Vol. 5
Ch. 7
Whether a Human or Monster the Mask Fits the Same At Times
"Good day, Ryou," the older man said, respectfully.
"Tch," Ryou's eyes flashed and he got into a defensive stance immediately, as the door swung shut behind the steel-eyed samurai. "This is kidnapping! Let me go!"
The older man—Fukuzawa— shook his head apologetically. "I'm sorry that it's come to this," he sounded genuinely regretful but this made Ryou's blood only boil. All adults ever wanted to do was to control him!
"Hey, why don't you just stay out of my business?" He asked, irritated. "Even if you're the president of the ADA, I don't owe you any of my time!"
"Your business has put some important colleagues of mine in harm's way," Fukuzawa pointed out, patiently.
"Fine! I won't target them anymore," Ryou snapped, "happy? Now let me go!"
Fukuzawa shook his head again. "I'm sorry," he said again.
Ryou grit his teeth. "You keep saying, 'sorry, sorry,' but I don't think you know what that means," he spit at the older man.
Fukuzawa eyed this volatile young boy. He was deeply troubled. He was reminded in a foil sort of way of when he'd first met Oda, as well as Ranpo. But the difference here from those other two was this boy had a genuine lack of caring or emotion. While Odasaku as a young teen had been a bit of a shell, he had still somehow helped Fukuzawa save Ranpo's life back then. And while Ranpo could be childish and tantrumed easily, Fukuzawa knew that his heart was always in the right place, even if he could be a dense socially awkward moron most of the time.
But this kid?
No… the way this child was glaring at him, only told Fukuzawa one thing and it made his heart both sink and twist at the same time. This kid was incapable of changing his ways…just like Ranpo had predicted. Fukuzawa knew Alu wanted to prove Ranpo wrong, and on some level, Fukuzawa had stayed tight lipped and on the fence about his own opinion on the matter regarding whether or not it was worth it to spend time saving this boy from whatever darkness was consuming him slowly, but it would appear that once again, Ranpo's deduction was spot-on.
"My apologies," Fukuzawa corrected himself, "it's not my intention to rile you up…please calm down."
Ryou huffed, still wary, but he was sharp as well. Fukuzawa coming here must be at the behest of that optimistic fox-girl. "Did she send you?" He asked, curious.
Fukuzawa blinked. He was a bit surprised at Ryou's sudden direct shift to wanting to have a conversation. It was a bit like whiplash, but Fukuzawa decided not to look this gift horse in the mouth. "She is worried about you," Fukuzawa admitted.
"Then why doesn't she come here herself?" Ryou asked, irritated.
"I wanted to speak with you," Fukuzawa admitted.
The boy wrinkled his nose in confusion. "You?" He scoffed. "What the hell do you want to talk about?"
Fukuzawa sighed. This boy had a temper and a mouth it would seem. "Do you know where you are?"
Ryou scowled. "A prison?" He snarkily replied.
Fukuzawa sighed. The boy wasn't exactly incorrect but it was more than that. "This is a correctional facility for troubled youth," he stated.
Ryou blinked. "Huh?" He answered, dumbly. "Troubled? Me?" He sounded offended.
"It was either this…or facing arrest with charges at the hands of The Division for Unusual Powers," Fukuzawa admitted.
"Hah," Ryou rolled his eyes, "Arrest? On what charges?"
Fukuzawa sighed. "Assault and Battery, for one," he said calmly.
Ryou scoffed, "That was self defense! You can't prove the other side wasn't dangerous!"
Fukuzawa paused.
The boy did actually raise a good point. Besides the witness account that Yosano gave, it would be hard to prove that a few children and one woman were somehow more dangerous than two fully grown men with clear ties to gang street violence of some level. Fukuzawa decided to change his approach, wanting the boy to understand that he—the ADA— and the DOUP, weren't just here to throw the boy completely behind bars.
"I've come to offer you a plea deal," he stated.
Ryou blinked. "I did nothing wrong, old man, so why should I have to enter into a bargain with you for my freedom?" He coldly snapped, eyes a stormy grey.
Fukuzawa sighed, again.
