Mafioso, No More (Book 2)

01

Dazai's POV

It was a bright sunny day. I was seated on a long bench while they stood around me dumbstruck. I guessed me turning out alive was quite shocking for them.

Their varied reactions didn't pass from my discerning eyes. I just didn't expect that my absence had a huge impact on my fellow members in the Armed Detective Agency.

The adorable Atsushi got teary-eyed all of the sudden. I even heard the kid sniffed before he turned his back on me. While my uptight partner even wiped the lens of his eyeglasses just to double check if his sight is not playing tricks on him. His stern face was immediately replaced by a look of relief.

The Tanizaki siblings' as well as Kenji looked at me with a warm smile on their faces. Kyouka timidly bobbed her head which I returned with a small smile.

The unusual pair, Yosano and Ranpo, didn't utter a single word and just stared at me from head to toe seemingly examining my entire appearance.

"Yo! Long time no see everyone!~" I spoke using my usual cheerful voice to break the ice.

My first attempt to change the uncomfortable atmosphere failed for Kunikida sprinted towards me and smacked my head vehemently.

"LONG TIME NO SEE, D*MBASS! DON'T LONG TIME NO SEE US, SH*TTY DAZAI!" His voice was so loud that a number of people walking by stopped and glanced at our direction. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL THIS TIME, YOU BANDAGES WASTING DEVICE?!!!"

I rubbed my head on the location where I was just hit and pouted at him. His way of disciplining is brutal as usual.

"I let you know that I received a serious wound on my head when I fell into the sea during our last case. The wound is not yet fully healed. Ah! What if the stitches suddenly opened?!~"

This was a plain lie I've made up of course but his angry expression eventually turned soft and was replaced by worry. "If that's the case...Then--then I'll let Yosano-sensei patch you up!"

With her name being mentioned, our agency doctor found her way to intercede. "Your manner of teasing is still as lousy as ever, Dazai. It's been three months since you're dramatic disappearance. You're still alive, I see." A glint of amusement crossed her face.

"Ah! It's quite unfortunate that Death didn't welcome me at his gate. It seems my purpose here on earth still remains unfinish."

"More like, he didn't grant you the free pass to hell." My fellow genius detective remarked and glanced at Yosano with a smirk. "I won again this time, sensei."

I softly chuckled hearing the two go over with their never ending betting game. However, this game has always been one-sided. Ranpo easily wins, while Yosano loses every time.

I dramatically gasped and looked at them displaying a crestfallen expression. "Eh?!~ How mean! Did you guys just use my great existence to keep up with your boring game?! To think that I even tried my best to stay alive! This is so unfair!~"

"Stop being such a drama queen, you waste of space!" My blond partner yelled at me while he readjusted his eyeglasses. He looked serious this time. "Tell us what happened, sh*tty Dazai."

I glanced around at the crowd who were still staring at us with contempt and curiosity. It is a given that a public space is not a suitable area to strike a discreet conversation.

I resumed a serious tone. "We better move to a different location. I can't talk here."

Our doctor huffed. "You showed up announcing your existence to us in a crowd and now you're telling that we need to change places because you want some privacy. Who are you kidding, Dazai?"

"Well..." I glanced nonchalantly at our surroundings. "...considering all the benches are all occupied by a lot of people, don't you think it will be difficult for you guys to just stand there while I tell everything that I've been up until now? It might take a whole day. But if you guys are fine with it, I really don't mind. " Just an alibi, I made.

Yosano automatically raised an eyebrow. "Since when did you become considerate?"

I shrugged. "Since just now?

"Fu-fu. Crows will become white this instant, if that happens."

"Seems like it~"

Kunikida shot a glare at me. "Okay, enough! Let's go back to the Armed Detective Agency." My megane partner suggested.

I lightly bobbed my head and flashed a victory smile which made our lady doctor groaned with dissatisfaction.

Everyone eventually in the group agreed. Since the agency is nearby from our rendezvous point, we all started heading to the ADA office. The youngsters walked ahead while we adults trailed from behind.

Ranpo went along side of me with his hands at the back of his head. He then spoke in a low tone just enough for me to hear. "It seems a lot of things happened. Kunikida and Atsushi were over stressing themselves thinking that you were dead. It's a good thing that you finally showed up."

"It was just a mere luck that I still came back in one piece, Ranpo-san." I whispered back. "I actually thought that was the end of me."

"If that happens, then you will lost 'him' for good. " Ranpo opened his emerald eyes and looked at me directly. "And that will be the 'end' of you, Dazai."

I automatically got his message. With another person who shares a brilliant mind with mine, I couldn't escape Ranpo's great deduction skill. And I do admit that he's quite right.

Chuuya is the main reason why I started to see life in a different light. Upon meeting the hatrack, I never thought that such a tiny person with a fiery temperament and a foul mouth would have a huge impact on me. I never find life interesting before, yet here I am desperately clinging into it. 

I did experience some set backs and withdrawals during my confinement. My suicidal thoughts were very much active. But since there's no alcohols and drugs that I can depend on (to which I'm grateful by the way), I can only resort to delusion and food 'experimentation'.

A faint smile suddenly crossed from my lips. Old habits die hard. But I have my ways to overcome them now.

"You look gross, Dazai." I totally snapped out from my reverie when I heard the sudden remark that came from our agency doctor.

I then realized that I was already behind from my talking buddy who was now walking far ahead. Ranpo was conversing with Kyouka about trying some different flavors of crepes.

I turned my attention to the lady doctor. "Give me a break, Yosano-sensei~ It's the fault of anaesthesia~"

"You do know I'm a doctor, right? It doesn't have that effect. Unless...you're into drugs again." She sarcastically stated and gave me a suspicious look.

I cast down my sight averting her eyes. "Yosano-sensei...I--"

"I'll run down a full body examination on you once we get to the agency." She just cut me off preventing me from finishing my sentence.

My eyes widened but I still regained my composure. "Other than a couple of food 'mixing' and 'combination', There's no drugs involved, sensei."

"You just indirectly stated that you resorted to food poisoning, Dazai." She deadpanned. "Whatever reasons you'll come up with, save them for yourself. It's my job to check everyone's well-being." Yosano pointed her finger at me. "And that includes you."

I rubbed the back of my neck and smiled. "Yes, yes. I'll be at your disposal, sensei~"

"Oi, sh*tty Dazai! Stop dilly-dallying and get your feet to move faster!" My idealist partner just hollered. "We have a lot of things to discuss and there's still some paperwork to finish! We are already behind schedule!"

"Got it, Kunikida-kun!~" I shouted back and saluted.

Finally

...

...

...

I'm back.