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Chapter Text

Please note that this is my first written work that I am sharing with the internet. Comments and constructive criticism are always welcome. The perspectives of the characters shown in my work are naturally based upon my understanding of the characters. In case it varies greatly from your point of view, then please do not judge or attack me. I am good in English, but it is not my native language, and I tend to get confused with British and American spelling, so please excuse that. Also, I would like my comments to be a safe space. ^^

Now for the story. This story is an alternate universe of the anime series Bungou Stray Dogs. In this AU, Dazai Osamu becomes a parent at a young age (when he is in the Port Mafia). The story delves into the way having a child can significantly change a person's life. Around 24 years later, his daughter is a high-ranking member of the government, particularly the Special Division, to make the government corruption-free.

In this AU, there are many changes from the canon universe. Dazai's typical suicidal behaviour is not present. Nakahara Chuuya is in the ADA. Many characters who are alive in the canon universe are dead in this one. The whole Fyodor fiasco does occur, but that is not the main focus, as this takes place in the future and Fyodor has been dealt with (it will be explained as the story progresses).

Additionally, I aim to make this story funny, traumatising, soft, adorable, dark, romantic, sad, dramatic, action-based, adventurous, suspenseful, scary, political, and psychological. So basically, it will be multi-genre, just like the main stories.

Any additional warning for the particular chapters will be provided before the chapter itself.

Happy reading!

                            ╱|、
                          (˚ˎ 。7  
                           |、˜〵          
                          じしˍ,)ノ

Chapter Text

It was a humid September evening. The leaves had not yet started falling down, but it would soon. The atmosphere inside the café was cozy and aromatic with coffee, tea, books and pastries. The air conditioner in the café cooled the patrons' sweat. Some were talking with friends, and some were reading a book in peaceful solitude, accompanied by a mug of their favourite coffee. 

But Dazai Osamu was not there for a hangout with a friend or some alone time. 

He was with his biological daughter, or rather, his secret daughter—Nina. Tsushima Nina.

Dazai Osamu was a man shrouded in enigma and mystery. On the surface, he was the Armed Detective Agency's famous clown. But those who knew him—his past colleagues, current ones, and his enemies—they knew that he was not just some imitation of a court jester.

How many masks did he have? The silly jokester one, the Demon Prodigy one...

But with his daughter, he was always softer. Clingier. Whiny. Especially when she moved out when she turned 20, and when she joined the freaking government at 22. 

To think that his precious kitten, his princess, was now working under that traitor Ango.

In a place where even the purest souls became corrupt. It scared him, even if he pretended otherwise, pretending to be Dazai Osamu rather than Tsushima Shuuji. But that facade had fallen away quickly with each corrupt government official Nina exposed. 

My pride and joy.

And so he decided to be a guide rather than getting her out of the government. Why? Because she was a stubborn smartass like him and did not budge. And most importantly, she knew what she was doing.

However, now, there he was, staring at his 24-year-old daughter with a sharp gaze, his Americano forgotten. He didn't care how big and important of an exposure it was. He didn't care about her healing Gifted ability and how all her actions were calculated and planned. He didn't care that her intelligence nearly matched his own. He didn't give two shits about how her high rank gave her resources, and that her fame made her powerful.

She could have died!

He glared at his daughter for risking her life for whatever reason. Heck, he didn't want her to risk her life for even himself.

Nina was drinking her coffee and eating her favourite apple pie, ignoring his glare. She didn't think she did anything wrong. It was a bullet that her Gifted ability took care of in no time. However, it was not lost on Dazai that she could still feel pain. She could still bleed. She could still scream in agony.

No. Don't think about that.

Dazai's jaw clenched as he tried to control his thoughts. His steepled fingers tensed as he saw her continued aversion from eye contact.

Now that she's not wearing those damn shades, she refuses to let me see her eyes.

"Damn it, look at me, kitten," Dazai said in a low, tense voice, trying to push down the hurt he felt as his own daughter avoided his eyes.

Nina put down the spoon immediately, a bit too much force for it to be nonchalant as she pretended it to be. She crossed her arms and looked at him with a deadpan expression. 

"Yes, Papa?" She said it in a tone that was too calm, too polite.

Shit. I fucked it up. 

Dazai mentally shook off those thoughts. He needed to be firm and stern to get his point across.

And so he took a deep mental breath and said firmly, but not harshly, "Princess, you can't put your life at risk. You never know when, but even the best-laid plans can go south."

Nina resisted the urge to roll her eyes in frustration. "Papa, why can't you just think positive for once? And I'm still alive, aren't I? What I did was necessary, Papa, and you know what it's like to do anything to succeed, to do something that will make you proud of yourself."

Dazai tried not to sigh, not to show his irritation. As proud as he was for being stubborn, strong-willed, and independent, he also found it to be infuriating at times. 

"Princess, you can't risk your life like this—" Dazai got cut off by Nina.

"But you can go standing directly in front of the gun?? You're the one without a healing ability," Nina murmured incredulously, keeping her voice low in order to not attract unwanted attention.

"Chuuya exaggerates it. Besides, I stopped doing that after having you," Dazai said, his voice calm, but his eyes betrayed his desperation for her to understand. Nina's identical dark brown eyes softened slightly. 

"I know, because you did not want me to lose my only parent," Nina nodded softly as she murmured. "I don't want you to be unhappy too." Then she said with soft voice but with the same desperation and stubbornness, "But Papa, my ability lets me heal in two seconds, and if I know I will survive and my ability will work, I'll obviously take the risk. I'm not being reckless. I'm calculating it. I always do."

Dazai exhaled deeply, leaning back in his chair. He knew she was right and that she was not born yesterday. "But it still scares me. Damn it, princess, I can't even protect you, you know. I don't work in the government." He ended with a slightly bitter tone. And then came the flood of familiar anger and hurt that Nina chose the government and not the ADA.

Nina sighed deeply. She knew exactly what he was talking about. She knew him very well—too well. However, she ignored it for now. That was a territory she never liked to venture into.

"Why can't you be happy that I succeeded again, and I'm still alive?" Nina murmured grumpily. She tucked a stray strand of milk tea brown hair behind her ear. 

Dazai felt a pang of guilt. However, he crossed his arms, not wanting to be too soft.

But he knew that he would soften nonetheless. They both knew that.

"I am happy. And you know it. But you can't expect me to not be upset at how you just took a bullet because that was the best course of action."

Nina smiled faintly in understanding, "I know. It would be unfair to you, Papa. But this was supposed to be a celebration. I understand your concern, Papa. But please, have faith in me."

Dazai huffed in annoyed resignation, "I do have faith in you. But—it's just—you never know, okay? You never know how things can flip on you and ruin everything. It's unfair to me, but it's also unfair to you, you hellkitten."

Nina immediately flicked her wrist dismissively. "Oh please, Papa. I've done worse stuff when I was younger."

"Yes, I know. I was there to suffer through it all," Dazai said, with a long-suffering sigh.

"And it was fun, was it not?~" Nina said, batting her eyelashes in a cute manner.

"Fun? Sure, if 'torture' means 'fun' in your dictionary," Dazai said gruffly. Despite his frustration, the ends of his lips curved upwards, and he resisted the urge to pat his precious daughter.

"Sure, it gave you a high blood pressure at times, but wasn't it amazing to see me survive literally every antic—"

"That doesn't justify anything." Dazai immediately shut it down.

Nina pouted slightly. "You're no fun~"

"Oh, I'm sorry for wanting to make sure my daughter is not putting herself in danger," Dazai said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"Oh, lighten up, Shuuji~"

"Do not use that to make me soft—" 

"Too late. I know it's already working~" Nina smirked smugly.

Tch. Damn smartass.

Nina chuckled in triumph as she saw her father struggle to deny her. Dazai blushed in embarrassment and surrender. His daughter had won—again. Though Dazai was irritated, he internally enjoyed her smug expression, finding her absolutely adorable. And he knew that she knew everything. He was never subtle when he was around her. Dazai sighed and let go of his worries, letting her off the hook for now.

After some time, when it was time to pay the bill, the father and daughter got into their usual argument over who would pay the bill. Dazai was a certified freeloader—but only with others. However, he would open his wallet up for his precious daughter. He enjoyed spending money on her ever since she was a cuddly baby. Nina, who was now earning a lot of money through her high-ranking government job, liked to pay the bills instead of Dazai. For her, it was a way to show gratitude, for her to pay back all the money her father had spent on her to make her the person she was now. Dazai refused to let his daughter pay, thinking that it made him look old and weak and "ready for the nursing home." And that is precisely what was happening again. At the end, Dazai won the argument. Dazai flashed her his signature smug smirk as he handed the waitress his debit card.

After all, I can't let her win every time.

The father and daughter exited the café. The wind blew through Nina's medium-length, milk-tea-brown hair. Her hair wasn't up in a ponytail. She couldn't wear her work attire, not just because it was a casual outing, but because she had become too recognizable in her work attire. Of course, the secret relationship between her and her father was still to be kept secret. So today, she wore a grey t-shirt with a black cat and golden eyes printed on it, with a preppy purple, grey, and yellow checkered skirt. She wore black stockings with grey and purple above-ankle boots with yellow laces.

And Dazai was wearing pajamas. He either adorns his usual clothes or pajamas.

The two simply walked through the city, enjoying the early September night and playful banter. Nina nudged him gently, teasing him about Chuuya. "So how's the 'Chuu-chuu' train?"

Dazai huffed, trying not to blush. "Shut it."

"Aww, you're blushing~"

My laughter echoed in the alleyway, accompanied by the nearby traffic. Dazai reached out and held her by the waist. He reached up with his other hand and rubbed his knuckles on the top of her head. "We are still figuring it out," Dazai said with a grin.

Nina giggled, not minding the noogie. She looked up at him with a questioning look. "Figuring what out? You both are official now."

"Ta ta ta! Official, but only to you."

Nina looked ahead in confusion and then back at him. She thought back to the various, almost a million instances, where Chuuya and Dazai were all lovey-dovey.

"That's stupid," Nina said bluntly. "You both were official for me for a long time. You know that." 

"Yeah, but now you can call him 'my boyfriend' without us being annoyed at you."

"You just gave me a noogie."

Dazai sighed with exaggerated tiredness, "Well, you just told me that you almost died. And then you didn't pick up my call on Tuesday. I also am not used to being teased by someone who knows we are official   " Dazai paused for a second to smile at Nina's eye roll. "And then you said I was riding the 'Chuu-chuu' train, which gave the impression that you think I ride Chuuya—"

"I actually think you two are a switch."

Dazai froze in his tracks, his face reddening. It wasn't a result of his daughter's bold words, but a result of shock and disbelief that his daughter the hit right on the head of the nail. He averted his gaze in embarrassment and surprise. He knew that his daughter had been observing him and Chuuya since she was just one. So maybe he shouldn't be so surprised. But Nina's perceptiveness always caught him off-guard every now and then, causing a smug smirk to spread across his daughter's face, just like right now. He couldn't speak without stuttering, causing Nina's smirk to widen into a Cheshire cat's grin. 

"You- How- I-" 

Nina laughed heartily, her eyes sparkling with genuine mirth. She scampered away as her father gave chase towards her in playful annoyance. The cool September rushed past us as he chased me through the city. The casual pedestrains, and the people who had just come out of work, watched the two chase around like children. It was the usual mixture of reactions- indifference, curiosity and confusion. However, the father and daughter didn't care, as always. 

Nina stopped in front of her apartment flat, breathing in slightly shallow breaths, and let her panting and tired father catch up to her. "You are getting old, old man~" 

"Damn you..."

Dazai huffed, his breathing ragged. He put his hand on the cemented wall, to support his middle-aged knees. And then, he had the audacity to say, "I'm not old... I've just... entered the forties..."

Nina crossed her arms and leaned against the cemented wall. She observed him with fondness and a hint of concern. "That's what happens when you are lazy in your early age, Papa. I bet Chuu is still just as strong and energetic. But then again, you did chase me down through the whole city. Maybe it's not that unimpressive."

"Yeah.. I've still..got it.. You're just more..."

"Younger?" Nina chuckled amusedly. "Well yeah I'll outrun you. I would feel horrible if someone older than me was able to catch up to me. I'm in my prime, you know."

Dazai sighed in annoyance and straightened up, smoothening his loose comfy t-shirt, "Yeah, yeah. Just wait till you get my age-"

"Yeah yeah, I know. I will finally know your pain and suffering when I reach your age," Nina drawled in boredom. Dazai scowled, "Hey, be nice to your old man."

Nina chuckled. "I'm nice~ Anyways, you need a glass of water?" She asked with a hint of concern.

"Nah, I'm fine. And hey," Dazai's voice lowered into a more serious tone. "I was serious about taking less risks."

"One little risk for the blinding light of justice," Nina said with a smirk as Dazai pinched the bridge of the nose. "You don't want corrupt governors to roam free, right?"

"I don't want you to take bullets."

"Oh well. Gain some, lose some, right?"

Dazai sucked in a breath sharply in sudden pang of alarm. He clenched his fists and composed himself, though his first instinct was to scream 'NO!' as loudly as possible. He took a deep breath and said with the most measured voice he could muster at that moment, "Do. Not. Say that." 

"Yeah, not a good joke, huh?", Nina said with a slightly apologetic tone.

Dazai scoffed in frustration and crossed his arms in irritation, "No, it was not."

Nina softened with understanding, "Papa, I care about you more than anything in this world. So while you are still alive, I won't do something that might actually surpass my ability and end me. You know that."

"And you better keep that word," Dazai said, uncharacteristically serious but Nina had heard it almost every day.

"Of course, Papa. That's my word to you."

And finally, the first withered leaf fell to the ground.

Chapter Text

Character Profile

Public Information

Name:  Tsushima Nina

Age: 24

Gender: Female

Sexuality: ??

Parents: ??

Occupation: Government Agent

Title: Miss Anti-Corruption

Ability: ??

Relationship Status: ??

Education: Graduate Degree in Psychology from Yokohama National University

Appearance: 5'7" (5'9" with the heels), slim but not skinny, pale peach skin, milk tea brown hair, straight hair with voluminous wavy locks at the end in a ponytail, eyes hidden behind black shades, glossy cherry red lips, grey trench coat, dark purple turtleneck one-piece work dress with pencil skirt, black drawing gloves, black stockings, and black ankle-length two-inch heel leather boots.

Mannerisms: The most notable mannerism is her eating a red apple all the time. She never removes her shades. She never gives straight answers in interviews, always dodging the questions. Humble, but confident. Diplomatic, polite, and calm. Tends to smirk now and then.

Gifted Ability

Name: Hidden Under the Veil

Type: Healing

Description: The ability can heal any sort of injury and can block effects of harmful substances and microbial agents. It automatically activates when injured or in contact with a harmful substance. Tearing of tissue activates the ability, whether it is an injury or not. When activated, white Roman chamomile flowers with a white and lavender glowy light appear where the injury has occurred or a harmful agent has entered her body. It can heal injuries in two seconds. Regeneration is also possible. Apples can help refill blood quicker. 

Limitations: The more injuries, the more time it takes. However, there has never been a time when the ability did not activate. Grey areas are present.

Personal Information

Personality type: INTJ-A

Enneagram: 8

Extroversion: Omniverted

Behavior with loved ones: Chill but teasing, blunt but empathetic, caring, loyal.

