Atsushi was shown holding a book as the pages started to fly away.
I was searching for the reason
"Wow, we finally get to see this ending song." said Ranpo. He reached into his pocket to get a cookie. "Screen Bro as Tachihara has dubbed them better not skip this again." Then he scanned the room and blankly stated, "I want you to keep your mellow drama to a minimum. I ain't missing this again."
As the pages fly further away, two other individuals appeared. The two were Dazai and Akutagawa.
To be myself
"It sounds so pretty…" said Haruno.
"What's up with the pages." said Tanizaki.
It cuts to him laying down next to Dazai as Atsushi turns to him, looking for something. His hand is shown, he extends his pinkie towards Dazai's hand. Then, it cuts to him sitting on a window ceal with the glass broken as he looked out into a full moon.
If I am living
"This is really relaxing, exactly what we all needed." said Yosano.
"Agreed, and it's so cute." Atsushi blushed at Naomi excited agreement.
Atsushi knew that window and those walls. 'The orphanage…' So many nights he sat in that cell looking up at the stars wishing for a place where he could be called human. It made sense that it would touch on some of his background but he preferred to stop having it shoved in his face. That was his mind's job to drag him down into his trauma. And he was trying to just push it down and stop thinking about it over and over again.
Shift to Akutagawa walking towards the camera with Yokohama behind him. The whole thing was shrouded in a red hue.
Within my heart
"Why is this guy on screen?" said Atsushi.
"Maybe 'cause I am more noteworthy than a filthy animal."
"Says the guy who's nickname is Mad Dog."
"Well, at least I don't lick my balls to groom myself, weretiger." That earned a chuckle from Dazai and a low hiss from Atsushi.
"I don't do tha–!" Atsushi started but was interrupted by Ranpo.
"Atsushi, I am trying to watch the ending song."
"Sorry, Ranpo." He looked down at his lap; if he had a tail and tiger ears on display, they would be down too.
It cuts rapidly between a blue toy elephant, Dazai with blood coming down his mouth, a wooden penguin, then a close-up of Atsushi's face. To land on Atsushi standing with pages flying through the scene as his shadow shifts to a tiger.
Then I can be someone
The beat ramps up as his tiger becomes more noticeable.
Who can overcome the darkness
By this point it became clear that the ending song was only going to show Atsushi, Akutagawa, and Dazai. The song reflected their dynamic within the story being told which meant this was going to be drg up the negative emotion between the two apprentices. But many could find soless in the music being played; it was peaceful and invoked a feeling that the whole could hear being played in their own stories. The feeling being melancholy.
A book is shown as the wind rapidly pushes its pages until it finally stops. Rapidly, it cuts to Akutagawa in a red haze looking at Atsushi and Dazai in a white backdrop. Atsushi leaning on Dazai, look at Akutagawa as the brunette looks back at the two from the corner of his eye.
And the long uphill climb
'Two sides of one half. The better and the worst of you…' Ranpo thought; he didn't know how those two would react once they figured that part out but at least he had his popcorn.
Continues, Atsushi is on the left, colored in blue, and Dazai behind him in white, both looking at the camera. Akutagawa is behind them, both in red and black, looking to the right away from the audience.
Atsushi is shown with his head to the side, eyes closed. Then it pans out as Dazai reaches his hand to pat Atsushi on the head.
So that we can laugh as we each walk our own path now
Akutagawa could feel his anger bubbling already as he saw Dazai repeat an action that he only gifted to his shiny new apprentice. The overall optimism that the song displays. He was wronged–betrayed by that man who raised his new apprentice to a height he would never raise him too. Once, he had thought that it was only because of Dazai being a port mafia Executive, but now maybe it was him. If that weretiger was in the mafia, instead of him, would he treat him to warm pats and gently advise. It was the feeling of scratching oneself into they bleed but only peeling off the skin leaving only a hot burn that scared the skin. The lasting thought was why out of everyone was it that weretiger that captured Dazai attentions. There was nothing of note and nothing worth noting about that boy.
The raw feeling of his ability slowly awakening was not missed by Chuuya. For his part, he was surprised to find his former partner on screen doing that comforting action. He wondered if Atsushi was even aware that Dazai being open with anyone was nearly impossible for him. As everything was pushed down under the weight of idealized death.
Dazai's eye stared out protectively as a smile slowly blooms on Atsushi's face. Pages flyed again through the scene
So we both can confirm our reasons for living as we move forward
The former mentee would destroy this bond they had formed, this raw emotion that seemed to tear through his heart and leave a deep wound that would only heal to be opened again and again. 'Why was it him? Why did he leave me? Everything I did was for him so why?'
Mori pondered, that smile, the way Dazai stared off protectively as he gently protected Atsushi. It said, he would do it all, that he would take on Atsushi's burdens and lift him above them. They have a bond that would take more than a sledgehammer to break it. No, probably only death could break the relationship. It reminded him of that man that Dazai had grown fond of that weretiger.
Despite what had happened, somehow, Dazai was starting to repair himself. Maybe it was Atsushi that started this process. Mori smiled at the youth. 'An Archer… to sink you.' Mori thought as the music hit his ear. He did agree with that glasses girl the song was beautiful yet had a bittersweet symphony.
It cuts to Akutagawa in an alley with a red backing as his coat flies in the wind.
I'll call out the name
Akutagawa's shadow changes to blue.
Your Name
Then it shifts to white.
"Hmm…" murmured Ranpo. 'The possibly for change not just by Dazai but by Atsushi as well.'
"What is it?" said Yosano.
"Oh, I was just thinking how interesting it is that they're all colored coated."
"I hadn't noticed?" Atsushi whispered more focus of the image of Akutagawa. It felt lonely.
A low growl came from the other side of the theater.
"Yeah, Dazai's white, Akutagawa is red and black, and you're in blue."
"Huh…" Tanizaki stumbled out.
Cuts to Akutagawa, looking down as Dazai's hand reaches out but vanishes before it reaches the younger. As pages pass by in the background.
So that you can be you
Dazai could feel a stabbing pain in his chest. What was worse is that if he tilted his head a little, he could see the clear frown upon Atsushi's face. But the younger wouldn't say a word, at least that is what he said. He was just too trusting.
Atsushi was processing what the ending song was trying to say. Maybe it was suggesting that Dazai is trying to be better, or it could just be stating the fact that he and Akutagawa would never be on the same page. Unable to ever reach the other. His frown furthered. Or… that there was a middle ground somewhere in the tangled not that was their relationship. And Dazai was at the center of it all if he wanted to be better than he would have to untangle it.
Atsushi is shown again, falling into the water with Yokohama in the background, with its light shining behind him.
When you become so lost in sadness that your tears flow
The younger is sinking, drowning in water, as Dazai's hand reaches out.
When you're so overflowing with loneliness that your heart shrivels
'He will always look at him. Always pull him out of whatever torment that weretiger is going through, he would be there, always. But not for me…' Akutagawa didn't know how much more of this ridiculous video he could watch. Anymore of this stupid show he could take. He would end that boy and prove his worth by cutting out that man's weakness. That boy wasn't worthy of such an honor.
Atsushi looked at his on screen counterpart as he sink further into the water abyss. There was something about it he could not deny that he felt like this. He never worried about the end cause Dazai was there. He didnt feel grasp where this security came from but it was ever present. Even with everything he had learned he had faith in his mentor, in the man who took it upon himself to save him. It was why there was such a disconnect from what he knew. The weretiger sighed, he looked over to his mentor. His body gave Atsushi no answers.
As Dazai finally reaches Atsushi, the background fades into white. Atsushi closes his eyes in soundless peace.
Dazai smiled at this show of affection. He might not be a fan of such things however he couldn't deny that the weretiger had worm his way into his heart, what remained of it. He turned to Akugawa he didnt know where to start with him but he knew he need to start.
Then it shifts to Akutagawa who is on the left, sinking as a stray bloody tear rises to the surface.
I'll call out the name
'What a complex situation, I don't envy you, Dazai.' Hirutsu thought as he fiddled with the silver case for cigarettes in his hand. Gin pulled up his notepad.
