Chapter Text
PROLOGUE
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It was like any normal lunchtime at the godforsaken Armed Detective Agency headquarters. Kyoka and Atsushi were eating their lunch inside due to their lack of funds, Kenji was staring at a plant, his mind in Do Not Disturb mode, and Ranpo was playing a new game on his Nintendo DS. Kunikida was working away, his diligent yet mildly exhausted mind typing up his ideals on his computer. This, unfortunately, is due to Dazai’s mischievous schemes in which his notebook full of his ideals manages to play a significant role in every single one of the antics.
A few hours pass… no sign of Dazai. Strange, Kunikida thinks to himself as his eyes narrow in contemplation. Usually, he would be beaming at the literal thought of aggravating me. Whatever, I guess.
And… of course. Five minutes before overtime starts, stupid Dazai barges in with all of his enthusiastic laziness.
“Kuuuniiiiiiikiiiiiiidaaaaa~” Dazai calls out in a sing-song manner, his voice echoing throughout the mildly cramped office.
Of course. I should’ve known, thinks Kunikida, looking ten times more weary at the sight of Dazai and pinching the bridge of his nose. Oh well. Work is practically over anyways, and it’s been an incredibly efficient day without having Dazai to look after. He might as well go home and enjoy a completely Dazai-less workday.
“Tsk… you look like such a grump today. Well, don’t get your panties in a twist. I’ve got plans after this little meetup with my favorite pug-looking coworker right here~!”
Dazai pinches Kunikida’s cheeks like a grandma to a five-year-old child, moving them from side to side just to provoke the other Agency member a little bit further.
“And where have you been all day, huh?!” says Kunikida, breaking away from him. “You’ve got a boatload of work waiting for you! And I’m not letting you leave until you finish!”
In reality, Dazai hasn’t exactly been in the tip-top shape that he presents himself in. He was resting at his apartment complex, wanting to get away from the trouble of being on the run from the enemies and foes the Armed Detective Agency has gone up against.
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FLASHBACK
Dazai is lying on his bed, his gaze dull and dim as he curls himself up further in his blankets.
“Hrgh…” He shifts in his position.
Later on, still before coming to the Agency, he manages to get ready sluggishly. His gaze is devoid of any excitement, or even human expression. He uncharacteristically frowns to himself as he splashes water onto his face, tilting his head up in mild exhaustion.
“God, you look stupid. Damn moron…” Dazai grumbles to himself as he grabs his authentic beige coat.
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PRESENT TIME
“Seriously, what have you been doing all day? You didn’t even respond to my call this morning!”
“I was… busy.” Dazai replies shortly, his demeanor stiff despite his mildly strained smirk. “Busy with stuff you wouldn’t, or shouldn’t, give a damn about.”
“Yeah, like going on a date, or dying, I bet. Actually, just get to work!”
“Whatever.” Dazai scoffs under his breath, attempting to do his work with an unreadable expression.
Dazai is doing his work, thinks Kunikida suspiciously. Even stranger. Did something happen…?
Dazai slams his computer shut with thinly veiled frustration and walks out of the office like nothing ever happened.
Yes, something definitely happened. As much as he wants to go home and deal with Dazai later, it doesn’t seem like he spent his day skipping work as usual.
“Wait, Dazai!” shouts Kunikida, walking quickly to catch up with him.
“Hmph.” Dazai frowns behind the figure of his back, shaking his head as he walks away from the Armed Detective Agency towards his apartment.
Kunikida manages to sprint up to Dazai, breathing heavily under his breath as he puts a firm hand on his coworker’s shoulder.
“Listen… just answer me this. Alright?”
A beat of silence.
“Just… What's going on? What happened? I swear, I can help yo-”
“No, you can’t.” Dazai retorts in an uncharacteristically firm manner, a scowl forming on his face. Kunikida has never, ever seen him this way.
“Nothing can change what’s happened. Nothing! Don’t you get it?! The people we, as the Agency, have harmed along the way of doing our jobs…”
“But-”
“No buts, alright?!” Dazai lets out a brief exhale, chuckling humorlessly before continuing once again, his gaze cold, dark and hard.
“Are you Doppo Kunikida because you’re an Armed Detective Agency member…”
“...Or are you an Armed Detective Agency member because you’re Doppo Kunikida?”
“...” Kunikida is left shocked and speechless, as if all the breath in his lungs just escaped out of his body after that mere sentence. His eyes are wide with shock and mild anger at Dazai’s gall.
“...I’m done with this injustice, Kunikida. Port Mafia members are still humans too.”
Dazai walks away once and for all.