Core belief: Everything and everyone has a purpose. 

Most Favorite color: Purple (all shades)

Least Favorite color: Green

Likes: Apples, butterscotch sweets, white chocolate, cherry red lip gloss, cats, chamomile tea, mystery novels, watercolor painting. 

Dislikes: Peanut butter, papaya, blackcurrant, green bell peppers, spiders, crabs, too much social interaction, rap music. 

Sexuality: Not sure

Current Position: She works under Murakoso in the Security faction of the Special Division for Unusual Powers. She is one of the strategists and informants. 

Motive: To make the government what it should be. She challenges herself- if she can give her father a reason to live, she can make the government more trustworthy too. 

Relationships (current) 

Dazai Osamu: Dazai Osamu is her biological father, but this is kept a secret from everyone except her and Chuuya. She has a positive and healthy relationship with him. She knows that Dazai is most unguarded and emotional with her, and she values and even prides herself on it. She always tries to give him more reasons to live. Nina got into psychology because of him and the need to understand him and properly care for him. She enjoys breaking out of his protective spell after being overprotected by him throughout her early childhood. Dazai finds Nina to be the first tangible thing that gave him the reason to live another day and then another day. She immensely loves and respects her father, not just because he is a good father, but because he removes his masks around her. She calls him "papa" and "Shuuji," he calls her different nicknames like "kitten" and "princess."

Nakahara Chuuya: Chuuya is her unspoken and unofficial godfather and guardian. She has a positive and healthy relationship with him. She goes to him to vent something that she is not ready to tell her father out of fear of disappointment or disapproval. Chuuya freely complains about Dazai to her. She admires Chuuya's fashion sense. She often makes fun of how she slowly grew taller than him. Chuuya sees Nina as Dazai's reason to live, while Nina sees Chuuya as Dazai's lifelong companion. Therefore, there is a mutual sense of admiration and respect despite the playfulness of their banter. Chuuya calls her by her first name and occasionally "brat" when she teases him. 

Murakoso Yachiyo: Murakoso is the Head of Security faction in the Special Division for Unusual Powers and shares a positive mentor-mentee relationship with Nina. She sees herself in Nina and while Nina has never been too personal with her, she respects her guidance in the government world. She is secretly grateful of the attention Murakoso gives her. She calls her "kid" and "Nina-chan" while Nina calls her "Murakoso-sensei."

Sakaguchi Ango: Ango is the Head of the Special Division for Unusual Powers, and Nina's boss. They have a strained and tense professional relationship. Nina does not trust him while Ango cares for her. Ango calls her by her first name and Nina addresses him by "Ango-san."

Tsujimura Mizuki: Tsujimura and Nina have a professional relationship. Tsujimura often complains about Nina's nonconformity to rigid rules of the government.The major complaint she has for Nina is that she refuses to reveal her ability to the government. She also complains that Nina is more concerned about corruption than her actual work. Tsujimura does not trust Nina. Nina, on the other hand, likes to mess with her, and is neutral towards her. The only reason why Tsujimura tolerates her is because she reminds her of Ayatsuji a little bit. Tsujimura calls her "Tsushima" while Nina calls her "Tsujimura-san."

Satou Hiroaki: Satou is the Head Counselor and they both have a negative and tense relationship. Satou does not agree with Nina's motives. He sees her as a flaw in the "perfect government." However, Nina doesn't give him a reason to fire her. He calls her "Tsushima" while Nina calls him "Old Counselor."

Mashima Hiro: Hiro is Nina's escort and assassin under Murakoso. Hiro and Nina share a positive relationship, though Nina sometimes gets tired with Hiro's unending optimism. They both see each other as siblings. Hiro calls her by her first name, while Nina calls him "Hiro-kun" and "Natsu" because he reminds her of summer. 

Hamada Yuri: Yuri is Nina's best friend since high school. They share a positive friendship and sisterhood. 

Hamada Yuki: Yuki is Yuri's twin brother and completes the trip of friendship. 

Chapter Text

It was 7 in the evening. Chuuya had just come back home from the ADA. His phone buzzed softly with a new message, and he picked it up. He pressed the button, which illuminated the screen, showing his chat with Dazai. 

mackerel (at 7 PM today):
convinced princess to let me stay over 🤩 See ya tom~

Chuckling, Chuuya filled his wine glass in the empty living room, looking out the window absent-mindedly, as if admiring the early penetrating rays of moonlight. He took a sip, hoping that Dazai wouldn't be driving Nina insane, knowing very well that Dazai's whining clashed with Nina's independent demeanour. 

And now, the clock in the living room of Nina's government-funded apartment was at precisely 5:15 in the early morning. 

Dazai tried to sleep. He really did. He didn't want to be overbearing. Clingy. Emotional. 

It made him seem dependent on her, and he knew that it was not what Nina needed.

But!

He couldn't sleep. And he wanted to be closer to her. He missed her much, much more than he let on. So damn much that he spent the whole night in restless sleep, falling asleep and waking up repeatedly, as if he needed something, or rather, someone, desperately.

Dazai sighed softly, watching the curtains illuminate ever so slightly with the now-dawning sun. He knew that now he was fully awake—not even a hint of sleep in his racing mind. He then sat up and stretched his arms and back. 

His mind was already thinking of tactics. 

He could very easily go to Nina's room to be close to her, then switch up and start opening curtains and switching on lights when she starts stirring from her sleep. 

He then felt a pang of self-loathing and shame. He buried his face in his calloused hands, hating the way he sought after his daughter like a man starved. 

Why? Why am I like this?? I can't just tie her with me like this! 

He sighed, more ragged this time. He had spent the whole night sleeping forcefully, waking up, then hating himself, and then repeating it till his mind rotted away. It was the usual thing, but with him in the guest room and Nina's room being just adjacent, he felt like... 

...like he was in the past. 

Like when Nina was a little girl and she needed him to wake her up for school.

Like when Nina got sick before she got her ability, he knelt beside the bed to keep an eye on her.

And like so many other sweet memories in his brain. 

...Damn it.

He removed the covers, revealing the pajamas he had worn all day yesterday, and got up from the bed, stretching and yawning. His right hand went to his eyes to rub out the sleep, while his left hand pulled open the guest bedroom door. His footsteps were soft thuds against the wooden floor as he padded towards Nina's bedroom door. He opened the door slightly to peek through the small space.

Nina was asleep, her hair open and strewn all over the pillow. Most of her body was under the blanket, with half her face peeking out in what he could describe as utterly adorable. 

Dazai entered the room quietly, not wanting to disturb his princess's beauty sleep. He knelt beside her bed like old times, except now she was twenty four and not a kid. 

The stillness of her body and peaceful expression meant that Nina was in deep sleep. He could only hope that her sleep was dreamless, or at least filled with pleasant dreams. 

He knew that doting over his child, who was now an adult, would rub some people in the wrong way. He knew that he should be less drawn to this, for his own sanity. 

But he justified it in his mind eventually. 

He admired her with a soft smile on his face. Her milky tea hair was now a bird's nest. The strands of her eyebrow were pointed in all directions. He noticed that her eyelashes were still just as long. And the way her cheeks were bulging out from underneath the covers made him want to squish them. 

His eyes then landed on one of her hands that was out of the blanket and at the edge of the bed. Gently, like her sleep was as fragile as a porcelain bowl, he took her hand in both of his. As he cupped her hand and ran his fingers on her skin, he noticed that her hand was slightly calloused from all the work she did. He felt a surge of pride and concern for his dear daughter. She was his pride and joy, but he also knew that she worked till she shut down. He kept one hand on her head, his thumb tenderly massaging her scalp through her fluffy hair. His racing thoughts finally calmed down, and he felt at peace.

If his love for his daughter were a tangible force, the earth would explode.

Beeeeeeeeep.

Dazai almost jumped. The rhythmic beeping was coming from Nina's phone. It was a fun tune, sure, but at that moment, it only served to annoy Dazai.

"Who the hell...” Dazai muttered quietly but annoyedly to himself. 

...is calling her at this hour? He ended in his mind.

He looked at her phone, his concern overflowing. One look at the screen, and his concern diminished. 

It's just some stupid alarm. Who the hell sets an alarm for 5:30? How hard is she working?? 

A resurgence of concern. 

He then felt Nina stir from her slumber.

Oh well... At least I got to spend fifteen minutes with her in blissful peace. 

With a sigh and restraint on his concern, he stood up and walked towards the window. He opened the curtains, pushing away the silky fabrics to let the soft early morning light into the bedroom.

He then heard his daughter's soft, sleep-laden voice behind him, "Papa...?”

He turned around and saw Nina rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and yawning. He smiled involuntarily at the sight and said tenderly, "Yes, it's me. I heard your alarm and decided to help you get started for the day."

"Mmm, you don't have to..." Nina mumbled sleepily and trailed off with a yawn. She slowly sat up, the covers slipping down to reveal her plain lavender pajama top. 

Dazai padded towards her. Nina shifted to her left so he could sit at the edge of her bed. He sat down, and his hand instantly went on top of her head, gently ruffling her messy hair. "I don't do this because I have to," Dazai murmured affectionately. "I do it because it makes me happy."

Nina smiled sleepily and nuzzled into his chest. "...Clingy old man." 

Dazai huffed in feigned annoyance, even though his eyes sparkled with amusement and affection. He murmured with mock hurt, "Can't a man shower his dear daughter with attention and affection without being shamed for it?" 

Nina chuckled—quietly, slowly, drowsily. "It's too early for my mind to be witty enough to match you...” she drawled quietly. 

Dazai grinned with pride, his voice now cocky and dramatic again. "I know, my brain is so superior that you need a fresh and active mind to verbally spar with it~”

Nina grumbled, her voice still rough with lingering sleep, "More like I need more brainpower to tolerate your ego.”

Dazai gasped with mock shock and put his hand dramatically on his chest. "Ah! Such words~ Is this what betrayal feels like?" He put in a fake sniffling sound for more dramatic effect.

Nina chuckled, roughly but amusedly. "How dreadful. Sorrows and prayers,” she said with dry sarcasm.

Nina then proceeded to stand up from the bed. Dazai said nonchalantly and he was definitely not worried or curious, "I didn't know you got up so early."

Nina smiled knowingly, knowing him too well. She shrugged lightly and explained, "Only sometimes, when I have more work or something... Or if I slept early last night."

"Sounds like a pain in the ass."

"That's how life is as the 'Miss Anti-Corruption' and a government agent.” She then tsked in amused and sleepy exasperation, "I still think that the title could have been more creative."

"Don't worry; you'll get used to it,” he said, internally remembering his own experience. 

"Yeah, I know it's been just four months, but still..."

"Admit it, you secretly want something like my title," he said, striking a prideful and charming theatrical pose.

"I said I wanted something creative, not moody and emo," she said bluntly as she opened the door and walked out of her bedroom towards the bathroom.

Dazai followed her, groaning with mock hurt. "You really know how to deflate my ego, princess~”

"Good. It needs regular deflation,” she said dryly as she walked downstairs. She grabbed the handle of the bathroom door when she thought of something. She looked back at her father and said, "Well, don't follow me to the bathroom.”

He froze, realising his mistake and backtracking. "Right, boundaries.” He gave a theatrical bow and turned around. "I'll make breakfast. Still a waffle girl?”

"Oh, don't, actually. I have some other plans.”

"Other...plans...? Do those plans not involve a breakfast?” He said, trying his best to not seem too anxious for her well-being. 

She smiled understandingly, the soft smile she kept for her close ones. "I never miss breakfast. Don't worry. You can take a shower in the guest bathroom. Or you can sleep some more. I'm going to go for a jog before my shower, so I'll eat afterwards.”

"Okay... Don't strain yourself.”

"I won't.”

Nina then stepped into the bathroom and closed the door with a click of the lock. Dazai turned around, looking for something that could occupy his mind. He went to the guest bedroom where he had spent the night. The bed was still messy. His phone was on the bedside table, and he picked it up. He sat down and texted Chuuya, because who else would Dazai Osamu contact when bored?

Chuuya was lifting some weights while listening to some music. His AirPods notified him of the message from the contact name 'mackerel'. Chuuya put down the dumbbells and sat down on his yoga mat, picking up his phone. His lips twitched slightly at the edges at the familiar nickname.

mackerel (at 5:33 AM today):
Good morning, Chibiko-chan. Miss me? ~

Chuuya typed back, feigning annoyance as always.

me (at 5:33 AM today):
Morning, mackerel... Why the hell would I miss you?

mackerel (at 5:34 AM today):
u don't hv to be a meanie! 

mackerel (at 5:34 AM today):
u shld show ur bf some love~

mackerel (at 5:34 AM today):
y r u not replyiiiing???

me (at 5:34 AM today):
give me a sec I keep rewriting my replies

mackerel (at 5:34 AM today):
dis always happnssssssss

mackerel (at 5:34 AM today):
b quickr

me (at 5:35 AM today):
ughh why the hell r u up so early anyways??

mackerel (at 5:35 AM today):
princess likes to torture herself

me (at 5:35 AM today):
Whatt...

me (at 5:36 AM today):
Where did u go??

me (at 5:36 AM today):
WHAT DID U MEAN BY THAT

me (at 5:36 AM today):
IS NINA OK

me (at 5:37 AM today):
RESPOND TO ME FUCKER

me (at 5:38 AM today):
OI

Meanwhile, Dazai heard footsteps, so he put his phone down and went out to see Nina. Nina was now in the kitchen. "So, you jog alone?” Dazai asked nonchalantly with his signature smirk, leaning against the kitchen wall.

Nina looked at him over her shoulder as she opened one of the top cabinets. "Yeah. I jog alone,” she said casually.

"Sounds lonely, princess,” Dazai said casually.

Nina shrugged lightly, "You know me. I like my alone time.”

"Yeah... Yeah, you do.”

What was he thinking? What was he hoping for? That Nina would ask him to come jog with her? He already knew the answer. And he shouldn't feel disappointed. Not at all. 

She has her life, and she likes her solitude. I should respect that.

"Okay, so I'll get going back home. I don't want Chibi to be alone.” 

"Okay. Take care. Say hello to Chuu from me.” Nina said as she took a squeezy bottle from the cabinet. Then she looked back and smiled at him. " See you next week.”

"Yeah, see you next week. Take good care of yourself, princess.”

"Got it!”

With one last, soft glance at her, Dazai turned around and went to the guest bedroom. He made the bed and then refreshed a bit in the guest bathroom. When he was about to leave, he turned around one last time, to see her putting a used cup in the sink. 

Nina poured a tablespoon of honey into a small cup full of warm water. After stirring it properly, she fetched a lemon from the fridge. 

She sliced it in two halves, making sure that it wouldn't spray an unforgiving jet of lemon juice in her eye like many times before. She took one half and kept it in the fridge. She then saw that she had one more half lemon from yesterday that she had somehow not seen before taking the new one. 

"Damn it...” She muttered under her breath. She then closed the door and wrote on a memo pad: Don't take new lemons, idiot! 

She stuck it on the fridge door and moved back to the cup and a half lemon. She squeezed the lemon, the lemon juice spilling through her fingers into the cup of warm honeyed water, her fingers barricading the seeds. 

She threw the used lemon into the green bin and stirred the mixture, the steel spoon clanging slightly with the porcelain glass. 