It read, "I think it will get easier for them, just not anytime soon."
"So, you don't hold a grudge against Dazai."
There was a pause as he wrote down his thoughts on the matter. "My brother holds the angry, the sadness, the betrayal for the both of us. There is no room for me to be anything…"
"Hmm…I see." Was all the older man could say.
It explosived like a firework. Then shows Akutagawa sitting on the ground outdoors with his coat flying in the wind.
Your name
The light barely touched him. Then cuts to Atsushi looking down with a tree behind him that's shadow looks slightly like Dazai's silhouette. Then it rapidly cuts to Akuatagwa in a red backdrop looking back at him.
Just like you called out mine
Cuts to Atsushi holding the book shown throughout. Then to him half weretiger slightly more distorted. Finally lands on a Atsushi colored in white with red eyes glowing with the title of the series behind it.
It was dead silent for a moment, then Ranpo began to applaud, which shocked most of them out of the daze they found themself in.
"Well, that was interesting." Yosano said, exacerbated by the showing.
"A piece of art right there." Ranpo agreed, ignoring the other emotions pouring out the people in question.
"Well, Next Episode! Here go!" Kenji yelled, even he could tell they needed to move on.
The black screen shows the title of the show as it begins the next episode, opening on several ADA members sitting in their conference room, including Haruno and Kenji. Kunikida breaks the eerie silence, "A mysterious crinmal is threatening to release a bomb somewhere in the city. Furthermore, an attack was made on the agency's reputation."
"I will say it again, y'all get nothing out of this detective gig. Seems so stressful." said Tachihara.
"Well, yeah, saving lives and all." said Dazai.
Kunikida takes out a big file.
"This is the contract that was left for us by the person we are dealing with. I will read it aloud."
"To those whom it concerns. It pleases me to see your agency is prosperous in these times. I have taken the liberty of placing a large amount of lethal explosives somewhere here in the city of Yokohama. In the interest of public safety. I kindly ask you to locate and disarm this bomb with the utmost of urgency. You have until sunset.
Warmest regards, The Azure Messenger."
"How kind of them to make it a game of sorts." said Tanizaki; the whole situation was exhausting, and he wasn't even in the field for this case.
"Toying with us, it makes me sick." Kunikida found himself growing angry again about how this all turned out. He pulled out his notebook, writing down his thoughts.
Fukuzawa sighs, "Do we know the identity of the Azure Messenger?"
"No, we don't."
"I will never understand the choice she made to do this and for what, he's dead and the dead don't talk back they don't care of the concerns of the living so why…" Kunikida whispered, his grief taking over his voice. Dazai and Ranpo heard his lament neither knew the answer to his plea.
Dazai looked down; he played with a matchbook that was in his pocket. 'This one will be an ordeal.'
Yosano tips her head to the side, "–Normally nothing fazes the agency. But this kind of attack is something it won't endure."
"Yeah, that damn agency are like cockroaches." Tachihara shudders, thinking about when they raided the agency's office and got their asses handed to them.
"Don't worry we will get them next time we go toe to toe." Gin wrote, and Hirutsu read out.
"Yeah…" Tachihara whispered, slightly unsure of that result.
"That is already set in motion." said Akugatawa. Dazai rolled his eyes at the comment. It already felt as if all that was months ago when it was only yesterday when he was accosted by a small assassin. Said small seemed to be very attached to Atsushi. Dazai wondered what the boy had done to bring about this fondness. He could imagine, but the brunette was sure he would be able to see his apprentice winning over the fourteen-year-old. And that brought him warmth in his heart.
Haruno's normally cheerful face fades, "We have been looking at potential bomb locations, but there are simply too many possibilities."
"Woah, this is the first time I've seen myself on-screen. It is kind of refreshing."
"And hopeful you'll get more." naomi hugged haruno cause the cat to jump out of her lap.
"I don't know screentime means I might be in danger."
"Oh, good point."
Kenji raises his hand, "Excuse me! Have we been able to get in touch with Ranpo?"
"Thank you, Kenji, for asking the real questions. When in doubt ask for ranpo for a way out." Tanizaki, with a bounce in his voice, exclaimed.
"Words to live off." Dazai agreed. Atsushi nodded in agreement with Dazai's agreement.
"It would seem he is almost done with his case in Kyushu. We have arranged to receive contact from him the moment he is finished." Haruno says.
Fukuzawa sighs again, "Did we receive any further information from the driver?"
"He claims that he knows nothing about the bomb. He doesn't have the steel to blow up Yokohama." Kunikida's glare is vicious.
"Listen up everyone." Fukuzawa's voice is authoritative, "This is a cowardly attack on our reputation as an Agency. We have two goals.–"
"Oh, how lovely another one of your speeches Fukuzawa." Mori said with little emotion.
"A good leader gives advice and encouragement." Fukuzawa stated.
"Coming from the lone wolf."
"That was a long time ago."
"So was me being a Doctor but here I sit in a white coat."
Fukuzawa reflected on the thought, it was a long time ago, but that didn't mean skeletons didn't exist.
"–and disarm it, then we do not have the right to call ourselves an agency. Be aware that this is a battle and the stakes are lives and the future of Yokohama."
The scene shows Kunikida standing on the roof, looking out at the city and making a call.
"Wow, that is a view." Tachihara
"Yeah, it's complete destroy by that Mori corp building." said Naomi
"Mori has another business." Atsushi looked to Dazai for an answer but was answered by Chuuya
"No, kid it's the front name for the Port Mafia. We still got to pay taxes you know." With a huff and a flourish of his hand.
"That's how they get you, it is those tax." Dazai finished.
"Ohh…" said Atsushi
"What time do you think it is, four eyes?" Rokuzou sighs.
"It's 11:30 AM," Kunikida says flatly, "Can you figure out who sent the contract to us?"
Rokuzou yawns and replies, "Aren't you calling me because there's something more important you need to get me to do?"
"You know everything, don't you?" Kunikida spits.
"I only know what I know."
Kunikda puts his business face back on, "I need you to trace the production of a bomb, I'll send you the purchase history."
"Bombs, huh? Sounds like business is booming."
"Cut the crap and get to work. We're trying to save lives here. Why don't you do something that benefits society for a change, instead of all this illegal work?" Kunikida says sarcastically.
"Kunikida..." said Yosano.
"I know. I know."
"Why don't you get off your high horse. Remember your not my dad." Rokuzou's frustration shined through from Kunikida's lecture. He hangs up on Kunikida, to which the detective puts his arm down.
The day was too long, and he made all the wrong choices, in trusting, in his approach. His partner seemed to be unfazed by the outcome. He wondered if Dazai could feel the pain the blond was feeling. The need to talk to someone who was not there anymore. He had dreams of that boy living his life unshackled from the specter of his father. But he failed, failed to save him from the ghost that took him in the end. And now he sat in a theater watching his bad choices on the silver screen.
"No, I can't replace your father." Disembodied voice rings out as the episode title is shown. The episode was called, Episode 7: Love for the Disease called Ideals
"What a title. I think I know how this ends." Under the great detective breath he let out, "How tragic."
Sasaki's voice comes through as the cafe downstairs was shown, "Are you sure you have time for this? The agency seems so busy today with the new bomb threat."
She's sitting at a booth in the small cafe with Dazai on the other side, "Especially, Kunikida, he seems so anxious."
"Well, at least someone cares, cause his partner sure doesn't." said Tanizaki.
"He does have a tendency to do that." murmured Atsushi.
"I care about Kunikida mental health." An overly cheerful voice exclaimed.
"Dazai, you only care when you can be the cause of his distress." The tiger shook his head. His mentor enjoyed messing with Kunikida too much. Dazai was smirking back at him. The weretiger could guess what he was thinking about. Somehow, ssomeway he would mess with Kunikida here as well because emery criss meaned nothing to him. He pity Kunikida no peace for the over worked.
Dazai is holding a cup of coffee, seeming distorted over his partners state of mind, "You got that right. Kunikida is an insane work horse. Get this, he spends two hours reviews his notes before bed."
