Bound by Obsession

Part 35

Evening fell over the sprawling estate as the Armed Detective Agency and the Port Mafia tracked Dazai down once more. This time, it wasn't the mansion they had seen before, but another—equally grand and just as secluded. It was surrounded by vast gardens, illuminated softly by the fading sunlight. The air was cool, the kind of evening that would be serene if not for the tension of the mission at hand.

Chuuya and the others approached cautiously, sticking to the shadows as they neared the estate. They didn't want to alert anyone, especially Fyodor. They had to be careful, calculated, or risk losing Dazai again. But as they peered through the wrought-iron gates and hedges, they were met with a scene that none of them expected.

Dazai was outside in the garden, strolling along a path lined with flowers. He wasn't bound, restrained, or under guard. He moved leisurely, his hands tucked into his pockets, his expression calm and content, as though he were simply enjoying a peaceful evening stroll. There was no sign of distress, no urgency in his movements. It was as if he was entirely at ease.

"He looks... fine," Kunikida whispered, disbelief thick in his voice. "How can he be so calm?"

Yosano frowned. "This doesn't make any sense. He's been missing for days, and now he's just wandering around like nothing happened?"

Ranpo, leaning against a tree, observed Dazai closely, his eyes narrowing. "No. He's not worried because he doesn't feel threatened. He's not being held captive... at least, not in the way we expected."

Chuuya's fists clenched at his sides. Seeing Dazai like this—so calm, so at peace, as if nothing was wrong—infuriated him. He couldn't wrap his head around it. Dazai was supposed to be in danger. Fyodor was supposed to be their enemy. And yet, Dazai looked... happy.

"He's not even trying to escape," Chuuya muttered through gritted teeth. "What the hell is he thinking?"

As they watched, Dazai paused by a small fountain in the center of the garden, gazing at the water. His expression was serene, almost nostalgic, as though he were lost in thought. It was unsettling how peaceful he seemed, considering the situation.

Kunikida's brow furrowed. "Is it possible... that Dazai doesn't want to be rescued?"

The question hung in the air, heavy and unspoken. Could it be? Had Dazai chosen to stay with Fyodor of his own free will? The thought was almost unthinkable, but as they watched him, it became harder to deny.

Chuuya's eyes narrowed, his frustration building. "No way. There's no way Dazai would willingly stay with someone like Fyodor. He's up to something—he always is."

Ranpo chuckled softly. "You're not wrong about that. But I think this time, the game is different."

Before they could continue their speculation, Dazai suddenly looked up, his gaze briefly scanning the horizon as if he sensed something. For a moment, his eyes seemed to lock onto the shadows where they were hiding. But instead of reacting, he simply sighed softly, turned on his heel, and began walking back toward the mansion.

"He knows we're here," Ranpo said, a smirk playing on his lips. "He's always one step ahead."

"Then why didn't he say anything?" Yosano asked, her voice tinged with confusion. "Why didn't he run?"

"Maybe," Ranpo mused, "because he doesn't need to."

As Dazai disappeared from sight, heading back inside, Chuuya's resolve hardened. "We're getting him out of here, whether he wants to leave or not. I'm not letting Fyodor keep him any longer."

With a nod from Kunikida, they prepared to move, ready to infiltrate the mansion and confront whatever lay inside. But as they approached, a lingering doubt hung in the air—was Dazai truly their ally in this mission, or had something shifted in the days he had been with Fyodor?