But in the End

Capture

"Looks like you're able to leave today." I stated, as I closed the door behind me. Getting hum in reply, I walked over to the chair and sat down. "How are you holding up?"

"About as normal as anyone who gets shot could be." Dazai shrugged his shoulders as I nodded.

"Fair enough, it sucks we can't just have Yosano fix it for you..." I trailed off. "This plan of yours, are you sure putting Atsushi and Auktagawa together is a good idea?"

"Despite their history, Atsushi will do what's best for the mission. As for Auktagawa, he is dead set on showing me how much he's improved since I left the Mafia and will cooperate."

"Yeah, getting them to agree is one thing, but when they head into the base, what's to stop Auktagawa going off on his own?" I raised an eyebrow, wondering what he was thinking.

Dazai glanced over in my direction, giving me his usual smirk. "Relax, I thought it all through. Everything will play out."

I let out a sigh. "I trust your ability to plan everything down to the last detail, but I just can't help but to wonder how many interruptions or hiccups we will have with those two."

———

"You two are going to work together again, whether you like it or not." Dazai spoke up, giving his closed eyed smile.

"Dazai-!"

"Ow my tummy!" Dazai cut Atsushi off, fake whining. "Please don't move around like that, Atsushi. You're gonna reopen my stitches."

Atsushi brought his arms up. "This is our retaliation mission to save our President. Why is he even here?"

Dazai looked at Atsushi. "This is all a part of my plan, just trust me. The two of you are gonna sneak into the enemy hideout together." Atsushi looked at Dazai confused. "The enemy base is in an old abandoned coal mine. The interior is several hundred kilometers wide, and equipped with sensors and traps to stop intruders. Our main target is the gifted who controls the virus. Unless we can disable his special ability, both leaders could die. Our secondary target is the mastermind, Fyodor."

"Isn't this all the more reason not to involve him?" Atsushi asked the man. "This mission's important, and you know how much Auktagawa hates my guts. I doubt he'd agree to work with me, anyway."

"Well, Auktagawa? You in?" Dazai glanced over to Auktagawa, who sat with his arms crossed.

Auktagawa glared at the space in front of him. "If that's the plan... I can do it." Atsushi, the poor boy, looked dumbfounded by Auktagawa's compliance.

"Did you know it's been four years since you've been under my command?" Dazai asked Auktagawa. "I'm going to see if you're a little more... capable than before." The man egged him on.

"Yes." Auktagawa answered.

Atsushi sweatdropped. "Are you... sure you're Auktagawa?"

"Yes." He replied again.

"You're actually gonna team up and fight with me?" Atsushi interrogated him.

"Yes." Atsushi received the same reply, causing me to stifle a laugh.

"What did you have for dinner last night?" Atsushi caught on, asking a random question.

"Yes."

I let out a sigh, glancing over to Dazai. "Told you."

"Don't worry." Dazai tilted his head back slightly. "You said you trusted my planning, right?"

I crossed my arms. "Yeah, yeah... I know."