"Ummm… when do you sleep." said Chuuya, amazed by how much dedication he had ro his job.
"I schedule it for 10 pm - 6 am this way I can get eight hours. Sleep is quite important."
'Sleep…' Chuuya reflected, Mafia hours didn't really allow for proper sleep and with his ability he felt less inclined to sleep.
"I couldn't stand doing that for two minutes–"
Atsushi and Kunikida appear behind him in the other table looking at the Dazai and the professor.
"Maybe he's got some soldier ants working in his brain–." His lament was cut off as a fist suddenly hits Dazai across his cheek, sending him flying down into the seat.
"He deceived that right." said Naomi.
"Oh, I didn't know you were here, Kunikida?" Dazai grunt through the pain.
"Yup…" her brother agreed.
"You have a job don't you. IT would be nice if you did it." Chuuya stated with annoyance that he had to sit and watch Dazai's tendency for laziness when his partner was a workhorse. It gave him flashbacks. 'Damn bandage bastard.'
"Well, we all can't get what we want. Who else would challenge Kunikida but me." The detective in question said with limited emotions.
Kunikida glowers as he turns back around, "How can you ditch an important meeting during an emergency?"
Cuts to showing his face, "I guess you thought is was more important to go on a fancy date."
"I don't know this seems like a D-tier date to me."
"He's one thing going for him and that's his pretty boy looks."
"Awww, thanks guys."
"It wasn't a compliment."
"Are you jealous of my fancy date?" sacratism dripping from the older detective.
"Arg! No, I am not." He says, flustered looking down.
Atsushi watches and thinkings, 'Yes, he is.'
"Oh, Atsushi you sass little kitten you." Yosano primed.
"Tiger." Atsushi stated through a sigh.
"I was not." Kunikida looked at Atsushi, slightly betrayed. Sure, he expected such things from his partner, not from his junior.
Under the tiger's breath, "Yes, you were…"
Dazai leans back, "Ever since we recused Miss Sasaki. I've been hosting her at my place. She still needs help to insure her safety and help with her mental state. That's our job too."
"Okay, but why does it need to be your job?" said Tachihara.
"Yeah…" Many agreed with the statement as they loudly proclaimed their feelings on the matter.
"It's so clear, you're just being a womanizer!" Chuuya exclaimed
"You are all wrong. I am a reformed criminal now." Dazai proclaimed, raising his hand in defense of himself.
"Sure… I will believe that when I see you complete all your work on time." Chuuya exacerbated. Kunikida couldn't help but nod his head in agreement.
"Your too irresponsible and lazy for such an important task, don't be ridiculous." Kunikida sighs as it cuts to Sasaki, "Besides an attractive woman like her probably has a nice boyfriend for support."
"Smooth Mr. Kunikida, Smooth." Hirostu said reading for Gin.
"Now that I am looking at him. He is quite attractive." stated Kouyou.
"I didn't know you paid such attention to such things, big sis." Tachihara wondered out loud.
"I'm not blind boy." she replied.
"Nice try but I know she's single. She broke up with her boyfriend." Dazai raises his head and looks at Kunikida through the corner of his eye. "That's right Kunikida, now's your chance." He points at Kunikida with a finger gun.
"Love how you assume that she would go for either of you." said Yosano.
"Yeah, if she did, I would be worried about her state of mind. It doesn't matter how hot you lot are." Said Ranpo, licking a loli.
"You guys are being so kind today." Dazai's hands were on his face in awe at his senior.
"Conventionally, you are attractive but that personality." Yosano grimance with a deep frown.
"Doctor." Endearingly Dazai beamed at the great detective.
Kunikida looks like he's about to scream, "Listen Dazai, I'm here for one reason to fill you in on what's going on cause you skipped the emergency meeting, this morning."
Dazai sighs as he deflats, "Yeah. Well, I already know what it's happening," The brunette further folds in on himself as he put his knees against the table. "The Azure Messenger planted this bomb with the specific goal to crush our agency."
Sasaki blinks, bewildered, "Umm… Should I be hearing this? It sounds–"
"I'm with her. Why are you guys just talking in front of her? Is this all it takes for you guys to spill your guts? A pretty girl with a nice rack." said Tachihara.
"No, it's not because she's hot," Dazai stated with an air of seriousness. But then he opened his mouth again. "It's caused, I am sure she will commit double suicide with me." The theater let out a deep sigh.
"That's a shit reason," Tachihara spoke for all of them.
"She's right." Atsushi deadpanned as Dazai raised himself.
"Unfortunately," Dazai unfolds himself. "The attempted on your life makes you apart of this."
"This dude." Gowled out by Chuuya. "He just pisses me off."
"My thoughts on Chuuya."
"Motherfu–"
'Really…' Atsushi thinks.
"You can help, reminded me again what class do you teach at the university?" Dazai asks Sasaki, who replies "Social psychology."
"Ah, that's great!" Dazai beams, "I'd love to hear your opinion on this case."
"I'm confused why is Dazai asking for her thoughts. Isn't he well versed in social psychology? Like his whole job is game theory, what other reason would he be employed for." Said Higuchi.
"Maybe, he wants her thoughts as she might have picked up on something that might help with the investigation." said Kouyou.
"Oh, I thought it was the weretiger's job to state the obvious." with a slight roll of the bodyguard's eyes.
"Didn't they already question her back when the accident occurred." said Tachihara.
"Yes, right after the incidents but it is always good to question them twice. One reason: due to the victim being just through a traumatic event and another reason could be if one suspects that there is more to the story and wants to review the previous statement." Ranpo explained.
"So, Dazai thinks she is involved in the case." Tachihara questioned.
"Well, he did state that much."
Sasai puts her hands on her chin, "The Azure Messenger… Based on the name, I believe that the Azure King could be related in some way."
"I was thinking the same thing," Dazai's face became more neutral.
Sasaki cocks her head, "It may be a stretch but he might be the Azure King himself. We think he blew himself up after being cornered by the police. But it's possible he faked his death and he still wants revenage?"
Static takes over the screen, then focuses on a man draped in all blue, "This world is incomplete," He preaches,
The audience was taken back by the man's appearance. It was jarring how it cut into this video that the man long ago. The Azure King stating his declaration of war on the injustice of Japan's government.
Kunikida was taken back and disguised. He just needed to get through this, but that man and his views lead an excellent person to their death. A child who had his future in front of him. 'Why did he have to…'
"One may grieve or pray, but people still die and evil goes unpunished. Allowed to flourish freely everywhere"
'That man looks a lot like Kunikida.' Atsushi thought. The weretiger couldn't help the thought as he looked at the man's eyes the same certainty in his own actions. 'His Ideals…'
"The Azure King was a former businessman who blew up a government facility to make a statement. He targets criminals who could not be touched by the law. Murderers who were not prosecuted due to procedural mistakes. Lawmakers who were involved in international political corruption." Sasaki narrates, the flashback coming back into complete focus, "So, let us seek an ideal world ourselves. Not one guided by the hands of God, but a world made by–"
"Isn't odd that's she known so much about this case."
The Azure King grins behind his mask.
"Maybe it's cause she researches killers like Azure messager."
Most of the Agency darkened at this comment. Though most missing pieces of the information they needed. Still, they knew enough to know the ending.
"Even if the Azure King is still alive, why would he attack the detective agency like this?" Atsushi asks.
"I have no idea," admits Sasaki.
"Well," Dazai tips his head back, "Kunikida found his hideout the first time and thus cornered him. I suppose it would be Kunikida that he hates."
Kunikida shakes his head, "That terrorist's death was confirmed after a forensic analysis by the police. They made no mistakes."
"So a vengeful spirit is coming for the blond glasses detective." Mori mused with a sort of gleam in his eye.
"Either way, it's probably best that we stay on our guard until we know who we're dealing with. We'll need to keep Sasaki somewhere safe." Dazai nods wisely.
"Oh no, you don't!" Kunikida shouts.
"What did I say?" Dazai asks innocently.
