Bound by Obsession

Part 27

The ride back to the agency was eerily quiet, with Dazai sitting silently in the van, his gaze unfocused, staring out the window. No sarcastic remarks, no playful banter—just the sound of the van's engine rumbling through the stillness.

Chuuya sat across from Dazai, eyes filled with a mixture of frustration and concern. He couldn't understand how Dazai could be so calm, so utterly silent after everything that had happened. Every now and then, Chuuya's fist clenched in anger, wanting to say something, but the unsettling stillness radiating from Dazai kept him from opening his mouth.

Beside Chuuya, Ranpo was unusually serious, his mind racing with questions. He tried to piece together what had happened between Dazai and Fyodor over the past week, but with Dazai saying nothing, it was impossible to tell.

Kunikida, driving in tense silence, kept glancing in the rearview mirror at Dazai, worry etched into his expression. Yosano was watching Dazai carefully from her seat, her usual sharp demeanor softened by concern. The entire team seemed to be holding their breath, waiting for Dazai to break his silence. But he never did.

As they reached the agency, Dazai stepped out of the van without a word, moving like a ghost, his footsteps quiet against the pavement. Chuuya followed closely, his expression hardening as he watched Dazai walk ahead.

"Oi, Dazai," Chuuya muttered under his breath, but there was no response.

The ADA and PM members exchanged worried glances, unsure of what to do next. Mori, standing near the entrance, observed Dazai with an unreadable expression, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as Dazai passed him without acknowledging his presence.

Yosano gently guided Dazai toward his dorm, but there was no resistance from him, no sign of the usual mischief or defiance. He moved mechanically, as if the weight of everything had finally caught up with him.

Chuuya lingered outside Dazai's dorm room after they arrived, fists clenched in frustration. He wanted to demand answers, to force Dazai to explain what had happened, but the silence was crushing.

Inside the dorm, Yosano quickly scanned the room. It was spotless, everything neatly in its place—mystery books lined up on the shelf, a guitar resting in the corner, and a well-stocked mini kitchen that surprised her with its collection of alcohol and food. She spotted the insomnia pills on the counter and exchanged a glance with Kunikida, who had followed them in.

"He's... too calm," Kunikida whispered, his brow furrowed in confusion. "This isn't like him."

Yosano nodded, her eyes softening with concern. "He's not talking. That's what worries me."

As they finished checking the dorm, Dazai finally sat on his bed, his posture relaxed but his expression distant. Without a word, he lay down, closing his eyes as if exhausted beyond measure. Yosano and Kunikida exchanged another worried glance but left him alone, quietly exiting the room.

Outside, the rest of the team was waiting, their expressions mirroring the unease that had settled in the air. Chuuya paced back and forth, visibly agitated.

"He didn't say a damn word the whole time," Chuuya muttered angrily, crossing his arms. "What the hell happened in that mansion?"

Ranpo, who had been watching silently, spoke up. "Whatever it was, it's changed him. And not for the better."

They all knew the silence wouldn't last forever. But for now, all they could do was wait, hoping that Dazai would eventually break his silence and reveal what had truly happened during his time with Fyodor.