Chapter 38
[OK. ]
Shen Du Jianliu agreed without any hesitation.
If he calculated carefully, he hadn't seen Dazai Osamu for 2 days, 20 hours and 15 minutes, which was just enough time to check out his current emotional state.
but.
Before heading to Lupin, he went back home.
After washing off the many tiny traces on his body, as well as the unique salty smell of the sea near the pier, Shen Du Jianliu changed into a new suit that he had just applied for two days ago, took out a few boxes of red bean daifuku that he had bought not long ago, and went out.
The environment of Lupin is almost the same as I remember. Delicate warm lights shroud the quiet bar, and elegant musical notes fill the air, weaving a pure and comfortable atmosphere.
Dazai Osamu was the only customer in the store at the moment.
He supported himself on the bar counter with one hand, his handsome face showing a hint of boredom, and his quiet left eye turned to look over in the direction of the sound of the bar door being pushed open.
"You really came to meet Liu Jun."
The end of Dazai Osamu's voice was light and without waiting for Kamado Kenru to answer, he suddenly took out his cell phone and called someone unknown.
"Moses Moses—"
"Hey, Chuuya, have you gone back yet? I'm really busy right now and don't have time to report on my work just now. In that case, please report it for me and also help me write a paper report~"
"……ah!?"
The voice from the other end of the phone was raised in volume, and could be heard clearly even through the air outside the phone.
"Now that the mission is over, what do you have to do?!"
"Ah, being a quasi-cadre means having less time. Should I apply to my boss to return my quasi-cadre position? But it doesn't hurt to tell you."
Dazai Osamu said quickly before the voice on the other end of the phone rang again: "I'm busy with Jianliu-kun. He will help me block a lot of alcohol later. It's really a big help. This way I don't have to go back drunk and with a splitting headache."
"You're right, Jian Liujun?"
Shen Du saw Liu looking at the phone held up by the black-haired boy without any expression, and responded to meet the other party's wish.
"Um."
"That's it then, Chuuya."
Dazai Osamu took the phone back and said leisurely into the microphone: "I'll leave the report to you. Goodbye."
"…What did you say? You bastard! You bully me again…"
With a beep, the black-haired boy hung up the phone.
Two seconds later, the cell phone in Shen Du Jianliu's pocket suddenly rang.
He silently lowered his eyes and took out his mobile phone, which attracted Dazai Osamu who was sitting there to curiously lean his head over and stare at the standard words "Nakahara Chuuya" on the screen.
"Hello."
"Hello? Jianliu, you..."
The phone was just picked up, and the voice on the other end still had some lingering anger at first.
As if worried that his tone would scare the frail white-haired boy on the other end of the phone, Nakahara Chuuya coughed lightly and slowed down his speaking speed.
"Where are you now? Have you been drinking?"
"No."
Shen Du Jianliu denied it obediently. He glanced at Dazai Osamu who was blinking next to him, and added one word with a flat expression: "Yet."
"Yet? Not yet?"
Nakahara Chuuya breathed a sigh of relief. He lowered his voice, trying to make his tone gentle, and said in a persuasive manner: "Are you with Dazai now?"
"I don't mean to interfere with your relationships and daily life, but you need to pay extra attention to that scum of the earth."
"Don't listen to that guy later, no matter how much he asks you to drink."
"Did you hear that?"
"……Um."
Shen Du Jian Liu's voice was calm.
According to his observation, Dazai Osamu would not allow himself to drink, so it didn't matter if he responded to him.
But there are some things that need to be denied: "Mr. Dazai is not a scum."
"He is human."
Nakahara Chuuya: “…”
"Ah, yeah."
"I won't mention what species that guy is, but don't stay in the bar for too long, and remember not to drink the wine handed to you by strangers!"
"If you've stayed long enough, come back early. Call me if you need anything..."
"Hayi, Hayi, are you a nagging old woman?"
Dazai Osamu suddenly put his head close to Kamado Miru's microphone and interrupted his partner who had just finished the mission and separated with a disdainful tone: "Don't bother us if you have nothing to do."
“Dazai—! You bastard!!”
The voice on the other end of the line gnashed his teeth again, but thinking that the person holding the phone was a well-behaved boy who would call him brother, Nakahara Chuuya lowered his voice again: "Ahem!"
"In short, don't drink too much. Your health is not good to begin with."
"Okay, I'll be obedient."
Shen Du Jianliu noticed that the tone of the person on the other end of the phone showed a hint of anxiety, so he chose to satisfy the other party.
In the end, he hung up the phone amid the orange-haired boy's earnest advice.
"What a good relationship you have, Jianliu-kun and Chuuya."