He was trying to be patient for Alu's sake. He knew that this wasn't what she would want for the boy. While she was recovering and currently indisposed, Fukuzawa had decided to come in her place… not to prove Ranpo wrong but to try to alleviate some of the damage that this boy's choices were going to have on him. On this current path, it would only have a negative effect on his quality of life if he kept this up.
"You're an ability user who already has attempted trafficking of both drugs and children on Japanese soil as a foreign entity," Fukuzawa stated calmly, "We have good information confirming that your company, Adzuki Industries, runs on the surface as a simple shipping company but really makes its money on offshore accounts and illegal smuggling practices," he confirmed, his own silver-blue eyes staring back at the boy.
He hoped that the boy would realize that it was better not to fight in this case—especially since Fukuzawa wanted to see this child come off this path of darkness for their own sake. Ryou rolled his eyes. "I'll bet you got all that from making a plea deal with my subordinate you captured," he spit at Fukuzawa like an angry cat.
Fukuzawa sighed. This boy was very sharp. It was a shame he was so thick-skinned as well.
"That's correct," he said, eyeing Ryou.
Ryou grit his teeth.
It would seem there were very few people he could trust after all. He felt a bit of a pang, because that red lightning user was actually a friend…or had been. Apparently he had betrayed them in the end after all. It made sense why he didn't come back and why Yari had such a hard time trying to find him. "Tch," he said, before his angry expression smoothed over. He smiled, and Fukuzawa felt a shiver down his spine like ice tumbling down a slide. "I see," Ryou sighed.
Ryou sat with a leg crossed over the other, on the edge of the simple frame of the bed, leaning on his palms and gazing at the unsettled older man. Fukuzawa patiently and awkwardly waited for Ryou to speak again. Ryou just gazed at Fukuzawa. Finally he flopped on the bed, back to Fukuzawa.
Fukuzawa blinked, a bit confused. "…"
Ryou yawned. "I'm bored, leave me," he said brattily, waving a hand like shoo, shoo at Fukuzawa.
Fukuzawa grimaced. This kid was like the terrible mix of Ranpo and Oda. Egad. "Please hear me out…"
"I'll only listen if that girl is with you the next time you come," Ryou sharply interjected.
Fukuzawa quieted. It was empty progress it felt like…but he had no choice but to count it. "Very well," he said, not one to stir up a fight intentionally. He turned to leave the room.
"Oh and one more thing," Ryou said from the bed, back still to Fukuzawa.
Fukuzawa paused, a door on the handle. "Yes?" He asked, politely.
"…You may be this city's Silver Wolf, but that odd girl is this world's 'white demon'…" the boy hummed. "I'll definitely get her on my side…I won't lose to you."
Fukuzawa twitched. He was growing increasingly frustrated with this boy's challenging cocky attitude. It felt like this boy was treating Alu's feelings—her existence— like a game. Somehow he was understanding Alu's intention to save this boy less and less. "…Then it's a draw," Fukuzawa said quietly, but he didn't look Ryou's way. He merely shut the door, leaving the boy alone with his dark convoluted thoughts.
—-x—x—
His eyes scanned the paper he was reading, focused. Good, he said everything he wanted to say. His eyes glanced to a small blue backpack near his feet. Folding the piece of paper rather neatly, he placed it on the drawing desk that all the children shared.
Katsumi and the others were fast asleep. But that was fine. It made this easier. His blue eyes flickered sadly with only a single pang. Was this the right thing to do? Whatever, it was what he wanted to do, so it was right in his own mind.
There were some men in black still staying with them as they were on 24/7 surveillance. Luckily, it wasn't that difficult to slip these guys sleeping pills. Heh. It was actually kinda sad how easy it was to trick them. Being a child seemed to be a benefit in this instance. Kōsuke hated being looked at like some little kid though.
He didn't want to admit it, but it had felt kinda good to know something the adults didn't. Especially since it was usually him and the other children who were kept in the dark when it came to what was going on with Odasaku and Big Sis.
Not anymore.
He was determined to change that.
He was determined to prove he wasn't just all talk.
But most importantly, he wanted to prove to them he was capable of being just as cool as Odasaku and Big Sis.