"Bruh, it's like Dazai just can't help himself." said Tachihara.
"Womanizer…" Chuuya said through his teeth, thinking about all of the times Dazai had dealrailed their mission cause of his floundering.
"...Alcoholic" Dazai shoot back clearly seeing what the exec was thinking about.
Kunikida snarls, "All right that's enough Dazai." Standing and grabbing Dazai's coat. "Do you really think we are dumb enough to let you keep a beautiful lady in your room and use her personal safety as an excuse—."
Dazai, sounding annoyed with Kunikida's implication, clarifies the misunderstanding while Kunikida continues his rant. "Would you calm down nothing of what you're imagining happened."
"You have a very active imagination, Mr. Kunikida." Said Hirostu as he watched the man from his spot. "Dazai wouldn't do that in this instance."
"Sadly, yeah not in this instance. She is a part of this, plus it's not his kink."
"Well you're one to talk…Chuuya."
Kunikida eyed the man. 'What did he know about his partner. Why does it feel like everyone knew Dazai better than me.' Kunikida worked with Dazai for nearly two years and yet what did he really know. What was the point when everyone in this damn room knew him better than his own partner.
Dazai remained silent.
Dazai smirks to Kunikida's annoyance, "When I first let her stay. I slept in a different room and didn't try anything you can ask her I was a true gentlemen," Dazai's face took a different quality as he continued. "but I knew you would have torrent fantasies of what we were doing and that's funny to me so I didn't correct you."
Many in the theater got a good laugh out of Dazai's tendency to mess with Kunikida. Even Atsushi seeing it over again found the humor it took away from what was going to come.
Dazai turns away as Kunikida throws his arms up and screamed.
"Can someone please explain to me why these two are partners?" Atsushi mumbles.
"Poor Atsushi. He just wants peaceful naps in the sun." said Yosano.
"You guys realized that I am only tiger-like–"
"Cat-like." Haruni corrected.
"When I am transformed."
"Maybe we should test that At-su-shi." Atsushi knew just by the way the brunette said his name. He was going to make it his mission to find out how tiger-like he was when outside of his transformation.
"No!"
"But?" His mentor pouted.
"NO… I ain't going to be your test subject."
"But it could help with your control over your abilities At-su-shi." Dazai said with pout which slowly turn into a evil smirk as he continued. "Don't you want better control."
He eyed the man next to him then look to Kyoko who seemed more interested to find out how much of a cat he truly was in his everyday life.
"I will think about it."
The response the young adult got was a toothy grin that screamed bad news.
"Kunikida seems to have taken quite a liking to you, but… what kind of men do you like, Sasaki?" Dazai turns to the woman in question.
Atsushi took a moment; it felt normal. To be with his mentor without that truth hanging over him. If only he could forget all the bad and stay in the good. If only… He knew that he would have to make a choice once it was all said and done. But as he looked at the brunette, he saw a genuine smile spread across his face. He could only smile back.
Sasaki flushes, "Wh-what kind of man? I feel it's presumptuous of me to have standards. But, I think men with ideals who dedicate themselves to something are lovely."
Kunikida goes silent, and Dazai gives him a knowing grin.
"That's 100% our Kunikida. Why don't I let you two take it from here?" Dazai winks.
"Now you're a shitty matchmaker, Dazai."
"I'm a genius. I'm good at everything I do."
"Except cooking."
"Well, cooking is for dogs like Chuuya. Not for geniuses. Ain't that right, Ranpo?"
"Don't drag me into this." Ranpo gave Dazai a look.
"But you can't cook."
"Where's your proof? I can make any microwavable dish into a gourmet dinner." The great detective sounded insulted by the statement.
"You're both going to die of food poisoning." Chuuya said, completely disappointed that these two were first some of the smartest people in yokahime and second that they were consider adults.
"Only if a beautiful lady comes with me." Dazai seemed over the moon by the idea of food poisoning by microwave dinner and dying with a beautiful lady.
Chuuya could only growl at the other.
"That is not your decision to make," Kunikida says coldly.
Dazai's smile grows, "You're so easy to read Kunikida."
Kunikida looks ready to kill a man, specifically Dazai.
"That's true," Atsushi grumbles, unable to deny Dazai's claim.
"Atsushi just let it all hang out this episode," said Tanizaki.
"I'm just agree with Dazai."
"Hmmm…that nice guy acted ain't working no more, buddy." Tachihara exclaimed.
"But…" Atsushi looked to Dazai for help but was met with a wide grin.
"His personality is a little awry, but as you can see he's a man of virtue who lives for his ideals," Dazai sighs, "Although that's probably the reason why the bar for his ideal woman is painfully high, Care to read about it?"
He hands her Kunikida's notebook. She cocks her head and takes the book.
"When the hell did you steal that?" screeches Kunikida.
"Wow, isn't that your most important possession you really shouldn't let him take it." said Tachihara as others in the agency let out a sigh at Dazai once again, getting his hands on the book.
"I didn't let him take anything."
"Dazai is an expert pickpocket." Akutagawa blankly stated.
Atsushi looked over the older whose body didn't give way to anything other then the obvious hatred of him. The weretiger let out a sigh.
"Children literally children, you two are giving Atsushi a bad direction." said Yosano, looking like a lost parent putting her hand on her face in grief. "That poor kitten."
"Why do I even bother? I'm an eighteen years old, that makes me an adult."
"Yes, Yes… little kitten." With a dismissing wave at her younger coworker.
"You have to know that they're just going to keep doing it with your reaction to it being so grand. You don't want to become a Chuuya do you or worse a Kunikida?"
"...Good Point." In fear of that future. Ranpo took this moment to shoot the possibility that could avoid such fate.
"Yeah, that's not happening, you are on your way of being the agency's favorite kitten."
"Tiger!" Getting a laugh out of the agency's members and some of the port mafia.
Kunikida tries to take his journal back, but is held at bay by Dazai. Sasaki begins to flip through the pages.
Sasaki's face grows more and more concerned, "Kunikida?"
"Yea?"
Sasaki grimaces, "This is too much."
Atsushi was just as disheartened as Kunikida, "Poor Kunikida is crushed."
"The cinnamon roll activated." Kyouka laughed.
"You too? I thought you were a part of the dream team, what happened to you."
"I'm part of the port mafia." A small smile acrossing her face. It made the weretiger happy that she could joke like this. The eighteen year old pouted and Kyouka could imagine his tiger ears.
"We see a cinnamon roll. We point it out." Tachihara answered.
"But I'm not-"
"If the collar fits you should wear it Atsushi." Cut in Yosano.
"You guys suck." He pouted, leaning more into himself. The weretiger could tell his mentee was enjoying it too much.
Atsushi's phone rings, and he quickly picks it up.
"They got in contact with Ranpo," Atsushi informs them.
Both Kunikida and Dazai bolt upright.
"Fucking finally we can get to work." said Tachihara.
"You acted as if you were a member of the agency."
"But I am. I am invested in this story and now I am a member due to the hard work of having to watch the agency's story from the sidelines. Well no more free labor. I want a badge and a gun."
Kunikida drives down the street wildly with Dazai in the passenger seat and Atsushi in the back.
"The agency doesn't give out guns to new recruits. Moreover, we don't give out guns, we are a private agency. Each one of our members needs to get a gun license for agency usage." Said Kunikida.
"Well, that sucks." Bummed by this discovery. "Well, can I at least ride the tiger here." pointing to Atsushi.
"We are not hiring you." Kunikida is completely deadpanned.
"But I am already employed."
Kunikida gave him a look.
"Arggg…. Then whats the good of you lot."
"We protect Yokohime. That's the good of us."
Ranpo's voice blares out from the speaker, "And to think I was going to do some sightseeing in Kyushu and maybe even have an onsen egg. You guys can't even perform a simple little investigation without me…"
Dazai sighs, "We have until sunset, We need to know where the bomb is."
"So, you guys can tell him to focus on the task at hand." said Higuchi.
"Well, this was business hours." Dazai said with a shrug.
"Doesn't count, it was Dazai and Dazai is an ass." Chuuya supplied.
