016

One year later...

There was an executive, rumored to be more favored among the Mafia members than the boss himself.

The very moment he ascended to the rank of executive, fear and respect spread like wildfire.

He, who never failed a mission.

He, who walked through blood soaked corridors and left behind silence.

The Boss's treasured executive.

The enemy’s nightmare.

The Port Mafia's enigma cloaked in shadows—L/N Y/N.

A girl strolled confidently through the Port Mafia's headquarters, unconcerned by the wary glances thrown her way.

Her heels clicked against the polished floors as she held a cone of strawberry ice cream.

A step behind her followed a boy, taller, composed, voice smooth like silk.

"Elise, eat slower."

The girl glanced over her shoulder.

"Since when did you care about me eating too quickly or not?" she said, ice cream now smudged across her lips. Her golden curls bounced with each step.

He smiled brightly, like the sun rising in reverse.

"You're right, I don't. I'm just curious how hilarious it would be if you died from choking on ice cream."

"You're weird as always." She puffed her cheeks but turned away, unbothered, licking her ice cream as they continued through the corridor.

He didn’t respond, only walked alongside her, hands behind his back, posture elegant but relaxed.

Inside an opulent office, the atmosphere was far less peaceful.

Two boys stood before a man seated behind a grand mahogany desk.

"That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, I oughta kick your ass for saying something so ridiculous!!" shouted the boy with ginger hair, face flushed with irritation.

"No way! I can’t investigate with him! I’d do so much better by myself!!" the other boy snapped, pointing an accusatory finger.

The man they shouted at only smiled, plugging one ear lazily. "Both of you, please stop shouting."

Mori Ogai, Port Mafia's Boss, leaned back in his chair. He removed his finger from his ear and looked at the ginger.

"Chuuya-kun, I trust you understand you are in no position to refuse."

Chuuya flinched. Before he could retaliate—

"Ugh, Mori-san, that’s just dirty!!" Dazai Osamu groaned.

"Don’t get cocky, you fucking octopus, fuck you!!" Chuuya barked.

"Yeah, yeah," Mori replied, perfectly at ease.

Outside the room, the girl and boy reached the ornate door.

"Anyway, I’m just saying, your sense of fashion is outdated," Elise huffed.

"I like outdated clothes."

The boy simply said and pushed the door open.

"Mori-san, we’re ba—" he stopped.

All eyes in the room turned to him. The elegant boy. The smile too pretty for someone so feared.

Mori's smile widened. "Ah, L/N-kun. Welcome back."

He tilted his head. "Am I interrupting something?"

『L/N Y/N (17 years old)』Ability: 幽玄の帳 (Yūgen no Tobari) — Curtain of Profound MysteryPosition: Executive

"Mori-san, pair me up with L/N-san if you must! There’s no way I’m working with this shortie! No way!" Dazai shouted.

"Who are you calling a 'shortie'!? I’ll kill you!!" Chuuya yelled back.

You tilted your head, amused by the chaos. Elise licked her ice cream, expression unbothered.

You had only stepped out for dessert on Mori’s order. Twenty minutes, that was all.

You gave Mori a look, lips quirked. "We were gone for twenty minutes. What happened?"

Mori’s eyes glinted mischievously. "You’re just in time. I was about to assign a new mission."

Your eyes drifted to the two boys. "And these two are going to be working together?"

"They are now," Mori said simply. "And you’ll be overseeing."

Chuuya gawked. "What?"

Dazai blinked. "...Like, watching us?"

Mori smiled with his fingers elegantly folded. "Children need a guardian to watch over them, after all."

Ironically, you were still a minor being told to watch over minors. But no one in the Mafia ever called you a child.

Chuuya groaned. "That’s even worse! Now not only do I have to work with this asshole, I have to be watched over by a Mafia dog too!?"

Dazai’s eyes narrowed slightly. Elise watched, thoroughly entertained.

Chuuya noticed the subtle shift and smirked. "What? Are you seriously mad that I called this guy a Mafia do—"

"You should watch your tongue, Chuuya-kun," Mori cut in smoothly. His tone was soft, but cold enough to make the room drop a few degrees.

Chuuya grimaced. He wouldn’t admit it, but it startled him.

Mori gestured toward you. "This right here is L/N-kun. The Port Mafia’s treasured executive."

Chuuya gave you a long look. "Treasured executive..." He muttered to himself.

Then, his brows furrowed in realization. "Ah, I heard about you. The lunatic who plays with his victims."

You blinked, a smile forming on your lips. The rumor isn't wrong. You do play with your victims.

Mori clapped his hands once. "Maa, I’m sure the three of you will get along."

The chilling atmosphere in the room seemed to be non-existent to him. The tension was enough for you to believe that a fight could break out at any moment.

You sighed. "So I’ll be babysitting again?"

Mori simply smiled at you.

You looked to Chuuya. He stared, seemingly irritated by your presence. You studied him, lips curled.

