Chapter 259 The Third Player

"Mr. Mochizuki, I remember helping you water Miss Kurumi yesterday." Nakajima Atsushi whispered, "What happened?"

Yesterday, both Saikai Haruto and Oda Saku did not return home, which was unusual. The lights next door were not on all night, which made Nakajima Atsushi uneasy the whole day, fearing that he or Oda had done something.

"Then I'd like to thank Atsushi-kun on behalf of Kurumi. You've worked hard. But nothing happened. Children shouldn't think too much. Adults will take care of adult matters."

Xi Haiqingdou hummed and changed the subject: "Did Atsushi eat when I was not at home?"

"Yeah!" Nakajima Atsushi nodded obediently: "I eat on time!"

As a result, as soon as he finished speaking, his stomach growled uncooperatively. Nakajima Atsushi immediately lowered his head and covered his stomach in embarrassment: "S-Sorry, I accidentally forgot this morning..."

Xihai Qingdou laughed dumbly.

"Did you not sleep all night last night?"

He took a closer look. The child was young and didn't have any dark circles under his eyes, but he looked a little listless. The red bloodshot in his eyes gave him away completely.

"No, no, I went to bed on time yesterday." Nakajima Atsushi immediately said, "I just accidentally had a nightmare and couldn't fall asleep..." His expression became more and more ashamed.

How should I put it? Yesterday was one of the rare days since Nakajima Atsushi moved in that neither Saikai Haruto nor Oda Sakunosuke were at home. It was also the most uneasy day - even on the first day here when I had a nightmare in the middle of the night and thought I was still in the orphanage and everything was fake, I had never felt so uneasy.

After all, when he woke up from a nightmare, Xi Hai Qing Dou turned on the night light to comfort him, but last night when he had a nightmare, there was only darkness in the room.

Perhaps it was his intuition. Even though Saikai Haruto had called him yesterday, Nakajima Atsushi still felt inexplicably uneasy, as if there was an unknown radar ringing wildly in his brain.

But Nakajima Atsushi's character and his past experience of growing up in an orphanage destined him to not be a "willful" child, and he would not do anything to act coquettishly and willfully to ask Saikai Haruto not to leave, not to mention that Saikai Haruto might not agree... After being with him for a long time, Nakajima Atsushi could see clearly that although "Mr. Mochizuki" was sometimes easy to talk to, once he made a decision on some matters of principle, it was basically difficult to change his mind.

So when he didn't come back yesterday, Nakajima Atsushi felt uneasy but he could only obey and stay at home alone, trying not to cause trouble for him.

He also has to go to bed on time - Saikai Haruto has told him that children of his age are in the growth stage, and if they go to bed too late they will not grow tall, so he has set a certain bedtime for him, and Nakajima Atsushi follows his instructions every day.

But last night, because of the inexplicable uneasiness and worry in his heart, Nakajima Atsushi tossed and turned in bed for a long time and couldn't fall asleep. After finally falling asleep, he had a nightmare that woke him up... As a result, after getting up this morning for a while, he even forgot what the nightmare was about.

Saikai Haruto didn't sigh again - if he sighed again, the psychological pressure from Nakajima Atsushi would probably become even greater.

This kid has this kind of personality. Once something happens, he always likes to take the blame on himself even if it has nothing to do with him. He also feels ashamed because others care about him too much... He always has a tendency to "depreciate himself" in his heart, and this is not easy to see in both Saikai Haruto himself and "Mochizuki Kaoru".

He cursed the dean countless times in his heart.

"Go take a nap and rest first, Atsushi-kun. I just got back and need to tidy up first."

He reached out and rubbed Nakajima Atsushi's hair again - the boy's hair quality had not been very good in the past due to malnutrition, but fortunately this year, with the help of Saikai Haruto and Oda Misaki, it has finally improved a lot, and now it feels much softer when rubbed.

"Don't worry, I won't disappear while you're sleeping." He smiled, "I can assure you that there is no problem at all. I am not injured, and I am not in any danger."

"Okay! Teacher Mochizuki!" The purple-gold eyes lit up instantly.

Xi Haiqing Dou always keeps his word, and the young man knows it very well.

Perhaps it was because Saikai Haruto had returned that Nakajima Atsushi slept quite soundly during this time. When he woke up again, he suddenly felt his head was extremely clear and he even seemed to smell the fragrance of food... ?

When he followed the aroma and walked out, he found that it was not an illusion - the dishes on the table were still hot and fragrant, and Xi Haiqing Dou had changed into a new kimono and was sitting on a chair next to him with his head down, writing something.

"Atsushi-kun?" Xi Haiqingdou raised his head and looked at the silly boy with his hair standing up. He stopped writing and closed the notebook in his hand. "Are you still not awake? Let's get ready for dinner."

During the few hours that Nakajima Atsushi went to sleep, Saikai Haruto was not idle either. Not only did he change his clothes, he also took the time to cook a meal just in time for him to wake up.

"Okay, okay, I'm starting!"

Nakajima Atsushi clasped his hands together.

"...Atsushi-kun, go wash your hands first." Xi Haiqing Dou was helpless.

Nakajima Atsushi blushed completely, and immediately said with full energy: "Yes!!"

Xi Haiqing Dou almost couldn't help laughing.

Hold on, hold on... If you can't hold back, Dun will probably turn into an ostrich again.