"Hurtful."
"Truthful."
'What about a shopping center? A school? One of the train stations? Anyone of those could produce hundreds of casualties. Where could it be?' Atsushi continues throwing out locations as to where the bomb could be that could cause high caulties.
"A fishing supplies store."
Atsushi's eyebrows raised.
"In Negishicho."
Dazai nods, "Makes sense."
Everyone stares at him with utter confusion; Dazai blinks rapidly and turns to the phone.
"Thanks, Ranpo. Your amazing." He tells the phone.
The flashback ends, now showing the three of them sitting in the car as Kunikida drives like a crazy person down the street.
"Umm…" The president grimanced. "Kunikida."
"Yes, sir?"
"Next time take the car with the siren."
"Understood."
"Why a fishing supplies store?" Atsushi asks, leaning forward in the car.
Dazai raises an eyebrow, "Do you have a map?"
"Now Dazai you should know that Kunikida is prepared for all situation of course he has map." said Yosano playfully.
"Well, you never know when he might finally slip up."
Atsushi swipes the map up, and he flips through it, looking. Dazai leans against him, "Page 97."
When Atsushi finds the page, Dazai points to the map.
"They're trying to blow up that petrochemical facility." He tells Atsushi, whose eyes widen.
Kunikida scoffs, "I should've picked up on that."
"You wouldn't have, not in the time need to solve the cause with limited casualties." Ranpo supplied.
Dazai moves some hair out of his face, "Yokohama is one of the most prominent ports in Japan. There are a large number of storage facilities for oil and natural gas here. If an explosion went off and a tank caught fire, the entire Bay Area would go up in flames. But getting into one of these facilities would require clearing a ton of security. The easiest way to go about it would be to simply fill a vehicle with explosives and leave it near one of them."
"Wow… that ability is too op. You could solve practically anything with such a powerful ability. You weren't even in the city."
With a grin, all too pleased with the praise, he stated, "Well, that's why they employ me."
"The whole agency was built with Ranpo in mind. None of us would have a job if it wasn't for Ranpo's brilliant ability." said Yosano, full of praise for her senior.
"I'm just a normal ability user like all the rest of you."
Atsushi grimaces at the statement, hopeful that the episode gets buried and never to be shown cause he had no idea what his reaction would be to it.
Many at the port mafia wondered what else he could do with such ability and, moreover, what it could do for them or to them. Mori looked at the great detective thinking over their history how he took his Akiko away from him. Both of them out of his reach now.
Kunikida winds around another turn, "–this fishing store is the ideal location."
"Exactly."
A bomb disposal unit pulls up to the fishing shop and spots a car in the corner. It has tinted windows and is parked in a way that hides it from view. They carefully open the back trunk of the station wagon. Inside the station wagon is a large bomb with a timer counting down and a radio receiver attached to it.
Dazai picks up the phone and listens for a minute, then hangs up, "The police have located the bomb, but they say it can't be moved and it will be difficult to diffuse before sunset."
Atsushi's eyes narrow, and Dazai continues, "They've begun evacuating people in the area, but it's hard to say if they'll have enough time."
"It can't be.."
Dazai rolls his eyes and continues, "However it seems the bomb can be stopped via remote."
Kunikida swings the car around, "We have to do something."
Atsushi screams in fear as Dazai barely looks ruffled by the sudden turn.
Kunikida looks down at a sound and speaks up, "My phone's ringing."
"Hello?"
Rokuzou's voice comes through, "Hey four-eyes, Ya busy?"
Kunikida's gaze softens, "What's going on?"
He's stopped driving, now in the middle of an intersection, car horns blaring out.
"Ummm…guys, I think we are causing a traffic jam.." Atsushi observes
The president shook his head. "Kunkida."
"Yes, sir."
"Next time pull over to the side consider this your first warning."
"Yes, sir." The blond said with a sigh.
and then his phone buzzes, "Huh?"
"Hello?"
Ranpo's cheerful voice crackles through, "Hey Atsushi!" As Atsushi was added to a split screen.
"Ranpo? ... Ok. … Sure."
Dazai watches both with amusement and then his phone rings. He picks it up quickly, "Yes?"
"Dazai," Fukuzawa, was on the other side.
Dazai blinks in surprise, "President?… Huh?… The police?"
All three sit in the car, chatting on all their phones as cars continue to honk behind.
"I see, use a hacker to find a hacker," Kunikida grins, "Nice work." Closing his screen
"I understand…" sighs Atsushi, "Yes.. sure." Closed screen for his section.
"We'll be in touch." Dazai's voice is very earnest, "Understood."
"That was a beautiful edit so fun and energetic." Ranpo seemingly bouncing in his sit. "Can really feel the need for urgency."
Kunikida starts the car again and pulls away, "That was from Rokuzou. It seems that someone has recently installed communication equipment in an old national defense facility."
Atsushi nods, "Ranpo said the same thing."
"We have our destination," Kunikida swings around a corner.
"My call was from the director." Dazai informs them, "According to the police, the taxi driver is dead."
"Dead?"
Atsushi hums, "Wasn't he in protective custody?"
"He convulsed in pain and collapsed," Dazai states, "The cause is unknown, but it seems the numbers "00" were on his skin."
"Interesting, so a ability that can be used away from the user?" Hirustu wondered out loud.
Kunikida seems furious, "Timers on the palm of the hand? What the hell is going on?"
The car heads into a massive underground facility
"Kunikida!" Dazai shouts, a small amount of worry in his tone, just as a grenade rolls under the car.
Kunikida grabs the wheel and takes a hard turn, clearing the explosion, and comes to a halt. As soon as the car stops, gunfire rains toward them.
"Damn, here we go." Tachihara said, pumped up.
"It must have been hard on you. Know with all the loud, noisies and all." Kyouka said.
Atsushi looked down over at her for a moment before it clicks. He sighed, "Yeah, not pleasant..."
Kunikida reacts quickly, grabbing a page, "Doppo Poet! Flashbang!"
"This is the excitement I was looking for. Kick their asses Kunikida." said Tachihara.
The flash grenade goes off, causing a lull in the gunfire.
Kunikida clicks his tongue, "Definitely the place. You two, head for the stairs. Find the transmitter and disable the bomb."
Dazai and Atsushi nod and charge up the stairs as Kunikida pulls out his gun, stopping short, "What is this?"
He looks at the floor to see a circle filled with glowing numbers appearing.
"Show me your number," says a guy in the shadows, wearing a hood and a cruel smirk. He's standing on a pile of rubble.
"How are you doing?" He calls down at Kunikida, "You look well. Now tell me, what's your number?"
"Anyone else think this guy is kind hot." Said Tachihara as looked up at the screen at that beautiful face of a no-name player in this.
Kunikida's eyebrow shoots up, and he glances at his right hand. Engraved in red writing on his palm is the number 39.
"This is…"
Everyone stared at the mafia member.
"Fair nevermind." He duck down to avoid their stares.
The guy simply grins, "The fact that you've found this place means that you are as good as they say. Congrats, Armed Detective Agency. It's impressive."
"Seriously, why is this guy giving main character." Ranpo said with a handful of popcorn in his mouth. Quickly, he swallowed it and finished his thought. "You need to step up Atsushi."
The scene changes to show Dazai and Atsushi on the top of the stairs.
"The sun will set soon," remarks Atsushi, glancing out the window. Dazai quickly moved towards the transmitter that showed the remaining time left on the bomb, counting down to the explosion.
"Can you operate it?" Atsushi asks Dazai, with concern in his voice.
"Not a problem!" Says Dazai, perkily,
"Great, so Yokahime is saved." Tanizaki exclaimed. His sister sharing his joy.
"Finally, doing his job." Jabbed Chuuya.
"Just not right now.."
Loudly Chuuya exclaimed, "Bruhhh!"
Atsushi cocks his head in confusion as Dazai points to a keyhole, "We need to put the release key in here, but we don't have it."
"Shit. This is stressing me out. I could never be a detective its too much." Tachihara said.
