River & Gravestone

The fire of the setting sun has already ablazed the orange sky as I look outside the window of the agency's office.

I stayed at the agency, thinking about the meaning of the clue that Ranpo-san told me, yet an hour has passed already and I still can't get it. I already double checked all the rooms, the whole corners, and every surroundings of the agency but I still can't see any photos anywhere. I didn't stop searching for it and I don't have a plan to give up on it.

I want to find Ranpo-san again and beg him to tell me another clue as the clue he gave me earlier was so hard to get and understand. But I didn't see his shadow ever since we talked and I only saw Kenji-kun who was sleeping soundly at the kitchenette—he fell asleep while eating a huge burger.

Because I can't find the photo at the agency, I decided to roam outside and have a walk to inhale some fresh air.

I don't know where I would go and just let my feet drag me to where it wants to go. Until I realized that my feet had brought me to the riverbank where Dazai-san and I first met.

I clearly remember how I jumped on that river after seeing him drowning but when I pulled him out the water, he told me that he's planning to commit suicide and I just had to be the one to interrupt and ruin his plan.

I don't know the reason why he wants to die but I didn't regret saving him that time. If I didn't pull him out of the water and help him, then I would also die from hunger while sitting near the riverbank at the same time.

If I died that time, then I wouldn't get a chance to meet all the agency members and become part of them. It's a relief that both Dazai-san and I survived.. And we survived that time because we both helped each other.

I stopped walking when I remembered something.

A memory flashback to me and it was a memory of Dazai-san sitting beside a gravestone with the initials that I don't clearly remember. I goes to find him that time because the agency have an important meeting about Shibusawa and the "suicides" happening around the world. However, Dazai-san told me that he'll pass on the meeting because he just found a new suicide method that he wants to try and I don't have a choice but to go back to the agency alone after heaving a deep, sad sigh.

I remembered some of the conversation we had during that day.

The gravestone that he visited is the grave of a friend who he told me—the one who gave him a reason to quit the Port Mafia and join the Detective Agency.

"If it wasn't for him, even now, I would still be in the Mafia, killing people… I'm just kidding."

I wonder who that friend Dazai-san is talking about. I was with Dazai-san all the time but I didn't bother to ask him again about it. I may have heard who that friend was before but I still can't remember the name as I didn't hear Dazai-san talk about that friend again after that time.

Should I go to the gravestone where I saw Dazai-san and read the initials again? But would I be able to see it in this world?

Because of thinking deeply, I didn't notice that my feet resumed walking by themselves and I was about to fall down on the river, but it didn't happen when I felt someone caught both of my shoulders and pull me 3 steps away from the river. I thought the river would eat me. That was too close but thankfully, it didn't happen.

I looked at the person who helped me and saw Oda-san picking up the book he dropped as he caught my shoulder with his two hands.

"Thank you..." I thanked him sincerely as I was so relieved that I didn't fall down on the river.

"Are you planning to dive there?" he suddenly asked, pertaining to the river. I don't know if he's joking or not but I shake my head to answer him no.

"I was just thinking of someone.. I didn't realize that I was walking to the river." I explained.

"Is it your girlfriend?" Oda-san asked. My eyes widened in surprise.

"N-No, he's a friend." I answered immediately.

"A friend who helped me a lot." I added.

"It's nice to know that you have a friend beside the people at the agency... Guess you care about that friend of yours so much that you're thinking about him that deep." he said.

I shyly look down. That is indeed true. I even care about Dazai-san more than I care for myself. It's been like that since the very beginning.

"Oda-san, where are you going by the way?" I decided to ask when I get a chance to do so. I don't know why he's here and where he is going. His hold on the book tightened before he looked at me and answered with a slight smile.

"I'm going to a bar, do you want to come with me?"

I've never been into a bar before and I don't like going to such places so I was about to decline his invitation, but I didn't do it when I remembered the clue that Ranpo-san told me earlier.

"Atsushi-kun, are you a good drinker?"

My face lightened up as the sudden realization hit me. Ranpo-san is pertaining to a drink—in a bar! Maybe the photo Dazai-san is searching for is there. Why did I just realize it now?

Once again, I looked at Oda-san before accepting his invitation with a smile on my face.

"I'll come with you, Oda-san." I replied.

He smiled back at me. It's a smile that he was relieved to know that I didn't decline his invitation. Makes me think that maybe he has a plan on asking me to come with him before he even stops me from falling into the river.

"Okay, follow me then," he commanded.

He started walking so I also moved my feet to walk and silently followed behind him. Oda-san might have the key to find the photo. I guess I need to stick with him for a while.