Chapter 116 This person is completely immersed in...
The young man named Dazai Osamu appears to be a reliable and friendly adult male.
However, having already witnessed this person flirting with... well, joking around and acting silly with the shop assistant, Tsukino and Chiya thought it was just an illusion.
Hmm, it must have been just my imagination.
Dazai Osamu didn't sit directly next to Edogawa Ranpo, who occupied the middle of the long, soft sofa opposite him, but he wasn't much better off—he chose the sofa chair with his back to Edogawa Ranpo as his seat.
Then, sitting on the side in his chair, he eagerly poked his hairy head out and said very kindly, "How long have you been in Yokohama? I've lived here for many years and know the whole city very well~ Do you need me to recommend some nice places for a date?"
The young man with slightly curly hair paused briefly at this point.
Then, Dazai Osamu gave a meaningful smile, and immediately changed his tone from the cheerful and slightly frivolous one to a deep and enigmatic one, which sounded more like a deception.
"Ask me! I know many great places that even locals who have lived in Yokohama for years don't know about. It's an exclusive five-star travel guide."
...But it just feels even more suspicious now.
It was nothing more than hearing what location Dazai Osamu would mention; Tsukino and Chiya didn't intend to refuse the offer.
While sipping their coffee, Tsukino and Chiya didn't have time to talk. However, compared to the travel itinerary Dazai Osamu later suggested, his mind was mainly focused on what this person had just said about "dating."
Since Wang Ma didn't refute it, he was too lazy to refute it either. Yeah, that's how it is.
Edogawa Ranpo, who was eating snacks, naturally heard what Dazai Osamu said, but knowing that Dazai was just bored and wanted to tease people, he had no intention of paying attention to him.
When he was a teenager, Edogawa Ranpo was influenced by his exceptionally intelligent parents and always thought of himself as an ordinary child who was no different from others and had nothing outstanding about him.
At that time, Ranpo always thought that what he could easily see through, others—especially adults—could also easily see through, and see much more than he could. Therefore, he did not have the habit of proactively explaining to others everything he could analyze.
However, later, by a twist of fate, he encountered the former president of the detective agency and finally realized his own difference. As a detective, explaining things to those who couldn't see through the truth is now something he often does.
But now...
While enjoying his dessert, Edogawa Ranpo glanced at the high school duo sitting opposite him, then lowered his head to continue eating the sweets in his bowl.
There's no need for him to say anything more about things that everyone already knows. He chewed, chewed, chewed, enjoying the delicious treats. The famous detective was too lazy to get involved in such unimportant matters; the snacks in front of him were far more appealing.
At the moment, neither Tsukino and Chiya, who were focused on drinking coffee, nor Edogawa Ranpo, who was focused on eating sweets, had any intention of saying anything.
But the atmosphere didn't just turn cold because of that—because there was still one other person present!
"Huh? What? What?"
Faced with Dazai Osamu's overtures of kindness and enthusiasm, Ohma Shokichi was very accommodating. The purple-haired boy's tone was full of curiosity and anticipation, as if he had come to Yokohama specifically for tourism.
"Are there any other fun and interesting places in Yokohama? Kozuki and I did a lot of research before coming to Yokohama, so we're practically Yokohama experts now! Well, there are two of us, so together we're complete Yokohama experts now?"
"Well..." Dazai Osamu chuckled, not revealing the answer directly, "As newly minted Yokohama experts, why don't you take a guess first?"
Two people who currently thrive on chaos have found common ground in a strange place. — This is the conclusion Tsukino and Chiya reached.
However, since the topic has come to this point, Tsukino and Chiya are also very curious about what kind of place Dazai Osamu would recommend.
Some classic tourist spots in Yokohama? Probably not. Some hidden gems known only to locals are more likely. Or perhaps—
Tsukino and Chiya made some slightly darker, worse assumptions.
Could it be something that involves certain forces in Yokohama? Although considering the Armed Detective Agency's reputation and the fact that they have no vested interests, it shouldn't be that... but it's still the worst-case scenario.
Or perhaps...
Tsukino and Chiya remembered why they had initially come to this coffee shop... So, did this young man named Dazai Osamu also see something like Edogawa Ranpo? Could he be recommending some places related to "paranormal events"?
At this moment, the two guys who were casually spouting lies that were easy to expose but somehow no one had called them out seemed to finally be satisfied.
Tsukino and Chiya's coffee cups were finally empty, and he put the cups back on the table.
"To be honest, Yokohama isn't that big. But there's a saying... that's right, 'You need to have eyes to see beauty.' If you follow my guide full of love and beauty, you'll be able to experience many beautiful things that are easily overlooked in everyday life."
