In a Grove.
That was the name of your ability. 1 week after the agency had brought you to the office, you were now finally allowed to participate in activity after being under close watch of Yosano during the week. So far, you had been able to re-grasp what your ability did and how it worked with the help of Dazai and Kunikida.
From what you were able to test out, your ability was a sort of mind manipulation type, where when you ask a question and they answer, not necessarily having to be anything that made sense or an actual response, you could distort their memories while all they'll be able to see around them is a grove with one tree larger than the rest, rope and leaves laying around it. Ultimately, the person becomes a puppet to your actions, however up until now you hadn't been able to figure out how exactly to use it all.
Other than your ability, during the week Yosano encouraged you to take it slow for a while before getting back into the action to try to start up your memories. You listened only because Yosano had turned out to be much better company than you thought, and even Dazai would stop by to keep you company when he got lazy with work. There were also times when you'd see a young girl walk by and look at you oddly, and you found out later that that was Kyouka, who was pretty close with Atsushi apparently.
Once the week of rest was over, Atsushi was the first to volunteer to take you out on a mission, deciding it was best for you to accompany him on a simple job near the port he had gotten, since it was an area you often visited on your free time before the accident. Kyouka insisted on going as well, to which Atsushi happily agreed, and soon the 3 of you walked in a comfortable silence towards your destination.
The job was easy, as Atsushi had said. You were supposed to find more information on some disturbances near the boats at the Yokohama port and turn it over to the police. Kyouka has said it was child's play compared to what the agency has been through, but something felt off to you. It wasn't necessarily the job...no, that had seemed clean, no foul play.
Everything is so quiet...but it shouldn't be, should it?
I still don't know how I ended up like this...
You trail away from the other 2, walking towards the edge of the pier, taking in your surroundings. The sun was golden, descending into the sea, it's rays landing softly against your exposed skin. It had been a long time since you'd felt it all.
If you closed your eyes, you could hear the soft movement of the colliding waters, and if you concentrated on the sounds around you, you smiled knowing they wouldn't fade like they had weeks ago...
•••
"[f/n]!"
The voice of a young female calls out to you, filled with alarm. You turn around to see Kyouka take hold of your hand, pulling you so you wouldn't keep walking away. Her blue eyes were filled with anger, tears on the brink of falling. She wasn't one to show much emotion, but she had always trusted you. You were like an older sister to her.
"You can't go. Neither want you there to watch." She spoke with a fierce determination, prepared to give it her all to convince you to stay.
"They'll kill each other. He'll kill him." You respond, your tone just as stubborn as hers.
"You'll get hurt. I don't want that to happen to you."
"Kyouka. It's part of the job, you know that I-"
"You'll get hurt by him."
You feel a pang in your heart, a sadness in your eyes betraying your guilt.
'If only you knew how much I'd do for him anyways...'
'In a Grove'.
You activate your ability, taking hold of Kyouka as you turn fully to face her.
"Why don't any of you believe he won't hurt me?" You ask, knowing she would answer without thinking.
"Because he's a monster!"
You smile grimly, a pale green glow in both your eyes that wasn't there before shining in the midday sun.
As far as Kyouka now knew, she was in a beautiful clearing with tall trees, curiously picking at the leaves on the ground, her rare childlike nature coming out and innocently walking around, the menacing peace of it all un-bothering to her. The rope surrounding the largest tree meant nothing to the 14 year old, and you whisper as you distort her perception, so when she found her way back to her consciousness, she wouldn't be able to tell for a bit what was real and what wasn't.
"Who are we to say who's version of reality isn't real?"
•••
"[f/n]!"
You open your eyes with a jolt, turning to see Kyouka waving at you to follow Atsushi and her back to the agency now that their time on the case was finished.
Kyouka...we were close. You were like a little sister to me...why didn't you say anything?
What did I do?
When you don't move, Atsushi walks over to you with concern after instructing the dark haired girl to wait for him.
"We've been calling you for a while. Are you ok?" Atsushi asks, placing a hand gently on your shoulder, a warm touch you welcomed.
"I think...I remembered something...but..." you bite your lip out of a nervous habit, looking away from Atsushi's gleaming purple-yellow gaze.
"You don't have to explain yourself, it's ok. We aren't here to place pressure on you."
"Can I stay out here for a bit? I know the way back so you don't have to worry." You ask, relieved he wasn't asking any questions.
"Oh...ok, that's fine. Try to be back before everyone leaves so we know you're safe..." Atsushi smiles sweetly, letting go of you and heading back, only turning around once to say:
"It's good to have you back by the way. Even if we have to get to know each other again!"
You're so kind...
But something feels like a lie.
Yes, things were off. Now you just wanted to know why. All you knew was that things were starting to feel more familiar, and you furthermore remembered why you liked the Yokohama docks so much. You always visited them like a calm before a storm. They reminded you of moments of surreal peace before the whole world seemed to shake in punishment.
•••
By the time you were walking back to the agency to find your given apartment and meet Atsushi again, the moon was up, it's silver light illuminating the grey pavement as you kept your head straight and focused on your destination.
It was quiet, save the few cars here and there and your soft steps against the hard ground. You felt calm, and truly alive for the first time in a long time.
Am I overreacting? Is this just a side affect from being gone so long? The feeling that something is supposed to be happening?
You were lost in thought as you crossed the road from your empty sidewalk onto a lively plaza, store lights everywhere, and an abundance of people late at night leaving work or just getting ready to enjoy themselves until dawn.
You hear a light coughing next to you, but you look up too late and bump into a man in a long and elegant black coat, his pale skin contrasted by his jet black hair with white tips dyed at the ends. His glasses that hid his eyes fell, and with complete embarrassment you bend to pick them up quickly, handing them to him as you look up, meeting his eyes.
Eyes that reminded you of the moon.