"Anyway, I truly am grateful for your effort and for risking everything to save a nobody like me, so thank you."
I casually paid my gratitude to both of them, as they stared widen their eyes with a shocking expression.
"… Why do you guys look at me like that?"
Taken aback by their reaction, which I should have anticipated with how I acted all confident the whole day, I slightly tilted my head backward with a hint of discomfort yet surprising.
"… Nothing."
Atsushi shakes his head after my question and clumsily returns to his drink, while Kyouka just naturally slowly turns her head without even a hint of twitch.
What's with the reaction? How weird… ?
Shrugging off my confusion for now, I finally finished the drink while staring blatantly at the stall with no specific things in mind, except maybe Akutagawa, wearing a terrible disguise, sitting behind me right now.
And yet, despite such ridicule disguised, no one here seems to acknowledge him at all. Even the kittyboy, who had outstanding sensing capability due to the tiger, didn't seem to actually recognize the guy.
But still, why did he come here anyway? I didn't do much with him though, except maybe toying with him during the first encounter, interrupted the Mafia quest and single handedly carried the whole organization overseas…
… Oh. That's probably why.
Well, not that I didn't expect this whole thing in the slightest. In fact, with how everything went out, I'm surprised that they didn't kill me right now.
But still, gotta beware of my back from now on though. I have no idea when they'll decide to dispose of this insignificant individual, and I doubt that luck will strike me again like the last 2 times…
"Hey mate ~"
A familiar cheerful voice belonged to a man I just met a few minutes ago coming from the side, as the said man approached me with a bright smile.
Shit…
"What do you want, Dazai-san?"
"Nothing, just want to have a cup of coffee ~"
He then turns to the manager and orders a black coffee and sits down beside me, as both Atsushi and Kyouka are staring at him with a questionable yet curious look.
For me though? The fact he's spending all that energy just to come down here for a cup of coffee seems fishy enough…
After reading all of his accomplishments, I draw the conclusion of always, always considering that this guy has a plan out of thin air, and that you can't outperform him unless you're a Russian.
"So, how are my two disciples doing right now?"
"I'm no disciple of your, Dazai-san."
"But I consider you to be one, since I already acknowledge you anyway."
[CRACK.]
A faint cracking can be heard from behind, so faint that if I wasn't aware of the guy firsthand I may have missed it…
… Oh goddammit!! Don't tell me that this g—
"You know, you're certainly better than my last student. He's strong, that's for sure, but he's just as flawed as his power."
[CRACK!]
Another sound was heard in the background, louder than the first one but still quiet enough to not be noticed by anyone except me… and, high chance, him.
"Your student…?"
Atsushi raises his brow in confusion, seemingly interested in what Dazai just says.
"Yeah, used to mentor some orphans… In all honesty, wasn't my proudest product in the slightest."
[CRACK!!]
Another sound was heard from my back, louder than the previous two, to the point of slightly shifted Atsushi brow but didn't turn his head.
… Crap, seems like I have to leave right now, or else I'll join Oda in the next 5 minutes.
"Well, this was… interesting Dazai-san, but we have to go now. Also, may I ask for you to pay for the drink, Atsushi? Consider this as a debt from me."
"Eh… It's fine I guess…?"
"Great, see ya later tomorrow."
And with that, I swiftly make my way out of the shop and leave the duo behind and Dazai behind, who by my glint are now looking at my back with a rather confusing yet curious look.
After leaving the store and walking away to another street and making no one around for now, I lean my back on the wall and exhale a long breath.
Damnit, this whole thing is so stressful, and dangerous even. Somehow, by the lord miracle, I made it through the first few days without dying (for real), and managed to secure my position in the Agency…
But still, despite the danger I've been through, this whole mess is quite charming in a way.
This is exactly the kind of thrill I ever wished for, to always constantly be on edge, fight back the destiny and intrigued the enemies.
Sure, I could do things more carefully than what I initially did, but considering that this is my first time in this situation, I can tolerate the results for now…
Come to think of it, what should I do for now?
Going back to the Atsushi room and sleeping? Eh, sounds like a good idea, but considering that everyone started to get onto my tail right now, relieving myself at this moment isn't exactly a smart move.
I don't exactly have any money on me right now, so buying stuff is out of the question… Dang it, should've pickpocket him earlier!!
Wait, isn't it still early? We escape the hotel right a bit after the sunset, and the whole time going back to the Agency should take around 15-30 minutes.
Well, time to pay her a visit then, if she's not sleeping by now. After all, it was kinda my fault for her to remember those traumatic memories again…
As she covered her whole body on the bed with her favourite blanket all by herself, she couldn't do anything more than thinking back about that… figure this morning.
The woman dressed in white, slashing everything with her phantom blade…
The bloody scene of countless corpses in the train, seeing their life faded right by her side…
The fear of being the next to fall under her blade, to die like those before…
All of those feelings squirming together, indulging her whole with overwhelming fear. But despite that, despite the fact that she just wanted to run away, she's still going to school hiding her own fear…
The day went through with no accident, as she desperately wished for, and she safely returned home without any accident… just like that day…
But still, in spite of that, the memory of that thing attacking the passenger still haunted her mind, as everything else just kind of blurry and unreal around her.
She can't concentrate on everything, even on the lesson which she's normally interested in, like it was all a dream. And yet, she is still moving and acting all natural, as if she's not even in control of herself anymore…
And now, after the oddly normal day ends, she's lying on the bed with those eyes devoid of lights, trying to stay awake just to not indulge completely in that day again… and to see him lying motionless in his own blood puddle…
"Yo."
A familiar sound comes from the window along with a knock, and she then immediately wakes up in anticipation. Standing by the door frame is a normal boy with no distinct outline, looking at her with a rather confident smile gluing on his face.
"… Tsukami-san…?"
Seeing the man who had been quiet for a day suddenly show up in front of her, she couldn't believe her eyes, as her body slowly began to obey her thought.
She slowly walked up to the windsor and slid it open, then before he could do more, she slowly poked him by his cheek, feeling the usual warmth of an actual living person transcends through her finger…
"You… Why are you here…?"
"To see how you doing, silly ~"
With a hint of joking yet sarcasm for some reason, his eyes then shifted with a serious expression which made her a bit surprised. He then walks out to the roof just outside her house and sit down, eyes still focused on her.
"Wanted to come out and express everything?"
"Eh? Why—"
"I'm the one who accidentally let you see the Demon Snow in the first place, of course I knew it."
"…"
With a complicated gaze, she slowly climbs out of the window and goes by his side, carefully not to trip herself on the rooftop and settle by his side. She then follows his gaze up into the sky, where there's nothing but just dirty darkness polluted by the light.
But, despite that, she still stared blatantly at the sky, not really looking at any specific thing. And after some moment just staring like that, she decided to break the silence first.
"… I thought you died… when the thing captured you…"
"Not quite, and it's in fact quite in reverse."
"Huh?"
As to follow her confusion, he then slowly retold the story since this morning to her, albeit a bit shorter than it actually is, as she carefully listens to his story trying not to miss any words.
And with that, their day slowly comes to an end, with nothing else overwatching their conversation throughout the night…