019

The Port Mafia’s headquarters smelled as it always did, of blood soaked into wood and concrete, barely masked by the heavy perfume of expensive cologne.

Gunpowder lingered faintly in the air, and the silence was thick, broken only by the occasional echo of distant footsteps or the murmur of deadly conversations.

But today… laughter echoed.

"Again! Again!"

A child’s gleeful voice rang through the air like an eerie bell chime amidst the darkness.

In the grand hallway, guarded by men who wouldn’t hesitate to kill a dozen without blinking, two figures stood out.

No, three.

You, L/N Y/N, the infamous executive known for cruelty disguised in charm, stood with a warm grin that never quite reached your eyes.

Beside you, the child, Kyusaku, giggled uncontrollably as you tossed them into the air.

And behind you both, stood Dazai.

He blinked slowly, an unreadable look on his face as he watched you play with the mind controlling child like an older sibling.

“L/N-san,” Dazai said, voice neutral but tinged with something harder to pin. “What exactly are you thinking?”

You caught Kyusaku once more, spinning them around before setting them down gently.

“What do you mean?” you asked innocently, brushing some hair from your face. “I’m having fun.”

That smile on your lips, sweet and easy. Dazai didn’t believe it for a second.

“Let’s go prank someone, Kyusaku,” you whispered to the child. “You’ll be our main star today.”

Kyusaku tilted their head, still smiling brightly. “A prank?”

“You’ll cut your palm,” you explained softly, with that too gentle smile, “and ask someone to hold your hand. That should be enough pain to activate your ability.”

The child didn’t flinch. “Sure!”

Dazai sighed again. He had the good sense to look concerned.

Mori wouldn’t be thrilled about this unauthorized use of a volatile ability. But as long as he stayed close enough to nullify Kyusaku, things should be fine.

Right?

You ducked into a corner, watching with barely concealed glee as Kyusaku approached a wandering mafia member.

“Mister… my hand hurts,” the child whimpered, holding out their bleeding palm.

The man hesitated. “Uh…”

“Please?” Kyusaku’s voice trembled, their eyes huge and shining.

Unable to resist, the man knelt and held their hand.

That was enough.

Kyusaku squeezed back, just a little too tightly, just long enough to ensure the pain was mutual.

Then, without another word, they skipped away.

One target marked.

And then another.

And another.

Each time, you watched with sparkling amusement, eyes sharp and focused.

Dazai stayed nearby, silent, expressionless. Yet his eyes never left you.

Whether it was to watch Kyusaku or to remain close to you… you didn’t ask. You already knew.

He wasn’t complaining.

Even if this entire game was orchestrated by you… being needed, even in this twisted way, was enough to keep him at your side.

Then he spoke again.

A quieter moment. A lull between pranks.

“Why do you play like this, L/N-san?” he asked, gaze sidelancing, voice unusually soft.

“With people’s minds. With their pain. With children.”

You tilted your head, smiling with genuine amusement this time.

“Because I’m curious, Dazai,” you said. “Aren’t you?”

He didn’t respond. Not at first.

But just as your lips parted to poke a little more—

You blinked.

He blinked.

Kyusaku was gone.

“…Ah,” you said simply, smile still on your face, though your eyes narrowed.

“That’s not good.”

A scream rang out from deeper in the hall.

Both your heads snapped toward the sound.

One mafia grunt, eyes glowing red, body trembling, was slamming a comrade into the wall, roaring something incoherent.

The victim was struggling, trying to restrain him, but the wild one had the strength of the deranged.

And neither Kyusaku nor their doll were in sight.

“They ripped it,” you said, a nervous chuckle escaping you. “Oops.”

“This is bad,” Dazai muttered, stepping forward with a hand already out, eyes scanning the area for the child or the doll.

“This is why I don’t want to deal with kids…” he grumbled under his breath.

You stood beside him, still smiling, though your eyes glittered with anticipation.

“Come now, Dazai. Think of it as a… learning opportunity.”

He sighed. You just laughed.

