Assignment 15
When Turbulent Thoughts Crash Like Fire & Smoke In One's Soul
Atsushi tossed and turned. "No…" he uttered, in pain. "You're wrong…"
A boy dressed as a Lolita, grinning darkly.
Haruno-san's eyes are inky black and dripping.
Atsushi's hand on Naomi's throat, ready to tear it out in the name of protecting the girls.
The boy, Q, just laughed.
A monstrous unapologetic sadistic boy from the train, who had been sent by the Port Mafia to harm them.
"I didn't mean to…I…" Atsushi wailed quietly, the sweat soaking his sheets now. He could feel it, the instinctive beast within him, growling. It was the beast's fault! He cried internally. He was just a boy. He didn't want to hurt anyone.
He just wanted to be strong enough to save someone.
That woman had managed to use her words to get the plot with the Guild moving, and Atsushi wanted to be like Dazai-San, able to read a situation and act accordingly. But he had failed. He had thought he was taking action in the right direction but it had been Dazai who had saved him—again, in the end.
'I can't do this! I can't!' Atsushi screamed, holding his head in his hands. He wasn't cut out for this terrifying life of crime and punishment. He wanted to live a simple life. He wanted to get away from it all. He had to. He had to leave Dazai-San. He had failed Dazai-San. He didn't want to admit it but if he had to choose which life to spare—he would choose himself. He was a terrible person but he couldn't bear the thought of using his own life to take that of another person's—for any reason.
Slap.
"Allow me to give you some mentorly advice at a time like this," Dazai's voice resonated, deep and serious, "If you waste your time and energy feeling sorry for yourself then you will only be trapped in that vicious cycle for good. What we need now, is a plan to strike back," and with that short succinct lecture, and the stinging Atsushi's face felt, Atsushi had been knocked back into some sense.
"No…"Atsushi gasped, sitting up now, shivering. He hugged himself. The apartment was so quiet and odd without Kyouka there. She had only been staying with him for so long but it was just another reminder that she hadn't come home. That she was still out there, lost, herself, wandering. Or worse…dead. Who knew.
"I can't save anyone…" he hollowly said, staring at his shaking hands. "I wonder…how pathetic am I… expecting others to save me all the time? There is a difference between not fighting someone else's fight for them and being a coward who only thinks about themselves…I understand that better now…"
Akutagawa's words echoed.
'Just breathing makes you a hindrance to those around you'.
Atsushi's face twisted.
#
The following day, he opened the door, dressed, but subdued. There, standing with his arms folded, was his mentor. "Oh….why didn't you knock?" Atsushi flustered.
"Even if I did, I don't think anybody would have been home," Dazai cheekily remarked, with a grin. Atsushi blushed, in shame. He had been stuck in his own mind and probably wouldn't have noticed right away.
"Were you waiting long?" Atsushi asked.
"Long enough," Dazai shrugged, indifferently. He rubbed his own shoulder, shutting his right eye and glancing at Atsushi with his left as he stretched his limbs. "I was just curious, any report on that odd woman?"
Atsushi blinked. "Huh? You think she would have come by here?" He asked, dumbly.
"Well, she does have an active interest in you," Dazai said brightly.
Atsushi paused. "Oh…I uh, guess you're right," he said, sweating, completely deadpan. He had been so focused on himself and Kyouka by extension that he never stopped to consider she'd be back to see him of all things.
"I take it that no scandalous visit occurred?" Dazai cat-grinned at Atsushi.
Atsushi blushed. "Of course not!" he yelped. "Geez! W-Why are you so weird!"
Dazai blinked and chuckled, "You just make it too easy, Atsushi-kun," he teased with a grin.
Atsushi had been in distress but Dazai's breaking the ice actually made him feel a little better. Atsushi's lower lip quivered. "…I'm worried about Kyouka-Chan," he said.
"I understand," Dazai said, and he placed a hand on Atsushi's head. "I'm going to go talk with an agent now, you know, the one I mentioned before~?"
Atsushi blinked. Oh that was right. Dazai had mentioned pulling in the big brass now. The Government itself. How Dazai had connections was hilariously terrifying considering he was ex-mafia and was about as reliable —most of the time— as expired cheese. But this was Dazai. And Atsushi knew that despite his suicidal tendencies, and desire to die with a beautiful woman, that Dazai cared about the ADA and ending this.
