When (Y/n) woke up, she heard the gentle humming of a car engine.
She felt the gentle tossing of a car traveling down the road.
She smelled leather seats.
She tasted tea that she had drank earlier at the Agency.
She saw the moon shining brilliantly outside the back window of the car that she had deduced she was currently traveling in.
She heard a soft gasp and turned her head to see the worried face of Naomi looking back at her with a nervous smile as the ravenette raised a hand and shakily waved, "Uhm, good morning— well technically it's night now-- so good evening (Y/n)-san... I bet you're very curious to know what happened after you... well..."
Haruno was driving the car and she continued after Naomi stalled, "—After you fell asleep. We will tell you everything as soon as we get to our destination, alright?"
(Y/n) nodded in agreement before she turned on her side and closed her eyes again. (Y/n) was too tired to argue, but her mind was beginning to run the possibilities of what was going on, and of what had happened after that old dog forced her to rest. Before she could hold her tongue, she began to speak her current hypothesis.
"Where are we going anyway? Obviously, I'm not going home or else Daz---Osamu would have gladly carried me while saying something like, anything for my Queen. We can't be going anywhere important seeing as I have been asleep for at least seven hours since the moonrise is at 6:30 due to the seasons, which means I am in no presentable state for a formal gathering. This means we are going to one of two kinds of places during such turbulent times as these. One: we are going to get information that puts no agents at risk, and you were instructed to take me with you to keep me from losing my temper when I woke after Yukichi so rudely put me down... Or, two: Yukichi instructed you to tell me that you would tell me all the details once we've arrived somewhere specific because we are going somewhere I hate. Considering the events today, and considering I know how that old man thinks, we're going to a safe house."
There was silence in the car for a few moments before (Y/n) heard amazed gasps coming from the pair sitting up front. Haruno's voice praised the woman as she said, "Wow, (Y/n)-chan! Did you figure all of that out in just a few minutes you were awake?!"
Naomi hummed in agreement before she said, "Haruno is right, I never thought you would get that from just what we've told you! You really are amazing, I can see why Dazai-san said that you would be fine the other day when you went missing. Not to mention when you saved me, my big brother, and Atushi from that Octagona guy you were so smart and were able to help us out a lot!"
"Akutagawa?"
"Right, him!"
Haruno giggled at Naomi's words before she said, "Dazai-san also said that he wouldn't sleep until his Queen was safe that day you went missing! *sigh* I'm so jealous of you, (Y/n)... I wish I had a boyfriend who would dote on me like he does to you, how romantic!"
(Y/n) couldn't help the small smile that formed on her lips as a light blush spread across her cheeks and she sat up in the seat.
"I'm glad to hear that he is very worried about me, but I should clear up that he and I are not a couple. There is no way that flirtatious man would ever settle down... unfortunately."
She mumbled out that last word, but the sharp ears of both women picked up her mumbles and Naomi squealed out, "What do you mean!? He would totally snatch you up if you asked him out!"
Haruno added in, "She's right, (Y/n). Yes, he is quite the flirt, but I don't think I've heard him mention any woman since he has started spending so much time with you. I think he really does like you."
(Y/n) leaned down and sat her elbows on her knees as she knitted her fingers together and said, "Please, tell me more."Naomi brought her hand to her chin before she said, "Oh, uhh-- well, we had never seen Dazai worry about another Agency member overworking themselves until this morning. In fact, he is usually the reason most of us have to overwork ourselves."
(Y/n) bowed her head softly as she said, "I'm sorry. I'm trying to get him to do his work. I wish he were easier to train, I'm so sorry it is affecting everyone else-"
Haruno spoke up and said, "Actually, he has started doing more of his work. He actually writes up a few reports now instead of asking someone else to do it. That, and I think the fact that he doesn't openly flirt with you anymore means he probably respects you more than others."
(Y/n) was smiling like a dope in love as she said, "Please, keep it coming. I need to know if he really does like me."
Naomi frowned a but as she said, "Well, to be honest, you and Dazai are together so much when you leave the office that we don't see a whole lot. I guess it wouldn't hurt to say it was Dazai's idea to send you to the safe house though."
(Y/n) stopped the girl before she asked, "What? Why though? He knows I hate being told to stay somewhere, I'm not a dog!"
The two women shrugged before Haruno said, "He only said that it was a good place for you to be. He said you would be the best suited for a-- what did he call it, Naomi?"
Naomi chimed in and said, "He called her our most refined asset! He said you would be the only agent capable of being a solo defense team."
(Y/n) couldn't help but smile at their words before she leaned back into the seat and sighed out, "He really knows what words to use to get to a woman, huh? I guess he also recommended I stay here to keep me from overusing my ability... he's so selfish sometimes."
(Y/n) sighed and looked out the window before she said, "Oh well, even if I don't want to be cooped up in some safe house for God knows how long, at least I'll have some nice company."
Naomi smiled back at the woman as she said, "Yes! That's the spirit, (Y/n)! We're going to make the most of this safe house vacation!"
Haruno hummed in agreement as she said, "I brought a few games from Ranpo's stash for us to keep ourselves busy! We're almost there too! Oh, I can't wait to get to know you a little better, (Y/n)-chan! I haven't had a chance to just sit down and get to know you yet!"
(Y/n) couldn't help but chuckle at the pair's almost infectious optimism. Maybe this forced vacation wouldn't be terrible?
