To My Friend, Dazai

The moment Atsushi opened his eyes, he saw Paula's face looking at him.

She is the last person that he expected to see so he got shocked when he saw her, but what made him more shocked is when he realized that he is already back at the agency. He's already back in the original world.

"See? I told you he'll come back safe," Paula said, her hands on her waist while looking at Dazai and Ranpo behind her.

Seems like Dazai gets really impatient and finds the ability user himself without Ranpo's help. He's been forcing the girl to bring Atsushi back. The girl has been declining him so he's thinking of torturing her, but he can't even hold the girl because of his nullifying ability. If her ability stops, Atsushi would be in more danger so he can't dare to touch the girl with his own hands.

Thankfully, though, an hour after he found the girl, Atsushi was now back at the agency, safe and sound.

Dazai walks toward Atsushi with brisk steps and checks if he has any scratch or wound on his arms.

"Dazai-san, I'm completely fine," Atsushi stated, not wanting Dazai to worry about him too much.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Dazai sighed in relief.

"If that's the case, then it's good. Do you know how worried we are about you?"

"You are the only one who's worried about him that much, Dazai-san. You couldn't sit still even though I already assured you that he'll just be fine." Ranpo said, receiving a deadly glare from Dazai when the guy looks at him.

"If you dare to speak one more time, you won't be able to eat your favorite sweet again, Ranpo-san." Dazai warned and he is serious about it.

That was the biggest fear of Ranpo so the detective immediately shut his mouth and didn't dare to speak again. He doesn't want Dazai to get mad.

"Dazai-san..."

Dazai turned to Atsushi when he heard the guy call his name.

"Why?"

"I have something to give to you."

Atsushi handed the book to Dazai. With confusion, Dazai looks at the book and stares at it for a while. Before he accepted it, Dazai told Paula that she can now leave. Paula excused herself and Ranpo also gave Dazai and Atsushi a space because he had already deduced that this would happen before Atsushi went missing earlier in the morning.

It was only Atsushi and Dazai alone in the office right now.

"I met Odasaku.." Atsushi said after a long moment of silence.

Dazai's eyes flickered by the familiar name. It's been a long time since he heard someone call that name.

"I met your friend and he gave me permission to call him Odasaku. 5 minutes ago... We're just talking at the bar somewhere in Ginza."

Dazai held his breath. He knew that Atsushi was in that world so it's a given that the guy would meet Odasaku there, but hearing it from Atsushi himself, he still can't believe that Atsushi meeting Odasaku really happened.

"Odasaku told me to give you this book. It's the complete copy of the novel he wrote."

After accepting the book, Dazai couldn't remove his eyes from it, especially when he read the title.

Meet me at Lupin by Oda Sakunosuke

Just reading the title is enough to make Dazai feel weak. He also looks like he's about to cry anytime. He has never shown this side of him to anyone before—only to Odasaku and now, to Atsushi.

Seeing the book that he's been wanting to read, which was written by his friend, he doesn't mind showing Atsushi what he truly feels right now.

He opened the book carefully and saw that there's a letter inside. Without wasting any second, he read the letter silently.

'To my friend, Dazai,

I was waiting every weekend at Lupin, hoping that I would see you there again. I want to say sorry for pointing a gun at you before. I also want to say sorry for saying those hurtful words to you. You left something at the bar so now, I want to return it to you.

There's actually a lot of questions that I want to ask you, but I won't ask those questions anymore. I know you are forever gone in this world so waiting for you here would only be in vain, but I will still keep on waiting for you. I will continue to write novels just like what you wanted me to do. If we meet again, I hope we can both recognize each other.

I want to drink with you and Ango again and we'll talk about nonsense things that the three of us could laugh about. If the time permits, and the universe approves to let the three of us meet at Lupin once again, I promise that I will give you a permission to call me Odasaku. Thank you for being my friend in the original world and for continuing to treat me as your friend in every other worlds, Dazai. I will always think of you.

From your friend, Odasaku'

The paper got wet and it was because of the tears that fell from Dazai's eyes. He is now crying.

He saw the picture that he's been searching for since the day he realized that it's missing, and now he found it again.

At the back of the photo, there is something written under the names that he wrote before.

Ango, Odasaku, Dazai

'My friends'

Atsushi was there, staring at Dazai who's tears were falling down nonstop and he didn't hesitate to take a step forward to hug Dazai as it hurt him so much to see the guy crying.

"Odasaku told me to give you a hug on behalf of him. He also told me to tell you that he's doing fine. He said that he's relieved and glad that you have me as your friend. He also said that he's sorry for not being here."

Dazai's heart was warm because of the hug. Few minutes later, Atsushi let go. Their eyes met, Atsushi smiled to cheer his friend up, but instead of smiling back, Dazai pulled Atsushi's arm to hug him once again.

"Dazai-san?" asked Atsushi. He got bewildered because he didn't expect Dazai to hug him once more.

"You said that the hug earlier was from Odasaku. Now, I want to receive a hug from you. Do you know how worried and scared I was when you went missing the whole day?" With heavy breath, Dazai continues. "I thought I lost you too."

Atsushi could feel the sadness in Dazai's voice. He raised his hand and tapped Dazai's shoulder... then he smiled.

"I won't go anywhere," he said.

Dazai let go of the hug and patted Atsushi's head. It was just like how Oda patted his head earlier. They really have some things in common.

"Oh, wait.."

Atsushi said as he remembered something important.

"I need to talk to Paula-chan,"

He quickly ran outside to see if he could still catch up with Paula, but he didn't see her anymore. She's already gone.

Atsushi frowned but reminded himself that if their paths crossed again, he'll talk to her and say thank you.

Atsushi looks at Dazai who also went outside to follow him. After calling Dazai's name, Dazai looked at him, then he said the word that he was supposed to say earlier.

"I'm back.. I came back safely, Dazai-san." he said.

Dazai's smile widened even more. "Welcome back, Atsushi-kun,"

Atsushi finally got what he desired and it was to help Dazai read the novel that Odasaku completed.

Without Dazai, he won't be at the agency right now. Without Dazai, he won't be able to meet amazing people like all the members of the Armed Detective Agency.

Did the Atsushi from the other world also get what he desired? He hopes so.