He picked up his backpack quietly, and he opened the door carefully. He knew if he looked back, his resolve would only weaken. So he didn't. He left, without so much as a blink.
Outside in the cold air, he pulled out his game system. It ran on wi-fi, but that was okay. He knew where to get a connection. Besides, the important thing was that he had a plan for how to get stronger. And it was all thanks to his online friend who knew of a way for a non-ability user to gain an ability! It felt too good to be true but Kōsuke knew he would make that conclusion himself based on what he was provided with.
Kōsuke took off running. He knew he'd be in trouble—-or maybe he wouldn't…it wasn't like Odasaku was his actual dad or anything. Kōsuke felt a little pang again but he pushed it down. Real men are tough and cool! He reminded himself, as he got farther and farther away from his family for the last two years. He'd become strong enough to protect them all… no matter the cost! Then…they'd all have to forgive him!
—-x—x—x—-
"The hell?" Ango's angry tone in his office did not go unnoticed. The secret service agents on the other end, winced. They had just informed him the following morning that Kōsuke was nowhere to be found and that the children had only found a note stating his reason.
Ango grit his teeth. He had been trying to somehow mend the bridge a little between himself and Odasaku—so why. Why was this happening? Ango could feel a migraine coming on. "Sir?" One of the agents asked tentatively.
Ango breathed hard. "So tell me straight…you two…were drugged by a child?" He asked, his voice biting.
The agents were silent—they couldn't exactly deny that since that is exactly what happened. The other children were all upset and worried, but were staying out of the agents' way. However, Katsumi began to sniffle. He tugged on the sleeve of one of the agent's arms. "Mr. Sakaguchi," the agent said, awkwardly.
"What is it?" Ango asked, irritated. He wasn't alone in his office at the moment. He glanced to see his more personal assistant gazing at him with a frown of concern. Ah, he had that crinkle in his brow he always got when he wanted to say something but was politely refraining. This person was Takuichi Aoki. Aoki merely continued to gaze at Ango, waiting for permission to talk.
"One of the kids wants to speak with you, I think?" The agent replied.
Ango's eyes flickered. He hadn't had much interaction with those children of Odasaku's… but… he felt haunted by the conversation between him and Dazai that had transpired nearly a month ago. It had been the driving reason why Ango bothered to stay involved with someone like Dazai…despite everything.
Ango could hear the clicking of the guns of his own subordinates. "S-Stand down!" He said loudly, trying to keep his voice calm. Shit, his gun was loaded too! If Dazai pulled that trigger…
"You're lucky Odasaku is still alive," Dazai said, half to himself, glaring at Ango with an empty smile before he unloaded the gun and tossed the empty gun at Ango. Ango quickly caught it reflexively as Dazai pocketed the ammo in his trench coat.
Ango felt himself shaking though he wasn't showing it outwardly. He couldn't let something as foolhardy as a 'friendship' interfere here. He was an agent first, for Christ's sake. He had to steel himself. If he didn't—he'd be the one on the firing end of the barrel. Ango grit his teeth. Out of all three of them, he knew he was by far the weakest link. "Are you going to kill me?"
The answer was immediate. "Not today."
Ango took a few labored breaths. It only would have taken one second...one second for Dazai to kill him. Ango shuddered. Gesturing to his men to stand down again, he swallowed hard before he let himself stiffly straighten at the shoulders and stare down Dazai, his own expression cold and unfeeling.
They really mirrored each other in that particular moment.
Ango stared at Dazai, giving off airs of a superior government agent looking down on a common criminal. "Make it quick. For the sake...of our past history...You have five minutes."
Dazai smirked. "I'll only need two."
Ango forced his back up, including Aoki, to go back into the car. "Leave us," he said sharply to his men that flanked him.
"But sir—"
"That's an order!" Ango barked, icily, glaring at them.
Pursing their lips, but obeying, they left Ango respectfully alone with Dazai—-but if Dazai so much as moved in a way that was dangerous, they would shoot him through the car window if they had to. Dazai, knowing this fully well, just waved at them with a huge grin. It was pissing them off which made Dazai absolutely elated.
Dazai just continued to watch Ango, smiling.
Ango hated this smile.