She set the spoon aside when she was satisfied and then sipped the flavoured warm water leisurely, thinking of the day ahead. Security checks, Murakoso-sensei, Hiro-kun, and her anti-corruption work. 

After finishing the drink, she put the cup in the sink. And that was when she then heard a soft voice from the doorway. 

"Don't forget; I love you.” Dazai's voice came from the doorway. It wasn't cheerful and silly. It was soft and...vulnerable.

She turned around to face him fully, her expression softening with affection for her father. "I love you too. Always remember that.” 

She watched her father practically glow with contentment as he left. 

So adorable~

Nina smiled to herself as she rinsed and dried the cup. After placing it in a suspended metal rack, she went to her room to change into active wear. 

She abandoned her light lavender pajama top and dark lavender pajama bottom on a black plastic chair. She put on a grey sports bra topped with a loose cyan t-shirt, and slipped into tight black synthetic leggings. She put on some 'barely there‘ socks and her black and purple running shoes. She picked up her violet jacket and put it on. She concealed her hair by stuffing it in a bun and then in the hoodie of the jacket. 

She started with some basic warm-up stretches. After her body was ready for jogging, she plugged her ears with her AirPods and moved out. She jogged on the road right outside her apartment complex. 

Breath in... Breath out...

Breath in... Breath out...

She could feel her forehead getting increasingly covered with sweat, her heart rate increasing steadily. Her hamstrings were getting stretched, but the gush of wind and its cooling effect were rewards she could never get tired of.

Fifteen minutes later. Could she have done more exercise? Perhaps. However, she knew her time was up. 

So, jogging back inside, she went to the bathroom and took a quick but efficient shower, music blaring in the background from her phone. She then wore some inconspicuous clothes: a plain brown hoodie and black joggers. 

The towel draped around her shoulders, she went to the kitchen and made herself some scrambled eggs, buttered toast, and a tall glass of milk to wash it all down. 

After finishing the meal, she took a bag and left the apartment, locking the place securely behind her. 

She didn't look like how she usually did— a clever tactic to evade all spying eyes. She didn't go to the King's Tower directly. She stopped at a public restroom, looking around to make sure no one was following. Satisfied, she slipped inside and began her work. 

Her purpose in the stinky dingy place? To become Miss Anti-Corruption again. 

She changed into her dark purple turtle neck pencil skirt work dress, her legs now translucently wrapped in black stockings. She took off the sneakers to put on her two-inch, black leathered ankle boots. She opened the bun and combed her morning hair. She captured the strands and put them in a ponytail, only her bangs remaining free. She put on her drawing gloves, stud earrings and then her treasured dark grey trenchcoat. 

She took out a makeup bag. She had never envisioned herself doing makeup every day, but with all the reporters, photographers, and the influence of Murakoso, she did some light makeup. But she never left behind her cherry red lip gloss, not then, not now, and not ever.

She put on some lavender perfume and her black shades. And now she looked like Miss Anti-Corruption, the Tsushima Nina the City of Devil knew of.

After some time, she entered the King's Tower. She walked through the security system, showing her ID card and letting the very familiar security officer check through her bag. 

"Morning, Shinkawa-san~" Nina said in a playful tone. "Tired as always?"

Shinkawa sighed, knowing how unpredictable Nina could be. "What's in the bag? Another prank?" The old man drawled, exhausted and wary.

"Why don't you open it to find out?"

Shinkawa gave a long-suffering sigh. He opened the briefcase, saw nothing noteworthy, and then handed it back to her. "You can go," he said with a hint of relief.

Nina took the bag and smirked playfully. "No greeting, no nothing? I swear your dark circles are getting more and more prominent."

"It's just the old age,” he said with a dismissive chuckle. 

Nina hummed curiously and took out a red apple from her briefcase. "Well, my offer of giving you a nice retirement is still on.” She took a bite and walked ahead. 

She entered the elevator. The elevator worker, who was well-informed about each person's floor, pressed the button '6'. The metal doors closed, and the elevator climbed smoothly to the floor of the Ministry of Home Affairs, soft elevator music playing in the spacious space. The doors opened with a sharp ding sound. Nina nodded to the elevator worker in gratitude and wordlessly walked out, turning left. Her heels clicked on the marble floor, punctuated by the sound of her biting into the apple. 

The King's Tower is a prominent and significant building in Yokohama. Naturally, it meant that it was pretty old. But things change with time. 

While the exterior architecture remained the same to preserve the rich heritage and Art Deco design, the interior now bridged the gap between imperial and modern architecture. Concrete replaced susceptible wood, no sliding doors, and carpets—they are just too much work. The modern architecture allowed for flexibility and smooth air conditioning and heating, and security systems. But the design still retained its vintage style, giving the place a timeless aura: chandeliers, marble tiles, landscape paintings and portraits of former noble governors, all lined with gold, green and brown.

Nina's heels created a staccato rhythm against the polished marble floor. She didn't stop anywhere after all; this wasn't her floor. And lucky number 7, that simply didn't exist, always said to be renovating to keep out invaders.

She reached the end of the left corridor. But she didn't open the huge conference door in front of her. She turned right towards a portrait—a portrait of the previous Head of the Special Division, the one after Taneda and before Ango. Every portrait was not only framed in golden waves, but each mid-section of all sides was also bejewelled. Nina raised her hand and touched the red jewel on the left-hand side of the frame. The gentle touch caused the jewel to open from one side, like a book containing a secret. Except—the secret was simply a fingerprint identifier. Already used to it, Nina put her left thumbprint on it. After a second, the wall opened from the corner ever so slightly. Nina gently pushed it to reveal a dark staircase going upwards, bathed in a cool blue-ish glow. It was the faint light emanating from the countless security systems. 

Nina entered the mysterious staircase with nonchalance, knowing where it led. The portrait wall, sensing that the person activating it had entered, closed behind her.

Chapter Text

Nina climbed the stairs, as she had done a thousand times before. All of it was familiar—

the whirring sound of all the systems in place,

the extra cooling to counter the heat of all machines in the walls and stairs,

the dark atmosphere lit by a blue dim glow, which gave the place an almost ethereal feel,

and how the staircase seemed endless. 

Nina's heels clicked on the polished floor in a rhythmic staccato.The red apple was steadily diminshing to just the core.

Nina soon arrived at the top, now facing an older man named Aoki Takuichi and his mentee, Ryou. With practiced movements and no words to accompany them, Nina handed them her various documents required for checking—her Government ID, Special Division ID, Gifted Ability ID and her various government permits for each weapon. 

It is a wordless exchange, as preferred by Aoki and Ryou. They see frivolous exchanges as a means for deceit to seep into their Constitution, even if they've slept with that person. 

And if they do not see a conversation as an attempt to disarm them, that just means the person entering is one of the high elites of the governors, like Ango, Satou, Tsujimura, and Murakoso. But of course, that might be because Aoki had worked them in the start of his career in this establishment, as informed to Nina by Murakoso. 

Nina did not mind the wordless exchange. After the two men handed her documents back to her, they walked aside to let her pass. Her heels clicked on the floor as she walked by, but then she turned around, wondering what would happen if she talked to the two men. With a casual but polite tone, she said, holding up the apple core, "Excuse me, may I know where the dustbin is?"

Aoki and Ryou narrowed their eyes, as if she had declared herself to be a threat to the very ground they were standing on. A moment passed, and only the monotonous droning of the various mechanisms in the walls could be heard. Then, Aoki looked at Ryou and the latter nodded. Ryou pointed to a small dustbin almost hidden in the shadows. Nina chuckled internally at how stoic they seemed, at just a simple request for a dustbin.

"Thanks," she said casually and tossed the apple core in the bin. With one last nod, she walked away, silently and internally amused at how even a request to throw away a waste product could be deemed a threat to the government.

Behind her, Ryou inspected the Apple core, making sure it was not a bomb in disguise. 

She reached the end of the tunnel, and the door opened, bright golden light flooding in. Her black shades prevented her from being temporarily blinded by the sudden bright light, so she continued to walk ahead. 

She was now in the Special Division of Unusual Powers. The green interior of the King's Tower was replaced by blue, swapping the grounded and spiritual feeling with a more calm but mysterious surrounding. Nina walked nonchalantly through other people in the hallways, towards the door to the Security faction. She entered the Security faction through a door labelled 警備 on a gold plate. The door led her to a hallway of different doors and her colleagues in the corridor. As usual, heads turned at her appearance and whispers followed her trail. She paid them no heed and walked on, reaching the end of the right corridor. She knocked on the door labelled 首相 on a more decorated gold plate and guarded by two huge muscular guards.

Nina knocked on the door. Murakoso's voice came from the other side, energetic despite her age. 

"Come in.”

Nina opened the door and entered her mentor's office with a small smirk. She sauntered over to the desk, holding up a hand in casual greeting. " Good morning, sensei~ How are you?”

Murakoso was sitting at her desk. Her maroon hair was in a bun, though her attire had not changed drastically. She was still rocking the white plain button up shirt, black jacket coat, vest, work skirt and belt. And of course, the pendant that Nina knew was precious to Murakoso. To keep things lively, she introduced one new thing in her outfit whenever she felt like it, and right now, the new thing was the hair bun made with a black bunstick. Murakoso pretended she didn't have grey strands, and if someone pointed them out, she would cut their salary, or threaten to cut their throat—whatever worked the most efficiently. 

Unless the person was Nina. 

Murakoso grinned in her usual energetic demeanor. "Morning, Nina-chan~ I'm doing great." Murakoso then gestured towards the seat in front of her desk. "Ready for another day at work?”

Nina took the seat, crossing her legs with casual grace. "Sure am. Anything interesting I should know about?”

Murakoso exaggerated a serious tone and drawled, "I don't know if I should distract you with frivolous gossip, but..."

Nina rolled her eyes and leaned back in her seat. "Drop it, sensei. What rumor do you have now?”

Murakoso excitedly clapped her hands and leaned forward in her seat, her eyes glinting with the familiar glimmer of the gossip girl Nina knew all too well. 

"Okay, so you remember that woman from the Intel Faction who used to be a model? The blondie?” Seeing Nina's nod, Murakoso continued, "Remember how I said that the whole Intel Faction thought that they had lost her since she practically went M.I.A last month?" 

"Yeah, what about her?”

"She's back now.”

Nina raised an eyebrow and leaned forward in her seat. M.I.A agents returning after some time was not that surprising, but it wasn't that common either. She held her chin between her thumb and forefinger, wondering where this was going. 

"And what's the gossip?”

Murakoso lowered her voice to a conspiratorial murmur and leaned forward slightly, " Apparently, she spent the whole month at some rich man's yacht, partying away with no care in the world.”

Nina raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone musing, "Giving up work for a month for some fun? Wow.”

Murakoso's smirk turned mischievous, " Yeah and with that glow on her face, she had lots of...fun~” Murakoso wiggled her eyebrows in cheeky amusement. 

Nina sighed. Of course her mind is going in that direction. She then spoke up in a matter-of-fact tone, "Assuming that the rumor is even remotely correct.”

"It can be because she was completely unharmed when she returned.”

Okay, now that's interesting. Nina thought to herself, but she found the news to be more mysterious than gossip-worthy. 

"That's...odd, to say the least.”

"I know right? She definitely took some time to herself.”

Nina leaned back in her seat, observing Murakoso carefully, "Do you really think that's the only reason?”

Murakoso shrugged, "Well, she's not at all injured or harmed. She's practically glowing with satisfaction."

"... You want me to investigate this, don't you?"

Murakoso snapped her fingers, her smirk widening, "Bingo! You're so smart, understanding my style!"

Nina rolled her eyes, though Murakoso couldn't see it because of the black shades. She said with a mixture of exasperation and amusement, "Of course I do. I would understand my mentor eventually."

Murakoso chuckled playfully, "You're learning fast, kid. Or did you already know about it?"

"Of course I already know about it," Nina said with a slight huff. "Come on, give me more credit than that."

Murakoso chuckled with a hint of playful fondness, "Okay, okay. I don't think I should question the intellect of Miss Anti-Corruption."

Nina groaned in annoyance, "I still think my title could have been better."

"You know what could be better?—You not going on reckless missions without Hiro." Murakoso's smirk dropped slightly as her tone took a serious turn. 

Nina said simply, "You know I don't take him for my anti-corruption work."

"And you got shot." 

"I'm still here, aren't I?" Nina said as she spread her arms in a laid-back manner. 

Murakoso raised her arms in mock celebration, smiling in feigned delight, "Hallelujah!~" Then her smile dropped immediately and she became serious again, her arms dropping down to her sides, "You were lucky. You don't even know what your ability is. The same trick cannot last years. Someday—maybe in the next five years—ten years—your unknown ability may not save your reckless ass."

"You don't know that, sensei. I know what I'm doing."

"But you don't know the limits of your ability!" Murakoso groaned in weary exasperation, tapping the desk with her forefinger insistently. "You don't even know what your ability is!"

Nina knew that her lie had worked too well. But Murakoso was still right. Who knows how much she could heal? Her ability had never failed her...yet. 

"Okay, I get it," Nina said soothingly, her hands raised slightly to appear complacent. "I shouldn't put a damn target on my ass. But...I'm still not taking Hiro along. I like to—"

"—work alone. I know."

Nina chuckled, but there was no humor to it. "You sound exhausted."

Murakoso crossed her arms and drawled sarcastically, "Oh, why would I be exhausted? It's not like I've been nagging your stubborn ass to give yourself the bare minimum care."

"Hey, I care about myself! I give myself adequate rest and lots of treats."

"I'm talking about self-preservation, you peanut."

"You know you love it when I live on the edge."

Murakoso softened a bit. "Yeah, I do," she conceded, albeit reluctantly, her concern still there for her mentee. 

Michirou Hana—the M.I.A agent rumored to have spent her off-the-grid time period on a rich young man's yacht. But whatever the rumors are, she needs to be investigated by the Security Faction. 

First, Nina needed to check if the security units on the entrance of the Special Division checked Michirou thoroughly. Her grey trenchcoat blew behind her as she paced the room. On her orders, fingers danced over the keyboard as the agents rewound the footage of each entrance. 

"Don't bother with Entrance 1. Check the rest.”

Nina's voice was commanding and jerked the people on the Entrance 1 security footage.

She knew Aoki and Ryou were more than reliable. They would never ever let in an M.I.A agent—at least not without extreme checking. 

The agents tuned more into the other footages and after about half a minute—

"Found it, ma'am."

Nina strode and stood behind the agent. The agent said, "It's Entrance 3."

"I see. Bring the ones incharge there to Inquiry Room 2 and put two substitutes incharge of the entrance.”

Nina commanded as she watched the security footage carefully, observing the two security officers at the entrance inspect the M.I.A agent's documents without any preamble. 

Were they simply uninformed? Or is there something else at play here...? Nina thought contemplatively, her alert eyes scanning Hana's smile as if it was carrying a secret...

...or perhaps... 

...a threat. 

Chapter Text

Nina walked with quiet, calm confidence towards the inquiry room. She felt Hiro fall into step beside her, escorting her to the inquiry room to investigate the intriguing M.I.A. agent and the two security officers of Entrance 3. 

Nina leaned over to Hiro and murmured in a quiet command, "Keep them in the inquiry room. I have to get a document."

Hiro nodded with no hint of his usual cheerfulness, a sense of seriousness in his expression. He said, "Get back soon."

