Bound by Obsession

Part 28

The next day at the ADA, the tension from Dazai's return still hung in the air. Everyone was on edge, keeping a close eye on him as if waiting for something to break the silence he had maintained since his rescue.

Dazai sat at his usual desk, but something about him felt off. His movements were slower, more deliberate, as if every action took effort. His playful, carefree demeanor had yet to return. Even his eyes, once sharp and full of life, seemed distant.

Kunikida approached him cautiously, unsure how to start the conversation. "Dazai," he said quietly, standing next to his desk, "can you tell us what happened?"

Dazai didn't look up at first, staring blankly at the paperwork scattered across his desk. For a moment, it seemed like he wasn't going to respond at all. But then, slowly, he lifted his head and met Kunikida's gaze.

"They used some kind of drug," Dazai said, his voice low and quiet. The entire office went silent at his words, everyone stopping what they were doing to listen.

"A drug?" Ranpo asked from across the room, his eyes narrowing with interest. "What kind of drug?"

Dazai leaned back in his chair, eyes still distant. "I don't know exactly. But... Fyodor gave it to me. It messes with your mind—makes you feel... different. Numb."

Chuuya, who had been standing nearby, clenched his fists. "That bastard," he muttered under his breath. "What the hell did he do to you?"

Dazai gave a faint, humorless smile, but there was no mirth behind it. "It wasn't just the drug, Chuuya. It was everything. The way he... spoke to me, treated me... it's hard to explain."

The room fell into a heavy silence again. Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to respond.

Yosano, who had been watching Dazai closely, took a step forward. "Are there any lingering effects?" she asked, her tone professional but laced with concern. "Do you need medical attention?"

Dazai shook his head slowly. "No, I'm fine now. The drug's effects wore off after a few hours. But... it wasn't just about control. It felt like he was trying to... reach me in a different way."

The mention of Fyodor sent a ripple of unease through the group. They all knew how dangerous he was, but hearing Dazai speak about him like this made it clear that this situation had affected him more deeply than any of them had realized.

Kunikida crossed his arms, trying to remain composed. "We need to report this. Fyodor's actions can't go unchecked."

But Dazai, who had been silent for so long, suddenly shook his head. "No... not yet." He looked up at them, his expression unreadable. "There's more going on here. Fyodor... he's planning something bigger. We need to be careful."

Chuuya narrowed his eyes. "And you just expect us to sit around while he's out there doing who-knows-what to you?"

Dazai sighed, his gaze softening slightly as he looked at Chuuya. "I'm not saying we do nothing. But we need to think before we act. Fyodor's not someone we can just charge at recklessly."

Chuuya growled, clearly frustrated, but he knew Dazai was right. Fyodor was dangerous, and any action against him had to be carefully planned.

The ADA members exchanged uneasy glances. They had gotten Dazai back, but it was clear that the scars left by Fyodor's manipulation ran deep. And the worst part was, they weren't sure how far-reaching Fyodor's influence truly was.

For now, they had to watch and wait, hoping that Dazai's mind wasn't lost to whatever dark games Fyodor had played.