He would rather have Dazai's anger than his 'cordial' attitude he was putting out. He sighed, glaring at Dazai, wishing he had the ammo that Dazai had pocketed. Tch. It was clearly a joke, him having the gun but no way of actually defending himself. Symbolically, it felt like Dazai reminding him that he didn't call the shots here—literally and figuratively. "I'm flattered you'd take time out of your busy schedule for little ol' me," Dazai fake simpered, rubbing his hands together in a false fidgety sort of manner.
"Out with it, you only have one minute left," Ango snapped, not in the mood for Dazai's games, or Dazai himself.
It hurt Ango to think that their friendship was over, but Dazai chose this…on some level…it felt like Odasaku chose this too. Ango hated feeling like he was the odd one out without anyone considering his own feelings on the matter. So much for friendship being an unbreakable bond or whatever.
"Ah yes," Dazai nodded. He grinned at Ango, hands on his hips. "There's someplace I'd like you to meet me later."
Ango felt his eye twitch. "What?" He couldn't help but ask, stupidly. It couldn't be Bar Lupin…could it? Also, Dazai made it so clear he didn't want to be caught dead alone with Ango…. And Ango knew that being caught alone with Dazai would only result in himself ending up dead.
"You heard me," Dazai beamed. "You'll understand then…" He started to walk over to Ango, casually, his hands in the pockets of his trench coat.
Ango did have to wonder why Dazai's sudden wardrobe change. "Dazai…what the hell is going on with you?" Ango couldn't help but ask, exasperated and a little concerned despite his best efforts to be the bigger man here and not give a damn.
"Pfft," Dazai snickered, "Now you care?" It sounded amused but still cold none-the-less, the accusatory undertones apparent like a gaudy Christmas sweater.
"I've always cared," Ango found himself saying past clenched teeth, frustrated. Why didn't Dazai or Odasaku even try to understand his position here? It wasn't like he wanted to turn on them. In the end they simply worked for different sides. Why couldn't they understand that?
"Prove it, this address, tonight…alone," Dazai beamed cheerfully.
He planted a small slip of paper into Ango's chest pocket, causing Ango to freeze from instinct. It was like when small prey were being targeted by a threatening hunter, and Ango found his muscles screaming despite no sound coming out of him in that moment. The air was tense, but not as tense as Ango. "Understood," he managed, not wanting to give Dazai the satisfaction of knowing that a kid his junior had this much power over him. Dammit. He was the superior here…
"Good, remember to come alone or I won't show up at all!" Dazai hummed, "Oh and…I'll be needing to borrow a helicopter," he said brightly, grinning at Ango and patting him good-naturedly on the shoulder.
"You need what now?" Ango spluttered.
"It's a little favor," Dazai whined with a smirk, half-lidded at Ango. "Pretty please?" He clasped his hands together and the sparkling was so much more disturbing than his killing intent a second ago. Ango felt his eye twitch and a migraine coming on. He should know better than to be drawn into whatever the hell it was that Dazai was up to…but.
"Tch…may I at least ask why?" Ango replied, wary as hell. Would Dazai use it to run into the government building he worked at? Specifically, his floor? Ango could sadly see that.
"I have a hot date tonight!" Dazai beamed at him.
Ango wanted to perish. Why couldn't he ever get a straight answer out of this man-child.
Ango had learned later it was to get to Odasaku and the fox girl since they were being held captive on the ship by the U.K. Smugglers. Dazai had of course given him the real reason…only after the fact because apparently giving Ango high blood pressure enough to pop his sanity like a balloon, gave Dazai purpose in life.
But for this reason… Ango knew the only explanation for how Dazai had managed to wrap him around his thumb that day was because of this 'chosen secret meeting spot'. Dazai was a manipulative bastard, but Ango honestly learned the harsh way that he couldn't say that he himself was any better.
Ango went to the odd building that Dazai had stated he arrive at, alone. It had of course been against the wishes of his subordinates, but he just didn't tell them so they wouldn't worry. If Dazai was going to kill him, he'd at least have some dignity by facing him off one on one like a real man. At least, that's what Ango told himself as he walked up the steps of the large abandoned building.
At night.
Unarmed.
With only his cell phone light to guide him.