"Hey Dazai-San," Atsushi couldn't help but quietly ask.
"Mm?" Dazai blinked.
"…This whole war started because of me…if I turned myself in…" Atsushi softly spoke but Dazai pulled his cheeks comically. Atsushi yelped, eyes watering.
"At~su~shi~kun~" he said menacingly, and Atsushi was hilariously reminded of that odd nameless woman, "Do not let the fact this is about you, go to your head. Running into enemy lines without proper coordination is absolute suicide~ I should know~" He bluntly said, smiling menacingly. Atsushi sweated, haha, figurative tiger ears and tail popping out from the shock of Dazai's mood shift.
Dazai blinked.
Atsushi blinked.
"…could you always do that?" Dazai asked, bemused.
"Um…what?" Atsushi asked, comically.
Dazai just pointed at Atsushi's cat ears and tail. Hilariously enough, Dazai touching them didn't make them go away. The two men paused, staring at each other comically.
Atsushi just flustered. "T-This is not possible! Dazai-San, why aren't they going away when you touch me?"
Dazai stared, a funny expression on his face. "Huh, you know…I'd like to know that myself," he said, comically bewildered.
"Oh no," Atsushi gasped, tearfully at Dazai. "What if that woman did something? Maybe not intentionally, but she did affect Ranpo-San and she's strong enough to go against The Mafia!"
Dazai blinked. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"She touched me before…back when Kyouka-Chan had a meltdown seeing that man…" Atsushi explained to Dazai. Dazai's brow furrowed. His protege was proving to be more useful with each passing day. Dazai knew there was a good reason he picked this ball of anxiety up, ~lol. "B-Back then…I…I felt something…"
Dazai pursed his lips. "Atsushi-kun, I know you're a young healthy man…." He began, humorously.
"Not like that!" Atsushi yelped, his tiger tail fuzzing hilariously, his ears flicking back on his head, replacing his human ears cutely. "Dazai-San! I…I mean, at the time I didn't think much of it…but that person's touch…it's like yours but different!"
Dazai quirked a brow. "You lost me," he said, bemused.
"She exuded something onto me, like a calming influence," Atsushi described. "I was stressed but her touch made me feel…safe and warm. Kinda tingly…" He fidgeted a bit, looking away, self-conscious.
Dazai raised his eyebrows. "I'm touched to know you think so highly of my own physical contact with you, but I should disclaim now, we are just ~student and teacher~," he humorously stated.
Atsushi pouted. "Dazai-San, can't you take this even a little seriously? I'm saying what if that's—!"
Dazai smiled, holding a finger to Atsushi's lips. "You have given me much food for thought. As it stands, I would report your findings to the president. I don't think keeping this crucial tidbit a secret any longer is a very wise decision," he chuckled.
Atsushi whimpered. "I didn't even know what to make of it at the time," he mumbled.
"Regardless," Dazai wagged a finger. "Run along now. I need to go and do my part as well~"
Atsushi nodded. He felt guilty. Why did he not tell them about that interaction? No…it's because it didn't feel like an ability. It felt like she was just a warm person. Atsushi was confused. The cat ears and tail comically poofed away, leaving Atsushi human again at that moment.
"Ah, try to keep your emotions in check," Dazai humorously advised. "I think your ability does have a tendency to activate when you're distressed."
"I'm distressed all the time," Atsushi grimaced.
"Well, nothing like a high stress environment to learn some valuable emotional control right?" Dazai patted Atsushi comically on the shoulder, with a beaming smile. Atsushi seriously had to wonder if he made the right choice following this person. Sob.
—
Dazai was not an easy person to read. In fact, he prided himself in being a tomb of indecipherable text in a language only himself and a very select few could ever hope to comprehend.
Now, he sat, eyes wide, having conversed with someone he hadn't spoken to in four years. Someone who had wiped clean his record a long time ago when he fled the Port Mafia. Yes, this person who was once a friend, even. Now just another stepping stone for Dazai to utilize.
But this selfish traitorous person relayed some interesting information to Dazai.
Hair slicked back, round frames on his face, and a mole near his bottom lip, this person with a brass heart was named Ango Sakaguchi, special agent for the Division of Unusual Powers. And he was telling Dazai and his agents to run away because The Guild had bought out even Japan's government because when it came to politics, money spoke louder than justice.
But Dazai never got the chance to take that advice to the others.
