Chapter 31&32

Chapter 31: Strategic Retreat

Faced with the relentless hostility of the Moonlit Tiger, Tokisaki Kurumi wasn't particularly surprised. She truly was just passing by and merely wanted to say hello. While Mori Ogai had assigned her the task of capturing Nakajima Atsushi, she, as a double agent, had absolutely no intention of completing it. She was instead preoccupied with how best to appear diligent enough to satisfy Mori without actually accomplishing her mission.

Of course, Atsushi had no way of knowing her real motives, nor would the Moonlit Tiger, whose temperament was even harsher and more obstinate than Atsushi's, have guessed that she was actually on his side.

There was no point in continuing an awkward conversation that would only deepen the tiger's wariness. She had already conveyed what she needed to, so a strategic retreat seemed in order.

Kurumi glanced discreetly at the alley's exit behind the Moonlit Tiger before making her decision.

"It's getting late," she said.

A wallet a possession of Atsushi's that the thug leader had taken emerged from the shadows cast by Kurumi's feet. She tossed it before the Moonlit Tiger.

"Though our first meeting wasn't the most pleasant, I look forward to our next encounter." With that, she elegantly turned and faded into the darkness, her shadow receding from the alley.

Only when Kurumi's scent completely dissipated did the Moonlit Tiger finally relax, its bristling fur returning to its natural softness. The tiger's amber eyes gleamed with confusion. Why had she left so readily? If she was indeed there to capture him on behalf of the Port Mafia, hadn't that just been her best chance?

But Kurumi was gone. Unable to fathom her departure, the tiger shook its head, ridding itself of any lingering doubt. She was gone, and that was all that mattered.

With a growl, the Moonlit Tiger turned away, the thrill of destruction swelling within him. Since Atsushi had joined the Armed Detective Agency, something peculiar had happened: his ability to control his powers had gradually improved, making it harder for the Moonlit Tiger to take over his body. Previously, it could emerge at will, but now it could only surface when Atsushi subconsciously allowed it—a fact that filled the tiger with frustration.

Tonight, having finally made an appearance, the Moonlit Tiger was determined to unleash his long-held resentment toward Atsushi.

With a roar, the Moonlit Tiger lifted its head to the sky before stepping out of the alley. The moment he did so, however, he came face-to-face with a man standing at the exit, draped in a coat and black vest, wearing a smirk that was neither warm nor cold.

The tiger's pupils contracted sharply. Distracted by Kurumi, he had overlooked the other presence lurking nearby.

The man, moving faster than the tiger could retreat, placed a hand on its head and murmured, "No Longer Human."

A bluish aura radiated from the man's fingers, engulfing the tiger's entire form. The beast found itself immobilized, feeling its consciousness fade as it steadily lost control of the body.

In moments, the tiger vanished, replaced by a pale-faced Nakajima Atsushi.

Atsushi crumpled to the ground, the coldness of the street and a mild ache slowly rousing him from unconsciousness. Although his mind was still foggy, his physical injuries had already healed. Even his torn clothing appeared to have mended, as though time itself had rewound—an ability remarkably similar to Kurumi's bullets, but one that the Moonlit Tiger itself had.

"Did my powers go out of control again...?" Atsushi mumbled. Glancing around at the scattered debris, he scratched his head awkwardly. His eyes then landed on the man standing nearby, and his face lit up.

"Dazai-sensei!" he exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

The man, none other than the Armed Detective Agency's core member and former Port Mafia intelligence chief, Dazai Osamu, raised an eyebrow. He held up Atsushi's wallet, having plucked it from the ground.

"Good evening, Atsushi-kun," Dazai said with a faint grin, holding up a small device. "It seems planting a bug beforehand was the right choice."

"Sensei, you bugged me again?" Atsushi asked, his eye twitching. "That's the second time now!"

"This time I added a tracking feature," Dazai replied, unashamed and clearly proud of himself.

"My privacy..." Atsushi muttered, sighing in exasperation. But he understood—he was a target for the Port Mafia, and the loss of some privacy seemed a fair trade for his seniors' protection.

It was this very tracking device that had saved him the last time Akutagawa Ryunosuke ambushed him; without Dazai's precautions, Atsushi would have already been taken by the Mafia.

"Atsushi-kun, you shouldn't just back down when people bully you," Dazai chided lightly, twirling the device in his fingers. "You're a member of the Armed Detective Agency. If people find out you got roughed up by some thugs, it'd be quite the stain on our reputation."

"I know, but I really can't control my ability at will," Atsushi admitted with a sheepish grin, "and those guys didn't believe me when I told them I was from the Agency."

Brushing the dust off his clothes, he accepted his wallet from Dazai and finally noticed that the thugs were gone. Lacking memories of his time in tiger form, Atsushi had no idea what had transpired, assuming Dazai must have saved him.

