Chapter Text
ATSUSHI’S POV
Again, same thing that happened last time Atsushi was stuck in the Agency hearing Baykko yapp about her ways of ‘affection’ towards his friends…
“Oh how i wish we can bite his dear head off!~” Baykko exclaimed as she adored the agency's baby (Kenji), Atsushi stayed quiet and finished ‘his’ paperwork.. Even though Dazai left his paperwork to Atsushi it always seemed easy… Atsushi always thought that they would at least give his mentor HIS level of work (although he swears he saw more paperwork at Dazai’s desk than usual) ANYWAYS back to the main character here. Atsushi got up and walked over to Dazai’s desk and handed him the paperwork(s) “Here Dazai-san! I finished your* paperwork” Atsushi said as Dazai (as a good mentor he is) took off his headphones “oh! Thank you At~su~shi~” His mentor said in the same old sing-song voice as he took his legs off of his messy desk… and as Atsushi turned to leave he saw The Matchless Poet, talking to Baykko… Right next to Dazai was No Longer human, what was weird was compared to the rest of the abilities Atsushi had, No longer human was pretty short… not like Atsushi is gonna tell him tho- currently the only person (Atsushi guessed) that probably knows that he can see others ability was most likely only Ranpo… scratch that he wouldn’t tell… right?
DAZAI’S POV
“Atsushi has been acting weird ever since that one mission” Dazai thought as he was humming his favorite tune… Kunikida was again grumbling on the next desk “how annoying” dazai thought.. Dazai might look lazy but his mind was going on every second… “he’s been always glancing at random things… behind people- hmm…” Dazai continued to think on and on… he was extremely tired after staying up last night doing all the reports before he could get any free time… mainly one reason why he hasn't been fired. Anyways, after a while of ‘lazying’ around there was a knock on the Agency's door…
No one stood up at that time, Kunikida looked at dazai “get that door you lazy bandage machine!-”
“oh dear!~ making ME do all the work here?~” Dazai stood up dramatically complaining but still going to open the door, behind him he heard Kunikida grumble “like you do ANY work at all”
Oh! how his acting improved year by year!
Dazai reached to unlock the door.
ATSUSHI POV
Atsushi was busy finishing the last bits of his paperwork for the week when he heard the knock on the door… no one stood up to get it- how… awkward, then Kunikida suddenly yelled at Dazai to “get the door you useless bandage machine!!”... No Longer Human growled (or something like that) behind Dazai as he said something on the lines of “why does everybody give me the work” or something, Atsushi personally couldn't care less, No Longer Human acted even more mad when they say who was at the other side of the door. Baykko also noticed the slight change… Akutagawa was on the other side, Dazai beamed… No Longer Human did not.
“oh! one of my fav's are here!!!~”
dazai exclaimed loudly and proudly based on how Akutagawa smiled slightly then turned serious after a few seconds it was quite clear that Dazai said that wasn't often.
“Now, now!~ what brings you here?”
Unlike the Dazai tone No longer human looked pissed “I say that kid would be very tasty… why would NLG ever hate him?” Baykko said beside Atsushi. When did she come here? never mind that (first translation for Baykko she does in fact like Akutagawa and his ability ALOT)
A few minutes passed and Akutagawa was just here on Chuuya's behalf to tell Dazai some news on Fyodor, a current big threat.
and ALSO since Atagawa was there Baykko was extremely petty. “You’re slouching,” she commented, her voice echoing in his head. “Stand straighter. You represent me, you know.”, “I represent myself,” Atsushi muttered under his breath while walking through the Armed Detective Agency hallway.
He could see her now—not fully, not like a person, but like a pale white outline draped over his shoulders. It had happened three days ago on a routine mission. One moment everything was normal, the next—snap—it was like the world peeled back a layer. Abilities weren’t just effects anymore. They hovered. Watched. Reacted.
Atsushi hated it.
“Ah, Atsushi-kun~!” Dazai’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He flinched before he could stop himself.
Baykko growled. “Bandages. I wonder what's under them.”, “That makes two of us,” Atsushi whispered.
Dazai leaned halfway over his desk, eyes bright with fake curiosity. “You’ve been jumpier than usual. Bad dreams?” Atsushi glanced past him- and froze. Behind Dazai stood No Longer Human.
Not tall. Not imposing. just. A silhouette made of absence, edges blurring like it refused to be noticed. Where Baykko was warm and sharp and alive, this thing felt cold.
And it was staring right at him.
Atsushi swallowed.
“I’m fine,” he said, forcing his eyes back to Dazai’s face. No Longer Human tilted its head. Baykko bristled. “It’s looking at me.” Please don’t start something, Atsushi begged internally.
Across the room, Kunikida slammed his notebook shut. “Dazai! Stop bothering him and do your work.” “Oh, how cruel~” Dazai sighed dramatically, but he didn’t move.
Instead, he leaned closer. “You know,” he murmured, “sometimes when people survive something big, they change in ways they don’t notice.”
Atsushi’s heart skipped.
Behind Dazai, No Longer Human stretched—just slightly—and for a split second, Atsushi felt pressure. Like his chest was being gently pressed inward.
Baykko snarled, placing herself squarely between Atsushi and the shadow.
“Back off,” she warned.
No Longer Human didn’t move.
But it smiled.
Atsushi stepped back so fast he nearly tripped.
Dazai straightened immediately. “Whoa, careful there, tiger.”
“…Dazai-san,” Atsushi said shakily, “your ability—”
He stopped himself.
Too late.
Dazai’s eyes sharpened.
“My ability?” he echoed lightly.
The room felt quieter.
Baykko hissed. “You weren’t supposed to say that.”
Atsushi clenched his fists.
This is bad.
Very, very bad.