The last sunset

Chapter 3: A Flicker of Light

The chill of the night deepened as Dazai and Chuuya continued walking through the dimly lit streets of Yokohama. The neon signs of the bars and cafes flickered in and out of sight, their reflections dancing across the puddles left behind by an earlier rain. There was an unusual quietness between them now, a sense that something fragile had shifted in their strange, intertwined relationship. The usual banter was still there, but it was tempered, almost subdued.

Chuuya hadn't punched Dazai in the last ten minutes, which was probably some kind of record.

"I'm surprised you haven't hit me again yet," Dazai commented idly, his hands buried in his coat pockets. "You're slowing down, Chuuya. Getting soft?"

Chuuya glared, but the usual fire behind his gaze wasn't as fierce. "Keep talking and I'll show you how soft I am by putting you in the hospital."

Dazai chuckled. "I might enjoy that."

"*Tch, * you're still a pain in my ass," Chuuya muttered, though there was something less angry in his voice. He glanced at Dazai as they walked, the light from a streetlamp casting shadows on his sharp features. The night had worn on, and while Chuuya was exhausted, there was a tension in Dazai that hadn't fully dissolved. His usual swagger was there, but the cracks were still visible, like fractures in glass.

Without thinking too much about it, Chuuya shoved his hands deeper into his coat pockets and asked, "You wanna get a drink?"

Dazai paused, raising an eyebrow at the unexpected offer. "Are you offering to spend more time with me, Chuuya? I'm flattered. Didn't know you were such a fan."

"Shut up." Chuuya shot him a look that was somewhere between irritation and amusement. "I just figured you could use a distraction. And since I already wasted my night keeping you from doing something stupid, might as well make it worthwhile."

Dazai's expression shifted slightly, his smirk softening into something less performative. He glanced at the glowing signs of the nearby bars, considering the offer. Normally, he'd jump at the chance to poke fun at Chuuya for showing concern. But tonight... tonight was different.

"A drink sounds good," he said quietly, surprising both with how serious his voice sounded.

Chuuya blinked but didn't comment on it. Instead, he nodded toward a small bar at the corner of the street, its warm light spilling onto the sidewalk. "That place works. It's quiet, and the drinks aren't terrible."

The two of them made their way inside, the bar's atmosphere instantly welcoming. The scent of alcohol mixed with the low hum of conversation and soft music playing in the background. It was the kind of place where no one asked questions, and everyone kept to themselves—perfect for two people like them.

Chuuya slid into a booth, motioning for Dazai to sit across from him. Once the waitress came by, Chuuya ordered a bottle of wine, while Dazai asked for whiskey. After the waitress left, they sat in a comfortable silence, both of them lost in their own thoughts.

The wine and whiskey arrived quickly, and Chuuya poured himself a glass. He took a long sip, watching Dazai across the table. The dim lighting cast long shadows across Dazai's face, making him look even more haunted than usual. But there was something in his eyes that wasn't there before—something like a flicker of life, faint but present.

"You know, I never took you for the brooding type," Chuuya said, breaking the silence. "You're usually too busy being annoying to be this quiet."

Dazai took a sip of his glass, his gaze distant for a moment before he spoke. "I suppose even I have my limits."