Grateful, he said, "Thank you for driving them off, Dazai-sensei."

Chapter 32: Dazai Osamu's Confusion

"Hm? You're thanking me?"

Dazai Osamu was momentarily confused by Atsushi Nakajima's gratitude. But then he remembered that Atsushi couldn't recall what happened during his episodes of power surges. Dazai nodded in understanding.

"You're thanking the wrong person. I didn't help you this time."

"It wasn't you?" Atsushi was stunned. "Then why are you here?"

"Well... after I overheard you were in trouble through the bug, I hurried over from the Detective Agency. But since I'd just finished a nice bath and didn't want to start sweating again, I took my time," Dazai said nonchalantly.

Atsushi's eyes showed a hint of resentment. Here he was, beaten up by some thugs while his eccentric senior casually strolled over just to avoid breaking a sweat. Though he could take the rough treatment, wasn't this a bit excessive?

But setting that aside, another point in Dazai's words caught his attention.

"Someone got there before you did?" Atsushi asked, a bit anxious. "So, a kind passerby stepped in and chased off the thugs? I didn't hurt this good Samaritan while in my tiger form, did I?"

"I need to correct two things."

Dazai raised his first finger. "One, she didn't just chase away those thugs. She used her ability to drag them off, and judging by her tone, they're probably… well, dead."

He raised his second finger. "Two, she wasn't any 'good Samaritan.' She claimed to be from the Port Mafia. I didn't recognize her, but I doubt anyone would pretend to be from the Mafia here in Yokohama. She's likely a new recruit."

Atsushi's jaw dropped, processing the information in shock. After a moment, he managed a forced smile.

"A brutal Port Mafia member saved me?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Why?"

"How should I know?" Dazai rolled his eyes. "I was going to ask you. This girl claimed she was here on behalf of Akutagawa to capture you, but instead, she saved you from some thugs and didn't make a move to capture you. Are you sure you don't have some special connection with her?"

"A girl? In the Port Mafia? Special connection?"

Atsushi's mind was spinning with these complicated revelations, barely able to process it all.

Watching Atsushi's bewildered expression, Dazai knew there'd be no useful intel from him. Atsushi had grown up in an orphanage, barely seeing the world outside, let alone forming relationships with mysterious girls.

Dazai glanced into the alley where "Nightmare" had vanished, a peculiar smile on his face.

"So, Mori-san sent a newcomer to capture Atsushi? Interesting."

Knowing Mori Ougai, Dazai was certain he wouldn't substitute someone of lesser skill for Akutagawa on such a mission. Akutagawa's skill level was undeniable; Dazai knew this better than anyone. Yet, on this mission to capture Atsushi, Akutagawa had been replaced by this so-called "Nightmare." Did Mori believe that Nightmare had a higher chance of successfully capturing Atsushi?

Dazai considered this and found it made sense. Akutagawa's ability was overwhelmingly offensive, and to capture Atsushi, he'd first need to get past the entire Detective Agency. In contrast, Nightmare's ability seemed to allow her to meld into shadows and drag others into them, making her a powerful asset for stealth and assassination.

An agent like Nightmare would pose a silent yet overwhelming threat to Atsushi, given his limited control over his own power. If he ever encountered her alone, his resistance would likely be futile.

Reflecting on this, Dazai's brow furrowed deeply. Although he hadn't lost his knack for analysis since leaving the Port Mafia, the conflicting details kept raising questions in his mind, each one boiling down to a central puzzle:

"Why did she appear in front of me and Atsushi?"

Just to say hello? But in doing so, she'd exposed her ability.

Prior to this encounter, Dazai had no idea such a person existed within the Mafia. If she had simply crept into Atsushi's dormitory at night and pulled him into her shadows, they would've had no defense. Now that her powers were partially revealed, the Agency would be ready for her. Or was "saying hello" just an excuse, and her real intention was to capture Atsushi tonight?

If so, why did she leave so readily?

"Could she have sensed me around the corner and thought I was a threat?" Dazai mused. "But that's odd. My ability requires direct contact to nullify others. In the dark, she could've just stayed hidden, and I'd have been powerless."

So if she didn't fear a 2v1 fight, why did she leave? Was she intimidated by the White Tiger's rampage? But in that case, she wouldn't have shown herself in the first place.

Or was it possible that… Nightmare never intended to capture Atsushi from the beginning?

With countless thoughts racing through his mind, Dazai took a deep breath, drawing in the cold night air to clear his head.

"This has to be reported to the President."

He glanced at the five prominent towers of Yokohama's center, narrowing his eyes with a sense of foreboding.

"It looks like things in Yokohama are about to heat up again."