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CHAPTER 1
Three years have passed since Kunikida’s met Dazai’s gaze after that moment.
The Guild is dismantled… but the Port Mafia is still the Agency’s most formidable enemy organization.
It’s late afternoon, but due to some heavy rain, it’s a dark and dreary day. Kunikida and Fukuzawa are on their way to a secret governmental meeting regarding the Mafia’s recent atrocities.
Fukuzawa clears his throat, his stern yet not unkind gaze befalling the people inside of the room.
“Everybody… it has come to my attention that the Mafia’s crime rate has been steadily increasing in the past few months. It is my belief that this is attributable to a change in the Mafia’s ranks.” Murmurs and whispers float around the room. He continues.
“It appears that a new Executive has risen up. The Mori group remains as powerful as ever. It is clear that this new Executive is yet another ability user, and a dangerous one at that. The Agency will continue business with the utmost precaution.”
Kunikida keeps his head hung low, his expression one of deep contemplation once again.
It’s not that I didn’t know about this, but… considering the circumstances, it couldn’t be… I’m sure the Seventh Agency has a lead on who it is, and-
A representative for the Seventh Agency steps up to the podium; Ango Sakaguchi.
He adjusts his glasses. “We have zero intel on the true identity of this new Executive. They’ve either only been staying in Mafia territory, or haven't left the Port Mafia headquarters for any missions yet.”
Hm. Or they’re afraid of being recognized… No. I need to stop considering these ridiculous theori-
“The new Executive, though, is a brunette. We caught a singular clip from hacking one of the weaker mainframes in the firewalls of their surveillance systems.”
“Male or female?” asks Fukuzawa.
“Impossible to discern. They were dressed in dark clothing and had a large collar. But it seemed they had something covering their face, like a bandage.”
Oh my god… no.
Fukuzawa continues, his gaze solemn and professionally composed, hiding his doubts and concerns about who the culprit is.
“This mission should require at least two Detective Agency members on the case, any less would be insufficient to collect any important evidence as to who this anomaly is.”
Ango looks skeptical. “Only two? Now, Fukuzawa, I certainly don’t mean to insinuate the Agency would be unable to gather sufficient information, but neither your group nor mine has any sort of lead on who this figure may be. Considering how Mori chooses his executives, it’s probable that this could be a dangerous skill user.”
Fukuzawa clears his throat, not wanting to admit that his judgment was merely clouded by suspicions and future, plausible ideas.
“Very well. How many agents would you suggest, Sakaguchi?”
“Or…” Ango continues, pushing up his glasses slightly, “do you mean to imply the Agency has obtained information about this figure that the government is unaware of? In which case, I trust your judgement. But personally, I would take at least four capable Agency personnel.”
Fukuzawa’s composure does not falter in the slightest. He nods, letting out a small, inaudible sigh.
“Well, I have mentioned all of the information that we have in our grasp, but it is done. Four Agency members of the government’s choosing shall be recruited on said mission to collect information about this anomalous figure, starting tomorrow.”
Ango nods. “Certainly. Though, I must admit that you, Fukuzawa, would naturally be more capable of choosing the most suitable agents. May I propose for us both to draw up a proposal, and then confer before immediately starting the mission?”
Fukuzawa raises a slight, skeptical eyebrow. “I was merely going on the idea that you wanted to choose who went on the mission, being you doubted two Agents minimum would be enough for the trip, but I understand.”
He crosses his arms in contemplation before speaking again.
“Let us debrief again and come up with answers tomorrow.”
“Yes. With that, this meeting is adjourned. Your presence was greatly appreciated, Fukuzawa, as well as you, Kunikida. If I may say so myself, I think you, of all the current Agency employees, would be among the most qualified to undergo this mission.”
Kunikida stiffens at his name being called out so suddenly.as adjusts his glasses before speaking, a nervous habit of his.
“I appreciate the idea of me being the most recalled Agent to be assigned onto this mission. I’ll go if Fukuzawa would want me on the mission as well, of course.”
Ango nods. “Well, I truly value your presence here today. It seems to me that you are well informed with the Agency’s and the government’s involvement with Mafia affairs. To tell the truth, that’s why I thought you were a good choice; that’s what I meant by that statement. So…” Ango smiles slightly. “Thank you for that. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Ango stands and begins to take his leave.
Kunikida raises an eyebrow in a variety of emotions, a stark one in the mixture being his surprise.
Did he just…?
Alas, Kunikida has never been hit on. His mouth is mildly dropped as his gaze watches Ango leave the room, giving him the unwanted time to think this over. He frowns when he realizes that he could have asked Dazai about this if he was still here.