Chapter 39&40

Chapter 39: A Traitor Among Us

"The seniors at the agency… their personalities are just too unique," Atsushi said with a wry smile, carefully picking his words, hesitant to fully voice his thoughts. In an agency filled with what could be called an odd assortment of individuals perhaps even misfits Atsushi had done his best to adapt to his surroundings. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was the one true outsider in this group. It felt as if he were a husky amidst a pack of wolves. On the surface, he might blend in, but upon closer inspection, anyone could tell something was out of place.

Dazai, picking up on the hint of self-doubt in Atsushi's smile, chuckled. "Atsushi, don't tell me… you think you don't really belong in the agency?"

"No, no! I'm a full-fledged member now I feel a sense of belonging," Atsushi replied nervously. "It's just that… every time I feel like I understand my seniors a bit better, they always reveal some shocking or even terrifying side of themselves."

"You have to understand, Atsushi, that everyone here has some secrets. The people in the agency can seem perfectly ordinary, easygoing even, but if something touches upon their hidden depths, their true natures are drawn out. It's quite normal," Dazai said with a casual shrug.

"Normal?" Atsushi muttered under his breath, feeling slightly unconvinced. "I don't have any such secrets."

Dazai stared at him, then burst out laughing, his expression shifting to one of bemused disbelief. "Wait… Atsushi, don't tell me you think you're the only normal one in the agency?"

"Compared to everyone else here, I think I'm pretty harmless," Atsushi muttered, feeling a little affronted.

Dazai chuckled even harder. "Harmless? As the ex-government listed 'disaster-grade beast,' now the wanted target of the Port Mafia, everyone here considers you the least normal one of us!"

"Being wanted by the government was because of my power going berserk! And as for the Port Mafia, I still have no idea why they're after me!"

"Like I said, everyone in the agency has their secrets, some they might not even know about themselves." Dazai gave Atsushi's shoulder a firm pat, as if encouraging him. "We're all oddballs in our own way, so none of us are in any position to look down on anyone else. Just relax."

Atsushi sighed, feeling more disheartened than reassured. "Is that supposed to be comforting? Why do I feel anything but comforted?"

"You'll know you've truly adjusted when you feel comforted by that thought," Dazai grinned. "By then, it means you've been fully integrated with the rest of us."

"That's definitely not going to happen."

"We'll see."

At that moment, they both heard a series of screams not far off. Gunfire erupted soon after.

Their conversation dropped immediately. Exchanging a quick glance, they raced toward the sound of gunshots, moving against the panicked crowd as they made their way to the heart of the commotion.

"Dazai, do you see anything?" Atsushi asked, running alongside him.

"Looking for enemies?"

Dazai glanced at Atsushi as they ran. "Last time I took you on an assignment, you were a newbie who dropped to the ground at the sound of gunfire. Now you're already willing to jump into the fray with me."

Atsushi blinked, as if just realizing his own growth. With a small smile, he replied, "I finally have a place where I belong, so I can't just stay useless forever."

"Are you no longer afraid?"

"Of course, I'm still scared. But…" Atsushi's expression steeled with determination. "I trust you, Dazai-san. And I trust the other members of the agency."

"Well said." Dazai smiled. "You've taken the most important step. Looks like your full initiation is inevitable."

"I'll never become…"

Just as they reached a crosswalk and were about to round a corner, Dazai stopped suddenly and held out an arm to halt Atsushi, who nearly stumbled in surprise. Dazai pressed a finger to his lips, signaling him to stay silent. Atsushi nodded, crouching low and taking cover beside him behind a wall.

They were close to the unloading dock a high-incident area where crimes were common. But gunfire meant one of two things: either the police were involved, or it was the Port Mafia.

In Japan, firearms were illegal, and ordinary gangs typically fought with baseball bats or, at most, katanas. Only the most powerful groups had access to guns, and in Yokohama, that meant the Port Mafia. So the gunfire here could mean either the police were in a life-or-death situation, or the Port Mafia was wreaking havoc in public again. Either way, the Armed Detective Agency had a reason to intervene.

Dazai peeked around the corner, taking in the scene at the intersection just ahead. He saw cars scattered across the road, some smashed together, some rammed into light poles and billowing smoke. Workers from the dock had abandoned tools and goods, some even losing their shoes in their haste to flee.

In the chaos, two girls with guns in their hands were engaged in an intense firefight, executing moves that defied human limits.

"An ability user," Dazai muttered.

"Give up," one of the girls said, her voice calm and commanding. She wore a striking red and black dress, holding the advantage in the exchange. "You know my power better than anyone. Why would you think you could escape after betraying me?"

Hearing the voice, Dazai frowned slightly. Three days ago, he had heard that same voice. This was the girl who had recently joined the Port Mafia and referred to herself as "Nightmare." Though he hadn't seen her face clearly before, the familiar tone revealed her identity.

"What's Nightmare doing here?" Dazai whispered, eyes narrowing. "And who's the other girl?"

"Dazai-san, you know them?"

"Can't say I know them. But I encountered that girl in red three days ago when your power went berserk. That's Nightmare."

"That girl is Nightmare?" Atsushi asked in shock. "And the other one?"

"No idea. But since Nightmare's calling her a traitor, it's likely she has some connection to the Port Mafia… or at least to Nightmare."

