Mr. Do Nothing

An Unconventional Remedy Is Proposed

President Yukichi Fukuzawa -- well known for his previous work as a bodyguard, less so for his time as a contractual assassin -- and current head of the Armed Detective Agency, had a large back. 

Or at least, that's what Atsushi thought. Not that he spent a lot of time thinking about the president's back or anything weird like that.

Just, whenever he saw it, he couldn't help but think about how wide it was. How strong it must have had to be in order to turn itself to the word of assassins, then once more to someone he used to trust. And now, it was the type of back that could carry and entire organization. The kind that if you stood behind, you knew you'd be protected. 

However, even Atsushi, with all his vaguely philosophical preconceptions could see that back was currently bunched up at the shoulders -- undeniably tense.

As they made their way down the hall, Mii-chan brushed up against the President's ankles. Fukuzawa, mildly distracted, gently pushed him aside with his foot before unlocking the door to his office. 

Atsushi and Tanizaki exchanged glances once more.

Is he...really going to tell us what happened?

Atsushi glanced over his shoulder. Whatever it was that had happened had clearly affected the detectives deeply. To be briefed about it in a separate room where they couldn't voice an objection to how much was revealed...well...it felt a bit wrong. He had been hoping to hear it from them.

Nonetheless, Atsushi trusted the president, and followed him inside. 

Fukuzawa set a file down on his desk, then went over to the window. He lifted an arm out of his sleeve, and with one tug, the blinds went up. Sunlight poured into the room, highlighting the specks of dust floating in the air. 

He turned his face to the side, noticing Tanizaki and Atsushi still hovering awkwardly in the doorway.

"You may take a seat if you wish, " he said, not unkindly. 

The two immediately collapsed into the chairs across the old wooden desk. 

A disgruntled "mroaw!" alerted Atsushi that Mii-chan was still there. He quickly stood up and off of the poor thing's tail. If Mii-chan had any grudge at all, it was very quickly settled by time Atsushi sat back down -- as the calico soon after jumped back onto his lap and curled up into a purring ball of fur. 

Mii-chan had never been particularly affectionate with Atsushi before.  He gingerly patted the cat's head in mild wonderment.

Fukuzawa took a seat across from them, interlacing his fingers.

He looked at them.

They looked back. 

This carried on for some time.

The clock on the wall ticked and something shifted slightly underneath that rigid expression -- like something had just occurred to the old man. Fukuzawa turned his face slightly, gray eyes falling on Atsushi.

"Ah," he said, "Atsushi-kun, you haven't been...in contact with the Port Mafia recently, have you?"

Atsushi startled up straight, caught off guard. 

"What?" he said, then regaining his composure, "No, sir, I - I mean there's no reason for me to-" 

The Port Mafia? Him? How in the world was that connection made? Wait, was he being...accused of something?

He turned to Tanizaki, who was staring at him too. Nothing accusatory there, just matter-of-factness.

Atsushi, still baffled, shook his head.