Nina nodded back and strode off towards a smaller room. She opened the door, and the agents working in that room looked up towards the doorway. Nina said, "Good morning. I need the list of M.I.A. agents from last month to now."

The agent-in-charge stepped forward. "What is it required for, ma'am?"

"We have to check for an M.I.A. agent. Immediately." Before the agent in charge could say anything, she said politely but with urgency, "Bring it to Inquiry Number 2 in two minutes. This matter takes precedence." Nina strode out, the door closing behind her.

The agent sighed and got everyone to work on the record. Fingers flew across the keyboards; the clicking of the mouse filled the room. The sounds of printers screeching and whirring surrounded the agents as they each printed out the documents in a systematic manner. One agent—a newbie—groaned softly and murmured annoyedly, "What's the rush? And who the hell does she think she is?"

His senpai gently nudged him with her elbow. "Hey, what did I tell you about thinking before speaking?"

The newbie sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck and murmured, "Sorry... It's already bad enough that it's Monday, but now we have to rush to crank out 30 documents in two minutes, without knowing the reason."

The agent-in-charge was listening intently from the sidelines. He cleared his throat and explained patiently, "Working in any government position is a hassle. The government—not just the Special Division—but every department and every faction of the government—has to be on their toes, always ready to work swiftly."

"And the higher-up agent you just saw was probably one of the more reasonable and helpful agents."

The two security agents were seated in the inquiry room, silently wondering why they were called. Hiro stood at the doorway. 

Then Nina arrived, striding in with a neutral expression. But there was an air of seriousness...urgency... 

Of course, this could be nothing at all. 

But the way Michizou was allowed entry inside the Special Division headquarters without any investigation pricked Nina's alarm bells.

She sat down on the seat across from theirs, Hiro standing directly behind her chair with a protective aura. The yellow small chandelier bathed the two in golden light. The two security agents gazed ahead at the duo curiously. 

Hmm... They don't seem apprehensive... Nina noted mentally, studying the expressions of the two agents in front of her. 

"The door, please.”

Hiro nodded and closed the door with a soft but resounding thud. The two agents now seemed curious but also wary of the duo. When Hiro was back at his position behind her chair, one of them spoke up cautiously, "Tsushima-san and Masahiro-san, correct?”

Nina smirked casually, "Ah, already aware of our names, yes?”

The agent inhaled deeply at the confirmation. He nodded cautiously and said, "Yes... May we know why we are here? Has something happened?”

Nina smiled politely, "Oh, don't worry yourself with cumbersome details. We just wanted to ask some questions.”

The second agent furrows their brows in intrigue. "Just questions? What kind of questions?”

"Just general ones at the moment. I don't want you two to be anxious. Everything is alright. Please take a deeeeep breath and calm down. Once you are steady, let me know.”

The two agents exchanged a confused look. Then, they complied and calmed themselves. 

Hmm... No fidgeting... No stuttering... Good eye contact maintenance... No trembling... They seem to be clear so far... Nina noted mentally. She saw the two agents nod, one of them voicing their readiness clearly, albeit a bit quietly. But the quietness could just be because of their current situation—therefore, it was not suspicious. 

Nina cleared her throat and leaned forward. Resting elbows on the table and her chin on her steepled fingers, she said, "First things first, how are you two? How's life? Is everything well?”

The two agents blinked in surprise and confusion. They clearly were not expecting that. 

And of course, Nina was not expecting them to open up instantaneously. So upon receiving neutral responses, she simply pushed forward. 

"How is your health? Physical, mental, emotional... Anything that is not up to par?”

Again, nothing. 

"The job's pretty rough, right? Is the pay good? I mean, you can never pass up a chance for more money, right?” Nina lowered her voice in a conspiratorial whisper,"In case you need a raise or something, you can tell me. I'll put in a good word for you both.” 

The two chuckled, the mood lightening slightly. Hiro chimed in with his cheery voice, "Oh yes, Nina is Murakoso-shocho's mentee, so she can help you if you have some pesky debts to take care of!”

The two laughed again, becoming increasingly relaxed. One of them waved their hand and said, "I don't have any debts.”

"Me neither,” the other agent said. 

"But no one can say no to more money!” The first one said playfully, and the three men laughed heartily. Nina smirked in hearty amusement. 

Well, they're innocent...for now. 

She then cleared her throat and said, "And how's the family life? Got some friends?”

The two agents began to lay out bits and pieces of their personal relationships when the door opened slightly and a man around Nina's age poked his head in. 

The newbie from earlier was sent to deliver the requested documents. It was a form of punishment for badmouthing a higher-ranking agent. It was an effective one too, because the newbie had a fear of getting lost—and yes, he had gone lost. He wondered if the agent would scold him for delaying their work by not arriving on time. 

Taking in a shuddering breath, the newbie opened the door labelled 調査室 2 and poked his head in. He took in the scene: two agents sitting side by side, the senior agent he had seen earlier sitting across them, a simple table separating the two sides. Behind the senior agent was another agent. He was tall, muscular, with styled black hair with dyed coral pink ends, a crisp, simple black suit with a black and red tie and red cufflinks. The man now advanced towards the newbie's poking head. Even though the man's eyes were hidden behind black shades similar to the ones the senior agent wore, the newbie could feel the shivers from the sharpness of his gaze. 

"The-the documents,” the newbie said as he held up a stack of papers. " The, uh, list of, um, M.I.A agents, that is required in this room...”

"Ah yes, hand them to the agent. Thank you for the fast work at such short notice.”

The newbie smiled nervously and handed the documents to the man. "We're just doing our duty, ma'am. Please come again if you need anything else...” He nodded politely and then went away. 

He did not know what was happening in there, and his gut told him that it was probably too high-level for him to get into. 

Hiro handed the documents to Nina. Nina took them as she said to the two agents, "Oh, don't stop, please. Continue what you were saying before about your...friends and family relations.”

The two agents, who were silently eyeing the documents, slowly began to continue their talk. Nina observed them, hoping to catch some red flags. But none were present. 

This is going to be a challenging one. She thought as the two agents completed. She simply hummed and said, "Sounds like you both are...satisfied with your current life.”

Both the agents shrugged at that. Figures, they won't tell me everything. 

Nina then studied the documents. It was the list of M.I.A agents with their pictures and their position in the Special Division. And as expected, Michizou Hana had been on the list every day since last month.

Except... 

Nina frowned as she flipped through the pages and saw that there was one page where Michizou Hana was omitted. It wasn't today, or yesterday, but the day before. 

Peculiar. 

How very peculiar. 

She kept the documents aside and addressed the agents. "So, all in all, you've had no major issues or events that could have hindered or tampered with your work performance, correct?” She continued when the agents nodded slowly, "So, have you seen an M.I.A agent recently?”

"An M.I.A agent?” one said confusedly. 

"No, not at all,” the other said while shaking their head. 

"Are you well-aware of the procedure of granting a returning M.I.A agent entry?”

The first one just became more confused at the line of questioning, while the other became alarmed. "Excuse me, but are you saying that we let in a returning missing agent?”

Nina smirked slowly. "Why, how smart of you~ Precisely. An M.I.A agent was allowed entrance to the Special Division headquarters without a thorough investigation and notification to the senior agents. And the entrance was granted by none other than you two, at Entrance 3.”

Both agents straightened up, one in confusion and disbelief, and the other in refusal and shock. 

"What—?!”

"Wait, wait, wait!” The second agent held up his hands to calm the other agent and to halt the ones interrogating them. "We are innocent, ma'am. What proof do you have of this? We know we wouldn't do anything of that sort, and we couldn't have made a mistake. We have been in this position for almost a year now.”

Nina flipped through the pages again, and this time, she held up one of the pages which showed the picture and details of Michizou Hana. 

"Have you seen Agent Michizou Hana today morning?”

The two agents leaned forward in their chairs to squint at the picture. Then, to Nina and Hiro's concealed astonishment, the two agents shook their heads. 

"No, we have never seen her before...”

"I've never even heard her name before. Have you?”

"No, me neither.”

"You two saw her today morning at 6:30." Nina informed them.

A beat of silence. The two agents exchanged a shocked glance. Then one morphed into pure disbelief and nervousness, and the other into outrage. 

"Ma'am, we insist that you recheck everything once more. This.. This is completely impossible!”

"M-maybe her name arrived in the list after we got on our shift this morning? We are innocent....!”

Nina gently shook the document in her hand, "This document is a record of the lists of M.I.A agents from last month to today. Not one day, as you can tell by the thickness of the document.”

The eyes of the agents widened in realisation. The jaw of the one who was in disbelief dropped slightly. 

"Proof. We need proof. Those documents can be tampered with!” The other said. 

"Okay. Show them the security footage, Hiro-kun,” Nina said, putting the document down on the table and sliding it to the agents for them to see. The outraged agent immediately took the document and flipped through the pages. The nervous agent turned to the big television on their left. 

"What the...” The agent slumped their shoulders, the pages of the document slipping from their fingers as they took in the truth. 

The two agents were now full of disbelief, rage, and disappointment, all directed at themselves. 

They had seen the footage. They had seen how the female agent came in, smiled, and handed over her documents. They had seen how they took the documents, smiled back, handed it all back, and let her enter with no hesitation. 

Nina and Hiro observed them. Possibilities ran through Nina's mind as she sat across them, tapping her arm idly in contemplation. Hiro turned off the screen—the two agents had seen enough. 

Nina hadn't seen any immediate alarming signs from their body language. But she knew that it was not enough to prove their innocence. 

However, she couldn't help but wonder... 

Were the two agents just some innocent pawns in some grand twisted scheme? 

A beat of silence, and then there was a dull scraping noise as Nina stood up. She looked at the two agents and said, "You two cannot leave this room for now. I hope you can understand why.”

The two agents tensed, but then their shoulders slumped in resignation. Taking that cue, Nina turned to Hiro, "Hiro-kun, could you please get someone to guard this door?”

Hiro was silent for a moment. As Nina's escort, his duty and instincts told him not to leave her alone with two odd agents. However, he knew her orders were absolute right now. So, with a firm nod, Hiro left the room. 

The tense atmosphere seemed to have become more stifling when Hiro left. Nina smirked slowly. 

"Well now... I am now devoid of my escort~ I am a poor woman, vulnerable from every direction~”

The two agents blinked in confusion. Nina sighed dramatically. "Really? No reaction? Not even one of you is going to take this advantage of this moment to book it outta here?”

The second agent narrowed their eyes. "That would just make us suspicious, ma'am.”

"Oh?” 

Her grey trenchcoat flew behind her as she moved swiftly, as if the wind was carrying her. She was now right behind the second agent, leaning forward slowly. Her voice rang with ominous politeness in their ear, "You seem to be awfully concerned with making yourself seem innocent, my dear, dear agent~”

A shiver ran down their spine, regardless of their innocence or guilt. The first agent inhaled sharply in slight fear. 

The agent swallowed and murmured, "This isn't fair. I am truly innocent. Is it a crime for an innocent to want to prove their innocence?”

Nina's chuckle echoed in the tense atmosphere, and she murmured, "Of course not, my dear. But...the culprit will also attempt to do the same. So unfortunately, for now, your attempts are...futile.”

Their jaw clenched in frustration as the reality sank in. It was true—a guilty person would also attempt to act innocent by choosing to stay instead of bolting away like a rabbit. 

Nina's head snapped to the right like a marionette fueled by the need to reach the truth. Her eyes might have been hidden behind her black shades, but the agent who had been a nervous spectator knew that she was looking at them. 

She straightened up slowly. She took two steps and was now behind the other agent. She bent down and whispered, causing the agent to lean away. 

"They say that being scared is the easiest way to act innocent.”

She straightened up and started pacing the floor behind their chairs slowly, the heels of her ankle boots resounding. 

"You know, the whole 'damsel in distress' act. It's very popular, and veeery effective in such situations. Being scared and being charming—two manipulation tactics to work your way out of trouble. So tell me...” she paused to look at the dumbfounded and nervous agent. "Why are you so nervous?”

The agent inhaled sharply and said, "Because... Because I'm innocent...but the evidence against us is...too strong...too glaring to be nothing. I-I don't want to lose my job because of...something I didn't even do! I have a family! I—” the agent halted his desperate tirade as Nina put up a hand. 

She walked and leaned against the wall, her arms crossing in front of her chest. Her head was angled towards the ground. After a few seconds, she said contemplatively, "I have considered the possibility that you two are just being..framed. Maybe the M.I.A agent in question is the guilty one, and you two are truly innocent. Maybe this is a scheme to cause doubt and suspicion in the entire establishment. But you have to understand—and I know you do—that the evidence strongly suggests otherwise.”

She chuckled and shook her head slowly, "I mean, come on, do you expect anyone to believe that two agents lost their memory about one specific M.I.A agent simultaneously, right on the day the said agent returned??”

But before the agents could say anything, a serious expression clouded her face, and she held up a firm finger. 

"Wait... Did you two forget about just Agent Michizou Hana, or all the M.I.A agents?”

The two agents realised what she meant. She then said, "I know how to solve this. Give me some names of the M.I.A agents of last month till now that you do remember.”

The two began to throw out names quickly to prove that they were innocent. Nina tallied the names to the list. When they stopped, Nina murmured, "So you two just don't remember Michizou Hana. Interesting...”

But what was actually interesting was how quickly the two agents had given other names. To prove that they forgot just Michizou Hana actually could make them seem more guilty, and the culprit would have known that. 

So did that mean they were truly innocent? 

Hiro had arrived with two agents to keep guard at the inquiry room. Nina was polite but firm towards the two suspects about staying in the room and not doing anything suspicious. She took the document with her.

Nina turned to Hiro as they walked down the corridor. "Hiro-kun, could you please go to the cameras and see if the substitutes are doing well? I don't want more suspicious people just trinkling in.”

Hiro frowned, "Hey, I'm your escort. We have an M.I.A. agent just roaming who knows where, and you want me to leave your side?”

Nina said placatingly, "I know that, Natsu—”

"Don't you 'Natsu' me!”

Nina completely ignored Hiro's whining, "—but I need to go and ask Murakoso-sensei to issue a notice to call the M.I.A agent, since she is in another faction."

"Precisely! A suspicious agent is just roaming around in here. I need to be by your side."

"I'll be fine. Oh, actually—"

Nina realised something, "—I want you to study the footage of Michizou Hana and what she is doing now. This is good. Right now, she thinks that she is in the clear. Maybe she is giving herself away right now. Go, go!"

"Fine, fine! Just...just be careful. If something happens to you—"

"Nothing will happen to me, pinky promise!~" Nina called out as she walked quickly towards the 首相 door. Hiro sighed and went to the opposite direction, going to the cameras to monitor Michizou Hana.

Nina reached Murakoso's office. The muscular guards did not stop her. They weren't instructed to stop her, as simple as that.

She opened the door and entered without any hesitation. She saw Murakoso sitting at her usual armchair. But across from her was someone else. Before her mind could register what her eyes were perceiving, the person turned around. Their eyes met, and the first thing Nina perceived was...

Those eyes are too beautiful to be dead.

Chapter Text

Well, 'dead' was an exaggeration. Nina realised that when she blinked once. The pale green eyes did not belong to a dead person, because how would a dead person move and turn their head towards her?

Emotions and thoughts make us alive. But what makes us truly human?

The ability and freedom to express our emotions and thoughts.

