Bungou Stray Dogs | Dingo

Four

Chapter 4

Days, months, and years gone by in a blink of eyes. The now teenager Futaba was having a massive discussion with Kōyō. Papers and notes were spread on Futaba's desk. Both teenagers had a scowl plastered on their faces.

"This can't be good. The old man is being too greedy now." Kōyō sighed.

"Too greedy? Have you seen my work?" Futaba protested. "The old man is going out of his mind. If things keep going, it might be the end of the Port Mafia."

"Can't you do something about it? You're the Dingo afterall."

"And what's that supposed to mean? Just because I'm the Dingo, doesn't mean I can cover every mistake you stupid people do!"

"Wha—did you just call me stupid?!"

A knock on the door made the argument died in an instant.

Sakunosuke opened the door and looked surprised having Kōyō in Futaba's room. "I didn't know you'd be here, Ozaki."

"And I didn't know you'd be here too, Odasaku." Sakunosuke sighed, knowing it was useless to correct his name after Futaba basically made almost everyone called him that name.

"Eh, Odasaku always comes here." Futaba brushed her hand lightly without even looking at the two surprised infants in front of her.

"Oho?" Kōyō smirked. "Odasaku always comes here?"

"It's not what you think, Ozaki." Feeling embarrassed, Sakunosuke cupped the back of his neck. "I work under Futaba now, so of course I come here all the time."

"You work for Futaba now?" Kōyō raised one of her eyebrows.

"Yes, it's practical that way." Futaba shrugged. "Since I'm not allowed to go handle things by myself, I need to give direct orders to someone who's not as stupid as the others and definitely won't mess things up."

"What about your jobs as an assassin?"

"I still do that when Futaba's not giving me any order."

Kōyō nodded, then turned to Futaba. "I think we need a break from all this stress. Let's have a drink."

Futaba sighed, then nodded her head, knowing Kōyō was right. She took several documents from her drawer and gave it to Sakunosuke. "Be done within a week."

"Alright." Sakunosuke nodded.

"Why don't you come with us, Odasaku?"

"No, thanks. I need to finish this—"

"Just come, Odasaku." Futaba gave him a side glance, then walked out of her office with her stick.

"I still don't understand though." Kōyo started as they walked out the Base.

"About what?"

"Why did you reject Mori-san's offer to have an artifact leg?"

There was silence until Futaba huffed. "I hate the guy. Besides, Boss gave me this stick. It's my other leg now. I don't need a plastic one."

"Oh?"

"Futaba just wants to show off that a disabled female can still kick people's butt." Sakunosuke gave Futaba a look, which the girl replied with a chuckle. "She has a huge pride too, which made her prefer to struggle instead of getting Ougai-san's help."

"Eh," Kōyō chuckled. "Ah, we're here."

Futaba looked up and stunned immediately. She gave the elder girl a disbelief look. "When you said drinking, I was thinking of a milkshake or Frappuccino, not a damn alcohol."

"Why not? We need to let loose once in a while too, you know."

Futaba casted Sakunosuke a glance, but as the male did not protest, she shrugged and came in with Kōyō behind her. The bar looked small yet cosy at the same time. The three of them sat down, then after their drinks arrived, Kōyō turned serious.

"Futaba-chan. Spill out."

"I've made a prediction." The younger girl took a gulp of her beer. "Ougai will kill the Boss."

Both Kōyō and Sakunosuke froze. "What do you mean?"

"If my prediction is correct," Futaba took other several gulps. "Ougai will kill the boss in a few years. He would claim to be the Boss successor and before that, he'd get rid of me first."

"We need to stop him." Sakunosuke opened his mouth.

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?" Sakunosuke glared. "We all know that Ougai-san feels threatened by your position. He might kill you."

"Odasaku," Futaba laughed. "let him."

"Futaba-chan?"

"Aneki," Futaba turned to look at the older girl. "he would raise Port Mafia back up again. So let him. He won't kill me though, the sly fox still needs me."

"How'd you know?"

"He'll make sure to send me to Europe for some businesses and hope that I'll die there since there's a massive guild over there." Futaba shrugged.

"...when will this happen?"

"When he gets a hold of my little brother." Both Kōyō and Sakunosuke looked surprised.

"Your little brother's alive?" Kōyō asked in disbelief, then turned to Sakunosuke with an accusing look. "And you didn't tell me?!"

Sakunosuke shrugged. "How does he know about your brother though?"

"Osamu tried to lure him out." Futaba chuckled. "And here I thought sparing him was a good idea."

"So, Dazai Osamu is his name."

"Yeah. However, I need a favour to ask you Aneki."

"What is it?"

"Destroy all documents about me once I'm being sent to Europe."

"Why?"

"Why? So my troublesome little brother won't find me, of course. He intends to kill me."