"Sure," you said, your voice gentle.

"I’ll be more than happy to."

The sky over Yokohama was painted a soft, bright blue, dotted by patches of clouds that glided lazily across the atmosphere.

The distant clamor of the city carried on like usual, but it felt like a muffled dream from where the three of you were walking.

With the narrow alleyway of a secluded village now framing your path, a rare silence loomed between you, Dazai, and Chuuya.

You were given the barest scraps of information from Mori. Nothing unusual.

"Observe, intervene if necessary," he'd said with his usual cryptic smile. The rest was left to you.

"Hey," Chuuya's voice broke through the quiet, a low growl laced with impatience.

Dazai, who had been absentmindedly brushing his fingers along a flowering shrub, didn’t respond.

"I said hey." Chuuya's voice grew sharper. Still, Dazai walked ahead as though he hadn’t heard.

You glanced between the two, finding yourself entertained by the dynamic. Chuuya’s fuse was short, especially with Dazai around.

With a clench of his fists and a deep breath, Chuuya turned to you instead. "Hey, Mr. Infamous. Do you know where—"

"L/N-san~ Isn’t the weather sooo nice today?" Dazai interrupted, turning to you with a too innocent smile, hands tucked behind his head.

It was theatrical. Even for Dazai.

You blinked at the sudden mood shift but smirked at his antics. Dazai seems to have a flair for provoking Chuuya.

Chuuya’s jaw tightened. "You bastard! Don’t ignore me then cut me off like that!!"

Dazai tilted his head. "Oh? You’re here? You're just so small, I didn’t notice."

"Should I kill you without you noticing, then?!" Chuuya growled.

"Ah, but would you mind not talking to me?" Dazai asked as he slipped in beside you, latching onto your arm like a cat to its favorite perch.

"It’s rare for me to be with L/N-san these days."

The casual clinginess was... unusual. Dazai wasn’t typically the physical type. Not unless he was playing at something.

Chuuya paused, visibly thrown off. "Well, you two seem close."

Dazai beamed. "Why, of course. Me and L/N-san are in a relationship that a slug like you couldn’t even dream of."

The silence that followed was almost tangible.

Chuuya froze, color draining from his face. "W-What kind of relationship—?"

Dazai leaned in, eyes gleaming. "Do you really want to know?"

With deliberate slowness, Dazai cupped your cheek, gaze dreamy. "Me and L/N-san are..."

The pause dragged just long enough to tighten the suspense.

"—in a professional mentor-mentee relationship, of course~!" Dazai pulled away like a magician completing a trick.

Chuuya blinked in shock.

"What? Don’t tell me you thought we were intimate? How naughty of you, Chuuya~" Dazai leaned close to him, a wicked grin on his face.

Chuuya’s face flushed. "You little... Just tell me where the hell you're going!!"

He looked away, clearly rattled. You suspected he wouldn’t be finishing the sentence his brain started.

"We’re heading to that mansion up ahead," Dazai said, now walking forward with his usual spring.

You looked to the structure in the distance. A grand estate, pristine in design.

The sight of it churned up memories you didn’t often touch. Your family’s home had been like that. But you were never permitted to step inside.

Not really. You were given your own living quarters, far enough to hide the shame of your existence, but close enough to be reminded of your place.

"Anyway," Dazai said, turning his head towards you with a bright smile, "was my acting just now enough to impress you, L/N-san?"

You returned a faint, knowing smile. "I expected nothing less. You learned from me, after all."

Chuuya raised a brow. "Wait, so you taught this guy? Seriously?"

"Yes," you said, a hint of pride in your voice. "I taught him everything interesting about manipulation."

Dazai beamed. "See, Chuuya? I’m a masterpiece."

"You’re a pain in the ass, that’s what you are."

"Well, do we have to kill everyone inside that mansion?" Chuuya asked, eyeing the gates.

"No. Just an interview with the owner," Dazai explained.

As they continued talking, you stayed silent, your gaze drifting.

And then—

The mansion exploded.

A fireball erupted from the estate, smoke billowing skyward.

You blinked.

"Huh?!" Chuuya shouted.

"Ah..." Dazai murmured, watching the flames with a sort of resigned curiosity.

"Hey now," Chuuya said, pointing at the blaze. "Weren’t we supposed to talk to them?"

"Looks like someone else got here first," Dazai said lightly.

"Well, well, well... this is looking real bad," Chuuya said with a grin.

Dazai looked at him, oddly quiet. Then, Chuuya grinned wider.

"You know what that means, right? Forget that boring ass interview. We got company. Someone came to shut them up."

With a laugh, he dashed forward, activating his ability and soaring ahead.

Dazai remained still, his face unreadable. "What a child..."

You found the remark ironic. All three of you were still children, in the end.

You took a step forward. "Let’s go, Dazai. You wouldn’t want to be left behind, would you?"

He blinked, then followed.