𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 ￤O. Dazai

𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 | 01 (updated)

' a smile can mean a dozen of things. '

HAPTER ONE

Memories are nightmares.

Y/n shoots up from the mattress, breath shallow, chest rising and falling like she’s just run for her life. Third night in a row. Same damn nightmare.

It takes her a second to land back in reality.

She pulls her knees up, arms wrapped tight around them as her back hits the headboard. A shaky sigh escapes as she rubs her face with both hands, flinching a little at how cold her skin feels.

Her eyes drift to the floor-to-ceiling window.

The city outside is alive—buzzing with neon and noise. Lights flicker under the night sky, blending with the thump of bass from a bar nearby and the hum of engines below.

"One," she mutters.
"Two..."
Pause.
"Three."

“Y/n! Open the door!” Yosano’s voice breaks through the moment. “I brought dinner!”

Y/n lets out a small laugh and slides off the bed, grabbing her phone on the way.

---

"I'm not one to meddle," Yosano says mid-sip, like she didn’t just walk into the apartment like a hurricane.

Y/n shoots her a look. “What did you do?”

“Nothing.”

“Right.”

“I just kicked his balls.”

Y/n snorts. “That’s nothing?”

“Aaand threatened to cut off his dragon.”

Y/n shakes her head, biting back a grin. “Should I be concerned or proud?”

Yosano shrugs. “It wasn’t that dramatic.”

Y/n pops a piece of pork in her mouth. “You always say that—but every time, it ends like a season finale.”

---

"You should wash up," Yosano says, stacking plates.

Y/n raises an eyebrow. “Do I look that bad?”

Yosano doesn’t miss a beat. “Definitely.”

She heads to the sink, rinses off the plates, and grabs a cloth to wipe the table.

Y/n watches for a second, then sighs and heads to the bathroom, towel in hand. She shuts the door, tosses the towel on the rack, and leans over the sink.

She stares at her reflection.

Dark circles. Hair going rogue. Lips cracked and pale.

Wow. I look like I’ve been hit by three buses and a breakup.

Water runs. She splashes her face. Once. Twice. Three times.

As she reaches up for the face wash, a drop of water hits her eye and she flinches, elbow knocking over a shampoo bottle.

“Oh, fuck—”

“You good in there?” Yosano calls from behind the door.

How the hell does she move so fast?

“Yeah, I just dropped something.”

She made a mental note to pick it up later.

Y/n grabs the face wash, rubbing it in slow circles over her skin. After rinsing, she pats her face dry with the towel.

As she bends to finally grab the bottle, something catches her eye.

A folded piece of paper. Hidden under the shampoo.

Curious, she picks it up and unfolds it.

---

Hey, Y/n.
It’s been a while.

How are you? I hope you're doing alright.
You’re probably glowing like your mom used to.

I know things ended badly the night you left.
I’m sorry for that.

Everyone was tense. Angry. Pride got in the way—on all sides. You know how it is. You were in it too.

If I had to guess, you’re already frowning while reading this.

—He’s right. Her jaw tightens, brows furrowing without her even noticing.

I’ll get to the point. I know you hate when people waste your time.

There’s a problem. Something big. A threat to the clan.

No tricks. No schemes.
Just dinner this Friday. 7 PM. Family’s Common Room.

Father and Grandfather are asking for you, too.

Please come.
—Rai

---

Y/n clicks her tongue.

It would be so easy to throw the letter away. Pretend it never came. But the seal on the paper—and the fact that her father and grandfather are suddenly requesting her—makes it hard to even wrinkle the damn thing.

What could be bad enough that they’d acknowledge her now?

The same people who never saw her as anything but a monster?

Just thinking about being in the same room as Rai makes her stomach twist.

‹ knock knock knock ›

A sharp knock snaps her back.

"You done in there? I need to shit," Yosano says bluntly from the other side of the door.

Y/n blinks.

Once.

Twice.

Then lets out a dry laugh, the ghost of a smile tugging at her lips.

This woman.