The ability to desire more than materialistic and fulfillment of our base instincts.

The ability to have more than base instincts.

The ability to act upon these emotions, thoughts, and desires in a way no other creature can.

And when we die...all these abilities fade away slowly, like how the light slowly fades away from our eyes... Like how the light has faded from the one who owns the pale green eyes...

Nina mentally shook her head. Why the hell am I thinking about all of this? I have work to do.

She approached Murakoso's desk and nodded politely. "So sorry for interrupting your conversation and coming in unannounced." Her gaze drifted to the person sitting on the seat across from Murakoso, but then went back to her, "It is an emergency—"

"Ah, no need to apologise!" Murakoso said in her usual cheery tone. "In fact, you came at the right moment." She went back to the new person who, Nina noted, had a slim but athletic figure, pale complexion, and long, straight, black hair. Murakoso flicked her wrist towards Nina, "I swear, she has the best timing. She is my mentee, one of the best officers in the Security Faction."

Nina's cheeks became pink, and she could do nothing to stop that physiological reaction to the praise. She wasn't used to being shown off, or rather, Dazai used peculiar ways to show her off. After all, both she and Dazai had to guard the fact that Dazai Osamu had a biological daughter.

Murakoso nearly squealed in delight at Nina's slightly pink cheeks. 

Shit, she noticed it. Damn, eagle-eyed woman—

"Ah, you're still so shy, Ni-na-chaaan~ Kawaiiii~"

Nina cleared her throat and composed herself. "If you don't mind... the matter I have is quite important to get onto—"

"Oh, of course. Let me get to the point then. Yui-chan, she is Officer Tsushima Nina, my mentee, and the soaring STAR, Miss Anti-Corruption. Nina-chan, this woman here is Nakamura Yui." Murakoso's voice lowers to a conspiratorial murmur, "She is an assassin preferred by the Head Advisor, Satou Hiroaki himself." She then leaned back in her chair, "Satou-san transferred her to my charge to strengthen the faction.”

Nina turned towards Nakamura Yui with a polite smile. "Pleasure to meet you. How would you like me to address you?”

The woman named Nakamura Yui said in a flat, quiet tone, "Please, address me in whatever manner you wish to. Is it alright if I refer to you as Officer Tsushima?”

"Sure. May I call you Nakamura-san then?”

"Yes, I have no preference either way.” She said with the flattest, robotic voice Nina had ever heard. 

"Alright...” Nina then smirked playfully, "Since you were preferred by Old Counsellor, I'm guessing that you take instructions VERY seriously.”

"By Old Counsellor, are you referring to Satou-sensei?”

"Uh-huh.” There was a hint of amusement in Nina's tone. She never thought she'd see someone call the old man 'sensei'. 

"Yes, orders are absolute," Nakamura said stoically. 

"No moxie... No creativity... I guess that's good for an assassin anyway.”

"Yes, that is how I was taught to function.”

Taught to function? So Old Counselor likes to turn humans into subservient robots. Typical.

"Well...as much as I'd like to discuss this further, I have a very important matter to discuss with Murakoso-sensei. May I have a minute with her?”

"Please don't let my presence hinder your work.”

Nina looked at Murakoso expectantly. The older woman nodded understandingly and turned to Nakamura. "Kindly step outside for a moment. I will call for you afterwards.”

Nakamura promptly stood up, bowed to Murakoso and Nina and walked out. Nina gazed at her retreating figure, her mind swirling with curiosity and amusement towards the new stoic woman. A cough from Murakoso brought her back to the present, and she turned towards her mentor behind the ornate desk. 

Nina then remembered the urgent matter and put aside the assassin completely. She spoke in a low, serious tone, "I have an important update on Michizou Hana.”

Murakoso knew from Nina's tone that it was time to be fully focused now. She nodded and said, "Continue.”

"I found out that the security agents at Entrance 3 granted entry without following the procedure for returning M.I.A. agents.”

Murakoso remained calm. She nodded silently for her to continue. Nina said, "I interrogated the two agents, and what I found was...interesting and shocking."

Murakoso's eyes widened briefly at that, "Interesting and shocking? Go on; I'm all ears.”

"The two agents do not remember seeing Michizou Hana, let alone granting her entry.”

"They don't remember?” Murakoso repeated, inhaling sharply in alarm. 

"They also do not remember ever seeing Michizou Hana on the list of M.I.A. agents since last month.”

"How?” She said sharply. The news was too shocking for her to conceal her growing alarm and disbelief. 

"I do not know.” Nina internally hated that she didn't have the answers with her already. "But I suspect Michizou Hana strongly. I am here to request you to issue a notice for the same to the Intel Faction.”

"I see. I'll do that immediately. What are you planning to do in the meantime?”

"I asked Hiro-kun to monitor Michizou Hana through the security cameras.”

Murakoso smirked approvingly "Smart move. Trying to catch her in some fishy act, huh?”

Nina smirked back with amused anticipation. "Precisely.” Her smirk faded. “There is also a discrepancy in the list of M.I.A. agents, so I will interrogate about that as well.”

Murakoso’s smirk faded as well. "Discrepancy? What kind of discrepancy?”

"Michizou Hana was missing from the list last Friday.”

"How...” Murakoso was in so much disbelief that she could not find the word. 

"...coincidental.” Nina finished for her. 

"Yes... Coincidental...”

There was a brief moment of silence as Murakoso absorbed the report. Murakoso broke it by saying, "Don't march up to them for answers. Be discreet. Ask if there is a new agent on their team. This cannot be accomplished by one person alone.”

"Understood.”

"And...” Murakoso looked at me thoughtfully, "don't forget to take care of yourself. You're doing a great job.”

Nina nodded understandingly, "I'll take care of myself. Anything else?”

"Be careful, and find the culprit quickly. I'll issue the notice now.”

"I'll be careful. I won't let anyone get away with this,” Nina said firmly, smirking faintly. With a nod, she left the office. Her gaze was ahead, her mind fixed on the situation at hand. 

She didn't notice a pair of impassive, pale green eyes staring at her, watching her walk away. 

It was now almost noon. 

After a snack break, Nina went into the small room from where she got the document of the M.I.A. agents. It was a small team that kept an eye on which agents were working, missing, or on vacation, and many other small things regarding their availability.

The Status Check.

The team, according to Nina, was one of those elements in an organisation that people overlooked when appreciating the organisation. True, they weren't doing any heavy work. But as proved by the current situation, their work was still valuable.

What Nina was really curious about was why anyone infiltrating the Special Division would tamper with the list of M.I.A. agents.

Just to have Michizou Hana infiltrate successfully? Nina wondered about the possibility she thought was most likely. 

She knocked on the door. 

"Enter.”

She opened the door and walked in. A few of the agents looked up, silently wondering what she was going to ask for next. The others continued to work without sparing a glance at her. The officer stepped forward and initiated the conversation in a professional tone. "Officer Tsushima, do you require our assistance again?”

"Thank you, Officer Rou. I would like to ask something regarding your team.”

"Yes?”

"May I know if you have recruited someone recently?”

The officer answered without any hesitation. "The recent recruit was taken a month ago, ma'am.”

That caught her interest, even though she remained calm and polite. "I see. May I have a word with him in Inquiry Room 2?”

The older man was silent for a moment before asking in the same formal tone, "May I know why, ma'am?”

"I am simply investigating something, and I believe your newest recruit can have some valuable information to share.”

The officer knew she was not telling the entire thing, but that was how things usually worked in the government anyway. So he simply nodded—no further questioning. 

The newbie knew that whatever was going on in Inquiry Room 2 was something he should not get involved in. But life apparently had other plans for him. 

He saw the officer and her escort from earlier looking at him intently. Beside him were two agents, the ones he remembered being interrogated by Officer Tsushima.

He watched as the officer crossed her arms, studying him intently, even though her eyes were not visible due to her black shades. She then spoke up in a calculated tone, "Is there something you would like to confess?”

He blinked in confusion and slowly shook his head. "No ma'am. I haven't done anything secretive.”

"Are you sure? It'd be better for you if you spilled the beans now.”

He felt a chill run down his spine at her words. "I don't have anything to confess. I'm innocent.” His voice was firm despite his nerves. 

She tilted her head slightly. "You joined the Status Check a month ago, yes?”

He nodded, and she continued, "Have you heard of Miss Michizou Hana?”

He furrowed his brows in concentration. He thought for a moment and then said, "It is familiar, ma'am. But there are so many names that we go through in Status Check, so I'm not sure...”

"Do you know that she went M.I.A. a month ago? Right when you joined Status Check?”

"O-oh...”

"Which is nothing suspicious, of course. Tell me, do you have a particular duty in the team?”

"Not really. I just...assist them, I suppose.”

"Could you tell me what you did on Friday?”

"The Friday that just passed?”

"Yes.”

"I was documenting the marital status of an agent who had apparently married in secrecy.”

"Nothing to do with the list of M.I.A. agents?”

"No ma'am.”

"Are you sure?”

"Yes ma'am.”

M.I.A. agents? Michizou Hana? What is going on?? The poor newbie didn't understand anything. 

"And you just did one task throughout the day?”

The newbie blinked, caught off guard by the random question. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Well... I think something happened that day...”

"What happened?”

"A security officer barged—I mean, came in—and started saying that we broke some rule or something...”

The newbie could sense Officer Tsushima's intrigue. "Who was the security officer?”

The newbie recalled carefully. "I believe it was... Sorry, but I'm not good at remembering names under pressure...”

"Oh, don't worry. For some reason, everyone today is terrible at remembering names.” Officer Tsushima said mockingly, flicking her wrist casually towards the two agents sitting beside him. The two recoiled in humiliation. 

The newbie murmured curiously but hesitantly, "What did they forget, ma'am?”

The agents slumped in shame as Officer Tsushima said with mock nonchalance, "Oh, nothing much~ Just the name they had been seeing for a month straight.”

The newbie looked at the two agents and then back at the officer in confusion, but Officer Tsushima simply raised her hand. "You'll understand the complete picture later. Let's just say that these two security agents are involved in Agent Michizou's easy entry into the headquarters. Have you remembered the name of the officer now?”

The newbie thought for a moment and then nodded. "I believe it was the officer who goes by the title Librarian. My senpai told me that she founded the Status Check.”

The mood instantly shifted at the name. "The Librarian?” Nina asked, now very curious. "Interesting... That's not particularly suspicious. She got that title for her strict and orderly nature and work. The fact that she founded the Status Check is proof of that. Maybe the real culprit took advantage of the momentary lapse in focus and tampered with the documents.”

The room fell into a moment of tense, contemplative silence. 

"You sure you had nothing to do with the M.I.A. status that day?"

The newbie felt a tiny flicker of annoyance at the repeated question. But he wouldn't dare to speak up against an officer. 

"As in I didn't do any work on it, yes.”

"So you have no idea that Michizou Hana had been omitted from the list that very day?”

The newbie felt a jolt of surprise and disbelief at Officer Nina's revelation. "W-wait, what? She was missing from the list itself?”

"Precisely.”

"But why??” The newbie leaned forward and demanded. 

He saw the officer raise an eyebrow. "You are asking me that question?” He couldn't tell if she was amused or pissed off, but he still regretted spewing stuff out of his mouth again. 

"I'm so so sorry. I didn't mean that.”

"What did you mean by that then?”

The newbie took a deep breath and murmured, "Well...I'm shocked that we made such a mistake...”

He heard the officer chuckle, amusedly, slightly condescendingly. She leaned forward and said, "Mistake...?" She adjusted her shades. "Michizou Hana entered the headquarters this morning with no interrogation, no questions asked. Two security agents completely forgot about her existence as an M.I.A. agent.”

The newbie froze, fear and alarm overtaking his senses. 

"This...is not a mistake. This is a carefully crafted scheme.”

He didn't register her walking up slowly behind him until he heard her voice. 

"The real question is: Are you part of this scheme, or just some innocent pawn framed up in a funeral home?”

Murakoso was twirling a pen around her fingers, her mind lost in the whole Michizou Hana situation, and other matters that required her attention as the Head of the Security Faction. A knock on the door brought her out of her intense contemplation. 

"Come in.”

Aoki entered. Murakoso smirked and called him jovially, "Taku-kuuun~ Welcome, welcome~”

Aoki was too used to Murakoso's carefree demeanour. "Ma'am, you said you had a grave situation?”

Murakoso tilted her head and grinned like a Cheshire Cat. "Ooo, I do love it when you call me 'ma'am'...”

Aoki sighed exasperatedly, and he knew what Murakoso meant. Murakoso chuckled amusedly and lounged back languidly. "Aww, don't give me that! No need to be so formal with your old work partner.”

Aoki crossed his arms and said in his usual no-nonsense attitude, "Did you really call me here for a casual chat while pretending to be in trouble AGAIN?”

Murakoso's carefree demeanour flickered, and now there was a hint of seriousness in her voice. "No, not this time. I really do have a situation that is...troubling.”

Aoki raised an eyebrow in concern, "What is it?”

Murakoso filled him in about the Michizou Hana situation. Aoki was silent, maintaining his composure while soaking up all the information.

He finally took a deep breath and spoke up, “Ma’am, do you really think Officer Tsushima should believe the three agents?”

Murakoso leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. The seriousness of the matter overtook the spike of pleasure of Aoki calling her ‘ma’am.’ “I don’t think she believes them. She’s just giving them the benefit of the doubt.”

She paused and then said, “I called to ask you if those two security agents are trustworthy or not.”

“They are, but...who knows, right? Not everyone is who they seem to be.”

Murakoso smiled wryly. “True. But still, their track record can give us some insight into their… malleability.”

Aoki could see the wisdom in her words and nodded in understanding. “I see. Well, they have clean records. One of them did have their family threatened once, and it did lead to something…but it wasn’t that serious.”

Murakoso hummed thoughtfully. “I believe, and so does Nina, that the two agents are innocent.”

“And what about the theory that there could be an accomplice in Status Check?”

“She is investigating that.”

“Notices take time to be processed, especially from the Intel Faction.”

Murakoso sighed with a hint of annoyance, “True, but it is what it is—”

There was a sharp, rhythmic knock on the door, which Murakoso and Aoki recognised immediately. It was one of the guards of the Head Office. Her talk with Aoki was to be uninterrupted. So either there was a senior official outside, or there was an emergency. She observed how Aoki moved closer to her desk with a hint of protectiveness. She kept the smirk off her face and tone as she said, “Enter.”

A person strode in with urgency and stood straight, hands folded behind their back. “I apologise for the interruption, ma’am,” they said with a bow. They straightened up and continued, “There was a disturbance in the Intel Faction. A few agents noticed a strange behavioural pattern in the espionage agent Michizou Hana. Agent Mashima Hiro of your faction caught her attempting to sneak into a restricted area. Upon Agent Mashima Hiro’s discretion, we have restrained Michizou Hana.”

Murakoso and Aoki shared an unreadable look at this new development. Murakoso looked back at the agent and said, “Where is the agent now?”

“Inquiry Room 1, as dictated by the protocol. However, Agent Hiro insisted that she be brought to Inquiry Room 2.”

Murakoso looked at Aoki. “Takuichi, could you help out with this? Nina needs a helping hand in this complicated mess, even though she’ll never admit it.”

Aoki nodded. Murakoso turned to the agent and dismissed them. Aoki then said, “I’ll get going. I have a feeling that the mystery is about to be solved.”

