Mr. Do Nothing

[ℙ𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝟙] In Which The Agency Gets Into Some Trouble

June 15th, 12:45 PM

Yokohama, Armed Detective Agency

The President had called it damage control.

The Armed Detective Agency would just have to lay low for a couple of weeks. Less working in the day hours, more selectivity with clients. No talking to reporters without explicit permission. It wasn't the first time something like this had happened, apparently. So, the eccentric bunch of detectives were more than willing to sit tight until everything blew over.

Until exactly what blew over -- well -- Atsushi wasn't actually sure.

All the young detective knew was that one dreary evening, everyone aside from himself and Tanizaki had stormed into the office in a sour mood. Or in Kunikida's case,  storm all the way back to a storage closet where he locked himself inside for the rest of the night while Dazai (Dazai!) of all people had gone to the president's office to report. 

Atsushi didn't think that whatever terrible thing that had happened was any type of grand secret. But the others were being strangely tight lipped about it. And, if he were to be completely honest, he couldn't drum up the courage to ask.

But that was going to change today.

He had already made up his mind about it on his way to work, hyping himself up aloud as he made his way down the streets of Yokohama.

Dazai-san, Kunikida-san -- everyone.

...I understand that something not-so-great is going on...

...and I want to help...

...but...

...the thing is...

...I mean you don't have to tell me if you don't want to that's okay but...

...what exactly -- y'know -- happened?

It couldn't be that bad, right? Afterall, everyone had come back in one piece. And considering how often everyone seemed to lose limbs around here, that was a pretty high standard. Besides, it would be better if Atsushi knew. Then he could actually do something about it.

It wasn't long before Atsushi reached the agency building. He said hello to Lucy on his way up (who flipped him off), helped the elderly couple who ran the downstairs cafe bring some bags in, gave directions to a middle-aged man stuck on the second floor, before finally approaching the agency door.

He took a deep breath.

Well then...

He thought.

...here it goes.

He rapped on the door with the back of his knuckles. Then, abruptly remembered that he worked here and didn't need to knock. He awkwardly turned the bronze knob and poked his head inside. 

It was a sunny day, the light streaming in from the open windows and bathing everything in a soft glow. Papers rustled in the breeze, and Haruno's pet cat Mii-chan lay sprawled out in front of an air-conditioning unit. 

And yet, despite how warm and homey everything appeared to be, there was no denying the gloomy feeling hanging over the office like a thunderstorm in the spring. 

For it seemed that the members of the formidable Armed Detective Agency were already there. All looking like they hadn't moved a single inch since collapsing into their respective chairs.