A split second later, another car planted by The Guild rammed into Ango's driver side. In Japan, their cars are like most of Europe so they were slammed into on the right driver's side.
Car tires screeched and the sound of shattering glass and popped tires filled the air along with confusion and chaos.
—-
Atsushi sighed, gazing at Yokohama's harbor from the rail he stood at. He had his phone in his hand. But, there were still no calls from Dazai. Where was he? Dazai was known to shirk being on time but this was late, even for him. Atsushi's thoughts wandered to when he had spoken instead with Kouyou.
That's right…Atsushi had made a small detour, wanting to know what Dazai and Kouyou had previously discussed the other day regarding Kyouka. Atsushi hated feeling so useless. But maybe he could use that information to help. Somehow. He didn't like Kouyou. But Dazai had said she would cooperate after their 'adult time'. Atsushi didn't bother touching what that meant with a twenty-five foot yard stick ruler.
But, he had learned something.
Atsushi looked at the Mafia Executive. She sipped her tea. "So, to what do I owe this cordial visit then, if not to talk with Dazai?"
Atsushi glared. "I want to know what you talked about with Dazai-San."
"Alright," Kouyou tilted her head. "But first, do tell me the name of your interesting little ally~"
"That woman? We don't know her name," Atsushi said bluntly.
Kouyou pursed her lips, bemused. "She gave you the slip too, eh?" She giggled behind her sleeve. "What an amusing 'ally'…"
Atsushi blushed. "She's just very elusive! She's an ally but she doesn't seem to actually want to give her name of all things—! But enough distracting me! I'm here because I want to know what is going on with Kyouka-Chan! You must know something!"
Kouyou's eyes gazed at this boy, desperate, to be of some use. She hummed. She spoke. But Atsushi wasn't sure he heard right.
Standing in the room, at present, where Kouyou was being held, Atsushi's eyes were wide with shock. "What did you say?"
"I said…Kyouka is safe," Kouyou said, sipping her tea. "I have determined to leave her to your agency and that interesting person who currently has her with them~"
"You know, your boss wants to kill that interesting woman," Atsushi said, angrily.
Kouyou froze. "I see," she said softly, looking into her tea. "What a shame."
"Tch, Of course you don't care! This person is trying to help Kyouka and you would just as well have her—!" Atsushi paused though. His eyes were wide. Because he saw something he wasn't expecting. Kouyou's tears rolling down her face for someone other than Kyouka.
"Boy, you jump down the throat of the other person rather quickly," Kouyou said, her voice calm despite her tears, like a doll that cried at command but was otherwise emotionless, "But do not presume you know what is within another person's heart so carelessly."
Atsushi stood now, eyes glassy. He accused Akutagawa as well of not understanding others or being unable to communicate. But here he was, assuming he already had others figured out. Atsushi put his hand over his eyes. "Haha…I'm pretty hypocritical…"
—
Scott Fitzgerald was a man who had money, status, and whatever else his little green heart desired at his disposal. However, he stood now, flipping through a tomb left to him by his cute little secretary, Ms. Alcott, whose ability allowed her to slow down time and write a lot at once, was The Tactical side for The Guild.
He sighed, disgruntled and bored. "I think I'd like to go for a stroll~" he hummed to no one. "Jolly good idea," he added. This man clearly needed to get out more but preferably not to kidnap Japanese children fresh out of puberty.
—
"What's going on…here…" Alu stood, eyes wide, at the car accident going on. Kyouka-Chan was with her and they had gone for some breakfast food. They stood now, both holding crepes.
Kyouka wasn't wearing her kimono anymore. Alu had advised that perhaps running around in a kimono that made her stand out like a sore thumb in modern day Japan was not the best way to lay low when the police were looking for a teenage murderess in a kimono…you know, utilizing that good old common sense button.
Alu had Kyouka in a cute blue pollo top with white shorts, cute tennis shoes, ankle socks, her twin ponytails now just one ponytail down her back still using the flower bow. Kyouka looked like a normal person now, lol.
If anything she contrasted comically to how Alu was dressed.
Alu had also taken away Kyouka's knife. She wanted Kyouka to try not to use weapons immediately to start a conversation hahaha. Instead she comically gave Kyouka a pen. Sort of a pun on 'lay down the sword and pick up a pen,' sort of thing.
Kyouka looked up at Alu.