"But you said not a few minutes ago–" Atsushi wondered.
"Kitten I know, I know but you will have to live without me." With a pat on his leg.
"You do know I am a man-eating tiger, right." His eyes taking on a special quality.
"Noted, sorry nevermind." Tachihara said while backing away from the 'beast'.
"What should we do?" Frets Atsushi, just as a rather large man shouts at them. They both turn around as he charges at Dazai who simply says, "You must be a heavyweight champion."
"Dazai is not fazed by anything a giant bodybuilder charges at him. He quips." Said Naomi.
"Ex-port mafia member." said Yosano.
"I am a detective been one for two years now." the in-question stated.
"Is that longer than the time you've been mafia member?" The Doctor sighed.
"I was member for three years." His mentor stated, "So, I will be breaking even soon." Dazai turned to his younger apprentice, and the face that greeted him was not one he was except. It looked like he had been slapped in the face left with a burning pain and the shock of the hit. Then he looked at Kyouka who was only fourteen. The youth re-focused on the screen.
Back down on the floor, Kunikida aims his gun at the blonde guy, who chuckles at him and snaps his right hand. Kunikida blinks in shock as his gun is flung from his hands.
'Shit.' It was a weird out-of-body experience Kunikida's body didn't move, but his hand felt off.
He grits his teeth and looks at the blonde guy, 'He must be a long-range ability user.'
"How's your number doing?" Asks the blonde guy, his face almost split by his grin.
"This man could do anything he wanted to me." Said Yosano.
"Akiko." Ranpo chastise.
"What it's that voice you can't judge me. I know you were thinking the same thing."
"Yeah, but I'm not voicing it."
"Number?"
Kunikida lifts his palm to see the numbers go from 32 to 21.
"Thing is," the blonde guy moves his fingers to the left, "There's really no escape from my ability."
"Seriously, he is stealing the show. Who is this guy?" Said Tanizaki.
"You guys not worried about me who is fighting 'this guy'." said Kunikida, disgruntle.
"Yeah, no, not really." said the Doctor.
"Most of us know you guys walked away with limited injuries."
"Plus, I'm more concerned what happened after this. Your report wasn't all that detailed." said Haruno.
Kunikida could only sigh in response. 'What came after.'
"What happened after this?" Kyouka questioned.
"You'll see." Ranpo stated, it was sombering to the audience. It was clear by Dazai's and Kunikida's earlier argument that something big had happened. Most had forgotten this truth.
Like a puppet, Kunikida flies to the left of the blonde guy. The guy moved his fingers in many directions, Kunikida moving with him until he slammed Kunikida into the floor from a big height.
Kunikida's body jerked as his body was experiencing the pain of being crashed to the ground at full force.
"You okay, Kunikida?" Said Noami.
"Yeah, I am fine." The detective grunted out.
"I can move people who have a number on them anywhere I want. Doesn't matter where they are. But if the number hits zero, they die. No one escapes." A shadow falls over the blonde guy's face as he leers at Kunikida on the floor.
The number goes down to 15.
"Kind of a cool abilty not gonna lie. I wish, I had a cool ability like that." Said Tachihara.
"You don't have an ability." Atsushi asked in wonder.
"Nope just a normal person. What did you think I had one?" The mafia member angled his head up to the weretiger with a smirk upon his face.
"Are you the boss?" Spits Kunikida as the guy laughs, "You are more trouble than the mafia was. But the Armed Detective Agency is finished."
"Is this mafia slander." Hirustu put some energy in his voice for Gin's comment.
"Agreed, well I say no more we the mafia refuse these claims." Tachihara stood on his feet, seeming ready to go to war over such a statement.
"Sit down. We can't see the screen." Said the Doctor.
"Yes, doctor."
Kunikida looks absolutely shocked as the blonde guy pulls out a key from his pocket, "Here's the release key for disarming the bomb. You can't stop the bomb without it. Would you like it? I bet you would. Watch this."
He snaps the key in half with a smirk on his face while Kunikida watches in horror.
The guy throws back his head and laughs, "There goes your last hope. It's over. Give up."
"It's not over, you idiot!" Kunikida retorts loudly.
"You tell him Kunikida. Now kick his ass." Naomi shouting her agreement.
The camera shifts back to Dazai and the bigger man. Dazai punches the guy in the gut.
Chuuya let out a laugh. "What do you think you're doing with that punch, mackerel." Dazai could only click his tongue.
The bigger man is unmoved by the attack, locking his hand around Dazai's throat with the intent to kill.
Dazai forces himself to relax into the pressure being applied to his neck. The feel of suffocating. The burn, the rush, he was well acquainted with it by this point. His eyes rolled back. The searing pain was all too addicting, and yet it made him sick. He noted that the man was not trying to stop the airflow. No, his goal was to break his neck.
"Dazai, you need to breathe!"
All Dazai could hear was the blood pounding in his ears. It was peaceful.
A chair smashed on top of the bigger man's head. In anger, he swats Atsushi with a kick. The younger is sent flying across the room.
Atsushi is grasping. Now hunched over, he hastily takes in air lost by the weight of the attack and impact. Kyouka slowly rubs circles on his back as he recovers. He looks up at her, in a silent thank you.
"Nice leg work!" Dazai choked out before he was sent across the room, smashing into a wall and office cabinet.
Dazai coughs out, finally breathing again. He knew he had to have bruised a rib or a few. He might cough up a lung. He really didn't like pain.
Dazai grunts in pain as he grins up at the man, "You really do have very strong arms. You missed your true calling as a luggage porter."
"God, you're so useless. What is the purpose of you being there if all you're going to do is sit on your ass." Akutagawa proclaimed, annoyed with watching Dazai being thrown around like a rag doll. 'If I was there this would be a non-issue.'
"Every time." Atsushi grunted, and let out a controlled breath. He was already in enough pain as it was. He didn't need that mad dog two cents.
"If I have to sit here and watch you make a fool out of yourself and the agency then at least I can do is add my thoughts on your idiocy."
Another controlled breath was let out from his side of the theater. Akutagawa brought out a raw emotion of wanting to claw his eyes out. Kyouka patted his hand, which took him away from plotting the mad dog's death.
Back on the floor, Kunikida fights the blonde guy's powers. He attempts to get close to him but to no avail as the numbers tick down. The sound of Dazai letting out a cry.
Dazai tries to regain his breath before he is strangled again. However, it was already gone before he could. He went limp under the pressure and waited.
The shot moves to Dazai being thrown against the glass, cracking it in the process. Teeth clenched together, and from the corner of his eye, he saw his partner being thrown again.
"Hey, Kunikida!" Dazai screams, urgency reflected in his voice.
It was always odd to hear Dazai express his emotions through his voice. Of course, the emotion was pain so it made sense for the urgency.
"I'm already on it!" Responds Kunikida, creating a wire gun and firing at the blonde guy, who easily dodges it. Music started to play in the background as Kunikida uses this opportunity and leaps to attack him.
"Don't try the same tricks twice." The blonde guy snarls, blasting Kunikida away.
Kunikida flies through the air, in the direction of the communications room where the massive guy was about to finish off Dazai. Kunikida aims the gun toward the already smashed glasses.
"Dazai!" Kunikida shouts.
"Here!" Dazai responds, using the bodybuilder as a launching point.
Chuuya could finally take a breath in as Dazai escaped the hold of that bomber. He reasoned it was because he won't be able to kill that suicidal freak himself. But there was part of him that knew it was because of their long, turbulent relationship as partners that brought the disgusting emotion of worry.
They both fly through the air, and for one brief moment, they pass each other, locking eyes with the other in mid-air. Now in each other's place. Dazai on the floor and Kuniida in the communications room.
"Now that's what I'm talking 'bout it's all about the coat." Tachihara exclaimed.
He was eyed by both of the groups again for the third time.
"And that team work makes the dream work."
"Help me out here, Atsushi."
"No," The weretiger looked up in contemplation. "I don't think I will. You know with me being a cute kitten and all."
