029

'Wake up... I need to wake up and report to father about this... That gravity manipulator, and probably that teleportation ability user too...'

Her mind stirred as fragmented thoughts coalesced into a hazy consciousness. Slowly, her lashes fluttered open, pupils adjusting to the dim, cold light that seeped into the cell.

The ceiling above her was stone cracked, old, unwelcoming. Her back ached from lying on the thin futon, barely a cushion. Dampness clung to the air like mildew. It felt like lying on bare stone.

Her mouth tasted of dust. Her hands immediately searched the floor, then her own body.

Where-

Where was she?

Suzuki Akari, daughter of a powerful underground arms dealer, top of her class in etiquette, disguise, and deceit.

In this place?

This... beggar's den?

Her eyes snapped open fully, now alert and sharp. Her hands balled into fists as she pushed herself upright, breath hitching with panic carefully masked by indignation.

And then-

Thwip.

The soft sound of a book closing reached her ears.

Her gaze jerked forward.

There you were.

Sitting comfortably across the room in a wooden chair, one leg crossed over the other, a worn psychology book resting delicately between gloved fingers.

You looked as if you belonged in a lounge, not a prison.

The cold cell framed you like a stage-and the calmness on your face, serene and quietly mocking, sent a ripple down her spine.

"You..."

Her voice was a mix of disbelief and recognition. Her breath caught when your eyes met hers-dark, depthless, with a glint of amusement.

You smiled.

It wasn't warm.

"You slept soundly," you said, voice pleasant, even gentle.

"I'm glad."

You stood up, your coat whispering faintly as you moved, placing the book on the chair with a tenderness reserved for things you found truly interesting.

She tensed immediately, like a deer who just realized the stillness around it wasn't safety-it was the silence before the snare tightens.

You walked slowly, hands folded neatly behind your back, steps light, almost graceful.

"Good morning," you greeted. "You remember me, yes?"

Her eyes narrowed, fingers curling around the edge of the futon. Wariness settled into her expression like a mask.

"You're the ability user I offered to recruit," she said slowly. Her tone was edged-almost accusatory.

Your smile widened faintly.

"Wonderful," you praised, almost like a teacher commending a student for remembering her lines. "But what about way before?"

You tilted your head, voice light with something dark under the surface.

"Any recollection?"

She stared at you, brows furrowed. Silence stretched for a few seconds too long.

There was something... off about you.

Familiar, yet foreign.

Like a face in a dream, seen behind warped glass.

She squinted. "You look... familiar," she admitted reluctantly. "But... I don't know. I can't place it."

You gave a soft chuckle and turned away, as if satisfied with that.

"No need to strain yourself, Suzuki-san," you said kindly. "Some things are better left buried, don't you think?"

You walked slowly to the door, unhurried. Your fingers trailed along the cold iron bars beside it.

She stood abruptly. "Wait."

You turned halfway.

"I don't know what game you're playing," she said coolly, her posture straightening, a flicker of her old haughty pride surfacing, "but do you have any idea who my father is?"

Ah, that line.

You nearly laughed.

But you didn't. Instead, your shoulders shook with amusement, and a dry chuckle escaped your throat.

One of those calm, unsettling smiles that never touched your eyes.

You turned, gaze landing on her like a scalpel.

"I do," you said, voice smooth as ever. "I know everything about you."

There was no hint of bravado in your tone. Only certainty. The kind of certainty that made her stomach twist.

Akari's eyes narrowed, but her confidence faltered.

"You-"

Her voice faltered.

"You wouldn't be so cocky if you actually knew," she snapped, reaching for control like a drowning woman grabbing for a rope.

"If you knew who I was, you'd be groveling right now. Not smirking in a rat-infested pit."

Your lips curved.

"Cocky? My," you mused. "That's a bold word. Especially from someone who doesn't even know where she is... or who she's speaking to..."

Her breath caught. The blood drained from her face ever so slightly.

