Fractured Reflections

Chapter IV

Atsushi's POV

The sun begins to set, casting an orange glow through the cracked windows of the surveillance spot. The silence between us is heavier than it's ever been, but for once, I don't feel like breaking it.

Akutagawa sits on the opposite side of the room, his gaze fixed on the Guild hideout below. His expression is as unreadable as always, but there's something about the way his shoulders are hunched, the way his fingers occasionally twitch, that makes me think he's not as calm as he wants me to believe.

It's strange. For someone who prides himself on being detached, he's terrible at hiding his emotions when you know what to look for.

I hesitate, my fingers tapping lightly against my knee. "Akutagawa," I say finally, keeping my voice low.

He doesn't turn to look at me, but I know he's listening.

"Why do you push people away?" I ask, my words coming out before I can second-guess them. "Even when they're trying to help you?"

For a moment, he doesn't respond. Then he exhales slowly, his voice as sharp as ever. "Because people like you don't understand. You think you can fix everything with kindness and optimism, but the world doesn't work that way."

I frown, his words stinging more than I'd like to admit. "Maybe not," I admit. "But shutting everyone out doesn't work either."

He finally turns to look at me, his dark eyes narrowing. "And what would you know about it?"

I open my mouth to respond, but before I can, the sound of footsteps outside the building cuts through the tension.

Akutagawa's POV

The footsteps are steady, deliberate—too calculated to belong to a random passerby.

"Get down," I hiss, moving to the window. Atsushi follows my lead without question, his movements quiet but not silent enough for my liking.

"Do you see anything?" he whispers, his voice barely audible.

I scan the street below, my eyes narrowing as a group of figures approaches the Guild hideout. Their movements are casual, but there's an edge to them—a readiness for violence that's impossible to miss.

"Trouble," I say shortly, drawing Rashomon.

Atsushi tenses beside me. "What's the plan?"

The plan?

My instinct is to rush in, to end this confrontation before it begins. But something holds me back—something I can't quite place.

"We wait," I say finally, my voice low.

Atsushi looks at me like I've grown a second head. "Wait? Since when do you believe in waiting?"

"Since now," I snap. "Unless you want to die."

He bites back whatever retort he was about to make, and for once, he stays quiet.

We watch as the group enters the building, their voices fading into the distance. The tension in the room is palpable, but I force myself to stay focused.

"Let's move," I say after a moment, heading for the stairs.

Atsushi's POV

I follow him without hesitation, though my heart is pounding in my chest.

Something about this feels... different. Akutagawa's usual recklessness is nowhere to be found, replaced by a strange, calculated calm that I'm not sure how to feel about.

We reach the lower floor, and Akutagawa motions for me to stay back as he peers around the corner.

"They're distracted," he says, his voice barely audible. "We can get closer."

I nod, falling into step behind him as we creep through the dimly lit hallway. The voices grow louder, clearer, and I can just make out snippets of their conversation.

"...shipment arriving tomorrow. Boss wants it handled immediately."

"Got it. We'll make sure it's ready."

I glance at Akutagawa, whose eyes are narrowed in concentration. He's like a coiled spring, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

"What do we do now?" I whisper.

He hesitates, his gaze flicking to me for the briefest moment. "We wait until they leave, then report back to Dazai."

I blink, surprised. "That's it? No fighting?"

"Not unless we're provoked," he says through gritted teeth.

It's strange, seeing him hold back like this. But for once, I decide not to question it.

Akutagawa's POV

The group eventually leaves, their footsteps fading into the night.

"We should head back," I say, turning toward the exit.

Atsushi follows without argument, but I can feel his eyes on me, like he's trying to decipher some hidden meaning in my actions.

It's infuriating.

"What?" I snap, stopping in my tracks.

He shrugs, his expression unreadable. "Nothing. You're just... different tonight."

I scoff, resuming my pace. "Don't be ridiculous."

But his words stick with me, even as we step out into the cool night air.

Because the truth is, he's not wrong.

And that terrifies me more than anything.