At this point, Dazai Osamu began to speak with a smile about his exclusive travel tips.
"first……"
"...Then when you get there, you'll see a tree. The branches of that tree are perfect for hanging yourself. You can tie two pretty knots in it and enjoy the sunset over Yokohama from the right time, isn't that nice?"
"However, if they just hang themselves, even knowing that they have someone by their side, they'll still inevitably feel a little lonely, right?"
"Actually, the river where I met Wang Ma yesterday was pretty nice too, wasn't it? The two of us tied together, embracing each other, and fell into the icy river together. The water was cold, but the embrace was perhaps warm, and we drowned together in the end of happiness..."
"Besides that, there's another place that's also very nice..."
"Oh dear, I'm a very open-minded person. But personally, I'd still prefer to find a beautiful lady to commit double suicide with..."
Tsukino and Chiya: "..." This person is completely immersed in his own fantasy of dying for love and has forgotten what the world is like.
He was suddenly relieved that he had finished his coffee. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to control himself from spitting it out while listening to these comments.
Although Wang Ma Xiaoji had mentioned last night that this person had an unusual pursuit of suicide... Tsukino and Chiya, being careless, never expected that his exclusive travel guide was actually a Yokohama suicide guide in some sense.
Just how obsessed is this person with death?
"Eh~ Is that so? I see. But I don't plan to commit suicide with someone for the time being. Because the life of an evil leader is very precious. I still need to use this life to lure out a lot of people who want to trade me for money in the dark world with the bounty on my head! It would be no fun if I died now."
After Dazai Osamu finished his satisfying narration and turned to pick up his cup to moisten his throat, which was now somewhat parched from his incessant talking, Ohma Kokichi turned his head to look at Tsukino and Chiya, who had also finished their coffee and were now moving on to pudding.
"What is Kazuo Kozuki thinking?"
"As for me," Tsukino and Chiya gently poked the pudding with their forks, "if possible, I'd rather live a good life right now."
“That’s a pity,” Dazai Osamu said, turning back to his side. “Because double suicide is a matter for two people. If it’s just one person, then… double suicide is impossible.”
Towards the end, Dazai Osamu's tone changed slightly, as if he were about to hum such embarrassing content as an off-key song.
This transition was very skillful; it was clear that this wasn't the first time he had hummed such an original tune, otherwise he wouldn't have unconsciously wanted to sing it out while talking.
Although Osamu Dazai had an unusual pursuit of suicide, he did not force others to understand or carry out his pursuit.
So after being rejected by both people, he simply sighed with regret, showing no sign of sadness, and turned around to drink the beverage he had finally managed to order after some back and forth with the staff.
The surroundings seemed to suddenly become quiet again.
As Tsukino and Chiya ate their pudding, they couldn't help but think about what Dazai Osamu had just said.
Please don't misunderstand, he certainly had no intention of "dying." It was just that when he heard Dazai Osamu repeatedly mention a double suicide based on him and Ohma, he subconsciously imagined it for a moment.
...It does feel a bit strange.
Tsukino and Chiya expressionlessly banished the strange images from their minds.
Suicide pact... While it can't be simply defined as "two people dying together," it still requires meeting certain conditions. And for the two who haven't yet resolved the issues surrounding their past, neither can guarantee they can avoid this terrible situation.
Tsukino and Chiya care a lot about Ohma Kokichi, and this care gradually gives rise to other feelings, some of which can be defined as... love?
They'd heard that intense love could be accompanied by self-destructive tendencies. Tsukino and Chiya knew very well that they were far from out of danger, so what if...?
...
...Well, for now, he still can't quite imagine it.
Sitting opposite Tsukino, Chiya, and Ohma Kokichi, Edogawa Ranpo contentedly put down his spoon. The spoon clinked crisply against the empty bowl.
"Regarding the matter you want to know," Edogawa Ranpo, in a good mood with nothing else to interrupt him after he had eaten and drunk his fill, finally said, "The person who took over is currently at the pizzeria."
After regaining their senses, Tsukino and Chiya nodded and wrote down the information about the "pizza shop".
Edogawa Ranpo: "..."
Tsukino and Qianye: "..."
Edogawa Ranpo: "..."
Wang Ma Xiaoji: "Oh my god? Are you guys playing some kind of game behind my back where whoever speaks first loses?"
Tsukino and Chiya: "Um..."
...Huh? That's all?
Tsukino and Chiya, who were waiting for more to come, belatedly realized that Edogawa Ranpo's information was just this one simple sentence, and that was the end of it.
But in a city like Yokohama, there's definitely more than one pizzeria. Where exactly is Edogawa Ranpo referring to?
Just as this thought crossed their minds, Tsukino and Chiya suddenly heard a loud bang.
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