Either he was incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. Probably a little of both.
He came to a room with many windows, the moonlight showing. He looked around and saw Dazai standing there, just casually waiting for him. His eyes widened. In Dazai's hand was a gun.
Ango tensed.
Dazai had told him to come unarmed—and like a complete idiot— Ango had once again, tried to give him the benefit of the doubt—-because despite all of Dazai's qualms with him, he wanted to prove that he was someone Dazai could trust, after all. Ugh. Ango knew if he got shot it would only be because he stupidly walked into this one. But still, strangely enough, if he had to die….it oddly felt fitting it be by Dazai's own hand. At least then they both wouldn't be able to claim one was better than the other after all.
"I am unarmed," Ango sighed, exasperated. "Put that down before you shoot your eye out," he said, irritated.
Dazai hummed. "Come a little closer, I'm hard of hearing from that far away!" He cheekily replied.
Ango knew that was a flat out lie, and that Dazai could scope out information from miles away if he felt like it. He walked over regardless, before Dazai held up a hand. Ango paused, confused. Dazai pointed down to the spot Ango was standing. "Do you know what this place is?" He sounded cold and oddly serious. Ango didn't know what the hell Dazai was trying to point out.
Ango sighed. "No, but I assume you're going to tell me."
Dazai held his gun out and pointed it right at Ango's chest. Ango found himself freezing on instinct. Damn, if only he had his blasted gun. He was a fool for trusting Dazai. He was a fool in general for thinking anything good could come out of this exchange. He braced himself for the inevitable shot of gunfire that would ring out and momentarily pierce him. "This place…was Odasaku's tomb," Dazai said calmly.
Ango looked up, bewildered.
What? His confused expression was apparent.
Dazai hummed. "Don't act so surprised. After all, because you gave The Port Mafia what it wanted, it, in turn, used Odasaku as its scapegoat—much like what you yourself did," he brightly finished.
Ango was still confused. "Uh, Odasaku isn't dead," he found himself stupidly pointing out, bewildered.
"Not anymore," Dazai clarified. "But he was shot by Gide…y'see…that spot you're standing in…is where he drew his last breath in my arms," and there was no room for doubt. There was no room for anything.
Ango felt like Dazai's dark eyes were sucking him in, and removing any oxygen in the room that remained in the process. Aghast he stepped back from the spot, almost like it was lava waiting to burn him. "!?"
"He was driven to the point of no return…because of people like you," Dazai said, with the tone of someone who no longer gave a damn about anyone or anything.
Ango grit his teeth.
Dazai wouldn't lie about anything regarding Odasaku, that much, Ango knew. "How…?" He found himself asking, pained and confused. "Why are you telling me this?" He hated to sound so accusatory, but he felt singled out for some reason. It was like Dazai was blaming him for whatever happened to Odasaku here! "It isn't like I ordered Gide to kill him!" He found himself shouting back at Dazai, upset.
"You're right," Dazai continued, coldly. "You didn't have to order anything, you just had to sit back and watch the dominos fall."
Ango felt his throat tighten. He grit his teeth. How little Dazai understood about his role in all of this. He wanted to tell Dazai that he also disagreed with some methods but the threat of Mimic seemed more pressing—Ango's eyes flickered.
Oh. That's what Dazai was getting at. He wasn't accusing him at all of killing Odasaku. He was blaming Ango for driving Odasaku to this point of no return. But what had caused this point of no return? Ango was only more confused. What did Dazai know that he didn't? What had Dazai seen?
Dazai gazed at Ango, expression still hard. There was no joking here. There was no pretense of jovial boyish decorum. It was simply a man carved from stone. "That girl…" Dazai continued, "is the one who changed how those dominos fell," he said curt and serious. "That's why…you have her to thank for why Odasaku still lives…and why you're not dead right now," he finished coldly, but he suddenly smiled, mirthlessly, starting to step towards Ango. "But tell me…even if Odasaku did die…would you even care…?"
Ango grit his teeth. He wanted to retort. He had to defend his own feelings. But his mind was racing and he was sweating. He felt himself tremble and he hated how Dazai had this hold over him. He hated it so much.
He hated Dazai.