Let the game begin.

"Let's split up," you suggested lightly, eyes glimmering with mischief.

Dazai blinked, expression unreadable.

"I see," he said after a beat.

"You're planning on teleporting Kyusaku to me if you're the one who finds them first… but, L/N-san," he added, tilting his head slightly.

"How are you going to find me?"

You smiled, almost warmly. Then, you leaned in, your breath brushing his ear.

"I always know where you are. You're my mentee, how could I not?" you whispered, your voice soft, affectionate, dangerously gentle.

Dazai didn't believe a word of it. He knew you too well.

But still, his eyes darkened slightly, softened in satisfaction.

You were lying, of course you were. But the illusion was a pleasant one.

You leaned away with a wink. "Kidding~ I can just teleport room to room until I find you," you teased with a smirk before disappearing with a swirl of shadows and air.

You moved from room to room, your presence like a shadow flitting through chaos.

You smiled blissfully.

Everywhere you went, chaos reigned.

Mafia members attacked one another, some screaming, others laughing hysterically, entirely under Kyusaku's influence.

Ah… fascinating.

Could a child like that truly bring down the Port Mafia?

You tilted your head at the thought. What would happen if the mafia crumbled like this?

Would Mori beg for your help? Would he call you his "dearest executive" in desperation?

You chuckled. No… he’d just be very, very displeased.

But you didn’t care.

You were doing him a favor already. Tracking and delivering the mind controlling child to his nullifier. That was more than enough.

Then, you entered the training room.

And there they were.

Kyusaku sat calmly on the edge of a couch, legs swinging, smiling innocently as they watched two grown men claw and pummel each other senseless.

You sighed, your smile returning as you stepped in.

You liked this kid. You certainly did.

But they were defiant. Clever. And defiance had consequences.

Kyusaku's eyes lit up when they saw you.

"Mister!!" they cried out, rushing toward you on small, quick feet.

You crouched slightly, arms extended and their hand gripped yours tightly.

A deepening sting surged through your palm. Your eyes flicked to their fingers, bloodied from earlier.

Then— ah.

A purple mark bloomed across your cheek. You laughed.

"How delightful…" you murmured, grinning wide, "You're my new favorite! Such an endearing one."

Kyusaku blinked.

They had expected anger. Hatred. Disgust.

But you only looked at them like they were a masterpiece.

Genuinely entertained. Genuinely pleased.

You reached down and scooped them into your arms.

"Let’s go, little devil," you cooed. "Let’s finish our game."

Kyusaku giggled softly, eyes glinting with wicked joy.

You didn’t hate them. You never did. Even when you ordered your subordinates to hurt them again and again to test the limits of their ability, you still smiled at them like they were precious.

They liked you a lot.

Room by room, you teleported.

Most were chaos incarnate. Rooms where red eyed grunts fought with no memory of who they once were. Others lay twitching, unconscious. You smiled through it all.

Finally, you arrived at a quiet hallway, and there he was.

Dazai turned just in time to see you reappear.

He took in the state of the corridor. Blood smears, broken furniture, groaning members writhing on the ground.

His expression didn't change, but you knew.

He wasn’t pleased.

Then his gaze settled on you, on the sight of you cradling Kyusaku gently, protectively, like a favorite pet or beloved younger sibling.

You cooed at them again. “You did such a good job today. So many test subjects! And you didn't even cry.”

Kyusaku giggled, curling against you, eyes shut.

Dazai’s jaw tightened just a fraction.

He said nothing. But you saw it.

His mood had soured.

And that just made your smile grow.

"Well?" you asked, voice light and teasing.

"Will you nullify our dear youngest now, Dazai? Or are you too stunned by the masterpiece they’ve created today?"

Dazai walked toward you silently, fingers already raised toward Kyusaku’s arm.

"Let’s just clean up the mess," he muttered.

"Aw, that's it?" you pouted, eyes filled with amusement.

He didn't respond.

But his eyes met yours.

You knew exactly what he was thinking.

And it was wonderful.