There is more than one of him

Chapter 7

Back in Yokohama Itsuki was on his way to pick Dazai up from the agency. He had yet to fully believe he hadn't run off in the mean time, but he hoped his coworkers had stopped him from leaving. Because he did fully believe he would simply run off, if not watched by anyone.

As he entered the office, all eyes were on him. He supposed to them it must be strange to see someone who looks exactly like your colleague but isn't. "Good evening, I am here to pick Dazai up" He greeted them.

Atsushi and Kunikida stared at him like two idiots. "It's so strange to think, that Dazai could look like an acctual human, I never realized how inhuman he sppeared until I saw you" Atsushi said.

Itsuki didn't know what to say to that. He himself had struggeled with sleep and food a lot in his life, as he hadn't been able to understand, why he had been allowed to live a happy live, while his brother was gone, possibly dead. Therefore he himself was rather thin as well, he himself didn't think he looked much like an acctual healthy human, not until he had seen his brother at least. Then he realized, he might look tired and stressed, but he still looked considerably fine. He didn't look broken. His brother did.

"He's in the president's office clearing some details of this and other cases" Ranpo said from his corner after reading the mans face. It was a delicate situation. Ranpo knew, Dazai was going to try everything in his power to make Itsuki think he wasn't worth it. Ranpo hoped Itsuki's love for his brother was as genuin as he had said.

"Thank you Ranpo." itsuki said and went to presidents office, knocking before being let inside.

"Tsushima, it's nice to see you again. Have you settled everything according to your plans?" The president asked, Dazai sat on the sofa, carefully listening to the conversation. A cup of tea was standing in front of him. files and papers all over the table.

"Yes, I have. Do you need more time to finish this, if so I can come back later?"

"No no, it's quite alright, we were almost done anyways. Dazai, I'll finish this up alone. You go on ahead I'll see you tomorrow morning. Please come in at some point before lunch break at least" The president said his goodbyes.

"Yes, Sir. I will" And with that he made his way to the door, Itsuki stepped aside and silently followed him.

Once outside the awkward silence was broken by Dazai.

"So, where do you want to go? Or what do you want to do now?" Itsuki hadn't expected him to take the first step in conversing.

"I'm not sure. I'm new to Yokohama, so I don't know my way around or what can be done. Where do you want to go?"

If Itsuki wasn't paying as much attention as he did, he wouldn't have seen the slip up in the mask on Dazai's face. The question where he wanted to go had tripped him off. But Dazai was quick about putting the mask back on and Itsuki quickly realized, he was treating it as a theater, seeing everything as an act, so no acctual genuine emotions came into play.

A protection mechanism, to save oneself from realilty.

"Well, I know a place where we can get something nice to eat" Dazai said, turned around and started walking in the opposite direction, obiovusly a destination in mind. Itsuki followed. There was silence once again. Itsuki had so many questions. So much he wanted to know, but he knew, it was too early to ask. It would only drive Dazai away.

"So, What have you been up to lately?" Dazai asked, trying to make smalltalk

"Well, uhm. ..." Itsuki had no clue what to say. Did he want to know about his job, if he was in a relationship, their parents? "...I'm getting married in a couple of months so I've been busy with preparations"