But in the End

Value

I began to get dressed as I thought back on the conversation, still trying to process the part my father had in everything.

...

"When I was in the Mafia, your father and I would meet up at a place called Bar Lupin and meet with another friend of ours, Odasaku." Dazai began to explain, as I listened intently.

"We would talk about what each of us did for the day, escaping the reality we lived in for however long we could." Dazai glanced down to his cup, getting lost in thought. "Until one day, Ango was supposedly kidnapped by a group called Mimic."

"Mimic?" I asked, furrowing my brows.

"They were a guerrilla organization during the war that took down their enemies during an arranged treaty. It was a set up, and they were considered betrayers of the country." Dazai began explaining. "Being driven out, the men and their leader, Gide, sought out someone who would kill them as soldiers, leading them to target the Mafia."

"I remember hearing about a military group being driven out of Europe..." I trailed off, thinking back.

"Odasaku was tasked to find Ango and we discovered where they could be holding him. I told Odasaku to keep watch of the building until I got there, but he went in anyway and found Ango." Dazai let out a sigh. "Odasaku had a run-in with Mimics leader, who asked to be killed due to them both having similar abilities to glimpse a few seconds into the future. But Odasaku refused, for he didn't kill people."

"He never killed anyone? But he was in the Mafia..." I trailed off, confused.

"Despite that, he refused to kill anyone." Dazai explained, causing me to nod. "After Odasaku's refusal, Mimic retaliated and killed the orphan kids he took care of. This caused Odasaku to seek the man out and they fought to the death... I followed after him, but it was too late."

...

I was snapped out of my thoughts, hearing a knock on my door. I walked over to the door, confused as to who would be at my door this early in the morning. Opening the door, I let out a sigh. "Why are you standing outside my door?"

"What kind of question is that? I've come to escort you to work of course." Was the response I got in return.

I crossed my arms, raising a brow. "What makes you think I need escorting?"

"How could I ever let a woman walk around while being targeted?!" Dazai let out a fake gasp.

...

"There's something else..."

"Hm?" Dazai hummed, awaiting for what I had to say.

"Earlier, when I mentioned that I overheard James tell the Mafia of their interest in Atsushi, that wasn't all that was said." I began, strumming my fingers on the cup. "I have a feeling that the Port Mafia are after me."

"What makes you say that?" Dazai asked, leaning back in his seat.

"After James was killed, they began talking about a mission to capture a woman and if anyone was assigned to it yet." I began, recalling the conversation. "How Mori wants control over her ability."

"And you think the woman in question, is you?" Dazai asked.

"It was something Auktagawa said a while back during our mission to stop the bomb." I began. "He said I had slipped through their fingers last time, but they will get me eventually." I paused for a moment, before continuing. "Then a guy from the Black Lizard's said that their previous attempts failed. And I was targeted several times before."