Part 42

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Dazai's Inner Thoughts

Dazai overheard bits of their conversation from his desk, his smile never faltering as he played with the pages of his book. They were right, of course. This was all a facade, a mask he wore with practiced ease. He wasn't out of Fyodor's grasp, not even close. Every night, as he lay in his bed, he could feel the weight of Fyodor's influence pressing down on him, as though the Russian's presence was woven into his very thoughts.

And yet, a part of him didn't want to fight it. A part of him wanted to return to that mansion, to the strange, twisted comfort Fyodor had offered. The realization made him feel sick, but it was the truth.

They think I'm making progress, Dazai thought to himself, glancing at his colleagues. They have no idea how deep this goes.

He had played the part perfectly—just enough emotion, just enough openness to make them think he was recovering. But the truth was that Fyodor's voice still echoed in his mind, guiding his actions even when the Russian wasn't physically present.

That night, as Dazai lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, he found himself thinking about Fyodor again. Not in fear, but in quiet acceptance of the hold Fyodor still had over him.

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