Bungou Stray Dogs: Tainted Future [HIATUS]

Reason 12: His Efforts

Past
Hinatsuri and Odasaku

"Father, I'be been thinking about my reason living." Hina muttered while looking outside watching the other kids play. Odasaku hummed in recognition. She reached out her hand to the sky and smiled bitterly.

"I hate it."

He closed the book he was reading and asked why she chose it to her reason living. Her answer was because it was what she was meant to do. It was ridiculous because she already told him that not everything was set in stone. Chuckling, she turned to him.

"You already know what I am, right? I can't hide everything from you after all." She closed her eyes, wishing for the tears to disappear. Odasaku sighed and pulled her towards him. He hugged and stroked her head, the only comfort he knew. She smiled lightly and let herself fall to his kindness. No words were needed between them. They knew each other's pain.

Present
Tsujiri Cafe

"It's that Hina-kid, what's she doing out here when she's involved in the war? What an idiotic brat." Chuuya strode over to the sleeping girl and found tears streaming down her cheeks. Her forehead crunched up in sadness. Unconsciously, he brushed the tears off which woke her up. Blinking, Hinatsuri tried to make sense of her surrounding and noticed a familiar ginger-red hair. His black suit and lame hat stood out the most.

"Chuuya-san? What are you doing here?" She asked yawning. Earning an irk mark from him, he yelled why she was casually sleeping in a cafe when their organizations were at war. She tilted her head before looking down at the book she brought with her. She smiled.

"I'm well aware, Chuuya-san. I just love to read in this cafe. Not that I hate the cafe below the Agency. This place just calms me. Again, what are you doing here?" She asked.

"I'm here to grab the coffee and chocolate powder the boss ordered. It seemed like Elise took a liking to this cafe as well. Where's Dazai? Why isn't he with you?" He asked. He was asking a lot of question which tired Hinatsuri. Eventually, the two ended up talking. Chuuya, for some reason, found the girl fun to talk to. Despite her age, she was wise and proud of her words.

"The boss found you interesting which I think is not good considering your age. I hope you'll prevent further contact with him in the future. You're a good kid, Hina. Although you have a suicidal-maniac brother, I'm glad that you still stood by that idiot's side." His genuine words made Hinatsuri smirk. She decided to tease him which ended up with him shouting his lungs.

"Shut it will ya!? I'll forever hate that stupid bandage-wasting machine. His cunning mind is also irritating! Argh!" The manager glared at them which shut the two up. After a minute, Hinatsuri laughed lightly and stood up, taking the book in her hands. Chuuya noticed it.

"Homework or a novel?" He asked. She glanced back at the white book and told him that it was a novel. A very good one at that.

"This book tells countless stories of people who wished to change their destinies and ended up hating it." She summarized. He scoffed at that. Why would they even wish if they were going to regret it afterwards?

"I should be going now. May this war end with the best result. Take care, Chuuya-san." She left. Chuuya calmly looked back at the window and sighed. The boss was waiting. He grabbed what he came for and exited the cafe as well.

Basement
Q and John

"Oh, you're awake! How are you feeling?" John asked while taking a chair from the side to sit. Q gritted his teeth in anger and pain. Every part of his body throbbed in pain as if the vines themselves were sucking every inch of him. The vines tightened.