"Those people…" Kyouka's eyes widened, recognizing a brown-haired man being removed now from the car, holding his shoulder, in pain. "That man…he is Dazai Osamu…of the ADA."
Alu could tell that much. But she could also tell, there was someone else. After all, Dazai had been pulled out of the passenger side. "Kyouka, stay here, I'm going to check it out," she said quickly.
Kyouka blinked and furrowed her brow. But she obeyed, like a good girl. Alu ruffled Kyouka's hair with a smile. "Be right back."
Alu took off.
But that 'be right back' never happened. Because Kyouka sensed something else happening. Disappearing from where she was told to stay put, the young girl left in pursuit of something else.
Alu dashed over to where people were murmuring about the accident. The cops and the ambulances were there. There were two. The people in the other vehicle had already been lifted but Dazai had yet to be placed into the back of one of the vans.
Alu felt some police stop her. "Sorry, ma'am, but we must ask you to stay behind the line!"
"I'm with one of the victims!" Alu said sharply. "His name is Dazai! Osamu Dazai! You can ask him!"
Her voice was loud enough for Dazai to lift his head from where he sat on a gurney, being put into a temporary arm splint before he could head for the hospital. His eyes widened, seeing that person again. The one the ADA was looking for. And apparently, the entire Port Mafia. What was she doing here? He was relieved to see she wasn't hurt at all. But why would she risk coming out from the shadows when the Port Mafia wanted her head? Unless….?
"What's going on?" He asked one of the paramedics.
"Some lady claiming she knows you," the paramedic said. "Do you know her?"
"In a manner of speaking…" Dazai replied, bemused. Morbidly enough he was amused that it took a car crash for her to show up to him again. How interestingly terribly morbid.
The Paramedic gestured to the police. The Police sighed but let Alu through the tape, going back to keeping others back. Alu dashed over, and Dazai noted the genuine concern on her face. It almost made whatever cheeky quips he had stored for their reunion die in his throat. It was not the time for cordial humor. He could tell.
Even Dazai could read a room, sometimes.
"What happened?" Alu asked, incredulous.
"Probably not safe to talk about it here, why not go with me to the hospital," Dazai said, pointing at the ambulance. "You can check out my sweet ride~" The paramedics were in the process of having him undo his shirt so they could put some monitors on him. It was a bit funny being stripped in front of a girl but the context was totally all out of whack.
Alu rolled her eyes. Ah, she still wasn't amused by his humor. Fun~
"What about the other guy? Who was on the driver's side?"
Dazai blinked. His expression was unreadable. "Oh, no one that is important. Just a government official I had a meeting with," he said. "Unless you somehow know who he is?" He coyly asked. The paramedics had him lie down now on the gurney. Alu hovered.
The paramedics were letting these two have their conversation because the moment someone tried to interrupt, Dazai just gave such a look that the paramedic decided after today's shift he was going to pursue ballet and theatre after all.
"I don't know anything unless you tell me," Alu retorted, exasperated. "Dazai, stop joking around. You're hurt, and that other guy— from the looks of things— isn't fairing great."
It was true, the paramedics were focused on getting this bruised, bloodied unrecognizable body from the gurney, lifted up into the ambulance now. Dazai pouted, wanting the attention back on himself. Dazai actually believed her too. She really had no idea who he was talking with. Still, "Still, why not come with me?" Dazai wasn't going to let this opportunity to hog her attention to himself go to waste~ looks like not dying horribly in a car crash actually had a bright side to his day!
"No time, I'm with someone right now," Alu admitted. She took out her notebook. "Just give me your number."
"Eh, who?" He asked, innocently, offhandedly, praying it wasn't Chuuya. Dazai was not a man of prayer but if it kept Chuuya away, hell, he'd start bringing salt everywhere, lol.
"I'm with a girl that just needs some guidance," Alu said, giving Dazai a tired look. Dazai could tell she was in a hurry. "So, what's your number?"
Dazai blinked. She wanted to stay in contact? With him? Dazai felt like there must be supernatural forces at work after all because this was a miracle happening right now. He tried to peer into her writer's book, bemused. It was full of scrawl— elegant and ladylike-unfortunately it was in English. So she really was a foreigner, heh. American judging by the sound of her accent. He pursed his lips. He tentatively tried to peek at some of the writing but Alu spoke sharply. "Number please?"
