Chapter Text
It was a normal day at the Detective Agency. Well, at least it seemed to be.
As usual, Dazai was performing his antics, Kunikida berating him, demanding the bandaged man do his paperwork. Atsushi was watching the two with an exasperated face, clearly tired of the constant chaos.
Kenji and Kyouka were in the corner, the boy cheerfully chatting away, probably about his life on the farm, or how he used to help out in his village. The girl was staring at him with that solemn expression she so often wore, listening intently to each word that came out of his mouth.
On the other hand, Ranpo and Yosano were next to each other, Yosano leaning on Ranpo's desk as he sat in it. As usual, the man was eating a lollipop, whilst the doctor complained about how 'No one is getting hurt these days!' and her not being able to dissect and put back together any victims.
The Tanizaki siblings were at their usual, Naomi hanging onto Junichirou and lamenting about her favourite lip gloss being out of stock.
Fukuzawa was standing in the far corner, observing his employees. Little did they know, Mori Ougai –the Port Mafia boss– and himself had struck a deal; As an exchange for Mori's help, one member of the Agency would be transferred into the Port Mafia. And today, the man had let Fukuzawa know exactly who he wanted as his own.
Ranpo had figured out what was going to go down by now, using his Ultra Deduction. He looked to Fukuzawa, a seriousness passing his eyes. This was bad. Really bad.
Eventually, Fukuzawa stepped forward. Even normally, his presence commanded respect, but now paired with the crushing solemnity, that effect trippled.
Despite not raising his voice a decibel, Fukuzawa's words filled the room. "There is something we all must discuss." His voice had a clear urgency to it.
As soon as those words left the president's mouth, all heads turned his way, all chatter and –in Kunikida's case– lecturing came to an abrupt halt.
Fukuzawa took a deep breath internally, and began. "I have yet to inform you all of the deal me and the leader of the Port Mafia have struck. In exchange for his help, Ougai has requested that one member of the agency is transferred to his organisation. He has picked who it shall be today."
The words left an impact as soon as they hit. Yosano's eyes bore into the president's. "Wh-what..?" The words were weak and whispered.
All the members looked stunned, but Dazai was by far the most affected.
His face paled, his breath becoming laboured. His eyes unfocused. The thoughts in the man's head pounded.
'Wh-what..? No, this, this can't be real, right? Right?! No no, everything was fine, nothing was happening...'
Kunikida's gaze flicked to his colleagues face, and immediately felt worry drown him. This was the first time he had ever seen Dazai look serious, let alone so... shaken. He reached his hand to touch the man's shoulder. "Hey, Dazai, are you okay-"
He immediately took his hand back when he saw the look in Dazai's eyes. He looked out of his mind. The others around them also looked concerned, a few even scared.
Dazai moved his gaze to Ranpo. Ranpo's eyes were trained on the floor, looking grim. As he lifted them and met Dazai's, they were filled with sympathy, an apologetic look on his face.
That was all Dazai needed. He was going to go back. He wasn't going to fulfil Oda's wish. That was the worst of it all. He didn't mind Mori too much, he got along with Akutagawa, he'd finally be with Chuuya again...
But he wouldn't be able to keep Oda's wish.
It felt as if something was clawing at Dazai's stomach. The one thing that Dazai wanted– hell, needed, to do was never going to happen now.
Dazai turned his head back to the president, their eyes meeting each other's.
"My deepest apologies, Dazai."