will not let that hatred get to him or make him reveal anything important about the bandaged man. Even the smallest piece of information in Mori’s hands could be used as blackmail and put Dazai in serious trouble. If that happens, the Detective Agency would be placed in grave danger.
The redhead won’t let Mori try to harm the people he cares about. He cannot allow that to happen, so he’d protect Dazai—
“How about a date with my dear subordinate Atsushi?”
“Deal.”
—
“Mr. Chuuya? You’re back already?” Kenji asks, his eyes widening in surprise when he sees the redhead back safely, the boy quickly follows up with the question everyone in the office (except Ranpo) wants to know. “How?”
“See? That’s why I told you all to wait, he’d come back eventually.” Ranpo yawns, lazily pulling another lollipop from his drawer. “So, how was the meeting with the Port Mafia boss?”
“It was alright, we talked for a bit, and then he let me go,” Chuuya replies, going straight to his desk.
Kunikida lets out a relieved sigh, “You had us worried sick. Glad to see you’re back in one piece.”
As everyone drifts back to their own tasks, Dazai trails after Chuuya, stopping beside his desk. Leaning close, he whispers, “What did Mori tell you?”
“Nothing important.”
“Ah, so he did offer you an invite to come back to the Port Mafia as well.”
Chuuya shoots him a glare, “If you knew all along, why fucking bother asking?”
“Because I know you are hiding something, aren’t you? I can smell it all over you.” The brunette remembers the moment Chuuya walked back in, a bright smile tugging at his lips, like a fool who had just won the lottery, before it vanished in an instant, hidden away behind a neutral expression. The others didn’t manage to see that, but he did. Dazai knows Chuuya didn’t accept Mori’s offer, so why the smile?
Chuuya doesn’t snap back like he usually would. Instead, he reaches into his coat pocket and drops a small packet onto Dazai’s desk. “Can’t hide shit from you. Here, crab jelly candies. Don’t say I never do anything nice to you.”
Dazai blinks, confusion flickering across his face. “You’re… giving this to me?”
Could this be what Chuuya is hiding? Still, it doesn’t make sense.
“DAZAI!!! If you have nothing to do but bother Chuuya, I suggest you do your work!” Kunikida’s voice booms across the office.
Reluctantly, the brunette returns to his seat, though his eyes keep drifting toward the redhead. And then he sees it again. That same smile appears on Chuuya’s face as he glances at his phone, before slipping it away, then doing his paperwork. Dazai’s brow furrows. Chuuya being nice to him and looking happy all afternoon like an idiot?
Dazai knows Chuuya is on to something with Mori, but he can’t prove it yet.
—
“Boss, I’m here upon your request,” Atsushi says, handing Mori a stack of papers. “Here is the report for the last mission, just as you ordered.”
“Excellent work, Atsushi.” The Port Mafia boss takes the papers with a pleased hum, scanning the pages in his hand. “For today’s mission, you must go on a blind date.”
“Yes, I underst—” Atsushi stops, jaw dropping for a minute. “Wait, a what now? Why me?”
Mori doesn’t even look up. His tone stays the same. “You have a blind date to attend.” He places the papers on his desk, and he adds more with a smile. “An old acquaintance of mine would like to meet you. I can guarantee you will have a great time with him. I sent the location to your phone, so I suggest you get there right away!”
Atsushi notices something off about his boss; the man seems a little too eager to match him with someone. But it’s not like he can say anything about it. At least this mission doesn’t sound too complicated. “Yes, boss.”
“Buy me a cake too when you get there.”
—
Atsushi hadn’t expected to go on a blind date before; he thought it usually occurred in those romance novels Kyouka likes to read in her free time. Yet here he is, sitting in a bakery shop, and across from him is an acquaintance of his boss—a handsome one. He wishes his boss had told him more about the guy; now he feels underdressed for this date.
“You like your cake?”
Atsushi nods after finishing his slice of matcha cake. “Yes, this is really good.”
“I’m glad,” Chuuya says, feeling a strong sense of joy when he observes the mafioso.
Atsushi is really cute. He looks just as cute as the first time Chuuya saw him at the Port Mafia party; he’s sure the younger man didn’t really remember him that night, but he did. Those beautiful heterochromic eyes are memorable. He would have approached him that day, but thanks to a certain suicidal man, he missed that chance.
“You don’t like sweets? You haven’t eaten anything yet.”
“I do like them,” Chuuya smirks, “I’ve already got something so sweet in front of me.”
Atsushi feels embarrassed by the redhead’s flirting. “This isn’t fair, Chuuya.” The mafioso pouts, reminding the other about the number of boxes of cakes on the table. “You already paid for our date, even buying extra for me. I feel bad. ”
“Don’t be,” Chuuya leans his cheek against his hand, a smirk tugging at his lips. “What can I say? I like spoiling a cute guy like you.”
Atsushi blushes. “Next time, I’ll pay for our date.”
The moment Atsushi agrees to see him again, Chuuya feels like the luckiest man on earth, as if he has just won a golden ticket to the grandest prize in a lottery. “Of course! I’m looking forward to that.”