“Yes…” Murakoso said. “...be very careful.”

“I have a feeling that the situation will end in a BANG.”

Chapter Text

It was late evening. 14-year-old Nina saw Dazai plop down on the chair beside Nina's. Chuuya made dinner as usual, the sound of the blade against the chopping board a domestic soundtrack. 

Dazai looked at his daughter with an expression that was unreadable to the young girl. “Nina,” he began, his voice serious, “I need to tell you something important.”

Nina nodded, listening closely. Chuuya peeked at the father and daughter over his shoulder before going back to chopping vegetables. Dazai continued, “You know how Chuuya and I always tell you about dangerous people you shouldn't come across at all, right?”

“Yeah…”

“Well, there is an addition to that list. Two additions, actually.”

Nina's eyes widened in surprise, “Additions?”

“Yes, princess. Like I always say, evil can never stop forever.”

“Right… Are they as dangerous as that Russian man?” Nina asked with trepidation.

Chuuya's knife hovered in the air. Dazai took a moment and then said, “No. But that doesn't mean you will be safe with them.”

Chuuya resumed his chopping while Nina tilted her head slightly. “But my ability will save me, so I'll be okay.”

Chuuya sighed exasperatedly and Dazai ruffled Nina's hair. “We talked about this, princess.”

Nina pouted. “But—”

“Now, now,” Chuuya spoke up, now sliding the chopped veggies into the pan, “let your father finish telling you about the new bad people in the city.”

“Fiiiine…” Nina whined the way kids usually did. “Go on then, Papa. Who should I hide from now?”

Dazai chuckled softly and said, “You've started to whine a lot more, you know~”

Then he became serious. “The two people are from the Port Mafia.”

“Port Mafia?”

“Yes… Now I'm going to tell you something, and I want you to listen to me carefully.”

Nina nodded. Dazai took her hand and said in a quiet, solemn tone, “You remember that I had someone very cruel and ruthless in charge of me in the mafia, right?” Nina nodded and he continued, “Well…that person has now moved on from me and has taken two people under them.”

“And that means…?”

“That they are being trained to be like me.”

Nina tensed. “But…you're a mastermind.”

Dazai smirked, “True, those two will never reach my level, even with their powers combined. But…” Dazai sighed, his smirk dropping slightly, “they are still dangerous, kitty.”

“Not only that, but we don't know what their Special Ability is. And you know what that means, don't you?” Chuuya chimed in, speaking over the noise of crackling spices and boiling soup.

Nina's eyebrows knotted in curiosity. “You mean that they are that good at hiding in the dark?”

“Yup,” Dazai affirmed, “almost as good as you.”

“Who are they, Papa?”

“Well, one of them dresses in white and gives monologues about spreading his light with a smile.”

“Ugh!” Nina leaned away, as if Dazai's words alone burnt her. “I don't like him already. He sounds like the Russian man too.”

Dazai chuckled slightly and said reassuringly, “Don't worry, Nina-chan. Fyodor's gone for good.”

Nina rolled her eyes in exasperation and spoke in a deadpan tone, “And now, nine years later, we have someone who's like Fyodor. Does evil come in the same packaging?”

Dazai laughed and Chuuya snorted at the last comment. Dazai then groaned dramatically. He threw his head back, closed his eyes and pressed his hand to his chest like a wounded maiden, “Oh, I sympathize with your feelings, my dearest princess. I wish the masterminds would have more diverse personality types. It would make the chase more entertaining indeed~”

He sneaked a glance at his laughing daughter, a soft smile gracing his lips. Then, when the moment began to ebb away, he said softly, “But that's how life is. Evil pretending to be saviors will always be there.” Nina sighed in resigned understanding. Dazai continued, “So I want you to always be vigilant. Evil is always lurking around the corner…”

“...waiting for our guards to be down.” Nina finished the one sentence Dazai would repeat to her.

Dazai nodded in approval and ruffled her hair gently. “That's right. And the two new threats in the city are—
Hikizuri Kazuya and Misaka Mikoto.”

Nina watched intently as Michizou Hana entered Inquiry Room 2, followed closely by Aoki and Hiro. The air seemed to thicken, like all the elements in the universe knew that this was the most important event of the entire day. 

Before Nina could think about anything, her eyes immediately caught her wide smile. For some reason, Nina didn’t feel like smirking in her typical manner, let alone returning the smile. 

Michizou Hana: An agent in the Intel Faction. Specialised in Espionage. Former Model. Started just two months ago. No Special Ability, but smart enough to be in the Special Division. The Michizou family was full of ability users, so Michizou Hana knew how to work in an establishment which focused on ability users. 

Platinum blonde hair. Completely straight, accompanied by straight blunt bangs. Almond-shaped turquoise eyes, which seemed so…dull…so unlike her sparkling eyes that made her a spectacular model. Her skin was more grey than it was in her picture. As she walked past Nina towards her seat, Nina caught a sniff of a weird scent. Unnatural. Dirty. 

Michizou Hana sat down. She didn’t seem at all perturbed by the number of intense eyes watching her every move. Her wide smile remained unchanged, eyes unblinking. It sent a shiver down Nina’s spine inexplicably, despite her impassive expression.

Nina stepped closer to the table and began, “Agent Michizou Hana… Do you know why you are here?”

Michizou Hana spoke in a quiet, hauntingly melodious drawl, the smile never faltering, “Is it because I did something wrong?~”

The two security agents looked at each other, their gaze saying, “This job is not worth this horrifying shit.”

Nina remained unperturbed. “Ma'am, as much as I admire theatrics, your attitude is not helping your case. I'd suggest you take this seriously.”

Michizou chuckled slowly, “But we all already know I am guilty. So what's the point of proving otherwise?~”

The three agents were astounded by Michizou's easily obtained confession. Hiro's jaw clenched. Aoki narrowed his eyes. Nina was silent for a moment longer before saying, “Well, we still require an explanation. Let’s start with one question at a time, in case this is boring for you. How and why did you go missing?”

Michizou Hana chuckled slowly. “Fine… I'll play along… Michizou Hana went missing because she was careless, my dear officer. She was watched…targeted. Why? So that this day could arrive with a flourish.”

Nina couldn't tell if the third-person pov of her own self was just playful storytelling or a purposeful choice. But she did not point it out yet. Instead she said, “Who targeted her? What is their purpose?”

Michizou Hana was silent for a second before sighing softly, “Explaining the first question will be tough, officer. And the culprit's purpose? To make a statement.”

“What statement?”

Michizou's smile widened into a toothy grin. “That they are capable.”

Her words stilled the air, everyone wondering about the implications. Nina said in a low voice, “What do they need to be capable of?”

Michizou tilted her head slowly. “Of harnessing chaos, darkness, and evil.”

“Who are ‘they’?”

“I am ‘they’.”

The newbie was completely confused. The two security agents felt a shiver run down their spines. Hiro and Aoki tensed, their minds conjuring up different meanings of Michizou's words. Nina put her hands on the table and leaned closer to the mysterious woman. If there was one thing she had learned from Dazai, it was that dramatization is a thin veil. The answer, in the majority of the times, lies in the words. Dramatics and riddles shift the focus of the listener. 

So she studied the M.I.A. agent, her mind analysing her confusing words. The third-person view, the way she looked, and how she had an unsettling aura about her. 

And then she put forward her guess in a conspiratorial murmur. 

“You're not Michizou Hana, are you?”

Everyone else was taken aback by such a guess. Michizou Hana's grin faltered for a split second, but it didn't go unnoticed by Nina. 

“May I know why you made such a bold guess?” Michizou drawled, but now there was a slight sharpness to it. 

Nina straightened up, now convinced of the validity of her guess by Michizou's small behavioural hints. She wanted more answers, but she decided to humor the woman instead. She took a deep breath and explained, “Well, the first clue was how you had suddenly shifted to third person pov when talking about Michizou Hana in the past. The second clue was admitting that you were the one targeting Michizou Hana. You made it sound like Michizou Hana was targeting herself to spin our heads.” Michizou was staring at Nina as if she were an interesting specimen. Nina added, her hands settling in the pockets of her grey trench coat, “And with the observations of Michizou's colleagues and how you were caught trying to access confidential information, it is very much possible that you are not Michizou Hana.”

A pause. Aoki knew from experience that while Nina's guess seemed far-fetched, it was still a good guess.

In the world of ability users, anything was possible.

They all waited with bated breath for Michizou's response. She was frozen in place, never blinking or flinching. Nina was beginning to think that she wasn't even breathing anymore.

Then, she spoke with the slightest of pouts. “I wanted to drive your minds in circles. How disappointing.”

They let out a collective breath. Nina rubbed her chin and said, “You’re not Michizou Hana. Then who are you?”

No response. Not discouraged, Nina urged her, “I asked you something. You can't just be unresponsive now.”

No response. Aoki stepped forward, a harsh glint in his cold grey eyes. “We will not take silence kindly, impersonator.”

“Michizou Hana” giggled, amused by the subtle threat.

Nina raised her hand to stop both Aoki and “Michizou”. “Don't, sir. She wants us to be frustrated.” After all, Nina was the daughter of one of the masterminds of manipulation and deceit. She knew how they worked and how to get answers from them. 
“The impersonator here wants us to play a game.”

“Michizou” threw her head back and let out a hearty, maniacal laugh, her eyes still wide open. The newbie flew out of his seat and flattened himself against the wall, face purple with fear. The two security agents jumped in their seats and they scooted away from “Michizou's” seat. Hiro and Aoki took out their guns, aiming at the maniacal danger. Nina's mouth was a thin line of veiled alarm and annoyance.

“Michizou” abruptly stopped as she saw the guns. But her grin never faded. She then looked at Nina. “Tsushima Nina. That's your name, correct?” Nina's jaw clenched and she nodded curtly. “Michizou” tilted her head a bit too much to the side. “I'll remember that name very well~”

Hiro stood beside Nina protectively as her escort, his gun still positioned towards the impersonator. Nina crossed her arms and held her head high. “Your scare tactics will not deter this interrogation,” she said firmly. “

"But it will still unsettle everyone here~” The empty eyes darted to the newbie for a moment before her eyes snapped back towards Nina at her calm but firm words.

“That will not deter ME—the one who is interrogating you. So you can throw your spooks out the window and answer my question.”

“Wow… Does anything intimidate you, my dear Nina?~”

Hiro spoke up. “She's Officer Tsushima to you. Or Miss Anti-Corruption if you want to be creative. Now tell us—are you an evil twin? A doppelganger? Or someone or something entirely else, entirely more…sinister?”

“I am not Michizou's twin. I am not her doppelganger. I am sinister to the foolish and the ignorant. But a savior to those who reach the truth.”

“Let me guess,” Nina began in an unimpressed tone, “you are a savior and you are here to save humanity, foolish mankind, from their own doom. We should all bow to you and let you use us as you desire?”

“Oh, do not judge me too critically.” The impersonator purred persuasively. “I am here to… spread my light with a smile~”

Nina froze, the last sentence sending a shudder down her form. She had heard it before—the memory trapped in the deepest realms of her brain. Aoki cocked an eyebrow with mild recognition and general disgust towards the people with a saviour complex. Hiro, the newbie, and the two security agents, on the other hand, were completely at sea. 

“Say that again,” Nina commanded. The impersonator repeated it, and Nina was struck with an old memory. 

The sound of crackling heat, Chuuya chopping vegetables. 

The scent of spices and miso soup. 

The feel of her father holding her hand and patting her head. 

The numerous stories Dazai and Chuuya had narrated to her in the following years about the Port Mafia executive. 

“Well, one of them dresses in white and gives monologues about spreading his light with a smile.”

Nina schooled her expression to an unbothered one but "Michizou” could tell that the charade was up. The impersonator was intrigued by how well-informed Nina was. Nina then said, “Well, we already know that you had an accomplice in here. Someone to help spread the light, I suppose?”

The grin on “Michizou’s” face flickered ever so slightly before she chuckled. “Not an accomplice, no. My competitor. Someone who believes they can revel in power, fame, and evil better than me.”

“Competitor? Care to sell your competitor out to us?”

“And what purpose would that serve?”

“You'll be the winner of the competition.”

“... I can give a hint.”

“Just a hint?... Fine.”

“Think of someone who works in the Main Security team but is closely tied with the Status Check.” The gears in their minds turned at the enigmatic hint. Aoki was mentally going through records of who would match the description.

Then Nina turned around and looked at Aoki and Hiro.  “Hiro, stand guard here. Officer Aoki, may I have a moment with you outside?” The two nodded.

Outside, Aoki turned to Nina and murmured, “What is it, Tsushima?”

Nina said urgently, “Officer, I need you to initiate lockdown on the Special Division. Then, both Murakoso-sensei and the Head of Special Division need to be informed about the impersonator.”

Aoki's eyes widened. “Why? I can't just do all of that—”

“—Please understand. The person inside is Michizou Hana physically but not mentally.” Nina urged. 

“What?!” Aoki whisper-shouted. 

“It's a Port Mafia executive.”

“Port Mafia—?!” Aoki was overcome with a cold splash of realization. 

There was an inhuman groan from the inside, followed by screams of terror and Hiro's shouts. A gunshot rang from the room. The guards outside, and Nina and Aoki, scrambled back inside, just in time to witness a grotesque event. 

Michizou Hana's body was convulsing, twitching, and twisting. 

The skin became a sickly shade of grey. 

Her eyes sank further inside, and the turquoise circles rolled up away until only white remained. 

Her neck was dangling to the side.

The tinge of rotten smell intensified.

The skin was drying up like a raisin. 

Her body lost equilibrium and slumped forward on the table, spreading in an unnatural manner.

And just as it all began… 

…her body stilled. 

Forever.

Chapter Text

Dazai returned home from Nina's apartment. As soon as he opened the main apartment door, Yoshiko leapt at him and started licking his face. Dazai swore aloud—he got over his hate and slight fear of dogs, but he hadn't gotten used to the golden retriever jumping on him and covering his face with her saliva. 

“Chill! Calm down! GET OFF MY FACE—”

“Dazai.”

Chuuya stood at the threshold, his body sheened with sweat. He was still in his workout attire, and with how breathless he was, it looked like he had come in between his workout routine. 

“You're gonna pay for making me panic, Mackerel.”

Chuuya said with a darkened expression. In reality, he knew that Dazai was just messing with him. And frankly speaking, he didn't feel that wronged by him just texting "Nina likes to torture herself".

But when has Chuuya ever been neutral towards Dazai's antics?

Dazai felt a fire light up inside at the sight of his sweat-slick and ragged boyfriend, but Yoshiko headbutting against Dazai's long legs stopped him from imagining…interesting images. Chuuya noticed Yoshiko begging for Dazai's attention. He sighed, aware that brunet was still not accustomed to the dog's abundant affections. He whistled softly and said, “Come here, girl.” Yoshiko turned towards Chuuya and bounded towards him. The dog lover grinned as he scratched behind her fluffy ear. Yoshiko responded with a bark of appreciation and wagging her tail. 

Dazai secretly didn't mind Yoshiko that much. He was just jealous of her, seeing how effortlessly she could brighten up Chibi's face. 

It’s unfair how he ran up to the dog first. How can he choose a mutt over his boyfriend? 

Throwing one more glare at the taller man, the short man with the ginger hair went to the living room to resume his workout. Dazai followed and plopped down on the sofa. 

