To conduct the singing misfortune [Dazai and Reader]

Two of a Kind

The graveyard is awash with blues and whites as usual, and it's as pretty as a land for the dead can be. Osamu would join me later, saying he was busy scoping out a new way to commit double suicide. I can guess he's just stopping by a bar, though.

With a calm hum, I wander through the familiar path, ending at a hill shaded by that same usual tree. Birds chirp, accompanied by the sounds of the docks and flowing water. I smell the sea air, then exhale calmly.

I sit in front of Sakunosuke's gravestone, patting the top of the cold, hard stone as if patting him on the shoulder, "How's it going, Dad?"

I can almost imagine a response, a whisper of the past. Talking to the air gets easier with practice, and I'd learnt a trick to make it easier. Taking a hand mirror I'd 'borrowed' from Naomi, I open it, then place it on top of the gravestone. I can see remnants of other universes behind me, like wandering spirits.

The only one of Sakunosuke is one where he's mourning this exact spot with an unsure expression. One in which Osamu died, and he's uncertain how to feel about it.

"I've been...uh...tired, I guess... A few times recently, I've just...not been present. Maybe I need a break or somethin' because eating curry won't help either." I laugh to myself solemnly at my joke, "Oh...!"

I fiddle with my hands, looking at my lap and then back at the engraved name, "I had a little...mistake? It was a total accident, but I activated my ability...like... how I used to." I recall a memory, my smile twisting painfully, "Remember the first time it activated around you...? Oh, I was so..." I trail off, shaking my head, "Anyway, I'm gonna make up for it – Osamu said he'd train me...!"

I reveal the information with slight excitement as if waiting for his reaction before my expectation dulls, and I stare at the quiet stone. Right. "Yeah, uhm... yeah...he said he'd do that. So, that'll keep things a little interesting. I met a weird guy recently, one with glasses... I think he might've been one of your friends... He seemed a little stressed, but he's alright from what I can tell."

I can't think of anything else to say, and I sigh.

I glance into the hand mirror with dejection and clasp it back shut. I feel over the pretty pink design before sliding it back into my coat pocket, clearing my throat, "I'll come back with Osamu next time..."

My eyes drift to the sea, another sigh leaves me, and I chuckle sadly, "Well, I need to be going. Things have ramped up a little in tension since I last visited." I pat the gravestone again, slowly rising to my feet and brushing off my clothes. With a small wave, I leave.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

Arriving at the Agency building, I see Atsushi and Montgomery outside the doors. I walk past them with a smile, hear the bell above me jingle, and notice Kyouka in a booth, resting against her ability's side. "Hey, Kyouka, what's going on?"

Her eyes flutter open, and she glances at me quietly, "Oh, Oda..." I shake my head with a chuckle, "Just call me [Y/N]..." Peeking at what is in front of her on the table, I skim some lines, then chuckle, "You best friends with your ability now? That's always nice, eh?"

"I suppose so." Her replies are quiet, and I realise we haven't talked much, if at all. With a grin, I lean on my palm, "I heard you wandered the slums for a while. Here's a fun quiz, fellow stray!" I point at her, dramatically holding my heart, "What was your favourite pastime in hell? I'll go first! I threw rocks to see how many drunk people I could make fall over within sixty seconds!"

Her expression is still and delicate as always, a classic assassin. She thinks for a moment, poking her cheek in thought, "Favourite pastime...? I guess that would be..." There was limited enjoyment to be found in those pits of suffering, but to people confined to those spaces, it's impossible not to find escapism. "I guess it would be cloud gazing." I nod with a hum, "Good choice."