moonlit serenade

Chapter 3

As the shadows deepened in the underground tunnels, Atsushi felt a pull toward the glowing symbol, an almost magnetic attraction that thrummed against his skin. Ranpo, with his enigmatic smile, seemed to sense this connection, his eyes glimmering with anticipation.

“Atsushi-kun, this symbol is your gateway,” Ranpo explained, his voice echoing softly in the cold air. “It’s a bridge to your past and your potential. Are you ready to see what lies beyond?”

Atsushi hesitated, his heart racing. Could he really trust Ranpo? The detective had a knack for uncovering truths, but this felt different—more intimate, more profound. Yet the urge to understand himself, to unlock the secrets that had haunted him for so long, was overwhelming.

“I… I want to know,” he finally said, his voice steadying as determination took hold. “But what will I find?”

Ranpo’s expression shifted to one of understanding. “You’ll find your true self, Atsushi-kun. But be warned; not all truths are easy to bear.”

With a nod, Atsushi took a step closer to the symbol. As he reached out to touch its surface, a surge of energy coursed through him, vibrant and chaotic. The world around him blurred, and for a moment, he felt as if he was being pulled into another realm.

Images flashed before his eyes—memories, dreams, and feelings he had buried deep. He saw glimpses of a childhood marked by loneliness, a life filled with shadows and uncertainty. But alongside that, he saw flickers of light, moments of connection, laughter, and warmth.

“Atsushi-kun, focus!” Ranpo’s voice cut through the whirlwind of visions, grounding him. “You need to confront what lies within you. Embrace it.”

With a deep breath, Atsushi concentrated on the images swirling in his mind. He saw himself transforming into the weretiger, the power that had once terrified him now felt more like a part of himself than an enemy. He understood now that his abilities were not a curse but a manifestation of his true nature.

As the visions began to settle, he felt a presence—a memory of someone who felt familiar, someone that seems bery important. “who is he....?” he murmured, tears welling in his eyes. “Why i do feel this way?”

Suddenly, the tunnel around him shifted, and he found himself standing infront of someone—a glimpse of that person, his smile was gentle while he's standing at the edge of a building. “Atsushi-kun,” he said, his voice echoing in that high place. “Go to the light.”

Atsushi’s heart swelled with emotion. “Who are you....,” he whispered, feeling an ache in his heart.

Just as quickly as the vision had come, it faded, leaving Atsushi breathless and filled with a sense of purpose. He turned to Ranpo, who watched him with an approving gaze.

“You’ve unlocked a piece of your heart, Atsushi-kun,” Ranpo said softly. “Now you must learn to wield that power. It is both a gift and a responsibility.”

Meanwhile, back at the bar, Dazai felt the weight of Chuuya's gaze. The silence that followed his confession was thick with unspoken words, emotions swirling between them like a tempest.

“Dazai, why now?” Chuuya finally asked, his voice steady, though a hint of incredibility crept in. “Why tell me this?”

Dazai leaned back, his brow furrowing as he searched for the right words. “Because I can’t keep pretending. My feelings for Atsushi are real, and I need you to understand that this isn’t just a whim. It’s something I’ve been grappling with for a long time.”

Chuuya’s expression softened, but confusion still danced in his eyes. “You know this complicates things, right? The port mafia and the agency.”

Dazai nodded, a hint of sadness clouding his features. “I know. But I also know that I can’t run away from this. My heart..... it's drawn to him.”