Damn, this is a good show. Dazai thought to himself as he watched Chuuya pick up his dumbbells. 

Yozo, a black Burmese cat with one of Dazai’s old white bandages as a collar, could sense the sexual vibrations starting to build in one of his owners. Tail flicking in disgust, he got up and padded out of the living room. 

This was definitely not the first time Dazai had gotten horny while Chuuya was working out. And he knew that Chuuya was aware of it.

Chuuya had become exceptional at picking up Dazai's behavior, even the intense gazes to his ass. Dazai never did anything because he didn't want to get punched straight out of this universe, and Chuuya knew that. 

But, god-damn he wanted him! 

And sure enough, Dazai could feel his pajama bottoms starting to tighten at the nether region. 

Chuuya never humoured Dazai's hypersexual nature (which Dazai refused to acknowledge as a condition). 

Okay, never mind. He had humoured Dazai— a lot. But not as kinky as workout sex. 

Why? Simple. Chuuya couldn't give Dazai too much leverage on him. He did love Dazai—too much for him to tolerate Dazai being some goddamn puppeteer. 

Meanwhile, all Dazai could think of was—

Fuck, at least he's not doing the downward dog. That was hard to ignore. 

Chuuya shifted his position. Now he was doing squats while holding the dumbbells. Pretty routine work. Nothing special. 

But it was special to Dazai, who was staring not just in fascination at Chuuya's physical strength, but also at the way his biceps flexed with the weights and how his back arched as he squatted down. 

Chuuya was acutely aware of Dazai's lingering gazes. And he knew that the gears in his mind were turning, thinking of a new way to GET what he wanted. 

That's what Chuuya didn't like. Dazai just had that mindset that he could never get anything without manipulation. He approached everything like a Rubik's Cube waiting to be solved. The only person who was immune to him was Nina. Once she learnt that her father had manipulated her to do something, she didn't talk to him for three days straight. But Chuuya was never as firm in his grudges and resolve as Nina. 

And the worst part? Chuuya would always fall for Dazai's tricks. 

But now that Chuuya and Dazai were dating, Chuuya wanted to erase that mindset from his beloved. 

A creak of the couch. Chuuya looked over his shoulder. And there he was—tall, with wavy dark brown hair framing his slender face, the scars on his body not prominent due to the bulge in his pajamas. Dazai's red-brown eyes gleamed with a calculating light. 

“Chuu-ya~” he drawled with a lazy smirk, but his face was flushed with eagerness. “How about I make up to you by giving you more… effective exercise?~”

The offer was enticing, like a forbidden candy. But sometimes, when you give the kid too much candy, they can be wise enough to stop themselves. 

Chuuya set down the weights and turned around. 

Yes, his face was flushed. 

Yes, his heart rate was high. 

Yes, he wanted Dazai too. 

But not like this. 

So, he mustered his courage and said, “No. And I'm not playing hard to get. I'm not being tsundere. I'm serious. No.”

Dazai's smirk faltered for a mere moment before it plastered again. Chuuya knew that Dazai thought that he was being prissy. 

And to be honest, he wasn't even irritated at Dazai for that text message and the silence following afterwards. But is it too much to ask for wholesome intimacy rather than Mackerel's stupid and needless games?

“Oh come on, Chuu-chuu~ Let me make it up to you~” Dazai closed the distance and flashed his signature charming smile. Chuuya gritted his teeth. 

“Stop it, Mackerel. First, there were those so-called ‘apology blowjobs.’ And now ‘apology workout sex’? Why don't you actually apologise for once and then fuck me because you WANT me, not because you OWE me something?”

Dazai's smile dropped, beginning to see how he was going back to his demons. Chuuya took this chance to cup his face gently. Chuuya spoke in a soft but firm tone, “Dazai…you don't have to manipulate me, your goddamn partner in every goddamn sense.”

Dazai huffed in irritation, but it was forced. “Oh yeah? When I do that, you always push me away every time, playing hard to get.”

“Yeah, I do. But that doesn't mean you'll manipulate me.”

“Sure, what else am I supposed to do, huh??”

Chuuya’s hands dropped lower, to Dazai's shoulders, gripping them strongly. “I want you to COMPLIMENT me, you dumbass! I want you to tell me that I look sexy, that you need me more than you need air to breathe.”

Dazai finally realised where everything was going wrong. He took a step back, looking away in guilt and shame, his hand running through his messy hair. “Damn it… I messed up again…”

“Hey, hey, look at me. Look at me, babe,” Chuuya said, his voice softening as he gently held Dazai's chin and turned his gaze towards him. Dazai's heart skipped a beat, as it always did when Chuuya called him ‘babe.’ “It's okay to mess up. You just need to take responsibility for it, remember?”

Dazai swallowed and murmured with vulnerability, “... What if I mess up again and again?”

“We talked about this, babe. I won't judge you for falling again and again, as long as you continue to make an effort.”

Dazai inhaled sharply at Chuuya's supportive words. “I don't deserve you…”

“Stop it. I won't let you self-deprecate. Stop trying to deny yourself what makes you feel good.”

Dazai sighed in irritation, not at Chuuya, but at himself. He would self-deprecate further, but the way Chuuya was looking at him? Damn, he couldn't do it—for Chuuya's sake. And eventually, for his own sake too.

“... I'm sorry,” Dazai said softly but sincerely, “for making you feel panicked earlier, and now for going back to my old ways.”

Chuuya grinned encouragingly and let go of Dazai's chin. “That's the spirit. See, you can do it.”

Dazai smiled—a shy, lighter, boyish smile that lit up his face and widened Chuuya's grin. 

“So…you still up for workout sex?”

Dazai smirked. “Ah, I see you are abandoning your tsundere ways~”

Chuuya rolled his eyes in amusement. “Just letting you know that I'm up for it, Mackerel.”

Dazai grinned with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. “I have an idea I wanna try out~”

Chuuya snorted in laughter, his face flushing. “‘Course you do. Your mind's damn filthy.”

“Maaa~ I know you like my dirty fantasies~” Dazai's voice lowered to a sultry murmur, sending a shiver down Chuuya's spine. He closed the distance again until he was looking directly down at his shorter partner. 

“Tch,” Chuuya grunted even as his face turned tomato red. Dazai held his chin and murmured huskily, “I bet you want to feel my lips on your lips. Say it.”

Chuuya inhaled sharply, and he felt the desire pool in his loins. “Just… just kiss me already."

"How demanding. Come on, you can do it." Dazai murmured in his ear, pulling his shorter muscular body flush against his own tall and slanky one.

Chuuya's breath hitched at the proximity.

Fuck it. I'm not resisting it anymore.

Chuuya looked up at him, practically with upturned eyes because of the height difference. "I want to taste you. I want to make your fantasies true.” Chuuya's voice wavered—with desperate surrender.

Well, no need to tell me twice. Dazai thought gruffly to himself as he dived down and captured Chuuya's lips in a fierce kiss, his other hand snaking around his waist. Chuuya’s hands rested on Dazai's chest, standing on his toes to deepen the kiss, his tongue demanding entry. Dazai let him in, and as their tongues danced for dominance, Dazai's hand on his chin went down to knead Chuuya's ass. Chuuya gasped into the kiss, and Dazai took the lead, exploring the other's warm, wet cavern almost feverishly. 

The kiss broke in strands of saliva and a shared breathlessness. Dazai whispered heatedly in Chuuya's ear, “Fuck, you have no idea how much I fucking need you right now.” Dazai nipped the shell of his ear as his other hand went to the bulge in Chuuya's sweatpants. 

“Ahh—Dazai, fuuuck~” Chuuya moaned softly as his hips bucked slightly, craving more of his boyfriend's touch. Dazai removed his boyfriend's unbearably tight sweatpants and the boxers, freeing Chuuya's cock. Chuuya gasped, his back arching and head falling back as Dazai stroked his cock. Dazai's other hand held Chuuya's nape, fingers tangling in his hair as he captured his lips again. This time, Dazai dominated the kiss from the beginning, Chuuya melting under the combination of the passionate kiss and delectable handjob. 

Dazai's lips then travelled to the throbbing pulse point on Chuuya's neck. His teeth dived into the glistening skin of his partner, tasting the salty sweat covering his skin. He soothed the marked sensitive spot with his tongue. 

“Raise your arms.” 

Chuuya's loose shirt was discarded on the floor, Dazai's hand mapping his bare chest. Chuuya's head was reeling with the breathtaking sensations, and yet he did not want it to stop. A loud moan left his lips as Dazai's hand fondled his sensitive, heavy balls. 

“You're so pent-up, mon chèr.” Chuuya's vision went white for a split second as the term of endearment pushed him further into the light. 

“Dazai—ahh fuck—fuck, fuck, I'm—oh, don't stop—”

Dazai's hand went back to his dick, his pace faster, working through all the sensitive spots. “Do it, Chuuya!”

Chuuya clung to Dazai, clutching his pajama top and trembling with impending release. Dazai then captured one of his nipples, and that pushed him right over the edge. 

“FUCK! DAZAI! DAZAI!!” Chuuya screamed in ecstasy as he came, his white release shooting out rhythmically. Dazai's eyes were transfixed on Chuuya's expression of bliss and completion—the way his eyes rolled back and streams of drool bubbled at the corners of his mouth and spilt, coating his chin. 

Chuuya didn't register his semen coating Dazai’s clothes, the floor, and a small corner of the coffee table.

Chapter Text

A wall clock somewhere in the living room struck twenty minutes past 6. Now the city was waking up more. Some were getting ready for work, and some for school. Some were bracing themselves for a typical Monday, and some continued to put their phone alarms on snooze simply because they could. 

Dazai and Chuuya’s apartment was another story entirely.

Chuuya came down from his high slowly, but his mind was foggy with pleasure. To make him focus, Dazai put two fingers in his panting mouth and commanded softly, “Suck them.”

Chuuya didn't hesitate, completely pliant. He sucked on Dazai's fingers obediently, tasting his own musky flavour on Dazai's skin. Dazai then took his fingers out and scooped up the ginger's drool. His hand was now adequately sticky and wet with Chuuya's spit… 

… and he knew exactly how to use it. 

Chuuya gasped in surprise as he felt Dazai's fingers prod on his intimate place. “W-wait! I'm still—I'm not ready—”

“I'm just loosening you up, mon chèr. Relax for me.” Dazai purred softly. 

“Kiss me first,” Chuuya demanded. Dazai obliged with a chuckle. 

This kiss was softer, like a gentle breeze after climbing a mountain. Dazai might be cruel, but he never forced himself sexually on anyone. The kiss was gentle but relentless, the tall brunet pouring his desire into the mouth of his lover.

“Better? Can I continue?” Chuuya nodded in response, and Dazai didn't wait a second more. One finger entered the tight hole, with Chuuya's saliva being used as a lubricant. 

Chuuya's body arched sharply, his throat eliciting a sharp cry of arousal. He could feel his body becoming more enthusiastic, wanting more, needing more of Dazai's love.

“Oh, come on. I can take two.” Chuuya whispered in a low, raspy voice. 

Dazai chuckled in a low, rumbling manner, “Good boy,” and slid another digit inside. 

Dazai's slender fingers found his partner's G-spot easily. Chuuya's spent cock, which was already on its journey to full mast, was now pulsing against his abs. Emboldened, Dazai put in another finger. 

“Fuck, you're so tight, even after so many years.” Dazai breathed out as he increased the pace.  

Chuuya grinned at the praise, feeling his heart swell with pride despite the arousal and pleasure. “Yeah, I am. Took you long enough to notice that—nngh, fuck!—that only I can satisfy you.”

Dazai grunted and whispered in a sultry voice, “Oh, I always knew that. I just didn't want to get too lost in you.”

Chuuya's heterochromatic eyes glimmered with cockiness. “And yet, you fell for just me. You really thought you could escape me, didn't you?”

Dazai's breath hitched, Chuuya's words hitting too close to home. “Yeah,” he muttered softly, “I thought I could deny the pull between us. But I couldn't.”

Dazai extracted his fingers from Chuuya's anus. Chuuya was about to protest but Dazai said, “Time for the main course now.” He smirked smugly at how Chuuya's icy blue and warm brown eyes widened with lustful anticipation. “You’re going to listen to me and follow my instructions, understand?” Chuuya nodded automatically and Dazai continued, “Pick up those dumbbells. I want you to do your squats on my cock for your workout.”

Meanwhile, Yozo, with surprising strength for a house cat, dragged Yoshiko away from the living room. She didn't care for him—obviously, she was a cat and cats did not care for dogs—but she felt pity—yeah, that's right, just pity—at the thought of the golden retriever seeing what their hooman parents were up to.

In the living room, the men's grunts and groans filled the room as Chuuya steadily went all the way down on Dazai's cock. The dumbbells were held tightly in his toned hands, the added pressure somehow heightening the ginger's pleasure and perverse thrill.

Chuuya's hazy gaze flitted down to Dazai. The man was lying down in what was a leisurely, casual pose, arms behind his head, a smug smirk on his face— 

—or at least that's what he was aiming at. 

Through the screen of blissful tears, Chuuya saw the pure, unadulterated neediness on Dazai’s face. His tongue was out, drool everywhere, tears streaming down, his hands clenching and unclenching, his expression completely fucked-out, choked moans of his name spilling out, and his hips trembling with the need to bury himself deeper in his boyfriend. 

Chuuya would have given in, but something about staying true to this lewd form of workout was forcing him to squat up and down slowly. The weights in his hands were unbearable, but it was also so…arousing. Additionally, the desperate sounds Dazai made when Chuuya squatted up the third time, only clenching Dazai's cockhead, were intoxicating. 

But after the fifth squat, Dazai's control snapped completely. He suddenly thrust up, eliciting a loud, surprised cry of pleasure from Chuuya. 

At that cry, Dazai didn’t care about being a connoisseur. And Chuuya didn't give a damn either.

Chuuya threw away the weights with no care. Dazai reached up, grabbing Chuuya's wrists for purchase. Chuuya intertwined their fingers and ground his ass to match Dazai's thrusts.

Dazai moaned in affection and pulled Chuuya down, wrapping his arms around him and burying his face in Chuuya's ginger hair. 

This was not some fleeting carnal desire. It was pure love for each other, tempered by their history, obstacles, challenging work, and the fact that they were finally establishing a relationship by moving on.

Chuuya began to mark Dazai's collarbone. This pushed Dazai further to the edge and he began to thrust up hard and fast into Chuuya's G-spot.

Chuuya moaned wantonly, “Don't stop! Ah—oh fuck! Nngh! I'm—holy shit—I'm so close—Dazai—”

“I'm— I'm close too—Chuuya—Nngh!”

“Together? Let's—FUCK—please—”

“Yes! We'll—together!”

Dazai thrust up with all his strength, hitting Chuuya's prostate. They saw nothing but white for three seconds straight. Both men screamed in ecstasy as they came in an explosive orgasm—Dazai's seed filling Chuuya's anus, and Chuuya's ass clenching in shockwaves of pleasure. They both lay there, grinding their hips gently now and then to feel the aftermath. Dazai's seed sloshed in his anus and was leaking out around Dazai's shaft as it softened. 

They were panting harshly but in bliss, trying to steady their racing hearts.