Ah, sharp, direct, not cute at all. Dazai pouted. But the smell of burning fuel and tires reminded him to focus. He gave her his number.
Alu nodded. "Thanks. I'll be in touch—?!"
Dazai comically grabbed her by his good hand by her long ponytail as she turned tail to leave. "How do I know you won't disappear?" He asked humorously. "It's only fair if you give me your number too."
"I don't have a phone," Alu admitted. She rubbed her hair, frowning at him disgruntled. "However, grab my hair again and you'll lose that hand, capiche?" She beamed at him. Like a cat who had its tail pulled. Her ruffled cowlick twitched. Ah…Dazai found his eyes comically drawn to it. Which reminded Dazai, he still had to learn more about her and her mysterious ability~
Dazai pursed his lips. "…"
He let her go. Hilariously enough, it didn't sound like she was giving him the slip. At least it meant Chuuya didn't have her number either. Something he planned to get a leg up on at least. Dazai Osamu was not going to be second place to Chuuya at anything, and that included anything regardingthis person. Because Dazai was an egotistical little piece of shit hahahaha. He's a man. Lol.
Alu took off back into the crowd. Dazai meanwhile had something to look forward to when he got discharged. Ah, the silver lining to his day. A pretty mysterious woman. This must have been it.
—-
Atsushi was beyond relieved to see Kyouka again. She was okay. She was dressed differently but she was okay! But that relief was replaced quickly with dread as they ran down a street near the docks, and the pain in his side reminded him they were currently on the run from an American Psycho Tycoon.
"But why come back? You were safe with that woman!" Atsushi protested. "She would have kept you out of this war!"
"Do not put off tomorrow what you can accomplish today," Kyouka said, gazing at Atsushi, a light burning in her eyes. Atsushi's eyes widened. That person had gotten to Kyouka just as she had on some level to Kouyou. "I came back because I know where I belong. It's at the Detective Agency."
Atsushi felt his heart bthmp. Kyouka was truly a strong person, despite everything. It weirdly didn't feel like that it was because of just that woman though. This was Kyouka's true spirit. Atsushi didn't know why he could sense it, but he felt like her soul had spoken to his own. Atsushi wanted to cry for something other than his guts gushing blood at that moment, lol.
—-
Ranpo Edogawa was considered to be a remarkable detective for his young age. Well, he wasn't that young anymore, but as a child he had been known as a mental Prodigy. Fukuzawa created the ADA formally to be able to protect Ranpo and his naturally brilliant mind, knowing that as Ranpo got older, other organizations may seek to abuse Ranpo's mind for their own agenda. The ADA was created as a way for Ranpo to use his gift to help others. The agency was meant to be a place that could help to preserve life and limit the loss of it. At least, that was what Fukuzawa had intended it to be.
Sitting now, staring at the book he was reading, Fukuzawa's mind was instead on the fact that he had forgotten about that basic purpose. Somehow in the recent years of increased violence with Mori and the Port Mafia rivalry, he had lost sight of what the agency itself stood for. There were times when lives couldn't be saved.
Kunikida had learned the hard way back in the day when he'd been in charge of Dazai's entrance exam.
Kenji was young and Fukuzawa tended to ensure Kenji did the less 'pillaging and murdering' assignments when it came to detective work. Detective work could consist of violent activity but the desirable outcome was to solve the cases without loss of life. Kenji was super strong and yet he never flaunted his strength to complete his assignments. He believed in a peaceful resolution, no matter what. His strength of his own heart was why he had been recruited by the ADA a few months ago.
Fukuzawa knew having kids in the agency was raising eyebrows even with the approval of the upper brass, but Fukuzawa believed in Ranpo's ability to scout for true talent. Fukuzawa even ensured that Kyouka would do something small although that had backfired hilariously when the poor judge himself had been tapered when she hadn't realized his identity immediately. It was a long story and a legal headache but he got it cleared up.
Dazai was someone who knew more about the Port Mafia and while Fukuzawa hadn't exactly known what to make of him two years ago when he first met Dazai at Officer Chief Taneda's recommendation, it became pretty clear Dazai was still mysterious. But Ranpo had already known for a while about Dazai's darker roots. Out of respect, something rare for Ranpo to exhibit, he had kept what he did know solely to himself and Fukuzawa.
Telling Kunikida was a terrible idea for obvious reasons.