Ango's eyes flickered with that twisted dark realization that dawned inside himself.
Had he ever actually cared about Dazai at all?
Had Odasaku been the only one keeping them together?
It would make sense…take away the glue and things naturally fall apart, right? "Wrong…" he found himself saying with pained determination. "Of course….I'd care if he died."
Dazai beamed, pointing the gun at Ango's heart. "That's good to know…" he said sweetly. Ango and him locked eyes. "But it's clear you could care less about those orphans that he cared for, after all, you're the reason they died along with him." Ango felt his mind reeling. Dazai was both conversational and accusatory at the same time and Ango found himself unable to counter because he was realizing what Odasaku's original 'point of no return' was now. Ango's actions had not merely set in motion the death of Odasaku.
But those orphans as well.
Ango felt numb. "What….the orphans…die?"
"Yep! Because, believe it or not, Ango, even the well-intentions of a good man can have bad consequences," Dazai brightly stated like he was some ancient wizard sage.
Ango couldn't speak. He let it sink in. Was Dazai seriously accusing him of being an orphan-killer? Him, when Dazai had a rap sheet for all the shit he did because he didn't care at all about the lives he ended by his own hand? Ango grit his teeth. "I would never condone that," his voice shook. He was angry with Dazai. How dare Dazai insinuate that he, Ango, was some cold blooded killer like himself! Friendship be damned! How dare Dazai twist Ango's good intentions to such an extent. His heart wasn't black.
"You didn't have to. The way the world works condoned it for you! Isn't that something!" Dazai cheerfully said, with a sneer on his face.
Ango glared back at Dazai, tight lipped. It was like one was daring the other to pull the trigger. In a way, Ango actually still couldn't blame Dazai for his irrational behavior, not completely. Still, Ango was good despite everything. He was the one who cared about others.
Not Dazai.
And yet at the same time, Ango found he was incapable of fighting back against a force that was Osamu Dazai's darkness. It threatened to consume not just Dazai but Ango as well. Had Odasaku been the only one keeping this darkness at bay this whole time?
Would taking Odasaku out of the equation, have caused this carefully calculated dam to come undone…?
Dazai may have tolerated Ango, but it was clear he held Odasaku in his heart in a place not even Ango could quite understand. Did Dazai ever value Ango's friendship with him? Or did he always value Odasaku's friendship more?
Apparently, according to the gun pressed to his chest, it was a lot more. Ango grit his teeth. "Bang," Dazai whispered, leaning near Ango's ear. Ango nearly jumped out of his skin and suit, because Dazai doing that was honestly more terrifying and unsettling than just simply pulling the trigger. Dazai pulled back, and pressed the trigger only then.
Click.
The gun was empty. It had never been loaded to begin with. Ango felt this realization wash over him with relief and only the tiniest amount of exasperation, mostly clouded by ripples of anger. Why did Dazai insist on putting him in these compromising positions?
"Well, now that you know the whole story," Dazai said, slipping back into his bright costume of a man who wasn't a psychologically challenged homicidal maniac to some degree, "I think a proper apology is in order, don't you!"
Ango felt a duck quack in his mind. All of this…just for an apology? Ango felt his migraine coming on. Jeez, after this, he'd need two aspirin and a lot of alcohol. He rubbed his head, taking off his glasses for the first time. His hand was shaking but he was still alive so that was something, right? "Alright…I'm sorry…" he said.
Dazai laughed. It was haunting to listen to. "Actions speak louder than words, Ango, show me you're sorry," he said, using Ango's name for the first time in a while. Ango's eyes flickered. Somehow it felt worse to hear him say his name so casually considering the bad blood between them. He grit his teeth.
"What do you want me to do ?" he asked warily, like they were in school and Dazai was having him do a double dog dare of some sort.
"Wipe clean my slate…" Dazai said brightly, pointing an index finger at Ango, "…as well as Odasaku's slate. I think you owe us both a fresh start…don't you?"
Ango pursed his lips. How did Dazai even know that Ango could do that? Ango was unsettled. Only very few knew about the Seventh Agency, responsible for wiping away crimes of those in government positions—usually— if it benefited the Greater Good. When good people had to do bad things, there was often a lot of grey area. But for someone like Dazai? Odasaku, Ango could see, but Dazai?
