I Don't Smoke (bsdxmha)

You can't stay hidden forever

At that moment, Shouta knew.

Of course, he already had suspicions about Dazai. The hair was the exact same style. His eyes look hauntingly similar. And the copious number of those absurd bandages were too alike to be a coincidence to that boy he met on the roof one day.

Without the facial ones, it was difficult to pinpoint. It was his facial expressions and his voice that made Shouta question it. The way Dazai talks is uncanny, so unlike anything ordinary. His words sometimes feel like they're wrapping themselves around his neck, and other times feel like they're plucking tears out of Shouta's own eyes while he watches helplessly as they fall down his cheeks slowly. He moulds every word that comes out of his mouth into a weapon.

But those bandages across his one eye, a stark contrast to his dark hair and eyes, paint the exact same image as that boy (Not exactly the same. The boy's were more slanted. His mind supplies unhelpfully). So what is he supposed to do with that information, with the deep foreboding feeling in his chest?

It wasn't just that. Those kids- the ones rescued by Nemuri's team during the raid at the warehouse owned by the Port Mafia. They had mentioned a short boy with brown hair and a bandage over his one eye. They didn't mention any other wrappings on him though, so Shouta could only vaguely connect it to that kid he met on the rooftop. It was a leap though, since he wasn't sure if the kid's hair was brown or black because of how dark it was. It was more how they described his outfit (the exact same, to the long black coat) and his gun (same size, same dent) when he really started to think about it. One kid mentioned he smells heavily of cigarette smoke. Like he'd just had a cigarette before arriving, how it clung to him.

There were two things that he was sure about:

1. The Port Mafia member is the boy he met on the rooftop

2. The boy he met on the rooftop is Dazai

It's pathetically easy to string it all together. Sure, there's no proof, but he knows how he can confirm it.

"I'm leaving. It's lunchtime, so make sure to go get something to eat." He says, in that bored expression as always. He can't help the slight waver in his voice.

"Sensei-" Dazai starts, but Shouta doesn't stay to hear the rest.

He speed walks towards a certain principal's office while his thoughts churn so fast he can barely keep track of them. He must look like a madman to the students in the hallway. One even turns the other way when they look at him. Shouta doesn't even knock and storms in. Nezu doesn't look remotely surprised at the visit.

"Ah, hello Aizawa-kun."

"Don't hello me." Shouta growls. "Who is Dazai?" He demands, leaning over Nezu while he sips some type of tea.

"I'm surprised it took you this long. What have you figured out? I might be able to fill in a few details."

"Dazai." He grits out. "Is part of the Port Mafia. He's from Yokohama of all places! And you let him stay here?! You haven't done anything about his obvious mental health issues!" Shouta says the last part in such an accusatory way, Nezu looks vaguely surprised for a second. Only for a second. He quickly goes back to his default calculating and cold smile.

"That's exactly why. He's wildly suicidal, unpredictable and morally grey. I would have done something if it was possible. But Yokohama's Demon Prodigy lives up to his name, and I'd personally like to keep the Port Mafia's wrath out of UA." Nezu reasons, looking up towards Shouta. He's not at all intimidated by his anger.

"The Demon Prodigy?!"

And he definitely has heard about the Demon Prodigy from Yokohama. Once, he entered the city to try and collect intel about the Port Mafia. He was found out a few days after arrival and had to quickly retreat after several discreet warnings. He's heard whispers about how ruthless he is. That all his enemies end up dead. That he's not even human, just parading around in a shell of one. Are they really the same person? Could they be?