~~~~Present day/Atsushi's P.O.V.~~~~
"All right. Perfect."
It's currently morning and Kunikida was at his desk, staring at his open journal as he reads over his handwriting.
"A detailed schedule, down to the minutes, and a beautiful array of words and numbers. Truly befitting public service work. Can't wait to get to work."
"Today's schedule looks particularly busy." I say as I looked over Kunikida's shoulder.
I stood next to him as I read his journal. Kunikida read some of it out loud.
"An anti-terrorism meeting at MP HQ, and a recording testimony for a heinous murder case. And the others are also important matters that I can't be even a minute late to."
"I don't think even you can do all of this in one day."
All fired up, Kunikida snaps his journal shut.
"No!"
He turns towards me with fiery determination in his eyes.
"I shall put every last bit of my soul into sticking to this perfect schedule!"
"Hey, Kunikida." Yosano speaks up. "Today's the day we go grocery shopping. Come with me."
"Sorry, but ask someone else." he replies while writing something in his journal.
"Kunikida-san." Tanizaki addresses next. "Tip-off from the information broker. A bomber plans to hand off a suitcase with a bomb inside to passerby and detonate it-"
"Give me the details once I'm back."
He wrote something else down as well.
"Kunikida," Ranpo speaks. "We're out of snacks."
Kunikida continues to write as he responds.
"We have some reserves in the kitchen's cupboard."
Kunikida finally stops writing and pushes his glasses up a bit. He walks over to the coach, where Dazai is currently laying.
"And Dazai... Listen up! Don't you dare mess up my schedule for today!"
He suddenly sits up and smiles as I walk over to them.
"I swear on my life I won't."
"He totally wants to mess it up." I mumbled.
"I don't have time to waste on this moron." Kunikida looks at his watch. "Crap, I'm 18 seconds late. Well, I'm off."
Having said that, Kunikida heads for the door to leave. But right as he placed his hand on the doornob, he freezes.
"And Dazai."
"Yes~?"
"Clean up your work from the girl's desk. It's not your personal dumping ground."
"Yes, Kunikida-kun~. I'll get right on that."
Kunikida takes one glance at my sister's desk before leaving. Once he shuts the door, Dazai smiles a silly one.
"I get the feeling something big's going to happen today."
I let out a sigh.
Kunikida-san, you have my condolences.
I walk back to my desk and sit. I look at Shiori's desk, which is across from mine. It was still the way she had left it. Minus the small neat stacks of papers on it. Over time, Dazai's been putting his work there.
It's been a week since she disappeared. Dazai showed us the note she left in her locket. So I know she's alive. But with each passing day, I grow more and more unsure. I just wish she would walk in the office already. I miss her so much. I hope she's okay.
"Don't look so down, Atsushi-kun." Dazai speaks up as he sits at his desk. "When Ori-chan comes back, she would want to see her big brother's smile greeting her."
"...Dazai-san... Are you sure she's-"
"She's fine."
He replies in a serious tone as he cleans up Shiori's desk.
"How can you be so sure?"
"I trained her mind pretty well. Nothing will kill her unless she lets it. Plus, my old partner taught her how to defend herself. I may hate him, but he does have amazing reflexes. She'll be fine, I know it."
I just turn my head towards Dazai's desk lamp. Hanging from it was Shiori's necklace, shinning whenever the sunlight hits it.
Dazai doesn't want to admit it, but I think he's worried about her too.
"She'll be back soon."
A bit startled by the soft-spoken voice, I look to my left. Kyouka was standing there with a large envelope in her hands.
"What's that?"
"A job. We have to deliver this to the police station."
"Okay, let me just grab my things."
Standing up, I grab my bag and walk towards the main office door with Kyouka by my side. She opens it up and steps out. I take one last look at Shiori's necklace. It was currently in Dazai's hand now. He looked it over with what looked like a sad expression.
"...Dazai-san?"
He looks up and smiles at us. With a small wave, he answers.
"See you two when you get back."
"...See ya later."
I step out and shut the door behind me.