Long distance relationship - Soukoku

The End of Our Journey

Pov Narrator

-- Hey! Why did you cover my eyes? -- Dazai asked in disbelief, not being able to see anything.

-- I'm following orders -- Akutagawa tied the blindfold behind Dazai's head, pulling him by the arm and leading him to Atsushi.

-- You're hurting me Aku -- Dazai made a thin voice trying to imitate Atsushi making fun of Akutagawa

Akutagawa ignored him, taking off Dazai's blindfold.

Atsushi was standing in front of Dazai holding a box

-- Hm? What is that? -- Dazai questioned confused

-- We all decided to put a souvenir for you in this box, whenever you feel alone and don't want to talk about it, look at what's in the box -- Atsushi smiles sightly -- This way you will remember that we care about you

Dazai took the box, a little moved by Atsushi's words, opening it to find several things that reminded him of his friends.

A butterfly-shaped hairpin (Yosano), a baby tiger keychain (Atsushi), a notebook titled "Several reasons not to commit suicide" (Kunikida) a small note saying "If you need help, don't call me, call Atsushi he's better then me giving advice" (Akutagawa), several candy wrappers that for some reason were empty.

Dazai let out a small chuckle when he saw the candy wrappers, clearly Ranpo was hungry as he chose what to put in the box. Soon after, Dazai's gaze was redirected to something strangely familiar, but for a moment Dazai didn't remember from who could it be.

-- I don't remember of- -- Dazai was interrupted by his eyes being covered again. -- Ah.. Akutagawa? Again? How many more surprises do you have huh? -- Dazai spoke with a playful tone

-- Just one more but first you need to talk to someone... -- Mori's voice was heard in the distance as he walked towards Dazai

As soon as Dazai recognized whose voice it was, his smile quickly faded.

-- And who would it be? -- Dazai questioned in a dry tone

-- You can try to guess but I doubt you can -- Mori responded in a challenging tone

Dazai was slightly confused and impatient when his father played "psychological games" but he also loved challenges

-- Akutagawa would have been rude to cover my eyes again...this hands are soft and don't smell like sugar so it's not Yosano or Ranpo... -- Dazai thought for a little longer -- If I hadn't been seeing Atsushi in front of me before, I would have said it was him... Kunikida... but he doesn't play along with jokes like this... so...maybe it's Kenji or Gin..or..could it be..Oda? -- Dazai spoke with a small hope

-- No Dazai.. it's not Oda.. -- Mori spoke a little softly

While Dazai thought that his childhood friend, Odasaku, had moved to another city and for that reason they had never spoken to each other again. Mori knew the truth, Mori knew that Odasaku was dead but he never told Dazai so it wouldn't make him sad.

-- So I don't know who it could be -- Dazai's hope is gone

Kōyō slowly removed her hands from Dazai's eyes as Dazai turned to her

-- Who...are you? -- Dazai had never seen her before

-- My name is Kōyō pleasure to meet you..I'm..a friend of your father. I came to apologize sincerely for what I said to you. -- Kōyō didn't lie in what she said, at least in the part about being friends with Mori, she and Mori were once childhood friends, but they end up being separated from each other by their parents.