Lost Paradise | BOOK 1

002 | 𝙵𝚕𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙵𝚒𝚜𝚑

The silence went on so long that it became very uncomfortable.

Uneasy was what one could describe what Higuchi was feeling right now.

She felt like a lone mouse wandering around an alley, being watched by a clowder of cats, the felines waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.

The current boss' stare weighs her down despite how many times they have conducted this meeting before.

His gaze was/is intimidating.

And with executive Nakahara Chuuya standing at his left, with arms crossed, makes the uptight feeling more unbearable.

"Higuchi," called the calm voice of the boss, his deathly gaze regarding every movement and every word she will utter in the dramatically dimmed office. "Your report?"

The blonde haired woman heaved a deep breath.

"Sir, the mission to exorcise the special grade was a success, there were no major injuries, Miss Yukiko managed to minimize the state of damage-"

The boss sighed "that's not what I wanted to hear." He clasped his bandaged hands together, sending the female an eerie look.

"My daughter went back to Tokyo safely right?"

A cough came from the executive "our." He corrected the boss.

However, Dazai Osamu only playfully brushed off his remark.

"Actually..." Higuchi hesitated "She insisted going to Sendai after her classmate."

Dazai pursed his lips, glancing at Chuuya who only raised an eyebrow at him.

"I see." He said after a few seconds of silence. "Understandable, have a nice day Higuchi~"

The female blinked in confusion the second the door closed in front of her after she exited the office.

"Eh-?"

~~~~~

The train from Yokohama to Sendai was a long two hour ride and Yukiko was dozing off in her seat. It was bit late in the morning when Higuchi had sent her off.

The dirty blond haired man sitting across from her was staring at her with furrowed brows. His glasses glistening as the sun's rays reflect through the window.

Yukiko awkwardly smiled at him, suddenly feeling a bit concerned about her physical appearance.

She averted her gaze to the window nervously. Despite his seemingly professional and harmless looks, she was deeply reminded of Nanami Kento, a man she deeply respected, the resemblance was uncanny, their auras are almost the same too.

"Have we perhaps met somewhere?"

The brunette flinched- though it went unnoticed, not expecting the professional looking man to talk to her.

She shook her head "I'm afraid not mister." Her hand instinctively moving to protect the cursed object inside of her pocket.

If this man was a sorcerer like Getou Suguru then...

"I see my apologies for making you uncomfortable." The man sighed, his hands placed diligently on his lap where a dark green notebook sat.

"You reminded me of my old colleague." He explained with gritted teeth as if the mere memory of that person irks him. "Please do not take offense he is a good man, albeit wrong up here-" he pointed at his head "but nevertheless a good man." He narrowed his eyes at his own statement.

Back at the office of the Port Mafia's boss, Dazai sneezed, proceeding to laugh it off earning an odd look from Chuuya who slid a good 1 and a half meters away from him.