Bound by Obsession

Part 9

The night air was crisp as Dazai walked across the bridge, the cool breeze gently tugging at his coat. He paused for a moment, leaning on the railing to take in the beautiful scenery around him. The city lights reflected off the river below, casting shimmering patterns across the water. Despite everything that had happened earlier—the chaos, the confusion, the tension—there was an odd sense of calm in the quiet of the night.

Dazai let out a soft sigh, his mind wandering. Tomorrow would be dorm checking day for the Armed Detective Agency. A day where Yosano, much to her chagrin, would lead the team to ensure all the agents' living spaces were up to standard. Dazai, of course, hadn't put much thought into it. His dorm was always in a state of organized chaos, but that was the least of his concerns. His thoughts drifted back to the mission, to the tangled emotions swirling between him, Fyodor, and Chuuya.

He frowned slightly, remembering Chuuya's desperation during the escape. Chuuya had risked everything to get him out of there, and yet Dazai still couldn't bring himself to let Chuuya in. Not the way Chuuya wanted, at least. Dazai's connection to Fyodor... it was something deeper, something darker. And now, as the quiet night surrounded him, he was faced with the unsettling question—who did he truly belong with?

As Dazai continued walking toward his dorm, he chuckled softly to himself. "Ah, decisions, decisions... Do I keep Chuuya hanging on, or do I let Fyodor pull me deeper into his web?" The thought amused him, though a part of him knew he couldn't ignore the consequences forever.

Soon, he reached the dorm. His mind, however, still buzzed with thoughts of Fyodor's cryptic words and Chuuya's raw emotions. He kicked off his shoes and collapsed onto his bed, not bothering to undress. The exhaustion of the night caught up with him, and sleep overtook him quickly, leaving his thoughts to drift into unconsciousness.

The next day was quiet, with no missions or urgent matters to deal with due to the scheduled dorm checks. Yosano, ever the stern taskmaster, had efficiently led the Armed Detective Agency through their rounds. One by one, the team members' dorms were inspected, most of them passing with minimal complaints.

Atsushi, as always, had been nervous about his room being clean enough, but Yosano had spared him the usual threats when she found it surprisingly well-organized. Kunikida's was spotless, much to no one's surprise, and Ranpo's, though cluttered with snacks and puzzle books, was somehow left untouched.

Now, all that remained was Dazai's room.

Yosano sighed, glancing at the clipboard in her hand. "Alright, let's get this over with. Dazai's room is the last one."

The group headed toward Dazai's dorm, a sense of dread hanging in the air. They all knew what to expect. Dazai was notorious for his disorganized living space—papers, books, and random trinkets strewn everywhere, like a chaotic snapshot of his mind.

As they reached Dazai's door, Yosano knocked firmly. No answer. She knocked again, louder this time. Still nothing. Yosano exchanged a look with Atsushi, who shrugged helplessly.

"He's probably still asleep," Atsushi offered, his tone nervous.

Yosano sighed again, louder this time. "Of course he is." Without waiting for permission, she opened the door, stepping inside with Atsushi and Kunikida following closely behind.

They were greeted by the sight of Dazai, still fully clothed, sprawled across his bed, fast asleep. The room, surprisingly, was only mildly messy—though that was likely because Dazai hadn't been around much recently. Still, piles of papers, books, and empty cups lined the shelves and floor.

Yosano folded her arms, glaring at the sleeping figure. "Typical."

Atsushi nudged Dazai's shoulder hesitantly. "Dazai-san... it's time for the dorm check."

Dazai stirred, one eye cracking open to glance lazily at Atsushi. "Ah... so it's that day already? I was hoping for just a bit more sleep," he murmured, stretching languidly.

Yosano was unimpressed. "Dazai, get up. We're not going to stand here while you laze around."

Dazai chuckled, sitting up and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "You wound me, Yosano-sensei. But I suppose I can't keep you waiting any longer." He stretched again, yawning dramatically before standing.

Yosano gave him a once-over, noting his disheveled appearance. "Your room's actually not as bad as usual, Dazai. Did you clean up for us?"

Dazai grinned mischievously. "What can I say? I like to keep you on your toes."

Kunikida, arms crossed, shook his head. "Just don't make a habit of it."

Yosano jotted down a few notes on her clipboard. "Alright, Dazai. You're good for now, but I expect you to keep things clean. Got it?"

Dazai waved his hand dismissively, already moving toward the window. "Of course, of course. You know me, Yosano-sensei. A model of responsibility."

As the ADA team left his dorm, Dazai leaned against the window, watching them head off. His mind wandered once more, back to the events of the previous night. He knew that sooner or later, he would have to confront Fyodor again. And Chuuya... well, Chuuya's feelings weren't something he could ignore forever either.

But for now, Dazai was content to enjoy the calm before the storm, the serene view from his window a temporary respite from the tangled mess of emotions waiting to unravel.