Still.
Ango gazed at the spot before him that Dazai had pointed out as the spot where their mutual friend had supposedly died before being saved by Alu, the fox girl. He grit his teeth again, wondering if his jaw would just snap from the tension in it. A gnawing concern ate away at him. "Fine…" he said stiffly, because Odasaku deserved to be free from all of this mess. At least one of them deserved to be free.
Ango couldn't make any promises, but he could at least try…at least he and Dazai had Odasaku's best interests in common. That's what Ango reminded himself.
Dazai beamed. "Great! Also, about that helicopter date, I'm gonna be late so I gotta go!" He waved cheerfully and brushed past Ango like a ghost, leaving Ango's hair standing on end. Ango felt his entire body tense. That gnawing question was only getting stronger, bubbling inside him. He made a noise.
"Dazai."
"Hm?"
Dazai paused, leaving. Ango looked down at the ground, unable to make eye-contact.
"Were you and I …ever actually friends?"
A silence hung in the air.
Ango looked up, wondering what was taking Dazai so long to respond but found himself alone.
But Ango finally understood.
This place was where Dazai chose to express what became the tomb of the relationship between the three of them.
Now, in the present, Ango was desperately trying to piece together what he could salvage of his friendship with Odasaku at least. Still…this…this was bad. He sighed. "Let the kid speak," he said, gruffly.
Katsumi sniffled on the other end. "M-mister?" Katsumi asked, past his snot and tears.
Ango wondered inwardly if accidentally letting Kōsuke run off after drugging his agents would somehow be completely blamed on himself. Probably. He was the one in charge of those kids' safety after all. Ugh, what a headache. Why did Odasaku have to pick up random ass kids off the street two years ago during the Dragonhead Incident between the Port Mafia and the opposing gangs? Ango felt frustrated. Still, he had looked himself into whether or not those kids had any living relatives and oddly, not one of them did. Of course, working for the Port mafia, it was kinda like being ghosts in the machine anyhow. But to bring children into that life? Ango couldn't understand people sometimes.
"Yes?" He asked, trying to sound gentle and not completely irritated at the situation.
"It…it's my fault…that Kōsuke…Kōsuke left…" Katsumi admitted, trembling.
"I'm sure it's not anyone's fault," Ango tried to soothe the distressed boy.
"No…it is…because…because we got into a fight…yesterday…" Katsumi continued.
Ango paused. Well, some context would certainly help explain why the seemingly docile child had decided to run away like a moron. Pursing his lips, he casually asked, "May I ask what the fight was about?"
Katsumi sniffled. "We had an argument…about Kōsuke wanting to be an ability user who could fight crime and stuff," he explained. "But I told him that his dream wasn't the same as the rest of us anymore, and I think this is my fault…"
Ango quieted for a moment.
Ah, so the kid wanted to be a hero, huh? And it would appear the others didn't support that point of view and that's why he left?
Ango felt an odd sort of foil between himself and this completely random strange boy form. Somehow, he actually felt like he could relate to Kōsuke's feelings on some level. He knew that Katsumi's harsh language—whatever the intentions were— had indeed been the reason why Kōsuke impulsively decided to leave. But would it be right to agree with the upset child? Shouldn't he console this boy, and tell him that it wasn't his fault?
Ango felt his eyes shadow behind the glint of his glasses. His lips drew into a thin line. "It doesn't matter where the fault lies at this point," he finally concluded, and he stood up from his chair. "Rest assured, I will find that boy. I will do my best to return him to you safely," Ango replied.
And he meant that.
He may have a lot to atone for in this world with the way he left things between himself and those two former friends of his. No, he knew he had a lot to repent for—after all, he knew if things had gone as planned with the poison, that Odasaku would have died. And it would have been by Ango's hand.
And a small part of Ango felt appalled that children had been brought into the conflict with Mimic to the extent Dazai had confessed. Ango knew with chagrin that Dazai had been right.
Words were pointless.
But maybe.
Maybe, in some small way, in some small selfish way, the way for him to find a way back into the good place with his former friends, was to —somehow— save this boy, Kōsuke.
