Dazai and Chuuya ¹

Dazai leaned on your shoulder as the train swayed gently along the tracks; the clatter emanated a vague sense of relief. The mission had exhausted him more than he'd expected. They'd been sent to investigate a series of mysterious incidents, each more serious than the last, and the adrenaline had long since worn off, leaving only a profound sense of depletion.

Dazai closed his eyes, savoring the brief respite. He whispered softly, almost inaudibly:

—Just be patient with me for a while.

He couldn't admit how comforted he felt, nor how glad he was that no one had kicked him out.

Dazai used to be a nuisance at the Detective Agency. Everyone there knew him as the troublemaker who sometimes turned things upside down. Being with you was one of his favorite things, when the noise of the world quieted down and he could breathe freely.

Beside Dazai, Chuuya lay on your other shoulder, looking equally exhausted. But unlike Dazai, he was known among the port's gangsters as a constant source of anger and shouting; his every move drew attention, and the slightest intervention forced the gang to stand up and tense. His eyes never left yours, watching your every move, as if silently trying to protect you despite the furious glares around him.

You opened your eyes slightly to glimpse the scenery outside the train—vast green fields and distant mountains—and then closed them, relaxing between the two.

—I didn't expect to be so tired.

Dazai said, his voice full of joy, and his deep breathing indicating the profound exhaustion he felt.

Chuuya smiled slightly.

—Me too... I don't know how we'll be able to stand after all this.

Then she turned slightly to rest her head near your arms, trying to fill the moment of rest with quiet confidence.