Fukuzawa himself felt inwardly guilty for telling Kunikida back then to shoot Dazai if he appeared to be a threat to the agency. If that girl had happened upon them then…Fukuzawa had a funny feeling he'd have been in for a real lecture from that girl who was half his age. Fukuzawa was normally confident in himself and his thoughts, but it seemed this older dog wasn't completely incapable of allowing a fresh perspective to permeate his walls.
Even now, Fukuzawa was under the impression that the other members were slowly catching on to Dazai's darker roots with the Mafia considering he knew so much about Mori and the way the Mafia mind did work. Whether or not Kunikida was catching on….well, nobody's perfect, right? He was still considered the best candidate for succeeding Fukuzawa, and that was something Ranpo acknowledged himself. Because Kunikida was about Law and Order, but he always put the life of another person ahead of his own selfishness.
'Your organization…don't you want it to be different—to be better because it doesn't resort to killing in order to have the ends justify the means?'
Fukuzawa's expression was confronted with the guilt he felt in his heart. His agency was meant to stand out from others. When had he allowed the ADA, an organization conceived through the blessing of his mentor, Natsume-Sensei— to just become another faceless group under the umbrella of the government?
This was war. Their morals were shaken at best as it were. But that girl was bringing a little bit of morality back. Was she there to save them, truly? Could she help end this conflict? Was she trustworthy?
Fukuzawa hated that he asked himself that, even now. That somehow, he still was skeptical. Her actions proved she was not the enemy. Her words confirmed this. Even Dazai, who could read people scarily well, almost to Ranpo's level, was not convinced she was an enemy.
Kenji returned from the bathroom just then.
"Ah, president," Kenji said, popping down through the entrance.
"Mm?" Fukuzawa was lost in thought.
Yosano looked up from her magazine.
Her expression froze.
"I have a message from Ranpo-san," Kenji said sheepishly.
Fukuzawa banged his leg, with how fast he tripped over the desk to get up. Cussing in all the languages he knew, he held his leg now, as Yosano leapt to his side.
"Where is he?" Fukuzawa asked, pained.
"Um…well," Kenji said brightly, "The bright side is he did say where he had to go! He's going to that 'fun' person!"
Yosano and Fukuzawa comically doom faced. Somehow, Ranpo was tracking down that woman…alone, in his loopy state, while the Port Mafia and The Guild wanted him dead.
"Yosano," Fukuzawa said darkly.
"Dazai isn't responding to his phone, and I haven't heard back from Atsushi either. Kunikida and Tanizaki are still ensuring nothing additional happens to Naomi or Haruno-San," Yosano said, worriedly. "I'll go look—!"
"No need!" Kenji said quickly. "Ranpo-San says, 'all's well that ends well, for me that is!~'"!
Yosano wanted to strangle this lovely fellow member of the ADA before strangling her big pseudo-brother figure. Fukuzawa just couldn't believe his ears or his eyes. "Kenji-kun, why did you let him go!? You know he is unstable." It was hard for him to not keep his voice to a rumbling roar.
Kenji's smile faltered. "Why?" He furrowed his brow. "I trust Ranpo-San."
Fukuzawa felt his chest tighten.
Yosano's expression was unhappy as well. "Kenji, there are times when your optimism…is not…going to end well for you," Yosano sighed, upset. "I know you want to believe in the best possible outcome, but you just let someone who isn't stable, with targets on his back, run off on his own! You have condemned that person and quite possibly the rest of us with your careless placement of believing in Ranpo in his current state!"
Kenji's eyes watered. He flinched. He knew they were mad.
But.
He stood his ground, and made small fists at his sides. "It's true, I'm optimistic." He gazed at Fukuzawa and Yosano. This small blonde kid, with piercing sky blue eyes. "But then, why would you recruit someone like me if you just wanted me to give up on someone that I believe in? He may be acting a bit different but he hasn't changed on the inside! He told me before he left that he trusts me to reassure you all so I won't question the faith he's placed in me!"
Fukuzawa's eyes widened slightly. He felt a bit of that warmth again from that girl. But it was already in this boy—it had been there, the whole time. How had he not even noticed? He had been the one to recruit Kenji a few months ago from Kenji's small farm.
"Yosano," Fukuzawa said quietly, putting his hand on her arm. "…let's trust in Ranpo. Kenji-kun…is right."
Yosano looked at Fukuzawa like he was the last male sane straw that finally snapped. LOL.
