《SANCTUARY》 | Bungou Stray Dogs

Where Illusions Fail // Tanizaki Junichiro (p.2)

You got up from the bench and chuckled as you dusted the snow off your leggings.

"Oho, I get it. You're challenging me this time, aren't you?"

"Maybe, maybe not," he replied, "but I think I got better at hide and seek."

True enough, anyone playing hide and seek with Tanizaki would be screwed. You included, maybe, but you'd be the judge of that.

You could almost see the playful expression on his face, although physically nonexistent in the space before you. Placing your hand over your chest, you uttered something quiet.

"Heart's Whisper."

(F/c) aura glowed as you advanced, following his footprints up until they ceased to leave a trail. You closed your eyes.

You didn't need to see him to find him.

Tanizaki was a dear friend to you, but for his sake, you withheld a little secret from him. His heartbeat wasn't "normal", as you usually told him when he asked. In fact, it was fast, loud- a war horse stampede, if you will.

You moved your feet. Left, right, left. No, he's not there. He moved away, and a ghost of a laugh resonated in your ears.  You rolled your eyes playfully. You turn to the left.

There you are.

He was feeling the same distinct emotion he seemed to feel only when he knew you were around. Either that, or he was just nervous because you were about to win.

"Woah, you were actually pretty close."

You hurled a snowball at him.

"Oof!"

Green light flashed, and the scene around you glitched. Tanizaki was in sight again, down on the ground with a lump of snow sitting on his face. You hit bull's eye.

"Careful, Jack Frost," you warned as you bent over him, hands on your hips. "Your voice gives it away more!"

Tanizaki blew his hair out of his forehead and looked up at you. Brushing the remnants of frost off his flushed cheeks, he smiled.

"Who says I've given up? You're still it!"

With that, he faded away, leaving only the hollow he made on the snow.

Your coworker waddled away, but your ability could pick up a chain of louder beats. You could only snicker as you moved around again, eyes closed.

He can do that million dollar trick as much as he wanted to. But it does no justice to silence his heart.

She who is blind to illusion has an ear to find what it hides.

There was only a corner coffee shop to be found where you turned your head, but you knew he was there on the sidewalk. You bent down and began gathering snow into your palm.

"Ey, ey, put it down!" He exclaimed. "I won't move this time."

Fair enough.

It didn't take you long, really. You walked forward, leaving the bench behind, and halted. White specks fell to cover the ground for miles, but right where you stood was the only place they seemed to fall warm.

When you reached out your hand, your fingers brushed the fabric of his blue winter coat right where his chest was, even if you couldn't see him.

You chuckled.

"Found you, Junichiro."

Tanizaki spoke again, after attempting to keep quiet, and this time his voice was much closer, much softer.