"Or what kind of criminal organization she's dealing with."

She froze.

It was there-the first crack in her composure.

You stepped forward once more, invading the space between you with casual precision.

Then, lowering your voice to something soft, honeyed, and bone-chilling, you offered:

"Get comfortable, Suzuki-san."

You turned once more, unlocking the door with a faint clink of keys, light bouncing off the polished handle of the blade strapped at your waist.

"I'll visit again soon. We'll talk more."

You didn't look back.

You didn't need to.

Behind you, she stood like a statue-rigid, confused, angry.

Afraid.

The door creaked shut.

A metallic click.

Then nothing.

Just silence, and the memory of your smile hanging in the air like smoke.

After that day, you visited her daily.

Sometimes once. Sometimes twice. Sometimes you didn't even speak. Just sat, watching her with the patience of a scholar observing a subject.

She hated it.

Akari was wary of you from the beginning. She never dropped her guard.

The guards had told you everything.

How she tried to escape.

How she sweet talked them, offered bribes, threatened them with her family name.

How she failed. Every time.

You only smiled when you heard it.

Like you'd been waiting for her to try. Like you would've been disappointed if she hadn't.

It wasn't long before she finally asked.

"What do you want from me?"

Your eyes flicked up from your book, amused.

You stood, calmly walked over, crouching in front of her like a doctor examining a twitchy patient.

She flinched when your hand reached up and gently cupped her cheek.

Softly, like a lullaby-

"I just want you to remember."

You didn't elaborate. That would ruin the fun.

But that vague, disarming calmness, it worked.

Her expression softened for the first time since she woke up in that cell. Tentative. Unsure.

"I think..." she whispered, hesitating, "...I think I remember something."

She leaned in, nervous, lips parting as if to whisper it-

Bang!

A gunshot echoed, sharp and sudden.

Akari gasped, eyes wide, as a bullet slammed into the wall, knocking the dull blade she'd slipped out from her sleeve to stab at your back.

Footsteps descended the stairs slowly, deliberately.

"So this is what you've been up to."

Dazai.

He strolled in, calm and unreadable, gun in hand, lowering it as he slipped it neatly back into his coat.

You smiled without turning.

"Dazai... what's the occasion? You don't usually come all the way down here."

"I got curious," he said flatly. "Wanted to see the woman everyone says has you on a leash."

His gaze flicked to Akari, eyes cool and unimpressed.

"Is this is your type now? Someone who tries to stab you with the worst 'innocent act' I've ever seen?"

Akari looked offended, but wisely held her tongue. The gun had made its point.

You rose, brushing dust from your pants with a relaxed air.

"Rumors, Dazai. You know better than to believe them."

"Mm. Says the guy who let himself almost get stabbed."

You chuckled. His tone was calm, casual, but you saw it, that flicker of coldness beneath those dark eyes.

Akari glanced between you both. Realization struck her.

You knew.

You knew she'd taken the knife.

You had played along, let her think she had a chance, just to see what she'd do.

You closed your eyes, expression peaceful.

"I was curious, as always."

You stepped closer, stopping beside Dazai, your shoulder almost brushing his.

Then, lightly-

"Oh, right. Kyusaku's down here somewhere, aren't they?"

You perked up instantly, tone bright, smile genuine in a way it never was with most people.

"I'll go ask the guards where they are~"

You began to skip off when Dazai's voice called after you.

"They're in the far left underground hall. Last cell."

You paused mid step, glancing back over your shoulder with a sweet smile.

"How thoughtful. But how do you know that?"

"Mori-san asked me to gather more data on their ability," he said smoothly.

Ah. That meant experiments. Torture.

"Got it. Thanks again~"

You waved lightly before vanishing into the corridor, humming as you went.

Back in the cell, Dazai looked at Akari.

She met his gaze, still silent.

He smiled thinly. She flinched.

He didn't say a word. He didn't need to.

You were his puzzle.

And she had tried to tamper with it.