Bungo Stray Dogs - Volume SS - Chapter 2.7

A Certain Explosive - 7

It was a sluggish early afternoon at the agency once everything had calmed down. It must have been around teatime; the female staff were now chatting in the back room, which could be heard all the way in the main office.

Dazai was leaning against a desk.

Kunikida was at his own desk, finishing up his work after having wasted far too much time today.

Meanwhile, Tanizaki’s little sister, Naomi, was grinning from ear to ear with her arms affectionately wrapped around her brother’s neck.

And as for Atsushi: He was sitting in an empty seat, still clutching the now-unneeded fake bomb.

No matter how long I think about it, my answer’s still the same: I can’t do this.

The bomb scare was already more than enough for me, and stuff like that is probably an everyday occurrence at the agency. I seriously doubt I can manage in an environment like this…which means I just need to be firm with them and—

“Granted…we won’t force you to work here if you really don’t want to,” Dazai suddenly said, clearly disappointed. “But if you do end up leaving…” He placed a hand on his chin as if he was deep in thought. “I would really worry about you. You’d have to vacate the company dorm, for starters.”

Atsushi hesitantly averted his gaze.

Oh, right…

The Armed Detective Agency’s dormitory was for staff only. An outsider like him couldn’t stay there forever…which meant he would be back on the streets with nowhere to go. Drenched in the rain, trembling in the cold, he’d end up collapsing by the riverbank where he would…

Atsushi thought back to those painful days, making him even more visibly conflicted.

“You don’t have any special qualifications, any friends, or even any acquaintances, so finding a job would be extremely difficult, too!”

“Mmm…”

Atsushi let out a worried moan. He looked even more anxious.

“And to top it all off, you’re a wanted man—or tiger, I should say!”

“Ahhh!” Atsushi cried, caught off guard once again by Dazai pointing out the cons.

Oh, right. I completely forgot about that because of the whole bomb scare.

Nobody’s going to hire me like this!

Atsushi grabbed his head in despair. He had no idea when he would turn into a tiger and go on another rampage, causing all sorts of trouble for other people.

It wasn’t like he could write “I can turn into a tiger” under his special skills on a résumé, either. Even if he did, no company would be crazy enough to hire him.

…Except one, that is.

“And if someone ever found out your secret, it wouldn’t matter how good you are at your job. You’d be fired. Worst-case scenario, the military police capture you, take you behind the barn, and shoot you!”

Dazai wore a grave expression with his hand still on his chin.

They’d shoot me?!

“Eek!” A frightened yelp escaped Atsushi’s throat.

That was the last thing he wanted. Anything but that, he thought.

* * *

“None of that would be an issue if you worked at this agency, though.”

It was as if horns were growing out of Dazai’s head as he flashed a sinister smirk and stole a glance at Atsushi.

“A-are you saying…?!”

Atsushi tightened his arms around the bomb.

I don’t have a choice?!

“I’m looking forward to working with you, Atsushi,” Naomi said enthusiastically. “And so is my sweet brother here!  ”

She affectionately tightened her arms around Tanizaki.

“Bffaaah!” Tanizaki groaned in pain as his sister accidentally strangled him.

Kunikida, who was working at his desk, abruptly spun around in his chair and faced Atsushi.

“Just follow the rules.”

That was all he said before spinning back around, seemingly exasperated. At least he appeared to be welcoming Atsushi to the company…

“Great!   It looks like you’ve made up your mind,” Dazai added with a mischievous smirk.

“But… But…!”

The word pathetic wouldn’t be doing Atsushi’s expression justice.

Dazai never lied to him, though. He introduced him to a job. There was a test, and Atsushi managed to pass…even though he never imagined the test would involve a bomb.

Regardless, he wouldn’t have to leave the dormitory now, and he could go to bed at night with a roof over his head. Everything worked out in the end. This made him happy, but…

Am I really going to be okay……?

He couldn’t help but feel that every single thing went exactly how Dazai intended it, that the moment he found him in the river was the moment his luck ran out. And yet…

Atsushi glanced at Dazai.

“Just leave everything to me, and all will be well!” Dazai had confidently declared with the most brilliant of smiles earlier that day.

Maybe this is a sign of good luck to come.

Or maybe it’s actually the opposite.

Whatever the case, I feel like I could spend a lifetime thinking about this man and still never understand him.

Atsushi crouched forward and deeply exhaled as if he had a lot on his mind.

Dazai, on the other hand, smiled with evident satisfaction.

Atsushi Nakajima.

The Armed Detective Agency’s newest member.