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The morning air was crisp and cool as you and Dazai arrived at Cafe Uzumaki. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm croissants filled the air, making your mouths water with anticipation. You took a seat at a cosy table by the window, overlooking the bustling streets below.
As the two of you perused the menu, Dazai's gaze drifted towards you, a mischievous glint in his eye. "So...where were you yesterday? You didn't come back to the office at all after you abruptly left."
"I was at Ranpo's apartment," you replied casually, taking a sip of your coffee.
Dazai's expression changed, his lips quirking into a boyish smile. "Oh, really?" He teased. "And what were you two up to?"
You made a face at this. He couldn't possibly be serious, right?
You rolled your eyes, knowing that Dazai was just being his usual, annoying self. "We were just discussing a case." You said with an insouciant shrug.
Dazai raised a brow, but then he smiled and said, "ah, the Tokyo Zodiac Murders case, right?" You nodded your head, surprised that Dazai even knew about it in the first place. You didn't quite take him as a mystery novel fan. "Yeah, I hear about it from Ranpo when he gets drunk. He tells me new information every time he guzzles down sake like it's juice." Dazai laughed to himself, as if reacting to a fond memory that had just passed through his mind. The detective gets drunk? That was the only thing that you could think of right now. "This weekend I'll be hearing more."
This weekend? What was happening this weekend? Hmm...it was something rather important that was spoken about in a recent meeting...oh shit! Tonan was conducting an award ceremony for the Armed Detective Agency for their contribution to establishing civilian security! As a reward, he would be presenting the President with a purifying Shikyuu award. It was also an excuse for you to finally get dolled up for something exciting and fun. These things were always a shitshow one way or another; you had learnt that the hard way—plus, there was an open bar. Even more fun and exciting.
You just laughed to yourself thinking about how Ranpo would act like completely hammered—and then you suddenly remembered that he wasn't here, since he usually joined you and Dazai during breakfast on a Monday morning, and you wondered where he was. "By the way, where is Ranpo today? He usually joins us. Is he coming to the office?"
That was strange—he'd normally text you to tell you if he was going to be present at the office. It was a text message you'd usually close your eyes and wish for because it meant that he wouldn't dump a whole load of paperwork on your desk for you to complete in a certain timeframe.
"No, he isn't coming to the office." Dazai shook his head from side to side, and when he noticed the nonplussed expression on your face, he mirrored it. "Wait...he didn't tell you? I thought you two were working on the case together? He's boarding a train to Tokyo today. Apparently he is visiting someone, but he didn't mention anything. I personally deduced that it was potentially someone who helps with the case in some way."