"Oh, come on man I was just joshing you." The mafia member begged with his eyes. The tiger crossed his arms and hummed, looking away from the mafia member. He took paused, when had he became such good friends with such a person. He looked at the brunette next to him. 'Was it because of you?' The weretiger wondered.
The blonde guy grins at Dazai, "So you want me to give you a number too."
Watching how they worked, he was reminded of all the good they had down together. Because they could trust one another to get the job done, and that should be enough, but for Kunikida, it wasn't because, despite what his word's conveyed, he saw Dazai as his friend. Despite his insanity and lack of work ethic, he was his partner and friend, so it hurt that he could miss something so big. It felt like the person he invested time into understanding was someone else entirely, and worse off, he could see how Dazai could have been part of such an organization. So where did that leave them?
Dazai's face stretched into a grin as he walked forward, "Sorry to say, but your ability won't have an effect on me. Oh, and also, you should tell your partner to take my career advice." Dazai pulls back and punches the blonde guy across the hanger.
"Now you're a life coach too, huh Dazai." Chuuya slightly moving his hair out of his face.
"Jealous."
"As if."
Meanwhile, Kunikida finishes off the other guy as Atsushi watches in admiration. The large guy flies through the air into a wall, where a cabinet falls on him.
"Ouch, he's going to need a doctor for that." Said the good doctor herself with a good amount of humor in her tone.
'That guy was huge but Kunikida had no fear.' Says Atsushi; he sat up and walks to his window, "Dazai's okay."
'Their partnership works so well.' He sees the blonde guy on the floor as Dazai stands over him.
"Well, I guess you got your answer, hmm Atsushi." Dazai said.
"Yeah, thanks for letting me tag along with you guys."
"Anytime."
"The bomb?!" Atsushi realizes, "We need the key right now!"
"That idiot broke it." sighs Kunikida as he writes in his notebook.
"What? Then what are we going to do?" Shouts Atsushi. The screening showed how much time was left on the timer.
"Can't for one minute keep your cool." Akutagawa stated for the pleasure of the audience.
"Swear, I am going to hurt you."
"Yeah, I will like to see you try it."
Dazai tried very hard to suppress his grin. They reminded him so much of Chuuya and him.
"We need to–We don't have time."
"Calm down, kid," Kunikida finally, looked up from his book and looks at Atsushi, who snaps out of his freak out.
"Doppo Poet," mutters Kunikida, "Release Key."
The page quickly changes into a small release key that Kunikida jams into the keyhole.
"Huh, problem solved." said the good doctor.
"That's how we do it." Ranpo said, feeling quite proud of his junior.
"My ability allows me to recreate anything I have seen as long as I understand its form and function." He put in the key and turned the clock stopped at two minutes and fifty-eight seconds.
"Wow, you could make anything with it, like a lot of cash." said Tachihara.
Which got a chuckle out of Dazai, who immediately reached for his side, and the rest of the agency, as they all knew he would never use his ability for that reason.
"That would be illegal." The glasses detective answered.
'Always the upstanding citizen.' The agency collective thought.
"There's a catch: the object can be no bigger than my notebook." Kunikida elaborates
"So your notebook is really a tool, and that's the reason you have it with you all the time, isn't it." Remarks Atsushi and Kunikida remain silent in the background while Dazai is leaning on the doorframe, watching the interaction.
"Wow, that was a fun episode." Tachihara said, getting up and stretching out his limbs. "You guys were acting like it was something crazy or something."
Ranpo losing all his normal humor stated dryly. "It's not over yet."
Tachihara formed an oh as he sat back down to finish off the episode.
Kunikida wished this was where the episode ending that the next moment didn't exist at all, but they did, and there was nothing but these last moments with him. "It didn't need to end that way."
The scene cuts off at that, shifting to a graveyard. Kunikida lays a pile of flowers on a gravestone to offer his respects.
"Who were these people? Are these the graves of the victims?" Asks a soft voice as the screen focuses on the flowers.
Her sickly sweet voice disgusted the older blond detective.
Sasaki stands next to the crouching Kunikida.
"Yes." Kunikida is quiet and respectful as he stands to allow her to place her flowers. "When I first caused casualties during a job, I cried so much I couldn't get up. I need time off from work. But now I don't shed a single tear for them, they have run dry. Instead I come to their graves. I see my visit as a kind of trade so I can move on."
Everyone has their own way of dealing with the cost of their work. This was Kunikida's way of doing something to grieve the lost life. Soon Atsushi will need a way to cope with the loss; whether it was on him or not didn't really matter; a loss was a loss. Loved ones that never got to say goodbyes and dreams left never fulfilled. Death was cruel and fair. She knew all too well that feeling, but unlike Kunikida, she was to blame. Yosano reaches up to her golden butterfly tracing the engravings. Forever atoning for her wrongs. She wanted to laugh cause Mori would never feel the need to atone for his actions during the war.
Doctor Mori watched from his seat Yosano's response to the words said on the screen. She couldn't let it go. He wondered if she ever stopped seeing their faces. He had long ago forgotten all the patients he failed to save and the people who died from his orders. He gazed shifted at his other apprentice, who he found was looking back at him. The doctor could see the anger under his molten stare. No, he didn't regret nor feel anything for those he had led to their death.
"I often wonder about that," asks Sasaki, her voice wavering, "Do our tears do anything for the dead?"
"No, they mean nothing but a waste of time. We are the only ones clinging onto their memory." Uncharacterly, Tachihara murmured, and almost no one heard him, but Atsushi did and he saw the looked of pure grief that took hold of the older's face. The weretiger didn't know what to make of it, but he knew what he should do to ease the pain. Gently, he pulled Tachihara and gave him a side hug and a kind smile, which Tachihara slowly mirrored back at him.
"Our tears are useless," sighs Kunikida, "At least that's how I see it. He has to be honest for them and for us; their time stops the moment their lives do."
"I'm feared I wasn't honest when I told Dazai how my relationship ended." Sasaki starts, "My significant other partered ways cause he die."
"I see."
Sasaki smiles bitterly, "What you said was true. When someone dies, time no longer has meaning for them. No matter what I do for him now, I can't make him happy," A close-up of Sasaki's lower face is shown. "or make him smile."
A bell chimes in the background. Kunikida slowly turns to her, and she continues to stare out. She continues, "I didn't want to bring this up…" The professor turns to the ex-teacher. "Anyway, I really must go." She bows. "Excuse me." She turns and walks away.
"Goodbye."
Kunikida opens his mouth to speak to her but his phone rings, interrupting him.
"Moments that's all it was a moment maybe things would've been different if she had stayed…" Kunikida pondered looking at his notebook, the word Ideal staring back at him, almost mocking him.
"It isn't your fault." Dazai supplied.
"No, it is." He looked up at his partner, staring him dead in the eyes. "No, it's yours but I know it doesn't affect your sleep at all."
"Yeah. That's not what I lose sleep over." nothing more than a murmur from the older of the two.
"What is it?"
Cut to black as Dazai's voice is heard. "Kunikida, I need you for something." Dazai's voice lacked all emotion that he usually gave to Kunikida.
"He sounds serious." said Noami.
The hospital Sasaki was found in was shown with a black car out front.
"Why are we in this damn place?" Snarls Kunikida at a seemingly indifferent Dazai.
"So, we arrived at the end." said Ranpo.
He raised a flash drive, his tone somber, "What do you think this is? It contains information from the computer in the hideout we hit, about a Yokohama investigation. Surprisingly enough the annihilation of the detective agency is top priority."
"Not even the Port Mafia? They control the underworld," asks Kunikida, confused.
"They were given false info," Dazai says calmly.
"Someone else is on the board." Kouyou mused.
"Another mastermind?" questions Kunikida.
"Actually, I sent an email to the person I think is responsible." Dazai says, his voice without emotion, "I told them I have evidence. They should be arriving any minute now."
"And you tell him now!" Tachihara exclaimed.
"I needed to confirm some things."
Sure enough, footsteps sound down the long corridor. A figure's shoes where shown.
Kunikida's jaw drops, "No… it can't be you. Your the one Rokuzou?"