Dazai Osamu supported his smoothly-shaped chin with one hand, with a half-smile on his face. His expression was no longer as exaggerated and absurd as before, and his light tone suggested something meaningful.
However, as soon as Nakahara Chuuya hung up the phone, another call rang.
This is a strange call.
Shen Du Jianliu had no impression of this phone number at all. He thought for a moment and pressed the answer button in front of the black-haired boy.
"Hello? Hello!"
"Excuse me, is this Master Shendu?"
"What's up."
He had some impression of this voice and recognized who it was.
"I... ahem, it's like this, I'm one of Lord Sasaki's subordinates. You rescued me and went to the clinic two days ago. I wonder if you still remember."
"As I recall, are you okay?"
"No problem at all! The doctor said that I just need to follow the doctor's orders and recuperate normally. The bullet didn't hurt my bones, and the treatment time is very fast. I won't be left with any terrible sequelae such as paralysis!"
The other party's voice was very excited. Combining the tone, Shen Du Jianliu was able to determine that the person on the other end of the phone was very energetic.
The worries and fears buried in my heart have disappeared, and no seeds of despair will be rekindled.
Remember that PortMafia will also give a subsidy to the injured, the medical expenses will be borne by the organization, and the other party will not face an economic crisis.
You don't need to follow this person anymore.
"I'm sorry to receive your call without your permission. I want to treat you to a meal to thank you in person. I wonder when you are free this week?"
"No."
Shen Du was indifferent to Liu Qingleng's cold voice.
Maybe it was because he refused too quickly, but Dazai Osamu, who had originally sat back down, raised his head and looked over again.
The black-haired boy with fluffy and slightly curly hair put down the arm that was supporting his chin, and his iris-colored eyes seemed thoughtful under the dim light.
"Eh!? You...you don't have time?"
"Um."
Shen Du Jianliu heard a moment of loss in the other party's tone and couldn't help but frown, but the other party seemed to comfort himself very quickly, and his emotions were far from the level of causing despair or wanting to die, and he immediately lowered his attitude -
"You are very capable, so it is natural that you are busy at work. I am very sorry!"
Shen Du Jian Liu: "..."
It's not a forced tone, that's good.
This further confirmed his judgment.
Since the other party has now gotten rid of the "despair" caused by the threat of death and lifelong disability, you can rest assured. Continuing to contact the other party is just a waste of time.
"Well, then, do you have time next week..."
"No need to treat me to a meal."
Shen Du Jian Liu interrupted the man's question: "If it's nothing serious, don't contact me."
“I wish you a better life in the future.”
He hung up the phone with a calm expression, but his mood was brighter than before.
The atmosphere in the bar returned to silence. Dazai Osamu, who was sitting opposite, just stared quietly at the phone screen of the white-haired boy as he disconnected the call.
When he saw that Shen Du Jianliu's mobile page jumped back and suddenly turned into a photo of him and a middle-aged man, he seemed to raise his eyebrows.
【! ! ! 】
[Wow, Liu’s screen saver is a photo of him and Uncle Jiangkou]
[It’s really Uncle Eguchi… I never noticed it before]
[Good people are really rewarded, and he was even invited to dinner, although Liu refused]
[To be honest, what does it mean to "kill you and call Jianliu Lai"? You know he vomited blood last time he drank.]
[He must have just said it out of anger, in order to avoid reporting it? After all, there is no alcohol here to stop it ×】
[In-depth interpretation: Zai may want to test the current relationship between Chuuya and A Liu. After all, A Liu has even met Wei Erlan.]
[By the way, does Zai know that Chuuya and Weilun treat our Jianlu as their younger brother? 】
[I feel sad when I see the group photo]
…
Shen Du Jianliu followed the black-haired boy's line of sight and glanced at his phone screensaver.
"This is the gentleman who recommended me to join PortMafia."
Because the phone was bought for him by the other party, not only that, Mr. Eguchi took a photo with him right after buying it and used it as the screensaver for him.
Since he never cared about such trivial matters and there was no point in changing the screen saver, Shen Du Jianliu never moved.
Unconsciously it has been preserved until now.
"Yeah?"
Dazai Osamu suddenly withdrew his gaze and stared at the wine glass that had just been brought to the bar with dull eyes.
"I remember that Jian Liujun joined the GSS undercover case."
"Um."
"Well - so the task I asked Jianliu-kun to come here for is now complete. You can go back now!"
"What do you mean?"
The door of a shop not far away suddenly opened at this moment.
Following the ringing of the doorbell, two young men in their early 20s pushed open Lupin's door and walked into the bar together.
"Shendu-kun?"