I have to say, seeing him like this, Saikai Haruto felt a lot more relaxed. Maybe this is the benefit of having a child at home? It makes people feel better no matter what. Raising Shirley at home with Chiaki Yuzuru is another different experience.

Of course, it’s also thanks to the fact that Nakajima Atsushi is not a “kid” like Dazai Osamu… otherwise there would only be headaches and no relief.

While eating, Nakajima Atsushi glanced at him a few times: "Has Mr. Mochizuki eaten yet?"

Saikai Haruto was very patient: "Of course, I've already eaten."

"So, what is Mochizuki-sensei writing? Notes? Or is Mochizuki-sensei preparing to write a new book?"

"No, it's not a new book." Xi Haiqing Dou pondered for two seconds: "It's a book that I've been writing for a long time... I just had a new inspiration and felt that it seemed that it was almost time to finish it."

He lowered his head and took another look at the seemingly ordinary book.

This book... but he started writing it a long, long time ago, when he changed from "Dead Souls" to "Mochizuki Kaoru", and he has not finished it until now. Of course, after discovering that Dazai Osamu paid close attention to this book, he made some changes and added some... new content at the end.

Maybe it will become an "important prop" for him in the future.

"Oh, is that so? Well, congratulations to Mr. Mochizuki for completing another book!"

Nakajima Atsushi nodded hard, not quite understanding.

Xi Haiqingdou raised his eyebrows slightly: "What do you want to ask, Atsushi-kun? Just ask directly."

This child can never hide things on his face.

Nakajima Atsushi's eyes lit up visibly, and his tense body relaxed a lot.

"Did Mr. Mochizuki and Mr. Oda encounter any dangerous situations yesterday? Has it been resolved?"

He looked at Xi Haiqing Dou eagerly: "Teacher, are you going out today?"

Saikai Haruto: ...

If you let him ask questions, he will ask impolite questions one after another.

"I did encounter some problems. Yesterday, when I was out, I met another Dazai-kun who suddenly appeared and was being hunted. In order to figure out this matter, I did not come back yesterday. Of course, it was also due to some safety considerations. It was a bit tricky, but it should not be considered a 'dangerous' thing. It just bothered me a little... As for Odasaku, didn't he come back yesterday? He should be in the Hong Kong underworld. Dazai has some things that need his help. Don't worry, Atsushi-kun, Odasaku's safety is still guaranteed with Dazai."

Xi Haiqing Dou was always very patient in front of the underage child. He explained the whole story to him in a simple and serious manner, but skipped some other things... which were not suitable to be explained too much to children.

Besides, even if he told it all, Nakajima Atsushi wouldn't be able to understand it with his small brain, and he would probably get himself confused and just add to his worries and troubles, so it's better not to say anything.

"Eh? Another Mr. Dazai? Does that mean there are two more Mr. Dazai?" As expected, the young man's eyes widened immediately, and his mind was a little confused.

"Yes, it is said that the Dazai-kun who appeared from another world is not the Dazai-kun you know. So there are some troubles that have not been resolved, and I need to go out again, but not now."

Xi Haiqingdou shook the closed notebook in his hand and said, "Maybe, after I finish writing the ending of this book?"

It will probably take a long time to finish writing the ending of a book, right?

Nakajima Atsushi breathed a sigh of relief, but his frown remained on his face.

"Don't worry about my safety, Atsushi-kun. I'm actually pretty strong."

Xi Haiqing Dou uttered a "hmm" sounding somewhat troubled.

It was all because of the deep impression he left on Nakajima Atsushi. Maybe the kid really thought of him as an ordinary person... How should I put it? This is also a small disadvantage. He didn't expect that he was walking with Dazai Osamu every day. How could Nakajima Atsushi believe that he was just an ordinary novelist when he said at the beginning?

Now I don't know how to explain to him that I am not ordinary at all, but a very powerful psychic? What should I do? I suddenly feel a little embarrassed and can't say it...

"Anyway, I can assure you, Atsushi, that nothing will happen to me easily," he said.

"Is there anything I can do to help you, teacher?" The boy's face was still a little childish, but his eyes were clear and resolute: "Tiger and I also want to help Teacher Wangyue!"

"No, Atsushi-kun doesn't need you to do anything, and neither does Byakugo." Saikai Haruto retorted without hesitation.

"I know what you're thinking, Atsu-kun, but what I'm going to do is something that adults should solve, and you don't need to do anything... If adults can solve things that require a child like you to help, I'd feel like I'm not a qualified guardian."

Saikai Haruto said, "At least you don't need to do that while I'm still here. This isn't a training you should be responsible for."

"If Atsushi-kun wants to help, remember to stay at home during this time and try not to go out... No, unless I come back, don't go out alone, and don't listen to others easily."

Suddenly, Xi Hai Qing Dou thought of something, and his brows were solemn. He solemnly reminded: "If you encounter any dangerous things or are hesitant about what to do, remember to send me a message directly."

"Okay, okay! But what if it's Mr. Dazai or Mr. Oda?" Nakajima Atsushi hesitated.

"Well... Atsushi-kun can also decide on his own." Saikai Haruto thought about it.

The child always thinks that he has grown up, and that he can make some decisions on his own. And if something happens, he can actually cover it... The main reason for not letting him go out is that he is worried that Nakajima Atsushi might be unlucky enough to meet Shibuzawa Ryuhiko.

Xi Haiqing Dou relaxed his brows and smiled at him again: "Of course, remember to take care of them while I am away. This is the most important thing."

Nakajima Atsushi nodded very seriously.