Two years. It's been two years since I've been able to really fight and help anyone other than pull out a stool to reach a book on that absurdly tall bookshelf, (Y/n) thought as she pulled on her socks, leaning against the wall as she readjusted them before sitting on the toilet to pull on her shoes. I still can't believe Dazai actually came to the store to get me. I was thinking he'd call me or something and ask me to come in—not actually make an appearance!
She walked out of the store's bathroom, her bag hanging over her shoulder loosely as she readjusted her shirt. She had changed out of her uniform into more battle-friendly attire—at least compared to what she was wearing previously.
She wore a pair of black shorts, dark blue knee-high socks covering her bare legs and paired with black ankle boots. She also wore a dark blue long-sleeve—a similar shade to her socks. She wore a pair of black fingerless gloves—something she found to be quite useful in the two years she hadn't been working in the agency. She pulled her hair into an updo, readjusting it from the original hairstyle she had while working that day.
As her boots slightly clicked against the hardwood floor as she walked, rounding around one of the bookshelves as she spotted Dazai skimming through the books Hinami pulled out for him from the back—books about more technical aspects rather than antiques and older books like the Ripped Page originally intended to sell.
The two looked up from the books, spotting (Y/n) in her new attire. While Hinami seemed happy she was going back to a job she so visibly missed, it was clear that she was still sad her good friend was leaving to go do a job that could very possibly kill her. Dazai had a calm smile on his face, leaning against the counter as he looked her up and down.
"Not particularly what I'm into, but I still like the look," he stated as he pushed off the counter and stood on his own.
"What are you into then?" she retorted, walking over to the counter as Hinami assisted her in putting the books into her bag.
"I'm into something a bit more..." He leaned down, his lips mere centimeters from her ear as she placed the last book into her bag. He whispered in a low tone, tickling her skin, "...waterproof."
Of course he means my rain jacket and boots, she thought and internally rolled her eyes, her face still heating up from the sensation of his words brushing against her ear.
"We should get going, I'll give you the details on the way to the agency," Dazai stated as he began walking towards the door. "It was nice seeing you again, Miss Asagiri!"
"Good to see you again as well!" Hinami replied with a small wave.
(Y/n) stopped in front of the counter before continuing to follow Dazai, turning to her friend as she quietly said while pulling her in for a hug, "Thank you for everything. I'll keep in touch."
"You better," she replied, muffled as she dug her face into (Y/n)'s shoulder.
A minute passed with neither of them moving, Dazai having to be the one to ruin the moment as he coughed to gain their attention. (Y/n) cleared her throat as she pulled away, wiping her eyes as slight tears began to form.
Hinami did the same, wiping her eyes with the back of her sleeve. But before (Y/n) could go to Dazai to finally leave, she stopped her. "Hang on, I have something for you!"
(Y/n) quirked her brow, confused as to what Hinami would have for her at such an odd time. She reached under the counter, seeming to dig through a drawer that was hidden there and go through many papers and other knick knacks.
Finally, after apparently getting a paper cut or two in the process, Hinami finally pulled out a somewhat long and thin object and placed it on the counter. It was copper, a bit of rust and grime around it as it needed to be desperately cleaned—but it was still pretty as it had a floral and vine-type pattern on the handle.
"It's a... letter opener?" (Y/n) asked, picking it up as she twisted it around in her mostly-covered hands. "Thanks?"
"Not just a letter opener, silly!" Hinami exclaimed, taking the letter opener back as she pressed a nearly invisible button on the handle.
The tip of it began to spark—crackles of electricity emitted off of it and causing (Y/n) to jump slightly at the sudden development. Hinami explained as she pulled her thumb off of the button, "It's a taser my dad made from a letter opener my grandfather gave him as a sort of reassurance—it's never been used as anything except a letter opener, so the taser part should be fine."
Hinami held it out to (Y/n), offering it to her as she hesitantly grabbed it. "I want you to have it. I know you have that special ability of yours and you're a literal hand-to-hand master, but it never hurts to have a little extra assurance."
"Are you sure? What if you end up needing it?" She gripped it gently, preparing to give it back if requested. "I'll feel terrible if I take it and something horrible happens to you and the store—"
"(Y/n), I can pick up a fridge with ease." She cut her off, leaning against the counter as she was dead serious. "I'll be fine."
(Y/n) let out a sigh, placing the letter opener-taser on the top of the items in her bag as she zipped it back up. She was once again hesitant to leave—unsure whether Hinami would want the hidden weapon back or not or if she had anything else to say.
Dazai grabbed her arm, pulling her towards the door slowly as he said in a gentle tone, "Come on, (Y/n). I have a lot to inform you on since you left the agency."
Dazai managed to tell (Y/n) everything she needed and/or wanted to know since she left a mere two years prior. Everything from the Tanizaki siblings and later Kenji joining the agency to Atsushi's abrupt arrival and all the carnage that occurred since he joined the Armed Detective Agency. He ended with how Atsushi had been taken by an American organization known as "The Guild" and had been missing for six days at that point.
"Wow, things have been really hectic since I took my leave," she commented after he relayed all the information to her—ending on a rather dramatic note. "So you got kidnapped by the Port Mafia at one point and that's how you found out this Atsushi was targeted by the Guild?"
He nodded once in response. (Y/n) continued, "Uh... Should I be concerned? Are the Port Mafia planning on kidnapping you again or someone else from the agency? What about the Guild? Have you managed to track Atsushi down from them?"
"That's sort of why I asked you to come back and help, (Y/n)." Dazai looked from the street back to her. "The agency certainly needs your assistance with this situation."
She furrowed her brows as she rested her hands on her hips. "Do you guys really need my help or his help?"
His lips curled into a smirk, his eyes soft while looking down at her while they drew closer to the agency. "(Y/n), I was the one who suggested to the president in private that we request for your assistance—do you really think I would ask for your help just for your special ability?"
Her expression relaxed, letting her hands dangle at her sides as she placed one of her hands on the bag as it hung over her shoulder. "I suppose you're correct. Besides," she looked from back to the sidewalk, "if I were to find out that you used me for Ryuji, I wouldn't need my ability to beat the crap out of you."
"Now, now, (Y/n)!" They stopped a block away from the agency, Dazai turning to her as he grabbed her chin gently to force her to look at him with his uninjured arm. "After all those letters we've exchanged over the years, I don't think you'd want to beat on me with malicious intent in mind."
"What other kind of intent would I have?" she questioned, quirking an eyebrow as he still had her chin in his grip.
He rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip, dragging it down slightly as he leaned towards her—startling her slightly as it appeared as if he were about to kiss her right then and there. "I was hoping for a bit more of a private atmosphere rather than the sidewalk."
Dazai let go of her chin, stuffing his hand into his pocket as he walked ahead of her towards the agency. (Y/n) blinked a couple times, pressing her hand against her lips as she felt her face heat up from the moment. She cleared her throat, jogging to catch up with him as they reached the agency.
This could either go horribly wrong or could just be like any other reunion! she thought as they entered the building, going towards the elevator as her nerves began to finally hit her. I'm sure Ranpo and Yosano will be excited to see me, but what about Kunikida? We ended on kind of weird terms—what if he still has feelings towards me? Did Dazai tell him about what happened the night before I left? What happened when Chuuya rescued me from Fujinuma two years ago? What if Dazai lied and the president wasn't actually okay with me coming ba—
Her thoughts were interrupted and stopped almost completely when the button beeped and the elevator doors closed.