The black-haired young man who walked in first wore round-frame glasses and had his bangs combed up with hair gel. His olive green eyes showed a hint of surprise: "Are you here too?"
"Um."
Kamado Miru had noticed their footsteps a few minutes ago.
"Since you're here, stay and sit for a while."
Oda Sakunosuke behind the other person obviously heard what Dazai Osamu had just said, but he did not agree with it. Instead, he made an invitation in a friendly tone.
"No."
Shen Du Jianliu shook his head: "If Mr. Dazai has nothing else to do, I will go back."
Judging from the other person's appearance, he will not commit suicide today.
"...I noticed it before. You seem to listen to Dazai in particular."
Sakaguchi Ango's eyebrows twitched, and he turned his gaze to a black-haired boy sitting there. On the other hand, he looked indifferent... as if it didn't matter to him whether Shen Duli left or not.
"Did you have a quarrel?"
Oda Sakunosuke sat down in his usual seat with a puzzled look, raised his hand and ordered a glass of wine from the boss.
However, because of his seemingly calm words, Dazai Osamu and Kamado Miru next to him were stunned.
The guy in front couldn't see his expression clearly, so the boy behind him looked even more puzzled than Odasaku: "No."
"I want to become very good friends with Dazai-san."
“…”
Sakaguchi Ango: Ah.
He probably knew why Dazai showed such a cold reaction.
Sakaguchi Ango originally thought that the other party was very easy-going when dealing with himself and Mr. Odasaku, so there was no reason to make an exception only for Shen Du.
Maybe after I go back, I can give that guy Shen Du a heads up. If I want to be friends with Dazai, I can't attack him so fiercely.
"This is a gift I brought to Mr. Dazai, Mr. Oda, and Mr. Sakaguchi."
Before leaving, Shen Du Jianliu opened the plastic bag he had been holding in his other hand, took out the red bean daifuku gift bag that had been packed in advance and handed it over.
When I bought it for Ryunosuke Akutagawa, that popular store happened to be having a promotion.
He bought a few copies so he could give them to them together.
"Eh? Thank you... it's a great blessing."
Sakaguchi Ango took the thing handed over by the white-haired boy. He glanced at the gifts received by the other two friends. It was obviously the same thing.
Is this a casual gift for a senior?
Um? etc.
Dazai Osamu's seems a little different.
The eyes of the bandaged black-haired boy beside him were also filled with curiosity. He blinked, lowered his head and opened the bag.
Inside was not only a box of exquisite red bean daifuku, but also a can of crab meat.
Dazai Osamu: “…”
"That's great, Dazai."
Oda Sakunosuke looked at the box in his hand and made a sound of envy in a sincere tone.
"Not like us."
"Ah - haha, yes, that's good, we don't have it." Sakaguchi Ango decided to say more good things about Kamado Miru.
"never mind."
Dazai Osamu sighed softly, closed the lid of the gift box, and glanced at the white-haired boy who was putting away the outermost bag.
The other person was wearing a clean and neat pure black suit, with silver hair hanging casually by his ears with a faint hint of moisture. The suit was not one of the ones he had seen before, and it looked brand new.
"Jian Liujun, you smell great, have you changed into new clothes?"
"Yeah, the body wash Chuuya-san bought me."
"It's called BOTANIST, water lily fragrance."
Shen Du Jian Liu thought about it, tilted his head and asked: "Do you need it?"
"...Really? No need. Since it was given to you by the dwarf, just keep it."
"I'll just say thank you for the gift."
The black-haired boy's voice was slightly nasal, and his tone was somewhat brisk in the quiet bar.
The slow notes flowed in the air, and in this relatively pleasant atmosphere, the slender white-haired boy left Lupin.
***
After Shen Du Jianliu left, the small bar became the place where the three of them used to be.
Sakaguchi Ango ordered a glass of pine wine. He turned to look at the black-haired boy sitting next to him. He had been filled with a quiet atmosphere since a while ago and didn't know what he was thinking about. He couldn't help but said, "Dazai."
"Shendu-kun was just being straightforward. We can all see his sincerity."
Why push him away?
The air fell into a brief silence as the young man spoke.
Dazai Osamu propped his chin with one hand, and gently stroked the edge of the cup with his slender thumb: "Are you sincere..."
"Perhaps."
He lowered his iris-colored left eye that was not covered by the bandages, and his low voice was like clouds floating in the sky, empty and ethereal, and cold and lonely to the core.
"Ango, do you know?"
"Whatever you want, you will lose after you get it."
…
If his previous guess was correct, he had discovered something new.
The black-haired boy stopped talking. His gloomy iris-colored eyes were as deep as the abyss. The ripples of light reflected in his pupils soon disappeared quietly.
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