"The feelings are mutual, but as soon as we get to this place, I think I'm going to crash again. Do you think we can start the safe-house vacation tomorrow after we get some work done?"
Naomi nodded to the tired woman and said, "Yes, of course! Dazai-san mentioned that you would be very tired. He told us it was a product of using your ability too much... say, (Y/n)--"
"We're heeerrreee! Tada! A cozy lodge that the Agency owns! We use it for work vacations and as a safe house. It isn't officially an asset of the Agency, so no one should be able to connect this location with it."
(Y/n) and Naomi looked out the window and saw a quaint wooden building nestled in the foliage. It was dark outside, and the only sign of life in the building was the glow of a porch light illuminating the front door.
It was a beautiful building though, from what (Y/n) could see in the moonlight at least...
It was a large, two-story, wooden cabin with a long front porch and a double door entrance. Yukichi certainly did like to spend big when it came to the Agency, didn't he?
Haruno took the key from the ignition and the three women spilled out of the car.
Naomi was still in awe of the cabin as her eyes sparkled with curiosity and joy. "Wow! I've never been to a place like this before! Even if it's for a terrible reason I vow to take advantage of this lodge if it's the last thing I do!"
(Y/n) couldn't help but chuckle at the girl before she said, "Oh the youth of today... Am I right, Haruno-san?"
The bespectacled brunette laughed along side her as she popped the trunk of the small car and said, "Indeed. Now both of you come get your bags and we'll head in. I'll give you guys a tour since I think it's the first time either of you has been here."
(Y/n) walked over to the trunk of the car before she noticed that sitting in the trunk was her shoulder bag, her black coat, and her sports bag from highschool that she used to carry her clothes for her club. She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as she examined the bag.
Haruno noticed the woman's stalled form and asked, "(Y/n)-chan, are you alright?"
Her soft and cheery voice dragged (Y/n) from her thoughts before she asked, "Who packed my bag?"
Naomi had begun to pull her own bag from the trunk and Haruno gave (Y/n) a cat-like smile before she said, "Dazai did."
(Y/n) smiled softly and grabbed her belongings as she said, "Of course he did."
(Y/n) closed the trunk after she had her bags and the three walked over up to the front doors. Haruno juggled with her keys and finally found the one key that unlocked the doors.
Haruno walked over to a wall close to the door and went to flip on a lightswitch.
click
...
click
...
click-click-click-click-click
"Haruno-san, I don't think that light is going to work. Let's test another one."
The three walked in a group, the two office workers clutching to each of (Y/n)'s arms as they search an adjacent room for a switch.
click-click----- CLICKCLICKCLICKCLICKCLICK
"Haruno, it's not working, just stop flipping the poor switch!"
"But (Y/n)-chan, I'm afraid of the dark!"
(Y/n) chuckled at the older woman's confession as Naomi chimed in, "Me too! What are we going to do! We can't even charge our phones for flashlights if the power isn't on!"
(Y/n) smiled and said, "I can fix this, hold on."
(Y/n) felt around the dark until she found a soft surface and determined she had found a chair or a couch. She set her bags and items down on the furniture before she stretched her arms above her head and said, "Alright-- Let's do this thing. Database--"
The blue screen flashed to life in front of her, but it was invisible to the two women hugging her arms. "Disable Privacy Mode."
At her words, the screen slowly became visible to the women at her sides. The screen gave off a pale blue glow to the room and illuminated their surroundings. "Wow! So this is what you're poking at when you use your ability! So pretty!"
Naomi's face was almost touching the screen as she examined it more closely.
"Yeah, it basically acts as a mobile computer. But for now, I'm going to use it to figure out where the circuit breakers are."
Haruno's eyes widened as she said, "Oh, you're right. We should check the breakers to make sure they aren't shut off. But what do we do if the lights still don't work?"
(Y/n) smiled and said, "The breakers will work, the porch light is on, so the lodge has power, just not inside as far as we can tell. Come on, database is almost done downloading the floorplans to the lodge."
"So, this screen is called database?"
"Yeah, it helps me keep track of my other codes that I can use for my ability. I can also watch the news, and YouTube, and search for records pretty easily. Right now, we're going to use it to find an electrical print of this place."
Almost as soon as she said those words, a notification flashed at the bottom of the screen.
Download Complete - Opening in 2s
An electrical blueprint of the building flashed onto the screen and a small arrow on the screen showed where (Y/n) was in the house, and where the breakers were.
"Alright ladies, follow me if you want light!"
The pair followed (Y/n) and her light into a large kitchen connected to the living area they had just left. Off to the side of the kitchen was another door that would lead them into a mudroom, where the circuit breakers were.
"Ne, ne, Haruno-san, Naomi-chan! Do you think this place is haunted? Maybe the lights aren't working because of ghosts..."
The pair stiffened at (Y/n)'s words before they both simultaneously said, "Just flip the switch (Y/n)-san, pleaassseee!"
(Y/n) laughed out at their words before she flipped the breakers into the on position. The buzz of an air conditioner chimed to life along with the whir of the kitchen appliances.
The two office workers were startled by the sudden noises and (Y/n) couldn't resist the urge to pick fun at them again. "Well, I guess this place is haunted. I didn't flip any switches yet and everything just turned on."
"H-hey, you're joking right?! She's joking, right Haruno?!"
"I-I think I heard the switches but what if that was all in my head!?"
(Y/n) laughed once more before she thought to herself, Maybe staying here won't be too terrible.
(End Chapter)