Wings of Freedom - BSD x AOT

Chapter 2

In his eyes, he had never been more than a puppet that he could use however he pleased. A puppet without an own will, without anything that could drive him forward. That was why he had thought it would be easy to use the boy for his own purposes. The boy had been no more than an empty shell, his heart replaced by a void, wandering in darkness. And he had been keen on keeping him in this darkness for as long as he needed him.

Have him join the Trainee Squad and aim for the ten best to become a part of the Military Police had been his plan. That was what he had raised the boy for. He was no more than a tool. And he had been so close to accomplishing his goal, if only there hadn't been a certain variable that the man hadn't calculated into his genius plan–

A beam of light that brightened the darkness in which the boy was trapped.

If only Mori had known what a single ray of light could do to Dazai's soul, he would have never let it come to this. So, it was only natural for him to send a dark glare into Dazai’s direction while keeping up his fake smile during the ceremony. The three years of training had come to an end – all the recruits were now gathered together, only the ten best standing in an extra row in front of everyone else.

“Your training is finally finished,” the commander of the Trainee Corps announced with a loud voice. “You are no longer recruits, but soldiers who have the option to join either the Garrison, the Survey Corps, or the Military Police until tomorrow. Needless to say, only the ten best of this year are allowed to join the Military Police and live in the inner district. Those are: Number One, Oda Sakunosuke.”

Mori's eyes narrowed at the mention of his name, his gaze piercing right through the redheaded young man who had obtained the outstanding number One spot. The same person who had been the reason for Dazai's change. The same person that had ruined Mori's plans. Truly, an unpleasant person in his eyes.

“Number Two,” the commander went on, “Dazai Osamu.”

Right when his name was announced, Mori could see the devious smile on Dazai's bandaged face – who wasn't even looking at his former legal guardian. But Mori knew all too well that this hateful smile was meant for him only. 

“Number Three, Sakaguchi Ango.”

Oda, Dazai, and Ango – also known as the Buraiha Trio. The three best recruits of the entire year who all had even more magnificent qualities than possibly anyone before them. But they were even more than just outstanding soldiers – they were best friends.

The more saddening it was that this night would turn out to be the last time when all three would be together.

~*~*~*~

“Do you think drinking is a good idea, Dazai?” Oda asked, one of his brows creased as he watched his brunette friend revealing a bottle of sake under his coat. “We're not old enough to drink yet, you know.”

It was curfew, but the three teenagers had – on Dazai's call – met up at their secret place; an inconspicuous spot next to the woods, far from the view of their superiors. The breezes were cold and the grass was wet.

“That and I presume you stole this from one of our superiors, didn't you, Dazai?” Ango added, a neutral expression on his face.

Dazai simply smiled his typical goofy smile upon his friends' responses before putting the bottle on a tree stump, which he used as a table, and taking a seat in the grass in between his two friends. “I know, I know, but this is our last night together as recruits, we need to celebrate that!”