Finally, revealing Rokuzou out from the shadows.
"What the fuck." "It can't be him!" "Wow…just wow." and many other outbursts from the audience.
"Was it him the whole time." Kyouka was unsure of what to make of this twist, if you could even call it that.
"Bruh, I was rooting for this kid." said Tachihara.
"It can't be him. That feel too easy plus if he want to kill Kunikida he could have done that long ago why wait until now." said Atsushi.
"Good point." Agreed, the good doctor.
"The heck are you talking about?
"What–."
"So, what? The showdown hasn't started yet?" Questions Rokuzou directing his question at Dazai as he starts to walk closer to the two.
"Sneaky, you took a peek at my email by hacking into my account, didn't you?"
Kunikida jumps towards Rokuzou, "So you aren't behind this?"
"So then who is it?"
"I just want to take a look at the person who actually is," Rokuzou assures him.
A gun is shown being raised.
Many took note and before any one could speak.
"But it really wasn't you?" Kunikida says despair in his voice.
Rokuzou sees something in the dark.
"Tell me the truth?!" Kunikida said as the younger pushing him out of the way.
He watched then as a person he cared about died in front of him. He just couldn't watch it again. He already saw that boy's death in the back of his eyelids when he went to sleep every night since. He took off his glasses look down at his journal. The word, 'Ideal' mocked him as Rokuzou screamed at him. "LOOK OUT!" He knew, two bullets rang out as they enter the younger's chest.
"What The Fuck…"
"I thought he was going to… but this…" said Naomi, holding her brother closer to herself.
Haruno didn't know mii-chan had gone but she really needed him now. She knew what would transpire but seeing is believing. Now watching as a person that Kunikida cared about took a bullet meant for him. She just couldn't fathom the pain that it would bring, it did bring. And she knew what was going to happen next and… She looked at the blond in question. The way his head hanged, shoulder lower then she had ever seen them. Her eyes blurred at the thought of the next few moments.
Dazai catches his body as he falls back. The screen focuses on Dazai as he pulls out his gun. The angle switched to behind Dazai's gun, it was clear who it was that was behind all of this mayhem. Her heels clicked against the concrete. Dazai states, "So, you're the Azure Messenger." Finally, in the light, Sasaki with her gun raises stares blankly at the two.
"Fuck…" said Tanizaki.
"The teacher really." said Higuchi.
"It was all right there." Said Tanizaki.
"Was that why you were keeping her so close?" said Atsushi.
"Yes and No." He gazed forward at the screen, his hands hidden away in his pockets. Atsushi could looked on in shook. 'Everytime, I give a inch, he takes a mile.'
"Unbelievable..." Murmurs Kunikida.
"The Boyfriend." said Tanizaki.
"I doubt this was the first time you used your knowledge of psychology to execute a crime." Dazai stated.
"The Azure Messenger was a man that lived for his ideals." Sasaki sounded like she always had no remorse or sorrow. "He wanted to destroy the criminal world and he stained his hands with blood for it. I would do anything to make his ideals a reality."
"This lady is out of her mind. How is that helping anyone, killing people like that? This is a joke." said Chuuya. "Murder is Murder don't fool yourself by saying your doing it for the better of the people."
"You were deeply in love with the Azure king." Dazai explains, the screen shows the video of the Azure King proclamation. "I grant you, he was an idealise determined to punish criminals that managed to get around the law." The screen zoomed in on his eye to finally show the teacher in his iris. "But he used legal means to do it." The screen went black to show Rokuzou re-viewing the video
"Put your gun down!" Kunikida interjects, bring it back to him. "You've caused enough harm already!"
"I don't you understand," Sasaki asks, saddened little by her own statement, "It's strange you stop him, but yet you remind me so much of him."
"So, I wasn't the only one." The weretiger whispered. Dazai heard this whispered from his apprentice. When he said stuff like that he was reformed in his choice to take Atsushi with him.
Kunikida grimaces and Dazai only one of his eyes showing his calculating nature, "You developed a very intricate plan for revenge. With committing a single crime yourself, you setup the agency to take the fall and you destroy the kidnappers and the criminal organization behind them. But you have no convictions of your own."
"People like this make me sick. You can't live for someone else. You have to live for yourself." Said the good doctor.
"You're just being swept along by someone else ideals."
Sasaki lowers her gun in defeat, raising her head to the ceiling, "I'm just tired now. I want to be release of all this. Will you shoot me, please, Dazai? I suppose you can't because I lowered my gun."
"She fucking evil." said Tanizaki.
She smiles grimly as she aligns with his gaze again, "If you shoot me now, it would be an excessive use of force, and Kunikida would be a witness."
Dazai pulls his gun back, his smile hollow as he resigns to the situation, "True but I'm not going to shoot you."
"Huh…" Chuuya let out. He knew that Dazai had no intentions of letting this woman leave alive.
Some in the room took pause by the statement with not much thought about what he meant. They got their answer.
He lets his gun drop. "However…"
It falls right into the hands of Rokuzou. She smiles brightly and then closes her eyes.
Three shots ring out.
Kunikida put his head in his hands. It was just too painful. What was he to learn from watching this all over again? He got the message he was no hero. No, he was human only human.
"Why…" Atsushi whisper as he looked at the screen in horror. He wasn't necessarily mad about her death; she had cause so much pain but Dazai just, without a second thought took it upon himself to allow such an action to be committed. He was complicit in the action himself. It hurt his brain. Was this who he was?
The gun trails smoke, and Rokuzou being held up by Dazai as he speaks his reason for being here. "I'm here because the Azure King killed my dad… Good riddance to his follower."
He slumps to the floor, dead. At peace with his choice. Kunikida's voice is cracking and shaking, "But why… what went wrong?" He cried, "Someone was wrong?"
"No one was wrong," Dazai says, his voice clipped and cold, "This was the only possible outcome."
"SHUT UP!" Grief overtook Kunikida's voice grabbing Dazai by his lapel, the blond's grip shaking with rage.
"You're lying to yourself! You could've saved her. Are you really telling me that this is justice?" Kunikida's voice is gone and hoarse with pain as he shakes Dazai.
"To me justice is a weapon," Dazai's voice is cold, "It causes people harm but can't protect them."
'He isn't wrong.' Ranpo thought as all of it came to a head. A part of him hated that he agreed with Dazai on the matter, but he knew that his work always ended when it was given over to the proper authorities. What happens after his work is done was up to that system that we call justice, nothing more than a weapon to be used for one's better interest. It wasn't about the right thing to do, it just…
He licks his lips, "Kunikida. As along as you purse these ideals of yours, the angry flames that burn in the Azure King will take root in you. They will destroy everything around you."
"Your wrong!" Kunikida shouts at him, "I will pass right through those flames." A close-up on Kunikida as he quietly proclaimed. "Don't underestimate my ideals."
Nothing was left but a black screen as the ending song started to play
I was searching for the reason
They sat there as the ending filled the still air. No one wanted to talk about what they just witnessed some of them couldn't reasoned it others didn't know what could ease the tension. But one thing was clear; it was painting a picture of Dazai in black, mafia black.
Mori couldn't help but smile. He thought he would have to put more effort in breaking the agency, but his apprentice was doing so much already. Dazai couldn't wash away the black he was made for the mafia for the mafia, there was nowhere else that fit him because this was his views on the world.
The black screen that was now there alter the meaning of the song. With the background of this episode, it was sad. They all sat in it no one willing to get up from their seats.
Slowly, they realized the song had stop and now was a preview of the next episode.
…
"I have asked him, but he just shakes with fear. He won't say anything about it."
"Next time on Bungo Stray Dogs, Episode eight: Teaching them to kill, then to die."
"Ability: thou shalt not die." Doctor Yosano stated her ability.
"Huh…" was all the good doctor could say.
"Dazai, Kunikida, I think it is time for that talk." The president stood up from his seat making his way out of the theater.
The two in question followed after him leaving behind a shocked audience.
"Well, that was interesting. Guess the next episode is about you." Ranpo looked at his junior.
"I guess.