Dazai gently peppered Chuuya’s head with soft, reverent kisses. “You did so fuckin’ well, Chuuya,” he whispered in a devoted rush. 

Chuuya smirked affectionately and pulled back slightly to look at him. “You weren't so bad yourself,” he whispered breathlessly. 

Dazai smirked in satisfaction. “Oh, I know that. You were riding me like there was no tomorrow~”

“Shut up,” Chuuya muttered in grumpy embarrassment, but his soft smirk and huff of laughter betrayed him. 

Dazai chuckled and pulled him impossibly closer. “You know I won't shut up~”

“Yeah, you're annoying like that.” There was no heat in Chuuya's words. 

“You mean endearing, my darling slug~”

“In your dreams.” Chuuya's voice was a groggy mumble, the exhaustion catching up to him.

Dazai softened further. He rolled a bit so that Chuuya was beside him. He wrapped his arms and legs around Chuuya's smaller but more muscular body, his softened cock slipping out, and his release trickling out to cover Chuuya's inner thighs. So now, Dazai was holding Chuuya like a body pillow, which was a familiar position for them both. 

As Chuuya rested, Dazai whispered warm praises in Chuuya's ear, instructing him to take deep breaths and helping him recover his strength. When Chuuya was relatively normal, Dazai picked him up in his arms. Sure, Dazai wasn't that strong, but he could carry Chuuya’s weight from the living room to the bathroom. 

They both did not bother to notice how the yoga mat and the surrounding area were covered in the evidence of their passionate ‘workout.’

Yozo and Yoshiko—the little furballs <3   

Some innocence after all this smut lolz    

Chapter Text

Two tired souls.

With scars adorning their battered flesh and ethereal spirits.

Learning that while time does not heal scars…

…it teaches us slowly how to live with them, love them, and learn from them.

Dazai set Chuuya down on a stool. If you would have asked Chuuya from 18 years ago if he would tolerate being pampered, his response would be launching the person out of the Earth with his gravity manipulation ability.

But not now, and also because it was Dazai.

Dazai opened the tap, letting the water hit the tub as he set the knob to the correct temperature. The sound wasn't loud, but it was sudden enough for Chuuya to open his eyes and see what his partner was up to. 

Because, yes, he had let Dazai carry him somewhere without being particularly worried.

But that level of trust has been there from the start, even if the continuous flow of time changed the reasoning behind it.

Dazai poured an unrestrained amount of bathing fluids into the warm water, the aromatic scent and foamy bubbles filling the space in the tub. Chuuya inhaled the rosy scent deeply. The scent was mixing with the odour of their sex-slick bodies, creating an aroma that was irresistible to them both.

Dazai helped Chuuya sink into the warmth before lowering himself. Chuuya had long since stopped worrying about being vulnerable around Dazai. Dazai was freer from Mori’s teachings than before. And Chuuya knew that Dazai was with him not because Mori asked him to, but because Dazai himself wanted this.

They enjoyed the hot water bubble bath in silence, cleansing their bodies and helping their sore muscles. Dazai didn't feel like filling the silence with banter, because he wasn't alone in the silence. He had his Chuuya with him.

They left the bathroom after 15 minutes, their bodies wrapped snugly with towels and bathrobes. Dazai draped himself over Chuuya, which didn't faze him because of Dazai's clingy nature. Dazai liked how Chuuya's touch did not burn him.

After drying off a bit but still carrying damp hair, Dazai went to their shared bedroom and sprawled on the bed like a starfish. Chuuya followed closely behind and lay down on top of Dazai, not wanting to nag Dazai to get off his lazy ass and to stop ruining the perfectly-made bed. Dazai grinned softly in victory and wrapped his arms around him, rolling so Chuuya was tucked against his chest, their bodies under the covers, the warmth drying the lingering wetness of the bath.

The futon was a simple light blue color—or at least that was how it was supposed to be. 

Many years ago, when Nina was ten years old, she begged her father to buy some fancy-looking pens. Dazai, being the doting father, promptly bought her those pens, not checking to read the packaging of the item. Nina realised that the pens could be used on fabric and gasped aloud to herself. No one was around to hear it, because Dazai and Chuuya were at work. No adult was there to stop the curious little girl from unleashing the power of fabric pens.

Nina scurried here and there in search of fabric. Sure, she could have gone with any fabric.

But I wanna make something cool for Papa and Chu-chu! That's what she thought in her small head.

Then, she went to her father's room. She looked around and spotted his futon.

A light bulb went on in her creative head, and she got the futon, spreading the canvas-to-be fabric on the bed.

She got her colours out and made what her father loved—crabs. Soon, the light blue futon was covered with crab doodles.

Dazai and Chuuya came back home late that night. Lights on for some reason. Nina's food was untouched. What is she doing? They wondered internally.

Chuuya then heard Nina's familiar humming from his bedroom. They both opened the door, hoping that the little girl was alright. The golden light of the hallway illuminated the moonlit bedroom. The yellow light reflected off the black silk ribbons and her curious eyes that had the same brick shade as her father. 

Nina had not heard her family returning home, completely immersed in her art project. She looked up, still clutching the red fabric pen which she had just used to draw the last hat on Chuuya's futon. An innocent smile graced her lips.

Chuuya's jaw dropped instantly as he saw his light brown futon covered in hat doodles.

"Papa! Chuu! Look, I made the futon bootiful!"

Nina held up the futon as much as she could to show off her handiwork. Dazai chuckled amusedly while Chuuya's mind short-circuited at the innocent audacity. 

"Wooow!~ My little princess is so talented? Isn't she, Chuu-ya?~"

"It's okay, it's okay. It can be washed off...mostly." Chuuya reassured himself.

"I don't think so, Chuu. It's fabric paint." Nina said with an innocent thoughtful note.

"Fabric paint?! Where did you get fabric paint from??" Chuuya said in bewilderment.

"Papa bought it for me yesterday."

"WHAT?!" Chuuya whirled towards Dazai. 

Dazai immediately put his hands up placatingly. "I didn't! I swear I didn't!"

"Yes you did. I asked Papa to buy it yesterday. I took them out after coming back home from school today and read on the package that these are fabric pens, not normal pens."

Dazai was about to speak when Chuuya pointed at him scoldingly, "You bought her something without reading the damn packaging?!"

"But isn't it good?" Nina mumbled as she held up the futon again, staring at Chuuya. Chuuya whirled at her, but her sparkling innocent eyes was always a weakness for him. Chuuya never shouted at her. His gaze raked over the futon. I guess it's not that bad. At least she didn't draw over my clothes, just futon. 

He sighed and said gruffly with a hint of softness, a tone he often used when he was trying to be gentle when angry at her, "Yeah, it's good, kid. Just... ask us for...recommendations before drawing on something other than paper, okay?"

"Okay."

"What else did you draw on?"

"Or was Chibi the lucky one?" Dazai said with an amused grin.

Nina turned towards her father. "I drew on your futon too, Papa!"

Dazai gasped in excitement, "You did? Aw, what did my princess draw on my futon?"

"Crabs!!" Nina exclaimed with eagerness, her hands raised in victory.

Dazai's eyes widened with actual emotion. "Crabs?"

"Yup! I drew what Papa and Chuu love the most on the futons!"

Dazai and Chuuya exchanged a glance— Dazai's grin softening to a fond smile, and Chuuya's anger converting into a feigned exasperated look. These little things never ceased to touch the softest parts of their broken selves.

Dazai knew that he should be a stern father and ground her like an old man. But that's boring. And he could never punish his little girl for making even something as useless as his futon precious and personalised to him.

He stepped forward and crouched, getting to her eye level. Her wide eyes were brightly illuminated by the light from the hallway. He reached into the inner pocket of his beige trenchcoat, the one closest to his heart, and took out a single Chamomile flower. He had gotten this flower for her everyday since she was six, before they all discovered her ability blossoming like the Chamomile garden. He put the flower in her hair, the stem carefully tucked behind the shell of her right ear. 

"My little Picasso,” he teased affectionately in a low voice, "next time, switch on the lights instead of working in the dark.”

Then they got ready for work. Dazai put on his striped light blue and white button-up shirt, blue bolo tie, black vest, and beige trousers. Chuuya adorned a white button-up shirt and trousers, gloves, and a fedora in varying but coordinating shades of brown. He wore a locket with a shiny, icy blue pendant—a charming and elegant trinket gifted by Dazai when they had left the Port Mafia together—which was now a permanent part of his work attire. 

Chuuya entered the kitchen and slipped on an apron. He folded up the sleeves on his white office shirt, revealing his muscular forearms. He made breakfast with practised ease. Dazai sat down on the dining table, the chair facing the kitchen. Although he was now in his forties, he was still a safety hazard and banned from the kitchen.

Some things never change.

Not that Dazai was complaining; he liked to watch Chuuya cook, a kind of domestic bliss which seemed like a blessing to him. 

He used to hate silence, especially if it wasn't with Nina and/or Chuuya. He had learnt the beauty of it over time. Nina moving out when she turned 22 made it painful again, but the thought that the empty seat beside him was because his daughter was out there living her own purpose and not because he had lost her was slowly re-healing him.

Chuuya soon brought a tray containing two plates of omurice and two mugs of coffee. They needed a nutritious and energising meal after their earlier intimate activities. Dazai's face lit up at the sight of food. Chuuya's cooking never failed to hit the spot, and sure enough, the meal was spot on yet again. 

Dazai sighed in satisfaction as he tapped the chopsticks at the omurice. “Maaa~ You truly have a pair of talented hands—in more than one way~” Dazai threw a salacious wink his way. 

“Tch,” Chuuya feigned exasperation, but his slightly red cheeks betrayed him, “you can't go without flirting for two seconds.”

Dazai dramatically placed a hand on his chest. “You just can't handle my charm~” He leaned closer with a mischievous expression, his voice lowering slightly. “And for the record, I wasn't actually sorry for making you panic earlier.”

Chuuya sighed. He knew he was lying, and honestly, Chuuya was not that disgruntled about it. He set down his mug of coffee and fixed a deadpan stare on him. “Yeah, I figured. I can't go two seconds without facing some stupid prank from you.”

Dazai blinked in faux innocence. “Whaaat?~ ‘A stupid prank’?? Can't a father feel good that his boyfriend is so worried about his daughter?~”

Chuuya rolled his eyes. “The last thing I need is the thought that the brat 'likes to torture herself’!” 

“She wakes up so early for work and exercise! It's OBVIOUSLY torture!~”

“Just because she's serious about work and her health—”

“—She must be learning all of this from YOU!” Dazai clapped his hands together in revelation. 

“HAAH?!” Chuuya made an indignant sound. 

“You're the one polluting my precious daughter with your perfect qualities!” Dazai playfully accused him, feigning a scandalized expression. 

“Wha—er—you—” the ginger sputtered incredulously, “—it's not ‘POLLUTING’, you idiot—”

Dazai smirked and took a sip of the steaming beverage. Sighing dramatically, he said playfully, “But you have to admit that you've given her your qualities. How long will you deny that?”

Chuuya looked away stubbornly, “I don't like what you're implying.”

Dazai picked up the chopsticks and asked while wiggling his eyebrows, “And what exactly do you think I am implying, my dear Slug?”

“DON'T act oblivious—”

“Admit it. You took the whole ‘Chibiko’ act to heart.”

Chuuya sighed deeply, taking a moment to respond. “You know I won't ever be officially her…you know… parent. It's just been unspoken.”

Dazai's mischievous expression softened slightly. “I know. I just wanted you to admit it already.”

“Tch,” Chuuya grumbled, eating some omurice as he spoke, “that's why you sent that message. You like seeing me be worried about that brat.”

“Of course I do. I wouldn't know anything about it, but I've heard that fathers like it when mothers are anxious about their kids~”

Chuuya nearly choked on the food while Dazai chuckled with that goofy expression. In hindsight, Chuuya should have seen that coming because of the whole ‘Tsushima Chibiko’ act he had ‘endured’ to protect the father-daughter in the public eye (in reality, he had enjoyed it immensely, and he outwardly excelled in it too). 

After they had finished with the food, Chuuya cleared up the kitchen while Dazai got the food for the pets. He piled up Yoshiko's pink dog bowl and Yozo's white cat feeder with their respective favourite food, with water bowls filled to the brim. Yoshiko came immediately, but as always, Yozo was lounging around, completely ignoring Dazai. Dazai didn't mind; he knew that cats are independent enough to come take the food when they wanted it. 

After all that work, they finally made their way out of the homely apartment. They entered the living room, but Chuuya suddenly halted. 

“Uh oh.” 

“What is it?” Dazai asked nonchalantly. When he looked over Chuuya, it kind of made sense. 

They… did not clean up the evidence of their activities. 

The two men inspected the scene—Dazai feeling proud and unbothered, Chuuya feeling embarrassed and disgusted but also slightly amused. But Chuuya's amusement promptly disappeared as he spotted Yozo looking up at them with narrowed eyes, as if his owners had wronged his feline existence with their mess. 

Chuuya nodded to himself. “Dazai, we have to clean it up.”

Dazai whined lazily, “Come ooon~ There's nothing wrong with stains~”

Chuuya gave him a deadpan look. “This isn't good for the little furballs.” He pointed at Yozo's retreating figure, who seemed to be running from the defilement of his environment. 

“They'll be fiiiine~” Dazai flicked his wrist dismissively. 

“Fine,” Chuuya said with an abrupt change of mind, “I won't clean it up.”

Dazai was a bit surprised by Chuuya giving in so easily. He smiled cheerfully. 

Maybe I'm rubbing off of him~

“You'll do it instead,” Chuuya said firmly, crossing his arms in a rigid, expectant posture. 

Dazai's smile froze. “Eh?”

“You heard me. Get to it. Now.” There was no room for negotiations. 

Dazai then pouted and threw his hands up exaggeratedly, “Such a cruel hatrack! Why couldn't I get someone nicer? Why have I been rejected by the angels above?~”

Chuuya gave him a no-nonsense look. “Well? This is technically YOUR mess. And you're the one who cleans. So… Clean it up.”

Dazai whined and groaned the whole time as he scrubbed the place. They were going to be early to the office anyway, so this wasn't an issue for Chuuya. Cleaning the bit off the yoga mat was hell for Dazai, and he hated that Chuuya went to Yoshiko while he was cleaning everything spotless (that traitor!) 

After Dazai finally finished, he walked over to Chuuya, who was playing and laughing with the two pets. Dazai tried to look annoyed, but there was a fond—albeit resigned—smirk on his face. 

After a while, he cleared his throat. When that didn't work, he shooed the pets away with the rag and aimed the cleaning spray bottle at Chuuya like a gun. Chuuya just grinned confidently and said, “You love my face too much to ruin it with that.”

Dazai didn't respond immediately. He sighed deeply and went to keep away the dirty cloth and spray. “I'M supposed to be the smug one!” He complained loudly. Chuuya snorted derisively, straightening his appearance, pulling down the sleeves and buttoning them. Dazai washed his hands. 

They both grabbed their accessories at the entrance area. They slipped into their shoes. Dazai took his beige trench coat. Chuuya draped his red leather coat over his shoulders and put on his brown fedora. Collecting their respective work bags from the side cupboard, they unlocked the door and stepped out into the new pleasant day. Dazai locked the door securely behind him. 

They set off—to the new adventures the City of Devils would throw their way. 

But one thing was sure—Soukoku would always be together in their challenges.