Dazai, narrowing his eyes, quietly slipped his hand into his coat to call for backup from the Detective Agency.

"Atsushi, are you ready to face an ability user?"

Chapter 40: Half-Man, Half-Tiger

"Fight an Ability User? And not just any Ability User, but one from the notorious Port Mafia?"

Atsushi Nakajima gulped, cautiously peeking out from behind the wall. The sight of the two girls fighting with superhuman agility and leaping from one surface to another was enough to make him quickly duck back, shaking his head furiously. "No way, no way, no way! Dazai-san, you're asking for the impossible! I can't even control my Ability; how could I even hope to keep up in a fight like that?"

"Come on, you've been with the Agency for nearly a month now. The President's Ability, All Men Are Equal, must have influenced your Ability by now, don't you think?" Dazai gave him a disapproving look. "You've got to toughen up, Atsushi. The reason Beast Beneath the Moonlight spirals out of control is because you lack confidence. The tiger inside you won't be controlled by someone who doesn't believe in themselves. If you can just muster up a bit of self-assurance, your control over the tiger will come naturally, especially with the President's help."

"Confidence isn't something I can just switch on," Atsushi said with a grimace. All his edges had been dulled during his time in the orphanage, where mistakes were met with punishment. Confidence was the last trait he'd been able to develop. Dazai knew that too. But circumstances didn't allow him to take things slow with Atsushi. The Port Mafia was relentlessly hunting him, and the sooner Atsushi could gain control of his Ability, the safer he'd be.

"Looks like I'll need to give him a bit of a push," Dazai thought to himself. Atsushi had already shown courage far beyond what he had a month ago. The change wasn't drastic, but the seed of bravery was there. Maybe, with the right nudge…

Dazai put on a serious expression. "Atsushi, we're more than twenty kilometers from the Agency. Even if they break every traffic rule, it'll take them at least fifteen minutes to get here. Do you think that girl can survive fifteen minutes?"

"Maybe... I... I guess?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, a pained scream rang out, making Atsushi's pale face go even paler. A deep dread welled up in him, and he peered around the corner again. His eyes widened in horror.

The fight had clearly shifted. The girl, who had been holding her own moments ago, was now badly injured. She'd been shot in the leg by Nightmare, causing her to stumble and collapse.

Even in pain, the girl didn't give up. Dragging her injured leg, she crawled toward Dazai and Atsushi's position, trying to take cover behind anything she could find.

"I told you, didn't I? You never stood a chance." Nightmare calmly approached, her voice icy. "You know my Ability better than anyone else. So why did you think you'd be able to escape after betraying me?"

Despite her wounds, the girl ignored Nightmare's taunts. Gritting her teeth, she continued to drag herself forward, inch by inch, putting more distance between herself and Nightmare.

Then, her eyes met Atsushi's.

Atsushi felt frozen, his entire being paralyzed in that moment. What should he do?

Run. That was it. He had to run. This had nothing to do with him. The Port Mafia was violent, ruthless, and far beyond anything he could handle. This girl was probably as dangerous as that terrifying Akutagawa. She might even be a bad person—she was a Port Mafia defector, after all. Why should he risk his life to help a criminal?

Trying to justify his cowardice to himself, Atsushi took a step back. The girl wavered as she saw his retreat, an internal conflict flashing in her eyes.

Finally, she stopped moving toward him. Using her good leg, she propped herself up and took cover behind an abandoned car.

"The battle isn't over yet!" she shouted, her voice filled with defiance. "As long as I draw breath, you won't defeat me!"

"Still resisting, are we?" Nightmare mocked, enjoying the spectacle. "With your power drained and injuries mounting, what can you possibly do?"

Atsushi was stunned. He'd expected the girl to keep crawling toward them, hoping for a chance of survival through their help. But instead, she chose to fight. Even though she had no chance of winning, she would rather face death than drag anyone else into her predicament.

Why? Why was she doing this?

A disturbing realization dawned on him.

"Could it be..." Atsushi's voice trembled as he looked at Dazai. "Is she... is she trying to protect me?"

Dazai nodded slightly.

The girl had locked eyes with Atsushi. If she were a Port Mafia defector, she might not recognize Dazai, but she certainly would recognize Atsushi the Port Mafia's current target.

She didn't call for help because she didn't want to put him in danger. So she chose to give up, to face her fate alone, sparing him from being dragged into her battle.

A deep sense of guilt blossomed in Atsushi's heart as he realized how he'd nearly abandoned her. Following guilt came a wave of self-reproach for failing in his duties as an Agency member. And finally, he felt anger anger at his own weakness.

From deep within him, he heard the powerful roar of a tiger echoing, filling his limbs with warmth and strength. White fur sprouted over his skin, and his nails sharpened into gleaming claws.

Dazai watched in delight. This wasn't a case of Ability overload, nor was it an instinctual outburst of survival strength. This was Atsushi consciously channeling his Ability, guiding it with his own willpower.

He had transformed into the Half-Tiger form of Beast Beneath the Moonlight.

Atsushi took a deep breath, his eyes fierce with newfound determination. Gone was the hesitation and fear, replaced by courage and purpose.

"Dazai-san," he said firmly, "let's fight together."